An icy breeze and roar of crashing waves divulged the exit to Jesse and Breanna.

"This way," Jesse murmured, "I see heat signatures in motion. They're in range."

"Where?" Breanna whispered.

"Scattered. Approximately fifty feet to the left and hundred to hundred and fifty to the right."

"My ability can take out some of them, but I'm not sure about how long I can use it at full strength," she paused, "I don't know what full strength is. None of that has been tested yet," Breanna said, "apart from x-raying the commando's what else can you do?"

"Shoot," Jesse muttered, "sniper skills. There are other things but like yours ... untested. Guess now is a good time to try them out."

"Like the way you think. I'll take out those close by, and you shoot," Breanna smiled at Jesse's glare, "don't like the plan?"

"At least Darcia didn't change you completely," Jesse said, "you know I'm used to giving orders. The plan will work. Weapons and ammo ready?"

The pair checked their weapons, braced themselves, looked at each other and exited the tunnel.

Breanna stepped from their hiding place, noting black-clad bodies moving toward their home. Remaining cloistered in shadow, gathering her energy until the tension strained for release while Jesse pulled himself onto a ledge above the tunnel entrance. Breanna scanned nearby groups. She inhaled, turned her palms facing outward and exhaled, releasing pulsating waves.

Nearly in position, Jesse turned at the sound of a humming sound on the air. A rippling wave of energy moved toward him, positioning himself on the sandy ledge, barely finding shelter and bracing himself as the wave of energy skimmed past him.

Scanning her attack area, Breanna could make out the hairs rising across Jesse's skin. In front of her, she watched bodies convulse and fall. It felt good to release her energy to this extent, almost giddy. The event left her breathing heavily and needing to recoup from a vulnerable moment.

"I'm all set," Jesse called, "just warn me to duck next time.

Glancing at Jesse, she nodded, "Let's get this done."

Stepping out of the shadows, Breanna started firing to the right of their position, causing shadowy forms to drop in the sand in quick succession. A second retort from Jesse's Blazer rifle crossed over her firing, bodies fell to the left.

"I think they know where we are," Jesse muttered, watching the standing scattered black-clad figures turn as one moving toward them, "and we need to move from here; we're sitting ducks."

"Where exactly do you think we need to be?" Breanna asked, raising two guns and firing at the oncoming attackers.

"Point taken. Hit the heads," Jesse said, noticing some getting up again, "cannot regenerate if the brain is dead."

"I would ask how you know this ... no, I don't," Breanna grunted, firing at the never-ending approaching forces, "how many are there?"

"If they are coming from Reilly's side as well," Jesse said, dropping another four, "a few."

"We have a job cut out for us," Breanna said, "I'll send another pulse in a few moments."

Clio scanned the darkness, hearing gunshots from a hundred feet in front of them. Glancing at Reilly exercising with a black-clad opponent, she shook her head.

"They are going to be in trouble soon," she called, "finish it."

Stepping over the body at her feet, she heard a sudden grunt, the crunching of shattering bone and silence. Glancing back, she noticed Reilly roll up for the sand and move in her direction.

"Thought there was more to the sudden hurry," Reilly said, breathing heavily, "I felt Breanna's energy, but it didn't reach this far."

"How often can she use that ability?" Clio asked.

"How do you feel after using your ability?" Reilly asked, looking at her with raised eyebrows.

"Low on energy," Clio nodded, "it takes me a while to regenerate. If she used it to the extent that it nearly reached us ..." Clio quickened her pace, "they going to need us sooner than they think. She may be able to do one more, but after that ... it's down to hand to hand, and there are a lot of super soldiers."

Breaking into a run, Clio and Reilly ran, moving around or over bodies scattering the beach.

"Damn," Reilly muttered, "remind me not to mess with Breanna."

"Sure," Clio said, increasing her speed, "we just need to make sure she stays alive."

Reilly matched his with Clio, taking the silent challenge to get to the others.

"Movement near the shoreline," he pointed, "movement above their position."

"They are being ambushed," Clio snarled.

"Can you use your pulse?" Reilly said, taking on slackers moving toward the convergence point.

"I may kill one of the group," Clio said, throwing a knock out punch to a muscle-bound, black-clad enemy.

"The gunfire stopped," Reilly grunted, taking out another of the never-ending flow of targets.

"Incoming," Clio yelled, her voice projecting over the beach, her hands going to her side, her gaze becoming hard, centred and focused.

Reilly dropped to the sand, covering his ears and head. Stunned, he watched a bubble-like force field expand from Clio, the black-clad figures tried running, but the bubble moved quicker. Squinting at the sands, he noticed fewer standing enemies than before. The pressure of the energy force pushed him into the sand. He knew Clio was a level five type mythical mutant, but this ability, used to this extent, could crush someone.

Clio glanced around; no one stood in her immediate vicinity. Glancing at Reilly, grunting on the sand, she knew what needed to be done.

