FIRE [FIRST DRAFT]

Chapter 21: Mother

Stefan respired behind the wheel of his car, Aimee beside him in a hush. She was thinking over their conversation about the microchips, doubting him, he could tell. It surprised him, how new it all seemed. He remembered when he'd first heard of Aimee, when Buckley had found her and said she was important, without a why. Back then, he would not have believed there were microchips that could pump eternal life through a person's veins, or that he himself would be proof of their existence. The idea left him deciding whether it was thrilling or terrifying.

"You got over it so quickly," he spoke into the air. At first, Aimee didn't realise he was addressing her. "When you learned about your microchip, you adjusted to the idea with such ease. How?"

She sighed faintly, "I'd met my mother."

For a time, nobody spoke, like Abba was a tender topic. Aimee repositioned herself in her seat, tugged and fiddled diffidently with her seatbelt.

"I suppose it was because I felt relieved. Not because I was immortal or anything, but because I felt like I could do more, without anyone treating me like some fragile, wounded puppy."

"You felt free," he glanced at her, "independent."

Aimee nodded cautiously, "Is that how you feel?"

"No. I don't know; I just feel weird."

He took the next turn hastily, uncharacteristically, and then pulled over on the side of the road, someplace Aimee's eyes did not recognise, especially when hemmed in by the night. She placed her hand on Stefan's, he had not let go of the steering wheel.

"You're so cold."

"Yeah, it's come and gone since I was injected," he took her hand and held it between his and the wheel. "Don't suppose you ever experience that?"

A part of her knew that they would not have the same side effects; her chip was an older make and had been inside her for so many years. The one within Stefan was newer, better – Technologie Évolutive.

"No. But, Babe, as soon as we get back from finding Benjamin, we'll get these stinkin' chips removed, okay? Both of us."

Finally, he cracked a smile, "I like the sound of that," and she pecked his cheek. "But mostly because you called me Babe."

He started the car again, shifting into gear with that mischievous half smile on his face. Aimee shook her head at him, blushing – his smile still gave her butterflies. Stefan felt a little better, and the drive to GINM seemed remarkably short thereafter.

Celeste brought Gavin his lunch – he was half awake when she got to the medic room. She set the containers down and grabbed a cloth from a basin of water on the side table. Gently, she wiped the sweat that had merged with the beads of blood and dirt at the seam where his face met his hair.