"More like creepy…" Crane remarked after a little confident brag having beaten Kyle by two strides with the boy refraining from using his strength more than to make up for his healing arm with the kid promising to beat him in the next one, the thick fog onset so quick it seems almost unnatural, distant volatile calls chilling the air as the buds on the plant glowed a cold teal green. The blonde on the other hand found it cool, his backpack used to carry the plants left a little zipped open causing the greenery to stick out a little at the top. Their eyes wandered over the closest street after climbing up, Crane using his flashlight and the two took off in a harrowing sprint quickly on the nearest building wondering if they would find the man claiming nothing he didn't want could enter dead tonight. But their track back came to a sudden stop, Crane almost unable to stop the looming jump as Kyle darted aside squinting at something, the older Kyle coming up behind him. "What's going on? What did you find? We need to keep our asses moving."

"A poster. Hey shine your flashlight on it." Crane obliged with sigh looking it over himself.

"Hey Troy, Kyle and I found a poster promoting some sort of challenge. You ever heard about this?... Troy? Do you copy?"

"Troy is out of range my friend but I'll gladly explain the challenges to you. I am Bozak and my challenges are posted all over town. Just read the description and do as they say-"

"I'm getting El Jefe vibes and I hate it…" Kyle growled. "I don't want to hold hearts again…"

"This one is shooting volatiles and I want you to have your sleep…"

"It's just ten, it wouldn't take us long. It's kinda like being asked to clean up, just efficiently get rid of some infected…"

"As I was saying-"

"Do we get even paid Bozak guy?" Kyle asked with a sigh.

A strained sigh came from the other end. "Yes! Just stop chatting you two and let me finish. Like I was saying, do as they say and at the end, you'll be rewarded."

Crane's eyes shifted Kyle. "Fine… Less volatiles is better for everyone anyway. Alright, I'm in. But after this, it'll be your bedtime! Wait, what about your eyes?" The runner asked the question in a whisper as the thought occurred that in order for Bozak to know if they did it, he had to watch them.

'We'll brush it off like with Michael and I'll try to have my gaze kinda downward.' The poster directed them to a specific spot close by with two shotguns with ammo waiting for them and volatiles right and left urging them to quickly get the firearms as the given time stated on the poster started ticking the moment they picked up the guns. They swiftly stood back to back, Crane glancing to Kyle after shooting the first one, the rush now on worrying how the kid would handle the larger gun whilst taking it easy on that arm though the brace seemed to help a lot in taking pressure off. With sold wall to one side and the roof above them, the shooting went along swiftly, Kyle startling them here and there making the shots for himself easier while Crane shot the bulk. With ten down with a slight struggle once, the duo hauled their butts to away from the attracted rest of the horde finding themselves back at the poster close by catching their breath and the radio came alive with Bozak's voice.

"Bozak is truly impressed."

"Well, I'm happy for Bozak." Crane replied, the two continuing on to Ishaq still playing the music and remarkably still alive with his door still open.

"And you call Rahim and me reckless…" Kyle grumbled.

"You two are… but he's worse… or unbelievably right or lucky…" Crane stepped closer, the plants from the backpack held out. "Your herbs."

"Place the stalks in the brazier and we will begin." While Ishaq did his thing, Kyle kept a lookout to avoid his eyes being spotted listening in on it as he looked at the night sky.

"Now what happens?"

"Speak no more. The rising sun will lead you to the fountain of crying blood… near the place where people are speaking tongues… you must follow the red trail… to be enlightened… under the deceitful number 9… the shadow of self-proclaimed king will be waiting for you… the king with whom you shall have to fight. You'll find out who he is and what his weaknesses are. When the time comes, you will take his crown or die."

"So… you really-"

"Yes, no radio outpost." Crane stayed firm doing his best to stay ahead not letting kid know here spend the night so he couldn't make a quick dart away to the radio building, the man choosing the path as carefully as he could at night leading them to the cleared office outpost.

'I wonder how everyone is doing at the tower… tomorrow is my first birthday without my mum and dad…' "Night Crane."

"Good night, Kyle."

Kyle smiled at him, the breeze in their faces rustling leaves on a tree peeking up by a flat large roof they stood on, the messy streets below. A GRE helicopter came into sight hovering there, the blonde turning away and to Crane as the man stretched out his hand to walk away with the kid by his side but a shot rang out, the assailant nowhere to be seen as Crane frantically looked around and his eyes stopped on the blonde with widening horrified eyes as the shirt seeped crimson on his abdomen, shaky hand placed on the blood as the younger Kyle looked to the older one with pleading eyes. The hands stretched out from the GRE people in the chopper with gleeful smiles telling Crane there was no other way, he needed a proper hospital to survive, Camden wouldn't be enough and he knew it as Kyle staggered in his arms, Crane picking him up bridal style as the GRE beckoned with grins while the man shed tears finding his foot take a step forward to the chopper. Crane's eyes flew open with a scream yelling out Kyle's name again and again bumping into said person, quickly throwing a hug around the boy having come over to the thrashing and yelling man in worry. "You're okay… you're okay…"

"Yeah… I'm fine…" Kyle replied, his reply muffled from the sudden tight but still gently hug. Crane didn't let go right away, slowly calming down collecting himself.

