Next chapter, bit more action and the twins run into an archangel turned Pagan God. Thanks to beta, Effdot. Enjoy.

Chapter Two: Sayonara Bitches

Seattle, Washington (2018)

494 double-checked the detonation mechanism, moving through the familiar motions without thinking.

No need for you.

I love you.

Sometimes the right thing can go so wrong.

He noted the faint tremble had returned to his hands as familiar images and words beat at his psych. 494 took a deep breath and set down the explosive device.

He was clear on what would happen if he failed to eliminate his target. Manticore would see his actions as insubordination, and he would be destroyed; they had no use for a defective product. And that's all 494 was: a weapon designed to kill, not a music teacher. Not an ordinary. Yet despite this truth, 494 didn't want to kill Rachel. Hell, he didn't want to kill Berrisford.

Your job and your only thought is to follow our orders.

You kids are designed to kill. Coldly...efficiently...

Screaming as lasers drilled into his brain, as he was repeatedly prodded that Ben - 493 - was a traitor and not his brother. Nomlies snarled for his blood as the handlers dragged him down a dank hallway. His unit was forced to stop along the hall as the guards pulled a body bag past. 494 observed that the body within the bag was suspiciously their size and height.

He didn't want to die.

Refocusing on that 494 noted that his hands were no longer shaking, and he let out the breath he'd been subconsciously holding back. Picking the detonation mechanism back up, he finished testing it and ignored the voices circulating through his awareness as they pushed at his subconscious. Finding everything in order, he carefully put away the explosive and stood up, his gaze moving back to the apartment window, drawn to the traffic moving through Seattle.

Stepping up to the window, 494 fought down his desire to run, to escape, since he could just open the window and flee. No one would be the wiser, and he could flee the city before his handlers knew anything. This act would leave Rachel safe…

Then he laughed without humor at the notion. Right, and Santa Claus existed. There was no running, not from Manticore. If he did, he'd end up like the traitors, running with no end in sight or dead upon discovery. Rachel would still be killed, and his unit would be left holding the bag for his insubordination.

494 swallowed hard as another thought he purposely ignored was pushed to the forefront of his mind. If Ben hadn't been recaptured, he was likely dead, since, throughout the six months of his torture, he'd been told repeatedly that he would follow a similar fate if he considered running. And over the past three weeks, he'd detected no hint of his shadow, not that he'd been paying much attention, leaving that possibility open. He shuddered at the notion because he was resentful that Ben left him behind, but 494 didn't wish for his twin's death and bit his bottom lip in agitation until the pain forced him to stop.

Fuck, he was a mess.

Taking a few deep breaths, 494 knew what needed to be done and reasoned with himself that it would be quick. Yeah, quick. Like that reassurance made it any better because Rachel would still be dead. But there was nothing he could do; Manticore was everything, and they'd decided Berrisford was a walking corpse that needed to be put down. Unfortunately, Rachel had become collateral.

Besides, if not him, someone else would be sent, and his pretty corpse would be decorating a compost heap. Or wherever Manticore threw the bodies when they were no longer operational.

Recognizing the truth of this sentiment, he noted that his musings had settled some of the tension running throughout his body. Good enough, 494 decided as he moved to the bed, picked up the explosive, and moved to the door of Simon's apartment. Time to finish this assignment. He ignored the trembling that caused his hands to shake minutely.

Earlier, Ben had decided to make his move when he perceived the small changes happening to his twin. Because something had flipped over the week, he could see it in Alec's lack of attention, erratic behavior, and Manticore's upped security.

Although he couldn't pinpoint exactly what had occurred to instigate this change, there was one certainty that could explain these variations. Alec's assignment was about to end, and once it did, his twin would be returned to Manticore. Beyond his reach, Ben couldn't… no, he wouldn't let this happen. His promise had become more than a way to appease the Blue Lady or do right by his twin. It had become a selfish desire because he wanted his brother back.

