To Rune, for the inspiration. You have a truly warped mind, babe, and that's what I love about you.

A/N 1: As in the previous chapters – ideas for fic and character development, questions, plotbunnies, suggestions, flames, character pictures, corrections, additions, comments, and everything in between can be mailed to hack_heaven@usa.net

A/N 2: WritingMoose: *Blinks* Really? I thought only people whose characters were accepted read these things. *Shrugs* I guess we really do learn something new every day ;)

J.DeLuca: No way, sugar! I might not be terribly fond of my 'puter, but I can write on it, and it gets me on the 'Net, and that's good enough for me ;)

A/N 3: Regarding the future interludes – anyone got anything they want to see? It can be the history of a character, a small, romantic moment, a character-building chapter for one of the less-seen characters...anything. Any suggestions can be left in the reviews – and don't worry. I don't bite...much ;)

Italics indicates thoughts

Oh, and just to remind you – Blade has some weak, telepathic abilities. Not so strong that he can influence people's minds, or talk telepathically to another, but strong enough to make him able to predict an opponent's moves pretty accurately. Ryan, being a lot stronger in that regard, naturally has the same abilities – unfortunately, he often ignores them in favor of a fair fight.

* * *

Chapter Sixteen: Showdown

* * *

Exactly twenty-six minutes later Ryan parked the stolen van in front of the abandoned plant. He got out and took a long look around...and ever so slowly started to suspect that maybe this wasn't the greatest idea he'd ever had.

The place wasn't unnerving – it was downright scary. Hazardous, too, with all the torn piece of twisted, corroded metal, remains from a time when the economy was prospering, and mutants were not legal prey.

Ryan intended to scan the area and look for Blade, but didn't get the change to do so before a voice broke the silence of the night.

"So...you actually showed up. I'm impressed."

Ryan spun around and saw Blade materialize from the shadows.

"Of course I showed up," Ryan snapped and took a step closer. His rational mind screamed at him to get the hell away from there, but he pointedly ignored it.

"And you're alone...no team to haul your sorry ass out of the fire this time," Blade continued with a cruel smirk. "Good...very good."

Even thought Ryan knew that Blade was only trying to intimidate him, the cold confidence still made his determination falter. In many ways this was exactly like that day in Atlanta six years earlier...with the one difference that this time Ryan was prepared and knew what to expect from his opponent.

"Drop the games, Blade. You don't scare me...not anymore."

Blade took a step closer.

"I'm getting tired of you, Cretes. I should have killed you in Atlanta when I had the chance, but then again...it wouldn't have been nearly as challenging," Blade half-growled.

"Well, in that case you fucked up," Ryan spat. "Because I'm not going to die anytime soon."

Blade just smirked and drew his guns, and Ryan felt a rush of adrenaline. He had no doubt that Blade would kill him in a heartbeat...but for the moment, it appeared that Blade intended to play fair. He tossed the guns aside, not even bothering to check where they landed.

The message was clear – no weapons. No deliberate use of powers.

Ryan was well aware that this would give Blade the advantage – he was bigger, and he was stronger. On the other hand Ryan's powers had become such an integrated part of his mind that he used them without even thinking about it. So maybe this would be a reasonably fair fight after all.

Ryan held out his knife, then tossed it in the general direction of the guns. Blade watched the movement, then sent Ryan a ruthless smile.

"Oh, you're going to die today, Cretes. Don't doubt that for a second...or did you honestly think that you could take me on and win?"

And only then did Ryan realize his mistake – he had evaluated Blade's skills based on their previous encounters, but he had failed to see one thing: Blade had never fought him as an equal...

He'd been holding back.

* * *

"I hope you know where we're going," Jordane noted from her place in the driver's seat.

Next to her, Aaron quickly checked the map.

"Don't worry, I do. We're about halfway," he replied. "Turn left next time."

"Gotcha," Jordane said, and sped up a bit. The roads were all but deserted, so she saw no use in obeying the rules.

Aaron shook his head.

"Blade is going to kill us for this, you know that, right?"

Jordane just smirked.

"Don't be such a pessimist – we'll worry about that when we get there."

* * *

The first strike came out of nowhere, catching Ryan completely by surprise. He ducked in the nick of time, and lashed out at Blade, hoping to catch the other unaware...but no such luck. Blade deflected Ryan's kick with an almost mocking ease, and the two opponents slowly circled each other.

