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  I blew out a breath, dizzy from so much all at once. “Nyss... I don’t know what to say.“

  “Not bad for an illegal Grind medic?“ She smiled at me as a blush washed over her face. I swallowed the lump in my throat and pulled her against me, taking shallow breaths to keep myself together.

  “It’ll be OK, Knox,“ she whispered, and I didn’t realize I was shaking until she tightened her arms around me. “It’ll just take a little time.“

  Donovan exhaled loudly. “So! This is good. It’s all good again,“ he said, raising an eyebrow at me and smiling a little. “Ready to go get some pants on now? What’s left of those is barely enough to be swim trunks.“

  “Actually,“ Nyssa said, looking up at me. “It's going to take several more hours for the rest of the neural circuits to sync, and you’re going to be in a lot of pain until they do. You better stay here.“ Donovan and Pritchard exchanged looks as Nyssa put her tools away across the room. “I have some old coveralls in the back that should fit you since your pants are, well…“ She gestured to the bloody heap of what must have been the legs of my khakis.

  “Even better,“ Pritchard said. “Then we’ll go back to the dock and clean up, Ryder. Don’t worry about anything. Just get some rest.“

  I exhaled and nodded at him, but my head was still spinning, lost in a surreal in-between place. The last thing I could probably do right now would be to rest. “Thanks, man. Both of you.“

  Donovan gripped my shoulder before they made their way to the door, stopping to hug Nyssa before they headed out.

  I smiled to myself in a deluge of appreciation for the three of them...until the whole scene was shattered as Sweeper droids crashed through the door and grabbed them all.

  “You have been reported for participation in an unauthorized medical procedure,“ the robotic voice of the first unit said. A green laser from its helmet scanned the room and stopped on me. “Knox Ryder, you are under arrest for Sanctioned Services Evasion—Medical Class A.“

  Another Sweeper droid grabbed my arms. I heard the electricity charging, but I still struggled until my whole body seized, and everything went black.

  ***

  I woke up in a cold, cement cell to excruciating pain in my knees, the electric hum of the bars vibrating my teeth.

  “Hello, Mr. Ryder,“ a man’s voice said from somewhere on I couldn't see. “My name is Cross. I am an associate of Mr. Wu.“

  I sat up on the hard, metal bed. “Where are my friends?“

  “Nyssa Blair, Marcus Donovan, and Adam Pritchard are currently in Mr. Wu’s custody.“

  “Where? What’s happening to them?“

  “Nothing. Yet,“ Cross said, taking a seat at a molded chrome table just on the other side of the electric bars. “We can dispense with the restraints.“ He waved a hand at the Sweeper droid, and the bars disappeared. I got to my feet, but fell against the wall because the pain was almost blinding.

  “What is this?“ I shouted.

  His sallow, angular face shifted, feigning concern. “Tell me, do you have nineteen thousand and forty-seven cash credits, Mr. Ryder?“

  I blanched at him. “Of course not.“

  “Then, I assume you would have paid for your surgery with legacy credits at an Authorized hospital? Roughly fourteen years of your natural life, once we add the seven percent interest, if my math is correct.“

  “Why are you here?“ I demand, the pain now almost nauseating, sobering, and I remembered all over again that under the coveralls, my legs were gone.

  “And since your Sweeper scan revealed a blood contamination—lethal, now that we’ve seized your Unauthorized antibiotics—you may only be able to pay roughly six months of that life debt. Since you don't have any next of kin, the remaining time would become a tax dispersed among your community.“ Cross raised a feathery eyebrow.

  “You make me sick,“ I growled, pressing against the cold, concrete wall to straighten, despite the pain. My head started to swim.

  “You didn’t seek Authorized treatment, Mr. Ryder. Your modifications are illegal, so by law, they will be removed by Authorized personnel at a cost of twelve thousand, nine hundred-fifty legacy credits. Or roughly, eight years of your natural life. After interest and legal fees.“

  This news hit me like a bus, and for a second, I couldn’t move.

