Steele Trap (The Beacon #1)

Prologue

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T erk moved cautiously through the dark but electric dreamscape, a sense of urgency tugging at him, something vital yet elusive.

It danced just beyond his grasp, his mind struggling to pull him back, even as his consciousness whispered, Wait, wait.

We haven’t quite got it . The entire purpose of the Beacon is to reach out to energy workers, letting them know that we’re here and inviting them to become a part of the community .

Normally he slept soundly, but lately something in the air felt off, inexplicable.

Only those with skills like his could even begin to understand, yet this particular feeling seemed more significant than any from before.

It involved him, his family, and their safety.

The warnings were enough to make him cling to the dream, trying to hold on to the end.

Yet it slipped through his fingers. Suddenly someone shook him awake, and he turned to see his beautiful wife, concern etched on her face.

He frowned. She mirrored his expression.

He sighed, rubbing his eyes. “Whatever that dream was, it’s important.”

“Maybe,” she replied softly, “but you’re scaring the crap out of me.”

He blinked, surprised.

“You were making wild noises and thrashing in bed.” She gestured to the tangled bedcovers around his legs.

He groaned, untangling himself, then flattening against the pillows. “Sorry,” he muttered, scrubbing his face as the wisps of the dreamscape had already drifted away. “I wish I knew what the vision was all about.”

Celia asked him, “Can you go back in with more detachment?”

“No, not likely,” he muttered. “Not when it’s important, not when it concerns our safety.”

Her eyes widened, studying him. “Is something coming after us?”

He pondered her words. “That’s not quite right, but something is definitely different.”

Moments later, Damon, Wade, Gage, Calum, Rick, Scott, and even Brody chimed in on their family channel, where they all could communicate together.

“Something weird is happening,” Brody announced.

Rick interjected, “I think a full alert needs to be sent out.”

Terk swung his legs over the bed, sitting up swiftly. “Go back to sleep,” he told his wife.

She raised an eyebrow, shaking her head. “Not if we’re in danger.”

“I don’t know if we’re in danger. I just know something’s off.”

“Good enough for me,” she declared, reaching for her robe and following him to the door. He frowned, but she nodded. “I’m going to the babies.”

His expression softened. “And stay there, please.”

Her eyebrows shot up again. “If you’re this worried, maybe we should warn everyone.”

“All I can say is, something’s wrong,” he repeated, wrapping her up in a warm, caring hug. “It’s not time for that level of panic yet.”

Their voice channel suddenly buzzed with chatter, all filled with urgency.

“Meeting in the dining room now,” Terk announced, silencing the clamor.

They had another shared wavelength for group communication via projected telepathy—a broadcasting of their thoughts to reach them all when needed in times of uncertainty—which could also shift to an audible conversation, which overwhelmed Terk as he headed to the kitchen, where he brewed coffee.

It would take multiple pots to satisfy everyone who would soon gather in the big formal dining room. Plus, visitors were common these days.

Entering the big dining room with a full pot of coffee, Terk found his team awaiting him. He set the first pot on the coffee service area. “I don’t know what to tell you, but something’s…” He shrugged. “Something’s off.”

“Yeah, it’s not just off,” Rick noted, “it’s bizarre.”

Surprised, Terk considered the Beacon’s energy source, which came from Terk and his team. “That’s one word for it. Also… we might have an unexpected visitor.”

“Not a friendly one, if this is the reception we’re getting,” Wade added.

“I’m not so sure,” Rick countered, glancing at Wade. “Something is here, but… It sounds insane, but part of the threat—interference, energy, whatever—doesn’t feel human.”

The others stared at Rick.

Calum sank into a chair, holding an empty coffee cup. “Not human?” he repeated. “Meaning the Beacon itself?”

Rick sighed and turned to Terk.

“I don’t know yet,” Terk replied. “I’m getting strange vibrations.”

“Me too,” Brody confirmed.

Terk noted all the men gathered here. Their wives were with their babies, prioritizing the children’s safety. When he mentioned it, the men nodded.

