A call from James

Your stomach grumbled, you haven't had anything to eat recently besides that gelato and some wine. Cerve wordlessly guides you to the kitchen for a hearty dinner. Today was Chinese in the style of the Szechuan place you liked. You don't think you ever told Cerve that you liked that style of food and wondered how she knew. You were savoring the dry chili chicken and garlic string beans when a familiar tone came through the speakers. Someone was calling you.

Cerve : "It's James, want to chat?"

You remember how he had left abruptly when you had last met after Cerve called him by some kind of alias.

Alex : "Sure, put him on speaker."

Instantly the tone stopped and the dead air of the call came through crisp, as if James was sitting right next to you.

Alex : "What's up man?"

James's voice seems a little unsure, like part of him was hoping you wouldn't have picked up.

James : "Hey man, can we talk in private?"

You look at Cerve.

James : "I mean without the ai, what's her name? Server or something?"

Alex : "It's Cerve, yeah I guess so."

You shoo Cerve away and her avatar vanishes.

Alex : "alright, she's gone"

James : ""Sorry to be paranoid but could we meet in person? No electronics."

James always was a little on the paranoid side, he had insisted you all communicate with him over a security focused chat application instead of using insecure text messages. But you could kind of see where he was coming from with Cerve. If anyone wanted to have a conversation she couldn't listen in to they'd have to go to some pretty **** measures. You briefly consider if it's too late to meet up with friends but then remember you're unemployed and don't feel tired so why not?

Alex : "Sure, where do you want to meet?"

James : "The park in 15 minutes... thanks man, and remember, leave your phone, smart watch or whatever it- she has given you."

Alex : "alright man, see you soon."

The line went dead.