The backers had searched their territories, hoping to control the final location, but Milliner’s military contacts proved most valuable. He learned of an army hospital that would soon be decommissioned on the outskirts of Aurora, Colorado. Though larger than the project required, the hospital had far more advantages than drawbacks, so Milliner moved ahead with the negotiation. The backers were in the process of retrofitting the hospital with modern surveillance and security when Therians attacked the mountain complex, forcing the consolidation to take place several months ahead of schedule.
Zophiel had been curious to see the central location ever since she learned about it from Roberto. She also needed to speak with Tias. Might as well kill two birds with one stone.
Cloaked in invisibility, she jumped off the balcony and unfurled her wings. The air was cool despite the bright sunshine. She soared across the sky, focused on her destination rather than the scenery below. Denver became a blur of cluttered high-rises and reddish-brown rooftops as she headed southeast toward the backers’ headquarters.
The hospital easily dominated its surroundings. The main building was six stories high while matching wings only had four floors. There were two sublevels, which had undergone significant changes since the backers took over the property.
Roberto’s mind had been filled with plans and computer mock-ups. Apparently he’d only actually been inside the hospital a few times before Zophiel took control of him. Still, if his information was accurate, Zophiel was in for a treat.
She glided to a stop on the front lawn not far from the entrance. Judging from the vehicles in the main lot, there were forty or fifty employees inside. She had no idea how many “test subjects” were being held captive but she was about to find out.
Humans couldn’t detect her as long as she was shielded and Therians tended to shrug it off even if they did sense her lurking about. She could move soundlessly and remain invisible but she couldn’t pass through walls or teleport. Guards were posted at the entrance and surveillance cameras were everywhere, so she needed someone to open the door and let her in.
She didn’t have long to wait. A man in a dress shirt and pants with the jacket folded over his arm walked briskly toward the exit. He waved at the guards as he passed but didn’t let them distract him from the conversation he was having on his cell phone. He shoved the door open and departed. Zophiel ducked through the opening before the door swung shut and then hurried across the wide lobby.
According to Roberto’s information, only the first two levels were in use. The rest of the building had been cordoned off and several sections had been completely sealed. She found a stairwell away from prying eyes and jogged up to the second floor. There was no way to avoid creating anomalies on the surveillance cameras, but lesser used areas tended to be ignored by security.
Drawn by voices and light, she easily located two large laboratories. The workers on one side of the hall wore protective clothing, gloves and masks, while the workers on the other side were dressed casually. Zophiel didn’t know enough about microbiology to even guess what they were doing. The corridor looped around and brought her up on the other side of the casual laboratory. Apparently there were no patients on this floor.
The first floor seemed almost deserted. One end looked clean and orderly, the beds freshly made, but no one occupied any of the rooms. Zophiel was about to give up and explore the sublevels when she heard the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment. Checking her reflection, or lack thereof, on the glass covering a picture, she made sure her shields were effective before approaching the ward. Two workers sat behind the central desk—likely a nurses’ station. One was male, one female. The female was entering information into a tablet computer and the male had a rifle resting across his knees. They only had four patients and all four were unconscious, two hooked up to respirators.
Well, this is gloomy as hell. Zophiel looked in each room to make sure she wasn’t missing anything important then she found a secluded stairway and went to sublevel one. She walked down a utilitarian corridor and emerged into a large room. Walls had been partially removed, exposing support beams while creating one massive open space and then the space had been filled with cages. Rows and rows of cages.
Growls and feline cries sent shivers down her spine. She’d known the backers had created a private Therian zoo, but even her twisted imagination hadn’t pictured…this. Arranged from youngest to oldest, each cage contained a litter of Therian captives in their animal form. The youngest were cougars and appeared to be about three months old. The majority of the cages contained cats, but there was a small section of wolves and even three bear cubs. Nine guards patrolled the area, walking up and down the aisles in perpetual motion.