"I think I smell coffee…"

"Yeah, I tried to surprise make you some. It's on my pants now."

"Are you hurt?! I'm so sorry!"

"Don't worry, doesn't burn anymore. So, bad dream?"

"Yeah" Crane sighed releasing him from the bear hug.

"So what happened to me? You called my name. In a panic."

"It's nothing… You got shot, badly… Camden probably wouldn't have been able to fix it here… Just a dream, nothing to worry our heads off about. Let's eat something before we head out."

"Hey" Crane glanced over shoulder at the boy, empty mug dried with rug and put in the backpack. "You won't lose me." The blonde smiled at him, Crane smiling back.

"Not if I can help it. By the way, happy birthday."

"Thanks." After eating something, the two stepped out to find Rocket exactly gain where he met them yesterday, head already turned to them having a cigarette.

"Crane, this is gonna be our last race, I'm afraid. My bosses are getting suspicious, y'know? They've started keeping an eye on me." Kyle immediately glanced around. "So, listen, the rules are just like before. And if you win, I'm gonna show you something really interesting. No, not THAT! Get your mind out of the gutter!"

"Kyle, you're tagging along again?" Crane asked glancing to the boy drawing Rocket's gaze to him too.

"Sure. "

"Did you pee yourself?" Rocket asked with a chuckle.

"No! It's a coffee stain!" Kyle countered.

"How do I get myself let talked into these things?" Crane sighed and they took off to the starting pint but the man suddenly found himself on his own without the kid next to him.

"Kyle, what are you doing now…" Crane abandoned the challenge, the nightmare still haunting him heading back to rocket for lack of any idea where else to go. 'Kyle!'

"Don't end up shooting the kid you idiots!" Tahir snarled, tension high as Kyle had rushed in pulling away Rocket stumbling on his butt with the kid protectively in front of him snarling at the man flashing a small smile. "You'll replace him well. Before you try to fight you should know, we have a shot for you. And you have nowhere to go." Kyle's green orbs shortly shifted to the ledge behind Rocket, the fact that the man still sat and Kyle not being allowed to be killed the only saving him. The blonde suddenly smiled, Tahir's eye narrowing before they widened.

'Trust me Rocket.' Kyle had whipped around and yanked Rocket sending them falling off the edge, the poor runner down with a yell.

Crane quickly took cover behind the chimney on the roof, noticed and shot at, Tahir's eyes shifting over to him barking an order. "Shoot Rocket!"

Kyle's eyes narrowed hearing the order prompting one of the shooter's to go closer to the edge to shoot the falling runner, Kyle managing to grab the man's hand with his own right one reaching out with his left managing to grab onto a ledge barley holding on ruining the thug's shot.

"Really, you just have to get in trouble while we get set up don't you? You're damn lucky I'm passing by…" The man sighed having paused in his run and the sniper rifle swiftly moved into position killing the thug trying to shoot from the ledge with a perfect head shot, Tahir quickly taking cover before managing to slip away while Crane shot the other thug. The assassin waited for a moment to watch it unfold, Crane coming to the edge shouting to Kyle, infected shuffling below beckoned by the calls. And to Kyle's happiness that included a demolisher only cooed closer by Kyle confusing as much as terrifying Rocket, as the kid's arm started to protest, fingers slipping off. The two pummeled and Crane quickly improvised with a firecracker tossed down just before the fall causing the demolisher to come right underneath Rocket and Kyle yelling at the man to latch onto the monstrosity to stop his fall. Rocket reluctantly did so with a little flail, heart pounding in his chest and time given to think as Kyle's eyes flashed red momentarily stopping the demolisher from flailing and the mob jumped back with screeches being looked at in a sweeping glance. Kyle quickly told Rocket to use the chance both pushing off onto a van, Crane distracting the mob with three more firecrackers before running out allowing Rocket and the kid to dart away quickly latching onto the nearest building beside the office pulling themselves up with Kyle only using his right hand struggling. "You're trouble all the way, aren't you?" With a sigh, the rope started swinging like a lasso with a hook on one end and ring on another, hook end thrown slinging out and stuck on the roof ledge, the rope end dropped sailing down the building just by Kyle as the man started walking away. "I'll be picking that back up tomorrow…"

"Kyle, hold on to it, I'll pull you up!" Crane called scrambling to it giving Rocket a hand pulling him up on the ledge as the boy grabbed onto the rope and helped with his feet as Crane pulled him up as fast as he could, Rocket extending a hand at the top grabbing onto the kid's shirt giving the last yank.

"That could've gone all kinds of wrong…" Crane sighed catching his breath, his gaze shifting to Rocket.

"T-thanks…" The runner still tried to wrap his head around what happened thinking he had heard Kyle without seeing him talk. "Not that I'm not grateful… but… why? How did you even know?"

