The afternoon was almost shot. Faith knelt on the mat, teaching one of her charges a karate hold, when Honor’s mind voice blasted her with shielded telepathy. “They’re killing us. Do you know everyone in the arena?”

“Hang on,” Faith told the woman she was working with and let go of her.

“What do you mean?” she asked Honor. “Who’s killing us?”

“The agents who don’t want us here. Same ones who sabotaged Charlie and Frank’s last mission. Is anyone down there with you that you don’t know?”

“Not sure. I have to check. It’s a big room.”

“Use extreme caution. If anything doesn’t feel right, use your kinetics to stun.”

“What’s wrong?” the woman she’d been paired with asked. “I know you’re talking with someone, but you’re shielding the words.”

“Not sure yet,” Faith hedged. No reason to get the new recruit panicked about an amorphous threat. Not yet anyway. “Someone may want to harm us—” she began.

“Nameless Ones, right?” the woman cut in, followed by, “Can we kill them?”

“Not Nameless Ones. Not this time.” Faith blew out a tense breath. “Look. I really don’t know anything. Not yet. Stay close and keep your guard up. If anyone looks cross-eyed at us, flatten them with kinetics.”

“We’re in danger? In the middle of the CIA?” The woman switched to telepathy, and her green eyes developed a pinched, worried look. Faith recognized that look from her years in the compounds.

“I don’t know, but I rethought you remaining with me. Go back and tell everyone they get a five minute break.” Faith gripped her arm. “Do not say anything about any of this.”

“Got it.” The woman nodded sharply and pulled out of Faith’s grasp. “If you need help, we’ll be there fast.”

“Thanks.”

“Well?” Honor was back.

“Don’t know yet. I’ll be back in touch when I do. Jesus, Honor, it’s been like ninety seconds. I’m on it.”

Faith walked a few feet from the mats and sent her kinetics outward, checking who was in the arena. She located her seven charges easily, but she hadn’t been concerned about them. Charity and her eight had staked out the far side of the large gym. Half a dozen men, none of them freaks, wrestled with each other in the corner near the holographic projector.

“Six men are here that I don’t know,” Faith told Honor. “None of them are freaks. Did you alert Charity, or just me?”

“Just you.” Tension radiated through Honor’s mind voice. “Charity can be a loose cannon.”

“Return to your practice. Now.” Milton’s voice blasted her. He hadn’t mastered any of the subtleties of telepathic speech. “Appear normal. You’ll have company soon.”

“Good or bad?” Faith asked, feeling a familiar tightening in her gut, but Milton was done talking. The same apprehension that had dogged her every time a Nameless One approached in the compounds was back in spades. They only showed up when they wanted something, and it was usually extra work details.

The other women in her group were on their feet moving toward her with quizzical expressions on their faces.

“Are we done for the day?” one asked.

Faith shook her head, and the woman she’d been sparring with frowned and said. “Of course not. I told you gals this was only a break.”

“Better watch it,” one of the other women shot back. “You’re starting to sound bossy, just like the Nameless Ones.”

“Enough of that. We have another hour to go here.” Faith herded her charges back to the mats. “Let’s get cracking.” She kept her words lighthearted. “If you do really well, we’ll spend tomorrow outside.”

The woman she’d been sparring with was quick on the uptake. She must’ve sensed Faith’s inner turmoil, but she grinned and said, “Outside would be a plus for tomorrow, but I’m hungry right now. Sooner we’re done, sooner I can have dinner.”

“Heh! Not as hungry as we were in the compound,” another woman spoke up.

Faith demonstrated two different chokeholds. “Pair up,” she instructed. “Pick different partners this time.”

“Why can’t we use kinetics?” a woman asked.

“Yeah,” another chimed it. “They’re quicker, cleaner, and a whole lot less work.”

“It’s not that you can’t use your kinetics,” Faith replied. “Look at mixed martial arts as another tool in your quiver. Same as weapons practice.” She clapped her hands together. “No more talk.”

