Carlos Oliveira

Nathan ran hard. Determined to tell the others what he knew. Reaching another street he saw an apartment complex. He remembered being there once. Something about a fellow wrestler living there,....Mike! That was it, and he knew Mike's apartment code! Rushing to the door, he opened it and stepped inside. Hitting the code he heard the soft buzzer go off telling him it was unlocked. Grabbing the door, he rushed inside and took the steps rather then the elevator. Doubting the power worked and after the incident at the news building, Nathan didn't want to be near another elevator. Taking them two at a time he held a hand to his cracked ribs and winced in pain. Getting to the third floor he opened the door and ran down the hall to Mike's apt. He wasn't surprised to find it unlocked and open. Stepping inside he started his search. The keys to his dad's car had to be hear some where. With the car he could get the others and back to the hospital in no time. Ryan's life depended on it. Finally he found them. Grabbing them from the hook they were on he rushed back out and down to the basement level. Opening the underground parking lot he looked for Mike's car. There! In the corner it sat. A 2001 Ford Explorer that he had just bought. Fumbling with the keys for a moment he finally got them into the lock and with a half turn it clicked unlocked. Getting in he started it up and drove to the gate. Hitting the small garage door opener like switch the gate opened and Nathan was on his way but as he sped out he nearly ran over,.....Jarred! What the hell was he doing here? Nathan beeped the horn and Jarred turned.

"Jarred get in man!"

Jarred went to the passengers side and opened the door hoping in.

"Nathan? What the hell are you doing here man?"

"Saving the world what else." Nathan joked.

"Your a little late, Nessa....she's....gone Nath,...it's my fault." Jarred solemnly spoke.

"What? What are you talking about?"

Jarred told Nathan about the bullet that killed Vanessa as Nathan drove to the news station. Nathan said nothing as his friend told him about it all. After he was done Nathan told him about Piers and Ryan and together they smiles about Keel's intervention.

"I just wish things were different Nathan that's all."

"I know man. All we can do is try to save the people left man. How's Sam doing?" he asked.

"She's better. She's a tough one." Jarred answered.

"Oh, I know the truth of that." smiled Nath.

They pulled up to the station and parked outside the front. Jarred hoping out before it stopped in his desperate urge to get to Nessa and take her body out of here. Nathan slowly got out holding his ribs with one arm. As he walked towards the building he wiped some blood from his cheek and tied his undershirt tighter around his waist sending fresh flames of pain into himself. He had to stop the bleeding. The cut on his cheek wasn't bad and neither were his ribs so much as just god-damn sore, but the slash on his side was bad. The shirt was keeping it closed but he still lost a lot of blood. Jarred came rushing out with Vanessa's hand held firmly in his own. Both were smiling. John came out next with another "You crazy son of a bitch" looks on his face but clearly glad to see him alive. Then Samantha stepped out. She still looked like an angel to him. He winced in pain as he tried to lift his arm forgetting about the ribs.

Sam took of running for him. All she could think about was how glad she was to see him again. She practically jumped on him but stopped when he cried out suddenly. She noticed the dried blood on his face and the soaked T-shirt around his waist. He was in a very bad way. Suddenly his eyes rolled back and he passed out from the loss of blood. She grabbed him to stop him from hitting the pavement. His wound reopened as fresh blood flowed again from his waist.

"Nathan!" Sam screamed.

"We have to get him to the hospital!" stated Jarred.

"There we can patch him up and get to the sub-way." he continued.

"Why the sub-way?" asked John.

"Cause it runs to the other side of town near the mountains,....where Ryan is. Piers has him Nathan said and he needs us!" answered Jarred.

"Then what the hell are we waiting for?" asked John as he lifted Nathan's limp body and walked it to the Explorer. Placing him in the very back with Sam so he could lie down, John took the drivers seat while Nessa and Jarred hoped into the back. John sped away to the hospital hoping that Nath could hold on just a little while longer.

Sam couldn't believe this. If Nathan died after just being reunited with her she'd lose it. She stroked his forehead softly as she spoke reassuring words to him. Anything to keep him fighting. Finally forgetting about being secluded like she normally was she won the mental battle and gave in to her true feelings and spoke them quietly to Nathan in a hope to keep him going.

Jarred hoped that Nathan could hold on long enough. He hadn't seen the wound before, but when he did he knew it was bad. When they got there they'd have to find something to give him a blood transfusion. That was if the could find out his blood type first!

Dr.William Birkin

The conversation was Markensons nightmare, now he had to talk down one of the Isis executives, and that would be no easy task. "Yes...sir...sir look, the whole incident is well under our control now, yes..including piers..." he said in a frustrated tone, wanting nothing more than to shoot the damned telephone if for just a moment of silence. "THIS IS TOP PRIORITY BRIAN..LET ME REMIND YOU IT IS BECAUSE OF ME THAT YOU ARE BEING SPARED!" screamed the static voice of the executive, interruptions from the damaged phone lines making themselves known, "Sir, I haven't forgotten that.." You arrogant son of a bitch... , Markenson almost laughed, wanting to yell that at the self righteous bastard. "Remember..Piers MUST DIE...if word of the augmentation project goes public we have lost any chance of having the department of defense give us the green light for rolling out the technology, this is PARAMOUNT TO OUR AGENDA!". Markenson slammed the receiver down after hearing the click of a dead connection. "GOD DAMNIT, IS THERE NOTHING THAT WORKS IN THIS DAMNED TOWN!" he screamed, his harsh voice echoing off of the walls. "I uh..I'll go have a look at that sir.." replied an intimidated soldier, practically running out of the office rather than face any reprimand from the enraged security director...

David walked down the rubble strewn street, the sounds of someone speeding around in a car echoing throughout the otherwise silent town. He had been utterly silent since he and Alex had gotten out of the city hall. "David, you still haven't explained fully what the hell is going on" said Alex, angry at his lack of conversation, "You've been fuming and silent since we got out of there now what the hell is wrong...". David turned to look at her, "If I tried to explain you wouldn't understand...the worst part is now you care nothing for me..hell, you don't even remember who I am..." he said sadly "meaning they've already won in a way...". "But...that's not true..I..I think I remember you...vaguely...and even if I don't, I do still care whether you live or die David.." she said quietly. "...Alex..if..if we don't make it out of here...I want you to know that..well..I love you..." he said, leaning forward to kiss her.

The sentimental moment was destroyed by the sudden, triumphant, reptile like cry, drowning out the sounds of gunfire. "David...? What was that?" said Alex, shaking slightly as another roar penetrated the air. "I don't know and I don't think I want to.." replied David, pulling Alexandra with him as he ran forward down the street GODDAMNIT! NOT NOW...THIS JUST HAS TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW! David cursed the town silently under his breath, becoming very irritated with the horrible timing these monstrosities had..