"I had a bad feeling after you said you've had an eye kept on you. That I managed to get in the way just now was just a lucky strike though, it wasn't that big of a warning really."

"You know, Rais could've ended up catching you because you came back…" Rocket pointed out. "So… still why?"

"You're not that bad… you could've told where I was every time and let Rais set up an ambush but you didn't. And that just now wasn't one either, I could tell by everyone's face. I just didn't want you dead…" Kyle shrugged.

"Let me know more ahead of time when we save someone okay?" Crane requested. "You know Rocket, you're a pain the ass but you don't deserve what they would've done to you. Guess this time you'll join the Tower for real huh?"

Rocket scoffed glancing away. "Well, it's not like I have a choice… Gotta go somewhere but they'll shoot at me unless I arrive with you." His eyes shifted to Kyle inspecting his claws making sure he didn't damage them. "I owe you mate."

"Joining the Tower is enough but we have things to finish up here in Old Town so we'll go with you to the University and you'll have to wait there." Kyle replied, a little smirk at joining the tower.

"Hey you didn't hurt it right?" Crane asked referring to the left arm being inspected a little.

"No, just strained it a little… Crane, it's fine."

"Then, let's go to the University." Rocket didn't talk much clearly quite upset about the betrayal despite having seen it coming and knowing that something like this wasn't unexpected of his boss.

Spike looked more than a little surprised although Crane had brought in one of Rais's men before having left the gang but they usually looked quite happy about being saved while Rocket was a little lost in his thoughts. He shifted his gaze to Crane swiftly explaining the betrayal and their races.

"Hope you don't mind him staying here…" Kyle said.

"We'll manage. You know by the rate you two bring in people, we'll need a bigger tower." Spike replied.

"Or a museum fortress…" Kyle smiled.

"So, what do you want to do next? I figured you should be choosing on your birthday." Crane smiled at the boy, Rocket watching them.

"Hey happy birthday mate."

"Thanks Rocket." The kid thought it over equally as interested as Crane to find and meet that gunsmith, curious of the reward from the posters and interested in the clues. The posters would definitely bring them all over the place. "How about the posters? Maybe Bozak will tell us where each one is if we ask him otherwise searching can take us pretty long…"

"Posters? Do they have challenges?" Rocket piped up.

"Yeah they do. You know where they are?" Kyle smiled.

"I've seen a few, I just need a map and I can show you. Might not be all of them but it'll help." Spike offered up his and the runner pointed out the spots he'd seen them pinpointing five and Crane remembered spotting one by the Ember's Tower but not having paid attention to it since they had been in a rush a little bit. The one by the Ember's Tower and another close by that Rocket had seen also lead to a few of Ishaq's clues.

"'Bozak says show me climbing. Climb to the very top of the tower. Let's go.' You're really pushing it Bozak… Okay, let's climb."

'Don't worry if it gets too much, I'll stop but I'll give a try." Kyle assured Crane, the two moving to the starting point. The tower was only a zip line ride away, a short sprint before the zip line with the music from Ishaq heard nearby. Kyle stopped pretty quickly after the zip line with an annoyed sigh and glance to the brace just above just above his wrist happy that it didn't interfere with the metal claws. As much luck as he had, he probably shouldn't keep pushing it and Crane kept continuing to finish for them.

"The monkeys watch you in awe." Bozak commented, the two back by the poster.

"That how you been watching us?" Crane didn't get a reply, the duo off to the next one.

'I've lost a few little boxes at the bottom of the sea. Find them all in a single breath.'"

"Great…" 'Why do both after those volatiles seem stacked against me…'

"I guess I could use a swim. Going down."

Kyle waited by the shore glancing around wondering where Bozak watched from before flopping down on his back staring into the blue sky with a sigh, backpack sitting next to him and an infected walked past on the street. 'I guess it's really all about my blood… Camden stitched it up really well like my shoulder is… hey wait, aren't those supposed to come out?! Maybe Crane could help me with that tonight, Lena wouldn't like it though, she'd want Camden, Zere or herself to do it…' "I hope there are more fighting ones…"

"Well done. You've got good lungs."

"Yeah, I've been holding my breath a lot around here." Crane replied to Bozak's remark, the two off to next one again and the man glancing to Kyle as a realization struck him. "So, wait does the death stench not bog you down with your heightened smell?"

"No, I'm used to it. It's kinda like with the gunshots."

"Bozak says climb the tower and kiss the sky.'"

"Are you fucking kidding me?!"

"Yeah maybe just the first part…. You sure you want to keep doing the posters Kyle…?"

"Yeah" 'That better be the last climbing one.'

"Up we go."

Kyle's lips wearing a frown turned into a smile as it turned out, the climbing would be inside which Bozak shouldn't be able to see them do the climbing, only enter through the window and come out on top. Crane watched with interest that quickly slapped around into worry once inside as the boy had pulled himself in with the man's help and promptly tapped into strength on the short way up using the claws once to reach a ledge better startled by a trader camping out in the tower luckily not having seen the claws tucked away again reaching the finish with Crane in just a few seconds which all they were given as well.

