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"A focused connection between compatible signatures," Sara explains. "You, Lily, and myself linked through modified crystals. It would allow us to synchronize our movements with Unity's patrol rotations, essentially becoming invisible to their security grid."

"Would that work?" I ask, looking between them.

"Theoretically," Marcus acknowledges. "The resonance network in its completed state operated on quantum principles beyond conventional detection. A limited connection should function similarly, just at reduced power and range."

It's a crazy idea. Also possibly brilliant. "What's the catch?"

"Maintaining the connection requires concentration," Sara explains. "Especially for you, as your system is still recovering from the protocol strain."

"I can help with that," Lily interjects. "My perception abilities can shoulder part of the load."

"And the limited connection won't mask conventional detection methods," Jo cautions. "Physical barriers, visual surveillance, and standard security protocols will still apply. "

I consider the options. A frontal approach against Unity's forces would be suicide with our limited numbers.

Standard infiltration would likely fail against modified operators with enhanced senses.

This resonance connection, risky as it might be, offers our best chance at reaching the prisoners undetected.

"Alright," I decide. "We use the resonance connection for approach and infiltration. But we need a backup plan for extraction, when we'll have non-modified prisoners with us."

"An old maintenance tunnel," one of the fighters suggests, pointing to a location on the map. "Extends beyond Unity's current patrol perimeter. If we can reach it, it provides a relatively clear extraction route."

I study the indicated path. "That could work. What about transport once we clear the area?"

"We have two vehicles positioned here," Marcus indicates a point several kilometers from Resonance. "Fast, modified for wasteland terrain, with sufficient capacity for the expected number of rescues."

The plan is coming together—risky but not impossible. The kind of mission I used to run as a Sentinel, except this time I'm breaking into Unity territory rather than defending it.

"Timeline?" I ask.

"Intelligence suggests prisoner transfer will begin at 0600 tomorrow," Jo reports. "We need to move no later than 0100 tonight to position for infiltration during the pre-dawn shift rotation at 0400."

Less than twelve hours from now. Sooner than I'd hoped, but later would only reduce our chances further.

"What about the other Haven children?" I ask. "If the mission fails, if Unity captures us?—"

"The remaining Haven children will be evacuated to the secondary sanctuary immediately after our departure," Naomi says, entering the command tent. "Including Michael and Adrian Lin."

I hadn't realized she was listening in. Her expression makes it clear she still doesn't fully support this rescue attempt but has accepted it as inevitable.

"If we don't return within twenty-four hours," Jo adds, "the secondary location will initiate full lockdown protocols. Unity won't find them easily."

Cold comfort if we're all captured or killed, but better than nothing.

"We'll need equipment," I say, turning back to the tactical display. "Non-lethal weapons effective against modified operators, communication devices that won't trigger Unity detection systems, medical supplies for potentially injured prisoners."

"Already being assembled," Jo confirms. "Limited cache but sufficient for mission parameters."

I look around at our small team—determined faces, all knowing the risks yet willing to attempt this rescue regardless. For some, it's about saving friends and community members. For others, it's about denying Unity access to more test subjects for Project Duality.

For me, it's simpler and more complex all at once.

I need to bring Trent and Vex home. I can't leave them in Unity's hands, can't abandon them after everything they've sacrificed.

Whatever complications exist between the three of us, whatever choices might eventually need to be made, those can wait.

First, I need to find them. Free them. Save them, as they've saved me so many times.

"We depart at 0030," I announce. "Final equipment check and resonance connection calibration at 0000. Get whatever rest you can before then."

As the group disperses to make preparations, Naomi approaches me .

"This is incredibly risky," she says quietly. "You know that, right?"

"I do," I acknowledge. "But necessary."

She studies me with those mismatched eyes. "Your mother would be proud of you, you know. Not just for the protocol, but for this—for choosing loyalty despite the risk."

"I'm not doing this because of her or her grand vision," I tell her plainly. "I'm doing it because it's my choice. Because some people are worth any risk."

