Blaze1992:Kyle is 13 at the start but turns 14 in a chapter as it was pretty close to his birthday

Chapter 25

"We secured it!" Jade smiled in relief though it would be wiped off in a moment, the dead group of thugs bleeding onto the floor around them.

"Something seems off about this…" Brecken eyed it closer and Crane's voice over the radio seemed to agree.

"How many thugs guarded yours?"

"A small group." Jade replied, eyes narrowing.

"Want another blanket?"

"You sure you want to risk it? Might get shot for being nice." Kyle scoffed accepting the glass of water Karim gave him.

"Not worried it's spiked?"

"I would smell it, keep that to yourself." Kyle glanced away sitting up against Karim's desk, thugs strewn around before peeking up at the man for a second with eyes still wet and red from crying over Vulcan again. He was never going to be able to hide the pain it caused him, constantly watched so Kyle chose to let drowned sobs out near Karim. At least he didn't mock him and with everybody else not right next to him he could hide his face in his knees. "Do you really think the Tower stands no chance, so much that you do things you don't like?"

"I know they have trouble when it comes to people turning and Rais has the monopoly on antizin. By the way, you can stop blaming yourself over that runner it's not your fault. But keep my opinion to yourself, will ya?"

"I can. Rais wouldn't if he hadn't gotten me because of those fucking assassins. I'd clean him out."

"I'm sure you'd try kid but right now you're sitting against my desk, stuck here. I gotta do what I have to, to survive."

'Don't we all?'

"This is fake! What the hell!?"

"Then what is he really doing?"

"It'll pull away all protection from the lab." "Damn it the lab…" Jade sighed. "Crane, there is no explosive threat, not our end at least."

"Please, thousands of lives depend on this!"Camdem begged on his knees, the researched sacked by Tahir with Karim having the gun pointed to the man's head. "Knowing Rais, he'll make a deal with the GRE you're dooming the whole world!"

"Just shut up already!" Tahir barked, pulling a gun out himself stepping closer, Karim glancing to him.

"Wait!"

"Are you suggesting to let him live?" Tahir growled, gun now slightly shifting to Karim, calm on the outside as his thoughts spun.

"You know, Kyle takes a liking to you." Rais remarked.

"I just haven't punched, kicked or shocked him yet that's all." Karim knew it was more than a remark, a veiled warning to stay in line. "I know better than to let a kid sway me Rais; you know I'm on this side all the way. Your side means being alive in this crap hole."

"You're a smart man Karim."

"I know to bet on the winner." Karim shrugged moving back to his desk with his cup of coffee. Rais off and out of sight, his eyes shifted to Kyle sitting down against his desk having been quiet the last days saving his strength exchanging a few quiet lines here and there with the man. He hated the sight of the blonde bruised and beaten tormented by the gang.

"Not exactly but let's use him for time instead. What if they caught on about the fakes? What do you think they'll do between a choice of running after us or saving dear Doctor Camdem who happens to have a bullet in the knee?" Karim pulled the trigger, the man crying out while Tahir grew a smirk.

"One bullet is too much possibility for escape." Tahir stopped aiming the gun grabbing a bat Camdem had in the room for emergencies and broke the man's leg without mercy. "And now, we open the doors for zombies and give a time limit for a rescue. That more to your liking Karim?"

"Exactly."

Kyle's eyes fluttered open, hand immediately moving to his head as he struggled onto his knees, green eyes glimpsing a smirking Rais standing in the room conversing with Tahir over the radio.

"Troy!"

"Camdem?" Troy glanced to Crane glancing back to her.

"Zombies are flooding the lab, the bastards broke my legs and I'm running out-" His voice cut off from a cough followed by a few more and Crane didn't even care to ask immediately heading off knowing he was being played. Anyone could see this was a set-up delay but he couldn't let the man die. At least with Camdem alive, some knowledge wouldn't be lost although it would be a big hit setting Zere and Camdem back greatly.

"Damn it!" Rahim almost punched the wall, Jade having filled him on the bad news with Gerritsen trailing her though the girl was rather quiet since Kyle's kidnapping. Jade didn't want to shoo her away but wasn't exactly chatty resulting in the awkward accepted tailing.

"Are you sure, I shouldn't come over?"

"No Zere, Crane got here in time I'll be fine. The last thing we want to give is Rais a chance to easily kill us both cooped up in the same spot. I highly doubt I'll come in as a way to buy time again."

