The safe house was quiet when the message arrived.
Vance was in the command center, reviewing intelligence reports from the Sentinel Network's European division. The remnants of the Collective were scattered, leaderless, broken. But there were still threats out there. There were always threats.
His phone buzzed. Unknown number. Encrypted.
He answered. "Yeah."
"Mr. Cole." The voice was female, cold, professional. "I have information you need."
"Who is this?"
"My name is Jinx. I'm a former operative of the Phoenix. I worked directly under your father."
Vance's blood went cold. "My father is dead."
"I know. And I'm sorry. He was a good man. Complicated, but good."
"Why are you contacting me?"
"Because there's a new threat. Something even more dangerous than the Collective. Something