A small smile touches her lips. "And that, Zara Thorne, is exactly why she would be proud. True adaptation was never just about physical capability. It was about evolving beyond imposed limitations—including those she might have placed on you herself."

With that unexpectedly profound statement, she turns and leaves me to my preparations.

I spend the remaining hours checking and rechecking equipment, reviewing the approach plan, and trying desperately not to think about what condition I might find Trent and Vex in—if I find them at all.

Unity's processing procedures are notoriously brutal. For a former Sentinel like Trent, they would be particularly vigorous, as Unity would consider his defection the highest form of treason. And for Vex, a modified Splinter with valuable genetic adaptations...

I force the thoughts away. One step at a time. Get to Resonance. Find them. Extract them. Then deal with whatever Unity has done.

The hours until departure pass with agonizing slowness. I check my equipment one final time—non-lethal weapons, communication devices, medical supplies. Everything we might need for a successful extraction. Everything except certainty.

As zero-hundred approaches, our team assembles at the camp's edge.

Lily joins me, her slender form wrapped in dark clothing that makes her silver eyes seem even more luminous by contrast. Jo and Sara arrive with the other fighters, all moving with the quiet efficiency of people who understand the stakes.

"Resonance connection calibration," Sara says, producing three crystals from a protective case.

The crystals pulse with subtle blue-green light, responding to our proximity. Different from the ones used in the final protocol—smaller, more focused in their purpose. Sara hands one to me and another to Lily, keeping the third for herself.

"Limited network only," she explains. "Focused on masking our presence from Unity's detection systems, nothing more."

I take the crystal, feeling its familiar warmth against my palm. Not the overwhelming power of the full network, but a whisper of that connection—enough to link us but not enough to drain us.

"Ready?" Sara asks, looking between Lily and me.

We nod in unison.

When our crystals touch, the connection forms immediately—a subtle resonance linking our modified genetics.

I feel Lily's perceptive brilliance and Sara's adaptive flexibility flowing alongside my own capabilities.

A perfect triangle of complementary modifications, creating something greater than our individual patterns.

"Connection stable," Sara confirms. "Masking field active."

Marcus approaches with final coordinates for our transport drivers. "Unity communications indicate no change in prisoner transfer timeline. You have approximately five hours to reach Resonance, locate targets, and extract before transfer protocols begin."

"Understood," Jo responds. "Team ready for departure."

I look around at these people willing to risk everything for a rescue mission with terrible odds. For me. For Trent and Vex and the other prisoners. Despite everything Unity has done to divide us, to categorize us as different species, we stand united in this moment.

"Let's bring them home," I say simply.

We move out under the cover of darkness, two transport vehicles carrying us toward uncertain fate. The wasteland stretches empty and forbidding around us, lit only by the faint glimmer of stars. No moon tonight—a small tactical advantage in our approach to Resonance.

Lily sits beside me, the crystal in her hand pulsing gently in rhythm with mine. Through our connection, I sense her scanning the terrain ahead, her perceptive abilities extending far beyond normal range.

"Unity patrols have increased since our intelligence briefing," she reports. "They're establishing additional checkpoints along the western approach."

Jo nods, already adjusting our route. "Eastern approach then. Longer but less monitored."

The transport shifts course, adding precious minutes to our timeline but reducing discovery risk. I fight the impatience clawing at me, the desperate need to reach Resonance as quickly as possible. Tactical reality overrides emotional urgency. Better to arrive safely than not arrive at all.

"Perimeter in view," our driver announces an hour later.

Through the viewport, I can make out Resonance's outline against the night sky—no longer the welcoming sanctuary I knew, but a fortified position bristling with Unity security measures.

Floodlights sweep the outer boundaries, illuminating patrolling operators moving with mechanically perfect precision.

"Stop here," Jo instructs. "Remainder of approach on foot."

We disembark two kilometers from Resonance's perimeter, the transport retreating to a concealed position to await our return. If we return.

"Connection holding," Sara confirms as we prepare for the final approach. "Unity scanning systems won't detect our modifications, but standard visual surveillance remains a threat."

"Stay low, stay quiet," Jo instructs unnecessarily. We all understand the stakes.