'Crane, Rais took the research!' Kyle didn't utter a word staying with a snarl and glare as it was waved in front of his face like a trophy, Tahir having a tight grip on his arms ready to twist any second as Rais made his speech of ruling with Kyle as his 'trained monster' insisting no one could ever love him, only fear the boy and fake a smile. The blonde wanted to rip the man's throat out more than anything but his body still ached and Tahir ensured it didn't fade fast, pain a reminder that wounds still hindered and wouldn't go away any time soon. The sun outside dipped down to another day in Harran with the zombies shambling about waking to the night, their lullaby with Kyle's own blood moving a little faster, wounds healing faster, the sensation of more strength springing to life only putting more sting into the cruel man's words. Because he had seen the tower residents fear him, no matter how much they tried Kyle's case was inspiring as maddening to them. Because Rais really was in the higher position. And the Tower just lost more hope. And Crane's damned reply that they knew only added a whisper that Kyle was even too useless to warn them in time anymore because he had been played.

"Fucking damn it!" The wood splintered, the crate kicked on the rooftop as the scream echoed into the dead yet deadly night. Crane cursed over and over again, no junk around to kick again and the man didn't notice Jade, Rahim and Brecken slipping through the door silently watching the crying man rage. 'Kyle! Kyle, I'll save you I swear!' Jade's hand touched his shoulder first crouching down to the man with a sort of hug, the woman realizing just how much it hurt herself seeing Crane, the renowned Tower hero break down himself. Rahim and Brecken silently stepped forward, halfway feeling the brush of another as a survivor moved past whom they had picked up on the way during their last run, the stink from having covered himself in guts slightly washed off. The skin almost looked hauntingly white in the moonlight, the youth definitely not from Harran or having immigrant parents. His hand reached out down to Crane with a smile much more like a smirk almost splitting into a grin with the slightest tilt of a head and narrowing eyes.

"You need help. How about a deal?" Crane looked up with Jade, Brecken and Rahim stepping closer, all eyes on the youth and the runner felt a shudder down his spine at the silky joyous voice.

"What do you mean, a deal!? Who are you?"

"A new survivor we found." Brecken clarified. Only to be proven wrong in the next minute.

"Wrong, I found you. Who I am…" His lips split into a grin, the other hand not offered currently behind his back slowly pulling out a mask on a well known poster and confusion in Crane's heart turned into new anger mixing with the suffocating cocktail already established. "Ring a bell? Lost your kid huh? I liked our little war…"

"YOU PIECE OF SHIT!" Crane jumped to his feet, fist punching the young man in the face before grabbing his collar to dangle him off the edge while the other hand grabbed hold of a bigger crate with Jade instinctively jumping forward to hold onto her fellow runner. "What the hell are you doing here!?"

"You deaf? I'm offering a deal. You people can't get him back by yourselves."

"Oh yeah!? How about I drop you off this building, getting rid of one problem at a time and then figure out a way without you Bozak!?"

"Crane, wait! I hate it too but he has a point." Brecken stepped forward, tension high.

"Already one vote against you Crane, might want to keep the hold on my shirt tight." Bozak grinned only angering Crane more ready to kill him without hesitation.

"Kyle…" Jade tried to reason seeing the boiling anger in the man's eyes, an anger she shared herself barely holding herself back.

"You should know if I die, not just your hope for Kyle junior dies… they'll all die one by one to pay for my blood you spilled…"

"You… FUCKING… PIECE OF CRAP!" With the yell, Crane yanked him over throwing him on the hard concrete without mercy. "What is the deal!?"

"A genuine offer to help, I can provide a few more guns. Just don't expect to take little blondie home if I get to him first." The youth smiled devilishly, smirk tugging a little higher at Crane's scornful growl refusing the hand offered to shake.

"Fine… we have a deal…now stop smirking I hate it." 'Feels like I just made a deal with the devil…'

"Hey gramps, sent six more teammates to the slums."

"Who is gramps?" Crane asked, his voice still carrying a growl.

"A no one to you." Bozak flashed a smile heading back down the stairs, smile tugging higher noticing Crane immediately following him. "Find my company enjoyable?"

"No and you know that. And you know that's why I won't let you out of my sight."

The fingers played with the coin about to decide for the man as he toyed with it, thoughts wondering whether to favor his philosophy and perceived war with Crane or prioritize the exit stage securing a definite easy escape and a tighter hold on Kyle. While he got the kid to not rip his throat yet, Rais knew Kyle still had hope and waited for an opening and he didn't like how long it took to chip at that whittling it down. 'You truly feel like a king in Harran, don't you? And cling to still being in the city with Crane…' Tahir watched his boss flip the coin knowing what the whole thing was about. It landed with the slightest noise on the table and lips quirked up into a cruel smile.

