Chapter Eight
Wren pushed her food around her plate. Jamie sat in front of her.
"You look miserable."
"I am."
Jamie's lips twisted. She bit into her apple and munched on it for a few seconds. "Well, you might wanna lighten up. You won't get sent on missions if you look like you either want to make a break for it or kill yourself."
Wren set her fork down. "Yeah, but if I have a sudden change of heart, then they'll be suspicious. I can't win."
"I'm not saying you have to smile or anything, just… engage a little more."
"We all don't trust each other."
Jamie's brow pinched. "I trust you."
Wren scowled. "You do?"
"You saved my life."
"That doesn't mean you can trust me. We're a squadron now. We're supposed to have each other's backs."
"We're also supposed to put the mission first," said Jamie. She rolled her eyes. "Are you trying to come across as an asshole?"
Wren managed a smile. "No."
"So it just comes naturally to you?" Jamie grinned.
Wren stabbed a roasted carrot with her fork. "Yeah. Guess so."
09 set her tray down beside Jamie. "Can I sit?"
"Of course," Jamie beamed up at 09, who looked away. Her cheeks darkened.
09 sat down and caught Wren's eye. "Hey—"
"It's fine. You were just doing your job." Wren took a drink of water to avoid maintaining eye contact with 09.
"So, I was thinking… Maybe it would be cool to have names. I mean, we don't really remember our names before we became cyborgs… But it'd be easier to differentiate between us."
"Yeah? What name would you pick?" Jamie queried over the brim of her cup.
09 lowered her round brown eyes. "I like Nina."
"Me too," said Jamie. 09—Nina—raised her head. Jamie winked.
Nina smiled. She turned to Wren. "What made you choose the name Wren?"
"I didn't choose it."
"She remembered her name," said Jamie.
Nina widened her eyes. "How did you remember your own name?"
Wren tensed. "I guess Atlas Montgomery wasn't great at his job."
Jamie and Nina shared a glance, but Wren ignored them by training her focus on her meal. The familiar click of Pauline's heels forced Wren to freeze. She swallowed and twisted in her seat to face Pauline, who peered down at Wren with icy grey eyes.
"01, your scan of the crime scene was inconclusive."
Wren shrugged. "I got interrupted, as you know."
"Yes, and you should've incapacitated the threat and proceeded with your mission, but you chose to walk away."
"Yeah, I wasn't going to incapacitate Hank and Connor, especially since you orchestrated that meeting to test me."
Pauline's nostrils flared. "I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourself."
"Oh, joy."
"The DPD has sent the android bodies to CyberLife for evaluation. Retrieve the data that Elijah Kamski has gathered."
"How do you even know that this is going on? You're still watching them?"
"That information is above your paygrade, 01. Retrieve the data and bring it here. You leave in an hour." Pauline turned on her heel and clacked away. Wren flipped off Pauline's back before facing Jamie and Nina again.
Nina leaned forward. "She orchestrated that meeting?"
"To test my loyalty," said Wren. She glanced over her shoulder. They were alone, but the anomaly in her system blinked a warning out of the corner of her eye. She blinked, hard. "Not like I have a choice, anyway."
"Paygrade," spat Jamie. "We don't even get paid."
Wren's lips twisted. "No use in paying people who don't exist."
Nina lowered her eyes and Jamie's jaw clenched. The three of them ate in silence. Wren stood first, grabbing her tray to deposit it at the conveyor belt that took it to the washroom. The hole in the wall that conveyor belt disappeared into was small, but not so small that Wren could not fit through it if she needed.
[⌂Path Unlocked]
"Good luck on your mission," Jamie muttered. Wren faced the two women and dipped her head before turning away.
…
Wren awoke in a hotel room. She sat up and rubbed the back of her neck. Standard Prometheus protocol required that she leave and enter the facility unconscious so that she (or any agent) could not discern Prometheus's location. So, as soon as she stepped into the hangar to board the jet, someone jabbed a needle into the back of her neck. She slumped into darkness and awoke in the hotel room.
Approaching the window, Wren pushed aside the curtains and looked down at Detroit. Light flurries fluttered past her window. The city glowed from the techno ads and neon lights. The tall skyscrapers reflected the grey light of the clouds above. Wren folded her arms as her eyes traveled over the landscape. Belle Isle sat in the distance, but Wren only knew that because of the precarious CyberLife Tower. Prometheus picked a hotel close to the Tower, but not too close.
