The early morning of the graveyard could have been out of a horror movie. Bundles of mist hovered above the ground and around the cold marble gravestones as the two teams moved through the open spaces, their boots silently carrying them toward the last known location of their teammate while keeping their automatic weapons at shoulder level, swivelling from left to right, ready to take out any kind of threat that may be waiting for them. The rise of the early morning sunlight sparkled through the trees as they came to the spot where Craig had last been. Phoenix and David lowered their weapons, looking around.

"This is where he exploded," Phoenix said, glancing at David, who grimaced, "not the right word?"

"It sounds very final," David said, "we know he walked away."

"I think it was in that direction," Phoenix said, pointing in the way Craig had disappeared, "Dave, you obviously are not mentally here," he waited until the other man looked at him, "check out the scorch marks on the ground."

David's gaze followed the burnt grass toward a cluster of graves. Narrowing his vision, he focused on what looked like shadows, "We have company."

Phoenix looked around the graveyard, "I see too many objects that look like shadows where there shouldn't be."

"Our enemy is trying to stay hidden while moving toward the final kill," David said, "which means Craig is in there."

Phoenix pointed two fingers toward a shadow nearby, releasing a thin bolt of electricity. A yelp came from the shadow, and a heavily armed man appeared gasping before falling to his knees. Phoenix didn't wait, grasping the man by his shirt collar and pulling him to his feet.

"Why are you here?" Phoenix asked; the man's dazed gaze rose to meet Phoenix's intense gaze, "I see you know who I am by the expression in your eyes. Tell me why you are here?"

"Shadow squad was sent for an early morning extraction," the man whispered, "Darcia and Madden want to ..." he shuddered, "play with him and use what he has to make better soldiers."

"Darcia and Madden are dead," Phoenix said, "I know because I killed one and saw the other burn."

"These were created by Madden, taking all the most diabolical things about each of them and making something of pure evil," the man groaned, clutched the back of his neck and went limp in Phoenix's grip."

"Evil indeed," Phoenix said, "we need to get Craig out of here. Dave, it looks like they are heading that way," he sniffed the air, "blood and ..." a gunshot rang out through the graveyard, "Craig must be in a bad way if he is using his weapon. Take your team and mine and defend his position; the only way these people get past you is in shadow form. Guns will be useless; the good thing is that they cannot carry Craig out of here in shadow form."

"What are you going to do?" David asked

"I have never liked unnatural shadows," Phoenix said, letting his fingertips crackle.

"Have fun," David said as he signalled both teams, "I'll keep us domed until you're finished."

The teams assembled, some eyeing Phoenix uneasily as he prepared for his assault. David dropped his weapon to his side, engaging the safety and pulled out a short metal oval-shaped baton handle from his utility belt.

"This battle will be using these," David said, looking around, "our enemy is in shadow form, and before we can deal with them, they need to be ..." he waved his hand while looking for the correct word, "unshadowed."

"How do we do that?" Tanya asked.

"Phoenix," David called, directing his gaze at the other man.

Phoenix extended five fingers palm down in a star shape and sent thin bolts of lightning in five different directions. Five shadows disappeared, revealing five heavily armed men panting while crouching where they had dropped. Sending five more bolts, they vapourised, and dust fell.

"Nice display," David said, "we use these," pressing a button, he waited until the buzzing of contained electricity hummed, "we will need some to attack the shadows and others to rid the fruit of those shadows," another gunshot rang out, "we have to do it quickly, Craig is more seriously injured than we initially thought and he may be low on ammo, remember guns don't work on shadows. Those using weapons, have yours ready if you need to use it."

Phoenix watched David and the teams move into place while Tania stayed in place, turning in a circle. Smiling, Phoenix had to commend her for always looking at every situation from the Assassin's point of view.

"Tania, there are no high places to nest," Phoenix said, "but you can go full Assassin mode and take the middle ground."

"Middle ground?" Tania frowned.

"I'm dealing with that?" Phoenix said, dispelling shadows and then the enemy resulting from those shadows, "David and the others are dealing with those trying to get to Craig, which leaves ..." he waved at the space in between, "the middle ground."

"My own playground," Tania grinned, choosing both weapons required for her own personal mission, "if I go full Assassin mode ..." she paused, "I'm worried I will go too far and not recognise friend from foe."

"Has that happened before?" Phoenix asked.

