Alec scratched the back of his neck subconsciously as if the barcode would just rub right off. He watched as Harbinger walked down the alleyway towards him but he was still a far ways off. Alec focused in on him and could see he was counting the money he had one from the fight just twenty minutes before. Alec turned to the two men he was with and quickly went back over the plan, "Alright, you take him out and the money is yours. Take him out in under two minutes and," Alec stated as he pulled out two hundred dollar bills, "you get this too."

Their eyes lit up at the sight of the money and quickly hid amongst the trash and darkness of the alley as Alec walked away and hid in a corner to keep a close watch on the events. He smiled devilishly but he wasn't sure what he was smiling about. The fact that he had tricked two idiots into getting their asses kicked or that he had found Jared.

Jared "Harbinger" Parker, better known as X-6 752 pushed the money he was holding into his jacket pocket as he brushed his light brown hair out of his soft brown eyes and smiled to himself with the way things were going. He was making more money in one week than most of Portland's residents could hope to make in a year which was fairly ironic for a man who had no real need or want for money. He ran the tips of his fingers along a dumpster in the alley and was too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice the labored breathing that was coming from in front of him.

Suddenly a two by four came swinging out of the darkness and Jared knew he didn't have enough time to block it or dodge it. He held his head back and turned his shoulder into it allowing it to shatter in splinters. He locked his teeth together as the cuts from the barbed wire were reopened on his shoulder and began to taint his shirt a crimson red. Reaching out with his right fist into the darkness he grabbed his attacker by the back of the neck and threw him face first into the dumpster. Turning towards him he started to kick him to make sure he didn't get back up when his left foot was kicked out from under him. Jared landed painfully on his back and almost let out a cry of pain.

The two men were already over him punching him in the stomach and trying to fish the money out of his jacket pocket. Jared didn't try to block their hits as he placed his hands over his head and rested them firmly on the asphalt. It was poor leverage but he flipped himself over and quickly swept his legs around in front of him and successfully kicked out his first attackers legs. Jared leapt into the air and flipped onto the dumpster as his eyes clouded over and hardened showing only rage. The second man was already circling to the other side of the dumpster as the other man pulled himself up and did the same.

Jared set his teeth firm and let his eyes rest as he remembered his nerve and tension training at Manticore. He quickly adopted a state of readiness as the two men rushed in at him. On top of the dumpster Jared had a slight upper hand but the position made it hard for him to predict their next moves. They both tried to grab at his legs and Jared found himself leaping over them and kicking them into the dumpster in mid air. Unfortunately, Jared hadn't timed the kick right and he landed on his hands and knees in the alleyway. He quickly spun around expecting the two to be rushing at him but they merely held their hands in the air. Jared almost let a smile slip out as he looked at the two who were totally intimidated when a bright flash of light blinded him and he felt a Taser sting into his back.

Alec had watched the fight and had also seen the police officers show up and rush down the alleyway. He figured they had come to shake down a tenant for bribe money and decided to use the opportunity to feel better about themselves by beating down a civilian. Alec started to move swiftly down the hall when he stopped in his tracks as Jared stood up and threw one of his attackers at the police. They quickly pulled out their guns but Jared was already diving behind the dumpster which he knew would provide minimal coverage. The four police officers covered themselves rather well as they stalked around the dumpster.

It had gone on far enough as Alec rushed down the alleyway letting out a yell of alarm to get their attention. No sooner had the officers looked up than Jared had leapt from the shadows taking one of his attackers down to the ground hard. Suddenly another shadow seemed to leap out and began pummeling one of the attackers. Alec kept rushing and was soon amongst them as he swiped out one of the officers nightsticks and laid it heavily into his stomach. Turning around he jammed it deeply into the officers back who fell to his knees and collapsed.

Alec turned to see one of the officers pointing his gun at him and Alec almost smiled at the situation but the cop let out a grumbled moan of fear and ran off down the alleyway after the two attackers Alec had spoken with. Alec smiled in triumph as he turned around two find two 9mm Glocks pointing into his face and chest.

