Julie was just taking her key to the lock when Annika opened the door.
"Hey you're back!" she exclaimed, giving her friend a hug. "How was the - where did the children come from?"
Julie giggled nervously as Annika let her in.
"Well, apparently I was pregnant when we left. I don't know... I was still breastfeeding, so I didn't think I would be fertile," she shrugged. "I have no idea. Maybe someone up there has some weird obession with me having twins and thought going to an alternate universe would be a good opportunity."
Annika giggled and helped Julie get her thinks, Cindy and Dax inside.
"Where's Bobby?"
"Asleep. Too much study I guess."
"Why are you up this late anyway?"
"Kids."
"Oh. Hey, thanks heaps for looking after them for me."
"Yeah... just don't leave me with all yours and my Brett. I'm not sure I could take care of all seven. So, what are their names?"
"Cindy Ezri and Dax Max."
"You didn't."
"I did."
"Nutty girl. Hope you've got an explanation?"
"Pass 'em off as Tinga and Josh's quads," Julie shrugged. "Getting birth certificates to match."
"Sounds like a plan. Oh speaking of which... Julie... I think you should get a paternaty test done on Tinga and Josh."
Julie paused.
"What? Why? Why should I? What does it matter who the father is?" she asked coldly.
"Because mutant powers are hereditry. And Josh turned himself into dirt the other day," Annika responded, realising she must have hit a sore point. "Julie, knowing who the father is could be the information you need to understand their powers. And that is information that every parent should know."
Julie hesitated. Dirt? That would mean Lance, right? Dirk's power was Wind... Didn't sound related.
"I'll... I'll... after the new year I'll go to the Mansion and look into it," Julie said quietly.
"Good," Annika said. "So how was the trip anyway?"
"Oh it was good. Zac had a little girl."
"I bet Day was thrilled."
"Oh she was."
The girls chatted a bit more while Julie unpacked with Annika's help. Then Julie pulled out a rather big file and headed towards the study.
"I hope you don't mind," Annika said, upon their arrival. "But I did a little research while you were away."
"Oh?" Julie asked.
She put down her file as Annika picked another one up.
"I did some research on other multiplayer online games. Ones of the same genre. Y'know, to find out what they have that you haven't got, and stuff."
"How about 3D graphics, and over a hundred times as many people playing?"
"Julie... c'mon, we're running a business here," Annika admonished. "We're breaking even at the moment, and we really need to start growing if we want to make anything."
"Annika..." Julie sighed. "As a friend and a business partner I appreciate your hard work, and I appreciate what you're saying. But I have six kids now. Time is becoming scarce."
"Hire help."
"Money is also becoming scarce. You just said we're breaking even - that's no extra money for hiring people. And even then... what would we hire them for? There is no reason so subscribe to this game. I wouldn't subscribe to this game. Especially when I have a donation system going," Julie said. "Bonus areas open to people who donate - how could I be so rude as to introduce a subscription system on top of that?"
"Create a 3D version."
"I have no experience with 3D graphics. I have never done that, as much as I would like to try."
"Hence the hiring part," Annika nodded. "We have to take a risk sooner or later."
"It all works well in theory, but we could be at the programming for months. How are we going to pay them without any profit coming in? Annika... I honestly think we should work more on the merc side first - that's the side that's making the money at the moment," Julie picked up her file again. "Let me see... I was working on stuff while I was away... most of this is plans for the game - if I get a chance to actually program it in... ah ha!"
She pulled out a few pages.
"These are some merc ideas," she said. "Some of it - as noted, co-ordinates with my new plans, but most of it is relevant now."
"A Zaakmunsta shirt line?" Annika mused. "I'm intrigued."
"Thought you might be. I also put together this survey - you know, to find out what my players would like to see in the game. And I'm going to introduce... well, a few new classes and races... Okay, albeit most of the ones I have plans on doing I've been wanted to do for a while, but I got to use the time to plan them out, instead of wasting time now. More time to spend programming, and less time designing."
"Cool."
Their chatter soon dwindled down, and they each parted to their beds for the night.