"Sir, we are nearing the coordinates," the pilot said, "but the energy surge has disappeared."

"Define disappeared?" the cold voice said from a chair midway down the open-plan aircraft.

"It was there, and then it's not," the pilot said, "do we continue?"

"Let us see what is happening at the coordinates," the cold voice said, "whoever they have there or had there is someone I need to accomplish my task."

"Yes, sir," the pilot said, glancing nervously at the copilot, "continuing on course, sir."

Madden gazed at the countryside below the plane; he needed the kind of enhancements the experiment he was hunting had to obtain his goals. Although he had not heard from Darcia for a few days, it did not matter; he had gotten all he wanted from her when they were together. He had all he required to move forward with his plans. She had small plans compared to his, but he needed to hunt and retrieve the experiments she had stupidly released, but no matter, that was the best part of the capture. The cold smile spread his lips across the long, thin face under cold, lifeless eyes. Where she had not succeeded, he would be achieving so much more than his goal. He would gain a prize.

Breanna looked at the screens above them, the lockdown as in place. The jammers were up, and the incoming light aircraft would see only another seaside mansion. Everything was as it should be.

"Bre," Rielly called from where he monitored the fast working tech room team, "it has been picked up; the incoming aircraft has thermal sensors."

Breanna closed her eyes, "Evacuate. Now. To the tunnels."

She flipped her phone open and hit her brother's speed dial, "We need a safe house. A home from home, we're evacuating and can take nothing with. Yes, shut down the systems remotely, please."

Pausing as she listened and closed her phone. Moving to the intercom on a nearby panel, she hit a button, and her voice would be heard everywhere.

"This is a level A evacuation," she said, "this is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill. Take only essentials for a journey to a predetermined destiny. The escape pods are being programmed now. We must be gone in less than ten minutes. "

Pulling a keyboard toward her, she typed in the code Michael had given her and left the now empty tech room without looking back.

People were moving in a hurried stream toward the kitchen and dining areas. Breanna waited until there was hardly anyone else in the massive foyer. Craig and Frank came down one side of the half-moon stairway while Reilly and Tania came down the other.

"Anyone left behind?" Breanna asked.

"Not that we can see," Craig said, "you two?"

"Same," Tania said, "we're heading to the tunnels."

"Go," Breanna said, "you as well, Craig."

"Bre," he said, frowning, "what about you?"

"Cara and I will do the last sweep," she said, looking at her watch, "we have five minutes. Get everyone else out."

Craig stared at his younger sister. He knew that determined look in her eyes, "Make it quick. Otherwise, I'm coming back for you."

"Go," Breanna said as Cara ran toward them, "Cara, let's get this done. We have four minutes."

"No pressure," Cara said, slightly breathless, but she closed her eyes and stilled, scanning the vast house for the presence of any minds. Breanna watched the minutes tick by. Cara opened her eyes at the two-minute mark, "Everyone is in the tunnels."

"Good," Breanna nodded, "let's go."

Together the two women sprinted toward the tunnels.

"What happens if we don't get to the other side of the tunnel door before the set time," Cara asked as they ran.

"We're fair game to whoever walks through the front door," Breanna said, checking the time and increasing her speed.

"No thanks," Cara said as they barely slipped through the closing doors.

"There you are," Craig said, heading in their direction, "we have one pod left; hurry up."

Breanna slipped into the packed pod's open floor space, shifting up for Cara and Craig to join her. The lid closed as Craig eased into the cramped space, and they held on as they shot through the escape tunnels to wherever Michael was sending them.

"Do you think we'll ever come back here?" Cara whispered.

"No idea," Breanna sighed, "perhaps when this is over."

"I'll miss my early morning runs along the beach," Cara sighed, "it was a really awesome place to stay."

"Yes," Craig nodded, "it was."

Awareness filtered through Valencia. She felt as though she had been imprisoned, stifled and rejected. The side of her face hurt, and her limbs felt strange and heavy. The air around her felt different. Colder. Springing open, her startled eyes took in her surroundings. She lay on a double bed in a curtained bedroom.

"What the ..." she sat up quickly, swinging her legs over the side.

Where was she?

What was going on?

The room was in shadow. Curtain's drawn. It felt like the air was … muted … somehow. Valencia felt confident she was not back in the hands of Darcia's madness, but she still felt like a prisoner. Carefully standing, she placed her hand against the wall. Pressing into the padding, it felt spongy under her fingers, reminding her of soundproofing she had once put up for a client in his studio. Was this room soundproofed? Why? Glancing around and then up, Valencia took in the ceiling. It was everywhere.

"What is going on?" she whispered.

The door opened. Jesse and Michael stepped through the doorway, followed by David.

"I see you're awake," Michael said.

"Why am I here?" her question blew out hoarsely, "where am I? This … place ... is not base. Please, tell me what is going on?"

"Whose base?" David asked, his voice and expression gravely serious.

"What are you talking about?" Valencia stepped forward, and the three men stepped back in unison, "our base … with Breanna, Craig, The Tina Team?" Three serious gazes looked back at her, "Have I done something?"

