Urban’s fatigued limbs screamed in pain. She set Lillian gently down and activated her stun shield and faced the attacker.

“Leave us alone,” she wheezed. Her voiced sounded weaker than the declaration she felt rising up inside her. The bodies of Ash, her sister, and her protector lay at the edge of her fading vision. Were they alive? She forced herself to take slow, deep breaths.

The Super roared, shaking the ground. Urban clamped her hands over her head and fell to the earth. Her ears rang painfully, her breath came in ragged gasps. I don’t have much longer before my asthma completely takes over.

When the roar ceased, she stood as quickly as she dared, determined to finish this. Her mouth was like sandpaper.

The Super glared and sprinted toward her, but Urban stood her ground. She threw her stun shield at him with all her strength.

Her training paid off. Her aim was perfect, but the Super deflected it easily. Urban saw reinforced metal protecting his thick, muscled body where the shield struck him.

That was my one shot.

Her body seized with deep coughing. The sudden lack of air caused a maelstrom of terror to rage within her. It was as if she was breathing through a tiny straw. Each breath, trying to suck in more but failing.

Helplessness creeped in as the Super drew closer. I can’t win against him, and I can’t get enough air.

The Super pulled out a pulsing indigo blade and sliced effortlessly through a tree branch in his way. With a sickening feeling, Urban recognized it as Lillian’s blade. Anger bubbled inside her and with it, sudden determination.

As he closed in, she wracked her brain. She couldn’t outrun him. She didn’t have a weapon. If Lillian couldn’t defeat him with her martial arts, there was no way Urban’s limited jiujitsu exposure would help. She was too small. Too weak. Too slow.

Just like I always am against the Enhanced.

No.

Don’t give up. There has to a be a way.

The attacker was almost close enough to shove the blade up her rib cage. Or would he slice one of her main arteries and let her bleed to death?

Urban scanned her surroundings. There was nothing but dead trees. Ash and Lillian still lay motionless. A sinister puddle of blood surrounded Trig.

The Super was even bigger up close. Urban didn’t reach his chest. He also had all the latest tech. She was pretty sure the NBI gun was illegal.

Something out of the corner of her retina display caught her eye. It was a pulsing force field around a red zone.

What is that doing here? Then Urban remembered. It’s where the mutant animals escaped to.

The animals were wanderers. Homeless. Hunted. Not allowed to live in a society where their DNA didn’t match the plan others had for them.

Like me.

Her attacker lashed out with his knife.

Urban dodged.

Just like those animals, my DNA is one of a kind.

An idea came to her as she turned to face him again.

Gene-IQ might not have fixed the glitch yet . . .

Urban locked eyes with the Super. “Gene-IQ disable manual vision. Code 3006!”

The Super screeched and clawed at his eyes, trying to shield them from a light only visible in his retina display. He dropped the knife.

Urban kicked the weapon away and slammed into the Super. He stumbled backward and lost his balance. Both of them tumbled down the hill. They rolled to a stop next to the red zone.

Urban’s retina display screamed warnings, but she ignored them. She scanned the Super, now visible again, until she saw what she was looking for.

He scrambled up, still blinking from the light, but Urban was already on him, snatching the NBI gun from his hip.

The weapon felt foreign in her hands. Shaking, she lifted it, then aimed at the force field pulsing around the red zone. Inhaling, she pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

Urban examined the gun. Had she pulled the trigger correctly? Was there a safety mechanism? Please don’t let this thing be tatt activated.

She clicked a lever down, then tried again, even as the Super launched himself at her.

This time, a brilliant flash of light shot from the weapon and struck the force field. Electricity crackled through the air. With a pop, a portion of the force field went down.

Urban kicked the Super square in the chest, sending him reeling again. He collapsed on the ground just inside the red zone.

The Super picked himself back up, swaying. Urban wasn’t sure if he could see her, but she kept the gun trained rigidly on him.

There was a distant animalistic screech that caused the hairs on the back of Urban’s arm to stand on end.

Realizing where he was, the Super stumbled forward, trying to escape the deadly zone.

“Stay back,” Urban commanded.

The Super ignored her warning.

Urban fired a beam, aiming for the patch of dirt in front of him. Her aim was off, and she blasted the tip of his reinforced boots.

The Super jumped back in surprise. He shook his head as if trying to see.

Another screech erupted—this one closer.

Then there was a different sound, a powering up of electricity. The force field blazed back to life, trapping the Super inside.

Urban lowered the weapon, watching the Super stumble away into the darkening evening. The gun’s metal was cold, and she dropped it.