Someone knocked on the door.
Wren grabbed her gun from the bedside table and eased toward the door. She looked through the peephole and relaxed. She opened the door. "They send you here to babysit me?"
"Biweekly meeting," replied Rhett, entering Wren's hotel room. She shut the door and placed her gun back on the bedside table. Rhett raised his eyebrows. "Expecting someone else?"
"You never know." Wren sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm surprised they didn't tell you to wait until my mission was over."
"Well, Prometheus might not be happy that I'm butting in on all of your missions, but they do trust CIA. And they don't trust you, especially in Detroit."
"So you are here to babysit."
"No," Rhett leaned against the AC unit, "just here for our meeting and then I'll leave. So, what are you doing in Detroit?"
"Reconnaissance." Wren folded her arms. "They sent me here a little over a week ago to scan a crime scene, but I got interrupted so my results were inconclusive. I'm here to fix that."
"A week ago?" Rhett narrowed his eyes. "Why are they interested in a small case? I'm sure the DPD can handle it."
"Of course they can," said Wren. "But androids are randomly attacking humans and then killing themselves, so it's raised some questions. Honestly, I think Prometheus is just trying to find any reason to validate an attack on androids."
Rhett hummed. "So, you're going to the DPD, then?"
"No," Wren sighed, "CyberLife Tower. Looks like the DPD enlisted Kamski's help."
"You'll throw a wrench into their investigation."
"Probably." Wren grimaced. "I'd rather it be me than someone else, though."
"At least Prometheus is keeping their end of the bargain to keep any other Prometheus agents away from your friends."
"Yeah…"
Wren met Rhett's gaze and switched to ASL: I'm not so sure. I think they're watching them.
Rhett said aloud, "They really think you need a gun for a simple recon mission?"
In ASL, Rhett said: Not surprised.
"I always have a gun for missions."
"What do they think will go wrong with this mission?"
I don't like them watching them, Wren signed.
"I don't know," Wren said.
I'm watching them, too, Rhett signed. Out loud he said, "And the squadron? Are all of you getting along?"
"I don't know. Jamie seems to have warmed up to me. I think Nina's getting there. Or maybe I am. I'm not sure if I trust them entirely, but…It makes things way less boring."
"Jamie? Nina?"
"07 and 09."
"Did you fucking name them?"
"They picked their names," said Wren.
"But you encouraged them."
"We're not numbers."
"And how does Prometheus feel about this?"
"I don't really care."
"Wren…"
"Fuck Prometheus," Wren spat. Rhett raised his eyebrows. Wren pushed off from the bed and turned her back to Rhett. "They do everything they can to strip us of our humanity, to make us into machines and numbers executing a mission, but they can't do that. They chose to combine humans and androids to create cyborgs, so they can't expect us to be numbers. Not even androids are just machines." She turned to face Rhett. "If we're just numbers, then there's no reason for us to be alive, no reason for us to fight for Prometheus. If we have nothing, then it won't matter to us if we die."
Rhett smiled wryly. "But that just gives them incentive to target the people you love."
Wren raked a hand through her hair. "I know." She sat back down and balanced her elbows on her knees, eyes trained on the floor. "Maybe I'm messing things up by encouraging them to have names. I just don't want to take part in that dehumanization."
"I wouldn't either. Just be careful, okay?" Rhett stood by the door.
Wren nodded once. Rhett pursed his lips and left.
…
Wren stood on the train ride toward Belle Isle. She gripped the subway pole and never took a seat, even when people emptied them. The train stopped three times before crossing the bridge to Belle Isle. It slowed to a stop, and a woman's cool voice announced, "Arrived at Belle Isle."
The train doors slid open and Wren stepped off. Her boots crunched the snow as she walked toward the Tower. The air stung her face. It was much colder on the isle than it was in the city. Wren stepped into the building. Her boots squeaked the white floor. CYBERLIFE glowed in white on the left wall. Bamboo decorated the pristine white entrance. The lobby lacked a front desk. Security officers patrolled the lobby, eyeing Wren, but they never approached her. Instead, a male HR400 android, dressed in a suit, greeted Wren.
"Hello," he stated. "How may I help you?"
