Chapter 7 - There were twelve of them.Some older.
Some younger.
All wearing medical clothing.
All scarred.
All looking confused.
Then one of them stepped forward.
Natalie knew him.
Captain James Holloway.
The commander who had allegedly died six years ago.
He looked at her.
“Echo Seven.”
Natalie whispered:
“James.”
He smiled sadly.
“You remember me.”
A siren screamed.
The men in black began forcing their way through the doors.
Holloway turned.
“Everyone move.”
The survivors scattered.
Briggs fired.
Ward helped Natalie toward a service tunnel.
Holloway led them.
Behind them, gunfire thundered.
They ran until they reached a room filled with old equipment.
Holloway shut the door.
“They'll seal the exits.”
“How do you know?”
“Because they've done it before.”
Natalie looked around.
“How long have you been here?”
Holloway answered:
“Six years.”
“What happened to you?”
“They wanted to know how much trauma a soldier could survive.”
“And?”
He looked at her.
“We found out.”
Holloway pulled up his sleeve.
A series of numbers had been tattooed into his wrist.
Echo 03.
Natalie stared.
Ward had Echo 08.
Briggs didn't have a number.
“Why isn't Briggs one of you?”
Holloway laughed.
“He's worse.”
Briggs looked irritated.
“Thanks.”
“What is he?”
Holloway answered:
“A handler.”
Natalie turned.
“A what?”
“He was assigned to observe us.”
Briggs didn't deny it.
“I changed sides.”
“When?”
“After I watched them kill Echo 02.”
Holloway's face hardened.
“You didn't change sides until they threatened you.”
Briggs stepped forward.
“They threatened everyone.”
Natalie interrupted.
“Enough.”
She looked at Holloway.
“Who gave the orders?”
Holloway's expression changed.
“The Board.”
“What board?”
“The people above Kane.”
Natalie frowned.
“Kane is a general.”
“He's a servant.”
“Who commands him?”
Holloway looked at her.
“We never saw their faces.”
Natalie felt another memory returning.
A conference room.
Six people around a table.
A woman speaking.
“This program cannot remain military.”
Another voice.
“It won't.”
Natalie remembered one thing.
A ring.
Black stone.
Silver eagle.
She suddenly grabbed Ward's wrist.
“Your ring.”
Ward looked confused.
Natalie pointed.
Ward wore a small silver ring.
“Natalie?”
“I've seen it.”
Ward removed it.
The symbol matched her memory.
Holloway's face turned pale.
“Where did you see that?”
“In the lab.”
He shook his head.
“That's impossible.”
“Why?”
“Because that ring belonged to the director.”
“Who?”
Holloway whispered:
“My father.”
Natalie stared.
“Who was your father?”
Holloway didn't answer.
A loud explosion shook the room.
Dust fell from the ceiling.
Briggs raised his weapon.
“They've breached the lower level.”
Holloway grabbed Natalie's arm.
“We need to move.”
“Wait.”
“What?”
Natalie looked at the ring.
“Your father.”
Holloway stared at her.
“What's his name?”
He hesitated.
Then said:
“General Thomas Holloway.”
Natalie froze.
She knew that name too.
He had been the highest-ranking officer killed in Operation Night Glass.
Holloway whispered:
“And he wasn't killed.”
Natalie's stomach dropped.
“Where is he?”
Holloway looked toward the ceiling.
“Above us.”
A speaker crackled.
Then a voice came through.
Old.
Calm.
Almost amused.
“Hello, Natalie.”
She stopped breathing.
It was the voice from her memory.
The woman who had ordered phase three.
The voice continued.
“It's time to come home.”
Natalie looked at Ward.
Ward was crying.
“You know that voice.”
Ward shook her head.
“Yes.”
“Who is it?”
May you like
Ward whispered:
“Your mother.”
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