"She has blood on her shirt and pants," Amy whispered, glancing at Sam as she strode in front of them, "we saw her get hit. When is she going to see to her wounds?"

Stan shrugged, "Maybe it was just grazed. I've seen that before, and it doesn't really need attention," he whispered, scanning the area.

"Those were not mere grazes," Amy hissed, "they made a wound; there was a wince when it happened, but now ... nothing."

"I don't know how to explain it," Stan said, glancing around again, "we need to keep as quiet as we can. We don't know who is waiting for us or who is looking for us."

Nodding, Amy sighed, "Fine, but it's still a little weird."

"Stay with Davidson," Stan said, "I need to talk to Sam."

Signalling for Davidson to watch Amy, Stan strode ahead as Sam glanced back, "Hey, are you doing okay?"

Sam nodded, "Why?"

"Your clothes are almost soaked in blood," Stan whispered, glancing down at her shirt and pants, "there are holes, but I'm not seeing any fresh blood coming from the wounds."

Sam cleared her throat, glancing around, "I'm fine, Stan."

"What happened to you back there?" he asked, concern shining in his eyes, "I'm impressed how you took them all out by yourself, but I'm not sure that was you."

"It was ... a part of me," Sam said, looking around, "something happens when I'm under attack, and often I don't remember exactly what happens."

"You blackout?" Stan frowned, "how often does that happen?"

"That's the thing about blackouts; you're not that sure," Sam said, glancing back as Anderson joined them, "what is it?"

"The coordinates are coming up in about a half hour," Anderson said, glancing at Stan before looking at Sam, "three klicks."

She smiled at the terminology distinction nodding her thanks. Anderson grinned before glancing up and frowning.

"Did you hear that?" he whispered.

Sam closed her eyes, allowing everything to still inside, listening to the world around her. In the distance, murmurs could be heard before a startled cry and plea tore through the air. She knew that voice. She knew whom she was begging with worked for the Tenderhooks, and Sam knew that should they not intervene, Cherry Bassett would be dead by nightfall.

"Cherry," Sam said, turning and running up the path.

"Cherry, we've been walking for hours," Steve said, "I'm happy we're on a path, but I would like to know where we're heading."

"We're nearly there," Cherry said, glancing back and grinning, "it's so exciting coming home after all this time."

"Do you know where you're going?" Steve asked.

"Of course ... I ... do..." her words drifted off as the smile slid from her face, "who are you? "

"We've been looking for you," the words hissed out of the tall man staring at her, "do you remember me, Cherry Anne?"

Cherry stared at the man; a vague memory of him calling her by that name alerted her to more than the immediate danger. Slowly, she backed away but stopped as he aimed a rifle at her.

"Going somewhere?" his smile slid over his thin lips, "the Tenderhooks are going to be pleased to see you."

"You were talking to one of the brothers all those years ago," Cherry whispered as the memory cleared, "you were the one that sold out my mother and her heritage. You knew her since childhood, but you helped them take me and drive my parents, good people, from their home."

"Well, my part was so small it really didn't matter," the man said, "now ... you're coming with me."

"We're not going anyway," Cherry said, "you'll have to kill us both."

"That can be arranged," the man said, aiming at Steve.

Cherry moved without hesitation, stepping in front of Steve, "No, you'll have to kill me first. Then what would the precious Tenderhooks have to say," she said, sounding braver than she felt. Noting the man pale, she pushed on, "they won't be so gracious with whatever they're paying you now, will they? Come to think of it, do you think they will spare your life after they have me?"

"They promised a portion of the treasure," he said, frowning, "they promised."

"The only thing a Tenderhook promise holds to is a bullet," Steve said, "that I know first hand."

"You will die first," the man said, loading a round into the chamber.

"Please," Cherry shrieked, "don't do this. What the Tendershooks are looking for is not treasure. Well, not the kind of treasure that the Tenderhooks or yourself can spend. It's not gold or silver."

"How do you know?" the man said, staring at Cherry hard.

"It's my heritage," she said, glancing over his shoulder at the rapid movement coming their way. "I should know the contents of my own heritage."

Steve nudged her, nodding toward the sudden crashing coming closer, "Who is that?" he whispered.

"What is in the heritage?" the man asked, frowning at the noise but ignoring it.

