"And if I don't want to relocate?" The question comes out sharper than I intend.
"Then you stay here. Or nearby, with protection protocols in place." Kane sets down the tablet. "But Rachel, you need to understand what you'd be choosing. Living under constant security. Lucas growing up knowing he's a target. Never being completely out of danger because the Committee has long memories and longer reach."
"I survived Mateo. I can survive this."
"Mateo's dead. The Committee isn't." Kane's voice stays level but firm. "I'm not trying to scare you. Just want you to understand the reality of what we're dealing with."
The reality. Lucas in hiding for months. Maybe years. Growing up in a bunker or under armed guard. Never having the childhood I've fought so hard to give him. "What do you need from me?"
"Follow security protocols. Keep Lucas close. Trust my team to do their jobs." He pauses. "And talk to Stryker. He's wound tight about this entire situation. Thinks he failed you once by walking away, and he's convinced he can't afford to fail again."
Heat creeps up my neck. "He told you that?"
"Didn't have to. I've known him long enough to read between the lines." Kane stands. "One more thing before we go. Your phone won't get outside signal here, but we've got an internal network. You'll receive facility messages and can communicatewith the team. Tommy can walk you through the system later if you need it."
That explains how messages could reach me. Small comfort when I'm still cut off from the entire world. "Okay."
"Come on. I'll introduce you to the rest of the team properly. Then you can get the full tour."
We head back into the operations center. People look up as we enter, assessing me with the same tactical evaluation Mercer used yesterday. Threat or asset. Liability or useful.
"Rachel Donovan, meet the team." Kane gestures to a woman at one of the computer stations. "Sarah handles signals intelligence and communications. If it involves data or encryption, she's your expert."
Sarah turns in her chair. Late twenties, dark hair pulled back in a practical ponytail, sharp eyes that remind me of researchers I worked with before everything went wrong in Mexico. "Nice to meet you properly. Sorry it's under these circumstances."
"Yeah. Me too."
"Tommy." Kane indicates a man hunched over multiple monitors, fingers flying across keyboards with practiced speed. "Tech specialist. He built most of the security systems here and maintains our operational infrastructure."
Tommy waves without looking up from his screens. "Almost done with those new IDs. Just need to verify the biometric scans one more time."
"Mercer you met yesterday." Kane nods toward where Mercer stands studying a tactical display. "He handles field operations and tactical planning when we're running external missions."
Mercer acknowledges me with a slight nod. No warmth, but no hostility either. Just professional assessment.
"Dylan's still in Phoenix with your sister's family," Kane continues. "He'll be back soon. And Stryker... I ran into himearlier trying to head back to watch after a few hours sleep. Ordered him to stand down. Team's got it covered."
Guilt twists in my chest. Colton exhausted himself keeping us safe, and I'm wandering around his base of operations like a tourist.
"He needed the rest," Sarah says, like she can read my thoughts. "Man runs himself ragged sometimes. We practically had to order him to sleep."
"Tour of the facility?" Kane gestures toward another corridor. "Help you get oriented."
We walk through Echo Base and each section reveals more about the scope of what these people built. Medical bay with equipment that belongs in a hospital. Armory stocked with enough weapons to outfit a small army. He indicates a woman putting away supplies. “This is Willa. She’s our chief medical officer.”
The woman turns and flashes me a smile. “I’m a vet, but then the guys are animals so I suppose it fits.”
Kane grins and guides me back into the corridor and to a training facility that include a gym and what looks like a shooting range carved into the mountain. We end our tour at a supply storage with food and equipment for months of sustained operations.
"How long has this been here?" I ask as Kane shows me the communications hub.
"A few years now. We started building it after..." He pauses. "After the team realized we needed a secure base of operations that the Committee couldn't compromise."
"Because they burned other operators."
"Because they burned people we cared about." Kane's voice stays flat, but something moves underneath. Old pain, old anger. "Echo Base exists because we refused to let them keep winning."
We circle back toward the communal area. Lucas is still with Khalid and Odin, laughing at something the dog did. Normal kid sounds in an abnormal situation.
