Chapter 13 [Ghost]
Capricorn 24/2261 1:01
I woke to my green-tinged reflection staring back at me. The cold tile of my lab under my back. I blinked a few time to focus. My lung burned in my chest. I took a breath, and the pain eased. I did a mental check of myself. The tourniquet was gone from my arm and other than feeling a bit sore, I was okay. My Legend knelt over me. His visor inches from my face. Then my hearing returned. Vix was yelling. I couldn't make out her words, but she was mad. I braced my left arm under me and pushed myself up. Legend raised a hand to catch me but didn't touch me.
"You idiot! I warned you! If Ethan hadn't been here to help you, you would be dead right now!" Vix's voice finally came into focus. I looked down at my right hand and raised it. I moved my fingers slowly, curling each one. It stung, but they moved. I could move my hand.
"It worked." I breathed. I raised my gaze to Legend. My reflection stared at me with wide eyes. I took a shaking breath, letting it out in a soft chuckle. "It worked."
"You are so stubborn and comet headed!" Vix finished. I looked at her.
"It worked," I repeated. Then it processed that Legend was in my lab. "Wait, why are you here?"
"I called him to come save your sorry ass!" Vix snapped. I blinked and glanced between them.
"Huh? What happened?" I tried to stand and fell back. Legend caught me before I hit the ground again. "Bloody hell... I feel like I got shot a billion times."
"That's because all your damn cells spontaneously died and were regrown!" Vix snapped. I stared at her with wide eyes. She was so mad her form was flickering in and out. I've never seen the AI so angry. So expressive. "You've been unconscious for over an hour. I thought you died!"
"How did they regrow?" I asked. My mind turned away from her anger and to her words. Vix's eyes widened at me. "Hm... I wonder."
"Jadien! Focus! You died!" Vix yelled. I rolled away from Legend and grabbed the counter, pulling myself up. I waved a screen on the wall.
"Yeah, yeah. It didn't stick, so it doesn't matter. How did they regrow without parent cells?" I asked. Vix looked at Legend, and he looked at her.
"This is what we have to deal with. I have dealt with it since she was eight. Your turn." Vix said. Her words made anger fly through my skull.
"I am not a bloody pet. Stop speaking as if I am one." I pulled out a stool and sat down. I stared at my right hand and shook my head. "How?"
"Jadien!" Vix yelled. I flinched without meaning to. "Can you focus on what we are focusing on."
"Why? You guys are focusing on something stupid." I muttered. I pulled up Vix's files that she took while I was out. She was right. They did die and come back, but it was impossible to know or see how. Our technology wasn't at the efficiency I needed it to be. Then I noticed something extremely faint before the new cells emerged. "The phantom gene?"
"Jadien." Vix groaned.
"Stop calling me that!" I spun. Legend jumped and stared at me. Vix bowed her head and sighed. "I. Am. NightStorm. Not Jade. Not Jadien. NightStorm!"
"You cannot erase your lineage," Vix whispered.
"Watch me. I already did legally." I muttered. I swallowed and turned back to the screen. "Nevertheless, I am more concerned about two things. Vix, get me on that Minerva mission. Two, I need what we have on the phantom gene."
"Ethan just asked why you're concerned about the Minerva mission?" Vix said since my back was turned and I couldn't see his hands. My mind went blank. I tried to think of something to say, but nothing felt right. So I just looked at him. His entire body was tense like he was ready to jump and catch me if I fell. He's worried about me? No, he's a Legend. He's a machine. Even as I thought that I felt less sure of my statement.
"I don't need to tell you," I answered. I turned back to the screen. "Why are you still in my lab? I'm sorry, Vix called you. I really am fine."
"Ja- Storm. Be nice." Vix said.
"I am being nice. He's still breathing, ain't he?" I asked. Vix made a low growling sound. I turned to face her. We stared at each other for a moment. I blinked a few times before finding my voice. "Did... Did you just growl at me?"
"You're pissing me off," Vix snapped. I glanced at Legend and took a breath. I felt my face grow hot again. I forced my eyes back to my arm, then at the screen.
"Fine. What do you want me to do? I will leave the phantom gene alone for now." I promised. Vix gave me a small smile while Legend nodded. I waited while the pair looked at each other.
"Eat. Sleep. Relax." Vix said, looking at me. "Take care of yourself? You got into this big panic when you heard about the Minerva mission that you took a stupid risk and killed yourself."
"I came back." I shrugged. "And I wasn't panicking."
"Pfft." Vix snorted. She rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Either way, I can't get you on the mission. The team is locked, and I cannot get them to let you on."
"What?" I asked. Vix put her hands on her hips. "Did you even try?"
"Yes. You're not going." Vix answered. "You don't have any missions for a month. Take the time and relax."
I gritted my teeth and looked away. I fought the urge to scream at them. The urge to hit something. I didn't like not taking missions. They were a distraction. A hope.
"Fine." I bit out. "Can I at least do research?"
Legend shook his head. I narrowed my eyes at him.
"I didn't say I would listen to you," I warned. Vix gave a warning look. After her earlier explosion of emotion, I decided not to push it. I jerked my eyes away. I took a slow breath in. "Fine."
I stood and tapped the screen back into the wall. I crossed my arms over my stomach and stared at Legend, my mind raced. He helped me. He made sure I came back. Then why am I pissed? Why is my face burning?
"Well, out of my lab." I waved at him. I followed him out of the lab. With a quick scan of my bar code tattoo, I locked the door behind us. I glanced at Legend once more and turned away. "Thank you for helping me."
I quickly turned and strode to the lift. When I turned to watch the doors closed, I saw Legend staring at me. My face burned as I jerked my eyes to the floor.