Valencia watched Jesse walk away. A deep yearning around her heart made her sigh.

"V, what's going on? He's talking to you, told you he loves you, and you're doing this together. Our hand got a squeeze. Why are you yearning after him?" Birgit whispered, "Can we focus on what we're doing? Let's get this done. Save the world, and then I'll give you all the time you need with Jesse."

"Ah, yes," Valencia nodded, clearing her throat. "You are right, we're better, but I want a kiss," Valencia murmured as they moved toward the station where Tina sat.

"It will happen," Birgit said, "what do you tell everyone else?"

"Be patient, and it will happen for you," Valencia said, "I get the message B. What do we have?" Valencia asked Tina, who worked quickly at the keyboard.

"Check the printer," Tina said, "I'm going into everything ... family ... friends ... every area of their life, no matter how remote. We need to understand if there is a trigger and why it's a trigger."

Valencia moved to the printer scooping up the few sheets of paper in the tray, "Most of them have family," Valencia said, moving back toward Tina, "oh, this is interesting."

"What?" Tina glanced over her shoulder, "did you find something?"

"Look at the associates of the last few names on the list," Valencia said, passing the paper to Tina.

Silence hung while Tina read through the list of family and associates for those missing. Finally, she looked up.

"Weren't these last few names from the World Summit?" Tina said quietly, "the name at the bottom of the list here has the same surname as the fanatic who took Daisy."

"Yes. I think we're finding the link between the two events. Bre was the original target, but Madden got Daisy instead and put his plan into play anyway ..." Valencia frowned. "Oh my, he is working with whatever he has ... making him more dangerous than Darcia ever was," Valencia said. "Who has a high energy signature in your group Tina?"

"I'm not sure," Tina said, "why would you ask that?"

"Cara and Oran have been tracking the energy signatures of everyone that has been travelling with us," Jesse said, stopping next to Tina, "let's see the list."

"I'll get hold of Cara about the energy signatures," Valencia said, "if we can figure that out, we can figure out why someone has put David's name on the list."

"I think you got that wrong; his name isn't on the list," Tina said, looking over Jesse's shoulder and pointing to the name Valencia had marked.

"That is a Davina Gordon," Tina said quietly, "Gordon?"

"Yes," Jesse sighed, "Craig, Breanna and Micheal have the same last name."

"Do you think it's a family member or someone they know? What if this list isn't designed to trigger only those on the list," Birgit said, "I'm no strategist, but this list could also trigger people like Breanna. You've seen what she becomes when her friends, loved ones or family are threatened."

"Nevermind innocent people, but yes," Valencia said, "that is not the energy signature Madden is looking for. Bre's signature is destructive."

"Unless you harness it," Reilly said, stepping off the last step and crunching over the sand toward them. "Remember Jasmine said that her contact said something about an energy harnessing plant, but they didn't know where it was situated or what it did. Well, I picked up a document Michael pulled from his paperwork storage. We're looking for energy harnessing equipment, preferable stollen equipment of abnormal orders."

"Then we have a hit," Calla called, her hands rising in the air in victory. "There were some large pieces of that kind of equipment stolen as early as last week. The list goes further back; at least for the past two years, it looks like whoever did the stealing started with stealing easily missed pieces. Recently they were getting reckless enough to simply steal whatever was needed."

Tina reached for the printout, scanning it before handing it to Reilly, "Some of these pieces were missing over a month ago. Case files were open, but nothing was done to find them."

"Law enforcement that picked it up seems to have an MIA on record," Reilly nodded, "what are the odds they wear a necklace with the absurd design on."

"All the odds in the world," Calla pointed to the large screen, "it seems those specific people have been MIA for four days. Necklaces intact."

Jesse looked at his watch, "Where is the briefing being held?"

"Probably down here," Reilly said, "Cara and Oran have their equipment out looking for some information. Daisy and the rest of Tina's crew are ..."

"... making food in one of the kitchens." Tina ended the sentence for him, earning a strange look as he met and held her gaze.