So Ben calculated and planned accordingly, picking up the necessary supplies: a car, sector passes, and a drug potent enough to take out an elephant. It was the only way to keep his twin under long enough to make their escape feasible and preferable to an open fight. Too many risks with that scenario, and Ben was good, but Alec had nine extra years of training on him. That meant there was no guarantee he'd win a straight-up confrontation between them.

Then it became a waiting game. He knew Alec's schedule and choose today to intercept and abduct him, taking care to look in on the father and daughter, making sure they were still alive and usable. Everything had been proceeding as planned until his twin showed up earlier than expected. Alec's clothing and attempts to draw no attention meant today he was going to kill Berrisford and his daughter.

Though Ben believed Alec wouldn't go through with it since he assumed his brother cared for the girl, perhaps he'd been mistaken. He watched from the gated wall as Alec planted a C4 detonator onto the car Berrisford and his daughter used every morning. Were his speculations incorrect, or maybe not…?

He reconsidered his observation when he noticed that his twin's hands were trembling. The slight movement indicated stress. Plus, Alec wasn't moving. He should have walked away, gotten to a safe distance to detonate the bomb. Instead, his gaze was locked onto the window where the Berrisford girl was preparing for school. He didn't know why since he had no attachment to the girl or her father beyond their connection to Alec, but he sent a silent prayer to the Blue Lady that his twin would do the right thing and let them live.

But when Alec moved to a bush further along the property, trigger in hand, his hope dimmed. Then his twin stopped and cursed before he turned around and moved back to the house, disappearing inside. Was Alec reneging on his mission?

Not sure what Alec was planning, Ben sharpened his vision and focused on him through the windows. Alec had stopped before the Berrisford girl. Reading Alec's lips to get a sense of what he was saying, Ben could see that his twin was telling the girl that she and her father needed to flee. Realizing his twin was defying Manticore, Ben felt his tension unwind because it was Alec, still there even after all this time.

But even as the tension left his body, a familiar Humvee pulled into view outside the gated fence. The men inside wore Manticore armor and were equipped with tasers. His anxiety returned and fear clouded his mind at the sight of those familiar uniforms and the painful memories they brought forward. Still, he pushed them away, reminding himself there was a high chance they'd come calling. Ignoring his overwhelming desire to run, Ben carefully made his way over the fence, into the property's shrubbery, and observed as the Humvee somehow slipped onto the property (likely Alec's doing) and past the gate. They remained parked beyond Berrisford's sight, but his attention snapped back to the house as the girl ran out crying for her father. She dashed to the car as the Humvee started to pull closer, Alec following behind, yelling her name as he tried to catch her. But when the girl reached her father and his twin attempted to close in, everything exploded in a burst of flames and shrapnel. The bomb knocked Alec into a pillar while the girl and her father were thrown aside. Hearing the crack as the girl's head made contact with the cement, Ben doubted that she had survived the impact. Her father, though, looked relatively undamaged. Seeing no movement from the girl's body, he at least hoped that her death had been quick.

But that's when the handlers from Manticore moved out, tasers ready as they stepped towards his twin, who wasn't moving and appeared to be in shock. They were going to take Alec… No! Ben couldn't, wouldn't let that happen and pushed his panic down at the familiar and petrifying sight, focusing instead on what needed to be done. Save his brother. With this in mind, he let instinct and his escalating rage guide his actions and moved.

Rachel wasn't breathing… she couldn't be gone… Though he tried to deny the sight before him, her body remained motionless while the blood pooling around her head assured him that she was dead.

Awareness came crashing in, and 494 began to scream silently as he struggled to think past the pain. His mind started dribbling out useless facts as he stared at Rachel's motionless body. A human's brain could only survive without oxygen for six minutes. The impact from the bomb had likely triggered a blunt cranial trauma which, if severe enough, would leave the subject in a state of permanent vegetation or, in extreme cases, would cause death.

