Page 31 of Legend of Scorpio
“Facial recognition?” Scorpio murmured. “Seems kind of extreme for a lab dealing in chunks of ice, sand, rock, and shit.”
“Most companies are moving to those kinds of safeguards since it’s more secure than using keycards. Anyone can steal the latter, but someone’s face is unique.”
“Any way you can add me to their database?”
“Will do, once I get access.”
Meaning more of that tedious waiting bullshit.
Usually when faced with that kind of permission boredom, Scorpio gamed, but this time, he had something—make that someone—more interesting to keep him occupied.
He spent more time than he’d planned away from Doc. Hours as it turned out. She didn’t prove hard to locate. He found in the library. No big surprise. She sat in a chair by the window, a book in her lap. The setting sun framed her in a soft pink glow.
“Hey, Doc, whatcha reading?”
Rebecca startled. “Oh, hey.” She closed the tome and placed her hands over the cover to no avail. He recognized it.
“I see you found the most interesting book in this place.”
Her cheeks turned pink as she removed her hands to show the gold-leaf-lettered title,Legend of Scorpio. ““I’ll admit, I was curious and ended up reading a good chunk of it. Is everything in here about you?”
“Not all of it. Just the last few chapters. I took over when the last Scorpio retired. As we accomplish things, our exploits get added to the story.”
“You write?”
He recoiled. “Oh, fuck no. I don’t know who the author is.”
“Surely they’ve interviewed you. How else would they relay your experience?”
He shrugged. “No idea, but last time I checked, it seemed accurate.”
Her lips pinched as she flipped to the back. Her brow arched as she pointed at the last chapter title:Scorpio Takes on Antarctica.“How is it possible it’s already written? We only just arrived.”
“The tower works in mysterious ways.” And he meant that. No one understood the tower, how it knew what each occupant needed and provided it.
A frown creased her brow as she read. “It’s exactly what happened. It even has the kiss in the chamber.” A flush spread across her face.
“Does it mention the words epic?”
She slammed the book shut. “No. Because it was just a kiss.”
“Just?” he huffed in mock chagrin. “Perhaps we should try it again, because I’m pretty sure it was more than that.”
She stood. “To you maybe, but I found it rather ordinary. I’m surprised it passed the muster enough to give us the relic.”
He gaped.
She smirked. “Is it dinner time yet? I’m famished. I wonder what your alien space fairies have in store.”
“Space fairies?” he repeated incredulously as she sauntered away. A grin spread across his face. What a woman.
He followed and caught up to her going down to the dining level, where they found Sage and Aries already seated at a table set for four.
His friend and boss stood and waved them over. “Join us, please.” The empty chairs had plates covered in domes waiting.
Rebecca strode to meet them and held out her hand. “Hello, I’m Rebecca Guthrie.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Aries, and this is my wife, Sage.”