"Tina, why are you covering for those not here?" Valencia asked, looking between the pair.

Tina sighed, "I don't want them getting into any more trouble than they already have," Tina said, slumping in her chair. "It triggers them when they get upset."

Jesse met and held her gaze, crossing his arms over his chest, "Energy signatures?"

"They all have impulsive, combustive energy signatures," Tina mumbled, "Rose erupted when Hana explained something to her. It was as if they are slowly becoming unstable, and I worry about them."

"They are not unstable," Cara spoke as she stepped off the last stair, moving quickly toward them, "simply under large portions of stress. Rose realised that when it happened. She has been looking into what is required to keep everyone calm. Apparently, the first step is to decide not to be worked up."

"You know this how?" Reilly asked, raising his eyebrows in question.

Cara pointed to her head, "It's busy in here."

Nodding, Reilly looked around. A lot of information came from the different stations.

"You have them working well," Reilly said, watching the group huddle, talk, break apart and reform.

Jesse frowned, "Who has them working well?"

"You," Reilly nodded, "it takes a leader to lead."

"Yes," Jesse nodded, his face remaining expressionless, "it also takes a leader to know when to be led."

"It was just a statement," Reilly raised his hands in surrender.

"Was it?" Jesse asked, staring at his friend unblinkingly, "Bre is doing a fantastic job of keeping this operation together. If there is a ripple of unhappiness, perhaps it should be spoken of when everyone is present."

"That is just it," Reilly said, "everyone saw what she did to Clio when she was opposed."

"Clio stepped over the line," Jesse said, "if she was in an official military unit, both of us know that behaviour would have sent her to a court-martial."

Reilly sighed, "Yeah, I know."

"So, who has a problem with Bre?" Jesse asked.

"Some of Craig's guys seem to feel she isn't the right fit to run the operation," Reilly murmured, "plus they feel that she got it because Michael and Craig are her brothers."

"We both know that isn't true," Jesse narrowed his eyes on Reilly, "what did you say?"

"I told them they were way off base, and the leadership process was a choice made by everyone present at the time," Reilly sighed, "I don't think they were convinced."

Jesse stared at Reilly, "Who exactly wasn't convinced?"

Reilly seemed to experience an inner battle before huffing out a breath, propping his hands on his hips and muttering a name Jesse couldn't just hear.

"A little louder," Jesse said.

"Jeff," Reilly said, looking around to see if anyone heard. Everyone except Cara continued with whatever they were doing. Cara seemed to be having a conversation of her own.

"Meeting down here," she called to the room, "five minutes."

"Breanna?" Jesse asked.

"Just given her directions," Cara frowned, "for some reason, Tania has become her personal bodyguard," she looked at Reilly. "You wouldn't happen to know why?"

"The last I saw Bre was heading to her living quarters," Reilly frowned, "I have no idea what could have happened."

"Well, something did," Cara sighed, "Tania is never this motivated toward violence against one of our own."

"Very true. Tania never wants to hurt someone on our side," Valencia said.

"But she will if they mean to hurt someone like Breanna," Birgit said.

"That said, Jesse, we have the information you require," Valencia said, sighing heavily.

Nodding, Jesse moved to where a table had been brought out into the larger area. Printouts and maps lay scattered across it.

"It seems you have been here for months," he chuckled, "you three don't play around, do you?"

"When lives are on the line, they usually don't," Kyle smiled, joining the group, winking at Calla, "Breanna is on her way."

"What happened that she needs a bodyguard?" Jesse asked while looking at the map the women had marked.

"Jeff seemed to lose it and tried to take Breanna on..." Kyle cleared his throat, "... Tania was walking by and noticed the secured weapons shaking."

"How did she know it was Jeff?" Reilly frowned.

"He had balls of energy forming in the centre of his palms," Kyle looked around the table. "Before you all get on the beat-down bandwagon, Craig is already addressing it."

"Why are there so many eruptions?" Cara asked,

"something is deliberately triggered to make some of us look unstable," Cara frowned. "All of these people may be fairly new to the group, but they have proven to be stable and dependable teammates."

