Page 101 of Perfection

Oh, she did feel safe with him—that, among other feelings, he’d awakened within her. She kissed his brow. “I know.”

Voices came from down the hall. York wheeled the chair closer to the wall so that if someone peered in, they wouldn’t see them unless they entered the room. The voices grew louder. She recognized one as Chairman B-Cobb’s. Her gaze met York’s. She held her breath.

Please don’t come in. Please don’t come in. Walk on by.

After what seemed like hours, the voices and footsteps trailed off.

Nine sounded a chime, and a green light flashed on the screen.

“The vaccine is complete,” Kindra announced. “Good work, Nine.”

She took the sample from the development rack and placed it in the duplicator, where it would be synthesized, replicated, and then produced in dosage vials. “It will only take about fifteen minutes to make enough vaccine to inoculate the children in the major cryo facility. Twice that for all of them.”

Harry B-Watson walked in through the far door. Kindra froze.