Instantly, small chirps and vibrating hums sounded simultaneously in all four frames of the video conference screen.
Rhett Hays forced himself to maintain a calm look of professional interest as he swiped his phone awake and opened the attachment he was just sent. On his small screen he saw the same timeline that Williams had just explained. Rhett quickly flicked his finger across the screen to get to the next page and saw a photograph of three young, smiling people. Their arms were casually draped across each other’s shoulders as they smiled for the camera. The top corner of the photo had been burned.
“This picture is recent. Of course, it is of the Original Three metahumans. Meg is the oldest—soon to have her seventeenth birthday,” he added—oblivious of his words insinuating that the girl would be alive to have a birthday. However, no one questioned him. “Alik is the one on the right. He’s ten months younger than Meg just having turned sixteen himself. Evan, age fourteen, is on the left.”
Rhett pinched his fingers over the image and enlarged Meg’s face. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from showing any reaction to how different this girl looked from the one he met less than an hour before. This girl was carefree and innocent. The girl who bested him on silent wings looked ten years older and hardened by life. Her rosy cheeks and relaxed demeanor had been replaced by chiseled angles, ripped muscles and an aggressive confidence that seemed to vibrate the air around her. The contrast was striking.
He forced himself to pay attention as his walking-nightmare of a Director delved further into each of the Originals, detailing their abilities and enhanced gifts.
Rhett smoothly scanned his soldiers. To their credit, they were maintaining expressionless cool. No one uttered a word or shared a look that would give away their unified decision to align themselves against their Director and his allies. His seconds in command sat on either side of him—models of secrecy.
Rhett only half listened to the intel on the other members that made up the Winter Clan. From what he could tell, the Director’s take on “the enemy” was skewed and outdated.
His ears perked up when the video conference was adjourning.
“We all have work to do,” Senator Arkdone was saying. “Let’s get to it.”
Rousing speech, Rhett scowled inwardly.
Instinctively, Rhett knew Arkdone was as monstrous on the inside as Williams looked on the outside. He wouldn’t trust the politician to follow through with the destruction he was promising nor would he trust his metamonarch puppets.
The link to the video conference was shutdown and as a precaution, all the equipment was unplugged and stowed in a black, hard-shelled weapons cases.
Rhett glanced at his watch and moved to flip on his earpiece.
“Meg, from Rhett, over.”
“Meg, go ahead, over.” Her voice was breathy, as though she were running.
He frowned, “Sitrep, over.”
“Oh, just prepping for uninvited guests,” she said, breaking radio voice procedure.
He smiled despite himself. He heard her grunt before her panting picked back up.
“Just sat through the weirdest pre-battle meeting. About to speak to my Company and I want you to listen, copy?”
“Permission granted to eavesdrop, copy.” Meg replied.
52 Choose
Rhett turned to face his Company. He motioned to Nate and Valen, who had been watching his private exchange with Meg and awaiting orders.
Valen slipped two fingers into her mouth and let out an ear piercing whistle, instantly silencing the conversations in the tent.
“Attention!” Nate Townsend barked.
The soldiers quickly formed parallel lines six feet apart, facing one another and stood at rapt attention.
“At ease,” Rhett called out. Every soldier widened his stance and clasped his hands behind his back, respectfully.
“Company, you’ve heard my report after meeting Meg Winter ninety minutes ago. You know my position and why I chose the path I did. Now you’ve heard the Director’s thoughts and expectations concerning what he believes should happen tonight and why. It’s time for you to decide. There’s no shame in whatever choice you make. We all appreciate the gravity of this moment. Hooah?”
“Hooah, sir!” all thirty-four soldiers responded in affirmation.
“If you’re siding with the Originals, step forward. If you’re siding with the Director, hold your line.”
Without hesitation, every soldier in 17th Company stepped forward and stood at attention.
Rhett bit back a smile borne from pride.
“As you wish. I am honored to fight beside every one of you not just as your leader, but as your friend.” He looked at each soldier and felt such a surge of protectiveness and appreciation, he had to blink away the emotions threatening his eyes.
Clearing his throat, he forced himself back to business. “As we are all decided, it would be of no benefit to us or our goals to leave a fully functioning base for the other teams to find upon their arrival. Let’s break camp, load up and relocate.”