Jude nestled Octavia beside him in the Cobra, his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close.

“We’re all good,” said Tobias from the front seat where he was driving. “No one’s on our tail.”

“Let’s keep it that way,” said Jude. He wanted Octavia back safe in the bunker, where he’d keep her forever.

“How did you find me?” she whispered.

“The message you sent,” said Jude. “I traced it here.”

She raised her head and smiled. “I should have known you’d find out where I was.”

“I was never going to stop looking. I knew you were out there somewhere.”

“All we could see was bare earth when we scanned this area,” said Tobias. “The State wanted to trade you for our surrender.”

Octavia’s head rose. “Commander West said that’s what he was planning to do.”

Jude encouraged her to relax by stroking a hand down her arm. “We played along, and talked about a negotiation.”

“And all the time we were on our way here,” said Tobias. “They didn’t see it coming.”

“The Dinnorms are not as smart as they think,” said Jude.

“Where is here?” asked Octavia.

“The far side of Alpha zone five,” said Jude.

“And the others? Heath and Malachi?”

“Safe. We got them, and some other prisoners, just before they were about to be executed on a death wall.”

“I heard about that. I figured you might have something to do with it.”

Jude’s eyebrows rose. “How did you hear?”

“I escaped my cell. I found a data room and spent time scanning the comms networks. Their tech is out-of-this-world advanced. It took me a while to figure it all out.”

Jude tightened his grip around her. Of course she escaped. She was his superwoman. “Did you hear anything useful?”

“I think so. I sent recordings to my message box. I hope they got through. The security in there was tight.”

“I’m sure it will be useful.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. His heartbeat was only just returning to normal now that she was in his arms. He’d come so close to losing her. “We’ll get you to the medical bay when we get back and treat your injuries.”

“I probably feel better than I look.” Octavia grimaced as her hand skimmed across her bald head.

“Don’t worry about your hair,” said Jude. “It will grow back.”

“They were going to mind wipe me,” said Octavia softly. “Commander West wanted me to work for him. He wanted me to be his pet.”

Jude gritted his teeth. “I’m glad they failed.”

“I had to punch him a few times to convince him it was a bad idea. I’m no one’s pet.”

Tobias gave a startled laugh. “That’s something I’d love to have seen.”

“He can’t bother us anymore,” said Jude. “You’re safe now.”

Octavia sighed and rested her cheek on Jude’s shoulder. “He was using me to get you here. You shouldn’t have come.”

“I was never going to leave you,” said Jude. “You know that. He didn’t... hurt you, did he?” Heat flooded his veins.

“He was thinking about it,” said Octavia. “But other than a few backhanded slaps, I got off lightly.”

“At least he paid for that.” Jude realized Octavia wasn’t wearing her usual cap and scarf. He lifted a discarded green baseball cap from the bench and passed it to her.

She took it and then shook her head. “It’s too late to worry about that.” Her fingers drifted over the scars on her cheek, and she glanced at Tobias.

“Tobias is cool.” Jude looked at his brother.

Tobias caught his eye in the rearview mirror. He smiled and shrugged. “Scars show character. They show you’ve lived a life.”

“I’m not sure I’d choose to have them,” said Octavia, “but I’m used to them.”

“We’re almost at the bunker,” said Tobias.

Jude felt the familiar dip of the Cobra as it headed underground. He saw Tobias’s fingers tighten on the steering wheel. It was tough for him, having to go back underground. He appreciated what he’d done, helping him get Octavia out. He owed Tobias a few beers. That was if he could get him to stick around long enough to drink them.

The vehicle stopped, and they climbed out.

“Let’s get you to the medical bay.” Jude kept hold of Octavia.

“I think you need it more than me.” Her gaze ran over him.

“I’ve already had a shot of dragon serum.” Jude nodded thanks to Tobias as he left him by the Cobra. He walked with Octavia toward the medical bay.

“That doesn’t mean you’re not still hurting,” she said. “When we get there, you’re getting checked over too.”

“You first. You’re the priority.” Jude shoved open the medical bay door, ignoring the irritated sigh Octavia gave him.

