Page 44

I dream of butterflies with wings that shift between blue and amber, flying through a forest where the trees have Trent's eyes and the wind whispers with Vex's voice. They're calling me, pulling me in opposite directions until I split in two, one Zara following each path.

I jolt awake with a gasp.

Rough stone ceiling above me. Soft furs beneath. The distant drip of water echoing through natural chambers. This isn't the Unity facility.

"She's awake," someone calls.

I push myself up on shaky arms, body still sluggish from the suppression compound. A cave system, illuminated by strange bioluminescent growths along the walls. People move purposefully through the space—checking equipment, monitoring communications, tending to injured.

"Easy," a familiar voice cautions.

Trent sits beside me, his face less bruised than I remember, suggesting some time has passed. He offers a metal cup of water.

"How long was I out?" I ask, drinking gratefully .

"Twenty-two hours. The suppression compound hit you harder than expected."

"The Old Refuge?" I gesture at our surroundings.

He nods. "Safe for now. The cave system interferes with Unity tracking tech."

My foggy mind tries to piece together the rescue. "The guards who brought you to the lab..."

"Sympathizers with deep cover in Unity operations," Trent confirms. "They've been infiltrating the facility for months, tracking Unity's genetic research."

"And Vex?"

"Perimeter duty. He's been patrolling since we arrived, barely rested." Something crosses Trent's face—not quite jealousy, more like reluctant respect.

I test my limbs, taking inventory. My body feels more present now, the fog lifting. I stretch, feeling modifications slowly reawakening—enhanced senses gradually returning, muscles regaining their strength.

"You had us worried," Trent admits, watching me closely. "The compound they used was experimental. Designed specifically for your genetic structure."

"They wanted to control my modifications, not just suppress them." The memory of Dr. Keller's clinical interest makes my skin crawl. "Use me as a template for controllable modified soldiers."

Trent's jaw tightens. "I heard. During my 'debriefing,' they were quite forthcoming about their plans."

I notice then the careful way he holds himself, the stiffness in his movements betraying injuries beyond the visible bruises.

"What did they do to you?" I ask quietly.

"Standard interrogation protocol." His tone is dismissive, pure Sentinel. “I’m fine.”

Before I can press further, footsteps approach—quick and purposeful. I know who it is before I see him, something in my body recognizing his precense.

Vex appears in the chamber entrance, amber eyes immediately finding mine. He crosses the space in seconds, dropping to a crouch beside the sleeping platform.

"Finally rejoining us, Flutterby?" His attempt at casual banter doesn't hide the relief in his eyes.

"Miss me?" I counter.

"The patrols were getting boring without someone to rescue."

His hand hovers near mine, not quite touching, restraint visible in the tension of his shoulders. I bridge the gap, fingers brushing his briefly. The contact sends a warm current up my arm.

Trent observes this interaction with unreadable eyes.

"Perimeter secure?" he asks, shifting the focus.

Vex straightens, professional despite the lingering concern in his gaze. "For now. Unity search patterns indicate they're focusing on the southern territories."

"They don't know about this place?"

"The Old Refuge has been carefully protected," Vex explains to me. "It was a natural cave system even before the collapse. The sympathizer network expanded it, but kept it off all maps."

A new figure joins our conversation—an older woman with steel-gray hair and skin bearing the textured patterns of severe radiation adaptation. I recognize her as one of the extraction team leaders.

"Good, you're awake," she says, all business. "I'm Elle. We need to talk about what happened at the facility."

I swing my legs off the sleeping platform, testing my balance. Better, but still not right. Trent's hand automatically steadies my elbow.

"Lin betrayed us," I say. "He's working with Unity. "

"Not just Lin," Elle clarifies. "His entire faction of the Evolved. They've made some kind of deal—access to Unity research in exchange for helping capture you and the other Haven children."

Cold anger replaces the lingering grogginess. "They sold us out for lab privileges?"

"They believe they're pursuing the next evolutionary step," Elle explains. "Lin's faction sees Unity's resources as necessary for their goals."

"And my mother's research?"

"Central to their plans." Elle gestures for us to follow her. "Come. There's something you need to see."