"Once in the Madhouse," Tania said, "stop me if I start with our own."

"Do you want to live after being stopped?" Phoenix whispered.

"That would be preferable," Tania said, smiling at Phoenix as she activated her electrical weapon, "have fun," she said, pulling her gun from her holster before flying into action.

Phoenix watched her scan the assigned area; he almost heard her planning how they would die. Checking on David and the teams, he shook his head; they were taking this seriously. It amazed them how they moved around each other and stayed in the doorway of Craig's hideout, effectively blocking the entrance to anyone. The pops of guns on silencers filled the air, and he felt left out, but a hand on his shoulder reminded him of his part to play. Glancing to the side, he looked into the evil, grinning face of one of the shadows who had decided to address him.

"Hi," Phoenix said, lifting his hand to wave and shooting a lightning bolt into the man, "didn't expect that did you? "

Turning to the field at large, he counted at least a hundred shadows, and more were appearing every second.

"This is going to stop right now," Phoenix said, ridding the area of the nearest shadows before moving to the next wave coming in, "nope, it will have to be all at once."

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"David," he bellowed, "dome."

Spreading his arms, he used the technique he had seen Craig use, pinpointing the shadows; he let his ability expand and explode, hitting the moving targets with deadly accuracy. The panting men rose from where they crouched, pulling weapons. Tania flew into action, moving through the field in an ancient fighting pattern.

"Look at her go," Phoenix whispered, "slicing and dicing more easily than a carving knife."

David and the teams fought through the never-ending stream of attackers. Phoenix threw up an electrical blockade using the metal fence on the exterior around the graveyard. He didn't know where they were coming in from, but he needed to ebb the flow; otherwise, Craig could die before they ended this strange battle.

"Tania, get inside and guard Craig," Phoenix called, "you're now on Assassin Bodyguard duty."

Tania nodded without pausing in her movements or the destruction of the enemy.

Phoenix covered her all the way to the door and marvelled at how she naturally spun into the teams fighting in the doorway before disappearing inside. A gunshot rang out almost immediately. Phoenix wondered if Craig had tried to shoot her; however, as nothing followed, Phoenix turned his attention back to the matter in front of him. Raising his hands, he stretched his palm open wide and pulsed electrical balls of flame that the hordes moving toward the tomb. Finally, David and the Teams came to a halt, breathing heavily and looking around. Bodies and piles of dust scattered the graveyard.

Moving toward the tomb Pheonix kept vigilant watch for any they may have missed as the team moved inside. David called his name with more urgency than was usual for this situation. Hurrying toward the tomb, he stepped inside; the cool dinginess made him pause, allowing his eyes to adjust. Tania stood in front of Craig's painfully panting form; his loose hold on his gun alarmed Phoenix, who knew if it were not for the Nanos, Craig would be dead by now, his bodyguard refused anyone admittance past her point, and David looked at Phoenix pleadingly.

"Problem Assassin?" Phoenix asked, his voice low and conversational, "you have done a good job; it's time to disengage your mode."

Tania's eyes closed slowly, her heavy breathing became regular, and her shoulders lowered, relaxing and releasing all tension. Tania's eyes snapped open, and she looked around until her eyes landed on Phoenix.

"Did we get the all?" she asked.

"We did," he said, "you did well, and now you can let us get to Craig."

Looking down at her hands, she found both weapons still held. Powering down her electrical baton and holstering her gun, she moved aside.

"Who fired the last shot?" Phoenix asked as David knelt next to Craig, looking him over.

"I did," Tania said, "he was trying to, but the gun was empty, and he is weak."

"Where is the body?" Phoenix asked, looking around.

Tania pointed to a pile of ash, "If you stab them with the baton, they end up like that," she said, "I learn something new every battle."

"How is he looking?" Phoenix asked, kneeling on the other side of Craig.

"The pool of blood here indicates he lost a lot," David said, finding and applying a bandage to the oozing wounds, "it looks like his Nanos are working, but with this depleted energy and having to stay awake, they haven't been able to work as they should."

"He would need to be in hibernation mode for it to work to the best of its ability," Phoenix said, "plus he is low on Nanos since he gave a pint of blood to Tina."

Craig roused at Tina's name, his heavy, painfilled eyes opening and moving until they found Phoenix, "Protect Tina and the children," he whispered, panting with the effort, "tell them ... I love ... them."

