Almost immediately after opening the door, the two were confronted with a turned Dawud, Crane failing to notice the sideways glances from Kyle on the way looking over the architecture more than usual and not for the sight itself. But the man noticed Kyle gazing at Dawud's now unmoving corpse. He had never stared at any infected they killed like that. Maybe it reminded him of his father. Crane called out to Sammy noting to himself to talk to Kyle when they headed to the University next on the way there. "Please, don't hurt me!" Kyle didn't even make any move to help search the apartment leaving it all to Crane though his eyes narrowed picking up a sound out of the man's sight. "Go away! Leave me alone!"

"Easy kid. It's all over. Are you alright?"

"My dad got hurt. He said he was becoming like the other sick people, and that he couldn't protect me anymore. He said if I came out of cabinet, he would hurt me, but that once he was sick I'd be safe, because he wouldn't remember I was in there."

Kyle's eyes trailed the footsteps above, footing silent as he pushed himself up higher to the ceiling with the spikes clinging to the wall right underneath for a moment like a mantis patiently waiting for the one fatal step closer, flesh claws switched in for the hands while the right one was lifted in position. The eyes narrowed further at the hushed voice, it wasn't Jade and the meaty yet razor sharp claws rushed up through the ceiling loudly as the boy used the strength closing around the boot clad foot of one of Rais's men yanking him through the ceiling and onto the floor killed swiftly with a boot to the throat as he dropped down crushing the neck and more shouts commenced no longer quiet as above the other men had watched the guy getting pulled inside.

"You dad saved your life." Crane replied to Sammy both staled suddenly from the loud noise, Crane noticing Kyle not behind him as gunshots commenced and the man jumped to his feet closing the cabinet but the skirmish was short lived quieting down before Crane had even left the room with Kyle walking over to him using a discarded cloth to polish the metal claws getting the blood off of them.

"Rais's men. They're dealt with." 'What was in the dart the one carried? Glad I lucked out getting that one first. Oh well, I wrapped the dart with cloth and pocketed it, I can ask this Camdem guy later. I gotta ask Jade if she was the one sniping at the thugs when we meet her, I can't think of anyone else though other than her or Shakkur but I doubt he'd come all this way.'

"Where is my dad?" Sammy asked, the cabinet's door opening again revealing Crane with Kyle leaning against a wall.

"He's gone, Sammy. There was nothing anyone could do. Now, I have to get you back to your mom."

"I wish I could've stayed with her."

"Troy, it's Crane."

"Go ahead."

"I've got little boy here. He's been through a rough ride. He could use some spoiling."

"I'll have someone there in five minutes."

"Can we get him back to his mother at the Tower?"

"I'll take him there myself if I have to."

"Thanks, Troy." Crane turned to Kyle, Sammy safe until the person to pick him up would arrive but instead of them heading off to the university, Crane gently placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder as the kid's silent tears fell onto the floor he gazed at. His head tilted up, arm quickly moving to get rid of them. "Hey Kyle what's wrong? This brought up your dad didn't it? We'll save him; we went through all the trouble of catching him after all."

"There is nothing to save, he's dead!" Kyle growled, squirming away out of habit but walking no more than a step with a sigh.

"Come on don't tell me you're giving up. You'd be the last one to ever give up."

"Rais's men killed him Crane. That's how I knew about the ambush; they talked about it and complained that they'd be missing something at the pit because my dad delayed them by killing four. I killed the three that made it out and talked." Crane just silently waited for Kyle to see if he wanted a hug, the boy starting to walk away. "We should get to the University. I'll be okay, Crane. If I need a shoulder to cry on, you're the first choice." The blonde gave a little smile.

"Just don't bottle it anymore alright?"

"I won't." The two quickly glanced to the person jumping to the building sent by Troy, Crane having glance along the way to Rais's dead thugs within his sight as they exited. The eyes of Sammy's pick up widened, seeing a thug from Rais slumped against the wall with the skull squished and cracked deformed into a thinner and slightly taller shape quickly hurrying to Sammy.

