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  As they pulled out of the driveway, a paparazzo peered into the car, saw Ell and leapt for his vehicle. Soon Roger and Ell were headed into Chapel Hill trailed by the four reporters’ cars

  “Where are we going to dinner?” Ell asked.

  “I had a friend tell me he likes to just walk down Franklin Street, stopping in to have a little of this and a little of that at several of the different restaurants. I thought we should try it?”

  Ell tilted her head, “Sounds like fun. I’m up for it.”

  They got out at the corner of Columbia and Franklin and Roger’s car left to park itself. The reporters’ cars stopped as well and they scrambled out to follow Ell. As Ell and Roger walked down Franklin, Roger noticed peoples’ eyes, especially the men’s, turning to follow Ell. He thought to himself that it must be pretty weird to be the focus of so much attention. But if she noticed it she gave no evidence. Musing he pondered, I think those guys would be staring at her because of her looks even if she weren’t famous. He glanced back and saw the paparazzi following, easily recognizable because of the noticeably larger camera lenses on their AIs’ headbands.

  “Oh! Pepper’s Pizza!” Ell exclaimed, “It’s been here forever! I’ve heard people talk about it but I’ve never been in. Shall we get a slice?”

  “Sure,” Roger said and they turned in. He was surprised to see a paparazzo follow them into the funky little restaurant. Then he was amused when Ell and Roger were seated at the last table in their section of the restaurant. The frustrated looking paparazzo was seated in a different section where he couldn’t actually see or video them.

  “Shall we split a pizza?”

  “My goodness no! We each have a “slice” and save room to get something different to eat at another restaurant.”

  Ell raised her eyebrows. “OK.” She looked at the menu, “I’ll have a slice of pepperoni, black olive, artichoke, pesto…”

  When they left the restaurant, one of the reporters stepped in front of Ell, “Ms. Donsaii, could you comment on President Teller’s promise that…”

  Ell smiled but shook her head and slipped by the reporter, leaving him videoing the back of her head. They went into a “wrap shop” and had salads. Roger was feeling pretty full but Ell stopped at a street “taco stand” and got a small burrito that she ate as they walked further down the street. On the way back she insisted they stop into Krispy Kreme where she had three glazed donuts “for dessert.”

  “Wow!” Ell slipped her arm through Roger’s, “That was fun! I’ll have to eat Franklin Street more often. What movie are we going to?”

  “Uh, I wanted to see ‘Holding Fire,’ but we’ve eaten Franklin Street for a lot longer than I expected. It’s already started. You want to go to the Cat’s Cradle instead?”

  “Cat’s Cradle?”

  “It’s a live music club. Kind of like a huge bar. Different bands all the time and they get some pretty popular groups. It used to be in Carrboro but recently it moved over to Rosemary Street about 3 blocks from here. We could walk?”

  “Who’s playing?”

  He shrugged, “I don’t know, but we can probably hear them through the doors. If we don’t like the music we could try to figure something else out…”

  When they got there, Ell thought the music sounded familiar. The bill listed a band named “Velos.” She turned to Roger, “Hey, I think I’ve heard these guys’ music somewhere! It’d be fun to go in and listen for a while.”

  They paid the cover charge and wandered in. The big room was fairly crowded with enthusiastic fans swaying or jumping up and down to the beat, many with beers in their hands.

  A tall Asian man staggered into Ell. She steadied him. “Heeyy,” his eyebrows rose and he leaned closer to speak over the music, “You’re beautiful...” his eyebrows rose further, “really beautiful!” He smiled pointed to himself with his thumbs. “I’m Joe Chan. Can I be your boyfriend?”

  Ell’s eyes widened, it was Joe Chan from Gordon’s party last semester! Had he recognized her? She replayed what he’d just said in her mind. No, he doesn’t recognize me. He just uses this same line on all the girls he staggers into. Still his drunken, good natured enthusiasm was infectious and Ell found herself grinning at him. Still steadying him with one hand and careful not to use the thick “Belle” southern accent that she’d used last time she spoke to him, she leaned toward him, “Hi Joe Chan. I think you’ve had too much to drink!”

