"He's twenty-four," Rissa replied. "And I'm simply enhancing his efficiency."
"You're rewiring his mind?" Davis gasped.
"Not quite." Her eyes were moving, tracking something only she could see. "Think of it more like filling in potholes. I also removed a few redundant loops."
"How?" Sin asked.
With a blink, she looked at him. "I solved the problem."
Zan sighed. "Wow," he breathed. "That was strange. Never had that when I was awake." He paused, then smiled deviously. "I'll pay you back for that, Riss."
She smiled, then glanced around the room again. "I think you already have."
"This gonna be as fast as at City Hall?" Trent asked.
"Nope," Zan said. "They fried her brain, and she's still got ten times—or more—the connection I do. Sorry, guys.I'mholding this up."
"It's at sixty-eight percent, though," Rissa said.
"Ok," Rob said, standing. "If this is gonna take a bit, I'm gonna grab some food. Burgers from the Fallen Angel all around?"
Most of the room agreed, except Zan and Rissa. "Really?" Zan asked her, shocked.
The girl nodded slowly.
"What?" Rob groaned. "She a vegetarian too?"
"She's never eaten," Zan said softly. "Ever."
Sin just closed his eyes. "The care bay. Fuck."
"Time to change that," Davis said.
"No," Zan held up his hand. "You can't. What goes in must come out, and she's not exactly set up for that in the Enclave." He sighed, turning to her again. "You're fucking kidding me."
Rissa just shook her head.
"Forever?"
She nodded.
"I fucking hate OutLink. That shit isn't right." Zan sighed, looking back at Rob. "Get me one?"
"Yeah," Rob said. "Back in a bit."
"Do I want to know?" Sin asked.
Zan looked up at him. "No," he said, completely serious. "No, Legate, you don't. Not yet."
Rissa spoke up then, preventing Sin from asking any more questions. "Julie? Are you on injections?"
"Yeah, weekly."
"For the implants?"
"Yeah. Why?"
Rissa turned to Sin. "I know you are."