"That is something we need to figure out," Breanna said, walking across the room with Tania following her in full bodyguard mode.

"Is Jeff okay?" Birgit asked.

"Why would you care?" Kyle asked.

"I know when I was scared and acted out," Birgit said, "I felt awful afterwards."

"It didn't seem that way from where we stood," Tania stated, "you seemed to be picking on the weakest of the group."

Birgit/Valencia stilled. Their eyes glazed over in a conversational way.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked, looking at Jesse.

"They're talking," Jesse said, "give them a moment."

"So," Kyle pointed between Jesse and Valencia, "you're official now?"

"We still need to iron out some things, but yes," Jesse nodded, his face remaining expressionless, "it is for the best we stay together."

"Whose best?" Tina asked her twinkling eyes, meeting Jesse's bland gaze.

"Best for both of us," Valencia added to the conversation touching Jesse's arm, "Birgit has pointed out something we may have overlooked."

"Birgit?" Breanna waited.

Jesse watched the struggle as Valencia remained silent. He wondered if anyone else could see the interaction between the pair living in one body.

"Um ..." Birgit cleared her throat, "I was pointing out to V that the trigger may be the same as the combination of Jasmine and myself."

Silence followed her words. Jasmine frowned in thought before breathing in sharply and letting out a breathy "Oh".

Jesse watched the two women give each other a significant look, "Care to share?"

Jasmine blinked quickly, "Can't you see?"

"See what?" Kyle asked, his hands raised in a questioning manner, "I understand you two are having a private conversation, but we are not privy to your thoughts."

"Enough," Cara snapped, "think. Jasmine is... was... can be Birgit's trigger. What happened to Val when Jasmine phased in?"

"Plus, I learnt that Phoenix is also a power source for me," Jasmine added, shuffling nervously when everyone looked at her, "I found out on the train. He levitated me and kept me from being a Jasmine pancake."

"I would have been a Valencia pancake if it hadn't been for Jasmine," Valencia added.

"I did feel a sudden release when he pulled you in," Birgit added, "but I did have to refuel him when we got here."

Oran arrived at the table, startling Cara by pulling her into a sideways hug, "Relax, sis," Cara seemed to deflate against him as he brushed a kiss against her head. "Here is the information required."

He passed it to Jesse, "We have trigger combinations within the group."

"Damn," Breanna muttered, "do we know who can trigger whom?"

"Yes," Jesse nodded, "we have a combination that could be rather combustive."

"Who?" everyone asked in unison.

"Do not attack me all at once," Jesse said, looking at the eager faces around the table.

"Perhaps I should reveal this in the meeting," he indicated the sound of many feet coming down the stairs, "Tania, you can relax a little. I don't think Jeff will try what he did before."

"Can never be too careful," Tania muttered, "I will be watching."

"Fair enough," Jesse nodded.

"Want to fill me in?" Breanna spoke softly while the others moved away from the table.

If you stumble upon this tale on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.

"No," Jesse said softly, "you will have to trust that I know what I'm doing."

Breanna stared at him, "Okay," she sighed, "it must be explosive."

"It is," Oran gave a tight smile before looking at Jesse, "can I help with anything?"

"Yes," Jesse nodded, "keep Cara calm."

"I can do that," Oran grinned widely as he moved off to chat with his sister.

"The floor is yours," Jesse said to Breanna before moving toward Valencia.

"Indeed," she muttered as she watched him hug Valencia gently, "what makes me feel like we need the stones and this cave to keep from being detected."

"Do they have any idea about this place, Harvey?" the tall butler whispered.

"The children don't understand what their father did, Jenkins," Harvey said, continuing to polish the silver, "Michael is simply following memories from the Admiral's instructions."

"Do Craig and Breanna understand why they are in the military?" Jenkins asked, "have they found those journals yet?"

"Craig came close to it today, but he was distracted by Jeff losing it," Harvey said, "perhaps I put the equaliser on too soon."

"You followed instructions and protocols to the letter," Jenkins sighed, "we can expect more before they realise the roller coaster they have been living with to this point."

