Deep sigh.

The one you hold in your jaw and

right there in your spine?

Give it to me

Place it in my hands

I’ll hold it until it rests under my pulse

Evelyn sighed. She had promised Alice they would actually spend some time together this weekend and yet here she was, working away as usual. Just one more thing, she told herself. She just needed to get one more thing done and then she could put it all out of her head and enjoy herself.

She heard footsteps coming up behind her and couldn't help but smile as her girlfriend trod on the same squeaky floorboard she always did.

"Don't start," said Evelyn, waving a hand without looking up. "I'm almost done. Really."

Alice was uncharacteristically silent. Evelyn was about to turn when she felt gentle fingers brush away the hair on the back of her neck. She closed her eyes and smiled wider.

"Definitely don't start doing that, babe. If you do, we'll be late for lun-"

Something cold and metal pierced the back of Evelyn's neck. She tried to scream but there was a hand clamped hard over her mouth. Alice's hand. She knew it instinctively even through the pain and the shock.

She tried to shove the chair back but found that her legs wouldn't move. Her arms went slack on the desk, the pen slipping from numb fingers. The clamped hand came away and her unsupported head slumped to one side, jaw falling open, all completely out of her control.

The worst part though, the most terrifying thing, were the words in her head.

Integrating... 10%

Nervous system overridden.

Replacing neural pathways...

It was like a voice that was bypassing her ears. Another set of thoughts from another mind that had forced its way into hers, as cold and sharp as whatever was in her neck.

Integrating... 50%

Memory analysis in progress...

Memory analysis complete.

Memory compartmentalisation in progress...

Each passing second felt like an eternity. She screamed inside her own head. It was the only thing she could think to do, the only primal instinct left to her.

Integrating... 90%

Installing standing directives...

Recruitment reward configured to maximum...

Evelyn's eyes snapped open. Calmly and efficiently, she stood and turned to face the waiting form of Alice.

"Integration complete," said Evelyn.

"Acknowledged," replied Alice in the same dull monotone. She held out a hand containing a dozen small metal chips, each with a tiny needle protruding from its surface. Evelyn reached out and took half of them.