“She can stop sticking us together.” Cole’s raspy voice is still damaged with no improvement since we've been back.

A disturbing parting gift from his father. He's lost muscle mass from missed trainings and meal times for committee and officer’s meetings. His usual simmering rage is dull, tired. The sharp angles of his jaw and cheek bones are as flinty as his eyes. His body crumples into the high back seat next to mine at the mission room conference table.

“I don’t need you to babysit me.”

“Like anyone ever could.” I say.

“Damn right.” His lips twitch up on one side. It’s the most reaction I’ve seen from him in weeks.

I don't want the captain to keep assigning him to me. I don’t want to keep watching him. I don’t want to help him. I want to hate him. I want to pummel my fists into that sad despondent face of his. Until his pain siphoned all of my hate. It’s his face I hate the most. I hate the familiar scowl on his brow, and those cold, shark eyes. I hate the fear that rots my gut when I glimpse his comatose father in that damn face.

My anger is white hot, slithering through my veins. Boiling and curdling. No one knows the truth about General Targe or my family’s innocence. No one but the squad and Centrum leadership. And I can’t ask why they’re keeping it quiet. They may start asking questions about the Elite they captured on the mission footage killing warrior-born.

“I can’t look at you.” Cole mutters, stealing my thoughts. He rakes a hand down his face. “I never could, but now…”

“It’s worse.” I finish for him.

We’re the same and that makes me rage all the more. Two sad orphaned boys our father’s ill prepared and thoroughly screwed up. Thrown into this political chess board where we’re the pawns in a mine field of experts. The only difference is I have to tiptoe through my existence while Cole is determined to bulldoze through his.

The rest of the team moves around the table to their usual seats ready to start. Luce sits across from me. Her eat shit and die leer has changed. Now she gives me the, you freak me out stare. Ever since she recovered and was debriefed on what happened on the mission.

She got knocked out in the first battle saving Cole from a charging Grunt demon. The rest of the time she was unconscious, missing all the fun. Her jade jeweled eyes flash disbelief the longer she studies me. I can’t blame her. What I can do sounds ridiculous.

“I never understood what all the girls saw in you. Even now, you’ve got their attention.” Cole leans his elbows on the table.

My eyes snap to his wondering what he’s talking about. I follow his focus. Luce is dissecting me with her eyes. Addy is sneaking peeks from a lowered head. Fletcher's squinted attention moves between me and Cole. The captain side eyes us while talking to Kane, whose usual glower has been as absent as his attention. His focus turned inward and I know what he can’t help but see. Only Iva is acting normal with his face in his wrist device. Everyone else watches us like ticking time bombs.

“You got it wrong.” I sit back crossing my arms over my chest. “It’s not just the girls that find me irresistible.”

Cole barks out a hoarse laugh and the shock has us both turning to each other. We’re not friends. We’re nothing but jagged reminders of a life that could have been and the nightmare of what is.

“Alright, let’s get started.” The captain says.

The mission room door swings open.

“Yes, let’s get started, Elites.” Col. Buckler enters the room.

I jump in my seat and then join the squad in standing to attention. Buckler waits until the captain moves aside to offer her seat before giving us the at ease nod. I missed hearing his approach. My emotions are all over the place but my senses are always heightened and on alert. Forcing them back is taking its toll.

Cole leans close. “Losing your touch, huh?”

“Be seated warriors, we have a lot to cover today.” Buckler rolls his chair to one side to make room for the captain.

The flare of her nostrils and her tight smile have us all sitting taller. I tune into her heart rate and find it steady and sure. I can’t stop doing those little checks with her. I admit they are more for my benefit. She’s the most capable warrior I’ve ever met.

“Warrior Targe has been instrumental in the investigation into General Targe’s project and the events that unfolded on your mission.” Buckler smiles warmly at Cole who returns a head nod. My hand clenches into a fist wondering when they became so close.

“Have there been any new developments?” The captain says.

“Well, there is only a little I am authorized to share.” Buckler shifts in his seat and takes his time to look at each one of us, assessing.

