Specimen(35)

I watched him during the training. I know his weak spots. In the course of two seconds, we evaluate each other, and I lower my head and plow into him, sending him backward.

He’s ready for the hit, and we roll together. He is stronger than anyone I encountered in the virtual training sessions, but not as strong as I. I punch and kick him, and he returns each blow as we wrestle on the ground.

The fight is cut short as a blinding pain races through my body. I feel Pike stiffen at the same time. There are eight uniformed men around us, pulling us apart as the incapacitating pain continues. It doesn’t stop until we’ve been separated by several meters, and I’m pulled to my feet by three of the soldiers.

Riley is yelling at me. She pushes one of the men holding my arm and pulls me farther away.

“Sten!” she cries out as she grips my arm. “What the hell?”

“You see what I mean?” Dr. McCall yells as she points a finger toward me. “His aggression levels are off the charts—just look at the data!”

I start to take a step toward McCall again, and Riley blocks my path.

“Stop!” she orders. “Don’t make another move!”

“You need to explain your actions,” Captain Mills tells me, but I don’t acknowledge her. My body has stilled at Riley’s command, but my focus is still on McCall.

Riley crosses her arms and tilts her head. She lifts her eyebrows and reaches up to take my chin in her hand, turning me to look at her.

“Explain, Sten.” Riley’s voice is stern.

My heart is beating faster than it was when I’d been face to face with Pike. I don’t understand. I was only protecting her, so why is she angry?

“She’s a threat.” I motion to Dr. McCall.

“Dr. Grace was in no physical danger,” Mills says.

I blink and process what she’s saying. She is correct. The danger was not physical, but it was still a threat. Everything inside of me had said she needed to be protected.

“It was a threat,” I say, “to her reputation.”

Captain Mills narrows her eyes for a moment before looking back to Riley.

“Dr. Grace, you need to isolate that inconsistency and make the necessary adjustments. Until then, I’m going to hold off introducing your methods to the other specimens.”

“Yes, Captain.” Riley keeps her expression passive as Captain Mills walks away.

Dr. McCall sneers in Riley’s direction.

“You need to control your specimen,” she says. “I will be filing a formal report. It would be a shame if you had to start over.”

Riley glares as Dr. McCall stomps away, Pike following behind her. He glances over his shoulder at me and shrugs.

“Women,” he mutters under his breath before tossing me a half smile.

I grin back. I feel no animosity toward him. He was only protecting her as he was supposed to do. I can’t hold that against him.

“Let’s go,” Riley says with a sigh. “I want to get this data into the computer while it’s still fresh in my head.”

She starts toward the entrance to the building, and I follow closely behind. I’ve disappointed her, and the thought is gnawing at my gut.

I know my actions are considered wrong, but I can’t understand why. There is a deep-seated need to protect her. I know that’s part of my programming, and I don’t know why adjustments would need to be made. I had protected her just as I am supposed to do.

We get back to the lab, and I quickly shed my clothing to get into the shower. I let the warm water cascade over my chest and think about the day’s events while Riley syncs up the data from training into the main computer.

“What did I do wrong?” I ask as I begin to rinse off.

“Oh, Sten.” Riley lets out a long sigh. “There’s a difference between a physical threat to my safety and another doctor, someone employed by this facility, disagreeing with my science.”

“She wasn’t just disagreeing,” I say. “She insulted you.”

“I can handle a few insults, Sten. It’s not the first or the last time. You can’t attack her for that.”

I don’t see the difference.

“How long have you known Dr. McCall?” I ask.

“Since college,” Riley says. “We were paired as roommates our initial year, but we didn’t get along. We were in the same field, so we had lots of classes together, but I always tried to steer clear of her.”

“I don’t like her.”

“You don’t have to like her.” Riley chuckles. She walks over to the sink near the shower to wash her hands. “I don’t, so why should you?”

I consider some of Pike’s reactions during the training and the debriefing. Dr. McCall’s influence on his attitudes and behaviors is apparent, and it makes me wonder if I mimic Riley in any way.