I remained kneeling for several seconds, mentally preparing my next move, in case something else entered the room. I knew I needed to be ready for anything, including jumping out of this place.

The same deep, smooth voice filled the room again. It was hard to tell if the voice was male or female. I guessed that a machine was altering the tone.

"Very good, Captain James. Very good."

"What do you want from me?" I asked, irritated with the games.

"I want you to be strong."

"I am strong!" I yelled. Hadn't the voice seen what I could do? I was lethal and could kill if need be.

"No. You are unsure of yourself. You have moments of clarity, but the rest of the time you are second guessing your capabilities. Watch."

"Watch what?"

"You need to learn how to be patient," the voice said calmly.

A holographic image of a teenage girl appeared in front of me. She had long, dark brown hair and olive skin. Her straight hair was pulled back into a ponytail with a perfect line straight down the middle. Black smudges of dirt covered her face and torn uniform as she ran through a dark, desolate field. The sound of gunfire echoed throughout the area.

She pulled out a gun that had been strapped to her back and fired the weapon at something. I couldn't tell at what she was shooting, but I could see the determination in her eyes. She was aiming to kill. She fell flat on the ground and rolled, while continuing to fire, but this time she turned the weapon in my direction.

A large machine the size of a two-story building suddenly appeared behind her. Its massive lights shone down on her as she got back on her feet and threw what looked like several grenades or bombs toward the ugly metal thing. But the tiny explosives had little impact on the machine. I remembered this girl. I had seen her before when she shot and killed someone. It was me.

The scene was captivating. It was hard for me to look away as she continued to fire her weapon at the machine and then slowly turned and, with a trained eye, looked through the scope and fired several more rounds.

The sound of deep laughter echoed through the room, causing my anger to ignite. "You look envious."

"How do you know me?" My voice rose with the last word.

"What do you see about her that makes you think it's you?"

"The way she walks and looks. She reminds me of Samuel," I said.

"What else?"

"She has a pony tail with a perfect part straight down the middle." I stared intently at the image. I seemed so young in this vision. Too young to be a soldier. Why in the world would I be considered a soldier when I didn't even look old enough to drive a car?

"That's right. Why is it a perfect part?" The voice continued to push me.

"Because I like my lines straight," I responded, throwing my hands into the air in frustration. "I like perfect lines. What are you trying to tell me?"

"Exactly. You like perfection, Captain Esa James. That's one of the reasons you were such a good soldier and leader. But we have found that lines are not always perfect. Lines bend. Just like time."

"What does that mean?" I yelled. "Tell me!"

"It means, everything you have learned up until now may not be all that it seems."

"Like what?" I asked, looking up at the ceiling.

"Like this so-called 'Hunter' that has been stalking you."

"How do you know I call it the Hunter?" I wanted to understand how this voice knew so much about me. It was as if it had heard all of my thoughts over the past few years.

"Just remember, I'm always watching. You're too valuable a soldier for me to not track."

Her words made me uneasy. Too many people always had eyes on me, yet I'd somehow managed to disappear for three years. Was that really possible?

"Fine. Then why don't you tell me who it is?"

"Because, up until now, you haven't asked."

It felt like this voice was taunting me, which only frustrated me more. I didn't feel like playing games right now. I wanted answers, and I wanted to find the rest of my team.

I looked up at the ceiling again. It was another white wall, but I sensed that, somewhere up there, the voice was looking down at me. Through gritted teeth, I finally asked, "Who is it?"

The voice didn't hesitate. "Captain Esa James, its Luther, and he's become quite powerful. I think he plans to kill you and the rest of the team, but he can't kill you yet. I won't let him."

"How do you know anything about Luther?"

"I've been watching him as well." The voice made a loud sigh.

"That's impossible. We've been trying to find him, but we can't nail down the year," I said.

"You are not as good as I am."

"Who are you? Tell me who you are!"

Silence.

