After checking medical information in the infirmary, Breanna returned to her quarters, changing into her black fatigues and boots. A well-designed uniform Valencia had put together for the team's tactical needs. Breanna joined a small group hurrying toward the command centre.

"What's going on?" Oran asked.

"Has something happened?" Tina asked, busy buckling the belt of her own fatigues.

"I'll tell everyone in a minute," Breanna said, entering the command centre.

Meeting the watchful waiting gazes, Breanna moved to the large round table, locating Craig and his men in the back corner. Tina joined her group on one side of the room while others sat on chairs and found spots to stand dotting themselves around the area. A new pile of paperwork sat on the tabletop. Breanna quickly glanced through it before facing the room.

"Was Michael woken?" Breanna directed the question to David and Craig.

"He said to go ahead without him," David said.

"Why are we here?" Clio asked.

"We have a situation which we all need to hear, understand and decide on a way forward," Breanna said. "David and Craig came to me a half hour ago after putting a few information puzzle pieces together. On hearing it, I checked some medical records. It seems there is a brewing situation which requires our unique type of attention," Breanna nodded to David.

"Craig and I may have discovered a piece of Darcia's plan," he said. "We'll fill you in on what we know and answer questions once it's all laid out."

David continued explaining, allowing Breanna time to let her abilities flow through the group. She noticed Tania in a corner, trying to hide her red-rimmed, bloodshot eyes. Why was she upset? Did Tania know Steve?

When David had finished speaking, Breanna sensed concern among the others.

"There is a viable possibility Darcia is looking at a bigger picture of control," Breanna said.

"How possible?" Clio asked. "Do we need to take action or simply prepare for whatever is incoming?"

"Looking at the data available, it's something that is already in play," Breanna said, "when destroying Darcia's lab, we thought that was the end. Concerning snips of information are pointing in a direction there may be more facilities and we believe she already had that technology and lost it in the explosions. There is every possibility she is looking for a replacement of that lost technology to use."

"How do we know this?" Tania frowned, "do we have solid evidence?"

"Solid? No. However our evidence starts with the refugee's anomalies and Steve," Breanna nodded, "they all had slight scars behind their ears."

Picking up a piece of paper left on the table, Breanna continued, "Thanks to Calla, Kyle and Hana, we have the names of people attending the conference. We need to cross-reference these names with names of missing and reappearing people. The search needs to span all types of the population and start from two years before Darcia got her military contracts."

The trio nodded, turning to the computers and continued working.

"If what I've read is correct we need to look at all technology recently released, nearing the end of its development and prototypes. Starting with finding out exactly what the molecular gun is capable of," Breanna continued. "If Darcia is colour coding her experiments to keep track of where she is in the project. We need to find out the meaning of the different colours. It could be anything, what their abilities are to which stage the project reached or what was done to the people she worked on."

"Where does this new insight leave us?" Kyle asked.

"Darcia has stepped over the etichal and moral mark when it comes to what she does, if she is implanting technology into people its reasonable to expect she knew of how to close those incisions without stitches. If she wants that to be undectable she will be looking at the gun, the technology is not new to her, which means a civilian scientist is either under her control or on her payrol. If Darcia is moving to obtain the gun it can also mean the current project is incomplete," she hesitated, scanning the list. "We have names of three major players attending the molecular conference," Breanna said, taking another list from Hana. "The same three names are on the list for the World Summit."

"Could be a conicident but I'm not betting on that, either way its not good news," Jarred said, "if she has any or all of those people under her control, she can control the outcome of decisions made at the Summit. If she only has one of them, she can get to the others, expanding who she will have at her command."

"Exactly. According to this one of the people operates in the global financing department for defence," Breanna's gaze swept the room. "If that's her target and she meets her goal, the world as we know it will end."

"Plus, everyone who disagrees with her will be terminated," Reilly added, "literally on the whim of a madman."

"What about the molecular gun itself?" Cara asked.

"What do you mean Cara?" Oran said.

"What does it do, where is it kept, how can it be gotten to?" Cara asked, "and why that gun?"

"All good questions, we know one of Craig's team had a device implanted behind his ear. The device was removed, analysed and destroyed. What was uncovered was disturbing but enlightening. It would have been wonderful to chat with Steve after it was removed ... unfortunately, he didn't make it," Breanna said. "The mark behind his ear was faint but detectable. According to what has been put together on the Molecular gun, it fuses molecules. Closing in whatever object has been inserted."