"I am thrilled for you and your kid playing along this time."

"There is really something wrong with you Bozak." 'I wonder if Rocket ever tried this one.'

The next one wasn't far away, the posters Rocket had marked pretty close thus far, both Kyle's wondering if those were all or at least any further one were just as close to each other.

"Bozak says climb that tower if you dare." Crane carefully glanced over his shoulder to see the reaction he had guessed. Kyle didn't yell it out this time but it was all over his face clearly displayed, the man's head glancing back to the poster for a moment before they moved to the starting point. "Do I dare? I dare."

Kyle didn't even bother going to the base of the tower, they looked higher than the others with no inside way thus a ledge after ledge grabbing ordeal, Crane jumping onto the canvas followed by the boy keeping zombies off his back so he had it easier. Kyle sat down at the bottom with a bored frown while Crane made his way up, green eyes darting to the brace slightly narrowing, glancing away with a scoff. "This is so annoying…" 'This will probably confuse Bozak but whatever, it's not like he can figure it out, he knows nothing about me. And Rais actually would have an interest in keeping his mouth shut about my 'specialties' which as far as he is concerned is just the claws.'

"I celebrate your success with you." 'However I wonder why his kid climbed that one tower but skipped the others…'

"You get out much Bozak?" No reply was given and Crane turned to Kyle. "You wanna check out the clues first before heading to the last one Rocket showed us? I want to have fun on your birthday…"

"Good luck with that in Harran…" Kyle chuckled sarcastically. "It's fine, let's do that poster it's right on the way just depends what angle we come from. We'll check the clues afterwards and then continue to the Ember Tower. The duo continued on quickly making ther way to the next one just a few minutes away. The challenges themselves and getting there didn't take long, the real time consumer waiting when it came to make sure they found all posters.

"Bozak loves things that go boom. Shoot the gas tanks and kill the zombies by explosion only."

"Fucking finally!" Kyle exclaimed with a big smile, Crane happy to see him cheer up.

"Actually Crane and Kyle like things that go boom too. Let's light some firecrackers."

Crane moved vehicles, plenty to hop onto the spot to shoot some further way from the starting point leaving those closer there for Kyle, aim not as perfect as with two hands but still steady and accurate using the handgun watching for reaching infected closely though only a viral seemed to try swiftly kicked down with deadly force but not sent flying. It did quite a number that the wounds had been so carefully and closely stitched up, his shoulder probably a little past due to have the stitches out. Kyle beat Crane by two getting five when the man got three, the blonde sniping the last one by jumping right into the ground to test the waters a little where he stood when it came to the wounds. Before whenever he did get hurt and bled from a scratch, he had covered it but never had any bigger or smaller stitched up. Any low reaction was easily thwarted with a quickly carefully angled bloodshot eye glare, the two back at the poster swiftly, Crane giving the boy a little look. 'It must really be my blood after all or at least mostly…'"Bozak will never figure it out, it looks like a fluke. I wanted to know where I stand with the stitches…" Kyle quickly said, a big smile forming on his face. "And I totally beat you!"

"Yeah, yeah, we'll see who has bragging rights at the next one!" Crane chuckled ruffling the unruly blonde hair.

"Kaboom! That was spectacular!"

"Yes. It was." The two headed to the 'fountain of blood' certain the little pond by a hotel was meant at the edge of town. "Deceitful number nine…"

"Speaking tongues… maybe different languages, the hotel would've had a lot tourists. Number could be a hotel room."

"The hotel would've been full of foreigners, good idea."

"Hey mate, how is it going with the posters?" Rocket asked over the radio as they entered the building.

"Pretty good, we found the ones that you showed to us and lined up on the path with something else we planned. Thanks again Rocket." Crane answered.

"No problem, how many did you beat your kid in?"

"He sat out three; two were heavy tower climbing and one a dive in one breath. But he had a blast literally exploding gas tank zombies in another one, beat me too."

"Hey, do you want me to ask around and see if anyone here knows of some more spots? I'm really bored."

"That would be awesome Rocket, thanks." Kyle piped up.

"I'm on it!"

"There's a red trail. Well, he's either clairvoyant or we're being setup."

"He looked certain about his vision stuff." Kyle remarked, the duo finding only room 107 being the last one but it held a card to the staff rooms. The staff rooms unlocked caused them to stumble upon more keycards right to the left in a room on a shelf and Crane took them all. The single infected in the room was faster dispatched then it could even get up by the two. "Wanna split up?"

"Maybe closer to the rooms." After going up a flight of stairs, Crane gave half to Kyle, the boy turning to the hallway on their left and using the cards that worked while Crane checked out the right, the guys switching sides both still missing rooms picking the place of loot and Kyle looked for a fitting size of pants with no luck. Back together, their eyes stopped on an elevator with the door slightly ajar with more than annoyance. "Maybe it has an open hatch, it doesn't seem like it will work…"

"It's not like there is another path… stupid stairs are blocked off…" Kyle growled. Crane pried the doors open indeed finding an open hatch and the two climbed through to the next floor fairly much laid out the one below, the duo finding the room at the end of the hallway.

