RETALI8ION: The Cobalt Code by Amber Neko Meador Read Free Book Online Page B

cords that Regina had just dropped down.  “Go on.”
    “Thanks,” Regina said as she stood up and headed towards the platform's ramp.
    Grendal turned his head to look at Thomas.  “Now now, kitty cat, that wasn't funny.”
    Thomas tilted his head at Grendal.  “Grendal not buttercup.”
    “That's right.  Grendal is not a buttercup,” Grendal replied with a nod.
    “Then funny,” Thomas remarked.
    Amina laughed as she stepped down from the armored suit.  “Thomas seems to understand humor just fine.”
    Grendal grunted a response at Amina.  He then turned his attention back to Regina.  “Yeah, well it looks like he has brought a funny little present for you, kid.”
    “Yeah... “  Regina had already spotted what Thomas was referring to.  A large, somewhat blood-soaked, dead rat was sitting at Thomas's feet.
    “For you,” Thomas said as Regina got close to him.
    “Awww, you didn't have to get me anything, Thomas.  Thank you though,” Regina said, trying her best to hide her disgust.  This was only the third time Thomas had brought her something like this, and would probably be her third failure to acceptably use the gift as intended.
    “You hurt.  This protein,” Thomas stated bluntly.
     
    “It sure is, Tomcat,” Grendal blurted out, interrupting any response Regina could have made as he jogged over to Regina and Thomas.  “And hey, don't you worry.  I know a great recipe for this.  My unit used to cook these up real nice during Korea.  The tail makes a good soup, actually,” Grendal said with an accompanying slurping noise as he picked up the rat by the tail.  “So if it's alright with you, I'll go ahead and put this in the fridge, and tonight I'll cook it up nice on an open flame.  Whaddaya say?” he asked, clapping Regina on the shoulder with his free hand.
    “Yes,” Thomas replied with a grin.
    “You hear that, kid?  You'll be having Unit 722's famous barbeque tonight,” Grendal said with a small shake of Regina's shoulder.
    “Sounds good,” Regina replied, putting on a fake smile.
    “Well, look what the cat dragged in.  Literally,” came Artemis's voice from behind the two.
    “I not drag.  I carried,” Thomas replied.
    “My fault, Thomas,” Artemis replied as he walked towards Regina and Grendal.
    “No fault.  Bad guess,” Thomas stated.
    Artemis clicked his tongue, pointed, and winked at Thomas with a smile.  He then turned his attention to Regina.  “Here you go.  I thought you might need it,” he said, holding out a bag towards her.
    “What's this?” Regina asked as she took the bag from him.
    “A little something to help ensure we take down the bastard that tried to have you whacked,” Artemis replied with a smile.
    Regina reached in the bag and pulled out a semi-sheer black garment.  She immediately recognized it as a dive suit.  One of the good ones.  She unfolded it and her eyes started tracing the gold inlays and connectors that ran the length of the suit.  It was quite svelte-looking, to say the least.
    “I know you don't generally wear dive suits.  It messes up that whole AR headset punk fashion statement thing you think you have going on.  But I thought for this you might could use the little bit of extra speed,” Artemis said with a grin.
    “Thanks, I'll get to setting up the motion commands as soon as everything is up and running here,” Regina replied with a thankful smirk.
    “You just want to see her twitching around in that while she dives,” Amina shouted out.
    Artemis turned and started walking towards the platform.  “I'm diving, too, you pea brain.  I wouldn't have time to enjoy it even if I wanted to.  Which I don't.  Speaking of which, how is everything coming along?”
    “Almost done.  Hey, I'm gonna go put this in the fridge.  I'll be back in a few,” Grendal said, as he hurriedly started walking towards the hallway.
    Regina watched as Grendal started making his escape.  She then cautiously started following