HASH: Human Alien Species Hybrid Read Free

“The same thing as before, Dr. Stevens. She reached her hand back and grabbed this metal glob from her back and it was like jelly in her hands. She pressed it against my arm and the pain was horrible.”
    “Explain the pain, Jade.”
    “It burned. I felt it in my head and my back and the metal disappeared into my arm and I saw it moving below the surface of my skin, slithering toward my back.”
    “Tell Miriam that I’m bored,” Em said right next to my ear. I jumped at Em’s sudden outburst. She did that sometimes, going from spot to spot, faster than I could see. “Go on, tell her.”
    I looked over at Em. “I think she probably knows by now. You tell her that every time she comes into the room.”
    “So, Em’s bored again, I take it?” She looked at a random spot in space. “Honestly, dear, we’re doing our best. I’ll try to bring you back some more puzzles later.” Dr. Stevens took my hand and led me to a chair on the other side of the room.
    “Puzzles are easy,” Em said from behind the doctor, “and I’m not over there, Miriam.”
    Em always insisted on using Dr. Stevens’ first name. It was just as well that Dr. Stevens couldn’t hear Em. Or see her. Or touch her. Only I had those dubious honors. Just one more reason why some of the scientists still gave me psych evaluations on the subject from time to time, or suggested that I should be on pills for it. Dr. Stevens wasn’t one of them. I believe that Dr. Stevens believed that Em actually existed.
    Dr. Stevens smiled down at me as I sat in the chair. “Okay, Jade, just the usual checks today, and then I’ve got something to discuss with you.”
    Em sighed from beside her and managed a passable imitation of Dr. Stevens’ voice. “The usual checks. Are you still breathing, Jade? Does the implant hurt, Jade? Is there any sign of more growth? Do you have any more idea about this than we do, Jade?”
    I struggled not to look at Em and laugh as she pantomimed along with Dr. Stevens’ checkup. The usual checkup was drab and tedious and like Em’s impersonation, it was always the same.
    “You said you had something to discuss with me.” I couldn’t keep the note of hope out of my voice. “Is it… are we any closer?”
    Em pouted when I asked it, the way she always did. She’d never liked me asking if they were any closer to a cure—any closer to finally removing the implant. Yet, I had to ask. The doctors had told me that I couldn’t leave as long as it was embedded in me. That it wouldn’t be safe. That I probably wouldn’t be able to survive away from the Institute with it still changing the way my body functioned. Was it so wrong to want something more than this?
    Dr. Stevens shook her head. I could see the hint of sadness there. She knew how much I wanted this. “It’s not that, Jade. I’ll tell you when we’re done. Now hold still.”
    We were still only about halfway through the checkup when the door opened again and another woman walked inside. She was a few years younger than Dr. Stevens, and she had short dark hair, glasses, and a focused, no-nonsense expression. Like Dr. Stevens, she wore a lab coat, but the clothes under it were more formal and businesslike. I didn’t know her.
    Dr. Stevens didn’t seem entirely pleased that she had come in. “Professor Ahern, I didn’t know that you were planning on joining us.”
    “You should read the memos. It was clearly stated that I’d be here for this checkup.”
    Dr. Stevens gave one curt nod. “I guess I should. This is Jade.”
    “I heard that your subject was awake and you were starting early. Next time, be sure to inform me first.” She stared at me. “So, this is the famous Jade. The girl who has eaten up so much of your funding over the past decade and a half.”
    “That is our business, Professor.”
    Professor Ahern shrugged. “It was, until we had to bail you out.”
    Dr. Stevens looked at her sharply. “Perhaps this isn’t the place to discuss