Page 34

As it turns out, sneaking into a secret council meeting isn't that hard when you can hear conversations through walls and smell everyone's unique scent from twenty meters away.

The council meeting about the Haven children had barely started when the alarms blared. Security breach. Infiltrator detected. Just like that, my genetic destiny took a backseat to immediate survival.

Now, three days later, Haven's Edge remains under lockdown.

Guards at every entrance, patrols doubled, and a thick cloud of paranoia hanging over the settlement.

The infiltrator—a quiet man named Ellis who worked in communications—was caught sending encrypted messages about me directly to Unity Command.

About me specifically. Not the settlement, not their defenses, not their technology.

Me.

I'm standing on the observation platform that circles the main building's upper level, watching residents hurry through their duties with newfound urgency. The morning sun catches on the weapons many now carry openly—a stark change from the peaceful community I first encountered .

"You're up early," comes Vex's voice from behind me.

I don't turn. "Couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts."

He moves to stand beside me, his presence somehow both unsettling and comforting. "Understandable. Finding out you're the primary target of a Unity spy would keep anyone awake."

"Thanks for that reminder. Super helpful."

His mouth quirks up slightly. "Just stating facts, Flutterby."

The nickname he gave me during our training session still sends a tickle up my spine. I push it aside, focusing on the more pressing issue.

"Any progress with the interrogation?"

Vex's expression darkens. "Ellis isn't talking. Claims he was just following orders—standard Unity protocol."

"What will happen to him?"

"Council's divided. Some want execution. Others argue for imprisonment." His amber eyes meet mine. "What would you suggest?"

The question catches me off guard. "Me? Why would my opinion matter?"

"You're the only one here who truly understands both sides. Unity and Splinter."

I consider this, watching a group of children being hurried inside by worried parents. "Ellis is a product of Unity's conditioning. Executing him for following his programming seems, I don’t know, unfair."

"Even though his actions put you directly at risk?"

" Especially then. My opinion would seem biased."

Vex studies me with that unsettling intensity of his. "Always surprising me, Thorne."

Before I can respond, I catch a familiar scent—clean soap with undercurrents of gun oil and that indefinable something that is Trent. My body reacts before my brain can intercede, heartbeat quickening .

Damn these modifications. They make hiding reactions nearly impossible.

Trent approaches, looking harried. Dark circles shadow his eyes, and his clothes are rumpled as if he's slept in them. Despite our complicated situation, concern rises in me automatically.

"Council's calling for an emergency session," he says. "They want both of you there."

"Both of us?" I ask, surprised.

"Security and the primary target." Trent's tone is all business, but his eyes linger on me a second too long. "Ellis finally cracked."

The council chamber is packed when we arrive. Nora and the other Elders sit at the center table, faces grim. Dr. Reid stands to one side with security personnel. The tension is thick enough to taste.

"Thank you for joining us," Nora says as we enter. "Please, sit."

Vex and I take seats near the front. Trent remains standing, positioning himself against the wall with a clear view of all exits—Sentinel habits die hard.

"Ellis has provided concerning information," Nora begins. "Unity isn't just hunting you, Zara. They're mobilizing a specialized extraction team specifically designed to capture modified individuals alive."

"Hardly surprising," Vex comments. "They've been trying to study us for years."

"What's different," Reid interjects, "is their focus. Ellis's reports centered exclusively on Zara's modifications—specifically, the adaptive nature of her changes."

"They're afraid," Trent says from his position by the wall. "If Zara's modifications spread or are replicated, it undermines Unity's entire premise. Controlled adaptation threatens their power structure."

The council members shift uncomfortably. I'm struck again by the physical differences between them—some with obvious modifications like reflective eyes or textured skin, others with changes only visible through movement or in certain light.

"Ellis also revealed that Unity has begun identifying other potential Haven children within the arcologies," Nora continues. "They've created a genetic marker profile based on information they extracted from captured Splinters."

My stomach drops. "The other children are in immediate danger, then."

"Yes. And so is this settlement." Nora's silver hair catches the light as she leans forward. "Ellis transmitted our location before he was caught."

Well, fuck.