Silently his eyes not leaving hers, Michael dipped his hand into his pocket, retrieving the remote. Pushing a button, a soft mechanical sound drew Valencia's attention to the sound and the large screen coming out from the roof. Michael pressed another button, and a picture flickered into life. Valencia turned, her eyes narrowing.

"That is this room," she glanced at them, "you taped me?"

"Monitored you," Michael said, "we have several hours of footage."

"How long have I been out?" Valencia asked, her heart rate going up, her breathing becoming quicker.

"You need to calm down, Valencia," Michael said, "we don't want what happened the last time to happen again."

"Calm down? Last time?" frowning, she looked around taking in the disordered bedroom, "what happened here?"

"Watch her," Michael said as he turned to the screen, the images on the screen began flickering and moving forward.

Looking sideways at David and Jesse staring at her, Valencia took a moment to try and read them. Immediately David's protective dome sprung over the three of them. She felt her own ability bounce back, lifting her off her feet and landing her on the bed.

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"I don't understand," Valencia shook her head, "what is going on? Why are you staring at me like I'm the enemy?"

"This is why?" Michael said, indicating the screen; he waited for her to look at the screen before he allowed it to play.

Valencia watched herself rise from the bed, eyes glowing, as a type of bubble warped around her, moving objects in front of her. She watched as the door opened to show Rose standing, holding the doorknob, the onscreen Valencia turned to Rose.

"Let me out of this place," her voice sounded different, hoarse, gruff, "release me to the outside."

Valencia frowned. It didn't even sound like the way she spoke.

"Val," Rose implored, "please control this. Please don't let whatever this is take over."

"I ordered you to release me," the body of Valencia screamed on the screen.

Breanna stepped into the doorway, "Valencia, you have to be stronger than whatever has happened to you."

"I am not Valencia," the warped voice boomed, rattling the furniture, "now release me."

Valencia watched in horror as Rose buckled, clutching her chest, "Val, stop doing this," Breanna shouted, stepping in front of Rose. The sudden clashing of defensive powers and this distorted version of herself moved furniture hard against the walls.

"I don't want to hurt you," Breanna spoke, her voice sounding as though she was talking underwater.

"What the hell ..." Jesse appeared behind Breanna, kneeling next to Rose, "she needs medical … now."

Valencia clapped her hand over her mouth, tears welling in her eyes and trickling down her cheeks. What had she done? First Jasmine and now Rose.

Rose disappeared from the screen in the arms of Jesse and another person who Val couldn't see. The door closed, leaving Breanna facing off against Valencia. The furniture began to rattle dangerously.

"I will crush you," Valencia heard herself speak, "I will trample you to the floor."

"You may try," Breanna said, her eyes never wavering from the glowing stare of the screen Valencia. "Darcia never got it right; what makes you think you will?

"Darcia? Who is Darcia?"

"Well, at least we know you're made on your own," Breanna ground out, "either get this under control, or I will do it for you."

"Really," sneered Valencia, "I'd like to see you try."

The warp bubble seemed to grow bigger, challenging the strength of Breanna's ability.

"Please tell me I didn't hurt Bre," Valencia sobbed, "please tell me that she is okay."

"Keep watching," Michael said, "you need to understand the seriousness of why you are here."

Valencia turned to the screen again, "Not Bre," she swiped at her cheeks, "please, not Bre."

On-Screen, Valencia screamed, extending her arms to the side, palms wide, pushing forward toward Breanna. Val watched, horrified, as her best friend stood against this other version of herself.

"The answer is no," Breanna said, her right arm extended out her hand opening; suddenly, she closed her eyes and snapped them open. The warping, screaming harpy on the screen seemed to rage against whatever was being done to her.

Breanna extended her left arm, palm flexed wide "You will come to heel. You will behave. You will find the good within yourself. You will come to understand you will not be harmed, but you will not do that at the expense of my best friend."

Valencia watched as Breanna pulled her palms together. The warping bubble seemed to grow smaller; on-screen-Valencia tried to expand it. Suddenly Breanna clapped her hands together and then abruptly opened them; it seemed like she was throwing something at the on-screen version of Valencia. Valencia watched as the bubble seemed to pop, her eyes rolled back, and she sagged to the floor.

"That was the last time you were awake," Michael spoke, watching the panting, sweating Breanna on screen.

"Is... is she okay?" Valencia whispered, "please tell me she is okay."

"She is," Michael nodded, "we cannot allow you near the others until we understand what happened to you. You need to understand and control whatever ... you have become."

Valencia nodded, "Is Rose ... okay?"

"She will be," he sighed, "the others have come through and are caring for her. Tina isn't thrilled with you, and the others are not too friendly either, but they understand you were … not yourself."

"Why are they looking at me like I did something wrong?" Valencia whispered, peeking at David and Jesse. David, she could understand, but Jesse.

"Jesse?" Michael called.

"If I said I wanted to help you get to the bottom of all of this," Jesse stepped forward, keeping out of her reach, "what would you say?"

"I would feel humbled that you would still want to help me," she said, "why?"

"Do you know what you said the last time I offered my help?" Jesse quirked his eyebrows at her.