Karim had done many things that would haunt him for the rest of his life and risked angering the monster of a boss he had many times finding himself at crossroads again. The garrison bustled with activity and he knew exactly why, a call to make imminent. The need to cover his own hide and follow orders to save his own ass won but not without braving the thin ice again as the man got up from the chair.

"Hey, we'll get him back and the research." Jade placed a hand on his shoulder, Crane giving tired smile and sigh.

"She's right, believe a little Crane." Bozak smirked leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, everyone getting ready behind them.

"You know, I strongly believe in my foot up your ass." Kyle replied with a snap.

"Everyone here does, better not look so smug Bozak." Rahim joined in.

"Rahim-"

"Jade, I'm coming along you can't change my mind on it. Sides, you're coming with us I can just hide behind you if it gets too much." Jade rolled at her eyes at her brother joking jab but she knew she'd be glued to his side through the whole thing. Bozak in total would come in with ten making it eleven including himself with only nine tower residents to counter them as Brecken didn't want the Tower left defenseless being in the rescue team himself.

"Ready for the worst run of your life?" Brecken asking glancing to Crane.

"Always in Harran."

"Kyle Crane-"

"Rais, for every scratch you put on Kyle I'll break a bone of yours before leaving your corpse to rot!" Crane barked, this day just kept getting worse.

"Ah, the attitude I hoped to find. You see, we are at war, you and I. A war of opposing philosophies. A war to see whose vision of the world proves true. A war to the right to claim what little Kyle's role in this world is. Come, Crane, Come and challenge me. What is it you American's are so fond of saying… "I dare you.""

"I'm taking over watch, scram." Karim commanded, Kyle's head moving up, the boy blindfolded and handcuffed knowing there was always a shot pointed at him. The thug complied, Karim and Kyle alone for now. "Listen up, don't have much time to say this. I heard Rais make a deal to get out, I think he managed to reach the GRE or they reached him. Crane won't have much time to get here, a heads up is all I can give you pretend you never heard this." Karim paused for moment lowering his voice again. "If worse comes to worse, I'll try to help… just get that warning out with your mind stuff. Maybe if there is an opening I can get you to an uncle I have in Texas to hide." Karim stayed a while longer before calling a thug to take over again.

'Thanks, Karim.'

"Fuck!" Crane made the entire group slow down for a moment, quickly motioned to better keep running as zombies happily creeped closer at the chance.

"What's wrong?" Jade asked running alongside Crane through the streets.

"We better try running faster, looks like Rais made deal with the GRE I just heard from Kyle."

"Did he say anything else?"

"No, he's still being quiet…"

"You can't be loved. You're a monster, a hybrid making you neither, no one will ever see you as anything else and you know that. Chaos is your nature; chaos is the only state the environment can be in for you to thrive. I know your true potential, I'm the only who can guide you to what you're meant to be."

"Think Brecken is going to come along with Crane?" One of the thugs chuckled, the whole gang excited after Rais' speech of how they forced the tower's hand to make a rescue and cause their demise with them ready and waiting.

"Maybe, no matter how many come they're all getting full of lead. You know I love a planned ambush like this the most, zombies kind of get boring." His eyes glanced to the rifle with a grin. "Can't wait till that little brat follows orders, not even any military will be able to screw with us with that thing on our side."

The streets of Harran, rather desolate and peaceful in its twisted way during daytime proved for easy traversal with the large rescue group, Crane and co flying over the rooftops with ease or sprinting across the ground with any zombies encountered dispatched quickly. Arriving upon the destination, a quick glance showed a dreadful stillness one reeking of an ambush. "I'm sure they're up there, just like when they took Zere." Crane growled.

"If there are mines we'll have to run and hope, the zombies are closing in." Jade growled. With no time left, the group made a dash for their entry point luckily not setting any off or dodging them no one keen to look too closely. Jade delivered a swift kick on the handle of the first door blocking entrance as any point into the building was closed breaking it and Brecken and Crane bashed in the door quick to duck as bullets rushed to greet them countered by their own team, the door hastily used like a shield almost slipping out of the fingers. The garrison erupted into a bullet blaze causing a slow crawl forward though Bozak proved to have his own tricks up his sleeve as a slow came to a stop.

"Are you insane!?" Brecken exclaimed eying the grenade pulled out of a bag but his words were dismissed the grenade tossed.

