Chapter 35

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• Amir •

Out of all the people who could have lost their memories, Amir felt that Sam didn't deserve it. He knew what it was like to have a void in his mind and move forward, even though he struggled with it himself.

He was saddened by the thought of Sarah's father not knowing who she was, and he understood that Sam needed to be rescued, too.

"What do you think, General?" Luna asked, her eyes shifting to him. "Is it possible that they've erased every ounce of Sarah's existence from Sam's mind?"

"I can't answer that." Davenport dropped his hand to his knee. "I haven't seen anyone from BARDA since you two escaped the hospital. Obviously, I'm not with them. I'm here—watching a live-action soap opera."

Luna's lips curled as she snarled. "You can be such a prick."

"And you can be stuck up," he shot back.

Amir growled, balling his fists.

"Back to more important topics, the organization is much harder to deal with." She folded her arms over her chest, pursing her lips. "Sam is compromised."

"Defective, Origin, or Trojan, they won't stand a chance against me," Amir stated. He sounded a bit arrogant and full of himself, but it was the truth. "Or you," he added, meeting her gaze.

Luna blinked, and then said, "I'll uproot trees and break their bodies with the curl of my hand. Nobody would want to mess with me."

Her words struck a chord with him. He didn't want to think of Luna as dangerous, but he knew she could become lethal if the time came for it.

"They won't stand a chance against me if I somehow learned to access those abilities . . . and control my emotions at the same time. I'll try not to kill anybody in the process," she said. "Including you."

"That's . . . very reassuring," Amir murmured.

Her eyes narrowed. "I'm just saying, I know how to defend myself."

"I know, Moon. I'm not worried."

"You should be," Davenport commented. "She can unravel from the slightest emotion. You'd want to take cover."

Man, this guy was terrible at giving motivational speeches.

"Their latest achievements are their controlled assassins. Humanity won't stand a chance against them, and the Defectives will slowly be seen as the good guys. They still have their free will. But this other group who responds to their c—"

"If you say commander, I will bring your house down," Luna warned.

"Creator," Davenport answered. "They see the organization as their creator. Their lord."

A ripple of heat exploded into the air as Amir fumed, "They are not lords."

"To most Origins who are Trojans now, they are. If Alisha commands them to do their bidding, they do so without question. If they're commanded to kill, they'll slaughter without hesitation. If they're told to burn a building with people inside it, they'll do it with no remorse. They're programmed to serve their leader."

Amir froze, hoping things couldn't get any worse than that.

"I learned about these projects around Independence Day. Alisha introduced the Omega Project as the answer to any future conflict and a way to keep the cooperating Tethered Souls in line so humanity would have protectors." His breath stilled. "In the beginning their intentions were admirable, but along the way, they lost themselves."

Luna frowned. "I thought the project was to eradicate the masses, then start over."

"Alisha—like most of them with the organization—is complicated," he said, and she flinched. "They have a good heart, but greed has overtaken their good side. Alisha believes the Omega Project is the only way mankind can survive a cataclysmic war."

"That's because the project is designed to control people," she countered, and Amir locked his fingers with hers. "Mankind won't survive another war."

"You're right. Over eight hundred thousand souls have been lost so far, and we haven't even endured anything yet." He paused and lifted his chin at her. "And there are dozens of experiments left to emerge from the shadows."

"You mean . . ." Luna trailed off.

"Yes. Origins, Defectives, and the Engineered Souls are just a small portion of what they've created." He inhaled a breath as his hand flattened on his armrest. "They've been at this for decades. Centuries, even."

That little factoid disturbed Amir. He knew the organization was doing more than he was shown, but that still didn't change the fact that they had a long road ahead of them. The war for freedom had never come without a price.

"At least people are willing to fight back." Amir thought of their allies and everyone in the community who was ready to go into battle. "That's a silver lining."

"Silver lining, my ass," General Davenport snorted. "Once the organization learned all they could about Tethered Souls, they didn't stop there." He hooked one leg over the other and kept his eyes focused on the dirty floor. "They wanted more. More weapons of mass destruction, more victims to test their experiments on. Now that there are uprisings, they see it as a reason why they will neutralize people who don't comply. They're using technology and fear to get what they want, and some of the population will cave."

