"It's not that hard to engineer a human body," Gabriel said dismissively, and then stopped. "Well, it is, but only in comparison to other things. It didn't used to be hard, in itself. Point is, they could've done it. They've got the gadgets."

Gabriel sank down in the shade with a sigh, debating whether or not to take off his pack before deciding against it. He let his canteen fill and unloaded the whole lot over his head before filling it again. Then he drank until he wasn't thirsty at all and filled the bottle a third and final time.