"Take cover!" The guy grinned, Rahim adequately summing up his group's thought with uttering "Fuck…" Instead of a collapsed. The building didn't groan and crumble in the slightest, instead of an explosion, the grenade bursting open to release just shrapnel bits, sharp shrapnel bits angrily sinking into the thug's flesh, a few receiving bits in their faces quickly ended with bullets trying to fall back during the landing. The group pushed on but certain thoughts didn't leave Crane's mind. If this gramps had an interest in Kyle, they'd probably be fighting their temporary allies next time and they seemed far more better equipped. It was bad enough to have already caught Bozak's attention with there definitely being two for both Kyle's.

Brecken let a muttered curse escape, one of the group shot in the chest firing off a last round as spread fire catching the assailant trying to shift position. The thugs weren't randomly scatter. Hallways had been prepped to make it a bullet onslaught for the arrived group barely able to progress and hide behind any cleared crates and tables. Guns fired, noise not a concern as zombies amassed outside from the shooting close to the entrance and a little tune causing noise safely behind the garrison's fortifications, neither side aware of it except for two people. "We're fucking pinned!"

"Go!" Bozak motioned to one of his guys, the young chap in his twenties and wearing a bullet vest vaulting over the flipped table while the others covered him. A grin split on his face the backpack on his back shifting again second a shiver down Rahim's spine wondering with everyone else what had been residing in there. The zipper opened lightning fast and the backpack got dumped over the thug hiding behind the crate. A hiss resonated as the man screamed wildly trying to scramble away in panic causing a bullet to ricochet off the wall and hit a teammate. His screams died down within seconds leaving behind a limp body as the shimmering black snake slithered forward.

"A fucking snake!?" Crane exclaimed summing up everyone's surprise. Bullets were quickly returned, the shock waning off.

"Grab it again before it's shot. Want to hear about the story of the scorpion and spider I carry as well?" Bozak smirked, Crane rolling his eyes with a cursed mutters, their trigger being pulled executing a thug going for a shot. The battlefield changed between narrow hallways and wider spaces, their temporary allies definitely packing a punch so much so that it seemed to worry the thugs mowed down at every turn. Further above, Rais snarled, Kyle struggling as much as he could with the fight below giving him hope noticing Rais' snarl ignoring the punishment for it as Crane's group steadily caught up.

"Let them in."

"Let who in?" Karim's eyes slightly narrowed having been tasked before with some of his mines of setting up mines, his men sent to take up positions to fight. Tahir smiled, a resonating boom causing everyone to freeze as the garrison's outer defenses were cracked via remote, the screech of a horde of zombies ringing through the air as the growing lured flock poured in now dashing for the steady bullet noise. "There are our men too!"

"Karim, they're not coming. No one except us, is. That was the plan I had from the start." Rais replied, Karim boiling inside but reeling his tongue in glancing to the chaos below ensuing as bullets now fired in every direction.

"What the fuck!?" Brecken barely shot the viral in time, the garrison a mess within minutes. As much as the zombies worked for them, they worked against them at least half coming from behind them. A steady move forward became a frantic switch between dash and crawls lashing and shooting slowly in every direction as zombies spread everywhere, the group in between split up a little here and there a few people out of sight in the chaotic fights as Rais' men no longer stayed in position or stuck to the plan outright stumbling backwards into them occasionally due to a viral or such. Fighting their way, further up it slowly got easier, Rais' men fully having abandoned the plan, some trying to find safety upwards while others tried to run for their hides, Bozak's group ending up split up from Crane's dashing past distracted thugs aiming their guns back to Brecken and co stalling the group for a month after surviving a three virals.

Bozak's eyes shifted to the crate glimpsed in the sweep entering the next floor. The young man swept the room with his gaze, a hidden small smirk playing as he stepped back spotting Rahim move forward excitedly with his adrenaline pumping. Like a patient snake he watched for Rahim to rush up to the second floor with Jade right by his side without looking and Crane just a step behind and get themselves killed by the mines ahead. His smirk fell as one of his darted forward vaulting over a crate with a smirk of his own glancing to the trio the glint of competition in the eye to rush ahead, gaze only slowly shifting to his boss having stopped now wearing a disgruntled expression to those who knew him, "Stop!"

"What the hell Bo-" Crane slowed but didn't listen.

"Mines ahead." His voice wasn't a shout, not a growl just an ice cold command, and all four found themselves stumbling to a stop, gramp's excited and best runner just a step away from jumping onto the next floor quickly catching his footing again. Jade, Rahim and Crane felt a shiver down their spine, his voice more fear instilling than any shout or snarl could've done. Bozak's finger silently moved to the crate with the leftovers. "Crane, ask Kyle how many if he doesn't now tell him to ask any gang member who could've have been nice to him or get it out of Rais."

"Don't think I'm doing this because you told me too." 'Kyle, Rais laid out mines and don't know where, we can go. You need to find out, I'm sorry to put this on you.'

