Provenance I - Flee The Bonds Read Online Free Page B

assistant drooled close by, ‘So much better in black, I can practically see the years drop away.’
    Jason’s gaze bounced. You need to fix that mirror.
    At the centre of the store, inclined autopaves rose through sparkling mirrored shafts. Two thirds of the way up, Jason spun around. Oh, not you again . Four other people stood on the autopave. Three looked up; one woman looked away. Sky-blue skiing jacket, short and slim, with a cute tanned face framed by a brunette bob. On any other occasion, he might have asked her out.
    He stepped off the autopave, crossed the glossy floor and faked interest in a chrome and glass cabinet stacked with cologne.
    A stiff middle-aged man in an even stiffer dark suit appeared. ‘Is it still raining, sir?’
    Jason lifted his head. Beat it. ‘Whadda you think?’
    The man’s chest inflated. ‘Well sir, I think it's a consequence of two billion Drones having only wood as a fuel and the absence of environmental controls.’
    Jason’s gaze hardened. ‘Is that an opinion or something you read on the Resistance network?’ The assistant retreated.
    Jason turned his head. He could see her reflection in the autopave shaft wall. I’ll give you one more chance.
    She threw a glance in his direction.
    He coughed, took out his ID and slid it across the glass top; his exposed left wrist revealed the platinum MPS. The assistant’s eyebrows rose, everyone knew the Mutable Personal System colours. Had it been black the assistant would’ve probably fainted.
    ‘Act normal and call up security.’
    The assistant pulled an MCD towards him. It spoke a few seconds after his shaky fingers touched the red icon.
    ‘Hello Jackson, that big chap causing problems?’
    The assistant pursed his lips. ‘The gentleman is an Advocate Commander.’
    ‘Oh, sorry sir, how can we help?’
    Jason lowered his head. ‘Woman, sky-blue skiing jacket, short, brunette bob.’
    A moment’s pause. ‘Yes sir, we see her.’
    ‘Pick her up. If she’s CONSEC, tell her to get a new job. If she’s a Drone, take her up to the roof and throw her off.’
    The MCD spluttered, ‘I-I need authorisation for that, sir.’
    Jason shook his head, ‘Get a lotta Drones in here do you?’
    ‘No, sir. Sorry, sir.’
    Jason strolled to the autopave and descended. At the bottom, he hit the emergency stop button and stepped aside to let a Defender take his place. The woman on the autopave spun around, the shoulders of her skiing jacket dropped. Another Defender waited at the top. She turned and looked down. Jason thought her smile out of place considering the circumstances. He returned a grin, took a snapshot, and headed towards the exit.
    Her lack of experience had been too obvious, too dangerous to ignore. She’d go back for retraining and he’d be having a one-sided conversation with her instructor. He glanced down at his MCD and smiled; perhaps he would get her call ID.
    Out on the pavement, an icy splash stung Jason’s neck. He turned up his collar and cut back into the crowd. Next time he’d wait for the car.
    At the junction with Orchard Street, he spun around and weaved back through the crowd. Satisfied his Guardian was still with him, he slipped into a shop doorway and rotated the MPS’s selector dial. No answer.
    ‘Stevie, Jas. I blew the beanie’s cover; she couldn’t follow an elephant in a matchbox. Briefing was the usual fluff, although I did meet a PSYOPS called Jannae Kalckburg. German accent, lumpy jaw. Sound familiar? If you’ve landed me in it buddy, I’m gonna bill you for getting me out. Forget about this afternoon, we’ll take care of it next week. Another one you owe me. Right, gotta go. Speak Monday. Jas out.’
    Jason was about to step out into the throng when someone caught his eye. A tanned woman with a brunette bob wearing a sky-blue skiing jacket. You again. Jason hadn’t expected the Defenders to detain her, but he was surprised she was still tailing, and that his Guardian hadn’t picked her