Chapter One

A steady stream of hot water peppered my back. The heat and energy from the shower felt good, almost as if it were charging my tired body.

So much had happened over the past few months. I was dead. Literally. I was killed five years ago and then made into Cipher. We have skin, eyes, and can think on our own, but we are not human. At least, that's what my creator told me. I am nothing more than someone's science experiment.

Theo had told me I only had five minutes, but I didn't want to get out of the water. Besides it wasn't like we had anywhere we needed to be right now or that we could truly hide from her. She always seemed to know our every move. We had removed the trackers that had been embedded in our bodies, but still, she found us.

This shower was the one place I felt somewhat real. I could feel the water roll down my skin. That had to mean something. How could I be dead? My mind had been on overdrive since we had arrived here. The one consistent link to all of the bad things in my life right now ...Dr. Marie James.

At one point, we had been her greatest invention, but then we began to disobey HER orders. Dr. James' skills had gotten better, but not good enough to completely dismiss us. She still needed the team. That was obvious, but why?

I felt my torso begin to convulse as I dry heaved towards the marble wall in front of me. I hated her.

"I am going to destroy you Dr. Marie James," I whispered to myself as I tried to suppress the reflux to gag. She had done too much to sabotage me over the past few years. At first, I had been led to believe my biological mother had done these things out of love and a need to protect, but I was wrong. She didn't care about me. For her, it was about control... and revenge. I am merely a pawn in her game.

I turned around and let the soft pellets of water slide down my front.

LUX's voice interrupted the silence. "Captain James, the rest of the team is waiting for you to finish. How shall I respond to them?"

"Tell them I'll be done in a little bit." I thrust out my arm and let the water spray towards the glass door.

LUX didn't seem to fully hear my response. "Shall I tell them you will be going to your preparation tube within the next few seconds?"

"No." I responded. I still needed more time to process everything. "Didn't you hear me? I need a few minutes."

"Captain James—"

"Go away LUX," I grumbled, letting my head fall forward. Theo could wait a few more minutes. I deserved and needed this time to figure out what was going on.

LUX's face disappeared from the screen. I closed my eyes again and let the water slide slowly down my cheeks...and then it was abruptly shut off.

"LUX! Turn the water back on!"

Silence.

"LUX!! I order you to turn the water back on! Right now! I'm the commanding officer—"

Before I could yell anything else, Theo appeared inside of the shower. He was standing only inches from me, wearing his white suit with a serious expression on his face.

"What do you want?" I glared back at him. Theo needed to explain why he thought he should interrupt my shower.

His eyes looked back into mine. I felt as if they briefly softened before narrowing.

"It's time to go. I told you we only have minutes," his fists clenched next to his body. "It would be nice if just once you would listen to me. I understand you outrank me, but I know this team and I know what's best for us right now."

"I heard you, but I don't care. Besides, it doesn't matter. Don't you get it, we're all dead. We have no purpose other than to give her some sort of joy that she created us."

"Esa, you need to get dressed." His face was stoic as he stared straight ahead not even acknowledging my last few sentences.

"You shouldn't have jumped into my shower," I seethed, hoping he could hear how angry I was at the fact that Theo had violated my privacy.

"Go get dressed," he demanded, his serious voice rising several octaves. "Now! I'm not in the mood to play games."

"No," I responded defiantly. I didn't care what else he had to say. He couldn't do anything to me. I was the captain of this team. He should be obeying my orders. "I'm not ready. I need more time. This shower is the one thing keeping me sane right now. It's almost as if the water is making me stronger."

"Esa."

I grabbed ahold of his face. He needed to see just how strongly I felt right now. "Theo, look at me. Trust me, this is not a game. Give me a minute."

"Oh, I get that. Do you?"

"Yes. Now, go away." I let my hands fall from his face.

His head slowly turned away from mine. For a brief second, it looked like he realized just how crazy all of this was for us.

"No."

"Fine. Then please just give me a few more minutes. I'm trying to figure out what is going on," I pleaded. It was all too much for me to try and figure out in such a short time.

It took him several seconds to respond. "Alright, but I'm going to stay in here with you," he leaned up against the opposite wall and looked upwards.

His words caused me to laugh from the absurdity.

"Okay, but close your eyes."

"No. I want to make sure you don't try and leave us once again. I'm in no mood to go searching throughout a series of decades to find you Esa. The team needs you right now. I need you."

"Fine," I turned back around. "Can you tell LUX to turn the water back on? She is not responding to any of my commands, which is something we will address at a later time."

Theo shrugged his shoulders. "LUX, turn the water back on. Captain James will have one minute and then she will be done."

The water instantly came back on. Theo was quiet as I continued to let the water flow down my body.

I peeked back over my shoulders. I guess I shouldn't have been too surprised. Theo was leaning against the far wall with his arms crossed over his chest, staring outside of the shower.

"What are you thinking about?" I asked annoyed he was giving me the cold shoulder...again.

Theo's presence in the shower was annoying, but also a good distraction.

"Esa, don't," he said.

"Don't? What does that mean?"

"It means I'm in no mood for your questions."

His words hit me hard. They seemed so cold and mean. Once again, Theo was pulling away from me. Somehow I shouldn't be too surprised, but I was.

"Don't be an idiot," I turned back around and walked towards him. "We need each other."

His eyes held mine and finally he responded, "I agree, but that might not be enough."

Suddenly, he walked towards me and put his finger on my lip. "Stop talking. We're not alone."