"You coward!" It came out faster than he decided if he should speak, Rais for a second visibly confused though there were many actions from him that could prompt the remark from the kid. Kyle quickly dropped the glare and composed his himself, eyes shortly glancing to Karim hoping Tahir and Rais hadn't noticed. If anyone was willing to help him out even in the slightest, it would be Karim. Despite the man along with the two other, Kyle still felt he could trust his word. At least on this.

"What prompts your outburst at me? Do enlighten me I don't like being left in the dark." Rais smirked, Tahir shoving the blonde having stopped to keep going the threat of antizin and pain of other means constantly waved in his face.

Kyle didn't have a comeback. Karim couldn't talk back silently, any answer provided would have to be said aloud. He would be killed, no doubt about it. But his new family finally had a chance. 'Karim… How many…'

"Well?"

'Never mind, don't Karim… don't even react… I'm sorry dad, I can't do this… not the way you would like it…' With narrowed eyes and a snarl, Kyle pushed out the spikes piercing his own arms, the men's eyes widening, the blood falling on Tahir's shoes threatening to destroy the man's feet, the thug taking step back on instinct and his grip faded for a second as his skin stung from it. Kyle lurched forward and the metal claws rushed to his throat, tips stabbing in. Spikes pulled back, arms coated in red as his wound bled and despite a tired sway, Kyle remained standing, glaring eyes locked on Rais, his breath still steady. "Tell me how many mines there are and where Rais, fucking now! Go ahead, try shocking or go for antizin, let's see if I can get lucky again without puncturing an artery something! You know, I don't even know how close I am, now talk you miserable fucker!" His heart pounded in his chest wondering how close he had just come to ending his own life, exhaustion and wounds keeping his body in pain 24/7. 'Fucking damn it… I don't know how often I can keep doing this… please dad… save me, I'm scared…'

Tahir's and Karim's eyes shifted to Rais wearing a snarl glancing away from the glare shot at him before meeting the blonde's gaze again. "Two floors of where they start, a way to avoid them, Crane will have to find himself. Two floors but every inch of them, I swear it now. Now remove the claws, we both know you don't have much strength left."

'Dad, two floors from where they start. He won't tell me any way around, you have to find yourself we're still heading to the top of this one. Remember, two floors find a way around.'

"Get the claws out now."

'Not yet Rais, I'll know if you lied to me. I know how much I'm worth to you. Don't tell me you're scared of the few zombies that could come here we're almost at the top anyway. We'll wait right here until they are the past the mines. So if you want it over faster, I'll relay any tips. Better hurry, after all like you said I am tired.'

"You heard him, move it!" Tahir snarled, a hand rising from Rais wearing his own snarl silencing him.

"There's no point, he won't budge until Crane is past the mines. Fine, we'll hurry it along I'm rather eager for the scheduled duel anyway and have his corpse quell that rebellious attitude towards me. I promise you Kyle, I'll have you alive and I'll be all you have out there so you better start listening well little monster."

"Over here!" Crane waved receiving instructions from Kyle scaling along building followed in tow by the others moving forward through the current floor and leaping down onto a crane one by one to reach the second block, Crane going down with a yell while Bozak chuckled, Rahim shouted a 'woohoo' and Jade jumped silently. With the space becoming more crammed, two of Bozak's group got held up with the goon though gleefully clearing out the zombies for the way back while shoves were exchanged between both Bozak and Crane the Bozak the most trying to shove in front of the other to be a few steps ahead. Bozak for a second entertained the idea of pulling Crane off a ladder as they rushed up the bigger Crane, running hazmats screaming around them hindered by the cage of the long climb upwards. Rahim beat him to the idea flashing a smug smile with the sorry positioning himself under Jade who had Crane above her, Bozak quickly catching himself and continuing up under Rahim. Rais' taunting voice blared over speakers again as Kyle's instructions ceased.

Kyle slid out the tips, not even trying to fight Tahir grabbing him as finished the short trip to the top.

"Almost there!" Jade smiled but the smile didn't last with Rais' voice and the sinking feeling it put in their stomach with the release noise of a rocket launcher. "I cast the deciding vote, Crane!"

"Asshole!"

"Such a foul mouth little Kyle…"

"RUN!" Crane charged forward with the others.

"Consider yourself expelled!"

Bozak being in the rear, whipped around as the crane groaned and swerved downwards correctly guessing he wouldn't make it while Rahim stumbled catching himself and barely getting. Glancing over his shoulder revealed a gap, Jade glancing to him over his shoulder jumping with Crane to uncertain safety away from certain death and Rahim decided to turn around, decisions done in split second leaping to the base running as fast as he could. His hand barely latched to the edge as the boom of the crane crashed down with a screech and groan broken into pieces and Rahim pulled him up with a huff, a glare shot at Bozak with two of his men behind him. "Couldn't just offer helping hand, huh?"