Sophia Slade was in there, examining a dragon hybrid with a cut on his hand. She glanced up, peering over the top of her black-framed glasses. “You two have seen better days.”

Daisy Saunders, her assistant, looked up from her task of decanting liquid into a tray of beakers.

Jude ushered Octavia in front of him. “We could do with some help.”

“Stop fussing,” said Octavia. “I told you already, I’m fine.”

“Neither of you are fine.” Sophia moved away from her patient. “Daisy, find them beds. Give them a check over. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

“You’d better do as she says.” Daisy gestured to the empty beds. “Sophia doesn’t like to be argued with.”

Jude knew that was true. He guided Octavia to the bed.

She sat on the edge of it, watching Daisy with a cautious gaze as she ran an electro scanner over her.

Jude noticed Octavia kept stroking her scars and looking around the room. “You’ve got nothing to worry about here.”

She sighed. “I know. Old habits die hard.”

Daisy checked the readings on the scanner. “You have damage to your cheek.”

“You don’t need your fancy scanner to tell me that.”

Daisy looked up, and her cheeks flushed. “No, not those. I meant fresh damage. You know, a recent injury. Those scars look... old.”

“Sorry. I’m just tired,” said Octavia. “Almost getting killed does that to a person.”

Daisy nodded. “The laser burn to your shoulder is deep. How does it feel?”

“Like shit. Actually, pretty numb. I just feel a gentle throb.”

Daisy walked to a glass cabinet and returned with a syringe. “This will take the edge off while it heals.” Once she’d given Octavia the injection of pain meds, she gestured at Jude. “You’d better let me check you over.”

He shrugged and watched as she ran the scanner over him. “There’s nothing wrong with me.”

Daisy worried her bottom lip with her teeth as she looked at the scanner results. “You have cracked ribs.”

“See! You’re in worse shape than me,” said Octavia.

His ribs did ache, but they were healing. “I’ve had a shot of serum.”

Daisy placed the scanner by the bed. “I heard about what happened. I’m glad you both made it back.”

Jude gently pushed Octavia’s hand away from where it was worrying her scars. “So am I.”

She glared at him before lowering her hand. “I’m still getting used to my new look.”

He smiled. “I must admit, your new hair cut is on the dramatic side.”

She scowled at him. “Believe me, it wasn’t by choice.”

Jude’s smile faded. “You’re as beautiful as ever.” And she was. That long blonde hair and her piercing blue eyes were stunning, but it was her determination that he loved the most. She hadn’t given up. Even when she’d been threatened with a mind wipe, she’d still kept on fighting and looking for a way out, a way back to him.

“Sophia, both patients are ready for you.” Daisy nodded at them before hurrying away.

Sophia strode over to Octavia. “Lie on the bed.”

“There’s no need.”

“There’s every need. You look like you’ve gone five rounds with a giant millipede.” Sophia folded her arms and waited until Octavia finally lay down.

Jude hovered next to the bed, wanting to help, not wanting to leave Octavia’s side.

Sophia checked the scanner results. “You have a fracture on your cheekbone.”

“I figured as much. That’s what being punched in the face can do.”

Jude’s anger flared at the thought of someone hitting Octavia.

“The laser blast to your shoulder hit nothing vital, but it’ll take a couple of days to heal, even with some dragon serum.” Sophia studied Octavia’s facial scars. “How did you get those?”

Octavia winced. “I was in a building when the State blew it up. Some shrapnel shredded my face.”

“You didn’t get reconstructive surgery?”

“When you’re on the run from the State, plastic surgery is the last thing you think about.”

Sophia snorted. “The dragon serum might improve them.”

Octavia’s eyebrows rose. “Are you serious? After all this time, you think it can make a difference?”

“I doubt it will completely restore the damage, but there’s no harm in seeing how effective it is.” She stepped back from the bed. Her gaze ran over Octavia. “As for the hair, there’s nothing I can do about that.”

“I can live with the new hairstyle. If you can improve this,” Octavia waved her hand in front of her face, “I’ll be so grateful.”

