Max tried to pull away from the wall but Lydecker held her there firmly, one hand holding her arm behind her back, the other with holding the gun firmly to her head. Even she couldn't out run a bullet at this distance. Miranda's whole body seemed to crumble. Her hand was slowly falling and her knees were buckling.

"Put the gun down." Lydecker ordered.

Miranda searched Max's face but complied. She knew that she was not experienced with a gun and any attempt at bravery would probably get Max killed. Lydecker rotated around and kicked the gun into a far corner away from the door. Then he turned to look at Cassi. Max could imagine the puzzled yet amused look on his face. "Soldier, tell me that this is not your backup." He said in his commanding voice. Then he looked at Cassi and softened it slightly. "Miss Carlisle's sister, I presume. So, it's Cassi, is it? We've met but never been introduced."

Miranda looked at her sister with a mixture of joy and horror. She had been afraid that she would never see her again so it was wonderful to see how she had grown. On the other hand, this man, as little as she knew about him, was the last person she wanted knowing about Cassi. The sight of her made Miranda wonder what had happened over the past year. The sister she remembered ran everywhere and never stopped talking or making a noise. Maybe her mother and Greg had finally calmed her down a bit but Miranda couldn't help feeling that something had seriously changed in the little one. The figure standing there was expressionless, silent, and dressed in a janitor's shirt which hung down over her normal clothing. Miranda couldn't figure out what was going on. She knew that this other woman in the room (Max, was she?) was here to rescue her but she didn't know how or why.

"So, are you training soldiers yourself now?" Lydecker asked Max. "What have you taught her so far?"

Max looked at Cassi. (Why did she come out of hiding? Why was she wearing that shirt?) Using her keen sight, Max focused in on Cassi's face. It was fixed on Lydecker. The girl hadn't even acknowledged the presence of Max or Miranda. There it was, Max felt a sinking beginning in her stomach. Cassi's blue eyes were taking on more and more gray. They continued to darken as she kept her eyes on Lydecker. Max didn't know exactly what was happening but it was definitely something major.

"I don't think I've taught her that much..." Max said. She was trying to get his focus off of Cassi but the next thought slipped out under her breath before she could catch it. "You've already taught her enough for both of us."

Lydecker seemed to contemplate the statement. "I met her once. What makes you think she's learned anything from me?" Not expecting an answer, he pulled Max with him so he could stand in front of Cassi. Pushing Max's head down, he made her kneel on the floor so he could see Cassi at eye level.

"What have I taught you Cassi?" He asked.

Cassi's left hand came up and a finger pointed at Lydecker. Only moving one finger so he wouldn't lose his grip on Max, Lydecker pointed back. He didn't quite notice the slow intakes of breath that were coming from the other two in the room.

Max's eyes frantically searched Miranda's. She knew that Miranda was helpless. The woman had no weapon and a baby to protect. Besides that, there was a fear in Miranda's eyes. Max recognized it because it mirrored her own. They didn't know what Cassi would say but it would give Lydecker more knowledge than they wanted him to have. Nodding slightly to Miranda with her eyes, Max threw her elbow back as hard as she could into Lydecker's gun hand. The violent motion caused the gun to go off and the bullet grazed her shoulder. Shocked momentarily, Max blocked out the stinging in her shoulder, and tried to regain herself. She kicked at the gun, missed, and sent a second rapid kick to his knee. The crunching sound turned her stomach as Lydecker sunk to the floor with a groan.

Unfortunately, she was too late. As he fell to the ground, they heard Cassi's voice. Her eyes were still darkening.

"You are a disgrace to the uniform," She said and paused just as he had.

Lydecker's eyes were open wide in the realization that the voice coming from the girl was his. For a split second, his fingers relaxed on the gun Max kicked it, rolled him on his stomach with his arm behind his back.

Miranda did not know what was going on but Max did. She had seen what happened at the end of this statement and she suddenly realized why Cassi had the shirt on. (How am I going to get to her without letting him go?) The gun from the fallen guard appeared from beneath it as she continued, "...and a liability to this organization."