Chapter 336

XENOIS I was in the middle of coordinating with Thorne about equipment needs when my phone rang. Zade's name flashed on the screen, and I answered immediately. "What's the update?" I asked. "We have Shawn secured and he's been debriefed," Zade said. "But instead of driving another three hours to your territory, I was thinking we could use Lake's portal abilities. Think he could handle opening a gateway for six people plus supplies?" I glanced toward the living room where I could hear the kids setting up their makeshift command center. "Let me ask him." I found Lake arranging laptops and tablets on the coffee table with the careful precision of someone who needed everything to be perfect. Riley was testing communication equipment while Ollie organized maps and reference materials. "Lake," I called. "Can you open a portal large enough for Zade's team to come through? Six people plus equipment?" Lake's eyes lit up with the eager determination I'd come to recognize. "Where are they?" I rel