"Who do you think you are Ashelin? Warning the brothers that we were coming? Now you've shown where your allegiances lie and something has to be done about it," Rand roared.

"This proves nothing, Rand. After all, Jinx has been friends with Torn and Tryce for years and you haven't done anything with him yet as far as I know. Besides, isn't this something you wanted for me? That I learn the ways of you and my father? " Ashelin replied.

Rand didn't say anything, staring at the other members of the Group. Razer stepped up to their self proclaimed leader, with his arms crossed and a look on his face that he meant some business.

"She's right you know. Jinx has betrayed us many times during the years, as we have ourselves to him. She is learning the ways that shaped us and the brothers," he mused.

Rand nodded, mildly occupied with many thoughts swirling through his mind. He glanced towards Ashelin's direction, fully knowing that she was watching him. He slowly walked over to her and felt the urge to slap her but managed to resist. Rand leaned in towards Ashelin and she managed not to smack him across the face.

"The sad thing about this whole thing is that we won't until it is too late exactly who is lying. You could easily deny telling them our entire plans just as well as they could insist that you did," Rand quietly told her.

He turned around as Moten stepped up to him with Veger sitting on top his shoulder. They were soon followed by the others and Moten crossed his arms as they approached their leader.

"If they do indeed know what we have planned, that means we are danger anywhere. They could have allies that we are unaware of and they, or the brothers, could attack at any time," Moten told him.

"I realize that. What do you propose I do? I'm willing to listen to any suggestions at the moment," Rand wondered.

The six members glanced at each other, either unable to think of anything or nervous to offer. Rand snickered for he should have known they would have reacted this way.

"I will step up the security around the HQ. Not even Torn and Tryce will be able to make it through and no one is to leave the building until we head out as a group. That way, they won't know a thing unless they manage to get in here," Rand told them.

He glanced between everyone with a cold look. They all watched him leave before Anthar and Cargo stepped up to Ashelin. Cargo stepped around behind her and gently nudged her towards Anthar, who placed an arm around her shoulders.

"I have to admit, Jinx has certainly rubbed off on you during his time working with you during the recent war with the Metalheads although you might not have known it immediately," he told her.

He snickered as he and Cargo began their way out of the room. The others soon began to follow, giving mild distrust on their way out. Ashelin gave a sigh, not noticing that Razer never moved from his position. He stepped to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He gazed over her and she could sense something was on in his mind.

"Dear Ashelin, so much has been thrust upon you in the last while. Why don't you go and rest? I'm sure we're more than able to deal with the situation," he told her.

Razer began to make his way out of the room with Ashelin watching his every move as he left. She narrowed her eyes, wondering what his true intentions really were.

00000

Tryce rummaged around the room, searching for anything that could help with his plans. He gave an irritated sigh as he couldn't find what he really wanted. Tryce gave up before heading back over to his brother, who barely had his eyes open.

"Don't do this Tryce. You'll be killed," Torn managed to get out.

"Better dying in the line of battle than sitting back and letting them find me and you. It may be seven of them versus me but I'm willing to take the risk. Besides, I've got a plan and believe it or not, your former comrade Sig has agreed to help," Tryce replied.

Torn tried to sit up and protest but Tryce quickly left the room, leaving his younger brother in a state of shock through his.

'I'm going to lose him like we did our parents!' his mind screamed.

Torn tried to squirm around in the bed but found he could barely move due to his sudden limitation. He gasped for air; his eyes squeezed shut as he tried not to think about his brother going on a suicide mission.

00000

Tryce stepped out of the elevator to be greeted by Sig. The Wastelander had his back facing the Clan member and turned around once he felt a hand on his shoulder.

"It's about time you showed up. So what's your plan?" Sig wondered.

"We storm the HQ," Torn replied.

Tryce started to make his way past Sig and towards the HQ when he felt his arm being grabbed. He turned enough to face the Wastelander and the concerned look on his face.

"Care to fill me in on it? If we're going to be working together on the way to our deaths, we should let each know what's on our minds," Sig told him.

Tryce thought about what was said for a moment before nodding his head. He motioned for Sig to follow and he began to explain his plan along the way.

00000

Veger, Moten and Cargo made their way down to the main floor. They had some work to do on that level before others were to be made. Veger jumped off of Moten's shoulder and on the console as the elf stepped up to it.

"I am certain that I can find my way into these files again, even though everything's been changed around," he told them.

"You'd better Veger. After all, if we were to lose this city, we can't afford them finding Praxis' file and that of his second in command. He always had the temper in the group," Moten said.

"Never mind that, we have work to do before we regroup and find those pathetic brothers," Cargo piped up.

