Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)(22)



So do I drag Ezra into danger? Isn’t he in more danger if I don’t keep trying to work out what’s happening?

Everyone here wants to believe the guys in charge know exactly what they’re doing, but of course they don’t. There’s nothing in their rules and regulations for this. They’re wounded and limping for safety, and they don’t know how to get away from the Lincoln. So why should I trust them, especially when they’re lying to me?

There’s no clear path ahead of me. They never taught this class in school.

I remember there was this teacher called Ms. McElroy back at McCaffrey. Taught junior tech. She used to go on and ON at me about fulfilling my potential, and I used to roll my eyes, and my mom would tell me to listen to the lady.

She died in the first wave. She looked really surprised.

I don’t mean to make a joke there, though I know it sounds kind of sarcastic. I just mean, that wasn’t the facial expression I would have expected.

She used to talk a lot about how to make decisions, as well. Like, she had this idea around exploring your own moral system, but then applying it to a grid to work out what to do. Marrying ethics and technology.

Why didn’t I listen to that? I could really use her system for working out the right thing to do around now.

I only know one thing for sure.

Whatever they don’t want me to see, that’s where I’m digging. I need to be where the secrets are.

I’m more interested in ensuring I have a future than they think.

McNulty, J, Sgt: ezra

McNulty, J, Sgt: mason

McNulty, J, Sgt: ANSWER BITCH

Mason, E, LT 2nd: shit internal comms back on?

McNulty, J, Sgt: they testing

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ah

McNulty, J, Sgt: Dorian pinged me to check if my internal messager was working. I am his test monkey. Watch me monkey

Mason, E, LT 2nd: and of everyone you could’ve picked to IM, you pinged me. Flattered, you may color me

McNulty, J, Sgt: don’t be, ur the only one I knew who’d be awake at this hour

McNulty, J, Sgt: thinking about Miss Thing

Mason, E, LT 2nd: eat me

McNulty, J, Sgt: first, a kiss from your cherry lips

Mason, E, LT 2nd: maybe if you warm me up a little

McNulty, J, Sgt: k wut are u wearing?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: nothing. Your sister was just here

McNulty, J, Sgt: …

Mason, E, LT 2nd: OH BURRRNT?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: flew face-first into that, son

McNulty, J, Sgt: FUCK YOU CHUM

Mason, E, LT 2nd: too tired. Told you, ur sis just left

McNulty, J, Sgt: look at you, all sprightly and shit. Big switch from mr Mopey, all “bloo bloo, my troubles have water wings” couple of days back

Mason, E, LT 2nd: cold, chum. cold

McNulty, J, Sgt: thought you’d be all sadpants with no ship 2 ship. No more sexies from Miss Thing to keep you warm

Mason, E, LT 2nd: she’s not like that

McNulty, J, Sgt: ah, she special

Mason, E, LT 2nd: she is

McNulty, J, Sgt: u got pix of this astro-princess?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: no sexies, I told u

McNulty, J, Sgt: clothed, fool

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I got school pics

McNulty, J, Sgt: send me

Mason, E, LT 2nd: no chance

McNulty, J, Sgt: SEND

Mason, E, LT 2nd: en oh bee eye tee see haych

McNulty, J, Sgt: Mason, if u no send, I will make it my mission in life to teabag you while you sleep

Mason, E, LT 2nd: 0_o

McNulty, J, Sgt: Shipboard security have master access to all areas, chum

McNulty, J, Sgt: I know where you lay thee down

McNulty, J, Sgt: And you WILL wake one night to feel a pair of slightly sweatysomethings tickling your prettyboy chin

Mason, E, LT 2nd: my f*cking god

McNulty, J, Sgt: I am serious, mason.

McNulty, J, Sgt: this is not a drill

Mason, E, LT 2nd: if I do send

Mason, E, LT 2nd: and then I find hardcopy of this pinned to the ceiling above your bunk

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I will cut your slightly sweatysomethings off and flush them out an airlock

McNulty, J, Sgt: I solemnly swear I will not engage in happy pants while looking at pics of ur would-be ex-ex-girlfriend, chum

Mason, E, LT 2nd: …

Mason, E, LT 2nd: k, sending

McNulty, J, Sgt: holy shit

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ya

McNulty, J, Sgt: this is her?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ya

McNulty, J, Sgt: she got pink hair

Mason, E, LT 2nd: she used to dye it

McNulty, J, Sgt: did the collar match the cuffs?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: >_<

McNulty, J, Sgt: how in god’s name … chum, I have bad news

Mason, E, LT 2nd: let me guess, you’re planning to break your solemn vow as soon as you finish speaking to me, rite?

McNulty, J, Sgt: you wound me, chum

Mason, E, LT 2nd: :P

McNulty, J, Sgt: bad news is im typing ths 1 handed

Mason, E, LT 2nd: god no

McNulty, J, Sgt: think im getting the hng of it

Mason, E, LT 2nd: STOP

McNulty, J, Sgt: 1more min

Mason, E, LT 2nd: STOP.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: JIMMY, I SWEAR TO ALL THAT’S HOLY

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I WILL NEVER SPEAK ILL OF YOUR SISTER AGAIN

Mason, E, LT 2nd: JUST STOP NOW

McNulty, J, Sgt: u promise?

Amie Kaufman, Jay Kr's Books