Tessa shrugged him off, “We’ll I’m not intimidated by your scare tactics, and I don’t need my powers to inflict pain. I can do that with my own two hands. But I’m not here to fight.”
“Sounds like fighting words.”
Tessa prepared to turn the tables on them and make them think for a moment. “I’m looking for common ground, a truce between Evos and humans. That’s why I’m here. My rebellion comprised of both working together. When you boil it down, we’re all flesh and blood cut from the same cloth. If we continue to fight each other, we can’t combine and take it to the real enemy.”
King paused for a moment, unsure of how to proceed. “You’re Joule, aren’t you?”
It amazed Tessa he knew who she was. If he had been here long, he wouldn’t be privy to current news. “I am. How is it you know of me?”
“I have my ways, and word travels fast.”
“Then you know what H.I.V.E did to my people. They slaughtered unarmed men, women, and children, both Evo and human.”
“And you destroyed the Cheyenne Mountain single handedly.”
Tessa stepped toe to toe with him and made sure not to break eye contact. “I did. I’m an Alpha, and I will break these bonds. H.I.V.E can’t contain me. I’ll break free. And when I do, I will lay waste to H.I.V.E. So; you need to decide if standing in my way is a wise choice. Or would you rather be an ally that might also escape this hell in my wake?”
He rubbed his chin for a moment as the wheels churned in his head. “Give me a few moments.” He turned to address his colleagues. They conversed for a few moments, and he returned, “What is it you want from us?”
“My family is human, and I want to guarantee their safety. I would have them seek shelter on this side, and I need access to stay nearby. I suspect you have valuable information on how this place works and want every detail. For this, I will include you in my plans to escape, and I will make sure that when I break lose you benefit. I know things about what H.I.V.E is working on, and I can help you secure a future. I can also promise you revenge.”
The human prisoners liked the sound of revenge, and they looked at Tessa differently than other Evos. She sheltered both Evos and humans, and her efforts protected all. They recognized and respected her platform. Smart humans understood if they hoped to survive H.I.V.E, they needed people with powers on their side. Tessa was the most powerful of all Evos, and that made her an invaluable ally.
Once Tessa stuck her deal with the humans, the rest came together easy. They found her family adequate accommodations and introduced her to a few key security figures. This prison was a free for all. Every man for himself, so it was difficult to keep people safe. There were protocols for riots and a loose set of rules for the facility, but nothing enforced.
With human allies secured, Tessa turned to the Evos. They didn’t have an organized leadership as the humans did, but that stemmed from their differing natures. On the outside, Evos existed on their own. With their powers, they protected themselves or took what they wanted. Here the humans were right; the Evos had no clue how to band together to defend themselves. On the flip side, human communities banded together for generations to protect themselves from Evos. They formed leadership because it was already their current societal structure.
Tessa slipped into the Evo leadership role unchallenged. They had no direction and were eager to follow anyone willing to step forward to take charge. Some of them heard stories of her, which helped solidify a leadership role with no opposition.
Tessa needed both sides to work together if they were to get out of this hell hole. She didn’t intend to stay long. Once they settled in for the night, she would start planning with Finn. She would sleep on her plans, but tomorrow was a new day, and every second mattered. Every minute she wasted away in this prison was a day closer to H.I.V.E launching their arc.
27
Once Tessa was topside, she used comms to send an alert out to her team. She had to sell the story, so she mustered up some tears and made sure the panic in her voice sounded real. She revealed to the team that the mission was a bust and to abort. She reported Finn’s capture and the need to reach safety before H.I.V.E collected the rest of them.
The group scrambled to the rendezvous area near the motor pool. From there, Tessa met up with her teammates. One by one, they believed her short explanation and offered quick condolences on Finn’s capture. There was so much going on; there was little time for them to question her story.
Stonewell and Sam took control of the extraction and commandeered an SUV. They only had a short amount of time before the alarms sounded. Tessa hoped the Director would give her ample time to escape with her new friends, but not so much time to arouse suspicions. It was a delicate balance to keep up appearances.
Sam hot-wired the vehicle, and they all piled inside. Within a matter of minutes, they headed out of the complex. Stonewell flashed some papers Finn provided as a backup in case of emergency, and they exited the base. Shortly after they exited, Tessa heard the sirens blaring in the distance. Stonewell stomped on the gas to get them as far from danger as possible.
Tessa leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. So far, everything was going according to plan. No one suspected anything for now. She remained quiet and reserved; in mourning for
