Daisy steadily ate breakfast. Afterwards, her captors took her to the roof, allowing her to walk. The routine had been as such for a few days. If she took a guess, Daisy estimated it was a week since the first time they had allowed her this addition to her daily routine. Her captors no longer called her back when she went to the far end of the roof. They no longer seemed worried about escape. The further she went, the more she could feel from her sisters. Tina was working with a team to extract her. She just needed to be patient. The murmur of an Energy Summit hummed through her mind. Perhaps her captors would let her watch TV or talk about what was going on.

Wandering back toward the stairwell, she took in all possible hiding places. She could feel a powerful telepath reaching for her. She hoped it was Cara, but one never knew; Madden could have someone working for him.

Getting closer to her captors, she picked up Madden's name, and something about the move would happen soon. She hoped the information was picked up by whoever was listening before she could no longer use her abilities.

"We have a problem," Cara called, entering the tech room, "I overheard Daisy's minders saying she will be moved soon."

"When is soon?" Breanna asked, straightening from looking at something on a monitor.

"I'm not sure," Cara sighed, "didn't give a time or date."

"We will have to do the extraction tomorrow morning," Breanna said.

"The gadget for Jasmine will not be ready in time," Phoenix said, "it will probably be ready by tomorrow night but not sooner."

"If they are moving Daisy," Craig said, "we cannot afford to wait, Phoenix, you can finish the gadget anyway, but we'll have to look at a plan B for Daisy."

"We have to assume they monitor her and expect something like this," David said quietly.

"We can do it," Breanna said, "fetch Valencia and Birgit."

"You're not going to trust them with something like this?" Jonathan asked, stepping away from a computer Trevet and he worked on.

"Do you want Daisy back?" Breanna asked.

"Of course," Jonathan answered, "but I'm not going to risk lives."

"Birgit can charge Jasmine and take care of the captors while the rest of you do whatever is necessary," Breanna said, "what other choice do we have?"

"David can fetch the two and dome them while they come up here," Craig said, "that way, the energy signature is shielded, and if Birgit goes off the road again, no one else will get hurt."

"Fine. David, please can you collect them," Breanna turned back to the round table in the centre, "how are we with the logistics of the Energy Summit?"

"So far, we have knowledge of the men who are attending," Tina said. "We know the location, but we also found out that Madden is in town and has an apartment near the Summit. The building Daisy is kept in is also near his current living quarters."

"He isn't really hiding," Breanna muttered, "he wants us to know that he can reach Daisy at any time."

"He needs to feel that power," Craig said, "we will keep our movements minimal."

"We will have to," Trevet said quietly, "otherwise, he will have us all to play with and complete whatever he wants to achieve."

"That cannot happen. Not at any cost," Breanna said.

"Here she comes," Clio murmured as the tech room doors opened.

Everyone turned to stare at Valencia as she walked in.

"Who are we addressing at the moment?" Breanna asked.

"We are both here," Valencia and Birgit answered, "what can we help with?"

"The energy signature is very high," Trevet called, "without a shield of some sort, Madden will know she is there, and everything will be blown to hell."

"Then we'd better make sure the energy signature is low," Breanna said, not looking up from the map on the table.

"If David takes the dome off, Birgit will relax a little," Valencia said, "the energy signature can be controlled as long as she isn't stressed by incarceration."

Breanna nodded toward David, who lifted the protective dome. Valencia inhaled deeply before exhaling.

"Thank you," Birgit said, "what is my energy level now?"

"Average," Trevet said, "we will need it lower when we go in."

Silence fell as all eyes watched Valencia and Birgit, "What about now?"

"Wow," Trevet whispered before addressing the room, "hardly a blip on the energy scanner."

"Would you be able to keep it like that while going in?" Breanna asked.

"Sure," Valencia and Birgit answered, "when are we going in?"

"Before I answer that," Breanna said quietly, "one of Valencia's abilities is to know the level of another person's abilities. Val, what is Birgit's level."

"It's almost as strong as you but not as high," Valencia sighed, "Birgit is near the same level as you, Bre. You should know energy is not the only ability she has."

"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" David asked

"No one was interested enough to listen. You all assumed that what you saw was the total amount of abilities," Valencia said, "she has at least three or four that she knows of, and all are high strength levels."

"What exactly are they?" Clio stood, fists clenching at her sides.

"Are we safe here?" Tina looked around, worry in her eyes.

Breanna raised her hand, and silence fell, "Birgit, would you like to tell us about your other abilities."

"Not if it's going to freak out everyone and I end up back in a prison of some kind," Birgit looked around nervously.

"Tell us what your other abilities are," Breanna said quietly, "we trust you not to hurt us."

