AN: Here it is! The next chapter D The third to last.. this was supposed to be the 2nd to last, but I decided to extend it one more chapter cause it wasn't all going to fit )

This chapter goes out to the wonderful Shannon because she gave me the ideas for most of it D And she just rules ;)

Ashla: You'd be surprised at how you talk compared to us -' Anyway, Conrad is Welsh )

Redex: Ô.Ó Sorry if you think its too long. If you don't like it don't read it P I write at a pace that works for me, and to be perfectly honest I couldn't write it any other way. All the scenes that are there are there for a reason, not just because I felt like it. I'm sure you'll be unhappy to hear that there is a sequel P

Hope you like this chapter D Mostly Tala I must say hehe ;)

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It's all about The Game, before life can rest...
Your failure is my success...
It's all about control... will you make it?
I will deliver the pain! You can't take it!
I'm in control, I Am Your Pain...
After this you won't be the same...
This is My Time, I make the rules.
You mess with this and you die like a fool!

I am the debt that can't be paid...
You're going down in flames...
This is the time I cannot lose.
Live or die you'll have to choose

It's all about me, I am The One...
Soon you'll see there's nowhere to run...
I am the threat that is so real.
Through the blood and the sweat and the pain you will feel..

Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide...
Now it's time to die...
I am the pain, I am The Game...
You won't forget my name!
- "The Game" Drowning Pool

xxxxxx

Tala stared at the pale piece of paper that sat innocently on the desk before him. His eyes narrowed in contemplation, one gloved finger resting on his lips. He didn't know whether to be angry or very, very amused.

They didn't honestly think they would get away with it did they? They didn't honestly think he was that stupid.

A marriage contract. He wanted to laugh. He had the entire world looking for them, for any sign of them, they didn't think something legal like a marriage contract with their names on it would escape his notice? No…he thought, running his finger over his lip, Hiwatari isn't that stupid…he would know I would find out. Then why? Unless…

They also knew it was almost over.

This thought caused a small smirk to develop on his lips. The wheels in his mind started to turn as he shifted through the massive amounts of facts that he had on them. Kingston wanted it to end quickly, and thus thought he was setting the finale up to his specifications. It was really too bad that Tala had been onto him for a long time, otherwise his plan might have actually worked.

Tala liked being in control, and in control he was. He would play their little game until the end when he would crush both BEGA and the Angels with one swift blow. It would be so easy. He would be rid of those that opposed him, have what he wanted, and get the revenge he so thirsted for. He could honestly say that he was happy.

Of course dealing with Bryan was going to be a bitch. He almost grimaced at the thought. Just when he thought his second in command was getting better… he just got worse. Oh well… Bryan would get his revenge and possess the woman that haunted him so in good time.

And then there was Spencer. Ahh good, ol' traitorous Spencer. How he had longed to kill him on sight when he had caught him outside his rooms when he returned. However, he had restrained, knowing that Spencer could be useful for feeding the Angels false information. Yet, he hadn't expected the blond to bolt so fast. He was obviously smarter than Tala had given him credit for, for as soon as he had returned and Tala had left him alone, he had run. Ran from the Abbey and ran from Russia.

Your death will be fit for a traitor, he thought spitefully, sneering. He looked forward to killing his former friend, and his little bitch too. He'd kill them both and take their child so that it could be trained as a puppet for him, and serve his children. He did laugh out loud at this. That would be the ultimate revenge.

Just then the doors to his private office burst open and the blond Mystel Kehl appeared, his breathing ragged. Tala's eyebrows shot up, his eyes narrowing further. No one dared burst into his office without a reason, and judging from the colonel's ruffled appearance he did have a reason.

"Colonel?" Tala asked mildly, his tone flat.

"It's Miss Tomei master," the blond gasped. "She's disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Tala echoed, not sound in the least surprised.

"Yes master," Myself said, straightening. He wasn't surprised either. He knew Brooklyn had called her. "Disappeared. All of her personal things are gone."

Tala's lips quirked. "Then it has started."

Mystel threw a genuinely confused look at the red head. What was he talking about? He wasn't surprised at all that Jade had disappeared. What did he know? "Master?"

Tala pushed his chair back from his desk and stood, giving the blond no attention. "Send out a search party Colonel—head it yourself—though I don't suppose we'll find her. Dismissed."

