One by one, Berks teleported with Staffie and the other Ford to the roof, hoping that Vicky would find them. If not, they'd simply pick them up on their way out. If they got out.

As she returned, she wobbled, glancing to Bria. No one else noticed, but the two exchanged expressions. She was getting weaker.

Berks continued to lead however and so on they ran, through the corridors, their guard up and watching out for another Mantis or another Freelancer.

"How do you know which way we're going?" Devon asked which made Berks jump. She hadn't heard her think of the question. In fact, the continuous drone of thoughts around her was much quieter now and it was only when she actually concentrated could she make out any words.

"Uh... Alpha can sense the energy of this building," she explained, "it's strongest in the centre, right where I'm guessing the Conductor will be."

"Sounds simple enough," Devon nodded in reply. "So where does Alpha say we should go next?"

"We take a right..." Berks said as she turned, "...Then a left up here...And then..."

The team faltered, all slowing or stumbling to a halt. They stood in the doorway to an arena, larger than any training hall they'd ever been in before. It was circular shaped, brightly lit and all was pure white except the spectator booth. There were figures inside but as the spotlight turned, blinding them, it was impossible to see who watched them.

"No!"

Berks spun, holding a hand up to her eyes, trying to find the voice. She knew it was Devon, but she couldn't see her. Forms were there one second and gone the next. Was her sight really that bad? Had the spotlight made it seem as if her teammates were disappearing.

"Chester!"

"Stop!"

"Let me-"

The voices became more fragmented, less people began to speak until none spoke at all. When the cluster of voices stopped, the light went out.

Berks blinked rapidly, rubbing her eyes and reaching out for anyone. A silhouetted figure was in front of her, still and staring. She could nearly make out its form amid the black spots that clustered her vision. Their head moved to the side as if curious, then, suddenly disappeared.

"Devon?" She called as her sight began to return. "Chester?"

No one replied. When she was able to see again, she realised she was alone.

"Agent Berkshire!"

A new voice split though the speakers, making her spin again, marching forward towards the spectator booth. Inside, the figures she could see were all the Freelancers, lined up and looking down on her.

"You and your team are enemies to the system." The voice continued.

"We're enemies to the people who tried to kill us!" She retorted, her face dark and glaring in whatever direction.

"You broke into Command. Twice."

"You're the Conductor, aren't you?" Berks turned again, trying to find the source of the voice.

"I am. And I think you'll find I have every right to execute you and your friends for your crimes."

"You have no right!" She shouted. "You were going to use us as brain dead killers or have us killed!"

"The creation of efficient and effective soldiers was an... Unorthodox method. The AIs were a revolutionary breakthrough, stronger and much more powerful than the Americans'."

"The AIs are dangerous! They... They made me kill innocent people."

"They were weak! They were of no use to the Freelancer project. They had to die!"

"No they didn't!"

"Might I remind you, their blood is not on my hands. It's on yours."

Berks said nothing. She felt her heart pulse twice as fast. She could see it all again, that hack saw in her hand, dripping with blood. Her thoughts were not her own, it was only Alpha, telling her to terminate the weak and ill-fit to undergo this project.

There was blood everywhere. It came from her shoulder. It came from the dead man on the floor.

Buck stood before her, eyes wide and hands raised, like he was attempting to soothe a wild animal.

"Ashlynn."

She blinked. She felt herself shift, like Alpha had loosened its control, if only for a moment. She had a hold, she tried to fight, to break out of the unconscious state she was in.

It was like trying to open your eyes in a dream, just before you're about to wake up. You feel lazy, but you're trying to move. You're part of two people, the active dreamer and the unconscious sleeper.

Then, there was a shot and everything went black.

"Do you remember?" The Conductor's voice was laced with menace.

"Of course I remember," she snarled. "I wasn't in control!"

"And you are now?"

"I am."

"How sure are you about that?"

"As sure as I can be."

"Let's see about that."

There was a low sound of a horn and a rumbling of a door opening. In the far side, below the spectators booth, the door opened to reveal the black and gold armoured man. He marched forward and then stopped in the middle of the arena, frozen, like a toy soldier.

"London..." Berks breathed. "What have you done with him?"

"I've improved him." The Conductor replied. "He has Bravo, Charlie and Kilo."

"Three AIs?" She stared at the former leader of the Freelancer team, presently reduced to nothing but a mindless slave.

"He is stronger than most. Maybe even stronger than you."

"So that's the game is it?" She called out. "You want me to fight him? See who triumphs? See who's the best fighter?"

"That is the game," she could hear the smile on his voice, "but like every good game, you don't fight the boss until the end."

Suddenly, the floor rumbled. Berks staggered as the part of the ground she was standing on began to rise. She glanced to London who still stood frozen, rising up on this white podium just the same as her. They were thirty or forty feet in the air when they stopped moving.

That silhouetted figure she had encountered earlier was one of the Fords, the remaining one which had abducted all her team from around her. He made his return, appearing with five people, at one time. Like himself, his companions of Rut and Mersey stood unmoving and waiting for orders from the Conductor. On the other side, Dorset was on his knees, heaving, Chester had his helmet pulled off and had a hand to his mouth. Buck stood in front of them both, his legs shaking but trying to stand tall and firm.

"A penultimate battle," the Conductor explained. "An equal match. Probably."

"You can't do this!" Berks cried out.

"I think you'll find I can," the Conductor sighed, almost sounding resigned. "And, I have."

A horn sounded and the three Freelancers infected by the AIs burst into action. Alpha managed to read them first. This Ford had Tango, teleportation and could obviously carry more people than her. Rut had Quebec, speed, and Mersey had India, a protective shield. Fear rippled through Berks. What if she was weaker than them? She didn't think she was strong enough to teleport more than one other person, her shields could be broken and she hadn't even tried to run fast yet. She felt there were more traits Alpha had hidden from her. Was this to prevent her from destroying herself if she used too much or was Alpha really against her?

