Cipher Code {complete}

Chapter Twenty Six: Time •New•

"Time travel." Rhea Lee finally understood what Dawn had implied, even though not fully. "You're saying that we talked to Philip then travelled back in time to when we hadn't. But that's impossible."

"None of us have Enhancements related to time." Roger added.

"But maybe he does." Dawn said. She stared at the image of a golden eyes beast in from of her and drummed her fingers on the table. "Maybe he sent us back in time."

"Why would he do that?" Rhea Lee asked then closed her eyes. She entered the Chain and did a quick scan of Philip's records. "He doesn't have an Enhancement."

"This couldn't have happened without a time Enhancement." Roger said and sank to the floor cross-legged. "The number of people know to be able to control time can be counted on one hand. I don't think any of them were interested in giving us an extra thirty minutes of life."

"If there are no records of Philip's Enhancements then there is a chance he doesn't know about it himself." Dawn zoomed in on the golden eyes of a python then watched it explode into red slush. "There could be spatial anomalies throughout his memories that he wouldn't notice. He could be in control of time at any moment and that would be a normal occurrence to him."

"Are you saying that he awakened his Enhancement naturally?" Rhea Lee thought out loud. "Without the awakening ceremony it's near impossible and he didn't have one."

"Do you think it had something to do with the fog?" Roger asked.

"It could have been there all along," she answered and pointed a manicured finger at the memories playing. "We only discovered this by accident, more tests would be needed to know whether his awakening was catalyzed by the fog."

"Is the reason you're so adamant on him joining the Cipher Squad?" The question was now directed at Dawn. "He's quite a fascinating subject."

Dawn turned in her chair and shot her sister a glare. "I am not giving him to you."

"I wasn't asking."

"Good."

"Why did you tell him about the capital?" Roger asked. "We're not even sure about what is happening there."

"Isn't it obvious?" Rhea Lee crossed her legs and clasped her hands above her knees. "Sister dearest was testing him, and his loyalties."

"You think he is connected to the attack?"

"I don't know what to think anymore." Dawn shut off the holoscreen. "Corey falling ill, Nicia getting wiped out and Auro being attacked out of the blue. These all have to be connected, don't they?"

Rhea Lee's expression dimmed at the thought of what had happened to Auro. "The capital couldn't be evacuated to the underground city in time. There were casualties. . . too many."

"You could have helped," Dawn said. "But you were here sipping champaign while cuddling with your sweetheart."

The doctor shot her sister a look filled with venom. "Don't talk about things you don't understand. There was nothing I could do."

"Literally anything could have helped more, Lee."

"Dawn, don't let me-"

"Soldiers are reinforcing the city as we speak," Roger piped up and forcefully raised his voice, trying to lighten the mood and change the subject. "We'll win."

"How can we win when we don't even know what is attacking?" Rhea Lee snapped.

"Being negative about it doesn't help."

"Neither does being blindly optimistic. North is braeking blasted and you know it."

"Both of you stop." Dawn shouted. "Arguing definitely won't help anything."

"Sorry boss," Roger said while Rhea Lee rolled her eyes.

"Hypocrite," she said and turned her attention back to her nails.

"We need to get to Mount Roya before Corey overtasks himself and gets worse." Dawn said and got up. "We can discuss the capital later. North is earth's strongest nation, we won't fall so easily. Even if our enemies are invisible."

"How about Elton?" Rhea Lee asked, knowing that that he was the source of Dawn's renewed confidence. "Do you really think Philip find him? I may not know about the history between you two, but I know he left for a reason. Maybe he doesn't want to be found, and what then? We're blasted."

"Rhea Lee." Roger hissed her name, his gaze resting on Dawn. "Stop talking."

Dawn looked down at her hands then balled them into fists before answering her sister. "We can still survive without him. Our problem will just need a little more sacrifices to get solved."

Roger got up and walked to her. "The shuttles to North from here are down. If we have to get there fast, we'll need to use the trains."

Dawn flashed him a smile, glad that he hadn't tried to console her. "We'll set out as soon as possible."

"We need to bring Sebastian along." Rhea Lee blurted out and jumped to her feet.

"He's an ambassador from East," she said, in an effort to persuade them. "We can't just leave him here."

"Next to Auro and Mount Roya, the New Order residence is the most fortified section of North." Dawn said and walked to the door of the bedroom with Greeley in tow. "He'll be safer here."

"If he can't go, then I won't either," Rhea Lee stated with the petulance of someone in their fourth quarter.

Dawn's hand stayed on the door handle as she considered it. She and Greeley couldn't journey to North without appropriate protected. Rhea Lee had the most power, without her the strength of their group would be reduced significantly.

"Fine," the professor relented, albeit reluctantly.

"Where's the pretty boy?" She pulled open the door and was faced with the stunned expression of Sebastian.

"Hi," he greeted awkwardly and let the hand that was about to knock against Dawn's face drop.

You've got to be kidding me. Dawn made her way past him. With a scowl on her lips, she turned to her sister. "Get packed, we'll leave in five minutes."