Craig entered the tech room, stopping in the doorway, taking in the extraordinary activity level, and focused on finding Breanna. Valencia and Jesse sat at a bank of computers, talking between themselves and pointing at each other's screens, clearly working on something important. Breanna breezed past him, heading in their direction.
"Glad you're here," she said, "how is Tina?"
"Coming back to being herself," he said, following his sister, "what is going on?"
"We're about to find out," Breanna said, approaching Jesse and Valencia's terminals, occasionally referring to some of Craig's team hurriedly clicking away on computer keyboards nearby.
"What do we have?" Breanna asked, "what is the big emergency?"
"We discovered footage taken fifteen minutes ago?" Kyle said, indicating the large screen above the computers.
Craig stopped behind Breanna as she turned to watch the footage of a large group of fanatics with beers in hand walking through the streets, using their abilities to cause mayhem and destruction. Bodies lay in their wake, and civilians ahead of them ran screaming. Craig swore vividly as he and Breanna watched the men laugh at everything they were doing. He felt raw anger rise. Glancing at his sister, he could see the rage smouldering in her eyes.
"How many are there?" she ground out.
"Twenty-five," Birgit said, "we have been able to identify some of them from Darcia's database. We are running the rest now, but there is one angling away from the camera."
"Perhaps you can ID him from a reflection," Breanna said, watching the group terrorise the neighbourhood, "he seems to be orchestrating the whole thing."
"It could be Morgan from the other night," Calla said, "we don't know what we will be walking into."
"Get David, Frank, Clio, Tania, Jonathan and Simon," Brenna said, "tell them to gear up. Craig Phoenix is still debriefing his team from the night patrol. I'm sorry, you'll need to lead this group. Gear up"
Craig nodded, turning to follow orders as he heard Calla call over the verbal noise of the room.
"I'll inform Jasmine she will be needed for transporting," Calla said as she followed Craig from the tech room.
Breanna watched her brother leave and frowned, something was off with him, and he wasn't addressing the issue. Sighing, she turned toward those waiting for her attention.
"Birgit," Breanna looked at Valencia / Birgit as they paused in what they were doing, "you go as well to charge Jasmine. Calla is right. We don't know what we are walking into."
Birgit / Valencia nodded, relinquishing her post to change into her black fatigues. Acknowledging Jesse's whisper with a wink before she left.
"What's going on?" Jesse asked, "you're bristling."
"At least twenty-five fanatics terrorising civilians," Breanna pointed at the screen, breathing out, "we don't know casualties or fatalities. I detest people who do this."
"Yep, that would make you angry," Jesse nodded.
"Where am I taking them?" Jasmine asked, turning pale as she watched the footage on the screen above, "oh my ..."
"What is it?" Breanna asked, sensing Jasmine knew something.
"That is my uncle's pub," she exhaled, "my cousin is standing watching in the window."
"Birgit is going with," Breanna said, "we don't know what we are walking into, but I want you to phase in and out. Nothing more."
"It could be a trap," Jarred said, "in fact, I would expect it to be a trap."
"Sure," Jasmine nodded, "but for whom?"
"You," Jarred said evenly, "that is your family in there. We cannot find the ID of the man letting this play out."
"Those guys are not drunk," Valencia said, coming back into the tech room and pulling a black t-shirt over her Kevlar vest, "that is an act."
"How do you know?" Breanna asked.
"It hit me while I was changing. Watch the motion of swigging at the bottles," Valencia nodded, "I don't know about any of you. If I drank like that, it would take me five minutes to finish a beer bottle. This footage is nearly fifteen minutes long. They never refill or disappear to get another beer."
"She's right," Jesse said, "this is a trap."
"Do we go?" Calla asked, handing Jasmine a note.
"We don't have a choice," Breanna said, "they know what we stand for, and they are doing this deliberately to draw us out."
"We need a different plan," Jarred said quietly, "something they will not be expecting."
"Get the team together," Jasmine narrowed her eyes in thought as she watched the large screen.
"Why?" Jesse asked.
"I just had an idea, and it will work at throwing them off balance," Jasmine nodded, deciding on a course of action.
"Tell me what it is," Breanna said, stepping in front of Jasmine, "I'm not sending anyone anywhere if it isn't safe for my team."
