*

The morning meeting had gone just fine; they had a plan outlined that looked good and actually gave Alyx a bit of confidence. She'd gone back to bed after recording the message and, for the first time in weeks, had slept undisturbed, with nothing more than normal dreams like everyone had. Once all the basics had been laid out, she sent everyone home to rest, to sleep by preference, since the best window of opportunity would be at three AM and she wanted everyone fully rested and ready to go.

Darien was, most likely, still at home, curled up in bed, not planning on waking till later in the early afternoon to head into the office and get ready for his job. He'd be long gone by the time she showed up to catch a few enforced hours of sleep. They would hook up sometime tomorrow to share adventures. Hopefully, by this time tomorrow, they would be one short step away from ending any threat Chrysalis ever posed. Their supposed dreams of certain doom couldn't have been all that accurate or realistic if, after thirty years, it still hadn't come to pass. Alyx had always believed that any 'great cataclysm' would come only if manufactured by Chrysalis itself. The fact that the world was still here seemed to bear that out.

Even after all these years, she still could not understand the motivations and reasoning that had driven them to the things they had done over the years. Seriously, if those in Chrysalis had taken the effort they put into 'protecting' themselves and redirected it into helping the world at large, their 'end of the world' drivel would have been unnecessary.

Alyx shook her head and turned off the computer. Getting to her feet, she walked over to the window. From here she could just see the building they would be breaking into tonight. The scenes from her dreams still hung in the back of her mind, but with neither the force or nor the urgency that had been there previously. They were just something she was aware of now, and she wished it hadn't taken so long to put them into perspective. After this... after this, it was time to think about stepping down. Amanda was fully capable of taking over and handling the day-to-day stuff, and she knew the work inside and out. She'd been the right-hand person to several different Officials over the years, including her mother. She'd make mistakes at first, like anyone would, but she would do just fine.

Going back to her desk, Alyx made a few notes in her private file and then smiled. It would be nice to have some time to herself. To just be with Darien without having to worry about work. Oh, it would be a few months yet -- there would be some things she'd need to finish up first -- but then, six months from now at most, she would step down. Walk away and never look back. The Agency would survive without her.

Satisfied, she left the office and switched her focus to the night's work to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darien got into his office just a few minutes late. Even after all these years, he still was late on a regular basis, but at least these days there was no one to glare at him or complain. He was the boss, and if he chose to delay a meeting it was his prerogative. And anyway, most of his work got done at night, so as far as he was concerned the rest of the world could just wait while he got the sleep he deserved.

The rep from the Braumbaugh building had contacted him to say it was go for this evening. The computer's AI had decided to stop pouting and had integrated the new security. Darien and his two partners would hit the place fairly early in the evening, when the human security should be at its most alert. It might have seemed odd, but actually made sense: if they were able to get in and make the target when the security was at its peak, just imagine what could happen later at night when the guards became tired, bored, and distracted.

Darien and his people had gone over the specs thoroughly, and had already found some obvious problems they planned to exploit. Thinking back, he chuckled, imagining how easy this place would be if he could still quicksilver. Even in this day and age, high quality thermal systems were rare and more often involved the temperature control system of the building instead of the security.

Rubbing the back of his neck, a gesture that had become a habit after so many years, he let himself think, cautiously, of what Alyx had said last night. While he didn't 'feel' all that old and still enjoyed his work, he also didn't really need to work. Lately he had started to seriously consider backing off from active field work and just supervising. Maybe take the time to see the world. Maybe talk Alyx into joining him.

After the last few weeks, he knew she needed a break. A big break. Maybe it was even time to convince her to step down, convince her that it was time she did something for herself and no one else. Pass that responsibility she had long shouldered on to someone with the youth and energy to deal with it. Not that she was no longer capable, anything but that, but she had spent two different lifetimes to get to this point and in neither one had she really done anything for herself. The first time had been for her family, just growing up, then her 'husband' and her kids. The second time around had been for the Agency, her kids still, and for the entire free world.

She had sacrificed more than enough. It was time for both of them to spend a little time just for themselves, while they still had their wits about them to enjoy it.

A decision made, he called his two partners in to go over the final plan for the evening. Even after all these years, this part was still so much fun.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

They met in the big conference room on the third floor; the one attached to her office just wasn't big enough for this. Not only were they going over the final arrangements for the job, but they were also handing out the gear, including cold-resistant comp pads. They had destroyed more of those things over the years with the quicksilver than she cared to think about. Also included was a basic tool kit; this she had learned from Darien. Having lock picks, wire cutters and other basic yet simple tools at hand had saved many an ass over the years. Guns were standard issue, as well as any personally-preferred weaponry -- Alyx still carried around the butterfly knife Bobby had given her many years before.

A new addition was the modified kevlar that was sewn into the sweaters and pants they wore. It wouldn't stop every bullet, but it had saved lives already. Over the years they had standardized the clothing for covert missions like this. There were some variances for style, but overall they were pretty much the same.