Except this shouldn't have happened! How could it? He didn't touch the trigger. How did… how did the bomb go off without him?

A noise cut through his escalating distress, and he looked away from Rachel when the sound of footsteps caught his attention. Looking up, he found his handlers moving in, surrounding him from all sides. 494 noted with a sense of detachment they had tasers drawn and were approaching him cautiously. Their expressions remained flat. Nothing showed as they closed in, like the scientist and guards when they dragged him off for his sessions in Psy-Ops. That's when he spotted one holding a trigger… identical to the one in his hand, so they- Manticore had activated the bomb and killed Rachel!

Oh god, 494 should have realized this would happen. Why didn't he act sooner? He could have stopped it instead of… Except even as he mentally edited the circumstances to try and prevent this outcome, he knew it was pointless. Manticore always won. Now they were here to collect, and later he would be put down like the other rejects since he failed to fulfill his mission objective. Berrisford was still alive, and his choice to protect Rachel ended in failure because she was… she was dead. With that painful realization, 494 felt his rising tension bleed out as he gave up and looked upon his handlers with dead eyes, not caring what they did to him.

But even as he accepted his fate, an unknown man erupted from the shrubbery and landed before his handlers.

Who was the newcomer?

The stranger wore loose black clothing that included a mask, making it impossible to discern his features beyond his height and vague size. Before anyone could react, the stranger moved, grabbing one of the handlers and snapping his neck before the man could counter. This prompted the rest to shift their attention. Another handler tried to knock the stranger out. But he ducked beneath the attack thrown at him, sidestepped an additional attack before he stomped on the back of his leg to bring him down, then snapped his neck. As soon as his opponent was floored, the others, who'd divided their attention between the newcomer and himself, reassessed their priorities and refocused on the stranger. 494 didn't bother to correct them on what would usually be a fatal mistake. Instead, he looked to Rachel and found Berrisford shakily moving towards her.

She was so still, just a body. 494 had seen enough bodies to recognize the difference between a living one and a corpse. Part of him hoped Rachel would wake up, move, do anything to prove that she wasn't dead. However, Rachel still wasn't breathing. His mind uselessly supplied that if she didn't take in any oxygen soon, it wouldn't be long before her brain shut down due to a lack of air. And there would be no chance of resuscitation. She would remain a lifeless corpse.

In the background, he could hear the fight between his handlers and the stranger ratcheting up as tasers were used, more bones were broken, and a gun was fired. But none of it mattered as his attention remained fixed upon Berrisford when he drew Rachel to him. Hugging her still body and calling out for help frantically, only one minute left until aid was pointless. It was this recognition that caused 494 to break down. Why couldn't he protect her?! He just wanted to keep her safe….

Minutes or hours could have passed as he stared helplessly at Rachel's lifeless body. The lack of noise from his handlers and the stranger indicated the fight was over, and now only Berrisford's cries for help continued to echo around them. But that's when the stranger stepped in front of him, blocking his view. 494 was forced to look up at his… rescuer? 494 abstractedly noted that the mask was gone, and he could see the stranger's face. His disbelief returned as his own face looked back… how could that be his face? Wait… Ben?

"We need to leave. Manticore will send more." No, that was impossible. Ben was either dead or… The impossibility grabbed his arm and forcefully pulled him to his feet. 494 could smell the sharp scent of blood drifting off him like perfume, and when he looked down, he could see the dead bodies of his handlers surrounding them.

Broken, like lifeless dolls, just like Rachel…

Which meant it was Ben, not an illusion or a Psy-ops-induced simulation. It was the traitor, who'd likely been his shadow, stalking him this entire time, which meant his hunch had been right all along. Yanking his arm away, he was about to attack but felt a prick at the back of his neck through his sweater.