"I'm here to see Elijah," said Wren, smiling.
"I don't believe he is expecting you," said the android.
Wren eyed the android's name tag: Wei. She met his gaze. "Wei, I'm a friend of Elijah's. I'm sure if you tell him that Wren has popped in for a visit, he'll let me up."
Wei's brow furrowed for a moment. He nodded and gestured for Wren to follow him. Wei led her through the security check.
The security voice said, "Welcome, Wei. Unidentified personnel."
Wei ignored the voice and led Wren through the courtyard, where a massive statue of a humanoid figure stood. Wei led Wren to the elevator and pressed his palm to the scanner. "Wei to level forty-three."
The elevator shot up. Wren watched as the courtyard grew smaller. Her eyes leveled with the humanoid statue. It cradled a blue star in its palms. Wren lifted a brow. Wei shifted beside her. He led her off the elevator and down the hall.
"Wait here, please," he instructed. Wren paused in the corridor. Wei entered the room at the end of the hall. He returned a few seconds later. "Mr. Kamski will see you."
Wren flashed a smile at Wei and entered the office. The floor glistened onyx, a brilliant contrast to the rest of the white floors in the Tower. Elijah eyed Wren from his desk.
"Wren. I did not expect to see you anytime soon."
"Elijah," Wren returned. "Still have androids working for you?"
"I offer jobs for those who want out of their previous… occupations. Wei was a former Traci."
"I noticed," said Wren.
"So, what can I do for you?" Elijah steepled his fingers as he studied Wren. "I assume you're in Detroit for business and not for pleasure, otherwise you would be with Connor and Hank."
Wren's brow puckered at the casual use of Connor and Hank's names. Though admittedly, Wren tossed around Elijah's name as if they were old friends. "Prometheus is aware that you're helping the DPD."
Elijah's face drained of color. "Are you here to tell me to stop?"
Wren scowled. "No. They just want the information you've acquired from the android bodies."
"You're referring to the murder-suicide cases." Elijah relaxed. "The DPD will not be happy about this."
"Well, I'm sure you've saved the data somewhere. Just give me a copy that I can bring to Prometheus and I'll be on my way."
Elijah narrowed his eyes. He inhaled sharply and stood. "Very well. This way."
They returned to the elevator, this time taking it to one of the sublevels. Elijah led Wren into a room that looked like an operating room and a morgue. Elijah crossed to the large computer set and typed on it. Wren peered around, her eyes lingering on the clean steel tables. Wires and monitors hung next to them. She returned her attention to Elijah on his computer. She was not entirely sure what prompted her to think so, but she felt she could trust him. At least he was an enemy of Prometheus. An enemy of Prometheus was someone she liked.
Elijah handed Wren a tablet. "This was designated for the DPD, but I suppose Prometheus has more power."
"Thank you," said Wren. "You can blame it on me."
Elijah smirked. "Somehow I doubt they will be very angry knowing it was you."
Wren tightened her jaw and nodded. Elijah and Wren took the elevator to the main floor. He walked her to the lobby. Wren and Elijah stopped in their tracks.
"Ah, this is awkward." Elijah seemed highly unbothered, even amused, to see Gavin, Tina, and Chris in the lobby.
"Wren?" Tina breathed.
"The fuck are you doing here?" Gavin narrowed his eyes at Wren.
Wren tried to speak, but could not seem to push words past the lump in her throat. She glanced at the tablet. Chris followed her gaze.
"Is that our evidence?" The disappointment in his voice tugged at Wren's heart.
"Prometheus is confiscating it," said Wren, lowering the tablet by her side. She lifted her chin as she faced her friends.
"Why?" Tina demanded.
Wren swallowed. "They have an interest in this case and Hank wouldn't let me analyze the crime scene—"
"Wait, what?" Tina frowned.
"That's our fuckin' evidence!" Gavin snapped.
Wren licked her lips. "Prometheus sent me—"
"So, you just do whatever the fuck they tell you, huh?" Gavin folded his arms.
Wren scowled at him. "Are you done being a dick?"
"Come on, guys," said Chris, stepping aside. "She doesn't have a choice."
Wren flashed him a look of thanks. She bowed her head and walked past her friends, but Tina followed her out.
"Wren, wait!"