“Your scars aren’t so bad.” Sophia ran her hands over her short dark hair. “And short hair is easy to manage. I recommend it. With those cheekbones, you would be striking with a crop.”

Jude was stunned. Sophia was usually so sharp. He’d never heard her give out beauty advice before. Why was she in such a good mood?

“Was anyone else injured?” asked Sophia.

“It was just the three of us,” said Jude. “I left Tobias in the vehicle bay.”

“And he’s... unharmed?”

Jude grinned. Now he knew why Sophia was not so snappy. There was something going on between her and Tobias. Everyone thought it, even though they both denied it. “My brother is fine. I can ask him to drop by so you can check him over yourself, if you’re worried about him.”

“I’m not worried.” Sophia glared at Jude. “Stop hovering around me like an anxious bee. Your scan results are worse than Octavia’s. You should be resting, not loitering in my personal space.”

Jude shifted from foot to foot. “I feel—”

“If you say fine, I shall be the person landing the next punch on you.” Sophia arched an eyebrow. “Wait here. I’ll have Daisy administer serum to you both. Then you need bed rest.”

Jude loved the idea of bed rest with Octavia. His hand strayed to her back, and he ran his fingers down it.

Sophia frowned and shook her head. “I mean rest.” She stalked away.

Jude took hold of Octavia’s hand and grasped it between both of his. “Everything will be fine.”

The smile on Octavia’s face faded. “Will it, though? We lost the equipment. They took everything I had in my backpack. They’ve probably destroyed it.”

“They didn’t take mine,” said Jude. “When I came to, I was still carrying the backpack. The equipment you need is intact. That was how I made contact with the bunker; I used an old receiver.”

Octavia swung her legs off the bed. “We need to get to work.”

“No. You need to rest.”

“No way!”

“Doctor’s orders,” said Jude.

“You don’t understand. When I was in the interrogation center, I accessed their mainframe server.”

Jude’s eyebrows rose. “What did you find?”

“I couldn’t get a complete lock on the messages going backwards and forwards, not without the equipment. But I accessed logs and previous data. I found a pattern. I know the sequence they will use for future comms.”

This woman was something else. “We can use the equipment to track what they’re saying?”

Octavia nodded, determination on her face. “Then we’ll find out exactly what they’re doing and stop them.”

***

OCTAVIA FORCED HERSELF to stay on the bed in the medical bay, her fingers drumming against her arm. Jude had insisted she stay there, and he’d bring her the equipment she needed. But it was hard to resist grabbing a port screen and getting to work.

Daisy walked over with a full bag of serum in one hand. Her dark hair was pulled back in a scruffy ponytail. “Are you ready for your treatment?”

She eyed the bag and wrinkled her nose. “Can I just have an injection and get out of here?”

Daisy shook her head as she hooked up the fluids and inserted an IV line into Octavia’s right arm. “This is the best way. We only give those shots in emergency situations. Sophia insists you rest, so you’d better do as she says. You don’t want to get on her blacklist.”

Octavia nodded, her gaze shifting to the tiny office Sophia used. She liked her. She didn’t know Sophia well, but she was a no-nonsense woman and as smart as hell.

Daisy checked the line and smiled at Octavia. “You’re all set to go. I’ll come check on you in fifteen minutes. In the meantime, get some rest.”

The medical bay room door opened. Jude strode in with a port screen in his hand, along with the comms tracking device and two data chips she’d asked him to bring.

Octavia held her hands out. “Let me show you the pattern I was following.” She accessed the data chips and downloaded the files of information she’d sent herself. “Do you see that fluctuation point two minutes into the message?”

Jude stood so close she could feel his body heat. “I see it.”

She forced herself to concentrate on the data. “That’s when the frequency hops. It starts at two minutes and reduces every thirty seconds. Then it returns to its original pattern. That’s what they’ll be using to communicate with. This is the next pattern they’ll be using.”

The door opened again. Danni strode in. Her gaze ran over Octavia. “I’m glad to see you’re alive. Tobias gave me a debrief on the mission before returning to his assignment with Hive Two. What’s the situation with the communications from the State?”

“We figured out the pattern,” said Jude. “Well, Octavia did.”

