The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 130 : Scarlet & Rusks

Scarlet entered the room and looked around. She still had the identity token flashing in her wearable, and she used it to instruct the room AI not to switch on the lights. She waited for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The drapes were open, and a bit of light was coming from outside. There was also a small night-light in an alcove. She felt the amount of light was perfectly romantic... Like they had always written in books and shown in holo-novel shows.

First thing she did was to have the Scarli-Devee seep further into the network of the Dorm building, spread through it and reach the main security control system. Then it silently but very swiftly took over controls of security from the Dorm AI. It took over every sensor and camera in the building and vicinity.

Once it had established itself, it sent out a request to the buildings nearby and also to the main AI control of Uni-Viva, asking for cooperation. It sent along security tokens that only Scarlet had, which none of the AI would refuse. It was a security access of the General Tarrier, Head of Imperial Security. Every AI it contacted, immediately gave it full access to sensors, cameras, trackers, mass transit schedules (even who was on which mass at that time) log files and everything it needed for full control and security of Uni-Viva.

Scarli-Devee was not bothered with mundane things like managing infra or heating and lighting. Those functions were below its dignity. It activated its sentry program and within seconds got a snapshot of the current situation. Then it gave monitoring tasks to all the AI that were cooperating with it and sat back. It created the perfect security net to protect its owner. Any suspicious move, anything that had a remotest possibility of harm to Princess Scarlet, it would know and move against...

All this happened while Scarlet stood still like a statue next to the door of the Dorm. She waited for her full control of the Security Sentry to be activated. Only when she was fully satisfied, she relaxed and walked towards the bed in which Rusks was sleeping, completely unaware of the changed circumstances. She put the gun in safety mode and pulled it out of her pocket and put it on the glass table in the middle of the room, but which she could grab in seconds from the bed.

She looked at Rusk and smiled. She felt she should have done this many years ago. She changed her wearable and communicator settings. She informed the wearable that she was taking it off and if Scarli-Devee had any alert, it should put a loud beep every 10 seconds till she responded. She knew that if she did not respond in 60 seconds, the AI would initiate emergency protocols.

She took the wearable off and put it next to the gun. Then she walked over to the bed, leaned in and stroked Rusk's face and hair. Rusk made a 'hmmm' sound and his face showed a smile. He shifted his position and lay flat on his back.

Scarlet took off her jacket and let it fall to the ground. Then she took off her skirt and then her top, letting them slide gently to the ground too. Finally, she took off her undergarments and slid between the covers. She reached out to touch Rusks.

Rusk's reflexes were one of the best in normal condition. But he was in his room which had a very strong security. He was also off duty and Julien was not in Ci'gazze. There were more than 150 Imperial Security personnel on duty taking care of security of Dusk Hale and the 3 Princess. If there was any problem, they would call him. So, he was unusually relaxed. The doctor had told him during his previous physical examination that he needed to find a way to relax as 5 years of always on duty mode had started to affect his body. Therefore, he had, on Julien's orders, moderated his duties and created a sanctuary.

Scarlet was apprehensive that he would wake up and react violently, but she was happy to see he did not. Instead, on being touched, his hands reached out and held her own and then their fingers intertwined. Satisfied, Scarlet moved closer to him and wriggled one hand below him to reach out and caress his back. Rusks hands went across Scarlet and tried to pull her to himself. Scarlet was delighted with the result and snuggled closer.