Syn-En: Plague World: The Founders War Begins by Linda Andrews Read Free Book Online

anyone.”
    Apollie tapped her keyboard and the screen changed. Molecules appeared then blew apart. “That’s because you weren’t looking small enough, and they change. It’s almost like they have some sort of intelligence.”
    “On an atomic scale? Not possible.” Doc’s eyes darkened and the data flew in a blur across the screen.
    Bei’s synthetic hair stood on end. Could it be true?
    “Nearly an atomic scale.” Apollie raised her hands off the keyboard. “They measure one hundred one quadrillionths of a meter. We call them fermites after one of Earth’s great scientists.”
    Collapsing against his chair back, Doc raked his fingers through is dark brown hair. “Shit.”
    A data packet exploded in Bei’s head. Nell’s blood work did contain these fermites. In fact, they nearly outnumbered her red blood cells.
    Elvis whimpered and huddled near Nell’s feet.
    Nell slapped her free hand over her mouth. “How bad is it?”
    “You’ll be fine.” Bei would make her fine. He would make certain of it. He wouldn’t lose to some fermite.
    Apollie glanced at Nell. “We have never detected ill-effects from housing the fermites. We had you tested after registration. The Syn-En have had NDA for nearly a hundred years and yet none of them can manipulate it like you, Nell Stafford. Even when they use it to treat the injured refugees, it does not behave as it does with you. If the Surlat strain has mutated into a new virulence, you are our best hope for a vaccine.”
    Nell tensed beside him. “And if I don’t survive?”
    “Then for the sake of all the sentient species left in the universe, you may wish to stay for the planet’s purification.” Apollie’s voice cracked. “And the Erwar Consortium will force the planet to remain quarantined forever.”
    Red warning lights lit up Bei’s skull. The thought of Nell’s death sent his systems spiraling toward a cascade failure. “No. Absolutely not.”
    A tear slipped down Nell’s cheek. “If I’d have known how unique I was in the universe, I would have bought a lottery ticket.” She drew in a ragged breath. “Alrighty then, option one is to leave the Humans on Surlat, allowing them to be killed, and giving the evil Founders the idea that we won’t defend our own species, so as to prevent the Plague from returning to wipe out the rest of life in the universe.”
    Apollie raised a finger. “The cleansing the Founders propose did not destroy the virus the last time.” She bent her head over her keyboard. Documents flashed up on the screen—memos from the Founders’ headquarters. “In fact, we think they traveled to other planets, knowing they carried the disease.”
    The Syn-Ens’ fury consumed the WA. They demanded justice. They demanded Nell be kept safe.
    Her shoulders slumped. “Evil happens when good men do nothing.”
    Bei’s anger spiked. “The Syn-En will act.”
    Nell sighed. “A hundred years have passed, hasn’t someone found a cure?”
    Drumming her fingers on the table, Apollie sighed. “Most of the remaining Skaperian have been sleeping for the last hundred years. And Humanity has just achieved interstellar travel. The only ones who have a chance to find a cure are the Founders. Do you really wish to pay the price they will demand for a vaccine?”
    Hell no, but neither would Bei sacrifice his wife.
    Nell shivered. “Ask for the vote, Bei. This Three Musketeer moment isn’t an all for one, but a one for all. I need to be that one.”
    In the WA, Elvis’s hold lost control over her emotions. A vortex of sorrow spun through cyberspace, touching all the Syn-En who were connected.
    Bei crouched at her side. Her hands were cold beneath his. Who was he without her?  Not half the man he was now, and no amount of technology would restore him. “All those in favor of rescuing the Humans on Surlat record your yes vote now.”
    Beeps sound in his head. Everyone had voted in favor. Everyone but him. He couldn’t do it. Fuck his programming.