Luna's brows knitted. "I don't blame the victims for fighting back. The world is going to hell in a handbasket."

"That is also something to think about," the general agreed.

"God, my brain is starting to hurt," she murmured.

'And it really was,' Amir heard her say internally.

Then she proceeded to sing a song in her mind.

The theme of Sesame Street.

Sunny days.

Sweeping the clouds away.

On my way to where the air is sweet.

Can you tell me how to get . . .

How to get to Sesame Street?

Amir caught her stare, and then snickered behind her neck.

"Please tell me you didn't . . ." she mumbled, throwing a hand over her mouth. "You peeked into my head, didn't you?"

He shrugged a shoulder. "Maybe. Although, I'm with you, Moon. I'd like to get to Sesame Street . . . too."

She jabbed at his upper arm. "You didn't hear any of that."

"Aw, is Big Bird shy? I think I found another nickname."

"Ugh. My headache is growing even more thanks to you."

He chewed his bottom lip. "I have a cure for that."

Clearing her throat, she shook her head. "You're bad."

"Only for you, Big Bird," he murmured, settling down on a wooden dining chair. Guiding her to his lap, his arms tightened around her waist until her back was pressed against his chest. "Tell us more about their project," he insisted, catching Davenport's gaze.

"I thought they were Tethered Souls at first. Then, I saw the way they moved and what they could do." One side of his lips tipped up. "Alisha was excited that she created these beasts and showed them off to her investors like they were her children. The Trojans moved faster than the Defectives, and God, there was no humanity in them. Even you, Luna, there is still a touch of humanity in you." His gaze shifted to Amir. "More so when your husband is around you. Whatever compassion they had was erased in an instant."

Amir's jaw locked. "They were robots."

"Not exactly." The general's eyes were half closed. "These beings were animals and destroyed everything they came into contact with. And Alisha was their alpha."

'I think I liked Amir's robot comparison better, Sir.'

Amir chuckled next to her cheek. "Thank you."

She jerked her head to him and then brought her gaze back to Davenport when he opened his mouth.

"Alisha was happy with her creation, but she didn't think of them as people. She thought of them as her toys she could place into the world and wait until they were activated." The general sniffed and wiped his snotty nose with the back of his hand. "When it became evident that some Trojans were lagging behind others, she knew she was losing her authority." His face paled as he closed his eyes. "One boy around eighteen was her first victim. She leaned in, whispered something into his ear, and that kid just turned around and threw himself off the roof."

Amir's lips parted as nausea rose swiftly. "That's horrible."

"Where was this facility?" Luna asked as she grabbed Amir's arms and snuggled into his embrace.

Davenport opened his eyes and they seemed even duller. "Washington, D. C. At Pinnacle Sanitarium."

"That's south of the city." Luna squeezed her husband's hand as her body shook in his arms. "Chase wanted to admit me there, but I wouldn't allow it."

"There were several Tethered Souls inside that compound until they were moved a few weeks ago," Davenport said. "To where, I have no clue."

"Were any of them Trojans?" Amir asked.

"I'm sure some were. Probably fifteen or so."

Luna inhaled a breath, and asked, "How many of these Trojans were created altogether?"

"Not counting you?" The general asked, jerking his chin in her direction.

A shudder rolled through Amir. "Don't even think about counting Moon in that herd. She is different."

The general went quiet for a moment. "There were at least two hundred that I know of, but that was months ago. Thirty percent of Trojans were patients in Canada, Switzerland, Sweden, Australia, and Romania. The rest were in America. It could be more now, but even if there aren't, that's a significant number to deal with."

"That is a high number," Luna uttered.

A faint smile appeared on Davenport's lips. "You realize that is two hundred of you out there. As long as you stay in control, we'll be all right."

"Ye of little faith," Amir murmured, his thumb moving lightly along Luna's hip.

