Free Broken Pixels (The Chronicles of Mara Lantern, Book 4) by D.W. Moneypenny Page A

the ceremony that took Abby and created this monster. So, I guess what I’m saying is, I have to do something to fix all this, for Cam and Abby. But that doesn’t mean you have to. As a matter of fact, it might be a good idea if I sent the two of you back.”
    Across the room a throat cleared, and the three of them looked up. Dr. Canfield stood in the doorway. “Send the two of them where?”
    “I know we haven’t convinced you that we’re actually from an alternate realm, but that’s what I was referring to,” Mara said.
    “So you intend to send them to this realm where people keep their flesh and bones until they die, where synthetic bodies are not needed. Is that correct?” the doctor asked.
    “That was the plan,” Mara said.
    Ping interjected, “Actually that was not the plan. Sam and I never agreed to leave.”
    “Yeah, we’re not going anywhere. We’re going after the head and the Aphotis,” Sam said.
    Mara glared at him. “You just said you didn’t want to go traipsing through a war zone looking for a head.”
    Sam glared back, mocking her. “What can I say? You made a convincing argument for staying.”
    Mara rolled her eyes and turned to the doctor.
    “Here’s another argument that might convince you to stay. Assuming—and I’m not saying I believe a word of it—that you are from where you say, it would be highly irresponsible for you to leave here and enter a place full of adult humans with organic bodies.”
    “Why would you say that?” Mara asked.
    “Because, by coming here, you have been infected with the pathogen that nearly caused the extinction of the human race. If you were to return to a world of biological adults, it is likely the disease would have the same effect there.”
    Mara went pale.
    “How certain are you of this, doctor?” Ping asked.
    “The virus is airborne and quite pervasive,” Dr. Canfield said. “Just a couple breaths and it is in your system.”
    “If everyone has a synthetic body, how can a virus survive without hosts in which to live?” he asked.
    “The virus is very resilient and can live outside of a biological host for extended periods. All our children carry it as well, so living hosts are available.”
    “I remember Cam saying that no cure has been developed for this disease because no one saw the need for it. Is that correct?” Mara asked.
    “Technically we can eliminate the virus from the body using a cocktail of drugs called Quintivir, but it does nothing to build immunity to the virus or prevent reinfection. The drug was used before the synthetic physiology program was initiated, but repeated dosages proved too toxic over an average person’s lifespan. For many years it was used in lower doses on our biological bodies stored in the receptacles, but as our stasis technology advanced, it became unnecessary.”
    “There is the remote possibility that this virus does not affect people from our realms. Is there a test to see if we are infected?” Ping asked.
    “We can run a scan, if that would make you more comfortable,” Dr. Canfield said.
    “That sounds like a great idea,” Mara said. “What do we need to do?”
    The doctor walked to the table and took a seat. To no one in particular, she said, “Tactile scan for each biological occupant at this table. Scan for Human Dissoluendo Virus.”
    The table glowed and hummed. On its surface, a backlit outline of a small hand appeared in front of Mara, Sam and Ping.
    “Human Dissoluendo Virus?” Mara asked.
    Ping frowned. “Dissoluendo is Latin for melt, as in butter melting.”
    “As in human DNA melting actually,” Dr. Canfield said.
    “That sounds like a lot of fun,” Sam said. He pointed to the tiny handprints and said, “If we’re supposed to put our hands in those outlines, they won’t fit.”
    “Oh. The computer assumed you were children since you are biological,” Dr. Canfield said. Her gaze drifted upward, and she said, “Adjust scan area for adult anatomy. Verbalize scan