Reposting The Extraordinary since Dana's asked me to do so

To The Death, Part 2

Beth: It's over then. I'm going to die for the Organisation. Even though I swore to myself this was the one thing I'd never do.
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With every step, he once more deliberated his choice. Was this the right thing to do? He could not tell anymore. For 2 years, the fight had been his entire life, inexorably interwoven with every detail of his existence. Or so he had thought. He had been such a fool; they all had, to think that this was what mattered. To believe they were truly willing to give anything. To the death. He laughed sourly. That would have been the easier fate.

Since that day, he had turned his back on all that had made him before. Sometimes that was easier. Less reminders. And no chance to suffer such pain again. But a part of him still yearned to fight, for the purpose and meaning. The knowledge of what was done to them still stung. It seemed he was dragged in opposite directions, being torn apart viciously by the forces.

He shook his head. Hadn't he burned all bridges to his past? Or he had believed he had anyway. Now he was unsure. Seeing Craig again, and that girl so similar to his Leila, hearing of the continuing campaign......These had all awoken in him emotions he had believed long lost, but apparently only buried. These had all drawn him here, now. But to do what? To come so close but turn and run? Or to join the war once more?

He stopped. He now realised he had to reconsider his choice before it was too late to change it. Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps he could not do this. Whatever the price. He swore under his breath. It seemed he had come full circle, and there was no leaving this. He glanced back over his shoulder, and then in the other direction. His exit was close, tantalisingly so. He sighed. It didn't matter. He would do what he had to.

He took one last look at the way he had been going, and turned.

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Eyes screwed tightly shut, Beth simply waited for the gunshot. The seconds dragged. Impossibly so. The last moments of her life - what was the point of dragging this out? A few extra minutes were of no value when they were numbered. Still she waited, counting the seconds with her harried breaths. Suddenly her ears were filled with an explosion.

Still she waited, for the pain or the numbness. Nothing. What was happening?

"Are you Ok?" whispered an urgent voice. "Stupid question. Did he get you?"

Slowly she opened her eyes.

"I made it misfire," he added. "Beth, right? Where are the others? Craig?"

Shakily, unable to speak, she gestured around her at the destruction. He grimaced, and knelt down beside the nearest. Amy.

"You can't heal, can you?" he asked. "Mine isn't powerful enough for this."

She shook her head. Anyway, she doubted healing would be of any use now.

"We'll have to get them out then. Can you carry her while I take Hetty?"

Uncertain what would be the purpose of this, she nevertheless complied. She did not have the energy left to argue, dazed by her experiences. She simply lifted the prone figure to rest against her shoulder, and forced herself to walk.

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Amy groaned as she regained consciousness, her head spinning and every movement causing agony. What had happened? Her memory was blurred, twisted by grey images and false events. Where was she? The Company building? And the others?

She blinked, forcing her sight into focus. It took her a while to recognise the bland grey stone before her, then longer to raise her eyes to her companions. She seemed to be leaning on someone, but she could not move her head to see who. Before her now was another, carrying Hetty. He turned to glance back at them, and as she recognised him she wondered if she was truly conscious. Why would he be here? Didn't he say that he would do nothing more to help them? Craig had believed there was no way of persuading him.

As she stared, he realised she was conscious. Immediately he gestured a stop, and her carrier carefully lowered her.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently. She tried shaking her head, but he stopped her.

"Try to move as little as possible. We'll get you to a healer as soon as we escape from here - Hetty too - but we can't do anything for now."

"Stevens?" she questioned. "Why are you here?"

"Seems you two got to me," he muttered under his breath. "But we don't have much time - agents could be coming any time."

"Can you walk?" Amy turned at the voice, to see Beth looking at her in concern, attempting to hide a deep grief. "I'll help you. C'mon."

"Hetty?" she asked. Beth evaded her eyes.

"She's alive, barely," replied Stevens tersely. "We can't do anything to help her - only get her out of here. As soon as we get to an outer wall I can create a door for us."

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Stevens sighed. They were almost there. Was it actually possible that they would make it unscathed? Previously he might have believed this. But he had long lost all hope. He no longer thought there was any victory for them, any chance at all of surviving this war. He was unsure whether he wanted to. That was no longer the reason why he would fight.

As Amy let out a stifled gasp, he was drawn out of his musings. Even if that were true, he still had to take care. There were others with him who did not share his view. Whom he would not wish to share that fate.

"What?" he whispered. "Agents?"

Beth nodded numbly.

"5 at least, guarding the only entrance to the outer perimeter. You can't make a door here? To get there?"

He shook his head. If he did that, the Company might become aware of what he did and take precautions. He did not want to risk their escape.
Beth bit her lip, deep in thought. She was unsure whether she could fight all 5 on her own. Amy was powerless, Hetty unconscious, and Stevens' ability was not exactly offensive.

"Maybe I can distract a few," he murmured. "Give you a better chance."

He looked closely at her.

"Craig wouldn't want you to give up, Beth."

She swallowed, then nodded. He glanced at her once more, making certain she could do this.

"They will not notice me."

Then he swiftly crept around to the doorway, preparing the distraction. But he recognised 2 of the men there. He remembered them from previously. The reverser and the deletor. Beth could not fight these. What was he to do?

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Hidden in the shadows of another doorway, he watched as the group approached the entrance to the outer perimeter. He sighed. Desperate as he was to aid them, he had to accept that in his current state there was little he could do. And his presence could distract some. Perhaps, no, almost certainly, it was better that he do nothing, though this tore against every scruple he had.

He waited anxiously as they stopped, debating what course to take next. He wished there was some way he could learn what they were saying. Some way he could protect them. He watched as one carefully crept towards the doorway. That was when he realised there was one more than there had been when he had lost them. Someone had joined his allies. But who?

As the man turned to pass through the doorway, the light struck his face and Craig let out a gasp, hastily stifled. Stevens? Why would he be here?
He recalled the last time they had spoken - his friend had been adamant that he would do no more. But he had always been a complex character. It had always been difficult to predict him, even before their deaths. Although he had swore afterwards never to be involved in anything like this again, Craig had always wondered whether he'd be able to. The Organisation never truly let go of an individual. And he had known all along that seeing Amy would manipulate Stevens, remind him of Leila. Remind him of what they had been fighting for, and that others were still at risk. He had done it deliberately of course. But he had not thought it would have such an effect. What was he to do now? His actions had drawn an old friend from safety into mortal danger. He knew he should do something. But what could he?

Unsure of what to do, he still crept away from the doorway, seeking another way to reach Stevens. He realised by now that he had gone to distract the agents so that the others could escape. But it was a risk. And perhaps he knew it.

He followed a parallel pathway until he reached the main entrance once more. He could see Stevens, hidden from the guards by his power. He was hesitating. Clearly something was wrong. It was then Craig realised that Stevens would be needed afterwards, to make an exit. And he also realised why he was hesitating.

He paused. A part of him knew that Stevens wanted this, at least partially. He had never let them go. But that did not mean he should allow him to do so.

Hesitating, he pondered what he could do. Only one answer came to him - take his place. He swallowed. Could he? Was he truly willing to do that? They all said it - to the death - but not all could bring themselves to it. He had seen it, allies turned by their fear. But he had seen the opposite too. Their faces flashed before his eyes. Which one was he? He had already turned. Would he turn again? Still he saw their faces. Kate Stevens. Leila Stevens. Sarah Finnegan. He had his answer.
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As soon as they saw the guards leave, the remaining three hurried out to the outer perimeter, then stopped, unsure of what to do now. They knew what must have happened. Stevens had to have drawn away those guards. But now how were they to escape? They only continued to run on because they were too afraid to stay in one place. Movement made them feel less lost.

At a sudden sound behind her, Beth span around, heat blast poised for release. She let out the breath she had been holding, but did not drop them.

"Stevens?" she gasped. "How....how did you...?"

He shook her head, an expression of grief and sympathy on his face.

"Don't ask," he replied brusquely, before adding more softly, "let's just get out of here, ok?"

He grimaced as he stepped towards the wall, then muttered, "A door." Immediately one sprang into being. He lifted up Hetty and carried her through, the other two following. As they left, a single gunshot sounded.

Chapter 13 - Little Hope

Hex: What do I do now? Am I really one of them? I never intended to join the Organisation, but that doesn't really matter now. I know what they say: everyone does. The Organisation never truly lets you go. And it's caught me now. Maybe it's too late for me. Is it too late for Rachel?

Kent: I know now that this is over for me. I can't trust them anymore, and that means I can't be one of them. Even though Hetty is. So what do I do now? Can I turn my back on her? And on everything my life has been for the last 4 years?

Danielle: What is this place? And who are these people? I thought this.....whatever it is......would be a good thing, but then I was locked up. Even though I'm free now, they still act as if there's a shadow over them. I just want to go home.

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Danielle glanced up as one of her protectors entered. She was not one she had seen before: a young woman with short brunette hair, and a broken air.

"Can I go home?" she asked timidly. The woman sighed, and shook her head.

"The Company'd just find you, take you again."

Seeing her downcast expression, she added, "We'll look after you though. I promise. And one day they will be defeated and we can return to our lives again."

As she spoke the last sentence, an air of conviction grew in her voice, and her auma flickered brightly, lit up by the passion she felt. Clearly this was what drove her. But it soon dimmed, blue and black seeping in. She had little hope.

"Can't I at least see my parents?" Danielle asked desperately. "I want to tell them about...all of this."

"You shouldn't. If they know, then the Company thinks they're fair game for recruiting. They can give abilities, but it's not certain that it'll be a good one, a safe one. Sometimes if a person doesn't manifest, they shouldn't. 4 years ago, a few months after I joined actually, there was a huge fight, and they lost several agents, so they replaced them with all their non-powered agents, altered using their formula. But....they were dangerous. Some went mad, or suicidal. Some killed randomly. Only a few were ok afterwards. But that's still their policy."

She sighed. Looking away, she muttered.

"I haven't seen my parents for 5 years, not since I learned I'd manifested. They probably think I'm dead too."

Suddenly her aura changed, altered for a minute, then reverted to normal. She was now staring above Danielle's head in shock.

"What's wrong?" she asked gently. The woman could only shake her head, dazed.

"I'm....not sure. I think I saw....something....for about a split second, above your head, but then it was gone! I don't know....it was probably just an optical illusion or something...but......"

Danielle shivered. She knew that something had happened but not what. Quickly she changed the subject.

"What happens to me now?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "From the others who escaped with you, Lincoln's decided to join us - he was a member before, but we thought he was killed years ago. Sarah's decided to go back into hiding, but, well, she's good at that. You though...."

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Sarah shivered as she stepped from the sunlight into the shadows of her home. She had not believed she would see this place again. She knew this was not a smart move, too predictable. They would search for her here - she should leave behind her life, start over. Again. She sighed, softly tracing the window frame with her fingertips. This was too cruel. But was the alternative too much of a risk?

She knew it was, but she could not help herself. Ever since she had manifested, ever since her parents had learned what she could do and had effectively abandoned her, she had longed for her family. Even though she understood why, that did not lessen the sting. Nothing could. Then finally she had found Rachel, and now she had to run again.

She sighed. There was no point in going over this again. Her decision was made - the only thing she could safely do. After all, she was protecting Rachel as well as herself.

Swiftly, she crept around to the kitchen window, the one she knew was weak, popped it open and slid in. Efficiently, she searched for paper and a pen, and wrote a message for her sister. She knew if she hesitated she might break. Afterwards, she left through the same window. She did not glance back once. She did not let herself.

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Kent sat morosely in his new apartment, downcast by his cold and emotionless surroundings, and pondered once more what to do next. What would his purpose be now? Could he have one? As he thought, he recalled again and again the disappointment in Hetty's eyes as they both realised he could no longer continue with the Organisation. He had let her down. He knew that. But he could not help this - all of them had been betrayed too many times. How was it possible to trust after that?

Still, none of this answered his predicament - what could he do now? Was it possible to take on the Company alone? He could not work with others, but neither could he turn his back on his kin, on the purpose of his life since he had been forced to do the unthinkable.

Suddenly the answer came to him. Where was trust unnecessary? He laughed bitterly. How had he not thought of this before? After all those years keeping check on the criminal gangs which were the remnants of his kind.

Seized by this new purpose, he grabbed his belongings and almost ran out, glowing with a new vitality.

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Hetty grimaced, seeing the faces in the room. Her newly renewed health was a stark contrast to the grief, despair and hopelessness that was impossible to heal away. Already their losses caused the agony of a first degree burn.

As Elan entered, they all immediately faced her, glad of any distraction. But she shook her head at the budding hope in their faces.

"No luck with Amy," she muttered, sitting down. "Is Beth any better?"

She read the answer in their expressions.

"Where's Trey?" asked Hetty.

"He needed some time to cope with what he just found out. He'll come around eventually. Kent? Is he gone for certain?"

Hetty sighed. The situation grew direr every day. Was there any hope? No, she had known there was little hope from the start. But that had not prevented the cause from creeping under her skin into her very being. None of them believed they could win. But neither could anyone surrender.

"So what do we do now?" asked Stevens bluntly. He grimaced at their reactions. "Sorry to be harsh, but we have to continue. What's the next move?"

"Next move?" Hetty shook herself. "What can we do? We lost everything - our base, our files, half our members......."

"We still know some things though," interrupted Elan. "And we can learn more. Did we ever really have any hope of victory? So why are you thinking of giving up when that hope lessens?"

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"What do you want, Hex?" sighed Rachel in exasperation. "Are you going to help me at all, or keep me running around in circles?"

Ever since he had appeared 2 days ago, his indecision had infuriated her. While she ached to just do something, anything, he had dithered over every detail, changing his mind over and over. She knew it was unfair to snap at him. She knew there was a reason for his behaviour. But she could not bear it in the emotional state she was in.

He grimaced.

"Believe me, Rach; I'd help you if I could. I just don't know what I should do. Do you really want to join the Organisation?"

She stared at him.

"I'd do whatever's needed to get Sarah back."

He nodded. He knew that. But it would be his decision to manipulate that desire for the cause.

"You know they won't let you go."

She knew that: she knew what was said. But there was another saying: there is no neutrality now. No staying out of this - it will find you. And perhaps she now had been found.

He read her reluctance in the silence.

"You're not one of them Rach. Neither am I, but it's too late for me. Don't let them get you. Let's just go back to your house, see if we can find another solution, ok?"

She nodded, grasped his arm, and threw the 2 of them into the nearest wall, reappearing within the home she shared with her sister. The silence echoed eerily through the building. Seeing the pain in her face, he placed his arm over her shoulder. She swallowed, and forced a smile.

Letting go, he wandered aimlessly through the house. Entering the kitchen, he found Sarah's note.

"Rach!"

She ran up to him and tore it out of his hands. Her eyes widened more with every sentence she read.

"It's Sarah - she escaped - but she's gone into hiding - we have to find her, help her!"

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Wendy simply ran, fleeing both her situation and the demons constantly hounding her mind. Frantically she tried to displace them into her surroundings, but it did not work as well without an immediate victim, and there were none close enough for that. Tears streamed down her face, but she was unaware. What was she to do now? Alone, frightened, helpless.
She spotted a figure at the corner: a young man, hardly out of his adolescent years. He appeared as she did - desperate and dark. A perfect choice, she thought. She crept forward to relieve her nightmares.

"Stop!"

Something in his tone of authority, although a complete constrast to his appearance and demeanour, compelled her. She froze, shaking. He looked at her appraisingly.

"What are you?" he demanded. "Tell me!"

Try as she might, she could not restrain herself from replying. The answer was forced out of her.

"Nightmares," she panted. "I......create people's.....nightmares. Please, release me!"

He hesitated. He could see the potential in that. Reluctantly he released her.

"Want to join my gang?"

Chapter 14 - In Their Very Natures

Wendy: Back here again. Why can't I seem to escape this? Cope on my own? Is that even possible? Maybe I should have been looking for this; after all, I don't know anything else except the gangs. Running, hiding, attacking; for 5 long years. It's my life.

Hetty: We have to continue, that's all. There's still more we can do, helpless as we are. Fighting on is the only chance we have. I just hope we can also do something for Amy, Beth, Trey.....all of us really.

Sarah: What do I do now? I know, I haven't thought this through. Not that there's much thinking to do about it. Staying would have been too dangerous. I've never been the Organisation type; I've never been able to do that. And if I stayed I'd have endangered Rachel. Can I do anything except run and hide? Isn't that what I am?

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Wendy gazed around darkly at her surroundings. Back here again. She wondered sourly whether there was any escaping this. Maybe it was in her very nature. Her dark thoughts raised a disturbingly familiar creeping feeling, which she instinctively threw out to her companions. Immediately she found herself out of her own volition. She was forced to accept her nightmares, forced to somehow dampen them again. Her breath hissed out, as she glared across the room at Tristan, their leader of sorts. He nodded, urging her to remember. She was forbidden to use her "gift" on them.

She glared at him still. She hated that she had no other way of expressing her loathing. What gave him the right to control her like this? She rolled her eyes. Of course. His ability.

Frightened, she moved her gaze across the room. All present members were blank, without control. That was in truth their situation now. More were out, on "missions" chosen by Tristan. Their controller.

Blake sat in one corner, staring moodily to the floor. A Company agent recently collected into their gang. Moira gazed at her hands vacantly, her expression one of suppression. Wendy was certain that this one had no volition here. Her power would have simply been too tempting to leave. Leon leaned over the jagged remains of the window, shooting beams at the rubble below. Practicing, as he called it. A malicious grin spread across his face as he noticed a figure approaching. He raised his hand, and aimed.

"No!" demanded Tristan loudly. "Leave him!"

A smirk crept across his face. He raised an eyebrow.

"Could be useful," he commented.

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Hidden among the shadows, Sarah pondered what she should do next. If there was anything she could do. She struggled against the warnings of her basic nature, as she debated with herself whether she should simply hide, or do something, anything, to help her kind.

She sighed. What could she do? It was not possible for her to join the Organisation. She had known this from the moment she had first heard of it, been certain since she had recently had the opportunity to join. It was not what she was. But perhaps abandoning this cause was not what she was either.

She jumped, startled, as 2 figures were thrown violently into existence near her. Instinctively she withdrew deeper into hiding, then laughed softly as she remembered. She was invisible.

"Sarah?" called the first. Sarah held her breath. "Sarah?"

She turned to her companion.

"Maybe she's not here. Maybe we should go back, Hex......"

He shook her head.

"I didn't mess up. Here's where we'll find her."

Sarah recognised their voices well. Particularly the woman's. It was one she longed for, and yet this longing frightened her. She knew it would be better to ignore.

"Rach?"

She stepped forward, regaining visibility. Her sister smiled, and the 2 embraced. Rachel had tears in her eyes.

"Why did you leave like that, Sarah? Did you really believe what you said? That I'd really be better off with you gone? That either of us would?"

She sighed, and let Sarah go.

"Anyway, now we can arrange for us to hide together. We can find a better place that way. Keep each other safe. That's all that matters."

Both Hex and Sarah shook their heads.

"I can't, Rachel," protested Hex softly. "You know that. I'm one of them now."

He raised his hand to her shoulder.

"Look, I'll still try to help you as much as I can, ok?"

"Neither can I." Both turned to stare at Sarah. "I can't just hide. I can't let this go."

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Danielle paced in her room, little larger or more homely than a cell. The plain bare walls and emptiness dampened her spirits. She had nothing to do here. And yet she had nowhere else to go.

"Hello?"

She looked up at the nervous voice. A young girl stood by the doorway, glancing in at her. Her auma was despondent, lonely and yet hopeful. And her aura was.....strange. Somehow broken. Danielle couldn't help but stare at it.

"Can I come in?" she asked. "I'm Amy."

Danielle nodded, grateful for someone here who was near her age, someone with no apparent agenda or inner battle. Someone who could simply be her friend.

"I'm Danielle."

"I know," said Amy. "They told me. I thought I could help you - I know how hard it is with all of it, at the start. Thought you'd like some company."

Danielle nodded her gratitude.

"I still don't know what to do though," she murmured. "What can I do? What are you doing here?"

Amy sighed.

"I was....fighting with them. Now I've lost my bubble I'm kind of useless."

Then she understood. The damage in the girl's aura was the deletion of her ability. But if she could see this, understand it, could she see what should be done?

Slowly, she reached out her arm, as she'd done when she had first borrowed an ability, from her friend Suzanna's aura. As she did this, she sensed a missing resistance. Her hand slid into the aura, and she became fully aware of Amy's former power. How it worked, how it had been lost, how Amy's very nature had limited it. How she could in future overcome this. How she could regain it.

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Kent shivered as he stepped over the broken doorway and entered the room. Their home, their base. Still he was unsure - how could he ever be certain? What he would do today was dangerous, reckless and possibly wrong. But he felt he had no option.

