Breanna looked pale from where Craig sat, his fingers paused above the keyboard. Frowning as she sank into a chair but continued to talk to whoever was contacting base from a safe house. The call ended as their eyes met, noting the haunted expression in Breanna's eyes.
"Everything okay, Bre?" Craig asked.
She blinked before nodding, "Ah yeah, I was just updated on something the children spoke to Tina about. She will probably follow through on a few things before checking in again."
Craig nodded, looking at the screen at the satellite image of the coordinates. There didn't seem to be a structure of any kind. A lot of white stone scattered over the desert area before subtly changing into a thick forest and more strange white rocks. Leaning back in his chair, he stretched his arms above his head, trying to sort through the confusion rippling through him.
"Found anything?' Breanna asked, walking toward him.
"Desert, forest, trees, undergrowth and white stone," he said.
"What about a white place?" Breanna asked, propping her hands on the back of his chair, "the children told Tina they had extra enhancements done at The White Place."
"The White Place," Craig mused, zooming out, "these are the coordinates Devon gave me."
"Loads of the white stone," Breanna said, "look for something that could possibly get them into an underground facility."
"Are there any logs?" Clio asked, startling the focused pair, "I overheard you saying something about an underground facility. I'm not sure what you're looking for, but compare your screen to similar ones we have scrutinized. If Darcia had anything to do with the facility or funded it. A log will either indicate the location of the entrance or be the entry point."
"A log?" Craig frowned.
"Sure," Clio grinned, "think about it. Every time we enter one of Darcia's facilities, we find a log," Clio said, "she has a thing for logs at facility entrances."
"Clio has a point," Breanna nodded, "good memory, thanks."
Craig turned to the screen, scanning for logs, "Well, I'll be ..."
"What did you find?" Breanna and Clio asked in unison.
"What do you make of this?" Craig asked, zooming in.
"That log looks familiar," Clio murmured, "what is on the right?"
Craig scanned to the right, "Looks like a ... cave entrance ... surrounded by white rocks."
"The White Place," Breanna murmured, "can we scan underground? Knowing what is down there may give us answers."
"I'll see what I can do," Craig nodded, glancing at his watch, "right now, I have to update Devon and Nigel."
"Why?" Breanna asked, crossing her arm at her waist.
"I promised them I would keep them informed," Craig said, "they think I'm a light thrower, whatever that is."
"Light thrower. A person who is emotionally manipulated to increase their energy to expand it from their bodies in one form or another," Iris chanted as she walked past.
"What was that?" Craig chuckled, glancing at Iris.
"Ah ... a definition of a light thrower," Breanna grinned, "now you know why they think you're a light thrower."
"Okay, I'm off to chat with Nigel and Devon," Craig nodded, "guess I'm a light thrower."
Breanna grinned at her eldest brother, shaking her head as he left the room. Clearly, there was more to what had been done to him than he knew. It was good to know he was in the same boat as all of them; however, it was also concerning. Whatever came out of him would be a high-level enhancement, probably fully developed.
"Thank heavens he is on our side," Breanna murmured.
"Bre, where is Craig?" Kyle asked, rising from his seat and looking around.
"Heading to the infirmary," Breanna said, "why?"
"Calla and I found something at those coordinates," Kyle motioned for Breanna to join them, "Calla noticed Craig was only looking at the surface. We ..." Kyle cleared his throat, "high-jacked a subterranean satellite."
"You did what?" Breanna shook her head.
"We guessed you would want to see what was under the surface," Calla said, glancing at Kyle, "besides, Clio already told us you wish you could see under the surface."
"I ... if we're caught ..." Breanna sputtered, inhaled, "clean up your footprint afterwards. What you got?"
Calla pointed to the large screen above them.
"Under the area of the coordinates," Calla zoomed out, "we found heat signatures. Since there is nothing above ground, Kyle got curious, acquiring the satellite that can do more than one layer underground."
"I see a lot more heat signatures," Breanna said, "what am I supposed to be looking for?"
"This," Calla said, typing quickly, changing the view to night vision, "an underground bunker. It's a similar layout to Darcia's other facilities."
"More torture chambers," David supplied, catching Calla's last words, "what are we looking at?"
