The first breath of air was the worst, like coming to life only to drown again, choking on water still in the lungs. The amniotic seal popped and the last of the fluid drained away.

"Lucy? Are you all right?" She fell forward bonelessly out of the cell and caught herself on the curved barrier, still sputtering and bedraggled. Cho was hovering over her, his almond eyes wide under black a black fringe of bangs.

She smiled up at him. "Better than," she answered, and started wringing out coils of copper hair, dripping a puddle at her feet onto the brightly lit pristine white floor. "Except for the last part, that was actually somewhat relaxing."

He shook his head, the perfect image of amused skepticism. " Pì huà ."

"No really," she insisted, reaching for her white coat and shoving her hands through the sleeves. "Like sensory deprivation therapy or something." The hiss of hydraulics as a security door slid open and shut drew her attention back to the floor level, and she sighed, rolling her eyes. "Speaking of which, here come The Machines."

Cho leaned out, frowning in dislike down at the two blonde men. "Think I'll take my chances in there."

"Wha-" she spun back, but he was already making his escape. "You can't just leave me to deal with them! They're creepy!" she objected. Creepy nothing. They were cold, calculating, expressionless, and their arrival aboard the I.A.V. Ratched had generally made everyone uneasy, even the captain. Identical black suits… And why did they have to wear gloves all the time, anyway?

He smirked and climbed into the capsule. "Bet I can last longer than you did." He crossed his arms, daring her.

She narrowed blue eyes, then slapped the controls. He grinned, membrane closing again around the opening and backlights flicking on as the fluid began bubbling around his ankles. "You still have to check out that virtual reality sim