Non-Compliance by Paige Daniels

Author:Paige Daniels
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, dystopia, cyberpunk, noncompliance
Publisher: Kristell Ink

Chapter 24: Setting Expectations

The Metro lurches to a stop in a dark tunnel.

UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER.

The doors open onto a large, bright, open area. There are several escalators throughout and people in lab coats and scrubs rush about everywhere. Carson goes to a clear display in the middle of the space. When he touches the display, it lights up with a picture of me.

WELCOME, DR. KELLY. WE HAVE CHECKED YOU IN FOR YOUR PROCEDURE. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE OBSTERICAL SURGERY DEPARTMENT IN THE EAST WING. FOLLOW THE GREEN LINE ON FLOOR.

I look down and a green line lights up under my feet. As Carson and I follow it, he starts up the conversation again.

“Shea, I know the five years you spent over in that hell-hole made you fear nothing, but listen to me when I tell you Dr. E is one scary dude. You need to be serious about what’s on the line here—”

I stop midstride. “I know exactly what’s on the line, Carson. I’ve seen, personally, the depths to which this man is willing to sink and how little regard he has for human life. And just when I had the promise of some kind of normalcy, a family—a screwed up family, but a family nonetheless—he took it all away. Just to further his cause. If you think the past five years over there have made me fearless, you’re absolutely wrong. I’m more afraid now than I ever was.”

“I’m sorry. I’m not telling you to stop fighting, I’m just telling you to be careful.”

I pat him on the shoulder. “Duly noted. Now, let’s get this kid fixed up.”

We follow the green line for what seems like miles until we finally arrive at a reception desk. A bald man with a neatly trimmed, barely-there beard greats us. “Greetings, Dr. Kelly, we have you all checked in. We just need to run a couple of preliminary tests, then we can get started, okay?”

“Um, sure, lead the way.”

He leads us into to a small room that contains an exam table and a couple of chairs. I hop up on the exam table.

Carson says, “Hey, you need me to scram? I can come back later.”

“Nah, it’s okay. I kind of need a friendly face. And if they start looking at my naughty bits, you can make yourself scarce.”

He chuckles and sits in the tiny chair. “I’m here as long as you need me.”

The man from the reception area says, “We have you scheduled for your procedure at noon. You haven’t eaten anything today, have you?”

“I didn’t get breakfast, or dinner, or my proposal.”

The man clears his throat. “I understand. Someone will be right with you.”

He closes the door behind him.

Carson laughs. “So you didn’t actually get married?”

“Are you going to get all judgmental about me being pregnant without being married?”

“You know I’m the last person to be judgmental about that stuff. The news reported that you were married weeks ago.”

“Yeah, I know, but it was all bullcrap. He was actually getting ready to propose when some of the marshals came in to stir shit with us.

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