"Are you serious?" Jared asked incredulously.
"Totally," Alec remarked, "Manticore's pretty much gone. Definitely not a problem for us anymore."

It had been two hours since the fight in the alley and Jared, Seth and Alec sat in a coffee shop nursing a few bruises and some cups of bland old coffee. Seth had only said a few words the entire time but Jared didn't need him to say anything. It was comforting to know that he was always around watching over him and the others even when he wasn't there. Jared would have expected Jacen to have taken that job but he had his own problems to deal with.

Alec had a smile on his face the whole time. One of the few times he didn't have to force the smile to complete an outward facade, "So how have you guys been?"
Jared shrugged, "Can't complain I guess. How about you though? Been well over a year since I last say you. How's freedom treating you?"
"Not as well as I'd hope. It seems we've got a new problem. Max, I'm sure you know her, let out everyone at Manticore. Including the anomalies."
Jared's mood sank several levels as he slumped deeper into the cracked vinyl padding of their booth. He shook his head sadly, "Any other news?"
"A lot to go over in just a few hours but I'll give you the breaking headlines. Manticore's pretty much gone. Renfro is officially deceased. Anomalies and happy gun toting NSA agents run rampant.

Seth had to spit his coffee back into the cup to the disgust of Alec before blurting out, "Renfro's dead?"
Alec nodded satisfactorily, "Yeah. Max had gone to take care of her for burning down Manticore but she says a guard accidentally shot her."
"You don't think she did it do you?" Jared asked doubtfully.
"Not likely. She's not the type to go around killing people even if they deserve it."
"Or even handle a gun," Seth added.

Several moments of silence reigned supreme as they all digested the information before them. Surprisingly it was Seth who spoke first, "Does something need to be done about them?"
Alec ran his spoon across the table slowly watching it leave a brown, coffee streak behind it. He took is time in thinking before responding, "I think they might. Some of them don't seem to be a threat. I met one of them while Max was at Manticore but I'm not sure about some of the others. The NSA seem to be content in hunting them and all of the Manticore offspring down though."
"Max was at Manticore?" Jared asked surprised.
"Yeah," Seth nodded knowingly.
Alec was a little surprised Seth knew but also answered, "Yeah. She was taking down one of the facilities and was shot in the chest. Apparently they took out X-5 599's heart and gave it to her. They tried reindoctrination but failed pretty miserably at it."

Jared and Seth just stared at each other like Alec wasn't even there. It was as if they were transmitting thoughts without words. It was starting to get eerie and finally Alec snapped his fingers in front of them and nearly shouted, "Wake up!"

They both groggily shook their heads and the huge revelation that was just laid on them. Seth went back into his quiet apathetic mode forcing Jared to ask the important questions. "Zack is dead?"
Alec shrugged, "You mean 599? I'd be willing to bet so. Might have kept him alive for harvesting but I doubt he hobbled out of a burning Manticore with no internal organs and brain shot to shit."
Jared shook his head as if waking from a long dream, "He shot himself?"
"To save Max."
"Damn, well it looks like we have a lot to do now."
"What's that?" Alec asked.
Seth looked up at him through his deep gray eyes and responded, "First we tell Jacen. Then we see what he wants to do."
Alec shook his head, "I'm not taking orders from some X-6. You guys are alright and everything but the friendship line stops at giving orders. I just came to share information."
Seth's face showed no emotion as if he were bargaining an important deal, "You want to run around in a world with nomil..... anomalies and NSA running after you?"
"No, I don't want to run around in the world at the whim of some guy on a power trip either."
"It's not like you're forced to do anything. Think of it as a partnership. You can walk out at any time."

Alec thought about it for a few moments and nodded emphatically, "Let me go back to Seattle and see what's going on there. Give me a week and I'll meet you there."
Seth nodded approvingly, "Alright." He turned to Jared, "You go get Wren. As much as she doesn't want to see us we'll need her.
Alec watched Jared nod in acquiescence and then responded, "What about Terrence?"
Jared was the first to ask, "What do you mean?"
Shrugging Alec replied, "He's back at Manticore or at least around somewhere."
"Damn. Another thing to bring up with Jacen," Jared replied. "Let's get going."