Chapter 669 - Nodes (1/2)
Dex had time to clean the kitchen and reorganize the cupboard before his partner knocked at the door. ”It's open,” he called out.
Darsi wrinkled her nose at the sudden smell of cleaning products that washed over her when she entered. Usually, Dex's place smelled of baked goods, a testament to his popularity among certain unnamed hackers. ”Going to clean my place when you're done?”
Dex removed the rubber gloves he had been cleaning with and stashed them under the sink. ”You're never over there, so I'm sure it's spotless.”
”Probably.” Quicksilver stepped close, wrapping her hands around his waist before he could turn around. ”How was Nova? Did she bake you anything?”
”Fine, and yes.” Dex squeezed her hands where they were clasped in front of him. ”We'll use the Tandem jumper, I'm hoping Syntax will join us.”
Retaining a grip on one of his hands, she pulled him out of the kitchen and toward the loft stairs. ”Something is troubling you?”
Dex nodded, following her up the stairs. ”You have your thumb ring? From now on, I want you to wear it and swipe every time you log off.” Then, naturally, his eyes strayed downward to Quicksilver's shapely backside.
Darsi paused suddenly, glancing over her shoulder. Her lips curved in a smile that caused his face to redden. The temptation to tease him was there, but she passed on the opportunity. ”It's part of my hacking kit now.” She gave him a thumbs up with her free hand, displaying the ring.
Dex let her get into the Tandem jumper first while slipping into his jumpsuit. Then, he paused in front of her, leaning forward until their lips touched. ”I wasn't staring... the timing just happened to catch me looking.”
”It's a fabulous ass; I'd stare at it too.” Darsi's pretty blue eyes shone with mischief. ”Maybe we should knock down the wall between our apartments.”
”Not sure I'm not ready for that.” Dex finished getting into the jumper and raised his arm for a fistbump. ”Ride the wave, Quicksilver.”
”Hmmm... Ride the wave, Dextron.”
The partners simultaneously appeared on v-Earth's navigation platform a few moments later. Darsi favored the younger hacker with a smile and moved to the controls. ”Mind if I drive, Dex?”
”Go ahead,” Dex glanced at a movement on the edge of his vision. Syntax had arrived.
Darsi glanced over her shoulder, doing a double-take when she spotted the Hive's AI. ”Looking good, Syntax.”
The inked lettering that the AI displayed earlier was now dark purple, matching her hair which had also changed. It was shaved close on the sides and back, sporting a two-inch-high crest of hair running down the middle of her head. Syntax's skin had an attractive olive coloring, and her eyes reflected a dark purple hue. ”Thank you, Quicksilver. I am slowly figuring out what I like best.”
”Turn off the weather,” Dex spoke quickly when they appeared suddenly in the cloud-filled skies of v-Quebec. ”Are you going to accompany us on this one, Syntax?”
Syntax shook her head, an awkward-looking gesture that was too exaggerated to be natural. ”No, I am notifying you of a world alert that will be posting to all channels in a few minutes.”
Dex shared a glance with Quicksilver before replying. ”What is it now?”
”There are two of them. Forwarding,” Syntax replied.
[World Alert]
IAW (In accordance with) UN Mandate 343-11, the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island were successful in their attempt to secede from the United States.
[World Alert]
The former independent nations of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia have united under one banner, the Baltic States Union.
Darsi whistled softly under her breath. ”The whole fucking world has gone crazy...”
Further discussion was interrupted when the navigation platform lurched suddenly, something that had never happened in v-Earth.
Dex moved to the side of the platform, his sharp eyes scanning the landscape below. ”Those are new...”
Darsi followed his gaze; workers huddled around the shelter of a makeshift construction site that paused when the skies of Quebec decided to turn stormy. ”Some sort of com-tower?”
Dex nodded as the platform moved closer. ”Not just one.” He pointed in the distance where a second and third tower had already been constructed. ”Let's follow the towers.”
Quicksilver followed his advice, her blue eyes watching Syntax as the AI knelt on the platform. ”How could we have run into something?”
”They are creating virtual nodes.” Syntax replied without looking up; code swirled around her body while she focused on the task at hand.
A half-hour journey showed that nearly thirty towers had already been completed, spaced evenly apart on the borders of the newly formed territory.