“Possibly,” Adam replies, but he doesn’t sound certain. He points out a two-level house with a porch a few doors down from where the Mogadorians are working. “That’s my old home. I know for certain there’s an access point to the tunnels through there, but the other houses likely have access, too.”

While Adam’s talking, the engineer finishes his inspection of the server. He shakes his head, and the other Mogs pick the equipment back up. They toss it into the trash truck, then return to the house.

“I guess they aren’t big on recycling, huh?” Sam says.

Before the first group of Mogs can head back into the house, a second group emerges. They’re carrying what looks like a barber’s chair from a bad sci-fi movie, the thing equal parts futuristic and frightening, wires and nodes dangling from it. The engineer hustles forward to meet this second group, helping them to ease the equipment gently onto the grass of the front yard.

“I recognize that,” Malcolm says, an edge to his voice.

“Dr. Anu’s machine,” Adam says, turning to me. “That’s what they used on Malcolm. And on me.”

“What’re they going to do with it now?” I ask, watching the engineer begin his inspection.

“This looks like a salvage team,” Adam explains. “I did some damage to the tunnels the last time I was here. Now, they’re saving what equipment they can and getting rid of the rest.”

“What about all the trueborns who were supposed to be here?”

Adam grimaces. “They might have been evacuated until this place can be brought up to spec.”

I widen my eyes at Adam. “So we drove out here for nothing? The trueborn are already gone and the machine is busted.”

“No,” he says, and I can see the gears turning behind his eyes. “If we can take out this salvage team before they get off a distress call, we’d have complete access to what’s left of Ashwood. From there, we can get onto their network—”

“And that gets us what?”

“It’s like if one of my people could open one of your Chests, John. We’ll know their secrets. What they’re planning.”

“We’ll be one step ahead,” I say.

“Yes.” Adam nods, watching the engineer as he evaluates Dr. Anu’s machine. “But we should get in there. What the salvage team decides to destroy could still be useful to us.”

“All right,” I say, watching the Mog salvage team head back into the house. “So, is there a secret entrance or something?”

“At this point, I think a direct assault is our best bet.” He looks at me. “That all right with you?”

“Hell yes,” I reply. Originally, we’d planned to use our network of Chimærae surveillance to observe the Mogs for a while, figure out the most strategic approach to attacking. But, now that we’re here, I find myself itching to go into battle. I need some payback for everything they’ve done—for taking Ella, destroying Nine’s home, killing one of my friends. If Adam says we need to rush in, I’m ready to go.