Echoworld

Everything is interconnected. There are a few stray threads, however.

He didn't place any hope in the idea that she might be one of the anomalies. If it turned out to be untrue, he wouldn't be heartbroken. It was just another job, after all.

She turned and put her head on his chest, still deeply asleep. He put his arm around her, uncertain of what else to do.

No. It was not just another job. It was much more than that.

He woke to the sound of running water; Wren was taking a shower. He looked over to the clock on the bedside desk. It was 11:43, local time. He groaned and sat up.

The water stopped running and he rolled out of bed. While he was tying his shoes, the bathroom door opened and Wren stepped out, wearing a towel around her and nothing else. When she saw that he was awake, she paled, then blushed furiously.

"I- I thought - I mean -"

He averted his eyes, also blushing. "I-I'm sorry."

She scurried back into the bathroom and slammed the door. Shaun realized he wasn't breathing and forced himself to start again. That was a dream come true in the most embarrassing possible sense.

She came back out, fully dressed, still slightly red. With much more composure, she said, "I thought I would be quick enough that I could be ready before you even woke up."

He nodded. The silence was awkward, so he said, "You hungry?"

"Famished."

He pointed his chin towards the door. "Then let's get some food before we try to go to Alpha."

She shoved her feet into her shoes, without untying them first. "What's the plan?"

"Plan? No plan. 'Plan' implies that we have a clue about what we're doing. Which we don't. Our basic sketchy idea is that we're going to eat breakfast, travel to Alpha, and kill Wren." He chuckled. "Sounds so blithe, so easy when you say it like that."

"It won't be easy."

He sighed. "I know."

They left the room, shutting the door quietly behind them. The entered the silent office - only Eric was there, and he was flipping through a magazine. When he saw them enter, he stuffed the magazine into a drawer and looked at them, half-expectantly, half-annoyed. Shaun gave him a knowing wink and handed him the key.

"It went well?" Eric asked slyly.

"Oh, very. Do you know of someplace we can get food? We're starved."

"Sure. There's a restaurant down the street. Reynold's Late. Pretty good, and cheap. Strange name, though."

"Hey, thanks man. I'll talk to you later, all right?" Shaun said, shaking the man's hand heartily.

"It's no problem. Next time, bring me a lady as beautiful as this one and I' ll consider every bill of yours paid."

Wren blushed. "Thank you," she murmured.

Eric laughed it off. "Go on, get out of here."

They left and walked to the restaurant. The walk, short though it was, was very quiet. Wren had her hands in her pockets, her knife kept snugly on her waist. She kicked a rock with the toe of her shoe the entire time.

Shaun looked over at her. "Hey. You all right?"

"Just fine," she answered, rather sharply.

"Are you mad at me?"

"Why would you give him the impression that more happened between us than actually did?" she seethed.

"Hey, all I said was that the night passed pleasantly. If he infers more from that, am I to blame?"

"Yes. You planted the daemon seed, giving him the impression." They'd reached the restaurant.