"Stay behind me," her voice warbled, "watch my back, this only works in front of me."

Seeing his strained acknowledging nod, she started moving forward. For the first time in a long time, placing her trust in someone to keep her alive.

Jesse spied the incoming energy bubble from his position on the ledge as it hit Breanna like a freight train. Jumping down, he handed near an unmoving Breanna.

"Come on," he muttered, pulling her to safety against the sand wall near the tunnel entrance. Feeling her pulse point on her neck, he released a long breath. How did she not die?

"Breanna," he called quietly, gently tapping her cheek, "wake up … open your eyes."

The warbling bubble was coming closer. Instinct screaming it was Clio. Knowing Darcia's strategic methods, Jesse could bet that Clio and Reilly would need back up soon. That type of energy use could leave the user vulnerable.

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Breanna opened her eyes on a soft moan joining the release of breath and blinked quickly.

"What in all that is good was that?"

"Our back up," Jesse grinned, "It's Clio, look," he said, pointing at the glow becoming brighter, "you didn't duck fast enough."

"Reilly must be with her," Breanna muttered, pushing to her feet, "they don't know about the incoming unit."

"No," Jesse said, "we need to be the backup. We take care of the unit while they take care of the beach."

"I'm up for that," Breanna said, rolling her shoulders, "she delivers a punch."

"Wouldn't want it any other way," Jesse grinned. "Put on your night goggles. I'm scanning the waterline. You take the high ground. looks like they have an impulse generator and are carrying it toward the house."

"They going to bypass the electrical net," Breanna said, "where is my rifle?"

Jesse pointed to a bag lying in the entrance. Pulling a sniper rifle out, Breanna quickly assembled it placing it in front of her and changing the setting to night optics.

"The magazine is full," Jesse said, and there are more in the bag."

Positioning herself, she took aim. Breathing out evenly, she looked through the scope, found her target and pulled the trigger.

Jesse swore softly as he watched the accuracy of Breanna's shooting. One bullet per target. Efficient and to the point. Nearby movement caught his eye; raising his weapon, he fired.

Valencia could hear screams, gunfire, the retort of a sniper rifle and could see a weird glow moving toward the house on the beach. The patio camera showed a group trying to get a large metal box up the sand, but their team dropped one at a time. Valencia frowned at the monitor.

"I'll be damned," she muttered, "whoever is using that rifle is damn good."

"Well, not good enough," a deep, cold voice said. "I was able to get past and into our houses without any interruption."

An icy chill ran through her veins. Nausea gripped her stomach, threatening expulsion. Tyler.

The rumours were true. Alive and here, leaving one reason to expose himself. Retrieval ... or death.

"It's time to come ..."

Valencia turned, raising the gun and fired. Cutting off anything further, he would say. Surprise in Tyler's eyes met her gaze. Gasping as he held the side of his neck, blinking, his weapon lifted toward her. If he fired at her, Valencia knew she would be dead.

Adjusting slightly, Valencia fired again, gun's discharge and the sound of the bullet slamming into flesh vibrated in the room.

"Just a … hello would be okay," the hiss came to her ears as he looked at the blood on his hand.

She fired again, hitting a little lower, closer to the centre. She watched Tyler topple to the bottom of the stairs lying motionless.

"That is how anyone should say "hello" to you, Tyler," Valencia said between clenched teeth.

Steadying herself against the metal desk holding a bank of monitors and keyboards, Valencia released a shuddering breathe, staring at the still form of her brother.

Slowly she turned toward the movement happening outside, taking in the unfolding scene. It felt unreal, as though she was watching a movie, but she knew what was happening out there was no movie, her friends could die.

Clio reached the position of sniper fire. Looking around, she found no black-clad bodies standing or moving. Slowly the glow diminished. A shot rang out from behind her, a body toppled from the nearby tree.

"Thank you, Reilly," she called softly.

"Everyone okay," Reilly called, "anyone still alive?"

Jesse appeared from behind the tree.

"Down," he called, firing past Clio into a surging black-clad body; it fell, remaining still.

"Where is Breanna?" Clio asked.

"You know that sniper you still hear?" Jesse grinned, indicating the dropping, long-range targets.

"That's Breanna," Reilly said in awe.

Jesse nodded, "Never seen accuracy like that."

"Is there anything this girl can't do?" Clio muttered.

"Yeah," Reilly turned, shooting an enemy target above them, "watch her back while looking forward."

Stepping back in unison, watching a body sporting a bullet hole dead centre of the forehead dropped to the sand.

"Keep your eyes peeled," Jesse muttered, "their numbers are unknown."

"Breanna stopped shooting," Clio said, indicating the unattended metal box near the patio. Breanna acknowledged them all with a nod.

"What happened to the grid across the window at the top?" Reilly asked. "Someone got in."

"Valencia," they said in unison. Turning into the tunnel, they moved quickly toward the metal door in the tunnel wall.

