Free Shedding the Demon by Bill Denise Page B

control its actions.”
    “Ah, you’re wrong!” Renard stood and began pacing, “We’re
talking about a living, breathing, thinking human being.” Renard stood by
the window again and reached his hand out to touch the glass, as if reaching
for the vista beyond. “Since it is human, it is susceptible to influence and
corruption. This is the heart of my worry. We must do everything we can to
control the weapon, or at the very least make sure Alexander does not control it.”
    Jeffrey tapped absently on his ever-present screen, “But the
Council will support this completely. No one will want this power to fall into
a single person’s hands. Surely the unified Council will be a match for any
Pryke machinations.”
    Renard held up a single finger and said, “That is the one
thing we must guard against at all costs. We must remain unified against the
Prykes. At least until we can gain control of this weapon, or somehow replace
it with something better.”
    Jeffrey rarely needed to be told what to do next, and this
case was no exception. He replied without being asked, “We can reassign the
best and brightest from our R&D Labs to learn everything they can about
D-SAP and Human Implanted Enhancement—yes it needs a new name—and start work on
making it obsolete.”
    Renard smiled, feeling more comfortable after discussing the
situation with Jeffrey, and added, “Perfect. And I will go work on Avelina. She
really is the key.”
     
    **** ****
     
    Damon sat in his cell turning the
possibilities over and over in his mind. If I do not agree and rot away the
rest of my life in this cell, I certainly can’t help the Family. If I agree to
the program, they have promised protection, and I stand the chance of escaping
and finding my way back.
    “How many times am I going to rescue you?”
    Damon was used to hearing Andrea’s voice in his head, and it
took him a second to realize it wasn’t in his head this time. He looked up and
saw Andrea standing at the door to his cell, along with a female guard he
hadn’t seen before.
    “How did you get in here, and why ?” he asked her
through his confusion.
    “I’ve got friends everywhere,” she said as she glanced
toward her escort.
    The woman showed no expression. “You’ve only got a few minutes,
then I have to come get you.”
    “I understand, thanks, sweetie,” Andrea said to the
departing guard.
    “I’m so glad to see you, Andrea, I have to warn you about
the other gang and the danger to the Family.”
    “I know, we saw the bodies.”
    “No, you don’t know how many they’ve got, we can’t
defend against that many!”
    “Oh come on, we’ve handled worse, stop panicking and pull
yourself together, we need to figure out how to get you out of here.”
    “Andrea, wait, you really don’t understand. I can make a
deal with them to ensure the Family’s safety. I’m so glad you’re here so I can
let you know what they are going to do.” He saw that she was going to interrupt,
so he continued quickly, “No, please, let me finish.”
    She nodded, and Damon began to recount all that they had
told him about the opportunity. His excitement grew as he described it to Andrea;
he was coming to terms with the idea that he could become a super-soldier.
    After he finished she quickly replied, “I don’t like it. It
stinks of lies.” She paused, unsure exactly how to proceed, “If it was me, I
would rather rot in a cell forever than do their dirty work for them.”
    “But the Family, I can get them to protect the Family.”
    “Damon, you never listen, do you? You can’t trust them. It’s
a lie, or a trap.” She looked up at him sharply as a thought came to mind, “You
didn’t tell them how to find 4C, did you?”
    “No, of course not,” he replied defensively. “But if they
are going to protect the Family, they will need to know.”
    They were interrupted by a knock on the cell door before it
opened to reveal Andrea’s friend. “Time to go,” she