R I L E Y

The elevator ding open. Accompanied with Delphinium, Benny, and Kane, I walked through the sophisticated halls of the ONNT facility. The others were back at the compound except for Jake who was god knows where and Jaxon who was running an errand for him.

We walked past the receptionist who was typing away on her computer and pushed through a door into Damien Hunt's office. The director of the ONNT, who was reading some papers, closed his files and leaned back in his chair as we took our usually spots around the room. I sat down in an armchair, well aware of Kane's looming presence behind me, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.

"What did you find?" Hunt questioned.

"We found the Needles' lieutenant, Sloan, but he managed to kill himself before we got any information," Delphinium recounted.

"How?"

"Poison tablet. Bit it before I could get it out."

"Gang members typically don't use self-poisoning, especially not the Needles."

"Yeah, they're too careless for that," Benny agreed. "It's more of an assassin, mercenary thing."

"I'm just surprised he lived that long," I added. "I half expected their leader to kill him after leading them into the trap Jake set up during our first war with Hundsen."

Hunt shook his head, "We believe the Needles leader is much more benevolent than Hundsen or any other Crepuscule Club leader."

And by that he meant Jake. It was funny how he was the head of the ONNT and he turned a blind eye to the fact that one of his own special operatives was the leader of one of the biggest gangs in the world. I think Hunt had become a little too attached to all of us, a little to fatherly. At this point, Jake could announce that he was planning on launching a nuclear missile to destroy all of Europe and Hunt wouldn't even bat an eye.

"Then," Kane started, pulling me out of my thoughts, "why did the Needles leader make his own lieutenant swallow a poison tablet instead of give out information?"

"Must've been something important," Hunt said and turned back to Benny. "Were you able to read his mind before he died?"

Benny shook his head. "I tried but he didn't know anything useful."

Kane furrowed his eyebrows. "But he's the second in command. Shouldn't he know at least most of his gang's dealings?"

"He should and I think he did," Benny explained. "But there was a sort of block in his mind, like they erased his mind or he can't access the information."

So that's why Benny had been so uncharacteristically serious, or even why he volunteered to come. Someone had figured out a way to withhold information from even him. And if they were giving the power to small gangs, then who else has it? And who the hell even came up with it?

Hunt tapped his desk. "So they knew you were coming and prepared for it."

"But how?" Delphinium said. "Even in the Imperium, they might've had the Mind-Sweeper but there was nothing that could pick and choose which memories to erase completely, ones that weren't even accessible to Benny."

"That is true, but the technology is very similar to that of the Imperium's. If someone had gotten a hold of some of their experiments or blueprints, they could've easily manipulated it to their needs."

Kane leaned one the back of my chair, planting his hands on either side of me and I couldn't help the small, goofy smile that made it's way to my face in his close presence. He spoke, "But isn't all of their tech blown up or in your possession?"

"It should be," Hunt said. "I'll order for a technician to administer more security checks and an overall diagnosis of our firewalls and technical security."

"And what if they had gotten the tech or info from elsewhere?"

"Many of my men are still investigating the Imperium fortresses, but I'll order some to specifically look for and track down any missing pieces of Imperium tech."

Delphinium nodded, though still seeming uneasy. At the thought of the Imperium fortresses, I rubbed the long scar that painted my forearm. My lips twisted into a dark grin of glee that rivaled Arlo's as I remembered how I had gotten the scar. How an Imperium soldier sliced my arm with her sword and was about to bring it down to my neck. How I had managed to block and twist it out of her grip and stabbed her through the heart with her own sword. I smiled at the way I had used the sword against many other Imperium soldiers, slicing through an army one by one, and how it had become mine in the end.

Hunt caught my expression and a look of concern flashed over his face, though he said nothing.

"So, what do we do until then?" Kane asked.

"Keep investigating the Needles and their whereabouts. Try to find someone who you can gather information from. In the meantime, I'll take care of the ONNT's side of the investigation."

The group collectively agreed and we stood, making our way back out.

"One more thing."

We paused at the door, turning and waiting as Hunt's expression turned cautionary.

"Be careful and keep an eye out. This could be bigger than it seems."

Delphinium nodded and left the room, followed by Benny. I paused at the door, Kane waiting behind me.

Hunt raised an eyebrow. "Yes, Riley?"

"You might want to be careful too," I smirked, thinking of my past endeavors. "You never know who might be disguised as a measly red-haired technician."

With that, I turned and walked out the door, Kane close on my tail.