I shine my flashlight onto the concrete floor, trying not to create much light. I'm not afraid, however, I'm wary of the consequences that might be inflicted upon us if we are caught. Lachlan, Lark, Flame, and I volunteered to steal from the factory the Secundus uniforms are manufactured and have split up, looking for different parts of the uniforms. After realizing we needed to break into Secundus to release the video we formed a plan to blend in as city workers and use a computer within their Center to broadcast the video.

There are boxes stacked on high shelves, accompanies by an occasional forklift wedged between those shelves. The sound of our footsteps slapping on the concrete flooring rings through the large building, giving each other a fair bet of where one another is.

I hear footsteps ahead and see Lachlan stopping to rummage through a box ahead. He spots me and gives me a small smile. He walks in the direction I had just come from, stopping to kiss my forehead, and leaving it at that. I grab his shoulder as he tries to step away. He doesn't fight me as I pull him closer to my body, pressing our lips together. He lets our lips linger together, resting his hands on my cheeks.

"I thought you said you didn't want to do that," I whisper, looking up at his handsome face in confusion.

"It's different now. This is a suicide mission. And I'll make damn sure I'm the first to go. I have no reason to hold back," he responds with a shrug. He looks me in the eyes as he pulls away, kisses my brow again, then moves ahead as he planned before. That was our first kiss since I became EcoPan. That simple sign of affection assures me I can get through all of this. I really didn't need much more.

~~~

The next morning we woke up early to get dressed in our uniforms and go over the plan again. The uniform is a long sleeve shirt tucked into thick pants, filled with many pockets, with an addition of a belt. The uniforms are the color of a dark blue, looking flattering with my almost black hair that I tie in a braid.

When I step into the motel hallway I am met with my friends wearing the same uniform. Ash and everyone else with lenses wear reflective glasses to hide their first child eyes. It feels so strange for the roles to be reversed and them hiding their eyes in fear of repercussions. I don't like being the one who feels safe.

It takes us all day to walk from the outer circles to the center and the artificial hot air has started to cool. We manage to get across town without too many suspicious glares and wind up standing behind a building across the street from the center, pretending to be on a late lunch break.

"They should be getting off of work around this time. Let's take a walk until its safe," Lachlan suggests. After another half hour of walking and trying to avoid attention, the building is finally safe to enter out of a back entrance. We walk dutifully and pridefully through the halls, trying to find a room with a computer. Theoretically, Flame should be able to use any of these computers. We past doors until we finally find an empty office. We pile in as Flame wastes no time.

She takes the laptop she has from Eden and plugs it into the computer. We stand in silence as Flame hacks past the password, knowing better than to disturb her. After a few tense minutes the video of me is broadcasting on screen and I can hear the echos of other computers showing the video as well. My stomach drops realizing all of Secundus is seeing this video right now. Moreso, my heart aches realizing the mission is complete, and it's time for me to return to my rightful place as the EcoPan.

"All done?" Ash asks and Flame nods, looking at me with an eyebrow slightly raised.

"Satisfied Miss EcoPan?" Flame asks and I don't reply. I can practically feel Yarrow roll her eyes as she mumbles, that nickname better not stick.

"Let's get out of here and back to Harmonia," I say, looking out of the door and into the hallway.

"You!" a voice calls. "What the bik is this? Do you find this funny?" It's a short bald man, looking feeble and unintimidating as he recognizes me immediately. Before I can close the door behind me to hide the others, he's wedged the door open and looks in horror at their unfamiliar faces. "You're in big trouble. None of you are allowed to be here. Security!" Before he can say another word Lachlan has taken the man by the shoulders and throws his head into the desk, knocking him unconscious.

"Go!" Lachlan hisses when I look at him. We race down the hallway but it's too late. Security guards are chasing after us and catch Ash first, then Flame. Angel and Lark instinctually turn around to help. I see Lachlan reach for his gun then hesitate. I don't think he has ever shot another second child before. We're being attacked by our own. Ash's sunglasses get knocked off in the struggle and I gasp as the guard kicks him in the gut.

"It's a first child...should have known. Look at this one! One of her phony contacts fell out. It's a bunch of first children!" The guard calls to the others as we're detained. They think we're all first children and we could all be hung like that man from my dream, which was really a glimpse at Secundus. I spare a moment to look at Lachlan. It's the same look as when greenshirts were flooding in the crystal cavern. Our fate at this moment is sealed...and we have no choice but to face our enemy.

~~~