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My day is already laid out for me when it comes to my lab mates. They have to leave before the Saints show up, and I have to break the news to them today. Our time here is done. Major Barker’s soldiers may already be downstairs awaiting orders on what to take and how.

I have to stick to my decision to stay no matter what they say. If I leave with them, I’m only putting them in more danger. Gregor is going to come for me when the hourglass runs out.

Bypassing the regular lab, I enter the HCL and suit up. As I suspected, Wyatt hasn’t been back in since yesterday—his time better spent with Aang—so my blood is still waiting for analysis. I toss the spoiled sample that he’d been working with, then grab a fresh vial from the refrigerator. I also sneak the vial of the possibly-lethal compound back into the fridge. I don’t know if I’m going to regret keeping it instead of sharing it with Gage, but I went with my gut. If only I could trust it.

Focusing on the new blood sample, I go through all the protocols, taking readings, running data, separating the cells in the centrifuge. Time ticks by as I do a full workup, analyzing everything I possibly can. This is my last chance, the only time I’ll be able to take a look at it. Once Major Barker arrives, his men will begin packing everything up for the trip. Then it will be up to the others. My faith in them is as strong as it’s ever been, but my curiosity has never been leashed. I have to investigate while I still can.

Sitting back, I wait for the centrifuge to finish. My thoughts fly up a few floors to Aang’s room. I hope Wyatt got through to him. Then my thoughts stray even farther. All the way to Valen. We’re tangled together. No matter how much I’ve tried to avoid and deny it, I have to stop pretending I’m not drawn to him. But he can’t protect me from his father. Would he even try? It’s his job to do Gregor’s bidding. What if Gregor orders him to kill me?

I shiver despite the muggy heat inside the suit. These musings will get me nowhere. I just need to run the data on this blood, upload it to my computer, then return to my apartment where I can research on my own after the others are gone.

“Yo.” Wyatt walks in wearing another suit. “I thought you might be in here.”

“Aang?” I ask.

“He’s sleeping. I gave him some of my top shelf gummies after we talked for a long time.”

“You must be exhausted.”

“I’m all right.” He shrugs. “Just worried about him. Gretchen’s sitting with him now.”

“Good. He doesn’t need to be alone.”

“What are you doing?” He peers over my shoulder.

“Working up the sample from yesterday.”

“Yeah, I kind of left in a hurry. Shit, did I lose a vial?”

“It’s okay. There are plenty to look at. All in good condition. Centrifuge is almost done.”

“Cool. Um, on another note, there are some dudes out front. The major, too. They seem to be confused. They think we’re going to Atlanta.”

Damn. I’d wanted to tell all of them at the same time, but it looks like I won’t get the chance.

He must notice the guilty look on my face. “Wait,arewe going to Atlanta?”

“It’s not safe here anymore,” I say quickly. “The people that came to kill us last time—the Saints—they’re working up to another attack. They’re coming in a few days, and this time they’ll bring more numbers and more firepower. They intend to burn us out.”

“Shit. Why?”

“Conspiracy theories.” I shrug, but the movement doesn’t translate while I’m in the protective suit. “They think we’re trying to kill them. They think we’re, I don’t know, bioengineering another plague or switching people’s blood for shits and giggles. I got nothing, really. It’s all bonkers, but repeat a lie enough, and people start to believe it. I guess there’s been a whole hell of a lot of repeating going on.”

“Misinformation to the point that they think we’re the bad guys. That’s pretty fucked up. The Army can’t keep them out of here?”

“Apparently not. Or, at least not without major loss of life.” I touch the plasticky arm of his suit through the plasticky hand of my own. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner. I’d planned to, but then … Well, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sighs so heavily his view window fogs a little. “Atlanta, then? With Director Hamberg on our asses all the damn time?”

“Yep. He’ll be so pleased to see us. I bet he’s already blowing up balloons and making welcome signs.” I glance at the centrifuge that’s slowing down. “I’ll finish up in here if you wouldn’t mind helping Major Barker by showing him what they can take. We should probably get going tomorrow.”

He gives me a small salute. “I’m on it.”

“Don’t let them scratch your records.”

“Fuuuuck.” That gets him moving faster, worry in his steps.

I smile a little, then unload the centrifuge and work on imaging the cells. The microscopes are programmed to photograph everything in quick succession, so I load the blood and the plasma in their respective areas and set the programs to running. It takes a while, but once it’s done, I label and store the samples in the refrigerator, then return to the lab to give the images a look.