Inserted

39

Molly's hologram appears above my watch. Her bright smile eases my nerves, and I hope whatever she has to tell me is good news.

"Hey, Molly," I greet, leaning back against the couch. Many people crowd around me, all eager to hear of Molly's progress. After two days of training and waiting to see of Molly can replicate the Chips, her call has finally came.

She grins. "Hello, Autumn! And everyone else I can assume is listening."

I laugh. "So, you got the manual from Cody?"

She nods. "I did. And I've been working ever since. The Chips mentioned in the manual weren't difficult to recreate."

My eyes widen and I hear people drawing in their breaths around me. "You've already replicated one?"

She nods again, beaming with pride. "Yup! It wasn't very difficult." Then, her smile drops. "I'm having a rough time figuring out how to insert abilities. I left out anything that made this Chip like the old ones. So, I basically have a blank slate. I just need to figure out how to program the abilities into it."

I let out a disappointed breath. My heart plummets. "So, you can't do it."

Her gaze hardens. "I can. I just need time, or possibly one of those advanced Chips. I wish you could get your hands on one. If you could, I could easily replicate it and have one for everyone in your army. It's just such an intricate technology, giving people superhuman abilities."

I glance around the lounge room where bodies are scattered about. People's faces have fallen. Molly was our crutch, our one hope at easily securing Chips with abilities. If she can't insert abilities into Chips, then we will lose without a doubt.

Hailee sits at my side. She places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "There's no way we can retrieve a Chip. It's too dangerous, especially with all the enemies we have acquired."

I sigh. "Do you happen to know how they work?"

She shakes her head. "No."

"Can one of us remove ours?"

Again, Hailee shakes her head. "It's not like the old Chips that electrocute you if taken out. They become a part of your nervous system. If you take it out after growing adjusted to it and the abilities it provides you, complicates will arise, a possible complication being death."

I wince, glancing back to Molly's hologram. "Do you think you can figure it out on your own?"

She shrugs. "I'll keep trying. But, remember why I agreed to help in the first place. What's being done about saving my father?"

"We have-"

I hold up a hand to Derek, silencing him. "What do you mean we have bigger concerns? James is a honorable man, one that's in the position he's in because he offered to help me. We can't prioritize training over someone's life. While we prepare to fight Leane, we can figure out where he is and rescue him."

He purses his lips, taking a step towards the couch I'm seated on. "Fine, if it's so important to you. Just remember that we have a lot on our plate and too little time."

"I know," I mutter, glancing back to the hologram. "Molly, can you try hacking into the government's servers?"

She grimaces. "I already did. Nothing. They're not stupid."

I run a hand down my face. I have to save James, and I have to get one of those Chips. I don't care what anyone around me says. Maybe I'll have to visit the government a visit after a pay Leane one. I've made up my mind. And, I know who will accompany me, too. They might not want me to risk my life, but they also won't put me in more danger by leaving it all up to me. "Don't worry, Molly, you'll get your father back. I'll do everything I can to ensure that."