Mystel bowed before scurrying out of the room, thoroughly baffled. If he had time he would have contacted Brooklyn immediately, but he was consciously aware of the surveillance that watched him now. He hadn't had contact with the BEGA president in two months.

Tala, meanwhile had moved to stare out the window. The Russian capital was a dull grey, as the weather had turned bad in the past few days. Snow blanketed the buildings that could be seen outside his window. The wheels were in motion, and now it was time to move. He knew where she went and would go after her, but first he had to prepare and give the Angels enough time to return.

"It has started. The beginning of the end for you Hiwatari."

xxxxxxxx

She knew almost as soon as she had got the coded email from Brooklyn that something wasn't right. Actually, she had known for a long time that something wasn't right, that Brooklyn wasn't being truthful.

At first she had blamed herself, thinking that it was just her building feelings for Tala Valkov that was causing the doubt in her mind to grow; that was causing her to mistrust Brooklyn and question her feelings for the orange haired man. However, she had fairly quickly come to the realization that it was not her feelings for the red head—whatever those feelings might be at the time—but a true sense of wariness towards her former lover. He was manipulating her, of that she could be sure.

Jade pursed her lips, her hands gripping the steering wheel of the car that had been dropped off for her tightly. She was positive that he was calling her back now because he had everything set up, and was banking on the fact that Tala would follow her. Follow her straight into a cleverly laid trap. What she didn't know, however, was what it all had to do with the Angels. Brooklyn had always told her that she could find out in good time, except that that time never came. She was no more knowledgeable of the situation from BEGA's point of view than she had been when she came to Biovolt months before.

So why was she obeying Brooklyn's beckoned call? Curiosity mostly. That and despite the fact that she didn't overly believe in a one man world dictatorship, she felt that Tala was better for the job than Brooklyn was, as Brooklyn was just… slimy. At least Tala was honest, if brutally so. Of course, she was slightly biased, so if she had to choose a side that actually had a chance (and the Angels had no chance) then she was better to take her chances with Tala, the man she loved, and Biovolt.

Suddenly her cell phone rang startling her out of her thoughts. Cautiously she pulled the silver, top of the line phone out of her purse, wincing as she did so. She really wasn't very smart sometimes. Generally when one ran away from something they destroyed all contacts with it…and did not keep the cell phone they gave you.

"Hello?" she answered, knowing that even if she didn't answer they could track her with just the connection.

"Jade! It's Mystel! Why the hell do you still have the cell phone Biovolt issued you?!"

Jade flinched at the blonde's voice. "Because I'm a dumb ass," she bit back sarcastically. "I made a mistake, I suppose Biovolt will be on my tail now?"

"Actually no, which is why I'm actually glad you answered. Tala knows something Jade, he's ordered a search party, but when I told him you were gone he didn't even flinch. It was if he knew. He said he doesn't expect to find you. He also said, "Then it has started." Do you know what he meant?"

The red haired woman frowned, the wheels in her mind whirling a thousand miles a minute. It could only mean that Tala knew everything. That he knew she was a spy, and that Brooklyn was double playing him and the Angels, and that he had a plan. He was letting her go, she realized, and he wasn't going to follow…was he? "I don't know Mystel," she answered after a pause.

Mystel was silent for a second as well, before snorting. "I think you do, but whatever. Just stay off the main highways and get to the BEGA compound as soon as possible. Tala has ordered the search of Moscow but not much beyond that. I think he suspects Brooklyn's plan."

She made a humming sound. "I'm only ten minutes away now."

"Do me a favour Jade, tell Brooklyn about my suspicions. Tala's too smart to be underestimated."

"Alright, but only if you do me a favour."

"What?"

Jade's eyes narrowed on the road. "Stay the hell away from the BEGA compound. Unless you are ordered there by Tala, do not go anywhere near it any time soon. I have a feeling that something is about to happen and I don't want anyone else getting hurt."

"But—aw shit. I have to go. Destroy the phone Jade. See ya, and be careful."

The line clicked and went dead. Jade sighed, pressing the automatic window button and then tossing the phone out of the speeding car. They would probably find it sometime, but it didn't matter.

Was she going to tell Brooklyn of Mystel's suspicions? Not a bloody chance. Brooklyn had kept so many things that she needed to know from her that she felt the need for a little pay back. Besides, she had plans of her own. No man was going to control her life without her having any say at all in it. She would control her own destiny.

