Domination (A C.H.A.O.S. Novel) - By Jon Lewis Page 0,31

find out that their savior was anything but human, and Superintendent Thorne had assured Colt that he wouldn’t be tested. Apparently Agent Marz didn’t get the memo.

“Where’s Superintendent Thorne?” Captain Starling asked, his voice borderline shrill.

Colt could picture his face turning red and the veins in his neck starting to pop out.

“What about Giru Ba or Lohr? Please tell me there’s a faculty member down there with you.”

“Not at the moment,” Glyph said, his head swiveling on his long neck as he searched the room.

“This is a disaster,” Captain Starling said. “Whatever you do, don’t let them run that test, and that’s an order. Do you hear me?”

“Um . . . sir, does that mean you’re asking us to engage in conflict?” Glyph asked.

“That’s exactly what he’s asking,” Oz said, dropping his arms as his hands formed into fists. “So listen, Agent Marz, is it?” He took a step toward the agent. “I’m afraid you and your clones are going to have to leave. We’re about to put on a show for the entire world, and you’re kind of breaking our concentration.”

“That won’t be possible,” Agent Marz said. “Please step aside.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

“I won’t tell you again.”

“Is that supposed to be a threat?” Oz said as the flight team surrounded the Secret Service agents, each of them in full fight gear.

“All we need is a blood sample,” Agent Marz said as he opened the left side of his jacket, revealing a handgun in a chest holster.

“Fine,” Colt said, removing his glove as he pushed past Oz. He’d already lost his parents, and he was about to watch his friends get shot because they were trying to make sure his secret didn’t get out.

“What are you doing?” Oz reached out and grabbed Colt by the shoulder, but Colt pulled away. “It’s not going to happen.”

“That’s enough.”

Everyone turned to see Murdoch McAlister walk through the door, followed by Superintendent Thorne and Giru Ba.

“Finally,” Oz said. “Will you tell these jerks that—”

“I said that’s enough, and I meant it,” Grandpa said, cutting him off.

“Agent Marz, I’m afraid you won’t be able to test Cadet McAlister today for reasons that I’m unable to discuss,” Superintendent Thorne said.

“With all due respect—”

“I understand that you have a job to do,” she said, raising her hand to cut him off. “But if you check with your supervisor, you’ll see that the order comes from an authority greater than all of us.”

“God told you not to test his blood?” Glyph said, the awe in his voice unmistakable.

The usually unflappable director started to smile. “No, Cadet Glyph. The directive came from the Office of the President.”

“It checks out,” Agent Denton said, and Colt felt all of the tension leave his body.

: :

CHAPTER 22 : :

Tell me why we’re doing this again,” Colt said, feeling nervous for the first time as he listened to the crowd chant, “Phan-tom Fly-er! Phan-tom Fly-er!” over and over.

“Because people need a symbol of hope,” Danielle said. “And like it or not, that’s you.”

Colt was uncomfortable with all the adulation, but at least they weren’t chanting, “Betrayer! Betrayer!” He looked over at his grandfather, who was standing with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to a conversation between Superintendent Thorne and Giru Ba. Grandpa was everything that the Phantom Flyer was supposed to be. Tall with broad shoulders and a wide jaw. Confident. Unflappable. He was what the world needed, not a sixteen-year-old kid who had no idea what he was doing.

“Can you see the president?” Grey asked, peeking over Colt’s shoulder.

“Not from here,” Oz said when Colt didn’t answer. “But I’m pretty sure he’s up in the press box behind that wall of bulletproof glass. And it looks like Pierce’s dad is right up there with him. Making sure he’s getting in all the photos.”

A single snare drum rattled, and a hush went over the crowd as Colt watched four marines in dress uniform escort a girl to the middle of the field. She wore a formfitting dress covered in gold sequins that shimmered beneath the lights. Spiraling blond hair bounced with each step, and there was something about the way she walked . . . It was familiar, but it was also impossible.

“Lily?”

Colt’s heart raced as he watched her follow the marines up onto a dais, and as she stepped up to the microphone and sang the first five words, he knew that it was Lily singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Colt said to no