"Deceitful nine. Of course." Crane swiped the card and the two entered met with an easily dispatched infected letting their eyes wander about the room not much different from other rooms save for a few thing. The wall had a few notes and pictures with red strings that they quickly gazed over before their eyes on landed on the Rais crate, Crane picking the lock. Opening the lid showed more files and pictures along with a handgun. "This was Rais's room. He must have set up shop here when the epidemic first began."

"That's fancy." Kyle remarked picking it up and taking a closer look before holding it out to Crane confused as the man didn't take it.

"What? It was your fortune that got told."

"Yeah but you did help me get the herbs. You have it, it's a birthday present." Crane smiled, Kyle pulling his arm back glancing to the gun again.

"Thanks… I'm having lots of fun on my birthday." Kyle smiled hugging Crane, the man hugging back. "You know, just being around you makes it better than if you had never bothered with me. Without you I'd probably just be lonely in the streets of the slums today, maybe trying to pathetically play with zombies to alleviate boredom or scavenge for scraps."

"I'm glad I bothered." Crane chuckled. "Ready for another poster?"

"You bet!" Kyle quickly pocketed the gun putting it at his waist and placing the other pistol in his backpack for now filling up a little bit from a few things he picked up during the room searching considering to leave a few things at the Ember Tower for now or with Spike and pick it up when they headed back to the Tower. Turned out there wasn't one of the posters at the ember Tower but Rocket had managed to find another one just a few roofs and gap over, the duo making their over there.

"'Can you be as silent as a cloud but as deadly as a viper? Bozak challenges you to eliminate as many zombies as you can ninja style.' Silent but deadly, huh?"

"Take downs only…"

"It'd mean coming from behind and snapping the neck. You sitting this one out?"

"Nope, I'll lower them a little for myself if I have to…" The competition began and the two spread apart a little but stayed close to each other, Kyle indeed lowering them for himself after an award first try with swift kick to the heel, the strength needed easily dealt out but the boy stopped at four while Cane did eight.

"Wonderful. You are true assassins."

"Yeah if killing the dead counts." After a second of pause, Crane called again. "Rocket, you got something new for us."

"No, sorry kid and Crane."

"His name is Kyle, might wanna remember since you'll be around us now. Thanks for trying Rocket, see you later."

"Want to try asking Bozak?"

"Let's try. Bozak, this is Crane. Are there anymore posters? Come on throw us a bone here, it's the kid's birthday and he's really excited to find out what the reward is."

The reply didn't come right away, a second delayed. "By the water edge where the fish feed and a great shark lost a tooth."

"A riddle great… but it's something."

"Well, it'll be dark soon we should figure out that something fast. Where a shark lost a tooth. Feed… that's gotta have to do with food."

"I've seen food on a roof painted before or help could have a piece of cloth out too."

"Probably then 'food' painted on a roof. Water's edge. I don't think it's the canal, there are actual shores here. Let's ask Rocket about a roof with food painted on it."

"Hey Rocket, you seen 'food' painted on a roof out on your runs?"

"Yeah by the office outpost."

"Shark lost a tooth." Crane pondered. "Let's go."

"Thanks Rocket." Kyle smiled and they took off, finding a roof with 'food' on it quickly from high roof of the outpost building. Crane quickly grappled them over instead of a lengthy way around and the painted poster was found on the roof.

"Bozak challenges to test your stamina and agility. Run, climb and swim. Only the toughest need apply. I guess that's us… Well, why not." Fortunately, the swim part was quite just the short swim no more than few strokes jumping into the murky water from a ledge as they sprinted along racing each other. The guy's tied as Kyle in time when it came to quick sprints and less zombie interference but Crane caught up on ledges during the short climbs.

"Once again you're proven yourself surprisingly capable."

"Where are you watching us from?" No reply came as usual.

"Well, I don't think Rocket has anything for us and if that was the last one, Bozak would've said something about the reward…" Kyle sighed. "We won't find the last one today."

"Guys, look for smoke going up!"

"Rocket, wait what?!" Crane exclaimed.

"I found another one, way on the edge by a river down in the streets."

"But you're supposed to be with Spike! You'd probably be shot on sight if one Rais's guys sees you, do you want Kyle's risk he took be for nothing?!"

"Mate, that's who I'm doing this for! For the kid! Besides, I got bored at the university so I was taking a careful run to take my mind off things. Didn't plan on going far. Don't worry, I'll head straight back after you come here."

"Just… get that smoke up…" Crane sighed, the clock really on now, with an hour of light left, eyes peeled for smoke wafting up.

