96

You scan the room, looking for anything interesting, but it's just a storage space hastily cleared to hold this dying man.

Dr. Takahashi holds the man down as Dr. Caul slices the man's stomach open. His screams echo off the ceiling. She grabs a small pair of forceps and carefully removes the large-caliber bullet.

"Surprised it didn't go right through," Dr. Caul says. She studies the bullet. "Not one of our rifles."

The dying man tries to say something, but blood bubbles out of his mouth. To their credit, Dr. Caul and Dr. Takahashi go through a complete resuscitation attempt, but it's useless: he's dead.

Dr. Takahashi looks pale, but you expect he's seen worse things. He examines the corpse, then says, "I'll perform an autopsy. I guess I'll be missing my party."

"Of course not! I can do it," Dr. Caul says.

"No, Invidia, they want to see you. They already have my research. I know that you have other things to worry about." He glances at you.