The next quarter hour dripped past. Who was Milton sending? Were the men, still yukking it up as they threw one another around on the far side of the arena, some kind of threat? Milton had apparently discovered a new link to the sabotage Charlie, Hope, and Frank faced on their last mission to Maine…

Faith shut off her overactive brain. She had a boatload of questions, but no answers at all. Not even about her earlier meeting with Dr. Thomas. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t bring herself to think of him as Reg. Had he spoken with Milton, and would she be cleared to work in the lab?

She’d told the doctor she preferred field work, but the lure of finding out more about how she’d been constructed was damn near irresistible.

Who am I kidding? I want to spend more time with him. Maybe if I’m there, he’ll see me as something more than an employee…

Don’t get your hopes up, a second inner voice cautioned.

Because her attention was elsewhere, the woman she’d paired with defeated her hold easily. Faith laughed. “Want to try that again?”

Her partner shook her head. “Nope. I’m good with stopping when I’m ahead. My turn to be the aggressor.”

“Fair enough.” Faith stretched her arms over her head to work out the kinks and was in the process of trading spots when the doors at the far end of the arena flew open, clunking against their stops.

Frank, Tony, Milton, Roy, Honor, Glory, and Reg burst into the room, heading for the tight group of men near the holodeck.

“What’s that all about?” a woman from Faith’s team pointed at the men who weren’t laughing anymore.

Milton angled his head and said something to Honor. She tapped Glory’s shoulder, and the two women switched direction. From the other side of the room, Charity sprang to her feet and ran toward Faith with her team strung out behind her.

“What the hell is going on?” she demanded, reaching them about the same time as Honor and Glory.

Honor tossed her head back. “Wait till we’re all here,” she said.

Shouting ensued from where Milton and the others faced off against the men. It was tempting to listen in, but if she did, Faith wouldn’t hear whatever Honor had to say.

Honor gestured them into a tight circle and switched to telepathy. “Not going to sugarcoat this,” she began. “After Frank got back from his last mission—the one that was sabotaged—he suspected a rat. He and Tony dug into all the computers here and unearthed an organized group that wants us either dead or gone from Langley.”

Faith fought a deeply sinking feeling. She’d finally, finally felt safe, but it was illusion. Maybe safe wasn’t in the cards—for any of them, ever.

“Faith!” Honor snapped her fingers beneath Faith’s nose. “I’m not done.”

“I’m still listening,” Faith responded dully.

“Frank and Tony unearthed names. Milton is rounding everyone up. They’ll be interrogated and court-martialed. That should be the end of it.”

“This time,” Faith replied in mind speech.

“Hatred is a funny thing,” Glory said, not bothering with telepathy. “People are afraid of what’s different. They’ll go to great lengths to distance themselves from different, because they perceive it as a threat.”

“Another name for that is bigotry,” one of the new women cut in.

“Yeah,” someone else said. “Like when they shoved Indians onto reservations or enslaved Africans or forced Jews into gas chambers.”

“Just scared, small-minded men protecting their turf,” the woman who’d labeled different as bigotry added.

Milton ran over to them, light on his feet and agile. Lines of stress carved deep into his forehead. “It’s handled,” he said brusquely.

Honor glanced at the open double doors. Three of the half dozen men who’d been practicing wore handcuffs and were being led outside. The other three followed.

“A few more details,” she prodded Milton.

“Should be clear enough,” he growled. “This was a recruiting effort. Three of them were part of the group and they were soliciting the other three to join.”

“They’re not cuffed.” Charity stuck her face in front of Milton’s. “Why are you so sure they’re innocent?”

“They’ll be questioned.” Milton returned Charity’s stare. “For now, that’s all you need to know.”

“Did you get the rest of them?” Honor’s voice cracked with strain.

“Yes. These were the last ones.” Milton’s expression softened fractionally. “See you later.” He spun and ran full tilt after the men who’d disappeared through the doors.

“What happened? I want details.” Charity stalked in front of Honor.

“Why single me out?” Honor trained her clear green eyes on Charity.

“Because you’re here and Tony isn’t. I knew he and Frank were researching something really hush-hush. He kept saying he’d tell me—as soon as he was certain.”

“I want to know too,” Faith said.

“We all do.” One of the new recruits pushed closer to Honor.