"What do you want?" demanded their leader gruffly. A hint of authority hung to his voice, defying the complete dishevelment of his apparel.
Kent raised his face to his.

"To join you," he stated. Numbly, he noted smothered gasps from the corners. This, it seemed, was not the usual event. He himself smothered a bitter chuckle.

"What are you then?"

"A telepath," he answered, "plus telekinesis as well. Testing the ability-addition formula."

The leader nodded, satisfied. He rose and left.

Immediately the atmosphere relaxed. A red-haired girl in her teens visibly lightened, though her face remained vacant, her grey eyes expressionless. Kent shivered as he realised what that meant. Another leant from the window; he had not moved throughout their meeting, but now he turned to face him. He smiled maliciously as he played with crimson beams in the palm of his hand. A second man rose from the corner where he had crouched. He smiled coldly and nodded at Kent, who felt uneasy. He had fought this man before. Did he remember? He turned away, to face the final member: a young girl hidden in the shadows. As she turned, the scarce lighting fell upon her features and both stared at each other in recognition.

"You were...with them....the Organisation," she stuttered. "What are you doing here?"

"I was," he stated, "but not anymore. It's not what I am. I can't....do that. Not me."

She nodded. He smiled. All had interpreted this as he had planned. Perhaps this would work after all.

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"New reports in," stated Elan, as she threw the files down before Hetty and Stevens. "Some new gang down in London, the usual really. Except there might be some.....loss of volition?"

"Persuasion maybe?" suggested Hetty. "You'd have to counter that."

Elan nodded.

"So we take them?" asked Stevens.

"Yeah," answered Hetty. "What about the rest? Trey, Beth?"

"I'll ask them. Sometimes, just....doing something.....it helps."

"Distractions," nodded Stevens.

"What about Hex?"

"Still out, I don't know what's going on with him. Maybe he isn't really one of us. We shouldn't force him."

Both Stevens and Elan nodded. The cause was not for all. Sometimes the risk was too high.

All turned as Amy and Danielle entered. Immediately they noticed that something had changed. Amy smiled shyly.

"What's happened?" asked Elan.

"I've got my bubble back!" she exclaimed jubilantly. "Danielle fixed it!"

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Rachel sighed. Her sister had never been the most realistic of people. And their role reversal had been amusing since they had found each other. She was always the careful one, while Sarah rushed in. She laughed. Wasn't it meant to be the other way around?

"Slow down now, Sarah! What else can we do?"

"I'm not sure," she mused, "but I can't hide anymore."

"Sure you can!" Rachel laughed. "It's what you are! You hide and I run. Neither of us are fighters."

"Well maybe I should be."

Rachel stared at her. She had never though her sister could feel this way, never asked. They had both assumed they would stay out of this. That they would play it safe, ride out the storm. This was still what she wished to do. But she couldn't leave Sarah to fight alone, if that was what she chose to do.

"What do you mean? Join the Organisation?"

Sarah shook her head.

"No, that's not me."

"Well, what else is there for us?"

"Us?" questioned Sarah. "No, Rach, this is my choice, not yours."

"I'm not leaving you."

Sarah sighed. The stubborn expression on Rachel's face was unmovable.

"Well, what do we do then?"

"I'm not going to the Organisation," muttered Sarah, "but that doesn't mean I can't do anything. Maybe they shouldn't be the only option."

Chapter 15 - Mind Games

Hetty: Why did he do it? What could have possibly prompted that idiot to join them? The fool! I just hope he has the sense to keep out; I can't do anything to help him if he doesn't.

Blake: I guess life never changes. I spent all those years being bombarded by the Organisation as a Company agent, and here I am, after I thought I'd left all that behind, about to fight them again. After all I went through to escape it, faking my own death - well, have I?

Leon: Perfect, another fight. What fun! Wonder how many Tristan will let me take this time though. That control freak!

Stevens: Another attack. Why can't I seem to shake the feeling that this is a bad idea? Does it matter? I doubt it.

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Within their base, the atmosphere was tense. Each member was fired in their own way. Or had been fired. Of course, they had no choice in the matter. Tristan paced the floor, determined for the victory. Kent stared into nothing, feeling ill. This had been a hard decision to make. But he couldn't do otherwise without exposing himself. Blake tapped his fingers against the floorboards, then sighed heavily. Kent amazed at these signs of nervousness from the veteran. It seemed that even experienced Company men still felt fear. Leon still leaned from the window, with no change in his posture. He was always fired. Wendy sat in the corner. Probably preparing those nightmares of hers. Kent shivered. Moira still stared blankly: she could do no more.

Suddenly, Leon threw a red beam to the street. Smoke drifted up. But he grimaced.

"Damn, missed!" he hissed. He took aim again.

"Wait!"

All turned at the cold command.

"More fun to let them come," remarked Tristan callously.

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Amy shivered as the beam shot towards her, then was absorbed by her bubble. Her companions, Beth and Stevens, braced themselves to deflect further attacks but none came. They glanced over to the corner, and signalled to Hetty and Trey. Those transferred the signal to Hex and Elan.

"I guess we go in," remarked Hex cheerfully.

Elan nodded without moving her eyes from the building. Both she and Hetty had been assigned with the task of using telepathy, and, in her case, also persuasion, to counteract the leader's grasp on the gang members. She knew it would be a struggle, one that would require full concentration.

Hex nodded, then turned to create an entrance. Both crept in, and Hex continued to distort them a pathway to the base. On their separate sides, Trey and Stevens did the same. They would seek a way to ambush the gang.

In the third group, Amy nervously followed after the other two, her lip trembling. Try as she might, she could not help but recall the last time she had been in an attack. How helpless she had been. She swallowed, determined this time not to be a hinderance. This time she would be a valid member of the Organisation. She would fight.

Beth, too, was struggling with recollections. She knew this was Craig's place, not hers. But now she was the only one to take it. She shook her head, determined not to lose herself.

Stevens, however, was prevented from losing himself in his memories by the constant need to use his power. As he reached another door, he paused. Something was different. He hesitated.

"I...I know where they are," he ventured. He waited for its effect "Behind this door."

He glanced at his companions, both afraid but both prepared. Beth raised her hand to create the first of many heat blasts. Amy nodded, indicating she was ready to expand her bubble. He prepared to deflect the retaliatory strikes. They attacked.

....................................................................................................................................................

Wendy shook as she was hit by the telepathic attacks, forced back into her nightmares. She struggled to repel them. Throw them back again. Her entire body was racked with convulsions, and blood dripped from her lip. Kent glanced at her pityingly. Much as he hated this, he could not leave her unaided. He yielded his telekinetical battle, dodged and retreated behind Leon and Blake to use telepathy instead.

Behind him, Moira stared vacantly, her eyes focused on Tristan only. Kent swore as he realised what this might mean. Was he the only one shielded? The selfish bastard! This was confirmed as Blake fell to the ground under a relentless tirade of heat blasts.

Kent bit his lip. He could not sense every telepathic assailant, but he identified to nearest as Elan. He laughed bitterly. How appropriate.
He took a breath, and braced himself for the fight.

....................................................................................................................................................

Hetty flinched as she entered, recognising her brother as one of their opponents. Although she had known he was a part of this gang, she had not imagined he would be caught in the attack. That they would fight on opposite sides. She simply hoped that he felt as she did, that he too would be unable to bring himself to harm her. Otherwise, she thought, she was fucked.

She shrugged. Nothing she could do about it, and now was no time for contemplation. She transformed into a dagger, plunging at the nearest. Who dodged. She fell to the floor, and retransformed to attack again.
As she did, she glanced behind her. Elan had stopped her strikes, completely focused on a telepathic attack. Hetty paused. Should she stop hers to aid? Suddenly Elan stumbled, gasping out a breath. Her eyes darted from Leon, to Tristan, then back to Leon. What had happened? Had she lost?

Hetty turned, following Elan's eyes. What she saw was a rushing beam of red. Then she fell backwards, lost before she hit the floorboards.

Chapter 16 - Aftermath

The memories twisted like a dagger in Kent's mind. Why had he made that choice? Though he had had no idea, of course. No idea what was at risk, what he would lose. He grimaced. He knew this was his fault. The guilt burned like acid, impossible to wash away.

Again and again, he replayed her collapse, the look of shock and pain upon her face. Almost it was preferable to the earlier recollections. The mistakes he had made. The betrayal. Unknown, but still.....in truth he had as good as killed her. If he hadn't.....if only he'd chosen differently that morning, Hetty would still be alive.

....................................................................................................................................................

The previous morning

Hetty tapped her fingers on the table impatiently, waiting for her brother to appear. Every few seconds she glanced upwards to the wall clock. She was already running late. And the others would be suspicious. Rightly so. She sighed in exasperation. When would he be here?

Automatically she looked as another entered the cafe. And another. Strangers drifting through on their own business. And what was hers? She knew she shouldn't really be here. Knew the risk. Knew how ridiculously stupid what she was about to do was, and knew how the others would interpret it if they ever learned. But what else could she do?

"At last!" she hissed furiously. "What took so long?"

He gestured silence to her as he sat down.

"Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to come here to meet you today?" he replied. "Do you have any notion that I could have my own plan, my own cause, which you might be endangering?"

She blanched. Although she had heard it too many times, she would not have believed that he would refer to his....turning.....so non-chalantly. Because turning it was.

"Cause?" she glared at him. "I know, ok? All I can say is try not to be around tomorrow. I'm only warning you because you're my brother."

"Tomorrow?"

He sighed. He knew she would not say more. And perhaps he deserved this distrust.

"What happened with the attack on their HQ then?" he asked after a while.
She sighed.

"Weird things," she muttered, then began telling him what had occurred.

....................................................................................................................................................

Back in their shelter, Kent paced up and down, taking advantage of the emptiness to express his inner turmoil, while debating which action to take. He knew instinctively that if he gave no warning of the upcoming attack, he would in future be exposed, and all he had achieved so far would be purposeless. But the alternative was to betray them: his former allies and friends. Perhaps even Hetty - she had refused to confirm whether she would take part in the attack.

He found himself considering the strange events she had described: impossible events as she had termed them. He laughed sourly. Only impossible if they had not been lied to. Sometimes he wondered why she was so trusting. Did she truly take everything at face value?

He shook his head. He had no time to consider impossible events or the agendas of Organisation members now. He had little time to come to a decision.

As he paced, he glanced out of the window for any sign. This time he noted figures waiting below. He sighed. He had been a member long enough to recognise this - he had no time left. And he was no closer to a choice. He leaned over the window, trying to see closer.

He started as he noticed two figures beneath. He leaned closer, struggling to make out their features. Then one moved into the light, and he recognised her. Elan Greene. He hissed. Of all the members, that was one he would not mind losing. Her and her secrets. Her and her fervent loyalty, judging all others and finding them faulty in comparison. Her apparent fervent loyalty. This he now doubted.

The other was Hex, he noted. He meant nothing to Kent. A stranger. Vouched for by Trey, always trusting, naive, believing everything. He nodded. Another he wouldn't exactly mourn, if the situation ended worst. His decision, it seemed, was made.

He turned as Tristan entered. The boy glanced at him curiously.

"I've got something to inform you of."

....................................................................................................................................................

The present

"How are you coping?" asked Trey gently. Kent glared at the floor, silent.

"Kent?" he repeated. He rose, walked to the door, then turned back.

"What do we do now?" he asked harshly.

"Continue," replied Trey.

"Continue? Because we can really trust everyone!"

Trey looked at him in concern.

"What are you.....?" he started to ask, but was interrupted.

"Look, we need to call a meeting now. Confront her. She's been keeping things from us, who knows what side she's really on!"

He stared at Trey as he stayed where he was.

"What, don't you get it?!" he yelled. "That Greene girl, haven't you heard the weird stuff that's happened around her? Like in the HQ? She's hiding something!"

Trey sighed. He had hoped no one would ever notice, piece it together. He shook his head.

"No, Kent. She has her secrets, but.....just give her some privacy, ok? You don't really believe she's an insider?"

Kent raised an eyebrow.

"You don't really believe that it's impossible?" he retorted. Seeing Trey's expression, he snorted. Of course. The naive, idiotic empath!

"Look, Trey, I know you're just naturally trusting and all that, but open your eyes! She's dodgy! She's hiding stuff, she keeps secrets from everyone, she doesn't explain anything..."

As Kent lowered his voice, Trey raised his.

"Look, Kent, don't push this!" he shouted. "You'll regret it."

"Will I?"

"Can't you just repress your sceptism for one minute, and remember that other people have feelings!"

"What's going on?"

Both turned as Elan entered.

"You were shouting, Trey. What's wrong?" she asked in concern. She frowned at their expressions. "Trey?"

"It's you that's wrong!" stated Kent. "What are you hiding then? Apparently you used aerokinesis in the HQ! Never mentioned that before! Why? What's the secret, Elan?"

"Kent! I warned you...." interrupted Trey. Elan stared at them.

"You...know, Trey?" she asked. He nodded apologetically.

"I kind of worked it out," he admitted. "Put together the clues. I knew you'd never want to talk about it, so I kept quiet."

"You'll have to say now though," he added reluctantly. "He won't give up until you admit everything."

Chapter 17 - Hidden

Trey: I'm sorry, Elan. I tried to protect you from this, but I failed. Maybe you'd always have to face it one day.

Kent: At last! Now they've stopped their incessant trust, we might finally get some answers! Why is it always assumed that everyone's honest?

Elan: Why do they have to know? Why do I have to admit this? I can....barely THINK it to myself! I can't......I have to.....why? Why can't I just...forget it ever happened? They won't understand! They'll....I don't know what they'll do. Does it matter? Does it make any difference, when I killed my own brother? If I hadn't.....he'd have been able to protect himself. I know that. Otherwise I'd be dead too. I didn't mean to, but I did. And now I have to live with the truth. With the mistake I made 3 years ago that has scarred my life.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan swallowed, her eyes full of reluctance.

"I have to, don't I?" she murmured rhetorically. "It was....3 years ago. After the Whitegate raid, when Kate was killed. She told me to take her speed, that there was no time to heal her. That we'd both be caught if I tried. She was right, so I did."

She looked up.

"It was terrible. Everyone else was mourning; Leila got killed a few days after, executed after she was caught. She paused her defence when she saw her mother hit. Stevens left, fell apart after losing his wife and daughter. But all I could think was, if I was augmented, I could now go back. Save Daniel. I'm......I'm the most selfish person alive, aren't I? I knew...knew I shouldn't....everyone told me it was too risky. But I couldn't listen to them."

She faced the floor, ashamed.

"In the end, I .......persuaded Ella to take me. I forced her! I didn't want to, but I was desperate, I couldn't just leave him die when now I could save him! And she kept refusing, and I thought of using persuasion, and......I had to! Even though it didn't work....I couldn't save him. Obviously."

Kent appeared shocked.

"Shit," he muttered. "Sorry, Elan. What...what happened?"

....................................................................................................................................................

5 years ago, Courtney Park

Elan shuddered as they landed awkwardly on the pavement. She could not stop herself from glancing around at the familiar surroundings, reliving 18 years of memories. Her home. She had not seen it for 2 years. She would never see it again. But hopefully Daniel would be safe. She clung to this thought as she shrugged away her nostalgia.

Ella looked at her then nodded.

"Weird returning?" she queried. "How do we do this, anyway?"

"Don't know. I don't exactly have experience in altering time."

Both retreated into the shadow as a figure approached, muttering with eyes darting across the area. As she stepped into the beam of a streetlight and her features were thrown into focus, Elan noted the dark, empty eyes and the despairing madness. Kay Westfield. Elan hissed. Ella reached out an arm to restrain her.

"Don't get yourself killed as well!" she whispered. "You need a plan!"

"What then?" retorted Elan. "Do you expect me to just wait here and think, while she.......?"

Ella frowned, concentrating. Suddenly her face lit up as inspiration hit her.

"Persuasion!"

"What?" mumbled Elan guiltily.

"Persuade her to leave!"

Elan nodded. It was their best option. She took a deep breath and stepped forward.

"Westfield!" she demanded coldly. "You're going to leave this place now."

Kay stared defiantly. There was no change in her face, devoid as her expression had been her entire life. She did not move. Then she spoke.

"You think you can command me?"

Her eyes filled with contempt, then loathing. Elan braced herself to deflect an attack, to fight, to strike herself, to hurt her brother's killer. Almost she lusted for it. Her eyes gleamed as she prepared to fire. Kay smiled maliciously, electricity flickering between her hands. She raised her hands casually and aimed.

Elan threw her fire, desperate to deflect it. But she missed. Her eyes widened. There was no time: all she could do was await the blow. Her breath was forced out by its violence. In vain, she ran to Ella, knelt beside her. Then remembered. There was no opportunity to heal her. No one to continue the battle if she entered the trance required by human manipulation. To do so would kill them both.

Wiping away the tears before they fell, she simply ran.

....................................................................................................................................................

Around the corner, Elan stopped, her breath gasping out in her emotional turmoil. Try as she might to justify it, her choice had just got Ella killed. Her fault. Her failure. What was she to do now?

She shook herself. She could not fall apart now, not with her task still undone. How was she to succeed? It might be impossible to fight Westfield. It was certainly a risky path. Was there anyway with a greater probability of success?

She shrunk further into hiding as she saw someone approach. As he neared, she smiled in recognition and bittersweet pleasure. She nearly stepped out to greet him, then remembered. Uncertainty gripped her. She recalled all she had been told as her friends had tried to convince her out of this, and wondered if there was any truth in what they had said. How dangerous was what she was attempting? What damage could it do? She had previously laughed at the ridiculousness of the thought that this could somehow destroy the world, but what if it did do something? Nothing that drastic, but still detrimental.

Contemplating the possible consequences and actions she would have to take, she was struck by a new idea. It was possible that Daniel's survival would have to be hidden. If that did happen, why could she not take him away with her? She sighed in relief and stepped out.

"Hey, Danni!" she smiled.

"Hey, Els," he replied. "Why are you back early?"

"Early?" she frowned, then remembered. "Anyway, that doesn't matter. Daniel, you have to come away with me now."

"What?"He laughed.

"Really, it's important. Just trust me. We have to leave now."

She considered using persuasion on him, then immediately regretted the thought. She had no right to do so. And perhaps it would not work: it had failed her with Westfield. Perhaps it now would not work for her because she had abused it, forcing Ella to bring her here. She forced these thoughts away.

Daniel stared at her then nodded, recognising signs of her vexation on her face. Whatever it was, this was somehow vitally important to her.

"Fine by me. Can I just go get my stuff first?"

"No!" she exclaimed. "No......erm, I'll....I'll go get them instead. But you just stay here, you understand? Hide maybe. I'll be back soon."

He nodded, then reached to embrace her. As she touched him, she experienced a painfully familiar sensation. Horrified, she threw herself away. But it was too late. She already knew this. Numbly, she tried in vain to stop herself from understanding why.

"What's wrong, Elan?" he asked in concern. She shook her head mutely. Slowly, she forced herself to smile at him through her pain. To protect him from the knowledge that tore through her. Aware that she was lying, he still nodded.

"Stay with me, ok, Danni?" she whispered. "I won't leave you."

....................................................................................................................................................

Slowly, she guided him back to their street, and crouched behind a wall. Hating herself for what she was doing, she gestured at him to wait here and watch. But what else could she do? She had struggled with the truth throughout their journey, but there was no other explanation for why her ability had activated then. Daniel would die.

She wiped her face, grateful for the pouring rain which disguised the tears she could no longer restrain. Her entire willpower was focused on remaining outwardly calm for him, keeping him unaware.

They watched as Westfield appeared, stopped outside their house and glanced at the file. Elan barely restrained herself from attacking. She reminded herself that at least the woman had died herself for what she would do. She had been punished. Elan winced as the agent was thrown backwards, regenerated and was killed again. She placed a restraining hand on Daniel's shoulder.

Then her attention was pulled towards two newcomers, as Kay attacked these. Although she had barely met them, Elan knew their names. Benjamin Thomas Cottman. Lola Sanchez. Strangers who would risk their lives to save Daniel, and fail. And it was from Lola that she had gained human manipulation. In part, everytime she had used it, she owed the woman something. Elan felt a surge of affection towards to two, and bitterly she noticed herself......aware. Aware of both her brother's body, a sensation familiar from 2 years of wielding that power, and of....reality? Truth? Her contemplation was interrupted when a teenage boy ran to confront Westfield, and a new awareness was added to the mix. One of the whirling wind, the rain drenching her, the fire he hurled. Of the elements. Rhys Evans.

She watched as the fight became more and more violent, creating a storm. Numbly, she noticed that her newly acquired elementokinesis shielded her. She simply watched as the storm raged, lightening and fire hurled from the haze, the area transformed into rubble. She waited. Until Daniel fell as she had always known he would, and she caught him and softly lowered him to the ground.

