Page 49 of Awry
Now I’m confused.I mean, following Coda’s thought pattern is never easy, sometimes to the point of me begging to be put out of my misery.And I know exactly what that entails, but …
“You mean Chains?”I ask.
“No, your tech.I’ve already got recognition software running on the second shifter.I know you probably don’t give a shit because you’ve got no sense of self-preservation, but I’m going to charge you for it either way.The tech’s signature is familiar … nice, clean work.His reach isn’t as deep as mine, but you really can’t blame him for that …”
“There is only one of you.”Because literally, Coda is the only awry tech I’ve ever even heard of— extremely pricey and extremely off the grid.Awry with exceptional powers are usually commodities, and traded between or hoarded by power players as such.But no one owns Coda.No one beats or blocks Coda in the digital realm either.
If it’s been built, Coda can crumble it.If it needs to be wiped, Coda leaves no traces.But though I’m sure they have more than a few tricks up their sleeves, Coda in person is practically defenseless.Which is fine, because they’re also a ghost.A digital ghost.Not the kind that can be summoned or influenced by a mage with a death affinity.
Coda has been off grid since we crossed paths in Belize in our early twenties and ended up rescuing each other from some never-identified black-ops mage squad hunting the hacker.Or, more specifically, hunting all unprotected awry throughout Central America.
Only one other person that I know of has ever tracked down Coda on the physical plane.And the result of that … convergence … is an ever-intriguing twist of fate that I had absolutely nothing to do with.
“I’m not completely without self-preservation skills,” I say belatedly.
Coda scoffs.“All evidence to the contrary.Including just the last twenty-four hours of your existence.I assume the girl is worth it.”
That last part is a statement, not a question.So I let it lie as such.Coda will get distracted in the next second or —
“Huh.Your tech isn’t as circumspect as they think, even with cycling through a half-dozen code names.”More tapping on keyboards.“This ident he tried to bury, like, ten years ago, leads to an actual person … what kind of name is Rought?”But before I can respond, Coda adds gleefully, “Well, hello, gorgeous!”Like they’ve found a picture to match the great fingers and sexy reach.
Coda groans playfully.“If your dude didn’t come with a dick, I’d be into him.Well, nineteen-year-old him, at least.Now that I have his face, I’ll keep looking …”
I huff.Again.“I have no idea who you’re talking about.”
“Not your type.You like them … scrawny, urbane, and with built-in attachment disorder.”
I open my mouth to protest that assessment, but I’m not sure I can offer up a counter to it.
“But he’ll make you wish he were,” Coda adds with a purr.
A perky voice in the background shouts, “What dick?I want to see dick that makes me wish for things.”
Gigi.Aka the ever-intriguing twist of fate.
“Haven’t uncovered a dick pic yet,” Coda says.“But here he is shirtless.”
“Oh, my, my,” Gigi gushes, sounding closer in the phone speakers now.“He can pull my hair, spank me, and call me ‘good girl’ anytime.”
“Slut.”Coda giggles.
Muffled noises that sound a little … mouthy?… emanate from the speakers.Between those noises, Gigi lapses into French.
Coda responds in English.“You like him?I’ll keep looking for his dick for you.I’ll 3D print it and watch while —”
“Do I need to be here for this part?”I ask caustically.I’m still nowhere near having a milkshake in hand, let alone in my painfully empty belly.
“Is that Zaya?”Gigi asks.
“Hi, Gigi.”I pick up my phone.
Abandoning the suitcase and the last of its contents in the bathroom, I cross into the main room to pull on my second-favorite pair of laced boots.These are brown leather and also custom made, but come up to just over my anklebone.I refuse to mourn the beloved boots I ruined on the beach as I give the less-favored boots a cursory examination, not finding any obvious tracking device.I can’t go barefoot, but I’ll have to ditch them sooner than later.
“What the fuck is that!”Gigi shrieks through the phone speakers.
I’m guessing not the pretty dick pic they were searching for.
“Berserker,” Coda grunts.
