Fury and Flame | 3

4 | 1

J A X O N

Our group's mood was light as we returned to the hotel. Arlo told many dirty jokes, which Finn scoffed at, though I listened with open ears, even adding in a few of my own. Benton said many times how much he'd rather be still brainwashed than hear us speak. All in all, spirits were high.

However, they sunk slightly when we saw Kane and Riley in the room looking strangely shell-shocked. Something had gone wrong, I immediately knew it.

"What's wrong?" I asked, eyes darting to Riley. "You obviously didn't get captured."

"No," Kane said, not softened by my attempt at humor. "But we found what was on the flash-drive Jake stole."

      "What do you want to hear first, the good news or the bad news?" Riley asked. I knew if Kane had his way, he would have simply told us the worst news possible.

      "The good news," Finn sighed, sitting in a chair and leaning his chin into his open palm.

      "The good news is that the ONNT has apparently stopped attacks on various United States government officials," Riley told us, for once not staring bored at her nails. "They foresaw them and were able to fend off the Imperium assassins."

"Were the assassins killed?" Benton asked, standing tall over his sitting brother.

"Three killed themselves rather than accept capture. The others escaped unharmed." She held up a finger. "But that's not all. The ONNT has also been gathering U.S. forces against Imperium. Mostly weapons, but their soldier counts are also slowly growing."

"It won't be enough," Benton said as he stared out the window. "Especially if their forces are growing slowly." He turned to us. "Orion caters to thieves, liars, murderers. He caters to people who have grown up in poverty and violence, recruits who believe one last, cruel war will bring them the validation they deserve. With his armies filled with such people, his numbers already outweighed our own. After the Russian loss, he began bringing in even more soldiers to make up for it." He paused. "Both Delphinium and I have seen his ranks. The ONNT will not be enough. Our country will not be enough—maybe not even many armies together. He simply has too great a pull on people who are lured in by his message."

"It was that depressing message that reminded me you two are brothers," I said and gave Kane a grin when he squeezed the bridge of his nose.

      Shooting Benton a glance, Delphinium said slowly, "He's right. Orion has been building his troops. For as long as I've known him, he's talked about seizing the Romanian borders. And now he's closer than ever. That's what he's been gaining recruits for."

      "Now for more bad news," Riley said, gesturing to Kane.

      The strongman remained as serious as ever. "Orion's goals were also saved onto the file. Or goal."

      "What, world domination?" Finn asked. "We've heard that before."

      Kane shook his head. "That's what we've heard, yes. But that term is incredibly vague. It doesn't encompass...everything he plans to do." He'd hesitated. Kane rarely ever stumbled over words—that's how I knew this was grave.

"Hunt told us about how some of us are able to hold the enhanced gene while others aren't," Riley said, making the attention switch back to her. I remembered too well; it was what made us able to hold our power where others couldn't. "Well, Orion's found that there are more like us—powerless, but with the ability to potentially hold power. Roughly a fourth of the world's population, in fact."