"Love you, Danni," she whispered, then ran. Her tears already blinded her. "I'm so sorry I couldn't save you."

....................................................................................................................................................

The present

All evaded her eyes as Elan finished her tale, filled with regret. Trey stepped towards her and put his arm around her.

"I know you blame yourself, Elan, but it wasn't your fault. It was what had to happen."

She shrugged off his arm and angrily wiped away her tears.

"How was it not my fault?! I.....I took his ability. That's why he died, he was completely defenceless!"

"You don't know that," he began to argue, but she interrupted.

"Yes I do! How else did I survive? It wasn’t any of my abilities!"

"What happened in the HQ then?" interrupted Kent awkwardly, attempting to alter the subject. "How....how would what you told us have affected that?"

She hesitated.

"You use that power sometimes, and then you can access the ones you were exposed to then," answered Trey for her. "I'm not sure you even knew it. And sometimes you absorb new abilities too. That was how I first realised what must have happened."

"How?" she asked.

"When we raided their prison van a few months after, you absorbed luminescence. Just for a few seconds, but it showed. I knew you weren't using yours - you hadn't touched her. It was more....like mine. Then I remembered about Daniel, and how you'd talked constantly about saving him, then stopped.....I put the pieces together."

"So what, you're an empath too?" asked Kent.

"No....I don't know....it only happens sometimes..." she tried to explain.

"Could you train yourself to access it deliberately?"

Chapter 18 - Pieces

Hex: Everyone seems broken. No one knows what to do, to say....Have they given up? I thought I knew what I was getting into, thought I was prepared, but this, I can't be this. Even though I have to be.

Rachel: Fight the Company. Alone. Easy enough to say, Sarah! What the fuck can we do though? I can only think of one thing. But it's too risky! Even though when I think of it I start to believe that our abilities were almost designed for this.........

Kent: She won't accept it, will she? What she's done. Well, I understand that, I know exactly what it's like. But she won't accept the consequences either. What she needs to do now. Does she think we all should die for her grief? What does she want most, redemption or victory?

....................................................................................................................................................

Moira walked in a daze, free for the first time in a year. Or as free as she could be. To be fully free, of course, was impossible, for people like them. That was what she had learned. Painfully.

The memories chained her. She had been unable to save them. Prevented. Released now from Tristan's persuasion, she relived it with every step. The smoke. The screams. Attempting to shield her family from the blaze, using her ability with purpose for the first time. Then being told to stop. To leave. Walking away as if she did not care, being dragged away, leaving them to die.

Unconsciously, she dug her nails into her palm until it drew blood. The desire to avenge them grew into bloodlust, fuelled by the long months of helplessness she had suffered. Enslaved to their killer. Forced to protect him. So caught in her new-found loathing was she that she did not notice them. Not until they had caught her. She crumpled.

....................................................................................................................................................

Hex paused outside the door. What was he doing? Hadn't he already committed himself? Was he really this fickle? He sighed. The answers were he didn't know, yes.....and yes. Although he had said he would join, and meant it fully, he had not known what he was getting into. He had believed, wrongly, that he could cope with this.

"Hex?" Stevens stared at him. "What do you want?"

Uneasily, he entered the makeshift "meeting room". He swallowed as everyone turned to face him. He could imagine their reactions, their disappointment and disapproval, the possible accusations that he'd turned. None of them would understand. They were all too intertwined with this; they had given too much to it. Perhaps he had to escape before this happen to him too. If it was possible.

"I'm....I'm leaving," he stated. He held his breath, awaiting the explosion.

"Where will you go?" asked Elan. He blinked.

"No refusal?"

She laughed brokenly.

"We can't exactly chain you up here. And you wouldn't be much use that way! Hex, you're free to go if you want to. But if you do, can you take Danielle? I know she doesn't want to join us, but she needs someone to hide her. Safer than with us."

He nodded, numb with shock. Was he released so simply?

"What happened to "The Organisation never truly lets you go"?" he asked. Trey shook his head.

"That's not what it means," he answered.

....................................................................................................................................................

Rachel paced the floor of the room where they were temporarily residing. After her sister's rash declaration, she had insisted they wait, think on this. The thoughts that had occurred to her were disturbing. They urged her to take risks she had once hoped she would never consider. What was happening to her?

"Rach? What are you thinking about?" asked Sarah. She sighed.

"About what you said earlier. I'm starting to think you're right. But I can't really think of how, not really....."

"Not really?" Sarah replied. "You've thought of something - I can tell."

"A stupid, reckless idea. More like one of your most daft ones. I thought.....well, it just occurred to me that.......that our powers would be best suited for.....gathering information."

"You mean like spying?" grinned Sarah.

"It's not funny!" she retorted. Sarah continued to laugh.

"Might be fun," she remarked. "No, ok, I'll take this seriously. I know it'll be dangerous. But we will. If we can do anything to help take those bastards down, maybe one day we can get our lives back."

Rachel nodded.

"Or at least give others back theirs," she added. "Our people shouldn't have to hide forever."

....................................................................................................................................................

"What's Hex going to do now?" asked Elan.

"Go back to his life, into hiding, whatever he choses really," shrugged Kent. "It doesn't matter. What matters is what we do now."

"What we do?" she repeated. "The same, surely? Wreck whatever the Company's doing next. Are there any new reports?"

"None yet. But we need to talk. About what you can do. Elan, you have to learn to wield it."

She glared.

"What if I don't want to talk about it?" she hissed.

"What if you have to?" he retorted fiercely. He had known this would be her attitude, but it still irritated him that she reacted this way. She must now the significance of this, how it could aid them all!

"Let it go, please, Kent" she pleaded. He sighed, then rose to his feet and left.

Stevens looked at her awkwardly, unaware of what they had been discussing. But he understood how she could possibly have secrets she'd rather keep buried. He himself would rather forget when he left. So he nodded at her and Trey, gestured that he would go search for more reports, and left too.

"Can I ask one question, Elan?" Trey asked. She nodded. "How did you get back then?"

"I didn't age much in 2 years, Trey."

"You just lived through the years?" he gasped. "What did you do - hide until your other self had left and you could rejoin us?"

She nodded.

"Like I'd never disappeared," she muttered bitterly. He nodded, unsure of how to continue.

"Elan," he started, "I understand this is the last thing you want to do, but try to accept it. We need it. And if you use it against the Company.....maybe you'll feel you've earned redemption."

....................................................................................................................................................

Moira strained to visualise anything in the pit-black darkness, but in vain. She could not see. She could not move. She could do nothing. Alone and frightened, she forced back her tears, and struggled to think of anything she could do. But her mind was blank. Once more, she was helpless.

Suddenly she heard the sounds of fighting outside. Her fear escalated. Her prison began shaking, and smoke poured in thickly. She began coughing, her eyes stinging and streaming, and attempted to shout for help. No reply came. For the first time, she tried to use her ability to shield herself. And failed. The sounds of combat drew nearer. She curled up, defenceless, hoping in desperation that she would be spared. If that ever happened. Her life on the streets had not left her in much optimisim.

She screwed shut her eyes against the sudden brightness. Temporarily blinded, she heard harsh voices and then she was grasped roughly and pulled upwards. She was blindfolded, chained and carried away.

Chapter 19 - Threat

Danielle: This is weird, right? I guess I couldn't stay there though. They told me how many times their base had been attacked, I should have been terrified. This makes loads more sense. Where do we go though?

Sarah: We're really doing this. I can hardly believe I persuaded Rachel to let me do this, let alone get involved herself! And this is huge! I'm terrified, I must be mad........

Moira: Where am I? What's happened to me? Who am I captive to now? Will I ever be free? Is there any freedom in all of this? Am I kidding myself in ever believing I could actually do something?

Wendy: Where do I go now? I know I want to leave, go my own way........at least a part of me does. The rest of me seems to want to stay. Here. With these! Why? Am I just clinging to the familiar? All I've known is gang after gang. Maybe that's why I want to leave too. But is there a reason that's all I know?

....................................................................................................................................................

"How do we do this then?" asked Rachel. "Where do we go? You know I need to know where.........I can't just think Company HQ and end up there."

Sarah mused. It seemed they had struck upon a dead end. Was there anything they could do? Then she remembered. One of them had in fact seen inside that building. Or a part of it. She shivered as she recalled the long weeks without hope, imprisoned in its bowels. Never had she believed she would become grateful for that experience. But she was now.

"I think I could help," she began. "I saw it, when I was captive. Maybe if I describe the place to you, you can take us there."

Swiftly, she told Rachel all she could of the lock-up. Then she turned herself invisible, grasped her sister's arm tightly, and focused on that place as they were both slammed into the wall.

Rachel opened her eyes, and strained into the sudden darkness. As a guard passed, she instinctively shrunk into the corner, then smiled softly as she remembered.

"So now we just look around until we find something useful?" Rachel whispered.

"Guess so," replied Sarah. "I don't know the plan of this place or anything, so I doubt we have any other option. The doorway's clear now - let's go."

....................................................................................................................................................

"You want to stay here, Blake?" jeered Leon. Wendy blinked tiredly. All day, those two had been at each other's throats while she followed them blindly. None had any idea where they were going. Blake, given the lead due to his previous reputation at the Company, had simply led them in circles. Now they had arrived back at the remnants of their previous base.
She folded down beside the broken door frame. Both men stared at her.

"What are you doing?" barked Blake. "Get up!"

"For what?" she glared. "Do any of you have any idea where we're even going? What's wrong with staying here for a while?"

"Are you stupid?" he demanded. "Or do you want him to find us again? Or the Organisation? Not to mention that the Company will have heard of this chaos by now and will soon swarm here like the vermin they are."

Leon laughed.

"What's wrong? Shouldn't you want that? We all know you're going to go running back to them in the end."

Wendy sighed. What was she doing here? What had happened to her, to leave her like this, so much in fear that she clung to those she hated? The shadowy nightmares began to creep up on her again in her despair. Reflexively she threw them outwards. As her vision cleared, she saw the 2 men stop, staring vacantly into space, terror growing on their faces as she trapped them. A bitter satisfaction grew within her. The nightmares surged, filling her with sensation of power, sweet and rare.

She heard footsteps behind her, and turned, her expression one of absent glee. The stranger chuckled softly.

"You think that stops me?" he questioned. "No, it only makes me stronger!"

....................................................................................................................................................

After they had been teleported into the building, Danielle followed Hex to the door. She started as he, instead of using a key, used his ability to unlock it. He laughed.

"Little security measure," he remarked. She rolled her eyes.

"How am I supposed to get in then?"

They entered. Immediately she noted how sterile the place was. No pictures, nothing to identify him.

"Why don't you have......?" she began.

"Nothing that could lead them to others. Or to me if I manage to escape."

She nodded. She had begun to understand what this new life would be like. No reminders of her past, her self, those she had cared for. She would not be able to risk them. Surreptitiously, she wiped her eyes and glanced at him. And frowned. An expression of vexation was on his face.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He began to answer, then stopped. Was forced to stop. Forced to stop in order to deflect a taser hurtling towards her. Suddenly they were bombarded. She ducked and dived as he deflected as many as he could mid-path, and attempted to dodge those he failed. Then the deflection stopped. She felt her side pierced, the sting of electricity, then her perception faded as she too collapsed.

....................................................................................................................................................

Moira's hands shook as she removed the blindfold, finally alone to do so. She rose and walked around the stark, bare room. It was cold and remarkless, no signs of weakness, no possible weapons. But it did not seem a prison.

"Feel free to explore."

She span around at the voice, her arms reflexively raised defensively. Somehow, there was now an elderly man seated in the corner. He had not been there before. She was certain. But his demeanour was completely unthreatening, and he raised his hands in a gesture showing that he meant no threat. Slowly, she lowered her guard.

"Where....where am I? Who are you?" she stuttered nervously.

"We saved you, Moira," he replied, "You were being taken prisoner. We attacked those who had you captive, and brought you here. Where we can help you. We're a company that takes care of people like you."

"Thanks," she muttered, uncertain of how to react. No one had ever treated her so, not since........ Grimly, she forced herself not to complete that thought.

"Unfortunately," he began, grimacing, "those who attacked you previously will be likely to stop us. They're likely to succeed. Unless......no, I shouldn't ask you....but maybe, if you were willing........."

She nodded.

"You want me to help you? What can I do?"

....................................................................................................................................................

Frightened, Wendy realised the 2 men in order for them to be able to fight. Defend her. She crouched behind them as the stranger approached, an eager expression on his face and darkness clouding his hands. Trembling, she questioned why her ability had failed. Why she was now helpless. She nearly shrieked in frustration: this was meant to give her power, control, so why wan't it?

Blake braced himself and threw a bolt of electricity directly at the man, then stared as it simply vanished into the darkness. Leon threw a crimson beam, with the same result. The man laughed. He stepped closer, and the darkness began to stream towards them.

"Stalemate," stated Leon calmly. "Before that stuff gets close enough to kill us, I'll get a clear angle at you. So what do you want?"

He laughed again.

"Want? To get out of this shit, same as you. But we can't do that, can we? So we fight each other, fight everyone, create chaos because it's what we can do."

Wendy paused. Suddenly she saw a way out of this. Out of the confrontation, and possibly out of their entire situation.

She stepped forwards, a new glow in her eyes.

"But we don't fight everyone," she declared. "We just stay in the shadows, like the nightmares we are. We don't take on the Company, or those goodie-two-shoes Organisation. Should we?"

....................................................................................................................................................

After carefully checking that there were no onlookers, Sarah pushed open yet another door and they crept in. All day they had searched for something, anything, but to no avail. The Company hid its secrets too well. Were there even any to find? She forced these doubts away. Of course there were. None could control, manipulate, destroy as completely as they did, without there being any means of striking back. And they would discover those means.

She looked around; they were in an office. Files cloaked the walls and littered the floor, piles upon piles. But as both leafed through them, they found nothing. She suspected that the Company would not keep its vital documents in such a low-level office, so accessible. In that case, where would they be? Some secluded, heavily guarded part of the building? One they could never hope to access. Unless..............

She smiled.

"You remember that room we found with all the CCTV footage, Rach?"

After crashing through the wall, they watched in silence behind the agents responsible for monitoring the footage. Watched with bated breath as the screens flickered and changed, showing room after room. Waiting for the one they needed.

"That one?"

Sarah nodded. She grasped Rachel tightly once more as they again slammed into the wall and out into another office. But this time one that was modern and high-tech, cold and clinical. Possibly the very heart of the Company. The two smiled broadly.

"Some technopaths sure could have fun here!" commented Sarah.

"We're not technopaths though," laughed Rachel. "You wanted to fight these, well, focus and start looking!"

For an hour they trawled through the files and computers. Suddenly Sarah smiled.

"We've got it! This is all anyone would need to bring them down!"

....................................................................................................................................................

Danielle woke up shivering in a damp cell. Dimly she recognised it from her memories of being a Company prisoner. She was alone. She did not know whether Hex had escaped, or had simply been locked away elsewhere. She sniffed. She would at least hope he was free.

Slowly she rose from the cot and walked up to the cell's door. The guard on duty glanced at her once, then looked down again. But that was unimportant. What mattered was not what he had seen, but what she had seen: no glowing figures. She was powerless. For now.

As another guard entered, she leaned closer to try to listen in.

"She's to be transported too?"

The other nodded. She saw a glimmer of hope. From what she had been told, this would be her greatest opportunity to escape. And she was determined to do so.

....................................................................................................................................................

The man paused, looking at Moira intently.

"It'll be dangerous," he warned.

"Whatever, I'll do it. You saved me, I need to repay you."

He sighed, then nodded.

"If you're willing. We need someone to infiltrate them, let them find you. Pretend to join them. Then we'll attack."

She nodded, uncertainly. She could not see how she would fit into this. She could not fight, her ability was not offensive.

"Do you want me to protect you and your fighters?" she offered.

He shook his head, and gestured at her to sit down again.

"We've attacked them before, but the problem is, they keep healing their dead and injured. We become outnumbered, however many fighters we bring. But this is where you'll make the difference this time."

"How?" she asked. "I.....I can't fight! I can't hurt anyone! How would I make up for their.........undead?"

He smiled.

"By stopping them."

Chapter 20 - Split

Rachel: I can't believe this - we've done it! We, of all people! This is huge, with this information; maybe the Company could be taken down at last. Or it could be started anyway. But what do we do with it?

Moira: Stopping them? Can I really do that? I know, it's in my power, but........I can't fully believe that I could have such an effect. And I can work out what they intend me to do. It's such a risk! But shouldn't it be a risk I'm willing to take? I said I'd do whatever they asked.

Blake: Apparently now we're going to take on both! What are they thinking? How the hell can we do that? What happened to my retirement plan? (laughing) Retirement - is that what this is meant to be? They're right. We're nightmares now, hidden in the shadows. And sick of it.

....................................................................................................................................................

"What do we do now?" asked Sarah.

"Get out of here?"

"You know what I mean. What do we do, with this?"

She gestured at the USB drive in her hand. Such a small thing, to hold such possible destruction. To hold their only hope.

"What can we do?" Sarah mused. "I mean, we can't act on this, alone. Can we?"

"No!" snapped Rachel. "Sarah, that's too dangerous! What would we do when we got there, anyway? This isn't information for us."

"I thought you wanted nothing to do with..........them," stated Sarah coldly. She knew well what her sister thought of these.

Rachel sighed.

"I know. But.........maybe we need them. We can't do this. It's not what we're for. It's what they're for."

"So, we take it to them?"

Rachel nodded.

"They'll know what to do with it. We'll go to Hex; he'll be able to contact them."

....................................................................................................................................................

Wendy sighed, staring downwards at her hands as the argument escalated once more. Leon rolled his eyes, then continued his bombardment of the table, burning gashes into it. Elias stood with his back to them, focused on his argument with Blake.

"I'm telling you, we're not leaving them be!" he yelled.

"They're small fry, Becker," replied Blake contemptuously. "If we're going to do this, we need to take on the Company straight away. We'd be wasting our time with the Organisation, and our energy and resources too. Why bother with them?"

Elias glared at him.

"They're the one reason I'm joining you lot. Get it?"

"What do they have on you? What makes it so bloody personal?"

"Same as you!" he retorted furiously. "They got to me once before, stopped me, since they're so fucking perfect and know exactly what we should and shouldn't do, of course. Just like you and your Company."

"What do we do then? I'm not wasting my time with the puny little Organisation, just for your personal reasons."

Leon raised a hand. Both automatically stopped, raising their own in response to the perceived threat. He smirked.

"Scared?" he gloated. "Anyway, who says we can only attack one at a time?"

Slowly, they lowered their guard. Blake bit his lip, pensively. Elias frowned.
Wendy raised her head. Once more, an idea had struck her.

"The prisons," she muttered. "Company guards, Organisation captives. Enough for all."

....................................................................................................................................................

Once more, the atmosphere within the meeting room was tense. The arrival of Beth, that morning, had done nothing to break the tension. Half-spoken criticisms and echoing arguments clung to them.

"What do we do now?" Beth asked pointlessly, repeating herself simply to break the silence.

Kent rose to his feet, and walked towards one of the doors.

"I've sort of managed to make a contact within that gang. Leon. He's just after chaos, and I convinced him that playing them would create that. He's feeding me information."

"You know it'll be a trap," warned Elan immediately. "Chaos. You said it yourself."

Kent nodded.

"He doesn't realise I get more from him than he says, though," he continued. "They're planning to attack both us and the Company. And they've been joined by another. He's named Elias Becker, has some sort of energy emission, fuelled by negative emotion."

Neither noticed how Trey started at the name.

"What are they planning then?" asked Beth worriedly.

Kent shook his head.

"They hadn't planned that yet. I'm meeting him again tomorrow, hopefully he'll know by then. After I find out, we can plan a possible counter, if needed."

Trey nodded.

"You know something, Bourne?" asked Kent.

"You remember Lincoln North? A member of ours for years, I found him in that lock-up recently. He's on a field assignment now. I've known him for years. He's had prior experience with Becker, plenty. We'll need him."

"Why should we bother him?" asked Elan.

"Don't underestimate Becker," he warned. "He's powerful. And dangerous."

She nodded.

"I won't."

..................................................................................................................................................

Moira's hands shook as she travelled, again in a featureless van, to this location. She had not been told much. Anything really. All she knew was that she should know little. That, and what she was intended to do.
She forced herself to take a deep, calming breath.

"I can do this," she told herself. "I have to be able to do this."

She wished she could believe herself. It was not using her power she feared, but the part before that. Ensnaring these people, making them believe she was on their side. That she believed them. That she didn't know the truth.