"I don't know what game you're playing Brooklyn," she murmured to the night, "But you can bet that it ends here."

xxxxxx

Mystel stood on the roof of the Abbey, staring down that the sleeping city of Moscow. Sleep. A function that he barely got to perform anymore.

He had, of course, ordered the search of Moscow, and they found, as he knew they would, nothing. He had acted his part—angry—and had even shot a private to display this anger, however, inside he was more confused and mistrustful than angry.

Jade knew something, of that he was sure, which meant that she was more than just acting when it came to Tala Valkov. He had seen them together on occasion, had watched how she threw him coy, yet reserved smiles and had fended off his attentions. Yet, there was no denying that she was merely playing hard to get and that she was 'falling' for the red haired dictator. At the time, Mystel had thought she was just playing, that she was acting because Brooklyn had told her to get close to Valkov, but now…now he wasn't so sure.

He also had a feeling that she knew about Brooklyn's manipulation, in some way. She of course couldn't know that he had a fiancé and child, and that he was merely using her for his own benefit, but she had to know something. It was something that Mystel himself did not like about his orange haired boss. Not only was he manipulative, but he would also use anyone, including those he 'cared' about to achieve his ends. It made him wonder if Brooklyn was just using him, despite the fact that they had been friends for a long time.

I wouldn't doubt it, he thought cynically, his laugh echoing mirthlessly into the night. He knew his friend all to well. Brooklyn was ruthless and would not hesitate to sacrifice his friends if need be. Which was part of the reason, as Mystel was starting to figure out, and as Jade apparently had already figured out, that Brooklyn was doomed to fail in his goal to take over what Biovolt had started. Brooklyn would never lead the world, as was becoming apparent.

If the months in Biovolt had taught him anything, it was that the combined force of Tala Valkov and Bryan Kyznetsov was something to be reckoned with. Tala was the brain, and Bryan the brawn, and Brooklyn underestimated this. Mystel didn't really believe that Brooklyn's plan to have the Angels and Biovolt destroy each other was going to work, and even more, he didn't really believe that reviving Black Dranzer was a smart thing to do. There were so many mistakes…

"Brooklyn, you're a fool," Mystel whispered to the night, his eyes fluttering shut.

"I've had the same thought myself many times," a silky cool voice broke through the darkness. "It makes me wonder why he's esteemed to be so intelligent."

The blond jumped, spinning and coming face to face with Tala, who was still half hidden by the shadows that slunk silently over the cold rooftop. "Ma-master!"

Tala's smile was icy and menacing as the red head stepped forward, his turquoise eyes flashing dangerously, centred directly on the now nervous blond. "It's sort of refreshing you know," he started, coming to a stop beside Mystel, turning his head and meeting the blonde's eyes, "Discovering that you were right all along. Finding proof of what you have suspected for a long time."

Mystel's blue eyes darkened, struggling with himself not to show the fear that was settling over him. He had heard that Tala Valkov could be one of the most terrifying beings on the planet, and now he was finding out first hand himself. He knew he was going to die. "How long have you known?" He asked, his voice steady and toneless.

Tala's smile warmed a bit, losing the menacing quality as a throaty chuckle escaped through his lips. "I've suspected for fair while. Since that day you killed that corporal and we happened upon you. You're eyes say too much Colonel."

"I see," Mystel looked away, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. After this he remained silent, waiting for his sentence to be delivered.

Tala was silent also, for a moment, his eyes never leaving the fidgeting colonel. "It's a shame you're a spy, I rather like you. You have what it takes to be one of my right hand men, perhaps we can work something out?"

Mystel's head snapped to the side, his wide eyes once again meeting with Tala's. "Wh-what?"

Once more Tala chuckled, turning his eyes to the sleeping city. "It seems to me that you are a bit…ah, disillusioned with your boss. I am merely asking if you might be willing to make a deal with me, you give something to me and I'll give something to you. Unless of course, you are going to continue to play loyal to this Brooklyn Kingston, in which case I will be forced to kill you." His voice dropped by the end, becoming more threatening than Mystel had ever heard it before.

"What sort of deal?" Mystel replied, his chin raising, watching the other man warily.

Tala's smile was almost frightening, his eyes mirroring it to perfection. "It's simple really," he said casually, his voice masking the sinister underpinnings of his words, "You tell me what I want to know, and I'll spare your life. Help me bring down Kingston, Kehl, and I'll make you a very powerful, very wealthy individual."

"Why?" Mystel shot back almost instantly, taking a step back from Tala. "Why would you offer something like this to someone who has for all intense purposes been betraying you?"

