Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1)(23)



Mason, E, LT 2nd: I FUCKING SWEAR

McNulty, J, Sgt: zzzz, fine

Mason, E, LT 2nd: why is it every time I finish talking to you

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I need a f*cking shower …

McNulty, J, Sgt: …

Mason, E, LT 2nd: you hear that?

McNulty, J, Sgt: shipboard alarm

Mason, E, LT 2nd: they calling your squad, chum. Code blue

McNulty, J, Sgt: shit chum, I gotta jump.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: k

McNulty, J, Sgt: taking hardcopy with me

McNulty, J, Sgt: for later

McNulty, J, Sgt: :)

Mason, E, LT 2nd: zzzzzz

Mason, E, LT 2nd: you back yet, chum?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: jimmeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhh

Mason, E, LT 2nd: GIMME SITREPBITCH

Mason, E, LT 2nd: if u back and in the shower with that pic of K, Ima give little Jimmy the chop and flush him down the head

Mason, E, LT 2nd: zzzzz, I got VR training, ping me back when u get in

Dorian, C, Corp: Ping.

Dorian, C, Corp: Ping.

Dorian, C, Corp: And at the risk of repeating myself …

Dorian, C, Corp: Ping.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: dorian?

Dorian, C, Corp: Bravo. Your insight is as astounding as ever, Mason.

Dorian, C, Corp: It’s my sincere belief that your potential is wasted in that sweaty little cockpit. You should be doing the Coreworld lecture circuit. Imagine it: Packed houses. Perfect hair. Screaming girlchildren. “Tonight Only. Ezra Mason: How to state the bleeding obvious.”

Mason, E, LT 2nd: …

Mason, E, LT 2nd: hug?

Dorian, C, Corp: Silence. Let me work.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Chum, YOU pinged ME.

Dorian, C, Corp: I’m still testing internal comms. Just hold still. This won’t hurt.

Dorian, C, Corp: *snaps on latex gloves*

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Dorian, this is really saying something, but you seem pissier than normal

Dorian, C, Corp: Mason, I’ve had 3.72 hours sleep in the last six days. There are more stims in my bloodstream than blood. If you want congeniality, try McNulty’s sister.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: wut’s congeniality and is there a cream for it?

Dorian, C, Corp: Oh, my. You’re just hilarious.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: you just figure that out?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: speaking of my future bride, you heard from jimmy?

Dorian, C, Corp: And why would I have heard from James, pray tell?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: isn’t that what married couples do? Talk and what not? And why u no send him flowers anymore

Dorian, C, Corp: SILENCE, DAMN YOU.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: seriously, you heard from him?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: His squad got called to a code blue, like, sixteen hours ago.

Dorian, C, Corp: … Indeed?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: ya. Heard nothing since.

Dorian, C, Corp: Give me a moment. I shall check.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: u know Dorian, people say you’re a blackhearted prick with all the social skills of a pubic louse. but I know better

Mason, E, LT 2nd: your heart’s more gray than black

Dorian, C, Corp: Mason.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: maybe puce

Dorian, C, Corp: Mason, shut up.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: k

Dorian, C, Corp: I have good news and bad news.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: in terms of drama, which one should I ask for first

Dorian, C, Corp: The good news. Most definitely.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: k gimme

Dorian, C, Corp: I found James’ squad. They’re debriefing in quarantine. The Code Blue is still in effect in Hangar Bay 4, but his squad made it out.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Can I guess the bad news?

Dorian, C, Corp: You may try.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Jimmy’s not with them.

Dorian, C, Corp: … How did you know that?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: I just tried to imagine all the ways things could get worse, then picked the shittiest option

Dorian, C, Corp: …

Dorian, C, Corp: You know Mason, sometimes you’re not as stupid as you look.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: you just figure that out?

ByteMe: well that is not as nice as flowers. what u need?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: A friend of mine is off-grid. Wondering if your powers can work for good as well as evilllllll

ByteMe: do my best. Alexander or Hypatia? tell me what u know?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: Alexander. I dunno if you can even find out this stuff. he’s a marine named James McNulty. Crazier than a churchful of dustheads, but he’s a good guy.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: he got called to a code blue alert 17 hours ago. Nobody’s seen him since. Can you sacrifice something small and fluffy to the bloodgod (or whatever it is you do) and find out where he’s at?

ByteMe: seems weird he’d be gone that long and no word. I thought u guys specialized in rumor

Mason, E, LT 2nd: his squad is locked down in quarantine. But he’s not with them

ByteMe: I can hunt around but u guys locked down your servers when u took down ship 2 ship comms

Mason, E, LT 2nd: So what does that mean? you can’t get in at all?

ByteMe: lemme think

ByteMe: how worried are u?

Mason, E, LT 2nd: capital W.

Mason, E, LT 2nd: hearing real bad stuff on the scuttlebutt. like, u would not believe bad

ByteMe: i might be able to get in, but only if ur up for helping. this is going to take a few hours

Amie Kaufman, Jay Kr's Books