Max felt helpless. Cassi had the gun trained on Lydecker's head. She couldn't move to stop her or Lydecker would escape. Realizing what was happening, Miranda quickly moved in front of Cassi.

"Cassi, no. You can't do this."

Cassi blinked her eyes but the color did not change. She began again.

"You are a disgrace to the uniform..."

"Cassi." Miranda shouted.

Cassi blinked and started again but there was a slight stutter this time and it was slower.

"Y-you are...a disgrace..."

"Cassi," Miranda pleaded once again, kneeling down in front of her. "Cassi, it's Mira. Don't do this Casimir, don't do it."

Cassi's eyes blinked one more time and when they opened, they were a gray blue and moist. She spoke with a small voice in a hesitant whisper.

"Mira?"

Miranda sighed and held out her free arm. "Yes, it's me. I'm okay. Don't do this."

"Mira." Cassi cried and burst into sobs on Miranda's shoulder. Miranda closed her eyes, wrapped the arm around Cassi and patted her hair. "It's okay Cassi." She repeated softly.

In a burst of anger, Max grabbed Lydecker's head and jerked it in their direction so he could see the sisters. Her voice was low through clenched teeth, "She learned to hate because of you. I hope you are proud of yourself." Lydecker just stared at the duo, still trying to digest what he had seen. Max was tempted to just snap his neck and be rid of him. No one deserved it more. She glanced up and saw Miranda looking at her. Miranda shook her head slowly and Max heard the soft voice speaking to her, "It's not worth it. He's not worth it."

Max knew that she was right. Killing him would only give her something else to carry around. Plus, she didn't want to give Cassi one more bad memory to carry around. She already had enough. With her fist, she hit him at the base of the skull and he slumped unconscious back onto the floor. They needed time to get away.

Jumping away from him, Max took the gun from Cassi's limp fingers and tossed it on the bed. After a quick check, she motioned Miranda and Cassi to move into the hall. The soldier was still out but Max knew he could "come to" at any time. Max dragged him into the cell, closed the door, and locked it. She looked at Miranda. "Are you okay to walk?"

Miranda gave her a strong, firm nod. "I will run if necessary." She looked at the baby. "We will be fine. Take care of Cassi and we'll follow."

Max scooped up Cassi who rolled up in a ball in her arms. The encounter had severely drained her and she was not longer able to stand which meant that there was no way she would be able to hold herself on Max's back. Rushing to the door, Max remembered the bullet that grazed her shoulder. She had blocked it out earlier but the weight of Cassi made the blood flow stronger and it began to throb. She wondered how long she would be able to hold her.