A knock came on Jasmine's door. Fear sliced through her before she could clamp down on it.

"Who is it?" she called, breathing deeply before exhaling.

"Alec," the deep male voice called on the other side, "may I come in?"

She quickly flipped her bags closed and pushed her paperwork into her backpack.

"Sure," she called, "it's open."

The door slowly opened, and Phoenix stood there, his short brown hair dusting the door frame.

"I knew you were tall, but that is really tall," Jasmine shook her head, "what's up?"

"I ..." he shifted in the doorway, "I just wanted to check on you."

Jasmine frowned, "Check on me?"

"You seem confused," Phoenix whispered, glancing around the room, "did I come at a bad time?"

Jasmine frowned more, "What?" turning, she looked at the room, seeing it the way he did, "Oh, I'm trying to unpack. I'm not sure what I'm doing. I haven't unpacked in a while."

"Living out of a suitcase or, in our case, a backpack is never easy," Phoenix said, "may I talk with you a moment?"

Turning, she nodded, "Close the door."

"You sure?" he asked, his eyes never leaving her face, "you seem uncomfortable."

Jasmine nodded, "I'm sure," she said, moving toward the large window. "Every place we've been to has been beautiful, luxurious, and the views ... never seen anything like it."

"The Gordons definitely came from another world," Phoenix said, "I understand their father was deep undercover doing something for many years."

Jasmine turned, looking at Phoenix; he stood calmly, watching her, "What do you want to talk about?"

"What happened on the roof and the train has been something you've never been exposed to as far as I know," Phoenix said, "I wanted to know how you are doing processing what happened."

Jasmine stared at him, "I've lived through some rough things in my life," she shook her head, "I'm sure you know who my father is or was,"

she sighed. "I learnt to shoot a gun when I was seven, started martial arts training at ten and been on my own without his help or so-called protection since I was nineteen; he..." she shook her head. "He never looked for me when I was kidnapped, and I dealt with the fallout and his rejection afterwards. Processing situations like I experienced today never happens because I never have the time to pamper myself."

Phoenix stared at her, nodding silently in understanding; he shifted, sighed and cleared his throat, "That all sounds overwhelming," he said. "I'm sorry your father was never there for you, but you're not on your own anymore," he moved toward her. "You experienced g forces today that is never a good thing; the effects afterwards can sometimes be ... odd, weird or a little upsetting. You have never experienced your abilities afterwards ..." he sighed, glancing at the floor before meeting her gaze. "I want you to know I'm here for you if you need someone who understands."

Jasmine stared at him, unsure of what he said or wanted. She frowned, cocked her head and watched him.

He didn't move; he didn't blink; he simply stared at her, waiting. The combination was simultaneously unnerving and calming. What was it about him that made her feel ... safe?

"Thank you," she murmured, "I've never had someone say that to me ... ever. I'm not sure what to do with it, but I will remember your offer when I need help."

"Good," he smiled, "I'll leave you to your unpacking."

Jasmine nodded, frowning as he turned and left the room. She couldn't understand his intentions, but she was grateful for everything he had just said to her and his offer to help should she need it. It meant more than he or anyone would know. Looking at the bed, she sighed, "Just take everything out of the bags and pile it in the cupboard. How hard can it be?"

"Breanna," Kyle called as he came up an unseen set of stairs, "this place is ... awesome."

"Glad you think so," Breanna stifled a smile, "what is going on? Where did you come from?"

"The tech room downstairs ... its amazing," Kyle grinned widely, "it has everything we need. How come we didn't come here in the first place?"

"I knew nothing about this place," Breanna shrugged, "where is Val?"

"The last I saw, she was with Jesse heading to their suite," Kyle grinned, "I think something is happening there."

"You're only getting that now," Craig shook his head, coming up to the duo, "you all set downstairs?"

Kyle nodded, and the pair went off together, chatting and bantering.

"Bre," Valencia called, "according to Harvey, this is where you grew up."