David's worried gaze snapped to Craig's face, "You're going home," he said, "you can tell them yourself."

Phoenix grasped Craig around the back of his head, making his gaze meet his own, "Brother, we have you. Rest, restore and recoup your body, mind and strength," he whispered, "we're taking your home."

Nodding, Craig extended his hand weakly, barely holding it up until Phoenix gripped him at the elbow, "I ... am in ..." he panted, "your hands."

Closing his eyes, his head resting against Phoenix's arm, Craig's body went limp.

"He's hibernating," Phoenix said, "lay him on this side with the injury exposed."

"Why?" David asked.

"I need to give him assistance while he travels." Phoenix said, the urgency in his voice pushing David into action, "the Nanos have been divided in keeping him alive and awake; therefore, his healing has not really been happening. They are as tired as he is; I could feel it in his grip."

"What are you doing?" David asked, his brow puckering as Phoenix sliced his arm and held it over Craig's open wounds.

"Just as Craig has Nanos, so do I," Phoenix said, "but the difference between us is my Nanos replicate all the time, whether I need them to or not, whereas his do not .. well, not as quickly as mine do. The subject dies if they do not harness energy to accomplish one task."

"Subject?" David asked, staring at him incredulously.

"Yeah, that is how we were spoken about during the process," Phoenix said quietly as he watched his blood drip quickly into Craig's wounds, "that should be enough. They will replicate and help his own Nanos to mend the body."

"Can we move him now?" David asked.

"Yeah," Phoenix nodded, looking down at the still form of someone who had endured as much pain as he had to be able to assist in giving life to others, "let's get my brother home."

Tina watched the screen intently. She had seen how the two teams had fought and heard the popping of the gunfire coming from the tomb. They had been inside a long time.

Was Craig okay?

Was he alive?

Finally, they started coming out. Tania appeared, scanning the graveyard for anyone who could see or attack them. Then the others followed slowly, making a protective circle, but Phoenix and David had yet to appear. Picking up the phone, Tina dialled a number.

"Hey Val, they need a lift out," Tina whispered, "can Jasmine assist?" she waited while Valencia spoke on the other side, "thanks, they have Craig in hand," she supplied, seeing David backing out of the tomb, "I think he is in a bad way," she gasped, "oh my ... they're carrying him out," swiping at the ready tears on her cheek she quietly sobbed, "Okay, thanks, Val."

Returning the receiver to the cradle, she watched as they carefully laid him on the cold ground; her stomach turned, but she refused to leave her post. Valencia / Birgit, and Jasmine appeared on the security footage; they ran across the grounds to the extraction teams motioning for them to gather around. Jasmine knelt, placing her hands on Craig as the others huddled closer. Suddenly, they were all gone, as was the electric shield around the graveyard.

Tina could not hold it any longer; running into the bathroom, she fell to her knees in front of the toilet, violently heaving into the bowl.

Did they get to him in time?

Was he alive?

Would he be okay?

Was she raising these children on her own?

Sagging against the cool tiled walls, Tina panted, her eyes opening as the door was pushed wider.

"Jenkins," she whispered to the man who seemed so in tune with her needs, "I don't know what is going on."

Moving forward quickly, he filled a glass of water handing it to her, "Wash your mouth out," he said, squatting next to her, "Craig is alive," he helped her rise over the toilet bowl, waiting as she rinsed her mouth, "come let's get you onto the bed."

"You said Craig was alive?" Tina gripped the front of his shirt.

"He is," Jenkins said, "Harvey just told me Phoenix released him into his hibernation stage," Jenkins helped her stand and move into the bedroom toward the bed, "they are bringing him in ... as far as I understand, they are taking him directly to the infirmary."

"Never mind the bed," Tina said, feeling cold and clammy everywhere, "take me to the infirmary."

"You need to rest," Jenkins said, trying to steer her toward the bed.

Tina grasped his shirt front again, balling the material in her hand, "Take me to the infirmary," she gasped, "I need to be near Craig ... and ..." she gasped again, gripping her swollen stomach, "I ... think they are on their way."

Jenkins frowned, "You're two weeks early," he said.

"Clearly, they think they're on time," she gasped again, "and they're in a hurry."

"Stay standing," he said, carefully letting her go before rushing to the phone, "Rose, yes, it seems it's time ... I need ..." he stopped talking as a puddle of water appeared at Tina's feet, "a gurney ... now."