Crouching in the shadows of the tree line, Craig watched the facility across the way from his position. There was a lot of activity, and he wasn't sure how many military personnel there were or if they had any ordnance. Taking photos, he uploaded them to Kyle's login name, sending as many recon photos as possible and photos of the enhanced version of Darcia and Madden. Craig thought he was made at one point, but no one sent anyone in his direction. After two hours of gathering information to prove to his headstrong sister it wasn't a hoax, also that Gina and John were telling the truth, he packed his gear into his backpack, secured it and headed in the opposite direction he had come in. The sudden sensation of being watched and followed made him duck down an alley and quickly enter the first open door. Glancing around the murky space, he generally found it empty and hoped nothing and no one would surprise him with an attack.

The quick thudding of boots came to his sensitive hearing; listening intently, he figured it was a large group of fanatics that had been militarised and now looking for him. Instructions flew from every point, and several smaller groups divided, seeming to move in opposite directions to look for him. Looking around, Craig needed to find a way out of this place. The only way he could escape the hunting hordes outside was to take to the roof and find a way home. The confidence they could be taken didn't make him stupid. There were many of them and only one of him. Pushing the latest information through to the central server, Craig hoped that someone would see the new information and the last location he could give them. Returning all the gear to his backpack, securing it so nothing would open in the event it was taken, he pulled it onto his back and moved toward the back of the space. It was littered with broken furniture, frayed wooden beams and dust ... lots of dust. Noticing a door on the far end of the premises, Craig headed toward it, carefully pushing it open to find another alley. It was closed off on the far end. The only way to get out was up. Closing his eyes, he listened to the tramping coming from multiple places but nowhere close to his position. It was now or never.

Easing the door closed, he moved further into the alley, finding an excellent place to climb. Looking at his hands as he stretched and flexed them, placing them on the wall, he felt them change as required and began pulling himself up; as soon as his feet found traction, he started to climb, quickening his pace as he heard the sound of boots coming in his direction. Swinging onto the roof, Craig checked the alley below. Two teams of fanatics entered the alleyway, checked as they discovered it was closed off, looked around and up and then disappeared from view. Craig hoped they hadn't seen him. Checking his direction from his crouched position on the roof's peak, he calculated the quickest way to get out of the area. Punching in his location and uploading it to the servers, he secured the gear moving silently over the rooftops in the direction of the steeple in the distance. It was a church or a cemetery; either would do for his next stopping point. Each time he changed rooftops, he checked for any troops below. So far, he was fortunate. He supposed he could relax, but Craig had always been patient when doing an op, and he wasn't about to begin relaxing now. Taking a sip of water, Craig checked the area across the road; his guess was correct, it was a cemetery, locked for the night, but he could see a few ways of getting in. Sending through his location to the central servers at the Agency, Craig repeated the security protocols, pulling the backpack over his shoulders once again, checking the area and quickly descending, crossing the road, gaining entry to the cemetery and starting across the grounds to the opposite side.

Walking between the headstones, Craig was sure he was on track to getting across before anyone knew where he was. Glancing around to ensure he was alone, he stepped out into the pathway heading toward the cluster of mausoleums and crypts. The shadows moved, and his blood chilled in his veins.

"Well, well, well, well, what do we have here?" a voice spoke from an area near a large tree before separating from the long shadow extending from the trunk, "it's Craig the Cracker."

Craig frowned at the name given to him at the facility; he knew the voice but wasn't sure if he should believe what he was seeing.

"Are you Begging Ben?" Craig asked, glancing around as others appeared, "the guy who wanted everything done to him so he could feel special?"

"Oh, I got everything done to me," the voice said, "and I am special."

"Really? How so?" Craig asked, his adrenaline spiking as he counted six people circling him, reminding him of sharks waiting to dine.

"I can do so much more than you," the sneer riding the words was supposed to wound, but Craig felt nothing, "and I'll use everything I have to take you out."

"I wish you luck," Craig said, suddenly defending himself against a four-person attack.

The fighting was fast and pulled on every part of Craig's training to deflect the physical blows and other attacks coming at him simultaneously. Grasping the wrist on an incoming fist, Craig pulled the fanatic around, bracing him with an arm over his shoulder, using him as a shield for the incoming blows aimed at his lower back. At the same time, he extended a thrust kick into the solar flex of the oncoming assault in the front. Spinning, Craig released the now limp attacker from the back while landing a punch to the chin, snapping the head back. The sound of the neck-snapping echoed in the silent graveyard.

"Notch it up," shouted Begging Ben.