"Who are you?!" I yelled again, and clenched my fists.

Silence.

"You said the reason Luther hasn't killed me is because of you. What does that mean?"

Silence.

A large white door at the far end of the room slowly slid up. A flash of light blinded me momentarily as a figure walked through the door toward me.

My breath caught.

Every emotion possible rushed through me. This couldn't be happening. I wasn't prepared. I wasn't ready. I had thought so many times about what I would say when I came face to face with her. Now the moment had arrived; my mother was standing in front of me.

There was no doubt it was my mom. She was the spitting image of me, only older. Her long blonde hair also had a perfect line straight down the middle.

"Hello Captain James. It's been a while since we've talked face to face," she said in a silky smooth voice. A soft glow traced the exterior of her body.

"Yes, it's been a long time."

"Do you know who I am?" she asked, but I knew she already knew the answer.

"I assume you are my mother." My voice grew cold. This was the woman who had something to do with my disappearance. I had been back for weeks and only now was she making her existence known.

She stared into my eyes as if she could read my thoughts and then she slowly nodded. "That's correct."

"You are the reason I disappeared for three years." I folded my arms over my chest defiantly, willing her to say something that would make me care about her.

"Esa, you are my daughter, but you are also a soldier. Sometimes we have to do things for the greater good."

"The wha—?"

She abruptly raised her hand. "Shh. You heard me—the greater good. Now you have found me, and it's time we start planning for the next wave."

"Stop. What are you talking about?"

"Luther is hunting you. He intends to kill you and me," she responded nonchalantly.

"Why does he hate me so much?" It was a question that had haunted me for a while. There was so much hatred in the way Luther had talked to me several weeks ago. He had shown me what had happened to his body when he had gone on the Jump Line too early, but that wasn't my fault. There had to be more to it.

"He already told you. It's because of me. You are my daughter and my top soldier. Luther could never be as good as you and Samuel. He was a second-class recruit, and I told him so, but it doesn't really matter now. Troy and Paul found their weak link and they've been using Luther since he first showed any sign of no longer wanting to be part of the team."

"Paul and Troy?" I whispered. "Is Paul also using Luther?"

"Yes. You still have a lot more to learn. Now, follow me."

My mother turned and strode out the door. I waited several seconds and then followed. I could have left, but I felt drawn to see where she was going and what information she might be able to provide. There were too many unanswered questions swirling around in my head. She had mentioned Paul.

A bright white light suddenly blinded me.

I blinked several times. I was lying down on something. My body was definitely no longer in an upright position. What was happening?

I frantically tried to review my surroundings. The bright light above made it hard for me to see anything, but I knew I was no longer inside the massive room. I reached up and tried to push the light away, but my limbs felt like limp noodles. Every time I raised my arm, it fell back onto the table with a loud thud.

Images of me lying on a table suddenly overtook my thoughts. I could see myself. I could see the fear in my eyes.

I tried to lift my right arm, then my left. Nothing. They lay lifeless next to my body. Nothing seemed to work. My mind was quickly becoming clearer, but it was as if I were trapped inside my body. As a full wave of panic began to set in, Paul's face came into view.

"Good morning, my child. How are you feeling?"

Paul? What was he doing here? I tried to respond, but I couldn't seem to form the words. Instead, only a series of odd sounds and grunts came from my mouth.

"I see the medicine still hasn't worn off. Go back to sleep. You will be fine in a few hours."

His face left my view, and I could feel my eyes grow heavy. I didn't want to sleep right now. I wanted to be awake. I wanted to talk with my mother some more. She had told me to follow her, but now I was here with Paul. Something was happening. I needed to stay awake, but I couldn't help it. My eyelids were growing heavier with each breath.

No, no, no. Don't fall asleep, I tried to will myself. Fight, Esa. Fight.

It was no use.

My mother had said something about Paul and Troy working together. I had to remember more about what she had told me, but the medicine was too strong and I was too weak.