Wren stopped. "Tina, I have a train to catch—"
"I just…" Tina slowed to a stop and bit her lip. "I miss you."
Wren's eyes pricked. "I miss you, too."
Tina cracked a smile. "Happy birthday, by the way."
Wren's brow twitched. "It's the twenty-seventh?"
"No, it's January second."
Wren sucked in a sharp breath and looked skyward. "I've been away that long?"
"You don't even know what day it is?"
Wren's lips twisted as she met Tina's gaze. "I guess I just lost track of time."
Tina's face crumpled. She threw her arms around Wren's neck. "I love you, you know that?"
Wren hugged Tina back, still clutching the tablet. "Yeah. I love you, too."
They withdrew from one another. Tina wiped her eyes. "Do you want me to pass anything along to Connor? He misses you. He tries to hide it, but…"
Wren winced. "I don't know if there's anything I can say that would make him feel better."
"It might just help him to know that you're thinking about him."
Wren wiped at her wet eyelashes. "I never stop thinking about all of you." She looked over her shoulder. The train charged toward the stop. She faced Tina. "I have to go."
Wren ran to the stop and boarded the train before Tina could argue. The doors slid shut and Wren released the breath choked in her chest. One hand gripped a pole while the other clenched the tablet.
She returned to her hotel room and locked up the tablet in the safe. She spent the rest of the late afternoon and early evening to herself, watching TV, taking a bubble bath, and eating pizza—luxuries that Prometheus never gave her. She considered calling it an early night. She didn't have to meet Jamie at the rendezvous until tomorrow.
It was stupid. Dangerous, even.
But Wren put her coat back on and left her hotel room. She took a train to the other side of town and walked through the neighborhood. She walked for about an hour before she arrived on Hank's doorstep. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
He answered the door and gaped. "Holy shit."
Wren smiled weakly. "Hey, Hank."
"The fuck are you doing here?" Hank furrowed his brow. "You okay, kid?"
Wren bit her tongue. She tried, but something in her cracked. Tears welled in her eyes. "Can I come in?"
"Shit, yeah…" Hank stepped aside and Wren entered the house. Her heart sank a little when she did not see Connor.
Sumo perked his head up and padded over to her, wagging his tail. Wren sniffed and grinned at him. She crouched in front of him, letting him lick her tears off her cheeks. "Hey, boy! I missed you, too! No, not the lips—Ah!" Wren stood and wiped her mouth.
Hank stared at Wren for several seconds. "Connor's at Jericho for a movie night. Been trying to get him out of the house more."
Wren nodded. "Good…"
"What's wrong, kid? Won't you get in trouble for being here if they find out?"
Wren's eyes burned again. "I don't care what they do to me anymore."
"Well, we care," snapped Hank. He gripped Wren's shoulders. "C'mon, kid… What's going on? Why are you in Detroit?"
"A mission," Wren replied. She tried to keep the tears back, but she couldn't. "Hank, I'm so alone. I miss you guys so much and there's no one I trust and I miss my friends and—I just want to come home." Tears splashed down her cheeks.
"Oh, kiddo," Hank murmured. He pulled Wren toward him, cradling her head as she sobbed into his chest. "It's okay. I'm here. We all miss you. Things haven't been the same around here."
Wren clung to Hank as she sobbed harder. "I'm so alone."
"You're not alone, Wren. We're all rooting for you."
"I'm alone there. At least all of you have each other."
"I know… It's not fair. But you'll be okay."
Wren withdrew from Hank, her face steamy from tears. She wiped them away. "They sent me to take the evidence that Kamski compiled for all of you."
"How'd they even know?"
"I have no idea," Wren replied. She leaned against the back of the couch. "I'm sorry that I keep messing up this case."
"Not your fault, kid," Hank grunted. He glanced at the clock. "Enough about missions and cases. When do you go back to them?"
"Not until tomorrow."
"Let's go crash movie night or something. Or go get cocoa. I doubt Prometheus has a lot of movie nights, huh?"
Wren managed a smile. "We don't have any TVs."
"Jesus, that sucks."
"Know what the first thing I did was when I had time to myself?" Wren's smile widened.
"What?"
"Ordered pizza. I ate that whole fucker by myself."
"That's my girl," Hank grinned, patting Wren on the shoulder.
"Don't tell Connor."
