Chapter 12 (cont.) - Treason of Fate

A break in the storm

December 3, 2073 10:41 AM

Monica couldn’t remember the last time anyone had held her hand. Strike that. Yes, she could. It was Syed.

That day at the launch station, right after they had knocked Julio out. She had stood on the launch pad waiting to be sent to the past and Syed had wrapped his fingers around hers.

She hadn’t thought much of it. Hadn’t savored the gentle touch of an honest man… hadn’t appreciated that she would never feel his hands on her again.

So when Dr. Sato had reached out across the table and wrapped his fingers gently around hers, she hadn’t pulled away. Even though she knew it was fake—a pretense at affection and camaraderie so she would trust him and tell him more—she didn’t care. He was her teacher, her adviser. And she needed him like she had never needed anyone.

“To be clear,” he said softly. “I would have recommended your suspension from the security program if you had allowed Shannan to remain living in the past. There is no world in which such a breach would b…