  Joe’s eyes widened further, “You’re Ell Donsaii!!”

  “Busted.”

  “Oh wow! Stick with me, I’ll introduce you to the band.” He raised his eyebrows. “I know ‘em all.”

  Ell’s eyes darted to the stage. It was Gordon and his band! Just then, having reached the end of their instrumental break, Gordon stepped back up to the microphone and started singing the chorus again.

  That’s why I’d heard this music before! Amused that Joe was using all the same moves and lines he had when she’d gone to Gordon’s party but unable to get mad at his apparently genuine enthusiasm, she winked at him, “I’ll look you up when they take a break, right now Roger and I are going to go get some drinks.”

  “Aww, you’re here with a guy?”

  Ell nodded at him, a serious look on her face.

  “OK,” He grinned at her, “but don’t bring me a drink, I’m too drunk already.”

  Ell turned with Roger and they started making their way to the bar in the back.

  Roger leaned closer, “Do you know that guy?”

  Ell shook her head. She didn’t want to try to explain over the music.

  Again Roger noticed people staring at Ell. He wasn’t sure whether they were staring at her beauty or her fame. They got a Guinness for him and a Coke for her and returned to the back of the crowd. They stood companionably, holding hands and swaying to the music. Ell thought that Gordon really was an amazing singer and wondered why his band didn’t try to make the big time.

  The song finished and Ell saw Joe Chan weaving his way out onto the stage to Gordon. He spoke into Gordon’s ear and pointed vaguely out into the room. The band started the intro to the next song as Gordon turned to look out over the crowd, shading his eyes against the spots.

  Ell got a sinking feeling.

  Gordon slung his guitar around behind himself and took the microphone off its stand. He turned to the band and made a circular motion with his hand.

  The rhythm guitarist shrugged and started the chord progression again. It was a catchy beat that had Ell twitching her hips. She suspiciously watched Gordon and Joe move to the stairs at the edge of the stage and walk down into the crowd. She glanced up at Roger but he didn’t seem to have noticed, or to be worried.

  At the bottom of the stairs Gordon handed the mike to Joe and unslung his guitar. He started a low distorted lead line on the guitar as he walked into the crowd. The people parted to let him pass through, his eyes roaming around. The crowd had begun clapping enthusiastically in rhythm with the beat, some jumping up and down. Everyone was at least tapping their feet. They continued to move aside as Gordon walked through.

  As Ell had feared Joe leaned over Gordon’s shoulder and pointed at her.

  Gordon’s eyes tracked to her and he smiled then headed her way.

  Ell glanced up at Roger who was now tracking them suspiciously. Roger let go her hand, put his on her shoulder and leaned down to her. “I think they’re coming for you,” he said over the music, “do you want to try to escape out the back?”

  Ell shrugged, thinking “yes” but then Gordon was in front of her. He’d just finished a cycle through the melody. He dropped the guitar and took the mike from Joe. He lifted it to his lips and his voice boomed out over the club, “Hey folks. For those of you who haven’t noticed, Ell Donsaii is in the house!!” He pointed at her and turned to be sure everyone had seen her. “I’d like to personally express my gratitude to her, for bringing our country those gold medals… stopping those terrorists,” he looked around at the crowd and thrust a h
and in the air. Many of the crowd imitated the gesture. “And now for rescuing our astronauts!” He tucked the microphone under his arm and started clapping along with the crowd, then broke the rhythm and led an enthusiastic round of non rhythmic applause.

  Ell blushed and inclined her head.

  Gordon turned his eyes to the back of the club and found the sound engineer. He made a pushing down motion and the sound of the band, still cycling through the chord progression, faded somewhat. He put the mike back to his lips, “Thank you so much from the very bottom of my heart. I think I speak for everyone here. We’d all like to express our gratitude!” He started another round of applause. As it faded he said, “Do you have any words of wisdom for us?” and held the microphone out to her.

  Ell leaned closer to the mike and said, “I was just one small part of a couple of great teams. Both at the Olympics and when D5R pulled together to rescue the Station. But I do thank you for your appreciation.” She made a little wave at the crowd.

