Hines sidestepped the desk and drew his Colt .45 as the prisoner charged him.

  Don’t get close to him, sir, Collins said. I think he’s a changeling.

  “Shit!” a soldier yelled. He aimed and fired. The shot pinged and ricocheted into a wall.

  “Hold your fire, corporal,” Collins said. “I’ll handle this.” He turned to face the changeling.

  The big man stumbled, then screamed and held his head as he hit the floor. He transformed from a soft, pudgy man into a giant with rippling muscles; his features melted away, revealing an entirely different face.

  Hines recognized him from reports sent over by DSSA. His blood went cold. All rogue afflicted were dangerous, but this one—Reginald Unglesby—was among the worst. And if this was Unglesby, then the other one must be ... Oh, hell, Hines thought. Ezekiel Daniels.

  Collins turned to Daniels. The teke fell backwards and slumped down the wall.

  “I’ve got them, sir,” Collins said. “But there’s … gagghhhhh!” He dropped to his knees. “Mentalist! Sir ... she’s strong … I … I can’t deal with all three …”

  “Just hold her off,” Hines said, “I’ll take care of these two.”

  He stepped around the desk and aimed his pistol at the dazed changeling’s head. Unglesby looked up at him, eyes red and brimming with moisture.

  Hines pulled the trigger seven times. Unglesby’s face flashed silver, and the sound of ricochets filled the air. A bullet whizzed by Hines’ face.

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  He stepped back and reloaded as Unglesby climbed to his feet. He kicked his chair between them, but it didn’t slow the big man down. Hines swung his pistol around and aimed, but Unglesby grabbed his wrist.

  Hines felt like a child in the changeling’s grip. They lurched backwards and slammed into the desk. Pain exploded in Hines’ back. A framed photo fell to the floor and shattered.

  The soldiers had their weapons trained, but they couldn’t get a clean shot at the changeling. Hines tried to use the desk as leverage to push the man off him, but his legs weren’t working right.

  “No!” Unglesby screamed. “Get out of my head, you bitch! I won’t kill him.”

  “It doesn’t have … to be this way, son,” Hines said. His vision was going grey. “I can help you.”

  Unglesby snarled and slammed him against the desk. Tears streamed down the changeling’s face.

  “Collins,” Hines said. He drew in a ragged wheezing breath. “I’m in trouble here.”

  There was no answer. Hines felt a sharp blow to his side. Pain exploded through him, but he pushed it aside and jammed his pistol against Unglesby’s stomach.

  “I’m sorry ... son,” Hines said. He tried to pull the trigger, but his fingers wouldn’t respond.

  “No, sir.” Unglesby’s voice was choked. “I’m the one who’s sorry.”

  Hines fell to the floor. Blood pooled around the picture frame and covered the face of a little girl.

  “Kathleen …” Hines whispered.

  Darkness took him.

  Ruddy let his knife hand resume its natural shape and looked up. For a second, all four soldiers stood staring at him in stunned silence.

  “Shit! He killed General Hines!”

  “Shoot him!”

  Ruddy turned silver and braced for impact, but nothing happened.

  Xeke pushed himself to his feet. Their guns don’t work anymore. We need to get moving.

  Xeke glanced at Collins, who lay on the floor with blood coming out of his ears. Amelia did a job on him, but I don’t imagine he was the only talent on the base.

  Ruddy didn’t move. I had to, he said. Teri would be dead right now if... He stared at Hines’ eviscerated body. I had to do it, Xeke.

  A soldier launched himself at Ruddy, but froze in mid-air. His legs kicked as he floated.

  You had no choice, brother, Xeke said. None.

  “No choice,” Ruddy said. He tore his eyes away from Hines’s corpse.

  Xeke put his hand on Ruddy’s shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get out of here.”