The lock clicked and the door swung open, revealing what had been hidden inside. A tiny gasp escaped Lily’s lips as she regarded the mounds of technology. Her head danced with the possibilities of all the wonderful things she could make with all of these broken wires and screens. But she forced her jaw shut and got to work. She was only after one thing. And her distraction would only last so long. She could expect security any moment. 

Lily carefully picked her way through the electronics and moved large monitors out of the way. Even though this stuff was the property of her enemy, she couldn’t afford to destroy anything more, even the slightest bit of it. The human race couldn’t afford it either. But that’s why she was here. To bring peace and to get things back to the way they were before. Before the catastrophe. 

Lily’s lip twitched like they were going to smile at the memory of the way things were before, but they were incapable. Lily couldn’t smile anymore. She had witnessed so much pain that it was permanent inside her chest. She was born an empath at the wrong time. 

Then her eyes caught sight of a gold glint, and she had found what she was looking for. Lily gently picked up the thin piece of metal and tucked it into her pocket. The padded pocket that she had altered just for this. 

Lily started to pick her way back to the exit, fully focused this time. Then a wave of anger and shock crashed over her and she turned around. Lily knew she wasn’t angry or shocked, but James Greyson was. He was running toward her with a wild look in his eyes, whipping out a phone. 

“Breach!” He was yelling into it now. “Security breach! Room 404! All units!” 

“Calm down, James,” Lily ordered. She was trying to calm down herself, his anger would be a nuisance to all empaths, not just Lily. “I just came for one thing.” 

“You’re not welcome in this division,” James said angrily. “Stealing from me was a bad choice.”

“You know what you have,” Lily said, backing up. “I know you don’t want the human race to fail. But it will if you don’t  let me fix this.”

“Just give it back,” James was stalking closer still. His forehead was turning red. “Then you can return to your division. I’m feeling nice today.” 

“No can do.” Lily told him. Then she dashed out into the night. James ran after her, but fell behind quickly. 

Soon, all Lily could hear was his angry roar.