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Date: December 6th 2036

Location: Biohybrid Robotics,

Defense Science Laboratory,

Bristol, England

The robotic snake slithered through the pitch black of the swimming pool, its sinuous progress marked only by the powerful white light radiating from both eyes. The light flashed over Dr. Rose Wyndham, turning the air bubbles from her scuba tanks iridescent. Her heart skipped a beat, her gloved hands stilling momentarily on the digital control pad in her hands. “Okay, MARV. Let’s show them what you’ve got. Gina, are they ready?”

The comms button in her ear chirped. “They’re all here. Knock their socks off.” Her assistant Gina’s voice was tinny, but Rose didn’t miss the edge of excitement. They had both worked so hard for this. Five long years of research melding state-of-the-art nano-robotics and organic matrices to create cutting-edge workhorses for the Department of Defense.

She thumbed the button on her remote and MARV’s headlights extinguished. Darkness enveloped Rose like silk. Water current curled around her thigh as MARV slid past. Rose lowered the night vision visor over her mask, spotting MARV as a sliver of green luminescence several feet away. MARV twisted to face her, the wedge-shaped head tapering to the blade of a powerful tail.

“Ladies and gentleman.” She couldn’t see the dark wall of glass at the end of the pool, or the assembled group of scientists and military personnel watching and judging if their investment was worthy. But they were there. “Welcome to the first official demonstration of the first Marine Autonomous Robotic Version IV or MARV for short…” She paused, her heart thundering in her ears. She loved research, but selling herself and her creation to a bunch of pencil pushers and warmongers, not so much.

“Keep going, Rose.” Gina’s voice was reassuring on the comms.

Rose closed her eyes, gathering herself. I can do this. I know this inside out.

“MARV is at the forefront of bio-hybrid research combining DNA from Hydrophis belcheri, also known as the faint-banded sea snake, with innovative nanotechnology. Originally developed for the inspection of sub-sea structures, MARV’s configuration has been augmented to create an autonomous robotic hybrid that will enable us to navigate hostile environments without risk to human life,fulfill mission objectives…”

Familiarity took over. She knew her creation and if this demonstration went as well as she knew it could,she’d achieve what she had been busting a gut over for the past five years—acknowledgement of her work and secure funding to keep her team in employment under Ed Haverham for the next ten years.

Hell, she’d worked relentlessly to pull herself back up from the black hole she’d tumbled down when her sister Thea had stolen their shared research, claimed it as hers alone, and disappeared. Rose paused in her well-rehearsed sales spiel and pressed her tongue against her teeth. Losing herself in the past would only derail her.

Time to show them what MARV could really do.

Half an hour later, Rose surfaced, gripping the pool ladder for support as she exited the water, her knee joints popping in protest. Working non-stop with no exercise or days off for months hadn’t done her any favors. The news better be good.

Gina was already there, a towel in hand, hopping from foot to foot in barely contained excitement. Rose removed her mask, shrugged off her air tanks, and accepted the towel.

“Oh my God, Rose, that was amazing.” Gina was breathless. She patted her chest with fluttering fingers. “I went past the conference room to steal some free sandwiches and the buzz was electric. They loved MARV.”

“Seriously?” Rose refused to let the bubble of hope in her belly expand until she was sure they were on the home run. Not until she saw the ink on the contract. She’d been burned too many times before.

“Yes. Yes.” Gina skirted behind Rose to unzip her wetsuit. “Two bigguys in uniforms were bending Haverham’s ear about MARV. One of them was pretty hot.” She arched a brow in Rose’s direction.

“Gina, quit with the matchmaking.”

“I just think…you know…” Gina came round to face Rose and did a tiny sashay. “…you could do with some loosening up. Then I wouldn’t have to go on all these blind dates on my own.” She nudged her glasses on the bridge of her nose to accentuate her point.

“Loosening up?”

“Everyone needs to let their hair down sometimes.”

She took Gina by the shoulders. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ve told you countless times I’m perfectly happy single. I do not need a relationship?—”

Gina’s mouth popped open to protest.

“Or a casual tumble in the hay with any man to make me feel complete or happy.”

Gina showed the palms of her hands. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“Let’s try again. These guys you overhead were military?” Rose suppressed a sigh. How did she stop her work from being taken in the wrong direction?

“Um, yes.” A dent marred her assistant’s face. “I know you don’t want MARV to be used as a weapon.”

Rose peeled the wetsuit off her shoulders and pushed it down to her waist.

“Hey.” She slid a finger under Gina’s dipped chin. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault and try as we might, we can’t control every aspect of what they use MARV for.”

Gina nodded as Rose glimpsed herwet hair in the mirror. Ugh. Looked like she’d been crowned with seaweed. Did anyone look good after being encased in a rubber suit for several hours?

A glance at her watch confirmed she was supposed to be in the hospitality suite in ten minutes to schmooze the suits with the money. She was a lost cause. “Did you find anything to eat? I’m starving.”

