Neural Wraith 3 by K.D. Robertson

Author:K.D. Robertson [Robertson, K.D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2023-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

If Nick had thought that initializing the immersion pod had been terrifying, switching it off proved worse. By now, he’d long since forgotten that he lay inside a sealed container full of a strange liquid built for space travel.

When Helena turned on the extraction system to suction that fluid away, he startled. The Altnet had left him by now, leaving him with only the dim mood lighting of the pod that made him all too aware that he was in a very expensive electronic coffin.

Maybe they’d built in a burial function along with everything else, as Nick briefly worried he might need it.

The liquid drained away and began lapping at his body uncomfortably. Worse, when the water level fell below his face, he began violently coughing up the fluid still in his lungs. That awful drowning sensation returned as air struggled to flow through his throat, as his body abruptly realized what it should be breathing.

Fortunately, the sensation passed after an uncomfortably long time. Long enough that he knew Helena and the others were already reacting to it.

The pod doors snapped open with a series of clanks and a long hiss, and a pair of solid hands pulled him from the device before he even made out who was responsible.

“I’m fine,” he coughed out.

“I’ll be the judge of that,” Kushiel growled as she dumped him on the floor and rolled him onto his side.

While he spluttered up some water, his airways had cleared enough that he felt comfortable breathing properly. The hands pressing against his neck and chest did more harm than good, in his view. At some point they slipped his earpieces back in, demonstrating the priorities of the Archangels.

“His vitals did not indicate—” Helena tried to say. She must be here with her interface, Nick realized.

“You’re not a nurse doll. Once he’s fine, one can check him over.” Kushiel’s tone brooked no arguments.

Ultimately, the panic proved pointless. Although Nick tried not to say that out loud. If he’d actually been dying in that pod, he’d be damn thankful that they’d pulled him out so fast. The pair of nurse dolls deployed from the paramedic services checked him out, gave him a clean bill of health, and then billed him.

Nick doubted his usage of this pod was covered under his insurance policy.

“It’s not,” Rie said drily. “This is partly why Vanessa warned us and I wanted her to check you out this morning. This usage is unlicensed.”

“So I need to pay this extortionate bill? This is like a month’s salary.”

“I will authorize payment by the department, as it was an expense incurred during the investigation,” Helena said.

Seeing the size of a simple checkup by the paramedics only made Nick happier that Welk had set him up with that insanely generous insurance policy back in the day.

“Vanessa has received the report and may schedule in an additional checkup,” Helena added.

“How awful,” Nick said flatly.

Rie hit him in the shoulder for that comment.

“If you’re healthy, perhaps a shower is best,” she said, pointedly staring at his crotch.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.