Page 80 of Anders
The last thing she was aware of was Anders’s hand in hers, his voice in her mind through their bond—not words exactly, but a feeling, a knowing.
Come back to me.
HER AWARENESS RETURNED SLOWLY, in fragments.First, sensation—a dull ache at the base of her skull, the softness of sheets beneath her, the warmth of a hand holding hers.
Then sound—the steady beep of a heart monitor, quiet voices speaking nearby, the soft hum of equipment.
Finally, smell—antiseptic, clean bandages, and beneath it all, Anders.
Etta opened her eyes, blinking against the soft light.It took a moment for her vision to clear, for the blurry shapes around her to resolve into familiar figures.
Anders sat beside her bed, his posture alert despite the exhaustion evident on his face.When he saw her eyes open, relief washed through their bond, so powerful it brought tears to her eyes.
Hey,he said softly, his voice rough with emotion.Welcome back.
Etta tried to speak, but her throat was dry, her tongue uncooperative.Anders understood immediately, reaching for a cup of water with a straw.He held it to her lips, supporting her head gently as she drank.
How long?she managed after a few sips, her voice a hoarse whisper.
Eighteen hours,Anders said, setting the cup aside.The procedure was…complicated.
Before she could ask more, Dr.Weiss appeared on her other side, looking tired but satisfied as he checked the monitors displaying her vitals.
How are you feeling?he asked.
Etta took a moment to catalog her sensations.The pain was there but duller than before, more like the aftermath of an injury than the burning agony she’d grown accustomed to.Her thoughts felt clearer somehow, as if a persistent static had finally been silenced.
Better,she said, surprised to find it was true.Different.
Dr.Weiss nodded, understanding more than she could articulate.That makes sense.The interface is gone.What you’re feeling now is normal postsurgical discomfort, not the inflammatory response your body was mounting against the device.
The words took a moment to register.Gone?You removed it completely?
Yes,Dr.Weiss confirmed with a small smile.It was more deeply integrated than we anticipated, but we managed to extract it intact.Your neural pathways are showing remarkable resilience—already beginning to form new connections where the device was removed.
Etta closed her eyes briefly, overwhelmed by relief.The constant presence that had haunted her, the alien technology monitoring her every move, the ticking time bomb in her nervous system—gone.
Thank you,she whispered, opening her eyes to meet Dr.Weiss’s gaze.I know the odds weren’t good.
Your shifter physiology helped,he said.The accelerated healing is already working in your favor.And you fought for this—your body, your mind, your wolf—all working together toward healing.
Anders’s hand tightened around hers, his pride, his joy, his sheer gratitude that she had survived against those daunting odds vibrating through their connection.
We’ll need to monitor you closely for the next few days,Dr.Weiss continued.Watch for any signs of neural complications.But the worst is behind you now.
A thought occurred to Etta, important despite her exhaustion.The interface—you kept it?
Dr.Weiss nodded.Preserved and secured, as requested.It’s a remarkable piece of technology, despite its abhorrent purpose.Understanding it could help us protect others from similar violations.
There are at least four other assets,Etta said, forcing strength into her voice despite her fatigue.Four other shifters with interfaces like mine.We need to find them, help them before Chimera activates the Epsilon Protocol on them.
I know,Dr.Weiss said gently.Anders has briefed me on the situation.If you’ll permit it, I’d like to study the device more thoroughly.The more I understand about how it works, the better prepared I’ll be to help the others when you find them.
Etta looked to Anders, seeking his input.As head guardian, security was his domain.
I trust him,Anders said, significant words coming from someone who trusted very few people outside his pack.
Then yes,Etta said.Study it.Learn everything you can.But destroy it when you’re done.I don’t want any part of it falling into the wrong hands.
