"Ah," she said, sounding almost pleased as she started walking again. "So the full price the client pays doesn't always go to the one doing the work. I understand."
He turned to snap at her and saw the hint of creases around her eyes, which made him think she was smirking at him under the veil. He sighed. "Ok. So an expensive contract doesn't always mean a wealthy employee. I gotcha."
She didn't say anything else, but the smug attitude radiating from her didn't help prove her point either. So maybe she didn't make five million per trip? There was no way she didn't makeenough to live very well, not with the care he'd seen. He cost two million a month, she cost five million a day. It wasn't the same. Hell, the company even provided her with living quarters, and from the size of the building, he could only imagine the luxury suite she called home.
She didn't speak to him again until she had completed the download, and then only because she needed to. He waited in the hall at the request of the company's representative until he heard the door open. The pampered princess stumbled out. Her skin was pallid, her lips pressed together, and that damned blue robe covered everything but her eyes, yet he could see her hands shaking. He grabbed her arm, and she leaned into it.
"Please get me out of this building," she whispered.
"Yeah," he agreed, if for no other reason than because she'd actually bothered to ask.
His fingers dug into her flesh, but he'd understood what she needed. She didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her clients, and she seemed weaker than last time. He could hear her sucking in deep breaths, too slow to be considered panting, but she was forcing her body to give the impression she needed. The girl stood as tall as she could, using his support to make it possible, and tried to keep her head up.
Sin felt a bit of his resentment slip. He still couldn't understand how a simple data transfer—something so many kids did for fun—could make her so weak, but he understood her need to keep her composure.
Once outside, he damned near carried her until they were out of sight of the building, then stopped at a concrete flower bed. With a deep sigh, she leaned against it.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"I think you need to get out more or something," he said with a smile, hoping to lighten the mood. It didn't work.
"I need a better data port," she snapped back. "This didn't happen before."
"So why is it happening now, brainchild?"
She turned away, refusing to look at him. "I think my ports have been damaged. It has to be the ports, because my neurons test fine."
Sin chuckled at that. "You can just test your own brain?"
"Yes. It's almost all cybernetic now."
He just sighed, then grabbed her arm, pulling her to her feet. "You made this decision, so you need to figure out how to deal with it."
She shuffled along obediently, but made no attempt to match his pace, showing her defiance with her leisure. He couldn't believe she was upset because her own enhancements weren't performing as well as she wished. Why didn't she just get an upgrade? More than that, why hadn't she been satisfied with what God had given her?
Then he remembered her comments from before. Maybe that had been her point. She had to spend so much on her cybernetics that she had little left over for anything else? Still, why didn't she simply find a new position? With a mind like hers, it couldn't be hard to find a well-paying job that would be happy to have a second-class Ingénue.
Unfortunately, he didn't have time to think about it for very long. The trip back to OutLink's receiving area was faster than it had been the day before. He escorted her into the room, she swiped her arm under the reader, and her technician arrived quickly. The spoiled princess didn't even bother to say a thing as she was led to the back. There was only one problem: he'd never asked her the Praetor's question.
The next day was more of the same. He picked her up and led her out, making their way to the subway this time. The outdated system was dank and musty, but it would be the fastest way toget them to the client. The girl didn't say a word, except for what was necessary. Sin had a feeling she was holding a grudge from the day before.
Sitting her in a plastic seat as the doors slipped closed, he leaned close. "You mad at me?"
"That would be improper," she said stiffly.
"Yeah. So you're pissed. Wanna tell me why?"
"No."
He couldn't help it, he laughed. "Ok. Let's try that again. What did I do to piss you off this bad?"
He saw her eyes dart away and she let out a tense breath. "I don't like needing your help."
"And I don't like needing to give it, so I guess that makes us even."
"Damned Praetor," she grumbled.
"No," he said, sitting up straight to face her. "Uh-uh. That's crossing the line, Princess. You don't talk shit about my God, my church, or my Praetor, got it?"