Hank snorted. "I think he'd be happy to know that you're doing something for yourself, even if it's eating a whole pizza. Alright, I'm gonna use the bathroom and then we can go."
"Okay," Wren crouched to pet Sumo while she waited for Hank. Sumo whined when Wren stopped scratching behind his ears once Hank emerged from the bathroom. Wren kissed Sumo's head and stood.
"Let's go," Hank led the way to his car. "How'd you get here? Taxi?"
"Train," Wren replied.
"The nearest stop is a pretty far walk from here."
"It wasn't too bad."
"It is when it's twenty degrees outside."
"Benefit of having cybernetic limbs is that your hands don't get too cold."
"Okay, smartass."
Wren realized fairly quick that Hank did not drive in the direction of Jericho, but Belle Isle. Hank placed a finger over his lips and Wren dipped her head, returning her gaze to the window.
"Other than extremely boring because I'm not there, how is the DPD?"
Hank chuckled. "And besides the fact that this case keeps getting interrupted?"
"Sorry."
"It's fine. Things are weird. No one's touched your desk, or your room at Tina's. Connor takes Sumo for really long-ass walks. I've told him that Sumo's getting a little too old for that shit, but I think it helps Connor think. He also listens to your iPod obsessively. This is the first time he's gotten out of the house without me with him."
Wren picked at her synthetic fingernails. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Wren."
She inhaled, flaring her nostrils as she lifted her head. "Isn't it though? Couldn't I have fought going back?"
"Maybe. I think you did what was right, even if it hurt us. Even if it hurt you." Hank cleared his throat. "How have you been? Are you allowed to talk about that?"
Wren shrugged. "I can't give details of my missions, but… It's really boring there. The only recreational activity there is a gym. I can workout or sit in my room and think."
"That sucks."
Wren laughed. "Yeah, it does."
Hank pulled up to CyberLife Tower. Wren recognized Tina's car and a truck from Jericho. She held her breath and entered the Tower. Hank led Wren through the security line.
"Hank Anderson, identified. Wren Blanchard, identified."
Wren raised her eyebrows. Kamski updated security fast. "Jericho got new security?"
Hank glanced back at her, but Wren tapped her ear. Hank nodded, remembering that Prometheus listened to her at all times. They took the elevator to sublevel forty-five, where Hank led Wren down the hall and around the corner. Waiting in the hall stood North, Markus, Josh, Tina, Gavin, Chris, Kamski, and Connor.
Wren gaped at them. She choked on her own breath, staring at them. North strode forward first, her lips parted and her eyes wide.
Wren tried to smile. "Long time, no see—"
North cut Wren off with a hug. Wren wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed with the same bone-crushing intensity. Tears welled in Wren's eyes. North let out a noise that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a whimper. They rocked together for several seconds before they withdrew from one another, smiling with tears slipping down their cheeks.
Markus approached, smiling gently. He hugged Wren. "It's good to see you."
"Yeah, you too," Wren returned. Josh pulled her into an embrace. Tina hugged Wren for the second time that day. Gavin and Chris caged Wren in a hug, too. Wren's face ached from smiling. It faltered when she faced Connor, who regarded her with parted lips and soft eyes. They held eye contact for a few seconds before collapsing into a tight hug. Tears leaked past Wren's lashes. Connor buried his face into her neck, his arms snug around her body.
"Okay, lovebirds," North cracked, "we all want to catch up."
The doors in the wall slid open to reveal a room with soft white carpet and black-cushioned sofas. A table sat in the middle. Wren withdrew from Connor, regarding her friends with a puckered brow. Kamski stepped inside. The others filed in after him. Connor gripped Wren's hand and tugged her inside the room, where the doors slid shut.
"What's going on?"
"It's safe for you to talk in here," North replied. "We know that they're listening to you, but Kamski designed this room to resist that."
"Prometheus cannot hear anything that is said in this room. It interferes with radio frequencies, tapping, streaming, recording, everything. Whatever you say in here is safe," said Kamski.
Wren looked around at them. They all looked so hopeful, but she shook her head. "How?"
"Do you really want me to explain the science of it to you?"
"But… If they just hear silence, then—"
"They won't just hear silence, Wren," insisted North. "Right now, what they hear is us telling you every little detail that's happened in our lives since you left. It's okay. You can talk to us."
