“Why did he do that?” Alik asked no one in particular.
“It’s actually a brilliant idea,” Sloan offered in a soft voice. “Imagine nanotechnology like a bunch of microscopic computers programmed to perform a certain operation. The defibrillator, although crude for this purpose, could essentially short-circuit the nanotechnology rendering it useless.”
“Well, great, but how will we know it worked?” Cole asked.
“We have to have a volunteer come close enough to Evan and…do a lot of praying.”
“I’ll go,” Creed said. His mind was still trying to understand the nightmare he was living. He could not feel Meg at all since Bjorn flipped that switch and he was starting to lose hope that he’d ever get his dark-eyed girl back.
“Wait, don’t we want to talk about this?”
“No,” Creed said simply and started walking toward Evan slowly, wondering at each step if he was going to feel it when the nanoweapon burst his heart so his insides would look like the grisly corridor they just passed through. He kept walking until he was standing beside Evan. Alik hadn’t moved his hand from his brother’s pulse, wanting to make sure nothing happened to him either.
Boom!
In the distance, a huge explosion echoed across the countryside.
“We have to hurry if we’re going to get out of here before we’re found.”
“This doesn’t prove anything, though. Evan and Creed could both be triggers…”
“…or exploders.”
Cole was so mad he muttered profanities under his breath and kicked the ground.
“Why don’t we just run our separate ways?” Sloan asked.
“That’s not how we do things,” Evan muttered softly.
“Oh thank God you’re awake, Evan!”
“Yeah, that hurt.” He tried to stifle a moan as he moved to sit up. “Good, Creed’s here. You’re next buddy. And if I were you, I’d switch off my pain sensors for this jolt.”
“No, I’m ready. If you can stand it, so can I.” Creed nodded, acknowledging the courage it took for Evan to go first. He yanked his shirt off exposing the beautiful body Meg so loved to trace with the soft pads of her fingertips. That’s what Creed thought about as Evan positioned the paddles on him and called, “clear!”
His thick body went ridged with the electric surge straight to his heart, then he flopped back to the ground, head lolled to one side.
“Wow, I’ve seen it twice now and damn if it doesn’t look painful,” Cole rubbed his chest sympathetically.
“Okay,” Evan said still looking a little pale, “I feel a pulse. Who’s willing to go next?”
Sloan looked over at Cole and shrugged, “Don’t worry, Cole. I know you believe in lady’s first and all.” She started marching toward Evan and Creed, trying to look brave but feeling decidedly wobbly in the knees.
Sometimes it does not help at all to know all the medical information that’s engrained in my head, she thought with a sigh.
By the time she was a foot away from Creed and Evan, she felt more confident that the young genius’ theory was right. “It’s working?”
“Not yet, Sloan. We three could be triggers or exploders. The fourth one’s the charm in our scenario.”
“Oh great,” Cole moaned.
With expert efficiency, Evan had Sloan lying back and the paddles positioned. “Evan, I need to take off my shirt.”
“Oh, come on! We don’t have time to argue about this!” Farrow threw her hands up in frustration.
“You men turn your backs. Sloan, let’s get this over with the right way. No room for error.” Farrow pushed her way past a blushing Evan.
With no modesty, Sloan stripped off her top and tiny bra.
The men were shuffling their feet and staring off into the distance, pretending even now more than ever, not to be where they were.
“Do I have the paddles just right?” Farrow asked, her brows knitted in concentration.
“Yes, just push down both buttons on the handles for about three seconds then let go. Got it?”
“Three seconds, got it.”
“I’m ready when you are,”
“Three, two, one, clear!”
Sloan’s small body lifted off the ground like the others before it fell back into place. Frantic that she’d done it wrong, Farrow draped the girl’s shirt over her chest. “She’s covered, Evan, come here and make sure I did it right.”
Evan was kneeling at Sloan’s side in an instant. His warm hands were feeling her throat for the magic pulse he begged would be there. The fluttering under his fingertips was the most beautiful sensation ever.
“She’s fine. You did fine.”
Creed sat up during Sloan’s turn, but quickly turned away when he realized what was going on. “Cole, you’re up.”
“Okay, but if I die here, just leave my ass and get the hell out of here. This little grove of bushes isn’t going to keep you hidden forever. Clear?”