Page 99 of Tyton: The Spider and the Dragonfly
“Spite?”Callie shrugged with a tentative smile.
“Spite.”Sesi confirmed.“We’re still screwing with Model 21’s plans, but we need to keep him running so other gangs don’t figure out that the big companies are so understaffed that anyone can walk in and take over.”
“I thought you wanted them to collapse.”Sparx tilted his head.
“Oh, we do.”Sesi nodded.“But I’m pretty sure everyone would prefer a controlled descent rather than a crash landing.So, you need to keep your mouth shut.”
Sparx drew his fingers across his lips.
“Also, we might need you to hike South to get a better shot at those geostationary satellites.There’s a lot of data to upload.I’d rather not have it get corrupted on the way.”Sesi twirled her cup.“We’re still planning on powering down Model 21, but I’d feel better if we took out the plant-adapted organelles in case something goes sideways.”
“Can I take Tornit?”
“I…guess?”Sesi exchanged a glance with Callie.
“Good.He was born out there too, wasn’t he?He should know the area better than I do.”
“That makes sense,” Sesi agreed.
“And if you give me the retrovirus specs, I can bring a testing kit.Maybe find you someone.”Sparx winked.
“I have all thesomeonesI need.”Sesi frowned.
“Fine.Find some other uncorrupted woman theirsomeone.”
“It’s their choice, Sparx.I’m not going to make it for them.”
“Not even to save men?”Sparx pouted.
“No.”Callie said firmly, restraining Sesi.“Don’t kill him, he’s just an idiot,” she whispered.“Also, this is my mom’s shop and we don’t want to make her clean up blood.”
Sesi glowered.“A woman saving your arse again,” she muttered.Callie rubbed calming circles on her back.“Maybe go home to Talia.I’ll finish up here with Sparx.”Sesi nodded and left.
Callie threw Sesi’s cup at Sparx.“I know you have fun pressing my buttons, but maybe think before pressing the buttons of people who murder for a living?”
“Sorry!”Sparx cringed.
“So, this is really happening then, huh?”Sparx finally said, after a few minutes of heavy silence.
“Turns out I didn’t need your help finding someone after all,” Callie shrugged.
“No kidding!Twogirlfriends and a kid on the way?”
“There’s still a lot of science that needs to happen.She’s not getting pregnant tomorrow.”
“Still.”Sparx ran his hands through his hair.
“Think of it more like discussing whether we want to have kids sometime in the future.”
Sparx nodded, pondering.“You still fuckin U-Hauled, though.”
Callie laughed.“We still U-Hauled.”
Sparx shook his head.“Lesbians.”
The Star
July 21 2269
