Page 46 of Tapeworld Induction

He looked pleased himself, and it was contagious. A warmth suffused her chest, and she played into it. “Actually, I think the whole point of meeting right now was for you to tell me what the hell is going on with you, but… fine. I’ll tell you about my training, but then you owe me answers.”

He nodded, looking more serious again.

“I trained all my life because of my parents,” she said. “I trained at the Apocalypse Revolt camps.”

He furrowed his brow, not knowing what she meant.

“There were a few dotted around the Kingdom. Only recently been repurposed or demolished. The deal between the Apocalypse Revolt and the Tech Kingdoms, which ended the Dark Year, ensured the Revolt would carry on training the new generation. To hold the Kings and Queens to account, in case they failed in their efforts to slow down climate change.”

He stared open-mouthed at her for a moment. “And what did you learn there?”

She flashed her teeth. “How to kick ass.”

He grinned.

Goddess, he was cute. She was enjoying being the centre of attention for a change. All those years running around after Talia with her boy toy of the week, leaving only leftovers for Dylan. She usually avoided them entirely. But she didn’t want to get sucked in too far without knowing more about him…

“So,” she said, “can you please tell me what were you doing in that forest tape-space before you summoned me?”

His grin dropped. “Ah. Yes. I guess I owe you an explanation.”

“Also, why did you summon me?”

His eyes opened wide. “Right… That was an accident.”

She pushed her drink towards him, done with it. “Thinking of me and saying my name was an accident?”

He smiled weakly, before turning serious. “It’s hard to explain. I looked at the house and saw your face on it. I…”

She had trouble making sense of what he meant. “You saw a vision of my face?”

“I don’t know if it was a vision, or the tape messing with my head, or just…”

“Your endless fascination with me?” she teased. “No, but seriously,” she added, so he wouldn’t feel obliged to answer that particular question, “you’re always inside the Tapeworld, aren’t you? Could that be why you’re seeing things?”

His face showed concern. “Maybe.”

“So, what were you doing there? Is it secret?” She lowered her voice and leaned closer. “Hacking? It’s hacking, isn’t it? What kind of hacking? It’s not Russians, right?” She stared at him.

He looked down in silence, scrutinising the top of his machined coffee cup.

“Oh my goddess, it is Russians!”

“It’s not Russians!” he barked. “At least, I’m pretty sure it’s not Russians…”

Dylan went quiet, waiting for him to elaborate.

“It’s not like hacking in the real world. I’m not a computer whiz.”

“You’re the London Lazarus team captain. You are a computer whiz!”

A flash of disapproval went over his face, but his demeanour remained friendly, if slightly upset. “Former captain. And that’s not the same thing. Sure, I know my way around VR shooters—” His hand went under the table and he touched his hurt knee. “That doesn’t mean I know anything about cybersecurity.”

He went serious, and the boyish look disappeared from his face. He suddenly looked more mature.

“I’ve been stealing.” He folded his arms, looking away from her. “That’s what it is. I go into these pockets, personal spaces in the Tapeworld, and I copy secrets, data, blueprints – that’s what I was doing at that house. That’s why the wolves chased us.”

Of course. She should be so lucky to be attracted to someone normal, someone who was just grinding at their normal job, trying to make ends meet. Here she was with a pilferer of industrial secrets, a retired professional VR gamer turned hacker.