THE MACHINES BEEPED loudly and constantly inside the cell. Peter shifted his feet, coming to the realization that he hadn't had a restful sleep in almost two days. He should have felt exhausted, especially after the firefight not seven hours earlier. Instead, Peter had no trouble keeping his eyes open. The on-base holding cells were quiet but for the machines keeping Royce Collins alive.

A set of steel bars separated Peter and his former partner, who was strapped to the only ...