"That you will have to see to believe it," Cherry said, "it's not something anyone would expect. But I suspect I know why the Tenderhooks want it."

"Why?" the man asked, "tell me, and I may allow you to live."

"That is not a bargain at all," Sam said, stepping onto the path, grabbing the barrel of the rifle before it could swing in her direction and ramming into the man's face. He fell, releasing the weapon into her hands. Covering his nose with a beefy hand as blood oozed between the fingers. "Don't mess with my family or my friends," Sam said as she dialled a number on her phone.

"I have a pickup for you," she said, "yeah ... he was involved with Cherry's abduction, and I have a feeling he has a lot more the weasel will give up to save his sorry ass."

Turning, Sam braced as her best friend flew into her arms, "Glad I caught up with you before you got to the back door."

"There is so much I have to tell you," Cherry said, glancing over her shoulder as Steve cleared his throat, "oh, Sam, this is Steve. He lives in the village where my mother grew up. He helped me rebuild the cabin with his father and grandfather."

"Nice to meet you, Steve," Sam nodded, "Davidson, Anderson and Jacobson, this is Cherry Bassett."

"Wasn't she the secondary target we were told to bring in? The one Greyson refused," Jacobson asked, glancing at Davidson.

"Yeah, she is," Davidson sighed, "oh man ... this is getting complicated."

"How so?" Anderson asked, frowning at their team leader.

"You're not thinking of following through, are you?" Jacobson asked, stepping away from Davidson.

"The money is good," Davidson grimaced, "but I'm torn between phoning it in and letting it go."

"What is making you think you need to decide?" Anderson asked, "it's easy ... she is the best friend of our brethren ... the answer is no."

Sam slowly stepped in front of Cherry, glancing to the side of the pathways and putting her hand out before turning her gaze on Davidson. Exclamations rose as a giant cat strode out of the undergrowth, nuzzling Sam's hand and taking a protective stance next to her. Sam pushed her hand into the feline's fur. A sudden loud purr rose before a grunt followed.

"Is that ..." Anderson asked, pointing at Sam and the cat.

"That is an enormous... feline," Stan said, stepping slowly away from the three military men, holding Amy's hand, bringing her with him.

Sam noticed the movement and the cat tracking them, but its gaze immediately returned to the three men in front of them.

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"Uh ...Sam," Cherry whispered from behind her, "where did that cat come from?"

"Grazas por traerme a casa, Protector do Coñecemento," Sam whispered, "it is good to see you again."

"What did she just say?" Amy asked, glancing around.

"Thank you for bringing me home, Protector of Knowledge," Cherry said, glancing at the woman, "who are you?"

"My name is Amy," Amy smiled, "I'm sure everyone would say it's Mrs Bassett but believe me when I say I'm not your mother."

"I know you from somewhere," Cherry frowned, "and I know you're not my mother. I remember my mother." "Sacaches as contas xenéticas?" Sam whispered to the cat, who answered with a low growl and a heavy purr, "bo rapaz."

"What is going on?" Steve asked.

"Sam is ... talking to the cat," Cherry whispered, frowning, "I'm not sure how but they are communicating."

"I think it's the hand," Steve said, "but I'd like to know why it's here."

"To protect Cherry. Davidson has a choice to make," Sam said, her unblinking eyes watching the man, "the choice is simple," Sam sighed, "good or evil."

"I was trying to get it over and done with, but then I saw how young she is ..." Davidson said, closing his eyes and grimacing, "I ..." he swallowed hard, "I can't do it."

"Can't do what?" a voice spoke from behind them; everyone spun instantly except Sam and the cat.

"Jeff," Steve gasped, "what are you doing here?"

"You two are a hard lot to keep up with," Jeff said, stepping onto the path with a heavily armed group keeping a tight formation and scanning the area with raised weapons. "Nice to see you're still alive, Steve. You must be Amy or the former Mrs Bassett," Jeff said, nodding to the pair. "Cherry Bassett," he shook her hand briefly, "glad you're alive and well. It will be great to close the case that has haunted so many people for so long."

"Nice to meet you," Cherry whispered, glancing between Jeff and Sam, who still faced the three military men.

"Sam," Jeff said, moving around her and presenting his hand to the cat, who snuffled it, "may I remain?"

