Free ROMULUS (The Innerworld Affairs Series, Book 1) by Marilyn Campbell

rate, we'll know by the end of the week."
    Doctor Xerpa touched a button then stood back. The only visual proof that something was happening to the body on the table was a spastic twitching of the fingers and toes. Five minutes later, it ceased.
    After removing the needles from José's skull, she gave her tech a final instruction. "Call the cosmetic surgeon. The patient is ready for him."

 
     
     
    Chapter 5

     
    After everything they'd been told and witnessed in the last hour, the top floor of the five-story Administration Building provided a much needed dose of simplicity for Aster. The large room had pale yellow walls and was minimally furnished with several rows of neatly made-up cots with yellow, green and blue plaid blankets. Each cot had a small nightstand and lamp on one side.
    But it was the scene outside one of the many windows that captivated her attention. How could it be sundown if they were in the center of the Earth? A lovely garden filled with flowers fronted the building. Tiny twinkling lights illuminated the trees and lilac bushes that lined the walkway leading to a street. A fiery orange sun with a surrounding white ring had begun to set on the horizon of a lavender-blue sky.
    Oona joined her and explained that the plants were from all over the universe and that the sun and sky had been simulated to help the transplanted Noronians feel at home. She added that the design of the buildings and the layout of the city of Car-Tem emulated the great cities of their home planet as well.
    Aster watched the sun's last rays create iridescent rainbows on the nearby buildings, which appeared to be constructed of clusters of crystal prisms. Across the street a group of children were playing. One boy threw a ball into the air and the others aimed lights at it. When a light hit the target, the ball lit up like a sparkler. A little dog chased the lights back and forth. Two girls whizzed by, balanced on small boards that seemed to be a blend of a surfboard and a magic carpet.
    Aster could not help but appreciate the view and be somewhat comforted by the happy children. She had always longed for such a carefree existence. But was life here as peaceful as the scene implied? Karl had not seemed very pleased with his lot in life. Had she and the others only traded the terrors of the hijacking for this confinement—a room from which she could look at the world around her but not touch?
    "Pretty, isn't it?" Cherry said as she came up to Aster. For once, her natural exuberance seemed subdued.
    "Very. But I can't help wonder if it's only a three-dimensional picture put there to deceive us."
    Cherry shivered. "I can always count on you to point out the gloomy side of things. C'mon. I made dinner."
    Aster raised an eyebrow. "You? You don't even cook in your own apartment."
    "Yeah, I know, but this was fun." She directed Aster to the kitchen where the others were already enjoying a variety of meals. Johnny was twirling strands of spaghetti covered in red sauce, Nick was cutting a thick steak and Sheila was savoring a bite of breaded fish.
    At Aster's place sat a juicy cheeseburger, baked beans and an iced tea. Cherry knew Aster preferred that to a gourmet meal. She bit into the meat and tasted hickory smoke and the baked beans were flavored with molasses.
    "Mmm. This is great. How did you do it?"
    Cherry winked at her. "While you were being antisocial, we were learning about the facilities manager. It controls everything in your environment and provides whatever you need, just by your talking to it. And it can talk back too. Plus, it knows all about Outerworld foods. You just tell it what you're hungry for and a few minutes later, zap . Your order appears in one of those steel cabinets on the wall they call the supply station. Or you can choose from a menu of about a zillion choices. By the way, that's not real meat you're eating."
    Aster choked and stopped chewing. Cherry had done it to her again.
    "Oh, don't worry, kid. It's not