Michelle Maddox - Countdown

Rogan scrambled away from me and grabbed the gun, pointing it down at the man.

"Let go of her right now!" he yelled.

"Rogan …" Gareth let go of my ankle and reached up toward Rogan. "Please …"

And then he slumped face-forward. Unconscious.

Rogan dropped the gun and fell to his knees at his brother's side, rolling him over.

"Gareth!" he said. Then he touched his chest, pressing down to feel the heartbeat. He turned to me. "He's still alive!"

I went to Rogan's side next to Gareth and studied the sleeping man with a mix of suspicion and hope.

After a couple of minutes his eyes flickered open and he looked up at us.

He blinked. "I thought I asked you to… to kill me, Kira."

I shrugged. "I don't take orders too well. Sorry about that."

He gave a small smile, and it looked as though it hurt him. 'The … the antivirus …"

Rogan nodded. "It was Jonathan's plan. And it worked. It actually worked."

"I'm … I'm so sorry, Rogan. I'm sorry for everything."

He shook his head. "None of this is your fault; it's mine. I brought this all on myself. But it's over. It's finally over."

I held on to Rogan's arm. "I don't know much about computers, but I think the antivirus just wiped out your entire system."

Gareth raised his hand and clutched Rogan's. "We'll rebuild it. We'll make it better. I've been watching. Jonathan … he did some good research when he had the chance. Things that will help humanity. Help build Offworld into a truly wonderful place to live. Maybe even help repair some of the damage that's happened here at home."

Rogan gripped his brother's hand. "You really think we can rebuild?"

"Hell yeah, we can." Gareth smiled, and his eyes-the same color as Rogan's-twinkled. 'Thank God that monster didn't spend all of our money."

Rogan snorted. "Yeah, thank God."

"So you'll help me?"

Rogan nodded. "Of course I will." Then he looked at me. "Now we can all get what we've always wanted." He grabbed my hand and brought it to his lips.

"May I suggest something?" I asked.

"What's that?" Gareth asked.

"Consider putting your artificial intelligence research on indefinite hiatus?"

Gareth laughed softly. "It's a deal."

"And The Countdown is over," Rogan said. "Completely over. The implants will be disengaged across the board."

"What about the subscribers?" I asked.

Rogan raised an eyebrow at me. "Fuck the subscribers."

I laughed out loud at that.

"I totally agree." Gareth closed his eyes. 'The game was a disaster from beginning to end. A complete travesty. But I guess when all is said and done you could say that The Countdown did teach you one very important thing."

"Oh, and what's that?" Rogan asked.

He smiled and kept his eyes closed. "You two do make the perfect team."

It was about twenty-four hours after Ellis Enterprises' computer system had been breached by an imaginative and vengeful hacker that I stood on a train platform with Gareth and Rogan. No one else was there. It was a secret location known only to those who knew the right people.

I guess I did now.

I crossed my arms and waited. Rogan stood silently next to me, with Gareth to his right.

The shuttle that would take me on my journey to Offworld would be there in a couple of minutes.

After the lights had come back on yesterday it was only a matter of minutes before security arrived at the subbasement room. Gareth was immediately taken to the hospital. So was Rogan. Both were treated for serious injuries.

I was also treated for more minor injuries, including my sprained ankle, which was now bound tightly and feeling much better. I required a few stitches for some of my nastier cuts and scrapes. An IV also helped to return my body to fairly normal working order.

Rogan and I hadn't had a single moment of private time.

Ellis Enterprises was in a major upheaval. An investigation was already under way of who could and could not be trusted. Those who couldn't be were fired on the spot. They deserved worse, as far as I was concerned.

It would take a lot of time and a lot of money to help rebuild Ellis Enterprises, especially now that it would cease its technology-based research program. Gareth and Rogan had come to a mutual agreement that they would now fund medical research. Not quite as sexy as shiny new computers, but ultimately more beneficial to mankind. They seemed single-minded in their quest to right their wrongs-Rogan of his past before he went to prison, and Gareth of the four years he'd spent as a prisoner in his own body.

Gareth had contacted an Offworld scientist who worked with Ellis Enterprises, and he would be at the other end to greet me. It was the same guy Jonathan had mentioned at the safe house. He'd help me adjust to my new environment. And he'd help me understand and develop my psi abilities, which were now classed as high-level.

And who knew? Maybe I would help out the police as a human lie detector one day. Sure. I could do that. I didn't know whether or not I actually had the power to see into someone's soul, but I was willing to keep an open mind about it. No pun intended.

Rogan wasn't coming with me.

He would be too busy helping his brother rebuild everything they'd lost.

I totally understood.

My throat constricted and tears stung at the backs of my eyes as I stood on the platform waiting for the shuttle with a big fake smile plastered on my face.

My new life was about to begin.

Wouldn't be long now.

I saw the shuttle in the distance as it made its way toward us. I could use the time on board to try to forget Rogan.

I'd told him I loved him. And he'd said that he loved me, too, right? Or had that just been my imagination?

We hadn't spent any time alone since. He was so busy now.

Dammit. I could have predicted it. I was just a street thief. Well, a reformed street thief. I was to be paid a very generous salary to make myself and my powers available for testing, without the threat of being killed before, after, or during. I would be just fine. But still, that was what I was: a thief.

Rogan was a powerful billionaire who'd had a bit of an unfortunate glitch in his life.

I'd been a part of that glitch.

The glitch had been resolved.

I didn't expect anything from him. I wouldn't ask him or beg him to come with me, or even to stay in touch. That simply wasn't me.

But I would miss him so much. It felt like my heart was splintering in my chest just thinking about it.

Don't look at him, I told myself, but I couldn't help it.

The shuttle came to a slow stop right next to me.

"Thanks for everything, guys," I mumbled, and, without turning and looking at the men next to me, I began to move toward it.

I felt a hand on my arm. It was Rogan.

"Hey." He was frowning. "I hope you have a safe trip."

"Thank you." My smile was as natural as I could make it. "Well, I guess this is good-bye, huh?"

"I… I guess so."

Gareth extended his hand. I took it and he pulled me into a fierce hug. "Thank you, Kira. Thank you for everything you've done. For me and Rogan."

"You're welcome." I pulled back to look into his eyes. This Gareth looked the same as the other, but it was like night and day. There was such warmth and gentleness to this version of Gareth.

I turned to Rogan. His jaw was tense. He now wore black pants and a cream turtleneck that fit him perfectly. I could see the outline of his muscular frame through it. I bit my lip as I remembered what it felt like to hold him, touch him.

"I'll miss you," I said, and a tear splashed down my cheek. Dammit. So much for being all cool and collected.

"I'll miss you, too." He leaned over and brushed his lips against mine.