"Another facility," Breanna murmured, "in Europe."
"Europe," David shook his head, "what was she doing over there?"
"Not sure she ran it alone or if it was partly hers or someone piggybacking," Breanna said.
"Does Craig know about this?" David asked.
"He left to chat to Nigel and Devon about the cave; this was discovered after he left," Breanna said.
"What do you think he'll want to do about this?" Kyle asked, "do we have room for more refugees?"
"We'll make room, and we're doing something about this place," Breanna said, "we're not leaving children down."
"Children," Calla turned to Breanna, "Darcia's babies from your parents."
"Perhaps, but these children are born enhanced," Breanna shook her head, "Calla, check if there is anything like this anywhere else in the world."
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"We will have to stay hacked into the satellite," Kyle said, meeting Breanna's concerned gaze.
"Chat with Trevet," Breanna said, "let him know what you need. He may be able to do something."
"Where are you going?" David asked, keeping pace with Breanna.
"To speak to Devon," Breanna said, striding from the tech room, "we need to understand what happens in that place."
"Bre, be careful how you approach the topic," David said, "the last group who went in that facility, guns blazing, didn't come out alive."
"I don't have any guns on me," Breanna said, "but I hear you."
Craig stood at the bottom of Nigel's bed watching the man sleep, part of the promise made to Devon, who had not left his father's side for two days. Devon needed to eat, shower and change but was worried his father would be gone when he returned.
Nigel stirred, mumbling in his sleep.
"Nigel," Craig called, "it's time to wake up."
The man's eyes snapped open, fear blazing in their depths, his hands taking on a defensive position. Craig didn't move as he watched the panting man stare at him before looking around, cautiously sitting and looking down at his arms.
"The drip has gone," Nigel said, "am I okay?"
"You didn't need it any longer," Craig whispered, "still having nightmares?"
Nigel nodded before reaching for the glass of water, "How long have I been here?"
"This is your second day," Craig said, "Devon has gone to your quarters to shower and get something to eat."
"Quarters?" Nigel frowned.
"Yes," Craig smiled, "you have a suite here with two bedrooms."
"Where is here?" Nigel asked, leaning against the pillows.
"Our base," Craig smiled, "you're not in Darcia's facility. Breanna heads up our teams here."
"Breanna," Nigel sighed, "that makes more sense."
"What does?" Craig asked.
"I dreamt Darcia visited me, but it didn't seem right since we heard she was dead," Nigel looked past Craig as the infirmary doors opened. "My dream warned me of Breanna's coming."
Craig turned as Breanna and David moved toward them.
"Bre, Dave," Craig greeted them, "what's going on?"
They stopped next to the bed. Breanna's gaze met and held Nigel's before extending her hand.
"I'm Breanna," she said, shaking his hand, "but you know that ... meet David."
"Where is Devon, Craig?" Breanna asked as Nigel and David shook hands.
"I sent him to shower and eat," Craig said, "why?"
Breanna nodded, but Craig saw she was gnawing on new information requiring more.
"Nigel woke up a moment ago. I haven't told him my findings. What did you find?" Craig asked,
The doors whooshed open, and Devon came in, slowly advancing on the watching group.
"What is she doing here?" Devon asked Craig.
"Devon," Craig acknowledged him, "this is Breanna, my sister."
"Not Darcia?" the teen frowned, moving to his previously vacated seat.
"Darcia is dead," Breanna murmured, extending her hand, "hello Devon, it's nice to meet you."
Craig watched as Devon slowly shook hands. Why was Breanna treading carefully?
"Craig, do you want to start?" David said.
Devon winced at the sound of David's usual speaking level, "Is it about those coordinates?"
"Yes," Craig whispered, "I found the location online and discovered a cave going underground. Breanna and David may have something more."
"We do," David said.
"A satellite picked up an underground bunker in a similar formation to Darcia's style ... but it's in Europe," Breanna said, "we need to know about entrances and exits along with what happens inside."
"Why do you want to know?" Devon asked quickly.
"The same reason we needed to know about her previous facilities. No matter where they are in the world," Breanna said, "we have one objective: to get the people being tortured out and close it down."
"I can tell you how to get in and out," Nigel said, "Devon can tell you who is in there and what is happening to them."