Remembering this, she dug her nails deeper into her palms, attempting to force away the emotional pain of the memories, the information she had been given; with physical pain. She clenched her jaw, trying to forget. Forget the smell of smoke, the cries of anguish, the lurid glare of firelight and the sensation of tears staining her cheek. Forget that this had been no accident, as she had believed all year: that there had been more to their deaths than Tristan's lack of mercy, and her weakness in defying him. Brusquely, she forced her thoughts in a different direction. She could not focus on this now. She would not lose herself to the grief. Not when she had been awarded an opportunity to achieve what she had sworn to do. She glanced down and her hands, noticing in shock the blood she had drawn.

Suddenly the movement stopped. She barely had time to pick herself up after falling, before she was forced to squint against the bright glare of the sunlight.

"We're here?"

Her guide nodded.

"This is the last known address of a known member. She was seen here a few days ago."

"I just go in?"

He nodded. She gulped. She understood she would have no more assistance.

....................................................................................................................................................

Softly Hex traced the contours of the wall, noticing bitterly its continuity. Its reality. He could no longer alter it, change it. Not weaken it, create an exit..........not even alter the dimensions of one brick. He sighed. He did not like being so helpless: he had always been able to look after himself. But this time he had failed. He asked himself, how had they found him? How had he let his guard down? And he had got Danielle caught too. He had told the Organisation he could protect her, but he had lied. Numbly, he wondered where they had taken her. Was she safe? He laughed at himself. Of course not! None of their kind was safe here.

At a faint sound, he looked up. Nothing. He shook his head. He must have imagined it, misinterpreted something insignificant for footsteps. He looked down again.

"Hex?"

He raised his head at the whisper. Could it be?

The two regained visibility as Sarah threw caution into the wind and ran towards his cell.

"Hex?! What are you doing here?"

"I got caught," he whispered tersely. "They were waiting for me at home. They took Danielle Grace too; I don't know where they're holding her."

Rachel stepped forwards and put a hand on her sister's shoulder. Awkwardly, she tore her eyes away from Hex.

"We have to leave......" she started awkwardly.

"We can't leave him here!" Sarah insisted.

"Sarah, remember what you're carrying!" she whispered urgently. "I hate this, really, I do.....but we have to.......we can't let them recapture this. No matter what....."

However, her pain was clear on her face and in her voice. She was torn.
Hex leaned forwards.

"What is it?" he asked.

"We were spying," Rachel admitted. "We found some information that the Organisation could use against these. We came here to transport out, we were coming to see you to ask you to give it to them............"

Suddenly Sarah was struck by an idea.

"You take it!" She turned to her sister, forcing the USB drive into her palm. "You can get out of here; Hex'll tell you where to take it. I'll stay and try to free him."

Still she hesitated.

"I can't just leave him here. Neither can you. We both know that."

Reluctantly, Rachel nodded. Swiftly, Hex described to her the latest base, and she turned to face the wall. She sighed. Without turning back, she threw herself into the wall, taking her regret with her.

....................................................................................................................................................

In the base, the discussion was interrupted by noise outside. A knock on the front door. They hesitated. Each one glanced over at Kent, who rose and checked who it was. A teenage girl stood there, with red hair and grey eyes. He recognised her.

"What are you doing here?" he gasped.

"I'm sorry," she stuttered. "I didn't know where to go..........after I escaped, I wandered around.......but I was scared ....he....'d find me again. I.....I heard you lot helped people like us."

He hesitated, then let her in. She was right. It was for this the Organisation existed.

He re-entered the meeting room.

"What do we do with her? We don't exactly have anywhere.......this isn't a base! It's a hideout!"

"What was I supposed to do, Stevens? Turn her away?"

Stevens shook his head.

"No, she stays. We protect, after all."

"What do we do about them, now? The same?" asked Trey. Kent nodded.

"This doesn't alter that danger. We have to prevent it. Some of us'll just have to stay here, guard Moira just in case. Trey, you and Lincoln should........."

He was interrupted by the sudden appearance of Rachel, flinging herself out from the wall and falling onto the floor. Immediately, he stopped the plans. All 5 formed a defensive circle around her.

"Who are you? How did you get here?" demanded Stevens. Trembling, she explained. What she and her sister, had done, what they had found, how Sarah had remained to attempt freeing Hex. After she had finished, she mutely handed over the USB drive.

"They'll never get out," whispered Beth, horrified.

Elan shook her head.

"It's never been done," she admitted. "Not without help. They'll transfer them to the main prison once they're caught."

"It's hopeless. We can't do anything for them. We just have to interpret this, do our best to use what they found. Make the sacrifice worthwhile, at least."

"No!" insisted Elan. "I'm not leaving them there! I got Trey out once, I can do it again."

"We can't risk it, sorry. It was luck that got you out last time," stated Kent.

"No," interrupted Trey, "it is possible. We should at least attempt it."

"No! Remember? We already have a mission! We can't abandon it. Trey, I need you for this."

"I'm not abandoning my sister," whispered Rachel.

Elan shook her head.

"I'm trying it, anyway. And I think Rachel's coming with me."

Chapter 21 - Risk

Rachel: Can we do this? Is it even possible? I never thought I'd be..........doing something......like this. Trying to raid the Company prisons! It's madness! But I have to, I guess. I just can't leave Sarah, or Hex. I wouldn't have thought I'd be getting any help from the Organisation though.

Kent: I guess we have to split, then. I don't blame Rachel, but why is Elan doing this? It's not like her. Or is it only the Company that she fights, now? Still, it's stupid, reckless, hopeless......

....................................................................................................................................................

Danielle swallowed as the guard unlocked the door, and brusquely led her out. Stubbornly, she attempted to stop her trembling. She would not let them see her fear. Though she knew it was of no use, she could not prevent herself from wondering where she would be taken, what would happen to her now? Already, she had learned that she was wasting her breath in questioning her captors. The only evidence that she existed to them was their ceaseless vigilance. She shuddered at his hard grip, as she was forced through the lock-up, deeper into the bowels of the building. She could do nothing but keep walking, gritting her teeth and keeping her eyes lowered to prevent them from seeing the intent there.

When they finally stopped, she stumbled. She was caught, mercilessly, and thrown into the back of the transit van. Darkness overcame her as the doors were slammed shut with a metallic clang.

By the time she had recovered, the van had left the HQ. She forced herself to take deep breaths. The engine's growl and the reverbations were strangely calming. Now, with no threatening presence nearby to disturb her, she could finally think. Plan. Even though she was certain she was clutching at straws, she was determined to at least attempt an escape. Before, she had been caught easily, and had been the perfect, quiet prisoner. But she was no longer that girl. Her time in captivity, and afterwards, had changed her, and now, she thought, she would be a fighter. She smiled, pleased with this image of herself. Really, what would she do? What could she do? Talking about fighting was easy enough. After all that, she could not alter the fact that she was just a young girl. Just a child. How could she fight what was happening to her people?

Dispirited, she gazed vacantly around the cell formed by the back of the van. By now, her eyes had acclimatised to the faint lighting, allowing her to make out some detail. The outline of the doors; the plain, metallic walls; the restraints keeping her in place. The partition between her and her guards, siluetted in blue light. A very familiar blue light.

Danielle jerked her head upwards as she realised what this meant. An auma! She did not know how, but she was no longer powerless. She grinned. This was the mistake she had been waiting for them to make.

"Can we stop?" she pleaded, making her voice as pitiful as possible. "I've hurt myself."

Unknown to the guards, she was manipulating their aumas. Making them sympathetic, naive. They glanced at each other, then the one driving stepped on the brake pedal.

"Can you let me out? Just for a little while."

As soon as she was unlocked, she kicked that guard in the face. Before he could recover, she had manipulated his auma, making his too dispirited and despondent to pursue her. She did the same to the second guard. He slumped to the floor. She ran away as fast as her legs could carry her.

She was completely out of breath, and barely able to stand, before she paused. Glancing around, she realised she had no idea where she was. She braced herself on a nearby wall, and thought of what she'd done. For the first time, she'd used her ability offensively. And on a Company guard, no less! She was certain now that they would pursue her intently. It seemed there was avoiding this war for her. But she had no idea where to go.

....................................................................................................................................................

A strange silence still echoed around the room, reminding all in it of the Organisation's recent split, despite the hours that had passed. They had all been separated before, of course, falling into different teams and pairs to fulfil different tasks. But this seemed different. A rift had formed between them, with their cause already so forlorn, their members so few now. The atmosphere tasted of despair. A foreshadowing doubt clung to them; a warning, already too late, that they should not separate. Not now.

Trey shook his head, trying to clear it of these lingering thoughts and baseless fears. There was no reason to believe that something would go wrong. At least, no more reason than usual. He sighed. Waiting for Kent to return with news of their target, each hour seemed an eternity, dragging infinitely.

"Have you contacted Lincoln then?" asked Stevens. He nodded.

"He seemed eager."

Stevens laughed sourly, thinking to himself that these young men were mad, with their bloodlust, their willingness to throw everything away. He remembered a time when he had been the same, then smiled at himself, caught in nostalgia.

"While you're off having fun attacking these, I'll be holding the fort here?" he checked. "Babysitting? And trying to interpret what those girls stole, I guess. Could be useful. The worst it could be is completely disasterous."

Trey nodded once more, too terse to speak. He still could not completely shake off the anticipation of disaster. Or maybe not disaster, exactly. But something.......something would go wrong.

They glanced to the door as it opened, then relaxed as they saw that it was Kent returning.

"What news?" inquired Trey immediately. "What are they planning?"

"He'll have forewarned them, obviously," mused Kent, ignoring the question for now. "Looking for chaos as usual. So they'll be planning an ambush, expecting us, and we'll just have to spring it."

"Kent!" shouted Stephens. He took the hint.

"They're attacking the main Company prisons. They think they can strike at both groups that way - Organisation captives and Company guards."

He smiled crookedly.

"Looks like we'll be fighting there after all."

....................................................................................................................................................

After Rachel had left, Sarah had hesitated, hidden, for several hours. As soon as she was alone, with their best escape route lost, the recklessness and impossibility of what she had chosen to do struck her in full. And yet, she was also certain that she could not have left with her sister. She could not leave Hex here. Perhaps the reason they had come was, after all, not to spy, but to save him.

"Yeah, back to that," she muttered to herself, under her breath. "Now, how exactly am I going to do that?"

As soon as he was out of the cell, she knew she could hide him with her ability. Then they would have to search for an exit, but they would find one eventually - there had to be. The difficult part would be freeing him in the first place.

Suddenly, she was struck by guilt. What was she doing, hesitating, safely hidden and free, while Hex was depending upon her? Why did she wait? She would have to act now, with whatever plan she had. She knew that, whilst in the main section, the guards' section, all abilities were accessible, but were blocked within the cells. She would have to do something about that. If Hex could use his reality manipulation, he could easily get himself out of the cell. So she needed to cause that to happen.

She stepped forwards, regained visibility, and explained this plan to him.

"You'll need to find the inhibitor," he said. "Did you happen to find out where that was, in your search?"

Sarah forced her thoughts backwards, into her memories of the previous hours. Everything was vague, blurred by its repetitivity, and overshadowed by her excitement when they had found that information. Her fear of capture did not exactly help either. But she told herself to force this down. Concentrate. Finally, she recalled seeing CCTV footage of complex machinery with an extensive power source. That must be it. She focused further, and remembered where it had been located.

"I remember where it was," she whispered. "I'll go bring it down, then I'll be back before you know it. Don't leave before I'm back. Don't show them you're free."

....................................................................................................................................................

Moira sat uneasily in a room upstairs, trying to forget what she had heard. It wasn't as if she could do anything about it, anyway, she told herself. She had been told, over and over, that by no means was she to risk exposing herself by attempting to communicate with her friends once she was here. Whatever the reason. Still, she listened as the door slammed shut. She knew that those 2 had left for this mission of theirs. Only she, the young girl and the middle-aged man remained here. She felt she ought to go downstairs. How was she meant to make these trust her if she never spoke to any of them?

But she didn't want to. She hated these people. She had to. After what they had done.............that was unforgiveable. And therefore it would be unforgiveable for her to relent. She told herself this repeatedly. Chastising herself for the way she felt this loathing weakening, slipping away, with the time she had spent with them. Only a little, but then, she had only been here a short time? What would happen after weeks, months? When her friends attacked, would she still be strong enough to play her part? She could not help herself: with them, she began to see their humanity. But it was all an act. A trick. They were inhuman - they had already proven this last year. So, she would not be this weak, falling for this deception. She would have their blood. Her hands would be drenched in it; this was the only way to avenge her family. Didn't these deserve that? In her mind, she pictured it. Her crimson victory.

Reluctantly, but with new certainty, she came downstairs.

The man glanced at her briefly, obviously distracted by what he was doing. A computer was open before him, and he searched through some documents. He was focused intently on this task. The girl, some 2 years younger than herself, looked up at her and smiled in welcome. Moira shivered, then forced herself to smile back.

"What are you looking at, Stevens?" asked the girl curiously. As he replied, his expression was strange: one almost of pain. Moira wondered why, then reminded herself that these were of no concern to her. He shook his head, cleared his thoughts, then answered her.

"It's that stuff Rachel Westfield brought from the Company HQ yesterday. I'm searching through it for anything we could use."

She nodded. Moira felt a chill run through her at these words.

Stevens paled. He was visibly in shock at what he had found.

....................................................................................................................................................

Rachel waited, hidden, watching the building, and contemplated about the amount of time she had recently spent hidden in shadows and trespassing in Company buildings. What was happening to her? The one lifestyle she would never have chosen, when everything changed, and now, in truth, it was what she found herself living. She glanced at her companions. No doubt they were used to this - it was normality to them. They would find it strange to be otherwise. Perhaps they even enjoyed it. She would never know: all of these had to be vastly different people from her, with a gulf between them far too vast for her to cross.

Again, she looked at them, searching in their faces for some sign that would help her cross that gulf. After all, these two women were her allies now: she should try to understand them. She wondered what was different about these 2, why these had chosen to accompany her when the others in the Organisation had refused. One seemed calm, composed, at the surface, but a deep terror was hidden beneath, visible after closer attention. Rachel wondered what it was that she feared. The other scanned the building, her eyes glimmering darkly. Rachel remembered that she had claimed to have freed another from this place before. She wondered what drove her, what drove both of them. Both seemed to have an aura of pain and darkness: they personified all Rachel feared about the world they lived in and the life they had chosen. The almost certainty of losing yourself, if you chose to fight.

She was started out of her contemplations when the second woman gestured to her.

"How are we getting in, then? Can you take us in there? The security is too heavy to fight through."

Rachel shook her head.

"I haven't seen the place. I need to be able to see it."

Elan paused. Her telepathy was too weak to pass on her memories of the place into Rachel's mind.

"You said you'd been here before, though. How did you get in that time?" asked Rachel. "Why can't we just use the same method?"

"I used persuasion," she muttered, distracted, "but.........is there no other way? Could we run in, if we took down the power generators?"

"No, Elan," replied the other. "They've got measures to prevent electrokinesis from destroying them, remember? I doubt that they don't have measures against pyrokinesis or my heat blasts."

Elan grimaced.

"I could still run us in. We'd get past the first guards. It'd be the same with persuasion. Kent was right, we did get lucky that time."

Rachel felt more and more out of depth with every passing moment, and her only hope was to trust these. She reassured herself that they were experienced in fighting the Company. They knew what they were doing.

"So what do we do?" she asked hesitantly. "I'm not leaving!"

Elan smiled recklessly.

"Run in? After all, you can get us out if things go badly. Or, better yet, behind the guards."

....................................................................................................................................................

Sarah raced from the lock-up, up one flight of stairs and to the location of the inhibitor, trusting solely in her invisibility to keep undetected. She only paused when she nearly ran into a squadron of guards on patrol. They whispered hoarsely, exchanging rumours of an escape, a transfer gone wrong. She grinned. Soon they would have another escape to discuss. After they passed, she raced on. She did not stop until she reached the doors recognisible from the CCTV footage, and she ground to a halt. She savoured the sensation of being so close to her goal. She had doubted, in all honesty, that she could achieve this: it had not been hope but a sense of loyalty, almost duty, which had compelled her to stay. But now she was here. Seconds away from the inhibitor. Seconds away from freedom for both her and Hex.

She gently pushed the doors open slightly, and slid inside. Her anticipation blinded her at first. She was so close.......... now, there was nothing she could imagine that could stop her.

It took a while for her eyes to adjust to the vivid lighting glaring off white panels and metal. Dully, she noted that the CCTV footage must have been filtered for this room. When her vision cleared, she could see a network of thick cables from every direction, feeding into a complexity which she could barely take in, all contained within a vast, white room. Her footsteps echoed eerily, disturbing the quiet and the cathedral-like atmosphere. She could not help but realise this was a place where no one was meant to enter. She took a breath, and stepped closer to the machinery, until she could make out what she assumed could be the controls. Her breath caught in her throat. So close.........so close......... she felt as though she only had to reach out, and she could grasp their escape.

Slowly, she walked towards it. One step, two, three. Nearly there. Nearly free.

Her disappointment was so acute that it overwhelmed the pain when she was shot in the back.

Falling, she swore as she realised what she had done. So confident that she was already there, she had not considered that the inhibitor affect her in its immediate vicinity. She should have been more careful. She had not thought of hiding from the cameras, or noticed the guards entering. So arrogant. And now it was too late, she had screwed up and now they would have no escape. No freedom. It was over.

Chapter 22 - Flawed, Part 1

Wendy: So we're here. Agents of chaos, as planned. What do we do now? Is there even a plan of attack? I don't want to end up like those suckers in there.

Trey: Why do I have the feeling that something will go wrong? Not for me personally, or for the Organisation as a whole, or any of its members. Just..............something. And it won't go away, it clings and sticks to the back of my mind. A warning. But there's nothing I can do about it.

Beth: What am I doing here? I know, I couldn't help but somehow feel responsible when I heard their story, and that was relieved a little when I thought of coming here, with Elan and Rachel, to free them. But why? What makes it up to me, my task to fight here? I only started this because of Craig - why am I continuing now, without him?

Elias: This place is amazing! I've never sensed so much negativity, so much power - it's like ................being augmented, on an adrenaline rush..........everything! All together!! Here, I'll be unstoppable. I only hope those fuckheads from the Organisation took the bait, and will turn up. I'm in the mood to slaughter some.

....................................................................................................................................................

Beth nodded. In the short time she had been with the Organisation, she had been taught much about the defences the Company employed, and now she could think of no suggestions less faulty than those already offered. From the 2, Elan clearly preferred the thought of using enhanced speed, and Beth did not question this. She knew that, in the kind of world they lived in, everyone had their secrets, their shame and their right to privacy. Instinctively, she knew this was such an issue. Rachel chewed her lip, indecicive, unhappy with their so-called plan, but she said nothing, yielding to their superior experience in these matters.

"So, now?" Beth whispered. The two nodded. There was no reason to hesitate further.

Elan grasped hold of the pair of them, and raced forwards between the agents standing guard. They had barely enough time to notice the blur before the 3 had passed out of their sight. No time to marshall an attack. But time enough to set of the alarms, call out thousands of agents to the fight.

Elan ground to a halt, and crouched behind a corner, watching these deployed. Even with their abilities, they would be greatly outnumbered. The last time, causing an alarm had not exactly assisted; it was caution that was needed. She checked that the next hallway was clear, before rushing silently along it, with the others in her wake, and pausing at the next turning.

"Elan!" whispered Beth urgently, gesturing her beside her. "Can you use any of your abilities?"

She frowned. Why would she be unable to? The inhibitor would have been removed, that was the Company's policy. That had been its policy for 5 years. Still, the anxiety in Beth's face and voice urged her to test it. She attempted to create fire. Nothing. Electricity. Nothing. Telekinesis, telepathy, speed. Nothing.

In shock, she shook her head.

"What's happened? Have they changed it?"

"They must have," replied Beth. "Maybe put some sort of local inhibitor here? Or they have an antidote to the inhibitor, and that's released near their guards?"

"The second one, more likely. If they knew where we were, we'd be caught by now. Or maybe the antidote's not a gas, something they inject or give orally to all the agents before they start the shift. That's not important. What are we going to do now?"

"What can we do? I can think of fuck all. Except avoid guards .... what do we tell Rachel?"

Elan paused, unsure. It was better, surely, to know exactly what situation they were in......but in reality, what good would that do? Rachel's hopes, she sensed, were already hanging upon a string. If they told her, she might give up. Only might...........but should they take the risk?

"Should we tell her?" asked Beth hesitantly. "Maybe she's better off not knowing. I was better off not knowing................"

Elan nodded her agreement. Then, she cautiously glanced around the corner, and once more motioned her companions forward with her.

A feeling of unease grew with her with every step. She tried to tell herself it was simply the knowledge that she had no power while her enemies did which caused it, but still it did not fade. She wanted to ask the other 2 if they had the same doubt, but she did not trust herself to speak. So she continued on, in silence.

