Striding into the operations room, Cherry looked around, finding a woman bending over Carl and Ty, the three discussing something with passion. Cherry couldn't help grinning as she moved closer, overhearing some of the spirited conversations flying quickly between the three.

"Those ideas sound good," she said, making all three jump; chuckling, Cherry continued, "... it's always good to know the topic is absorbing."

The woman turned, gasping in surprise, "Your Majesty," quickly bowing her head, "I was not aware you were coming here."

Carl stood, "Dealla, you can drop the formalities," he whispered, "she has already told the room to dispense with them."

Cherry took in the woman as she relaxed and looked up, glancing at Carl shyly. Narrowing her eyes slightly, Cherry looked over her shoulder at a blonde watching them and nodded.

"Twins."

"My sister," Dealla said.

"What can we help you with?" Ty said, stepping in front of the pair.

Cherry stared into captivating eyes, the same shade as someone she knew. Looking from Carl to Dealla to Ty, Cherry realised their secret and smiled broadly, "It's nice to meet your family, Carl."

Carl's cheeks stained a subtle red, "No one on the outside knows."

"It will stay that way," Cherry said, "and that barter you did ... no longer necessary. Our family looks after our own, and you are all family."

Carl narrowed his eyes at her before smiling, "Thank you. It means so much knowing they are safe."

"You can focus better as well," Cherry said, smiling, "I have a plan to draw Neve out, and I'm going to need your help ... all of your help."

"Let's hear it," Ty said, grinning at Cherry, "I'm thinking it's going to be something bold and hair-raising."

"Yes," Cherry said, chuckling, "and dangerous ... but if it works, it will end this for once and all, bring the truth out and rectify a tragic event that should never have happened."

Dealla's smile faded, "Neve's parents," she whispered, "... it has been hard on us all ... Garan lost a brother and my sister, and I lost ... an Aunt. We struggled to forgive, but we realised if we didn't, we would become the same as Neve."

"Lost ... and alone," Cherry whispered, nodding, "we're going to change that ..." she sighed, "if we can get this right now, imagine what we can do for all those others out there belonging to the brethren but living life away from us and the family connection."

"See, told you bold ... can't wait for the rest. We have work to do," Ty said, clapping his hands together, "and we have family members to find."

Chuckling, Cherry nodded, "Absolutely," she said, moving toward their workstation, "Dealla, let me know if I'm missing anything regarding the town's safety."

Valentina stopped beside Jatziri as the pair watched Cherry with Carl and his family.

"Did you tell her about his family?" Valentina asked.

"No," Jatziri said, "I wonder where she found out about the barter for their safety?"

"She is taking us in a very different direction," Valentina said, "I'm not sure if we should be worried or elated. One thing I do like is her fairness and the way she sees us for who we are ..." she sighed, "not as an asset or tool to be used."

"Have to agree there," Jatziri said, "it would be a great change for all of us. Perhaps the elders may not like it; she will need the backing of her peers. I wonder what she is going to put into action to help Neve. Perhaps we can do what we do best and see what can be put into place before it's asked for."

"Good idea," Valentina said, "it would be a shame to let our superpowers go to waste."

Grinning at each other, the women went to work as Rilea watched from the passageway relief running through her. Cherry had concerned her in so many ways, being disconnected from the brethren and home for so many years. The torture and brutal treatment of her, the lies told, and the memory blocking .... all could have been detrimental to their life, home and heritage. The brethren could have discarded her; they had a right to do so. They could have made it difficult for her to take her place, as could the actions of the past, but she had stepped into the role as if she knew everything that had been revealed to her for many years. The surprise of her twin, and an Aunt she never knew about, it made Rilea wonder if someone had prepared Cherry for just an event or if she was indeed the wonderfully accepting person she was showing to the world.

"Time will tell," Rilea whispered as she slipped away to work alongside her other daughter; as the day was moving along and the troops were becoming exhausted, Rilea prayed that the fighting would end soon.

Jet and Jasper walked the prisoners toward the home's back door, where a large gathering was already in place. The helicopters had stopped coming almost immediately, and the number of people coming up the mountain had slowed to a trickle. Carl's team oversaw the proceedings, their commander checking his phone occasionally, sometimes barking orders, sometimes staying silent. The mountain area was now clear, with no one else using it to reach the sanctuary. Sam followed the last prisoners to the open space outside the back door. The triggered traps had been cleared away, making more room for them to guard those who had surrendered. One of the men was being questioned and refused to answer, no matter what tactics were used. Stopping next to the man, Sam put her hand on his shoulder, waiting until he stepped aside, her eyes never leaving the man's face as he stared at her. There was something about him that felt ... familiar but not in a way where she had met him before ... it felt ... emotional.

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"Are you a Tenderhook henchman?" she asked.

He remained silent for a moment before he shook his head, "I am not in line with the Tenderhooks at all."

"Who is it that you align yourself with?" Sam asked.

"One who was abandoned and lost as I am," he said, looking around as his eyes filled with pain, "we were all abandoned and left alone without family."