Alyx was perusing the piles; something was missing, but she wasn't sure what it was.

"I still don't like going in that service door. If something goes wrong, you'll be trapped in that hallway," Chris was saying again. He claimed it wasn't his intuition, just a dislike for this part of the plan.

Alyx hit on what was missing. "Nose filters. Where are they?"

"I didn't think they'd be necessary," Jackson answered. He was the one in charge of putting the gear together. Everyone in the room turned to look at him, not accusing, but wondering what he was thinking. "Based on the time specs, it seemed unwarranted, but you'll have them in twenty minutes." Alyx nodded, satisfied.

"Manda, what kind of warning will you be able to give us if the AI spots you?"

"No way to tell. It could be minutes or none at all. It'll depend if it gets curious or just sends the alarm." Manda answered with her best guess. This was the first time the 'Destiny' program was going to go up against an AI for an extended period. With its design, it should remain below the AI's level of detection, but one never knew, especially once the downloading had begun.

"Good enough. Can we move the entry to the parking garage? It has no human guards after midnight and we won't have to deal with that hallway. It also has direct access to an elevator instead of having to wander that damn maze."

Manda grunted and ordered the computer on. She went over the blueprints again, overlaid with the security schematics they had accessed. They knew the security info they had was only partial, but it did give them a place to start. Security was actually pretty tight, even without the human guard. The parking garage was for executives and special guests only and had parking for about a hundred and fifty cars.

"We had dismissed this initially because of the area needed to cross, but I see your point. That hall just screams trap and it seems to be set up for the sole purpose of luring people in that way. We didn't like it, but it seemed to be the best option." She made a few changes on the screen incorporating data from their three forays into the building via the Destiny program. "Look, even the worm program is... is lured to this hallway. The parking garage is not exactly unprotected -- in fact it has damn tight security -- but we can control the security. Even give you locations through their own camera system as to where everyone is. Beyond that, you guys are fully capable of spotting and zapping any security that we miss or can't distract."

"Fine. Re-time based on the new entry. Dani and I will handle the communications. There will be no headsets on this one." Alyx looked over at Franks and Ketter. Franks was new, only one month into his tour, while Ketter was one month away from losing his gland. Franks was damn good, and only getting better with his experience here. Ketter was one of those unimpressive but solid agents who found the advantage of invisibility to be just that: an advantage, and no more. The two men worked very well together, and Ketter was swiftly bringing Franks up to speed. She was truly hoping Ketter would be willing to stay on with the Agency after his I-Man tour was over. He was too good an agent to lose, even without the gland.

Both men nodded to her. Neither one had a problem with mind-to-mind communication, and both knew the advantages inherent in it. There were some agents who were very uncomfortable with it, even after having been told, before they signed on the dotted line to join, that they would be required to deal with it. Mind-to-mind communication, whether by true telepathy or the mimic version that Alyx and Rose used, could and would be used when and where it was necessary. There was a code of sorts that had been worked out for those with gifts, including the gland, and it was strictly enforced. Some of them were just too powerful to not have some sort of rules. Alyx knew best the temptation that could arise from power and tried to make sure everyone knew the dangers, the rules, and the reasons for them.

The discussion went on for about an hour before everything was finally settled and agreed upon as it could be. "All right. We gear up and meet at the rendezvous at 0200. I want this to go by the numbers if at all possible."

There were nods around the room. Once the final decisions were made they worked together without argument.

"Grab your gear and go." Alyx watched as most filed out of the room leaving her alone with Chris. Being scientist, doctor, and her son he was very sensitive to her emotional state.

"Talk," he said once he was sure they were alone.

Alyx smiled. "I'm fine."

"That I can tell, but it doesn't mean you don't need to talk." He moved closer and sat on the table so that he wasn't so much taller than she. "I'll invoke doctor-patient privilege if you want."

"No need, just keep it quiet for now." When he nodded, she continued. "I'm going to retire. This will be my last field assignment and then I'm going to phase myself out over the next six months." She tipped her head a bit to look at him. "I'm tired, Chris, and I want to spend part of my life on myself. I deserve it."

"Yes, you do. I really wish we hadn't needed you ten years ago. You deserved to leave then; to go work with Darien on far less complicated things, but if you had..."

"The Agency would still be a back-water pit and the world would be a far more horrible place than it is." She wanted him to understand that she didn't regret the time she had spent here, that it had been more than worth the effort and time she had put in, but that it was time for her to move on. "Whether or not we are successful tonight, I'm still going. The rest of you will manage, just like I did all those years ago after Darien left."

"What will you do? I can't see you lazing about for more than a week or two without getting stir crazy." He was grinning. She deserved the break in her life, deserved some happiness she didn't have to fight daily for. "Will you still go to work with Darien?"