"You all know what Valencia's abilities are," Birgit began, "mine fall more on the manipulation side than the detection side."

"What are they?" Craig boomed across the room, making Birgit flinch and freeze.

"Craig," Breanna shook her head, "she is genuinely afraid of us. Intense fear for herself or Valencia triggers uncontrolled reactions."

"Please give her a chance to speak," Valencia spoke out of their shared frozen body. "Birgit doesn't want to hold anything back, but she is frightened and worried about not being accepted."

"Birgit," Breanna spoke, "no one here will put you back in prison. I'm not Darcia."

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

Slowly Birgit began to breathe once more.

"You already know about my energy levels," she shot a nervous glance at Craig before continuing. "I can manipulate emotions, making them feel more than they are or finding your worst-case scenario or nightmare and augmenting that."

"Is that all?" Craig ground out.

Tina walked across the room, stopping in front of him.

"Let her speak," she gently placed a hand on his arm, rubbing small soothing circles until he grunted an affirmation.

"Carry on, Birgit," Calla said, watching Tina with Craig.

"I have physical strength," Birgit whispered, "and I can detect if people around me are clones or human."

"You can detect the difference between a human or clone," Jonathan walked toward her, "if they are a clone, what do you do?"

"My automatic reaction is to energise them intensely until they ..." Birgit cleared her throat, "... explode."

"All of Tina's sisters are clones," Jonathon said, "looking at Breanna, "why hasn't she terminated them?"

"Oh, I know they are clones, but they are different. A kind of humanity defines them," Birgit said, "the clones I terminate are cold shells of themselves."

"I don't see that being a problem," Tina said, smiling gently at Birgit / Valencia.

"When we go in to get Daisy," Breanna said, "you would take care of the clones, Birgit?."

"Yes," Birgit whispered.

"No," David shook his head, "that will be suicide."

"What do you mean?" Valencia asked.

"If Madden is close by, he will be waiting for something like that," David said, "knowing how these two work; what stops him from draining Birgit's energy?"

"I agree," Clio said quietly, "if he knows of the power surges and can track them much like we can, he must have someone military in his back pocket."

"If he has that person," Jarred said quietly, "then he probably has the same equipment we do."

"Right," Breanna nodded, "which means he can harness your energy and drain you dry."

"What do you propose we do then?" Valencia whispered, horrified that Birgit could get hurt.

"Say we do use your plan," Breanna said, "instead of you taking care of the clones, Phoenix can do it. His abilities are offensive and don't carry any kind of charge. Just burn."

"What changes do you want to make?" Birgit asked quietly.

"An addition to the team going in," Breanna said, "Jon, you can get to Daisy and back before anyone can see you. Phoenix takes out the staircase structure and the clones. Jasmine gets everyone in and out, David protects everyone from harm, and Cara communicates with Daisy if she is not close enough. Valencia, you look for any high emotions in the vicinity and enhanced beings. Birgit will make sure her energy signature remains a blip on the radar while energising Jasmine."

"Great, we all have our tasks, but how will it work?" Craig sighed, "we blast onto that rooftop, and everyone just does their thing, not very structured."

"But if they are going to move Daisy," Trevet said, "it could be as soon as tomorrow morning."

"What about Frank?" Jarred said.

"What about him?" Craig frowned.

"Daisy knows Frank as well as Jon," Jarred said, "if we go in guns blazing, we will all be captured and used for whatever Madden has cooked up."

"Spit it out, Jarred," Craig growled.

"Instead of being rowdy and loud, why not go silent and stealthy?" Jarred looked pointedly at Craig.

"I don't think anyone here knows how to do silent and stealthy," Clio muttered.

"I do," Frank said into the silence, "it was part of my training in the military, and I went on a coordinated logistics for many stealth operations."

"Why are we only hearing this now?" Breanna blinked her eyes rapidly against the mental lull his voice created.

"He doesn't talk much," Jarred said, "plus he has the stronger version of Valencia's ability to hide that he is enhanced."

"If Frank and Jon get Daisy," Breanna started to grin, "no one would detect we are there."

"We go in quiet," Jarred said, nodding, "Phoenix takes out the structure and hopefully the device. Cara communicates with Daisy. Birgit keeps her energy levels low enough to go undetected and energies Jasmine. Valencia monitors for whoever may be around while David keeps everyone domed for protection."

"That is a good plan," Breanna smiled, "with a slight change. Frank and Jon locate Daisy and extracts her, get her to the rooftop, and then Phoenix can blast everyone and everything while the rest do what they need to do."

"I like that better," Jonathan said, nodding to Frank, "you lull everyone to sleep while Daisy gets out of that apartment."

