“On the cell and the organelles being removed.”
“What about a big cell?”
“Are you thinking of…” Siku squinted at his sister.
Sesi nodded, smiling.
“They’re going to hate that idea.And the only place that even has DocPods that do that are…”
Sesi interrupted him.“The exact place we’re going.”
The Sun
January 12 2268
C
allie stood at the corner of a dingy, poorly lit alley.She stood, wracked by indecision for so long that her Thermabulle had started to cause the snow around her to form a muddy, icy crust.Sparx would tell me to move my arseshe told herself.She took a deep breath and rounded the corner.
She saw the same large man and her anxiety resurfaced.What if the encryption key didn’t work?What if Talia had known about Sesi and had given her the card to lure her here and have her torn apart by the bouncer?What if… but the man jerked his chin in her direction and pounded twice on the door.
The décor had changed again.Neither a lounge nor an upscale nightclub, the only colour present was black.Black synleather couches in the corner matched the synleather fetish wear most of the patrons wore.A turnable rack stood in one corner.Chains hung from the ceiling.Pommel horses with tie points and tables full of tools.Callie knew places like these intimately, but it had been years.A flood of anticipation hit her in the chest and spread like glitter to every part of her.
And then, in the middle, a raised dais.A suspension rig hung directly above it, but it stood empty at the moment.She hoped she had shown up early for the performance, rather than late.
Her Opti pinging interrupted her admiration of the scene.
That’s awfully forward,she thought.
Callie glanced at the name.Who the fuck wasSpider?Obviously, no-one used their real names in places like these, but Opti’s were connected to your biosig.You couldn’t just alter your name without a DocPod regedit.And that would be tough to explain to your boss in the morning.That’s why no-oneusedtheir Opti in kink spaces.
Callie turned to see Sesi leaning back in a black leather armchair, one leg extended and the most vainglorious smile she had ever seen.The white crop and loose fitting Bulitweave black trousers weren’t helping Callie’s resolve.Don’t get involved.Talia said she’d be here tonightshe told herself.
Sesi removed her visor and Callie locked eyes.She really wished she could approach her with a modicum of dignity, but she couldn’t help but grin.Just talking to her couldn’t hurt, she lied to herself.
“Spider, huh?”
“Sparx told me.”Sesi reached out and offered her hand.Callie took it.
“I thought you said he held me close to his chest.”
“Only on the most important things.”Sesi tilted her head.“Now,” she tugged gently, guiding Callie to sit on her knee.“About that list.”Callie had forgotten that this whole interaction had started with a list.
“I thought you weren’t pursuing me.”
“And yet, here you are,” Sesi purred.“Let’s call it your boss’ prerogative.”
“You’re my boss now?”Callie narrowed her eyes, but a cheeky smile remained.
Sesi slid her arm around her waist.Callie immediately regretted wearing overalls.Again.“You seem like you want a boss.”
Callie’s breath hitched.Sesi’s fingers had found the bare patch of skin along her side.
God, why am I making this so easy for her?Callie thought.But not for long.Sesi’s other hand reached around the back of her neck and drew her in for the most luxurious kiss.And Callie fell victim to it immediately.She had absolutely no defenses that would function at this point.Her brain had shut off.There was only Sesi and Sesi’s mouth.
“Am I interrupting?”
Callie recognised those contralto tones and a blast of panic made her jolt upright.
