“Bonjour, I am making a delivery of this package to Princess Celestia.” Rubis like the clothes she got from Rarity’s business, all the things they made for her really helped her feel better about having to regrow her feathers. The Parrote had recently arrived on Equus, the prime world of various species, to deliver Queen Chrysalis’s package personally. She still felt like she owed Rarity and her friends much more than this small bit of courier service, at least Mr. Bar was useful in getting her here. “I believe Madam Celestia is expecting something from Chrysalis?”
“What happened to your feathers?” One of the guards was a Pegasus stallion with no tact and the unicorn next to him gave him a rather scathing glare for it.
“My poor beautiful feathers were freezer burned and had to be removed, I was one of the kidnap victims on Applin Three and I was rescued on Applin Five before the facility was blown to smithereens.” The small box under her right arm wasn’t very heavy and Rubis didn’t have many other places to be considering any prospects she had on Applin Three were ruined. “I have come a long way and I have no idea where I’m going to now, considering I no longer have a job. Delivering this package was a favor for a friend of a friend.”
“You could ask Celestia for help or go to the Parrote embassy to see if they could do something for you.” The unicorn stallion suggested helpfully while continuing to shoot his partner a dirty look. “Just wait for a moment and you’ll be allowed through, I will need to scan the package to make sure there’s nothing inside that can be considered dangerous to the princess or any other royal figure that may be inside. We might be seen as incompetent, but we at least try to do our jobs.”
One scan of the package later and finding nothing wrong with it, Rubis found herself approaching the majestic looking Celestia and the completely friendly Plentiful R. Thorax discussing something or other about lunch.
“You really don’t need to ask you’re maids to do that for me, I get enough love every day as it is… I would even say far too much and I’m a Changeling. I wish they’d find someone else to bug…” Pausing the Changeling with the large goofy horns known as Thorax turned towards Rubis. “Oh hello there, I believe you were one of the victims of Applon System?”
“Yes and I’d rather not discuss my appearance, if you could stop staring at me s’il vous plait.” Rubis started tapping her left foot against the ground, looking entirely unamused with people continually drawing attention to her featherless form.
“Je suis désolé mademoiselle, s’il vous plait excusez-moi.” The fact that Thorax said it fluently surprised Rubis to no end, she had heard that Changelings were generally polyglots by nature and tended to make a decent living of it nowadays.
“You are excused, I bring a package from Chrysalis for you Lady Celestia.” Holding out the package, Rubis watched as a golden glow take it from her gentle and somewhat long fingers. She watched as the princess eagerly open it with her tongue sticking out the side of her mouth. It made Rubis somewhat happy that Celestia was not a pony who cared too much about their royal image given how excited she looked, in fact Celestia almost seemed to be like any other Pony and wasn’t stuck up as Rubis might have imagined her to be. While this was happening Rubis pulled out a data pad that was given to her for her personal use from one of the many spares Chrysalis had laying around that wasn’t an utterly destroyed pile of melted slag and would contact one of Chrysalis’s changelings with the picture she was about to get later. “I believe she left instructions in the package, she did put a piece of paper in there.”
Just because Rubis was doing this for Chrysalis, it did not mean she had a job or was being paid to capture something for posterity. She was still going to do it because she wanted to see what would happen, Chrysalis was a strangely persuasive when it came to pranks. She watched as Celestia levitated out the note and read it while cooing at the rather adorable Changeling plush toy.
“What does it say and why would Chrysalis make something like that for you? It doesn’t seem like something she’d do, it’s far too… nice.” The look of suspicion on Thorax’s face said just about everything. He knew Changeling Queens as did any Changeling, they were prima donnas and had tendencies that were counterproductive to creating love to feed on. Chrysalis was pretty normal considering she enjoyed the suffering of others as much as her own. “Changeling Queens by their very nature are usually at least a little bit mean spirited, even when they are being as friendly as possible.”
