Page 56

The Northern Settlements aren't what I expected.

I'd pictured ramshackle structures cobbled together from salvaged materials, desperate survivors clinging to existence in the wasteland.

Instead, we approach a community that appears not just functional but thriving, with buildings integrated with the natural landscape, solar panels gleaming despite the lingering storm clouds, gardens terraced into hillsides in clever arrangements.

"Welcome to Resonance," Sara says as we crest the final ridge. "Our primary Haven sanctuary."

The settlement occupies a sheltered valley, natural mountain formations providing protection from the worst weather patterns.

A small river winds through its center, its flow harnessed by what appears to be a hydroelectric system.

People move purposefully between structures, many showing visible modifications.

"How many?" Trent asks, Sentinel assessment automatic even now.

"Three hundred and seventeen residents," Sara answers. "Sixty-four Haven descendants, the rest a mixture of Splinter refugees and sympathizers who chose to join us. "

"Haven descendants?" I question. "Not children?"

Sara’s beguiling eyes turn to me. "The original twelve Haven children have grown up, Zara. Many have families of their own now. The network expands through bloodlines."

The concept hits me harder than I expected. While I've been living my carefully controlled Sentinel existence, other Haven children have been building lives, creating families, extending the project's legacy through natural means.

I’m almost…jealous.

"Except you and Lily," she continues, reading my expression. "The last to awaken. We've been searching for you both for years."

We descend into the valley along a well-maintained path.

As we draw closer to the settlement, I notice subtle security measures hidden among the natural elements, observation posts disguised as rock formations, what appear to be defensive systems integrated with the hydroelectric dam, communication arrays camouflaged as trees.

"Impressive setup," Vex comments, his amber eyes cataloging the same details I've noticed. "Well-defended without appearing militarized."

Sara nods. "Necessary balance. We avoid drawing attention while maintaining readiness for Unity incursions."

I feel Trent's hand brush mine briefly, whether reassurance or seeking it, I'm not entirely sure. Since leaving the mountain cave, we've had little opportunity for private conversation, the journey to Resonance consuming all our focus.

The storm has finally passed, leaving behind a landscape washed clean, colors more vibrant in the aftermath. Sunlight breaks through scattered clouds, highlighting the settlement in golden patches that shift with wind-driven shadows.

As we enter the community proper, residents pause in their activities to observe our arrival. Their curiosity feels different from Haven's Edge, less clinical assessment, more genuine welcome. Many nod in greeting, a few offering smiles or casual waves.

"They've been expecting you," Sara explains. "News travels quickly through the resonance network."

"The what now?" I ask.

"You'll see soon enough. The Haven council is waiting to meet you both."

We're led to what appears to be the settlement's central building, a circular structure with living plants incorporated into its walls, solar collection devices forming much of its roof.

Unlike Unity's sterile white architecture or even Haven's Edge's utilitarian design, this building seems almost organic, as if grown rather than constructed.

Inside, natural light filters through cleverly positioned skylights, illuminating an open space where ten people wait in a loose semicircle.

They vary in age from perhaps thirty to well over sixty, all bearing subtle signs of modification—unusual eye colors, textured skin patterns, hands with too many joints or not quite the right proportions. There’s beauty in the variety.

At their center stands an older woman whose bearing immediately commands attention.

Her silver hair is cropped short, face bearing the weathered lines of someone who's spent decades in the harsh outside world.

But it's her eyes that capture me—one blue, one green, both containing golden flecks that seem to shift position as she moves.

"Zara Thorne," she says, voice carrying surprising warmth. "And Lily Reeves. The final pieces return to the whole."

"Who are you?" I ask, maintaining caution despite the welcoming atmosphere.

"My name is Naomi Lin," she responds. "Haven designation NL-One. The first successful adaptive modification in the original project. "

My body tenses automatically. "Lin? Any relation to Adrian Lin?"

A shadow crosses her features. "My brother. Though he chose a very different path."

"He betrayed us to Unity," I tell her bluntly. "Sold us out for access to their research facilities."

