Operations Center — Hayes
The briefing room felt colder than usual; the hum of the overhead lights too loud, the air too still. Hayes stood at the head of the table, staring at the satellite images Leah had pulled up — a dense patch of forest outside La Ronge, a narrow service road, a cluster of heat signatures too faint to be vehicles but too steady to be wildlife.
Marianne sat beside him, jaw tight. Evan leaned forward, elbows on the table. Two RCMP officers — Sergeant Whitford and Constable Renaud — stood near the door, silent but alert.
Leah entered with a stack of printed documents. “We have confirmation.”
Hayes turned. “Subjects?”
Leah nodded. “Multiple. Small signatures. Likely children.”
Whitford swore under his breath. Renaud’s jaw clenched. “We move fast.”
Hayes nodded. “We coordinate with the RCMP ‘F’ Division. They take jurisdiction. We support.”
Leah set the documents on the table. “There’s more.”
Hayes frowned. “What?”
Leah tapped the top page — a financial disclosure from a second shell corporation.
“North Prairie Logistics received a second infusion last month,” she said. “Not from GHB Strategic Holdings.”
Hayes stiffened. “Then from who?”
Leah flipped the page. An alternative name.
Bergmann Development Group
Hayes stared at it. “He’s not hiding behind shells anymore.”
Leah shook her head. “No. He’s speeding up.”
###
Federal Medical Wing — Hale
Hale looked like he hadn’t slept in days. His eyes were bloodshot, his skin pale, his breathing shallow. He stared at the ceiling as Hayes entered, Marianne behind him. Hale didn’t look at them. “You found the second infusion.”
Hayes didn’t answer. Hale laughed — a thin, brittle sound. “He’s not even pretending anymore.”
Marianne stepped forward. “What’s at the Saskatchewan site?”
Hale swallowed hard. “You think the northern site was the beginning.”
Hayes’ voice was low. “It wasn’t?”
Hale shook his head. “It was the test. Saskatchewan is the implementation.”
Marianne frowned. “Implementation of what?”
Hale’s eyes finally met hers — wide, terrified, hollow. “Scaling.”
Hayes stiffened. “Scaling what?”
Hale’s voice cracked. “The chamber.”
###
ICU — Elijah Greyhawk
Chet was awake again — not fully, not steadily, but awake. Elijah sat beside him, holding his hand, watching every flicker of expression. Chet’s eyes drifted across the room, then back to Elijah. “It’s… quiet.”
Elijah nodded. “You’re safe.”
Chet swallowed. “He said… I was the first one who… didn’t break.”
Elijah’s stomach twisted. “Chet—”
Chet shook his head weakly. “No. I remember… something.”
Elijah leaned closer. “What do you remember?”
Chet’s breath hitched. “The sound.”
Elijah frowned. “What sound?”
Chet’s eyes filled with tears. “The hum. It was everywhere. Inside my head. Like… like it was trying to pull me apart.”
Elijah squeezed his hand. “You’re safe now. You’re here.”
Chet’s voice trembled. “He said… the next ones wouldn’t have to suffer as long. Because of me.”
Elijah froze. Chet looked at him, terrified. “What does that mean?”
Elijah didn’t have an answer.
###
Federal Holding Facility — Kline
Kline sat in the interview room, posture perfect, hands folded neatly on the table. He looked almost serene — like a man who had already accepted the outcome. Leah entered with Hayes, closing the door behind her. She set the new financial disclosure on the table.
Kline glanced at it. Then he smiled.
“You found the second stream.”
Hayes’ jaw tightened. “Bergmann Development Group.”
Kline nodded. “A more direct channel. He’s no longer concerned with subtlety.”
Leah leaned forward. “Why?”
Kline tilted his head. “Because the work is entering its ultimate phase.”
Hayes’ voice sharpened. “What ultimate phase?”
Kline’s eyes gleamed. “Optimization.”
Leah swallowed hard. “Of the chamber?”
Kline nodded. “The northern site was a proof of concept. Saskatchewan is refinement.”
Hayes leaned in. “And the children?”
Kline’s expression softened — disturbingly so. “They are the future.”
Leah’s stomach twisted. “You’re a monster.”
Kline blinked. “No. I’m a scientist.”
Hayes slammed a hand on the table. “And Bergmann?”
Kline’s smile widened. “He’s the one who understands what the future requires.”
###
Operations Center — Leah Gagnon
Leah stood in front of the whiteboard again, staring at the new name she’d added beneath GHB STRATEGIC HOLDINGS:
BERGMANN DEVELOPMENT GROUP — SASKATCHEWAN INFUSION
She circled it once. Then she drew a line connecting it to BERGMANN.
Hayes entered quietly. “We have confirmation?”
Leah nodded. “Two financial streams. Two shell corporations. One owner.”
Hayes exhaled slowly. “Then we move.”
Leah didn’t look away from the board. “This won't be a rescue mission.”
Hayes nodded grimly. “I know.”
Leah stared at the timestamp on the screen: the conditioning cycle had started hours ago. Hours.
Hayes stepped beside her. “Tell me what we’re looking at.”
Leah swallowed. “If he’s running a full cycle… we’re already behind.”
Hayes didn’t waste a second. “Then we move now.”
Leah didn’t stop him. She couldn’t. Because for the first time, she wasn’t sure they’d make it in time.