Page 81 of Perfection

Stowe had mentioned more units in the cellar. Several workers were bringing the retired units up and lining the walls with them. Fifteen more units meant fifteen children saved. Good, but not enough. “How can we do more?” He talked through the process, verbalizing his thoughts for his own benefit rather than expecting an answer.

The staff stared at him. He folded his arms over his chest. “How many more have checked in?”

A woman he didn’t know answered. “Twenty-two as of right now.”

He clasped the base of his neck and rubbed. “Thanks. So we’re still short.”

Damn, every time he thought they were caught up, more children arrived. He looked over the small sea of pods. It didn’t matter if the children were GEIs or Coders; they were all vulnerable. He stared into the most recently filled unit, which housed a little girl. Too bad they didn’t have smaller units instead of one-size fits all. That would take up so much less space.

From somewhere deep in his subconscious, a temporary solution came to him. Excitement and hope gave his steps purpose. He peered into several of the units.Yes!He clapped his hands with a hoot.

“That’s it! The units were made for adults. We can put two children in each unit, positioning them at opposite ends. Why didn’t I think of it earlier?” Aggravated with himself for not realizing it, he marched toward Jeffery Stowe’s office to see if they could make it two for one.

They couldn’t move any of the children already in the cryo units. That would be too risky. But for the ones waiting outside, this was good news. Stowe confirmed in this special case, indeed, due to the small size of the children, they could share units.

The parents weren’t too keen on the idea. However, they didn’t have a choice. He understood. It smacked once more of GEIs getting the best and Coders the rest. York helped tuck the final kids in, glad there was a temporary solution.

But it wouldn’t last. He knew that.

On his way out, with Kindra at his side, he stopped by the cryogenic office again and personally spoke with the company president. “Mr. Stowe, please call around and secure more units. Given the nature of this disease, it’s only a matter of time before another wave hits.”

“You’re going to need another solution,” the president snapped, seeming overworked and overtired.

“When kids could die, it’s everyone’s problem. I appreciate your help,” Kindra chimed in, sounding defeated and sad.

“Hey, you called?” his brother’s voice intruded. York turned to see him in the open doorway.

He excused himself and went to join Cal in the hall, bringing Kindra with him. She seemed a little dazed and distracted, but he couldn’t blame her. Her child had been stricken.

To Cal he said, “You can escort Kindra back to Seville. There was an attempt on her life last night.”

“What? How?”

“Laser. Luckily, the suspect didn’t seem to know what they were doing. She only received a scratch and a stun shot. It could have been much worse.” The thought of her dying made him ill. He rubbed his knuckles over his sternum.

Cal blew air through his teeth, disgusted. Then he turned all-business. “Jeez.”

York clasped his shoulder. “I need someone to stay close to her. Who knows where this perp is hiding or what he’s planning next. She’s not safe until he’s apprehended.”

York gave Kindra a consoling look.

“Okay.” Cal sliced a sideways glance at her. “What about you?”

York gave an unconvincing shrug. “I’m following a lead from Vi’s phone. It could be nothing.”

With a shake of his head, clearly not convinced, Cal started escorting Kindra. “See you later,” he said. But under Cal’s breath, York heard his brother mutter, “These sorts of things never end well.”

York noticed Kindra’s face pale. He could have decked Cal for his thoughtless comment.

* * *

The news blared on the monitor louder than usual, but he was disengaged and in a state of numb disbelief. When everything fell apart, he found small, dark corners worked best to reestablish the parameters.

He watched the images of Coder children being taken into cryogenic units. What had gone wrong? The virus wasn’t supposed to make anyone else ill, just the D Generation. The plan was to put the high-and-mighty GEIs in their places and make them suffer. He knew they’d eventually find a cure, but in the process, they’d realize they were vulnerable just like everybody else. Just like Coders.

And GEIs would learn they weren’t as smart as they thought they were.

Part of him was glad Lieutenant Richmond had gotten the kids into cryo. But that was it. No more. He needed to take a stronger stand. Now he realized the error in his plan. He should be the one to discover a vaccine. He should have had that in his back pocket before he’d begun. Unfortunately, he’d run out of time. He had wanted to set his plan in motion during the WHO convention. Which meant now. So the thing to do was create one, he could do that, before Kindra B-Zaika did.