Like a door slamming shut, 494 felt his senses dull. He tried to fight it, but his consciousness was shutting down, and everything blurred, just like in Psy-ops before they upped the pain. In the background, he could hear Berrisford shouting, and standing next to him was a man in a white suit who looked at the carnage with amusement before his hazel eyes focused on him. The man's smile was the last thing he saw clearly before he felt his body give out, and everything went dark.

Ben hoisted his unconscious twin over his shoulder and began to walk away from the scene. "Where the hell are you going, you… you monstrosity!"

He paused at Berrisford's familiar words. They were an unwanted echo of Kelly's, playing across his conscious thoughts. Though he wanted to deny them, the truth of that statement surrounded them in the mangled bodies of Manticore's soldiers. He'd caused more damage than was required. After all, he didn't need to kill them in such a violent manner, or at all. Leaving them unconscious would have sufficed. But seeing their twisted features (like the nomalies) as they closed in upon Alec, Ben didn't regret that he snapped. They would have enjoyed harming his twin, just like the gang members who'd brutalized Bruce before killing him. No, as far as he was concerned, ordinaries like that deserved no mercy since they were no better than the nomlies. No, they were probably worse.

He looked over his unoccupied shoulder to Berrisford as the man stared at him with barely concealed revulsion, his daughter's body already cooling in his arms. Ben did feel some remorse that the girl was killed; she had seemed compassionate, and even he recognized his twin's feelings for her. However, the man should be grateful that he killed the men responsible for his daughter's death. But Ben never would understand ordinaries and, in the background, he could hear sounds coming from the house, likely servants. Berrisford mistakenly didn't hire enough bodyguards even with the threat of Manticore hanging over his head. If he'd done such, this incident still would have happened, but perhaps the girl might have lived through it.

However, he had no more time to waste. It wouldn't be long before Manticore's reinforcements arrived. Before he could take out the soldiers, one had managed to get a call out for backup. This had left him on a time limit, and he didn't have more than ten, fifteen minutes tops. Lydecker was punctual if nothing else. Turning away, Ben ignored Berrisford's continued ranting but paused when the glint of silver caught his attention. Looking towards it, he saw the locket Alec had been clutching. It belonged to the girl. Perhaps Alec would appreciate that he'd kept it?

Bending down, he picked it up and pocketed the trinket before taking a breath and started running. Ben truly was sorry about the girl, but he had to protect his twin. With this prompt, he increased his speed as he approached the high gated fence and pushed strength into his leg muscles before jumping over the gate. His foot nearly caught on the edge because his twin's weight was throwing him off balance, but he made it over. Landing upon the asphalt, Ben almost stumbled again. Alec's weight left him teetering, but he righted himself and ignored the twinge of pain along his right foot, reminding himself that he wouldn't fail. Not this time, because he wouldn't forsake his twin. Ben needed him.

Jogging down the street to preserve his strength, Ben ignored the odd and frightened looks thrown his way. There was no time to take the indirect route he'd mapped out earlier. So he attempted to draw as little attention to himself as he made his way back to the car he'd stolen yesterday in preparation for their escape. Except when he drew close enough and spotted the 1989 Honda he'd swiped, Ben halted, his tension increasing when he saw the Manticore Humvees driving in their direction.

They were right on top of the stolen vehicle. He'd never get to the car with Alec's added weight. But he wasn't leaving his twin, not this time. Sharpening his vision to get a look inside the approaching vehicles, Ben's worst fear was confirmed when he sighted Lydecker in the passenger seat of one of the Humvees. Unconsciously, his grip tightened around Alec as fear clogged his mind. Memories from Manticore pouring forth, increasing his agitation and terror. He only loosened his grip when he heard a pained mumble leave his twin's lips. Taking another deep breath, he forced himself to focus past the tension, as Bruce had instructed, and concentrated on his end goal.

