Molly's hologram appears above my watch. Her bright smile eases my nerves, and I hope whatever she has to tell me is good news.

"Hey, Molly," I greet, leaning back against the couch. Many people crowd around me, all eager to hear of Molly's progress. After two days of training and waiting to see of Molly can replicate the Chips, her call has finally came.

She grins. "Hello, Autumn! And everyone else I can assume is listening."

I laugh. "So, you got the manual from Cody?"

She nods. "I did. And I've been working ever since. The Chips mentioned in the manual weren't difficult to recreate."

My eyes widen and I hear people drawing in their breaths around me. "You've already replicated one?"

She nods again, beaming with pride. "Yup! It wasn't very difficult." Then, her smile drops. "I'm having a rough time figuring out how to insert abilities. I left out anything that made this Chip like the old ones. So, I basically have a blank slate. I just need to figure out how to program the abilities into it."

I let out a disappointed breath. My heart plummets. "So, you can't do it."

Her gaze hardens. "I can. I just need time, or possibly one of those advanced Chips. I wish you could get your hands on one. If you could, I could easily replicate it and have one for everyone in your army. It's just such an intricate technology, giving people superhuman abilities."

I glance around the lounge room where bodies are scattered about. People's faces have fallen. Molly was our crutch, our one hope at easily securing Chips with abilities. If she can't insert abilities into Chips, then we will lose without a doubt.

Hailee sits at my side. She places a gentle hand on my shoulder. "There's no way we can retrieve a Chip. It's too dangerous, especially with all the enemies we have acquired."

I sigh. "Do you happen to know how they work?"

She shakes her head. "No."

"Can one of us remove ours?"

Again, Hailee shakes her head. "It's not like the old Chips that electrocute you if taken out. They become a part of your nervous system. If you take it out after growing adjusted to it and the abilities it provides you, complicates will arise, a possible complication being death."

I wince, glancing back to Molly's hologram. "Do you think you can figure it out on your own?"

She shrugs. "I'll keep trying. But, remember why I agreed to help in the first place. What's being done about saving my father?"

"We have-"

I hold up a hand to Derek, silencing him. "What do you mean we have bigger concerns? James is a honorable man, one that's in the position he's in because he offered to help me. We can't prioritize training over someone's life. While we prepare to fight Leane, we can figure out where he is and rescue him."

He purses his lips, taking a step towards the couch I'm seated on. "Fine, if it's so important to you. Just remember that we have a lot on our plate and too little time."

"I know," I mutter, glancing back to the hologram. "Molly, can you try hacking into the government's servers?"

She grimaces. "I already did. Nothing. They're not stupid."

I run a hand down my face. I have to save James, and I have to get one of those Chips. I don't care what anyone around me says. Maybe I'll have to visit the government a visit after a pay Leane one. I've made up my mind. And, I know who will accompany me, too. They might not want me to risk my life, but they also won't put me in more danger by leaving it all up to me. "Don't worry, Molly, you'll get your father back. I'll do everything I can to ensure that."

She smiles at me. It reaches her eyes, illuminating them with a hope I've never seen in her. "Thank you, Autumn! I'll keep working, and I'll help in anyway I can." She then ends the Holochat, and I lower my wrist to my lap.

"You shouldn't lie to people," Derek sighs. "I have no idea how we can get her father back without any leads. Why are they holding him, again?"

"Apparently because he told me to ask the government for help and gave me information," I supply, guilt and anger rising within me.

Derek's own eyes are alight with rage. "Leane and those other rebels aren't our only problem. The government is still as twisted as it's always been."

"Yeah, it is. But we're going to change them!" I exclaim, hoping off the couch.

Murmurs sound around me.

I turn to look at everyone around me, which are my friends and what's left of The Others. "Leane isn't this society's only problem. If we manage to put her in her place, then what? The government will just take control again and it'll be like nothing ever happened!"