  I cleared my throat. “Why are you here? What do you want from me?“

  “I want to give you a scholarship to The Citadel, Mr. Ryder. In exchange for, shall we say, a work-study arrangement.“

  “What do you mean?“

  “You would make a delivery once every two weeks, just an hour of your time. The rest of your time would be spent pursuing an Authorized medical degree.“

  None of what he was saying made any sense to me. “You want to give me a full ride to The Citadel for making a delivery once a week…” I almost laughed in his face. “Why me?“ I squinted at him.

  Cross’s thin lips stretched across his face again in another humorless smile. “Mr. Wu needs someone with your…foresight. Your self-discipline. With such a severe injury, statistics show that most others would gladly pay to relieve the pain by any means necessary. Even with their futures. Even with that of others. But not you. Some would say you’re quite a scrapper, Mr. Ryder.“

  He pressed a button on a small remote control, and a floating screen appeared. The scene at the docks played back, the falling crates, the argument over calling the Sweepers.

  My heart hammered as heat crawled up my throat. The sick feeling in my stomach rose again as I watched it all—as I heard my own screams.

  “All right!“ I shouted. Cross stopped the footage a second later, right after where I demanded to see Nyssa.

  I sat back down on the metal bed and gripped the edge, lightheaded. I stared at the clear sleeves over what was left of my bandaged thighs…at the mismatched hard gel and the muted blue lights below the knees shining through it. The urgency to run away from all this was overwhelming, but I could only sit there, exploding in my own skin because all this was part of me now.

  “Mr. Ryder?“

  I tore my eyes away and found Cross’s expressionless face. I tried to copy it…to feel nothing, like he must have felt nothing.

  “And what about my friends?“

  “If you agree, they will all be offered scholarships to The Citadel as well. If you do not, they will pay the legacy fines for executing and abetting medical service evasion. Fifteen years for Nyssa Blair. Ten years each for Marcus Donovan and Adam Pritchard.“

  “You people are the criminals! That’s extortion!“

  “It’s simply the law, Mr. Ryder. But the choice is yours.“

  ***

  One year later…

  The guards masquerading as medics in their long, white coats were already flanking Nyssa when I entered The Citadel lab wing. Both guards had leathery skin and hard, scarred faces, one of them with a nose that looked smashed flat against his face. They both towered over her, the one with the flat nose burying his hand under his lapel as his eyes darted around the room. I shook my head and tried not to look exhausted by their façade.

  Nyssa’s blonde hair was tied back like she always wore it when she worked, making her wide blue eyes look even bigger. It had only been two weeks since I was here picking up the last briefcase, but she looked older somehow. The Citadel had taken its toll over the past year.

  “Hello, Knox Ryder,“ she said with a little smile. I started to greet her, but one of her fake assistants cut me off.

  “Where are the others?“ Flat-nose asked.

  “In the car, like always.“ I looked from one of the guards to the other. “What’s the problem?“

  “New security measures. Get one of them up here.“

  “Since when do—“

  “The clients are waiting,“ the other guard said, cutting me off. He narrowed his beady eyes at me, and with his pinched little face, he looked just like the rats in the cages along the far wall.

&n
bsp; I blew out a breath and messaged Pritchard.

  “Are you OK, Nyss?“ I asked, studying her face. She gave me another weak smile.

  “Yeah. A little tired, but that comes with the internships, right?“ She forced a laugh and glanced up to the corner of the room. I nodded, sneaking a glance of my own in the opposite corner to find a mounted camera. Apparently, these were also part of the new security protocol.

  “What’s wrong? You OK?“ Pritchard asked, bolting into the lab almost out of breath.

  “Fine. I guess I need a babysitter now,“ I answered, regretting it until the guards’ expressions didn't change even a little, but Nyssa gave me a warning blue glare.

  “Uh, OK, well, here I am.“ Pritchard cleared his throat when no one said anything else.

  Nyssa carefully took the briefcase we came for off the metal rolling cart behind her and held it out for me. “Remember, keep it still, OK?“ she said in a quiet voice. I started to remind her that she didn't have to tell me to be careful every single time we picked up these briefcases, but Flat-nose started talking before I had the chance to do more than open my mouth.