Freedom and family…

Tightening his grip enough to keep Alec secure but cause no further injury. He went over the escape routes he'd cataloged within the neighborhood during the week. The one to the west was too close to the approaching Humvees. However, the one south of their position would work. Though it led deeper into the city instead of away from Seattle, as he initially desired, he could still work with that until he lost Manticore. Turning, Ben ran in the direction he'd mapped out earlier. This time, he didn't care what the ordinaries thought as he bypassed them since he could hear the Humvees drawing closer, moving in to trap them. Finding the path he'd scouted earlier for an emergency exit; Ben turned onto it and made his way towards the heart of Seattle and freedom.

"We have a confirmation, sir. Its 493" Lydecker could see that.

What were the chances that 493 happened upon 494 in the middle of his mission? Minimal at best. Still, he wasn't too alarmed that it ended with 493 abducting 494 and he wouldn't waste the opportunity it presented.

It was revealed after the escape that the two had met accidentally. Psy-ops couldn't pry the information from 494 on how this happened, no matter what tactics they used. But it was disclosed that the two grew close, along with others from Unit 7: 428, 319, and 510 were confirmed to have regularly interacted with Unit 4, who would ultimately be dubbed the traitors. 387, the unit leader for Unit 7, verified that on the night Unit 4 abandoned their responsibility to Manticore, 493 tried to persuade 494 to leave with them.

This interaction didn't surprise Lydecker. 493 had always displayed greater codependency than the rest of his unit. He expected the split 599 executed after Unit 4 escaped had done 493 no favors. It was merely snowballing the possibility for mental instability to cultivate. By kidnapping 494, he'd provided enough proof that his initial assessment was correct. However, it also made 493 unpredictable. Lydecker was uncertain how his kid would respond if cornered.

Though this need for familiarity was shared by 494, it differed from 493's difficulties and what Lydecker encouraged amongst his kids. It was also why 494 had endured a longer re-indoctrination. He'd obstinately clung to the notion that 493 wasn't a traitor. 494 always was stubborn. Still, it was because of this dogged loyalty that 494 had stayed behind. And Lydecker was under no illusions that it was because of his dedication to Manticore. No, 494 had remained because of his attachment to his unit.

Now it was time to bring back one of his lost kids and repair whatever damage the outside had done to him before 493 was beyond Manticore's care. "I want air and ground support along with a perimeter set up around Seattle, with all police sector checkpoints covered by our men. Have Seattle PD on the lookout for 494 and 493. Give them only what's needed, no more, since we don't need the local authority asking questions."

He paused; Johnson was the reason 494 was tagged a possible flight risk. His subordinate explained that 494's latest check-ins showed a steady increase in tension and a growing attachment to his targets. Again, the quality that made 494 a gifted soldier was also his downfall. "Find out what happened to Johnson's team." Directing his attention to his men, "do not underestimate them, or they'll slip through our fingers." No one replied, aware of what his kids could do, and began to carry out his orders with trained efficiency.

As Donalds started the Humvee and aimed it towards downtown Seattle, Lydecker opened his portable laptop, looking up maps, as he tried to figure out where 493 could run. They needed to find his kids before 493 escaped or did anything beyond salvation.

Ben laid Alec down to catch his breath while he had a moment to relax. His eyes moved back to his unconscious twin. He could see the drug was working as intended. Outside of the occasional twitch, Alec showed no signs of awakening for at least another hour. But it would make no difference if he couldn't find a way out of Seattle.

He'd been running for the past hour, and even with his increased stamina, the pursuit was beginning to wear on him. He could go to ground, lay low for a time, waiting until Manticore had loosened its security around the city. This would allow him to get his twin out of the city with no chance of recapture. Except Ben understood it wouldn't be that straightforward because when the drug wore off, he was uncertain how Alec would respond. The few scenarios that crossed his mind mostly ended with them being recaptured.

