Across the screen, words flash:GROW: Unit 2899-MSP-James-00023468 Identity Confirmed.
James withholds a sigh of relief. One test passed.
The attendant nods, collecting the tablet and stylus. He tucks the stylus into a bag and retrieves a new one from his shirt pocket. This one appears to be for operating the tablet.
“Let’s see,” Inspector Corgi says, scrolling through a list James can’t see. Finally he stops, his eyes scanning. Then he looks up. “James, can you tell me what year you were born?”
Suddenly, James feels grateful for the line of questioning he put Decci through that first day. He wrinkles his brow, hoping he’s a decent enough actor. Then he looks to Kate like he’s confused. He tries to sound dumb as he answers, “I don’t understand.”
She gives him a gentle smile. “Do your best, sweetie. There is no wrong answer.”
He figures this would relieve a manupartner, so he releases some of the tension he’s been carrying. “Twenty-three ninety?”
“Perfect!” Kate announces. Like Decci, James grins, pleased that he’s pleased her.
This is insane. If James survives this, he’s getting drunk tonight.
“And what about your memories? What is the first thing you can recall?”
This one’s easy. James keeps the serene grin. “Kate’s beautiful eyes.”
Beside him, Kate, who’s watching closely, blushes. He reaches out and strokes her cheek in awe.
She glances at the robust inspector. “He’s sweeter than he looks, isn’t he?”
“What happened to his nose?” Tepin, the more skeptical of the two, asks in response.
Kate only shrugs. “I assumed that’s what your inspection was about. I kind of like it. Makes him more rugged, don’t you think?”
Tepin grumbles as he looks over at his partner’s tablet, probably ensuring he’s recording the information properly. “Looks like a broken nose. James, how did you get that injury?”
Momentary panic lights him up from the inside. He hopes he conceals it well enough as he says, “It was Kate’s wish for me to be authentic, right, Kate?” He reaches up and touches his nose as if he doesn’t quite understand what the inspector means. He’s never been asked to play dumb before. But he does exactly what Jett told him to do. Act clueless and lead every answer back to Kate. He looks at her for confirmation.
“Yes. I was a bit shocked at first, but I’ve come to enjoy the little defect. He has little calluses on his fingertips, too.” She takes his hand, turning it over for the inspectors. “He is my first GROW, and I’m very impressed with the authenticity of your product.”
He sits blankly as both men touch his fingertips. A beaming Corgi says, “How odd. This isn’t something our DNA manipulator technicians would have programmed, though. We might need to take him—”
Panic grips James and he can only hope sweat isn’t beading across his forehead.
“What a happy accident! They feel glorious against my skin,” Kate gushes, cutting the inspector off. “You should consider adding that as an optional feature.”
It takes all of James’s focus not to stiffen. She thinks of him touching her?
“And look at his eyes. I ordered blue, but they’re more of a gray, don’t you think?”
Tepin gets up from his seat and comes around to inspect him. “Yes, we’ll need to take some images of that before we leave.”
Corgi seems to have forgotten his suggestion of taking James somewhere, presumably to study, so he’ll let them take as many pictures as needed. As long as he doesn’t have to leave Kate, whose knee is vibrating subtly beside his. He reaches out, placing his hand on her thigh. Squeezing reassuringly.
James plasters a dumb grin on his face as the man prods at his eyes, opening the lids wider one at a time.
“That is interesting.” Tepin goes back to his seat, saying to Corgi, “Did you make a note of that? Our quality control department will want to know.”
“I assume you’ll offer me some sort of discount?” she presses. Smart, smart Kate. Putting them on defense.
“Uhh . . .” The inspectors share a glance. “We’ll see what we can do.”
“I’m sure GROW would be happy to offer you a replacement if you aren’t satisfied,” Tepin says, narrowing his eyes at her.