“There was an attack at the gun range today,” Honor replied in tones that could have etched glass. “They killed one of the men—”

Faith chewed on her lower lip. “A Nameless One?” At Honor’s nod, she went on. “I’m not fond of them, but I don’t particularly want CIA agents murdering any of us. Do we know why?”

Honor shrugged. “We’re different, and they’re afraid of us. Because they’re afraid, they don’t want us anywhere near their nice, clean little lives.” She sucked in a noisy breath. “Frank and Tony unearthed plans to kill enough of us, the rest would get scared and leave on our own.”

“How many were involved in this scheme?” Glory asked. “Jesus, I feel guilty. And responsible. I’m the reason all of us are here.”

“No.” Honor rounded on her. “Nameless Ones are why we’re here, and don’t you ever forget that. They hounded us, targeted us, almost raped you.”

“Yeah, not much of a choice, but still.” Glory squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m getting sidetracked. How many?”

“From the digging the men did, they found nine.”

“How do we know that’s all of them?” Charity demanded. Fury blazed from the depths of her eyes, and the air around her crackled from her kinetics.

“We don’t,” Honor said shortly. “After today’s attack, Dr. Thomas ordered Frank and Tony to give Milton everything they’d uncovered.”

“What were Frank and Tony doing in the infirmary?” Faith asked.

“I presume the doctor requested their help with his not-quite-human patients.” Charity’s tone was laced with sarcasm.

“Look here.” Honor speared all of them with her direct gaze. “Not all normal humans are bad. Just like not all Nameless Ones are bad. When we start thinking like that, we’re no better than the cadre who decided we didn’t have a right to draw breath.”

Charity looked at her feet. “Thanks. I needed that.”

“We all did,” Faith said. “Does anyone feel like dinner?”

“Not particularly,” Glory replied, “but we should show up in the cafeteria same as usual. If we hide in our quarters—or leave campus for takeout—it will send a message we’re running scared.”

“Particularly since we’re not certain Frank and Tony’s intel was complete, I agree totally,” Honor said. “I usually eat in with Milton, but I’m coming with you.”

Faith nodded slowly. “No matter how guilty this group of nine was, they’re agents. I haven’t been here long, but they all seem to stick together, and we’re going to get a ton of flak over this.”

“Yup.” Honor clacked her teeth together. “Milton already warned me about the same thing. You can’t stuff change down people’s throats.”

“Tony threw down a gauntlet and said we’re here to stay—no matter what,” Charity said defiantly.

“Obviously.” Glory’s tone was grim. “I’m not letting anyone run us out of the CIA.”

Faith kept her mouth shut. Roy was an attorney. He could easily find work elsewhere, and Milton could have retired years ago. If they left, Glory and Honor would go with them.

“Let’s get that dinner over with,” Faith muttered. “Meet all of you at six thirty in the cafeteria. It wasn’t much fun when the Nameless Ones turned us into underlings who were one step up from slaves—”

“—but at least they weren’t out to kill us,” one of the women finished Faith’s sentence.

Honor spread her hands in front of her. “Milton believes the problem is under control.”

“I hope he’s right,” Faith said and sprinted for the door. “See you in an hour,” she called over one shoulder.

The elevator was waiting, but for once she took the stairs. Twenty floors was a lot, but she needed to burn off her outrage—and her fear. Was she destined to be on the run forever? It hadn’t worked out very well for Glory, and she’d only been on her own for a couple weeks before Roy stumbled onto her.

The top of the long stairwell caught her by surprise. She could’ve climbed double what she had and longed for more. Faith slapped her palm over the reader plate and let herself out into fading daylight.

“There you are.” Dr. Thomas straightened from where he’d been leaning against a post. “I was watching the elevator, but the other women said you opted for the stairs.” He eyed her. “I’m impressed. You’re not even breathing hard.”

Faith met his direct gaze. “Not trying to be rude, but I have to hurry. I’m meeting the other women for dinner, and I’d like to clean up first.”

A subtle alteration in his expression suggested she’d said the wrong thing. His words clinched it. “Any chance you could get out of that obligation? I was hoping you’d have dinner with me. Milton approved reassigning you to my lab, and we could discuss your new job.”

