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Swallowing, I tried to wrap my head around what they’d said. “But how did I trigger it?”
“The amygdala is the part of the brain that controls emotions, Austin,” Rosi said, sitting at my side, more gently this time.
Jackson continued, “When you had a strong emotional response, that triggered the chip to send out an electromagnetic pulse that disrupted tech around you.”
I’d been used by someone as a weapon. My head pounded with pain and too many competing thoughts. Good thing it wasn’t in me anymore, or the whole place might’ve blown up.
“Wait,” I said, snapping up straight yet again. “The monster—”
“We’ve recovered some video from the cameras we had on your parkas,” Nicole said with a heavy sigh. “I’m not one to buy into monsters and fairytales, but it appears whatever animal found you, it wasn’t a pleasant one.”
“That wasn’t an animal,” Rosi said. “It was humanoid. There was intelligence in its eyes.”
Nicole frowned and shifted her weight, swinging her long blond hair over her shoulder. “Well, whatever it is, it’s a new species of something, and it didn’t look human to me. But the short of it is, we are suspending all external activities until our probes find it and we can determine the best course of action, ecologically speaking.”
Rosi squeezed my hand. “This is my area of expertise. I hate to say I wished for this, but I have been searching for proof of supposedly ‘mythological’ cryptids. If you need help figuring it out, let me know.”
Nicole smiled, gave one sharp nod, and motioned for Jackson to follow her out of the room. She hesitated at the door, glancing back at me.
“Again, I do apologize, Austin. Please rest assured your ticket to the asteroid hike is already reserved.”
“Asteroid hike?” Rosi asked as the doors closed and the doctor fiddled with the touchpad on the other side of the tank.
“It’s why I took this job,” I admitted, worried Rosi would see this as a permanent separation. And being permanently separated from her was unthinkable at this moment. “It’s been a goal of mine to be one of the first to join in the space games.”
“Sounds fun,” she said, tilting her head in a flirty way as she leaned down to whisper in my ear. “If you get to bring a friend, I’d love to find out what zero-G sex is like.”
Fuck, the suggestion alone made me start to harden beneath the thin blanket. I really wanted the doctor to leave. But I wasn’t sure if I was allowed strenuous physical activity while my arm regenerated.
“When do I get out of here, doc?” I asked.
“One more day to be safe, Mr. Cooper, though I’m impressed with your body’s healing capabilities.”
Rosi climbed in the cot and settled in on my uninjured side, resting her head on my chest. I inhaled her vanilla bean scent.
“I don’t know if the race would disturb your studies,” I said, thinking seriously about her suggestion, “but if not, I’d love for you to come along.”
She snuggled against me, stirring more thoughts of what I’d like to do and making me shift as well.
“I don’t know if I’m going to continue the program, to be honest,” she said.
“What? Why?”
She lifted her head and turned to face me. “I don’t need to prove anything to anyone from here on out. I just don’t know what my life’s goal is if it isn’t hunting cryptids.”
“I don’t know, but I’d be happy to be there while you figure it out,” I said, staring into her eyes. Chocolate fondue was what they reminded me of, and that made me want to spend an evening eating the melted goodness off her body.
Rosi giggled, bringing her thigh to press against my erection. She winked. “I should let you recover. How about the second you’re free, we catch up?”
“Wait for me in my room?” I asked. “Let Cora have yours.”
Biting her lip, she nodded, and I was sure my flagpole would be noticeable to the doc. But whether out of professionalism or distraction, she said nothing.
The rest of the day bored me out of my mind. I was used to exercise. I tried to meditate, but even that eluded me because of my position. Or possibly because I kept thinking about Rosi in the cave, Rosi in space, and Rosi covered in chocolate fondu. I knew what we were having for dinner at least.
It was six hours after Rosi had left when I’d had enough. My arm inside the tank itched like crazy, and I was sure I’d been overcooked.
“Doc!” I called.