They walked on, in this fashion, for what felt like miles, the hours dragging like millstones as their need for caution grew. Then, Elan darted back from the corner immediately after turning it.

"Guards," she mouthed. No other warning was needed. They turned back, and sought another way around.

But with every turning, every opening, every doorway, the result was the same. Never a clear route, always too much danger to attempt to go that way. Soon, it dawned on them that there was no way through.

They were surrounded.

....................................................................................................................................................

On the other side of the building, the 3 men discussed their plan.

"We have to get them before they reach the building's perimeter, before we'd be close enough to be affected by the inhibitor," warned Kent. "I'll try to block out Wendy Young, the other 3 will use physical attacks that we'll just have to dodge."

"What about the rescue mission?" asked Trey.

"We'll just have to leave that to Elan, Beth and Rachel. It'll be enough of a task to stop these 4 from wrecking it."

"Just leave Becker to me, ok?"

Trey hesitated. He knew that Lincoln was unlikely to be able to defeat Becker on his own, but he also knew how much this drove the man. A crusade similar to his own. And in reality, did he have that certainty that he could defeat Hiller? No, that was the same. So he remained silent, and acquiesced to the demand despite his qualms.

Kent gestured silently at the small group approaching the building. Although their features were hidden at this distance, it was clear who they were and why they were there.

"We go, then?" he suggested. The other 2 nodded, then turned away to start picking their way towards them. He stayed where he was, focusing intently upon the slightest figure. He imagined he could feel something encroaching upon him, shadowy and half-formed threats creeping up behind him, although he knew he was too far away from Wendy to feel her effect. He forced his thoughts away from this, away from the nightmares he was creating himself in fear of her. Concentrating grimly, he forced himself to think only of forcing her to stop.

So focused was he, his senses were cut off, and he did not see the other 2, crouch and creep their way until they could target the group. He did not see Trey fire a ferocious blaze towards them, arcing hidden in the sky until it fell fatalistically, nor the group scatter as the flames crashed into their midst. He did not see Leon turn and fire a blast towards Trey, nor Trey narrowly dodge. The air crackled with fire and electricity, countless forms of electricity caused by the battling energies, but he saw none of this. He saw nothing, until Wendy collapsed, her throat slit by air molecules manipulated by Lincoln.

Suddenly, with no one left to use telepathy on, he was violently thrown back into reality. He blinked in the bright, blinding light; taking in the flames, the smell of smoke, the intense crackling and the violent flashes. He took a breath. Calmed, he started to make his way nearer to the fight, carefully keeping himself hidden behind the outbuildings, until he was close enough to use his telekinesis.

But not careful enough. He barely had time to sense the beam of electricity as it cruised towards him. Barely had time to throw himself onto the floor, so that it arced over him and into the building. He shielded his head as the electricity was deflected backwards. It narrowly missed him. Another strike, and another, and another, bombarded the building. He noted that some had, instead of the luminant blue hue of electricity, a dull crimson gleam. He shivered. Forcing the flashbacks away, he crawled to a safer location.

He rose to his feet. Seeing that Becker and Leon had their backs turned to him, he flipped them over telekinetically. Leon fell limply to the floor, temporarily knocked unconscious. Becker crashed into the nearby wall, a cloud of darkness writhing out of his hands to shield him from the impact. Becker rose to his feet, smiling. The smile grew, fed; it seemed, by the increasing mass of ebony smoke surrounding him. His face was triumphant. Kent followed his line of sight, behind him. And froze. This time, the flashbacks were too powerful to overcome and force away. He saw the crimson beam rushing, Hetty falling backwards, the expression on her face as it struck. He barely noticed that, this time, it was rushing towards him.

....................................................................................................................................................

"What do we do now?" whispered Beth to Elan. They had stopped. Elan shrugged, indicating she had no plan.

"What's happened?" asked Rachel edgily. They hesitated on how to answer. Beth decided on the half truth.

"We're surrounded. Probably an ambush. Too many for us to be able to fight."

Rachel nodded her understanding.

"Surrendering won't get us in easier?" she asked. The 2 shook their heads. "Then there's no other option, is there?"

Beth pushed away the feeling of guilt which arose for lying to Rachel. It was true - surrendering would do no good. Elan would be killed immediately, and it was possible that this would happen to herself and Rachel too, as they were with her and attacking the most secure of Company buildings. Even if they were spared, there was no hope there. A base existence, a lifetime of captivity and manipulation, until the Company changed its minds or bored of them. Execution might even be better than that. And they had already decided that they should not tell her about how the inhibitor had changed. What good would it do? What difference would it make, if she knew they were powerless? She would only have the burden of anticipating death for longer.

They waited. Slowly, surely, the trap was set.

As the agents approached, those with offensive abilities preparing their strikes and the others aiming their weapons, Beth took up a defensive pose. She thought wrily about how things had changed, how a few weeks ago this would have been the last fate she would have imagined for herself, then pushed the thought away. Life did change. And perhaps this was not the worst scenario. She glanced over at Elan, her stance a reflection of Beth's and her expression completely unreadable, then over at Rachel. Another who would never have expected to die with the Organisation. She looked forwards. Her respiration was harsh, and her pulse thundered in her ears: they drowned out all sound. Reflexively, she raised a hand, to defend herself. To fight. In the corner of her eye, she saw that Elan did the same. They waited. Despite her focus, small details burst out of her from her peripheral vision. The agents aiming, the first strikes arcing towards them, dead on target. Rachel's acute intake of breath. A blur of movement. Involuntarily, she turned, seeing Rachel throw herself into the wall. She threw out a hand to catch her before the impact; she saw Elan do the same. Then she was blinded by white.

....................................................................................................................................................

Kent froze, stunned, staring in speechless shock at the beam which had stopped mere inches from his face. What had happened? Glancing around, he had seen that nothing else was stopped, time was not frozen. All others were too busy fighting to have noticed what happened to him, except Trey, who was staring at him with an expression of shock which he was sure, mirrored the one on his face. Had he done something? Kent shook his head, feeling as if it was somewhat loose, and stepped away from the beam. Once he was out of its path, it fell hissing malevolently to the ground, leaving a burn mark.

He looked around, taking note of the damage and how the fight was developing. Smoke hung in the air, now dampening out the firelight and electricity. The shouts and hisses echoed. Behind him, flames licked the remnants of an outbuilding, rendered useless by the combined strikes it had suffered. Something lingered stubbornly in his memory: that was important, somehow. He couldn't recall why. What was it about it?

Suddenly, he remembered that the fight was still on-going. Cursing himself for effectively abandoning his allies for a moment, he took aim. Fired. The man was thrown backwards by his telekinesis. He could not see who. There seemed to be too many fighting here. Again, this seemed vital, but he couldn't realise why. What had happened? Where had these come from? Ridiculous as he knew the concept was, he had the feeling their enemies must be duplicating themselves.

"No, you idiot," he chastised himself. "They can't do that. None of them have Duplication.What's happened?"

Then he realised. Where they were. What they were doing. Of course! The Company, they would not stand still with a battle raging outside. Reinforcements had been sent with the exterior guard to attack them.

The realisation seemed to snap him out of his daze. Again, he aimed, this time taking care to hit the densest pack of guards. They fell backwards, the sound of bones snapping audible even to his deafened ears. Another strike took a large piece of out of the wall, the rubble cascading down amongst them. Again, he found himself shielded.

When it was over, he gingerly lifted his head. Another eerie silence hung over their battleground. Now, however, it was matched by stillness. He lifted himself out, and went to search for his companions. He found them shortly.

"What happened? How did we survive?" he asked hoarsely. The stillness was beginning to affect him. It was too surreal.

"I think I did it," answered Trey. "Shielding. From Moira."

Kent nodded.

"Are they all dead?" he asked.

"Not Becker," warned Lincoln harshly. "He's survived something like this before. There'd be enough negativity around for him to shield himself."

"So what do we do now?"

Neither answered Kent at first, lost in their own thoughts. Lincoln seemed hesitant, conflicted. He cleared his throat several times before finally speaking.

"You go into the building, the generator for the inhibitor's been destroyed. I'll take care of Becker."

Chapter 23 - Flawed, Part 2

Lincoln: Why am I doing this? Honestly, I don't know. I just feel that he's my responsibility. Somehow. So I have to kill him, alone. I can't let anyone else get caught up in this.

Stevens: This is...............unbelieveable!! It's too much, it can't be..........is it a trap? Can we take the risk of acting on this? Can we take the risk of ignoring it? I don't know what to do, anymore.

Kent: We're going in there now apparently! This is madness! Even if that generator is down, we'll be outnumbered about a million to one! We don't know where the cells are, we don't know where the 2 we want are within the prison, we don't know where those girls are inside there..........why? Why am I doing this? Hetty was right. I'm hiding in the front line.

....................................................................................................................................................

Disorientated, confused, bewildered, Beth and Elan fell crashing to the floor, completely unaware of what had happened. Elan tasted the coppery tang of blood in her mouth for a few minutes before realising this proved she was still alive. Slowly, she rose, getting her bearings.

She glanced around, her head still spinning. The guards were nowhere to be seen. All that surrounded them now were plain, stark walls as far as her eyes could see, walls such as they had seen walking for miles in this place. She bent down to help Rachel and Beth up, using human manipulation to check that they were uninjured.

"What happened?" asked Beth softly. Elan shook her head. She did not understand herself.

"I transported us," stated Rachel. "Well, you did look a little outnumbered there!"

"Thanks," said Elan automatically. Then she realised. "How?!! The inhibitor.........it must be down! That means we have our abilities!"

An identical grin spread across Beth's face, but Rachel looked confused. Elan stopped her before she could ask.

"Doesn't matter," she said. "What matters is, we can fight them now! Where did you take us?"

"Back a few turns from where they sprang the ambush."

Elan almost raced in that direction. She turned, and noticed they were not following, but staring at her as if she was insane.

"We can fight them now," she repeated.

....................................................................................................................................................

"What is it?" asked Amy innocently. Stevens stared at her. But she was used to this by now, the way he would act near her, the way she obviously reminded him of his past bereavements. Although it saddened her, in another, selfish way, she was glad of it. It meant that he would do anything to protect her now.

"What is it?" she repeated gently. She glanced over her shoulder, seeing Moira also looking curiously.

"I'm not sure," he replied. "If this is what it seems to be..............but it's too easy. There's no way they'd let us get something like this!"

"They didn't let us. Rachel and Sarah stole it, remember? It wasn't easy, from the sounds of things, either."

He remained pale. She rose, and walked over to where she was sitting. She glanced at the screen, but it made no sense to her.

"It's all encrypted," he explained,"But they've been using the same system for years. If it's still that, then I can interpret it. I did..........but............."

She waited. He sighed. He looked up at both girls; he seemed to be studying their faces while deciding whether to tell.

He nodded abruptly. He opened his mouth to speak, then seemed to have difficulty finding the right words. Still she waited.

"It's a list," he answered finally. "A list of the top tier Company members. The very heart of the Company. And information...........I haven't managed to crack the whole of it, but I've succeeded with parts. There's a lot of information."

Moira seemed to almost faint at these words. She raced upstairs. Stevens looked strangely in the direction she had gone, then he shook his head.

"It is huge," he admitted. "It could be what gives us any chance of winning. It even says where some of them are."

Amy felt the blood rush to her head at these words; she had to sit down. Stevens came to her in concern, but she brushed him aside. She knew, she was barely involved in these events, she barely understood anything of what was happening. She was only a child. But she had spent a year in the Company's talons; an experience painful enough to alter her. She knew which side she was on. And she could perhaps understand the immense significance of this moment.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan nearly laughed at the expressions of incredulity on their faces, but the building urgency within her prevented her. She raced on, throwing herself around each corner. She did not look back. Only the thundering footsteps told her that the other 2 were also racing behind her.

She stopped. One glance had showed her that she had reached her goal. She flung herself back around the corner before any agents could hear her, then waited, holding her breath, until the others arrived. She nodded curtly, indicating their presence. Beth inclined her head in return, already forming heat blasts within her palm. Electricity began to flicker in one of Elan's hands, but she kept the other free for telekinesis. She glanced at Rachel. The young woman was clearly nervous, more nervous than before. With a shock, Elan realised what vexed her.

"It doesn't matter than you can't fight. Just stay behind us, and after we take out some of them, you can pick up a weapon," she reassured her. "We do need you. We need you to get us away again, if the numbers get too high."

Rachel swallowed, then nodded. Her anxiety still showed, but it was now mixed with determination.

Elan threw herself around the corner, firing indiscriminately. The agents crumpled. She threw up her hand, throwing another section backwards into the walls as they began aiming towards the three. Behind her, Beth hurtled her heat blasts into their attackers. She felt a rush. It really had been too long, since she had last fought like this. Striking a blow to the very heart of the Company. In the corner of her eye, she saw Rachel signal. She nodded, then created a fierce blaze to trap the agents where they were. Temporarily. Ice and water were instantly thrown upon the flames. She bit her lip, hoping that she had bought Rachel enough time. Anxiety made the next minutes hours. Caught in the fire, placing every effort into extinguishing it, the guards could not effectively retaliate.

She spun around at the flickering movement in her peripheral vision, hand raised to attack. She then breathed a sigh of relief. The electricity in her palm faded out. It was Rachel.

"There's no need," she whispered. "I saw in one of their minds, the most direct path to the prison levels in through these. Did you see? After you take us past, we can blast them. They won't survive."

Both Beth and Rachel started at her callous tone. They started to argue, but she faced them straightly and they yielded. They, after all, were new to this combat, and compared to them she was a veteran. What did they know of what was required? Rachel nodded, grasped their hands, and once more flung herself into the wall.

....................................................................................................................................................

"We go into the building? How? Why? Trey, you know this is crazy, right?"

Instead of answering, Trey studied the building intently. He knew all the difficulties they would face, knew the dangers and pitfalls. But still he felt as though Lincoln was right: they should enter. If this task was too much for them, it was surely too much for Elan and Rachel and Beth. His thoughts squirmed at even considering abandoning them. After all, Elan had not left him. None of them would have. No, it was not the risk of entering that daunted and disturbed him, but rather that of leaving Lincoln to fight Becker, alone.

"Yeah, it's crazy. But then, isn't the whole concept of the Organisation crazy?"

He laughed at Kent's expression of shock. Then Kent seemed to catch his mood, and he grinned.

"How do we do this then?" Kent asked. "Straightforward, front-door job?"

Trey shook his head.

"I was in there before, remember? I could teleport both of us to the prison levels."

Kent nodded. It seemed a logical plan. Perhaps, he thought, if the girls had been caught, they would also be there. He forced away the thought that perhaps they would not be caught alive.

His eyes had trouble adjusting to the darkness after the bright sunlight ouside. All light sources had been destroyed here. Nevertheless, he managed to recognise the electric strike flying towards him. He threw himself to the side.

"Greene! What the fuck was that?"

Her eyes widened, realising what she had done. Immediately, she began apologising.

"Calm down, Elan," said Trey. "Have you found them yet?"

"We found Hex," she answered, "but not Sarah, not yet. Trey, there's millions here........."

"We need to start getting them out then. Rachel and I can take them to the base; I don't know what we'll do, but.........."

"OK. We need to keep searching............"

They searched, on and on, for hours, the misery and pain building up, reflected in their own thoughts. The task they had just set themselves seemed more and more impossible. But they did not give up. They could not. Tiredly, they continued, until eventually Rachel found her sister. She let out a strangled cry and ran into the cell.

Sarah lay, pale and weak, on a low cot in her cell. The wound on her back had barely been tended to. She made no response to the events around her: she may have been unconscious. Seeing this, Elan hurried towards her, and knelt beside her to heal her. She awoke, sobbing.

"This place is hell," muttered Elan. "We really have to free everyone. Rachel, Trey, can you start taking people away? The rest of us will stay and get more out."

"We should take them too," argued Rachel. Elan nodded.

"Ok, they can leave. I'll stay though."

She interrupted Trey before he could argue.

"You saw the state Sarah was in, more of them could be like that. I've been able to heal for longer than you, I have more experience at it. I stay."

....................................................................................................................................................

Once upstairs, Moira slumped to the floor. This news had terrified her to her very core, somehow she knew that this Company was how these termed her friends. If what that man had boasted of was true, they could now destroy them. Annhiliate them. She shivered. Was there nothing she could do to save them? She couldn't just let this happen! And yet, she had no way of contact. In despair, she slumped further, covering her face with her hands. She prayed that no one would come up to see her; she couldn't yet hide this.

Hearing footsteps downstairs, she slid to the stairs, sat silently on the topmost step and eavesdropped. A large number of people seemed to have entered. Nevertheless, their voices drifted up clearly.

"It was Elan's idea. Not sure what we can do with them all, hide some maybe, and help the rest go into hiding. Maybe some'd join us. Anyway, we couldn't just leave them. You should have seen the state of the place, Stevens."

An American accent. The empath, whatever his name was. Trey?

"Whatever, we'll cope. I guess this is why we started the Organisation, why we joined. Anyway, I want all of you to take a look at what I've found..........."

Their voices faded as he led them away, deeper into the house. She hesitated. The temptation to follow bit at her, despite or perhaps because of the risk that would entail. She chewed on her lip for a while before deciding.

She pressed an ear to the door, leaning in closely. Luckily, all their guests were away by now, left or in their allocated rooms.

"We've got a location for this one." The older man. Stevens.

"Who?" A young woman, Moira couldn't say which. But her urgency was vivid even when muffled by the wood.

"Esther Hancock. A televoyant - she can give herself visions of distant events. Should be an OK target, if we can get close enough." Stevens again.

"We'll talk about this later. Right now, we have to go get more of these."

Moira threw herself away from the door, but no one exited. Slowly, she realised they must have teleported out. She had been lucky. But it still did not solve her dilemma; she was still helpless to save them. Or was she? If those files contained locations, they might also contain contact information. Grimly, she determined to look at the nearest opportunity possible.

....................................................................................................................................................

After watching the other 2 leave, Lincoln had searched the rubble for Becker. A difficult and slow task, made more so by the caution he deemed necessary. Becker had beaten him before. He had escaped. And Lincoln himself had barely survived.

"Not this time," he muttered. "This time, I'll stop that bloody son of a bitch."

Stepping over the grisly remains of another member of that group, he found himself reminiscing of his first meeting with Becker. The memory was still strong, despite the intervening years. He could almost taste the bloodlust coming from the man, the desire for pain, hatred and misery. That was fuel for him. And he did not care what it took from others, as long as he had what he needed.

Lincoln shook his head; he had to be more careful. Every negative thought, every memory he relived, would only give Becker that fuel. He could not do so. Brusquely, he forced his thoughts into a more positive direction. This time, he told himself, he would succeed. He would stop Becker. The man would no longer darken their cities, and then, he, Lincoln, would be free.

Glancing around, he noticed that the dust rising from the ground had increased. It now cloaked the rubble, hiding it from sight. And grey, not brown, darkening by the hour, fed, no doubt, by the prisoners inside. He bit back a selection of swearwords. As he had predicted, Becker had survived. Grimly, he focused his ability, ready for the battle.

Becker rose, barely visible from within the swirling, jetblack smoke which healed and protected him. Nevertheless, his expression was obvious from the scorn in his voice when he spoke.

"Giving me another chance to kill you, North? Man, I'm so fucking glad you fell into the trap! I knew about that bloody asshole telling you lot. Did make it more interesting though."

Without wasting his breath replying, Lincoln manipulated the air molecules to kill Becker, as he had with Wendy Young. Or attempted to. Becker blocked it effortlessly.

"Man, its miserable here, isn't it?" he boasted, absurdly cheerfully.

The black cloud coiled and thickened around him as he spoke. Its threat was inmistakable, rife with the desire to destroy. Small strangling tendrils drifted out. They wove through the rubble, reaching out, tangling around Lincoln's feet, seeking sustenance or victims. Trying in vain not to panic, he attempted to cut through them, but in vain. They simply strengthened. Thickened. Swirled outwards nauseautingly. Becker watched, smiling mockingly, toying with his prey.

The smoke pulsated outwards. It devoured all in its path: buildings, rubble, prisoners and guards alike. Then it receded, leaving only Becker standing in an empty circle.

"I told you that the next time we'd meet, you'd breathe your last breath," he muttered as he walked away.

Chapter 24 - Dark State

Kent: We can't ignore this, it's too big a chance to let go. What worries me, though, is that they must have noticed what happened by now. What if they know that we know this? It could be a trap. And yet if it is, we have to step into it.

Beth: What happened? Trey and Elan returned, but they were alone. I thought they were going to free the rest of the prisoners, but they didn't bring any back. No one will mention it. Something must have gone wrong.

