Page 10 of He is… Creed: Part Three

“Miss,” a flight attendant says, stopping beside us. “The bag needs to go under the seat for takeoff.” Her eyes widen with understanding. “Oh no. Do you need help here?”

Brock drops ice into the cup and hands it to her. “You can take this and bring us some napkins.”

While he’s busy being him, basically obnoxious, I discreetly maneuver the tissue and the stick into my lap. With the briefcase as cover, I slip the stick into my pocket. “Here you go,” I say, offering him the tissue as I zip the case closed and then slide it under the seat. “I’m really sorry, Brock.”

He accepts the tissue and starts wiping down his shirt. “It’s fine,” he grumbles, his tone saying it really isn’t fine at all. “I guess we can swap computers once we are in the air.”

“I guess so,” I agree, leaning back in my chair and closing my eyes, ridiculously pleased with myself right now. I dodged a bullet. Now, if I could get away from Brock without getting myself killed, I’ll call this a good day.

Chapter Eleven

General Lawrence

With Dr. Chin by my side, I stand in one of several private PMI labs, the location highly secret. Together, we monitor a dozen soldiers strapped to hospital beds, still several injections from completing their conversion to GTECH. All volunteers for the experiment, and all receiving the original GTECH serum—Grade 1—while Chin works to perfect a newer, faster-acting Grade 2 version. I glance at Chin. “You’re certain we cannot use the Grade 2 serum to speed up their conversion?”

“Rushing Grade 2 is dangerous. And mixing the two, deadly. No matter how much you pressure me, there’s no rushing the process.”

“How soon after conversion can we control them with Red Dart?”

“Twenty-four hours after the final serum injection. My team is quite certain we’ve found a way to overcome the immune function of the soldiers.”

But he doesn’t know for sure. That’s not good enough. “It’s time we’re certain,” I say. “A dozen soldiers ready for battle two weeks from now is no longer enough. Not with the entire GTECH population trying to stop Red Dart from happening. We have no idea what they might do to stop us. Use the Grade 2 serum. I need an army of GTECHs, and I need them now.”

Chin holds up his hand. “General, I must remind you that the Grade 2 serum is a conversion that is rapid and potentially lethal. Those that survive will not only be positive for X2, but the aggression will be magnified times ten. You are talking about a highly volatile soldier. One without a mind for anything but violence. I need time to alter this reaction.”

“Will the Grade 2 be stronger and faster as you promised?”

Chin hesitates. “Yes.”

“And at least half of those dosed will survive?”

“General—”

“I take that as a yes,” I interrupt. “Both Julian and Caleb Rain are after Red Dart. Do you wish to see our country fall to the GTECHs?”

“You know I do not,” Chin replies brusquely. “I need a human test subject.”

“You’ll have Brock West,” he replies, pleased with Chin’s agreement. “I’ve sent orders to have the several hundred recruits scheduled for next week report two days early. We’ll have hundreds of test subjects in forty-eight hours.”

“You do realize that West, and anyone we dose before I perfect the serum, will be little more than an animal on a Red Dart-created leash?”

“The Zodius are animals,” I remind him. “I want an animal who can face an animal and win, an animal who is both powerful and in control.”

“Very well then,” Chin agrees. “I assume I will have the Red Dart application immediately available?”

“Of course, you will. We’ll bring West in tonight when he returns from Washington.”

Chapter Twelve

Addie

I’m sick the entire flight, fighting to stay in my seat rather than hanging over a disgusting airplane toilet. When we finally land, it feels as if it takes ten years to exit the plane. But finally, I step into the airport with Brock by my side, and I can feel Creed nearby.

Feel him.

I can’t even explain what that means, but it’s just a sense inside me—an understanding that he is close.

And while he’s not close enough to suit me, he’s too close for Brock’s safety. “I need to drop by the ladies’ room,” I say, “and since I’m under the weather, I’m going to call it a day. No dinner for me tonight.”

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