Wren looked at them, her mouth ajar. Connor's lips twitched as their eyes met. "It's safe."
"We only have about fifteen minutes of prerecording, though," said Kamski. "If we want to talk, we need to hurry up and do so."
Tina cleared her throat. "We've been researching your past to try and find something that will be grounds to get you safely out of Prometheus. We found something interesting."
"Prometheus targeted you," North explained. "We have proof. A Sicilian android drove the truck that collided with your car. It was premeditated."
Wren pinched her brow. "No, that doesn't make any sense. Why would they…?"
"That's what we need to figure out," said Josh.
"If we find out why they targeted you and if you didn't consent to all of this like they said you did, then we can get you out of there. And we won't be in danger, either." North grinned.
Wren let go of Connor's hand and backed away, shaking her head. "No, I can't… I can't drag you guys into this. I can't put you in danger trying to save me—"
"Wren, you're not forcing us to do this," said Chris.
"We want to help you," Josh wrinkled his brow.
Wren shook her head, tears jiggling in her eyes. "I can't," she breathed, "I can't let you do this. It's too dangerous."
"You don't get to decide that," North snapped. She sat down heavily. "You have to fight for your freedom, and we're trying to help you."
"We're all enemies of Prometheus here," said Tina, sitting beside North. "They're going to hurt all of us if we don't do something about it."
"Rhett and I are working on a plan—"
"Oh yeah? What's your plan?" demanded Gavin, leaning against the wall with crossed arms.
"I'm gaining their trust."
"You will never gain their trust," said North.
"Not the way you're thinking—" Wren tried.
"Wren, you're just one person," insisted Tina. "You can't bring down Prometheus all by yourself."
"I'm not alone," Wren replied. The words tasted sour. "I have Rhett."
"Rhett is using you," snapped Connor. Wren looked at him. He held her gaze. His LED swirled yellow. "The CIA is using Rhett because they don't trust Prometheus, so Rhett is using you."
"Do you even want out?" North seethed.
"Of course I do!"
"Then let us help you, kid," said Hank.
Wren looked at them. Warmth tugged at her heart and her lip quivered. She nodded slowly at first, and then quickly. "Okay. What can I do to help you?"
"For starters, you can explain what's going on there." Kamski stood near the back of the room, his arms folded across his chest. He lifted a brow as he regarded Wren. She nodded and sat on the edge of the couch. Everyone took a seat, eyes trained on her.
"There's a second squadron and I interact with them frequently on missions. I think that this was how it was originally supposed to be, but Atlas ran things differently. I never interacted with the cyborgs in my squad—02, 03, 04, or 05. But 06, 07, 08, 09, and 010 work together. I collaborate with them sometimes. I think I'm gaining the trust of 07 and 09. They actually picked names for themselves. Jamie and Nina. I'm not sure about 08 and 010. But 06 trusts me about as far as he can throw me."
"So, you've been going on missions with them?" Markus leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees.
"Not as often as it sounds, but yes. There's a lot of downtime."
"What about the facility itself? Is there anything you can tell us about it? Something to indicate its location?" asked Chris.
Wren smiled wryly. "This place has no windows. Whenever I leave or enter it, I'm unconscious." She tilted her head. "I can tell you a little bit about the setup." She stood and approached the table, which allowed for the user to mess with holographic technology. She pulled up an image and constructed it to look like a beehive. "From what I've seen, this is what I imagine it looks like. But I've only seen these parts of the building—" Wren stripped away three quarters of the hive, leaving the floor she and the other squadron lived on. "I occupy this wing. There's a gym and other recreational stuff, a shooting range, a briefing room, a cafeteria, and our cells. Through here is the other squadrons wing, set up exactly the same way. Based off the size of the middle of the hive, and the size of these wings, I estimate that there are at least three other wings like mine."
"So, at least three other squadrons," surmised Josh.
"And that's only including this level," Wren replied. "I haven't been to the other floors."
"What's in the middle of the hive?" queried Kamski.
Wren conducted a rough sketch of it. "It's hollow, but it has walkways leading further down and up. Across from me is the infirmary. Down and through a tunnel is the hangar. That's all I know. I don't exactly have keycard access everywhere."
"Could it be built out of a rock structure? Like the inside of a mountain?" North asked.
Wren nodded. "I've thought something similar. The problem is, all the walls are made the same, so there's no way to tell."
