Magnet by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page A

charge on my skin. The more I walked around, the worse it got. I had to discharge it, so I did.”
    Toyo nodded. “Beryl is going to run the numbers, but you put out a lot of power. Based on your initial readings, you should not have been able to contain that much power.”
    Polly blinked. “Oh.”
    Loesh put his hands on her shoulders and pulled her back against him. She sought out the firm support of his chest and leaned back. Her squirrel hopped onto her shoulder and nuzzled her cheek.
    She reached up and stroked his soft fur. “Thanks, Gerald Junior.”
    The others looked at her as if she was dangerous, but Drovin nodded. “Right, we need to contact that research centre.”
    Polly looked into the dark eyes of her small companion and then over her shoulder at Loesh. “I think that might be a good idea.”
     
    The research centre was still recovering from the attack, but one of the researchers met with them and surreptitiously ran a scanner over Polly.
    She sighed and pointed to her buddy on her shoulder. “He is up here.”
    The scanner chirped wildly and the researcher whistled slowly. “Wait right here. This is amazing.”
    He left and she sat holding Loesh’s hand while she waited.
    Four men in the same uniform as the initial researcher piled into the office in a rush. They opened their eyes and scanned the room. One of them finally whispered, “Where is it?”
    Loesh laughed, “It is on her left shoulder and it can hear you.”
    The scanners came out again, and one of the men had the good sense to ask, “Guardian Polly, may we take a full bio scan of you?”
    “Sure, as long as Loesh can come along.”
    They got to their feet and the researchers cringed back as Loesh radiated alpha male all over the room. At least Polly didn’t need to worry about them making a move on her.
     
    Two hours later the results were in. Polly was fused to a coating of tiny machines designed to create energy. That was the reason for the alien attack; they had wanted the power tech that was now being held in a safe place across the globe.
    “So, how long will it take to get the nanites off me and I can be myself again without the imaginary squirrel in my eye line?” Polly sat at a table with Loesh on one side and Gerald perched next to her elbow.
    The researchers looked at each other with concern.
    Dr. Wilboss smiled helpfully. “You and the machines are bonded. They are running off your cells and you are absorbing them into your circulatory system as we speak. Soon, they will infiltrate your nervous system and you will, in effect, become a power source. The shape that the power takes is up to you.”
    Polly ran her hands through her hair. “What?”
    Loesh cleared his throat. “You and the machines are fused together. You can’t be separated because you are no longer what you were when you landed.”
    She blinked and stared at the researchers again. “What is the squirrel?”
    Dr. Wilboss smiled. “It is the interface. With practice, you will learn to communicate with the interface and it with you. That is the hope any way. Would you be willing to come in for weekly checks?”
    She looked to Loesh and he nodded.
    “Sure. I am guessing while I am still unstable that the Guardians won’t put me out on assignments.”
    Loesh shrugged. “It would depend on the situation, but for the next few days, I believe that you being grounded at the base would be recommended.”
    The four researchers nodded frantically.
    With a few com numbers and a plea to contact them if anything truly peculiar occurred, Polly stalked out of the research station with her superhero and her invisible squirrel. She needed a drink.
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    In the middle of the night, Polly sat up and flipped the covers off. Gerald was hopping around at the foot of her bed and trying to wake her up. He did a heckuva job. She wanted to swat him with something.
    She pulled on her robe and followed Gerald. He shimmered through her door, and she took the