The cat nudged his hand with a quick lick. Jeff looked at Sam, who nodded, "Thank you. Now, we are nearly at the end of this adventure ..." he sighed, "if you could call it that. We find more than one mole and some questionable actions from people we are supposed to trust."

"Davidson, what is your final decision?" Sam asked.

"I've been torn following Greyson's orders but having the offer play in my mind all the time," Davidson said. "I've been wearing a wire ..." he pulled it from the lapel of his shirt collar, throwing on the ground and crushing it. "Since getting the order to help you, Sam, I've had a signal jammer active until I made up my mind. I can't do this anymore. Seeing what the Tenderhooks want to do and who they want ... not anymore."

Sam watched as he began dismantling his weapons, dropping the pieces on the floor. Anger rose, hot and white. The cat growled low and long.

"Sam, you need to control that anger," Jeff whispered before turning to Davidson, "how long have you been working for the Tenderhooks?"

"They approached me before we headed out to track the resident," Davidson said, looking at Amy, "I told them I'd think about it."

"Serving two masters brings nothing but turmoil," Sam said, "being undecided about the two masters brings indecision. Indecision brings death."

"Do you know what the Tenderhooks are capable of?" Steve asked, moving around Cherry.

"I heard rumours," Davidson said, "but until I saw the scars on Ms Bassett ..." he shook his head, "I'm sorry for what happened to you."

"How do you know about the scars?" Cherry asked, her hand moving to the bandages on her arm.

"My sister ..." Davidson choked, "my sister's body was found with those types of scars all over her body. I didn't know till an hour ago," swiping at his eyes. "She worked for one of the companies the Tenderhooks own."

"Oh man," Anderson muttered, "I'm so sorry, Davidson."

"If you wish to incarcerate me, I will understand," Davidson said, staring blankly at a patch of ground off to the side of the path.

"Cal é o seu veredicto?" Sam muttered.

Slowly the cat stretched before moving toward Davidson, stopping in front of him. A low growl reverberated through the air as Davidson turned to stare into the cat's mesmerising eyes.

"What is going on?" Amy asked.

"I'm not sure," Steve whispered, "I think the cat is undecided on the man."

"Will the cat kill him?" Amy asked, gasping as Sam's glacial stare swung to her, "I'll... be quiet."

Turning toward the cat and man, everyone waited. Finally, the cat grunted, circling Davidson, who watched it cautiously and then nudged its head against his mid-drift. Sam relaxed, exhaling.

"Where do you think you're going?" she asked, striding forward, grasping the collar of the man trying to escape into the undergrowth. "Don't think you can accost Cherry Bassett and get away with it."

Dragging the man into the group's centre, she let him drop in the centre. Looking at Jeff, she indicated the man groaning on the floor.

"He arranged for Cherry to be taken all those years ago and tried to abduct her again a few moments ago," Sam said."Oh ... he was one of the people who went supposedly missing all those years ago."

"How do you know all this?" Stan asked.

"Records of missing persons from that time," Sam said, "surely you would know."

"We got a redacted version," Jeff sighed, "it was only when I got to the position I'm currently in that I saw the entire list."

"You didn't tell me," Stan whispered.

"No, couldn't tell you," Jeff said apologetically, "tried to point you in the correct direction but couldn't say anything."

"Fair enough," Stan nodded, "we get to arrest him."

"Yep, and a lot more," Jeff said, signalling one of his men, "restrain and process him and bag him with the others."

"What others?" Sam asked.

"You left a high body count," Jeff said, "but you left a wide trail for us to clean and clear. Thank you."

"Aim to please," Sam said, glancing at Cherry, "hey, are you okay, Cherry?"

Cherry glanced up at Sam, "You've been tracking me?"

"No," Sam shook her head. "I was ... looking into something and realised that your sudden disappearance and what I was working on may be heading in the same direction."

Cherry stared at Sam before inhaling and sighing, "There has been so much in the last few days that I'm not sure I can take anymore."

"Of course, you can," Sam said, frowning at her best friend's words, "Cherry, you've been through hell, and back you're turning twenty-six in the next ..." she looked at her watch, "twenty-four hours. You're at the end of this journey, and we're all here to help you get where you need to be."

Sam smiled as Cherry met her gaze, "You're going to see me to the end of this?"

