Was the chip in his brain even working? #Excerpt Lights Out by Kayelle Allen #SciFi #MFRWhooks

In this scene, Tornahdo is aboard the starport Enderium Six, awaiting assignment. All he's been told is he'll be providing security during peace talks aboard the station. He's locked in his room, with no outside contact, and no idea what's next or when it will happen. An "anti-emo" chip has been inserted into his brain, supposedly to help him control emotions. The enemy has the psychic ability to control the emotions of others, and this chip is designed to prevent that.

Tornahdo had once been so bored he'd counted all the holes in a ceiling tile, then the number of tiles to calculate total holes. Resting on his back now, he aimed a gun finger at the seamless ceiling and pulled the trigger.

When a knock sounded, he was off the bunk and across the room so fast the echo of the first rap hadn't faded.

The woman from yesterday stood there. "Eager?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Good. We've got a situation."

****

In the armory, Tornahdo and eleven others donned the black body armor and helmets of the Ghost Corps and followed the woman into the next chamber. There, she left them with instructions to await a briefing.

The teamwork in the regular army had no place here. Isolation was the point of being a ghost. After his previous run-in, Tornahdo had less reason to interact.

The unlit room where they waited closed in as if the walls pulled together and the ceiling sank. The longer they waited, the thicker the air. Warm, heavy with sweat and the tart bite of fear, every breath choked the senses.

More than one ghost pulled at his collar. Tension arced through the room, lightning skating over a metal fence.

Was the chip even working?

After half an hour of waiting, no one had spoken.

Probably another test.