We navigate through the cave system, deeper into the mountain. Vex takes point automatically, Trent staying close beside me, ready to support if my strength falters. The complex is larger than I first thought—multiple natural chambers connected by both existing passages and carved tunnels.

Elle leads us to what appears to be a command center—equipment salvaged from various sources forming a surprisingly sophisticated operation. Maps cover one wall, marking Unity outposts, sympathizer safe houses, and known Splinter settlements.

"We've been tracking Unity's hunt for the Haven children for years," she explains, activating a central display. "But recent intelligence suggests something more concerning than just capture."

The display shows what appears to be genetic sequencing—complex patterns shifting and realigning.

"This is your genetic structure," she points. "Or rather, the portions Unity has managed to analyze from samples they collected."

I study the display, recognizing some patterns from Reid's explanations at Haven's Edge. "The adaptive nodes my mother designed."

"Yes. But look what happens when they introduce Lin's genetic patterns. "

The display shifts, showing my sequences merging with another set—more chaotic, less structured, but somehow compatible with mine.

"They're complementary," Trent observes, scientific training evident in his quick analysis.

"More than complementary," Elle corrects. "When combined, they create something new. Something neither your mother nor Lin's faction anticipated."

"What exactly?" I ask, unease growing.

She manipulates the display, showing the merged patterns evolving rapidly. "A chain reaction. Your controlled adaptive capabilities combined with the Evolved's extreme modifications create a genetic framework that can be passed to others. Essentially, a transmissible modification pattern."

The implications strike. "A way to modify others without direct genetic intervention."

"A contagion," Trent translates grimly.

"That's what Unity wants," Vex concludes, eyes fixed on the display. "A controlled method to implement or remove modifications as they see fit."

"Exactly," Elle confirms. "Your mother designed your modifications to be stable and integrated. Lin's faction pursued the opposite approach—extreme, constantly evolving changes. Unity believes that by combining both, they can create modifications that can be activated or deactivated on command."

"The perfect weapon," I whisper. "Controllable Splinters."

"And they need me to perfect it." The knowledge settles like a stone in my stomach. "That's why they're hunting the other Haven children too—different modification patterns to incorporate into their system."

She nods. "Which brings us to the immediate problem. Unity now has samples of your genetic material. Even without you physically present, they can continue their research. "

"How close are they?" Trent asks.

"Our sources indicate they're still struggling with the stabilization phase," Elle answers. "Your genetics are incredibly complex, Zara. They've only decoded portions of the adaptive sequences."

"So what's the plan?" I look between them. "Obviously we can't let Unity create this... contagion."

"We have two objectives," Elle says decisively. "First, destroy Unity's research and samples. Second, warn the remaining Haven children before they're captured."

"The facility we escaped from," Vex suggests. "That's where their primary research is happening."

"Too heavily defended now," Trent counters. "They'll have tripled security after our escape."

"What about information instead of direct assault?" I offer. "If we could access their network, inject something to corrupt their data..."

Elle raises her brows, nodding. "That might be possible. We have sympathizers with limited network access."

"It wouldn't destroy physical samples," Trent points out.

"But it would set them back significantly," Vex argues. "Give us time to locate the other Haven children."

A burst of communication from one of the monitoring stations interrupts our discussion. A young operator gestures urgently to Elle.

"Incoming transmission," she announces. "Encrypted sympathizer frequency."

We gather around the communications array as Elle activates the receiver. Static crackles, then a voice breaks through—distorted but understandable.

"Old Refuge, this is Haven's Edge. Responding to alert beacon. Status report requested on Thorne extraction."

Reid's voice. Relief floods through me at this connection to Haven's Edge.

Elle answers: "Haven's Edge, extraction successful but compromised. Unity has genetic samples. Evolved faction alliance confirmed."

A pause, then: "Understood. Alternative communication protocol initiated. Prepare for data transmission."

The system hums as encoded data streams in. Operators work quickly to decrypt and display the incoming information.

"It's a warning," one announces as text appears on screen. "Unity forces converging on all known sympathizer outposts. Full containment protocol activated."

"They're burning the network," Vex says grimly. "Eliminating every potential ally."

More data appears—maps showing Unity movement patterns, estimated force deployments, projected target locations.