“It says here that she’s taken up a hobby of making Changeling toys and wants to patent this toy in particular, she wants me to test it by pressing on its nose.” Though she would never say it to his face, Celestia found Thorax to be a bit boring despite having mares throwing themselves at him constantly. Compared to all the other people in her life it was breath of fresh air to have someone moderately normal to talk to on a regular basis that could speak plainly. Something she’d have to actually thank Chrysalis for and immediately deny if anyone else asked, she continued reading the note. “She’s also hoping that you’ll make sure that Changeling prospects will proceed apace on Applin Five while she’s busy Thorax. Furthermore it also says Puffles are dangerously stupid, more so than Changelings usually are. Her words, not mine. They give off tons of free ambient love and are excessively hairy but by the gods don’t take your eyes off them for too long or else they might set you on fire. Mmm… so much pain and burning… actually it goes on like that for a while, I can at least say that this is definitely Chrysalis’s writing. Nobody I know can continue writing a letter like this while on fire and be clearly enjoying it like this.”
Ignoring the rest of the letter that seems to be written entirely in masochistic moans, Celestia scrutinized the toy. Its entire body was fluffy and that included the barely stuffed wings to keep them from being too puffed up. It looked like an average greedy changeling if they were being genderless like Thorax was, only in toy form. The bright solid pink eyes stared blankly into Celestia’s own. She was curious as to what would happen when she finally pressed the nose, but she was also cautious. She reached forward with her hoof while both Rubis and Thorax looked on and then she pressed the toys nose.
The reaction after pressing the nose was immediate and would be later termed a mild noodle incident, at least Discord thought it was funny and wouldn’t touch or do anything to the toy out of respect for the one who made. Thorax was right, Chrysalis was always a bit mean spirited and there were no exceptions even when it came to making shape shifting toys.
Celestia was keeping the toy even if it had embarrassed her greatly, she’d even cuddle it in her sleep when she next went to bed. She’d approve of at least one for Luna, because she certainly wasn’t letting Luna have hers.
-
Chrysalis smiled, it was the kind of smile she got when she pulled off a plan and yet she didn’t know which plan. She had at least seventy running at the moment and she didn’t know which of them came to fruition, but she was glad to know that she made the universe cry whenever she succeeded at something.
Opal ignored whatever Chrysalis was smiling about. Why the cat with the two streams of pink flowing behind just pawed her way over to the Caravel Boutique in hangar section three without batting an eye at the sight. She sat on her butt and raised her right paw, she waved it around in a circle while making whooshing noises. The Caravel Boutique lifted up turned in place and settled down to lower its ramp, the end of which precisely lands in front of Opal’s smiling face.
“Stop showing off Kitten, you are not the one and you don’t have super powers when it’s a naturally occurring part of your existence.” The one who was now called Aunt Gilda by Opal was just as grumpy as she ever was as she continued to work on the Centaur-pede.
“Yeah, besides everyone knows super powers only occur unnaturally, if it is natural then it’s a mutant ability or magic. Think of Mane-iac for instance, well, before she disappeared from the comic after becoming friends with Radiance at that honey festival or something and was quickly replaced with the more evil Mare-dusa.” Greta was happily working the underside of the Bombing Peregrine and slid out to give Opal a smile, she liked similar kinds of media and was happy to talk with Opal about it. “Also you’re ability to alter data is amazing, while you can’t directly control technology outright you can manipulate the data flow quite easily. Cyberpathy is pretty nifty given its boosted the firewalls on my data pad quite nicely after you interacted with it.”
“Eh, I just decided to do a little touching up on the coding to make it a more solid system to work with, maybe make it a little safer to hack with if you ever needed to do so. I should probably get my own data pad come to think of it… since moms still using the one I was kind of born on.” Modesty thy name is Opal, she could only control known electronic systems where she can actively work the coding. She couldn’t outright take control of everything, all it would take is a signal blocker to prevent her from accessing things wirelessly. The wireless access thing was chalked up to her being an energy entity, the ability to feel various forms of energy helped with transmitting and receiving data in massive quantities and viruses wouldn’t really do anything to Opal since she wasn’t cybernetic. “I still wish I were technopathic, I mean the ability to cobble together crazy stuff like you two do on an average basis would be so cool and then there’s the controlling machines just by looking at them. The best I can do is hacking into things and we still don’t know what my actual range is for that, plus it actually takes some effort on my part and a lot of coding to work through to even do it silently. As I am now, I can’t do anything but loud and noticeable hacking.”
