Page 23 of Us Defiant Few

In no lifetime would Khalani accept that. Ever.

The doctor had granted her a kernel of hope, and that was all she needed to fight to the bitter end.

“Is there anything I can do to help him remember?” she asked.

“Don’t overwhelm him. Bombarding Takeshi with memories he can’t access will only stress his mind. What he needs most is space. And understanding.”

Khalani’s gaze drifted to the door Takeshi had disappeared through.

Space and understanding.

She repeated the mantra, searing it into her brain.

Understanding wasn’t the problem. Understanding she could offer.

It was space.

Having to pull away when all she wanted to do was draw near.

“There’s something else.” Lane turned to Jack. “It wasn’t easy, but we’ve been running the diagnostics you requested on the chip.”

“And?” Jack leaned forward.

“It’s incredible. And like nothing I’ve ever seen,” he whispered, his voice coated in sheer awe and terror. “The chip completely hijacks the brain, eviscerating who they once were before turning them into mindless puppets. Jack…with these, they can create a whole army.”

Fear spread through the room like smoke. The terror clung to their skin, seeped into their clothes. Some of the Aces covered their mouths in horror. Others muttered curses, gripping their weapons as they braced for war.

But Jack’s expression didn’t change. He stared at the blank wall, thumbing his chin.

“How many of these chips are out there?”

“Hard to say.” Lane frowned. “They must torture the individuals first. That takes time. They could already have hundreds in their control. But we do know the chips weren’t made in Hermes.”

Jack whipped his head. “If not here, then where?”

“Apollo.”

Khalani and Serene locked gazes, their eyes wide.

“How do you know that?” Brock asked,

“When we ran diagnostics, we found a code that links directly back to Apollo. And it’s not new. The chip is at least five years old.”

The ensuing silence was so overwhelming, even a cough would seem too loud.

“You’re telling me that Apollo’s been producing mind-control chips for years?” Spade’s face paled. “But why give them to Hermes? What’s their goal?”

Jack mulled over the new information, his face pulling into an even deeper frown as he turned to their table. “Brock, did you hear anything about this in Apollo?”

Brock profusely shook his head. “No. And if they were building an army of brainwashed people, word would’ve gotten out to the Death-Zoners.”

They were missing something much bigger.

They all could feel it.

An invisible presence lingered over their shoulder, following them wherever they went.

The blue eyes of Alexander Huxley flashed in Khalani’s mind, and she bumped into the table, toppling a cup of water over.