  “The client is waiting. You have your instructions?“

  I nodded. “Yeah, I’m good.“

  “Goodbye, Knox,“ Nyssa said a little more loudly this time. “It was good to see you.“ She took a few steps backward without turning around, like she was trying to look at us as long as she could before the guards each took one of her arms and pushed Pritchard and me toward the door with their eyes.

  “You too, Nyss…“ I nodded in return and took a deep breath to hold back everything else I wanted to say to her, everything I wanted to ask her, but couldn't.

  On our way out the door, I glared into the camera Nyssa spotted a few minutes ago. Once Pritchard and I were in the long, steel corridor, the door slid closed behind us.

  “What the hell was all that about?“ he asked.

  I shook my head. “New security. That’s all they would say.“

  Pritchard laughed. “Two armed guards in The Citadel medical wing? Do they think we’re in The Grind?“

  “And cameras,“ I added. “I thought we were done with those when we moved to this side of the gate. Did you see the guards grab her arms?“

  Pritchard sighed. “The rumors about the briefcases must have gotten back to them.“

  “Yeah, I don’t know.“

  “You think Nyssa knows what people are saying?“

  “I don’t know, man!“ I snapped, then took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the street. “You know as much as I do, OK?“ Pritchard held up his hands, palms facing me like I’d pulled a weapon on him or something. I rolled my eyes. “Just get in the car.“

  Donovan was already outside leaning on Wu’s long, black car. He saw us coming and opened the passenger door.

  “What happened? You all right?“

  I nodded to him. “Fine. Just new security protocols.“

  “Lay this on the seat and keep it steady,“ I told Donovan, who got in the backseat.

  “Hey, I heard there are three mutations now,“ he said. “Did Nyssa say anything?“

  I shook my head at him. “I don’t care what’s in that case, Don. And neither should you.“

  “One of them gives you speed. One strength, and the other one gives you both, plus they all give you this kind of wild immunity boost,“ he said, completely ignoring me. “You’re basically immortal. Imagine having unlimited years.“

  Pritchard snorted. “Impossible. You need to stop talking to the lab janitors.“

  “Wouldn’t you want unlimited years, Ryder? Come on?“ Donovan shoved the back of my shoulder.

  “Who wouldn’t? Can you shut up about it now?“ I answered.

  “Which color do you think best represents immortality?“

  I just sighed at Donovan’s stupid question and looked out the window at one tall, seamless building after another going by. I never should have gone to Nyssa that night in The Grind. I should have just called the Sweepers and paid the years.

  Donovan’s abrupt, maniacal laughter from the backseat shocked me out of my thoughts. Pritchard hit the brakes and swore.

  “What the hell, Don!?“ I shouted over the bench seat, but was silenced at the sight of him. His mouth was wide open and his dark eyes were nearly bugging out of his head in surprise.

  “It works, man! It works!“ He laughed.

  The sleeves of his plaid shirt suddenly became skin tight, pulling at the buttons over his chest. His neck grew at least two inches in thickness right before my eyes, and his face started to become sharp-lined around his cheekbones and chin. He even had a short, blond goatee, which definitely wasn’t there five minutes ago.

  The briefcase was open next to him, one of the syringes out of its mounting and lying empty in the lid.

  “What the hell did you do, Don?“ I asked with the last of the breath in my lungs.

  “I got the code, man!“

  Pritchard pulled the car into an alley. “Did you just shoot one of those? You just—“ He stopped cold when he turned and noticed the obvious physical changes.

  “Hell, yeah!“ Donovan laughed like a five-year-old in a farting contest. “Kira gave me the code to the case!“

  “Kira, the cleaning girl?“ I asked. “How did she get the code?“

  “This is our ticket, Ryder—unlimited years!“ Donovan said through psychotic celebration, which turned into full-blown mania when I felt something sharp hit my shoulder. A heat spread across my chest and back. “That’s the blue syringe. Pritchard, gimme your arm for the yellow.“

  “Don!“ I shouted, tearing at my shirt because it felt like my skin was on fire from the inside.