"Yes," Sam nodded, "it's my destiny included in this journey. The difference is you started where you should've..." Sam grimaced, "I had to take a more ...colourful route."

Cherry chuckled, "Your whole life has been a colourful route," Cherry hugged Sam quickly. "Okay, then," glancing around, she whispered, "is everyone going to join us?"

"No," Sam said, "Amy, you're going with Jeff. Amy is the evidence we needed, and Stan is going with her to finish his reports."

"What are you going to do?" Jeff asked, handing Sam new weapons and clean clothing, "you may want to change before you continue."

Glancing down, Sam sighed, "You may have a point," looking around, "I'm not sure where though ..." she sighed, "don't want to shock some people."

"Sir, we found an area," one of Jeff's team said, pointing into the undergrowth, "it should be secluded enough."

"Thank you," Sam said, entering the area and looking around, putting up a finger for the guard to wait. "You'll want to take this ... this and yep ..." she handed him mobile cameras, "these, check the rest of the area for others."

The guard nodded, taking the surveillance gear, "Will do."

Sam changed quickly, pushing her grimy blood-soaked clothes into the bag. Quickly refreshing her utility belt with clean, fresh weapons and ammunition magazines, Sam stepped out onto the path. Glancing around, Sam found Jeff and his team standing to one side of a massive gap while Cherry and Steve stood on the other.

"What's going on?" Sam asked.

"Seems while looking for other devices, a force field of sorts was activated," Jeff sighed, "we cannot get to them, and they cannot get to us."

"That is bad because?" Sam asked.

"Oh, it's never bad," the cold voice of her nightmares spoke from behind Cherry and Steve's still forms, "so nice of you to deliver them to me."

"I was never delivering them to you," Sam said, "and I will never be working for you no matter what you try."

"Oh, we know your family cannot be bought, manipulated or anything else," Andris Tenderhook sneered, "that is why your parents were murdered. We needed their company and technology to design others who would survive anything but a bullet in the head."

"Let me guess," Sam said, dropping her bag drawn to the strength of the forcefield, "it wasn't anywhere in the companies records or patents."

"You are so smart," Andris sighed, "you can test that as much as you like; it will fry you before you can disable it."

"Oh, I'm not going to disable it," Sam said, "only find another way around it."

"It's designed for people like you," Andris said, catching the strange looks between Cherry and Steve, "oh, they don't know."

"Most people don't know I'm designed to survive," Sam said, glancing over her shoulder at Jeff, locking with his gaze, "I'm designed to survive no matter what."

The sudden frown and inhalation told Sam of Jeff's understanding. Turning toward her best friend and nemesis, Sam trailed her hand over the force field, "You see, there are other ways to overcome. Brute force is not always the answer. Manipulation only shows your desperation and need for control. Selfish disdain for life because you wish to have something you were never meant to only shows a spoilt and self-centred character. Somewhere along the line, there is always someone who quietly says they have had enough."

"What a wonderful speech from someone who is about to die?" Andris said, "while you keep talking, your friends and I will leave."

"No, Andris Tenderhook," Sam said, pushing her hand into the forcefield, "you will not be leaving ... not now ... not ever."

A low hum became a crackle. Sam inhaled and exhaled as she pushed into the barrier. She gasped as she involuntarily closed her eyes, inhaling and pulling the energy toward herself. Centring her senses on the pull of the power, she soaked it in, feeling it fill her, wrap around her and energise her.

"Oh yes," she muttered, ignoring the concerned murmuring around her, "this feels ... good."

"It's not possible," Andris spluttered, "no one can withstand that ... she ... no."

"Surrender now, Andris," Sam said, making eye contact with her parent's murderer, "you will not live through this obsession of yours."

"We've planned this victory for years," he snarled, "you and your toys will not win."

Sam smiled slowly, "No," her voice sounded like she was talking through water, "you want what is not yours ... you will not win."

"Says the woman on the other side of a force field," Andris said, pulling Cherry and Steve backwards, keeping them in front of him.

"Forcefield?" Sam asked, looking around as she closed her hand, "what force field?"

"No, not possible," Andris gasped, "where is the force field?"

"Sam?" Jeff's voice held an unasked question.

"Go," Sam said, "it is down."

"Move out," Jeff's command rang out, "engage and defend."