“Technopaths are rare, mostly because people kill them when they start trying to do the whole machine uprising shtick or they start taking control of things they probably shouldn’t.” If it were up to Gilda, she would never have to meet a technopath personally. A technopath would be her worst enemy, because she did her best work while driving vehicles and all the vehicles she builds need at least some form of electronics to work. If your opponent can control your own weapons outright, then it wouldn’t be much of a fight. “Just be glad you don’t have to worry about viruses getting downloaded into your brain, I think your control over software is good enough as it is if you’ve got Greta impressed. You don’t need to be able to control hardware too.”
“But then how will I build a giant fighting robot made up of five random animals to form a giant lion shaped pony for great justice?” Having known Opal for as long as they have, both the griffons knew she was completely serious and Chrysalis just shrugged and went up the ramp. Rarity really should make Opal cut back on those shows.
Other than ogling Sassy, Chrysalis didn’t have much to do to prepare for the trip aside from having her refurbished EVA suit on hoof. Chrysalis and Opal were currently waiting on everyone to get ready for the small trip to Selengard Station.
The Trapeze Troupe were currently working out the details of how strenuous a performance they can put on, in Bernards case it couldn’t be anything too strenuous until his burns fully cleared up and Rover was mostly good to go for a bigger more complicated performance given his wrist and bruises were completely healed. Trapeze herself was perfectly healthy and she was currently looking forward to a casino or a small venue to throw on a short show while on the station. It wouldn’t take them too long to show up, they were almost done.
Rarity was busy getting her bio-cast removed at the moment, she would be able to walk on her weak hoof and her magic was still in good order. It wouldn’t be long before Opal saw her coming to the ship and she could already hear Vera suggesting that Rarity take a break after walking or standing for at least an hour.
Lightning would be their designated pilot, to give her something to do and she had been teaching the others how to fly. Lightning’s lessons left something to be desired considering how she taught was the ‘by the seat of your pants’ kind of teaching.
Coco and Sassy were gathering materials from storage to manufacture specific orders for their business ventures.
Even though waiting was boring, Opal wanted to get out and experience a different culture. Still it wouldn’t hurt to do a little research before they went to the space station.
The local space station had eight humongous hangars, big enough that the Shining Jewel could park inside one for repairs. Thankfully that wasn’t needed with Greta and Gilda’s EGGS units to repair any damage the Shining Jewel takes. The space station as a whole looked like a giant cube and had comparatively few weapon emplacements, but the weapon emplacements it does have all fired high speed explosives that could chew through a small fleet on its own.
Unlike the previous space stations Rarity and company had visited, this Space Station was always had four active fighter squadrons running drills or usually flying lazy patrol shifts to make sure no one got any ideas. Given that the planet of Nocturne had several uninhabitable moons that generated the permanent nighttime effect, some people might try to take advantage of the moons to work smuggling operations or at least try to approach the dark jungle planet from a blind spot. The squadrons were not part of Planetary Protection Patrol and were specifically there to protect the space station, though the local Planetary Protection Patrol was present to do that job as well.
The way the space station was oriented, it was hard to attack it from space as most of the weapons on the station were all aimed mostly away from the planet. The only way you could get off a semi-successful attack would be if you could attack it from below by launching an entire fleet of small ships to hit the least defended side. That’s what the Dik-Diks intended to prevent from happening, nobody could build up enough force on the surface of the planet to threaten the space station.
Speaking of the race that were notably compensating for something. Two of the squadrons on Selengrad Station was entirely made up of Dik-Dik Jackknife fighters. The general design of a Jackknife was a bullet shaped central portion with a flat bottom, then throw in shifting wings for increased atmospheric maneuverability and extra protection in space combat. A Jackknifes wings spread out in an X from the front and rear of the fighter, but it thankfully didn’t require them for flight in atmosphere. In space the wings closed up to provide extra armor and shielding. Given the wings can do the same thing a Dik-Dik hoof held shield can do, it wasn’t a surprise that Dik-Dik fighters were hard to take out conventionally when operating in space as the wings were usually the first things destroyed on their fighters. When closed up the wings formed a knife like shape with the front two wings covering the top of the fighter and the rear two wings doing the same across the bottom.
The station was well defended as every once in a while someone didn’t get the memo that this space station was a peaceful trading hub for legal goods. Those who tried to attack the station or caused too much trouble were asked to leave before being forced to leave or otherwise suffer swift deaths. The presence of the Dik-Dik race helped keep the Vae Dur system a mostly friendly neutral ground for most visitors, that didn’t stop people for trying to get stuff by the alien antelopes and onto the station itself in the slightest. People were far more successful at getting illegal stuff onto the planet than onto the station itself.