If Tala was affected by Mystel's questions he didn't show it. If at all the only response he made right away was the fractional widening of his smile. "You can only betray someone if you were actually loyal to them in the first place," he said after a moment, his eyes drifting closed for a moment. "Besides, I told you. I like you. I'm sure, given the right motivation, you can be as trustworthy as say…Spencer once was. That and I find myself needing a fourth general to replace one that I have…lost."

Spencer…? So that is what everyone is whispering about. Spencer must have been the rat they had all been looking for! Mystel thought, his turmoil fighting to make itself visible.

Should he trust the red head and make the deal? Should he betray Brooklyn his long time friend just for a chance at wealth and power? After all, this was the very man only weeks ago he had thought of as sickeningly arrogant, of course at the time he had assumed that Tala had no idea he was being infiltrated. He was wrong.

Tala had, apparently, known all along, which made the fact that he didn't act that much creepier. It meant he had plans, plans that put him ahead of Brooklyn in many ways. This information just affirmed in his mind the fact that Brooklyn was going to lose.

"You're a smart man Mystel Kehl, I'm sure you have realized by now that I am going to win this little war. I will defeat the Angels, and I will destroy Brooklyn Kingston and anyone associated with him. So, what's it going to be," Tala levelled Mystel with a look, "Join me properly and give me the information I need or die?"

Well, Jade did tell me to stay away from BEGA and to make sure I'm safe. She knows Brooklyn is going to lose…she's already sided with him. A smile slid over the blonde's face, his head tilting backward to look up at the light—polluted night sky. "I'll join you, he's been lying to me anyway. Besides, I got some interesting advice today that I think I'll follow."

The menacing tilt of Tala's smile returned as he brought his hand out in front of him, offering it to Mystel. "Intelligent choice Colonel," he smirked.

Mystel took Tala's hand and shook it, solidifying the deal. "Jade reached Brooklyn's Russian compound about four hours ago." He said, pulling his hand away and shoving it and its mate into the pockets of his military slacks.

Tala's eyebrows shot up. "And how did you find this out?"

Mystel threw a goofy grin at his new leader. "I called her cell phone. Silly girl didn't get rid of it when she fled. And for the record, I think she suspects that you know. She told me to stay away from BEGA for the next week or so."

"Interesting advice hm?" Tala replied knowingly, his eyebrow arched curiously. "So she knows. It makes you wonder what her plans are; I will keep that in mind when I go there tomorrow. In the mean time, why don't you tell me what I need to know?"

He has a bit beast master…one like me. Tala's eyebrows shot up at his bitbeast's pronouncement. Of course, he shouldn't be overly surprised. This man was probably one of Kingston's top agents, why wouldn't he have live bitbeast? "You can start by telling me about and showing me your bitbeast."

The blond blinked. "How-?"

"Wolborg just informed me."

He nodded, lifting his right arm and pulling back his sleeve to reveal a gold band circling his wrist, a sapphire amulet set in it, hovering over the underside of his wrist. "Poseidon!"

In a bright aqua flash a large aquatic-like animal appeared. It was an aqua colored, four-limbed lizard with large webbed claws. Its head and shoulders were decorated with majestic purple and gold ornaments, inlaid with sapphire stones similar to the stone that decorated Mystel's wrist. White, almost translucent and glowing, fins billowed out from its elbow and back and it had a long, dangerous looking tail that was twitching behind it.

Mystel? Is this man threatening you? He is dangerous…I can feel it. A bitbeast makes its home in the crystal that hangs from his neck.

"No Poseidon, he is my friend." Mystel answered out loud, placing a comforting hand on the beast's arm. "He means me no harm."

Tala's eyes moved over the magnificent creature, a sense of awe washing over him. So this was the spirit of the great Greek god of the sea. Brooklyn was ambitious in choosing the spirits for his experiments. It made Tala wonder how he got the spirits in the first place.

"Wolborg," Tala said calmly, and the arctic wolf appeared. The wolf was significantly smaller than the lizard, still only a puppy, but it looked up at the other creature with no fear, only a grudging respect. He bowed his head slightly.

Tala frowned at the action, not really sure what to make of it. "How old is your bit beast?"

"Two years," Mystel replied. "He was among the first born. He was small at first, a baby, much like Wolborg was when he was born. They grow fast. I imagine Wolborg will be full size in a month or two."