"Over there!" Kyle pointed to it and the two rushed off hoping Rocket didn't just indirectly doom himself and attract a reaper as well. They moved as fast as they could, hoping for the best dreading the worst but with sighs of relief found Rocket alright, the last bit guided by Rocket's calls told they were nearby finding the man on a roof pointing down to the poster right below them on the wall down on the street. "Thanks, Rocket."

"I'll back at the university, good look guys."

"'Bozak challenges you to run, dodge or die. Can anyone survive the gauntlet of spitters?' Sounds like a frat house initiation. Alright, let's get it over with." The very short run started off with a zip line, the rocky run going over smoothly with the boy tapping into strength once near the zip line to boost the bigger jump a little, the two met with Bozak's voice again back at the poster.

"You are still alive. That's incredible. That was the last test."

"We did it!" Kyle cheered.

"Well done. Very well done."

"What now?" Crane asked, the man on the radio.

"Now, you will meet Bozak. Find me on the highest tower in Old Town."

"Well, we know where it is…" Crane sighed looking to the sky.

"Come on, we can make it I'm sure. Let's get that reward before we head in for the night." Kyle excitedly smiled and Crane didn't fight it.

"Better keep up." The tower wasn't far though, th rush to finish before night gave a special touch to the run, the grappling hook gladly used to make it up easier and the two climbed inside the railing, Crane giving the kid a hand at the top.

Neither noticed the figure watching from a roof reeking of the guts smeared on, face bearing a Bozak mask as the watchful eyes sparkled with interest and amusement to watch the show.

"Bravo, the champion has arrived. You were the first to complete my challenges successfully. Perhaps the last." Kyle's eyes narrowed at the remark. "By the way kid, any special reason why you climbed just that one tower?"

"I didn't feel like it, my injury tends to act up." Kyle replied slightly moving the arm.

"Is there a point to all this?" Crane asked taking note of Kyle's demeanor.

"Of course. I am the point. I came to Harran to hunt. And for three months I've slaughtered every form of infected that has crossed my path." Without even realizing it, Kyle had taken a step behind Crane while the man had slightly stepped in front of him protectively neither having noticed the slight position change until they had done it but Bozak didn't seem to notice what it was about or didn't care about the reason. "Volatiles and spitters and biters. But I'm bored with all of them so I've been screening for a new playmate. Please don't give up too quickly. My last combatant wouldn't fight after I lobbed off his arm. Too easy."

"Don't worry Bozak, you gonna get the fight you've earned." Crane glanced to Kyle quickly hopping over the railing to give more space standing on the roof watching closely for any dirty move glancing around for any surprise sniper bullet.

"That's the spirit! Now, fight me!" Bozak jumped to his feet from his sitting position and pounced, Crane dodging making use of the small space by shoving the other man into the railing before slashing out with the carried machete. Kyle eyes widened a little, noticing somebody on a roof watching them with a mask as well but it seemed different and the boy slid Rais's gun into his hand as a warning receiving no reaction as nightfall crept closer with every minute, the machete in and through Bozak's gut after blocking a strike from the sickle, life fading from the man dropping to floor. Kyle watched the masked mystery person take off, quickly out of his sight in the settling dusk soon, ten minutes away from night with the first volatile calls to echo out any minute.

"Somebody watched us… Had a mask." Kyle turned to Crane seeing the peculiar green irises glow so quick.

"Let's worry about that tomorrow, time to get our asses out of here."

"Radio outpost?" Kyle smirked. "It could even be abandoned considering there isn't a single guy from Rais in the streets." Kyle didn't expect Crane to agree rather just pulling his leg by asking again finding himself extremely surprised.

"Fine, you little ninja. You have weird birthday wishes…" Crane sighed leading the surprised boy with the grappling hooks heavily used, Kyle managing landing well without using his left hand putting a little jump into it when it reeled him to the destination so he could land with just his legs impressing Crane with the tactic. 'Maybe more like spider man…'

"The office outpost got hit." The thug informed over the radio.

Rais's lips contorted in a snarl but if he was honest to himself, it had been expected. And if Crane and Kyle were playing heroes again, they would probably come by the radio outpost as well. The snarl slowly left a smile as a plan formed, pen and paper grabbed for orders for Tahir to pass on to his men careful with his cheek as the man wanted to talk normally when he had Kyle. "Deal with the traitor as planned, and have some more men at the radio outpost, their order to have at least a third of them always awake. And have a warm reception for the kid ready; come back here after dealing with the traitor though." Tahir nodded keeping the note and walking away. Rais didn't want things to go south but the man wanted his second in command right here. He had underestimated Crane before and especially the kid as well, tricky as he was brazen and Rais liked both traits when they were used to serve him. The tower was almost back in order, his men just having managed to bring in payment having gone up. On top of the first note, a second one had arrived, shot with an arrow to a wood piece with the assailant evading their eyes but it pertained to the teased sale telling Rais to better have the money lined up real quick and better have a high offer ready warning the three other bidders were no joke when it came to competition.

