Dreg stood on one of the large training mats in the training room with Jada. Orik was with them, watching as they sparred. He didn't like that Dreg was so close to his mate. After what had happened to Dreg's family, Orik didn't trust that Dreg wouldn't become angry about her not being able to save his family, feeling like he could snap at her at any moment.

At the moment, they were training on a mat in hand-to-hand combat. It turned out that the Kreq were well-trained. They just didn't know it until they allowed their instinct to take over. It seemed that the serum prevented them from using their instincts as well.

They had learned that the soldiers were in an 'old school' zombie-type state nearly all of the time. It was nothing like the zombies that were created by infecting them with the serum.

They obeyed orders and nothing more. When they didn't, they were always fearful of their leader. It was conditioned into them. It was part of how Commander Grev maintained control of his soldiers.

Dreg went flying through the air, landing on his back on the mat. Orik chuckled. Jada had superhuman strength and speed. This was the fifth time she had thrown him to the mat. They had just started training. They had only been going at it for about ten minutes. If this kept up, he wouldn't be able to walk without a healer getting involved.

Dreg groaned and picked himself up off the mat, sighing deeply. "How do you do that?" he growled, in frustration. He had never met a female so powerful. He was used to all females cowering to all males, even if the male did nothing to provoke their fear.

Jada smiled. "I cheat." She cracked her knuckles, stepping back into another fighting stance, ready to go again. She wasn't even giving him a chance to fight back.

Orick laughed outright as Dreg groaned again, preparing to face off with her again. He could tell he was going to end up on his back on the mat again. She was far too strong for him to spar with.

"How do you cheat?" he asked sarcastically. He couldn't figure out how she cheated. He felt like he wasn't fast enough, nor did he hit hard enough. He was already getting frustrated. Nothing he did worked. He just kept ending up flat on his back on the training mat, gasping for air with a sore back.

Jada started laughing. "I have skills that most don't. I like to call them superpowers. I'm a half-zombie." They had told the scouts about the effects of the serum on humans and how they found to drain it from their bloodstream to cure them of the toxin.

Dreg's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "How can you be half a zombie?" Confusion washed through his features. From what he had heard in the short time he had been in the dome, you were either one or you weren't. It didn't make sense to him.

They prepared to spar yet again on the mat. Jada leaned forward, preparing to attack, while Dreg prepared to defend himself. "The serum didn't affect me like it did everyone else. I'm both immune and not. It changed me." She said as she attacked.

Dreg went flying through the air again, falling roughly on the floor yet again, not expecting it. Jada was still saying the last few words of her sentence to him when she attacked, not giving him time to defend himself.

He stared at the ceiling from his back on the mat, breathing heavily. "Can't you slow down a little? I need to learn to spar. I can't spar if you cheat like that," he complained. He was tired of being sent to the mat before he could even attack. It was all one-sided.

Orik chuckled further, trying not to laugh too loudly.

Jada stuck her hand out to help Dreg up. He took it, letting her pull him upright. "Thanks," he mumbled, rubbing his back. It was getting sore from falling repeatedly on the mat.

The door to the training room slid open, and Council Leader Vorik stepped in. He had Pilot Merrick and Co-pilot Rask with him. He stopped and scanned the room. When he saw Jada, Orik, and Dreg, he walked toward them.

Orik gave the gesture of respect, then slid one arm around Jada's waist.

Council Leader Vorik nodded, acknowledging Orik's gesture. "We need to speak," Vorik told them. "All has been quiet, and we don't know what Commander Grev is planning. It's too quiet. I think we need to prepare for an attack. We constantly scan the area around all the domes with our scanners, yet we find nothing. We do not believe he has sent any more scouts. It's too quiet. He could be planning something big," Vorik stated.

"I want to be there," Dreg stated, stepping forward. "I want to be a part of it."

Council Leader Vorik nodded. "You have that right. Commander Grev killed your family. You deserve to be a part of it."

Jada, Orik, and Dreg followed Council Leader Vorik, Merrick, and Rask into the council chamber, sitting down at the long table, ready to discuss the plans.

Council Leader Vorik thought about the situation for a long time before scanning all those in the room. The door slid open, and Nevle and Krem walked in. They had been invited to the meeting as well.

They sat down at the table and looked around, waiting for the meeting to start.

"Where is your mate?" Dreg asked Nevle. He sounded like he really wanted to know.

"Mia didn't want to come," Nevle told him. He left out where she was exactly. There was only one place she could be, but Dreg didn't know that. She was with Renn and Renk. She felt safe with Renn.

Dreg shrugged, then turned to Vorik to listen.

Council Leader Vorik studied the group. "We need to find out what Commander Grev is up to. It's far too quiet. I don't trust him."

Dreg spoke up. "He could be killing all our families right now. We need to attack him."

Krem growled, making everyone look his way. His eyes were narrowed in anger at Dreg. "If we attack a disk, everyone is as good as dead. If we want to save them, we have to find another way."

Dreg's face paled. He nodded in agreement and then stared at the table in front of him to let everyone else speak.

Jada stared at Dreg, sniffing the air. "I think we should have Mia brought in here with Renn and Renk. I think it's important that they're here," she told Council Leader Vorik. "Besides, I feel calm when they do that soul-mingling thing. I need a very strong dose of calm."

Council Leader Vorik studied her. She lifted a brow in challenge. It took several minutes before he spoke. "You are correct. I believe it would be a good idea."

Vorik got up. "Wait here," he told them, exiting the room.

Jada took out her bladed, short-staff and caressed the end. She loved her weapon. Everyone knew it.

Nearly ten minutes later, the door to the council chamber slid open, and Council Leader Vorik walked in with Mia. Behind them were Renn and Rink, hand in hand.

Mia went straight to her mate and, without saying anything, began the process of soul-mingling. She and Nevle were taking much longer than was normal. Renn sat down next to Renk; they did the same. As the two bonded pairs did their thing, energy shot through the room. Jada smiled. "I feel much calmer now. Mostly," she added, looking at Vorik. "It's stubborn. It will not go away."

Council Leader Vorik frowned. "I think we need to make plans and watch for any new developments," he told Jada. This made Orik frown. He pulled Jada into his lap, which, in his opinion, was where she belonged.

Once it was all settled, they had planned to send a ship toward the disks, cloaked and undetectable. He needed a spy, but he didn't want to risk any of his people or any of the scouts. It would put them in danger if they were sent back. Both the scout and their families would die.

Dreg followed the others out, then headed home. Soon after, Ren and Renk left the council chamber and headed toward their home. Krem followed Mia and Nevle. The only ones that hadn't left were Vorik, Orik, and Jada.

Jada, still holding her weapon, a habit that made all the Ramesian guards nervous when she was near Vorik, turned to Vorik and smiled. "Thanks for trusting me," she said happily. "I think you should trust me more and follow me before it's too late."

Council Leader Vorik looked between Jada and Orik. Orik shrugged, sighing deeply, and then nodded. Vorik, sighing and shaking his head, followed as she walked quickly down one of the sidewalks that led closer to the center of the dome.

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