Powers. He's using his powers to predict my moves, Ryan realized. Well, two can play that game.

Blade attacked again, but this time Ryan was ready and responded with a well-placed kick. Thanks to Blade's quick reflexes Ryan missed his target, but he had already made his point – he might have underestimated Blade, but he did not intend to go down without a fight.

The two slowly circled each other, looking for any signs of vulnerability, and found none.

At the edges of his mind Ryan felt that Blade was preparing another attack, and decided to beat him to it. Drawing on everything he'd learned from Suzuka, and several years of street fighting, he spun around and kicked at Blade, but hit nothing but air. His every instinct screamed at him to duck or get out of the way, but it was too late.

Halfway through his counterstrike Ryan felt sharp pain in his left shoulder as he failed to deflect Blade's next attack, and he momentarily lost his breath.

Again the two took a step back to re-evaluate their tactics, and Ryan used the short break to check his shoulder. Sure, it hurt, but the pain was already fading. He knew he'd been lucky, though – that strike had been aimed at his throat, and had been delivered with enough strength to crush the fragile bones and muscles.

Again Ryan attacked, and this time he almost managed to hit his opponent. He spun around, determined to take Blade down-

-And found himself facing two very deadly looking knives.

A new rush of adrenaline coursed through his body, sending his pulse through the roof. Ryan took a step back and watched with dawning fear as Blade moved closer with the knives ready.

Fuck.

"You're too naïve, Cretes," Blade said in a downright frightening voice. Cold, almost hypnotic, like a snake ready to strike...but underneath it lay a disturbing eagerness as victory – and Ryan's death – was within reach.

Ryan felt the attack fragments of a second before Blade lashed out with the knives. The sudden strike would have killed an ordinary man, but Ryan quickly moved out of the way and felt a gush of air near his ear as one of the knives tore through the air.

He jumped back, and watched Blade carefully. His fast breathing set his throat on fire with every new breath, but he forced himself to ignore the discomfort. Ignore it, and stay alive.

Blade lashed out again, and once again Ryan managed to avoid the knives – but just barely. He took a step back, and as he watched Blade prepare for another attack, he knew he had only one choice left.

Blade had broken the rules – so could he. Could, and would. Otherwise it would only be a matter of time before the knives found their target.

For the third time Blade attacked, but this time Ryan was ready. He ducked, and lashed out with his powers. It was a reaction based solely on instinct. He had never received any training, and thus had no idea what the result of his actions might be.

If he *had* received the proper training, he would have known that two telepaths, trying to read each other's minds, as well as protect their own at the same time, could cause considerably problems.

But unfortunately, no one had been around to train Ryan, so he defended himself the only way he could - he used his telepathy to force himself past Blade's shields in order to stop the attack.

The result was more devastating than he could ever have imagined.

A flash of pain tore through his mind, clawing at the inside of his head and sending thousands of invisible needles into his nerves. It felt like someone had set off a mental bomb inside his head, and Ryan screamed.

Had he been able to focus on anything besides the pain he felt, he would have realized that he wasn't the only one in agony – Blade, too, felt the consequences of the telepathic attack and collapsed on the ground, screaming as the sudden pain tore through his mind.

The pain intensified, and within seconds both men were unconscious.

* * *

Blade was the first of them to regain consciousness. He opened his eyes and groaned as he became aware of the splitting headache he had. After a few attempts he managed to sit up, but not without considerable pain.

He slowly scanned the area and found Ryan hidden in the shadows, apparently still unconscious. At least he thought it was Ryan – in the dark, twisted shadows it was hard to see exactly who the person was.

Blade somehow managed to get on his feet, and only then did he realize that something was...off. The headache made it hard to think, but even through the pain it was obvious that something was very wrong. He felt weak – weaker than he usually was after a battle, even if he had been fighting a telepath. In fact, his entire body felt...different, somehow.

Blade half-stumbled to one of the clear, black puddles on the ground and collapsed next to it. He ignored the headache and moved closer to the dark mirror, determined to find out what the hell had happened to him.

The pale moonlight illuminated his face just enough to create a clear image in the small pond, and Blade leaned close enough to get a good look...and only then did he discover what had happened.

Because the face that stared back at him was Ryan's.

* * *

Coming up: Blade is Ryan and Ryan is Blade? Just what the hell is going on? What is going to happen when Aaron and Jordane show up? And will I ever write a chapter that doesn't end with a cliffhanger? Until next time, folks ;)