The Dystopian municipal floater bot focuses its electronic eye on Katie's book. Floaters do have a habit of sneaking up behind unwary citizens and scanning their reading material. With paper documents, they can read over one hundred pages ahead and behind of the owner. Floaters were, after all, designed for military service and intelligence gathering was a primary skill. Why blow up the enemy's leadership if you can extort them? Society saves a lot of time, resources and money that way - well, except for one being extorted. These days, the floaters adapt this philosophy to their private enterprise. The added bonus being that they do not have to pay for their own books. Though for today, this is largely a pretense. Looking at Ryu, Katie muses to herself, "Someone should tell these guys that wearing a skull and cross bones on their shirts is hardly the trademark of a 'secret' organization", as she gently but firmly snares her best friend detraining from a DT4V tram. It's Wednesday and Katie's surprise appearance is to ensure Ryu remembers their weekly date watching 'Worker and Parasite' at 8:30. Though for today, this is largely a pretense. Katie knew that Ryu would show up at this tram stop. Wednesday afternoon is the regularly scheduled time for the "secret" gatherings of the Skull Guild's youth wing. One of many "secret" groups that make up the much too much feared Mad Scientist Lobby. A very influential force in Dystopian politics in spite of a falling out with the Old Party. The Old Party recently lost control of government due to an embarrassing boondoggle commissioned in league with the Lobby. Low poll numbers necessitated the creation of a basic, blood thirsty, zombie mob. A political pretense that had worked out well in the past. Unfortunately, the "recruits" turned out to be both pacifist and vegan. Less than ideal for instilling terror in the general human populace. Indeed, a few zombies were reported to be openly gay. Facts which did not go over well with the old school party supporters, aka. "the base". As for the local triffid diaspora, being both asexual and bisexual themselves, they cared little about zombie sexual orientation. Their grievances centred on the zombies being more vegan than necessarily pacifist. Compounding this snafu, zombies are already dead so triffid stings are not effective against them. A combination of factors that led to the tragedy that is now known as, "The Night of the Salads". So, as triffids are notorious swing voters, the next election went badly for many in the incumbent party. Other Old Party representatives who did survive the election, did less well in the City Park. Today, one can see zombies shuffling around the produce sections of food markets making a general mess of things and muttering, "Grapes!". It has been determined that their pacifist characteristics is a result of the dreaded "eace curve". Perhaps another blow to the influence of the Mad Scientist Lobby as the political usefulness of zombie mobs comes to an end. Fortunately, the Skull Guild played only a small part in that incident and Ryu was not touched at all. And speaking of Ryu and a lack of touching, the floater continues its pretense of scanning Katie's book. Payed a fee, the floater is now obtaining a full body, deep tissue scan of Ryu. Recording blood, muscle and skin responses as he becomes aware of Katie's presence. Katie commissioned the floater to capture the data in a high detailed format compatible with her home and office simulator. Admittedly, not a legal or strictly speaking ethical enterprise for either of them. However, politics is about getting what you want for the least number of concessions. Meanwhile the floater considers the text of Katie's book. "Within the confines of the documented ecology, the male identified as Mr. Darcy has the superior mind and would produce highly intelligent offspring. Although he seems to lack emotion, this is largely a pretense..."