Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
“Why would you say such a thing?” she asks, a curious tilt to her head. “You don’t even know me.”
“I wanted you before. I want you more now.”
“Hmmm, well, this must be some reaction to your transformation,” she concludes. “I’m going to call the doctor.”
More memories assail me. Things I overheard and felt. “Is Creed your son?”
She sets the phone she’s now holding down with a thud equal to a concrete block hitting the ground. “What does Creed have to do with anything?”
Bingo. Hit a nerve. A raw one, too. “Everything, it appears. He is your son, is he not?” The uneasiness that flashed in her face is all the answer I need. “Lawrence’s popping you, and your son is popping his daughter. That’s a little freaky, even for me.”
“What?” she asks. “Creed is dating the general’s daughter?”
“Apparently they have a long history.”
“But Creed is Zodius.” She shakes her head. “No. That makes no sense. Lawrence’s daughter would not be seeing a Zodius soldier.”
“Creed was Zodius, or he pretended to be, to fuck things up for them. He’s a Renegade. One of the good guys, supposedly, but then no one really knows whose side Creed plays on, from what I can tell. And really, who are the good guys?”
This earns her ire. “Creed isn’t one of the good guys.”
Creed sure has a way of twisting everyone into a pissing little wad, I think. “And Lawrence is?”
Her defenses bristle. “He’s trying to protect this country from Julian.”
More like control the world, but I don’t care. Not when I am part of that control. “Guess you know Lawrence hates Creed then. Suppose it’s expected with Creed getting down and dirty with his daughter and trying to kill him.” I lift an eyebrow. “You hate him too, don’t you? That’s interesting to me. I mean, the general turned him into what he is against his will. He lied to him, but you’re on his side, not your son’s. Why?”
“Are we ready to get started?” Lawrence’s voice ricochets through the room a moment before he steps into view, with Dr. Chin by his side.
Jocelyn whirls on him. “Is Creed with Zodius or the Renegades?”
Lawrence’s gaze flickers over me with disapproval before returning to Jocelyn. “He is a GTECH, Jocelyn. They are all GTECHs, and they must all be controlled.”
“But he’s working with Julian,” she presses. “You said he’s working with Julian.”
“Don’t go and get a wild maternal hair to save your son, Jocelyn,” he chides. “He’s far more dangerous than his father ever was, and failing to deal with him, I assure you, will result in the loss of innocent lives. And we both know you have more blood on your hands from supporting his father than you can bear as it is.” He flips a vague gesture toward the computer. “Show me your brilliant work with Red Dart, my dear.”
“I’m not sure it’s safe,” she comments and eyes Dr. Chin. “Brock is having a reaction to the transformation. He’s aggressive. Possessive.” She hesitates and adds, “Oversexed.”
“Whatever he was before the injections, he is more so now,” Dr. Chin informs her. “Those are not reasons to be concerned. If he has any adverse reaction, I’m here to intervene.”
I clutch the bars until I think they will break. I am not oversexed. I am not aggressive. And I don’t want anyone intervening. I want the full conversion done and over.
“Do whatever you are going to do and get me the hell out of here!” I scream, shaking the bars. “He’s right, Jocelyn. We are all GTECHs. And I am their future leader.”
“Get on with it, Jocelyn,” Lawrence orders.
She hesitates fretfully, but says, “I need the crystal.”
Dr. Chin pulls a thin silver box from his jacket and opens it. A glowing red light emanates from the crystal. Jocelyn removes it from the box and sets it inside the electronic device by her computer. Her gaze lifts to mine, a tormented look in her eyes. As if I didn’t ask for this.
I did.
She hits a button, and a cranking sound follows as the barrel of a long gun is extended. I turn toward the weapon, ready for whatever is necessary to finish my conversion and offer me my freedom.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Lawrence
I stand behind Jocelyn, arms in front of my chest, one finger pressed under my chin, watching West act like a fool about to rule the world.
“Here we go,” Jocelyn murmurs and punches a key on her MacBook. A red dot flashes on West’s chest—painless and silent—followed instantly by another. Brock stiffens.
“That’s the tranquilizer,” Jocelyn explains. “It’s a two-second stun that he shouldn’t remember.”
Sure enough, Brock straightens and turns back to me. “Is that it?” he says. “Am I done? Are we ready to go kick some GTECH ass?”
“Is it done?” I ask, glancing at Jocelyn.
She punches a few more keys and turns the computer screen toward me. I inspect the beeping light on the computer screen. “Walk forward,” Jocelyn calls out to Brock. He does as ordered. The red dot on the screen moves with him.