"Craig," Breanna called, striding into the tech room with David close behind, "what is going on?"

"Calla picked up a strange signal," Craig said as he came toward them, "Trev tracked it down, and Tania confirmed it was one of Madden's stealth helicopter fleets."

"Where are they heading?" Breanna asked, taking in the information off the screens above them.

"Here," Tina said quietly, "they are coming here."

"Bre," Hana called as she entered the tech room, "is it true? Madden is coming here."

"Apparently so," Breanna frowned, "why?"

Hana moved to the computer Calla worked on, looking down at her hands before picking up the monitor and waiting. A sudden inhale of breath finishing with a gasp, came out of her.

"Hana?" Breanna observed the woman.

"Don't touch her," Cara called, "she's... reading the specifics of the helicopters."

Cara turned blindly to her twin, who handed her a notepad and pen. Quickly she began writing them down. Craig moved in behind her watching her over her shoulder. Pointing at each team member he addressed, he began calling out the information. One by one, they began working on the information given. Moving together like a well-oiled machine.

"Calla, do you know if she is correct?" Breanna asked.

"No idea," Calla shook her head, "I only find websites and online information. Hana is accessing a totally different level of information."

"What did you have on that screen?" Breanna asked, walking toward the pair.

"The information Cara and Oran transferred to the tech room," Calla frowned, "why?"

"Cut the mainframe," Breanna called urgently, "we need to go dark. Now!!"

Silence filled the room. Confusion was on everyone's faces.

"How long until they arrive?" Breanna called.

"Ten minutes," David said, looking up at the countdown screen.

"We need to go dark and stop them hacking our energy reading information," Breanna pointed at Hana, holding the screen. "That's where she is getting their details."

Craig turned to Kelvin, "Put us in the dark."

"Everything?" Kelvin frowned.

"Do it," Craig said, "medieval time, now."

"On it," Kelvin said, "use nocturnal vision, people."

"Mobiles off," Breanna called, "Hana, you can let go now."

"No," Hana said, breathing heavily, "there is more."

"What more?" Breanna spoke quietly, "does he have more?"

"Fanatics coming this way," Hana gasped before releasing the screen to Calla as Kelvin accomplished his task of shutting down the safe house, "highly enhanced fantastic...on foot."

"Lock this place down," Breanna called as she moved to the weapons cabinet, "where is Tania?"

"Training room," Cara called, "Jesse is with Valencia and Birgit."

"Find locations, Cara," Breanna said as she laid out the weapons and ammunition, "suit up everyone."

"What are we fighting?" Daisy asked, looking confused at the sudden activity and alien language.

Iris stopped next to her, "Can you see in the dark?"

"Yes," Daisy nodded, "figured that was the nocturnal vision. But why are the weapons coming out?"

"We're fighting to survive," Iris said, "Madden is Darica's partner and apparently lover."

Daisy grimaced.

"Yeah," Iris grinned, "we feel the same."

Breanna paused, then facing the group arming themselves, "We have incoming air and land coming against us. If anyone has additional abilities, even if they are developing, please feel free to use them."

"You don't know what they are," Kelvin said into the listening silence.

"Do you want to stop and get to know everyone's newbies?" David asked.

"Nope," Kelvin said, "I'm good."

"Snipers find your advantage point and make every bullet count," Breanna said, "we need to keep them from getting through us."

"Why?" Daisy said, "I thought we were fighting for our survival."

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"We are," Calla said, "but Hana just picked up a newspaper and found an article about Madden's facility to harness energy. The wording sounds fancy, but it's basically organic, which means ... human energy."

"She's not wrong," Jasmine said, running into the tech room, "wow, it's dark down here. I got an encrypted message from a contact digging into something before he disappeared. I finally got to read it when we got here, and it took me a while to get the message, but ... Madden is building an energy harnessing machine. The World has been fed a bogus story about it being sustainable and other stuff. They do not know that Madden has captured enhanced people to test the machine on. He has been piggybacking on Darcia's madness to fulfil his mad plans."

"This show of force may be for something else. IT remains that we're not fighting for just us," Frank said quietly, "we're fighting for the freedom of humanity."

"Then let's make sure they don't get through us," Tina said quietly, "if what we have heard is happening, we are the last defence."

"Agreed," Breanna said, "watch each other's backs and if you have to communicate, connect with Cara. Oran, please stay with her ... keep each other alive."

The twins nodded.

"Craig want to talk to your group?" Breanna looked at her elder brother.

"Orders have been given," he nodded, "we are a team, a family and what you have said goes for everyone. We don't let them get past us. It's as simple as that."

Nodding, the group left the dark tech room flawlessly manoeuvring in the pitch darkness.

