Page 123 of Us Defiant Few

“I did a lot of thinking last night,” the Chief said, halting in front of the red building. “About my life before the Great Collapse. What we’ve built here. Everything I’ve lost to try and make this world a better place.”

Silence descended as Penny took a deep breath and faced them.

“Father always said that humans were the worst kind of creatures. That the world was better off without their everlasting stain. And for the longest time, I believed him. But you all had every chance to leave and save yourselves, but you didn’t. You risked everything to help us. I know better than anyone that nothing can replace the life you lost. But in this way, I can try and help.”

Penny nodded at Ferren, who unlatched the barn doors, revealing a large, dusty black truck inside.

They drew back in shock as the Chief placed her hands on her hips, her eyes locking on Khalani. “You want answers about why your picture was in our library. I don’t have them. But I know a place that might.”

She pulled out a rolled set of papers.

“This is a map that will lead you to the lab we were created in. The building is hidden inside an old military base in California. It’s a five-hour drive toward the Mojave Desert.”

Khalani’s brows rose at the name. California. A state she’d been told was demolished in the Collapse.

But maybe that was a lie too.

“You should have enough corn ethanol for the round trip,” Penny added. “And a couple extra barrels in the back.”

“You’re giving us the vehicle?” Derek asked, stunned.

“Well, we want you to bring it back, but Desert Spring has others that we’ve fixed up,” Penny said, handing the map to Derek. “This will lead you straight to the lab. I’ll leave you alone to discuss what you want to do.”

The seven of them crowded closer as Derek unfurled the map, revealing a large red circle drawn at the center. But when Khalani narrowed her gaze at the two words written in plain text, she cupped her open mouth.

“Khalani?” Serene frowned at her. “What’s wrong?”

“I’ll be damned. That’s it,” Winnie whispered.

“That’s what?” Brock snapped.

Prometheus Incorporated. Those were the two words listed on the page.

The path starts at Prometheus.

They’d finally found Timothy Talbot’s last given mission. The secret to finding out what Project Helix truly was.

But what would Khalani’s picture have to do with Prometheus?

Alexander Huxley’s sadistic smile flashed in her mind, and she took a couple steps back, bumping into Takeshi, who was posted behind her. His tall frame encompassed her vision as he gazed down at her with burning black eyes, so different from the Governor’s.

“Prometheus? Isn’t that the place you told me to investigate, Winnie?” Adan asked.

Winnie nodded with a wild gleam in her eyes. Taking a deep breath, Winnie finally explained to the others the significance of Prometheus and Project Helix, but Khalani was barely listening, unable to erase the sickening vision of the Governor from her mind.

“But how are we supposed to trust a vehicle that runs on corn?” Brock asked, not hiding the indignation in his voice.

“It’s a different type of gas, but it will work,” Derek insisted. “I helped ferment it.”

“Even so, we don’t have time to be traipsing off to California. We need to meet up with Jack and the rest of the Aces.”

“But if it’s only a five-hour drive, we can be back in a day,” Serene argued.

Brock’s prolonged glare slid her way, not convinced.

“You still have the walkie, right? Call Jack. See how far out they are.”

“I don’t want to waste the battery.”