"Yes," Breanna nodded, grinning at her bouncing friend, "I take it you like it."

"Jesse and I have a suite, and it's pure luxury," Valencia bounced on the balls of her feet, clapping her hands.

"You took a room with Jesse," Breanna chuckled, "good for you. Tell me how everyone else is."

"Harvey and the staff are seeing to everyone, but I have checked on them," Valencia breathed in before exhaling; Breanna smiled at her friend's attempt to calm down. "Everyone is as happy as I am."

"Good," Breanna nodded, looking beyond Valencia as David and Trevet came down the stairs carrying bags full of gear, "where are you two off to with those?"

"Craig called saying they wanted these gadgets in the tech room," David smiled, "since living quarters are up there, we guessed that the tech room is down here somewhere."

"They went that way," Breanna pointed to the stairs Craig and Kyle had taken, "I haven't seen them come up."

Valencia's attention was caught by someone calling her across the room, "See ya," she bounced off, leaving Breanna to look around.

"Dave has moved both of you into the same room," Michael said quietly, "living quarters are tight here."

"That's okay," Breanna smiled, "we spend most of our downtime together anyway. I can't believe that Dad sold this place to my trust fund."

"Yep," Michael nodded, "then he split the money between the three trust funds."

"You two have trust funds? That sounds like Dad," Breanna smiled sadly, "I wonder what Mom had to say about it. Pity, she only realised too late what her obsession with sending us all down the same path as themselves was doing."

"She did realise," Michael said, looking at Breanna, "that is why she never made too much fuss when I changed from Science to the Military."

"Bre," Calla called, looking around the large foyer, "there you are."

Brother and sister watched her come toward them, holding a piece of paper.

"What's the problem?" Breanna asked quietly, "you look like you've seen a ghost."

"I was looking online for news of anything that is a Darcia / Madden normal," she sighed, handing Breanna the paper, "it's not good."

"Those are the names of the subjects pulled from the main facility," Michael said quietly, looking over Breanna's shoulder.

"Yes. The same people who were extracted and given a chance at a normal life," Calla said, "all necklaces were destroyed. A list of their colours was made," Calla handed over the second sheet of paper, "if you look at the paper you're holding, you'll see colours next to each name. Tina found these online; look at the far left margin and then the list of names. Have to say Val has definitely trained Tina well."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Breanna held one sheet next to the other Micheal held.

"These all have high energy signatures, among other things ... this is a list of everyone who was extracted and what they are enhanced to do. Is there proof that Madden has them?" Breanna sighed.

Calla shrugged, "No idea yet," she looked over her shoulder as Tina came up the stairs.

"Yes," Tina said, joining them, "here is a list of missing people from last month."

"He took them over the last month?" Michael frowned, taking the sheet of paper.

"Look near the bottom of the list," Tina inhaled deeply, "names and places of disappearance."

Breanna bristled, "It's starting again, except it's with those who have been enhanced."

"Not everyone is enhanced," Micheal murmured, "second name from the bottom ... that is a civilian."

"I want everyone together in fifteen minutes," Breanna said, looking at the three around her, "We are not being tracked; we're being hunted. So is everyone else who has a naturally high energy level. Tina, and Calla, I want you two to find areas with many high energy signatures. Find them fast."

"Breanna, what is it?" Michael frowned.

"Mike, look at these levels. A spark is all that is needed to ignite them. Wherever they are..." Breanna shook her head, imitating the sound of an explosion with her hands mimicking the blast movement.

"We need to find the spark," Tina said to Calla, "can Valencia help us with this?"

"If you can find her," Breanna nodded.

"Bre," Michael waited until the two women had gone before speaking, "we're on our own with this. No backup, no assist. We are alone."

"Michael," Breanna rested her hand on her brother's shoulder, "since I've been out of that damned place, we have been on our own," she smiled, signalling for Jesse to join them, "we can do this."

Jesse frowned in frustration, "Where is she?"