Craig's eyes began to dart around the area. He knew what that meant. Anything could be used against him. This wasn't a retrieval team. These people were part of a termination unit. The glint of silver flashed in the lights of the moon, appearing from its hiding place. Craig didn't wait; he went in for the attack, twisting and snapping the wrist and punching into the gut before following up with one to the solar flex and breastbone. The sudden snap and the following gasp told Craig he didn't have to worry about anything coming from that attacker that left ... hopefully ... three. Dropping and spinning in a low circle, Craig narrowly missed the swipe of a knife and quickly scooped the man's legs from under him.

Landing into a fighting stance, he looked around but was not quick enough for the blow that whipped his head to the side. Shaking off the sudden haze, Craig readied to defend himself but was blindsided by a sudden electric shock. Gritting his teeth, he looked down at his arm, seeing the hands emitting an electric shock into his body, looking up into the cold, smiling face of another fanatic he knew from the facility, the one they nicknamed Death. Deep inside, his tenuous hold on his fatal ability snapped. Moving past the pain, Craig reached for his gun, aiming it at the man's head, and pulled the trigger. But not before he felt the quick hot stabs into his side. The electrocution stopped, but no matter how many deep breaths were taken, Craig couldn't stop himself from the point he had been pushed. Turning, he shot the man about to stab him for a fourth time before extending his hand and shooting the team leader. Looking around, Craig's super heightened vision could see and pinpoint others surrounding him and begin to circle. The untethered rage boiling through his body and the need to survive pushed him to the edge, his vision filled with pinpricks of white light. Instead of letting it go, Craig noted the heat signatures he needed to eliminate; with a roar, he spread his arms, feeling the build-up of power magnified by the electric shock received and letting his ability erupt from his body, hands and fingers. It felt good to release the pent-up energy; it felt healthy and, more importantly, saved his life. Slowly the charge faded. Panting, Craig looked around, finding himself alone, bleeding, and near exhaustion; he pushed himself to find shelter. Staggering across the steaming ground, he found a crypt whose gate was unlocked; easing himself in, he moved to the back of the space, sinking to the floor and telling himself to breathe. He had to stop the bleeding, some of those fanatics laughed about how the scent of blood excited them, and they could track it from a long way off. Pushing his hand into his cargo pant pocket, Craig pulled out large wound bandages and a spray to mask the smell of fresh blood. Tearing through the close tears in the cloth, Craig washed away the oozing redness before spraying the area and slowly applying the bandages. Sucking in his breath as he covered each wound. Blinking against blurred vision, Craig applied the anti-blood scent to his hands, clothes and weapons, then reloaded his gun. Groaning, Craig finally sagged against the wall.

"Need to rest," he whispered, "will get home ... after ... I ... rest."

Leaning his head against the wall, gun in hand, ready to use, Craig shut his eyes and hoped that no one would find him until he could defend himself again.

Tina watched Craig move across the rooftops, pausing from time to time, setting up alerts for anything coming into the servers or anyone's login at the agency. Tina tracked Craig as he moved. She may be in no condition to be out there to help him, but she could do everything she knew to help him from here. Pushing the information through to the main screen of the tech room, Tina began to make location markers on the map she knew the others in the tech room would be able to see. Ever since Morgan's attempt to flatten downtown Breanna had someone working in the tech room every minute of every day .... or night. Someone would see this ... someone had to see it. Opening the package sent to Kyle's login Tina gasped as she saw the recon photos taken. She pushed them onto the big screen as well.

"He was getting information to make Bre believe him," she whispered, shaking her head, "please don't get killed out there because your sister is too angry with you to listen."

"We're going to make sure he won't," Valencia said, from the doorway, "you've got everyone in an uproar in the tech room, but I told them the laptop was in the compound and the security measures were already in place."

"Thanks," Tina said, frowning as Craig lingered longer than he usually did, "when I found this and saw what he was doing, I couldn't leave it alone," looking at the screen, she frowned, "what are you doing?"

Birgit looked over her shoulder, "Looks like he is watching something."

"But what?" Tina asked, punching keys quickly. Suddenly, pictures popped up on the screen, "I don't see anything but a cemetery."

"Hold up," Birgit whispered, opening a laptop and sitting down next to Tina, "according to the map of that area ... yes, I see what he's meaning to do ... by going across the cemetery will get him closer to the route he needs to take to get back here."

