Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

In Chapter 17, Ange and Marcus take turns explaining the Barbara how the Xnet works. Since Barbara has covered the fight for the Constitution in cyberspace since her early days as a report, she understands what the two are talking about and gives them background on the issue. At the conclusion of the interview, Barbara asks the two not to talk to anyone about the story. She also warns Marcus that now that the work on the story is in motion, he will not be able to stop it. Although this scares Marcus, he realizes it must be done. That evening, Ange and Marcus have sex for the first time.

After their experience, Marcus checks his Xnet mail. He has a letter from a girl named Masha who claims to have been arrested by the DHS at the same time Marcus was...