Free Mega 3: When Giants Collide (Mega Series) by Jake Bible Page A

is the only working model,” Carlos admitted, “and it is a prototype. We do not have any ready for the field.”
    “Tease,” Max said.
    “I was all hot and bothered and now I’m just bothered,” Shane said. “You, sir, have bothered me.”
    “The elves are working hard on duplicating the technology,” Ballantine said. “Hopefully we will have more very soon.” He glowered at Carlos. “Or at least one that’s field ready.”
    “Don’t call us elves,” Carlos whispered through gritted teeth.
    “Okay, so no heavy ordinance to kill the giant shark?” Shane asked.
    “They give us hope then take that hope away!” Max exclaimed. “Why? WHY?”
    “Are we finished here?” Ballantine asked as his phone rang. “Carlos?”
    “Yes, please,” Carols answered.
    “Good, then we should adjourn to the briefing room for today’s update,” Ballantine said, “and someone let Gunnar know, please.” He answered the phone. “William? Good, good… Protocol Fifty-four? Excellent… They know? Even more excellent…”
    Ballantine turned and left. Everyone focused on Ingrid.
    “Show us that again,” Thorne said.
    “Ballantine said there was an update in the briefing room,” Ingrid replied.
    “Show us again,” Thorne said, “this time don’t dumb it down. We need details and we need to know the pros and the cons of this weapon for when we can use it. Educate us.”
    Carlos snorted then pretended he stifled a sneeze when he received a roomful of glares.
    “Go ahead,” he said to Ingrid, “I have something else to do, uh, somewhere else.”
    He hurried through the shelves, leaving Ingrid alone with Team Grendel.
    “Phew,” Max said, “I thought he’d never leave.”
    “Let’s kill some atoms,” Shane almost giggled.
     
    ***
     
    “I should be down there with them,” Mike said as he sat on a stool in the corner of Gunnar’s lab. “Technically, I’m part of Team Grendel.”
    “So am I,” Gunnar replied as he stood in front of a counter, a tablet in his hand, “but we have work to do.”
    “You have work to do,” Mike said as he rapped his knuckles on one of his robotic prosthetic legs. “I’m just here for maintenance.”
    “Which you wouldn’t need so often if you’d listen to me and keep your legs from getting wet,” Dr. Morganton said as she rolled a cart of equipment into the lab. “I am getting tired of telling you that, Michael.”
    “We live on a ship,” Mike replied. “It’s a little hard to keep my legs dry.”
    “Which is why I am trying to develop a prophylactic that will do the job for you,” Dr. Morganton said as she stopped the cart next to Mike and opened a large case on top. “This should be the answer.”
    “Prophylactic?” Mike asked. “You want to put rubbers on my legs?”
    “Yes, Michael, I want to put rubbers on your legs,” Dr. Morganton replied.
    She pulled out a long piece of skin tone rubber and smiled at him.
    Gunnar looked over his shoulder and laughed. “I heard the sarcasm in your voice, Lisa, but that does look suspiciously like a leg rubber.”
    “It’s synthetic skin,” Dr. Morganton replied. “If you’ll extend your left leg, Michael.”
    He looked at Gunnar, but all he got was a shrug.
    “Fine,” Mike said, “rubber me up.”
    Dr. Morganton rolled the synthetic skin then proceeded to slide it up and over Mike’s left leg. It extended past the prosthetic by several inches and bunched around Mike’s thigh. He looked down at the wrinkled skin and frowned.
    “I look like I have elephant skin,” he said.
    “That will be fixed shortly,” Dr. Morganton stated as she grabbed what looked like a basic taser.
    “Whoa!” Mike exclaimed. “You are not going to tase me!”
    “Actually, I am,” Dr. Morganton replied, “but the current will be set to a low level and you shouldn’t feel much discomfort.”
    “Much?” Mike asked.
    “Shouldn’t?” Gunnar smirked.
    “I haven’t had a chance to try it on a living person,” Dr.