In just a moments time everything went from bad to worse. Pandemonium spread through the Manticore Special Ops soldiers as they heard Lydecker's voice rise above the crowd. Jacen and Seth crash through the first group of soldiers with Terrence grabbing Caine and Freedon by the chains between their wrists and flinging them into the oncoming soldiers. Jacen, Jared, and Seth broke through and made it to the forest edge just as Terrence crashed down two soldiers and ran for the forest.

Taking a look back Terrence could see the troops using the butts of their assault rifles on Jules and Steph who were still trying to punch through the growing storm of soldiers. Lydecker was starting to have the guards rush Jules and Steph trying to beat them down when Terrence let out a primal yell and crashed right into several guards knocking them flat. Terrence kicked and hit anything in sight as he listened to Jules and Steph crying out in pain.

Terrence used his elbow directly into a soldiers chest and took his Car-15 and opened fire on the last troops in the way of Jules and Steph. He quickly pulled them up as the soldiers clubbed at him and tried to bring him down. Then a shot rang out from one of the soldiers and the troops started firing on them. Lydecker was rushing around hitting them while yelling, "Hold your fire! Hold your fire! We need them alive!"

When the dust cleared there were more Manticore soldiers on the ground from friendly fire then Lydecker could have imagined. Terrence lay over Steph and Jules trying desperately to shield them. Lydecker could see several bullet wounds in Terrence and he almost lost it at the thought of losing three of his kids. Suddenly Terrence stirred and pushed himself to his knees. He desperately tried to wake Jules and Steph up but it was too late. They had taken too many shots and Steph was already gone.

Jules looked up at Terrence and smiled as she tried to speak. Terrence quickly silenced her and stared into her eyes as they clouded over and closed forever. Terrence's back rose and fell with huge deep breaths as the Special Ops troops took several steps back. He looked up at Lydecker and his brown eyes were narrow slits. His jaw was clenched shut and, with a yell of anger and pain, Terrence hurled himself onto Lydecker and began to lay his fists into him repeatedly.

Terrence repeatedly slammed his fists into Lydecker's ribs and could feel them crack under the force. A shot suddenly rang out and Terrence fell forward onto Lydecker. With a painful push Lydecker pushed Terrence off of him and saw Freedon with a Sig p228 pistol in his hands. His eyes were lined up with the sights but his eyes were hollow and empty. The gun fell from his hands and he backed away to stare at it. He realized that no matter what he did in life nothing would ever redeem him from this moment. Caine stepped behind Freedon and placed a hand on his shoulder knowing how he must feel having killed what they considered a family member.

Lydecker put his fingers to Terrence's neck and looked up in surprise, "He's still alive. Caine, go get a medic. Now!" Caine took off running but Freedon still stared at the bullet wound he had caused on Terrence's right upper back.

Jacen and Jared were running nearly side by side but couldn't find anyone in sight. Jared looked over at Jacen and signaled that he would head east and look for Zack and Jacen nodded. In secret Jacen knew that Zack hadn't gone that way and hoped to find him alone so Jared wouldn't see what he would do to him. Jacen started to put on a burst of speed when suddenly his feet hit resistance and he fell forward with his hands breaking his fall. He stood up and dusted himself off and looked around.

He quickly noticed Max standing ready just behind him. "Get out of here Max," Jacen couldn't look at her as he said it. He stared off in the direction Zack had run off too. "I don't want anything to happen to you. This is between me and Zack."

"You know I can't let you do that," Max responded a look of sadness on her face. She didn't want to protect Zack after what he had done but she didn't have a choice. Zack had always been there for her and the X-5's.

Jacen sighed as he turned around to face Max, "I knew this would come. For what it's worth I couldn't send you back to Manticore. Not after what has happened here."

Max nodded, "I know. It's not too late for you to get out of here. Run away."

"No," Jacen almost yelled, "this isn't over. Why are you protecting him? Look at everything he's done." Jacen's voice was rising without him even realizing it. "It won't stop with us. You know what he's capable of. Look at what happened to Logan. It's only a matter of time before his selfishness consumes you too."

"He's my brother," Max calmly responded.

"Really? Tell him that. With the way he looks at you it seems that it won't be the first time he'll attack Logan."

"Zack would never do that and Logan is just a friend."

Jacen laughed shaking his head, "All this time away from Manticore and you still haven't stopped masking your feelings and hiding the truth. So, are you going to try and stop me?"

Max looked up into Jacen's deep, blue eyes, "I have to."

Jacen nodded, "Let's make this fast. Zack already has a head start."

Both Max and Jacen rushed forward and began throwing kicks and punches. Jacen tried to take Max down with one solid punch but she kept dodging and sending quick jabs into his stomach and face. This went on for a few minutes before he finally connected with a kick to Max's face that sent her spinning and cartwheeling away. She landed several yards away and motioned for Jacen to come closer.

Jacen rushed forward eager to put her out and continue after Zack knowing he didn't have much time. Max dodged to the side of Jacen's rush but he quickly dropped to the ground and kicked her feet out from under her. Max landed on the ground and before Jacen could bring his foot down Max was already leaping up. They clashed again in a flurry of moves but Jacen was using his strength as an advantage. Max knew she was getting pushed back so she tried to dodge around Jacen.

Before Max could make it around Jacen wrapped his arm around her neck and started to apply pressure. Max kicked behind Jacen's left knee causing him to drop to the ground but he carried her with him. She could feel the blood in her veins trying to make its way back to her heart and her heart desperately tried to push blood to her brain. She could feel her eyes fluttering and she dropped into a deep chasm of darkness. Jacen stood up and looked down at her, "If I didn't care about you so much you'd be dead right now." He gathered his bearing and took off after Zack again.