413.
It wasn't a question. It wasn't even accusation.
It was awareness.
The creature inside of Elias pressed harder against the box containing it. Do not do this. If you do this, you are no different than every other hand that cut her open to see if she screamed.
Mercer straightened and gestured to the tray.
"Minimal sample," he instructed. "Sub-dermal tissue from the forearm and shoulder. I want comparative microstructure and any viral integration we missed with bloodwork."
Elias turned to him sharply. "You missed nothing with bloodwork. The virus is everywhere in her. That doesn't mean it sits the same in every cell."
"That's why we take cells."
"Not like this."
Mercer's gaze stayed steady. "Then how."
