Specimen

“Not bad for a first test,” she says.

“Too much going off the standard practice,” McCall says. “That’s obviously your influence there, Riley. If this hadn’t been a training exercise, they could have been surrounded during the third encounter.”

“I’d calculated for that possibility,” I tell her. Instead of easing her mind, as I’d intended, the information annoys her.

“There’s a reason for standards,” she says as she scowls at me. “I don’t expect you to understand that, given your programmer.”

My skin tingles as my muscles tense.

“Sten.” Riley’s voice is soft as she reaches out and rubs my arm with her hand. “We’ll make the final data analysis once were back in the lab. If adjustments need to be made, we’ll make them at that time.”

“There was a lot of improvising,” Dr. Rahul says. “Though it was successful, it is not best practice.”

“One of the soldiers suffered a dislocated shoulder,” McCall says. “That isn’t supposed to happen though I’m not surprised. Considering Dr. Grace’s methods, I’d recommend not putting specimen seventy-two in the command position again. He’s unpredictable.”

“Those two were warned about engaging in hand-to-hand during this exercise,” Captain Mills says. “They were all informed of that potential risk.”

“Was he expecting to end up in the hospital?” McCall asks. “Because that’s where he is. Dr. Grace’s

methods need to be reexamined.”

“Dr. Grace’s methods are not your concern,” Captain Mills tells her. “I’ll want detailed reports of all your comparative data, especially any differentiations. If I see what I expect to see, we’ll start the other specimens on the altered formula immediately.”

Dr. McCall’s eyes widen. She lowers her tablet to her side and takes a step toward Mills.

“I highly discourage that course of action,” McCall says. “He injured an officer during a training session—a good one, I might add. One specimen is not a sound trial. We’ve already lost thirty-two of them.”

“How are those losses relevant?” Riley asks. “None of those specimens were using my formula.”

“We can’t risk losing more based on the sloppy research of one suspect doctor and her single specimen.” Dr. McCall sneers at Riley before turning back to address Captain Mills. “That’s not how we should proceed. It isn’t even good science. If anything, this demonstrates the need to remove Dr. Grace and her specimen from this project altogether.”

A single flash in my mind tenses my body, and I am instantly on high alert. My stomach quivers, and my skin feels hot.

Riley is in danger.

I step in front of Riley, my hands instinctively balled into fists. A quarter second later, Pike is face to face with me. I glare into his eyes. The fact that I have to look up to meet his harsh gaze doesn’t concern me. No one is going to speak to Riley that way, and if I have to kill one of the other specimens to protect her, I have no problem with that.

My comrade had instantly become my enemy.

I watched him during the training. I know his weak spots. In the course of two seconds, we evaluate each other, and I lower my head and plow into him, sending him backward.

He’s ready for the hit, and we roll together. He is stronger than anyone I encountered in the virtual training sessions, but not as strong as I. I punch and kick him, and he returns each blow as we wrestle on the ground.

The fight is cut short as a blinding pain races through my body. I feel Pike stiffen at the same time. There are eight uniformed men around us, pulling us apart as the incapacitating pain continues. It doesn’t stop until we’ve been separated by several meters, and I’m pulled to my feet by three of the soldiers.

Riley is yelling at me. She pushes one of the men holding my arm and pulls me farther away.

“Sten!” she cries out as she grips my arm. “What the hell?”

“You see what I mean?” Dr. McCall yells as she points a finger toward me. “His aggression levels are off the charts—just look at the data!”

I start to take a step toward McCall again, and Riley blocks my path.

“Stop!” she orders. “Don’t make another move!”

“You need to explain your actions,” Captain Mills tells me, but I don’t acknowledge her. My body has stilled at Riley’s command, but my focus is still on McCall.

Riley crosses her arms and tilts her head. She lifts her eyebrows and reaches up to take my chin in her hand, turning me to look at her.