Ginafrowned. “Sandwiches. I left them by the door. ”

Rose exhaled. “I’m starving. I can’t schmooze on an empty stomach.”

“I’ll get them for you.”

“Thanks, Gina.” Rose perched her backside on one of the wooden benches that lined the changing rooms. Adrenalin buzzed warmth through her system. MARV would revolutionize sub-sea safety and lots of contractors were going to shower her with money to make it happen.

The comms unit on the wall rang.

Rose looked up. “We expecting someone?”

Gina shook her head. She balanced the plate of sandwiches in one hand and pressed the button to answer. “Dive pool. Gina Woods speaking.”

“Dr. Woods. Is Dr. Wyndham with you?”

Rose recognized the polished tones. Not Haverham, her boss but his PA, Cara.

“Um.” Gina looked over to Rose.

Rose made a slicing motion across her neck and stuck her tongue out sideways.

“Well. I think… yes?” Gina looked apologetic.

Rose rolled her eyes.

“What do you mean, you think yes—” Cara’s voice shrieked like metal under stress. A strict fan of firmly rollered hair and precise makeup, she was not a woman to be trifled with. There was an unusual hint of fluster in her voice, even over the comms. “There’s a woman here to see Dr. Wyndham?—”

Rose stood up and moved over to the comms. “I’m here Cara.” She eyed the plate of ham sandwiches, her stomach cramping. Breakfast had only been black coffee. Her nerves had been so jittery.

A voice was talking in the background, speaking to Cara. Female. Commanding.

“Cara, I have a meeting with Haverham and potential sponsors once I’m dressed. Can you please ask whoever it is to make an appointment?” Rose ended the conversation with a tap on the comms.Cara was the best. No one would get through her.

Gina squawked. “Can’t believe you did that.” She worried her lower lip, still clutching the plate.

Rose lifted a ham sandwich and took a bite. “I’ve got just over five minutes to get changed and look vaguely presentable. Hmm. These sandwiches are better than what they give us in the canteen. What’s the deal with that?”

“No… no you can’t…I really must insist.”

Rose swung at the sound of the raised voice.

Cara burst into the changing room, the swing door clattering behind her. “I’m so sorry, Dr. Wyndham. Some people will not listen to reason. Really.” She smoothed an invisible wrinkle on her blouse, her painted lips in a puckered bow.

A tall woman pushed through the door behind her, her gaze impassive as she locked eyes with Rose.A long black coat clung in expensive swathes around slim legs clad in fitted plum-colored trousers above heels licensed to kill.

Two enormous men shadowed her, their necks thicker than their heads.

An involuntary shiver hula-hooped down Rose’s spine.She smiled at Cara as she dropped her half-eaten sandwich in the trash. “Cara. It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.”

The tension in Cara’s shoulders relaxed.“Well…if you are sure.” She shot a glancing glare at the female interloper. “I have a lot of paperwork to be catching up with. If you will excuse me. Dr. Wyndham.” She inclined her head at Rose and then Gina. “Dr. Woods.”

She edged past the woman and her bodyguards.

The woman watched her go, an amused tilt to her mouth before turning her attention back to Rose with an assessing sweep. Rose straightened, pulling herself up to her full five-one, briefly wishing for proper clothes and shoes instead of a rolled-down wetsuit and bare feet.

Even so. This is my home ground.

“Dr. Wyndham?” The woman extended one leather gloved hand, her scarlet painted lips curling in an approximation of a smile that dodged her eyes.

Rose ignored the proffered hand. “I’m sorry, but you can’t just barge in here like this. There are proper procedures. I have a meeting with investors in five minutes and I’m not even dressed yet.”

The woman made a dismissive wave. “I have all the clearances and your investors can wait.” With purposeful strides, she strode between Rose and Gina, showing a flash of red soles.

Gina pivoted. “Hey, you can’t just?—”

One of the two men grabbed Gina by the arm. She shrieked and the plate of sandwiches tipped. They slid to the tiled floor with a wet slap.

What the hell?

“Get your hands off her.” Rose stepped forward, facing the thug who’d grabbed Gina. Dark hair sprouted from his too large nostrils, but Rose held his blank faced stare, her palms damp. “I said. Let. Her. Go.”

Seconds stretched and Rose was sure he must hear the hammer of her heart.

The woman gave a curt nod, and the heavy released Gina. She stumbled away from him, rubbing her upper arm.

“Did you come here just to abuse my staff or is there a reason for this visit?” Rose tore her gaze from the man, pinned it back on the woman, trying not to acknowledge what she’d noticed. The men’s suit jackets were bulky, pulled snug over shoulder holsters.They were armed.

“Dr. Rose Wyndham. Do you mind if I call you Rose? Wyndham is quite a mouthful, is it not?”

Rose’s lips parted. She forced her hands flat against her thighs. “Only people I consider my friends call me Rose?—”

“Excellent. Friends we are then.” The woman showed her small, perfect teeth. “You can call me Margaret.”