Nenn schooled his expressions for the instruction was odd.Drafe was in excellent health with no apparent injury.“Yes, Vizen Aehort Uz.”
Drafe angled his head, granting Nenn access to flip his med-dev, the tail end an injection gun.Into the tiny glass capsule trickled clear blood.He stared at it as he exited, unable to fathom what could be wrong with it.The maed bay was between the mess and the activities room.He slotted the med-dev into the analysis machine and started the process.
Moments later, he blinked at the results.Robotic creatures had fused with the symbiotes in Drafe’s blood.What they did, Nenn couldn’t say, not without the required equipment.He introduced a biologic, in too small an amount to kill.The symbiotes formed armor, while the robotic creatures attacked the ‘intruder.’He gaped and tried again, a larger dose this time.Again, the shield-and-destroy response rolled out before his eyes.
He forwarded his findings to Aehort Uz and wondered if he had the right to ask Drafe how he’d gotten the ‘parasites.’Now, he had two things that intrigued him: this and face latching.With a shake of his head, he strode to the mess, intent on enjoying a container of wine.
Chapter Eleven
Tinyinchedtowardthemed bay’s door, angled her head to listen, then swiped her hand across the pad, sealing the door.“Computer, my beats, please.”
Vibrations traveled up her feet, the base thumped around her, and her heartbeat aligned with it.She let the music move through her, urging her hips to swing, to swirl.With her hands in the air, she allowed the tribal rhythm to consume her.Song after song, she moved, lost in the moment without a care in the world.When sweat dripped off her chin, her T-shirt clung to her, and thirst drove her to order a bottle of chilled water, she stopped to catch her breath.
“Computer, halt my beats.”
The deafening silence settled on her shoulders and slammed her back to reality.
“Analysis complete,” Computer intoned.
“Good.Read them to me.”
“Victoria Barnes’s blood contains an overabundance of nanites.This is to be expected with her recent implants.However, these nanites are not decreasing in number and dying off as designed.In addition, an unknown organism has merged with them and may be the reason for the nanites’ extended life.”
Tiny blinked.“Say again.”
Computer repeated the results.
“Any record of wounds, puncture holes, or do you think Vic drank something?”Tiny pinched the bridge of her nose.“If no to the first two, the last wouldn’t work either.”
“Her assessment revealed no unnatural holes in her body.”
Unnatural holes?Tiny rolled her top lip, trying to hide a chuckle.Though why she bothered, she couldn’t say.Computers couldn’t be offended.“Which leaves natural holes?”She laughed.“Thank you, Computer.”
She plucked at the collar of her shirt, using it to fan herself.Vic had said she had someone.Did she mean sexually?“Could this unknown organism hide in sperm?”
“That is the most plausible.It is not destructive and seems to have formed a symbiotic relationship with the DNA and nanites.”
“Print a 3D representation of it.”
“In process,” Computer said.
Tiny stood before the printer and waited, sipping her water as she pondered this organism’s existence.“No known record of it?”
“I have trawled all medical archives with no success.”
Excitement flared into a blaze of energy.She bounced on her toes then winced when her calves cramped.“Order a vitamin boost.”
Without Computer, she would’ve had to fiddle with the gun’s settings, slot the nozzle into place, and pray she hadn’t chosen the incorrect solution.She ran her hand over the face of the refiller to familiarize herself, angled the gun into the pocket, then pushed it in until it clicked.
“Refill in process,” Computer said.“Booster shot ready.”
Tiny unclipped it, grasped the grip, then pressed the nozzle to her forearm.A quick pinch was all she needed to endure.That sharp pain couldn’t compare to the days of agony from her scorched eyes.
“Model complete.”
She laid the gun on the table then glided to the printer, running her fingers along the counter’s edge.A pat confirmed her location in correlation to the model.With a delicate touch, she broke the structure off its support struts until a smooth, wormlike shape filled her palms.
“This has memory T-cells?”