"Jade? JADE? Are you here?"

"Hey my two best Kyle's in Harran!" Rahim called across from them with a smile waving at them. "I have so many questions, Kyle you need to show me how to do all the stuff you can! Jade isn't here, Crane. She didn't tell me where she went either but I've got to give you something."

"Rahim?! What are you doing here? You should be taking it easy back in the slums!" Crane exclaimed as they walked over to the goggle wearing male.

"I feel fine! Besides, I'm taking it easy now." Rahim shrugged with a smile.

"Does Brecken know you're here?"

"Not yet. Unless Spike told him and I didn't hear it."

"Wh-who are you? What do you want?" A man asked down by a desk down the stairs as they followed Rahim kind of walking ahead of them.

"Kyle Crane, I'm looking for the woman that came in with him."

"You didn't miss her by much. Waited around a bit with him, had a big scowl on her face and then took off. She left this for you though." The man by the name of Fidan explained.

"Amir. Why would she have left me this?"

"Who's Amir?" Kyle piped up.

"He saved me with Jade when I first arrived and sacrificed himself to hold down a door." Crane replied.

"Well, I can't say for certain why she left it, but she did ask me to tell you this, "Not again". Don't know what that's supposed to mean."

"Hm… No way…So while you're waiting for Jade to come to you, you can show me the stuff Kyle!" Rahim grinned.

"How about you show the stuff you mentioned that Jade wants us to see? And what was 'no way' about?" Crane raised an eyebrow.

"That's for you to find out." The young guy smiled mysteriously. "Fine, fine let's go to Spike." Rahim sighed, again taking the lead to Spike down a corridor.

"Crane! Good to see you again!"

"Spike! Holy shit! How'd you get here?"

"Wasn't easy. Anyway, Brecken sends his best. And listen, from now on you can always find me here, okay? Everything I had for you in the Slums, that'll all be here too, so feel free to use it. Don't worry about who's keeping Doctor Zere safe, he's staying at the Tower with his trailer lab trashed."

"Yeah. Thanks, Spike."

"No problem, pal. See you next time, you too kid."

"Alright, I'm ready to learn some moves!" Rahim exclaimed.

"First, your thing."Crane said.

"Fine… it's the research. Here" Rahim handed Crane the leather satchel.

"Wait, you have it?!"

"Yeah, Jade told me to pass it onto you. Don't know where she is but my guess is she's trying to get you a clear shot at Camden's lab since Rais thinks she's the one that still has it."

"Except I get shot at too…" Crane grumbled. 'And Rais told Tahir not to just spare any resource with Jade but with Kyle too. We haven't really had much trouble though…. We just got here as well though.'

"But now-"

"Kyle is not teaching you any moves. And especially not now or here." Crane replied.

"Oh come you have to wait for Jade anyway!"

"Actually, we should get this to Camden now." Kyle pointed out referencing the research.

"Ugh… fine but when that is delivered, I want to learn some moves."

"Fine, we'll try and I'll see what you have." Kyle agreed, Rahim ecstatic.

"You stay put, right here. No crazy stunts." Crane warned.

"Oh please, let me say that to him." Brecken growled coming in, the two Kyle's backing out leaving Rahim at Brecken's mercy with Spike turning to the scene.

"Let's quickly ask around if anybody else needs help as well in case something is on the way. And then I'll make a call to the GRE." Crane suggested. While the research was important, they knew Jade was now actively duping Rais right now knowing he was after her both hoping she was doing well and trusting in her abilities. It turned out, another plumber job arose at the top of the university as Old Town faced water troubles along with someone who must have a death wish playing loud music and Fidan told the two about a talented gunsmith named Rupert.

"I did a little more digging. Be ready for a change of plans."

"Ah, how exciting it is! It was getting a little dull after we went into Harran, good thing it got lively again real quick! What a coincidence that the full duffle bag we stole straight from the GRE can have so many uses!" The other voice, a deep one, chuckled over the radio causing the other ones' to go into a higher smile.