"Good thing I don't have faith." He snorted as he scanned the room, his eyes focusing on a magnet on the fridge. "How about you be a dear and help a war hero out? Summon me another one of my beers, please?"

"I think you've had enough," she said.

Davenport groaned. "You're no fun."

Amir lifted a brow, deciding not to get into it with him. "You said that they knew we were paired before we met." When the general nodded, he continued, "How did they know?"

"It was the same way Luna knew about your parents, Amir. She could see their aura."

"That doesn't surprise me. Of course, they'd have hunters working for them," she said.

"They have something even greater than that," Davenport corrected.

"Jesus. I can't imagine what else they have up their sleeve," she muttered, wiggling in Amir's lap.

"They have Hybrids," Davenport explained. "They're an offspring of a Defective and a Pure Soul."

"You can't be serious," Amir said. "That sounds so . . . supernatural."

He chuckled. "They were BARDA's favorite creation because they were the perfect balance of good and evil."

"And they're also seeking world domination?" Amir huffed out a dry laugh. "The organization is becoming one big joke of scientific developments."

Luna blinked.

Glancing at Amir, Davenport shifted again on the cushion, and then she asked, "How did they develop babies like that?"

"Alisha and Julia Smith were in charge of that project. They would inject a female Defective with the sperm of a Pure Soul. Then, when the baby was born, they were raised in one of their facilities and studied."

"Oh, God," Luna gasped, her eyes widening. "The children at St. Matthew's weren't just Defectives. They were Hybrids."

Davenport nodded as his index finger stilled on his chin. "Some of them were. However, Hybrids are a scale. They stay balanced and rarely give in to the aggressive nature of a Defective."

"What . . . what powers do they have?" Amir asked, pressing a soft kiss on Luna's cheek.

"They have every ability Tethered Souls possess, but more. They can read every mind, human or not, and they can locate paired souls before they're even born. That is what the organization uses them for and how they find their victims."

"Someone needs to stand up to BARDA. And I mean, really stand up. They're just going to keep growing," she said. "We have these Hybrids after us now."

"You don't have to worry about them. They keep to themselves," the general added. "They help you guys out since they know firsthand how it is being held in a facility. There are around a hundred of them living freely in the world as we speak."

"How would we know if we encounter one?" she inquired.

"Origins are the only ones who can spot them. You'll see a yellow glow illuminating their eyes, just like you can see a red shade coming from Defectives." He paused for a second. "Hybrids, though, are fascinating creatures. They're guardians in a way. Peacekeepers for The Tethered Ones."

Davenport's statement earned a crackle from Amir. "Really? I don't see them helping much."

"They can't always intervene, Mr. Khan. If they did each time humanity fell off course, what lesson would they learn? Nothing."

"True. Humans are nothing but spoiled creatures," Amir said dryly.

"You have a point," Davenport agreed as he shifted onto his cushion.

"I don't get it. They brought Amir and me together before our powers awakened. It must be for a sole purpose, right?" Luna stopped and glanced at Amir. "Or have I misinterpreted everything?"

"I don't think you did, Moon. They want us for something." Amir dropped his chin to her shoulder. "Do you agree?"

"Yes," she whispered.

"With Amir," Davenport said, "I don't know why BARDA wants you." A pause. "No offense."

"Offense taken."

Just tell us what we need to know, douche.

Amir was getting antsy with the general.

Davenport looked like he couldn't care less if he offended anyone. "With Luna, she is who they're after. If I were Alisha, I'd have a bounty on your head." He looked between them. "You're a threat, a real one, and they want you."

"I'm a threat?" Luna repeated.

"What I think he means is that they have plans for you." Amir sighed as he kept an arm wrapped around her. "They've always had plans for you, even for me, and look how well their previous ones have turned out."

Leaning back, she stared at him. "You and I are one of the few things that can stop them. You have as much power within you as I do, and our fight with the Defectives proved that. Should we even be concerned with what they want us for?"

Cupping her cheek, Amir looked into her brown hues and grinned. "I'm not remotely concerned with their plans, because they are always bigger than they were before. They want to control us, but they'll die first before they lay another finger on you."

