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My blood runs cold. "You make us sound like components in a machine."

"Components in evolution," the woman corrects. "Your mother understood that adaptation in isolation creates fragmented development. Together, the Haven children represent a complete spectrum of human potential."

"And you want to gather us all in one place," I conclude. "What happens then?"

The woman smiles enigmatically. "The next phase begins."

Before anyone can respond, a distant explosion rocks the chamber, dust raining from the ceiling.

"Unity forces have breached the northeast perimeter," Lin announces, head tilted as if listening to something beyond our hearing range. Even my ears can’t pick anything up.

"We must move," the woman decides. "The extraction vehicle is waiting at the secondary position."

"No," I say firmly. "Not until you explain exactly what you expect from me and the other Haven children."

Lin moves with startling speed, suddenly beside me. "Explanations come later. Survival first."

Another explosion, closer this time. The chamber shudders ominously.

"They're deploying sonic disruptors," Vex warns. "Trying to collapse the underground structures."

"This way," Lin urges, opening a concealed door in the chamber wall. "The tunnels connect to a vehicle bay half a kilometer south."

"Trent's still up there," I remind Vex. "We can't leave without him."

"Your Sentinel has already been extracted," the woman says, moving toward the door. "Our team found him at the observation point."

I catch Vex's eye, seeing my own suspicion mirrored there. Something about this doesn't feel right. These people know too much, arrived too conveniently.

"Prove it," I demand. "Prove you have Trent."

The woman's color-shifting eyes narrow slightly. "There's no time for?—"

The chamber roof explodes inward in a shower of concrete and metal. Unity forces rappel through the opening, faces masked, weapons ready. Suppression launchers lock onto targets with mechanical precision.

"Down!" Vex shouts, tackling me as projectiles whistle overhead.

I hit the ground hard, rolling automatically into a defensive position. The sympathizers scatter, some drawing weapons while others dive for the concealed exit. Lin moves with impossible speed, seeming to flow between attackers rather than running.

A suppression round impacts near my position, exploding into a cloud of chemical mist. My newly-adapted lungs scream in protest, recognizing the compound as something specifically designed to counteract modifications.

"Vex!" I call, losing sight of him in the chaos.

A Unity operator appears through the mist, weapon trained on me. I react on instinct, Sentinel training combining with modified reflexes to produce movement faster than the operator can track. The weapon discharges harmlessly as I slip inside his guard, striking vulnerable points with ruthless efficiency.

He drops, unconscious rather than dead—some Sentinel habits remain intact despite everything.

Through the swirling dust and chemical mist, I search for familiar faces. Vex is engaged with two operators near the collapsed entrance, his movements predatory and precise. The sympathizers are either fighting or fleeing, hard to track in the confusion.

No sign of Trent.

I make my decision instantly—find Vex, get out, locate Trent. In that order.

Fighting my way toward Vex, I'm struck by how differently my body responds now compared to my Sentinel days. My movements are more fluid, reflexes sharper, strength greater. Modifications fully integrated and functioning at peak efficiency.

I reach Vex just as he dispatches the second operator.

"We need to move," I shout over the continuing explosions. "Find Trent."