ARIA
Dr. Chen left at four in the morning with three copies of the evidence backed up on separate drives and instructions to meet us at the Council chamber at eight forty-five, fifteen minutes before the session started.
She didn't arrive.
At eight thirty we were still alone in Kael's quarters going over the plan for the fifth time, checking variables we'd already checked, trying to anticipate Thomas's moves when we both knew he'd been planning this for twenty-four years and we'd had less than twelve hours.
At eight forty my phone buzzed with a message from an unknown number.
*Dr. Chen is in custody for Darius Hunt's murder. Confession obtained. Evidence secured. She will be executed for treason immediately following this morning's Council session unless Miss Morgan refrains from any demonstration of abilities during said session. Your choice: expose me and she dies, or protect her and stay silent. You have twenty minutes to decide. ~ ET*
