"When did the retrieval team arrive back?" Darcia asked, her cold voice huffing out on the air around her.

"Half an hour ago, those who live are in the infirmary," the heavily muscled security officer said, physically distancing himself from Darcia.

"Those who live? Explain?" Darcia turned her cold gaze on him, "is my sister injured?"

"Breanna did not come back with them," he cleared his throat, "but blood tests on their clothes indicate she may have been injured."

"Did they kill her?" Darcia ground out.

"It doesn't appear so," the security officer stepped back, "it seems she escaped."

"How?" Darcia's eyes snapped to his.

"Rumours say she had more backup than anticipated," he stepped back again.

"If she is dead or cannot be retrieved for re-programming, the one responsible will be dealt with," she snarled, stalking down the passageway.

The security officer swallowed hard before releasing a pent up breath. Thankfully he turned and walked in the opposite direction.

"Do you know why we are gathering?" Tania asked the small group around her.

"Something to do with being betrayed," Jared muttered, "apparently, Bre is furious."

"With good cause," Scott said, sitting in a nearby vacant chair, "first the safe house, then the entire building where she works. Anything could be heading our way."

"I'm surprised Reilly isn't more upset," Valencia said, "it was his home that was destroyed."

"Maybe he is upset and is working through it differently," Tania said quietly, watching Reilly viciously nailing shelves to the wall in the kitchen area.

"Breanna wants to chat to David, Clio and Reilly," Cara said quietly, leaning on the back of an empty chair, "let's hope she doesn't take her anger out on the three of you."

"Did she say why she wants to see us?" Clio asked, pushing to her feet.

"Not mentally," Cara said, "I don't think she has a lot of patience, so hurry up."

The three rose quickly, ascending the stairs.

Jesse perched on the windowsill, watching Breanna pace the length of the large ornate carpet covering the majority of the floor.

"When they get here, how are you going to approach the subject of betrayal?" Jesse asked, "hedge or bluntly accuse all three of selling everyone out?"

Breanna glared at him, "If they are involved, they may not make it out alive."

"Remember, it may not be them," Jesse said.

A knock on the door interrupted the conversation. Jesse opened it, allowing the summonsed three to enter.

"What's going on?" David asked quietly, looking between Breanna and Jesse.

"What did you want to see us about?" Reilly asked.

He stood near the fireplace bracing his feet apart and crossing his arms over his chest.

"Breanna is wondering something," Jesse said, "but apologies are given before she starts talking. I would advise each of you to speak truthfully." Three nods came from the room, "Bre, you have the floor."

"We're compromised," Breanna blurted, "I want to know who sold us out?"

Silence met her words.

"Okay," Jesse chuckled, shaking his head, "blunt it is."

"Sold us out," Clio looked at the others in the room, "you think Reilly or I sold us out?"

"Did you?" Breanna stopped pacing, looking a Clio, "I'd be surprised at that."

"Then why are you asking us?" David frowned.

"You..." Breanna shook her head, looking at Jesse "you think..."

Jesse raised his eyebrows, "I tried to get you to define the words before, but you were busy pacing."

"I brought you all up here to help filter through those we know. Could anyone else sell us out?" Breanna sighed, pacing again, "I need to know if anyone would give up the location of the safe house to Darcia. I don't want to go to the basement doubting and seeing everyone as a possible traitor."

Jesse shook his head. Breanna lost her filter between brain and mouth when she got angry.

"Five minutes, people," Jesse said, looking at his watch, "I'm going down to the basement to assist Val and joining those who will be put on trial."

"Jesse," Breanna sighed, "be serious."

Grinning, Jesse left the room, hoping they worked it out.

Standing at the top of the stairs watching Clio, David and Reilly descend, Breanna took in the sounds below. She fought the rage of knowing someone was still out there and able to act against them. Fortunately, the discussion with David, Clio and Reilly had cleared those known to them. It meant they had no idea how Darcia had received the information. Breathing in, Breanna controlled the anger.

Memories of the last episode made her shudder. The laboratory had been small, the procedure successful, she felt edgy and strung out. Darcia was not answering Breanna's questions; instead, Darcia ordered Breanna to fight against a newer volunteer to see the procedure's outcome. The injustice of the idea and the brutality of the act angered Breanna. The more Darcia insisted, the angrier Breanna became. Breanna had declined, and Darcia made the mistake of manipulating Breanna into obeying with the threat of another procedure. Hot white fury ripped through Breanna, leaving only the need to level the playing field with Darcia, who stood on the other side of the thick metal and glass. Breanna wanted to reach her sister and end her depraved machinations. Turning away from her opponent Breanna found and kept eye contact with Darcia's smirking expression while mentally reaching out in anger. The shocked gasps and scattering of medical personnel as the metal and glass wall had rippled like a wave before buckling under her intense emotions still made her shudder. The thick glass exploded in all directions. Darcia had watched it all, trepidation entering her eyes for the first time. It was followed by a twisted expression of caution and jubilation.

After that, obedience necklaces were enforced while medical staff were heard muttering "demon" in various languages. Strangely Breanna understood even though she was sure she didn't speak the language.

Breanna understood Darcia's goal after seeing her own abilities. She could never shake the realisation of what could happen with one experiment unleashed. Imagine dozens of enhanced beings under Darcia's control. The horror of uncontrolled enhanced beings released on the human race chilled her to the bone. Breanna's episode had been bad enough … she could still see the unconscious and dead. Breanna still felt nauseated and disgusted over Darcia's elation and finally understood the depth of Darcia's insanity. The destruction of property and human life was fantastic, marvellous and incredible in Darcia's eyes. Breanna only felt self-loathing. She had worked hard to bury her abilities after that. She refused to allow these destructive forces to be unleashed against the world.

It was three years since such a destructive episode. Three years of every thought and action controlled and contained. Three years. Now Darcia started pressing buttons again, doing what she did best in Breanna's life. Poke, prod and provoke until a response was received. Breathing in deeply, Breanna exhaled and felt much of the tension ebb away. She knew she could keep this power under control, but it depended on how long Darcia would stay away. Breanna needed to keep focused.

Closing her eyes, Breanna let her abilities out of their restraints. She would need only truth-seeking, detection of emotional levels, and knowing who was friend or foe. To use only those, everything had to be released. Breathing in deeply again, she descended to the basement. She could do this. Feel angry without devastating effects. She would keep it under control because she chose to.