“That’s what we want, right?” Brody asked.

“It is.”

“And if an attack is coming?” Calum asked.

“Where, why, how, and what’s the purpose?” Terk asked the team.

The others were uneasy, reading each others’ thoughts, especially Terk’s.

Calum added, “I don’t like what you’re suggesting.”

“Maybe not, but…” Terk shrugged and explained his dream. “I was close to finding out, but then I woke up.”

“It’s the Beacon,” Rick declared again, turning to Terk. “I’m sure of it. Something’s going on with it.”

The others closed their eyes, Terk included, all checking the Beacon. He blocked out any distractions and connected easily. Then he had built it, so he should have easy access. “The Beacon is there. It’s functioning. Although…”

“Yes, it is functioning but not well,” Rick insisted. “Something’s wrong.”

Terk wasn’t sure wrong was the correct word here. He sensed something he’d never felt before. Had never considered it a possibility. Still, his initial diagnostics confirmed everything was clear.

Calum added, “Rick’s right.”

“It’s working, but not as intended,” Terk stated, turning to his friends.

Calum shrugged. “It sounds crazy, but I think it’s been tampered with.”

“Nobody can touch it but those of us in this room,” Terk noted. “We’ve added in fail-safes. And we’ve put all our energies into it, making it,… we thought,… foolproof.”

“Yet, with more outside interest as our company grows,” Calum suggested, “something’s happening. I sense foreign energy.”

The others nodded.

Brody agreed, “Yes, foreign energy.”

“Not sure if it’s good or bad. Is someone hurt?” Terk asked. “Is someone calling for help? Because that’s a different issue altogether.”

Scott interjected, “The Beacon hasn’t functioned at this level before. Maybe someone can’t navigate it.”

A soft knowing laughter echoed throughout the room.

Everyone stiffened, looking around.

“Did you hear that?” Calum asked in shock.

Terk nodded slowly. “I did.”

“Was that the Beacon or some foreign energy?” Calum asked.

Terk felt Calum’s question was rhetorical. Meanwhile, his mind raced. Was this an attack or something else? “I’ll check the grounds. We built up the security around the castle because we needed to—but the woods?… That’s a much harder area to keep track of.”

“I’m coming with you,” Calum offered.

Terk nodded. “Sounds good. We need others to stay here and to remain on watch.”

“Absolutely,” Rick declared. “I’ll stay.”

“And I’ll join Calum and Terk,” Wade volunteered.

Terk turned to the two men. “Be ready in five. The rest of you check the perimeter and the control room. Stay in touch.”

Terk left, quickly grabbed his shoes and a coat, reassured his wife, and stepped outside. As he moved, a sense of urgency pressed on him, like a closing window of opportunity. But, for what, he wasn’t sure. It felt like his dream all over again, with that elusive knowledge slipping away.

Calum joined him, just as that same soft laughter rippled through the blackness of the night. “Did you hear that?” he whispered to Terk.

“I did, but I feel something else out here.”

Calum added, “Not sure I like this.”

Terk agreed.

The laughter rippled again.

“It’s likely the Beacon is off .” Terk frowned. “I know we keep saying this.”

Calum nodded. “Oh, I agree something is wrong. Not sure that’s the correct word for what I’m feeling though.” Then Calum turned to face Wade, noting the horror in his gaze.

“It’s wrong,” Wade whispered at their side, “but not how we’re thinking about wrong .”

Now that Wade had joined them, the trio set off toward the forest.

Without breaking stride, Terk asked, “Meaning?”

Wade winced. “I think the Beacon’s been hijacked.”

Terk stopped, as the truth slammed into his chest. “Dear God,… is it possible?” he whispered.

The other men turned to him, waiting.

Terk frowned. “Not so much hijacked. I think…” Taking a deep breath, Terk finally stated the truth out loud that had been ringing inside his head, one he was still struggling to wrap his mind around.

“I think the Beacon is evolving…”