Obsession Read online

  “You should still know. It’s good knowledge to know how to prepare and cook food other than pressing a few buttons.”

  “Do you know how to cook?”

  “Of course I do.”

  “So why didn’t you ever make me something?”

  “I never got the chance, but I’d like to.”

  “Are you offering to cook for me?” she asked.

  “Maybe.”

  “I’d love that,” she said, feeling her heart sink even as the words were leaving her mouth. She stared down at her food. “But I might not have the time.”

  “Are you leaving soon?”

  “It’s not that. It’s just I’m busy.”

  “With the ship build? Are you hands-on with it?”

  “Not really,” she answered. “Just there’s a lot of stuff on my mind.”

  “Maybe when you do have a free hour or two you could come over. We have an oven. I could cook for you,” Mathias offered.

  She shook her head. “I don’t think that would be appropriate.”

  “Why not?” he asked, pain evident in his voice.

  “Because I can’t,” she said, her voice low.

  “Why not?” Mathias demanded. “If it’s something I’ve done, then please tell me.”

  “I love you, Math, I do. But I can’t do this. It’s not right.”

  “Why isn’t it right? Why can’t it be right?”

  “Because it can’t.”

  “Is it that doctor?”

  Preia glanced at him in shock for a moment before she looked away. “You know about him?”

  “Are you seeing him?”

  She shook her head in denial. “He knew my father. He’s helping me prepare.”

  “To go on your trip?”

  Preia nodded. “I wish you could come with me, but this is something I have to face alone.”

  “I thought you were just exploring?” he asked, sounding confused.

  “I am. It’s just that it’s a big commitment. A really big commitment.”

  He didn’t believe her, she could tell. But there was no way she could tell him the truth, he would try to stop her, and she couldn’t allow that. She hated lying to him, but she had no other choice. Even so, she was glad that he was here, she had honestly missed his company.

  “Do you want to go out somewhere tomorrow night?” Preia asked him in an attempt to salvage the conversation, even though her brain was screaming at her to stop.

  Mathias nodded. “I’d like that.”

  “That’s great, I’ll see you then,” she said standing up.

  He stood up as well and followed her to the front door. Preia gave him a quick kiss on the cheek before opening the door.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  He smiled. “Yeah, tomorrow. I look forward to it.”

  A huge grin filled Preia’s face as she watched him walk away. The moment he was out of sight, she closed the door and returned to the kitchen. As she sat back down, the grin vanished as a harsh realisation struck her.

  Tomorrow was Saturday, and she would most likely be getting the interface installed into her spine. She didn’t know if she would be up to doing anything tomorrow evening or if she would even be able to.

  “Shit,” she muttered. Somehow she had forgotten about it. Mathias tended to have that effect on her. It was what made him so dangerous. But maybe this once she could push things back. There was no rush, especially since she still didn’t have her weapon systems for her mech suit and it would be a while before her ship was certified, so again there was no rush.

  But the nagging at the back of her mind persisted. Mathias Ross was a diversion she could not afford.

  3

  The incessant ringing of the doorbell awoke Preia and was met with a hissed expletive. It wasn’t a welcoming sound as she had spent most of the night tossing and turning, her mind stuck on Mathias and on the upcoming operation that would see the implants installed into her spine.

  Honestly, she wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to go through with it, or even could go through with it. It was a point of literal no return. Once it was in, it was in, as the interface wasn’t something that could easily be removed.

  With yet another ring of the doorbell, Preia decided to get up accompanied by another uttered expletive. Making her way to her closet, the threw it open and got out some fresh clothes before changing.

  Dressed, she made her way downstairs to the front door and checked who it was before opening it. It was George, and he had a bag over his shoulder.

  For a moment she considered not opening it. Doubts regarding what she was doing were rattling around in her head, and it was all thanks to Mathias. Once again he had proven that he was a danger to her goals.

  Preia closed her eyes. “You don’t have to install it today,” she said to herself. “Just let him in, analyse the interface and sleep on it.”

  Slowly she pressed down the button, and the door slid open. Without pause, George stepped inside the house.

  He looked her up and down with a frown. “I was starting to think you weren’t in.”

  “I slept in late,” Preia said, closing the door.

  “I’ll say, it’s ten o’clock.”

  “That late, huh,” she muttered.

  “Yes, but I suppose you’re not used to waking up early considering the life you lead.”

  Preia shook her head. “It’s not that, I couldn’t sleep.”

  “I’m not surprised. What you’re doing is pretty damned stupid.”

  She frowned. “Then why are you helping me?”

  “Not my choice,” he muttered under his breath.

  “What the hell does that mean?” Preia demanded.

  “Nothing,” he said quickly. “Now, let’s just get this over with, shall we?”

  “Can I see them first?”

  George took his bag off and opened it, pulling out a box. “They’re in here.”

  “How many?”

  “Four interfaces designed to be implanted in specific vertebrae.”

  “Follow me,” Preia said as she led the way to the workshop. “I want to do a full diagnostic on the parts.”

