The cars entered the planned war zone. Daniel had an ominous feeling that he might not get out of this as he has done through various situations in his life. He was a survivor. Through his rear-view mirror, he could see a number of vehicles tailing him. Three to four police vehicles. There was a heavy armored vehicle behind them all. Daniel figured this could be where Aron was.

The roads were barricaded. The general traffic was not allowed in. Daniel weighed his options. Couple of his backups were still in the game. These men were one of the first people he had taken under his wing. He thought he was a bit harsh on them during their last failure trying to eliminate the two women under perfect circumstances.

Daniel thought of himself as a normal man. He had thought that he was provided with an opportunity of a lifetime when he along with some other youths were identified and drafted for a critical government assignment. Crime had increased due to the deteriorating economic conditions and people were afraid to walk on streets fearing their safety. The movement to aggressively combat this had public backing during the time.

He utilized the opportunity as he saw fit, rose among the ranks and earned what he thought he always wanted – to be looked up to, to be remembered and live a life of comfort and status. He did what he had to do. Weakness for him was the most inexcusable trait in a human. The people in the prison camps met their fate as they let themselves be captured. One shouldn't commit a crime if they did not know to evade the law. For him, it was never personal.

He firmly believed that each individual had to do what is best for them. He hated the idea of tribalism and righteousness. He saw no cause or sides to what he had done.

He knew that the hypocritical human rights activists who once threatened his position during the period when project Olive was called off, demanding for fair treatment of people in prison cells and flagging each irregularity in prison records, would never once consider having any of these people they claim to vehemently support as a guest in their own homes for a minute. On the other hand, the same people who wanted to be tough on crime would cave if a loved one was caught for it.

Nothing major was ever accomplished without some hands getting dirty. He wasn't in the business of pleasing everybody. It was a tough job. He might have turned a blind eye or sometimes encouraged some of the incidents that might have crossed the line a bit, but in the grander scheme of things, he did the job he was offered efficiently. In the heights of his power, he was untouchable. He was honorary member of the defense forces. He had a huge mansion. Entire police department was at his fingertips. He felt on top of the world. He felt in control and he enjoyed it.

But of late, there has been a weakness in himself. He made rookie mistakes. He was fooled by a girl right under his nose. A nobody activist got the better of him, at least is currently being propped up by his adversaries. He shouldn't have underestimated them.

Even if this was salvageable, he couldn't understand why he chose to oppose the cult that is out for them. They were not a direct threat to a person like him. Sure, he was averse to the nature of it. He just found them stupid. He saw a sense of reason in things he had done. He hated how erratic and volatile the cultists were.

He committed the worst error of them all – trusting others. The moment he saw them as people with abilities that he had created, he saw them as extension of himself. The moment he linked their survival as a yard-stick for his power, he should have known that he had dug a hole for himself. Aron was right in saying that he was becoming sloppy. He deep down agreed and was prepared for what is to come.

Daniel was greeted by Mark and Aron on the other side. Dave walked out of the police vehicle alongside his team members who took defensive stances with their guns out.

"Didn't fancy meeting you here" Aron smirked

"Are we waiting for somebody?" Daniel asked back. "Are those guns for show?"

"Oh... these are not for you, my man. You are our valuable specimen. We want you alive. You would've probably figured that out"

"You are one greedy buffoon then... Why would that be?" Daniel asked

"Really? As he is not going to get out of here in this shape, I guess it is fine to say, do you agree?" Aron asked Dave.

Dave was not a fan of theatrics.

"As you know my old friend, our abilities are like a flower. It gets better as we use it. We gain immunity from weaker minds. At the peak of our powers, we bloom. And as in nature, we wither away. In short powerful bursts. Shadow of our prime. After cursing others. That is why we here, make amends for. I know you are weaker than you were once; withering away as we speak. We'll utilize you properly."

Dave was getting alarmed... turning his attention towards the entrance where he saw a car dash into the room... a couple of men came got out. The driver was dead. At the same time, the three snipers they had set up on the rooftops, fell to the ground and by the looks of it, broke a consider number of bones.

"It must be Kelly." Mark remarked.

Will and Kelly were closing in. Kelly had just called and informed Jaimie of the happenings.

Drones were patrolling on the warehouse premises from all sides. Will recognized the drone models from the incident at his home.

"Don't worry. I came prepared" Kelly said to Will. "You will find riot gear... bullet proof shields and helmet. That would be enough for the drones. Collin and team got it for me". Collin felt happy about himself for once in his life listening from the wireless. They had borrowed them by force from the dog-dad policeman.

