My Brother's Keeper

Adalwin looked confused. "How can you possibly show us that?"

Kendrick held up a finger. "Amelia, Meryn, I am going to describe an emergency situation. You will be able to ask me one question before deciding on your course of action; however, once you hear my answer, you must reply immediately." Both women nodded.

"You are the captain of a ship that is sinking. For argument sake, let's just say that there is only one way to save the ship. You have to seal off the lower levels. However, there are fifty people down there who, no matter what you do, won't be able to be make it to the upper levels in time to be saved. What is your question? Amelia?"

Amelia swallowed hard. "How many children are there?"

"Twenty-five. Half of the trapped passengers are children. Your answer?" Kendrick asked sharply.

Amelia flinched. "I'd try to save them."

Kendrick looked at the men around the room; nearly all of them were nodding in agreement. He turned to Meryn. "Your question?"

Meryn shrugged. "How many people are on the boat?"

"Three thousand. Your answer?"

Meryn responded instantly. "I'd seal off the lower decks."

The room was silent. "As you can see gentlemen, Meryn knew what question to ask and chose the best course of action."

Kendrick turned to Aiden. "I believe she asked how many ferals there were."

Aiden nodded. "Epsilon reported anywhere from thirty to fifty ferals and approximately one hundred hostages."

"Are they willing to accept anything else?" Adalwin suggested.

Aiden picked up his phone and dialed. "Hey Santa, can you let the bastards know that we can't lower the perimeter, ask if they would settle for something else in return."

Everyone waited silently as the Epsilon leader communicated with the ferals.

Aiden nodded. "Okay, stand by. I'll call back." He put his phone back in his pocket.

"Santiago said that the reaper leader is willing to accept our necklaces in exchange."

Rowan stood and inclined his head to Aiden. "Personally, I don't think it would be a loss taking the perimeter down. I have complete faith in our unit warriors, they have protected us for centuries without a perimeter, and I feel that they can continue to do so. But, since we don't know who cast the perimeter, being able to take it down as requested is off the table."

"It looks like the necklaces are our only choice," Réne confirmed.

Rowan shook his head. "Unfortunately, someone has already given them to Kendrick here for study." Réne scowled at Rowan, who ignored him.

Rowan turned to Kendrick. "Well, son, do you think you can give up on your tests to save the lives of our people?"

Anne watched as Kendrick looked at Réne. An odd look appeared on his face and disappeared just as quickly. He shook his head at Rowan's question and turned to Meryn. "Well?"

Meryn looked up at him. "Maybe I am human; maybe I'm too young and too American, but in a situation like this, I refuse to negotiate with terrorists. I would send out every unit we have plus any volunteers to exterminate this threat. If we start giving in to them now, we'll be opening ourselves up for more hostage situations down the road."

Anne looked over at Aiden and Byron who were both already on their cell phones. Aiden was coordinating the units to meet at the Alpha estate, and Byron was calling the older warriors to see if any would volunteer to assist.

Rheia stood and walked over to Anne, a cell phone to her ear as well. "Adam we have a situation where we could be facing a lot of casualties. Bring anything that isn't nailed down to the Alpha estate. Oh, by the way, we have another nurse now." She paused. "I don't want to hear you complaining about not having any supplies after the last battle. I don't care if you have to shit bandages, get out here on the double."

The committee members were staring at Rheia in shock. Rheia didn't even give them a second glance. "Anne, you're with me. We're setting up triage on the front lawn. Normally, I would have everyone sent to the clinic, but we're closer." Rheia left the room yelling for Ryuu. Ryuu appeared and she began giving him a list of hot beverages and blankets she would need to help treat shock victims.

Elizabeth was on the phone with her uncle, asking that he send any spare medical supplies via portal to the Lycaonia clinic, the sooner the better.

Anne watched as Amelia coordinated with Kendrick and Sascha to use her magic to level the ground making it easier to care for the wounded. Meryn was on a handheld walkie-talkie talking with unit warriors. "I miss you, too, Adonis. After this is all over, you have to swing by to meet my new peep, over and out."

Anne blinked. "Who is Adonis? Sounds sexy," she teased. Meryn grinned, and before Anne knew it, Aiden and Kendrick were heading in their direction.

Aiden growled at Meryn and nipped her neck, and Kendrick scowled at her. "Never mind any Adonis." He looked out the window. "I'm going out with the men to try and minimize the number of casualties, but it will be difficult doing this in the dark. I need to be able to see to cast. Unfortunately, my form of light is fire, so unless we want to burn the forest down, I'll be relying on flood lights from the warriors."

Colton clapped him on the back. "Not as easy as you thought, is it?"

Kendrick shook his head. "No, but I'll do whatever I can to keep you all safe."

Colton didn't say anything, just clapped him on the back again, and walked to Aiden.