We drank together, and I wished we had wine, so I would have to see to that next time. The cola was almost flat from sitting in the cooler too long, but it was still cold and still cola, and on this side of the divide, that made it a luxury that no amount of credits could buy.
"We have a hacker," she said, with the satisfied air of a woman who had come to a market for vegetables and walked out with a Ferrari.
"We have a traumatized hacker," I corrected her.
She nodded hurriedly. "Yes, both. Both true. We will fix the second part. Slowly."
"You mean I'll fix it."
She shook her head. "I mean we'll fix it. I am extremely good at hitting things, sweetheart, and also, surprisingly, very good at being kind to people who haven't been treated kindly in a long time. I have practice with both. You would be surprised."
I looked at her sideways. "Would I?"
"Mm. We'll see. You know, my whole life has been—"
