The swirl of white lab coats and gray jumpers milling about the weapons room is distracting. The science and tech teams are on hand to study their latest gadget in the war against the demons.

The cool metal of the new side arm is lighter and thinner than our standard issued ones. And these guns house tech rounds. Each round houses the same electronic pulses of our traps. Every shot into a demon’s body disrupts their abilities for a short time. A few seconds means a life saved out in the Mist.

“Shit. How are you even holding that thing? I think I heard mine crack.” Cole says from beside me in our assigned booth.

“Some guns are like a fine, fiery woman.” Fletcher says from the booth he shares with Luce. “It takes a gentle, experienced touch to treat her right.” His eyes fix on her death stare.

“You're either really brave or really stupid.” I say to Fletcher.

“Stupid.” Cole and Luce answer at the same time.

“Knock it off Elites.” Kane’s gruff voice has us back to task.

Whap, whap, whap. The echo of Luce's fired rounds are followed by the sizzle of the target demon's synthetic skin. The techs made our targets as life-like as possible. They need to measure the force required to penetrate the demon’s hides. These new weapons are impressive. They fire smoothly with little recoil and fry our replicas from the inside.

Luce lays her smoking side arm on the counter in front of a gaping Fletcher.

“Sometimes guns are like an unruly, pest of a man. It takes a sound, firm grip, to show him who’s boss.” She says before exiting the booth.

“Yes! Please show me who's boss.” Fletcher calls out watching her leave.

“Gather round warriors.” The captain’s voice is curt.

She’s in full officer mode which always sets the rest of us on edge. Her movements are stiff and her face blank. She's been quiet and all business since we've been back. I haven't even seen her with Kane, but that has more to do with him. Except for this morning, she only lets her guard down at night. And only for the few minutes it takes us to fall asleep.

“Elites, pick up a tablet from a member of the tech team. Fill out their questionnaire before you leave. And prepare to be called into the science wing at any time. You are to give your full cooperation in testing our new equipment, is that understood?”

“Yes, captain.” We reply in unison with a salute.

“Dismissed.” She turns to join Jane and the other scientists examining the destroyed targets.

“Dr. Quinn messaged me to come to the lab. And I need another sample of your blood so let’s head over together.” Iva pushes his wavy brown hair back, cataloging the room.

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I follow his focus. Buckler and a couple of officers escort a tall lanky pockmarked faced man in a lab coat.

“Why the hell is he here?” Cole mutters stalking off towards the weapons room.

Iva and I follow.

“Who?” Iva grabs a tablet from a shaky overweight technician with bug eyes and rosy cheeks. Cole and I get one handed to us too.

“Thank you.” I say.

“Dr. Eugene Lutz. Hallow Point’s head scientist.” Cole sneers, eyes glued to the doctor.

“And?” Iva taps at a furious pace through the questionnaire I haven’t opened.

“The brains behind all my father’s plans.”

Iva goes still and my hand flexes hard cracking the tablet.

"Why did they bring him here?" The tablet in my hand cracks as I take in Dr. Lutz. His stature is gentle, bowed, and humbled before Buckler and the captain. But his unblinking stare is null, betraying the polite smile on his thin lips.

“Because they’re so afraid of the truth, they’d rather believe the lie.” Cole hands the tablet back to the tech guy and stalks out of the room.

***

“How much more blood do you need? I'm tired of this. And you’re rough and messy.” I say as we head to Iva’s new workstation.

“For a super warrior you sure cry a lot.” Iva enters the security code. The door mechanics whiz and click a few times before going quiet.

“The light is still red.” I point out.

“Those abilities aren’t lost on you.” He gives me a huff entering his code again.

It blinks red. “I don’t like doing it, but I’ll pull founding rank if they move me again.” He brings his wrist device to life and checks his notifications before glaring at the red light. “Let’s go to the lab. You can swipe what I need to draw your blood from there while I see what Quinn wants.”

“Fine.” I say and we walk the short distance to the science lab.

Iva takes off into the demon holding area. Jane falls in beside him as soon as she spots him. Her bun flops loosely to the side when she scurries to keep up. I move to the workstations that should be buzzing with activity but are oddly quiet.

A shiver runs down my back seeing the screened off medical examination room. The room Targe used to inject his doomed warriors. The observation window of the hazmat lab glows neon green. I’ll always associate that color with Targe’s disturbing serum and his part in the death of my family. There aren't any scientists busy at work there either.

Iva’s quick steps through the warehouse and his elevated heart rate make my chest flare hot, ready for action. I pinch my thigh through my pants and twist hard. The piercing sting and throbbing burn in my leg disrupts the surge of energy long enough to regain my hold.

“I got what we need. Let’s move, now.” He whispers and makes for the exit.

I check behind him, but no one follows. What did he do that has him practically running down the hall? I catch up and we don’t say a word or slow our steps until we’re inside the barracks. Iva stops and lets out a sagging breath. He’s shaken.

“Yours or mine?” I want to get inside a pod so I can find out what happened.

“Mine.” He moves to the first pod on the left.

I enter and immediately take a step back to exit, bumping into Iva. He moves around me and I freeze in the doorway. My head spins at the contradiction of his personal space and what I’ve come to know about Iva Algar. Founding warrior heir, certified genius, and extreme OCD personality.

His pod is wrecked. Uniforms, socks, boots, crinkled wads of paper, and pens are all over the floor. Half drank water bottles dot every surface. And boxers, hopefully clean ones, stick out from under the crumpled, unmade bed and half closed drawers. I strategically step towards the desk chair, pinch a t-shirt between my fingers, and lift. Iva slaps down my wrist.

“Don’t. Everything's in its place.” He says and then slumps down on the corner of the bed.

I let the shirt fall and resign myself to sitting on top of whatever else is on the chair. Iva is bent over his knees, both hands clutching tufts of hair.

“Let’s hear it.” I say. I’m not waiting anymore.

“Quinn is in custody and the Rex demon is missing.” I couldn’t have anticipated those words in a million years.