Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
They’re right. Not everyone in the original twenty-six was a scientist. Pax’s father was chosen because he was a billionaire congressman who had the connections to make bureaucratic wheels turn faster. He was also objectively brilliant, his IQ the highest of all of us. Aldous Thatcher had the power and leverage to make sure his adult children, including Pax, were taken care of by the Whitman administration.
Pax is a fighter. I got to know him well when I was a leader at Rising Tide. Virginia and I were both impressed by his resilience. Despite a life of luxury and indulgence before the virus, no one outworked him. Not even me. He could bring people together with his charisma.
He’s a solid second-in-command, but he didn’t have Virginia’s ruthlessness. She made decisions deliberately, never doubting herself. Pax is softer than she was.
“Chaos there is good for us,” I say.
“They’re getting desperate,” Niran says. “They don’t need as much food or sleep as us because of their aromium, but they do need some, and there’s nothing to eat. Pax makes sure all the fish go to the robo kids.”
The children born of two aromium-enhanced parents are the real experiment here. We were working on making more resilient humans, but when Whitman got a taste of what was scientifically possible, he twisted things to help him gain and keep control over everyone.
McClain and Briar are trying to build a stabilizer, or even better, an antidote to aromium. It takes a long time for aromium to bond with a human, meaning it can’t be stabilized or turned off. But the kids who have it in their bodies naturally are an entirely different, much more complex problem.
“What’s your read on this new guy?” I ask Niran.
“His name’s Theron. I didn’t get much from him because my amplifier can’t pick up anything anyone says indoors. He told Pax he’s there to help. I figured I should get back while I had an opening and let you guys know about him.”
“You did good work, Niran,” Nova says.
He nods in response. “I’m going to take a shower, eat and get a few hours of sleep, and then I’ll go back.”
“Someone else will take a turn,” I say.
He shakes his head. “It needs to be me. I know the good spots and I know their routines.”
“You sure you’re up for it? You look like shit.”
“A fucking lion got my food stash. I haven’t eaten since the last time I was here. Once I eat and get some sleep, I’ll be good to go back.”
“Do you want to take someone with you?”
He shakes his head. “It’s easier by myself. Less chance of getting caught.”
I nod. “You know how to signal for help on the radio without anyone hearing it.”
“I won’t need help.”
Aggravation flares in my chest. “But if you do—”
“Yeah. I know. Is that it?”
“Yeah.”
He turns and leaves the room, Amira following him. Nova closes the door and gives me a look.
“He just wants your approval,” she says.
I shake my head. “I’m not approving of him defying orders. What if he did that in a life-or-death situation?”
“I get it,” she says, shrugging. “But there aren’t many wins here, Marcus. He’s been hiding in trees for two weeks to get this information, and it’s good information.”
“I need to go talk to McClain,” I say, eager for a subject change.
I want to see how bad he looks, because it’s been a few days since I’ve seen him leave the lab. And I sure as hell won’t mind seeing Briar, too, even though she hates me. Our exchanges today reminded me why I gave in to my attraction to her in the first place.
She’s fierce and fearless. Sharp and sexy. She thinks I’m over what we had, but she couldn’t be more wrong. If dropping to my knees and begging could make her feel like she did about me before, I’d do it night and day.
I destroyed her trust in me. Even if she gave me her body and her heart, it wouldn’t be enough, because it wouldn’t be everything. I know what it’s like to get all of her. To see the shine of absolute trust and love in her moss-and-amber eyes. That’s nothing but a memory now.
5
“We did it. Everything our team has poured years of research and work into has come to fruition. There’s much yet to determine, but now we have living test subjects. I’ll give the team a day to celebrate, but then it’s back to work.” – Excerpt from the journal of Ingrid Voss, leader of Island Three
Six years ago
Marcus
Why did I think I’d be alone here? It’s 1:21 a.m., but there are half a dozen people spread out around the lab, everyone doing their own thing.
I put my security badge, wallet, and car keys into a break room locker, then go back out to the main lab area to wash my hands.