"She's right!" Avery shouts, causing the room to fall into silence. "The purpose of this rebellion was to remove Chips, and to ultimately make this world a better place! Even if Autumn removed Chips, this world still isn't a better place. We can either make a difference or back down like cowards. I didn't think this needed to be said, but if you don't want to risk it all for a better tomorrow, what are you doing here? You know where the exit is!"

Aubrey nods along with her new friend. "If you don't want to support our cause, just leave now." She surprises me by saying that, by they way she holds her head up high. I smile. Avery is a pretty good influence on her, making her not a pliable shell, but someone who knows what she stands for.

No one moves. It almost feels like no one's breathing.

"If you don't believe in us, you can go join Jared and his group of traitors!" Ash shouts.

Eva flinches across the room.

Looking around, I realize this has been my main focus. Bettering the world and whatnot. I need to spend more time with my friends, my family. They're just as important, and here they are standing up for me and my cause. I can't help but smile again, smile at all the people around me. Even if I don't know all of them personally, they haven't walked away. They haven't backed down.

"Alright, back to training!" Derek barks, breaking the tension hanging in the air.

I walk over to my cousin and grab her arm. Then, I wave over Aubrey, Avery, and Cody. I decide that I need to let Eva be, that she's too delicate to be going on this mission. Finally, it's just the five of us in the large lounge room. I step back from my cousin, looking at the people surrounding me.

Cody raises an eyebrow. "Why am I the only boy?"

I reach forward and lightly smack his arm. "Just because. Anyways, I trust you guys. Avery," I turn to the girl in question, "I don't know you very well, but Aubrey trusts you. You seem like a trustworthy person."

Ash's eyes widen. "Where are you going with this?"

I sigh. "I can turn invisible. Aubrey, Ash have either of you unlocked that ability yet?"

Aubrey nods while my cousin shakes her head.

"Well, the two of us will have to do. You see, we need those Chips. Molly can't be sure she can figure out how to make them. So, with a bit of stealthiness-"

"No. Absolutely not!" Cody exclaims. "Do you have a death wish?"

I roll my eyes. "No. I just want everyone here to live through whatever happens with Leane and her army. I'm going whether you like it or not. You all can either help me and give me a greater chance of coming back alive, or not. But you're not talking me out of it! Then, after that, I'll be paying the government a visit to find Molly's dad. Any questions?"

They all shake their heads.

Ash sighs. "Well, I'm not going to let you get yourself killed, so I'm in."

Cody stares at me for a long moment before nodding. "I'm in."

Aubrey smiles. "Of course I'm in."

Avery laughs. "I'm in. You guys need my skills."

I smile. "They'll definitely come in handy!" Then, I turn to everyone I have selected. I knew I could count on them.

"What's the plan?" Cody asks, crossing his arms over his chest. "I'm not going to let you go into Leane's liar expecting everything to go perfectly."

Aubrey's face falls. "Hailee knows where the Chips are, but she won't tell us!"

Something clicks in my brain. "I think I know where they are! I was the tester for her Chips. She brought me to this scientific room for questioning. Maybe she keeps them there."

"What if she doesn't?" Avery challenges.

I shrug. "We'll find them. I hope. I have to try. It's better than sitting back and doing nothing."

"She's right," Aubrey pipes up.

I glance towards the training hall. "Start brainstorming ideas since it won't be as simply as getting in and out. We'll meet here tonight at midnight, when everyone else should be nice and asleep."

They all nod, then we head towards training.

Cody places a hand on my arm. "You don't always have to be the hero, Autumn. If anything happens-"

"If I don't stand up and do something, who else will. I'm sure I'll be fine. Just think positive."

He nods, then presses a kiss to my cheek. I flush, then glare at my cousin as she giggles.

My muscles ache from pushing my body to it's physical and abilital limits, and my brain won't stop worrying of what's to come. I lean back against the couch, checking my watch for the second time in the last minute. It's now midnight, and I hear footsteps. My body tenses up, hoping it's my friends and not someone else. At the sight of Cody, I let out a breath of relief, sinking further into the comforts of the couch. I feel his body sink into the couch as I glance around the dim room. The only light comes from Cody's watch before he turns it off.