"Yes, it really was… the high after breaking into Harran while everyone here is trying to break out really didn't last long… You know our conversation could still be heard even with me having done a little bit of work, partner."

"Like we give a fuck, not like we'd say details over these things!" The voice laughed, the other chuckling as well with an agreeing smile.

"This is Crane, I need to speak with the GRE." Kyle leaned against the shaft sticking out of the roof watching the man.

"We've told you, it's the Ministry now."

"But I have the cure!" Crane snarled almost shouting and silence came from the radio cutting out the call before a female voice came on.

"Crane, what the fuck took you so damn long?!"

"People here need help, I didn't just ignore them! But that doesn't matter now; I have the research for a cure! You need to call off the bombing!"

"Crane get to a roof where the chopper can land and stay put. We're heading in and hold on to that research, don't lose it, stay in contact this time."

"Okay. Crane, out." Crane turned around to Kyle seemingly lost in thought. "Something the matter?"

"It's nothing." The blonde shrugged.

"I thought we were done with secrets."

"It's not a secret, okay? Fine if you must know, the lady on the radio rubs me the wrong way. It's something in her voice."

"They've been waiting for this for a long time now." Crane replied but didn't take Kyle's uneasiness lightly keeping it in mind as they headed for a large flat roof picking the nearest one ending up being one by the Striped Dragon Hotel. With no zombie shambling about as they arrived the two waited, Kyle shortly stepping away from Crane to take a piss eyes landing on a note zipping by with an arrow getting stuck in a higher up door of the yellow building in front of them, Crane temporally occupied checking his two guns over. Kyle quickly weaved over to the hotel with a jump, grabbing the note delivered with an arrow glancing at the nearby rooftops to see no one around reading the note.

'Don't trust the GRE. They aren't looking for a cure. Don't let them have the research. It's on you, kid. Don't let Crane see this note. Burn it as fast as you can.' Kyle quickly tucked it into his backpack, Crane calling to him and the boy quickly closed the gap again with a leap and climbing, the street below crawling with the infected waiting for a poor sucker to fall inevitable having their bones broken if they didn't die from the fall itself.

"Something interesting over there?" Crane raised an eyebrow.

"Nah, thought I saw something. Crane… what's it like working for the GRE?"

"Well, not pretty I guess… but you'd be fighting for a good cause. They've asked for some pretty fucked up stuff though saying it's for the greater good."

"Like what?"

"When I was trying to get antizin for the Tower from Rais, he demanded that I hand over Jade to him so he could make her fight in his pit. I refused and gave the GRE a call and they said to do it and do whatever Rais asked of me so I would earn his trust and get a file he took from them. It's published now anyway, according to Rais so that file probably doesn't even matter anymore. But you know… it made me doubt them… They're supposed to be a humanitarian organization and then they tell me to be a freaking trafficker."

"But you still trust them?"

"Yeah sorta… did it really rub you the wrong way only a little bit?"

"Yeah… hey, I'm going to check that building over there for some bandages, I'm out and I really need to be switching the current ones. Maybe I'll luck out."

"I'll come along."

"You should keep an eye out for the chopper. Relax, I'm just one jump away." The blonde smiled, Crane not happy about it but accepting the boy's proposal. Kyle left for a building next to them and while he didn't lie that he was out of bandages and needed to stock up that wasn't the intent.

'Out of his sight but that chopper will probably arrive real quick. I need a radio damn it! But I have none; I don't even know how to find one!' Kyle's head turned, a frown slowly turning into a smile glancing the yellow and black trying to sneak up on Crane a building. 'Hey Crane, group of thugs are coming to us, take cover now.'

Crane quickly glanced around abandoning the open roof making him the easiest target in the world switching to the Dragon Hotel roof instead, gun out and ready while Kyle waved at a thug from his building after having thrown a pillow from the floor at one guy causing the group of ten to split up evenly, the one carrying the dart off to Kyle's side. With the kid using his heightened senses and the mystery person close by sniping at their enemies, the blonde managed to dispatch the five easily left wondering yet again about the dart barely having missed the target, Crane managing the five taking two by surprise with perfect aim and the element of surprise with Kyle's warning. The kid's hand closed around a radio with a smirk pushing the button. However that wasn't all, more shots ringing out again with more of Rais's men arriving, the mystery shooter joined by another. His lips pulled into a snarl. "Rais, cut it out!"

