Page 53 of Visions, Paws, and Claws

All Jake’s senses were screaming at him that Keppler was hiding something. He opened himself up, focusing on Keppler’s stiff posture, his parted lips.

When the answer revealed itself to him, numbness crawled through Jake’s body.

Holy fuckdidn’t cover it, not by a long shot.

“You’ve got a mate, haven’t you?” Jake kept his voice to a whisper.

Keppler’s reaction was instantaneous. He spun around and strode toward the barracks, his back ramrod straight, his gait stiff.

Seth turned his head to watch the captain’s departure. “What the hell just happened?”

Jamie threw down his cards. “That was going to be my question too.”

Jake stared after Keppler. “Now we wait.”

“For what?” Seth gave him an inquiring glance. “Dad? What’s going on?”

“We need to keep an eye on Captain Keppler.”

THE TECHNICIANwas in the middle of removing electrodes from Jake’s and Seth’s temples when the guards entered the experimental block. The techie gave them a sweeping glance. “I’m almost done here.” Then he went back to wiping the skin, removing the glue.

Jake’s senses went on alert, and he caught Seth’s eye, giving him a meaningful glance. He addressed the waiting guard.

“We really don’t need an escort. We know the way to the compound by now.”

All he wanted to do was sleep. The afternoon’s testing had dragged on longer than usual. But he couldn’t escape the feeling sleep was not in the cards.

At last the technician straightened. “They’re all yours.”

The guard inclined his head toward the door. “Outside.”

“Well, seeing as you asked us so nicely….” Jake was done being polite. It changed nothing. He trudged into the hallway, Seth behind him. When they got outside, his suspicions were confirmed when the guard indicated the reeducation block.

“That way.”

Seth frowned. “We haven’t done anything. Why can’t we go to our block?”

The guard indicated the reeducation block again, only this time with the barrel of his rifle.

There was nothing to do but follow instructions.

They crossed the compound, the guard walking behind them.

“I don’t like this,” Seth muttered.

“Me neither, but we don’t have much choice, do we?” They climbed the wooden steps into the block to find another guard waiting by the door that led into the main room.

“In there.” He pointed with his rifle.

“Has anyone ever told you what a great conversationalist you are?” Jake asked, keeping a straight face.

The guard scowled. “Huh?”

“Yeah, I didn’t think so.” Jake went into the room, stopping when he saw it was already occupied.

Jamie sat at one of the tables.

A trickle of unease slid down Jake’s spine. “What’s going on?”

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