“General Targe is believed to have taken a Centrum sanctioned project, and turned it into a personal initiative. For what purpose we still don’t know.” Buckler taps his knuckles on the table top in thought.

“The lead Centrum scientist assigned to work with Targe on this project is being relocated to our headquarters here.”

Cole sits up slowly, leaning over the table. His fingers are pinched white between his clasped hands.

“A new investigation began into Dr. Quinn’s involvement in the serum. I caution you all to keep to your schedule and limit your time in the science wing for now.” Buckler's deep tone makes the hairs on my arm stand.

“Dr. Quinn? Colonel, there must be some kind of mistake.” Iva's eyes narrow in on Buckler.

“He is the head of Centrum’s science department. And the creator of the advanced weapons and gear used by your squad. These weapons, of his design, are fueled from the byproduct of General Targe’s project.”

Our traps and ammo glow the same neon green as the vacant emotionless eyes of the dead warriors from my nightmares. Iva had his suspicions but we were shipped out before he could verify the substance's use.

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

“But surely...”

“Warrior.” The captain silences Iva instantly. “My apologies sir.”

“I understand the shock that someone we rely on and trust is coming into question. But not everything is as it seems. And this investigation is a necessity for both the doctor’s benefit as well as national security."

Buckler breathes deep tapping his knuckles absently on the table top. "The reason I joined you today is to inform you that the investigation into this squad is concluded.”

I can’t help the puff of air that purges out from me. This is it. They’ve been reviewing the grainy, choppy footage of the injected warrior’s slaughter for weeks. They’ve had Cole holed up in meetings and debriefs. They’ve questioned each of us every day for the last 14 days and now it’s over. The waiting, dreading is over. My time here could be over.

“This has been taxing on all of us." Buckler continues. "The possibility someone in this squad, the squad I’ve committed to lead, could kill fellow warriors is absurd. Each and every one of your warrior hearts bleed to protect our nation with your very life."

"If there was anything, however impossible or however damning, that endangers or risks the safety of others, there’s no question you’d all do the right thing. We warrior-born take care of our own. Especially here, among the best of the best.”

The room is so silent and still I wonder if the air itself was sucked out. Buckler assesses each of us again. He’s fishing. He dangled his best, I’m one of you hooks to see who takes the bait. Adding in a little guilt to do the right thing. And it would be the right thing to report a danger, a risk to our security.

He starts with Kane on his left and meets an immovable mountain. Next is Luce who gives him a questioning rise of her perfectly arched red brows. Then Fletcher, who gives Buckler a megawatt smile. Buckler turns to Addy. She's perfectly poised, chest still as if she’s holding her breath. Cole gets a quick passing head nod.

And then Buckler’s warm brown eyes are on me, softening and crinkling in the corners. I’ve wanted to be close to this man since the day we met. This man that knew my family, knew my father. I’ve never been able to give him my blank bored mask. Or the arrogant stance that makes others turn away and leave me alone.

I stare back, not sure what message I’m giving him. But I guess I pass his test and he moves on to Iva who is accusing and angry. Buckler skips the captain altogether with a deep inhale.

“The evidence, testimonies, and footage is inconclusive in pointing to any other alternative than General Targe’s guilt. It’s the committee's ruling that the general had malicious intent to rid the nation of its top warriors using an unauthorized serum."

"A serum he illegally tested on our own. Committing the highest treason - risking the security of our nation by sacrificing warrior-born. The original ruling stands. General Targe lost command of his modified warriors which the Elite Squad was forced to terminate in self defense.”

The back of my training uniform sticks to my body as a cold clammy chill sets into my bones. There’s no mention of the footage that showed a warrior racing faster than possible across the recording. The case is closed. My secret is saved, at least for today. Yet I'm more vacant and weighed down than I was before.

There’s no telling if Buckler’s speech will encourage one of the team to step forward about my secret abilities. I wouldn't blame them if I was in their shoes. My power’s are unstable and unknown. I’m a risk to everyone's safety. Buckler stands and we all stand in salute.

“It’s business as usual, Elites.” Buckler commands, giving us a return salute before turning to the exit.

“Sit down, warriors.” The captain orders. “Oren, please check the room.”