"Rais is the one giving you orders not the other way around. He'll be speaking with you personally very soon. This is the brat right?"

"Yeah, now stop your ass hats and fucking listen! I need to ask Rais something! If you keep attacking, I won't talk!" The bullets stopped for now, Tahir looking to his boss raising his hand to oblige the boy yelling at him through the radio.

"Ask fast, kid."

"What does the GRE want with Zere's research?"

Rais's lips pulled into a bigger smile, careful with his cheek. He was already warmed that the kid had a question for him but that the blonde now asked for advice on the GRE from him truly excited the man. Rais wrote while Tahir read. "I'm honored you ask me, it's a pleasant surprise."

"Hey I said no shooting!" Kyle snarled hearing the shot.

"A precaution to keep Crane in his spot or do you want him to hear you spill your worries to Rais?" Tahir smirked, smirk only growing as Kyle snarled but gave no rebuttal. "Now that's a good boy. The GRE has no interest in a cure, they want to weaponize the virus and sell it to the highest bidder. For that they need the research. Rais worked for them until those fuckers left his brother to die. They don't care if everyone left in Harran dies, money is all that matters to them. Want to meet face to face and talk more?"

"No!" Kyle spat with a snarl and a glare. "By the way, if you want to have anymore use of your attack dogs you should call them back because I'll kill all of them." Kyle's finger moved off the button, the fight anticipated to resume but stopping, Tahir's voice back on the radio.

"Remember what we told you kid, if the GRE gets that research it's over. And, just in case you're wondering, we aren't lying. I don't know what my boss is playing at but he's counting on you, kid."

"I hate your voice." Kyle spat, the radio thrown down in the street, the fight seeming to have stopped but the blonde didn't believe they were gone but hiding instead. He didn't want to give up his forming plan just yet either by telling Crane that he thought those men lied in wait with their mystery helpers as it could lead way to easily down to the call. 'Rais claims they're dirty and whoever wrote the note does too. But I don't think the note is from Rais… I'm pretty sure from that same direction, one of his men got shot. So whoever is protecting us with sniper shots isn't with Rais but still warning me about the GRE too and Crane said that they demanded some pretty non humanitarian stuff of him. There is one more move I can play and I'm sure I can pull it off. By making the GRE confess itself. And I'll have the perfect set-up for that but I'll have to really watch out for Crane's back.' Kyle swiftly made his way back to Crane nodding to the man glancing to the open flat roof where they waited.

"Hey, you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Tahir read the note, a cruel smirk on his lips and nodded passing it on to other gang members.

Their heads turned to the chopper loudly coming into sight, Crane quickly glancing to Kyle scowling a little bit at the noise but standing firm as they backed away making room for the chopper hovering just above the roof carefully landing. "Good job, Crane. Now, hand over the research and get in."

"Not without him."

"Fine, take your kid along I don't care. Give the research so we can make a cure."

Kyle's eyes narrowed. There, annoyance where there they should be joy and relief for a cure that same lady talking again. Crane stepped forward, satchel sliding off his shoulder and held out but the kid swiftly stepped in springing into action and taking it out of the man's hand wearing an innocent expression stepping closer to the right edge of the roof away from Crane and the chopper although there wasn't much space for it only allowing a few steps. But that's all he needed.

"Kyle, what are you doing? They need that for a cure! Come on, our friends will be okay." Crane blinked at the blonde confused at his antics.

"No"

"Kyle, 'no' what? What are you doing?!"

"Crane, get your stupid kid under control and hand over the research!" The woman spat. "Quit your antics you stupid fucking brat!"

"Don't talk to him like that!" Crane bellowed with a snarl.