  Gordon put the mike to his lips and said, “I think a very, very important part of the team! Can you do a few dance moves for us? Perhaps inspired by Olympic gymnastics?” He lifted a hand at the sound engineer and the pulse of the beat began throbbing heavily again.

  Ell resumed moving her hips to the beat, then did a little twirl.

  Gordon put the mike back to his lips, “Come on girl! Show us what you’ve got!”

  Roger angrily thought, They can’t expect her to do gymnastics; she hasn’t done any for years!

  But then Ell did a flip!

  The crowd went crazy, cheering wildly. Ell, caught up in their enthusiasm thought, what the heck, they know Ell Donsaii can do this stuff. No need to hide my capabilities from them. She did a back flip.

  Gordon began chanting, “More, more, more…” and the crowd joined in, hundreds of voices and the powerful throb of the bass and drums creating a more and more compelling rhythm.

  Ell looked at Roger who was staring wide eyed. He didn’t seem to be upset though. Finally she shrugged and dropped to the floor to do a breakdance style helicopter that went on and on.

  The crowd cheered wildly.

  Ell flipped to her feet, alternating backflips with front flips in time to the music. Gordon had resumed playing the melody using a distorted lead guitar patch and improvising more and more wildly. When the chord progression cycled back around to the beginning, Ell did a double, stopped, and bowed deeply, hand outstretched to Gordon.

  The crowd went insane.

  Ell and Roger tried to go back to listening and drinking their drinks but it appeared that it was going to be impossible as more and more people came up to ask for autographs and to try to start conversations. Finally Roger had his car meet them near the back door. They snuck out to it and headed back home.

  “Wow Ell! I had no idea you could still do that stuff!”

  “It’s kinda like riding a bicycle, knowing how doesn’t go away just ‘cause you haven’t done it for a while.”

  “Hah! I think a lot of people would find that, even if they remembered how, their muscles just couldn’t do it after a while without practice!”

  Ell shrugged, wondering if Roger was right. Is that another freaky ability of mine? Not to lose it after a couple of years? Allan, her AI, spoke in her ear. “There has been a big spike in net activity with your name attached.”

  Ell sighed. There was always some net activity that referenced her name and of course it had gone up enormously after Sunday’s NASA announcement. But a spike at this time of night? “What’s it about?” She looked up at her HUD (Heads Up Display).

  Donsaii out on the town-

  Ell Donsaii seen with man. Boyfriend?

  Donsaii blows off steam-

  Legs! Ell Donsaii shows hers off!

  Donsaii dances!

  Oh my God! Ell slapped a hand to her forehead. I forgot about the reporters. How could I have been so stupid as to dance like that with them following me around!

  Roger looked at her curiously, “What’s the matter?”

  “I forgot about the reporters! I can’t believe I made such a spectacle of myself with them trailing along!”

  “A pretty impressive spectacle though. Nothing to be ashamed of...dancers everywhere are gonna be jealous.”

  “Hah! You’re in these news stories too you know?”

  “Oh!” He grinned sheepishly, embarrassed that he hadn’t realized that. He looked up at his HUD, “I hope they got my good side?”

  ***

  Chapel Hill, North Carolina—Ms. Ell Donsaii, recently recognized for leading the team at D5R that saved the International Space Station during its crisis, let her hair down last night. She was seen “out on the town” in the town of Chapel Hill where she lives. She was with one of the other employees of D5R, a Roger Emmerit. We’ve acquired some amazing video (link) of her dancing at a local…

  Steve knocked on Ell’s door as she finished breakfast Sunday morning. She let him in and set about making him some coffee.

  “I thought you were going to bore the reporters to death?”

  Ell blushed, “Yeah,” She sighed and sagged, “I screwed up huh?”

  “There are nine cars out by the gate this morning. Probably all hoping for another ‘dance’ like that one.”

  Ell stared disconsolately at the water she was pouring into the coffee maker. “Sometimes I wonder why I can’t just do what I want!”

  “Oh, you can. But there will be publiciquences.”

  “Publiciquences?”

  “New word I just made up. ‘Publicity-consequences. Shows my amazing grasp of the situation, huh?”

