Standing in the doorway, looking absurdly ordinary in khakis and a bowtie with tiny unicorns, was a man Charlie had never seen before.
"May I come in?" The stranger smiled pleasantly. "I believe we have a mutual friend to rescue."
"You're the librarian," Viktor breathed.
The man's smile widened. "Noah, pleased to meet you."
Viktor stepped back, allowing Noah to enter. But the same moment, he demanded, "How did you find us?"
"I have my methods." Noah glanced around the room, his nose wrinkling slightly at the décor. "Not the safest choice of hideout, but it will do for our planning purposes."
Brent gaped at the newcomer. "You're the library guy? How did you know we'd be here?"
"I know many things," Noah said, which wasn't really an answer. "Including the fact that Simon is currently undergoing advanced reconditioning at the Organization's headquarters." He turned to Charlie. "You feel it, don't you?"
Charlie's hand pressed against his chest again. "Yes."
"Reuben is using his blood to overwrite Simon's connection to you." Noah settled into one of the chairs at the small table. "It's quite effective on enhanced humans who haven't fully turned."
"How do you know all this?" Charlie asked.
"As I told Simon, I've been watching the Organization for a long time, waiting for the right moment to act." Noah gestured for them to join him at the table. "That moment, it seems, has arrived."
Reluctantly, they gathered around. Noah pulled a folded paper from inside his jacket and spread it on the table. It was a detailed floor plan of a large building.
"The Organization's headquarters," he explained. "Simon is being held here—" he tapped a section labeled 'Sub-Level 3' "—in what they call the conditioning chamber."
Viktor studied the plans. "I can see three access points, but we can expect heavy security at all of them."
"Except for here." Noah traced a narrow passage with his finger. "There's an emergency access shaft for maintenance. But the entrance is exterior, behind the building. There'll be surveillance there."
"What about these ventilation ducts?" Charlie asked, pointing to the thin lines running through the building.
Noah's eyebrows rose slightly. "Those would be too small for a human, but..." His gaze settled on Charlie with new interest. "For something rabbit-sized, they might be perfect."
Charlie grinned. His odd animal form had some advantages after all.
"One access point is too little," Viktor said. "I'll try to get in through the maintenance shaft."
"You'll be caught," Noah said.
"I won't," Viktor waved him off. "We just need a distraction."
"I can handle that," Brent offered.
All eyes turned to him.
"What?" Brent shrugged. "I don't have super-strength or special infiltration skills. But I can definitely cause a scene."
"It's too dangerous," Charlie protested.
"So is letting these people turn me into their next experiment." Brent's usual easygoing expression had been replaced with determination. "I'm in this whether I want to be or not. Might as well make myself useful."
Charlie wanted to argue, but the resolve in Brent's eyes stopped him. His friend had made his choice.
"Okay," Charlie said. "But you'll need backup, like someone who can make sure you get away after."
"I'll coordinate with him," Noah said.
