Tamlynn and 23 were laughing as they walked into the bar. They had been side-by-side, but when Tam stopped abruptly, 23 took two more steps before he stopped and looked back at her.

Staring wide-eyed, Tamlynn muttered, "By all that’s Scientific! It really is her."

23 turned around again and looked in the direction she was gazing. His mouth also dropped open, and he walked forward, "Jacine?"

Jacine turned her head only far enough to see them, then went back to looking at her glass. "Hi 23, Tamlynn."

23 looked at her for a long moment, Tamlynn moving up beside him and also contemplating their friend. Jacine had brushed her hair until it shone, pinned back on the side, not a hair out of place. She was wearing a black dress that was stylish and formal at the same time. The collar was loose, but buttoned to above the implant line. Her jewelry was subdued, yet complimented the rest of her outfit. And, she was actually wearing make-up.

Tam snagged a couple of other bar-stools and placed them on each side of Jacine. The other patrons at the bar moved over for them. Tam and 23 sat down, but Jacine still didn’t look up.

"Jacine, are you okay?" 23 was concerned.

Still not looking up, the corner of her mouth twitched in a type of smile. "I’m fine. Just melancholy, but fine."

Tamlynn reached over and hovered her hand near the greenish-red drink Jacine was staring at. When Jacine made no protest, Tam picked it up, sniffed carefully, then took a cautious sip.

"Blah! What is that stuff?"

A slightly stronger grin made its way through the gloom. "You can answer them, Tim. You made it."

The bartender also grinned, "Blended oranges, cranberries, and spearmint leaves. With some sugar and just a touch of egg."

Tamlynn and 23 both made faces and there were slightly horrified sounds from other nearby patrons who had heard the listing.

Jacine grinned again, "Hey, I like it!"

23’s eyebrows drew down in a frown as he reviewed the ingredients in his mind. "No alcohol?"

Jacine’s grin faded into a sarcastic snort. She reclaimed her drink and took a sip of it. "Oh that would be the height of politeness! Walk in drunk to a funeral." She turned her left wrist and looked at the chron readout.

23 and Tamlynn were wearing identical ’oh’ expressions. Neither said anything outloud. Tam reached out and put her hand on Jacine’s shoulder.

Staring into her glass again, Jacine shared some of her thoughts. "I knew him for seven years in the Internet. A real fun person, full of life and jokes. Only 72 years old and he died of old age."

Tamlynn’s hand tightened in surprise and 23 drew back. Jacine didn’t notice either reaction.

"It’s a very different culture. Right in-between all the rest of our lives. And nobody knows how long the drug will keep us young. But you both are the same age, and you don’t look any older than me. 72 years and dying as the natural course of life. I knew his daughter fairly well also, and she has four children already. She’s my age, and looks, well, she looks it. I’m the one that’s different. We’re the ones who are suppose to be strange. But I visit them and think of them as the unusual ones. Why, living by natural ways, my life would be half over by now! Of course, my life was almost over when I was eight, so that doesn’t say much either. But 72... Only 72 years of life. And he enjoyed it so much."

She looked up at them, turning her head from side to side to make sure she met both their eyes, "And just two days ago in the hospital, he told me he never regretted his choice."