Murmurs ripple through the gathered council. Naomi's expression hardens, but she doesn't seem surprised.

"We feared as much when communications ceased," she says. "Adrian always believed forced evolution was more efficient than our mother's approach."

"Your mother?" Lily asks, stepping forward.

"Dr. Katherine Lin. One of the original Haven scientists alongside Elara Thorne and Sophia Reeves." Naomi gestures to the council members. "Many of us are children of the original researchers, carrying forward both their genetic legacy and their work."

"While others were hidden in Unity arcologies as infants," I observe.

Naomi nods. "Different approaches for different adaptations. Those with more visible modifications remained with Haven, while those like you—designed for infiltration and internal adaptation—were placed where you could eventually effect change from within."

"Not my choice," I remind her, an edge entering my voice. "I didn't sign up to be anyone's infiltration specialist."

"No," she acknowledges. "You didn't. None of us chose our initial paths. But we all choose what to do with the capabilities we've been given."

Fair point, even if I don't like it.

And I don’t.

"The council has gathered to welcome you," Naomi continues, "but also to share urgent information. Unity's containment operations have accelerated significantly since your escape from the research facility. "

"They're hunting us specifically," Trent notes. "Not just general Splinter suppression."

A tall man with intricate scale-like patterns covering his exposed skin steps forward. "Indeed. Our intelligence network indicates multiple high-priority capture teams deployed throughout the territories, with particular focus on the northwestern corridor."

"Marcus has been coordinating our security response," Naomi explains. "As well as extraction efforts for the remaining Haven children still in Unity territory."

"How many still unaccounted for?" I ask.

"Three," Marcus answers grimly. "All showing signs of activation according to our sympathizer reports. Unity has already captured one, as you've heard."

Lily clutches her crystal more tightly. "Where are they keeping the captured child?"

"Eastern Arcology Containment Division," a woman responds. Her eyes are solid black without visible pupils, unsettling yet somehow not threatening. "Maximum security, constant suppression protocols."

"Jo leads our intelligence operations," Naomi explains.

"We need to rescue them," Lily says immediately. "Before Unity can transfer them to the research facility."

"Agreed, we do,” Naomi says, "but we face additional complications. Unity isn't just hunting Haven children anymore. They're implementing the first phase of what they're calling Project Duality."

My stomach sinks. "The modified operators we encountered."

"The beginning only," Jo confirms, those black eyes somehow conveying intensity despite their alienness. "Our sources indicate full-scale implementation within weeks. Unity personnel receiving forced modifications based on corrupted Haven genetics."

"Adrian's work," Naomi adds, pain evident in her voice. " Taking our mother's research on consent-based adaptation and twisting it into something else entirely."

"Unstable modifications," Vex concludes, speaking for the first time since entering the council chamber. "The operators we encountered showed signs of genetic degradation."

Marcus nods. "Forced modification without proper stabilization protocols. Effective in the short term, but it’s…catastrophic over time."

"How catastrophic?" Trent asks.

"Complete cellular breakdown within approximately thirty days," Jo answers. "Unity knows this but considers the operators expendable. First-generation test subjects only."

The casual cruelty of it shouldn’t surprise me after all I’d seen and learned, yet it does. I'd known Unity was ruthless in pursuing stability, but sacrificing their own people as disposable test subjects is a new level of coldness that still shocks me.

"And the second generation?" I press.

"That's why they want you and the other Haven children," Naomi explains. "Your genetic structure contains the stabilization protocols they need. Self-regulating adaptive capability rather than forced modification."

The picture clarifies with horrible clarity. "They want to harvest these protocols from us. Create permanently modified operators under their control."

"Precisely," Naomi confirms. "The perfect combination of Splinter capabilities with Unity obedience."

"Over my dead body," I say flatly.

"Their preference would be alive," Jo counters dryly. "Much easier to extract viable genetic material that way."

Despite the grim situation, I find myself appreciating her morbid joke. At least someone here has a sense of humor.

"So what's the plan?" I ask, looking around at the collected Haven leadership. "I assume you didn't bring us here just to explain how thoroughly screwed we all are. "