57 Chapter 57 (1/2)
Chapter 57
Silence followed Rue's statement, and James was certain they could hear the gears turning in his head. Rue's father? That made sense, she seemed extremely realistic as an AI. The person behind her creation had to have been a rather skilled developer. But then again, was she really an AI? What if she was human? But, what would that mean? Were the other cores aided by humans as well? That would go against what Xander had told James in the beginning, wouldn't it?
The thoughts rushed through James's mind faster than he could process them, and all he could do was take a drink of his apple juice, his hand trembling slightly, while he glanced between the two. He could really go for a glass of whiskey right about now.
”Did I break him?” Rue's voice was slurred, and the pixie, back to her usually drunken nature, lightly poked James on the cheek. Her antics pulled him from the torrent of thoughts, and he shook his head, bringing himself back to reality.
”What do you mean, your father?” James looked deep into the Pixie's liquor addled eyes. She was a really cute drunk, and she was really close. For a second, James felt his mind slip again, before he brought his mind back to the topic at hand. Now was not the time for his teenage hormones to get the better of him, even if Rue was-
The pixie leaned closer and opened her mouth slightly, a grin on her face. James wasn't sure if she was about to whisper an answer to him, or something else, but a second later, a small wall appeared between the two. Had Xander just cock blocked James?
”How about we continue our conversation?” Xander's eyes narrowed as James turned back towards the developer. Though there was now a literal wall between James and Rue, he was sure the pixie was glaring as well.
”How about you-” Rue's response started, and then suddenly stopped, behind angry muffled screaming.
”You've said enough for now Rue.” Xander's eyes flashed with amusement, and James bet the sadistic man had just gagged his pixie. This man definitely had a complex about him. No wonder Steve had rebelled so much against the man. However, James silently wished Steve hadn't caused him the trouble. Why couldn't' Blank have gotten the advantage? Then Xander would have reset that dungeon, and James would have been tied for the top dungeon core around.
”Do you enjoy picking on helpless little girls?” James was back in his white knight mode, and his voice held unbridled anger as he narrowed his eyes. Alright, his hormones were still slightly in control.
”First.” Xander waved a hand, and the wall between James and Rue disappeared, showing an angry Rue, with sure enough, a cloth wrapped around her mouth, her eyes filled with rage. ”I am doing the two of you a favor. If I let her continue to speak, she may share secrets that would result in you getting removed completely, no matter what protections are in place, and your memory being wiped.”
At that, Rue's struggling stopped, even as James felt a shiver of fear pass through him. There was the threat of memory altercation again. What was going on?
”Second, Rue should know if she were to spread these secrets, what would happen to her.” The pixie's shoulder's slumped, and it seemed she was starting to sober up quite quickly.