Veiled Designs by Amy DuBoff & Michael Anderle & Craig Martelle

Author:Amy DuBoff & Michael Anderle & Craig Martelle [DuBoff, Amy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2018-01-04T07:00:00+00:00

* * *

Studying his girlfriend like a lab specimen wasn’t what Luke had envisioned for his new career in the FDG. Even as his tasks kept pointing him in that direction, he refused to lose sight of the person he was fighting for. She was too important to him to be reduced to microscopic datapoints on a screen.

Unfortunately, Jack had no such personal ties. “This tech is so weird,” he commented for the third time while reviewing Ava’s medical logs on the other side of the lab.

“Unless you have something useful to say, could you try to keep your thoughts to yourself?” Luke requested.

“Oh, come on.” Jack swiveled around on his stool. “Aren’t you a little curious?”

“To look at your analysis of how nanocytes have transformed someone I care about against her will, and how she now has a computer intelligence in her brain to keep her from transforming? Yeah, I’m sure it’s weird and fascinating how all that tech is interacting, but I’m only interested in what will help her,” Luke shot back.

Jack spun back around with his hands raised in defense. “Whoa, touched a nerve.”

Luke took a steadying breath. That may have been an overreaction, but he didn’t care. His team needed to remember that there were people behind the science.

Just as he was getting back to work, an alert from Ava popped up on Luke’s workstation. He answered her call. “Hi, how’d your meeting go?”

“I’ll tell you in person. Are you still at your lab?”

“I am.”

“On my way.” Ava ended the call.

“That was very business-y and matter-of-fact,” Jack commented from across the lab.

“Not everyone is as lovey-dovey in public as you and Stacy,” Tess told him.

Luke glared over his shoulder at Jack. “You were the one talking about her like a lab specimen.”

Tess held up her finger. “A smart, pretty, capable lab specimen with thoughts and feelings, and we care about her well-being very much.”

Luke sighed. “Should I expect an ongoing analysis of every interaction I have in all aspects of my life?” he said, hoping to get them to mind their own business.

Instead, Tess shrugged. “Well, we’re scientists, and we also don’t get a lot of action down here in the lab, so… yeah, that’s a safe bet.”

I really need my own office.

“Why don’t you two head out for the day?” he offered pointedly.

“I’m in the middle of something,” Jack replied.

“It’s okay if you step out, though.” Tess looked over her shoulder at Luke. “We’ll hold down the fort until you get back.”

Admittedly, he could use a break.

“I won’t be gone long.”

“Come on, don’t sell yourself short!” Jack called out.

It took Luke a moment to realize what he meant, and he decided to leave without dignifying the remark, confident in the knowledge that was one aspect of his relationship with Ava he didn’t need to worry about.

He waited in the hall for Ava to arrive. After two minutes, he saw her round the bend.

“What are you doing out here?” she asked. Her brow was tight with worry, and she had uncharacteristic dark circles under her eyes.

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