Will and Victor were guarding the entrance to the building. They were in a car parked opposite to it. Armed and on alert for any sign of movement, Will was feeling a little rusty. He has been trying to avoid Daniel as much as he could. He cited Cindy's health and his college work as an excuse. The calls would always end with Daniel reminded him how much he owed him.

He was offered an internship at an IT firm which he was excited about. But with the job timings and after a week of joining, he was disillusioned from the impressions he used to have about it. It wasn't much about creating new things most of the time. It was more about taking orders, crunch time and a vexingly monotonous full-time activity over the most mundane things. It paid him relatively well that he could invest in some of his side projects he was passionate about. But the background clearance procedures weren't complete yet. Though stable he never considered this a permanent arrangement... even if the things were more normal. He wanted to move out of his home so that he could distance himself from his mom, not only for privacy which he craved but also her security.

In the call the last day Daniel had insisted that he join them today and promised him if they were successful, he wouldn't have to hear from him for a while. Daniel had cautioned him that he not reveal any of their dealings if he ever was interrogated, adding that the situation was getting out of hand. He was offered a contact for legal advice. He reiterated that if the mansion stuff were ever come out, he and Jaimie would take the blame for it. He resisted, but Daniel would not budge. He even declined the offer for a payment.

He missed Jaimie. He might have not been the most useful man he had ever met. But defying all odds, he made the most sense. The last time they spoke, Jaimie had told him that he was doing what he thought was right. When Will learnt that Kelly was involved, he knew they would never be working together anymore. It was a bummer. But he wondered how he was doing. The way Daniel was treating him was enough evidence that Jaimie won't be spared for much longer.

They were here in the passport offices for Daniel.

"There was no reason for me to meet you in person for a routine procedure like this" Daniel remarked to the officer. He continued. "I just want out for a year. It's from my retirement funds. I am more than capable to afford it; it could be for whatever... Why do you care? I thought it was all set when I received the call yesterday." Daniel was irritated. "Didn't Trevor pay you enough?"

"I am sorry sir, I cleared everything from my end. But the proposal was rejected from above."

Daniel received a call; one he is not used to as of late.

"Been a while. Not as good as before huh... Sad what lack of excitement can do a to a man. You used to be more wary about where you start wagging your dick around... Just who the fuck do you think you are?"

"Aron." Daniel replied calmly.

"The Trevor card is played out buddy. He was an obedient dog. Rigged a couple of votes here... doctored some footage there... laundered some money here ... I will give him that. But it's over. The thing with power is... it's never sticks. Now I am at the top, till the next guy comes around."

"What's your deal?"

"You are in no position to bargain, my friend. The office is under surveillance. Threatening a government officer while trying to bribe? You are too cocky for your own good. Insufferable. Wonder how Trevor puts up with you."

Will and Victor prepared themselves for the worst. they could see three to four police vehicles approaching the building. This whole thing was a mistake. How would Daniel walk himself into such an obvious trap like this? Is the situation that grave? They did have some plain clothes backup inside the building. He was nervous.

As the cops approached the building, he put his training into effect. The cop shot himself after fatally wounding two others. Another team of cops moved towards the building. There were ten to twelve people. They were flanking an elderly man as they advanced. They had armored suits.

Will motioned to Victor, who tried his hand. He focused all he could. Will was targeting the old man and waited for an opportunity.

"Victor, stop fucking around. It's over if they enter the offices."

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"I'm trying my best. I don't think I can."

"Why not?"

Something was odd. Why would the old man be so important? He fixed his gaze on the old man and waited for an opportunity.

The old man did not move a muscle no matter how hard he tried.

Will panicked. He tried to take the old man out indirectly. He concentrated on the guards flanking him. He tried to suppress his fears. The guards weren't moving an inch as he intended them to.

A ranged ability strong enough to cancel out Victor's? He had no chance. He couldn't fire as it would give them away with no escape plan. He was a normal teenager again, not the calculating, useful brute. He could only text Daniel, "The front is breached. Please take care of yourself."

He saw the old man look around. He saw him point to the general direction where they were. The cops were approaching them, checking car by car. The old man and his guards entered the building.

