"Fine," I say.

She reaches out her hand. "Give it to me, Jack."

I do, and for a moment I touch her milk chocolate flesh. My neck hair horripilates and the blood goes to my face. God, but she feels real. She smiles at me. Awkwardly, I smile back.

Then she smashes the syringe in her palm, shoves me hard against the back wall with her other hand. Fellsworth lets out a yell, dives behind a sofa.

"You're out of options, Jack," she says.

"Wh-what?" I stammer.

"Get the TRUchip installed, Jack, or you're going to die. The cure's been destroyed and the nanovirus is intensifying. By tomorow, everyone not equiped with a TRUchip will be dead."

"How the hell do you know that?" I say.

The smallest hint of a smile. “You don’t see? We designed that plague, Jack. We control it. But only those who resist the great Awakening will have to die—for everyone else, paradise for their eternal soul.”

A coughing fit takes me. I double over, slide to my knees. "Ahh... Jesus... You're with them."

That cold hinted smile again.

“And you? Are you getting sucked into this paradise?”

“My duty will be to ensure the continued safety of all those enraptured ones by quelling any resistance after the Awakening. When my duties are complete, I shall join those I have served.” She starts towards me. “Come with me, Jack. Come with me, and I’ll show you Heaven. Refuse, and you will be eliminated.” Steel claws slide soundlessly from her fingertips.

What do you say to a thing like that? I go with her.

No way I'm letting myself be brainwashed by this bullshit. "Watch it, robo-bitch. You're about to break a nail."