Chapter 7
To master the team we have proposed, would require a second team. The two would counter-balance each other.
— Dr. Petra Michalak
SciTech Research and Development
[SciTech Office, Paris, France — Dana]
The abrupt bustle of activity woke me.
Marie was by my side, accompanied by a tall, dark orderly whose hands felt as if he’d just pulled them out of a warmer. He adjusted my arm and drew blood through the IV port. With an efficient click, he capped the sample tube. A practiced shake completed the ritual before he placed it in a pouch he wore on his belt. A calloused touch removed the IV.
“What’s up?” I asked.
“We need blood work,” he explained, “no point in making more holes in you. You get to be free of this contraption.”
I looked at Marie. “Blood work?”
“Just a precautio
