“Congratulations, Pierce, with your success with your first mission.” Dr. Spencer’s green eyes twinkled as he lauded Pierce. “I heard that everything went without a hitch.”
“Well, there was a minor incident,” Pierce admitted.
Mason and Dr. Claries looked up in interest. Up to this point, they’d both been conversing quietly between themselves. Dr. Spencer’s smile shrank by a few degrees.
“What sort of incident? I hope you have taken care of it.”
“There was a guest who figured out it was me who killed President Ducix.”
A crease appeared between Dr. Spencer’s normally smooth forehead. “This is rather troubling news. That guest is an unpredictable variable. If he starts to spread the word—” He broke off when he noticed Pierce still had more to say.
“I’ve already taken care of him. He’s dead.”
A look of approval crossed both Doctor’s faces.
“I can already tell you will be a great asset to the Restorers,” Dr. Spencer said. “In fact, thanks to you, four lucky souls will be undergoing the Procedure.”
“I thought the Procedure isn’t legalized yet,” said Pierce.
“It’s not legal for Perfects to receive the Procedure. But there is nothing stopping us from performing the Procedure on Accidents. President Walter has promised to deliver four Accidents to the Complex by tomorrow morning.”
Pierce felt a surge of disgust well up inside her at the mere mention of the word Accidents. Mason noticed her repulsion and said, “Something wrong?”
“I hate Accidents. They’re so…backwards and un-evolved.” She shuddered. “I’m glad I was never an Accident. Imagine constantly living at the risk of having heart attacks, stroke or cancer. Ugh, I don’t even want to picture my life when I was a Perfect—life without my enhanced senses. It’ll be like going blind.”
Dr. Claries gave a soft chuckle. “I’m sure you’re over dramatizing a bit, since I don’t consider myself blind even though my vision is not nearly as good as yours.”
Mason shot Pierce a funny look, as if he was itching to tell her something. But Dr. Spencer silenced him with a stern look.
Pierce scaled the indoor rock wall for the umpteenth time. Blindfolded. Without a harness. She’d clambered over every square inch of the five-story rock wall one too many times. She secured a firm foothold along the lip of a crack, then pushed herself away from the wall. Pierce landed lightly, on the balls of her feet. The drop was only ten feet from the ground.
“Five minutes and thirty-one seconds,” Mason announced her time.
Pierce undid her blindfold and took a swig of her water. “New record?”
“Yep.” Mason jerked his head towards the exit of the gym. “You know what, let’s do something fun for once.”
“I think this is fun.”
“Something different from the usual training. We should celebrate today—you’re back from your first trip to the outside world. That’s something worth celebrating.”
