The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(35)

“Interesting,” he said at last.

“Isn’t it? But, like I said, I didn’t find the answer to your question. The SWD is obviously implementing a new program of some kind utilizing Constabulary soldiers instead of their own, but other than that...” Petra shrugged.

“Any ideas as to why they would use the Constabulary soldiers and not their own?” Dwayne had wondered about that aspect of the assignment when Maria had told him about the serum.

“I’ll let you know in twenty-four hours,” Petra answered, smiling slightly. “I may not be able to get you a direct answer to your question, but I think I can find a back door.”

Dwayne chuckled. “I should have known you weren’t empty-handed.”

Petra lifted her shoulders. “I’m never empty-handed. I just don’t always choose to show what I’m holding.”

“You’re trying to figure out what I know, or don’t know,” Dwayne said after a beat.

“Do you know anything?”

“I know the SWD is veiling itself in secrecy and that I don’t trust them.”

“And that is all you will tell me,” Petra said.

“And that is all I can tell you,” Dwayne answered.

There was a flicker of annoyance in Petra’s expression, but she didn’t let it seep into her voice as she said, “I will report in as soon as I have more information.”

Dismissing her with the nod of his head, Dwayne settled back in his chair and let out a low groan as the door slid shut behind Petra. He was beginning to regret not trying to get Maria to reconsider her decision. Her silence was frightening him. Of course, there could be all sorts of reasons why she was not accessing the secret program on her wristlet, but the growing unease within him was not something he could ignore. He trusted his gut.

Activating his wristlet, he checked again to see if Maria had left him a message or logged on. She hadn’t. Grimly, Dwayne activated yet another secret program in his wristlet. He sent out a call query and waited.

Seconds later, the other party answered.

“This is unexpected,” Lindsey said, rubbing sleep out of her eyes.

“I need your...skills.”

Lindsey yawned, then nodded. “You got it. What am I doing?”

“Hacking into the SWD.” Dwayne had the utmost confidence that Lindsey could handle it. She was a genius beyond compare.

Scrunching up her face, Lindsey seemed to contemplate the challenge. After a few seconds, she nodded. “I’ll get right on it. What do you want to know?”

“Anything and everything you can find out. Some of our people were transferred over there, including Vanguard Martinez.”

Lindsey’s eyes widened. “Maria?”

“Yes. Can you see what you can uncover?”

“You got it.” Lindsey killed the connection.

Dwayne rubbed his eyes and glanced over his shoulder at the gray city shrouded in rain and mist. He yearned for a world without the Inferi Scourge, but he wasn’t willing to sacrifice Maria to get it.





Chapter 10


Awareness came swiftly and shockingly every time she was roused out of her torpor. Maria hated the lack of control she had over her mind and body. She wasn’t even attuned to the moment when she ceased to function. Each time she woke, she felt as though she was being reborn out of darkness. It was disconcerting. She desperately wanted to return to her room and call Dwayne, but because she had no need to eat or sleep the SWD team kept her busy.

Some of the tests were odd. She was made to watch short films on everything from war to parenthood. Some of the images were upsetting, while others were amusing. Her laughter during one film startled her, but appeared to please the male scientist watching over her. He was young with too pale skin and a shock of black hair. She could see his blue eyes watching her every move. More than once she was tempted to pretend to lash out at him and see if he would jump. Though the scientists working with her appeared pleased, she could see they were unnerved by her presence. She couldn’t blame them. She was now Inferi Boon after all.

The hours slid away like water. She lost all track of time as the tests continued. It seemed as though whenever she faded out, she was revived by a new set of scientists ready to send her through a string of tests. Dr. Curran sometimes was in the room overseeing the testing, but other times she was absent.

As the tests progressed, Maria’s restraints were systematically removed until only the shackles around her ankles remained. It was a relief to finally be able to move her arms and upper body. Not because she had been in any sort of pain, but because she had felt like a prisoner. The discomfort she would have felt when alive after being seated for so long was absent.

When she was finally allowed to write and manipulate a pad, she began to feel more like an actual person than a test subject. When a rifle was placed before her and she was told to field-strip it, clean it and reassemble it, she couldn’t keep from smiling. Though her sense of touch was diminished, she was still able to perform the task efficiently and quickly.

When she finished, Dr. Curran entered the room and the colorless man with the blue eyes slipped out.

“Well, done, Maria. Very impressive.” Dr. Curran sat down across from her and set the pad on the table. For once, Dr. Curran was smiling broadly and genuinely. “You have surpassed our every expectation. Every test result is superb. Words cannot express how excited we all are.” Surprising her, Dr. Curran laid her hand over Maria’s. “You’re the most remarkable woman I have ever met. You’re the hope of the city now.”