Jesse sat on the end of the bed, watching Birgit and Valencia battle it out for a few moments. Clearing his throat, he caught their attention. The body stilled. Progress!!

"I've been waiting out here for a while," Jesse sighed, "can we talk. All three of us?"

He waited. The door to their bedroom may be open for them to leave, but their issues physically affect everyone else. The Agency was under attack. The safety of everyone was jeopardised because of the emotional upheaval happening right in front of him and his own emotional tension.

Valencia / Birgit opened her eyes, pushing herself into a sitting position.

"We didn't know you were here," he heard Birgit and Valencia speaking in unison.

"Thanks. Makes a guy feel very ... wanted. We need to sort this out," Jesse spoke quietly, "Birgit, please stay."

"Don't you want to talk to Valencia on her own," Birgit spoke, her voice more hoarse than usual.

"Usually, but since I'm the cause of you taking such desperate measures," Jesse cleared his throat, "you have the right to know what is discussed."

Silence met his words. Their body sighed before settling against the pillows and observing him.

"Talk," Valencia said quietly.

"Right," Jesse shifted on the bed, "let me get this out cause Madden is on the way, and I think we'll be needed soon."

Steady eyes met his. Waiting.

Jesse cleared his throat, stood, pushed his hands into his pockets and paced away from the bed.

"I've been a jerk because I felt responsible for what happened to you when Jasmine drained you," Jesse spoke in one breath, not looking at Valencia sitting on the bed. "I thought I had lost you, and then when you came around, I didn't understand why you were behaving as you were."

Turning, he found Valencia frowning at him, "I realised that it wasn't you and thought I had lost you for good. Then Bre had to deal with whoever had replaced you, and I didn't know how to cope with someone else replacing you or the fact that you were fighting for your life."

"You're an idiot," Birgit barked.

"Yes," Jesse nodded, "I am."

"Why didn't you talk to Valencia when you realised what was happening?" Birgit snarled.

"I ..." clearing his throat, he tried again, "I didn't think she needed me."

Silence met his admission. Glancing at the bed, he found Birgit glaring at him. He was beginning to see the slight differences.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, "I'm lost when it comes to emotional territory."

"I don't understand," Birgit said.

"I've been in the military all my adult life," Jesse sighed. "I have gone up against the most fearsome opponents, but when it came to falling in love with Val ..." he swallowed hard, "I'm terrified."

"Terrified," Birgit mocked, "you're scared of Valencia?"

"No," Jesse shook his head, "terrified she wouldn't find me worthy of being loved."

"What?" Valencia finally spoke, "you total..."

she stood pounding on his chest, the highest point she could reach, before Jesse could respond to the sudden outburst. He didn't try to stop her. Instead, he listened to her ranting words as they called him names that made him blush. Eventually, she broke down, crying helplessly against his chest. Gently he folded her against him. Holding her.

"I'm so sorry, Val," he whispered against her fiery long hair brushing a kiss against her temple, "I love you. Always have."

She relaxed into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him, resting her head on his broad, muscled chest. He sighed in relief and contentment. He felt as though he had come home.

Just then, the lights went out.

"What's happening?" Birgit's fearful whisper pulled at his heart.

"Let me check in with Cara," Jesse spoke quietly as he held the pair against him.

Focusing his thoughts, he lifted his privacy barrier and linked his mind with Cara's, grinning at her surprise.

She showed him what was happening. The update was alarming. Closing his mind, Jesse kissed the top of Valencia's head.

"We're needed," he whispered into the darkness, "all three of us."

Quickly he told the pair what was happening.

"New abilities," Valencia sighed, "what new abilities?"

"We don't know," Jesse said, "but that is part of the orders."

"Maybe I should mention that I kind of ..." Birgit cleared her throat, "throw fire."

"What?" Valencia and Jesse spoke in unison.

"Since when?" Valencia asked.

"I discovered it when I was in the bathroom earlier," Birgit sighed, "you were sulking, and I was annoyed, and I sort of flushed with a fireball."

"You throw fireballs," Jesse shook his head, "then if you find you can use it to help... that would be good. Oh, I would mention it to Phoenix; he has something like that."

"How can we help?" Valencia sighed, "we cannot fight."

"Speak for yourself," Birgit mumbled, "I will go out there and help those people."

"Ladies," Jesse grinned, "argue later."

"We still need to talk," Valencia said, "we're not sorted out."

"I know," Jesse said, cupping the face he loved, "we will talk, but I agree with Birgit. Our family needs us."

"I like him more and more," Birgit sighed, "can we go now?"

"Sure," Valencia chuckled, "at least we can find out if we can work independently."

"True," Birgit said, "we'll be fine as long as we work together."

Jesse exhaled deeply as they left the room. There was a long way to go, but this was a start; he had discovered something new about himself. He could adapt his abilities. Who knew?