Faith raked her hands through her hair. It had mostly escaped from its clips and rubber bands. She wanted to have dinner with Dr. Thomas, but she owed it to the women to be in the dining room as a show of solidarity.

“It’s not that I don’t want to eat with you and find out what my new job duties and responsibilities will be,” she began, her tone formal as she debated what to say next.

“Then it’s settled.” He smiled encouragingly. “Would you like to eat off campus? I know a lot of quiet little restaurants in McLean where we could go. What do you like to eat?”

Faith shook her head. What she needed to say hadn’t gotten through.

Because I danced around it.

“I can’t. It’s been a hard day. The wounded from the gun range ended up in your infirmary, so you know what happened.”

“I do, and I’m appalled. Milton’s on top of it, though.” Kindness and concern streamed from him in waves that she picked up with her kinetics.

Faith spread her hands in front of her, flexing the fingers as she organized her thoughts. Thank God the doctor wasn’t pushing her, and she added compassion to the other traits she admired in him.

“The women have always stuck together. Ever since the rebellion that is,” she said. “We had to. If we didn’t, our plight in the compounds would have been worse than it was.” She cast a sidelong glance his way, but he was just watching her.

She straightened her spine. “It’s important for us to put in an appearance at the cafeteria together. Especially tonight. We have to show the ones who view us as subhuman that we’re just as good as they are. That we’re not going to slink off to our quarters and hide just because they’ve targeted us for destruction.”

Approval danced in the centers of his green eyes. Like hers, but not. “Good for you.” He angled his head to one side. “Would you mind if I joined you in the cafeteria? We could still eat together, and maybe my presence at your table would help. Just in case Frank and Tony missed a few of the agitators when they culled through all the PCs here.”

Faith swallowed hard. “You don’t have to do that—” she began.

“I want to,” he cut in. “Wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t.” He set his jaw in a harsh line. “You don’t know much about me, but I grew up poor. Really poor. So destitute, your life at the compound was a picnic compared with what I faced every day. I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of prejudice and disgust. Of people thinking they were better than me because they had cleaner clothes and didn’t go home to a slum.”

Faith opened her mouth, but he waved her to silence.

“What’s taken root here at the CIA is pure evil, driven by weak men who need someone to look down on. When they prey on those they view as less than them, it validates their insecurities, makes them feel like men, when they’re nothing but pale imitations of what it means to be one.”

“Pretty words.” Faith latched her gaze onto his. “But they were here first. We’re the interlopers.”

Dr. Thomas shook his head. “Nope. Last I checked, this is America. You have just as much right to be here as anyone else. Have faith in Milton. He’ll clean up this mess. He faced worse in the Middle East where corruption was rampant. So bad, you didn’t know whom you could trust.”

Faith inhaled raggedly. “I’ll try.”

“It’s all anyone can ask. Now about dinner. May I join you and the women?”

“I’d like that, and I know they would too. Everyone’s been swooning over Hope and Charlie. In their secret hearts, they’re hoping to find someone for themselves.”

Her face grew warm, but she stopped shy of slapping a hand over her mouth. “Sorry. That was way too personal.”

Dr. Thomas took a step closer, his eyes glittering with sharp interest. “How about you? Are you hoping for a Charlie of your own?”

Heat swooshed over the top of her head, oblivious to her efforts to exert control over her autonomic nervous system. “Don’t know,” she mumbled. “Haven’t thought much about it. Um, we’re meeting at six thirty. See you there.” Without waiting for him to answer, she took off, running at Mach 10 before he could offer her a ride.

If she couldn’t do a better job keeping a lid on what came out her mouth, she’d be better off not talking at all. What the fuck was she thinking, going on about Hope and Charlie? She could apologize over dinner, but the more she thought about it, the less appeal an apology held. Maybe if she never mentioned it again, neither would he, and they could start fresh discussing what she’d be doing in the spotless lab she’d visited earlier that day.

Feels like a million years ago.

Yeah, but it wasn’t.

She reached her building and raced inside. If she hurried, she’d have time to wash and dry her hair and dress in something besides her shapeless sweats.