Danielle: What do I do now? I got away, but I've no idea where I am, who would help me, who I should avoid....what can I do? I don't think I can continue on my own; I need someone to help me.

....................................................................................................................................................

"Are we going for this now, then?" asked Elan, her voice steady despite the darkness in her expression. Their recent failure clung to her, the faces and voices of the prisoners, whom they had been too late to save, as vivid in her mind as the circle of emptiness she and Trey had returned to find. If he had not suggested that she run some prisoners out while he teleported others, she too would have been a victim of........whatever had happened. But she was determined to focus forwards. It was no more than another regret among thousands.

"Now? It'd be dangerous. Don't you think we should at least plan it first?"

She knew Stevens was right, but still she longed to go ahead. Caution had never been a large part of her nature, and her doubts and regrets fuelled her impatience, her hatred of waiting. Whenever they waited, the impossibility of what they were attempting would strike her. The fears raised almost made her want to turn away, but she couldn't. Despite this, she knew he was right. They could not risk failure here.

"Shall we start planning then? What do we know about her?" she asked.

"Name, location, ability........it says she's "lightly guarded", whatever that means. No details. So we really should all go. And it also has plans of her home."

"And what if they expect us to come?" asked Kent harshly.

"We just have to be unexpected," replied Beth softly. She seemed unsure of herself, but she continued. "Plan ahead, have backup ideas. At least we've considered that they might be forewarned. And we've already decided that this is too important an opportunity to ignore."

Trey remained silent. No sign of Lincoln had been seen after the battle; he knew that he had been killed. And despite knowing that this had been likely since Lincoln had first encountered Becker, and that it was an outcome Lincoln had long since accepted; Trey still felt the blame. It had been he who had asked Lincoln to join them. He knew that this would have, most likely, happened elsewhere otherwise. But it hadn't. And a part of the responsibility fell on him. Now, he felt as though he should no longer voice an opinion on any plans. What if that led to another death?

They all acknowledged that Beth was right. If this was too much risk for them, then they wouldn't have been in that room at that moment.

....................................................................................................................................................

"Where are we going next?" asked Rachel. "They say you're all healed now, we shouldn't stick around for long. This place, these people, they're dangerous."

"What else can we do?" muttered Sarah, without looking at her sister. Sometimes, these days, her caution made her almost unrecognisable. She had believed that Rachel had understood her new determination to fight, but it seemed otherwise.

"Leave? Go back home?"

"That's what Hex tried, and he got caught," she replied."There aren't any safe places left, Rachel. Are you going to keep running for the rest of your life?"

She did not answer. She could not. She remained silent, incredulous. What did Sarah plan to do, then? Stay? With these? Did she not realise how fruitless this war was, how thin was any chance of victory for their side? Better to stay out of it, and not become yet another martyr to this cause. But she could not voice these questions and concerns. She knew how they would seem, how her sister would interpret them. She did not wish Sarah to think of her as a heartless coward.

Sarah watched as Rachel remained as she was, still and silent, and understood the unspoken answer.

"I'm staying," she muttered, staring at the floor. Rachel blinked. Although she had suspected that Sarah was beginning to feel this way, she was still unprepared to hear it confirmed.

"I'm not."

"You're leaving? Now?" asked Sarah. She still did not look up. If she did, Rachel would see the tears she was desperately forcing back, see the grief which she could keep from her voice but not her face. She did want to lose her sister. Not when they had only just found each other again, after losing each other over and over again. But neither did she want to keep her here in such a dangerous situation. And she could not flee herself.

Rachel nodded, not trusting herself to speak. She never thought they would part of their own volition, yet here they were, the second time within days. Parting.

"Goodbye then. Try to be careful, will you? Don't get yourself killed for this."

"You too."

They embraced, then Rachel turned away to face the wall. She was shaking, her hands clenched. Her breathing harsh, she forced herself to step forwards, slamming herself into the wall as if she hoped to erase herself against it. Then, once more, she was gone. As soon as she had left, the tears streamed thick and fast down Sarah's face.

....................................................................................................................................................

Danielle forced herself to stumble forwards, exhausted though she was. She had been walking around all day. And the day before. Ever since she had escaped. She had not slept, and she was by now near collapse, but she could not stop. Nowhere was safe. She had manipulated strangers into giving her food and shelter, but she could not sleep in case the effect wore off while she was unconscious. There was nowhere to hide where she could be certain she would remain undetected.

Or at least, nowhere here. She was far away from the only place which was even remotely safe for her kind. Far away from the people who would hide her and help her, the people who had saved her, the people who would fight and even die for their kind. Why had she left? She had believed that it was too dangerous, that it was safer elsewhere, away from the fight. But there was nowhere safe anymore. She had run from the only refuge possible, and now she had no way of regaining it. She was alone. Her ability had its uses, but it could not protect her forever. It could not bring her back to them, or bring them to her.

Miserably, she stared down at her feet. What was she to do now? She slumped down near a doorway and crawled into its meagre shelter, lacking the energy to drag herself further onwards. She used her ability to manipulate her auma, give herself that little bit more energy and motivation. Enough to remain awake, she could do no more. She curled up in a ball, and placed her palms upon her eyes to force them open.
In that position, she could not see properly, and at first she dismissed the flash of light for an optical illusion, or reflected glare from the windows of the nearby buildings. She only glanced upwards when she realised that the light was followed by footsteps.

Carefully, cautiously, she eased herself from the shadows in order to get a better view of the figure approaching. A young woman, tall and slight, with light brown hair, and pale green eyes made red with tears. The woman glanced around her, not in suspicion, but as if she was searching for how she should go. She looked as alone as Danielle felt. And she was one of them: how else would she be there? Maybe she could help. At the very least, she'd be some company. Danielle stepped forwards, and approached her. As she did, the woman turned to face her clearly, and Danielle started. She recognised her. Suddenly, she was back in the Company lock-up again, the first time she had been imprisoned. Seeing once more the face of the woman opposite, her fear and loss vivid. It was her.

"What are you doing here, Sarah?" she asked.

....................................................................................................................................................

Amy crawled further into the tight space in the attic, and pressed her face against the window pane. She and Moira had hid up here after she had tired of eavesdropping at the meeting room's door. They had been unable to understand all that was said, but it had disturbed Amy, and Moira too, from her expression. So Amy had suggested that they creep up here, and try to distract themselves with the outside world. She gazed out, through the mist created by her breath, at the rows of houses, the streets.....so much normality. A world she could no longer reach, a life that was no longer hers. Nostalgia began to creep in, remembering how things had been, so easy, so simple. But she shook her head. Things changed. Did she really wish she hadn't manifested? She'd be dead otherwise. And all of this came with being an evolved human.

Her thoughts cleared, she once more peered out through the glass. Her focus was improved now. Enough to notice the figures moving about below. Their actions seemed innocent enough; they could have been simply passers-by. But they were not: she could tell. An aura of destruction hung about them, which she could sense from here. She pointed them out to Moira, but the girl seemed indifferent.

"Well?! What do you think?" muttered Amy. "They look creepy."

The girl shrugged.

"Dunno. They seem OK to me."

Amy stared outside once more. How? Did she not sense that strange unnaturalness from them? They should not be here. She turned again, and looked closely at Moira. Small beads of sweat gleamed in the dim light as they trickled down her face, and her jaw was clenched. With a pang, Amy understood. The poor girl must be terrified, almost out of her wits. The nonchalance was simply an act.

"What are we going to do, then?"

Moira stared at her blankly, confusion open on her face.

"We have to do something. Warn the others. They're here to attack the hideout, if the Organisation are warned they can escape, or prepare to fight, or......" she explained. Moira shook her head.

"We have to," Amy insisted. She slipped from the window, and crept out of their hiding place. She glanced over at her friend once, then left to warn them.

Her hand shook as she raised it to knock upon the door. She told herself not to be so silly - they needed to know. She had the right to interrupt their meeting, when she was bringing such news.

They opened at once, and ushered her in, gazing at her expectantly. She swallowed.

"There's......there's people......outside.....I think...........I think they're here to attack."

Their faces reflected the shock and anxiety she herself felt. But they also showed a determination which gave her hope.

....................................................................................................................................................

While the others hurried with preparations for the fight, Elan hesitated, torn between her 2 commitments. She felt as she was trapped in slow motion and her life, as it was, was being whirled by past her. Never before had she felt that the 2 were pulling her in opposite directions, never to this degree. Never before had pursuing her personal vendetta asked her to effectively abandon her comrades and friends. Not until now. And she did not know what to do. If anything happened to any of them and she was not there to protect them, to fight beside them...............and yet such a chance as this might never come again. She knew why this attack was happening, it was a distraction. The Company knew. And if this was the strategy they chose, then perhaps the opportunity was valid. The opportunity to strike what might be a blow of victory in this war. And the opportunity to finally begin avenging her brother.

She shook her head, wondering faintly why none had noticed her confusion or remarked upon it. Surely she must be frozen in the spot, with her expression lost and distant? It seemed not. What was she doing? Caught in between her options like this, she was completing none of them. Brusquely, she forced it out of her thoughts, and continued in the preparations.

But still the chance haunted and dogged her. She began to wonder why she was staying, what difference it would make if she truly did leave. The others were experienced fighters; they could defend themselves this once in her absence. After all, she wouldn't be gone long.

She gritted her teeth. As soon as she had thought that, she realised that she could not stay.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan tried her best to hide what she was planning, and she fooled all except Trey. He noticed that she had been different since they had heard of the approaching attack: silent, inverted. She'd spent her time alone, while still preparing for the defence. As if she was hiding something.

"You're going after Hancock, aren't you?" he stated. She did not deny it. There was no point in doing so.

"You're not stopping me," she replied, instead.

He shook his head.

"I'm not trying to. You've got every right to do this; I of all people would know that. But you're not going alone."

"This is my business!" she argued. "It has nothing to do with you! I don't want any of you involved!"

He hesitated. He understood her argument, but he could not let her go alone.

"I know, I'll stay out of it. But you're likely to need help getting in. And every time you go on a mission alone, you nearly get yourself killed. I'll just be there to have your back, that's all."

She did not answer, still uncertain and reluctant.

"How were you going to go, anyway?"

"Through the window. Fast."

He nodded.

"Risky," he mentioned. "Teleporting would be simpler."

She paused. She knew he was right, and yet................she did not want any of the others there. As she had said, it was her business. Or was it? Earlier, she had told herself that it was about more than Daniel, it was also an action they required for any chance of victory. How then could she claim that it had nothing to do with any other Organisation member? She had no right to do so.

"I guess I could do with some backup," she admitted.

Chapter 25 - Faded Vision

Rachel: What do I do now? I got away, I left them, but........I've nowhere to go. Do I just wander around forever? Just keep running, like Sarah said? Looks like it. What else is there to do?

Elan: I'm finally here. I'm finally doing this. After 5 years, no..... 7, after all that waiting................ it has come. I can hardly believe it. All of that fighting, hiding, living for this moment.........and it's here. But now, I regret it. I shouldn't have................but I had to, I had to leave them. I made my decision. I took long enough. Now I just have to go on with it.

Stevens: What are we doing? There's not a chance we can get out of this safely, not by fighting through. That'll be why they left: Trey and Elan - they knew this is a dud. We should have evacuated. It's fine for us, for people like me, and Kent. We signed up for this. We've been here long enough to know what we're doing. But not the others, not Sarah, or Beth, or those girls.

....................................................................................................................................................

"Sarah?"

Rachel started at the familiar name, though the voice was unknown to her. Another surge of guilt stabbed her. She shook her head, telling herself, again, that she had done nothing wrong. Sarah had chosen to stay. It didn't mean she had to as well. She looked again at the speaker. A young girl, barely in her teens, exhausted and beaten, in dust-stained and torn clothes.

"Who are you?" she asked. "How.......how do you know Sarah?"

The girl stared at her without understanding.

"Sarah?" she asked again. Rachel sighed.

"Sarah's my sister. How do you know her?"

Again, she stared. Once more, Rachel noted her condition. She was too drained to be coherent.

"Look, can I help you or something? I'm Rachel."

"Danielle. Where..........where did you come from? Where's Sarah? She was with me in the lock-up. Before they saved us all."

Rachel nodded. She remembered what had happened.

"Sarah stayed behind, with the Organisation."

Danielle's eyes gleamed at that name.

"The Organisation?" she babbled. "Did you come from them? Can you take me to them?"

She shook her head.

"I left them. Why do you want to go to them anyway? It's safer as far away as possible. You're too young to be a martyr to them, all of us are."

"No, I thought that before, but it's wrong. There's nowhere safe now. At least they'd protect us, fight for us............"

"And expect us to fight in return!" retorted Rachel harshly. "And even if we don't, we'd more than likely end up as accidental victims of their war!"

Danielle stared at her, shocked.

"You're not going to help, are you?" she asked finally. "You might as well leave then. Again."

She turned her back on Rachel, and stumbled away.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan glanced around at once as they appeared: defensive instincts kicking in, she searched for guards and traps. Uneasiness surged through her as she spotted none. What did that mean? Were they waiting inside, or preparing some unpredictable, inescapable ambush? It was too much to hope for that there would be none. She knew that. Watching Trey, she noticed that he too was surveying the area, and finding nothing. The unease grew. She shrugged, trying to force it down, as there was nothing either could do.

"Where next?" he whispered. She gestured, pointing towards a low building half hidden in the shadow of the landscape.

"According to the plans, there's a side entrance. Electronic lock system, but we could take that down."

He nodded, saying nothing of his doubts. It seemed too easy. But he knew that she'd be aware of this, too. They would both be careful. They expected a trap.

A feeling of being watched grew upon Elan. With a jolt, she remembered what her target's ability was. Was she watching, even now? Watching, as her hunters drew in, preparing a retaliatory strike? She had been so confident that the trap was back at the base. Was she wrong? Were there 2 traps? Everything they did could have been monitored and played. Just like the Company did.

"Maybe.....we should split up. One of us go search, or......just in case it is a trap. We could use telepathy to communicate, anyway.........it's not like we'd be alone........"

She fell quiet, already sensing his reaction to her suggestion. She knew, it was dangerous.

"I'm not trying to give you the slip, Trey. Just for now, for better reconnaissance."

He hesitated, then agreed. He left, disappearing as soon as he did. Elan crept on, trying to shake the feeling, yet again, that she had made a mistake. Nothing will happen, she reassured herself, scanning the area and listening out with telepathy.

....................................................................................................................................................

They were finally prepared. All afternoon and evening, the attackers had waited there, hardly moving, leaving them to ready their defences without interruption. Nothing had happened. This strange behaviour, instead of alleviating any fears the remaining Organisation members had, only added to the unnatural aura around their assailants. If any addition was needed. They were close enough to be recognised, and that was the only evidence necessary.

"What are they waiting for?!" hissed Kent, tense and impatient.

"Some signal, most likely," muttered Stevens. "We all know they're not here on their own accord. Just like the Company, to rip up these poor pawns instead of risking their own agents."

Kent stared at him, showing disbelief at his words. Poor pawns? They couldn't have changed that much, even if for now they were being used by the enemy.

"You take that one, remember?" reminded Stevens.

"As we agreed."

They both glanced over at Beth, the remaining defender. She stood ready to aim the first of many heat blasts at the enemy. Inside, both Sarah and Amy were waiting, a sortie at need.

Stevens nodded at her, indicating she start. As she fired, he murmured under his breath: "She hits."

Soon, he was too busy repelling enemy strikes to be able to increase her accuracy. The house shook as it was battered by arcs of electricity and fatal crimson beams, each narrowly missing the defenders. He looked at Kent. The man was concentrating intensely, biting deeply into his lip. But he was winning. The evidence of that was obvious. Otherwise, they'd already be lost, defenceless, senseless from his target's own attack. Stevens shuddered at the thought.

"We're ready."

He glanced up at the voice. Sarah, and Amy. He swallowed, forcing back that familiar nagging fear that something will go wrong. It won't, he told himself. Just because of what happened last time........He shook his head. Much as Amy reminded him of her, she isn't. It won't be like that. She can protect herself, and she won't be distracted. He watched as she spread her bubble over Sarah, and the young woman turned both invisible. He then listened as they left.

....................................................................................................................................................

Disappointed and hopeless, Danielle wandered on. The experience had done her some good: her earlier fatigue had left, replaced by bitterness. The words she had spoken clung to her like acid, burning truth. How had Rachel become like that? How could she feel that way? Turn away; leave, as she had said? But she knew the answer. It was written within the auma which haunted her still, defeat personified.

She shook her head in an attempt to clear it. Nothing had changed: she had been helpless before, and she was helpless now. Or was she?
Suddenly, she was struck by the memory, fresh and vivid, of the time she had first manifested. Seeing her friend Susanna's aura and auma, with her ability of wind manipulation. Reaching out, to examine the aura, copy the ability. The memory of Rachel's aura was still strong.

Doubts shadowed her. Never before had she done this by memory. Was it even possible? Yet she did not hesitate. She could not. She closed her eyes, focusing on the exact detail of her transportation ability as she had seen it in the aura. Gradually, the complexities unwound themselves, until she understood exactly what to do.

....................................................................................................................................................

Numbly, Rachel stared at the corner around which Danielle had turned. She remembered the girl's expression, sharp with accusations. These stabbed her.

".....not going to help.....might as well leave then......Again......"

She shook, guilt once more hitting her. After all, it was true, she did keep leaving. Running as soon as she could, evading any possible danger. It was her nature. What else could she do? She truly did believe what she had said of the Organisation: it was suicide. Only the newer members, naive and foolish, could ever believe otherwise. Ones like her sister. She sighed. Believing this, she had still left her there........not that she could do otherwise.....but......... Stronger and stronger grew a conviction that she should have done things differently.

Differently? How? She laughed at herself. Was she really trying to convince herself that Sarah had been right, that they both should have stayed behind? Why was she doing this? Even if that was true, there was nothing she could do. No way to fix it. She couldn't exactly go back and remake her decision. She didn't even want to. This way, at least one of them would survive.

"Sorry, Sarah," she whispered, "but it's how it has to be."

She walked on, wishing bitterly that Sarah saw things as she did. She had, before. They had decided, together, to stay out of this. A long time ago, of course. Before Sarah had been caught, and freed by the Organisation. Was that when this started? She could understand how that might have perhaps changed her sister's viewpoint. She remembered, afterwards, Sarah beginning to speak of fighting, changing things. Maybe she should have stopped it then.

But at the time, she recalled, she herself had been caught up in that belief. The shining vision of a world free of the corruption and manipulation of their kind by the Company. Whatever the price. She had longed to fight for this.
She stopped, shocked by what she had regained. That vision had not faded, only forgotten, and the urge to fight for it remained. But still, the instinct to keep running was as strong. What to do?

....................................................................................................................................................

Alone, Elan crept closer to the house, keeping within the dense shrubbery. Still, that feeling of surveillance shadowed her, with no obvious origin. She shook her head. Foolishness. Nothing more than a vague feeling. No one was there, she would have sensed their thoughts.

Moving forwards, she picked up a presence in the opposite direction, where Trey had headed. Not wary or watchful, but still, malevolent. She stopped, hesitating over whether to continue, or to turn from her path to aid him. Did he need it? Whilst deliberating, she sent him a telepathic warning.

"I'll go investigate," he replied. "You continue."

She did so, telling herself that her worries were baseless. He was probably in less danger than she was. After all, he was stronger.

As she reached the eaves of the house, she turned back in shock, reflecting the thoughts she had heard. Him. That was what she had heard. But who? Who would evoke such a strong reaction? She had never sensed such hatred from Trey before: it made him almost a stranger.

Trey's thoughts were now in turmoil, desiring to confront the man, and yet feeling he should return to Elan, aid her as he had come here to do. Hearing that, the truth struck her like a blow. Of course! The man who killed his family, his enemy, the man with metal hands. Hiller.

She paused, understanding completely. She, of all people, could not ask him to turn away from his own personal crusade, and neither could she stand by and let him do so for her sake.

"Go," she thought to him. She walked forwards without looking sideways, focused once more. Reaching the side door, she threw a bolt of electricity at the lock, then slid it open. She entered, knowing none would be there. She walked onwards.

....................................................................................................................................................

The noise, lights and chaos should have been overwhelming. However, the bubble and their invisibility caused a sort of film between them, shielding them off. Sarah noted this half-heartedly, her mind not fully there. It was the situation which overwhelmed her. It did not, could not, feel real. Perhaps that too contributed to this effect, she mused.

They walked onwards, undetectable and lethal. The first of their targets was before them, facing the opposite direction, focused completely upon the house. Electricity flew from his hands, his face avid. He had no idea where the danger was.

He did not need to. A flash of white light, and Sarah, recognising it, pulled Amy backwards. She ran forwards, out of the bubble, joy on her face. That joy fell. The light faded, enabling her to see the girl who had appeared there. Not Rachel.