The room erupts into anxious murmurs. I catch fragments of conversation—evacuation plans, defensive preparations, accusations about security failures.

"How much time do we have?" Vex asks, cutting through the noise.

Reid consults his tablet. "Based on standard Unity response protocols and known patrol patterns, three days. Maybe four."

"We need to evacuate," one Elder argues.

"And go where?" another counters. "We've spent years building this community. The hydroponics, the defenses, the medical facilities—we can't just abandon everything."

"Better than being captured and processed!" someone else calls out.

The debate intensifies, fear sharpening words and raising voices. I sit silently, trying to process the implications. Unity is coming—not just for me, but for everyone here.

Because of me.

"There's another option," Trent says suddenly, pushing away from the wall. All eyes turn to him. "A counter-intelligence strategy. "

The room falls silent. Despite everything, Trent's Sentinel authority still commands attention.

"We know Unity is tracking Zara's genetics specifically," he continues. "What if we used that to our advantage? Create a false trail leading away from Haven's Edge."

"You mean use me as bait," I say flatly.

Trent meets my gaze directly. "I mean giving us time to warn the other Haven children while protecting this settlement."

"And how exactly would this work?" Vex asks, skepticism evident.

"A small team moves quickly, leaving genetic markers in a pattern suggesting Zara is fleeing southeast. Meanwhile, the settlement enhances its concealment protocols and prepares defensive measures."

"And the warning to the other children?" Nora prompts.

"Transmitted through the sympathizer network using the genetic recognition codes Dr. Reid discovered. If we move quickly, we can alert them before Unity mobilizes."

The council debates the proposal, voices rising and falling around me.

But I'm watching Trent—the confidence in his posture, the strategic mind working behind those gray eyes.

He's in his element now, planning and protecting.

Despite my lingering anger at his deception, I can't help but admire his capabilities.

"And who would comprise this team?" Nora asks finally.

"Myself," Trent says immediately. "I know Unity tactics better than anyone here. And Zara, obviously, since her genetic signature is essential."

"And me," Vex adds, surprising everyone. "You'll need someone who knows the wasteland territories beyond the settlement's usual range."

Trent's jaw tightens almost imperceptibly. "Three is manageable. Small enough to move quickly, large enough for basic security. "

The council speaks in hushed tones among themselves. I find myself strangely calm despite the danger. Maybe it's the clarity that comes with immediate threat—no time to agonize over genetic destiny when survival is at stake.

"Very well," Nora concludes. "The three of you will depart tomorrow at dawn. Dr. Reid will prepare the genetic markers and communication codes tonight." She looks at me directly. "Zara, are you willing to do this? The risk is considerable."

Am I willing to risk my life to save others like me? To protect this community that's taken me in despite my history as a Sentinel? The question answers itself.

"Yes," I say simply. "I'll do it."

As the meeting breaks up, people scatter to their assignments with renewed purpose. I remain seated, processing the implications of the coming mission. Just me, Trent, and Vex—my past and my present, the two men who represent such different paths.

That's not going to be awkward at all.

"You didn't have to agree so readily," Trent says, approaching once most others have left.

"What choice do I have? Unity is coming for me specifically. I can't just hide while others face the consequences."

"Noble sentiment," Vex comments, joining us. "But Sentinel Boy is right about one thing—the risk is significant."

"Sentinel Boy?" Trent repeats, eyebrow raised.

Vex just grins in return.

"If you two are going to spend the entire mission sniping at each other, maybe we should rethink the team composition," I say, exasperated.

They exchange a look I can't quite interpret.

"We'll be professional," Trent assures me.

"Absolutely," Vex agrees with mock seriousness. "I'm always professional."

I roll my eyes. "Right. I'm going to prepare my gear. I suggest you both do the same. "

As I turn to leave, Reid hurries up, tablet in hand. "Zara, before you go—we've identified something concerning in the intel Ellis provided."

"Oh god, what now?" I ask, weariness seeping into my voice.

"Unity isn't just tracking you. They've identified a specific genetic marker sequence they believe is the core of your adaptive capability. They're calling it the 'Thorne Signature.'"

"Named after my mother? How flattering."

Reid's expression remains grave. "They're developing a targeted suppression compound designed to deactivate it."