“What was that, Senna? Keep some in reserve so when we go to launch, they’ve got fresh resources, we won’t be ready, and boom!” It was too horrific to accept, and yet it made sense to him. “Have you informed Jonah?”

  She made a moue with her mouth. “I couldn’t get near him today. I’m hoping you can get me in to see Jonah and Daniella so I can tell them what I think is going to happen.” She bit her lip hard enough that blood welled, and the sight of the scarlet had him closing his eyes. A lot of blood will be shed if this comes to pass.

  He stood up and speared her with a harsh glance. “Come on, we’ll go find them.”

  Senna followed his lead, and at the door, he barred her exit, took her hand in his, and looked deep into her eyes. “Senna, if this is the case, I need you to promise you’ll stay safe.” The knowledge of what may come to pass hammered in his brain, a spike of pain blooming in his psyche.

  She didn’t agree. On her face he read that she’d be out there fighting, risking herself, and the knife in his gut twisted, because he knew and understood the reason for her silence. She wouldn’t lie to him. He’d already grasped the fact that she was honest to a fault. By remaining quiet, she told him she’d do whatever it took, and he sighed. He couldn’t blame her, because if she’d asked the same, he knew what his answer would be. That knowledge condemned his request.

  “Okay, point made. At least try to stay safe.”

  “I will, Franklin. Can you promise the same?” Her thumb caressed the top of his hand, nearly stealing his sense.

  “Yes.”

  Jonah waited, his face a serious mask while Daniella clearly hadn’t considered any of the news she and Franklin just shared.

  “You’re sure of this?”

  Senna shook her head. “No, Jonah. There’s no substantial intel, but look at the timeline of events. They wait until something big and visible takes place. Daniella attacked at the parliament building during the vote, then attacking her home quickly afterward. The attacks on the base just as you cleared the home and the incubation sites. The World Bank as you got close to working out who was behind it and its destruction. We know they’ve previously tapped into communications, so they’re aware of our processes. We need a plan. Either reinforce or attack, but something has to give. Once we finish the scans of the cargo, you’ll be bringing in the civilians. Soft targets. The teams are fractured right now, and we’re vulnerable.”

  Jonah hissed, rubbing his eyes with a trembling hand. Michael and Clarissa, David and Erin, along with Franklin waited as she laid out her suspicions.

  “We need to prepare for an attack.” The desperation in her voice laid her bare.

  “That’s what we’ve been doing,” interposed Daniella, but Senna shook her head.

  “Yes and no. If they attempt a frontal attack, especially now, we’re unprepared. Those reinforcements that were due to arrive? We need them in place today. The men here on the base haven’t had real downtime in weeks, and that kind of waiting is mentally exhausting.”

  “Senna’s right. Our people are weary. We’re all looking at things from a range of directions. We need backup and we need a plan ready for this attack as just one of many. If one of those kids was able to breach our defenses, and let’s be honest, during the influx of civilians that’s going to be easy until we’ve scanned them and their items, they can create havoc. Dozens and hundreds could die, Jonah. Our defenses are already weak—”

  Here Jonah smiled; a small grin to be sure, but his lips widened. “That’s actually not quite true. I’ve had Maylin and her team work on a covert strategy for us. One that we’re starting to see results with.”

  Senna frowned. “What?”

  “The biocybernetics implants still need to be powered, right?”

  Senna waited a heartbeat then shrugged. “I guess so.”

  Michael cleared his throat. “The warrior children have a range of implants that rely on the implantation of a small battery device at the base of their skulls. We hadn’t shared that because we wanted to see if we could exploit it.”

  “And?”

  “And we can disrupt the flow of power. It’s a short-term option, but one we can utilize to our benefit. We bring them in through a powered gateway, the civilians, I mean. As they move through, a low-level charge is released. It’s enough to tamper with their children’s cybernetics for around fifteen minutes, during which time we scan them and their so-called carry-on items.”

  Franklin held up his hands, face screwed tight, and he mouthed aspects of the information Michael shared as if he wanted to speak, but he didn’t say a word They waited for Jonah to continue, but he didn’t.

  “Let me get this right, it interrupts the implants, but even so how will you know they are targets?”

  Jonah sighed. “It seems the interruption of the cybernetics will cause a range of telltale actions from shaking extremities to them passing out. It’s not fatal,” he hastened to add, “just incapacitating for a period of time.”

  “Clarissa has an inbuilt monitor, and we’re fairly sure that the same exists for the other children, we just don’t know how efficient it is, because once the brain is dead the attached implants fail as well, so we haven’t been able to find a live test subject.”

  Her stomach boiled at the thought of live test subject. She knew what they’d done and how. God help us if we start doing the same thing.

  Michael cleared his throat. “What we do know though, is if they have even a more basic version, they’ll be instantly aware, meaning those who remain conscious will be ready to fight once they’re able to again.” The pronouncement sent a shaft of panic directly to her gut.

  “Will my people be in danger? What about the civilians?” Franklin sat upright, his face tight and fists clenched.