Daniel left the office cubicle. He approached the fire exit elevator as fast he could. Two of his backups entered the elevator with him. As they approached the parking lot, the elevator door opened. They were treated to an unwelcoming sight.

As the cops ordered to lower the tinted doors, Will and Trevor tried to remain calm. They were ordered to get out of the car and kneel down in front of it. They obliged. One of the cops approached Will and slapped the pistol onto his face. His nose broke and started bleeding. He was forced to look up and they grabbed a picture of him. Will was handcuffed.

"The old man has told us to blindfold the people who we might come across" said one of the cops as Will found himself entirely useless, squirming and unable to resist.

Victor did not resist the cops and found himself in a similar position anyway. But there was a difference. Unlike Will, he did not have to establish direct eye contact while employing his abilities. He was exhausting himself as he constantly tried doing it.

In a momentary lapse of what he thought was range limitation of the old man's powers, he was able to drop all the cops near them onto the ground.

Will limped towards a cop lying motionless. The cop woke up and freed him. Same with Victor.

He owed Victor. He never knew he cared for him. He wished the man would live outside his head once in a while.

Daniel and his men met Aron and his guards face to face. Daniel immobilized the guards and Aron was able to free them instantaneously. They were equally matched. Neither of their powers would work on each other. A shoot-out followed where Daniel's men was hurt. They were outnumbered. More reinforcements started to arrive. Daniel saw his end looming.

Victor and Will charged forcefully into the scene with their car in a move that surprised everyone. They ran down a few. Will opened the car door for Daniel to get in. But the swerve and impact knocked Victor out of the car. Aron's men restrained him.

Will sensed peril. Daniel urged him to drive away.

He should've listened to the man who Jaimie always said he was a fanboy over. But he couldn't. Daniel shook his head and accepted the keys. Aron's men had secured the parameters. Daniel was armed and could drive. He could still escape if Will kept Aron engaged. He couldn't not stop Will from making the reckless decision. He wanted to. But it also worked out for him.

Aron made a couple of phone calls. He was smiling as he approached Trevor. Daniel's backups were badly hurt to help.

He motioned to the men who brought with them a device. It had a bunch of electrodes.

"It's a prototype" Aron mentioned. "It is supposed to detect abilities. Brain waves and stuff I don't get. You are the first test subject."

Aron's men attached the electrodes to Victor and he was forced in position by Aron's men.

"Daniel's been fucking with us for some time. It was funny at first. But he and his bitch were good. While the operation was still active, the one with name of a stupid tree, we had decided that people like you cannot be running around. The government had a hissy fit. While we, as the 'gifted' people had our fun time, we didn't know our abilities transferred like that. Our society hangs in a balance. Not everybody can be trusted with powers."

"This is your fault in the first place. And I know you don't care a thing about society or it's order." Victor retorted.

"Oh, we are fair. We are only actively tracking down people with abilities if their powers can be traced to the prison cells back in the day. For others, let's say, if they inherited it from the parents, will be merely re-educated to keep their curse dormant."

"Yet, you don't see it as a problem when you use it." Victor asked.

"We always had it. Wasn't an accident. Wasn't a curse for being scum." Aron spat.

"Daniel was one of us. He's just a deluded con-man now. At least your pathetic existence will lead to technological advancement for a better tomorrow. I have to check on my friend like good ones do." Aron said as he motioned his men to "Make it quick."

Victor screamed in pain as the machine electrocuted him while reading data samples. The men kept increasing the threshold. The pain became unbearable as Victor's abilities manifested involuntarily dropping the men operating the machines down. And before he let out his last breath, they were completely unconscious.

By the time Will had fought off Aron's men, injured in shootout, it was too late. He could his use abilities in the fight. But that meant, Aron was focused on Victor. The men put up hell of a fight.

Will felt nauseous. He couldn't bear to look at Victor. He approached one the men who were laying down on the floor. Searched his pockets for a gun. He turned the passed-out man to face him.

Will was sobbing saying to Victor "This is all I can do for you... forgive me for being useless once again when it really matters..."

"You might have hated yourselves for your past. I will remember you for it."

He ripped them new cavities. Already existing ones were explored by bullets.