Binary Love (18+)

The Diamond Age

"A sample!" Nova perked up, watching the liquid swirl. It had a glittery quality to it - due to the nanos, no doubt - that made the solution rather captivating to the eye.

Berkley kept one pointed nail on the tip of the vial, gently rocking it back and forth, watching it glimmer in the low light. She looked deep in thought. Pensive.

"A client gave this to me." She licked her lips. "I believe this will be of some help to you."

Mark's ears perked up. His head tilted to the side, while he subtly scented the air, eyes sharp and focused on Berkley. Nova could tell that he was curious about something, but she couldn't tell over what.

The Madame seemed to shake herself out of whatever daze she had been in, suddenly passing the sample to Nova.

"Here. It's yours now."

"Thank you." Nova tucked it carefully into her jacket pocket. No way was she stashing that between her bust. "Any chance you heard anything interesting?"

"Not much that I don't think you already know. But there was one thing I learnt." She added, scowling. "It seems that the Blue is only coming from one source. The distribution point hops - between space stations - from quadrant to quadrant. Turns out Blue has been around for a while, but we've only had it in this quadrant for the last year or so. The best I can tell, it's still in rotation here, but based off of previous patterns they're due to move on soon."

"Move on? But where-"

"Madame Berkley, there is a situation in one of the private rooms that needs your attention." The sultry voice came from behind the thick curtains, startling Nova, but seemingly not affecting Berkley and Mark.

"Thank you Sheila, I will be right up in a moment." Despite her pleasant tone, the look on her face was anything but. Berkley was not happy that their conversation had been interrupted. "I apologise for having to cut our time short - Nova, Mark - but I have some business to attend too. Please, stay as long as you wish. The both of you are always welcome here."

With an elegance Nova was sure she could never replicate, Berkley gracefully stood up from where she was seated. She smoothed down her silk dress, tutting over a few wrinkles that had appeared, before pulling the privacy curtain to one side.

The red headed android, Sheila, was revealed to be standing on the other side. An artificial smile was paired with a vacant look in her green eyes. Looking nowhere, but everywhere.

Nova's skin crawled, but she managed to hold back a shiver.

"Thank you for your time. It was good to see you." Mark's rumbling voice cut through the tension with a knife. It was as if he had snapped his fingers right in front of her face, jarring her out of staring at Sheila.

"And you as well." Berkley gave a soft smile to the both of them, before squaring her shoulders and putting on her professional mask. "Sheila, please can you see to the BDSM theme room? I imagine I'll be indisposed for a while before I can return."

"Of course, Madame." Sheila dipped her head, showing respect with a small bow.

Nova and Mark stayed silent, watching Sheila accompany Berkley out of the theme room. As soon as it was clear that both of them had left, Mark tucked Nova into his side, nuzzling her neck.

Although his touch was comforting, it did nothing to quell the deep sense that something was very wrong. It felt like she was standing on quick sand, but was too stupid to even realise.

"We'll leave as soon as Arachne returns." His voice was like whisky; leaving a liquid heat down her throat, warming her from the inside. "It won't be much longer."