Breanna nodded at the trio at the computers. Kyle typed away before pointing at a large screen overhead. A video played a demonstration of the molecular gun.

Silence followed the video.

"That answers some of my questions," Cara said.

"If Darcia uses this, she could continue implanting whatever she wanted without leaving a mark," Breanna said. "Its next level technology."

"She is looking for technology that will counter enhancements she has put in place. An incision area could be found, but the actual location of the device would go undetected," Fiona murmured.

"Implications are bad," Tina said, "we forget one thing. It hasn't happened yet. If Darcia is after this piece of equipment and her targets are people attending the same meetings, we have an explanation. Implant control devices in them and nothing stops her from controlling everything they think, say, and do once that is done. No one would know."

"Tina has a point," David said, "where would Darcia do it? She could remove the gun and her targets from the conference."

"Tina and David are onto something," Jarred said, "these targets can't be MIA. Too many security protocols will be compromised if they go missing for an hour. She will need to do it in a manner where the procedure goes undetected. Someone taking too long in the bathroom or having to wait in a line to get a drink from the bar is feasible but disappearing altogether just before a World Summit. Not logistically viable. Her targets are watched all the time. They have to remain in circulation for her to avoid detection."

"She will need a place where she can do the procedure without raising alarms," Breanna said, "then look at her line of defence."

"What about the Commander's men?" Clio asked. "The one she went to retrieve and ended up killing."

"What are you talking about?" Breanna asked. "She retrieved the commander?"

"She tried," Clio said, surprised Breanna was unaware, "Micheal sent the footage a few hours ago. I assumed you knew."

"No," Breanna said, "what happened?"

"I can put it up"" Kyle said.

"I'll watch it later," Breanna said, "give me the summary."

"The footage shows the commander in a high enhancement containment unit," Clio said, "Darcia arrived somehow getting into the containment unit. It looked effortless. When she came to leave, she couldn't get out. In her fury, she killed the commander."

"A few hours later, she broke out of the containment unit, leaving fatalities," Reilly continued. "They were able to lock her in a normal prison cell, but after a few hours, she was nowhere to be found, and the only evidence of her break out was the bent bars of the cell."

"In short, they had her and lost her," Breanna said.

"Some of the commander's men left the military and got work in the civilian world," Clio said. "Wouldn't it make a perfect strategy to have people already in place to either do the job or to be a line of defence? Civilans could be under her control as well."

This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

"If Darcia is working from that strategic point, she wouldn't need to be there. She could just give the orders, and they would do the rest," Scott said.

"May I see the photo?" Craig asked.

Breanna picked up the photo handing it to Valencia, who passed it to Craig.

"We need to look at every possible angle," Breanna said, "Darcia can play this scenario a few ways, and we need to be prepared to stop her."

"What happens if she is there herself?" Hana asked. "Yeah, it took half of us to get you out," Kyle said, "none of us can take her on single-handedly."

"That is one point out of the list that needs to be considered," Breanna said, "right now, we need to prevent the gun from falling into Darcia's hands."

"How do we do that?" Cara asked.

"It's a prototype," Kyle said, "usually, prototypes are locked down?"

"We can look at preventing the gun from leaving the company premises. The demonstration wouldn't go ahead," Iris said, stepping from behind her group. "Even if Darcia is there or one of her people are instructed to deploy the devices, without the gun, it won't be the clean sweep Darcia is pedantic about."

"That would be the easiest," Jarred said, "but what happens if they decide to deploy anyway?"

"Darcia needs these people to go undetected to succeed in commanding them," Craig said, looking at the photo. "If I were in her shoes, I would keep my command of them very quiet until I had achieved command of all major players. The key would be to go undetected for as long as possible. Only if necessary would I acknowledge the devices."

"Valid point," Breanna said.

The door whooshed open, admitting Michael.

"I had a look into your request. The requirement of the gun will be needed," Michael said, handing Breanna a sheet of paper. "The company doing the security for the event found one of their personnel dead. There was an incision behind his ear."

"Then we need to make the gun a priority," Tina said.

Breanna was impressed with how Tina was keeping up. Valencia was right about her, she may not be enhanced, but she definitely brought a fresh perspective.

