"I know." Toven regarded him with a small smile playing on his lips. "But you can't count only on the exoskeletons to give you an edge. You need more Guardians, and there are no more to be had. You have no choice. Be thankful that the option even exists."
"I know." He let out a breath. "And I am."
The problem was that the Odus wouldn't be ready anytime soon. They didn't even have a working prototype yet.
The only way to stop the enhancement program from expanding was to extract Dr. Zhao from the island, alive or dead, and destroy the laboratory, but assaulting the Brotherhood's island stronghold would be suicide.
Besides, Zhao wasn't the only scientist in the world who could manufacture those kinds of drugs, so even if he were eliminated, Navuh would get someone else to take his place.
All that remained for Kian to do was beseech the Fates and hope for the best.
That wasn't a strategy, though.
When he and Toven joined Anandur and Brundar in the SUV, Kian's phone buzzed with a text message, and as he pulled it out of his pocket, he smiled when he saw it was from Syssi.
Allegra is asking when Daddy's coming home. She won't have dinner without you.
Such a simple message, but it grounded him. This was why they fought—for the chance to have everyday moments, family dinners, and children who could ask innocent questions without knowing how close they'd come to losing everything.
He texted back;I'm on my way.