Danni nodded. “What are they talking about?”

“We’re about to find out.” Octavia gestured to the small black box sitting on the side of the bed. “Can you switch that on?”

Jude powered up the box and linked it to the port screen.

“We need to give it a minute to sync in with the networks.” Octavia keyed in the information about the pattern the State were using.

Anticipation hung in the air as they waited quietly, watching the data streams run across the screen.

“Now we need a live data feed,” said Octavia. “We need to find the channel the State are broadcasting over. We need a radio.”

“Sophia will hate that,” said Jude.

“She won’t mind on this occasion,” said Danni. “She has her own portable unit in her office.”

“What won’t I mind?” called Sophia from her office.

“We need to listen to State communications,” said Danni. “Figure out what it is they’re talking about. Bring out your radio.”

Sophia emerged from her office and passed them her radio. “Go ahead.” She remained by the door.

Jude switched on the portable radio and scanned through the channels. It took several minutes, but he picked up the strange language on a sub channel network.

“That’s it.” Octavia’s eyes brightened. “I think the device has it.” She blocked out all distractions, focusing on the incomprehensible babble coming through the radio. “If I’m right, they will change channels in five seconds. We’ll be with them when they do.”

She counted down in her head. The radio went dead, then the signal started again.

Jude grinned at her. “The program’s working.”

Octavia let out a sigh. It was perfect, following the pattern the State used to communicate and jumping channels with them.

“We’ll need Kade for this next bit,” said Jude. “He’ll decode it once he’s got a complete message to work with.” He commed Kade, asking him to meet them in the medical bay.

Octavia fought the tiredness creeping through her veins. The dragon serum was working. She felt less sore and her cheekbone didn’t ache, but she’d give a lot to have a good night’s sleep and a decent meal. That would come. They needed to focus on this first.

Kade walked through the doorway, his own port screen with him. “You have a message that needs cracking.”

“It’s almost complete,” said Octavia.

“I can run the data now,” said Kade. “See how much you’ve got.”

Kade linked his port screen to Octavia’s, and she shared the data she’d gathered.

“How much can you decode?” she asked.

“Give me a minute,” said Kade. “I’m good, but every program takes a little time to work.”

She bit her lip, wanting to urge him to hurry.

“It’s almost there.” Kade’s brow furrowed as he read the information on his screen. “Danni, you need to look at this.”

Danni peered over his shoulder.

“What’s it saying?” asked Octavia.

Danni shook her head. “We’ve only got a partial message. It mentions removing population members not deemed useful. They have a list: the elderly, the sick, and the disabled.”

“There’s no way they can wipe out so many people,” said Jude.

“Hold on, the final piece of data is syncing with my decoding program,” said Kade.

Letting go of Octavia’s hand, Jude joined Kade and Danni to look at the port screen.

Octavia strained her neck to see what they were reading.

Even Sophia joined them, her face impassive as she read the information.

“It’s a vaccine,” said Jude. “They’re introducing a new mandatory program. Everyone has to be vaccinated.”

“Against what?” asked Octavia.

“I don’t think it will protect them against illness,” said Sophia darkly. “This so-called vaccine will target the people the State want to remove.”

“How would that work?” Danni looked at Sophia.

Sophia raised her hands. “It could be a genetic marker. If they have access to our genome sequence, they could tag this vaccine to an abnormality in the genetic markers of people with illnesses or disabilities. They could do the same with our telomeres. Older people have shorter telomeres. A vaccine could attach to that and activate.”

“Then what?” asked Octavia.

Sophia frowned. “I’m not an expert on vaccines. Maybe it’s some sort of slow acting killer. It seeks certain genes, attaches to them, mutates and kills the person.”

“Here’s the final information coming through,” said Kade. “Whatever the hell it is they’re doing, anyone receiving the vaccine will be dead within a day.”

Danni shook her head. “Gather everyone for an emergency briefing.”

Panic flooded through Octavia. “We have to stop them from manufacturing this vaccine.”

“That’s exactly what we will do,” said Danni.

“When you do, I want in,” said Octavia. “I want to help stop the State.”