Their eyes darted upward a little with the wood broken having cleverly hid the entrance close by on the heavily barricaded streets. The noise didn't cause a thug to appear as the duo proceeded forward with the UV lights wrapping them in soft blue light finding themselves in a small square yard after entering through a hefty door. Gazes landed on the scaffolding further up on the walls quickly climbed on and an open window on the lower platform on the two allowed access and cool night air to come in. The room had a file cabinet, shelf, chair and chest with the messy touch of Harran having been hit with a crisis, the duo carefully stepping further inside finding the first thug on a couch just in the next room leading them to the right soundly asleep. Crane did the neck snap, the man's life over before he could even react and Kyle dragged out the body this time having a little bit more dragging and lifting to do than at the office outpost.

"Rais was right, they came." A man whispered to another looking at the screen. The thugs in the room watching along scattered, three making their way to go to the entrance without fighting both Kyles as Rais had given a few instructions being tactical pointers like blocking off any escape.

Rais received the message causing the man to smile, hand moving to talk on the radio again musing a little if the move would go over smoothly. "Rocket, copy."

Rocket for a moment thought he had imagined it but hearing Rais say it again said otherwise. "I-I... copy…" 'Why is he calling me…?' Rocket's eyes darted around for a shooter having a smoke on the university roof, pretty much everyone asleep but rather restless himself and Rais had kept his voice low but very clear.

"You are a traitor. But you have a chance to redeem yourself. Crane and the kid are at the radio outpost. They trust you; the kid clearly cares having saved your life. It's simple Rocket; you have one chance. Go to the radio tower and catch the kid, you should have no problem knocking him out from behind. My men won't shoot you. You should know how important power is in Harran and how valuable it is to be aligned with someone holding it." No other words followed, Rocket just standing there for a moment offered a chance of a lifetime, Rais not known to extend his hand for anybody but everyone knew how badly he wanted that kid and the gang did see just how much more powerful it would make them if the blonde fought for them. To have Rais as an enemy was one of the worst things one could deal with in Harran and his boots stepped outside of the safe zone.

The second couch around the bend in the room curiously didn't have a thug a sleeping on it but the two pressed on to find a nasty surprise and an assumption gone wrong as Crane almost got sniped past the curve into a bigger area with a few pillars and glass panes between them which Rais's men hid behind, the tower resident darting aside along the wall darting for cover shooting back. With the choke point no longer occupied, the three thugs rushed past the gunfight and to the entrance whipping around to stand ready with rifles.

"Damn it, they were ready…" Crane snarled, jerking away from a close bullet to the shoulder catching a thug with a bullet to the head in retaliation. Kyle caught another in the chest with Rais gun, the protective vest in the way but caving to quite the surprise as the gun gave off three shots in rapid succession, Kyle quickly adjusting his handling to it. Cornered it started looking bad despite Crane and Kyle catching three more, a call definitely glimpsed being made the only grace in that being that it was night and Rais would have a pretty hard time getting reinforcements here even if he still had some more in Old Town depending on where they were. With a deep breath and to Crane's horror, Kyle slid out from behind the pillar shielding them barely having moved from their original spot surrounded by Rais's men coming closer and closer. Arms folded behind his head making his arms far more dangerous to hit as a vein could be struck, Kyle sitting on his knees beside the pillar, a bullet still ever so slightly grazing his cheek causing a thin line of red slowly squeezing out a drop running down his cheek, the men hastily pausing with their shooting unable to risk the kid smirking at them. 'Shoot from behind me Crane!' Crane quickly understood throwing himself out behind Kyle using the surprise move releasing a bullet from beside the boy. Four of Rais' men dropped, Crane quick to scoot back behind the cover.

"Throw it!" Their eyes widened, a smoke bomb tossed out with the men leaping back and a fizzing extinguisher rolled to the pair both jumping away, shots fired causing to run for any barely seen cover as the smoke hindered everyone but had managed to drive Kyle and Crane apart trying to see one another as it slowly cleared. Kyle found himself further in and a hail of bullets drove Crane further away as the men didn't just shoot wildly but actually made every bullet count and step about keeping the two apart and they were succeeding in it. Crane searched for anyone carrying a syringe or able to shoot a dart seeing only rifles thus far like his own catching a man in the leg finishing him off with a headshot.

The three thugs stepped aside for Rocket to enter handing the man a filled syringe and a rifle from a fallen member and the runner moved further inside guided closer to Kyle. The boy tilted his head slightly smelling rests of cigarette smoke, his mind wandering back to Rocket as they had seen the man smoke by the office outpost. Crane snarled able to shoot one in the shoulder to almost receive ten bullets in return unable to spot Kyle with the little bit he could stick his head out being shot at immediately catching one of men with his rifle but one had snuck closer from the two taking cover having managed to position himself closer to Crane. 'This is bad.'

"It's me!" Rocket quickly said, gun pointed at him from the blonde and lowered again.

"Rocket, what are you doing here?" 'He didn't know that we wanted to hit the radio outpost…' The blonde's hand quickly pulled Rocket closer almost hit in the shoulder, the short adult watching the kid position himself to shoot down a gang member.