"Why do you fucking care Crane?! Make him hand it over now, shoot him if you have to!"

"First trafficking, now you're telling me to murder my kid?! Fuck you!"

"Crane, are you fucking kidding me?! Billions are at stake! Are you going to trade in the cure for one stupid child?!"

"Shut up bitch." The voice was like a dagger to the heart silencing everyone, loud enough to be heard, calm enough to sent a shiver down the spine and absolutely killing any urge for rebuttal. "I decide. The GRE isn't getting the research."

"You think you can just keep the research from the GRE?!" The woman spat.

"Yeah, you're in my kingdom now." The kid grinned, eyes narrowing, satchel slung over his shoulder.

"Listen Kyle, we're all-"

"Crane they're playing you!" Kyle didn't let the man finish. "They only want money! They want to weaponize it and sell it; they don't give a shit about the cure! I don't trust them! Come on, you're waking up to it too!" 'I bet you the moment that chopper leaves, the bombing is back on!' Crane glanced to the GRE people in the chopper and back to Kyle whom he fully trusted only them losing more and more trust with every demand.

"Leave. I trust him."

"Crane! Fuckin- Take off low!"

"Take off low?" Crane and Kyle saw what was meant quite quickly, the chopper jerking into motion and moving forward hovering over the roof instead of moving more upwards in a controlled move a little janky but still too fast. The hand reached out from one of the two men in the chopper decked in gear managing to grab Kyle by the collar before he could weave out of it yanking him in, Crane erupting in a yell running to the edge. Kyle snarled, dragged in, hand reaching for the research held closer, metal claws lashing out but the wrist got caught. The blonde smirked tossing himself sideways slamming into the man on the bench releasing the grip with a gasp and the boy staggered back, eyes glancing to the deadly fall to the street below. The research quickly switched to his clawed hand, hands reaching out again and the closer man suffered the right hand balled into a fist knocking back straight into the chopper's door denting with a thud, the slower pair failing to grab the blonde as he jumped off to everyone's horror, research tightly in his hand as only seconds remained till impact. His thoughts raced, green eyes shifting to his hands with no zombie there this time underneath to be used as cushion and the blonde gritted his teeth at the quick plan. Heart ready to jump out of his chest, wind whipping in his face, all eyes on him with Crane screaming for him, the chopper hovering in the air as the woman beside the pilot watched with binoculars, Kyle's hand released the researched tossing it over a zombie's head to the side nailing the toss and his hands moved in front of him to land on them, eyes widening even more as breaths were unintentionally held. The boy landed on the unforgiving street on his hands with the bones shattering and bits piercing though his flesh, the fingers raising the metal blades on the claw gauntlet to stop any damage only damaging his wrist more shattering as did his right hand engulfing him in pain feeling it race up in the blink of an eye, the fleshy claws shooting out replacing the hands upon impact to any noticing eye. But for Kyle it was a timed eternity, feeling how he barely managed it in time, the pain of the splintering bones stopping just at the wrist precisely before it was too late at least on his right hand. The flesh claws changed back to hands again in the same breath, fingers of the metal claw bearing hand gently set down with the metal tips reaching out from the finger tips touching the street completely unscathed as the boy pushed off from his hands in a back arch stumbling to his feet to face the barreling demolisher already off his trail but still charging from the bloody split second earlier having been too close now right in front of him with no room to dodge. Kyle dropped down and struck out with his leg in a sweep, the demolisher sent tripping over the kid's leg and crashing onto the pavement with a skid struggling to slowly get up as the blonde rose to his feet again, darting to the carrier zombie stumbled to a walk again swiftly grabbing the lowered research sliding it over his own shoulder with a slight pant, heart still pounding from the risky move done on a whim with Kyle himself having seriously doubted himself. The shaky hands pulled away the binoculars having witnessed a boy survive something impossible and trip a demolisher being again completely ignored by the infected, Rais's thugs out of sight utterly frozen and Crane's shout and cry changed to a cheer as the man rushed down with every parkour move he knew as fast as he could and the grappling hook. The chopper left, Kyle smirking as he climbed the closest building, Crane giving him a hug immediately upon reaching him being given the research back. "Why the fuck didn't you just let me know beforehand?!"

