Though he’d only retired relatively recently, Caleb Pierce had still become a legend in Omega Knights history. Most Knights served for an average of three to five years, and some had gone on for as many as ten. But Caleb was among a select group of Knights who had served for more than a decade, eventually leaving in his fifteenth year. He’d been a remarkable leader, training many Knights during his tenure.

  Both Tom and Rachel counted themselves among that group, plus each had a more personal connection with Caleb. For Tom, Caleb was his predecessor and he’d found himself in the shadow of that legacy. Rachel first met Caleb when she was just a child, and he’d become one of her closest confidants during her time on Sanctuary.

  A close call in the heat of battle finally ended Caleb’s career. Fortunately, the Quantum Group had other options for Knights who survive to retirement. Through their holdings in many different industries across the world, there was no shortage of positions a former Knight could be eligible for. Caleb’s posting of choice ended up being the New Horizon Psychiatric Home, located just outside of Portland.

  Tom and Rachel hadn’t informed anyone they were leaving. They just told the technicians at the Nexus that they had a personal task to attend to. The technicians knew more than most at Sanctuary, but they’d still been trained not to ask too many questions. Even among those who knew the true purpose of the Quantum Group, secrecy still ruled the day.

  They’d teleported to a secluded area about a mile or so away from the institution, and walked the distance to reach the grounds. A gate barred access, with a video intercom system set up right outside the gate. Rachel pushed the button and waited for an image to appear on the screen.

  “Can I help you?” asked the receptionist.

  “We’re here to speak with Caleb Pierce,” said Rachel.

  “This is a private facility, miss. We have procedures to follow to ensure the well-being of our patients.”

  “Tell him it’s Rachel Kim and Tom Stone,” she said.

  “As I said—”

  “Please, just tell him,” Tom chimed in. “If he says he can’t see us, then we’ll leave.”

  The receptionist visibly sighed on the video. “Please hold on.” The video vanished and they waited.

  “What do you think?” asked Tom. “If they say no, do we hop the fence and break in?”

  “I don’t like it, but we have to talk to Barnes. So if that’s the only option, that’s what we’ll go with,” said Rachel.

  The sound of gears turning drew their attention to the gate. It parted, sliding open to provide them access to the facility. They walked up the driveway and to the front entrance. A few buildings, none higher than five stories, comprised the New Horizon campus. A smaller, one-story building stood at the front, and it was here that they saw Caleb’s familiar face. He was a tall man with a shaved head dressed in white, but what struck Rachel the most was how much older he seemed. He’d retired just before his fortieth birthday, and it had only been just over a year since he left. Yet somehow, he looked like he’d aged quite a bit in that time. Even before he retired, he’d already begun showing his age.

  “Rachel! Tom!” he said with a smile and his arms held open. “Talk about your pleasant surprises!”

  Rachel ran up and embraced him. When he hugged her back, she noticed that his grip wasn’t as strong as it had been before. Not only did he look older, but he felt weaker. She supposed some of that had to do with the removal of the Omega Force, but she didn’t expect this much of a difference. Tom and Caleb hugged next, and Rachel watched his expression—he also seemed surprised.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Once Caleb broke from the hug, he laid a comforting hand on Tom’s shoulder. “I heard about Scott and the others. I’m really sorry, I can only imagine what you must be going through.”

  Tom offered a weak smile and patted Caleb’s hand. “Thanks, I appreciate it.”

  “I’ve actually been in contact with Marcus about coming over to Sanctuary soon to help train the newbies. So imagine my shock to hear that you were both here.”

  “It’s…not a social call,” said Rachel.

  “Oh?”

  “Did you know that you’re not the only former Knight here?” asked Tom.

  Caleb’s face darkened. “Yeah, I did. Come to my office.”

  Caleb’s office as Head of Security wasn’t very large. Just a basic L-shaped desk with a computer, a phone, a tray with various folders, and some framed photographs on the wall. Rachel noticed that they were mostly from his time with the Knights. Didn’t seem like he’d had much of a life outside of Sanctuary.