"And there are no windows," Hank muttered. "Jesus, they don't want you knowing anything."
"You said there's an infirmary," said Connor, his brow puckering.
"Yeah?"
"Could you possibly get ahold of your medical records, if they keep them?" Connor looked at her.
Wren opened and closed her mouth. "I can try."
"How would she get them to us, though?" Tina demanded. "They don't just let her come and go."
"I'll give the records to Rhett," said Wren. "He's an asshole, but I trust him."
"You will need a flash drive," said Kamski, walking forward. "This is small, undetectable." He handed Wren a flash drive, which she pocketed.
"Our time is almost up," said Markus.
Wren stood. "I should start saying goodbye, then."
"Wait," North frowned. "Could Elijah remove the audio device in your system?"
"I could," Kamski said. "It would require surgery, though."
"And it's better to leave it in for now," said Wren. "If we remove it, Prometheus will know that I know it's there. It's better to let them think that I don't know anything about it."
North nodded. "I just hate that you can't even speak for yourself."
Wren smiled grimly. "Yeah. Me too."
"Okay," said Gavin, standing. "We better let her go."
Everyone offered Wren a hug goodbye, but Hank and Connor lingered with her in the room while everyone else filed out. Hank held Wren's gaze.
"Don't do anything too dangerous to get those records, okay?" He gripped Wren by the shoulders.
"We're taking down a secret government organization," said Wren, smirking. "I don't think that's possible, Hank."
"You know what I mean. Take care of yourself in there."
"I will," Wren promised. She hugged him.
"Your mom and brother visited," said Hank. "They're okay. They miss you."
Wren's throat constricted. "If you talk to them again… Tell them I miss them, too."
"Will do," Hank assured her. He patted her shoulder. "I'll wait outside." He left Wren and Connor alone.
Wren met his gaze. "I… I love you so much. And I think about you everyday that I'm in there."
Connor looked as though he might cry. He tightened his jaw. The lines around his mouth hardened, and when he parted his lips, his eyes appeared wet. "I love you so much, too. I won't stop until I get you out. I promise. I won't fail."
Wren threw her arms around his neck. He squeezed her close to his body. They held each other for several seconds, melting into one another before they had to pull away.
…
Later that week, Wren hid the flash drive on her person and entered the gym. Jamie ran on the treadmill while Nina practiced yoga. 010 boxed with 08. 06 was absent. Wren approached Nina.
"Wanna spar?"
Nina raised her eyebrows but stood. "Sure."
They faced off on the gym mat, fists raised. They jabbed punches, dodging and circling one another. Wren managed to get a few punches in, but Nina was fast. They sparred for a few rounds, Wren making sure to fight recklessly so that she lost every round. Then, Wren dove for Nina's foot and then wrapped her legs around Nina's arm, dragging the other cyborg down. Nina jabbed Wren in the stomach with her elbow. Wren purposely failed to properly block the next jab to her stomach, twisting so that Nina elbowed Wren right in the ribs.
Pain seared through Wren's torso as a few ribs cracked. She cried out, instantly releasing Nina.
"Shit! I'm sorry!" Nina cried.
Wren hugged her middle, groaning. "It's cool. I've suffered worse."
Nina helped Wren stand. "I'll take you to the infirmary."
"Thanks," Wren gasped. They hobbled out of the gym, the other cyborgs watching.
"You should've blocked me," Nina muttered.
"Way to blame the victim here," Wren grunted.
"It was an easy block," Nina retorted.
"You won't get in trouble, if that's what you're worried about," Wren wheezed. Her ribs throbbed and flared with every breath she took. She blinked back tears. She'd been shot, and whipped, and waterboarded, but broken ribs were definitely up there on the pain scale.
Nina stood in front of the infirmary door and pressed the buzzer. "We've got an injury."
The door opened, and Nina helped Wren inside. The doctor, the same one who performed nonconsensual surgery on her, approached. Wren narrowed her eyes at his name. Dr. Hayden. He frowned at Nina and Wren.
"What happened?"
"We were sparring," said Nina, helping Wren sit on one of the beds. Wren scanned the room for a computer. Bingo. "I accidentally broke her ribs."
"I didn't block correctly," Wren groaned, clutching at her side.
