"That's not the way it appears to me," Wendy argued. "You seem to . . . manifest a few of the personalities then they go away. You hardly ever have an accent anymore. And that probably explains your speech impediment; you couldn't decide which accent was 'you.' Lately you seem more . . . whole. I think you're going to end up okay. Just . . . Anne Elgars. But . . ." she snorted. "But 'upgraded.' "
"I thought I was naturally strong," the officer said, flexing a muscle. "And all this time it's nannites."
"And working out," Wendy corrected. "I imagine it gives you a . . . a sort of a stronger baseline. You have to improve it from there."
Wendy looked over at the group of children and shook her head. "We're gonna get out of here, kids. All of us."
"Is Mommy going to be okay?" Kelly asked tearfully. The children had been following in near silence since having a rather severe talking-to at the hands of Elgars.
"According to the computer she should be as good as new," Wendy said, taking her up on her lap and hugging her. "Better, she's probably going to start looking younger."
"Can it do that?" Shannon asked, shifting Amber's carrier. The ten-year-old had been keeping up like a trooper, but she was obviously flagging.
"According to the computer," Elgars said, pulling the backpack off of the girl and setting the baby on the floor. "We'll just have to see. Speaking of which—computer, are you smart enough to know that we're invaded by Posleen?"
"Yes," the AID said.
"Are there any in this facility?"
"Negative; the closest are in the Hydroponics section."
"Lemme know if that changes, okay?"
"Hey, computer," Wendy said. "Where'd all the techs go?"
"Clarify, please," the computer said.
"Well," Wendy said looking around. "I didn't see any Crabs or Indowy running around. And most of the gear in here is theirs. So where did they go?"
"The primary entrance to this facility is separate from the Sub-Urb," the AID answered, flashing a hologram up in the room. "The exit is on the southeastern face of Pendergrass Mountain."
"And there's a back way out," Wendy snarled. "If I ever find out who set this up and kept it secret I will rip their heart out and eat it while they watch."
"Well, that's a bit excessive," Elgars said. "Wouldn't it make more sense to just kill them?"
"No, I don't want anybody to fuck us over like this again," Wendy said. "God, I'm mad."
"At what?" Shari said sitting up.
The top had disappeared again so soundlessly that no one had noticed. Except Billy who was sitting up with an amazed expression on his face.
"Mo . . . Mommy?" he croaked.
"Billy," Shari said. "You talked!"
"Y . . . " The boy swallowed and cleared his throat. "Yo . . . you're young."
Shari looked as she must have when she was in high school. Her hair had actually lengthened slightly, as if time had been dilated inside the shell, and was a brilliant white-blonde. Her breasts were large, high and firm and any sign of an age blemish or wrinkle was gone as if it had never existed. She looked down at the bandages still on her clothes and shook her head.
"Even the bloodstains are gone," she whispered.
"It didn't fix the hole in your shirt," Wendy replied, looking at the tear and fingering the skin underneath. "There's not even a scar, though. How do you feel?"
"Fine," Shari said looking at her hands in wonder. "Good. Better than I've felt in years. Strong. What in the hell happened?"
"This is apparently the facility that repaired me," Elgars answered. "We thought you might prefer the full upgrade. Among other things it included a rejuv."
"Wow," Shari said, looking at the fineness of her skin. "Mike is going to . . ." She suddenly stopped and grimaced. "I guess not." For just a moment her eyes teared up.
"Hey, he's tough," Wendy said. "We'll head out to the northwest; we should be able to get around the Posleen that way. When we get someplace safe we'll check on them in the refugee database."
"If we can get out of here," Shari said pensively.
"It turns out there's a back door," Elgars said dryly. "Just another little item whoever built this facility failed to mention to the rest of the Urb."
"We can go directly to Pendergrass Mountain," Wendy said with a nod. "No waiting."
"Then let's go," Shari said, standing up and pulling off the bandages.
Wendy suddenly looked at the altar with a speculative air. "AID, how long until the first Posleen gets close to here?"
"There are Posleen in the Hydroponics area. Due to the chaotic nature of Posleen movement, precise timelines for their movement to this area are impossible to generate."
"Hmm," she said. "Do you think there is enough time for a full upgrade?"
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Shari asked.
"You hearing voices in your head?" Wendy asked. She took Shari's Steyr and tossed it to her. "Catch."
Shari caught it and jacked the chamber to see if there was a round in place. Then she flipped it on safe and held it barrel to the floor in a tac-team carry position. "What does that prove?"
"Look at how you're holding it," Wendy said with a grin. "Say 'fire.' "
"Why?" Shari asked warily, looking at how she was holding the weapon. It looked odd but . . . it felt right.
"Just say it," Wendy said.
"Fire."
"See," Wendy said with a grin. "Not a trace of an accent. They fixed the bugs testing it on Elgars."
"Color me guinea-pig," the captain said sourly.
"So, computer," Wendy said. "Do I have time?"
"Unknown. And when Posleen breach the outer door, my orders are to shut this facility down with prejudice," the AID said. "I will then require that you leave."
"What happens if I'm in the chamber when that time comes?" Wendy asked.
"You don't want to be," the AID replied.
She looked at the other two women. "It's probably the only chance I'll ever get for a rejuv. If it's not eternal life, it's a close equivalent."
Shari sighed. "Go for it."
"Computer," Elgars said. "Please do a full upgrade on this patient."
"Very well," it said, opening the cover. "Get on the slab."
There was another wait as Elgars got the computer to download a schematic of the exit and Shari ensured all the children were ready to run. She settled the children and convinced them that, yes, she was really Miss Shari. After checking out the route and determining that there shouldn't be any Posleen between their current position and the surface she took over carrying Amber and started giving her a bottle.
About then the cover came off and Wendy sat up.
"Dang," she said. "It's like going into and coming out of Hiberzine. No time passed at all."
"Feel any different?" Elgars asked.
"Stronger," Wendy said. "It feels like . . . I dunno, my 'wind' is better. I feel charged up is the best way to put it."
"Well, let's go," Shari said, cradling the child in one arm and the bullpup in the other. "I don't want this place to 'shut down with extreme prejudice' on our heads."
"Do we know where we're going?" Wendy asked.
"We do now," Elgars said, holding up the pad. "But . . . computer, could we get a sprite?"
"Certainly," the AID responded as one of the micrites appeared and flashed on.
"Ready to go," Elgars said.