The mathematicians giggled and the others were all grins. He unzipped the bag and lifted out the device.

Bryan's face lit up. "Yes! I won the bet! I told you he was going to implement a static plate deflection system!"

"Sorry Bryan. It's not a static plate deflection system," Ben said with a grin. "It's more elegant than that." He pulled out his documentation and handed his notes to the woman they called Mare, which was apparently short for Mary. She was maybe 5' 4", had a head of brown curly hair that reached her shoulders and was pleasantly plump all over. She hid her soft hazel eyes behind serious...