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TT

Rose had managed to convince Luke that she wasn't responsible for the tragedy, but Luke was still skeptical. He still trained with her though.

At one point he felt like he was betraying his family, but he brushed off the feeling.

I'm doing this for them he reminded himself so nothing like that ever happens again.

"Focus" A voice snapped Luke back to, a cold, unforgiving, reality. For a second he forgot that Tori was kicking his butt. He hadn't been able to focus on anything for the past few days. Including a razor sharp blade swinging dangerously close to his head. He was tired of sparring over, and over again. Even his father made him train even more.

He loosened his grip on his sword, which Tori easily knocked out of his hand. He wasn't one to throw a fight, but he was too exhausted.

"That's my tenth win this week" she reminded him.

"-but who's counting?" he mumbled. He headed towards the exit.

"I mean, what's going on?" she asked "You're not this bad."

"If I dig deep, I'm sure there's a compliment in there somewhere" he responded dryly.

"I don't like pity fights."

"It's not a pity fight . . . you must be stronger than me" he shrugged.

"Okay, now something is definitely going on. You're way to proud to admit that" she noted.

"Why do you care?"

"I don't" she defended herself quickly. She didn't care, or so she tried to convince herself.

"You care about me" he mocked her in a childish voice.

"No I don't" she rolled her eyes.

"I'll make sure to look both ways before crossing the street" he said over his shoulder as he left.

She scoffed, but cheeks were rosy.

Maybe she did care about him. Just a little.

TT

The clicking of keys filled the bedroom. Jay typed vigorously on his laptop. For the past few days he had barely slept or ate. The occasional bathroom break was allowed, fortunately.

He searched the stolen files from URSA. He knew they kept a list of all their hired assassins, and how much they were paid. If he could get his hands on it, he was sure there'd be something useful. Like all other data, they would have to steal it.

Along with normal bases, they had office facility. Classy places, really. Refined places of business.

That they would break into.

He suspected that these wouldn't be as heavily guarded as normal ones. Or he hoped. Hopefully all computers would be linked to the mainframe, but it was worth the risk.

Well worth it.

TT

Melissa sat in her room, and miserably bounced a ball against the wall. Nothing felt the same. Why would someone do this? Marie had nothing to do with what they did! She was completely innocent and undeserving of this.

She heard a ringing noise. It was Damian. She knew she hadn't talked to him in a while, and she felt really bad about it, but too much was going on.

Decline.

She sighed sadly. Her father hadn't shared anything he found. Which, as always, was unsettling. Thought that wouldn't be the case for long.

She heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" she called. It was her father, with his weirdly serious expression.

"We have a mission" he informed her. She nodded and got up.

Something to keep her busy would be helpful.

TT

Jay filled them in on the mission.

"Can I get something from the weapons room?" Luke asked excitedly. Jay sighed, and nodded.

Once inside, he studied the weapons.

"Sig Pro . . . I like it" he smirked. He put the pistol into his holster.

"Now . . . about getting my own bike . . ."

TT

They stood on the top of a very tall building. They stood at the door on the roof.

"Have some explosive gel?" Luke asked.

"No . . . I have a bobby pin" Jay said simply. A few moments later, they were inside.

They traveled down a stair case, and a hallway. Jay led them around a lot of different corners. One lady looked at them questioningly.

"Were the exterminators . . ." Luke lied. The lady stared at them.

"They're really big rats" he shrugged. She walked off quickly.

"Uh-way to think on your feet" Jay said uncertainly. They continued down a hallway, and made a turn, until Jay stopped suddenly. He peered around the corner and his face was a mix of shock and anger.

URSA agents, but not quite. They were dressed in black Kevlar armor.

They wore masks. Half of it black, the other side orange with a one right eye opening. They were all armed with assault rifles.

Rose stood among them.

"This is a disgrace" he mumbled to himself. He turned to both teenagers.

"Were on the second floor. Across this hallway is the tech center. Luke you know what to do" he instructed.

"What about you?" Melissa asked warily. She finally understood the danger of this job.

"I'll contact you when we need to rendezvous" he told them. They both snuck across the hall.

He noticed most men left, but one remained with her.

He stood at the far end of the hall in front of them.

"I love the makeover" he said bitterly.

"Think of it as an upgrade" Rose returned his attitude. The agent went in front of Rose to confront him.

He fired at Jay, who ducked in time. He knocked the gun upwards, and punched him in the stomach. He kicked in, and he slid across the floor. He drew his swords, and advanced toward Rose.

The blades clashed countless times. Neither forces relented. Anger fueled Jay.

Soon enough it was a test of strength, when they swords pushed up against each other.

She pushed him backwards. She kicked a sword out of his hand. She took this advantage.

She swung near his face, he almost dodged in time, but she sliced her blade down his left eye.

He fell to his knees, with a scream of pain.

Luke and Melissa gasped in horror at the sight. Rose kicked him across the floor, and beside the unconscious agent.

"Shoot her!" Melissa commanded him. Rose and Luke made eye contact. He pointed the gun, and pulled the trigger weakly.

"I'm out . . ."

Melissa growled angrily, and ran at her, with her swords in hand.

They battled viciously. Though Rose was more experienced, and gained the upper hand.

Rose pushed her backwards, and swept her leg. She loomed over Melissa.

She heard something scratching the floor behind her.

Jay, who now wore the mask, cut eye was covered. Pure hatred was in his visible eye. This had made him everything he had fought against.

He was who he didn't want to be.

He fought her mercilessly, eventually gaining the upper hand. He sliced the sword out of her hand, along with some flesh. He raised the sword vindictively.

"Get them!" an agent at the end of the hall yelled.

Jay went over and joined both teenagers. He calmly dropped a smoke bomb, and the entire section of the hallway was engulfed in smoke.

When it cleared, they were all gone.

TT

An eye patch now covered Jay's eye.

"What did you get?" Jay asked.

"The list, and some other stuff" Luke responded.

"Good" Jay made his way to the hall.

"I can't believe we lost that battle" Melissa sighed. Jay stopped.

"We didn't lose . . . we won."

TT

Ominous, no?

. . .yes