I am sat in a steel chair, questioned by the guards before the other probably as a consequence for my eyes. By now they've figured out that some of us really are second children but it is me they cannot figure out. Not to mention I was the one in the video, making me all the more a target. They take electronic cuffs, securing me to the chair as all of my friend's stammer, trying to explain.

"It's not a lie! We're from another city and we're trying to help you. Listen!" Ash pleads, tied to the wall with electronic cuffs like the rest of my friends. I strain against the cuffs, trying to reach Aaron in my mind. What if this was all just a trick to get me out of the EcoPan's way? What if Aarons sociopathic tendencies kicked in while I was away and he decided he was better off without me? I can't deny I could see it happening. Lachlan stains against his cuffs violently.

To my surprise, the guards leave without a word. A shiver goes down my spine realizing they've probably gone to get their boss, who will likely be worse to deal with than them. We use the minute we have alone to talk out a plan.

"Rowan, where's Aaron?" Ash asks. "I thought he was supposed to protect you!"

"They have second child eyes. He can't do anything about that!" I insist, trying to keep the guilt out of my voice. Once again, I've put the people I love in danger. Once again, I was selfish. I hurt them worse by showing up again, only to leave. I was selfish to bring them here. Maybe this is Aaron punishing me for not following his directions. Can I honestly say I don't deserve it?

"And what about those cuffs on your wrist? He could undo them! Is he even talking to you?" Lark asks and the guilt in my stomach deepens as her hair falls in her innocent face.

"I...I don't..." My words fail me.

"Aaron isn't saving her," Flame spits, trying to push her red hair out of her face. "That bastard wanted this to happen...you should have known not to trust a bikking sociopath!"

"Don't pretend I made you do any of this Flame," I say, holding back tears. My face is hot with embarrassment and worry. "I didn't make any of you do this."

"We're all in the same boat now," Ash says soothingly. "Rowan is right, we all chose this. And we've escaped worse things than this without the help of The EcoPan.

Ash's words seem to be soothing, but I realize last time we were imprisoned with our lives at stake, I had to blow myself up to save them. What are our options now?

"Any ideas?" Angel asks, looking her innocent and hopeful self.

The room is silent and I look to Lachlan. He's the smartest person I know and the best at getting out of situations just like this. But we don't have any outside help and we don't have any resources but ourselves- but me.

The door opens again and a different man appears, holding a solid metal block with wires covered in thick synthetic rubber. The rest of my friends are standing still, anticipating what will happen next. Lachlan, however, has started to strain against his restraints again. The man sets the metal down and I see it's a battery, the kind they put in vehicles. I realize with a gasp that the wires have metal clamps attached to the end...and I'm sitting in a metal chair. Lachlan has realized the same thing and starts to curse, throwing the momentum of his body away from the wall he's cuffed to.

"It's no use," the man says. He's a man in his late twenties with a buzz cut and blueish-green eyes. He turns back to me. "Here are your options." His voice is low and relaxed, his words void of emotion. "You can tell me who you are, who you're working for, and where to find them. Or you can be tortured until I force it out of you."

~~~

Electricity feels hot and cold, a shock throughout my whole body, draining me of energy every time he turns the battery on. After a few minutes, I am sobbing, faintly aware of my friends pleading for my safety. My head hangs from fatigue and I close my eyes.

~~~

Soon I am floating out of my body, looking at the city from a birds-eye view. But it glitches. And I realize, I am the EcoPan again. I am a machine, living in the only way that feels possible right now. When I am the EcoPan there is no pain and no fear. I feel Aaron too, but fainter than ever. I don't understand. He's glitching just like my view on Secundus and I realize it is us. The electricity going throughout me is frying the EcoPan. I use my last few seconds as the EcoPan to take control of the technology. I search for my friends, searching for the cuffs that electronically bind them to the wall. I look through Ash's lenses then release all of our bindings at once. I see Lachlan deck the man without hesitation as my connection to them gets cut off. Somehow, I am no longer the EcoPan.

~~~

I see through my own eyes now, weakly and blurrily. I try to stand from the chair and immediately fall to the floor, feeling a sting on my forehead where I hit the ground.

"Row?" Ash breathes, falling to his knees by my side. I hear Lark gasp. I can hear the sounds of Lachlan still beating up the man from Secundus, and from the sound of it, Lachlan seems to be winning. "Rowan your..."

"Your eye," Lark echos. She puts her soft hands around mine. I have no idea what they mean. I only have one thing on my mind.

Before I pass out for good I manage to mutter out the words, "the EcoPan has fallen."

~~~