  Pritchard pushed his hands through his hair. “Are you crazy? You just injected him!“

  “He just said who wouldn’t want unlimited years…“ Donovan said, completely confused. “I mean, look at me, man! So, just give yours a second, Ryder. It only hurts for a minute, and Kira said sometimes there’s a delay.“

  “I’ll kill you!“ I started to leap over the seat, but Pritchard grabbed me and pulled me back.

  “What’s wrong with you?“ Donovan yelled, pushing at me. “Ryder, we can go anywhere now!“

  “You’re dead. No, we’re all dead! We have to deliver that case right now, you idiot!“

  “Ryder, calm down!“ Pritchard pushed me against my door and held out a long arm to keep me from leaping at Donovan again. The heat from my shoulder felt like it was wrapping around my heart and lungs like a hand squeezing.

  Donovan held up his hands at me. “It’s all right. I have a plan.“

  “What did you do to me…?“ I finally managed, glaring at him, but he just looked me up and down, confused.

  “Nothing is happening yet? Do you feel any different? I don’t think the delay takes this long.“

  My mind raced. “I don’t know—it’s hot. Everything is hot. That’s it. I don’t know what’s happening.“

  “Do you feel stronger? Get out and run down the block,“ Donovan said. I lunged at him again.

  “Stop!“ Pritchard put a hand in my chest and knocked the wind out of me.

  I clenched my teeth and checked the clock in the car. “They’re going to kill us, you moron! We have to deliver this case in twenty minutes!“

  “I got it handled!“ Donovan pulled three small bottles out of his pocket and held them up. One was full of yellow liquid, one blue, and the other red. “See?“

  “What is that?“ Pritchard asked.

  “I don’t know—dye or something?“ Donovan shrugged. “Kira also said the serums don’t always work. Nyssa’s people just mix up another batch if the clients complain, and they get another case. It’s happened before.“

  My head was still spinning. There was so much wrong now I didn't even know where to begin. How could I fix this? How would I get this stuff out of me?

  “This is bad…“ Pritchard said, dragging his hands down his face. He gave me a quick
scan. “Nothing’s changed? Are you still hot?“

  I shook my head since the heat has started to dissipate, but my heart was still pounding. “No. I think it was a dud. It had to be a dud.“

  “Thank God,“ Pritchard breathed. “All right. Put that stuff in the syringes and let’s go. I want that case out of here.“

  “It could still work—remember the delay, man. Pritchard, you don’t want the yellow?“

  “Are you insane?“ I barked at Donovan.

  “Hey, you said you wanted the years! Besides, I was doing you a favor. Kira said this stuff can even regenerate limbs.“

  “All right! It’s already done,“ Pritchard interrupted, throwing out a big arm to block my path to Donovan again. “Ryder, you can beat the crap out of him after we deliver the case, all right?“

  “Pfft, he can try.“ Donovan flexed his stupidly huge bicep and admired himself.

  I closed my eyes in a long blink as Pritchard started driving again. “And how are we even supposed to explain you now? You can’t just come back to the dorms all Captain Steroid like that. You moron!“

  “Our internships are up in two weeks. I’ll just wear baggier clothes until I graduate and move into the engineering suites.“

  “You really are an idiot,“ Pritchard said.

  “Just loan me some of your clothes, man. It’s fine.“

  Pritchard blew out a hard breath as he glanced at me again. “You still OK? What’s happening? Anything?“

  “I’m fine. There’s no delay. It was a dud,“ I said, believing it more each time I said it. I turned back to make sure Donovan was refilling the syringes. He finished, then closed the briefcase and spun the lock. “Give me that yellow bottle.“ I held out a hand to him. He hesitated for a second before reluctantly giving it over. I pulled the stopper out and poured it out the window, ignoring his protests.

  “I need to give all the bottles back to her,“ he mumbled. I tossed it over the seat just as we parked near the entrance to the docks.

  “Stay here,“ Pritchard said, holding his hand out for the briefcase. Donovan passed it over the seat as I got out of the car.