Urban’s vision grayed.

Can’t breathe.

Falling to her knees, she sank to the sharp, stiff grass.

All she could see was a fallen leaf in front of her. Consuming pain crushed her lungs, and she gasped desperately for air.

She became vaguely aware of foreign metallic boots stepping onto the leaf. Something sharp pricked her thigh.

The boots retreated as Urban’s vision faded black.

She wasn’t sure how much time passed when she regained consciousness. Her lungs burned, but she could breathe.

She sat up and looked around. The forest was empty and silent.

Trying to rise, Urban almost passed out. She leaned against a tree before hobbling toward the road.

A brand-new Wasp G9 sat idling by the side of the Speed Way. The back door stood ajar, and two people sat inside. A protector-bot emerged from the trees and headed toward her.

“Lee Urban, you have received a steroid shot to help with your asthma. May I run more diagnostics to treat your other injuries?”

But Urban ignored the bot and went toward the vehicle.

“I will return to treat you later, Lee Urban,” the bot said, then disappeared back into the forest.

Urban’s shoulders sagged with relief when she saw it was Lillian and Trig inside. She scrambled into the car.

“Urban,” Lillian croaked, managing a weak smile.

“I’m so glad you’re safe.” Urban blinked back tears.

A moan made her turn.

Trig was in a fitful sleep. He had a tourniquet on one of his arms and was no longer bleeding. “Is he alright?”

Lillian nodded. “Yes, but he’s lost a lot of blood.”

“What about Ash?” Urban’s brow furrowed in concern.

Lillian shrugged weakly.

Urban looked around in search of him.

There, at the tree line, the med-bot carried what looked like a giant fallen sparrow. Ash’s speckled wings were crusted in blood and dragging in the dirt.

Urban jumped out of the car.

“Will he live?” Urban gripped the bot so tightly its metal edges left dents in her fingers.

The bot continued on and set Ash down in the car. “He is unconscious from an electric shock. His recovery will be 100 percent.”

Urban exhaled a pent-up breath.

Trig stirred, and his eyes cracked open. He blinked a few times before focusing on Lillian.

“How you feeling?” she asked gently.

Trig licked dry lips. “Not bad now that I’m drugged up.”

In addition to his tourniquet, an IV dangled from his arm. The protector-bot really had outdone itself.

As if on cue, the bot flipped open a cavity of its arm and withdrew a tinged vial. “Please move aside while I administer this to Ding Ash.”

The bot tipped Ash’s head backward against the car seat, then poured the liquid into his mouth.

Ash coughed and bolted upright. His eyes opened wide. He stared at his surroundings and blinked in confusion. When his gaze landed on Urban, he seemed to register something. “I can always count on you to spice up my day.” He grinned. “So . . . what happened?”

Urban opened her mouth but stopped as two red-and-black SUVs, each with a golden hammer and sickle emblazoned on the doors, pulled up beside them. “Now the Jingcha decide to arrive.”

Several heavily armed bots and one Super stepped out of the vehicles.

“We received several distress pings.” The Super took them in with sharp, observant eyes. “Everything alright?”

Ash rolled his eyes. “Just dandy.”

Urban ignored Ash and went on to explain what had happened.

When she was done, the Super spoke, “You say the assailant left behind a wing?”

Urban pointed. “Over there.”

“Good.” The Super nodded. “We’ll collect some samples. It will take some time for the results to be processed. But don’t worry, we’ll track him down. In the meantime, I suggest you all get some rest.”

“Thanks,” Urban said.

They piled back into the car and traveled down a road, which disappeared into a glass tunnel beneath the water. The car didn’t slow as it approached the tunnel. The next instant, they were underwater, zipping along on dry road underneath the glass passageway.

Urban shivered at the sight of the water above them but was grateful this time the water was behind a foot of reinforced smart-glass.

The temperature dropped the further they went, and the car began warming their seats and pumping heated air. Swaying reeds stretched through the murky, blue water like gnarled fingers.

<Arriving at the Lee Aquatic Center. Sosh: 77.> Urban’s retina display informed her as they approached.

While a valet-bot parked their car, the group stumbled into the hotel and toward the Underwater Bar.

With Ash and Trig leaning heavily on Urban and Lillian, it was slow going. Urban realized how ridiculous they must appear. With all the dried blood, shredded clothes, bruises, and injuries, they looked like the military Supers returning from a particularly tough training session.

It was still early for the dinner crowd, but at least a dozen Enhanced already waited in the lobby. They wore elegant silks and jewels the size of small teacups and had their hair neatly styled. Several of them stopped talking to stare at the approaching group.