-
“Do we really need a minder mom?” There were several small trepidations Opal had about this. She was excited to go on a shopping trip and to use her saved money for personal things, but she was a bit wary of someone figuring out what she really was. It had not occurred to her until now, but she might have to act like a slightly unusual Cacceran or at least a Cacceran that was raised by a pony. Weren’t Caccerans all about going native when their takeover plots failed because they were lazy at times? She was probably safe then, you can’t get more native then having Rarity for a mother. “I mean we don’t even know the random person they’re going to have following us around.”
“It doesn’t matter, they have rules here and even then they don’t have a right to tell us what to do. It’s only if we plan on being disruptive or exceptionally violent without reason that they can really do anything to us.” Well at least Rarity hoped that’s how things went around here. “In any case, whoever our minder turns out to be, I’m quite sure they won’t interfere if we need some privacy to powder our noses. I don’t think they’ll be that bad about interrupting us if we’re enjoying ourselves.”
“Mom, you’re a living magnet for trouble.” It was true and no one would say it wasn’t to Opal’s face without lying to themselves about it. “Even if we’re not planning on being disruptive, we will eventually end up doing something disruptive by law of averages and how often you tend to jump at the chance to be generous in aiding others.”
“That is exactly why we’re not bringing Saffron along, she can’t stand injustice and I know she’ll be itching to go down to the planet to find some crime to stop or at the very least will escalate things to an unmanageable degree. She also still needs some time to recover aside from that.” Having a vigilante on the crew wasn’t too bad, but Rarity wouldn’t put it too far past any of her friends or coworkers to do something to attract all kinds of unwanted attention to themselves. “Which is why I wanted you to come with us Chrysalis, your our early warning to something going wrong and you’re really good at being distracting.”
“Comes with the job of being a Changeling Queen. The less people looking at me, the more ashamed I feel for not being impressive enough to warrant the attention that I truly deserve by just being my glorious self. I am quite beautiful and my flaws are very few, my most notable one is my eternal shame.” There went Chrysalis’s ego flaring up again, not entirely undeserved even if it frankly going overboard and her egotistical attitude waned as she looked at her flat rear end. “Yes, for it makes me feel self-conscious that my backside is incapable of attracting the attention of the lovely Sassy-chan.”
“Can I toss her in a freezer that can only be unlocked from the outside?” The abruptness in which Sassy said that and the dry lilt had Rarity snorting trying to hold back a giggle, the vitriol in that sentence was amazing as was Chrysalis’s pout.
“No Sassy, we need her alive and I remember you telling me that you’re not an assassin. Even if she’s signed on to Rarity’s crew as subordinate to Rarity, she’s still a queen of her people.” At least Coco was on the ball for keeping Sassy from following through with her murderous intent against Chrysalis.
“Rarity, would you mind if I had a sudden change of vocation from being your store manager?” It seemed Sassy was hoping Rarity would give her the go ahead to become an assassin.
“Sassy, I abhor the idea of you being a paid killer even if it would make more money than we currently do as fashion merchants.” At least Rarity knew Sassy was joking by the lack of reaction from Chrysalis. “Though if Chrysalis keeps this up, I may just think about it.”
“Very well, I will continue my job to protect those I care about dearly instead of becoming a cold blooded killer that would run a certain gnat through without a second thought.” The fact that Sassy said it so seriously with a hint of a smile on her face caused shivers all around, except for Chrysalis of course.
“Pity, I would have relished you being my sexy assassin, I also wouldn’t have minded you stabbing me with your sword… in bed.” Chrysalis didn’t know what happened and she didn’t even sense a whiff of emotion before her world swirled around in pretty colors.
All Chrysalis knew after saying the words ‘in bed’ was that she was suddenly on her back at the bottom of the ramp to the Caravel Boutique’s cargo bay with a slight headache staring at the ceiling of the hangar they landed in. Chrysalis’s nose may or may not have been dribbling a bit from the blow, she couldn’t tell until she regained her senses. Sassy had hit her so fast and so hard with just her hoof that Chrysalis was knocked for a loop without being hurt too much.