"Interesting," Tala murmured, running a leather covered finger over his lip. "Wolborg," the wolf turned its head and looked up at its master. "Why do you bow before him?"

Because master, he is a deity.

"A deity?" Tala echoed, confusion flooding his tone. "You mean like a god?"

Yes master, he is the chosen deity of water.

Tala turned his questioning eyes to Mystel who was, by now, frowning. "Do you know what is meant by Poseidon being a deity?"

Mystel shook his head. "No, which means I don't think Brooklyn knows either." He looked at his bit beast for a moment as if silently asking him a question before looking back at Tala. "Poseidon says that at the beginning of time the Great Mother chose twelve deity spirits to guard the twelve elements. These spirits were commonly worshipped as gods by mortals."

"Interesting," Tala murmured again, his eyes narrowing. "We will have to research this another time. However, right now I need you to tell me anything that I need to know before facing Kingston and the Angels."

Mystel was silent a moment. He touched the stone on his wrist and Poseidon disappeared. Where to start? There was much he had to say. "Brooklyn underestimates you I think, he also counts heavily on your feelings for Jade. Her entire purpose was to lure you to her so that you lost focus."

Tala laughed a derisive laugh, his eyes sparkling in the darkness. "And lure me in she did. His plan worked on that account, she had me eating out of her palm, it's just too bad I happened to over hear a conversation between them when he stole into the Abbey and set the witch and her kitty free." He laughed again.

Mystel's eyes widened. Tala knew more than he thought he did! "Brooklyn has been breeding a bit beast army, he gave you some technology, but he also gave it to the Angels. He gave Zeus and Apollo bodies as well." He paused, sighing and frowning. "But that wasn't the worst of it."

"Then what was?" Tala asked, not liking the colonel's tone. Breeding an army he could handle, but why did the blond look so terrified all of a sudden?

Mystel turned, looking Tala straight in the eye, his voice solid and serious. "When I left to come here…He… Tala," he took a deep breath. "He gave Black Dranzer a body. He had one of his agents with the Angels steal the bit and gave her a body."

Tala sucked in a breath rapidly, his eyes widening in horror. He took a step back, his gaze falling to the ground as he contemplated the meaning of the information.

Why would anyone do something so stupid? Brooklyn was smart, he knew what evil that dark phoenix harboured. Everyone saw what she did to Hiwatari, how she drove him insane.

"No man can control that thing, there's no stopping her." Tala bit out, raking a hand through his hair. "Just who did he think he was going to bond her with?"

Mystel sighed again. "The baby. That's why he stole into the Abbey in the first place. He didn't care about the women, only the baby. He knows that no man can control Black Dranzer, that's why he bonded her to a female. He figured out that if Black Dranzer was bonded to a female young enough she might accept her, rather than drive her insane."

His hate for Brooklyn Kingston grew. "Shit." Tala cursed, starting to pace. "At least I know before hand. Coming face to face with that thing without knowing would have fucked everything over." He exhaled loudly. "But, if she is bonded with my heir that means that she is in the hands of the Angels, and of Hiwatari. Fortunately for me, I do not think there is much love—lost between Black Dranzer and Hiwatari."

"Other than that, there is not much to say. The BEGA compound in Russia is about five hundred miles south of Moscow. Brooklyn expects you tomorrow or the next day, and has recalled the Angels from wherever he sent them. He means to use them to destroy you with minimal effort on his part." Mystel continued. "I can give you blue prints and layouts of the compound to get you in there easier, but just be on your guard."

Tala nodded, a smirk gracing his lips once more. "Thank you. When this is all settled and I have won, you're place will be assured. As I'm sure you've heard, Spencer has deserted Biovolt in favour of the Angels. You will replace him."

Mystel bowed, his smile looking much like Tala's. For some strange reason, he did not feel one bit of guilt towards betraying his former friend. "Am I to go with you then?"

"No," Tala replied instantly. "I have another task for you. As much as I'd like to rub our new relationship in Kingston's face, it's not practical. I need you to go to Ireland for me, to the county of Monaghan where he sent the Angels. They of course will be gone by now, but I need you to make it look like you are going to punish the church that took them in. Do not kill or injure anyone, be it the old father that presides, or the young minister and his wife. We can't afford to offend the religious sects of the world by killing priests. Interrogate them; if they give you a way out take it. Search, but find an excuse to dismiss them. Do I make myself clear Colonel?"

The blond saluted Tala. "Completely."

