The girl on the couch shot to her feet and all hell seemed to break loose. And then, the moment froze. Time froze. The girl stood there, adrenaline and whatever else stimulants she must have hooked up to her through her fancy shmancy suit pumping through her system and very obvious by her shaking.
Whatever it was, it wasn't gonna last, not the way she stood. She was old school. Had no interest in that kind of stuff. Well, that and it wasn't like Atharim- especially in America- made a lot of bank. Most lived double lives, Atharim stipend mostly as supplement. As in, basic gear. Hidey holes. But those with more money got to play with some interesting stuff.
She lived on the road and out of hotels. No super tech for her. Yeah yeah, poor Jacinda. But she still knew the systems and their purposes. Patch you up, speed you up, and get you the hell outta dodge asap.
Which was what the girl was doing.
No. Not girl. Despite the tension she shot Ten a grin. Amelia. Yeah, IT. Duh. Jacinda had wondered at all her command line Windows 95 back door stuff back when they pulled up the feeds on Aria. Even she knew that was retro. As in before her time. But hackers could be sentimental about their methods. Now she knew better.
The other girl- her not partner- got in front, tried to calm her. Ten, of course was zen as usual. The adrenaline spike had peaked and things would slow.
She spoke clearly and calmly, not making any sudden moment. "Be easy, IT Amelia Pond. You're with friends." She nodded to Ten. "Remember? Tracking the rogue, Aria? That's Tenzin." She touched her chest. "I'm Jacinda Cross."
She looked at the other girl, Rune, and quirked a small smile. Without seeing the face she couldn't be sure. And it had been, oh....more than 10 years at least. How old she been? 10? 12? She couldn't remember. So she could not be sure.
But if Seth could pick her up at the airport here in Moscow six months ago, it was likely this was his niece. For later, though. "You're with your Atharim sisters, Amelia. You're safe."
Whatever it was, it wasn't gonna last, not the way she stood. She was old school. Had no interest in that kind of stuff. Well, that and it wasn't like Atharim- especially in America- made a lot of bank. Most lived double lives, Atharim stipend mostly as supplement. As in, basic gear. Hidey holes. But those with more money got to play with some interesting stuff.
She lived on the road and out of hotels. No super tech for her. Yeah yeah, poor Jacinda. But she still knew the systems and their purposes. Patch you up, speed you up, and get you the hell outta dodge asap.
Which was what the girl was doing.
No. Not girl. Despite the tension she shot Ten a grin. Amelia. Yeah, IT. Duh. Jacinda had wondered at all her command line Windows 95 back door stuff back when they pulled up the feeds on Aria. Even she knew that was retro. As in before her time. But hackers could be sentimental about their methods. Now she knew better.
The other girl- her not partner- got in front, tried to calm her. Ten, of course was zen as usual. The adrenaline spike had peaked and things would slow.
She spoke clearly and calmly, not making any sudden moment. "Be easy, IT Amelia Pond. You're with friends." She nodded to Ten. "Remember? Tracking the rogue, Aria? That's Tenzin." She touched her chest. "I'm Jacinda Cross."
She looked at the other girl, Rune, and quirked a small smile. Without seeing the face she couldn't be sure. And it had been, oh....more than 10 years at least. How old she been? 10? 12? She couldn't remember. So she could not be sure.
But if Seth could pick her up at the airport here in Moscow six months ago, it was likely this was his niece. For later, though. "You're with your Atharim sisters, Amelia. You're safe."