This led to Chrysalis feeling a strong attraction to the mare for being so forceful, not to mention the fact that she couldn’t even taste, sense or feel Sassy’s emotions at all when she was hit. That kind of thing took some real steel and skill, there was schooling emotions and then there was Sassy’s blank wall of indifference. It was amazing that Sassy went to this much trouble to avoid her emotional sensing abilities, it might explain why her wily prey was so hard to find on a ship with less than twenty people.
“You really shouldn’t antagonize her like that Chrysalis, though you are making Sassy live up to her name at least.” There wasn’t much that Coco wanted more than making sure her friends were happy, if Chrysalis wanted to try and make Sassy happy then she was okay with that as long as the Changeling didn’t go too far. Even Coco had her limits on what she would allow Chrysalis to get away with and she was physically stronger than most of crew when she was using her Earth Pony magic, she could break Chrysalis’s spine for however long such an injury would last on her. “I don’t think she appreciated you calling her Sassy-chan.”
“Don’t care, I want to dig her figurative claws into my hide and never let me go.” Now Chrysalis went from highly attracted to rather smitten with Sassy, such fierce reprisals were the stuff of legends considering she didn’t even see Sassy move. Chrysalis was a talented fighter when she was trying and Sassy just took her down without even a single second to react.
“Coco, don’t talk to the stranger, we don’t know where she’s been.” With an amused chuckle at the thought of nothing being stranger then the Changeling Queen, Sassy followed Rarity as she approached a muscular female Dik-Dik.
“Hey, I’ll have you know that Changelings can’t possibly transmit sexual diseases and we most certainly can’t cause diseases by just talking to people!” There was no heat in the words and Chrysalis was too happy to stay on her back for the moment.
“I don’t know, you might have a highly contagious hoof in mouth disease.” Pawing her way past the downed Changeling, Opal joined up with Sassy and Coco at her mother’s side.
“You could ask for advice about wooing Sassy you know.” Trapeze didn’t see why Chrysalis didn’t do so, Coco looked to be all too willing to help.
“Like I need advice from the most oblivious mare in the world.” It didn’t matter to Chrysalis, she’d even settle for what Greta was having with Gilda even if she would continue to push for more. “Also that might take all the challenge out of it and I want my prey to know I’m hunting after her affection and will do so relentlessly without question. I want to actually earn her love my way, even if it really isn’t the best way to do it as I have my pride as a seductress.”
“I don’t see what I’m so oblivious about and I’ve met Changelings that are far more seductive then you that it isn’t even funny, in fact it is quite sad.” Trapeze didn’t notice the rather affectionate looks Bernard kept shooting her, she continued forward and left a parting remark. “Still, I wish you luck in that endeavor. You break her heart, her friends will break you if she doesn’t do that herself.”
“What if I want them to break me, did you ever think of that?” Being submissive didn’t seem like a bad idea to Chrysalis, but she’d only go that far for Sassy as she preferred to be the dominating one. Perhaps she should only dominate while torturing Rarity’s enemies from now on? Just to show Sassy that she can change like only a Changeling can change, like a woodchuck.
“I choose not to comment.” The sacred words Rover had learned to speak in very specific moments long ago came to the forefront as he lumbered past them.
Bernard squeaked something and waved a paw in a lazy manner in Chrysalis’s direction, before waving it in a circle next to his head.
“I have to agree with Rover and Bernard on that one.” For some reason Trapeze had surprised Bernard by understanding exactly what he said and not what his gestures meant, she didn’t see why he was so shocked since she could understand him where it counted as her best friend.
Chrysalis wondered when Bernard would stop directing metric tons of love and happiness straight into Trapeze or when she’d even notice that he had far more amorous intentions than just being friends. At least Chrysalis was upfront about it with Sassy and the lovely Unicorn seemed to appreciate it despite not showing that at all in any sense of the word.
The two groups had been waiting for the minders to come and follow them around, maybe even assist them in finding what they wanted to shop for. One had finally arrive and it was for Rarity’s group, one that was familiar to both Rarity and Opal who was wearing a light blue and grey uniform, It was So’Grahd.
“You’re about the right size for a Cacceran in person at least.” Having to be a minder left So’Grahd wondering who in her clan did she piss off to deserve having to follow Rarity’s group around like she was going to have to. She’d have to wait for the other minder to show up before the other group, the Trapeze Troupe she remember, would be allowed to roam. She eyed both Bernard and Rover with something akin to suspicion given they both looked rather scruffy in appearance next to Trapeze’s shining elegant form.
