Penumbra and I waited in a small café just on the outskirts of the college grounds, Lathain had looped back around to meet up with Torrin in the Science labs. From here we had a clear view of the small enclosed yard that controlled the college power. There was a single guard stationed outside the small gate, along with two security cameras, all in all this would be pretty simple.

Lathain had reckoned about ten minutes to get from the café to the lab, and another ten to fifteen minutes to prep everything at their side so they could hack and withdraw in the twenty second window they had before the back up power kicked in. If this went badly then it would be up to me and Penumbra to make a little noise . . .

"Coffee, black" I said sliding over some change. The young lad behind the counter glanced across at Penumbra, a little wary and nervous, but then anyone would be "he'll have a milk" I said. The boy's eyebrows rose and he looked at me, he was probably thinking it was a joke. "It keeps his bones in good condition" I said with a smile. The boy nodded wordlessly and moved to gather drinks. I went to sit opposite Penumbra who was watching the window

"Milk?" he asked me in a surprisingly soft whisper

"Just fucking with the boy" I said with a grin

"You look like Lathain when you smile like that" he said, I dropped my smile and he laughed "just fucking with you" he said. Suddenly his eyes moved to the window and his body tensed "Someone is coming" he said rising to his feet "and they are in a hurry"

I turned to stand just in time to see the form of KC sprinting down the path, pistol in hand, dressed in jeans and a night gown, she looked like she had gotten out of bed in a hurry. She saw us as she approached the café, her face obviously pleased to see us.

"Good you're here" she panted looking around "Where's Tor and Big Ears?" she asked

"Lathain went to meet up with Tor about ten minutes ago" I said, KC's face crumpled

"Balls" she said and coughed in the way only a smoker can, I waited until she could breathe again before asking her the problem. "It's the shifter" KC said "the shifter is Scathe, she can transform into anyone" I frowned

"Are you sure?" I asked KC nodded and coughed again

"She's been on to us from the start, she was at the Kabal, she killed my roommate and earlier I could have sworn I saw another person that looked like Lathain" she said "Ghost has gone to the lab to try and see if you were there already, bitch took my comm. unit" she said "She could be anyone of us" her breathing almost back to a measure of calm she straightened up and cocked her pistol

I buzzed Lathain, the cheeky smile filled the small screen "Are you with Tor yet?" I asked

"Sure, been here nearly five whole minutes" he said "Why?" I explained the situation and he frowned "I'll keep an eye on everyone" he said giving me a knowing look, his head turned out of view a moment "Gotta go" he said "I think a guard is coming, Tor's the only one who has a pass to be here" figures, I thought and let him go.

"We should meet up with them" Penumbra suggested "If the shifter is here then there is no guarantee the plan will work so I say we abandon it. I would rather we destroy the lab entirely"

"I'm game" KC said "If there's no lab then there's no chip" she was already walking swiftly in the direction of the science building

"There'll likely be a back up" I told her catching up

"Yeah well we'll just have to break that too" she said, she eyed my holsters "you got any other weapons?" she asked "I wasn't allowed to pack much for my dorm" she grumbled. I handed her a knife and one of my Lugar pistols

"Do not lose that" I told her as I gave her the gun, she grinned wickedly and she checked the magazine.

"If the shifter can be anyone then how do you know that KC is not the shifter?" Penumbra asked, KC ignored him

"Because" I said with a smile "only KC can look that happy holding a gun" she grinned at me. We could see the science building in the gloom of the night, passing through the open courtyard we kept our eyes out for guards. KC was out in front. Penumbra at the back, his massive bow in his hands with an arrow ready to draw if needed.

Suddenly KC stopped and held up a hand. I drew my pistol and cocked the hammer as we moved slightly to the side using the few sparse trees for cover. KC motioned in front by the doorway of the art building, lying at the base of the steps was a figure, he didn't look to be conscious.

I moved closer, using the shadows as I needed them until I reached the figure, rolling him over Lathain groaned, barely conscious.

"Shit" KC muttered as she got closer, she looked to Penumbra who dialled up Torrin

"Tor do you have Ghost with you" his deep voice boomed as I tried to shake Lathain awake "Lathain is with us" he said "I said Lathain is. . ." at that he growled, clawed hands clenched "The line just went dead" he said "Static"

"They're using a jamming signal then" KC said, beside her Lathain groaned again and his eyes blinked open slowly

"Do I need to even ask what happened?" I said looking down at him, he sat bolt upright and swung his fist at me, luckily he was still not fully orientated and the blow grazed harmlessly off my shoulder

"Bastard" he spat, his head lolling to the side, his eyes unfocused

"I think you happened" KC said, she pulled Lathain up to sit on the steps of the art building where she could see him a little better "It's not Whisperer" she told him "The person that hit you was the shifter" she said, she looked at me "She hit him hard too, do you have a stim patch?" she asked. Penumbra delved into one of his jacket pockets and brought out a small square patch, she peeled off the back and slapped it on his arm with probably more force than was necessary dragging him up to his feet.

"I was thinking the same thing" I said anxious to get moving, Ghost was in trouble, Torrin too. Penumbra supported Lathain as we made our way as quickly across campus as we were able, the elf soon finding his feet if still a little shaky. We arrived just in front of the science building as a chopper appeared overhead.

"Looks like they're on the roof" KC said "We'll need to be quick"

"I'm right behind you" I said, then I heard the unmistakeable sound of a gun shot and looked up just as the roof exploded.