Chapter 21
Shortcut entered the UEA headquarters, still steaming. “X is such an android.”
He walked across the atrium, and met Brielle on the escalator.
“I thought you were on a mission,” she said.
“I still am, I guess,” he said.
“Where’s X?”
“Being a hero.”
Brielle sensed his anger; she went silent and gazed up at the ceiling of the atrium. “You sound like you need a coffee.”
“Yeah. With alcohol in it.” He felt bad for being snappish, and smiled. “You can’t drink, Brielle.”
“But it would make you feel better.”
He lightened up. “Maybe you’re right.”
They reached the top of the escalator and walked to a coffee kiosk with several chairs. A menu in decorative writing hung on the wall.
“Maybe you misinterpreted what X meant,” Brielle said after Shortcut relayed the conversation. “W
