Page 37 of Red Zone Awakened

“Nobody knows it’s there.”It was clear she thought he was overreacting.

“When we get out of here, CommTECH will debrief you.It’s standard procedure.What’s to stop your boss from getting hold of the data in your head?”

“Me, that’s what will stop her.She can’t access my personal data chip without my permission.It’s a matter of privacy.”The image blinked out, and Keiko folded her arms.

Was she truly that naive?Did she honestly have that much faith in her company?“What happens when Miriam has someone strap you to a table and download your data, whether you like it or not?”

Her eyes narrowed.“She wouldn’t do that.That only happens to criminals.You need a court order to mine someone’s implant without their permission.”

Unbelievable.Was she really that clueless about who she’d been working for these past few years?“Think about it for a second.Who runs the courts?The government.And who’s the government?CommTECH.Trust me when I tell you that Miriam Shepherd would have no problem at all getting the paperwork she needs to do whatever the hell she wants to do to you.I’ve seen the bodies to prove it.”

With a shake of her head, Keiko took a step away from him.Probably the most sensible thing she’d done since they met.“You sound like one of those obsessive conspiracy theorists who hack the media network to spread their misinformation.You’ve been listening to Freedom’s propaganda.CommTECH is the good guy.Look around you.CommTECH’s under attack.We’re the victims in this.”

Mace finally lost his patience.“Do the good guys set up illegal mines in coalition countries and rape them of their resources?Do the good guys hunt down an innocent woman just because she accidentally saw something she shouldn’t?Something they didn’t want to be made public?Do the good guys rush a data chip into development when they know it will kill its hosts?Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of hosts.You’re deluded, princess.Miriam Shepherd and the rest of CommTECH don’t give a damn about your personal space or your rights.If she wants something you have, she will reach out and take it, and she won’t give a flying fuck about the consequences.Because she’s untouchable.She’s judge, jury, and executioner in this territory.And nothing—not even her precious press secretary—will stand in the way of her getting what she wants.”

“Will you just stop lying to me?”Keiko shouted.“I work with Miriam day in, day out.One of my closest friends is a scientist at this research facility.If any of those things were going on, I’d know about them.”

“No, you wouldn’t.Because if you did, you’d be dead already.”He pinched the bridge of his nose.If she wasn’t naive, then she was willfully ignorant.“Forget it.Okay?Do your magic with the screens.I need to see what’s happening inside the building.”

“CommTECH helps people,” she said stubbornly as she faced the panel.“We provide education and jobs.We develop tech that makes the world a better place.I don’t know where you’re getting your information, but you’re wrong.I know everything that’s going on in this company because I’m the one who has to put it all into layman’s terms for the public.Don’t you think I’d notice if they were breaking laws left, right, and center?”

“Honestly, I don’t think you’d notice unless it slapped you in the face.People like you, people on the privileged inside, only tend to see what they want to.Now turn on the screens.”

With a glare, she inserted the tip of her index fingernail into a slot on the panel, and the screens sprang to life.“Abigail would tell me if a dangerous data chip was about to be released.”

“She specializes in lenses, not data chips,” Mace said.“And from what I’ve seen of her, I doubt she notices anything outside of her own area of expertise.”

For the first time in their argument, he saw doubt in her eyes.“She’s not that clueless,” she said, but her words lacked conviction.

“Delete everything you have stored on your data chips that has anything to do with me or my team,” he repeated.“I don’t share your faith in CommTECH, and I want the risk gone.”

“Don’t worry.I don’t want anything related to you in my head, either.Consider it done.”Lifting her chin, Keiko turned away from him.

A princess dismissing her peasant.

And that really grated.