"Valencia, we're heading your way now," Breanna spoke into the comms device in her ear, "do you read?"

"I read," Valencia's disembodied voice answered, "I see you. Opening the door now."

The tunnel door rose to show a calm Valencia, holding the gun. There was an addition of an unmoving body in the dirt at the bottom of the stairs.

"What happened?" Jesse moved toward her, "are you okay?"

"I'm good," she nodded, raising her gun to shoulder height, pointing it at the ceiling, "you didn't say I would get to shoot my brother."

She blew at the barrel, imitating cartoon cowboys.

"Jesse," Reilly grunted, "give me a hand, and we'll put him with the others on the beach."

Jesse nodded, giving Valencia an assessing look before moving to help Reilly wrestle the hunk of man into the tunnel.

"What happened?" Breanna asked, "are you sure that's your brother? Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Bre," Valencia whispered, "that is Tyler, he may have had changes made, but the look of evil and the way he speaks ... I'm sure. I didn't hear him come down the stairs. I didn't even hear him come into the basement. He spoke from behind me. I knew why he was here, to either kill me or take me back. I didn't consent to either; before I knew what I was doing, I shot him."

"Didn't he shoot at you?" Clio asked, frowning.

"He did try," Valencia shrugged, "He didn't expect me to have a gun, not be frightened of him or shoot. I wasn't allowing him to sprout his evil words."

"Are you sure he's dead?" Breanna asked, shaking her head while rolling her shoulders.

"I don't know," Valencia said, "he didn't move, so I hope he is dead."

" How are we going to explain the beach covered in bodies?" Clio asked.

"We'll think of something," Breanna said, "let's check this place out and secure the window on the top floor."

"Report from the retrieval teams," Darcia called, walking into the command centre; she felt powerful and rejuvenated after the latest successful procedure, "what is happening out there?"

Silence met her. Looking around, she noticed the air warble with nervousness.

"Commander," she called, "update."

A tall, black-clad man stood, "We lost communication with all team leaders about five minutes ago. We are tracking the necklaces to locate anyone online and establish communication."

"Have you heard from Tyler?" she waited.

"The last report ..." the commander glanced at a clipboard handed to him, "had him breaching an upper window in the house he once owned."

"How long ago was that?" the icy question rippled on the air.

Finding the time, he glanced at the wall clock, "Fifteen minutes ago."

"Nothing from him at all?" Darcia queried

"Not yet," he said, edging away.

Snarling, Darcia stalked from the room, "I'm going to make Breanna regret the day she defied me."

Jesse sagged against the tree while Reilly bent from his waist, resting on his knees.

"I'm calling it," Reilly panted, "that dude needs to diet."

Jesse chuckled, pulling his mobile from his pocket on his fatigue pants punching a speed dial.

"I agree," he inhaled while lifting the device to his ear, "Sir, you have my location? Yes, that is the coordinates; there is an unexplainable big body count."

Jesse listened before cancelling the call.

"Who was that?" Reilly stood, cross-armed, staring at him.

"My old CO," Jesse said, "he is the one that has a personal vendetta against Darcia and will help take her down any way he can."

"Nice to have in the back pocket," Reilly nodded, "let's get back to the girls."

"I had better let Breanna know the clean up will be completed before dawn," Jesse murmured.

"We'd better head back and help with the cleanup," Reilly said, "seeing these women in action tonight, I don't want to give them a reason to make me a practise target."

The waves crashed against the shore, washing over motionless bodies as the rumbling sound of approaching trucks vibrated the air. A soft moan and grunt joined the clashing sounds as a hand raised, a body rolled onto its side, slowly staggering to a pair of unsteady feet. Stumbling down the beach toward the shadow of a boat. Folding into the craft, the body lay still a moment before moving slowly toward the back and sinking painfully to the small bench, grasping the rudder and pressing the ignition button. Bringing life to the engine.

Grunting painfully as the craft pulled away from the trucks rumbling over the dunes and carnage on the shoreline.

"Sir," an officer motioned toward the ocean, lowering a high powered pair of binoculars, "someone is getting away."

Looking at the receding boat, the older man grunted, "Jesse did say there was a large body count. They could have missed someone," he refined the focus, "well, I'll be damned that's the MIA. Tyler … Tyler … the one everyone didn't trust and wished they could shoot."

"Tyler Gruber?" another officer supplied.

"That's the one," the commanding officer grunted, "well we know he isn't dead or presumed dead. Let's get on with this," he looked down at the dark forms on the beach, "it may take us until daybreak to get this cleared."

"Yes, Sir," the officers said in unison.

"Don't get too close," the commanding officer said, "remember to check for life first before we proceed. Only remove those who are shot through the head and are absolutely deceased. The other will need to be contained and debriefed."

Taking in the scene below, he hoped the casualties were minimal with Jesse's group of five. Was there a minimal casualty list?

"This must have been one intense fight," he muttered, "five people against ... an army."