Read Online Contact Imminent by Kristine Smith - Free Book Online Page B

down.”
    â€œNow,” Val said.
    Jani struggled to avoid looking at the lightbox Val held, even as she felt herself drawn to the flickering lights like an accident scene. “But I feel…” The first pattern splashed across the surface—she followed it like a cat tracking the flight of a bird. “I feel better than I have in months. My joints don’t ache anymore. My back—” The patterns continued, irregular jumps and flutters, abrupt changes in speed and direction. “You know, those lights are really irritating.”
    Val shut down the box and shook his head. “Whatever’s going on, it has nothing to do with her augmentation. If it still fired, she’d have gone under by now.”
    John walked to the table, on which Val had placed twohefty carryalls. “You’ve felt this way for a month?” He scrabbled through one of the bags, and after a few moments’ digging came up with a sensor stylus. “I wish you’d said something before now.” He approached Jani, gesturing for her to hold out her hand.
    Jani held out her right hand, feeling a tremor of warmth as John enclosed it in his and pressed the vibrating end of the stylus against the tip of her index finger. “The anger comes in a rush, like a drug. Once it surfaces, it needs to discharge somewhere, I guess.” John released her—as always, she felt the pressure of his grasp long after the flesh had parted.
    â€œWhile I couldn’t think of a better target for your wrath than Captain Pascal, I can imagine times when it would be better for you to keep your mouth shut.” John examined the stylus readout and frowned at Val. “Blood readings are normal, relatively speaking.” He tucked the stylus into his trouser pocket. “Tact and diplomacy were never your strong suits, and now that idomeni mood swings have apparently entered the picture, it’s only going to go downhill from here.”
    â€œTsecha’s idomeni, and he manages all right,” Jani muttered.
    â€œNo, he doesn’t—” John and Val replied as one. Then all three of them grinned.
    Val walked to the table, lightbox in hand. “A full Neuro workup would be a good idea.” He slipped the device into a padded sack, then zipped the sack closed and tucked it into one of the bags. “If we determine where the changes have occurred and to what extent, we could design an augmentation to act as a moderator.”
    â€œWe don’t have time.” John drew up next to the counter and leaned against it, a move that brought him closer to Jani. “I could start the preliminary work on the ship if I took one of our neurologists along.”
    Jani shook her head. “Drag someone away from home for three months or more on a day’s notice? Not on my account, please.”
    â€œIt’s an unwritten part of the job description,” Val said as he slung one of the bags over his shoulder. “Neoclona offers classes. If you can’t learn to pack for a twelve-week long haul in ten minutes flat, we kick you out to live amongst the heathen.” He hefted the other bag and trudged to the door. “If you pass the test, the Commonwealth is yours to command.”
    â€œTen minutes? Why not make it a month?” Jani called after him. “I can do it in less than five.”
    â€œUnfair.” The sound of Val’s steps receded down the hall. “Too much practice!” A muffled curse drifted back as he pushed through the rear door, followed by silence.
    Jani stared down at her socks for a time, then looked up to find John regarding her with an odd mix of amusement and concern that it seemed he reserved lately for her and her alone. “Would a new augmentation help smooth out the mood swings?”
    â€œPossibly.” He boosted atop the counter next to her. “The problem is that it would need to function all the time, as opposed to your Service