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“I never lied,” I said.
“You just omitted the truth.”
“I don’t want to be experimented on like some animal,” I said, hugging myself. Might as well put it all on the table so I knew where my options lay.
The general tilted his head in consideration. “I am not a monster, Doctor, despite the name of the Island. But having a powerful psychic on our side could be the break we’ve been needing in a very precarious situation.”
“Go on,” I prompted.
“Psychics are rare, both TKs like yourself and mind-benders. When one does surface, there are two rival organizations that attempt to snatch them up. And when I say snatch, I mean literally. They are turned into weapons. Lately, one of these organizations has stepped up their agenda and openly begun challenging SHADE in public places.”
“Project MorningStar?” I guessed.
“Correct. It started as Paperclip back when they were in the cold war. But when the US government found that some had powers beyond their wildest imaginings, they created an even higher clearance project that they use to spy on and control their enemies.”
“That doesn’t sound like the country I was born in,” I challenged.
“It’s so highly compartmentalized I doubt the human president even knows about it,” the general said. “The worst of it is that they see regular humans as potential slaves in a world dominated by supes and policed by psychics. Like you.”
Glancing around, I spotted a rolling chair near a sleek side terminal and grabbed it. I doubted my legs would hold my weight much longer with what he was laying on me.
“What can I do about that?” I asked.
“I’m not sure yet, to be honest,” the general said. “We haven’t had a psychic work with us for over fifty years, not since MorningStar began. But with your cooperation, we can figure it out.”
I thought of Julian and how he’d been so sure we shouldn’t tell the general. Were his fears unfounded? Or was there something else I didn’t understand at work here?
“What would you expect from me?” I asked, though sensed I no longer had much of choice, not when he described such a dire situation.
“For starters, you can’t leave the Island.”
My head snapped up and my mouth dropped open. “I have to. I know it’s not about this, but the case we’re working on—it’s just as worrisome as what you’ve described.”
“If you leave and they get ahold of you…” The general’s voice rose as he stepped closer, menacing. His aura turned black and hovered over me as well, like a shadow with a life of its own.
“They already tried. Julian rescued me. That’s how he found me,” I said. I didn’t want to get him in trouble for keeping me a secret, but I had to let the general know I’d be okay as long as Julian was with me.
His eyes shifted to the side as though he could see Julian through the metal floor. “Other agents can take those risks. We need you here in your lab.”
I snapped my mouth shut, not wanting to argue further. But I wasn’t military, and I had no intention of following those orders, whether from him or Julian. He seemed to take that as compliance as he began to pace, his shadow aura sliding away from me to follow him.
“The other thing you can do is help us figure out how your abilities work. I want you to meet with our medical doctor and—”
“No experimentation,” I said firmly.
“And work with him to discover all you can.” He came to a stop and faced me again. “If you would like to remain here, working at the base, you will agree to these simple terms. If not…”
“What?” I demanded, standing again. “Are you threatening me?”
“No. And you will stay on the Island either way. But your family is allowed to live here as part of the employment deal the lieutenant made. If you wish to stay employed with us, you will follow my directives. Like I said, I’m not a monster. It’s your choice.”
“They could use Mama or Zoe to try and get to me,” I said, the panic I’d tried to tamp down bursting through.
The general waited as it sank in.
“I have work to do,” I said, blinking back the tears. “I’ll meet with your doctor to discuss a possible plan when this case is closed.” I spun on my heels and hurried down the curving steps to one side of the room to find Julian.
Chapter Ten
