"So, soldier, it seemed like a good idea to you to take a short cut on the run this morning?"

"It seemed like the most efficient thing to do, Sir."

"Efficiency doesn't cover cheating, 494."

"Sir, I wasn't cheating. I was merely looking for a way to maximise my time."

"I'm sorry, 494, did you just talk back to me?"

Silence.

"Didn't think so. Solitary for two days. The silence might make you realise that you can't talk all the time, soldier."

CJ felt his heart stop in his chest. A thousand different conversations flitting through his mind, accompanied by a thousand different punishments. He'd never claimed to be a perfect soldier.

He surveyed the man stood in front of him. He looked older, more worn. But that was to be expected after pretending to be dead for two years. The suit that he was wearing wasn't too sharp, but not too shabby either. CJ imagined he knew exactly what effect he was aiming to create. He wanted to appear conservative enough on the cameras to be respected but he also wanted to appeal to the more radical members of the transgenic rights movement.

All in all, it was the perfect look and CJ wasn't the least bit surprised, he'd always remembered Colonel Lydecker as being nothing if not shrewd.

At the moment Lydecker was smiling at them all, his grin wavering as his gaze fell on CJ. The grin returned full force and CJ recognised the intent behind it. Colonel Lydecker was definitely shrewd.

CJ felt as though the eyes of every single government agent in the room were centred on his back, as well as their guns. The Colonel extended a hand and CJ knew, in that one instant, that he was once again under the control of the government he'd been running from for so long.

He extended his own hand, and resisted the urge to crush every bone in his former commander's hand, though his grip was definitely tighter than normal. "CJ, right?" Lydecker asked and CJ knew that every ball was in the enemy court.

"That's right."

"David's mentioned you. You run the teen helpline, right?" He took back his hand and CJ allowed himself a grim, inward smile as Lydecker gently flexed his fingers.

"Yes." Short answers, CJ was being interrogated and he was going to stick to every method he had ever been taught.

"Are you going to help with the transgenic rights movement? We need as many people as possible."

CJ made a show of looking around the room. "You look like you have a lot of support already."

"CJ!" Jen reprimanded from his side. She smiled winningly at Lydecker. "He's normally much better behaved."

Lydecker looked at her shrewdly, the grin still in place. "You two go out?"

Jen opened her mouth to reply and CJ cut her off. "No," he said firmly. Four sets of eyes swivelled to look at him and he heard Jen gasp, but his eyes were fixed on Lydecker.

"CJ?" Jen asked, softly, sounding upset.

CJ knew the others were going to start talking so he spoke fast and low, just loud enough for only the people close to him to hear. "What are you doing campaigning for transgenic rights, Lydecker? Have a change of heart from when you used to torture little transgenic children and throw them in the basement with the nomalies?"

Lydecker's grin vanished, to be replaced by the hardened mask that CJ recognised. "The government wanted me dead. I agreed to work with them for only one thing."

Eyes narrowed, CJ asked; "What's that?"

"Max. 452." Lydecker sighed and ran a hand through his short hair, "I want to know where she is. I gather you know?"

For the second time in an hour CJ felt his heart stop, this time at the sound of her name. He barked out a laugh which had no humour in it whatsoever. "You want to find Max?"

"Yes."

CJ watched him silently for a moment, taking note of his hands and mentally calculating the speed that Lydecker could reach for his gun and how long the goons in the crowd would take to shoot at him. "She's dead, Sir."

Lydecker froze, his expression one of horror. "No," he breathed out.

"Yes," CJ said, his voice hard, "saw her die myself. In my arms, as a matter of fact."

The Colonel seemed to gather himself together. "I need to know all the details of her death," he looked at CJ, "Transgenics aren't safe. They need to be rounded up to a safe place."

"Where they can be shot like cattle?" CJ asked, cuttingly.

"It's the best thing for them!" Lydecker yelled, drawing the attention of others around them. "You, of all people, understand that, 494!"

CJ froze and tilted his head, slowly, like an animal having caught sight of it's prey. When he spoke, his voice was cold and lacked any of the character inflections inherent to CJ. "Never call me that again. I will never be a number again." He turned to leave, the crowd parting for him. Without missing a step he yelled over his shoulder, in a perfectly friendly voice, "Oh, and Lydecker? You tell Blondie over there to shoot me, I will put a fist through his head before he even reaches his gun. You understand me?"