"Danielle!" gasped Amy, spreading her bubble to envelop both girls."Sarah, she was freed from the lockup the same time as you were, remember? What are you doing here?"

"I came back to help. I saw Rachel, but-------"

Sarah nodded, a bitter lump in her throat. Rachel would not be returning. This was what was to be expected, but still, when she had seen that flash.........

A loud crash, shocking even through the daze she was in, diverted her attention. She span around, stared at the wreck that had become of the house. What had happened? How? Slowly, she was aware of cries of jubilation from their enemies. Amy made as to attack them, but Sarah pulled her backwards, and Danielle manipulated her aura to make her stop. They were heading into the ruins; by the time she would reach them, it'd be impossible to attack without harming the survivors. If there were any.

Chapter 26 - Finale - First Blood

Sarah: What do we do now? Can we do anything? I don't know, maybe it's too late. Even if there are any survivors, the Company will be here soon, with too many for us to fight. If we did, we'd likely end up dying alongside them. Should we? Or should we leave, to continue this war?

Danielle: What happened? I came back to help them, save them, but then........this happened. I was too late. Looks like there's only us 3 left now.

Trey: What's he doing here? It's too much of a coincidence, almost as if they planned it. Did they know that this might possibly be the only way to make me turn aside? But that'd mean that they know......too much. Which of us would come, our weaknesses, almost everything. It's another trap, I know that. But, again, I can't seem to leave it be.

....................................................................................................................................................

They waited, watching as the 3 attackers headed deeper into the rubble. Amy fidgeted, her aura needing constant manipulation as new fears struck her.

"What if some survived? What if they did, but those people find them and kill them?!"

Sarah sighed.

"What ifs. You have to look at it objectively."

"Objectively?! Those are our friends in there, or don't you care?"

She stared at them.

"Of course I do. But, you have to realise, they knew the risk they took. They all signed up for it, knowing how likely it was that they'd die. I think.......that'd they'd prefer us keep up the Organisation, rather than get killed and destroy it by trying to save them."

The other 2 looked down.

"I hate this," muttered Danielle, "not just the situation, but......."

They waited, hidden, as the attackers drifted away, and then as figures in suits replaced them. Company agents. Amy hissed under her breath, memories of her captivity returning. Her hands curled involuntarily into fists. A bubble formed around them, burning orange. Her arms flew upwards, out of her control, and the bubbles flew towards the agents.

They hit, the 2 agents struck falling to the ground. The others span around, shouting, pointing in the direction the attack had come from.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan crept forwards, using telepathy to check that her path ahead was clear. Everytime, it was. This worried her. It was....too easy. Too much, to ask her to believe that it could be this simple. Half-formed fears and doubts swirled around in her mind, images of a trap too complex and unimaginable to escape or even visualise. She was almost relieved when she sensed the thoughts of guards ahead.

She released the breath she was holding, preparing to defend herself. This, she knew how to fight. Electricity crackled in her left hand, and she created a flame in the other. She rounded the corner, took aim and hurled both at the agents.

They struck, 2 guards falling instantaneously. The others reacted, some firing their guns while the remaining ones used their own abilities. Elan dove back, expertly using the corner wall to shield herself. Smoke and the smell of broken plaster filled the air. She could barely see or hear; instead, she relied upon telepathy to guide her. Struck by an idea, she attempted to use that, to force the agents to let her through. It didn't work. She grimaced. Must be a telepath amongst them, blocking her attempt.

She fired again, hitting a few, but they were constantly replaced by others. Dimly, she wondered whether some of the agents had multiplication. There were just too many! Too many to fight through.

But what else could she do? Give up? No way, the concept could barely register in her mind after everything that had happened, all she'd done. She frowned, drawing back, trying to buy some time to think of a new strategy. She didn't have many advantages. They outnumbered her, collectively outdid her abilities and skills, had better knowledge of their location...... and she couldn't get close enough to use her core power, turn what they had upon them. She needed something different, something unexpected. Something they didn't know was possible.

She grinned. She had just the idea.

....................................................................................................................................................

Amy stared, in sheer shock, at her hands, disbelieving what they had just done. It had never occurred to her that her bubbles could be used such. How, how had she done it? All she could recall was being furious, desiring to harm them in return.....was that it? Suddenly, she snapped out of her reverie. Looking to her left, she saw Danielle facing her, a questioning expression on her face. With a surge of guilt, she realised the girl had had to manipulate her auma to get her to concentrate. Now was not exactly the time to meditate. She grinned, aiming again.

Yet more agents fell. Sarah grabbed hold of her, pulling her backwards, as a lightning bolt struck ominously where she'd just been standing. She shook her head. She hadn't even realised her main bubble had dropped. She shook her head, muttering to herself about arrogance and carelessness, as she raised it once more. Seeing Sarah signal to her, she briefly dropped it to let the woman leave. She then watched, aiming the occasional offensive bubble, as Sarah crept invisibly towards the agents, picking up weapons on the way. Amy didn't dare attack anymore in case she hit her friend. All she could do was watch, as Sarah turned fire on the men, ready to run out there and protect her if they realised where she was. They didn't, not yet, and it was comical to see.

Danielle watched too, following Sarah's progress by following her aura and auma, the 2 faint images still visible to her though the woman they belonged to was hidden. She was careful, only glimpsing at them occasionally, afraid that an agent would notice her and infer Sarah's location from following her eyes. She felt helpless. She'd come here to help, to fight, but what was she doing? Nothing more than watching while another fought. She crept forwards, hiding in the shadows and behind piles of rubble and broken stone, until she was close enough to the nearest agents to begin manipulating their aumas. She did so, spreading fatigue and weakness amongst them, the desire to surrender and to leave. Noticing this, their companions began to panic. They fired wildly, and Danielle dove to the ground, taking shelter behind a larger chunk of stone. Bullets and strikes hurtled by terrifyingly close. Her heart was hammering in her chest, her breathing ragged, so loud that she felt they must be able to follow it and find her.

Her thoughts swirled around in circles in her mind, becoming increasingly darker. Why was she here? Why were they doing this? Just because she was lucky or unlucky enough to be born different, with an inbuilt gift or curse that could do so much. So much more than she did use it for. She knew that. She knew exactly what it was that she could do, but she feared its consequences. She knew it could kill. And she didn't want to do that, to become that person. But why? Wouldn't it just be self-defence? After all, it wouldn't be like she was killing innocents. She'd be saving herself and her friends. Grimly, she chose. Her mind reached out, grasping hold of the nearest aura with a coldness she'd never felt before, a grip more harsh and fatal. Clinically, deliberately, she manipulated their auras into such darkness and despair that they took up their weapons and aimed again, this time at themselves or each other. The auras were black, empty until they flickered and died.

....................................................................................................................................................

Elan shook. She'd made her decision; in harsh reality, it was her only feasible option. Yet she'd never done this before, not deliberately. She didn't really know how it had happened the previous times - her memories of those times were always chaotic. She could only guess how it might work, led half by logic, and half by emotional instinct.

She closed her eyes, dredging up old memories, as many as she could. 12 years worth of memories of her brother, everything they'd ever shared. Memories which made her shake and well up with the emotions they raised within her. She gritted her teeth, forcing herself to continue and not break down. She had to do this, had to go on, for him, for herself, for all of them. Next, she drew up memories of the time she'd gained the ability she needed to access. She tried to recreate her emotions at that time, her joy at the operation's success mixed with the kaleidoscope of emotions raised when she'd seen the captive chained up and drugged in the back. She waited.

Nothing. Swearing under her breath, she tried again. Still nothing. She swore more loudly. Maybe she'd been right before, when in her denial and her desire to forget about it all, she'd argued that it would be impossible for her to control this. Or maybe.......she almost laughed as she realised what she'd forgotten. Only almost, because she knew this would be the hardest part, to force herself to feel that joy, that positivity which had ignited the ability before. But she had to try. She thought of all the happiness in the memories, ignoring the bitterness of the fact that they were all past, thought of how this would save her, would lead to victory......she imagined returning to the others in triumph. Screwing her eyes more tightly closed, she saw the light begin to emerge, glowing red through her eyelids, and she knew it had worked. She stepped out.

As she'd planned, the brightness was too much for the guards, who were temporarily blinded. They were forced to crawl out her way, hands ever their faces in a vain attempt to shield them. She walked on, climbing upwards and deeper into the building. The glow faded as anxiety settled in. She was there.

She raised her hand, focusing on the aged wood door, which spoke of elegance and the arrogance of the rich. How very like the Company, she thought. The place was like she'd expected. She flung the door open telekinetically, the noise it made as it hit the opposite wall an announcement of her presence. But the figure inside did not react. It did not even turn away from the window, through which it was gazing, to face her.

Elan walked in, her footsteps echoing off the parquet floor. Still, the woman didn't react. She didn't turn until Elan was before her. Then, Elan saw that she stood firmly and her eyes were keen, despite the many lines which surrounded them. Her expression was complex, impossible for Elan to judge. Or maybe it was just that she was attempting to portray an innocence and vulnerability which the younger woman could never accept.

"You are Esther Hancock? One of the leaders of the Company?"

It was more of a statement than a question, despite the phrasing.

"Yes. And you are Elan Greene, high-standing and loyal Organisation member. Or you were."

"What do you mean?" Elan demanded, stepping forwards. Silence was her only answer. Elan shook her head, realising then that Hancock was trying to distract her, it must be. She hadn't come here for answers. She'd come here for one thing only.

....................................................................................................................................................

Danielle continued what she was doing, keeping herself detached. She had to. She knew what she had done would strike her, hard, once she let herself feel again. It was likely she'd fall apart, and she couldn't afford that yet. But her grip was failing. Almost, it was like every time an aura flickered and died, it drained her a little. Dimly, she wondered whether the emotions she induced were also created within hers. That would explain the despair creeping into her. Or perhaps the prolonged use was exhausting her, depleting her resistance. Glancing back, she saw Amy also seemed to be flagging, her bubbles weaker and her aim less precise. And still the agents came.

Sarah watched, concerned, as she saw the 2 girls visibly weaken. She took out as many agents as she could, but they were drops in a raging ocean. Soon, they would lose.

She turned around, trying to get back to the others, stumbling in exhaustion as she did so. She fell to her knees with a resounding crash, dust flowing upwards. Glancing upwards, she already knew the attackers would have seen, would have realised her location. She dragged herself behind some of the rubble, and pulled herself into a crouch. Reaching for her stolen gun, she vainly took aim. She could already tell that she was too outnumbered to stand a chance, but she wouldn't be captured without a price.

She gritted her teeth in pain when the first bullet hit her, in the shoulder, blood pouring out freely down her arm. Luckily, it was her weakest. She replied in kind, aiming again, firing, trying her best to ignore the wrenching pain. She could dimly see the girls, aiming their attacks towards her assailants in a vain attempt to aid her, but her vision was blurring. For that reason, she didn't react when she saw a flash of light near them, despite being looking in that direction. She put it down to a hallucination, or some reflected glare, a misinterpretation of some strike or other. She didn't see the second flash, nor the third, much closer to her. She barely reacted when she felt a heavy weight around her waist, drawing her away. She could no longer distinguish reality. Her eyes fluttered closed, however much she struggled to force them open. A fourth flash, but Sarah was beyond it.

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Electricity flickered in her hand, then arced towards Hancock. The woman did nothing. Perhaps she couldn't. Or perhaps, she chose not to. The electricity forced her to the ground, her breathing harsh and laboured, her vision distorted.

Elan stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the woman below her. She looked completely defenceless, beaten already, but Elan drove down the pity which grew within her. These people didn't deserve any. She knew that it was all a facade, knew all they had done and would continue doing, if someone like her didn't stop them when offered the chance.

She knelt down beside her, taking hold of her arm. Nothing happened, not yet. As she'd been told before, one more touch was needed, to make her victim vulnerable enough. Which she did. She sent her mind inwards, disrupting the body's natural functions, crushing arteries, forcing her into multiple organ failure. She made sure the damage would be fatal, but not enough to make her lose consciousness. She re-emerged. She could already sense the familiar surge of energy as white light began to surround her hand. It flickered, then faded.

"What a strange ability," she mused, exploring it's potential. "I wonder how you used it. What did you watch with it? The Organisation, recently, I suppose, but before then......did you follow Westfield? Did you see what she'd do, what she did? Did you use it to watch my brother die, just like I'm going to watch you die?"

Hancock lifted her head with difficulty, and forced herself to laugh, coughing violently as she did so.

"Do what you want. This was exactly what we planned."

....................................................................................................................................................

Afterwards, still standing in the same place in that office, Elan shuddered as she considered Hancock's last words. She'd gained her revenge, or began it anyway, and yet.....the woman's message left her with a feeling of having been played. Of having won and lost the same time. Anger grew within her, causing her to lash out angrily at her surroundings. Her breath hissed out, as she forced herself to calm. She had to get back. She headed for the remnants of the door, and her thoughts flashed back to the others. Had that been the meaning? Was this all bait to draw her away, so she couldn't fight amongst them? Her eyes fluttered closed, and visions began playing across her eyelids.

An unknown location. Smoke, heavy in the air. The eerie silence which only existed at the end of a battle. A ruined building. The vision drew closer, until she could see bullet holes, scorch marks and dried blood staining the stone. Then, she understood. This was the answer to her unspoken question, given to her by her newly acquired ability. This, was the aftermath of the battle she had chosen to step out of.

She gasped, her eyes flashing open. What had happened? She shuddered. She couldn't even complete the thought that they might have been killed. But she had to know. Grimly, she closed her eyes once more, seeking another vision.

Darkness. A shaking sensation. Rattling, and the noise of a vehicle, and harsh breathing in an enclosed space. Then, something changed, causing streaks of light to pass across, enabling her to recognise them. Stevens, still, his head falling awkwardly, unconscious or worse. Kent, struggling in vain against his restraints. Beth, lying on the ground, dark blood on her head stark in the dim lighting. She ripped herself out of the vision before she could see more.

At least they were alive, she told herself, seeking reassurance. Those who lived could be freed. They'd done it repeatedly. Just one of those days, no different, except for the guilt she felt. But that wouldn't change anything. She had to find Trey, get out of here, plan their next move.

Another vision. The grounds outside, still recognisable despite the damage a recent vicious fight had caused. There was no smoke here. Only liquid metal, slowly cooling and solidifying. What had happened? Where was he?
The vision changed, seeming to flash backwards, like a film on rewind. She could see the fight now. Fire filling the air, objects thrown telekinetically, the hatred plain on both faces, the desire and need to kill the other. A fight to the very death. The thought flashed through her head as she watched, but Elan didn't realise the significance, not until she saw it happen. She watched as Trey drew back, feigning defeat, drawing Hiller back into his more human form as he did so. She could read the expression on his face, but Hiller did not see, or he didn't interpret it. A flash of foreboding or a new connection made her realise what Trey was about to do, and then she could sense it as he could, the air around the combatants, the gas particles moving between them and within them. Moving, swirling, drawing away, being drawn away, forced away, until there were none. She watched, as the 2 combatants slowly suffocated, their bodies falling to the floor, Hiller's transforming to his liquid metal as it did and flooding the ground.

She blinked out. Slowly, she made to move, stunned, lost, alone.
....................................................................................................................................................

Voiceover: First blood was claimed that day, but at a high cost. A personal battle won, a cause betrayed, and hope waning. More was lost that day than was gained. Innocence drowns in the very blood it drew, and all discover they do not know what it is they fight for in truth, not yet. That awakening has barely begun. It will not finish until the last blood is spilt.

Chapter 1 - Fragmented

Voiceover: Their awakening is only now beginning. Five years they have fought, only to taste a fraction of victory and find how bitter it truly is. The acrid poison tore them apart, leaving only fragments fighting now only to survive, and hoping that a new beginning could possibly safe them. Yes, they are only now truly stirring. The choices made now may lead to salvation, if made correctly. Or we all may be destroyed.

................................................................................................................................................

Elan: He's dead. Because of me. Yet another, dying over my own stupidity and selfishness. I shouldn't have let him come with me. And the others too, dead, or captured and dying, because I ran out on them. Because I abandoned them, seeking instead my own personal victory and revenge. So what do I do now?

Kent: Guess it's over now. They're just toying with us, delaying the execution order. Used to be that we could hope, even if just a vain little one, for at least an attempt at a rescue. But now, there are none left. Nothing left. The Organisation, it's finished. Just 3 people in a room, one not even conscious.

Rachel: What do we do now? They're talking about starting anew, starting this all over again, but how? I don't doubt, anymore, that it needs doing, or that we'll be the ones to do so. After all, who else is there? I'm just unsure if it's possible.

................................................................................................................................................

Elan walked slowly out of the room, her footsteps echoing over the parquet flooring. She looked around cautiously out of habit, but her mind wasn't in her present location. It wasn't basking in victory, either. No, she was haunted by the new knowledge of the extent of her earlier betrayal, the visions she'd gained and the feeling that she'd played right into her enemies' hands. Was there anything she could even do, now?

Her first instinct was to try to save the others: Stevens and Kent and Beth. They'd been alive in the vision she'd seen, and she was clinging to the hope that this meant something. It had to! There had to be a chance that she could save them, start again, that she hadn't foolishly and selfishly cast away the entire cause by pursuing her own personal campaign. And yet...... raiding the Manchester prison complex would be the obvious move. The predictable one. If she did the predictable, would she be playing into the Company's hands yet again?

"What do I do?" she whispered to herself, as she exited the room. "Play into their hands again? Or leave, do something unexpected? But I can't abandon the others..... is there anyone else who could help? Anyone at all?"

She shook her head. She didn't think so. None had seemed to survive. And from those who'd left the cause previously, she didn't know where to find them or how to contact them. If they'd even aid her.

The sound of approaching thoughts drew her out of her musings, reminding her of the need for caution and the possible danger, even though these men weren't coming for her and didn't know of her presence here. They'd know what she'd done, soon enough. She needed to focus on getting out of here.

................................................................................................................................................

Sarah opened her eyes with difficulty, looking around in confusion. Where was she? She couldn't remember coming here, wherever it was.....the last she could recall was the fight.... the bullets plunging into her, twice. Her entire body feeling like it was afire. She'd thought it'd been enough to kill her. Had it? Was this some weird kind of afterlife place?

"Where are we?" she heard Amy echoing her own question.

"I brought you somewhere safe," was the response. Sarah blinked at that voice. She was surely hallucinating.... it couldn't be. She couldn't have recognised that voice. And yet it wasn't one she'd easily mistake.

"Rachel?" she managed to croak out, finding that she almost had to force the words out.

"Who else would it be?" her sister laughed. "And we're somewhere safe.... at least, I hope it's safe. It should be...."

Relief and joy flooded through Sarah, almost drowning out the disbelief. She'd come back!! Rachel had come back! Thinking back, she now remembered those flashes of light she'd seen previously, and understood what they'd meant. They'd been Rachel, saving them.

"You came back... you changed you mind..."

"I shouldn't have left in the first place," she replied, her voice low and filled with shame. She regretted now, having lost that faded vision of purpose which Sarah had held onto.

"It doesn't matter now," she tried reassuring her, pushing away the ache of her remaining injuries - they'd been stitched up as well as possible, given that they now had no healer. "You're back, that's all that matters. There are 4 of us still alive, still free. We can still do something."

"But what?" Amy interrupted, her voice sounding timid and unsure. Danielle wasn't saying or doing anything, giving no sign that she even heard this conversation, plagued by the memory of what she'd done earlier.

"Restart it," Sarah answered immediately, as if the answer should have been obvious. "Restart the Organisation."

................................................................................................................................................

Elan crouched by the door for a few more minutes, listening carefully to their minds and trying to work out a clear escape route for herself. They didn't seem to have any plans to capture her now, though they doubtless knew of her presence. She doubted they'd have any scruples about capturing or killing her if they ran into her, though.

Once she'd listened enough, she began running, racing through the building faster than any sight could keep up with. She'd soon fled the place, but she didn't slow until she was miles away. She'd been fleeing from her guilt and confusion too, really. When she slowed, she was ready to face them. However, she still didn't know what to do. She'd forced the guilt away, knowing she could do nothing to alter the past, she couldn't undo it even if she wanted to try. And she didn't. She'd learned her lesson in that, been burned far too much to attempt it again. It was what she'd do in the present she still couldn't decide. To attempt the obvious rescue, or to abandon once again.

Sighing, she shook her head. She couldn't do either alone. She'd need help, but she didn't know where to search for it. Or maybe she did.....she grinned, remembering the new ability she'd gained today. It only took her a second to focus on trying to find any survivors, and then her eyes were flickering over with visions once more.

"Hex. Of course," she sighed, relief and hope flooding through her. At least one of them was alive and uncaptured. And now she had somewhere to run to.

