Eleanor and Ryan headed to the parking garage. Ryan had taken a cab, so he got into Eleanor''s car to ride with her to theb.


    Soon after they arrived, the chip was delivered. Eleanor and Ryan began their work, their movements tense but precise. After the first nerve-wracking test run, the chip performed perfectly, providing the processing power the neural interface required. Eleanor leaned against the table, her face a mask of calm, but inside, her heart was pounding wildly.


    Just then, her phone rang. A nce at the caller ID-Dr. MacLeod, Mansfield''s attending physician-sent a knot of dread tightening in her stomach.


    She quickly stepped out into the hallway to answer, her voice unconsciously tense. "Dr. MacLeod."


    "Miss Sutton, a short while ago, Major Ellington''s vitals showed a sharp fluctuation. There are signs of cardiopulmonary failure. We''re working to stabilize him now, but the situation is not optimistic."


    Eleanor''s knuckles turned white as she gripped the phone. She felt her blood run cold.


    "Doctor, we just got the chip—" Her voice trembled slightly.


    "Where are you in the process?"


    "We justpleted the first test. The results were ideal, but—" Eleanor''s voice faltered.


    "I know, but the situation is critical. I''m afraid we don''t have much time. I''ve spoken with Maxwell, and we agree. If this were to happen, we would have to use the neural interface to wake him. It''s our only hope now."


    Her heart clenched.


    "Based on his condition, we have to perform the surgery in three days. Eleanor, you need to be ready," Dr. MacLeod said before hanging up.


    Eleanor gasped for air. The chip had just been tested. The subsequent integration, calibration, and matching with Mansfield''s brain data—all of thisplex work now had to bepressed into a mere seventy-two hours.


    Eleanor pressed a hand to her chest, feeling a dull ache. She forced herself to calm down, walked back into theb, and addressed Ryan and Callie. "We''re out of time. We''ve got seventy-two hours to get everything ready."


    Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.


    Ryan and Callie''s faces grew grim, but they nodded in agreement.


    "Eleanor, do you think you could ask Mr. Goodwin to send some engineers from Meridian Dynamics to help?" Ryan suggested.


    Eleanor nodded. They definitely


    needed more people, and Meridian Dynamics was tan''spany.


    had the top engineers at his


    disposal, but to get them, she would


    have to go through him.


    She hadn''t expected to have to keep asking him for favors, but the


    current situation left no room for


    hesitation. No matter how much she, owed him, she would have to repay himter.


    Right now, she had to ask.


    Eleanor took a deep breath, found a quiet corner, and dialedn''s number.


    He answered almost instantly. "What is it?" came his low voice.


    n," Eleanor said, using his first name. "There''s an emergency with Mansfield. The surgery has to be moved up to three days from now. We don''t have enough time. We need to start the chip integration, and calibration immediately, but we''re severely short-staffed. Could you possibly send your top engineering team from Meridian Dynamics to help us?"


    She said it all in one breath, then held it, waiting for his response.


    "Don''t panic. I''ll have Byron bring the best team over to support you right away,"n''s voice was deep and soothing, as if he could sense her desperation.


    Eleanor swallowed. "Thank you," she said.


    "Did you take your medicine today?"n suddenly asked.


    Eleanor paused. In her rush to leave this morning, she had forgotten to bring it.


    "You forgot it, didn''t you?"n guessed immediately.


    "It''s fine. I''m much better now," Eleanor insisted.