  Ell tilted her head. “How bad do you think the ‘publiciquences’ are going to be?”

  He shrugged. “I think you’re going to have to be boring for a lot longer now if you want them to go away. Or you could just go ahead and lead an exciting life and get used to them dogging your steps.”

  “I’ve been wondering…”

  “What?” Steve asked, a little apprehensively.

  “Nothing bad.” Ell put up her hands in mock surrender. “Just thinking that maybe I could go ahead and lead an exciting public life as ‘Ell’ and use my other identities for a quieter, more private life. I’ve signed up for a couple more classes at the ‘U’.”

  “OK,” Steve looked up at the ceiling, then sighed resignedly, “let’s talk about strategies to make that work…”

  ***

  Driving to work Monday, Allan said, “You have a call from Dr. Horton, the Presidential Science Advisor.”

  “Yes Dr. Horton?”

  “Hello Ms. Donsaii. The President has tasked me with setting up a meeting between you and his economic advisers about the effects your ‘portal’ technology may have on the economy?”

  “Yes sir?”

  “I’m thinking we could do it by video conference. Is there any time this week when you couldn’t do it?”

  “I have classes Wednesday and Friday mornings, eight to ten. Otherwise I can move things around.”

  “Classes?”

  “Yes sir. I’m taking an Astronomy and a Biology class at UNC.”

  “Ms. Donsaii… I swear you’ll never cease to amaze me. Why biology?”

  “I’ve pretty much minimized biology in my education so far. Understanding it could have an impact on putting living organisms through ports in the future.”

  “Okaaay. Well, I’ll try to set up a meeting around those classes then.”

  ***

  As far as Ell was concerned Monday was essentially wasted on meetings.

  She met with Fred, Vivian and Brian and confirmed that D5R’s “anonymous investors” had agreed to a startup fund of twenty million dollars for their port building facility.

  She had a similar meeting with Braun and Stavos regarding “ET Resource.”

  She attended several meetings of employees who were leaving to go with the new enterprises.

  She and Roger held a smaller meeting with the employees who had
decided to stay and do research with “Quantum Research.” She was glad to see that not everyone was abandoning her for the apparently “sure thing” moneymakers. Especially gratifying, the best of their new machinists, a young guy named Manuel Garcia had decided to stay with her. Also, Sheila, who was doing an amazing job of organizing the splitting of the three companies had agreed to stay with Ell to help build her new enterprise.

  Roger arranged a video conference with Dr. Bynewicz, a neurology researcher at the med school. Bynewicz was very interested in the phenomena of port induced seizures and even more excited to be funded to study them. However, to Ell’s disappointment, it would be several months before any animal research would be approved by the appropriate review boards.

  Roger showed up in Ell’s office. “Well, that didn’t take long.” He was grinning.

  “What didn’t?”

  “For Dr. Emily Kenner to take the bait of Quantum Research’s targeted solicitation.” He lifted an eyebrow.

  “Emma’s first name is Emily?”

  “Ha, you didn’t think her real name was ‘Emma’ did you?”

  Ell transfixed him with a glare, “I suppose you think that ‘Ell’ should be short for something like ‘Ellen’ or ‘Elinor?’”

  Roger put his hands up in mock surrender, “Oh no! Never would I dream such a thing!”

  Ell sniffed and lifted her chin, “Are we interviewing her then?”

  “Yep.” Roger grinned, “To avoid spoiling the surprise I’ve arranged for the interview to be at the Il Palio restaurant.”

  Ell grinned, “When?”

  “Tonight, seven, table in the back. See you there at 6:50?”

  “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  It wasn’t until late in the afternoon that Ell got to talk to Brian about the disk sprayer they were keeping at Quantum Research. After discussing it, Manuel assured her he could modify it to make her new single ended ports.

  All too soon she had to head home so she’d have time to do herself up as “Ellen.” Then, as she and Steve had worked out, she walked over to one of the houses she’d bought for her security team. That particular house backed up to the woods of the farm. There she slipped into her little Chevy pickup truck which had been parked there by her security team. She drove from there to the Siena to meet Emma.