The meet at the Womb had signaled the end of Sly’s employment in Japan, and she’d headed on home to Seattle. Modal had stayed in Tokyo for a few more years, but eventually he too had come home to the sprawl. They’d tried to renew their relationship, but it just wasn’t the same. The spark had died, and each realized that the other was just going through the motions. It had depressed Sly a little at how easily they parted, for neither seemed to feel any particular emotion. It was indifference, not tears or anger or some other passion that marked the end of the affair. Is that all there is? Sly had wondered sadly.