In the nightclub, in one corner of the seating area, near the dance floor, Lori sat at a table, a young Human woman sitting across from her.  Both women held empty shot glasses.  Around the table were a flock of chattering people making bets.

“Are you ready for number seven?” said one of the men.

“Bring it on,” said the young woman, a slur in her voice.

Lori nodded.

The man filled their glasses with a light brown liquid.  “Okay, drink away!”

The young woman, a blank expression on her face, downed her glass.  Her eyes had a glazed and faraway look.

Lori moved hers to her lips, but she paused, her eyes closed and her head tilted.

People around her grumbled.

“No!  I’m okay,” said Lori, her voice weak.  She tilted back her head, the real alcohol guzzling down her throat.  Smirking, she smiled at her opponent.

The young woman frowned.  Pushing her glass towards the man with the bottle, she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.  Her eyes rolled up in her head and she fell forward, passing out.

The people around her reacted, some cheering, but most grumbling or swearing.  It took Lori a few seconds to realize she had won.

As the crowd broke, a man tossed a small pouch onto the table, its contents making a metallic clink.

“This is your cut.  I must admit I didn’t think you could do it.”  Chuckling, he walked away.

Alone at the table, Lori stared at the pouch.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Lori looked up at the source of the new voice; a tall, handsome man about fortyish.  Wobbly, she stood up, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing herself against him.  “Anything the hell you want.”  She giggled.

The man glanced around him.  “Let’s get out of here,” he whispered, though the blaring music covered his voice.

“My place or yours?” said Lori, her voice sultry and seductive.

“Yours.”  The man gently moved Lori back, wrapping his arm around her, supporting her as they walked.  She was leaning against him.

“Wait.  Yours as in yours or yours as in mine?” Lori let out a sputtering giggle.

“Just be quiet and come with me,” said the man, sighing.

Lori placed her index finger on her mouth.  “Shh.  Being quiet.”

The man guided Lori through the club and out onto the street.  Ten minutes later, they were in Lori’s room at the inn where she and Hok were living.

“We need to get you sober.”  The man reached into his pocket, producing a hypospray.

“Sorry, but I don’t do drugs, but I do other things.”  With a sly smile, Lori began unbuttoning her blouse.

The man sighed.  “Doctor Weaver, that’s enough.”  The man spoke in a sharp voice.

Because of the serious tone, Lori stopped mid-button.  Squinting, she studied the man’s face.  “Parker?”

The man nodded.

Lori’s alcohol addled brain finally understood what was happening.  Slowly sitting in a chair, she tried to remember everything that happened in the club.

“Are you trying to blow your cover?” said an annoyed Parker.

Lori stared at her handler.  “No.”

“You’ve got to be Kavi Rozen.  I get it, but you know better than to drink real alcohol.”  Parker paused.  “We still need to get you sober.”  He held up the hypospray.  “You’ll recover more quickly and your hangover won’t be as bad.”

Lori didn’t say anything while Parker gave her the meds.  She was still foggy, but she knew she made a mistake.

“There’s no point in lecturing you now,” said Parker, “but you’re going to hear it in the morning.”

“I had to go to the club and drink.  That’s exactly what Kavi Rozen would do.  I guess I was feeling guilty about Nessa, and Hok should have been watching me.”  Lori giggled.

“What’s so funny?” said Parker.

“Hok.  Two pretty girls were caressing his lobes.”

Parker sighed.  “I’m putting you to bed, then I’m leaving to find Hok.”

“Putting me to bed.”  More giggling.

“Up you go.”  Parker lifted Lori out of the chair and led her to the bedroom.  “I’m going to have someone watch your room, so don’t think about sneaking out.”

“Yes, sir.” Lori saluted with her left hand.

“Lie down now.”

Lori sighed, stretching out on the bed.  “Are you sure…”  She patted the mattress.

“Good-bye, Doctor.”

As the meds were making Lori drowsy, the last thing she heard before falling asleep, was Parker grumbling about newbies.