Urban kept walking. The last time she had been here, she was wearing her best dress for her birthday. That felt like years ago.

Several Natural attendants started toward the group, along with two Super security guards. Oh no. Please don’t let them kick us out.

The guards and attendants stopped abruptly as Urban got a ping.

<Identity confirmation from Lee’s Underwater Hotel & Bar. Welcome, Lee Urban!>

She breathed a sigh of relief. Her parents must have sent orders to expect them.

The attendants and guards went back to their stations, though they cast sideways glances at the ragtag crew passing by.

After what felt like three dynasties had passed, they reached the yawning entrance of the bar.

A hostess nodded stoically, then led them through a glass tunnel, surrounded by more water. Looking up, Urban saw the entire Reservoir above them. Gold, peach, and lilac rays of sunlight undulated through the emerald water.

The hostess stopped at an elegant metallic doorway, then gestured them in. “Your guests have arrived,” she announced, then left.

The salty and bitter smell of seaweed and oolong tea greeted them as they entered the room. Mother, Father, and Lucas sat alone at a giant full-sized conference table. Behind them was a wall of windows. The fading rays of the sun danced on the floor in rippling waves. Colorful schools of fish and a hammerhead shark swam lazily around them.

“Finally.” Lucas drummed his fingers on the table. “Now that Urban’s here, can we get some answers as to why we’re all sitting here like tuna in a can?”

Mother and Father sat at the conference table. Father scowled, taking in their ragged appearance. “What happened?”

“We were attacked,” Urban said bluntly.

The color drained from Mother’s face. Lucas stopped his tapping.

“What?” Father’s jaw tightened.

Urban quickly explained.

When she finished, Mother leaned forward. “This is more serious than we thought.” She stopped talking and stared at Ash as if just remembering he was there. “I’m very sorry, but this is a private meeting.”

“Ash is a good friend of mine.” Urban motioned at his injuries. “He just risked his life for me.”

Mother hesitated, then motioned for them all to sit. “You could use more friends like him.” Her tough demeanor melted away into exhaustion. Dark circles lined her eyes. Her normally immaculate hair had several strands escaping from her bun.

There were already three cups of cold green tea set out when Trig, Lillian, and Urban sat. Mother quickly rose and poured another and set it before Ash.

“How is it possible we were attacked by someone with more than two enhancements?” Urban asked. “I thought that was illegal. Don’t the Federations have rules against that?”

“Technically, that’s what the Nonproliferation Treaty for Deadly Enhancements is designed to do,” Father agreed. “But in every society there will be always people who find ways to circumvent the regulations. The more important question, I believe, is why was he after you?”

Urban fingered her teacup. “That’s what I was hoping you could tell me.”

Mother sighed. “Our house is currently being watched. I’m sure these events are linked. That’s why we’re here anyway. It’s much harder to overhear conversations through water, and we believe the hotel hasn’t been bugged. Yet.”

“What do you mean ‘watched’?” Lillian inquired.

“Lennox’s visit wasn’t just to interrogate Urban,” Father said. “He planted several bugs in our house.”

Lillian’s eyes widened.

“So, remove the tech and be done with it.” Lucas chugged his tea. “I don’t see why this is a big deal.”

Urban couldn’t believe he could be so callous. Then again, he had tried to drown her.

“It’s not that simple.” Father shot him a glare. “We’ve found other bugs too—not just the ones Lennox planted. It seems our house has been under watch for some time.

Urban thought back to the start of the semester and how her mother had run through all of the rules with her. If anyone had been listening at the time, they would know Urban was a Natural. “How long has the house been bugged?”

“We don’t know. But we think it had to be after you’d left for uni. Otherwise . . .”

Otherwise, we’d all be in serious trouble right now. Then again, maybe that explained everything. But why would someone go to all the trouble of attacking her? If they knew she was a Natural, they’d just publicly expose her and be done with it. Wouldn’t they?

“We’re in the process of removing the bugs,” Father informed them. “We’re monitoring everyone who comes in and out of the house to see if they plant any new ones.”

“But we still don’t even know who they are,” Lucas pointed out.

Father’s face darkened. “Supers Against Soups.”

Urban’s mouth fell open. “SAS? But why?”

Father let out a deep sigh, as if resigning himself to something. “You know how we were caught in a scandal years ago that dropped our sosh and nearly destroyed us?”

Urban, Lillian, and even Lucas nodded. Trig and Ash watched them all, listening intently.

“There was no scandal.” Father’s voice was toneless. “We found ourselves on the blacklist of SAS. A fake scandal was devised and publicized by their members to destroy us.”

