Specimen(66)

“Those implants can’t be hacked,” one of the techs points out. “If an attempt is made, they self-destruct.”

“If anyone knows a way around that design, it’s Spat. We have no idea if he created backdoors for himself.”

“Of course he did. What tech doesn’t?”

“You sound like you want to be thrown off this project.” Captain Mills raises an eyebrow as she stares down the tech.

“No, ma’am,” he says. “I’m just being honest here.”

“That’s treason.”

“It’s not a matter of treason,” the tech says. “It’s a safety measure in case anything was to go significantly wrong.”

“He’s right,” another tech says. “It’s a common practice in design.”

They argue the point for several minutes before Dr. McCall comes back to me.

“You didn’t answer my question,” she says. “Why were you released?”

“I can’t answer that, ma’am.”

“Can’t or won’t?” She sneers at me.

“I don’t know why they released me,” I say. “I can only tell you what I heard. I’m not even sure if my account from that time can be trusted. I was having difficulty remaining conscious, and I was barely coherent when I was. I remember Jarvis saying I was going into withdrawal because they didn’t have the drug treatments. Spat seemed to think the extreme cold I was subjected to in order to make the implants fail might have been too much for my system to handle.”

“Sten,” Riley says, and I tense at the sound, “tell me with complete honesty—why do you believe they let you go?”

“They said I was important, and that they couldn’t allow me to die,” I tell her. “If they said why, I didn’t hear it or don’t recall hearing it. I was in a great deal of pain at the time. There was really only one thing on my mind.”

“What was that?” Riley asks.

“Getting back to you.” I watch her eyes soften slightly at my words before she turns back to the table.

“There you go,” Riley says as she eyeballs McCall. “I gave him an order, and he’s obeyed it. You know everything he does about why he was released.”

“They’ve tampered with him.” McCall glares at Riley, and I tense everywhere.

Everyone in the room begins talking at once as I stare at Riley. I want to reach out and take her hand, but I don’t think it would be considered protocol. Instead, I shift my leg over a little until it’s touching hers under the table.

Captain Mills silences everyone and calls the meeting back to order.

“We’ve got a lot to discuss,” Captain Mills says. “The specimen can be returned to the lab now. I do think it’s prudent to continue to post guards outside the room for the time being until the techs have finished their review of his implant data.”

I rise and Riley stands beside me, ready to escort me back to the lab.

“Dr. Grace, please remain,” Colonel Mills says.

Riley glances at me before she sits down again. Guards lead me back to the lab where I sit on the edge of the bed and wait for Riley to return. She’s gone a long time, and I become increasing agitated every minute I wait.

When she finally returns, she appears haggard and worried.

“Everything go all right?” I ask.

Riley sighs as she glances at the mirror. We are still being monitored, without a doubt.

“McCall is…well, being herself. She knows you can’t lie when I ask you a direct question like that, but she’s insisting that you did.”

“I didn’t.”

“I know.” She chews on her lip as she walks over and stands beside the bed.

She wants to say something else, but she keeps glancing at the mirror. Whatever she wants to say, she doesn’t want anyone else hearing it. I’m confused by her actions. If she’s lied to me about being a volunteer, why is she trying to protect me now?

There is no doubt that I am as drawn to her as I have ever been, possibly even more so. After the long absence from her, I try to stay close enough that I can reach out and touch her at any given time. She’s trying to protect me and the knowledge she knows I have, but I don’t know her motivations.

Riley closes the distance between us and places both hands on either side of my face. Without a word, she pulls me in to kiss her. As soon as the connection is made, my body reacts predictably. I grab her and pull her against me tightly. Parts of my body are still sore but not the one I need the most right now.

Riley grabs the hem of my shirt and pulls it over my head before she runs her fingers over my chest. She fingers a bruise on my abdomen, gently caressing it as she presses her lips together. I take her hand from my skin and bring her fingers to my mouth. I suck one of them between my lips as I keep my eyes trained on hers.