Dr. Hayden frowned. "Do you think your ribs are broken?"
"They fucking feel like they are," Wren snarled.
Dr. Hayden nodded. He looked to Nina. "You are not needed."
Nina puckered her brow. "But—"
"I'm fine, Nina, thank you," Wren grimaced.
Nina dipped her head and left the infirmary. Dr. Hayden turned to Wren. "Remove your shirt. I need to make sure that they're broken."
Wren's heart stuttered, but she obeyed. She sat in her sports bra and pants while Dr. Hayden peered at her side. Already, the skin appeared to be swollen and purpling. "Hm. It definitely appears that you have some broken ribs. She must've hit you pretty hard. Most injuries from sparring are pretty minor. Would you like to report it?"
"No," Wren gasped as Dr. Hayden prodded her side. "It was my fault. I was reckless."
"How mature of you," muttered Dr. Hayden. "I'll set up the X-Ray machine. Wait here." He left to enter through a back door that Wren failed to notice before. She slipped off the table and approached the computer.
|Time remaining until return: -00:10:45|
Wren's heart pounded as she looked through files on the computer. She typed in her model number and her name in the files. She plugged in the flash drive.
|Downloading file "CY001—207-122-710-01"…5%|
|-00:09:01|
|7%|
|-00:08:56|
Wren forced herself to breathe. She glanced over her shoulder and bounced. "Come on, come on…"
|24%|
|-00:08:01|
Wren glanced over her shoulder. She was still alone. She prayed that the download sped up. She prayed that she had not seen Connor for the last time.
|87%|
|-00:02:19|
She prayed that whatever was in her file was enough to set her free.
|96%|
|-00:01:03|
Footsteps sounded beyond the back door. Wren looked at the downloading file. "Please!"
|Complete|
|-00:00:30|
Wren snatched the flash drive out of the port and closed down her files. She jumped onto the medical bed, crying out as her broken ribs seared. Dr. Hayden emerged from the back door.
"Alright, machine's all ready. You okay?"
Wren clutched her side, tears stinging her eyes. "I'm great."
Dr. Hayden lifted a brow but gestured for Wren to follow him. She hid the flash drive in her shirt and sports bra, covering herself as Dr. Hayden took X-Rays of her ribs. She dressed and waited for a few minutes for the results.
"Well, fortunately, it looks like it's just your floating ribs. Those are more fragile anyway. We don't need to worry about any lung punctures or anything. I'll put in your regimen that you need to take your pills with each meal. You should heal pretty quick."
"Thanks, Doc." Wren left the infirmary and did not breathe properly until she returned to her room.
…
Wren awoke in Rhett's base of operations. She winced as she sat up. Her heart stuttered as she searched for the flash drive, but relaxed when she found it.
"I really hate how they bring you here unconscious," Rhett muttered from his desk.
Wren pushed off the sofa and joined him in a seat by the computer. "Who even brings me here? They must trust someone to go in and out."
"Two Sicilian androids."
"Oh," Wren twirled the flash drive in her hands. "Do you mind if I play? I don't get to play games at Prometheus."
"Uh… Sure?" Rhett frowned, looking at the report he was in the middle of typing.
Wren opened up a new Word Document.
This is a flash drive with my medical files. You are going to bring it to Connor and Hank. They're searching for a way to get me out. I'm tired of waiting.
She set the flash drive on the desk.
Rhett stared at it and typed back to her message.
What about bringing down Prometheus for good?
If they find something to save me, then that should be enough for the CIA to launch an official investigation into them. You won't need me anymore.
You could save lives, Wren.
I am saving lives. But I'm one person. And this isn't fair of you to ask this of me. I'm TIRED, Rhett. Tired of being the CIA's pawn, your pawn, Prometheus's pawn… All I wanted when I went rogue was a new life. That's all I want now. I'm miserable there. Please do this for me.
Rhett stared at her message for a long time. Then, he nodded. He took the flash drive and pocketed it.
OK. We'll get you out. But what if there's not enough on here to get you out?
Wren swallowed the bile surging in her throat.
We'll burn that bridge when we come to it.
…
Thank you guys so much for the reviews! Sorry if updates slow, I have a 15-20 page research paper due in two weeks, grading, as well as medieval literature conference that I'm working on! End of the semester blues… Anyway, please continue your support! Keeps me going :D