Seven military-grade vehicles waited in the parking lot of the Genetics Engineering Program.

  The exhaust from the trucks made me cough.

  I'd been here since "Zero Dark Thirty," the time Dr. Tate told me to arrive. Looking at my watch, I saw it had been thirty minutes since I'd gotten here.

  The driver propped himself over the back of his seat. "Should be leaving here in ten mikes."

  During the past few weeks since joining Dr. Tate's service, I'd been trying to learn military jargon. Luckily, I'd realized "mikes" referred to minutes. Even so, I was anxious to get the mission moving.

  My job was crucial. I had to prepare rge quantities of the antidote for travel back to our country. To make it more complicated, I wouldn't have much time to get it done and only a couple of men to assist me.

  The antidote was located in the outskirts of Belraithe, on a retired military compound that hadn't been occupied in years. Rumors had it that a rogue group from Strayerfield was pnning on retrieving the antidote for themselves.

  But it was just a rumor.

  Strayerfield had the st popution where civilians were still conceived naturally. They'd been studying the male reproductive organs believed to be responsible for the infertility inflicting our countries. Infertility was spreading to other areas of the world as well.

  Although I didn't know all the details, I was aware that politics and other controversies were putting Belraithe and Wintergate at risk. By helping us, they'd established treaties to see this mission through.

  Even with King Cremont and King Lucas sending their top military officials and Prince Andrik coming along, our safety today was not guaranteed.

  I stretched my arms over my head and cracked my fingers.

  It would be a day's drive before we would arrive there.

  Yesterday, before leaving for the day, Dr. Tate had said, "King Cremont and the advisors want the arrival and mission to take pce in the dark. They think the darkness will provide some protection."

  "You don't think it will help?" I had asked.

  "Well, I think they have enough safety precautions in pce. Once you all arrive, you will only have a certain amount of time before your presence is known. That's why we practiced the removal of the antidote so many times. Do your part and stay out of the way of the other guys," he'd said as he patted me on the back.

  My stomach flip-flopped now, even with all that reassurance. I didn't want to miss this opportunity.

  If we were successful, it would mean an end to this. Babies would be created outside of bs again. Girls and boys in equal numbers. No more unwanted boys in orphanages like where I grew up.

  No, I thought to myself. I wouldn't pass this up for anything.

  Up ahead, armed men dressed in bck were exiting the Genetics Engineering Program headquarters. They began filling the vehicles.

  One soldier climbed into the front seat of my truck. By the looks of him, he was well prepared for this. Muscles were prominent even through his shirt. He was about my age, with short hair. I recognized him, Rond. He was Prince Andrik's best friend.

  Rond said something quietly to the driver, who just nodded in response.

  No surprise, joining us was Andrik himself. Rond and Andrik did everything together, as far as I could remember. They were practically brothers.

  Andrik took the seat next to me.

  Smiling, he greeted me. "Hey, Nick."

  "Hey, man," I answered.

  Not many people called me Nick.

  It felt odd. I hadn't seen Andrik in years. But I had known him and his sister Pir well enough before. Though I was closer to Pir than to him.

  Once seated, Andrik set his weapons down and tapped the driver.

  The driver picked up his phone. "We are all set and ready to go."

  A voice, which I was certain belonged to King Cremont, answered, "Alright men, you are in the all clear."

  Just like that, all the vehicles took off. It was still very dark out. The town was clear, not a person awake. Heading west, we took one of the freeways. I was sure we were over the speed limit, averaging in the 90 mph range.

  We were the fourth car in the entourage.

  I realized that it was no coincidence I was pced with Andrik and Rond. King Cremont wanted this mission seen through, and he knew that his son would get it done. From what I'd heard, Andrik had been in the military academy for a few years now. His temper was probably one of the deciding factors for his dad to enroll him early on.

  I remembered, years ago, that Andrik would get violent when angry. It didn't happen often, but when it did... it took a lot for him to calm back down.

  Pir had told me once that their "father was not mindful of his children, especially Andrik."

  Unfortunately, I knew a lot of guys like that from the orphanage. Boys growing up with no fathers to teach them how to be men. Most ended up with drug problems or dead. That was one of the many reasons I was quick to leave this pce behind.

  Looking out the window, I wondered if coming back home was the right decision.