Valencia frowned, "It's a hazy part of my memory, but I don't remember if you did ask me."

"I did, and you asked me why?"

"That doesn't make sense," Valencia shook her head, "I would know … we're friends … oh ..." Val closed her eyes, "she was in control."

"She?" Michael said, "yes, you could say that it was a she," he stepped between Jesse and herself, "and she gave our location away to Madden. She was the cause of the energy spikes that had two people requiring medical care and the entire compound evacuated, scrubbed and locked down. So until you can get … her ... under control or working with you … this is where you will stay. The bathroom is through there, a food replicator is in the dining area, and entertainment is in the cabinet. On the bedside table is a stack of journals that you will use to make journal entries. We will be in touch in the morning."

"Morning?" Valencia looked between the three, "how long have I been here?"

"Almost a week," Michael said, leaving the room while Jesse and David backed out, continually watching her.

The door shut, and Valencia looked around the suite, "I guess it's just you and I," she whispered, "I really wish I understood why you behave as you do."

Moving toward the kitchen area, she found the food replicator and asked for a coffee and beef burger. A cup dropped down and filled with coffee in one of the two box-like metal openings. In the bigger one, a burger with all the trimmings materialized.

"Feels like I'm in a version of Star Trek," she sighed, taking the food she sat at the table. She was starving. Had she eaten at all in the time she had been here?

"How is she?" Brenna asked as her brother entered the study.

"She is distraught," he sighed, sinking into a chair, "I must say, David has reflexes that rival a ninja."

"Did she try something?" Breanna asked, "did she try and hurt anyone?"

"No, Val was herself," Michael waved her concern away, "she tried reading us …. them … I'm not sure who. One minute, I could move freely, and the next, I was in a bubble. He makes them big now."

"Dave takes his protection of us very seriously," she smiled, "how did Valencia react when she saw the video?"

"She was in tears and kept asking if Rose and yourself were okay," Michael said, "Bre, I'm not sure you should go near her until whoever is there comes to heel."

"Mike," Breanna said, "I cannot abandon my best friend. I have to go and see her."

"You can but not on your own," he said, "that is not an order. It is simply a caring brother being concerned for his sister."

"Fine," Breanna raised her hands in surrender, "David will be my escort when I see her."

"Thank you," Michael said, leaning back in the chair.

"How long are we going to be here?' Breanna asked.

"I'm not sure," he shook his head, "we cannot go back until Val sorts herself out."

"How did you get this place so fast?" Breanna looked around the study.

"When our parents went missing, their properties came to me," Michael shrugged, "with everyone else MIA, I was the last known family member."

"Did it come like this?" Breanna asked, "soundproof bedroom, full facilities in the bunker under the house, communications that would impress a president in hiding trying to stay in touch with the world."

"It came with all of it," Michael nodded, "when I first came here, I found a map of the place with names for all the rooms. Where Val is right now used to be Darcia's room."

"Wow," Breanna nodded, "even then Darcia was difficult."

"What will you do if Val cannot get the new ability under control?" Michael asked, watching Breanna pacing in front of his desk.

"That is not really an option," Breanna stood, "my friend will not allow someone or something to take full control. I'm not sure I could bear it if she failed."

Boredom drew a sigh from Valencia, the furniture had been put back in place, the broken ornaments and lamps gathered and placed in and around the one dustbin. Picking up a journal, Valencia leafed to the first page. Pulling a pen from the cylinder of stationery, she moved toward the dining area. Seating herself at the small dining room table, she stared at the blank page.

Where did she go from here?

What did she say?

What topic did she start with?

Should she worry about all these questions or simply start to write whatever came out. Deciding on a course of action, Valencia began to write.

The clock ticked in the silence. Although the hands moved around the face, the room felt timeless, vacant and void of anything to anchor it. Valencia finally stretched, closed the journal and stood. She wasn't hungry, but something to drink would be good.

Moving to the food replicator, she wondered what she wanted to drink. She felt a strange feeling of conflict building inside. Going on a hunch, she spoke softly as though to a terrified child.

"What would you like to drink?"

Silence met her question. A sense of curiosity followed the conflict.

"I'll read the list of what is to drink, and you let me know what you feel like," Valencia said, "if I don't feel like what you feel like, then we'll find something we both would like."

She waited as a sense of understanding melted over the conflict and curiosity. Slowly she began to read the beverages they could choose from.

"You want hot chocolate," Valencia said after completing the list. "I feel like Iced Coffee."

Anger rose suddenly. She felt the tentative grip she had on reality begin to slip.

"Wait," she gasped, "getting angry and taking over is not the answer to our situation."

A hint of hesitation was felt, "What else would you drink from the list?"

A raging heat rose swiftly from her core, "No... don't," she managed to gasp before the sudden darkness closed around her.

A pair of eyes opened effortlessly, rising the shared body from the floor. Pressing the button on the replicator, waiting as the hot chocolate poured into the cup before moving to the table. She would have what she wanted; there would be no compromise. She was tired of being dictated to, ignored and locked away. Opening the journal to the first blank page and began writing.