Chapter 10 · Then explain it faster

"Then explain it faster."

Mira's breathing hitched. "If you open the tank, the node will read you as the primary operator. It will hand control to you."

"Good."

"No, not good. It will finish the scrub."

The bolt came loose.

Celine tossed it aside. "What does that mean?"

"It wipes the secondary mind."

The room seemed to shrink around her.

Ethan stepped in front of the grate. "Put the metal down."

"Move."

"You heard her."

"She could be lying."

Mira laughed once. It turned into a cough. "I am lying. All the time. That's what you wanted, right? Something you can use against me. A reason to call security. A reason to put me in a box and tell everyone the real Celine is back."

"I don't want your life."

"You already took mine."

Celine looked at her face.

Same narrow chin. Same dark eyes. Same tiny scar near the left eyebrow. Even the small crease beside the mouth matched hers.

But Celine had never had that scar.

She touched her own eyebrow.

Mira watched the movement.

"You got that during the first dive," Mira said. "You forgot that too?"

"What first dive?"

"The one where six people went under."