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"He's trying to come home. What are those heat signatures among the buildings?" Tina asked, "oh no, trouble," she whispered, scooping up the phone and pressing a button, "Dave, are you still going out tonight with a Team?" she paused, "you may need to do a retrieval or a rescue ..." Tina said, not looking away from the screen, ".... it's Craig ... he did a solo recon mission to the other Darcia and Madden's facility ..." she sighed, "yes the one that Bre doesn't believe is there. I have him on camera at the moment, and his last known location is coming in now. I'm sending you everything I have from him ..." she gasped as the fighting started, "is this real?" she whispered.

"Yes, I'm seeing it as well," Valencia said, "and it isn't good ..." she brought up other feeds, "there are more coming in."

"No," Tina cried as she saw Craig get stabbed; the tension in her belly made her stomach roll, and she swallowed the rising bile, "oh ... my ... god."

Craig's roar vibrated to the watching surveillance cameras, blinded by the blaze of light he emitted. Tina's eyes filled with tears running unchecked down her cheeks as she watched Craig stagger over the ground and disappear from view.

"Where is he going?" she asked, checking all the camera angles, "Dave ..." she whispered.

"I saw," he murmured, "tell that baby of yourself it's doing very well in honing its already strong ability. Be gentle with mental connections."

"They all heard you," Tina whispered, "Craig is injured ..."

"Tina, please don't worry," David said, his business-like voice clipped, "we will find him and bring him home."

"Thank you, Dave," she whispered, returning the receiver to the cradle, "just hold on, Babe, we're coming."

Tina typed in a series of codes, and flashing lights filled every compound area.

"You're not authorised to do that," Valencia murmured, "Bre is going to lose it."

"She is the one to blame for all of this," Tina whispered, "she wouldn't listen, accused him of making fairy tales real, and this is what happens when he tries to bring her the proof that what the children have said is real."

"She will want answers," Valencia murmured, "there may be trouble."

Tina turned her tear-streaked face to meet the concerned look from her friends, "I'm protecting my family. Besides, Craig is an agent down; we both know we have the authorisation to put the alert out. If Bre has a problem with that, perhaps she must remember it's her family. All this could have been prevented if she had simply heard what he had to say instead of being high-handed and behaving in a way that is no better than her sister."

Valencia / Birgit swallowed, looking past her toward the doorway. Following her gaze, Tina turned to find Breanna, Tanya, Jesse and David standing behind her.

"So, you think I'm no better than Darica. If that's how you feel," Breanna said, her voice cold, monotone and resigned, "why are you still here? You don't like how I look out for the teams and this agency ... there's the door."

Valencia gasped as Tina's eyes narrowed, "That is all you're worried about?" Tina pointed at the screen, "your brother ... your family ... is out there trying to protect mankind, trying to bring you the proof that he told you is not a lie. To give you something that will give direction to hopefully finish this once and for all ..." Tina swiped at her tear-streaked face, "all you care about is the organisation and that you aren't being asked if it's okay to think or choose ..." Tina raised her voice, "your self-centred anger with something Craig has been working night and day to get under control has blinded you to the fact that there is more happening from other sources than just the narrow path you can cope with. You're tired, don't want to own up to it, and cannot relinquish control because you need it. What happened to everyone having a say ... everyone making their own choices? Everyone being part of a family?" Tina nodded, "you don't want your own family working with you ... you've just told me to leave, which means you are no better than your sister or her lover."

Breanna stepped forward, pale, pulsing the air around them. Everyone started to talk at once, making space around the pair as Tina stared her down.

"Go ahead," Tina hissed, "try and kill us all ... the only person you will be hurting is yourself. Everyone around here has stood by you through thick and thin ... protected you and helped you to be the leader you are supposed to be ..." Tina said, her voice hitching on a sob, "I'm losing the father of my children and the love of my life because you're manipulative, stubborn and hard-headed. You kill us. You kill any chance of going back to any version of normal."

A flame appeared in Breanna's hand at Tina's words, and the air began to warp; murmurs of concern were raised, and everyone seemed to be talking simultaneously. Suddenly a force field appeared around her, her hands held balls of orange flame, and she could hear everything being said and saw everything happening in the room. Tina shook her head as she closed her eyes, renewed tears sprung to life as she realised her unborn children were willing to do anything to survive, including taking on Breanna.

"What is going on?" David asked, looking at his sister.

Tina swiped at her face, "The kids are protecting their family as I am ... and their right to survival."

"You're pushing your luck, Tina," Jesse hissed, "Bre is strong."

"Ahhh, she may be ..." Valencia moved between the two locking gazes with Tina, "... actually the babies are stronger in their combination than Bre can ever hope to be," she shook her head, "anyone tries anything everyone in this room is dead. Except Tina ... not reprogrammable," she pushed at the forcefield wincing, "electrified ... if Bre tries anything it will be sent right back. These kids mean serious business which means .." she looked at her best friend, "Breanna is out of line."