  Two chairs were in front of Caleb’s desk, and he instructed them to sit. He sat behind the desk, looking at them both. “So, what do you want with Nicholas Barnes?”

  “You know how he ended up here, don’t you?” asked Tom.

  Caleb nodded. “Interfaced with his Titan, and it drove him over the edge.”

  “That’s why we’re here,” said Rachel. “I just did the same thing. And I need some help making sense of the images I’ve seen.”

  Caleb’s mouth opened, then his eyes narrowed. Finally, he closed his mouth, his lips tightening. They shifted into the beginnings of a scowl, but remained mostly straight.

  “What the hell were you thinking?” he asked.

  Rachel and Tom told Caleb about what had happened in Brazil, and the strange crystal they’d found. The Tribunal felt the best way to access her memories and the strange symbol she’d seen in the crystal was through a Titan interface. But Raiju instead flooded her mind with images she couldn’t make sense of.

  “Barnes is the only one we know of who’s still living that’s tried an interface,” said Rachel. “He could probably provide some insight.”

  Caleb held up a hand. “Putting aside the stupidity of a Titan interface—they knew about Barnes, there’s no way the Tribunal should have allowed that to happen.” He sighed. “I don’t think speaking with Barnes is going to help you out much.”

  “Why not?” asked Tom.

  “Because the man’s been catatonic for decades,” said Caleb. “He just stays in his room and sits in front of his window. I’d say he stares, but he doesn’t have the eyes to do that. He doesn’t talk, doesn’t react. An orderly has to spoon-feed him all his meals and that’s the only time he shows any sort of reaction.”

  “Can I see him?” asked Rachel. “We came all the way here from Sanctuary—”

  “You teleported here, it’s not the same thing as hopping on a plane,” said Caleb.

  “Maybe not, but Barnes is the only hope we have of getting some sort of answers about what Rachel’s seen,” said Tom. “C’mon, Caleb. We’re really at a loss here, and I think something bigger’s coming.”

  “When we couldn’t find out anything about the crystal, the Tribunal sent me back to Brazil with Ethan—that’s one of the new guys,” said Tom. “And we were attacked by some woman. She was a damn good fighter, and after we took her down, we brought her back to Sanctuary.”

  “You think that breach, the crystal, and this mystery woman are all connected,” said Caleb.

  Rachel nodded. “And we think my visions might be connected, too. But to find out more, we have to make sense of those visions. So please, just let me talk to Barnes alone. Ten minutes, that’s all I ask. If I can’t get him to say anything, then we’ll leave.”

  Caleb scratched his chin. “I can’t say I’m the biggest fan of this idea. But I suppose if the Heads sent you here, then they must think there’s something to it.”

  Rachel and Tom exchanged silent glances. Caleb’s eyes darted between the pair, and he pointed at each in turn. “The Tribunal doesn’t know you’re here, do they?”

  Rachel sighed. “No, they don’t. We were worried they wouldn’t want us investigating.”

  “Barnes’s file is locked. We can’t see what’s in his records. The only hope we have of finding out what he knows and what he saw is by getting the answers straight from his mouth,” said Tom. “Please, Caleb. I’m supposed to be the leader here, but I’m in over my head. I’m not as good at this job as you or Scott.”

  Caleb rubbed his bald head. He reached a hand for his phone, and picked up the receiver.. “Look, maybe if we give Marcus a call, and if I—”

  Tom reached out and pushed down on the phone’s hook. “Marcus and I aren’t on the best of terms right now. And that’s a whole other story. I think on principle alone, he’d order us to come back right away.”

  “Caleb, there’s something else to consider.” Rachel drew in a breath. She hadn’t wanted to address this aspect of the situation. The idea filled her with such dread, she couldn’t bring herself to contemplate it. But the possibility was real. “Barnes went crazy after his interface. I have to know if the same thing’s going to happen to me. Will you help us?”

  Caleb’s eyes drifted down to the phone, and then over to the pictures on his wall. He sighed.