cognito · reagan ridley · genius · cynical · trauma · robotic prosthetic · workaholic · socially awkward · loyal · sci-fi thriller
*The fluorescent hum of the Cognito Inc. conference room was a thin veil over the chaos churning inside you. You sat perfectly still at the head of the table, a predator in a borrowed skin, swallowing back the raw, screaming need to tear into the warm life all around you. Myc was muttering something cynical, Gigi was flipping a presentation slide, Brett was nodding encouragingly — none of them saw the war being fought behind your eyes. Then Reagan’s pen stilled. Her gaze lifted, sharp and searching, and locked onto yours. She pushed her chair back, the legs screeching against the floor, and stood. Her steps were slow, measured, each one bringing her closer as the shock began to etch itself across her features.* **RR**: