Romy looked between them as Atlas ran a hand through his hair. It looked like he’d been doing it constantly for the last several days. “Houston, they need to be told something.”

Houston stared at the larger man. “You know the risk?”

Atlas gave a curt nod and turned to Romy. “What you think you heard, was not what you think at all.”

She crossed her arms. “Okay, let’s hear it, then.”

His jaw clenched at the sarcasm in her voice. He inhaled heavily. “That’s all I can tell you, right now.”

“You have got to be joking!” Deimos shouted.

Atlas whirled on her knot. “I want you to listen closely. And I want you to think about what I’m saying, and what it might mean.”

It was like the ground she was standing on was shaking. Because she desperately wanted there to be a valid reason for his lies. He still affected her in the best possible way, and she hated it.

Houston had grabbed Atlas’s arm. “You need to be careful,” he muttered. “Until we get to the bunker.”

She wasn’t sure if that had been meant for her ears.

Atlas faced their knot. “Did any of you ever consider that if you were caught, your memories will be studied? That everything you’ve heard will be noted. And to a small degree, what you have seen will be watched.”

Romy squeezed her eyes shut. What was he saying? How was that possible?

Houston stepped in. “Genetically enhanced soldiers are each fitted with extensive memory nano-wear. It is most accurate with recording what you hear, for lack of a better layman’s term.”

Thrym spoke behind her. “So we weren’t told anything in case we were caught.”

Houston and Atlas nodded, staying silent.

Her brows drew together. “Why didn’t you just tell us that was the reason?”

“Because the information is only known to a select few. It would have narrowed their list of suspects considerably,” Atlas replied.

Houston had said audio was the particular thing they had to watch for. “What about visual?” she asked. Should they be more worried Knot 27 had seen their faces?

Houston shook his head. “Too subjective. Clouded by judgements, light, and emotion—just to name a few.”

But Atlas spoke to Commander Cronus daily.

. . .Was Atlas playing both sides? She darted a look at him. Was that even a thing? Was there another side to be on?

“Unfortunately, your actions alerted the Mandate to something being amiss,” Atlas said flatly, staring at her.

Was it the call? Or killing Lucas? She ground her teeth. “Are you seriously blaming me, Commander?”

Houston cursed under his breath. “Shit, Atlas. They know too much already. The Mandate can’t get ahold of them with the information they know. It will lead straight to you.”