"... Collect their belongings and head to their designated vehicles once this meeting concludes." 

The Directors' voice could be heard even before Hera entered the room. The observatory was quaint, with just enough room to hold each community member. Despite pews lining the floor, not a soul reclined there. As Hera gazed upward, she noticed a hexagonal window revealing a glittering sky and a crescent moon at the ceiling's centre. Hera spied thick metal grating perched on either side of the glass, ready to make the window an impenetrable opening if they were under attack. 

"There will be eight groups of five and one of six. Each group will have two to three fighters accompanying them to the new settlements. They are scattered around a mountain range that will remain nameless for your safety." 

The Director's eyes met Hera's briefly, and he gave a slight nod as he continued. "These cabins will be your new homes. When we are certain Panacea won't be able to track those who stay behind, we will come and join you." 

Hera sent her energy out looking for Joel and let out a sigh of relief when she realised he wasn't here. At least the children will be safe, the thought causing Theo to squeeze her hands affectionately. She blushed under his gaze in her periphery and waited for the meeting to conclude. 

"I commend every one of you for your bravery. Until we meet again." Children and elders looked sombre but determined as they filed out of the observatory, leaving the Evolved who chose to remain. Everyone watched as the different vehicles pulled out of the compound and off into the starry night. Hera could sense Monroe flying above, looking ahead like an avenging angel. 

Once they were out of sight, the Director turned grim.

"I have heard word that Panacea is closing in on our location, and we likely only have a day or two before they make their first assault." Gasps spread across the room, including Hera's. Theos grip briefly tightened on her hand, and the energy pooling there quieted.

"Most of you have been training for this all your lives, so I know you are more than capable of holding your own. They are likely going to send dozens of their best people. Most will have modifications stolen from our kin, and I'm sure they will have Evolved on their side." 

 Hera felt anxiety rising in her chest as the odds seemed to pile higher and higher against them. A brunette Evolved voiced Hera's thoughts, "How can we win against them if they are just like us and they have so many more?" Her voice wavered, and Hera felt sympathy for her apparent fear. Others murmured their agreement, and the Director asked everyone to sit down. As everyone took a seat, he continued in a soothing tone. 

"If anyone has doubts or regrets in staying back, I encourage you to leave now with the others. There is a spare van in the garage fueled for the journey." 

A few people whispered amongst themselves and started to rise. Hera's fear doubled, realising everyone was about to run.

"Wait!" Hera stood abruptly, startling those around her. "I know I haven't given many of you reasons to trust me, and you hardly know me besides all the gossip you've probably heard," A few heads turned down in shame, "but I think I can better our odds..." She looked over to her father, who nodded slightly before sitting himself.

"My Evolution is... " she paused, unsure how to explain to all the wide eyes before her. "Complicated?" She was rewarded with a few laughs before continuing, "I can feel... everything. Atoms. All of you are made up of cells, molecules, and atoms that are constantly vibrating, and when I focus, I can feel it all. I should be able to tell when and how many there are surrounding the community, so we aren't taken by surprise." Most of the fighters looked unimpressed with this. Finally, one was brave enough to speak up, and embarrassment flooded Hera's senses.

"So you can just tell us when they get here, and we'll do all the grunt work?"

Another piped up, "That's all you can do? Why did the Director act like you were so important then?"

Jean stood up then with fire in her eyes. "Will you all shut up! No, that is not 'all she can do.' If you aren't careful, she could rip you apart, and I would be happy to see you go, Jett." Everyone fell silent, and Hera stifled a laugh at Jett's mortified look. 

"I can feel the atoms," she swallowed nervously. "And I can manipulate them. I could technically vaporise anyone who walks through the doors. Until I run out of energy..." Half of the crowd looked impressed now, while others looked fearful. "But, I don't want to kill all those people if I don't have to..."

She spotted a few eye rolls in the crowd, "These people are evil, they deserve to die, and you shouldn't feel bad about it." She didn't hear where the voice came from, but others shared their sentiment.

Theo spoke into her head then, Stand your ground if you believe in something, love. He was causing her to blush profusely. Not a good time to flirt, she thought back.

"What about that thing that happened with the new guy? Was that your Evolution too?" A shrill voice rang out.

Hera shrugged, cringing, "Kind of." Her father stood up behind her and patted her shoulder, and she sat feeling more than a little defeated. Then, Theo gently ran his hand across hers, and she felt peace settle over her.

"Hera is no doubt powerful and can bring the odds in our favour if we need it. But do not doubt yourselves either! You are all Evolved and talented in your own right, and these people do not know what they will be walking into!" He looked around the room then, with determination. 

"Again, you are free to leave if you must, but if you are ready to fight and protect our legacy, then listen up." This time no one moved, and the Director nodded proudly, "Ash, I need you and Sage to dig a tunnel one mile north from level three. This will be where we fall back after the first wave. Dex, you will rig the top two levels to blow with a remote detonator. If we time it right, we can neutralise the first wave before the third floor and use the explosion as a cover while escaping the tunnels. We need to get rid of as many of them as we can." 

Then, he looked at Hera, "We can decide on the method later." She just sighed, trying to develop a way to 'heal, not destroy' like the voice... Juno had said.

"We have enough bug-out packs for each of you, and I want them in the tunnel entrance as soon as it is ready. We will draw the fight into the mess hall, so we don't need to worry about an aerial strike. I want you all sleeping, eating, and training there, so everyone is accounted for. If you aren't at the tunnel in time, you will be presumed dead. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Director." The room sounded before everyone filed off to their respective jobs. Hera stayed behind to talk to her father, and she saw Jackie, Jean and Theo remain. As she approached, she whispered, "Where is Joel?" Joseph and Jacqueline shared a look before he replied.

" During his examination, Arlo found a device we can only assume is for tracking in his arm. We are just lucky we have a dozen towers giving us a five-mile radius of static that can scramble the tech." He looked annoyed before finishing his thought, "But Panacea is quite literally closing in on us."

Hera felt chills down her spine, "What are you going to do with him then?" She was answered by silence and assumed the worst.

"You can't kill him. I know he's been a real asshole, and I know he tried to kill me," Theo and Jean both shouted, "What?" enraged by Hera's blasé admission, but she used her hand to silence them. 

"But, it's my fault his life sucks, dad seriously! His whole childhood, his father cared more for someone else, and he probably doesn't even know why." She looked pointedly at Jackie then, "Did you take his memories of me as a child." She nodded clearly, coming up with her own way to fix this. "Well, give those back first and maybe take a bit of his pain... see if it helps. You can't deny that his ability can be useful to us, especially if they have a mod made from his dad..."

Everyone was silent for a time before her father nodded. "Okay, you can try it, but if it doesn't work, he needs to leave." It wasn't lost on him that in her rush to save Joel, Hera had called him dad for the first time in fourteen years. He squeezed her shoulder, and she smiled in response. 

"Thank you."

Another plan was being tinkered away in her mind as she asked, "One more thing. Do you know how the mods work? Like what do they take from us to make them?" Her father looked grim as he nodded and proceeded to tell her the least graphic explanation. "Cutting out the brain stem and spinal cord. That's where our abilities seem to manifest from. The mods are stitched into the base of their skulls."

Hera let out a disgusted sound and thanked him again as she left the observatory, a plan starting to come together.