"I was meaning to ask, could we stay in touch over the subspace somehow?" Maria smiles.
"Of course, you can always send an encrypted message addressed to me. The Gate stations will direct it through subspace and through normal space, to my ship, based on my location."
"Something more... real-time was on my mind." Both she and Elim giggle.
"Real-time communications through multiple systems? No, my spaceship is not big enough to possess such a communications' station on board."
"Some merchant vessels and luxury ships have them, but real-time communications over multiple systems is mostly military or government controlled. Most police stations can send holo-transmissions to holovid capable stations, for example, across a Jump Gate, or two, if the signal is strong enough."
"Ah yes, I had a talk with Poseidonis Fedpol some days ago, that checks out."
"You might find a merchant who could sell you a Subspace Caster that powerful, but I'm pretty sure it would take a small fortune to buy it." Maria explains and you hum in consternation, remembering you have basically zero funds, unless you want to dip into your monthly earnings.
"For most people around, it's the physical. Record a chip, send it via delivery people, wait for reply. Takes a few days." Elim's words are backed up with soft nodding by Maria.
A) To Elim: "I assume his family must be rich to afford android purchases, did they have anything to say about him marrying a synthetic?"
B) To Elim: "Can you tell me about other android models?"
C) To Maria: "One more drink, perhaps?"
D) To Maria: "Well, it would be nice to message each other if you're in the neighbourhood."