Chapter 26: Discipline

With a questioning silence, John turned to face Marie. Her eyes met his, unwavering. "We'll do it," she firmly said. John had a twinge of panic mixed with a wave of thankfulness. Though he respected Marie's bravery, he also didn't want to endanger her. With an almost audible whisper, he questioned, "Are you sure?" Marie gave him a tight squeeze. John, we must do this. In unison." With a nod, Dr. Petrova expressed her acceptance. "The two of you are the most capable of doing this task. John, your familiarity with the layout of the city will come in very handy. Marie, your technological know-how is just what we need." John studied the intricate schematics of the surrounding region and the abandoned substation for many hours. Dr. Petrova's team had equipped them with high-powered energy guns for close-quarters fighting, thermal camouflage outfits to blend into the darkness, and EMP bombs to neutralize any electronic threats. John and Marie stood ready for their mission as t