“Omega will try anything,” Uriah points out.

“Where will the negotiations be?” I ask. “Because if Omega finds out, they could just send another cruise missile to wipe out all of the representatives from the Alliance.”

“The Naval Post Graduate School,” Chris answers. “It will be safe, trust me.”

I trust Chris. But I don’t discount Omega’s ability to screw everything up.

“How will I get there?” I press.

“By train.”

“We have a railroad?”

“It’s safer than traveling by plane right now, with Omega’s air activity getting more dangerous,” Andrew says. “We can get you there with a security detail in less than two days. You’ll be there in time for the meeting.”

Surprisingly, knowing that I am being sent on a desperate mission to save California from the devastation of Omega’s invasion doesn’t frighten me. I am no longer afraid. I am simply angry that Omega has managed to do this much damage, and I am ready to help put a final stop to it.

“You mentioned a security detail,” I say.

“Yes. When Omega finds out that we’re joining the Alliance — if they haven’t found out already — they may attempt to stop the Negotiations,” Robert answers. “And they will do that in any way they can.”

By killing the representative: Me.

“Has anyone here given any thought to the fact that there’s another traitor amongst us?” Manny interjects. “Have you told everyone what you found, Colonel Rivera?

The Colonel takes his cigar out of his mouth.

“Optics. Laser optics on the roof of a building a couple of blocks away from the Capitol,” he replies. “Someone was designating a laser at the dome.”

Ah. Manny was right.

“Are there any clues to the person’s identity?” Andrew asks.

“Nothing. Only whoever did it was most likely a good shot.” Colonel Rivera looks at me again. “You never know who you can trust in days like these.”

Please. I’m not the enemy here, Colonel.

“We’ve had traitors before,” I say, “and we’ll have them until this war is over. We have to move forward and make sure that something like this can never happen again. The first step in that strategy is getting me to Monterey so that I can negotiate with the Alliance.”

There is a pause before Chris replies,

“I agree. Our number one priority is taking care of the survivors from the bombing and getting Senator Hart to Monterey.”

“The Senator will need to leave immediately,” Robert says.

“I’m ready to go,” I answer.

“I volunteer for security detail for Senator Hart,” Andrew volunteers.

“So do I,” Uriah agrees.

“And I’ll fly overhead security,” Manny offers. “I’ll keep you updated while you’re on board the train.”

“Thank you,” I smile.

“I’ll accompany the Senator,” Chris says. “The Naval Academy and I go back a long way. I’ll be able to help.”

Robert replies, “It will be dangerous for both of you to go. You’ll make for a bigger target.”

“It’s a necessary risk,” Chris says. “I know Monterey better than anyone here.”

Robert seems to accept this. “Get the security detail ready,” he answers. “Tell the National Guard to fire up the railroad. We’ve got two days to get to Monterey Bay. And God willing, we will successfully join the Alliance before it’s too late.”

Before Omega destroys us all.

When I was a child, I rode on a train at a theme park. I don’t remember the name of the park or how old I was. I just remember the train, and I remember sitting in my father’s lap as the wind tossed my hair and billows of smoke from the locomotive filled the sky.

It was magical, riding a train. It’s a memory that is ingrained in my heart. One of the few happy moments in my life before the EMP. Before everything was destroyed.

I’m standing at the window in my hotel room, overlooking the street below. The National Guard is getting the train ready — the train that will take me to Monterey Bay… and to the Alliance’s negotiation table. I’m not sure I’m cut out for this kind of thing. I’m beginning to wish that I hadn’t been nominated as a Senator.

I turn away from the window and sit down at the table. There is an old tourist booklet near the lamp. I flip it open and look through the pictures. Bright, colored photographs of families enjoying “quality time” together as they visit the city. Old Town Sacramento, Capitol Mall, The Stanford Mansion, The Governor’s Mansion… such beautiful places. And, for the time being, we have managed to preserve the city. Unlike Los Angeles, which is an empty husk — the aftereffect of a chemical weapon Omega unleashed on the populace.

I close the book.

There is an abrupt knock on the hotel door. I straighten my spine and stand up, snapping out of my reverie. I open the door. And there is Sophia. She looks uncomfortable. I am surprised — I had no idea that she was working with our militia again. When did this happen?

“Cassidy,” she says. “They’re ready for you.”

I nod slowly.

“Okay,” I reply. I grab my backpack and leave the room. I don’t look back.

Goodbye, Sacramento. Hello, Alliance.

I close the door. Sophia is standing there, tense, and I wonder why they sent her to fetch me. Surely that could have found someone else.

“Cassidy,” she says.

I meet her gaze. The hallway is quiet, empty.

“I…” she begins, then trails off. “Come on.”

“Sophia, we need to talk about this,” I say.

“There’s nothing to talk about.” She pushes the call button for the elevator. “What happened, happened. We can’t change that now.”

“I just want us to be friends again.” I offer a hopeful smile.

The elevator doors slide open, and Sophia steps inside. I do, too. The doors close, and there is a heavy silence between us. She never responds, she just stares at the wall. She moves her lips a couple of times, like she’s thinking about speaking — but she doesn’t. The elevator doors open.

“Commander Young and your security detail is waiting for you at the station,” she says. “There will be a convoy to take you there, and from that point, you’re under the protection of the militias.”

I tap the gun holstered on my hip.

We reach the bottom floor.

The doors open once again.

She nods and takes off into the lobby. I shake my head and wonder how in the world things could have gotten so messed up with Sophia. My friend. My partner.

I guess people can only take so much tragedy. Sophia’s family was living in New York at the time of the EMP, and they were killed when the city was nuked. Sophia fell in love with Alexander Ramos, who went MIA. She also loved Jeff Young — Chris’s younger brother — and he was killed in action. Sophia has had her fair share of disappointment and despair.

So have I.

Maybe I just handle it differently. I haven’t gotten to the point of no return.

Yet.

I step outside into the loading area. There are Humvees and up-armored Suburbans here. I see Vera Wright, platinum blonde hair pulled into a tight ponytail. She is waiting by an idling Humvee. I approach her, the roar of engines and chatter among the troops creating a curtain of noise.

“Vera,” I say. “I’m sorry about your mother.”

She stares at me, blue eyes vacant.

“Welcome to war,” she states coldly.

“I was with her when she died,” I continue. “She told me to tell you that she was sorry.”

Vera looks surprised — but only for a moment. She sets her jaw and opens the car door. “Everyone’s waiting for you at the station,” she says.

I exhale. Vera and I have never been friends, but the pain of losing someone that you love is not to be taken lightly. I don’t necessarily like Vera… but I understand what she is going through. It is the same thing that I went through when I saw Jeff Young die. I get a flash of my father’s face in the Capitol Building, just before it collapsed. I shudder, feeling sick. Feeling suffocated.