Veger remained quiet as he continued to explore the computer for the files. In the middle of the search, the trio heard crashing and screaming coming from outside the building. They glanced at each other, wondering what could possibly be going on. They hurried outside to find Sig firing his Peacemaker at the several Guards around the area.

"Halt! You are under arrest!" one guard yelled over to him.

"I don't think so. You'll have to take me down first!" Sig snorted back.

The Wastelander began to run around the group, firing at random intervals at them. The guards followed suit before Sig ran into a nearby street. They began to follow, leaving a very confused trio behind.

"What purpose does he have attacking us by himself?" wondered Veger.

"Anyone who faces us, whether it is solo or in a group is foolish to think they can stop us. After all, we are the Group of 9. Nothing can defeat us now," Moten snickered.

Cargo stood beside them, a nagging feeling at the back of his head. He wished he could shake it off but an instinct was telling him that something was wrong with this picture.

00000

Tryce carefully made his way up the near sheer slope of the building towards an open window about halfway up the structure.

'I make this look too easy,' he thought.

He made his way to the window and poked his head in enough to see that no one was around and climbed inside. Tryce pulled out his gun and prepared himself for anything unexpected as he slowly made his way towards the main computer.

The guard in thehallways were light and Tryce figured that a lot had probably gone after Sig when he attacked the building.

"I hope he's not going to any angrier with me after this is all over," Tryce muttered.

Tryce slowly climbed through the hallways, undetected by the remaining guards before he came to the door to the main room of the headquarters. He smirked as he slowly opened the door to reveal no one in the room. Glancing around to see if there were any traps, Tryce carefully made his way towards the main computer sitting in the middle of the room. Immediately, Tryce's fingers began to fly over the keys sitting before him.

"They make this way too easy for me," he muttered.

"Better rethink that thought," a female voice suddenly came.

Tryce straightened up, in total disbelief that his entirely missed her presence arrive. He mentally hit himself but didn't bother to turn around.

"Ashelin, how nice to see you again," Tryce sighed.

"What do you think you're doing? Toying with the computers, are we?" Ashelin wondered.

Tryce smirked as he slowly raised his hands, indicating that he was no longer messing with anything. He gradually turned around to face the redhead and quietly laughed. She narrowed her eyes, wondering what was so funny.

"I find something funny Ashelin. For most of your life, you are oblivious to everything that goes on in the shadows of Haven City. In the eyes of the people, you were a breath of fresh air compared to your father and his cruel ways. In the end, you're no better than what he was," Tryce mused.

"That's not true!" she cried.

Tryce shook his head, knowing he was right with his words. Ashelin's hand began to quiver slightly before Tryce carefully placed a hand on the end and aimed it towards the floor.

"You may think Torn or Jinx had betrayed you when they sided in an underworld criminal sect but I seem to remember that they didn't. Torn told you that a long time ago. Now, it's too late for him and for me," Tryce told her.

Ashelin couldn't help but stare at him, her eyes opened wide. She continued to stare forward as Tryce slowly moved to get around her. She snapped out of her reverie to see what he was doing and began to fire at him, not caring what she hit. Tryce darted out of the way out of the open door. Ashelin followed only to find an empty corridor. She growled as she scanned the walls with any hope that she could see him.

'They're not going to like this though I don't know if they're going to believe me,' she thought.

Tryce watched her from a nearby air duct and barely managed to keep himself from snickering. He glanced around the area to see Ashelin carefully moving down the hallway and that there was no one else in sight.

Now all he had to do now was find Sig.

00000

Jak stared off into the distance as Daxter continued to attempt to get out of his cage sitting nearby.

"This is becoming old, getting trapped in a cage. Jak, aren't you gonna try and get me outta here?" Daxter called.

Jak barely shook his head, his stare still facing forward at the wall. Daxter stopped his wriggling and turned to glance at his longtime friend.

"What's wrong with you? I've never seen you give up this easily," the ottsel wondered.

"I don't know Daxter. This time, I feel as though it's helpless to do anything. I mean, sure with all those other times, everything was against us but this time, it seems different. There are even more people who know us, who know how we will react. Plus it's the fact we're outnumbered by people who are very skilled at what they do. We also have no way to get out of here," Jak replied.

Daxter's ears disappointingly lowered at his friend's words. He couldn't believe that his friend was actually giving up after all they had been through. Suddenly, his ears perked up in interest as they picked up a noise in the distance. Jak soon heard the voices and the thudding of footsteps heading their way. The two friends looked at each other, wondering what could possibly be going on when a familiar figure was pushed through the door.

"Sig?" questioned Jak.

"Hello cherries, long time no see," Sig replied.

Sig tried to put on a smile but Jak and Daxter could immediately tell that something was amiss. They hoped Sig would elaborate and that this didn't mean the doom of the entire city.

TBC…