Frank nodded, smiling, "It may just work."

"It all sounds well put together," Valencia said, "when will we do this?"

"Gear up," Breanna said, "leave time ... half an hour."

"That was quick," Birgit whispered, "what do we do?"

"Now it's my turn," Valencia smiled, "we gear up."

Daisy could feel the tug of the device on the roof. It made her wired, edgy, heated and uncomfortable. Pacing her room, she tugged at her window again. It still would not give. She needed air. She needed a break from the constant humming in her head and the vibration running along her nerves. Her sensitive hearing had picked up that Madden would be visiting at noon tomorrow. Apparently, he had a procedure that Daisy needed to be able to serve. She didn't like the sound of serving under Madden. A vibration ran along her nerves, and the edgy sensation disappeared.

"Daisy," Cara's voice rippled in her mind, "on the roof. Now"

Daisy walked to the bedroom door; as a knock came on the apartment door. Turning the handle, the sound of a lock snapping inside felt like a shotgun across the nerves. Her captors would be woken by both sounds. Opening the door quietly, she made it to the apartment door before the man came out with a shotgun. Tugging open the door, she found Frank and Jonathan waiting for her.

"Jon, get her to the roof," Frank said as he turned toward the couple inside the apartment and began speaking.

Daisy held onto Jonathan's hand and ran toward the roof entrance. She heard the gunshot just as they made the stairs. They were dark and a little tricky to navigate. The blaze of the fire at the top of the stairs barred their way.

"Cara," she whispered, "the fire is barring the exit onto the roof."

"Jon will do his thing," Cara spoke quietly in her mind.

"Hold on, Daisy," Jonathan's voice whispered in her ear.

She quickly wrapped her arms around him, closing her eyes; a whooshing noise could be heard around her seconds before she felt the wind and heat from the fire, then fresh air.

"Quickly," Valencia's voice softly called, "Madden is aware of us."

"Frank," Jonathan called, "I need to get him out."

Jonathan disappeared again only to reappear with Frank, who pointed to Phoenix and then the stairs.

"The clones are coming out of the fire," Birgit called out, "one has a shotgun."

Jonathan raised his weapon to shoulder height, scanning the rooftop for anyone waiting to take any of them out. Phoenix rose from their hiding place, firing heat and flames at the pair.

"Jasmine, we need to go," Frank said quietly, "now."

"I need a moment for more energy," she whispered.

"We don't have a moment," Frank said.

"He's right," Valencia said, "we'll have fanatics on us any moment."

"Birgit," Frank put a hand on their shoulder, "charge her quicker."

"But what about being harnessed," Birgit panted.

"You will be if Jasmine doesn't get us out of here," Frank said, "Jon, get in here."

"Okay. Phoenix, cover," Birgit said, breathing in and exhaling, placing both hands on Jasmine's shoulders.

"Hold onto each other," Jasmine called, "we are nearly there."

Daisy held Jonathan's hand while Frank pulled her tighter into the group. The approaching helicopters could be heard.

"Jasmine," David called, "anytime now. They are coming."

"Drop your shield on three," Jasmine looked directly at him, "one...." she began to warp, grasping David's lower leg, "two, three."

David dropped his shield, grasping Jasmine's shoulder as she phased the group off the rooftop. Leaving two dead clones, a burning rooftop entrance, and the landing group of fanatical soldiers confused and alone.

Daisy landed hard on the tiled floor, face down. Nausea rolled through her as the phasing completed. In moments she was pulled to her knees.

"Daisy," Jonathan said, cupping her face with his hands, "open your eyes."

Slowly she complied, "The world is still spinning," Daisy muttered, "Jon," she sighed, happy to see him but too scared to move.

"Give her some space," Jasmine whispered from where she knelt, "the first time people usually throw up."

"Don't go," Daisy whispered, "stay... please."

Jonathan kept one hand, cupping her cheek while he held her searching hand in his, "I got you."

Nodding, Daisy concentrated on breathing, "Never did that before," she gasped as she fought another wave of nausea. Slowly, she reached out her hand, pulling Jonathan closer until he held her against him, "thank you."

"I'm not sure what for, but you're welcome," he whispered.

"The necklace," she whispered, her eyes remaining closed, "the tracker, knowing me that well ... everything."

"Then you're very welcome," he whispered, slowly rubbing her back, "let me know when you're ready to stand."

"Not yet," she whispered, "just a few more moments."

Jonathan sighed, "Take all the time you require," he smiled, gently pulling her against him, taking her weight as she relaxed. He was happy to stay like this for as long as she needed, happy to be anything she needed, and that he could hold her again.