"Hey," I whisper, leaning my head on his shoulder.

His arm goes around me. "Hey, Autumn. Are you as sore as I am?"

I laugh lightly. "I'm not sure if I'm ama sore as you, but I'm pretty sore."

He laughs, then leans his head against my own. His touch feels magnified, and it feels nice to sit here with him. I'm also glad it's dark so he can't see the heat in my cheeks.

"We haven't been alone in a while. You know, with everything that's been going on," Cody sighs.

I pull back and reach for his face, cupping his jaw. Then, I press my lips to his. I'm not a very experienced kisser, but I try to convey everything I feel into the kiss. The worry, the fact that I've missed him. The fact that everything we now know is on the line. Heat seems to radiate between us. The kiss is delicate yet slightly passionate all at once. My arms wrap around his neck and his wrap around my waist, which feels like it's on fire where his hands touch my shirt. Then, the kiss is over, and we both pull away. We both gasp for air, and a giddy feeling takes over me.

"I take it you missed me, too," Cody jokes.

I can't keep the huge, silly grin off my face. As I feel him leaning forward, wanting more of this thing we're exploring, we hear more footsteps. Disappointment floods through me as the lights are switched on. I blink, shielding my eyes from the sudden onslaught of light. Aubrey and Avery stand next to the light switch, then sit on the couch beside ours.

"Why'd you turn on the lights?" I asked. "Do you want to get caught?"

Ash walks in. "No one will walk this way, anyways. It's fine." She plops down next to me, causing Cody and I to scoot over. However, there's plenty of room for all of us. 

"So," I let out a breath. "Anyone have any bright ideas?"

Aubrey shakes her head, leaning back against the couch.

I turn to Cody. "Well, aren't you and Aubrey going to sneak into that room you were talking about?"

I nod. "I guess so." Then, I turn to Ash. "But, what will the right of you do?"

"Well, we'll need a car. I can get a hold of my mom's."

I nod, hope and nerves rising within me. "Okay. Good."

"I'll stay in the car in case we need to make a quick getaway," Ash adds. "Actually, I think everyone who can't turn invisible should stay in the car. That's the only way we won't get caught."

I nod. "But we can't park the car too close. It'll have to be a bit far."

"That's why Cody and I can dress in all black," Avery starts," and wait in the shadows close to the facility. That way, Autumn and Aubrey can call us if they need anything."

I smile. "That's a great idea! We all make a good team."

Aubrey loops an arm around Avery's. "Yeah, we do. This is going to go great!"

Ash shakes her head. "We can't be too optimistic. What if the Chips aren't in that room? What if something goes wrong?"

I place a hand on her shoulder. "Then we'll deal with it, Ash. That's the best we can do."

"Now, it's a matter of when," Cody states.

"Tomorrow night."

Wide eyes snap to me.

"Tomorrow night?" Ash hisses.

I shrug. "We don't have much time as it is. Do you know where your mom's car is parked?"

She nods.

"How to get it onto the streets?"

She nods again.

"Can you know how to get her keys tomorrow night?"

She nods a final time.

"Then, what are we waiting for?"

Ash sighs. "Fine."

Murmurs of agreement sound around me. Enhancing my senses, I fear footsteps. My eyes widen and I race for the light switch. The lights flicker off just in time before two people enter the room.

"Is everything in order?" One person asks. It sounds familiar, yet altered, as the voices of Jared's team were. Still a chill goes down my spine as I press myself against the switch. I'm a bit drained from practice, and if I stay still, I might not need to turn invisible.

"Yes." Lead fills my lungs. Derek. "It is. Don't worry."

"Come. I demand updates. Especially ones of that troublesome girl," the unidentified person demands. "We shouldn't talk in the open."

Their voices and footsteps fade away as my heart pounds against my chest. I place a hand against it, scared they'll be able to hear it and come back. What's really going on?