But, hey, nobody has to hit him twice with a mallet. He learned his lesson. The corps always win. Why fight ’em if joining works out just as well? Once he got out of slam, he made about a thousand applications, only none of the corps were interested in ramjammers unless they came up through the corporate system. Too much of a risk. He got just one call and that was from Berman. She took a chance. Sure, he had to go through all the usual tests and interviews, pledge his allegiance to the corporate logo, but that was just a formality. Berman made the decision. She sat him down in her office one afternoon for almost two hours and just talked and listened. Like she really wanted to know this fraggin’ dwarf halfer, know more than if he was just "reformed." It’s time he paid some more of his tab.