"You look like you could use help, where is Crane?"

"We do, we got separated." Kyle aimed, patiently waiting for the man in yellow and black to make that one wrong step closer and Rocket glanced to the syringe crouched down by the boy, gun butt slowly raised as his heart pounded in his chest. The finger moved to pull the trigger, Rocket's flickering eyes on the boy trusting him completely having his back to him, the weapon raised silently quickly to come down but swerve sideways and Kyle pulled the trigger catching the man in the throat, the second thug careening around the corner shot by Rocket stepping beside him. With Rocket shooting at the thugs as well, the duo pushed back.

'I can't do that to him… Rais can go to hell… I'm on their team now.'

Crane managed to shoot another thug, dropping down to get the one having inched closer to shoot him in the back but unable to stop a third stepping out of cover from the position. The finger didn't get to pull the trigger, bullets embedding in the man and Crane's eyes darted to Rocket having shot with a rifle darting to cover. Kyle came with him in no hurry as glowing green eyes had shifted to a wall and the blonde slammed into the thug coming around the corner ramming the man into the wall crushing his insides. Kyle had switched to his machete as Rais's gun used three bullets in one shot fully using the advantage that he wasn't allowed to die and trusting that Crane and Rocket would have his back if he got antizin in him. With all three together, Rais' men got in hot waters, shot and cut down, Rocket now shot at as well. Five slipped away to the three blocking the entrance, Rais's as much as he had loathed coming up with a back-up plan due to the scenario that would cause having prepared one. The men retreated to enact the tactical retreat while the others still inside didn't survive long against Crane, Rocket and Kyle ruthlessly employing his superior strength and speed abilities. "Don't bother with the bodies tonight Kyle, it's not like the stink of rotting flesh is new." Crane sighed, letting himself drop onto a couch and the boy sat down next to him cleaning his blade and claws with found tissue. "Hey Rocket, I'm glad to see you but why are you here?"

Rocket didn't answer only causing tension and suspicion as he flipped over the thought of lying with 'a hunch' or telling the truth. It was well- known how protective Crane had become of the kid and someone didn't want the blonde's wrath either being something to be feared. And every second he didn't answer, Kyle's face scared him more, green eyes reading his face and the man felt that he had already caused suspicion.

"Rais called me over the radio. Because you trusted me, he told me to betray you to save my own skin from him but I couldn't do it."

"You considered it?!" Crane roared, up on his feet with a snarl. "Kyle saved your life!"

"You know what it's like being on his hit list, Crane!"

"Crane, I can handle it." Kyle got up green eyes looking straight into Rocket keeping his mouth shut knowing he had to accept any judgment dished out at him now; there was no going back or running away. "Would you consider it again?"

"No, Rais can go to hell…" Rocket replied. "I… I' mad at myself for even having considered it instead of just coming here with the intention to help right away, I owe you my life."

"Okay" Kyle shrugged, letting himself drop back on the couch to Crane's surprise, the man turning his gaze back on the shorter runner.

"You're not off the hook yet, not in my case. We're almost done in Old Town, we'll drop you off at the tower maybe tomorrow and you'll spill this incident to Brecken or I will." Crane warned.

"I won't be taking orders from Brecken…" Rocket scoffed.

"You'll earn your fucking keep like I was told to when I arrived and listen to Brecken or we'll have a problem."

"Hey if I'm taking orders from anyone, it's Kyle!" Rocket retorted catching both by surprise.

"Me?"

"Yeah, you and only you…" Rocket nodded sitting down himself with his arms crossed.

"Well, you don't get sit around the tower doing nothing on my orders either. I want you to go out on runs for them."

"Hey, why don't I just tag along with you two? Could prove to Crane I mean it that way… and I guess I did just say you're my boss now…" The last sentence almost got mumbled.

"Well as your 'new boss' I order you to go out on runs to help the tower and carry your own weight." Kyle smirked, Rocket's face causing Crane to smile.

"Well, you just declared him boss yourself. He'll use that power wonderfully to the fullest. Better listen to the boss, Rocket."

"Fine…So, did you guys find all the posters? What were those about?"

"Guy calling himself Bozak got bored of hunting zombies and wanted a fight. The posters were 'tests'." Crane answered. "Welcome to the team for real this time, huh?"

"Yeah… thanks for giving me a chance, you two could've shot me just now…"

"Rocket… Rais will never stop obsessing over that claim I made right?" Kyle sighed feeling he already knew the answer.

"I don't think he will… but you know I've never since it all started seen Rais being kicked in the ass so much." Rocket answered.

"He'll have to eventually, I mean he's kicked out of Old Town and Kyle has someone protecting him. We don't know who that is though." Crane remarked. "But anyway, it's your bedtime Kyle. Actually past it already." Crane got up to go another couch, Rocket doing the same picking one, Kyle settling down watching the two.

"Hey Rocket, thanks for being a friend. It was good to be honest." Kyle smiled at the runner. "Night guys."