"For that I would have to care about your life." Bozak smiled.

Jade sighed in relief glancing over her shoulder as they clung to the yellow platform making their up and across though unease for her brother remained being around those people. She knew Crane and Kyle need her now, there was no way back. "Do you know how many men have bested me in a fight before, Crane? None. No one. EVER. Even the monster here with me is under my thumb admittedly I will not fight him like I will you. Consider yourself a member of an exclusive club."

Crane gave Jade a hand, the two pulling up to unfinished balconies after jumping from the panels. "Where are you hiding, you fucker?"

"Sad for you, it's a club I mean to disband, partially I suppose."

"What the hell...So it's a three person ride only?" Karim scoffed, the gun pointed at him, Jade and Crane steadily coming closer rushing to the rescue. Tahir's grip tightened on Kyle, the wounds covered in torn off cloth for now to stop any severe bleeding out the man ever beware of the spikes able to rush out any moment.

Karim sighed finding Kyle under his desk folded under to one side with his head in his knees, arms wrapped around them, a thin bleeding cut on his cheek with another on the arm. The man sat down pulling the chair closer, one hand moving to a pen while the other hesitated for second before being softly placed on the ruffled messy blonde hair. The hand bearing the metal claws shot up immediately brushing against his arm so softly that it didn't cause a cut, the instinctive jerk from Karim felt, Kyle's voice in his head almost a whisper. 'Don't worry; you're the only one here I wouldn't kill.'

"I suspect you've helped Crane before and having recorded your little promise to Kyle, I know for certain where your priorities have shifted to." Rais shortly glanced to Kyle, the man's eyes widening as Kyle's went from wide and teary pleading for Karim's life to narrowed anger with red flushing in and [pupil's slits wiggling out of Tahir's grip ignoring the shock almost robbing him of breath causing him to stumble. Rais pulled the trigger but Kyle lurched forward with a snarled, growled and yelled no shoving away Karim's screwing the perfect stomach aim managing to be somewhere else in the man's gut for better or worse. Karim stumbled off the edge by the latter of the higher unfinished constructed platform to the bigger one below quickly scooting under it, hand flying to his reddening shirt with a pained groan. Kyle crumbled at another shock, the red pulling back and pupils widening back to normal from the eerie slits, Tahir quick to pull him up by the hair and twisted his arms with an iron grip threatening to dislocate the blonde's shoulder. Rais stepped forward with a snarl with a bruising slap to the face but a smirk came with the reprimand certain that Karim would bleed out anyway. Rais glanced over the blonde, body still trembling from the catching his breath. "Finish off Karim and take our monster with you, make him watch." His gaze shifted again. "Poor Crane! So consumed with emotion. Burning with the need for revenge… Eaten alive by hatred. And love for something you see as human. Such feeling make you WEAK."

"With pleasure." Tahir smiled, shooting a glare at Kyle flashing a snarl but knowing he didn't have the strength to pull the stunt again and they did too not as long as they could hurt so much in the blink of an eye.

"He just shot one of his own men!" Jade pointed out rather confused barely catching a glimpse, both right on the group's tail.

"That was Karim, Kyle is protecting him. he must've planned to turn on Rais!" Their feet moved, fast yet carefully as the parkour came naturally from so much practice eyes always two steps ahead looking for the next jump just a few strides away now scaling the scaffolding with a leap over a gap.

"I'll take on Tahir, be careful Crane!"

"I'll gladly keep my promise to Rais. You too Jade, let's kick some ass."

"Fuck…kinda stings…" Karim' darkly chuckled wondering how long he had and which organ got hit, pain muddling any pinpointing senses. His hand moved to a discarded wrench by a crate instinctively anyway despite knowing he didn't stand a chance against Tahir having wrestled the kid down the short jump dragging him along to where Karim hid behind the concrete wall clinging to life.

Crane's eyes narrowed on Rais pulling himself up and glanced to Tahir and Kyle towards under the concrete where Karim hid, Rais turning away from edge of the short ladder with a smirk making it appoint to flash the research into his sight.

"I'll deal with Tahir, finish Rais." Jade smiled shortly placing her hand on her fellow runner's shoulder darting to the side causing Tahir t to stop and turn around glancing over his shoulder. "Time for payback, asshole. This time you can't catch me by surprise."

"I won't need surprise, Scorpion."