"What did that particular security person do to be murdered?" Breanna asked.

"What do you mean?" Calla asked.

"Who else would know about the devices?" Tina said, "we do by accident and deduction. People in the security company do because of what has been uncovered. Who does that leave with the knowledge of what happens when a device is removed?"

"Only Darcia and her sidekicks," Tula said, nodding, "which makes the dead security guy ... murder?"

"Perhaps it isn't what he did or didn't do. He could have spoken to someone or supplied information," Rose said quietly, "we need to see the footage."

"I'll see what I can dig up for you," Michael nodded, "there have been changes following the discovery of the body."

"Protocol changes," Craig mumbled.

"What type of changes?" David asked, glancing at Craig before looking at Michael.

"The security protocol has been changed for one," Michael said, nodding at Craig, "only known to a few who don't have the scar behind the ear," he sighed, crossing his arms. "Those found with an incision behind the ear have been let go."

"That will put a huge hole in Darcia's plans," Craig muttered, "she will be down on personnel."

"What happened to the dismissed personnel?" Rose asked.

"We don't know," Michael said, "they were tagged with GPS microdots. There were four initially, but that number has decreased."

"Decreased how?" David asked.

"Out of the four," Michael said. "One has gone missing, one was last seen near the Mexican Gulf, another was discovered dead, and the fourth appears and disappears with concerning frequency."

"Disappears?" Valencia asked, "all over the place? Near a certain spot? In a certain area? You'll need to be more specific."

"The signal appears and disappears around the same grid coordinates," Michael said, "I put those grid references on your paper Bre."

Looking at the paper, Breanna frowned. These were the exact coordinates she had jotted down after a nightmare of a year ago. Moving toward her personal laptop, she quickly opened a file checking the information.

Identical.

"Calla," Breanna called, "can you find the coordinates on this paper."

Calla took the paper returning to the computer, placing her hand on the monitor. Above her, a large screen flickered information. A blur to anyone watching.

"Incredible," Craig murmured, "what is she doing?"

"Finding anything to do with those map coordinates," Tina smiled, "she can see anything. Even if it is encoded, encrypted, behind a firewall. Nothing is a secret to her."

Silence fell as Calla sifted through the information, moving the relevant information to a side screen, an article referring to the coordinates popped up.

"Clio, she may have more. Save whatever she brings up. We can look at it later," Breanna said, keeping her eyes on the flicking screen.

Clio slid into a seat next to Calla and went to work. A second side screen on the right showed a mapped area of the exact coordinates; a third screen brought up a snapshot of Darcia walking through what looked like a semi-residential area. The screen flickered a little more before Calla lifted her hand off the computer turning to Breanna.

"That's all I could find," she said anxiously, "I hope it's what you're looking for."

"You did well," Breanna nodded, "what do we have, Clio?"

""I printed it," Clio nodded at Hana, who took the paper, closing her eyes. "The location on the map is a residential area."

"Is that Darcia's location?" Breanna asked, looking at the last photo on the screen of Darcia walking through a park.

"It seems like it," Clio said, looking at the smaller screen in front of her, "I'm looking for anything which may seem out of place, but everything seems fine."

Craig edged forward-looking at the large screen, "Isn't that Millwood Forest?"

"Excuse me?" Breanna swung around at his words.

"To the left," he said, pointing to trees, "I'm fairly sure that is Millwood forest."

"The military forest those conservationists were picketing a few years back?" Michael asked.

"Did Darcia have a second laboratory in case something happened to the first one?" David asked.

"Not to the knowledge of the military, I'll find out," Michael called as he left.

"What do we know? We know where the Molecular gun is being held," Breanna said, using her fingers to mark it off, "we may or may not know where Darcia is. We know who her possible targets are and why. Knowing all this we need to act. First on the list, lock down the area holding the gun in the biotech company, ensuring the gun doesn't leave the premises."

"How are we going to make sure that Darcia doesn't break in and steal it?" Jarred looked around the group.

"We could bring it here," Scott said, "put it under lock and key where we know it will be safe."

"That would be easiest," Kyle said chuckling.

"We could hack in," Hana said, "change protocols and codes," she hesitated. "If we change it every hour, then no one can get to the gun."

"How are we going to do that?" Iris asked.

"If there is a way, we will find it," Fiona said, watching Iris with fascination.