He couldn't see Valencia from his vantage point at the top of the stairs. She certainly wasn't in the area of any of the living quarters that left the tech room. Tina and Calla had disappeared a moment before he had spotted Breanna and Michael talking seriously about something.

"Cara says there is a meeting in fifteen minutes," Jonathan said, lifting a heavy bag on his shoulder, "what do these women pack?"

"The world and its kitchen sink," Jesse chuckled, watching Jonathan disappear into a room from which Daisy waved.

Breanna motioned for him to join Michael and herself. Something wasn't right. They both looked worried. Making quick work of the stairs, he joined the anxious pair.

"What's going on?" Jesse asked, taking the paper Breanna handed to him.

"Do you know any of these names?" Breana asked.

"A few," Jesse said, "but they got away from Darcia years ago. Why are they on this list?"

"They went missing," Michael said quietly, "some in the past month and others as recent as last week."

Jesse felt his blood run cold as he read the list of names, "All of these had some sort of enhanced energy procedure done to them."

"Technically, we all did," Breanna nodded, "but you're saying these were more than usual."

"I'm saying at least six of these are triggered by emotions," Jesse said, "I should know ..." he sighed, "I went through the same procedure as them."

"Emotions," Michael narrowed his eyes, "do you know of anything that could have their energy signature triggered?"

"It's been years," Jesse shrugged, "what I can tell you is that anything that means anything to them ..." he met their waiting gazes, "if what they love the most is in danger or pain. It could be a huge triggering point for whatever they are needed to do."

"Calla and Tina are working on this now," Breanna said, pointing toward the stairs descending not far away, "if they found Val, she'll be down there too."

"What are we looking for?" Jesse asked, "the signatures, their location or the triggers."

"Love it that you know all the answers," Breanna grinned, "all of the above and anything else you come across or think of."

"Oh, Jesse," Michael said, "remember what Jasmine said before the fight about the energy harnessing information for her contact? Perhaps look into that as well."

Nodding, Jesse descended the stairs to what felt like the earth's bowels. The stairs ended at a trough of beach sand. He took in a cave-like room with a high, rounded ceiling and walls made of similar stone where the train stopped. What caught his attention was the sophisticated bank of technology against the one wall. Calla, Tina and Valencia stood pouring over the monitor. Someone in the middle of them was arguing about trigger points. Moving forward, Jesse tried to catch what was being said. There seemed to be a dispute. Was it about family, or was it the types of the family? The argument seemed to be going around in circles with no resolution. Clearing his throat, he entered the ring with a question.

"What do you have so far?" six pairs of eyes turned to him. Silent.

"Okay, let's try it one step at a time. Do you have a location of the energy signatures?" Jesse asked, waiting before looking at Calla.

"Yes," she pulled up a map displaying a clump of energy signatures. "These are all the major signatures we have throughout the city and strangely some rural areas ...." she pointed to two separate areas on the screen,"... here and ...here."

"Take out all the normal level heat and energy signatures," Jesse said, "home use, offices, you know what I mean."

Calla went to work quickly. Valencia leaned over toward Jesse, looking at the paper in his hands. A name caught her eye. Taking the sheet, she read the list through twice. The name was definitely there.

"Where is Jasmine?" Valencia whispered, "she may know someone named on the list."

"Then I'm on time if I know someone on the list. Breanna and Mike updated me," Jasmine sighed, "sounds like we're in a puddle of trouble again. What name may I know?"

"Matilda Calderone," Valencia read it quietly, looking up to see Jasmine falter mid-step while she blinked quickly.

"Yep, she knows the name," Jesse said, picking up the signs of distress kept under control.

"My cousin," Jasmine said, "what is that list?"

"Missing subjects of those released from Darcia's facility with corresponding energy levels higher than normal," Jesse said. "It seems that Madden is collecting those Darcia has enhanced for his big plan. Jasmine, why is your cousin being held with the rest of the energy signature subjects?"

"What? What are you talking about?" Jasmine started breathing quickly, suddenly looking down at her hands, "what is going on?"

