Override (Glitch)

girls. “Don’t move!”
    Xona stopped immediately, grabbing the elbows of the girls on either side of her. “What is it?” Xona asked from about fifteen paces away.
    “It’s Max,” I said hurriedly. “He’s infiltrated the Foundation. He could be impersonating anyone.”
    “Have you been out of one another’s presence for even a moment?” Tyryn asked, eyeing each of them intensely.
    Ginni and Xona exchanged a look, then stepped back from City.
    “What?” City asked in an affronted voice. “You think I’m him?”
    “We just met you in the hall.” Xona’s voice was cold. “You were alone.”
    “We don’t have time. Show us your power!” I yelled over the both of them.
    City turned back to my group and huffed. She raised her middle finger, electricity exploding from the single fingertip in a spiral up to the ceiling.
    “It’s not her,” I shouted, sprinting forward again, passing them and heading toward the central exits. My mind raced. The compound might be in lockdown, but if Max had been here for a month and a half already, he could have found a way to subvert the security system.
    Then I frowned. I was sure I knew something about the security at the Foundation. The more I thought about it, though, the less I could remember. It was like the thought teased at the edges of my mind, but whenever I tried to look at it directly, it was gone. But obviously Max must have encountered some problem too, or else the Chancellor would have already come for us.
    My mind flashed to every time Max had held my hand or kissed me since the raid, pretending to be Adrien. I felt sick to my stomach. I forced my legs to keep moving forward. As I turned into the foyer leading to the elevator, I saw General Taylor standing right inside the barrier security door. Her hair was still wet from the wash-down chambers.
    “Don’t move!” I shouted.
    Taylor swirled around to me, surprise on her face. “What’s going on?”
    She took a step toward me, but I held up a hand. “Stay back.”
    Footsteps filled the space behind me as Tyryn, the Professor, and a group of Rez fighters came in.
    “Stop,” I said over my shoulder. “It could be Max.”
    “What’s going on here?” the General asked. “I came back as soon as the remote alarm for my office was triggered and now the compound’s on lockdown? I barely made it inside myself before the security door shut.” She glared expectantly at all our uncertain faces. “Well?”
    “Max would have to come this way to escape,” I said, eyeing Taylor. “Which is conveniently right when she shows up. The security door could have trapped him inside before he could leave.”
    Taylor’s face became rigid. “Max. You mean Maximin? The shape-shifter who works for the Chancellor? He is the security breach?”
    The Professor stepped forward again. I put a hand on his sleeve to stop him, but he pulled away. “Ask her something only the real General would know,” I said. “And Tyryn, restrain her while he does it.”
    “How quick you are to fulfill your destiny,” Taylor said with a bitter smile at me. “I leave for a day and suddenly you’re the one barking orders?”
    My face reddened.
    Tyryn pulled Taylor’s arms behind her back while the Professor leaned in to ask his question. He spoke quietly in her ear, so we couldn’t hear.
    She pursed her lips. “Top of my left thigh,” she said, not bothering to whisper. “Now let me go!” She pulled against Tyryn.
    The Professor nodded.
    As soon as Tyryn let her go, she straightened her tunic. “Now report about Maximin.”
    “He infiltrated six weeks ago,” Tyryn said. “So far we haven’t yet ascertained if he has been able to communicate with the Chancellor.”
    “We’ve got to get this door open.” I pounded the door in frustration. He could be long gone already. “His powers changed. He can make himself invisible now. He could have gotten through the security door before it closed and run right past you without being seen.”
    The General turned to Tyryn. “The whole Foundation could be compromised. Get our best techers to the security hub. Maximin will have covered his tracks, but see if there’s any trace of his outgoing communications. Anything. And get someone up here to open this door!”
    Tyryn nodded, turning back to his com to relay the order. Taylor turned to me.
    “Didn’t you report seeing Maximin during the raid?” Taylor asked. “You said he was tied up when you left him behind!”
    Her