"You'd take them out?" Davenport asked quietly as he glanced at Luna.

Tracking the same line of thinking, Amir's stomach turned. "If I have to. They've tried to take her away from me by erasing my memories, and I won't let it happen again."

"Neither of us will." She held his stare. "We won't be used as their tools again." She sniffed. "So, I'm not concerned."

"Concerned or not, they'll find a way to capture you both. They have the resources to do it," Davenport pointed out. 

She dragged her gaze from Amir. "I don't even know why they bother. They'll lose."

The general shrugged. "You know, we've done everything in our power to keep Salvation Estate as safe as we can from them. The wall is constantly patrolled; so are the workers outside of the community. We closed off the back area where there was once a pathway to and from the city. Things have been going well for a few months now, but if everyone were smart, including both of you, would scatter to an underground facility to live in. One that has shelter and security. Hybrids can spot anybody anywhere, except under dirt."

Amir couldn't believe the general said that. Anger had been buried deep into the pit of his stomach. But now it rose to the surface and quickly pricked over his skin like an infection.

"Nobody can simply hide in a hole and go about their daily routine when someone they care about is in danger."

A slight flush crept across the general's cheeks. "I'm sorry for how that came out. I tried to stop them. I went to the governor, the president, and even Congress, but in return, I was warned to mind my business, and I didn't listen." He scrambled to his feet. "Because I didn't stop pushing for them to stop doing their experiments, I lost my career, my house in New Orleans, and people who mattered to me."

Amir's body stilled, stomach sinking.

Luna leaned in, her lips brushing the curve of his ear. "His wife. His daughters. They were triplets."

"How . . . how do you know that, Moon?"

The general's eyes shifted to Amir. "Even though I'm an ordinary human, Luna can access my thoughts. It's the serum in her veins. Her abilities are evolving, and that's not a good thing."

A knot lodged in Amir's throat as he stared at both of them, having no idea what to say.

"They argued with me to let it go, but I couldn't." Davenport's shoulders moved with heavy, rapid breath. "They came for me but found them instead. My babies would be celebrating their sixteenth birthday this October."

He sat on the edge of the couch and continued his speech. "I want to see Alisha Bankole and Dr. Kim punished in ways that would make them cry for mercy. They sure as hell won't get any from me."

"And from me," said Luna. "They deserve every punishment known to man."

"I just . . . I'm trying to help these people the best I can. I know what we're up against."

"I know, General Davenport," Amir said, stepping closer. "I'm sorry for your loss."

The general stared at him for a second and then nodded curtly. A long moment passed. "We've thought of a few battle strategies, but the numbers may not add up. You guys would be outnumbered and possibly outgunned." He flopped down on the weathered couch. "I care about people here. And now, I care about the two of you. I don't want to see anything bad happen to you."

"That means a lot to us." Luna straightened beside Amir. "Thank you."

The general inhaled a breath and lifted his gaze to her. "And that's why I need to say something."

"What is it?" Amir asked.

Davenport drew his right knee up, rubbing it with the palm of his hand. "We have a more pressing matter to discuss than the organization. It's what they're going to do to humanity."

"What else could they . . . ?" Luna trailed off, and when Amir looked over his shoulder at her, he noticed her brows were knitted and her head cocked to the side. Her eyes bubbled into tears, tiny droplets falling out of her sockets, and her facial expression immediately locked down. Her bottom lip curled as her nose wrinkled. "Hell no."

"Mrs. Khan—" Davenport started, and Amir's gaze snapped back to his.

"That will never happen," she stated, cutting the older man off. "You can't take it back. If you even speak about it, I will find out and make sure you never speak again. I'll rip that tongue right out of your mouth."

Really wanting to know what the hell Davenport thought, Amir opened his mouth, but then closed it. The look on the general's face silenced him.

Sadness etched into the lines of the older man's face as he shifted forward, both elbows on his knees. "I'm sorry," he said, staring up at Luna. "I don't want to think or even talk about it, and I sure as hell don't want it to happen, but you understand everything, Mrs. Khan. Only you can do something."

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