As Jill droned on about Moxie and her abilities, Jack listened carefully to what was being said. He knew that there had to be catch in here somewhere. There had to be some reason as to why they were suddenly treating him like he was their best friend. What use did they still have for him?

“Well, what do you think Jack?” the General asked, snapping Jack out of his trance.

“What do I think about what?” Jack asked.

‘What do you think about what Jill said about Moxie?”

“To be honest General, I wasn’t really paying attention. Jill’s voice has a tendency to put me to sleep.  But if you’d like, I’ll give you my honest assessment of Moxie.

“That would be greatly appreciated,” the General replied.

“Well as Jill has probably already stated to you, Moxie is a sweet 7–10-year-old girl… Jack began.

“I wouldn’t exactly call her sweet,” Jill quipped, interrupting Jack.

“Am I telling this story, or are you?” Jack fired back.

“Look Jack,” the General replied, as he rubbed his forehead. “I already know all about the appearance of Moxie, thanks to Jill’s report. What I’d like to know from you, is if you’d consider Moxie to be a threat, needing to be dealt with or is it something that we’d be able to bend to our own purposes?”

“Everyone is a threat General,” Jack replied, “If they are pushed hard enough.”

“Well, that’s true,” the General began…

“However, if you are asking if Moxie is capable of defending herself and should be left alone, then my answer is yes. She should be left alone.”

The General laughed. “Look Jack, either we’re going to use Moxie or we’re going to destroy her, while keeping her world intact to ensure the teleportation device is still operational.”

“And you want me to go back and convince her to let herself be used?”

“Hardly,” the General snorted. “Jack you are many things, but let’s be honest – you have a tendency to make people feel uncomfortable anytime they are around you. No, Jill will be going to talk to Moxie. What we need for you to do, is to write a computer virus that will disable Moxie, but keep her world intact. Can you do this for us?”

“No,” Jack mumbled.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” Jack snapped. “No, I won’t help you enslave my program for your own designs. I’ll see it destroyed first, before I’ll let it fall into your greedy little hands.”

“Come now Jack,” the General cooed, “Let’s talk about this.”

“No, I’m done talking.” Jack yelled whipping the pistol up. “I’m leaving and if either one of you try to stop me, then I will kill you.”