"Here we are again, face to face again. Didn't think this had priority over your precious boy. I guess I don't need this anymore." Rais smirked, the disc held out, a step taken closer to the edge.

"I trust Jade. With or without it, Suleiman, you're dead." Crane shortly glanced more to the man's right arm across him, the stump hidden leaving the runner to wonder why guessing it was for balance. Kyle had told him there was no wound anymore so there was no point in targeting the stump specifically to take advantage of pain now anyway.

Tahir's elbow quickly dug into Kyle's gut shoving the boy against the unfinished wall, the blonde crumbling to the floor with a gasp of pain. The tweaked remote got shoved in a pocket, the machete in the man's hand as Jade took a stance. Tahir's beefy swing missed, Jade enjoying every second as she avoided the move with slightly more speed and delivered a blow to his ribs with revenge burning in her eyes. Tahir slashed with the machete, Jade dodging it but shoved near the edge waiting patiently. Jade darted forward, sweeping Tahir's leg, circling whipping around to place him at the edge with a kick but the man didn't stumble as hard as she had thought back on his feet forcing her back with a slash catching her on the leg with a shallow cut as the tower runner stumbled back. The machete's blade grazed her cheek, Jade's heart pounding stepping into another attack after dodging managing to kick the machete out of the man's hand following with a punch as Tahir tried to snatch the machete. The punch failed, Tahir bracing for it and punching back himself delivering a blow to the gut. Tahir's eyes narrowed on Kyle glancing to the boy trying to muster his strength slowly standing up to shaky legs with a low growl, a moment not paid to Jade getting back up. The thug's hand reached for the remote pulling it out and Jade's leg struck out lightning fast discarding of the device with a kick sending it sailing to the edge underneath the concrete where Rais and Crane fought. The scorpion avoided an angry swing, Tahir's eyes drawn to Kyle again as a grin split onto the boy's lips finally managing to push himself up and letting his emotions flood him without holding back drawing strength from his hatred towards the man, a thirst for revenge and for once his own thirst for the man's blood. Literally his blood as his body ached and yearned, Tahir feeling a little shiver down his spine. "What's wrong Tahir, suddenly scared? Changes your odds too much when you can't torture me with that fucking thing anymore, doesn't it? You know… I want blood…" It wasn't shouted, his voice hoarse but with a soft tune, claws and spikes sliding out the arms coated in red.

Karim slowly dragged himself closer to the edge of the wall, fighting commencing above him and next to him as Jade delivered two solid blow but bit down an own yelp of pain, Kyle giving off a snarl receiving a blow to the face after slashing Tahir's side getting a little past the vest. The blonde wouldn't last long even with tapping into his thirst and that last bit of strength, savagely dishing out blows but Tahir was still able to deflect most of the time with Kyle so exhausted. Allowing thirst for blood to drive him also brought about a few problems having to focus on ignoring Jade delivering a kick sending Tahir stumbling closer to Karim, banging suddenly coming from above with a blue chopper arriving on the scene. Karim's hand closed around a wrench found in the rubble. 'This one is for you kid,' With a groan risking twisting the bullet in a worse place, Karim's pulled himself out of hiding and released the snug grip on the wrench managing to trip up Tahir backing away a step from Jade and Kyle stepping towards him with everyone bloody and bruised, scowls and snarls on every face. Jade immediately jumped forward with a flying kick to the head sending Tahir stumbling almost falling back and his vision swimming, the machete dropped, a disoriented face shooting Karim a glare. The glare shifted to Kyle in front of him with a quick sprint stumbling as he panted yanking Tahir slightly down on the bulletproof vest looking with a hate filled snarl as the blonde's right hand balled into a fist. "I don't need to dirty my claws for something like you." The fist shot up as the metal clawed left yanked the man's upper body just a touch lower to help the fist rip through his gut harder sticking out at the back ever so slightly. Tahir coughed vomiting up blood, the hole in his gut quickly forming a shimmering red puddle as Kyle pulled his fist out again and let the man drop, life gone fast only leaving a corpse laying in his own expanding blood. Kyle's eyes widened hearing Crane dangle on a container and with a yell for the man now adopted as his new dad, the boy ignored all pain and his own wound leaping up to the higher ground quickly asking Jade in his head to look after Karim.

"You're right about one thing Crane, Suleiman is dead. He died in this city with his brother. I would make you suffer but thanks to you, that boy came out of the shadows. The embodiment of true chaos! With the monster trained-" Crane's lips further pulled into a snarl at Kyle being called a monster, turning the machete on its owner with a huff, Rais' sentence cut off as he stumbled back with his eyes widening for a moment. Rais stumbled back pulling himself up against a pillar, Crane closing the gap and pulling out the machete holding it to the man's throat. "Do it, take your revenge. We both know I would never stop, be a man!"