"Dad," Devon frowned, "what are you doing?"
"She may not be a light thrower," Nigel said, "but she is the best chance they have of getting out."
"The instructions were clear," Devon hissed, "only light throwers."
"Why only light throwers?" David asked, "why can't anyone else know?"
"Who gave the instructions?" Craig asked.
Breanna silently stared at Devon, waiting for answers. He shifted uncomfortably, settled, glanced at her, shifted again and looked toward Craig.
"When we were extracted ... by Jerry," Devon said, "before he died, he told us to trust no one, only light throwers."
"Why only light throwers?" Craig repeated David's question.
"Jerry said light throwers were the only ones to be trusted with the knowledge because they wanted peace for everyone ...," Devon glanced around the listening trio. "... and wouldn't betray each other."
"What are you hiding, Devon?" Breanna asked, "you're terrified and tired."
"How..." Devon looked between the four adults.
"How did she know?" Craig finished Devon's question, "do you think that light throwers are the only enhanced beings?"
"Do you know who betrayed Jerry?" David watched Devon sink back into the chair.
"I do," Devon sighed, "Jerry had an identical twin brother, the polar opposite of himself. Jerry was pure and good, whereas Josh was ... an awful person. Enjoyed using his enhancements to hurt, maim and torture."
Breanna nodded, "Jerry stopped his brother from hurting someone. Josh got even by betraying Jerry while trying to help someone get out."
Devon nodded, "Josh was able to throw flames; he could burn someone alive. Everyone dubbed him a fire starter. Josh pulled the alarm when Jerry tried to rescue some children."
"Did Josh kill Jerry?" David asked.
Devon shrugged, glancing away, "I'm not sure," he rubbed the back of his neck, "some of the children got out, others were killed with Jerry, and I'm not sure what happened after that."
"Are all the resident's children?" Breanna asked.
"Yes," Devon nodded, "some as young as a year."
Breanna inhaled sharply, "Darcia definitely had something to do with this."
"She used to visit the facility," Devon nodded, "sometimes bringing more children and other times more security."
"What kind of security?" Craig asked
Devon shrugged again, "They were always in black and wore either armbands or necklaces."
"Her fanatics," David muttered, meeting Devon's steady gaze.
"She called them something else," Devon muttered, "and it wasn't something that nice. According to the last records available, over fifty children are in that facility."
"Fifty! What does she want with fifty already enhanced children?" Craig shook his head, "I cannot begin to imagine what they have endured."
Father and son looked at each other, Nigel nodding toward Craig while looking at Devon.
"Fine, I'll tell them. The children are used for tasks adults would be questioned about," Devon sighed, "I know because I was one of many sent on many tasks. It was during the accomplishment of a task that I got the word out of my current whereabouts."
"Brave," Breanna nodded, "how many children have you rescued?"
Craig watched Breanna closely as she looked between Devon and Nigel.
"We were able to get ten children out," Nigel said, "but it never ends. We get some children out, and they simply take other children from their parents."
Craig shook his head, "We will have to get them all out and shut the place down, both acts happening simultaneously."
Breanna nodded, "The problem will stem from the fact that we'll be in Europe with no backup."
"Perhaps Michael can arrange something," Craig said, "but for now, we need to let Nigel rest."
Breanna nodded, her eyes glazing over as she stilled, "Hana will be checking up on you shortly. If everything is well, you'll be able to move around on your own and stay in your quarters before taking you both to a safe house."
"Thank you," Nigel smiled, "we appreciate all your help."
Craig followed David and Breanna from the infirmary, waiting until they were out of earshot, "Devon didn't tell us what he was hiding."
"Cara showed me," Breanna said, "Devon and Jerry were best friends, and he was helping Jerry to get the children out. A specific child was required for a suicide task, the child didn't want to do it and needed to get out before performing the task, and Josh intended to kill what was seen as a traitor. To stop his brother Jerry protected the child with a shield, giving his life to save another's."
"Devon watched his best friend being murdered by the twin brother," David shook his head, "that doesn't explain why he would hide the information."
"No, but I sense it's to do with this light thrower promise. We're going to that facility to find out exactly what Devon is terrified to reveal," Breanna said, "we're in full operational mode from now."