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contact, but from the fact that it seemed to make the pressure in her skull vibrate.
 You re about to find out one small significant detail. She didn t struggle. All
her energy went to keeping still, trying to quiet the beast in her head.  I can t feel&
anything. She did feel moisture pearl on her forehead though.  Let go for a moment,
would you?
He kept his grip.  I thought you didn t feel pain.
 I don t. She fought the urge to wrench her hand from his, just concentrated on
breathing small shallow breaths.  I need to puke. Bathroom or your feet, your choice.
Chapter Eight
He waited as she retched, loudly, miserably, in the bathroom. Beside him, Duke
was softly talking into his dataUnit, informing Med of the situation.
When the sound ceased, Brenner went in to find her flat on the floor, her cheek
pressed against the cool metallic-based tiles.
 Go away. Her voice was weak. He felt like a clumsy gorilla from old Earth. He
felt like an idiot. He didn t know what he felt.  Med is on his way. He started to kneel
next to her.
 Just& don t touch me.
He scowled at that, but couldn t really blame her. Her skin was pale as death. He
slipped his hands under her limp form, turned her, lifted her, and carried her out.
 Is that a new interrogation technique?
Her voice was breathy, weak. It made his eyes burn. He pushed back the urge to
brush a kiss on that white cheek.  I prefer the other one, he said instead.
Duke materialized with something cool that he pressed against her forehead. It
must have helped, because she gave them both a slight smile as Brenner gently laid her
on the bed. Where the hell was Med?
 What are you feeling?
 Must be the chip. Probably dizzy now, she closed her eyes.  Look, I m sorry
about the shuttle. I didn t -- As if a sudden thought occurred to her, she sat up in bed,
causing the cloth to fall onto the floor.  Did you monitor the communiqué with
MicroSel from the shuttle?
He didn t give a fuck about the shuttle now. He picked up the now warm cloth.
 Lie back down.
 Did you?
Fiona Jayde GrimJustin1: DeBriefed - 59 -
Duke answered from the bathroom.  Yeah. It was pretty impressive how fast
you loaded the virus in.
 That s just it, I didn t. I made up the number.
 Sounded legit. Duke came toward the bed with another wet, cold towel.
Brenner plucked it from his hand, causing a dark eyebrow to arch up. It was ignored.
Instead, in a gentle movement, Brenner pushed her back down, and smoothed the cloth
over her forehead.
 I made it up. She slowly inhaled a small breath, as if testing whether she could
take it or not.  If you monitored the communiqué, you would have heard MicroSel
confirm a virus. Not a new virus, which they wouldn t have in their dataBanks, and
would question. They didn t bother checking a made up number as their scans had
already verified something there. She didn t see Duke look up from his dataUnit and
frown thoughtfully.  That piece of shit shuttle kept losing voice commands until it& 
Until it fired, she was going to say, and Brenner thought of the delicious way she
paid for it. Could she not feel anything now? His touch? Nothing?
 You said MicroSel was on their way? You were taking me to their Sec. All of a
sudden they need the keySeq immediately?
 When I touch you, do you feel me? He didn t make a move to make contact,
afraid it would set off whatever it was that made her puke.
She was quiet for a moment.  I feel it. But& the way you feel a blanket& or
clothes. No pain, no pleasure.
 My dataScanner is complaining from too much input, Duke said.  Your chip
must be sending out all sorts of fun things.
Exasperated, Brenner ran a hand over his head, getting up to pace the room.
Back to the other problem.  Franklin knows I didn t kill you, he wouldn t be puffing his
way over here otherwise. MicroSel seems in a hurry. Both seem to be getting real time
intel. He stepped back toward her.  Is your chip transmitting?
 How the hell would I know?
Fiona Jayde GrimJustin1: DeBriefed - 60 -
Just then, Med walked in carting equipment. In an ageless gesture he pressed his
hand against Dinah s forehead. His scars seemed dark against the pale blue of his eyes,
and Brenner frowned again, trying to figure out where he d seen eyes that color before.
 What seems to be the problem?
 I can t feel pain. She chuckled weakly.  Or pleasure. But I can feel a wonderful
sense of nausea, and someone is hammering my skull. She pressed a hand to her belly.
The nausea was probably gathering again. Brenner ignored the urge to go over there
and gently rub her stomach. Med would take care of it for her. There was also the small
problem of keeping her ass in one piece.
 You re obviously feeling something. Med kept his voice conversational,
matter-of-fact. Brenner wanted to kick something. Duke, a study of calm, was busily
plucking at his dataUnit.
 Well, looks like we know why vTech and MicroSel are joining this party. Duke
paused, as if to add drama.  A pain blocker chip patented by MicroSel happens to be a
main contender in an antiCompete agreement between our friends.
Brenner focused on Dinah as Med fumbled the sensor, nearly dropping it.
 Why put it in without me knowing? Her voice was stronger, thank God.
Maybe this thing was subsiding.
 A test of some sort? Unable to help himself, Brenner pounded a fist into the
wall.  That would explain why Franklin wants to cremate you and MicroSel wants
custody.
 Great. She winced as if the buzzing of the sensor was bothering her.
Incoming beeped.  MicroSel security units directly in front. Trent s voice barely
suppressed excitement. Brenner looked down at her, torn.
 It s fine, she said.  Go.
 I ll take care of her, Med said, and something in his pale blue eyes flashed. Did
he have the hots for her? Brenner chased away the thought. No time to care.
He cupped her chin in his palm. To hell with it. He brushed a light kiss on her
lips. Smiled. Then walked out, with Duke silent beside him.
Fiona Jayde GrimJustin1: DeBriefed - 61 -
 You know -- Med dug for another instrument just as nausea was rolling back,
 -- I know exactly how you feel.
Dinah clutched a hand to her belly, determined not to embarrass herself again.
 Do you?
Med smiled, a gentle smile that rendered the pink scar on his cheek almost
invisible.  Yes. An experiment. A lab rat. He shrugged, competent fingers adjusting
the sensor.  I was one too.
Incoming beeped before she could answer.  I m letting MicroSel dock us.
Brenner s voice was taut.  vTech is close. Med, is there a way to get the chip safely
out?
 I ll see what I can do. Med put back the sensor, just as a loud groan of metal
sliding against metal came through.  You up for a walk? We need to get to the
MediLab.
* * *
At the commandPost, Franklin s face on screen was furious.  You took the
contract to discharge her. He was speaking softly, visibly fighting for control.
 Actually, I requested the specs. The contract wasn t signed. Brenner had bigger
things to worry about. The ship was protected by MicroSel shields so Franklin couldn t
blow GrimJustin into space. Keeping Dinah out of MicroSel s interrogation unit was the [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]