"We may be following orders," Harvey sighed, "but we may be jeopardising their missions."

"Are they still unaware we can assist them?" Jenkins shook his head.

"It would seem so," Harvey grinned, "we must be good as ever to keep our cover and continue with our mission."

"Where are they now?" Jenkins asked.

"In the cave," Harvey grinned, "they have no idea what that place holds. It seems they are used to working without much if any equipment."

"I heard MValencia watched Jesse walk away. A deep yearning around her heart made her sigh.

"He's talking to you, told you he loves you, and you're doing this together. Why are you yearning after him?" Birgit whispered, "Can we focus on what we're doing? Let's get this done. Save the world, and then I'll give you all the time you need with Jesse."

"Ah, yes," Valencia nodded, clearing her throat. "You are right, but I want a kiss," Valencia murmured as they moved toward the station where Tina sat.

"It will happen," Birgit said, "what do you tell everyone else?"

"Be patient, and it will happen for you," Valencia said, "I get the message B. What do we have?" Valencia asked Tina, who worked furiously at the keyboard.

"Check the printer," Tina said, "I'm going into everything ... family ... friends in any area of their life, no matter how remote. We need to understand if there is a trigger and why it's a trigger."

Valencia moved to the printer scooping up the few sheets of paper in the tray, "Most of them have family," Valencia said, moving back toward Tina, "oh, this is interesting."

"What?" Tina glanced over her shoulder, "did you find something?"

"Look at the associates of the last few on the list," Valencia said, passing the paper to Tina.

Silence hung while Tina read through the list of family and associates for those missing. Finally, she looked up.

"Weren't these last few at the world summit?" Tina said quietly, "that name at the bottom of the list here has the same surname as the fanatic who took Daisy."

"I still think he was after Bre, but yes, same last name," Valencia said, "who has a high energy signature in your group?"

"I'm not sure," Tina said, "why would you ask that?"

"Cara and Oran have been tracking the energy signatures of everyone that has been travelling with us," Jesse said, stopping next to Tina, "let's see the list."

"I'll get hold of Cara about the energy signatures," Valencia said, "if we can figure that out, we can figure out why someone has put David's name on the list."

"David's name isn't on the list," Tina said, looking over Jesse's shoulder and pointing to the name similar to David's.

"That is a Davina Gordon," Tina said quietly, "Gordon?"

"Yes," Jesse sighed, "Craig, Breanna and Micheal have the same last name."

"This isn't a list designed to trigger those on the list," Birgit said, "I'm no strategist, but this list could also trigger people like Breanna. You've seen what she becomes when her loved ones or family are threatened."

"Nevermind innocent people, but yes," Valencia said, "that is not the energy signature Madden is looking for. Bre's signature is destructive."

"Unless you harness it," Reilly said, stepping off the last step and crunching over the sand toward them, "I picked up a document Michael pulled from his paperwork storage. We're looking for energy harnessing equipment."

"We have a hit," Calla called, her hands rising in the air in victory, "there were some large pieces stolen as early as last week."

Tina reached for the printout, scanning it before handing it to Reilly, "Some of these pieces were missing over a month ago. Case files were open, but nothing was done to find them."

"Law enforcement that picked it up seems to have an MIA on record," Reilly nodded, "what are the odds they wear a necklace with the absurd design on it ."

"All the odds in the world," Calla pointed to the screen, "they have been MIA for four days. Necklaces intact."

Jesse looked at his watch, "Where is the briefing being held?"

"Probably down here," Reilly said, "Cara and Oran have their equipment out looking for some information. Daisy and the rest of Tina's crew are ..."

"... making food in one of the kitchens." Tina ended the sentence for him, earning a strange look as he met and held her gaze.

"Tina, why are you covering for those not here?" Valencia asked, looking between the pair.

Tina sighed, "I don't want them getting into any more trouble than they already have," Tina said, slumping in her chair. "It triggers them when they get upset."

Jesse met and held her gaze, crossing his arms over his chest, "Energy signatures?"