  Once inside, she took the box off of him and placed it on the side before opening it up finding four smaller boxes inside. Quickly she took them out and put them on the side before opening them up and taking out the interfaces, inspecting each one individually.

  “These look new,” she commented.

  “What did you expect? Them to be rusty?”

  She glared at him. “I was just saying, no need to be an ass.” She picked up one of them and took it over to her scanner. She placed it inside and began the diagnostic.

  “They should all be in perfect condition,” George told her.

  “I’m making sure,” she said as she waited for the scan to finish. It did, and she read the result. “According to this, it should function as intended.

  “They all should,” George assured her.

  “I’m still gonna scan each one just to be certain.”

  He folded his arms “Go right ahead.” It was evident that he didn’t agree with what she was doing. As to why he was still helping her she didn’t know, but she wasn’t going to turn it down, not now she had the interfaces in her grasp.

  After scanning the remaining three, she put them back in their boxes, which led to some confusion.

  “What’s wrong?” George asked. “Aren’t they up to scratch?”

  “Nothing like that, they’re fine,” Preia assured. “It’s just that I’m not installing them today.”

  “I thought we talked about this. There’s enough time.”

  “Why the rush? I thought you didn’t even want me to go through with this?”

  “Lets put it this way, I never wanted any part of this. When I walk out your front door, I’m not coming back. I got you the damned interfaces, so I’m out.” There was more than a little hostility in his voice and Preia found herself taken aback.

  “
If you didn’t want to do it, then why help me?” she asked.

  He ignored her and asked a question of his own. “Why are you so obsessed with this?”

  “You know why.”

  “Because you believe your family were killed by the Varris Freedom Group?”

  “It isn’t about belief, they did murder them. They’ve killed so many people, and I’m going to put an end to it. I know where they are, and I have the means of killing them at my disposal.”

  “How do you know it was them?”

  “I saw them.”

  “You saw people in full-body combat armour. It could have been anyone”

  “The Empire identified them.”

  “The Empire,” George repeated with disdain.

  “What are you getting at?” she demanded. “That they lied about the terrorists? Are you one of those conspiracy nuts who say the Empire is behind all that is wrong with the galaxy?”

  “I’m done,” he said. “I’ve done as asked, it’s up to you to install them, or to not do it.” He gestured down at the bag. “There’s an interface suit in there designed to be used with the interfaces. Do whatever the hell you want with it, with the interfaces, with whatever. I don’t give a fuck.” He walked out of the workshop and Preia followed close behind.

  “What is going on?” she demanded as she quickly stepped in front of him. “Do you know something?” she asked, stopping him in his tracks.

  George’s gaze was intense. “Your contacts aren’t who you think they are.”

  “Then who the hell are they?” she demanded. “What is going on?”

  “Two birds with one stone and they don’t even have to buy the stone.”

  “What are you talking about? Who doesn’t?”

  “Don’t be so dense,” he almost shouted. “Think about it for a second.”

  “Think about what? You do realise that my contact is my Aunt Janine?”

  He pushed past her and hit the button next to the front door causing it to slide open. “They’ve played you, and you’ve been a willing instrument.” George left the house, but Preia continued to follow, keeping pace with him.

  “What the hell are you talking about, George?”

  “I can’t do this any longer, Preia. It’s not right, it was never right.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  He stopped and turned to face her. “I didn’t know your father, we never met.”

  “What!?” Preia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “You lied to me?”

  “You were willing to be lied to and not just by me.”

  “But that means you’ve been lying for years.”

  “Preia, they’ve played you, your aunt played you. Your best bet is to get your ship finished and certified and then to get the hell out of Imperial space. Don’t go after Carrigan, there’s nothing there for you.”

  “I can’t just let it go, George.”

  “You can because he wasn’t behind it.”

  “What do you mean? What are you talking about?”

  “The Empire killed your family, Preia, not some terrorists and certainly not some archaeologist, because that’s what Charles Carrigan is, an archaeologist. They found something on Varris, something the Empire had to have.”

  “Bullshit!” she shouted, drawing the glances from some people walking by. “Why the hell are you saying this now? Is this some elaborate way to try and get me to change my mind on all this?”

  “Preia, you have everything ahead of you. Don’t throw it away. Your parents, your brother. I don’t think they would have wanted this.”

  “And how the hell would you know? You just told me you didn’t know my dad. Unless you were lying and you did know him? Which is it?”

  “Don’t go through with this. Get your ship finished then leave. Don’t waste this opportunity. Don’t let them manipulate you into doing what they can’t.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying nothing, Preia. Live your life. I’m through. Don’t contact me, because I won’t respond. You’re on your own.”

  She watched as the doctor walked away feeling completely lost. She wanted to chase after him, force an explanation out of him but she knew that he wasn’t going to give her one, nor did she want one. Deep down she was afraid that she wouldn’t like what he had to say. She already didn’t like it.

