Page 122 of Broken Sentinel

I catch his hand, pressing a quick kiss to his palm. "Not a single one."

His expression softens momentarily before Sentinel focus returns. "Let's see what's so important."

We exit the room together, finding Lily waiting in the corridor. Her silver eyes take us in with that unnerving perceptiveness of hers, a knowing look too mature for her young face.

"Your energy patterns are different," she observes casually. "Harmonized now."

I feel heat creeping up my neck. "What did Vex find?" I ask, ignoring that.

"Unity transmissions," she answers, already leading us toward the command center. "Lots of them."

The outpost's main chamber has transformed overnight. Equipment that was dormant upon our arrival now hums with activity, screens displaying scrolling data and communication intercepts.

Vex stands at the central console, amber eyes fixed on the largest display. He glances up as we enter, his gaze lingering on us with brief assessment before returning to his work.

"About time," he says, though without real heat. "We've got trouble."

"Define trouble," Trent requests, moving immediately to examine the displays.

"Unity's mobilizing," Vex explains, bringing up a tactical map of the surrounding territories. "Not just standard patrols. Full containment protocol across all sectors within three hundred kilometers."

I study the map, stomach tightening at the pattern emerging. "They're establishing a perimeter. Completely surrounding this region."

"Precisely." Vex highlights specific deployment positions. "Heavy personnel concentration, aerial support, and—most concerning—modified operators."

"Modified operators?" I repeat, surprised. "I thought Unity avoided using modifications."

"They do, officially," Trent confirms, expression grim. "Unofficially, they maintain a specialized division for high-priority operations. Enhanced Division. Strictly classified."

"Like you," Lily says, looking at me. "But different. Wrong."

I turn to her, hearing something significant in her tone. "What do you mean, wrong?"

Her silver eyes swirl with concern. "Their patterns are broken. Fragmented. Like puzzle pieces forced together that don't fit."

"Lin's work," Vex concludes darkly. "Unity must be implementing the research they've gathered, creating their own modified operators using his faction's unstable techniques."

The thought sends a chill through me. "Testing their genetic weapon."

"On their own personnel first," Trent agrees. "Field evaluation before wider deployment."

Lily steps closer to the display, head tilted as she studies the movement patterns. "They're looking for us. For me specifically."

"Why you?" I ask.

"Because I can see their patterns," she explains, as if it should be obvious. "I can detect the flaws in their modifications. That's why they kept me isolated—I could identify which test subjects were destabilizing before their equipment could."

Vex looks impressed despite the grim news. "Useful ability."

"And dangerous to Unity's plans," Trent adds. "If their modified operators are as unstable as Lily suggests, having someone who can detect failure points would be priority intelligence."

I feel pieces slowly clicking into place. "That's why they scheduled priority transport to the research facility. They needed her abilities to stabilize their program."

"And now they want her back," Vex concludes, eyes returning to the tactical display. "Along with you, Flutterby."

"How long until they locate us?" I ask.

Trent calculates, studying deployment patterns. "Current search grid puts them approximately twenty-four hours from this position, assuming standard sweep protocols."

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