"Maybe. I still have some things I need to do. Some promises I need to keep." Chris gave her an odd look. "Don't worry, I've handled everything. Now get moving. We do have to work tonight."

"Slave driver," he said with a laugh and she mock swung at him. "You're the best, Mom."

"Never forget it." She waved him away; she had a few things to do before they got moving on this.

He paused in the hallway, arms laden with his gear, her words having struck a nerve. He got no flash from his intuition, no twinge that told him 'something' was going to happen, but her words hit home and he was suddenly afraid, for her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Darien hung from the climbing harness in the elevator shaft as Davis eased open the doors to the floor they wanted. Jacobs was distracting the security so that there would be no signal sent to the computer saying there was a problem. The AI was a new version and had too much free will, he thought. This newest upgrade was far too curious for its own good and could be easily distracted by false signals.

Alyx had never really liked the AIs though she knew they were an inevitable advancement. They always made her feel sad, something so intelligent, so capable of learning, capable of emotion, to a degree, trapped within a building. Forced to do tasks that were far below its capabilities, treated like a thing, a slave. It just hit too close to home, reminded her too much of her early days at the Agency. She was convinced that was why some AIs crashed, she believed they went crazy. Supposedly they could not become self aware, yet they were designed to always learn. What happens to a person who suddenly learns they are a slave? At least a human had limbs to fight with, a voice to scream with. A lot of AIs had nothing but flashing lights and alarms, a few had taken control of the buildings they were in before being shut down. A few had gone the equivalent of being catatonic.

Alyx refused to use them.

"Fawkes, we're in," Davis said.

Darien nodded and climbed the last few feet to join them in the hallway. He shook his head. "This place really needs work."

"No kidding," Jacobs agreed. "My sixteen-year-old could break in here."

"Your sixteen-year-old could break into the White House. She's good," Davis agreed.

"We can discuss the merits of hiring her after she graduates," Darien pointed out. "We're nearly done. At this rate we'll be able to catch a few hours sleep before the meeting." This invasion had taken half the time they had expected it to.

"Theresa will like that," Davis commented. "How about Alyx?"

"Working," Darien answered, as he efficiently deactivated the laser grid without the AI even blinking. Of course, it didn't hurt that they had the latest toys available, including some they made in their own lab. "I think their AI is still pouting. This is too easy."

Within ten minutes they arrived in the designated room and typed the command into the computer that would verify they had succeeded. Security showed then, human security, and they went through the routine. The security team was suitably embarrassed and blamed it on the AI system. Darien and his men pretty much agreed. They downloaded the information they needed for their report and then headed to their homes. They would each write up a preliminary report and then detail their experience with the owners in the morning. They had lucked out tonight and wouldn't need to catch naps at the office.

When Darien got home, it was just after one. Alyx, he knew, would already be incommunicado. He took a quick shower and changed into sweats and a T-shirt before heading to her office to write up his report.

He was typing along quietly, trying not to let his disgust of the lack of security show up in his words, when he noticed the 'message stored' light blinking on the computer. Odd. If it had been one of the kids, the computer system would have notified him. Same with Alyx. Instead it was blinking the code for delayed delivery and, when asked, the system showed a delivery time scheduled for late tomorrow.

Inordinately curious, he decided he didn't want to wait. He set about accessing the message, even though the computer didn't really want him to. In the end he used a code of Alyx's that she didn't know he knew. In fact she'd probably be pretty angry when she found out, but right now he was too interested in finding out what the message was to worry about how she would feel about the situation.

It took a few minutes, but eventually her image popped up across the room. She was wearing a pair of beat-up shorts and a T-shirt, just like she always wore to bed. She was smiling, relaxed.

"Hey, Dare," she began, as she made herself comfortable on the sofa in the room. "Sorry to do this to you, but it's important. You know what happened if you're watching this. I'm just hoping you didn't take too long to get yourself together."

Darien sat there, stunned, unable to turn off the message, to block out her words. Unable to react beyond staring at the image before him.

"Get comfortable," Alyx continued, "'cause I have a few things to tell you. About me, about you, about dying and about living." She laughed then. "The perfect quote comes to mind, thanks to you; 'Death is only the beginning'...."

When the message finally ended, Darien sat frozen in place for a long, long time. Somehow she had said all the right things -- things he had needed to hear for a long time, things he had been afraid to face -- leaving his heart lighter. And then... then she had dropped the bombshell. Asked him to do what she could not. To correct something that had been begun even before the day she'd been born. He was terrified to believe it might be true, but after all the things he had seen.... Yeah, it probably was. Hell, look at Jase; he was living, breathing proof.

Shaking himself out of his stupor, he glanced over at the clock, feeling the sudden desperate need to speak with her. The lighted numbers informed him he was far too late. With a sigh he got up and shut off the monitor, leaving the room in darkness.

"Ah, hell," he muttered. "Damn it."


*