"I can set up something to lock out anyone who can change the codes and allow us to monitor the codes. If anyone gets too close, the code can change automatically," one of Craig's men stepped away from their group.

"You are?" Breanna asked the man. She could feel his nervousness and that he could not keep quiet any longer.

"Trevet," the man answered, "my natural ability is computers, but my enhancement has made it more refined and honed."

Breanna looked at Cara, who nodded. Looking at David, Breanna found him watching Trevet with narrowed eyes. Finally, David met her gaze nodding.

"Welcome aboard," she said, "the quickest way we are going to get what we need is for everyone who has ideas to work together," Breanna said, "let's get it done. We have two hours. Fiona," Breanna met the facinated gaze," "whatever is so interesting get to the bottom of it."

Fiona nodded, returning her gaze to Iris.

Sorting through paperwork, Breanna stilled as she felt a presence behind her. A deep voice cleared and waited. Turning, she found black-clad broad shoulders in her vision. Looking up, into the steady gaze of her eldest brother.

"Breanna," Craig spoke softly, "can I have a moment." "Now?" she asked, "while we're busy?"

"It's important," still speaking softly, he waited.

"Then talk while I walk," she said, turning she strode from the room.

"Breanna. Stop." Craig grabbed her elbow, his hold was gentle, but Breanna stiffened as she came to a stop, "can I talk to you as your brother and not someone who has invaded your space."

"Fine," Breanna sighed, turning toward him, "talk."

"What happened to you?" Craig asked quietly, "you were never this …" his hand swept her length, "hard, brash, so together there isn't space around you to breathe."

"In a word," Breanna looked up into once familiar grey eyes, "Darcia."

"Darcia?" Craig frowned, "when she got me to finally cooperate; it was on the basis that she would leave the rest of the family alone."

Breanna frowned, shaking her head, staring at the black fatigue-clad chest.

"Wait a minute, we were told you were dead. Our parents were devastated. Michael blamed himself for some reason. He was never the same," Breanna glared at her brother. "We had Darcia strutting around that house like she owned it," Breanna rubbed her forehead, "I refused to leave the matter alone. I continued trying to understand how a man good at what he did, with so many commendations, just... died. How? No one could explain it."

"I'm sorry, Bre," Craig sighed, "I was trying to save my family."

"Well, you would have better luck by sticking around," Breanna laughed drily, "Darcia made me believe I was protecting my family as well. By the time I was working for a task force, Mom and Dad were obsessed with the movement of every one of us. Michael was a royal pain in the ass. I couldn't stand to be around anyone, especially Darcia."

"She promised you would forget your family," he said quietly, "promised not to harm anyone only if you would join her programme."

"Yes," Breanna sighed," "seems that was her line. How long did she have you?"

"Years," Craig stated flatly, "it was only after a woman was able to get out of the facility that anyone believed there was hope."

"That was me," Breanna said, "I caught on to what was going on and why. I decided I was no longer volunteering for anything further. She got Mom and Dad as well. Doing sick experiments on them when they tried to talk some sense into her."

"You saw them?"

"I saw their very enhanced bodies strapped to examination tables in the facility that was destroyed," Breanna said, looking away, "before you ask. They were not alive. The only thing that was alive was Mom's mind, and she didn't want to continue as she was."

"How do you know that?" Craig asked

"She told me," Breanna said, "we do need to talk. Right now, I have to make sure that Darcia doesn't take over the world in such a way that we are unable to stop her." "What do you need us to do?" Craig asked.

"Us?" Breanna met his steady gaze.

"My team," he said, "we were chatting last night and want to be involved."

"Why?" Breanna narrowed her eyes.

"We signed up to do the right thing," he said, "plus we want a little payback."

"Your group wants to be part of what we're doing?" Breanna heard the words but needed to be sure.

"Yes?" Craig nodded, "we have seen what you're doing here and want in."

Nodding, Breanna could not feel any malicious intentions.

"In that case, tell Valencia and Clio what your enhancements and abilities are," Breanna said, "we can't move forward or integrate without knowing what we are working with. Breakfast should be soon; we can make introductions then. I noticed one of your guys watching Daisy; it may be easier to talk knowing names."

Turning, she walked briskly down the passageway toward Michael's study. There was work to be done, information gained, and a world to save.