  “This is where we need a tactical crew on standby at the control site. I’ve already hand-picked a crew and believe we should be in a position to—”

  Now Senna raised her hand, cutting Jonah off. “What about, if they are a compromised unit, Jonah? We know they’re not averse to using their own as martyrs. What if they’re carrying an incendiary or bomb inside them? Can we be sure this isn’t the case?”

  The gasps of those in the room showed very few had considered this.

  “We’ve already worked on this possibility, Senna. The room where we scan is to be isolated, reinforced with projectile resistant plating. It’s not perfect, but there’s no way to make it so. We’re just going to have to deal from this point on.”

  CHAPTER 12

  Franklin eyed the lines of waiting civilians from outside the building. Senna had managed to talk them into staggering the input, citing the fact that those waiting would be a target too good to miss. Thankfully, the powers had listened to her advice.

  Groups of thirty-five arrived at a time, the transports under heavy guard. Families, some with young children, trooped up to the building they’d prepared for scanning their items and the purported x-ray. Final medical scans were undertaken in the rear of the building as they made their way through the layers of procedures.

  At the end of the long day, they’d put through three batches already and today’s final group was almost complete. Only one man remained, as Senna’s gaze met Franklin’s in the scanning room. Their final target of the day was in his mid-thirties, his blond hair close cut and his eyes a watery gray.

  His gait was loose, as were his clothes, as he stepped within the scanning unit. “Is this necessary?” he enquired. A hint of desperation about him tugged at Franklin’s mind as he closed the door.

  “It will just take a moment,” Senna said as she depressed the button.

  The man screamed, and Franklin hit the button for lockdown just as the man within tore at his shirt.

  The whirring of locks echoed as Senna bellowed, “We’ve got a problem!”

  Their captive charged the reinforced plasglass unit. The doors shuddered but remained firmly locked as he shoved against them.

  “You bastards!” screamed the man, spittle gathering at the edges of his mouth. “You’ll pay for this.”

  Beneath the strips of cloth, Jonah could see a device, wires and lights, and he knew. Mother of Satan. “He’s got something, Senna!”

  Senna had already seen it. “Yeah, I know,” she answered and attempted to run the jamming sequence, fingers flying across the keyboard.

  A shudder followed a loud pop as red, gray, and beige spattered the inside of the unit.

  Nausea welled, and glancing at Senna, he noted the pasty gray of her complexion. Senna slumped down. “God!”

  The room’s doors flew open, and the tactical team ran inside, sliding to a stop. “Too late?”

  Franklin nodded. There didn’t seem to be the need for words.

  “We’ll send a clean-up team.” the efficient woman in charge stated, and Franklin moved over to Senna and tugged her up into his arms.

  “We’ll get out of your hair then.” He led her out into the twilight. It wasn’t the first time either of them had seen a death, yet this one scored him from the inside.

  “Why? I mean, the death was pointless. He’s dead. We’ve got scanners now that will detect and…” Senna stopped, both feet planted as she looked at him. Tears welled in her eyes, but there was fury too. “His death was pointless. Useless. What can they gain from that?”

  Franklin couldn’t answer the question, so he merely shrugged.

  “I’m tired of useless deaths, Franklin. There doesn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason, except death.” Her words carried a thread of desperation, one he could understand.

  Jonah appeared out of nowhere. “Because they don’t understand the value of a life. Remember, we’re fighting against those bred for war, who are lacking any form of empathy. To them it’s simply a resource to be used. Now, are you both all right? I’ve got Dr. Aros standing by in case you need to talk to someone.”

  Franklin heard Senna’s snort. “I’m fine, thanks. Franklin?”

  “Good too,” he answered even though he knew he’d see this in his dreams for the next little while. It wasn’t something that happened in front of you without leaving some kind of scar.

  “Report?”

  “It was the last of the day’s final batch,” Senna replied. “He was clearly uncomfortable, and Franklin locked down the unit.”

  “The lockdown sequence was triggered. He knew we knew, and he started pulling at his clothes, tearing them. I saw the device and warned Senna. He tried to break out, then poof.” Franklin wanted to forget the last bit, yet it was imprinted in his memory.

  “Okay, we’ll pull the vid feed. See if there were any further indications. Right now, downtime for both of you.”

  Jonah headed into the building, and Franklin pulled Senna to his side, locking her with his arm as she leaned into the support he offered.

  “This isn’t war, Franklin. It’s carnage.”

  He couldn’t help but agree.

  Senna rifled through the files mounting up on the desk she’d taken to thinking of as her own. “There has to be some kind of connection.” Since the man, Evan Illurida, had committed suicide in the scanning tube, she’d been trying to find a connection between him and what they knew of the children, those running the project, or even the money trail. Thus far, nothing came to light.

  “He lists no family, was accepted as a colonist after his application, had no health issues listed. I don’t get it, Franklin.”

  The man sitting opposite her was working on a remote pad, hunting through PolSearch—the crime search module used by the security services. “I don’t have any hits either. He’s not obviously connected to any of the other colonists and yet another dead end.”

  Not the first in their six-day search.

  “When are Erin and David due back? She’s better as this sort of thing.” And the truth was she desperately needed someone with the abilities Erin had. Maylin was tied up with the other mission, Franklin was better at other aspects of the investigation, and she’d been trying to work through this wholly unfamiliar task.

