“Seshal how?” I couldn’t help myself.

“You’re feeling no ill effects from the—ah—fire, yes? That was a test, you see.”

“Huh? Test for what?”

“Omega noted your cellular—ah—regeneration level in the lungs. You ran at near optimum speed despite—ah—what would have been—ah—a fatal level of smoke inhalation for most people. Omega was supposed to retrieve you for repair that evening, but—ah—unfortunately failed in his assignment.”

“Retrieve me for repair?” I boomed. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not a machine. And who’s Omega? The flaming, molting, running dude?”

The scientist and his freaky tooth face just grinned at me. I fought off an impulse to knock those teeth out of his skull.

“And what do you mean it was a test?” I shouted, gaining volume. “Families died in that explosion, man, people I’ve known all my life! Kids! Parents! Grandparents! A piece of glass stabbed my mom’s back like a dagger—she could have died, too! Instead, she and my little brother were taken away to the evacuation camp—I think—and now I’m all alone. Which is why I want to see my father. Please let me see him!”

Without so much as a shrug, the burned man looked at the men and said, “Ah—inform the unit. Rho is to undergo a—ah—reauthorization.”

Rho? Row? R’oh?

“Why do you keep calling me Rho?” I asked. “I’m Jordan. That’s what my dad named me. He’s an engineer here. I need to see him now.” I stood and gave the table a sharp shove that prompted the suited guys to jump back. I moved toward the door.

“I can see you will have to be—ah—sedated.”

“No way, bro-zay,” I said, realizing that made no sense as I tried the doorknob.

Locked.

“I’m a minor. You can’t do anything without my parents’ permission. If you won’t take me to my father, then I’m out of here.”

“I’m afraid—ah—not. We need to fix the problem first. Then you will be ready, Rho.”

This whole scene was freaking me out. I felt like I could collapse into a hysterical puddle any second, but I also knew I needed to keep it together, keep my instincts sharp. “Ready for what? I can’t understand half of what you’re saying, and not just because you don’t have lips. Did you do something to me to give me my new abilities? I don’t need or want them—I was fine with how I was. And I’ll take a pass on the ‘fixing,’ thank you very much.”

“Sit down,” the gold-ring guy said, standing up. I was taller than him, but he was thicker.

“Nope, I’m done taking orders,” I said. “I need to know what’s going on, because this is bananas.” I pointed at the scientist. “You I’ve seen in my dreams. And they weren’t good dreams. How does that work? What kind of evil voodoo are you up to?”

He looked up, and his disfigured face approximated a wince.

The chin-scar guy pulled a syringe from his jacket pocket.

“Nope again,” I said, and jiggled the doorknob until Goldie yanked my hand away from it.