Will and Kelly smashed the drones that blocked their way as they shattered on impact from the limited heavy artillery they had.

As Mark rushed towards the entrance, Kelly took notice. A bullet just missed him. The man's face brought back some of the righteous anger from her early days as she rolled and took cover behind a construction beam. Will aimed at him. The shot brushed his arm and pushed him. He fell. Will closed in on him aiming for his legs. He couldn't believe that Kelly still intended to capture him.

This bitch.

Those missed. As soon as Will got near him, he was blindsided by a punch across his face. Will was more nimble than he thought. He winced with pain while Will was bashing his helmet onto him.

Kelly was looking out for Will as she feared that the focus was lacking.

"Don't get carried away now," he heard Kelly warn, as he fixed his gaze upon Will.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

He subdued Will eventually, physically and mentally unmatched. He was suppressing a smile when he saw Will, at gunpoint, moments away from suicide.

He used Will as a shield against Kelly.

"It's impressive how you even managed to get here with abilities this basic," Mark spat as he taunted Will, "Your luck runs out now."

Kelly lowered her weapon as he pointed his own gun at her.

He said; "You are good but you need to be better."

***

Collin was dealing with patrolling drones in the premises. Their team had lost ranged attackers, sustaining damage from the enemy snipers.

***

Inside the room, Daniel and his men were taking on Dave and his team. A shoot out commenced between the teams wherein Dave was often immobilized by Daniel. One of Daniel's men put half of Dave's team to sleep and killed a couple of them when he had the chance.

Dave was not affected by this. He was enraged and reciprocated this gesture by dishing out in what seemed like endless torture in the mere seconds that it worked. Daniel was spending considerable effort in immobilizing Dave. Seeing an opportunity here, a policeman approached Daniel in close quarters and tried to shoot a tranquilizer dart.

***

Mark ordered Will, now without helmet, to shoot himself subliminally; switching attention to Kelly.

The pistol was already out of ammo by that point.

Clever fucker.

Mark was about to press the trigger when he felt an interference. He had lost the control over Will. He scurried off for cover. Mike and Judy had rushed out. With the other drones engaged with Collin's team, the path was clear.

Extra judicial killing of this sort has to be relatively low-key and did not get the full budget for it.

Not bad for a mock run. There is always next time.

Mark was now wary of Mike, seeing that he would be affected by him. Soon it became clear that it was time to make a tactical retreat as Kelly advanced on him, teaming up with Mike.

***

The tranquilizer dose missed Daniel as Will successfully altered its course, putting his powers to immediate action.

Ensuring that Dave was being kept immobilized, a couple of policemen approached, one engaging Will while the other going for Daniel.

Daniel quickly adjusted, now-mobilized Dave losing his balance. The approaching policeman froze.

Will was frustrated as he lost the window to strike where he and Mike were now in a stalemate with Dave.

Daniel did not prefer to use a gun as his sight was getting worse, more rapidly than he had thought. May be was withering away. But at close quarters like this he could not miss. He drew out a dagger from his pocket and shoved it as deeply as possible into the throat of the policeman who would have, in a better day, won an award for the best tableau performance.

Aron was sensing the tide turning. He had no choice to activate his ability, rendering the abilities of everyone inert. Or so he thought.

Aron couldn't believe himself when he found Dave to be writhing in some kind of pain due to Mike's influence. Aron had not seen this coming. Dave was losing conscious. Dave felt drowsy; his vision blurring.

Not good. So it's not just Daniel.

Other people started shooting at Mike as Will shielded them using Kelly's borrowed gear.

Just before Aron had activated his ability, one of Daniel's men who had adrenaline related abilities charged at Mark. A fist fight ensued after Mark was disarmed.

Dave was struggling against Mike.

A shoot-out commenced with Kelly and two of Dave's remaining men.

Mark gained the upper-hand in the bout as his opponent was no longer boosted. He put his opponent in a chokehold till the breathing stopped. He winced in pain as the bite marks in his hand drew blood, wiping sweat off his forehead, eyeing his now lifeless victim with an expression that read pity.

Daniel's henchman with the ability to induce sleep put up a good fight. Mark took turns between defensive and offensive shooting positions.

Jaimie, after his assist with Collin's team went straight for Aron. He and Judy were equally matched by Aron's guards. Aron relinquished his control over the battlefield to gave Dave and Mark their best chance.