Tala snorted, turning on his heel. "Good. Leave immediately. Come Wolborg, we have to prepare."

Mystel watched the dictator disappear the way he came and smiled to himself. It looks like you've found your match Brooklyn Kingston, and I doubt you'll handle it well. It was nice knowing you, but you have fucked with people for too long, myself included. No one will take that abuse for very long.

xxxxxx

"This is a pointless argument. We know Kingston is lying, we know he's playing us, but why would he give us all the technology, spend all that money just to screw us over?" Mariah cried, her hands firmly on her hips. "If he is the only chance we have to destroy Biovolt, I say we take it." In her mind's eyes she heard Bryan and Tala's mocking words, gloating over Rei and their friends' deaths.

"Maybe, but as you just said, he is playing us. Who's to say that as soon as Tala is dead and Biovolt destroyed he won't turn on us? Personally, I think he's a bit creepy." Enrique put in, shifting carefully so that he did not disturb the sleeping woman in his lap.

Kai's eyes shifted to the woman that sat at the back of the personal plane, watching the two babies and talking to his wife. Liika was doing a good job of keeping Rhia occupied so that she had no chance of listening… even if she were in range.

"Creepy wouldn't be the term I'd use," Kai heard Max say, "More like a snake. You know, watching and biding his time? And then it strikes."

"Not to mention the poison," Lee said grimly.

"Lee!" Mariah said, unhappy her brother was not sharing her viewpoint.

The captain of the former White Tiger team only shook his head. "Max has a point, Mariah. I don't trust him."

"'Look like th' innocent flower, /But be the serpent under 't.'" Robert mused.

"Exactly," Max said. "Was that Shakespeare?"

"Macbeth," Robert said with a nod.

"All this just proves we can't trust him!" Lee said, lowering his voice at the last minute so as not to upset the infants, or worse, attract Rhia's attention.

Enrique frowned. "Who else has resources like his that can we trust?"

"If I could contact my people they would gladly give us what we asked for," Anza said sadly. Enrique blinked, having not heard her awaken.

"Your people would also be the first to suffer once Tala found out," Robert said firmly, though not unkindly. "We've already endangered the villagers of Liencres, we cannot put an entire nation at risk. Besides, the Spanish government would not welcome you or any of us."

"Besides that, we don't have that kind of time," Kai finally spoke up, his tone firm. "Whatever Kingston is planning, he plans for it to happen soon, like in the next couple of days soon. That gives us no time to manoeuvre."

"Which is probably what he is counting on," Robert added, crossing his arms over his chest. "He has backed us into a corner and he knows it."

Kai nodded. "He's planned something, the finale I think. We are going back to Russia to meet head on with Tala in an environment controlled by Kingston."

"The question is though," Oliver said, "How much does Tala know about it? He's too smart to just go after some girl without thinking. He doesn't seem like the type to just walk into a trap."

"Tala probably knows more than he lets on," Spencer murmured, his face drawn into a frown. "He always does. And then there's the chance that he has managed to get a hold of one of Kingston's agents and either torture them until they tell him what he wants, or bought them out to his side. In that case he knows even more. I wouldn't trust how much Kingston thinks Tala knows."

"So that leaves us where?" Mariah demanded, her frown growing darker, her tone frantic. "Kingston can't be trusted, but we can't get out. Tala knows too much, and Kingston underestimates him. Where do we sit in all of this?!"

Robert placed a hand on her arm and tugged her towards him, forcing her to sit beside him. He looped an arm around her waist so that she couldn't freak out. "Please calm down Mariah, we're figuring that out."

"I think… I think we're just the pawns." Enrique said slowly. Everyone in hearing range turned towards him.

"What?"

"We're just pawns," Enrique repeated. "Kingston doesn't give a shit about any of us. It's Tala he wants to get to, Tala, and rest of the Demolition Boys still loyal to his cause. He's using us to get to him. You have to admit… Kai, Liika and Nadya alone are more than enough to attract Tala's attention. The rest of us are a bonus."

"Nothing's stopping Tala from killing Kingston and us the moment we land on Russian soil," Kai said. "Except Nadya. Not even Tala would be willing to sacrifice Biovolt's heir in a crossfire. That and I wouldn't put torturing or enticing Kingston's agents to join his side past him. Between Tala and Kingston, they have us deadlocked. One way or another Biovolt will have us in the next 24 hours. All we can do is wait."

"And when the time comes, we fight."