Paranoia was not her only problem. Below, Rut, Mersey and Ford Two were brutally attacking the others. Buck tried to protect his friends who were still suffering from the sudden transport. He sent out a kick in one direction and a punch in the other, but it was either blocked by India's shield or dodged. Rut and Ford Two were everywhere at once, one taking Dorset off his feet just as he managed to stand as the other grabbed him from the air and dropped him from a height of fifteen foot.

Berks couldn't take it anymore. She moved forward to jump down from the podium but a shield blocked her. It fizzled and crackled as she made contact with it.

"Fuck this," she snarled and teleported.

She used the shimmering shield that Mersey had kept up to hide herself from the others engaged in battle. As Buck threw his punches at the place Ford Two had just been, he glanced up to see Mersey's shield falter as she collapsed. Berks stood behind her, breathing heavily. She paused, staring right at Buck before she vanished.

The blur of Rut tearing around the arena was joined by another, two flashes, one orange and black, the other white and red, speeding alongside each other. At first it appeared that they were at equal pace to each other but the black streak pulled ahead and the white slowed until the form became recognisable.

Berks stood for a moment, panting, watching the flash get away. Then, just like before, she vanished. When she appeared, she did so right in front of Rut. A well aimed punch sent him sprawling back and where he fell, he remained.

Dorset was unconscious and Chester was getting ruthlessly beat up by Ford Two as Buck attempted to chase them down. Every time he got close, they vanished again.

Berks snatched Ford Two before he teleported and directed the course herself. He tried to shake her off as they teleported every other second around the arena, his hand still clutching Chester. Then, Chester began to scream. Berks thought it may have been the flashing vision of appearing and disappearing too quickly but as she turned, she saw the paint, the metal, the clothes and even skin begin to tear away from his body. As the two AI infected Freelancers battled, Chester was caught up in the middle, torn between the two as they teleported at the same time.

Berks let go, allowing Ford Two to teleport to the other side of the arena. He dropped Chester beside him. He was bleeding, his skin was torn and his armour was shredded. He lay there, panting, shaking, his eyes wide. He rolled to his side, nearly bathed in his own blood as he threw up.

Buck tore across the arena as Ford Two teleported again, racing for Chester.

"Someone help!" He shouted desperately, his hands pressed on Chester's wounds. But there were so many. Blood seeped through his fingers and Chester's eyes rolled back and he passed out. "Chester! Chester, hold on, buddy!"

Snarling, Berks teleported again. She wrapped her arms around Ford Two's neck. Evidently, he was under instruction not to leave the arena as they ricocheted around, always surrounded by that hideously bright white. Berks used her strength to tighten her grip, growling under her breath as Ford Two attempted to shake her off. He began to move less, taking time to pause with each teleportation. He was getting weaker.

Berks drew her arm even tighter, her teeth bared as Ford Two's air supply was becoming less available. Eventually, desperately and weakly clawing on her arms, he dropped to the ground.

She staggered for a moment, panting. Their opponents were scattered around, unconscious. Buck was leaning over Chester, who was bleeding out.

"Help," Buck called in a strangled voice. His helmet was by his side as was Chester's. They clutched hands as Buck had his spare hand pressed to Chester's wounds. It wasn't enough.

Berks rushed over, shaking as she dropped to her knees.

"Stand back," she told Buck and he did what she said. Immediately.

She closed her eyes and pressed her hands to his chest. Chester was pale and his eyes were only half open. His lips were slightly parted, only breathing slightly, interrupted at intervals for a ragged, sharp intake of breath which they feared to be his last. Berks' hands began to glow. She forced all her strength towards Chester, determined to heal every tear, every cut in his flesh. She was shaking, her hands quivered and her face was contorted in exertion. A guttural roar escaped her throat as it became too much. It felt as if all her energy, all her strength was being sucked dry. As he healed, Chester felt his flesh burn and his screams joined her's with the intense glow blinding anyone who looked their way.

Like an implosion of a star, the light suddenly stopped. Berks dropped her arms by her side and slumped where she sat, her chest heaving. Chester panted, eyes blinking rapidly as he sat up, patting down his torso and feeling his face. The only blood left was that which had stained the floor and his armour.

"You... You should rest..." Berks managed as Chester collapsed again.

"You saved his life," Buck said as he knelt down to help Chester to his feet.

"That's what I do for my friends," she replied bitterly, standing unsteadily.

"Thank you," Buck lifted his helmet from the floor and before Berks could recognise a smile, he had placed it on his head. She searched for his thoughts and before weakening herself again, she sensed a strange warmth before she pulled out again. Interesting.

Suddenly, the pillars which she had stood on and which London still stood on, began to descend.

"Get Chester out of here," Berks ordered, "get them all out."

"Can you face him on your own?" Buck asked, sounding concerned. "You can barely stand up straight."

"I'll be fine," Berks assured him, not quite snapping but not sounding convincing either.

He put a hand on her shoulder, just as the pillar reached ground level and London stepped off.

"Take care of yourself," he said quietly. "Don't die."

"I'll try," she replied with a hint of humour. After all, when you're about to die, what else is there to do but joke?

"And now!" The speaker split through the arena. "The final event! Let's see once and for all who triumphs, exhausted Alpha or experienced Beta, Charlie and Kilo. I think I know who I'll be placing my bet on."

"Go!" Berks shouted to Buck as London began to run towards her. The hand left her shoulder as she rushed forward to meet him. The two adversaries drew closer, closer and-