"Who is this person that sends you?" Sam asked, foreboding running through her blood.

Why did she feel as if she knew the answer?

"Neve," he whispered, "she promised we could have our heritage."

Sam nodded, "You can, but not how she thinks, every one of us can have our heritage, but Neve has been lied to and thinks the Tenderhook way is the only way."

"Who are you?" the man frowned, staring at Sam intently.

Stepping closer, Sam laid her hand on his shoulder; he gasped before flinching slightly, "Samantha Headrow, and I'm telling you ... you were lied to," she whispered, "you were never lost, alone or forgotten. Your family has waited for your return and always tried to protect you as best as possible under the old way; it was always your choice to come home and be part of this unique heritage."

She waited while he blinked rapidly, his breathing increasing, and his head hung as she felt the ties unravel around his heart and mind.

"What is this? Who are you that you can unravel years of words and acts of torture and betrayal with a touch?" he panted.

Sam didn't answer, couldn't answer those questions, astonished at what was happening as the man in the seat was. Finally, he raised his head, his eyes clear, tears streaking his face as he looked around.

"She doesn't know ..." he whispered, "Neve believes the lies ..." he sniffed, "... we all believed the lies."

Sam glanced around, taking in the other prisoners; some were still panting, others crying; confused, she looked at Jet and Jasper.

"What happened here?" she asked.

"You don't know?" Jet asked.

Sam shook her head.

"You touched his shoulder, and he reacted, but when you started speaking, it was like a mist moved out of you and ... wafted toward them," Jaspers said, his hand waving as he explained, "never seen anything like it."

"Huh," Sam grunted, her mind churning, "are all of these prisoners lost family under Neve?"

"Most of them," the man said, "some were paid, but the effect is still the same."

"What do you know of Neve's next moves?" Sam asked, looking around, "does anyone know?"

A short man stepped out of the gathering, clearing his throat, "She said she would take back the cabin and the land where her parents were murdered by the brethren."

Sam stared at him, raising her hand to stop the brethren's bristling response; the short man glanced around at the reaction, suddenly becoming nervous.

"The brethren do not murder ... and should it be one of their own that is at the end of the order to terminate ... it would never be carried out ... our family is sacred."

"Who told her of these lies?" Garan asked, moving to stand next to Sam.

"We don't know," the short man said, "if she doesn't hear from us soon, she will take her remaining forces and move against the cabin."

Sam looked at Garan, "The Cabin ... the doorway to Cherry's heritage ... we need to stop Neve."

"Your work here is done," Garan said, "Cherry will need to go with you. My brother is here," Garan indicated on the other side of the water-filled cavern, "the bridge needs to be repaired. I have a family and people to guard; you have the future to win back and save."

Sam nodded, "You're handing over responsibilities," Sam sighed, "which means what?"

"You are released to be who you are meant to be," Garan said, "the old ways are there but not dictating the future." "Please find out who is family and who is not," Sam said, "treat them all with respect and prove the lies wrong."

Smiling, Garan nodded, "Your mother and father would be so proud of you. I see you have your mother's gift."

"Mom had a gift?" Sam asked, frowning.

"Yes, it was to uncover the truth and release the person, whomever it may be, from any hold of evil and lies," Garan said, "sometimes that gift drained her ... that is why Andriette was needed to save her life and yours so she could carry you to term."

"She designed us to survive because Mom used her gift while carrying me," Sam whispered, "I always wondered."

"Andriette took your design a step forward," Garan said, "she designed you to carry her legacy forward."

"Is she going to die?" Sam asked, worry streaking through her.

"Not yet," Garan smiled, "but she would rather you be around her to learn while she completed the training of those who chose this path."

Nodding, Sam looked at the people around her, "So many who were pushed out because of laws of non-acceptance ... I hope Cherry will change that."

Carls commander hurried down the stairs stopping halfway, "Sam, you're needed. Cherry is going to the cabin and wants you to go with her."

"Why?" Sam asked.

"Something about releasing Neve from the lies," he said before returning to his post.

Sam frowned; turning to the restrained man, she looked him in the eye, "Will you come with me to stop this madness and the final hold of the Tenderhooks?"

The man raised his head, meeting her gaze steadily, "If it means getting back my true family," he whispered, "yes ... I will come."

"Release him," Sam said, "our brethren may not have lived in the mountain, but they are part of it." She waited until he was released, "Follow me."

Moving through the gathered people, she entered through the infirmary door, checking on the threshold of the busy room.

"Are you ready to be one with the mountain?" she asked as he stood beside her, taking in the injured.

"Yes," he whispered, inhaling, "I'm ready."

"Tell me your name," she said, "your full name."

"My full name," he sighed, "Tenzin Asaph Andino."

"Holder of teachings, a gatherer of people and brave," Sam said, "you were well named; enter the mountain home and defend your heritage."

"I follow, enter and defend," he said before following Sam through the infirmary into the winding passages.