Daniel weighed his options as Mark took his other man down.

Mark was hurting, but still in shape to continue.

***

Daniel considering using Mike as a shield, but he wasn't sure how it would change the dynamic. He felt that this fight being fought was not about him.

Aron had the ability to lock down everybody's powers - except Mike and himself. Daniel did not have the decisive edge over Aron. Their previous encounter was a toss up.

He did not expect Mike to help, for obvious reasons.

He had observed that Mike intent on defending Will. So was Jaimie and Kelly. His men were already down. Dave might have backup coming. If he did something stupid, everybody will be on him. Then what?

Aron was not a guy to forgive. Aron is definitely not granting any amnesty to these righteous asshats. Even if offered, they were too foolish to accept it.

Daniel didn't know why this was fought for. It could only end one way. He had already lost the fight.

Will would have come in for Victor, and he dragged these other folks in too? For what? This was peak stupidity.

Mark, Dave and Aron were too powerful. They can't win if it goes on. None of them tried to kill him as well.

Beyond stupid.

Daniel was baffled that they did not realize that they would be hunted down even if they were to survive this day. Drone strikes are already authorized. From the message he got from his men enroute to this hellscape, they have a torture device already in place.

He had lost Trevor's usefulness. He realized this there is no good way out of this for him. He would have to live relying on somebody. He had nothing in control. He hated it. There were no options.

Daniel signaled Will to engage with Aron. Will reluctantly agreed.

***

Will and Mike engaged with Aron as Daniel summoned the best of his abilities, immobilizing all of Aron's men. Mike's powers were equally matched by Aron, but Mike pulled through.

Mike was exhausted; nearing his limits. He was not made for this.

Mike understood that he wouldn't last for long. His abilities were ranged. He could still hold like this till the point where they could reach Aron's car.

And when he lets go, the effects will linger on them for 15-20 minutes. They could get out of this... not by much.

Dave did not give up. Seeing that Daniel is over-exerting himself to keep everyone immobilized, he subjected himself into a spiral of pain, trying to wriggle out of paralysis. He moved forward inch by inch. He reached out his hands for the gun laying on the ground.

Judy panicked. She shifted her focus from assisting Jaimie. He could handle himself. Even though she hated the idea, Daniel was doing the right thing. In some level, she related to him. That was their only opening. She prepared herself, now boosted with adrenaline, running as fast as she could. She knocked the gun out of the way, kicking Dave squarely in the face, dropping teeth. Dave lost focus and stood immobilized.

Will moved towards Daniel. Judy shook her head as she could see the boy conflicted.

"Make smart choices from now. "Daniel said.

"Get out while you can. When Aron gets the better of Mike, it is over. Go hide. In whatever bunker or mountain or pig-sty... doesn't matter. They will come for you. Key is in survival. Bide your time to strike. There is no greater joy than when you come on top."

Jaimie and team exited the premises after non-verbal agreement was made.

Jaimie did not want to leave Daniel in there. He wouldn't wish a future like that even on his sworn enemy. But what needs to be done needs to be.

Judy was waiting for Jaimie's call. They exited the premises after taking the keys to the guarded vehicle that Aron used from one of his lackeys. They wasted no time. Jaimie wanted them to be in a public area as soon as possible. They had Collin's team as backup who were instructed to stay out of battle if it comes to Daniel.

Just as they left the intersection into the highway, Aron had regained his composure. All the men came back into their feet.

"You are pathetic" lamented Aron as he activated his ability. He saw the whole thing without being able to do anything. "They won't get away with this. After you, its them"

"After you are escorted into your princess carriage, I will end it all" Daniel said to Aron. "No matter in what shape I am."

"I know you will. I will personally see to it that you are freshly delivered to the prisons ready for harvest," Aron sneered.

Daniel did not reply.

Daniel was handcuffed. He was tied to Aron's car. He was blindfolded. Everyone was retreating to the prison. They had won. Mark was not part of the procession... Dave's car was leading it. Aron's carriage was flanked the vehicles of his guard.

Meanwhile Trevor was clutching his phone looking very uncomfortable. He had just sent an SMS as he was asked to as soon as he received call from the prison guard announcing defeat. That prison guard was the last remnant that symbolized Daniel's power.

Aron and his body guards in the vehicle heard a click.

Daniel smiled. He was going to be remembered at least by a single teenager when it was all said and done. And he was still in control.

The car burst into flames toppling five times over before hitting the ground. Nearby vehicles followed suit.