Hero Reborn (Keepers of Justice, Book 3) by Dee J. Stone Page B

to the floor. We copy him, but see nothing. Except for X. “Clones,” he says.
    Samson smiles. “ Yes. We outsmarted her.” His grin widens a little. “We were prepared for the possibility of Vlayne finding a way to kidnap Brain and the others. That’s why we set up decoys. The scientists Vlayne has are clones. These clones have no knowledge of the formula. They can’t create it for her. The real scientists have been working on the antidote in the basement of this building.”
    “ Won’t she find out?”
    “ Not for a while. Our plan is to synthesize the antidote and present it to the humans before Vlayne learns her scientists are fake. We’ve succeeded in creating it. But...we’ve run into an issue. The humans refuse to accept the antidote.”
    “ Because they don’t trust us,” X says.
    “No. We’ve tried force-injecting them. But the humans won’t take it.”
    “What do you mean they won’t take it?” Kale asks.
    Samson holds out his hands helplessly. “They just won’t take it. We’re investigating why.” He turns to Kale. “Rescuing Lindsay is our top priority, but so is saving the humans.”
    “Does that mean we’re not going after the Blades?” Kale asks.
    “No, we will, but it’ll take a little while. We need a big army, with lots of people with abilities. The ten of us here can’t battle the ShadowBlades alone.”
    Kale nods. “Okay. So who are you going to get for your army?”
    “We have many agents, acquaintances, and consultants willing to help us. I’ll have to contact them and ask if they’re willing to take on the ShadowBlades. In the meantime, my focus needs to be on the humans as well. But we will go after the Blades. I promise you that. When we’re ready.” He eyes us. “I need you to give me your word that you won’t go after them alone.”
    We look at each other sheepishly. “Sure, Dad,” Kale says. “Gathering a huge army is a better idea than we had. But who are these people? Do you trust them?”
    “Yes.”
    “But how can you trust anyone now?” Kale demands. “How are you so sure they won’t rat you out? And how safe is it to contact them?”
    “These people are trustworthy,” Samson says. “We’re careful when we meet.”
    Kale’s eyebrows furrow. “You really trust them?
    “ I do.”
    “Okay, I guess.”
    It’s quiet.
    “I don’t get why Vlayne tried to lure us to her location,” I say.
    “For leverage,” Samson explains. “ With most of our League mates captured by the government, we don’t have an army. It’s the perfect opportunity for her to kill me and Cindy. She was planning to use Kale to get to us, just as she had done four months ago. She most probably suspects we have the formula but not the antidote, because we haven’t immunized the human population yet. She wants to stop us from finding other scientists.”
    “What if she’s still in my head and tracking us right now?” Kale asks. “I don’t sense her, but…”
    Samson shakes his head. “Scar assured me that she was only inside during that brief moment when you were connected to him and your telepathic walls were weak. They are back up now and she can no longer access your mind.”
    Kale sighs in relief.
    X crosses his arms. “Well, Vlayne got what she wanted, didn’t she? The humans aren’t taking the cure.”
    Samson’s eyebrows are scrunched. “Speed is working with the scientists to mass produce the antidote s quickly enough to make it available to the entire world. But it won’t do any good if the humans refuse to accept it. We need to try again. Perhaps test it on other humans.”
    “What do you mean other humans?” Kale asks. “Who have you tested it on?”
    He looks around, like making sure no one’s eavesdropping. He leans forward. “What I’m about to tell you is strictly confidential. Not a word of this leaves this room. Do you understand?”
    We nod.

Chapter Fifteen
     
    Samson leans back. He opens his mouth, when there’s a knock on the