  Preia waited until he had disappeared from sight before she turned back and returned home. Her head was spinning, she had no idea what to make of what had just happened, nor could she tell what had been the truth and what had been lies.

  She stepped back into the workshop and stared at her mech suit for several moments before she moved over to the auto-surgeon. There was supposed to be someone monitoring it while in use, but the only one that could do that had just walked away and probably for good.

  “I’ll have to do it myself,” she muttered as she opened the Auto-Surgeon and peered inside.

  She felt nervous as she retrieved the boxes holding the interfaces and placed them down by the operating machine. She opened up a lower drawer and one by one she placed the interfaces into the slots and then adjusted them so that the clasps held them tightly. She then closed the drawer and took in a deep breath. She knew that if she climbed inside, then there was a good chance that she would never get back out. The machine could easily become her coffin, though strangely she was okay with that.

  Thinking about it too much would only prolong what Preia believed was inevitable. Whether it was today or a month from now, she would have the interface installed into her spine, and it might as well be now. She would rather get it out of the way, instead of it being another thing on the list of things yet to be done.

  After taking in another deep calming breath, she stood by the controls and activated the auto-surgeon, running the program that would perform the operation. She then began to undress, and for the first time, she was glad that George wasn’t there. It would feel weird to take her clothes off in front of him, even if he was a doctor. Slowly she climbed inside and closed the lid. Thankfully, the designers had had the foresight to include an emergency release on the inside, but that wouldn’t help her if she were incapacitated if the operation went wrong.

  She felt the restraints lock around her arms and legs, then a sharp sting in the back of her left hand as an IV was pushed into her skin. The bed beneath her began to lower, and she was held up by the gravity manipulators of the machine. That was shortly before the first injection of general anaesthetic was pumped into her veins. Her vision began to blur as the pod around her seemed to start moving slowly from side to side with a gentle sway.

  As she started to lose consciousness, Preia remembered something important, something that had entirely slipped her mind. She was supposed to be going out with Mathias tonight. She didn’t have time to dwell on it as the drug won the battle and she fell asleep.

  ◆◆◆

  Pain. It wasn’t pleasant, but it also wasn’t the worst pain Preia had ever felt. That went to when she had been shot through the abdomen with an energy weapon and somehow survived. Her parents and little brother, on the other hand, hadn’t.

  The passage of time wasn’t something that she was conscious of as she lay there listening to the gentle hum of the machine. It could have been minutes, or it could have been hours since she had awoken it didn’t seem to matter to her. At that moment she felt like she wanted to doze forever.

  Her serenity was interrupted by the muffled sound of the doorbell. “Mathias,” she muttered, reaching up for release and pulling it down.

  The hatch opened, and she tried to get up, but a sharp pain shot down her spine stopping her. “Shit,” she uttered through gritted teeth. The auto-surgeon wasn’t equipped to dish out painkillers, that was something a doctor would do once she woke up. The problem was that she didn’t have a doctor which meant she was on her own.

  The doorbell rang again giving her the drive to try once more. She managed to push through the pain and force herse
lf up into a seated position. Between the pain and the effort, she wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to get dressed let alone answer the door.

  “I hear you,” she said as the doorbell sounded yet again.

  With quite a bit of effort, she pushed herself up onto her feet. Her upper back cried out with a cold spike of pain that made her gasp. It was indeed a lot more painful than she was expecting it to be, but at least she was still alive.

  As the doorbell rang out a fourth time, Preia painfully and awkwardly began to get dressed. It took her longer than usual, much longer and when a fifth ring didn’t come she started to panic, trying to dress faster which only resulted in more pain further slowing her down.

  There was then a loud knock, followed by another ring. Quickly, she left her workshop and locked the door before making her way forward, only stopping when a wave of ice cold pain once more shot up her spine.

  She leant against the wall panting heavily as her back felt like it had been smashed in two and it was getting worse. She didn’t yet know if the operation had even been a success, though she could only hope, otherwise, this agonising pain was for nothing.

  The doorbell began to ring over and over as though it was malfunctioning. With a lot of effort and a clenched jaw, Preia pushed herself away from the wall and stood up as straight as she could and began to walk forward, one step at a time until she reached the door. She wiped the sweat that had formed off of her brow then hit the button, which caused the door to slide open.

  “Preia,” Mathias said looking at her, a look of concern etched on his face. “Are you okay? You look sick.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, her voice sounding strained.

  “Are you sure? I could call the hospital?”

  She shook her head, which sent more pain down her back. “No, I’m fine, just slept in late.”

  “It’s half-six in the evening. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  She stared into his dark brown eyes, and despite the pain, she smiled. “Yes, I am okay.” She stepped to one side. “Come in, please. Sit down in the lounge, and I’ll be through in a minute.”

  He stepped into the house and made his way through into the lounge while she quickly stepped into the kitchen and grabbed some painkillers from the cupboard. She had anticipated some pain, just not this much and she wasn’t sure the pills would work. She couldn’t get anything stronger, not without a prescription and for that she needed George, but she had a feeling she wouldn’t be seeing him again.