# Chapter: The Meeting

## Abandoned Metro Station - 5:47 AM

The old subway tunnels beneath downtown Michigan had been sealed for decades, their entrances hidden behind construction barriers and forgotten by most of the city's residents. But for those who knew how to look, certain access points remained open—perfect for meetings that couldn't happen anywhere the outside world might notice.

Grey descended the rusty maintenance ladder into darkness, his phone's flashlight cutting through the shadows as he made his way along the abandoned platform. The air smelled of stale water and decades of neglect, but he'd chosen this location precisely because it was one of the few places in the city that Dorian's network couldn't easily monitor.

"You're early," came a voice from the shadows near the far end of the platform.

Grey turned toward the sound and saw a figure emerging from what had once been a station entrance. Lucien Roth looked exactly as Grey remembered him—tall, impeccably dressed despite the circumstances, and carrying himself with the quiet confidence of someone accustomed to controlling situations from behind the scenes.

"Lucien," Grey said, extending his hand as the other man approached. "It's been too long."

"Not long enough, considering the circumstances," Lucien replied, accepting the handshake. "When I heard about Dorian's return, I hoped you'd have it handled before it reached this point."

"So did I," Grey admitted. "But that djinn changes everything. She can access memories directly, which means every conversation we've ever had in my office, every strategy session, every contingency plan—Dorian knows it all."

Lucien nodded grimly. "I've been tracking similar incidents across Europe and Asia. There are at least three other djinn that have been identified in the past six months, all working with supernatural factions pushing for public revelation. This isn't coincidence, Grey. This is coordination."

The implications hit Grey like a physical blow. If Dorian was part of a larger international movement, then stopping him might be impossible—and might not even be the right choice.

"What do you know about the other operations?" Grey asked.

"Enough to understand that we're fighting the last war while our opponents are already three moves ahead in the next one," Lucien said, pulling out a tablet and activating a secure display. "Look at this."

The screen showed a world map with various regions highlighted in different colors. Green areas indicated successful supernatural integration programs, yellow showed regions in active transition, and red marked areas of active resistance or conflict.

"Notice anything?" Lucien asked.

Grey studied the map, and the pattern became clear. "The green areas are outperforming the red ones economically, socially, and in terms of public safety metrics."

"Exactly. Countries that have embraced supernatural integration are seeing measurable improvements in disaster response, crime prevention, infrastructure development, and even healthcare outcomes. Meanwhile, regions maintaining strict secrecy are falling behind on multiple indicators."

Grey felt something cold settle in his stomach. "You're telling me that our approach isn't just morally questionable—it's actively harmful?"

"I'm telling you that the world is changing whether we participate in that change or not," Lucien replied. "The question is whether we adapt or get left behind."

-----

## USOV Headquarters - Communications Center

While Grey met with Lucien, the USOV communications center had become a hive of frantic activity. Banks of monitors showed news feeds from around the world, social media sentiment analysis, and real-time tracking of supernatural incidents across the state. The night shift had been joined by day staff arriving early, creating an atmosphere of controlled chaos.

Quinn stood at the center of it all, coordinating information flow and trying to maintain some semblance of operational security while their entire network crumbled around them. Her secure phone rang with yet another crisis report.

"Agent Quinn, this is Martinez from the White Hunters. We've got a situation developing in Grand Rapids. Three of our people have gone missing, and their last known location was near one of Dorian's recruitment centers."

"Missing how?" Quinn asked, pulling up a map of the area on her workstation.

"They were conducting surveillance on a suspected Grinning Dead safe house. They checked in at 0200 hours, then nothing. When our backup team arrived, they found the surveillance equipment intact and their vehicle undisturbed, but no sign of the agents themselves."

Quinn felt a chill run down her spine. "Any evidence of struggle?"

"None. It's like they just vanished voluntarily."

The word 'voluntarily' carried implications that Quinn didn't want to consider. If USOV agents were defecting to Dorian's side, then the situation was even worse than they'd realized.

"Martinez, I need you to pull all your people back to safe positions until we can assess the situation. No more surveillance operations until further notice."

"Quinn, with respect, if we're not monitoring their activities—"

"Then we're not giving them opportunities to turn our own people against us," Quinn interrupted. "Follow the order, Martinez."

She ended the call and immediately began composing a priority message to Grey, but before she could send it, another crisis demanded her attention.

-----

## The Diner - 6:15 AM

The conversation at the diner had evolved from philosophical debate to something approaching conspiracy as the four team members found themselves sketching out what their lives might look like in Dorian's proposed world.

"Think about it practically," Sarah said, using her napkin to diagram what she envisioned. "Instead of pretending to be a normal security consultant, I could openly advertise enhanced protection services. People would know exactly what they're paying for."

"And instead of hiding my healing abilities, I could work directly with hospitals," Elaine added quietly. "No more pretending that patients' recovery rates are just lucky coincidences."

Amir had been unusually quiet, but finally spoke up. "My family's been in hiding for four generations. My great-grandfather came to America specifically because he thought it would be safer to practice his abilities in secret here than face persecution in the old country. What if we've been hiding for nothing all this time?"

Liam found himself thinking about his sister—the real reason he'd joined USOV in the first place. "What if going public actually makes it safer to look for missing supernatural people? Right now, if someone like my sister

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