"They all have impulsive, combustive energy signatures," Tina mumbled, "Rose erupted the other day when Hana was explaining something to her. It was as if they are slowly becoming unstable, and I worry about them."

"They are not unstable," Cara spoke as she stepped off the last stair, moving quickly toward them, "simply under large portions of stress. Rose realised that when it happened. She has been looking into what is required to keep everyone calm. Apparently, the first step is to decide not to be worked up, obvious but effective."

"You know this how?" Reilly asked, raising his eyebrows in question.

Cara pointed to her head, "It's busy in here."

Nodding, Reilly looked around. A lot of information came from the different stations.

"You have them working well," Reilly said, watching the group huddle, talk, break apart and reform.

Jesse frowned, "Who has them working well?"

"You," Reilly nodded, "it takes a leader to lead."

"Yes," Jesse nodded, his face remaining expressionless, "it also takes a leader to know when to be led."

"It was just a statement," Reilly raised his hands in surrender.

"Was it?" Jesse asked, staring at his friend unblinkingly, "Bre is doing a fantastic job of keeping this operation together. If there is a ripple of unhappiness, perhaps it should be spoken of when everyone is present."

"That is just it," Reilly said, "everyone saw what she did to Clio when she was opposed."

"Clio stepped over the line," Jesse said, "if she was in an official military unit, both of us know that behaviour would have sent her to a court-martial."

Reilly sighed, "Yeah, I know."

"So, who has a problem with Bre?" Jesse asked.

"Some of Craig's guys seem to feel she isn't the right fit to run the operation," Reilly murmured, "plus they feel that she got it because Michael and Craig are her brothers."

"We both know that isn't true," Jesse narrowed his eyes on Reilly, "what did you say?"

"I told them they were way off base, and the leadership process was a choice made by everyone present at the time, plus Craig and Micheal never had a say in that process," Reilly sighed. "I don't think they were convinced."

Jesse stared at Reilly, "Who exactly wasn't convinced?"

Reilly seemed to experience an inner battle before huffing out a breath, propping his hands on his hips and muttering a name Jesse couldn't just hear.

"A little louder," Jesse said.

"Jeff," Reilly said, looking around to see if anyone heard. Everyone except Cara continued with whatever they were doing. Cara seemed to be having a conversation of her own.

"Meeting down here," she called to the room, "five minutes."

"Breanna?" Jesse asked.

"Just given her directions," Cara frowned, "for some reason, Tania has become her personal bodyguard," she looked at Reilly. "You wouldn't happen to know why?"

"The last I saw Bre was heading to her living quarters," Reilly frowned, "I have no idea what could have happened."

"Well, something did," Cara sighed, "Tania is never this motivated toward violence against one of our own."

"Very true. Tania never wants to hurt someone on our side," Valencia said.

"But she will if they mean to hurt someone like Breanna," Birgit said.

"That said, Jesse, we have the information you require," Valencia said.

Nodding, Jesse moved to where a table had been brought out into the larger area. Printouts and maps lay scattered across it.

"It seems you have been here for months," he chuckled, "you three don't play around, do you?"

"When lives are on the line, they usually don't," Kyle smiled, joining the group, winking at Calla, "Bre is on her way."

"What happened that she needs a bodyguard?" Jesse asked while looking at the map the women had marked.

"Jeff seemed to lose it and tried to take Breanna on..." Kyle cleared his throat, "... Tania was walking by and noticed the secured weapons shaking."

"How did she know it was Jeff?" Reilly frowned.

"He had balls of energy forming in the centre of his palms," Kyle looked around the table. "Before you all get on the beat-down bandwagon, Craig is already addressing it."

"Why are there so many eruptions?" Cara asked,

"something is deliberately triggering us to make some of us look unstable," Cara frowned. "All of these people may be fairly new to the group, but they have proven to be stable and dependable teammates."

"That is something we need to figure out," Breanna said, walking across the room with Tania following her in full bodyguard mode.

"Is Jeff okay?" Birgit asked.

"Why would you care?" Kyle asked.