"Fair enough," Jasmine smiled, "Calla pull up a map of the area."
Craig pulled on his black fatigues and bent to lace his boots. A shuffle drew his attention to the door of their suite. Tina stood inside the doorway, the heavy wooden panel closing behind her. She looked tired, but there was something else he could see in her eyes, resolution.
"Craig," Tina whispered, smiling and clearing her throat, "I hear there is a situation, and you'll be leading the team."
"Yes," Craig nodded, looking into her eyes, "Phoenix is still busy with the night patrol. Babe, you don't need to worry. I'll come back, and everyone else will as well."
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"I don't doubt it," Tina nodded, swallowing against the sudden worry eating at her, "I'm worried about you."
"I told you," he pushed his magazine into the handle of his gun before holstering it on his utility belt, "you don't need to."
"You don't want me to worry," Tina nodded, glancing away, "that is becoming a little hard to do. In the last few weeks, you've been ... off. You're having nightmares. Aren't sleeping properly. Won't talk to me, brush me off, are just stopping yourself from implying I'm crazy, and now ... I'm not to worry about you."
"Tina," Craig sighed, propping his hands on his hips, "I will come home that you can be sure of, I told you. You and our offspring are everything to me ... I would do anything to protect you."
Tina watched as he strapped his utility belt around his trim waist and pushed his various weapons into place. A sudden urging came to her. Before she doubted herself, she exhaled.
"Who is Jaxon to you?" Tina asked.
Craig hesitated in his actions before answering, "No one."
Tina swallowed hard, trying to control her swirling emotions and rising tears. Why was Craig lying to her? She knew this fact just as well as she knew her own name. She watched his every move. Efficient. Sharp. What was he hiding?
"Craig," Tina whispered, "please, talk to me."
"Leave it alone," he snapped before softening his tone on the next word, "please."
"Why?"
"It's best for everyone," Craig sighed, "you don't want to be part of this."
"You should have thought about that before you moved me in with you. I'm already part of it. I'm carrying our children. You told me to find a place to fit in, and I did. You gave me hope that a mere human could live in this overwhelming world. You let me in, and now you shut me out and ... now decide to lie to me," Tina said quietly.
Craig turned toward her, silently watching her with haunted eyes. She waited, but still, no explanation came.
Nodding, she sighed and smiled tightly, "Be careful."
Turning on her heel, Tina grasped the door handle, twisting and leaving the room before her turbulent emotions broke the restraint she barely held over them. Breathing deeply and not stopping or turning back when hearing Craig call her name, refusing to let him see the gathering tears or hear her heartbreak when she spoke. She needed a distraction.
The crying of a babe caught her attention. Dashing the tears from her cheeks, Tina changed direction. She found Alexis pacing the kitchen while Mandy cried against her shoulder.
"Alexis," Tina called over the wailing, "can I help with anything?"
"Oh ... Tina," Alexis stammered, a stricken look entering her eyes before decision superseded it, "I'm… trying to … feed her, but I don't seem to have enough."
"What about solid foods?" Tina suggested.
"She's only two months," Alexis frowned, "isn't that a little young?" Grimacing as Mandy renewed her wailing, "you know ..." she shrugged helplessly, "at this stage, I'll try anything."
Tina moved to the fridge finding the leftover vegetables from the night before. Quickly heating the food, adding a little butter and salt to taste as she watched Alexis hush Mandy.
"Alexis, I'm sorry about the other night," Tina sighed, "I didn't mean to scare you."
"It's okay," Alexis nodded, "I was in a bit of a panic, but Jaxon and I chatted, and he explained that it could have been your baby and not you."
Tina smiled, watching Alexis put some mushed mixture on the tip of her finger and ease it into Mandy's mouth. The baby quietened and began sucking on her finger, filling the room with the sudden silence.
"She seems to like it," Alexis smiled, "thank you."
"Being a half-and-half will be challenging," Tina said, sitting on a nearby barstool.
"Everyone keeps saying that, but what does it mean? What is that?" Alexis frowned.
"Half human and half enhanced," Tina supplied, "I should talk. I'm carrying some and am scared out of my mind."
"Enhanced what? Bodies, minds or emotions?" Alexis stared at Tina, worry threading through her gaze.
