Cress (The Lunar Chronicles #3) - Marissa Meyer Page 0,96
wrist over an ID scanner, then ushered them into Lab 6D. The room smelled of bleach and peroxide and every surface glistened to a perfect shine. A counter along the far wall was set before a window overlooking a quarantine room. Kai grimaced, reminded of his father’s last days spent in a room not entirely unlike that one, although his had been equipped with blankets and pillows, his favorite music, a tranquil water fountain. The patients who came to these labs would not have received the same luxuries.
Fateen paced to the adjoining wall. “Screen, on,” she said, tapping something into her portscreen. “I do believe these records were a part of the investigation following her jailbreak, Your Majesty. Do you think the detectives may have missed something?”
He threaded his fingers through his hair. “No. I’m just trying to answer some of my own questions.”
The lab’s log-in screen faded, replaced with a patient profile. Her profile.
LINH CINDER, LICENSED MECHANIC
ID #0097917305
BORN 29 NOV 109 T.E.
RESIDENT OF NEW BEIJING, EASTERN COMMONWEALTH. WARD OF LINH ADRI.
CYBORG RATIO: 36.28%
“Is there something specific you’re looking for?” Fateen asked, sliding her fingers along the screen so that the profile trekked down into blood type (A), allergies (none), and medications (unknown).
Then the plague test. Kai stepped closer. “What’s this?”
“The doctor’s notes from when we injected her with the letumosis microbe solution. How much we gave her and, subsequently, how long it took her body to rid itself of the disease.”
At the end of the study, the simple words.
CONCLUSION: LETUMOSIS IMMUNITY CONFIRMED
“Immunity,” said Torin, coming to stand beside them. “Did we know about this?”
“Perhaps the detectives didn’t think it was relevant to their search? But it’s common knowledge here in the labs. Many of us have theorized it’s a result of her Lunar immune system. There’s a long-held theory that letumosis was brought here by migrating Lunars, who are unaffected carriers of the disease.”
Kai fidgeted with his shirt’s collar. How many Lunars would have had to come to Earth to create such a widespread epidemic? If this theory was correct, they could have a lot more fugitives on the planet than he’d realized. He groaned at the thought—the mere idea of having to deal with more Lunars made him want to beat his head against a wall.
“What does this mean?” asked Torin, pointing to a box at the bottom of the profile.
ADDITIONAL NOTES: FINALLY. I’VE FOUND HER.
The words gave Kai a chill, but he wasn’t sure why.
Fateen shook her head. “Nobody knows. Dr. Erland entered it, but he gave no indication of what it meant. Probably it refers to her immunity—he finally found what he was looking for when she was brought in.” Her tone became bitter. “Though lots of good that did us when both of them decided to skip town.”
Fateen’s port pinged and she glanced down on it. “I’m so sorry, Your Majesty. It seems today’s draft subject has just arrived.”
Kai ripped his attention away from those haunting words. “The draft is still in effect?”
“Of course,” Fateen said with a smile, and Kai realized what a stupid question it was. Here he was, the emperor, and he had no idea what was going on in his own country. In his own research labs.
“With Dr. Erland gone, I just thought maybe it was over,” he explained.
“Dr. Erland may be a traitor, but there are still a lot of people here who believe in what we’re doing. We won’t quit until we’ve found a cure.”
“You’re doing great work here,” said Torin. “The crown appreciates all the advances that have been made already in these labs.”
Fateen tucked her port back into her pocket. “We’ve all lost someone to this disease.”
Kai’s tongue grew heavy. “Fateen-jiĕ, did Dr. Erland ever inform you that Queen Levana has developed an antidote?”
She blinked at him, confused. “Queen Levana?”
He glanced at Cinder’s chart, evidence of her immunity—and her Lunar biology. “A part of our marriage alliance will include the manufacturing and distribution of this antidote.”
Torin’s voice was terse. “Though His Majesty will require that this information remain confidential until the crown issues an official statement.”
“I see,” she said slowly, still watching Kai. “That would change everything.”
“It would.”
Her comm pinged again. Shaking off her surprise, Fateen bowed to Kai. “I’m sorry, Your Majesty. If you would excuse me?”
“Of course.” Torin gestured toward the hall. “Thank you for your assistance.”
“My pleasure. Take all the time you need.”
She bowed and left the lab with her braid swinging. The moment the door closed behind her, Torin scowled at the emperor.