Valencia looked between them all, not understanding the significance of a large metal ball resting on metal legs. It reminded her of the toys her brother used to play with when they were younger.

"Who knew this was here?" Breanna looked over at Harvey, Jenkins and Betty.

The three shrugged in unison, their expressions telling they did not comprehend what they were looking at or the magnitude of the revelation.

"Do you know what this is?" Breanna asked, her voice rising.

The three shook their heads in unison once again. Sighing, Breanna turned back to the massive hole in the wall.

"Where did he get something like this?" Jesse asked no one in particular.

"He was down here most of the time he was at the house," Harvey said, "he could have built it."

Valencia still felt as though she was the only one present with no idea what they were looking for.

"It looks brand new," Tania spoke as she took in the metal monstrosity, "it doesn't look like something that has been gathering dust for a few years."

"Agreed," Cara said, walking forward, "it has a mental history."

"Careful, sis," Oran said, "we don't know the capabilities of that thing."

"This is ridiculous," Valencia said testily, "can someone tell me what is that thing?"

"That thing," Oran said, staring at the metal monstrosity in horror, "was used by Darcia to manipulate and extract abilities from experimental subjects."

"Why would anyone keep that here?" Cara murmured.

"There is something different about this one," Fiona chimed merrily, earning a few strange looks from the others, "it doesn't have the aggressive parts it once did. It seems they have been replaced. Recently."

"My father has been dead for some time," Breanna said, looking around, "who could have replaced those parts?"

A poignant silence filled the cave. All eyes turned to Betty, Harvey and Jenkins.

"The sixth person on the team," Jesse said into the silence.

Harvey nodded, "We cannot speak of him at the moment," Harvey cleared his throat, "but he had an incredible acumen for technology and invention."

"Was that the little one you smuggled out of Darcia's madhouse?" Birgit asked, looking at Betty.

Betty nodded, remaining silent, but Harvey filled it with information, "He has experimented on most cruelly. When Darcia started her mad scheme in her teens, your parents moved to another home the family owns."

"I remember that," Breanna narrowed her eyes in thought, "it was literally an overnight decision. She took one of you."

Breanna indicated the trio. Jenkins raised his hand in acknowledgement.

"Your father turned this place into a sanctuary," Harvey said. "A place where we could not be detected and could slowly turn back to some kind of normality we could understand.

"You're not enhanced," Valencia said, "why is that?"

"I worked with the Admiral before he got married," Harvey said, "he needed someone he could trust to run his home and various estates. We ran into each other after I left the military and spent some time catching up. He gave me an offer I couldn't refuse, and I joined his household staff."

"What did you do in the military?" Birgit asked curiosity, riding her words.

Harvey seemed to be reluctant to tell of this position. A slight blush ran along his cheekbones. He cleared his throat.

Inhaled deeply.

Opened his mouth and hesitated.

Closed his mouth.

Exhaled deeply.

"Oh heavens," Betty exclaimed, "he was a quartermaster and a brilliant one at that."

"So running our estates and homes was easy to do," Breanna nodded.

Harvey shrugged while looking at the others with him, "I have outstanding help."

"That may be," Tania nodded, "but every team of "good help" needs a good leader. You must be terrific to keep the many estates running so efficiently."

Harvey nodded slightly in thanks.

"What is different about this one?" Breanna asked, turning to look at the foul ball of metal.

"Perhaps Hana can help find out the difference," Tania sighed.

"Perhaps," Breanna whispered, "there is something else."

"What is that "something" else?" Valencia asked, walking towards Breanna, "what else could there possibly be?"

Reilly stopped next to Breanna, "There are differences, but I don't think they are detrimental for us."

"If there are changes," Tania frowned, "what are they? Why were they made? What can they do to us or for us?"

"You actually ask questions," Reilly grinned, "who knew."

"Reilly," Tania glared at him, "just don't."

Reilly grinned at Tania before turning his attention to the metal ball, "They are excellent questions."

"Thanks," Tania nodded.

"Let's answer them," Reilly sighed, "how are we supposed to do that without putting anyone at risk?"

"Perhaps we need to ask the correct person," Trevet said as he walked across the sandy floor toward the group.

"Yeah, but who would that person be?" Tania asked.

