This time, nothing would be left to chance. No great swaths of people. Only four of each population, on each border of the population. All of them with the correct alterations, tied to the boy.

It pained the scientist to realize what must be done, as distasteful as it was. It was now time to see if its theory would, in fact, prove to be the missing link.

The scientist itself would have to be altered. Manipulating its own genetics, it intertwined the boy’s DNA into its own.

It would be shunned amongst its own kind if any were to learn. But when the work was done, the connection was complete. Even the boy’s dreams belonged to it now.

Each of the newly taken was brought to him. Their manipulations had been improved as well, a sliver of the boy’s genes added to each.

When the four were in place, on the corners of the populations, it reached out for him in the darkness of his mind. And in turn, the boy had found the others.

When the scientist willed the activation, the boy, in turn, willed it. The newly abducted not only survived but thrived.

It was careful with the boy’s mind, as pushing him too far, too fast, threatened to ruin him. Already, he could feel how he was struggling, at times, with the inability to breathe. In time, it learned how to push him to the others around the world. And when all the others were linked, the time had come to bring the boy in.

There was just one glaring problem: Despite their genetic and telepathic links, the scientist could not control him while he was awake. Influence, yes. Move him to a central location amongst the four to enrich their connection. But the boy would always wake from the dreams untouchable, as of late, for days on end.

It was why the girl had to be released. To see if, in fact, she could lead him back. If the emotional attachment to her sibling would serve as a beacon.

Unexpectedly, the boy began to usurp the scientist’s control. Reach out to others on his own accord. And most troubling of all: The boy’s physical touch of anyone that shared his DNA enabled him to disarm their weapons as well.

A defiance that could no longer be allowed.

“They’re in range, General!”

“Do not hesitate!” General Wolve shouted. “Fire at that mesa with everything you’ve got—”

“General, please!” Kate grabbed his arm. “William could be our only chance—”