Jonah watched as Daniella tottered from the building, her face a stark and icy white. He slid out of the vehicle, but Michael stopped him before he could reach the woman slowly making her way in his direction.
“No. She needs to hold her own in front of the men and women here.”
Jonah growled deep in his throat but stopped and waited. He knew the minute she saw him, the glassy look in her eyes melting into distress.
She reached out, then curled her hands into fists. “Jonah?”
The tightness in his gut turned to concrete. “What happened?”
“They’re using them. The girls are meant to be walking, talking incubators for their next generation of warriors. That’s after they serve their purpose as fighters. How can they do that?”
He sucked in a shuddering breath, feeling the emotional turmoil that rolled off her in thick waves. It didn’t surprise him. Perhaps on some intuitive level, he’d already guessed that the children were dispensable, and that through the genetic manipulation, they could be replaced in short order, an army of replaceable drones, completely lacking in empathy.
“Jonah?” Her voice faltered.
“I guess I already worked that out, senator.”
“But they’re children.” A tiny, diamond-like tear fell from her lashes and rolled down her cheek. She didn’t wipe it away. Instead, she let him see the level of horror and disgust that wove itself around her.
“Not to them. The ones running this plot placed orders for a mass delivery of emotionless warriors. We need to stop thinking of them as children, because they won’t be thinking of us as humans, only as combatants.”
Daniella reared away from his harsh reminder. “I can’t—”
“If you don’t, the war is won by them before we even began taking up arms. They kill. You’ve already seen their handiwork, senator. We have to be strong.” He allowed his voice to harden, becoming an effective weapon, like a hammer. The words slammed into her, and she stepped back, her arms winding around her body.
Daniella bit her lip, blinked once, then again. “I’m not sure I can.” She shuddered and exhaled, but she steadied, sliding her arms down so that they lay at her sides, fists curled tight then released.
He grunted, and she reached out to him, gripped onto his wrist. “This is who I am, Jonah. I may be a senator, but I’m also a woman. I feel things deeply, and this… It hits me hard, right here!” She hit her chest, and he couldn’t fault the emotions she shared.
Michael sighed. “Daniella, war is never simple. So few things we do or see are black and white, and the tones are even harder to read in this kind of situation. Jonah is trying to explain that we have to think differently. It doesn’t make us wrong or bad. Just aware and realistic. Millions of people will rely on us to protect them, our way of life, and the democracy you swore to uphold. We can’t do that if we aren’t able to separate ourselves from these emotions, no matter how unpalatable it is. He’s not a monster by acting the way he is, and neither are you.”
Daniella glared at her brother, her bottom lip quivering. “I’ll try. But it’s still wrong. Morally and ethically.”
Jonah couldn’t disagree with her. He understood the internal tussle that gnawed at her, but there wasn’t an option. “We need to debrief and find out what else you managed to—”
“The senator handled herself well in there, Jonah.”
Jonah concentrated on Agent McNally who’d sidled up beside Daniella, her gaze steady, as if she willed him to cut the senator some slack. He couldn’t. Not yet, and not here. Michael was right. She had to be seen as reliable, because she was effectively the head of the democratically elected senate now. She hadn’t merely rolled over and handed control like Gravely. So, she’d have to suck it up and soldier on. He needed her strength to create a united front. A rallying point. They all had a job to do, and none was simple or straightforward now.
“I understand that. The senator needs to debrief, then you’re taking her out for practice, yes?”
A dangerous glint appeared in McNally’s eyes. One he knew well. She was about to raise objections. That couldn’t happen. Not here in front of anyone to see. He’d talk to her about this, he promised himself. Settle the anger that brewed and bubbled.
Jonah slid his hand down, so he held the senator’s, and turned to her. Willed her to understand. “We need to get the information. From both of you. It could make a difference in how we go forward. The truth is, we know so little, and that’s only what the team has gleaned so far.”
Daniella’s nod had the tension that had wound tight inside him releasing. “I understand. McNally, we should head back to…” Her gaze wavered from the woman back to him. “…the office?”
“It seems the most logical place. I’m having people set up debriefing rooms as we speak, but they won’t be ready for a day or two. And it’s probably better that we do it in the most secure location. Come on. We’ll drive over there.”
He urged Daniella forward, and she climbed into the back of the vehicle, folding her hands in her lap, head high, and the spunk he’d previously admired was in full force. He mastered the smile and climbed into the vehicle beside her as McNally took the other front seat.