Fresco woke briefly in the back of the van. His mind panicked, his body unable to react. It was happening all over again and like last time, despite what he learned, despite what he could do, Fresco was just as helpless.

Gina sat next to him. The two others were strangers. A part of him was relieved Strom wasn't there.

"Not this time," she said, a syringe in her hand. She tapped the side of it with her finger, a small spurt of liquid jumping from the needle. "I wanted ...