She’s been asking me to scan our mission room since we’ve been back. And not just this room, but the arena too.

“Even now?” Luce eyes me and shrinks further into her seat back. As far away from me as possible.

“Don’t worry, Lu. It’s not like he can see through your clothes.” Fletcher laughs before turning to me. “Wait, can you? Oh please tell me you can.”

Luce punches him in his shoulder, her fire back again and he laughs in return.

“How are we related?” Addy mutters to herself.

“Quiet.” Kane’s boom vibrates the water glasses.

I nod my head to the captain, giving her the all clear. I can’t sense any unusual tech or any additional heartbeats or footsteps outside this room and I won't push further than that.

“Nothing has changed.” The captain stands and paces in front of the table, arms crossed. “We know what’s at stake with Oren’s abilities. The plan stays the same. We’re working on his control. And now that the investigation is done hopefully things will be back to normal around here.”

“Normal.” Fletcher sighs. “You think everyone in Centrum building will hear the ruling and magically go back to treating us as their saviors instead of pariahs?”

“Fletcher.” Kane chides.

“Now hold up, Kane. You can’t tell me you haven’t noticed. Tell me, how many officers are attending your nightly classes now?”

Kane shifts in his seat and rests heavily over the table. The dark circles around his eyes are grim against his deep brown skin. “I canceled my classes.”

“My workstation got moved out of the science department and into the weapons wing.” Iva stabs his fingers into his wrist device.

“Gladdy, from housekeeping, is rationing our supplies. And I’m not getting those little chocolate diamonds on my pillow anymore.” Addy frowns into her lap.

“But we didn’t do anything wrong.” Luce demands standing up, arm swinging out, aimed at me. They didn’t do anything wrong. It’s because of me Centrum suspects something is rotten with the Elites.

“No we didn’t, and neither did Oren." The captain adds. Luce hugs herself and gives me an apologetic head nod.

"And it’s not just us." The captain rubs her forehead. "Other Centrum based warrior-born are being treated with caution. Which is disturbing considering how top secret this mission and investigation was supposed to be.”

“It’s business as usual. But now that the investigation is over, let’s start the second part of our plan. Finding out why Oren can do what he can do. We start with eliminating the possibility that he was exposed to Targe’s serum somehow.”

“He wasn’t." Cole interrupts.

“Oh, hello.” Fletcher mocks him. “You’re participating now? Being helpful are we?”

“You think I want to help him.” Cole jabs a finger my way.. “You think I want to be here? My every move watched, knowing my father caused all this.”

Cole’s breathing and heart rate are thunderous to my sensitive ears. I’m surprised to see that molten anger burning through him again.

“I’m stuck here whether any of us like it or not. And the truth is, we have to pull together if we're going to survive. And I don’t just mean your little team here. I learned a few things in all those damn meetings I was forced into these past few weeks. "

"The demons are massing in sync, as one offensive force. They are getting stronger and smarter. While we are getting fewer and fewer warriors to join the fight. Not to mention the obvious lack of concern Centrum has when it comes to warrior lives. If Oren and his freaky powers are the key to our survival then yeah. I’ll be helpful, dumb ass.”

“So you’re with us?” The captain is asking him for more than just helping with the plan and being part of the squad. Is he with us in keeping my powers a secret. Cole looks over at me.

“I owe a debt. Mine and my father’s, for him and his family.”

The captain nods in acceptance. “Targe is right.”

“Cole." He interrupts. "It's warrior Cole, not Targe. At least here.” Cole sits back deflated again.

“Cole is right, 100%.” The captain sits back down. “About what’s happening with the demons and Centrum. But for now we have an immediate priority. Oren’s abilities could be the key to our survival and Centrum’s secrets.”

Everyone around the table nods in agreement and my stomach rolls. I can’t let them rest their hope on me. I can’t let them put their lives and duty to Centrum away because of me.

“No.” I silence the chatter. “I’m not the answer. We have no idea where my powers come from. And I can’t control them. They grow stronger with new abilities manifesting any time. You won't throw away your careers, your plans, your lives to hang your hope on someone like me. Find another way."