Page 110 of CHOICE Lover
December 26, 2390.
As time crawls by, Res6 can’t shake the sensation of trudging through the dense, toxic atmosphere. It’s as if every moment that passes deserves an air quality level five warning—except it’s not air, it’s his life. He’s mostly come to terms with recycling the manupartner. It served a useful purpose over the last few months. But now that it’s gone, hisguilt for treating it like his brother is eating away at him. He’s never felt more isolated. Still, he decides to hold off on using the two remaining Jerme samples until he can complete some additional testing. Bringing Jerme back may make him a monster, but at least he wouldn’t have to be alone for the rest of his life.
His device chimes. There’s a message from Sable.When can you meet?
He glances at the time. 14:43.
Inspector Wanda cautioned him not to seem too eager when approaching Sable. He is supposed to ease into her life and see what he can find out. Wanda’s plan: approach Sable under the guise of intending to poach her as an executive-level candidate for CHOICElover. Have a few meetings and try to bait her. If the inspection comes up, claim he saw a lot of people that day and doesn’t remember her.
The problem is, Wanda doesn’t know Sable already approached him. He’s in quite the quandary since Sable is aware of Electra, and there is simply no way for him to explain to Wanda why Sable might want to speak with him without creating further suspicion—namely, on Electra.
Electra, who is now out there somewhere, surviving on her own. Without him. Electra, who has awakened primal instincts he never thought he had—instincts that scream for him to hunt her down and drag her back home. It’s what Vorack would do. But is that what Electra wants? No. She condemned him for playing Zorg and trying to take away Jerme’s agency. He’s at a stalemate with no good options.
He shakes off the thought, considering Sable’s message. Best to stay busy.
Since the day at GROW, he’s been waiting for Sable to contact him. He’s surprised it’s taken her so long.
He responds,Can you meet now?
Thirty minutes later, they’re seated across from each other at a booth in the Old Thyme Diner, a server on roller skates having dropped off their drinks and a big bowl of YourNutz.
Sable picks an oval synthetic nut out of the bowl, sniffs it, then sets it aside. Then she places her phone between them and presses start. The screen displays an app called Scrambled Eggs. “It’s a countersurveillance app. Prevents recording and video within a three-foot radius. I learned my lesson after the boxing club incident.”
He nods. “I wasn’t recording.”
She eyes a camera in the corner. “Someone always is. Now that our faces are being watched, courtesy of you and that moron Viper.” She studies him for a moment. “Who pissed in your milk?”
He leans back, affronted. “Excuse me?”
“Loneliness got you down?” She repeats GROW’s slogan, smirking. Is she teasing him? When he only frowns in response, she says, “What happened?”
Allowing his tone to become as gruff as he feels, he says, “It’s none of your business.”
“So, something did happen,” she guesses.
“What do you want?” he asks.
She sighs as if disappointed. “First, are you spying for that inspector?”
His eyes widen.Damn her.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” Her fingers drum on the table. “Here’s the deal. I imagine she suspects that we’re the ones responsible for the reincarnates or that we’ll lead you to them, which is why she let us go. I assure you, we aren’t and I don’t see how we could. I haven’t seen anything that suggests they’re not just anomalies caused by an accidental yet precise mix of factors.”
Because she’s being so forthcoming, he presses, “You really don’t know who’s behind them?”
“Like I said, I don’t think there is an individual per se to blame. They’re just scientific accidents. We’re trying to help those who already exist. That’s what we need your help with. We’re willing to offer our help in the form of an identity for your secret reincarnate lover in exchange. And our continued silence.” She winks, sending a chill down his spine.
Her candor leads him to believe she’s telling the truth. Besides, an ID for Electra might be enough to bring her home, assuming their method of providing one proves safe. “Why aren’t you mad I turned you in?”
She huffs. “Viper is the one who couldn’t mind his business. You only did what a prudent business owner would do. I don’t fault you for that. My partner, on the other hand, may appreciate an apology. The extra time your inspection cost us caused quite a stir in his personal life.”
“Your partner, James.” When her eyes widen, he says, “Viper got his manupartner identification number from the medical database at the boxing club. So, say I help you. What am I supposed to tell Inspector Wanda?”
“Make something up. Not my problem. But remember, if they find out what we’re doing, I’ll personally make sure they pick up your little plaything.” The grin that lights up Sable’s face is borderline villainous.
Yet there’s something about knowing exactly where you stand with her that’s comforting. There’s no guessing or playing games. “She’s not my plaything.”
“Then what is she?” she challenges.