................................................................................................................................................

Rachel stared at her sister for a moment, unsure if she'd heard that correctly. It wasn't the statement she doubted: she knew it was necessary. It was the certainty, the confidence. Where did Sarah get it from? Did she have any idea how impossible that'd be?

"Restart it? How do we do that?" Amy asked.

"Well, to start, we'd need to find more people," Sarah began. "We're only 4 of us now, 5 if we can find Hex again. We need more. Any people we know of from outside, or old members we can get a hold of...."

"Wouldn't they have left for a reason?" Rachel interrupted. "Hex did!"

"Maybe he'll reconsider."

She shook her head, disbelieving. Again with that certainty! There was an unfamiliar coldness with it too, it chilled her. It made her wonder if Sarah was thinking of forcing people to join up.

"Is there anyone?" Amy asked. "I was the only one like me I knew...."

"Mum and Dad had abilities, I think," Rachel answered. "But I've no idea where they are. Or if they're even alive."

"I might know someone...."

They all turned to face Danielle, shocked to hear her speak. She'd been completely silent so far.

"Who?" all 3 asked at once. She hesitated then. Should she tell them? Should she involve her? She was too young to be caught up this.... only 12. But then Danielle herself was roughly the same age, and was letting herself get caught up. And she knew that ignorance was no defence in this world.

"Her name's Suzanna.....she was a school friend of mine. She was the only other person who knew about my ability before.... before all that happened. She might be willing to help."

Sarah bit her lip, wondering if they should. If the girl had been a school friend of Danielle's, it had to mean she'd be a similar age: 12 or 13. Barely more than a child. Too young to be drawn into this, too young to be fighting, surely. But they were allowing Danielle and Amy to fight, drawing them into this instead of sending them away. She didn't know if there was any minimum age limit any more.

"We can try her," she responded. "You know where to find her, right? Rachel can transport you there to ask if she'd be willing."

"What will you and Amy do?" Rachel asked. She shrugged in response. She hadn't thought that part through yet, had barely considered it. She'd spoken of finding Hex again, and re-recruiting old members, but she didn't know where any would be, or how to contact them. She doubted Hex would have remained in his old home, especially after the place had been raided recently. But the attempt had to be made.

"Can you transport me to Hex's home, before you go? I doubt he'd be there, but I might be able to find some sign of where he'd be now."

Her sister nodded, reaching out already to send her way. Sarah found herself hurtling towards the wall, bracing herself for an impact only out of reflexive instinct, not mistrust. Then she vanished in a flash of white.

................................................................................................................................................

Hex had returned to his old home for only hours after his second release from the Organisation's base, this time being careful to spend every second focusing on preventing himself from being captured again. He felt he'd spent enough time in the Company's prisons, and had no interest at all in seeing those places again. He wouldn't have even returned here except for the need to gather some things.

Turning around and about to leave, he froze at the sight of a speeding blur, and immediately aimed his ability to slow the intruder. Elan grimaced as she found herself being dragged to a halt.

"You didn't have to force me to slow, Hex," she grumbled under her breath. "It wasn't like I was an attacker."

"I didn't know it'd be you, and I didn't have time to find out," he responded. "What do you want?"

"They captured them: Beth, Stevens, Kent, at least. Maybe more, I don't know. I wasn't there at the time. I need help getting them out."

"Are you crazy?! They'd be in the Company main prison in Manchester by now, Elan, and there's a reason none of the Organisation try raiding that place. It'd be suicide. And anyway, I left, remember?"

She grimaced again, guilt filling her features for a second. She deliberated, searching for a new approach.

"I managed to break Trey out, once," she pointed out. She'd completely ignored Hex's reminder that he'd left.

"That was pure luck and you know it," he answered flatly. She didn't retort that luck could be on their side once more, though tempted - she knew it wouldn't be that way.

"So your answer's no?" she asked after a while.

"I don't intend to get myself killed on some crazy mission, and you oughtn't to either."

"What else can I do, though?" she implored, her voice thin. "Hex... I... I as good as abandoned them. If I'd been there, I could have prevented this. So I can't let it go."

Hex remained silent, offering no answer. He more than suspected she'd refuse to listen to anything he could let himself say.

"If I have to go alone, I will," she whispered at last, having spent several minutes deep in thought. "Goodbye, Hex. Thanks for nothing."

................................................................................................................................................

After watching Elan blur away, pushing back the echoes of his conscience which were calling him cowardly for his refusal, Hex turned once more to leave. However, he'd only taken one more step, when he was disturbed yet again. He didn't react defensively this time, recognising the white flash of transportation.

"Why are you here, Sarah?" he asked after she'd picked herself up from the ground, his tone much less aggressive than it'd been when he'd asked a similar question of Elan.

"I.... we need your help. I know you said that you wanted to be left alone, but...."

His heart sank, fearing that she was about to ask of the same suicidal task that Elan had. He'd have suspected the woman had even put her up to it, guessing that he'd find it harder to refuse pleas from an old friend, if he hadn't thought her above such an approach. She'd have persuaded or telepathised him into agreeing before doing that.

"What is it?"

"The Company found our old base. They captured or killed almost all of us, only Rachel, me and those 2 girls are left. We're trying to start again..."

"Restart the Organisation?"

She nodded.

"Is that even possible?"

"It has to be!" she answered fiercely, her words tumbling out of her. "The only other option would be to hide, and do nothing, and just wait for them to find us all! Because they will, Hex, they will. Hiding won't work forever, even for me. We have to fight."

He hesitated again, torn between the urge to continue hiding and stay out of it all, and the numbing knowledge that she was right. He'd tried to hide, and had been caught. She'd done the same. The passion she was failing completely to hide was convincing, too.

"Believe me, Hex," she pleaded softly. "Help us. Join us again."

"What are you planning to do?" he asked, trying to ignore the growing interest evident in his voice. As he waited for an answer, he hoped sincerely that she wouldn't mention any rescues. They were impossible.

"I don't know yet, no definite plans. We're trying to recruit, first. 4 or 5 members isn't enough.... Danielle and Rachel have gone to speak with a friend of Danielle's, and we're hoping to search for old members...."

He sighed with relief at her sensible answer.

"Thank you, Sarah," he whispered, and she started at the seemingly strange response. "Yes... I think I might join again. I was beginning to think that hiding wouldn't keep working."

The smile which appeared on her lips lit up her entire expression, hope almost radiating out of her. He could tell that she was barely resisting throwing her arms around him in gratitude.

"Do you know of anyone else we could approach, though? Anyone else who'd join?"

"Maybe.... there are a few people I'd consider a possibility. Our best hope would be old members though, but I don't know any of their names. Only people like Elan or Stevens or Kent would."

"Stevens and Kent both died in the fight, I think," she sighed. "And I've no idea for Elan."

He shook his head. There was no point mentioning that Elan had been there moments ago; she'd already gone, and her expression upon leaving had shown that it was vividly clear that she was still dedicated to her self-appointed task. In other words, she was effectively a dead woman.

................................................................................................................................................

Elan stopped out of sight near the prison's complex building, watching it with narrowed eyes. Her expression was completely calm, but that was deceptive. She knew Hex had been right: she hardly stood a chance, here. It'd been sheer luck which had enabled her to free Trey, and security would have been upgraded yet again. The inhibitory gas wouldn't be ceased when an alarm would be set off, this time, and she doubted they'd forget to block her again. The prison they'd destroyed a few days ago had been much easier, and she knew that'd only been possible because of Becker.

She shivered. Yes, impossible. That was the word for what she was considering. Her mind was screaming for her to reconsider, to turn away. It coldly reminded her that the survivors would probably advise her to do so, too, if they'd be able. She'd do much more good leaving and restarting the fight. Staying here was madness. She smiled grimly at that thought. Madness. It seemed now that she made a habit of acting madly, and it was a habit she currently held no intention of breaking. Her eyes roved over the building again, taking in its fortifications and guards. Too many different centres for the inhibition, and she'd need to destroy them all. Too difficult. Too many guards to persuade them to let her in, and running through would be impossible too. Surely they were expecting her presence here. Surely she was still dancing to the Company's tune, unable to break free, or forgive herself if she did. Nothing she could do about that, now.

Or was there? She hesitated again, considering her options, her decision. She knew that it was highly predictable and difficult, but she'd believed that anything else would be turning her back on her allies, abandoning her friends yet again. She'd believed that she couldn't refuse the attempt. But now, a new option was offering itself to her, another even more predictable course. One so obvious that the Company would surely fall into the trap involved. It wouldn't protect her, she knew that. But it'd make another's rescue possible.

She nodded, agreeing to herself to attempt this new plan, then turned her back and once more raced away.

I am going to re-read it all, tonight and tomorrow, I think But I read the latest chapter, and it's made of awesome Really, I love it

Thanks I know it's a little slow at the moment, slower than the beginning of Volume 2 had been. I found that I had more build up to write than I'd expected, but I hope I left a bit of a teaser by the end.

You really did And please, I was just being honest

Thanks for posting it Lowri. I'll put up Suzanna's profile on the character appeal

Intriguing first chapter. I'm liking the characters you've decided to focus on. Also wondering what the general theme of this volume is going to be?

Interesting that you say that when the majority of those characters were originally yours Any connection there?
And I can't explain what the general theme of the volume will be, yet, obviously. But the current lack of a name isn't any indicator - I just couldn't decide on a name.

Oh yeah, I was going to ask what the title was going to be, but fair enough. I always regret giving my stories titles too early on so nice tactic.
And yeah, I was kind of implying that, but it is easier to follow when you just focus on a select group of chars each chapter. Really glad you're still going with this, I've missed your writing.

Danielle: What am I doing? I shouldn't have volunteered Suzanna like that; I shouldn't have even considered her. I should want to keep her as far away as possible. After all, I'd have wanted her to do that for me, if our roles were reversed. Or would I? Do I really resent this situation I've found myself in? Am I angry that I'm fighting now - or proud? I'm not sure if I know myself any more.

Hex: Why did I agree to sign up? I wish I could claim to know the answer to that one. I wish I could just say that I knew Rachel and Sarah wouldn't give in themselves, and that I wanted to be there to help them, to protect them. I wish it was that simple. But somehow, it isn't. Turned out I wasn't lying to her when I said I was thinking that running and hiding might no longer be possible.

................................................................................................................................................

Once she'd sent her sister through the wall, Rachel turned to face Danielle again, and saw a flicker of hesitation cross the young girl's face. It struck her suddenly, how worried and terrified she must be, being caught up in this, so young. The prospect even frightened Rachel herself, and she knew it'd be worse at that age.

"Are you ready?" she asked gently. Danielle shook her head.

"Are you reconsidering asking her? We don't have to..."

"No... I.... well I am. And I'm not, at the same time.... I don't know. I don't know if I should, or not."

"We wouldn't be forcing her to join up if she didn't want to, Danielle," she tried to reassure her. Danielle nodded, but also sighed.

"I know that. We wouldn't force her directly, anyway. But would she really know what she's signing up for? I didn't.... I still don't, not fully. But then, I don't know if she'd be any safer back home - I was there when I got caught. And we do need new members...."

"That doesn't mean it has to be her."

"Do we know of anyone else?" she retorted. Rachel hesitated, but honestly shook her head. That was the problem. With the entire top rung gone and only the new recruits surviving, all knowledge of former members had also been lost.

"Then we have to," Danielle sighed. "It's just..... do you mind if I go alone? I could copy your ability, I've done it before. And I think Suzanna could feel a bit coerced, if you were there too...."

Seeing the older woman's disinclination, she quickly added:

"And it's not like we'd be in any danger there! The Company wouldn't be seeing me doing this, and going there to stop me, or anything.... it'd be perfectly safe. I'm sure it will be. I.... I just want to make sure that if she comes, she wants to come. That's all."

"If you're sure..... ok," Rachel nodded. Danielle grinned her thanks, then turned hurriedly to focus on her aura. She was working quickly, half expecting Rachel to change her mind again if she wasn't rapid enough. A few seconds, and she'd copied that ability once more. Another second, and she was gone.

................................................................................................................................................

"What about these people you said you'd consider, then?" Sarah asked. "Who are they?"

"I said they were only possibilities," Hex warned. "But do you remember Amanda?"

She laughed drily.

"Of course I remember Amanda. But you're kidding me, right? There's no way she'd join up. No way in hell. As I remember it, she said that she'd enjoyed living over a century, and very much wanted to see if she could make it to another. There's no way she'd take the risk."

He nodded. That'd been the reason he'd said it was only a possibility. His only counter to it was that, at the time, he too would have mocked anyone who'd have suggested that he would one day end up in the position he currently was in. If he could change his mind, didn't that mean that Amanda could, too?

"Do you really think she'd join?" Sarah asked sceptically, correctly interpreting his earlier silence. "Really?"

"I think we could persuade her to..."

"How?!"

"If we could make her see the benefits of it...."

She knew exactly what he was discretely suggesting. And she hated the idea.

"No, Hex! We're not being like that, it's not supposed to be like that! No tricking or twisting people into joining us, it's not what the Organisation does!"

"And why do you think they were losing?" he retorted. "There's no other option, Sarah. We need everyone. And only a handful would just volunteer."

"I'm not being a part of that, Hex," she insisted. "And to be honest, I wish you weren't, either. I thought you were above that."

He shook his head.

"I'm trying to keep us alive and give us a chance of winning, Sarah, that's all. Frankly, I'm beginning to think that we can forget the costs."

She shook her head.

"I'm not being a part of that," she repeated.

"We don't have a hope otherwise," he tried to persuade her. But she shook her head.

"I won't be stopping you, Hex - do whatever you feel you have to. But don't ask me to do the same, or to support you."

................................................................................................................................................

Danielle reappeared in a small hallway which was achingly familiar, and immediately had to dampen down a rush of nostalgia. Looking back couldn't do anything, she thought to herself fiercely. Missing home was pointless when she knew she never could return, not unless they succeeded in changing their world drastically. And even these thoughts were dangerous. While she stood here reminiscing and thinking them, someone could have seen her. She recollected herself, and hurried out.

The street outside also raised an ache of familiarity, but it wasn't as strong as within the house had been, and therefore it was easier to ignore. She forced herself to do just that, and headed across walking to the March family home. Glancing at her wristwatch, she noted that it was 3:30pm. Perfect. Suzanna would be at home, but her family would still be at work and unable to complicate matters.

She knocked on the door and awaited an answer. She'd braced herself for exclamations over being missing for several months, but she still wasn't ready for the sheer shock, hope and disbelief on her friend's face when she saw her.

"Danielle!! How? What? You... you're back!"

Danielle nodded hurriedly, asking immediately to be allowed in. Every second outside, in view, was a risk. The urgency must have showed on her expression and in her voice, since Suzanna swallowed down all her questions and let her through.

"Where..... where have you been?" she asked once they were inside.

"I.... have you heard of the Company? Or the Organisation?"

2 shakes of Suzanna's head.

"I don't know where to begin, really then..... or maybe I do. It's to do with what we can both do..."

"My controlling air? And you with what you see?"

She nodded.

"We're not the only people who can do extraordinary things, Suzanna. Far from it. And there's this company - The Company - which controls our people, manipulates them, plays them...... they're the ones who captured me. Kidnapped me and locked me up. Then there are others.... years ago, they found out about the Company, and now they're trying to stop them. Fighting back against them."

"And you're one of them," Suzanna stated. She wasn't questioning. She'd recognised it, in the tone of Danielle's voice. Danielle hesitated, considering denial for a second, then remembered her purpose there, and nodded in acknowledgement.

"I didn't have a choice," she replied. "I couldn't let myself just stand by..."

"Why not?"

"I just couldn't...." unable to explain, she simply tailed off.

"You're only 12, Danielle. Standing by is what we're meant to do."

She sighed deeply, staring at her friend's auma and trying to think of a way to persuade her. Strangely, the reluctance she'd expected to encounter didn't trigger the reaction she'd have also expected within herself. She knew she ought to give up on her now. Just say goodbye and leave. But she couldn't bring herself to do so. She knew that the Organisation needed as much new blood as they could gain, and more than that, she knew Suzanna would need it too. She was even tempted to manipulate her auma into agreeing. In truth, it was the risk of losing the transportation which kept her back, not the immorality of the idea.

..........................................................................................................................................

Hex watched Sarah for a while, as if waiting for a sign that she was about to change her mind, but none came. Her expression was completely stubborn and set.

"Then I guess I'll just go alone, then," he sighed, and made to exit.

He left the building they'd been hiding in temporarily - one of the many foster homes Rachel had lived in as a child, after her parents' deaths. There'd been too many of those through her childhood for the Company to possibly link them all to her. Or that'd been the sisters' defence after choosing the location, anyway.

He shook his head, dismissing those doubts, and focusing instead on how he intended to persuade Amanda to join. It wouldn't be an easy task, far from it. She'd been adamantly against all of it the last time he'd spoken to her. And she wasn't one to change her mind, unless she was made to do so. He wondered briefly if he could manipulate that to occur using his ability, but quickly discounted that idea. Manipulating people was so much more risky than using inanimate objects and circumstances.

He found that he was still deliberating over these options half an hour later, when he arrived outside her apartment. Even just looking at it felt eerie, now. The thought of one of them being able to live so openly and easily was beginning to be alien to him, and he shuddered as he realised this. He forced himself to dismiss that uneasiness as he knocked upon the door.

"Hex? What are you doing here?" she asked, surprised. They hadn't spoken to or seen each other in a few years.

"Just wanted to see how you were," he lied. "Check in on you."

"Why?"

The suspicion in her voice had just risen noticeably.

"Just.....you could be in danger," he answer. Not a lie, this time. They all were in danger, for being what they were. "The Company. A few weeks ago, Rachel and Sarah broke into one of their buildings, and one of the things they found was a list of targets."

"And I was on it?"

He nodded.

"This is it," he continued, quickly twisting reality so that the papers he'd described would appear in his pocket. He pulled them out, and watched silently as she perused them.

..........................................................................................................................................

"What happened to you, Danielle?" Suzanna asked, as the silence stretched on. Danielle hadn't said anything, but she could guess her thoughts.

"Life happened!" she snapped. "I got caught, did you expect me to come back exactly the same? Why do you think we fight?"

"I don't know.... you shouldn't have to, though..."

"And what happens, when everyone says that? When no one fights, no one offers to stand up? That's how it got this bad in the first place! That's how they thought they had the right to take me and lock me up!"

"Why are you even here?" Suzanna interrupted her tirade. Danielle froze. Now they'd come to that final point, she couldn't seem to find the necessary words. She'd hoped she'd have been able to show Suzanna how good the people were first, or that she'd realise that from the start. They were on the right side, and wasn't that what mattered?

"I.... I wanted to see if you'd join, too," she answered at last, finally deciding to be blunt. Suzanna gaped.

"Why?"

"Why would you?" she shrugged."I don't know, not really. But maybe the same reasons as I do? Maybe because I'm asking?"

"Isn't it too dangerous though? And I'd have to leave home, and disappear like you did...."

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I wouldn't have even considered asking you, if I hadn't suspected you could end up caught up anyway."

Suzanna hesitated again, weighing her decision. Was Danielle right, and she really was caught up in this war just by being what she was? Possibly.....but it was still too much of a price, she felt. She shook her head.

"I can't, Danielle."

"Why not?" she asked, pleading, then desisted. "No... I guess it's your decision... I shouldn't just make you change your mind. And not just because then I might not be able to get back.... I might be able to, but that doesn't mean I should...."

She continued to mutter, still trying to persuade herself that she'd made the correct decision, as she left. Suzanna watched her vanishing, unaware of the warning she'd just received.

...............................................................................................................................................

"What do I do now?" Amanda asked anxiously. "Where do I go?"

Hex hesitated, pretending to have to think it over and consider the options.

"Well, you could find somewhere else to hide, keep moving. That's what most do."

"Or? I'm guessing from your tone that you've another idea."

He nodded.

"It's dangerous," he warned. "You're likely to call me crazy after I say it."

"I already think you're crazy, Hex," she laughed. "Just spit it out."

"The Organisation?"

She immediately seemed to grow taller, eyes flashing dangerously and aglow with anger.

"You're right! You are mad! Going to THEM would be suicide!!" she shouted. He shook his head.

"Any more than just waiting for the Company to come get you?" he countered softly. "Do you really think you - or any of us - can hide forever?"

She hesitated, unable to voice the lie which was on the tip of her tongue instinctively. Hex just watched her. He knew that she'd shake her head before she made the gesture.

"What do I do?" she asked once more. He relaxed incrementally, seeing that his stratagem had worked.

"You just come back with me," he answered. "I'll bring you to the others."

Wow Really good I liked Danielle's bit, a lot, but I'm not sure what the warning Suzanna got is? But I loved it