“Others agree that we need to be more cautious.”
Her perfume clogged his sensors and smelled wholly unnatural. He stopped breathing. “Why are you in such a rush to label them? There’s not much they can do anyways.”
“Because of the baby, Atlas!” Stella pushed off the table she leaned against. “The researchers think the neurochip can organically grow with the baby, adapting with her. We need to be ready in case we want to proceed. We only have a few months!”
“Putting the neurochip in Anna’s child?” His processors caught up. “That’s the plan?”
“Yes. But as a test subject, Anna is interesting as well. Since we have her anyways, might as well learn more about pregnancy and maternal hormones. Nora is too stable, and Tilly is already too old. Besides, like I said before, that baby is half of Paul. He was a monster. It’s dangerous.”
All of a sudden everything in that ultrasound clashed with Stella’s words. He was still figuring out that joy. And she was ready to destroy it? He crossed his arms. “No!”
Stella tilted her head. “Why are you so resistant?”
“Because an infant is innocent, despite who the genetic link is!” Atlas took a decided step away from Stella.Inside, he was boiling. Mad at himself. He’d avoided the online discussions. He had no idea the plans had taken this turn.
Stella’s eyes narrowed. “Something is malfunctioning in you again.” Her voice became pointed. “Just like it did when you were with that horrible Clara.”
The words took a minute to penetrate. Then rage coated Atlas’s mind, making the room hot and heavy. “How dare you.” He pushed off the table forcefully, grabbing the door to his office and opening it fully. “Get out.”
“But, Atlas?” Stella’s eyes widened, her lips pouting.
Planting his feet wide, he gestured out the door. “I can think this through on my own, Stella.”
“Fine.” She stood in a huff, crossing her arms. “You’re too soft. You’re a fool.” Then, over her shoulder as her heels clicked on the tile on the way out, “Enjoy the brownies.”
Atlas firmly shut the door behind her. His eyes fell to the half eaten plate of brownies on the counter. How could he have let himself be so detached from the communal mind that he didn’t know this was the plan? He raced back to the monitor. He had to see now. Already he had sent so much data. So many measurements. And all the while, he was thinking it was only for the health of both Anna and the baby.
No wonder Anna feared the testing. Maybe human intuition deserved more credit.
The plans quickly loaded on the screen. He clicked through the notes from the lead researcher, Leo. Then he slumped in his chair. Stella was exaggerating about any plans with the baby.Yes, the framework was there. And yes, the neurochip was all completed and compiled. But even Leo had indicated ethical concerns.
A minute later he sagged in relief. There were no firm plans. Stella was full of delusions.
But still, Atlas compiled a note and the research. He needed to talk with Sterlingand encrypt the data he gathered until then so Stella and the others didn’t get more ideas.
On the corner of his screen, over the security cameras, he caught a glimpse of Anna again, restarting the process of baking. She must have slept only a few hours overall.
She stood, carefully mixing, with a tired smile on her face.
He watched, his fingers bunched under his chin. How had one girl making baked goods compulsively in the kitchen split them in half already? Why did he still have her picture on his screen?
He sat back in his chair by the monitor, brushing away brownie crumbs where Stella had sat. A few lay on a plate still on the desk. The brownies were a gift. When was the last time anyone had ever given him something? Besides Tilly with her drawing? Only two gifts in how many centuries had come from humans, and within a week of each other?
Atlas picked the plate up and smoothed out a note crumpled under it on the desk. He read it fast, three times.
The letters were shakily formed, as if the hand writing them had been recently injured.
“Thank you again for fixing my hand. - Anna.”
Chapter nine
Anna
Anna stood behind Nora, Tilly, and Simon at the threshold of the ship. After one long month of spaceflight, they’d landed on Mars. Her feet toed the same opening she’d walked through prior to leaving Earth’s dusty desert.
She grabbed at Nora’s sleeve. “We are finally here.”
Nora’s arms were busy, crossed over Tilly’s chest to keep her still. “How much longer until they open the doors?”
