"Yeah." Drake hadn't really talked to me one-on-one before. I hadn't realized he was dealing with bullshit, too. That's how well he dealt with it. Maybe he wasn't as bad as everyone thought. "Thanks, sir."
"I wasn't exaggerating about the other stuff," he said. "You have to be prepared for everything."
I nodded. I was about to reply, but the doors to the training room burst open.
A platoon of uniformed soldiers piled into the room. The first thing I noticed was that some of them were holding cages. The type that had trapped and separated Zoe from me before.
"What the fuck is going on here?" Drake roared. The dragon at his side flapped its wings angrily and hissed.
Dr. Preston walked into the training room.
"Dustin? Where is he?" His eyes fell on me. He smiled. "Hello, Dustin. Looks like I'll get to have my way with you after all."
CHAPTER 10
Everyone stared at me.
Dr. Preston turned to one of the soldiers holding a cage. He motioned to Zoe. "Lock up his Avatar."
"What the hell?" I shouted. I ran towards Zoe, but a soldier moved to bar my way. "I don't think so." I easily spun past the soldier and reached Zoe first. I blocked the incoming soldier carrying a cage using my arms. "No fucking way."
Zoe, what is this?
I don't know. It sounds like Preston has permission to proceed with his plan.
The soldier with the cage eyed me warily, then looked back at Dr. Preston.
"Stand aside, Dustin," Dr. Preston.
"Is Dustin in trouble?" Nikki asked.
Another soldier with a cage moved towards Zoe, but Julie moved to block him. "Who the fuck are you, anyway?" Kayla didn't say anything but took another step closer to me.
"That's Cody's father," Stella said.
Dr. Preston tilted his head slightly. "Stella. Looks like you're coming along nicely." He sighed and turned his attention to me again. "Dustin. Enough with the childish display."
"You realize we could meld and tear you all apart," Julie said.
Drake had been quiet until now. I noticed him finish tapping on something strapped to his wrist. "Stand down, Richards!" He took a step towards Dr. Preston. "Leave that to me."
The air shimmered, and a giant silver dragon stood in his place. "No one moves until Dr. Hill gets here," he growled.
"I could have you court-martialed," Dr. Preston growled. He threw his hands up in exasperation. "Get that Avatar in a cage," he barked to the rest of the soldiers.
The soldiers warily approached, but Drake pushed them gently but firmly back with one of his wings. "Don't test me."
The nearest soldier with a cage lunged past me, but I caught him and flipped him to the ground. The cage clattered as it fell away.
"Now, he fights," Stella muttered.
We stood in silence, glaring at each other, for what felt like minutes before the training room's door slid open again. Dr. Hill stepped inside.
"Jack!" she shouted. "What's this? You trying to go behind my back?"
Dr. Preston smiled. "Hello, Leah. This has been authorized from the very top." He pulled out a tablet and showed it to Dr. Hill. She snatched it and examined it for a moment before snorting in disgust. She tossed the tablet back to Dr. Preston.
"Unbelievable," Dr. Hill said. "I thought we were working together on this."
Dr. Preston shrugged. "I'm a go-getter. I got impatient waiting for Dustin here to make his decision."
"Decision?" one of the girls whispered.
Dr. Hill shook her head. "You forced me." She took out her own tablet and started typing furiously.
Dr. Preston's smile disappeared. "Leah. What are you doing?"
"Just letting your bosses know that you lost Cody. And that they're about to put you in charge of our most valuable military asset." She finished typing then gave Dr. Preston a smug smile of her own.
"How did you know—"
"Oh. And that Cody, your ward, is currently cavorting with the enemy."
There were gasps.
Cody's with the Mekanics?
Sounds like it.
Dr. Preston frowned. "You have no proof."
"Don't push me, Jack. You don't want to fight with me. Not when our enemy is out there."
For a moment, it looked like Dr. Preston would explode in anger, but he pressed his lips tightly together and took a deep breath through his nose.
"You're making a mistake, Leah," he said in a calm tone. He pointed at me, then Zoe. "All of you. You have no idea what's at stake. Don't you understand? I'm trying to save this miserable world. I'm the only one willing to do what it takes." He shook his head, then marched out of the room. "Don't blame me for what happens next," he said as he left.
The remaining soldiers looked at each other in confusion.
I melded and screamed. The soldiers scrambled out of the room.
Dr. Hill raised an eyebrow. "Enough with the theatrics, Hunter. You, too, Drake."
We both unmelded. There was an immediate chorus of questions.
"Where's Cody?"
"What's going on with Dustin?"
"Why's Cody's dad here?"
Dr. Hill raised her arms to quiet us down.
"Is it true?" Kayla asked. "Cody's with the Mekanics?"
Dr. Hill nodded. "We think so. The Mekanics interfered with the security protocols where he was under monitoring." She shot me a glance. "We believe they recruited him."
"Why would they want him?" I asked. "Is it because he's a clo—"
"Hunter." Dr. Hill raised a warning finger. The others looked at me curiously. "That's classified."
"Why would they want Beastmasters?" Stella asked.
"I don't know," Dr. Hill said. "It could be as simple as disrupting our morale. Or probing for security holes."
Zoe, what do you think?
I…I'm not sure. It's possible they could be trying to replicate your cloning program.
But they already have their robots. Why bother with that?
I really don't know.
"Why does Dr. Preston want Dustin?" Claire asked.
"That's classified, too," Dr. Hill said. She looked around. "But he could be the key to winning the War."
I could feel their stares. "Him?" Julie asked. She poked me in the bicep. "What's so special about him?"
Nikki wrapped an arm around my neck. "He is special, aren't you, Dustin?"
Mia caught my eye, then looked away.
"He's also in potential danger," Dr. Hill said. "If the Mekanics know what we do, they'll come for him. We know that Staccato was already gunning for him."
"It isn't safe here," Drake said. "First Drake, now Preston. The other incidents. The Academy is compromised."
I looked at Drake. Did he know about the hacking?
Dr. Hill shook her head. "I still can't believe Jack would try to sneak Hunter away like that. We'll have to be more careful from now on. Keep him hidden. Mobile."
Drake motioned to the others. "I can stay close. What about them?"
"They should stick together. They're improving as a team. They'll also provide an extra layer of security." Dr. Hill gave me a cool look. I could guess why else she wanted them close to me.
"When should we leave?" Drake asked.
"Immediately. I should be able to make the arrangements by this evening."
Drake nodded. "You hear that, everyone? Pack up. We're going on a road trip. Meet by the landing bay at…" He looked to Dr. Hill.
"Eighteen hundred," she said.
It was still before noon. That gave us plenty of time to get ready.
"How long will we be on the trip?" Nikki asked.
"As long as it takes," Dr. Hill said. "One more thing. Before you leave, everyone stop by my office. I'll inject the next round of recovery charges."
"That it?" Drake asked.
Dr. Hill nodded.
"Get out of here," Drake said, clapping his hands.
We head out, but Claire grabbed one of my arms as I moved past her.
"Hey, Mr. Special," Claire crooned. "What's your secret?"