Page 1 of Rupture

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Date: December 6th 2036

Location: Biohybrid Robotics,

Defense Science Laboratory,

Bristol, England

The robotic snakeslithered through the pitch black of the swimming pool, its sinuous progress marked only by the powerful white light radiating from both eyes. The light flashed over Dr. Rose Wyndham, turning the air bubbles from her scuba tanks iridescent. Her heart skipped a beat, her gloved hands stilling momentarily on the digital control pad in her hands. “Okay, MARV. Let’s show them what you’ve got. Gina, are they ready?”

The comms button in her ear chirped. “They’re all here. Knock their socks off.” Her assistant Gina’s voice was tinny, but Rose didn’t miss the edge of excitement. They had both worked so hard for this. Five long years of research melding state-of-the-art nano-robotics and organic matrices to create cutting-edge workhorses for the Department of Defense.

She thumbed the button on her remote and MARV’sheadlights extinguished. Darkness enveloped Rose like silk. Water current curled around her thigh as MARV slid past. Rose lowered the night vision visor over her mask, spotting MARV as a sliver of green luminescence several feet away. MARV twisted to face her, the wedge-shaped head tapering to the blade of a powerful tail.

“Ladies and gentleman.” She couldn’t see the dark wall of glass at the end of the pool, or the assembled group of scientists and military personnel watching and judging if their investment was worthy. But they were there. “Welcome to the first official demonstration of the first Marine Autonomous Robotic Version IV or MARV for short…” She paused, her heart thundering in her ears. She loved research, but selling herself and her creation to a bunch of pencil pushers and warmongers, not so much.

“Keep going, Rose.” Gina’s voice was reassuring on the comms.

Rose closed her eyes, gathering herself.I can do this. I know this inside out.

“MARV is at the forefront of bio-hybrid research combining DNA from Hydrophis belcheri, also known as the faint-banded sea snake, with innovative nanotechnology. Originally developed for the inspection of sub-sea structures, MARV’s configuration has been augmented to create an autonomous robotic hybrid that will enable us to navigate hostile environments without risk to human life,fulfill mission objectives…”

Familiarity took over. She knew her creation and if this demonstration went as well as she knew it could,she’d achieve what she had been busting a gut over for the past five years—acknowledgement of her work and secure funding to keep her team in employment under Ed Haverham for the next ten years.

Hell, she’d worked relentlessly to pull herself back up from the black hole she’d tumbled down when her sister Thea had stolen their shared research, claimed it as hers alone, and disappeared. Rose paused in her well-rehearsed sales spiel and pressed her tongue against her teeth. Losing herself in the past would only derail her.

Time to show them what MARV could really do.

Half an hour later,Rose surfaced, gripping the pool ladder for support as she exited the water, her knee joints popping in protest. Working non-stop with no exercise or days off for months hadn’t done her any favors. The news better be good.

Gina was already there, a towel in hand, hopping from foot to foot in barely contained excitement. Rose removed her mask, shrugged off her air tanks, and accepted the towel.

“Oh my God, Rose, that was amazing.” Gina was breathless. She patted her chest with fluttering fingers. “I went past the conference room to steal some free sandwiches and the buzz was electric. They loved MARV.”

“Seriously?” Rose refused to let the bubble of hope in her belly expand until she was sure they were on the home run. Not until she saw the ink on the contract. She’d been burned too many times before.

“Yes. Yes.” Gina skirted behind Rose to unzip her wetsuit. “Two bigguys in uniforms were bending Haverham’s ear about MARV. One of them was pretty hot.” She arched a brow in Rose’s direction.

“Gina, quit with the matchmaking.”

“I just think…you know…” Gina came round to face Rose anddid a tiny sashay. “…you could do with some loosening up. Then I wouldn’t have to go on all these blind dates on my own.” She nudged her glasses on the bridge of her nose to accentuate her point.

“Loosening up?”

“Everyone needs to let their hair down sometimes.”

She took Gina by the shoulders. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ve told you countless times I’m perfectly happy single. I do not need a relationship?—”

Gina’s mouth popped open to protest.

“Or a casual tumble in the hay with any man to make me feel complete or happy.”

Gina showed the palms of her hands. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“Let’s try again. These guys you overhead were military?” Rose suppressed a sigh. How did she stop her work from being taken in the wrong direction?

“Um, yes.” A dent marred her assistant’s face. “I know you don’t want MARV to be used as a weapon.”

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