The Cyborg's Riddle by Benoit Lanteigne

Author:Benoit Lanteigne
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Benoit Lanteigne

Deux Ex Redux

Chapter 11

Once inside the office, Janice laid Brucie on his side so the gash faced upward. Then she studied the room and spotted a small cabinet on the wall containing a first aid kit. Without delay, she grabbed the white box and rested it near Brucie. A click echoed as she opened it.

Janice reached for the latex gloves within and put them on. Then she seized a surgical mask along with the black flashlight. “I better look at that wound.” She pointed the light toward Brucie’s torso.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a scratch.”

“Yeah, but it’s a freaking big scratch. I don’t think the spikes hit any major organs.” However, the bodyguard bled profusely, staining his uniform red. No doubt Janice’s clothes had suffered the same fate when she’d carried him. Since Janice preferred not to alarm Brucie, she kept her observation about the hemorrhaging silent. “But I need to get a better look to be sure. Sorry, Brucie, but your body armor is in the way.”

He grimaced. “I ain’t removing that. Gonna make things worse, ya know?”

“No, buddy, I’ll take it off, trust me.” On that note, she reached for the special safety latch on the sides of the armor and pulled them. The front part detached from the back, allowing her to lift it off the bodyguard. For the shirt underneath, she returned to the first aid kit and fished out a pair of trauma shears, a type of scissor designed to cut clothes. With a few well-placed snips, Janice got rid of the offending fabric.

“Ah, gal, can’t stop yourself from undressing me, can ya?”

Even in this state, he remained the same jackass. Janice almost fired off a mean-spirited rebuttal but swallowed the words and instead said, “You saved my life back there, Brucie.” The view now clear, she confirmed her previous diagnosis. The bodyguard had suffered a serious blow, but it could’ve been far worse, and with proper care, survival shouldn’t pose a problem. While not a doctor by any stretch of the imagination, Janice had learned about medical treatment during military training. She’d be able to do a decent job at treating Brucie, at least good enough to allow him to wait for assistance.

“Right back at ya.” He hesitated for a moment as he gazed at his lesion. “Janice, ya know… well, I… I dunno, but… wanna give it another shot?”

Startled by the sudden change of subject, Janice almost dropped the flashlight. She frowned. “It’s not a good time to joke about that.” Indeed, she had plenty on her hands. First, she had to assess the wound. She patted around the area and Brucie grimaced.

“I ain’t joking, babe.”

Janice shook her head in disbelief. She realized he was still interested in her, or more precisely her body. He always complimented her appearance and flirted in his own obnoxious way, but this was far more direct than usual. How did he even dare ask such a question after their history?

Years ago, they had dated for a short period. Nobody knew: it was their little secret.

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