"Fuck you asshole! You want me to make my own rules!? Rule number one: you're going to spend the rest of your goddamn life in fucking agony! And rule number two, you're never going near Kyle ever again!" Crane turned away to retrieve the disk ignored on the concrete, Rais shouting for him not to leave him like this, Tahir's demise below heard by both. All eyes shifted to the chopper lifting into view, Crane's heart dropping in his gut recalling the dream of seeing Kyle shot quickly pushing it off as being worried sick for the kid. With a yell of the runner's name, Rais suddenly came at him with a tackle, Crane barely catching himself on the edge of the blue container he rolled onto.

Kyle's eyes narrowed on Rais, the prying fingers paused for a second as their gazes met. Crane's attempt to use the throwing knife failed, Rais' shoulder receiving it instead with a venomous snarl and the man quickly resumed trying to pry the runner's hold off as Kyle pulled himself up with a snarl. Green eyes carried hate and unbridled blood thirst, spikes and claws purposefully out along with red flushed eyes and scars on his neck with a bloodied face and body. Kyle lunged forward surprising both Crane and Rais as his hand snatched the thug's shirt yanking him away from the edge allowing Crane to pull himself up with a grunt shifting his eyes to Kyle with his hand still and the edge of the kneeling man's shirt gripped tight. His lips were lifted like a snarling feral animal.

"I am human and I'll stay human!" Kyle growled loudly and with a yell his hand struck out at Rais' face followed by a kick launching the man off the building. Kyle dropped to his knees tucking away claws, spikes and red in the eyes then on all fours with an exhausted sniffle, Crane pulling himself up with a grunt throwing his arms around the kid grabbing the disc. Crane glanced aside with eyes narrowing on the nearing blue chopper, Kyle not making a move at all having let himself lean into the hug hugging back. Without warning, Crane pulled them off the container and beneath the platform both landing with a stumble and Kyle tried to bite down a yelp.

"I'm so sorry!" Crane immediately stepped forward again gently pulling the blonde closer to the box glancing to Karim and Jade hunkering down beside him. Anger and anguish boiled in the runner's blood, Jade expression's holding less but the same emotions. The kid having been forced to don Rais' style in attire was covered in blood, his face smeared carrying eyes full of pain, his neck scarred for life, lower lip busted as his breaths were heavy. Gazes shifted to the circling chopper. "What do you still want? Whatever deal he made, it's off."

"Rais already told us he had that scientist's data. All we're interested in is the cure. We're offering you a chance here! Give the rest of the research to us and come with us, your kid could use a doctor."

"I can think of a lot of reasons to tell you to go fuck yourself, but why don't we pretend for a minute that you DON'T think I'm stupid? You need the cure; it's here, in the city… somewhere. And as long as it is, you won't try to pull any Ministry style bullshit."

"Crane , why do even GIVE a fuck about these people? You don't belong here! That kid is not yours! This is just a job for you!"

"No not anymore, it's not… and he is my kid now so you better stay away from him. I'll be in touch when I've decided what to do next." The GRE peeled off, Camden's voice heard next.

"Crane? Can you hear me? It's Camdem!"

"Yeah, doc I can hear you. How are the legs? What's going on?"

"I'll live. The analyses on the tissue samples just finished. The results are… well, I don't think the word 'phenomenal' is too strong! Crane, if you can recover Zere's data, I'm CERTAIN a cure is within reach. You sound very relieved by the way, how did the rescue go?"

"All right. We'll talk about it next time I see you. Kyle is safe, we'll be fine."

"That's good to hear, see you later."

"Crane?"

"Yeah, Brecken I'm here. Rais is dead, Kyle is safe."

"Good, Camdem just called me I guess he called you too."

"Yeah, how is your team? You guys okay down there, Bozak not trying to pull any tricks?

"Yeah, we'll get out just fine even with our wounded that is if we leave now and fast."

"This is Ayo speaking, get to the nearest safe zone and wait until dawn. Good night and good luck."

"No time to rest then." Jade spoke up, eyes shifting to Karim. "He'll slow us down a lot."

"Thanks, nice to meet you too. Name is Karim." With a grunt, Karim pushed himself.

"You sure you can make it?" Crane asked, helping Kyle up and keep an arm around the kid trying to fight the exhaustion hitting like a brick.

"Other option is to die right? I'll go with giving it a try. I don't think an organ got hit by some miracle, hurts like hell though."

"Jade do you have any firecrackers on you?"