The Modified (The Biotics Trilogy, #1) (18 page)

As the lights flicker back on, a female electronic voice chimes in. “Shield integrity at eighty-five percent. Centralized power restored. Threat neutralized. Shield generator repair required.”

“Now, training sessions will go on as scheduled tomorrow. This attack only serves to prove what we’re doing here has them threatened. I know you all are probably a little shaken, but we must press on,” my dad says into the microphone. “So please return to your rooms, and try to get some rest.”

When the students begin to filter out of the mess hall, I make my way against the crowd toward the stage where my father is. I tell the rest of my group to stay put and wait for me. I call out to my dad and he smiles, gesturing for me to come closer. He exits off the stage and joins me on the ground.

“How did the Bringers find us? I thought this facility was cloaked?” I ask in a whisper.

“I have my suspicions about that,” he replies, placing his hand on my shoulder and guiding me off to the side for more privacy. “I believe the Bringers picked up on the energy you all were producing by activating your implants. You have to realize that you have the essence of this species coursing through your veins. With your implants activated, it must’ve been like a beacon set off for them,” he explains in a whisper.

“Did you guys expect this attack then?”

“Sort of, which is why we took such drastic measures to improve the defense capabilities of the Magnus.”

“Will they be back?”

“Unlikely. They know we’re heavily fortified now, and besides, the Allied Federation will be patrolling the perimeter of the facility from here on out. So no worries,” he says with a smile.

I hear Dr. Patel call out to my father and he turns to look at her.

“I have to go deal with some issues. Sorry we can’t talk more about this right now,” he says looking back at me.

“It’s okay, you deal with what you got to deal with, and we’ll talk later.”

“Deal,” he replies and gives me a quick hug.

As my dad leaves I look over to my group that’s gathered by the entrance of the mess hall. I try to organize my thoughts as I make my way over to them in order to tell them what my father had said. It’s weird, but even after what my dad told me, I don’t feel any more at ease, or safe for some reason.

For the first time since our introduction session, I find myself actually sitting down in one of the desks inside a training room. They’re not as comfortable as I remembered them being though. We’ve been waiting here for a little while now, and I’m surprised that Dr. Wilhelm is late to class since I pictured him as the “always on time” type.

Everyone still seems to be on edge from the attack on the facility yesterday, me included. I’ve begun to notice an increased presence of Federation guards patrolling the facility. My dad continues to tell everyone that it’s routine procedure, and will only last until the shield generators are at full capacity. I’m not so sure though.

I look around the room and my eyes stop on Landon. He seems to have been staring at me this entire time.

“What’s up?” I ask, seeming to break into his thoughts.

He snaps out of his daze. “Just thinking,” he replies.

“About what?” I inquire, leaning in closer to him, giving him all my attention.

He leans in too, almost like he’s about to tell me a secret. “About all the Federation guards who have been stationed at the facility. I know that we were attacked, but what good are they going to do from the inside?”

“I know, right? It’s also weird how they walk around here and seem more like robots than the androids do.”

 I notice everyone’s attention focuses on the door and I turn to see Dr. Wilhelm strolling into the classroom. “Morning, cadets, I hope you weren’t waiting too long,” he announces dryly. He sets his briefcase down on the desk at the front of the room and turns to us. He points at me almost immediately when he faces the class. I look from side to side to make sure that he was pointing at me. His eyes never leave my position. “Ms. Grayson, thanks for volunteering. Please come forward.” 

Standing from my desk, I hesitantly make my way to the front, wondering the entire time what Dr. Wilhelm has in store for me. He takes my hand and spins me around to face everyone.

“Remember when you asked me in the library how to retrieve the information in your brain after utilizing the perception ability?” he asks and I nod slightly. “Well, I’m about to show you.” Dr. Wilhelm moves to be in front of me. “I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind until all you see is white. Now, try and visualize the cover of the novel
The Art of War
right in the center of the white space. Grab hold of the book in your mind and begin flipping through the pages.”

As he talks me through this exercise, I visualize everything he’s saying. I see the cover, myself grabbing the book and flipping through the pages—all of it. My eyes open abruptly and a rush of information floods my head as I remember the entire novel. Dr. Wilhelm asks me to recite a line from page 29 and I do. He doesn’t even have to check the line in the copy of the book he holds in his hand, because he’s memorized it. He nods when I’m correct.

“Very good, Ms. Grayson,” he comments. “Just remember that when you use perception again, you will erase the previous thing stored in your mind. That is all. You may take your seat.”

A knock comes from my door, and I spring from my bed to open it. Landon is standing there as it slides open.

“Hey, what are you doing here? You should be studying for our Tact final tomorrow,” I say, but he doesn’t say anything back, he just stands there grinning at me with his gorgeous lips. The image of Landon shutters and I hear “crap” from down the hall. The image fully disappears as I see Landon approaching from around the corner of the wall in front of me.

“I can’t believe you just used your decoy ability on me,” I state playfully.

He laughs. “Well, I had to practice somehow, didn’t I?” Landon jokes while placing his hands about my waist and pulling me close.

“Landon, I’ve got to-“

He places his thumb over my mouth and runs it from my upper to lower lip. “I know, I know, you need to study, right?” he says softly, cutting me off.

I bring my hand up to touch his face and it goes straight through his image. I hear “crap” from around the corner in front of me again and I glare in that direction. I swat through the image of Landon and it dissipates.

Storming over to the wall that Landon is hiding behind, “I can’t believe you. Seriously? You didn’t have to do that a second time. That wasn’t fair,” I whine and slap his shoulder.

He just stands there, grinning foolishly. “Okay, okay, I’m sorry I did that,” he chuckles. “But you have to admit that I did pretty well, huh? Huh?”

“Go study, please,” I reply dryly, not acknowledging the fact that he did do well because he fooled me twice.

I turn to walk away, but I feel Landon grab me by my waist and pull me toward him. He presses his firm chest against my back and for a moment I forget that I’m annoyed with him. He whispers “okay” closely to my ear and releases me. Landon smiles when I turn to look at him. Blowing me a kiss, he starts to walk away. I hear him say “goodnight” and wave as he continues to move down the hall.

“Goodnight, Landon,” I call out and hear him laugh. Shaking my head, I return to my room with a huge grin on my face.