Neil Kaplan

Discover the hidden truth behind the ultimate betrayal in this gripping companion novella. Before he allied with the Mogadorians and infiltrated the Garde, Number Five was just another fugitive fighting to stay alive. When his guardian dies, Five is thrust into the world entirely on his own, completely unprepared for the dangers lurking in the shadows. Desperate to experience the life he was always denied, he ventures out of hiding, only to cross paths with the exact people he should be running from. You will witness the crucial moments that shifted his allegiance, seeing firsthand how a young survivor looking for a place to belong transformed into one of the most dangerous adversaries the Garde would ever face. This intense origin story adds deep emotional layers to the larger science fiction series, exploring the complex choices that lead a hero to walk down a much darker path.