Safe Haven has begun to evolve with the integration of Xirxine into its society. Things seem to have slowed down, giving the director of Xirxine International--the mysterious Mr. Barakoa--an opportunity to bring all the representatives of each Safe...
"West Perimeter Sweep complete, west side clear..."
"E! District is calm..."
"Barrier integrity's at 100%..."
Chairman Abidan Derschwitz, co-head of Xirxine Northwest, rubbed his chin as he paced about, listening to his scientists reports. "Delvis," he said to Delvis Billiard, his de facto right-hand man, "what's our retrieval team's ETA?"
"10 minutes, sir," Billiard replied, typing rapidly as his eyes scanned his computer screen. "ScoutBots have made the transfer and are en route to Sector Alpha."
"And there's been no outsider disturbance?"
"Nothing so far, sir."
"Good. Let me know when they're here." The chairman turned to his fellow head of operations and asked, "Are we still on schedule?"
Chairwoman Renee Derschwitz cocked her head with a slight grimace. "Cutting it a little close," she warned.
The chairman ran a hand through his short, messy hair. "That's fine. Snake should be set up on the runway by now, and the others ought to be waiting there..."
"Disturbance detected on the perimeter," a scientist reported.
"Identify," the chairman and chairwoman ordered simultaneously. "Jinx," the chairwoman added, shooting the chairman a grin. "You owe me a soda."
"Identifying."
There was a brief pause.
Then, "Unit F. The rock's secure."
The group of scientists burst into a round of polite applause.
"Great! Get the package to the airfield, ASAP," the chairwoman commanded. "We don't have any time to waste. If we account for air resistance and backdrafts, we're looking at an on-the-dot arrival." She clapped loudly. "Let's go, people!"
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Cameron Walden-Wallace, high school counselor and one-time superhero, waited outside the plane with seven of her fellow Havenites. They were Zechariah Wallace (a cheetah Shifter who had recently become Cameron's husband) and the six "Worthy": D'kala N'chaba (panther Shifter), Kayla Christling (red kangaroo), Addison Derschwitz (fennec fox Shifter), Kia Sosoto (panther Shifter), Zillion Martinez (arthrogon), and Gustav (snake Shifter).
All of the Havenites looked extremely anxious—and rightfully so. They were preparing to embark on a journey on which no common Havenite had ever embarked: one far beyond the protective barrier that surrounded their home, into the outside world. And...
