Page 108 of Prey

“How many personnel?” I ask.

“Seventeen confirmed,” Dominic says, consulting his tablet. “I’ve been inside their hiring systems. They’re looking for specialists in behavioral modification and neurological conditioning.”

“Same disciplines that worked on us,” Darius adds grimly.

Ezra pulls up personnel files. “Dr.Elena Martinez, chief psychologist. Previously worked at three facilities we’ve already hit. She’s learned from our strikes.”

“Good,” I say. “That makes killing her more satisfying.”

“Timeline?” Lucien asks.

“They’ve had these kids for eight months,” Marcus reports. “If they’re following the original protocol, conditioning enters critical phase in the next six weeks.”

The room goes dead silent. We all remember what a critical phase means. The point where you break completely or die trying to resist.

“That’s not happening,” I state flatly.

“Agreed,” Raphael says. “Full extraction. Every child out alive.”

“What about the personnel?” Damon asks, already knowing the answer.

“No survivors,” I reply. “Message needs to be clear.”

Jenna speaks for the first time since we sat down. “How many other facilities are there?”

Ezra’s expression darkens. “We’ve identified seventeen possibilities across North America. This appears to be a coordinated rebuilding effort.”

“Someone’s taken over where the original program left off,” Theon explains. “Same methodology, updated technology, expanded scope.”

“Who’s funding it?” Jenna asks.

“Unofficially, it’s government-funded,” Ezra admits. “Shell companies within shell companies are hiding that, though. Whoever’s behind this learned from the original program’s mistakes.”

I watch Jenna absorb this information and see her sharp mind process the implications. She’s not horrified by the scope of our mission.

“The children,” she says quietly. “After extraction. Where do they go?”

“Safe houses initially,” Raphael answers. “Long-term rehabilitation facilities we’ve established. Places that understand what was done to them.”

“Places run by people who know how to help them heal,” Darius adds. “Because we know what it’s like.”

Jenna nods. “And the personnel at Prague?”

“Die screaming,” Lucien says matter-of-factly. “We’ve found that creative execution methods discourage others from participating in these programs.”

“Previous strikes have been… educational,” Theon agrees with disturbing cheer. “I’ve developed some particularly effective compounds for interrogation.”

“Theon’s chemistry set is basically a medieval torture chamber in powder form,” Marcus explains to Jenna. “Very effective for extracting information before termination.”

Jenna leans forward with interest. “What information?”

“Names, locations, funding sources,” I answer. “We work our way up the chain until we find whoever’s running this resurrection of Project Architect.”

“Then we kill them too,” Damon concludes cheerfully.

“Slowly,” Darius adds.

“Creatively,” Theon chimes in.