"Well, we jus' got'ta' let our paren's know."
"Ya'll got, implants, right?"
Triss's brow raised and she shook her head.
"Ain't that simple. It ain't paid fir." She said, and nodded and they split up. "I'm good though. Yir nayme's Kate ya say? En yir frien?"
"Young Striker." Kate said, the name would not stick.
He got a smile from Tris, which proved to be as predatory as anything she'd seen before. Once more she found herself wondering what exactly she was feeling because something was echoing in her chest, which was surprisingly hollow.
I mean Kate, come on, she is way too old to be smiling to him like that. Complained a voice in her head. She had to shut it up.
Kate pulled it together.
"Yeah, he and his friends were looking for friends to spend time with. It's pretty nice up there."
"Really?" Triss asked.
"Better than here." Young Striker said, there was a new buttery smoothness to his voice.
Kate pulled a face at that one. If his eyebrows started wiggling then she would have lost her mind. Not that she cared, because she didn't. She really didn't! She was yelling.
"How'd you guys get a short cut?"
"This girl here." Said Young Striker.
"Show me." She said, not looking at Kate.
Kate shrugged.
"Mission complete by now right?" Griff whispered after Kate leaned into her.
"Can never be sure, but I think so. By now it will be impossible for them to get their parents back for the whole damn day, we'll be looking after them." Kate said.
They passed an image of the hurricane, which had grown massive.
"We should hurry. There's a period where we'll be in the open." Said Young Striker having seen what they saw.
Kate smiled.
"We could just stay this side?" Kate ventured.
"Not a chaynce" Triss said with all edge of chaos in her voice. "Dun tell me, yir scared." She said, relishing the moment.
"Never." Kate said.
Triss stopped and smiled, those long arms crossed.
They were at the exit hatch. The others catching up.
Griff patted Kate's hip and she leaned in.
"I think something is up." He whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Kate asked.
"They're acting like they don't use implants but Mom showed us how to tell if someone is listening with their networks. I think they're lying. I think they've been using implants the whole time. Even Button and Pompadour."