  “They were due back yesterday, but Jonah said they’d heard nothing in the last two days. He’s getting frustrated and worried, Daniella is a cat on hot bricks, and Michael wants to go find him but is running the medical familiarization sessions with the Colonists.”

  She bit her lip. Too many holes to plug with so few bodies.

  If only there were others to help take up the fight. “We’re not much use to Jonah at the moment. What if we suggested we go look for David and Erin? They’re supposed to be bringing in the reinforcements, and we need them now.”

  Franklin grunted. “Things are pretty quiet right now, so he might agree to that. Let’s check when he pops in.”

  Senna looked down at the piles of paper. “I need a coffee,” she declared and stood. It wasn’t that she needed one, just something active to do. Waiting and flicking through sheaves of paper wasn’t actively helping, and she needed to know she was making a difference.

  Stalking from one end of the office space to the other, Senna lifted the carafe and refilled the coffee. It was hot and bitter. Pretty horrible actually, she thought, sipping the brew, but anything was better than sitting around.

  Franklin stood and framed her shoulders with his hands. “It’ll be okay.”

  Not helping.

  “Look, I know you’re frustrated and sick of sitting here.” Franklin turned her in his embrace. “But you know we all have our roles. We do what we can, we help in our own way. Sometimes we’re the ones waiting, and sometimes we’re the ones doing.”

  “But it isn’t enough, Franklin. I should be out hunting down the children, or investigating something.”

  Then Senna slumped into his arms. “I sound like a wimp. Hell, I feel stupid and useless right now. I’ve always been busy.” Her fingers curled around the sleeves of his uniform, reinforcing the dissatisfaction she felt at her current inactivity.

  The door slid open and Jonah walked in. “Did I come at an inopportune time?”

  Senna slipped out of Franklin’s grasp and immediately felt the loss of his support. “No, Jonah. But I need to be doing something. With David and Erin still not back—”

  And here, the grave look on Jonah’s face deepened, firm etches of lines on his face. “I actually planned to talk to you about that.”

  Jonah moved around the desk, settling in Senna’s chair as if born to the position of command. “I expected them back the day before yesterday. There’s been complete radio silence from them, which isn’t totally unusual, however, given there’ve been no further incursions, I’m…” He dragged in an unsteady breath. “Well, I’m uncomfortable with this. I need you two to go out, under cover, and find them. Find out what’s gone on, and if necessary, extract them. I can’t spare anyone else to support you, so you’d be on your own.”

  The anxiety curling in her chest released, like a chain unwound on a wheel. But while she was ready and able, it wasn’t just her. They were a team now, her and Franklin. “Franklin?”

  “Yeah.”

  The single word sealed their agreement to the mission. “Where did they go, and how long do we have?”

  Jonah gazed at her. “You’re sure you want this?”

  If there was a flutter of butterflies in her belly, she ignored it. “Yeah.”

  “We aren’t exactly sure where they are. We know the general location of Homewoods, but not much else. Get them out, get me people, and do it quickly, because the calm isn’t going to last.”

  Jonah rose, turned to Franklin. “Above all, don’t take chances. The two of you are as valuable as the rest of my crew.”

  Senna blinked, unsure if the message was for both of them, but it felt like an order.

  CHAPTER 13

  Franklin hefted the box into the vehicle. It looked like an average ground car, sounded like an average ground car, but that’s about where the average ended. Carefully built to resemble something that came off the showroom floor, it was reinforced, had tires that didn’t burst, and a system for guidance and steering that was the love child of some stealth aircraft.

  Senna shoved the sleeping sacks onto the back area, obscuring the ammunition rack which replaced the seat, they had folded up.They’d already fueled the anonymous looking car, all three long-range tanks topped up so they’d be able to get further. The additional armament increased the weight but not enough to hamper the fuel efficiency. They’d stashed money too, both agreeing that would be better than traceable card payments should they need to bribe civilians or purchase items.

  Closing the hatch, Franklin peered over the top of the car. “Ready?”

  Senna turned back to the building. “One more thing.” She disappeared inside before returning with a hot bottle and a cooler bag. “Some traveling food.”

  He laughed at her triumphant look, then rounded the car to climb into it. They each latched their belts, and he depressed the ignition button and pulled away from the building. By their estimation, they had a three-day trip ahead of them, stopping only for the necessary breaks and taking turns to drive.

  They drove to the wide, angular gates of the base. The first set opened wide and the car slid through. At the second set, tensions seeped. This was where they might find evidence of attempted entry. But the third gate, that opened to the wider and infinitely wilder world.

  That no one waited outside was a blessing, but it also had Franklin worrying that someone might be watching. “What if there’s a child watching?”

  “They’d have to be quick to keep up with us, and once we accelerate—”

  “We already know they’ve got adults to assist. What if there’s one driving a vehicle?” he muttered.

  “Just waiting around at this gate in case we decide to drive through on a secret mission?” She quirked her brow.

  When Senna put it like that, his ruminations sounded ridiculous, except they didn’t. “Yeah, you’re right. But even though it sounds ridiculous, we have to be aware and cautious.”