“Uh… thank you I guess? I’m not really sure how I’m supposed to take that. Can I ride on your back mom?” The glow of unicorn magic erupted around Opal and she found herself being lifted onto Rarity’s back where she snuggled against her mother’s soft form.
Rarity had noticed that Opal felt a little uncomfortable getting looked at by the Dik-Dik, at least until she started petting Opal to ease her nerves. Rarity smiled and planted a soft kiss to Opal’s forehead making her blush and mewl petulantly in embarrassment.
“Right, well I’m your group’s minder, apparently I was pulled from my job for this and I don’t appreciate it one bit. We have to wait for their group’s minder before I can play tour guide for your lot.” It seemed like Grahd wasn’t so happy with her current job of minding Rarity’s group, she in fact looked a little miffed about having to come here to the hangar to greet them. “As you know I am Grahd of the So clan, so I am So’Grahd and you will refer to me as such or at least Grahd to keep it formal. I hope we will have a peaceful time together in each other’s company and any business that you do. I am here to make sure you keep to the spirit of the rules we set around here, I am an Officer and I am legally obligated to protect you as much as you are legally obligated to protect yourselves. This is provided that you are not the aggressors in any circumstance unless circumstances permit that I act with you if you are.”
“Well if it isn’t Grady. Is there not enough minders to go around that they’re pulling you for this?” The male Dik-Dik had dark chocolate furred and short horns, he was half the size of So’Grahd and he didn’t seem the least bit intimidated by Chrysalis’s fangs as she finally got up and approached the two Dik-Diks.
“This is Zel’Itenk of the Zel clan, he’s a bit of a jerk so don’t mind him too much.” So’Grahd ignored the vocal and rather alien sounding expletive Itenk sent her way. “He’s actually a professional minder, I seriously don’t know why they pulled me for this and I don’t want to know.”
“Whatever the reasons for moving you to this duty, it seems your stuck with the safer detail while I have to deal with the freaking omnivores.” That was rather unapologetically racist of Itenk and Rarity wanted to say something about it, but held her tongue as the Trapeze Troupe could take care of themselves and they didn’t seem too upset about it.
“I don’t see what’s safer, I have more people to keep an eye on and large groups tend to lead to trouble.” If only So’Grahd knew how much trouble Rarity and friends tended to get into, then she probably would have never tempted fate around Rarity. “As an Officer working as a minder I’m expected to keep my eyes on them at all times and I don’t exactly have an extra pair of visual organs growing from the back of my head nor can I fully invade their privacy without warrant.”
“Sucks to be you then Officer Grady, I still think I’m getting the shorter end of the stick given I’ve got two known meat eaters to deal with.” Motioning with a hoof Zel’Itenk drew the attention of Trapeze’s group. “Well come on then, I don’t have all day to wait for a couple of flesh eaters and their admittedly pretty friend.”
“Don’t worry about it Rarity, we’ll be fine and his words certainly don’t hurt us one bit as we know what we are in the dark.” With faint smile Trapeze bumped Rarity’s butt with her own, she had noticed Rarity stopping herself from laying into Itenk. “We’re performers and our shows must always go on when we schedule them, besides I was expecting someone to hate us for basically being gypsies. We aim to make our audiences happy and that’s all that matters even if they initially boo us while getting on stage, we’ll still give them a show worth remembering.”
“Well I hope you all have a good time, just remember that you can call on us if you need anything.” Patting her friend on the back Rarity watched as Trapeze nodded and then sauntered off with the jerk with her head held high.
“I take it he likes to waggle it out in the open whenever he gets the chance to compensate for it being so small?” Chrysalis’s comment caused Grahd to snort.
“You have no idea, I’m sorry that you had to meet him and for his lack of tact or propriety. We do not condone being openly racist like that, but there are some of our people who will be like that openly anyway. His father may have been eaten by a predator of Nocturne, but that doesn’t give him the right to push those feelings onto others who have done him no harm.” Before anyone could responded Grahd flicked her short fluffy tail and motioned with her head for the others to follow her. “Well come along then, I believe you wanted to head over to the merchant quarter of the station to make some purchases before setting up your own business? If I am to be your mediator and minder, then I am going to do my job right.”