"What is going on?" a child's voice asked.

Tina inhaled, swallowing hard as the air stilled and chilled. Everyone turned to see Gina standing behind the small group of people, "Why are my brothers and sisters angry? Why is everyone fighting?" she started to back away, swallowing hard and breathing heavily, "John ..." she called, panic on her young face, "John," her young voice vibrating on the air.

Realising what was about to happen, Tina moved through the small group toward the child, kneeling in front of her, grasping her hand and pulling her into the forcefield protection.

"Gina, look at me," Tina whispered, "into my eyes ..." she waited while the child locked gazes with her, "breathe ... you're safe. I won't let anything happen to you, okay."

Gina's little shoulders rose and fell, staring at Tina with fear-filled eyes. John arrived, taking in every one in their suite, looking directly at Breanna.

"Whatever you think you're doing for good," he shook his head, "you're too tired to know what you're doing."

Tina waved him forward, drawing him into the dome of protection. He knelt next to Gina, whispering to her, covering her eyes with his hand.

Tina rose, turning to the watching group, "If no one is going to find their father ... I will."

Jesse, Tanya and David immediately started to object to Tina doing anything of the sort. No one seemed to want to do anything. Tina felt frustrated, worried and lost.

"No, you won't," a deep voice surprised everyone, "we have decided that Breanna needs a break. She needs to rest and have downtime like everyone else. Therefore ..." he nodded at Breanna, "either you relinquish control power down and stop making these kids go full force to protect themselves, or we can put you in the isolation room."

Tina frowned, turning to find the tall blonde man standing behind her, "Phoenix?"

"Yeah, my sis says hi," he grinned, "by the way ..." turning his attention to Breanna, he waited as Breanna winced, shaking her head and blinked rapidly, "are you going to acknowledge you've got too much on your plate or do I need to help you realise it?"

Tina watched as Breanna stared at Phoenix, "How do you know what is going on here? How can you know? Where did that all come from?"

"One of the kids has a wonderful ability," he said, "it's like watching TV of your own life in your head..." sighing, he shook his head, "Bre, how could you let it get this far?"

Breanna closed her eyes, shaking her head, before looking down at her hands, "I ..." she swallowed hard, her shoulders sagging, "I guess everyone seemed to have so much happening I just kept going ..." rubbing her hands over her eyes she sighed, "I'm so tired I guess I'm working on auto."

David slid his arm around her shoulders, "You're going to our suite and get some rest while the rest of us will bring Craig home."

"Come, Bre," Valencia whispered, slipping her arm gently around her waist, "I'll come with you."

Jesse stepped aside, glancing at Tina, "What about you?"

"What?" Tina asked, looking above her and around, "oh ... ah ... your father will be retrieved; you can relax."

Slowly the ball disappeared, and the forcefield diminished. Tina sighed as she turned to Phoenix.

"Can you bring him back?" she whispered.

"Between David's team and mine," he nodded, "we'll get it done."

"Thank you," she sniffed, "he's not in good shape."

"I know," Phoenix said, "you have someone on the way who reads memories ... that is ... different. Never experienced seeing someone else's memories. I have an idea of where he may be ... we'll bring him home."

Tina looked between the two men, "Be careful."

"We will," David said, giving Tina a hug and kissing her head, "look after your family, and we'll look after you."

Nodding, Tina swallowed her tears, blinking rapidly until her vision cleared. The men left, and she turned to find John still on his knees, talking to Gina. She closed her bedroom door and nodded as he finished what he was saying.

"Is she okay?" Tina asked, crouching next to the children.

Nodding, John removed his hand from Gina's face and waited, "She should be."

Slowly, Gina's eyes opened, a smile spreading over her face, "That was awesome, thanks, John," she turned into his arms, hugging him.

"What vision did you give her?" Tina asked.

"Her favourite," he grinned, "a buffet of food. I provide the dishes she fills them."

'Nice," Tina said as a knock came on the door. Opening the door, Tina found Rose standing there, "what's going on?"

"Phoenix asked if I could watch the kids while you and the others do the logistics," Rose said, "if that's okay?"

"Can we make pancakes?" Gina asked.

"Absolutely, but I'm not a very good cook," Rose said, watching the children leave the room.

"Don't worry," John said, "I am."

Nodding, Rose grinned, "You can use yours and Valencia's laptops."

Tina watched Rose follow the children into the kitchen; she could hear their voices as she sat at the laptops.

"Hold on, Craig," she whispered, sliding into the chair again, " your family is coming."