"We need to find out. Does anyone know where Dave is?" Breanna asked, looking around the group, each looking at the other, no one with an answer. "Let's hope he has discovered something to help us track down the information we need."

David wandered the halls of the house. Breanna seemed to have disappeared not only from their rooms but also from the interior of the building. He had a hunch she was in the basement looking for answers to questions that kept mounting. Understandable as there were questions of his own that needed answering. Questions about some weird behaviour patterns he had observed. Stopping in front of a wall he had seen Trevet standing the previous day rubbing his chest, David wondered what had been happening with the other man. What was it about this wall?

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Stepping closer, David ran his hands over the wood panelling from floor to ceiling. Something about the way it ran vertically instead of horizontally caught his attention. Moving to his right, David felt the wood, pressing the palm of his hand against it before sliding it from side to side. He froze. Air touched his palm first and then brushed against his cheek as he moved over the area again. Moving into the draft once again, David focused his enhanced eyesight and found the thin line between the panelling. A doorway. Doorways lead to places. Where did this doorway lead to? The sudden need to know slammed into him.

Pushing against the panelling, David felt the wood drop away, sliding to the left. The unexpected action left him staring into the void of a short cement tunnel and a steep set of stairs ascending the side of what looked like a rock face. Carefully stepping into the small area, he froze as the door closed and left him in the dark.

After a moment, lights on the left side of the ascending passageway flickered on, illuminating the stairs. Slowly David began to climb.

The study lights dimmed as soon as the door at the bottom of the passageway opened, allowing entry before closing. The lone figure glanced at the ceiling before pushing out of the broad high-backed chair and placing the brightly coloured manilla folder across the pile being worked through. Turning to a large screen, scanning the security camera blocks from top to bottom before moving an alert gaze to the centre block.

A tall, muscular man with a military bearing slowly climbed the stairs. He didn't seem to be in a hurry to get to a point, giving room to assume that this was a by-the-seat-of-his-pants investigation. He didn't appear armed, but with so many enhancements in the house, he could be a weapon all on his own.

Moving to the bookcase, the room's occupant opened a cabinet removing a shotgun and a baseball bat. Knowing he was not really a fighting machine as some of these new arrivals were, he would fight. One way or another, he was going to defend himself.

David climbed the seemingly neverending staircase heading upwards. He could feel a presence somewhere above him. Already heightened senses seemed to be even more sensitive.

"Who is hiding out up here?" he whispered, following an ambling passageway at the top of the staircase.

Carefully pushing open an ornate solid wooden door, David took in an old-fashioned library which could double as an office. The deep red walls complimented the heavy old fashioned mahogany furniture. Bookcases brimming with books ran the length of the walls. The sense of a presence felt more potent in this room.

"If you want to know why I'm here, then you'll have to reveal yourself and ask," David spoke quietly, "if you plan on shooting me, I would think again. It will be the wrong move for yourself."

The sound of a shotgun cocking was the only warning before a short, stocky man stepped from behind the door. David felt his dome expand around him without even thinking about it. Looking at the face behind the aimed gun, David blinked rapidly. The man in front of him looked identical to Trevet, but he was shorter.

"I wouldn't fire that in here," David spoke softly, taking in the slight nervous blink of the eyes but the determination to defend himself blazing in the slightly almond-shaped eyes.

"Rather put it down," David continued softly. "Firing it will only hurt you..." he spotted the baseball bat nearby, "... as will the use of the baseball bat."

The Trevet look-alike met his steady stare for stare. Slowly the gun lowered as he took in the dome surrounding David.

"You're one of them," David heard the words but felt fascinated with the voice and the way they were spoken, "one of Darcia's people."

"I've never been one of Darcia's people," David said quietly, "but I have been at the end of her insanity. I'm not here to hurt you."

David watched the gun lower before the Trevet look-alike turned into the room, walking away. David followed slowly. A flash of movement caught his eye, and instantly his dome was back in place as a baseball bat came down toward him.

"Don't..." but the warning came too late as the bat bounced off his dome and hit the man against the forehead. David watched as he sank to the floor. The bat rolled away, stopping against a console. Keeping his dome up, David walked toward the Trevet look-alike; kneeling, he felt the pulse point. The man was still alive. Rising, he walked to the console. Scooping up the baseball bat, David put it on the nearby desk. The console sported several buttons. One named viewing window caught his interest. Reaching for the large black button below the name, he hesitated. The footage of Darcia's viewing window flashed through this mind. What if he found something like this here? He had promised never to keep anything from Breanna again. Inhaling deeply, he reached for the button once more.

