‘Slow down, miss.’ The Inventor huffed out a breath. ‘I can’t move as fast as you.’
She reached the lift and slipped in beside Dom, Vanessa and a wincing June. The Inventor arrived a moment later. He flashed her an irritated look and climbed on board. She pressed the button before 148-C’s arrival with the soldiers.
A restrained 148-C arrived with this escorts. Carissa kept pressing the button.
‘We should go, Jacob,’ she said.
The Inventor frowned at her, then looked at 148-C. He waved at the soldiers holding him. ‘Take the stairs. We’ll meet you up there.’
148-C smirked at Carissa, as if he knew his presence bothered her. A deep chill ran through her biogel and made her hands tingle. She hated not being connected, not knowing what was going on.
The second the doors closed, Carissa’s fear lifted.
The Inventor’s eyes were on the door.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered, too softly for him to hear.
The doors opened and they exited into the first floor. Carissa had not visited this floor before. Her interest had lain in the second floor, where June had been. She’d only seen the first floor as part of the maps. But Dom should remember it well.
Their dark-haired leader shuddered. He pointed ahead. ‘This way.’
The route brought them to a long corridor with a solid wall and door on one side, and several corridors opposite it. The soldiers, who had taken the stairs, arrived with 148-C.
Dom led the way, looking more confident going in than he’d been coming out of this place. His shoulders sagged a little, but he kept his head and chin up.
‘In here,’ he said softly, pointing at the door on the left.
148-C smirked.
Dom opened the door fast, pointing his gun inside. ‘Clear.’
He stepped inside, but not before hesitating.
Vanessa helped June inside the room.
‘Stay out here and protect us,’ said the Inventor to the spare soldiers. He cast a cool look over 148-C, then nodded at the two armed soldiers flanking him. ‘Bring him in.’
The soldiers pushed him inside. Carissa, last into the room, closed the door.
The room was bright and white—a prominent feature of the city. A nod to the cleanliness the Collective strived for daily. There was a gurney in the middle of the room. Above it, several closed panels were set in the ceiling. The walls, smooth and white, had hidden nooks. All the walls in the city did. The Collective despised disorder. Everything had to be in its place. If it wasn’t needed, it must be out of sight.
Carissa clasped her hands to the front while Vanessa and Dom got June settled.
June looked around the room, worried. ‘What happens in here?’
‘Many interesting things,’ replied 148-C.
Dom grabbed 148-C’s arm, making him yelp. ‘Shut your mouth, unless I ask you to speak. Got it?’
The guard nodded slowly, not looking too put out by Dom’s threats. Dom let go. 148-C rubbed his arm where Dom had used his enhanced strength on him.
‘Ah!’ June cried out.
Carissa rushed over to her. ‘Are you okay?’
‘I will be. Junior’s getting a little antsy.’
Carissa pulled up her sleeve and looked up at the Inventor.
He pushed her arm down. ‘We’re past your growth repressors now, miss. It’s time to take Junior out.’ He squinted at the walls, the ceiling. ‘How does this place work?’
Dom pointed. ‘Up there. The medical equipment.’
Vanessa held on to June’s hand. ‘How do we get it started?’
‘He knows how.’ Dom grabbed 148-C’s arm roughly.
‘I’ve forgotten,’ he said coolly. ‘It’s been so long since you were here.’
Dom twisted 148-C’s arm behind his back. The Copy yelped. ‘I seem to remember you being squeamish about blood.’ 148-C’s eyes widened. ‘Help us now, and I’ll spare you the gory parts.’
The Copy nodded tightly. Dom let go, but the soldiers flanking the prisoner kept their weapons pointed at him. He walked over to a panel and pressed it. It revealed a control pad.
Dom stood at his shoulder. ‘How does it work?’
‘You type in the procedure you want done. Then the arms do the rest. You remember them, don’t you?’
Dom slapped him on his ear. 148-C hissed.
‘What command to we need to deliver the child?’
148-C glanced at Carissa. ‘She’s more likely to know than me.’
All eyes were on Carissa, including June’s.
She shook her head. ‘I never worked here.’
The Inventor stooped, drawing her focus to him. ‘Miss, you have the commands. You know what they are. Think.’
She shook her head again. ‘But I’m not connected.’ She pointed to 148-C. ‘He is.’
‘We can’t risk him issuing a false command. Think, miss. June trusts you.’
Carissa bit her lip. She tried to remember, but the pressure turned her thoughts blank.
The Inventor shook her arm gently. ‘Do your best, miss.’
She nodded.
There were too many eyes on her; she closed her eyes to concentrate better. She thought back to her visits on the second floor. She’d spoken to the head medic about the procedures. 28-C had called June “Patient Zero” and said that she was awaiting foetus transfer. But that was before June had received the implant.
She opened her eyes. ‘Try this command: foetus removal.’
Dom typed in the procedure. Panels opened in the ceiling. He jerked his head up. A sudden shudder matched the fear in his eyes.
The first metal arm extended down, almost hesitantly. It had a set of pincers. June’s eyes widened. Carissa rushed over to her and held her other hand.
‘It’s okay,’ she said, even though she’d never witnessed operations in this room. She’d only read reports about the work that went on in the Harvesting programme. She turned to Dom. ‘Talk to her.’
He left the control panel and came to June’s side. ‘It’s okay. It usually starts with a morphine injection.’ He pointed to