"Because I wasn't sure myself. So I had to see them react. I couldn't risk being wrong on a whim, I had to know. I didn't plan to fall though…"

"Damn I know that… And that was damn smart, the way you played them… and me… thanks for stopping me from probably making a mistake but I still want a bigger explanation… How did you-"

"Hand claw switch. I came really close to fuck it up and shatter my arms as well, I got scared there…"

"Not just you." Crane sighed. "Think, the GRE saw it?"

"No, it only felt long in a weird surreal fashion to me but that switch happened in the blink of an eye though. But they won't forget that I survived a fall no one should have. And they might find it weird that I got ignored so quickly."

"Well as long as you aren't too flashy, we can maybe make them think it was a fluke, same with the tripping demolisher although I think that would be less of a concern." Their eyes moved to the radio as Troy's voice came from it prompting the duo to rush off at break neck speed to the Ember's loft.

"Definitely change of plans. What a rollercoaster…"

"One of our designated buyers is starting to cause trouble, partner. Changed up the plans again to a more spread out style…" The beefier man growled beside his slimmer and slightly taller work partner.

"Time to cash in a favor instead of cash pay… Better watch your back kid, gotta go pay a visit real fast…"

"You were right, Kyle… those bastards…" Crane snarled, Kyle bright green eyes shimmering with danger as night closed in fast also reminding of the need to get out of sight.

"You kid knew…?" Troy's eyes glanced to Crane questioningly.

"It's a long story but we don't have time for that, we have to stop the bombing."

"I will do it, just tell me what you need done." Kyle spoke up.

"Hey, you've had a long day and need sleep." Crane protested.

"You do to!" Kyle countered.

"I was unconscious for hours; I can go with a little less sleep!" Crane pointed out.

"I was unconscious for even longer and I have the edge at night as you know!" Savvy and Troy glanced at each looking at the two males having a silent stare off wondering how a kid had an edge at night over a grown man.

"Kyle…"

"Crane…"

Crane looked away first turning to Troy. "The Ministry did this. They're making their excuses to the rest of the world for destroying a city."

"Look, Crane, before you go charging out there with your kid- we already had an idea of how to send a message. We were going to plant explosives in a building and set off fires in a pattern- something the zombies could never do. Trouble is, we got a runner, Michael, over to the right building, but he can't get through to the top floors. Too many biters. As much as I hate to admit it, none of us are strong enough to do that job..."

"Well, we've got to do something RIGHT FUCKING NOW, or you, Kyle, me, Jade, and everybody else are going else are going to get blown to bits. Tell Michael I'm on my way."

"We." Kyle's voice stopped him in his tracks receiving a glare from the boy. "We are going to Michael, Crane!" 'By the way I think it could be a bluff Crane.' Crane didn't give a rebuttal and Kyle smiled pulling himself up on the ledge only to falter clutching his left wrist, the smirk wiped off for a wince.

"Kyle, what's wrong?!"

"Shit… I didn't stick that landing that perfectly… Bone is splintered past my left wrist… a tiny bit inside…"

"You're stay-"

"No!" The outburst was almost explosive. "I want to be with you…"

"Why did I even think I could tell you too, sorry kid. Let's go. But tell me if you need help with jumps."

"I will." Troy gazed after the two climbing out hauling their asses out into the unfolding night sky bearing volatile screams in a few minutes, Kyle having turned away just in time so no one would see the green eyes quickly glowing brightly.

"That's one weird kid…" Savvy remarked.

"But a brave one." Troy remarked.

"So which way do we gamble? Safe by hightailing it out of here or staying? What does your gut say?" The man chuckled.

A small pause commenced before the reply. "I want to stay, we'll help the kid and Crane help the Embers. You know, I won't shoot you in the back for hightailing it out." The other man smiled.

"Nah, my slim friend I know to trust your gut."