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23

AUSTIN

I sat up with a start,and despite the panic and confusion gripping me, I knew from the full body ache I’d made a mistake. As my surroundings came into focus, my pulse settled, but only a bit. It was something like going from trapped-in-a-burning-building speed to something’s-hiding-in-the-dark speed, a subtle but significant difference.

The last thing I remembered was that thing sinking its claws in and shredding my arm. A glance at my body revealed said arm was in a regenerative tank—sort of an aquarium-like casing filled with teal goo that stimulated tissue regeneration. The cooling sensation wasn’t unpleasant and was far more welcome than the pain etched into my memory.

I’d made it to the medcenter. But where was Rosi? Had she run like I’d told her to? I hoped she had, but I worried it wasn’t in her programming to take orders. The vision of that monster’s teeth clamping over her made me shudder, and I had to start my breathing exercises to banish the thought from my mind.

“Hello?” I called.

Moments later, the doors swished open to reveal a woman with auburn hair and blue scrubs whom I recognized as the resort doctor. Her frown let me know she wasn’t happy with me, but I didn’t care.

“We’ve been here less than two weeks, and you’ve seen me twice, Mr. Cooper,” she said, flicking at the holopad in her hand. “I know what you do for a living, but let’s try to take a break while on vacation, yes?”

I cleared my throat. “Where’s Rosi? Is she okay?”

The doctor’s lips tipped up in a flicker of a smile before settling back into disappointment mode again. “Ms. Sanchez is fine. Her injuries were far less serious. You have her and Mr. Kootoo to thank for getting you back alive.”

I relaxed back onto the hovercot and closed my eyes with relief. Of course she saved my life. I smiled and shook my head without looking as the doctor moved around, fiddling with electronics.

“She didn’t want to leave, you know. Ms. Sanchez, I mean.”

The doctor’s words made me open my eyes again.

“Miss Bennet wanted to speak to you first. I’ve alerted her you are awake, and she should arrive soon.”

My vision wavered, and I clenched my good fist as anger coursed through me. Nicole was my boss, not my mother. But as I opened my mouth to demand to see Rosi instead, the doors swished once again and she entered along with Nicole and Jackson.

Rosi tackled me, causing the bed to bob.

“Ow.”

“I’m sorry!” She lifted her head but kept hold of my waist and good shoulder. “I’m so glad you’re awake.”

I grinned, wanting to smooth her hair from her face but realized I couldn’t move my arm inside the tank. So I leaned up and planted a quick peck on her forehead.

“We’re glad you’re all right as well,” Nicole said, stepping to the foot of the cot. “It seems we owe you an apology, Mr. Cooper. The electrical issues we experienced may have been your fault, but they were not under your control.”

So my theory about my emotions was correct? It had to be if Nicole and company were willing to believe something outside of their scientific reality. I really screwed up.

“It’s not what you think,” Rosi said, smoothing my hair like I’d wanted to do to hers.

Jackson nodded to the doctor who lifted a silver tray into view. On it was what looked like a chip one might find in a computer or holopad.

“What’s that?” I furrowed my brow, staring at the tiny object.

“It’s what was messing with the tech,” Nicole said. “It was implanted in your shoulder and worked with the electrical signals from your amygdala.”

“What?” I sat up again, forcing Rosi to back up. I looked from one face to another, waiting for them to bust out laughing like it was a bad joke. But they didn’t.

“It was implanted there, and when I examined your injured arm, I found it.” The doctor set down the tray. “The signal was weak from damage but still working. That’s why it’s in a dampening field.”

A closer examination at the tiny chip revealed an even tinier magnet on the edge that apparently stopped it from transmitting.

“We traced the source, and thanks to you, we have a general idea where the would-be saboteur is hiding,” Jackson said.

Nicole nodded. “It was likely implanted at your pre-flight physical. Which means we have a mole in our medical department at Bennet Systems. It’s being dealt with as we speak.”