"I know when I was scared and acted out," Birgit said, "I felt awful afterwards."

"It didn't seem that way from where we stood," Tania stated, "you seemed to be picking on the weakest of the group."

Birgit/Valencia stilled. Their eyes glazed over in a conversational way.

"What's going on?" Kyle asked, looking at Jesse.

"They're talking," Jesse said, "give them a moment."

"So," Kyle pointed between Jesse and Valencia, "you're official now?"

"We still need to iron out some things, but yes," Jesse nodded, his face remaining expressionless, "it is for the best we stay together."

"Whose best?" Tina asked her twinkling eyes, meeting Jesse's bland gaze.

"Best for both of us," Valencia added to the conversation touching Jesse's arm, "Birgit has pointed out something we may have overlooked."

"Birgit?" Breanna waited.

Jesse watched the struggle as Valencia remained silent. He wondered if anyone else could see the interaction between the pair living in one body.

"Um ..." Birgit cleared her throat, "I was pointing out to V that the trigger may be the same as the combination of Jasmine and myself."

Silence followed her words. Jasmine frowned in thought before breathing in sharply and letting out a breathy "Oh".

Jesse watched the two women give each other a significant look, "Care to share?"

Jasmine blinked quickly, "Can't you see?"

"See what?" Kyle asked, his hands raised in a questioning manner, "I understand you two are having a private conversation, but we are not privy to your thoughts."

"Enough," Cara snapped, "think. Jasmine is... was... can be Birgit's trigger. What happened to Val when Jasmine phased in?"

"Plus, I learnt that Phoenix is also a power source for me," Jasmine added, shuffling nervously when everyone looked at her, "I found out on the train. He levitated me and kept me from being a Jasmine pancake."

"I would have been a Valencia pancake if it hadn't been for Jasmine," Valencia added.

"I did feel a sudden release when he pulled you in," Birgit added, "but I did have to refuel him when we got here."

Oran arrived at the table, startling Cara by pulling her into a sideways hug, "Relax, sis," Cara seemed to deflate against him as he brushed a kiss against her head. "Here is the information required."

He passed it to Jesse, "We have trigger combinations within the group."

"Damn," Breanna muttered, "do we know who can trigger whom?"

"Yes," Jesse nodded, "we have a combination that could be rather combustive."

"Who?" everyone asked in unison.

"Do not attack me all at once," Jesse said, looking at the eager faces around the table.

"Perhaps I should reveal this in the meeting," he indicated the sound of many feet coming down the stairs, "Tania, you can relax a little. I don't think Jeff will try what he did before."

"Can never be too careful," Tania muttered, "I will be watching."

"Fair enough," Jesse nodded.

"Want to fill me in?" Breanna spoke softly while the others moved away from the table.

"No," Jesse said softly, "you will have to trust that I know what I'm doing."

Breanna stared at him, "Okay," she sighed, "it must be explosive."

"It is," Oran gave a tight smile before looking at Jesse, "can I help with anything?"

"Yes," Jesse nodded, "keep Cara calm."

"I can do that," Oran grinned widely as he moved off to chat with his sister.

"The floor is yours," Jesse said to Breanna before moving toward Valencia.

"Indeed," she muttered as she watched him hug Valencia gently, "what makes me feel like we need the stones and this cave to keep from being detected."

"Do they have any idea about this place, Harvey?" Turnkey whispered.

"The children don't understand what their father did; as for you, Jenkins Turnkey, you nearly gave it away when they arrived," Harvey said, polishing the silver. "Michael is simply following memories from the Admiral's instructions."

"Do Craig and Breanna understand why they are in the military?" Jenkins asked, "have they found those journals yet?"

"Craig came close to it today, but he was distracted by Jeff losing it," Harvey said, "perhaps I put the equaliser on too soon."

"You followed instructions and protocols to the letter," Jenkins sighed, "we can expect more before they realise the roller coaster they have been living with to this point."

"We may be following orders," Harvey sighed, "but we may be jeopardising their missions."