Urban was stunned. “Why?”

“Your Father and I used to be involved in something SAS disapproved of.” Mother took up the tale. “There is scientific research being conducted around enhancing individuals after birth. The Center for Advancement in Asian Genetics, or CAAG, was leading the way in discoveries on this frontier.” She poured herself more tea before continuing, “There were great advancements being made until SAS got involved. SAS members prefer to have a genetic advantage over Naturals. They want to keep it that way. They destroyed the labs and killed everyone involved.”

“The explosion,” Urban breathed. She remembered the eccentric genetic-engineering probot talking about it. “It wasn’t an accident. SAS was behind it?”

Mother nodded solemnly. “But not everyone wanted the research to stop. A group of people determined to further human development formed the Advancements in Enhancements group: AiE. They operated in secret, fearing the fate of the scientists.”

Mother hesitated, casting a quick glance at Ash before continuing. “We were some of the early members of AiE. We haven’t been involved in a while but still have a couple of contacts there.”

“What?” Lucas sputtered. “Why risk your lives for that?”

Lillian pierced her brother with a stare as Mother looked away. “Our reasons are our own.”

Urban couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in her parents. They hadn’t been involved in a scandal after all. Behind the façade of wealth and extravagant parties, they had risked their lives for a cause that mattered.

Everything she had known about her parents was slowly crumbling before her eyes. They cared about Naturals. Which meant they actually cared about her.

Father spoke up again, “Someone in our network exposed us. Many members suddenly found themselves facing ‘scandals,’ attacks, and in a few cases, even death. We are some of the fortunate few to recover.”

“Yeah, who would have thought a couple of charity cases would have helped.” Lucas snorted.

Urban felt a sudden rise of anger. Her brother was treating everything like it was an inconvenience. Her gaze went briefly to Trig and Ash. Their eyes were fixed on Lucas, their faces expressionless, though Urban noted a muscle twitch in Ash’s neck.

“Your sisters were never a charity case.” Mother’s own eyes flashed. “We wanted a bigger family, and we also needed a way to get our sosh back. It just so happened those two things coincided.”

“Lucky for them,” Lucas muttered. “Our family would have been better off—”

“Enough.” Mother’s voice was low and dangerous.

Lucas pierced his parents with a stare. “Are you going to tell us the real reason Urban’s here then? We know you and dad weren’t planning to adopt her, so what happened?”

Urban flinched at his blunt words.

Father looked like he could strangle his son.

“It’s true we applied to adopt only one Enhanced child,” Mother said evenly. “But when Lillian arrived, Urban came with her. When we requested Urban’s medical genomics record, we also found out she was a Natural. We tried to contact the orphanage to let them know there had been a mistake.” Her voice was so quiet, Urban had to strain to hear her. “They insisted there wasn’t. When we pulled the record to show them, it had all been modified to show the adoption of two Enhanced children.”

“And you have no idea who tampered with those records?” Lillian spoke for the first time.

Mother shook her head. “We were already in a bad position with SAS and didn’t want to attract additional attention to the fact we’d adopted a Natural. Eventually, we dropped the matter, and SAS left us alone.”

“So, you think the Super that attacked us on the way here is a part of SAS?” Urban ventured to ask.

Father heaved a great sigh. “It’s possible, but I don’t see what could have triggered the sudden activity.”

“Geez, let’s think. What ever could it be?” Lucas scrunched up his face, then lifted a finger. “I know! How about the fact our little hero here,” he gestured at Urban, “has managed to get her face plastered across the entire Asian Fed?”

Lillian nearly slapped the table. “Stop it, Lucas.”

He only widened his eyes at her mockingly.

“We’ve considered it,” Father said. “But that has nothing to do with SAS or AiE. The Games are just a sporting event. Nothing Urban did out there should threaten them or attract their attention.”

Mother’s voice was thoughtful. “Perhaps it is time we investigate further into Urban’s birth origins.”

Urban sat up straighter at this. “I thought you didn’t know who my birth parents were.”

“We don’t. But perhaps finding out would aid in understanding why we are once more being targeted.”

A knock on the door made them all jump.

“Yes?” Mother called out.

A maid opened the door and cautiously stepped in. “A hoverdrone has arrived for a Ms. Lee Urban.”

Mother turned to Urban, jaw clenched. “Who did you tell about this meeting?”

“I promise, I didn’t tell anyone I was coming here!”

But there had been someone who had enough clues to guess her location. The same person who had hacked her pings.

Qing Coral.