"Jasmine, you need to calm down," Birgit called from where she stood, "you're drawing too much energy."

"Everyone out," Jesse called, indicating the women to leave the room.

No one moved. Everyone watched as Rose walked up behind Jasmine, gripping her shoulder with her thumb and pushing down between the collar bone. Jasmine gasped and winced.

"You need to calm down," Rose said quietly, "you need to get your emotions under control. If you don't want to be manipulated. What is it you want? Freedom or slavery to something designed to own you?"

"Freedom," Jasmine spluttered, "my shoulder is on fire."

"Focus on that," Rose said, "you don't need the energy to help with an emotional upset."

"Rose," Calla whispered, marvelling at the timidest of their group, "careful sister."

"Jasmine," Birgit walked toward the calming woman, "why would your cousin be part of the programme? How did you become part of the programme?"

Jasmine sank to her knees in the sand, breathing hard, "It's not a pretty story. It's rather ..." Jasmine looked at each of them. "Do you really want to know?" they nodded. "Okay, before I left my home for good, I learnt that my father treated me like a freak because..." she breathed in deeply before spitting the words out, "he sold me to Darcia."

"What?" Rose knelt next to her, "how did you find out?"

"The day I was able to get out of the Madhouse, I was thinking of my family," Jasmine spoke as she made her way to her feet, "I couldn't bear being away from my Mother, Aunts and Cousins."

"That is how you got out," Valencia said, "you didn't have your necklace; it was being repaired."

Jasmine nodded, "When I phased in, I was fortunately alone," she shook her head, "can you imagine their faces if anyone was present?"

"Your family was happy to see you, but your father wasn't" Calla sighed, "Jasmine, I'm so sorry."

"My one aunt found me," Jasmine sighed, "passed out on the floor. She told me my mother had left my father a month before; I didn't know why and she didn't seem to have all the facts."

"Were your cousins living there at that time?" Jesse asked.

"My one cousin was but ..." Jasmine swiped at her wet eyes, "but Matlida was away studying."

"Jesse, do you think her father sold Matilda?" Valencia asked.

"Maybe, but there is no proof of it," Jesse sighed, "Jasmine, how did you find out you were sold by your father?"

"I found one of his journals," she whispered, "he was tired of having a daughter that did not ... attract men; I was an accomplished embarrassment to him. He sent me to be enhanced."

"Really," Rose muttered, "as if there was something wrong with you."

"He seemed to think so," Jasmine sniffed, "when he heard I was home ..." she sighed heavily, "he was furious."

"Where is your father now?" Jesse asked.

"Apparently, in a cemetery somewhere on his ... my private island," Jasmine said softly, "why?"

Jesse nodded, "Calla have you got those areas of high energy signatures?"

"On the large screen," Calla said, "there are four on land and one in the middle of the ocean."

"Bring them all up," Jesse said, "which has the highest energy signature?"

"There are two," Calla spoke absently as she worked at the keyboard, "one is ..." she frowned, "an energy supply company."

She clicked away at the keyboard until the second location came into view.

"That's the island," Jasmine whispered, "Matilda must have gone home. But what did she find?"

"Where is your mother at the moment?" Jesse asked, looking at the list.

"No idea," Jasmine shook her head, "I could never find her."

"Calla, let's look closer at that island," Jesse said before turning to Valencia and Tina. "Can you two look into anything associated with the people on this list that could trigger their emotions?"

"Sure," Tina said, taking the piece of paper.

Valencia narrowed her eyes on him, stepping closer while Tina moved away, "What aren't you telling us?"

"There are names on that list that had the same procedure as I did," Jesse spoke quietly. "If I could show a significant energy signal over what happened to you and the upset between us. What can they do if emotionally triggered?"

"They are all in one place," Valencia reasoned.

"They could be there as a demonstration or a collecting point," Birgit added, "Darcia and Madden often spoke of those goals."

"Have a look. Anything you may think of as a reason for triggering, pass the information on to Calla," Jesse said, squeezing their hand before turning as Calla called him.