"Please," the plea came from behind him, "don't."

Turning, David found the Trevet look-alike propped on his elbow, rubbing his head.

"Why shouldn't I?" David asked, keeping his expression as bland.

"He doesn't know I still live," the man groaned.

"Trevet already knows you're here," David said, turning to the console again, "that is how I found the door. He has been staring at the panel for the past few days."

"Past few days?" the man shook his head, "he shouldn't be able to feel me so soon."

"Trevet has been very sensitive about a lot of things since he has been in this house," David said, "besides, we never keep secrets from our family."

"Family?" the man frowned, "none of you is family."

"Yes, we are," David said, stepping toward the man staggering to his feet, "I could have taken you out when you tried to come at me with the bat, but I didn't."

"Why?" the man frowned at David, "you should have."

"Perhaps," David said, "but I'm guessing you are Trevets family. He is mine. Perhaps not by blood, but we are all we have. Each other."

"None of this makes sense," the man shook his head, "Darcia would have programmed you to be a killer."

"She tried," David said, walking over to the console and pressing the button, "but it didn't work."

Looking around, David watched the wall on the right of the room lift into the roof, showing a large window giving a full view of the cave and basement tech room below. He could see a group forming, chatting, and Breanna looked into a large room on the left of the window. He could not see what was in there, but she seemed disturbed by its discovery.

"They got in," the man sighed, "I hope I completed it well enough to be able to do what was required on the specifications."

"Explain that," David looked to the man next to him.

"I worked with the Admiral," the man said, "Breanna's father. He took me in when I didn't have anywhere to go, educated me and taught me everything I know."

"Why didn't you go home?" David asked.

"My family thought I was already dead," the man sighed, "even my brother."

"You must have missed them," David said, looking out the window again, "I know I would have."

"It has been hard," the man said, "but I think it was worse knowing my brother was in Darcia's hands, and I could do nothing about it."

"How old were you when Darcia experimented on you," David spoke softly.

"Very young," the man cleared his throat, "I was brought here when I was three or four."

"That is years ago," David frowned, "Breanna's father raised you."

"Pretty much," the man sighed, "and Betty. She smuggled me out of that place. If not for her, I would probably still be in that world."

David nodded, "Seems you fell into the right hands. Do you remember what was done to you?"

The stocky man turned to David then, "You're kidding."

"I was just wondering," David shrugged, "do you?"

"Everything," the man sighed, "every word, every action, every procedure."

"You must have been one of the first Darcia worked on," David shook his head, "I'm sorry."

The man turned to David narrowing his gaze on him, "Are you pitying me?"

"What?" David frowned, "that would be a wasted emotion."

"Wasted?" the man stared at David, "how?"

"We are all in the same position," David said, allowing his dome to lower, "every one of us who arrived here with Breanna, Michael and Craig. We could all feel sorry for ourselves, but there was no point. We have a choice. We must choose to work for good or evil or simply wallow in self-pity."

"The Admiral was right," the man nodded before sighing deeply, "he said the same thing."

"What is your name?" David asked, looking down at the group below.

"I have a name, but I'm not sure it's mine," the man said quietly, "I'm hoping my brother will know my real name or perhaps the name I have is my actual name."

Narrowing his eyes on the man, David waited a moment before understanding rippled through him. Each person in the group had faced a fear of some sort, but these muttered raw words showed the reality of fear.

"Why not come with me and see what happens?" David asked, levelling his voice at a reassuring level.

"I'm tempted," the man said, "but what if he doesn't know me."

"What do you think he will do?" David waited for the possibilities of the answer to sink into the man's mind, "what do you have to lose?"

"Nothing..." the man sighed, "and everything."

"Trevet already knows something isn't right," David said quietly, "he already knows something he is looking for is up here. Otherwise, I wouldn't have seen him rubbing his chest the other day while staring at the wall panel."

No answer came from the man next to him. Looking down, David found him looking through the glass to the basement below. Following the captured gaze, he saw Trevet standing on the bottom stair, looking up at them. Both faces looked pale, worried, scared and identical.

"Let's meet him," David said quietly, moving the stunned man toward the door.