"Are they still unaware we can assist them?" Jenkins shook his head.

"It would seem so," Harvey grinned, "we must be good as ever to keep our cover and continue with our mission."

"Where are they now?" Jenkins asked.

"In the cave," Harvey grinned, "they have no idea what that place holds. It seems they are used to working without much if any equipment."

"I heard Michael tell Breanna they would have to do this independently. They are definitely working on something. The logs show excessive printer usage in the past half hour," Jenkins frowned.

"Betty told me the computer's search history has been looking into some extraordinary material," Harvey chuckled, "heat signatures, energy signatures and trigger connections."

"Wonder how they will react when they see the bank of computers where the Admiral kept backups of all Darcia's work," Jenkins murmured. "That could be damning for her indeed."

"Apparently, she is dead," Harvey said, "the children told me."

"Really," Jenkin's eyebrows raised in surprise, "who did the deed?"

"I think Breanna was involved," Harvey frowned thoughtfully, "but I don't think she was the one who did the final deed. Whoever actually ended it, I'm forever grateful. It would have torn Breanna apart."

"She was always the more sensitive of the two," Jenkins said, "here comes Betty. I think the group have discovered something from the Admirals servers."

"They found the energy links," Betty said urgently, "we need to go into standby mode."

"Increase the signal jammer," Harvey said, "tell the others we have gone from amber to red."

"No one sleeps tonight," Jenkins nodded between the trio, "we need to make sure they are safe ... even from themselves."

"Phase 2?" Betty whispered.

"Not yet," Harvey sighed, "I feel we need to give them time to find their solid footing before revealing that one."

The three serious expressions met each other before nodding and heading in different directions.

"Sir, the prisoners, are becoming restless," a black-clad fanatic said, entering a well-equipped control room.

"Let them," Madden muttered, his attention on a screen just before him, "the more agitated they become, the more power we gather."

"Do they know why they are here?" the fanatic dared to ask.

"Only they were invited to various meetings, and now they are all in that room," Madden seemed distracted. "In twenty-four hours, there will be a meeting of the energy powers of the world. They will see what Darcia and I can do for an alternative energy source. We will finally have what we planned together."

"Shares in the energy market?" the fanatic frowned.

"No," Madden spat, "idiot. We will own the energy world. If anyone wants energy, they will need to pay. In coin or humanity."

The fanatic swallowed hard, absently playing with the red band around his arm as he turned to leave the room. Once, this had been everything he wanted out of his career. It seemed the only way forward after he was turned into a freak. But seeing what both Darcia and Madden were capable of and how far they pushed everything humane, ethical and decent, he wondered if he had made the wrong choice. Could he change his destiny even at this late stage? Worry flittered in his eyes, and the concerned frown thankfully went unnoticed.

"Sir, the prisoners, are becoming restless," a black-clad fanatic said, entering a well-equipped control room.

"Let them," Madden muttered, his attention on a screen just before him, "the more agitated they become, the more power we gather."

"Do they know why they are here?" the fanatic dared to ask.

"Only they were invited to various meetings, and now they are all in that room," Madden seemed distracted. "In twenty-four hours, there will be a meeting of the energy powers of the world. They will see what Darcia and I can do for an alternative energy source. We will finally have what we planned together."

"Shares in the energy market?" the fanatic frowned.

"No," Madden spat, "idiot. We will own the energy world. If anyone wants energy, they will need to pay. In coin or humanity."

The fanatic swallowed hard, absently pulling the red band around his arm as he turned to leave the room. Once, he had thought this had been everything he wanted out of his career. It seemed the only way forward after he was turned into a freak. But after seeing what both Darcia and Madden were capable of and how far they pushed everything humane, ethical and decent, he wondered if he had made the wrong choice. Could he change his destiny even at this late stage? He had joined these feared ranks by his own will. He was not engineered like the others; nothing was added to him to make him obey. Worry flittered in his eyes, and the concerned frown thankfully went unnoticed. What was that whisper he heard from that awful room? Everyone had a choice. Perhaps he still had one, but what to do with it.