"It could be anything, but you'll have to wait to see what they show you. Oh dear," Tina sighed, "what has Jaxon told you? What do you know of Jaxon and Mandy?"
Alexis frowned a little, "He is gentle, caring, and a fantastic father. He seems to understand Mandy when I can't make her out. What do you mean "told me about"?"
"Has he spoken of his genetic manipulations?" Tina asked, "perhaps what happened to him before meeting you and how those changes have been passed down to Mandy?"
"What?" Alexis laughed, "you're kidding, right."
"No," Tina shook her head, "I'm sure someone has told you about those who are different."
"Yes," Alexis nodded, "what has that to do with Jaxon as a father or Mandy?"
"Nothing. You told us Mandy was different, and you know Jaxson is different as well," Tina said. "In the time you were together, I'm sure you saw something that made you wonder who or what he was. To know his enhanced abilities, we need him to heal properly before addressing what he can do with those abilities. Unless ..." Tina narrowed her eyes on Alexis' guilty expression, "you already know if he is fully healed."
Alexis silently fed Mandy for a moment before meeting Tina's gaze again, "I saw him heal right before my eyes when he cut himself. It was while we were together ... before Mandy. But ... I don't know anything about ... genetic manipulation. Are you serious? Isn't that a painful procedure?"
"Yes," Tina nodded, "the person responsible is dead. There is nothing to worry about there, but Jaxon may know of something else that could endanger Mandy and yourself ... possibly others as well. While you're here, you're safe ... remember Mandy is half of both of you. Jaxon's blood and yours. Know that we will protect all of you as best we can."
"Thank you," she whispered, "has that ever happened before? A ... mixed baby being born and surviving?" Alexis whispered, her shoulders sagging.
"You're the first we have physically come across," Tina said, gently touching Alexis' arm, "it doesn't mean it hasn't happened before. We were not aware of it. In fact, we were informed it could never happen. Over the past few weeks, we have discovered reports dated years back of babies who are ... different being born to term. Alexis, there is so much you need to know and understand. I suggest you talk with Jaxon about his capabilities. It may help you understand your daughter."
"Tried to talk to him after we got here," Alexis swallowed hard, "he shuts me out."
"Men do that," Tina smiled, "ask specific questions to get the answers you need, and don't give up."
Alexis nodded as she continued to feed Mandy glancing up as movement in the doorway caught her attention.
"Tina," Calla called from the doorway, "the team has just left."
"Thanks, Calla," Tina smiled, "I'll head to the tech room now. I'm sure Valencia will need a hand."
"Val went with them," Calla said, "you're needed to fill in."
"On my way," Tina stood, "think about what I said. Look for anything unusual that happens around or with Mandy; understanding your family is important. If you need to chat, I'm here."
"Thanks, Tina," Alexis said quietly.
"Eat something," Calla said, falling in next to Tina as she left the kitchen, "you're pale and angry, and we need them to be calm."
Tina sighed, looking at the small packet of crisps Calla held out to her, "These are from your stash; I can't..."
"Yes, you can," Calla grinned, "plus I have extra now," she opened the packet pushing it into Tina's hands, "eat and walk. Let's go."
Tina looked down at her hands. The small packet of crisps shook slightly. Perhaps she did need to eat, but she didn't feel angry.
"Calla, I don't feel angry," Tina said as she pushed a crisp into her mouth, "why did you say I was?"
Calla stopped walking, "You're not angry?"
"No," Tina shook her head, "hurt, disillusioned and worried ... all to do with Craig, but I'm not angry."
"Huh," Calla frowned, "maybe it's one of the babies. Rose said you'd need to talk to them to get to know them ... now may be a good time to do that."
"Never thought of that," Tina murmured, taking another crisp into her mouth and frowning in thought, "that could be a wild ride if they answered me."
Calla chuckled, "We know two do communicate. What do the other two do?"
"No idea," Tina sighed, "wish I did ... at least they responded to the sound of my voice and looked my way but other than that ... nothing."
"They may take a little time to figure out how to do that," Calla said as the tech room doors opened; turning, she moved away to her station, leaving Tina thoughtfully chewing on her crips.
"When you finished eating," Jesse called, "I have some coordinates that need punching in."
Inhaling quickly, Tina came back to her surroundings, "Coming."