Ben had to re-strategize until he had a viable, if not concrete, way to leave Seattle while successfully evading Lydecker altogether. He anticipated that any streets, sewer openings, and checkpoints departing the city were covered by Manticore personnel. That made it difficult, maybe impossible, to escape from all key exit junctures, so he began to move towards sector eight. There was a sewer opening within that sector that didn't lead out of the city but into the outer limits of Seattle. Most didn't know about this opening because it was out of service due to age and degradation. Ben had only discovered it by accident when he stumbled upon it after his run-in with Alec. What effectively made it unsafe for ordinaries also made it their only workable escape. Once he reached the neighborhood this opening exited into, he would have to avoid unwanted attention and then… freedom.

It wasn't a perfect solution and would require careful maneuvering to avoid ordinaries, but he would make it work.

Taking another deep breath to refocus, Ben hefted Alec back onto his shoulder. Just as he started to move again, he was forced to stop when he saw a hover drone cruising down the road he needed to use. Moving deeper into the shadows to avoid its attention and cameras, he decided to wait until the drone moved on, but then he heard the squeal of tires coming from behind. Ben swallowed hard and looked over his shoulder, praying it would be anything but Manticore. His hope was dashed when he saw the familiar Humvees closing in on his position. Damnit.

He must have caught their attention at the last intersection. Understanding his options were limited. The drone would lock onto his position and remain with him until he entered the sewers, which could give away his exit point. However, he risked recapture for himself and Alec if he stayed and fought.

No choice. He'd have to risk the hover drone. He began to move faster than humanly possible, racing around the drone. Ben continued towards the alleyway leading to the sewers. Ignoring the vibration of the drone as it sped after him and the sounds of the Humvees closing in as they gained ground. Focusing on what needed to be done, Ben pushed down his growing panic at the thought of being returned to Manticore. Sending a silent prayer to the Blue Lady, praying she would answer his desperate need and protect them.

Standing upon the roof ledge above, the Archangel Gabriel, commonly known to most as Loki, watched the kid run past with astonishment. At first, he couldn't believe what he was seeing and thought maybe he'd spent too much time with those bouncing twins that loved glitter and green paint. Oh, the things those ladies could do with a knot. Yes, last night had been exceptionally agreeable in all the right places. But as he watched the twins, Gabriel recognized the truth. After a moment of careful study, he started laughing.

Daddy dearest had created a new baby. A new baby that was fascinating and possibly hiding more surprises than his senses could perceive. Dad was always a secretive jackass and enjoyed being roundabout or obtuse. Not to mention hypocritical. Still, he had to applaud the old man. Gabriel contemplated silently as his golden-brown eyes slid to the unconscious transgenic, recognizing that bright soul.

"You really enjoy being ironic, don't you, Pops."

However, as he contemplated this new puzzle that had landed in his lap (literally), the real question stood, should he follow daddy's newest kids to figure out what made them tick? Or should he continue to act in his own self-interest and stay the hell out of this fight like Switzerland? It was apparent that these transgenics were made to give the middle finger to the apocalypse and something or someone else. At this deliberation, Gabriel's attention returned to the unconscious transgenic, 494, Alec…. Dean Winchester.

Irony indeed.

Gabriel shrugged and figured, what the hell, since the answer was evident, and the entertainment value alone would make it worth looking into these transgenics. Besides, he was beginning to doubt that his original purpose for coming to Seattle wasn't a push from his father.

Crafty, thy name is Father.

Whistling a merry tune, Gabriel snapped a chocolate bar into existence. As he munched on the chocolate confection, he followed after the transgenics, curious to see what dad's newest babies were capable of.

"Sir, we have a problem," at Donald's words, Lydecker frowned as he moved a hand to the receiver of his cell phone. Having no desire for that bitch to catch anything that was spoken between his men and himself since she'd only turn it around to suit her purposes.

"What's happened?" Lydecker knew that his men had cornered 493 in sector 15, an older neighborhood along the edge of Seattle.

"They still have the transgenics cornered, but 493 has drawn a gun and is threatening to use it against 494 and himself." Shit, he was afraid something like this would happen if his kid wasn't taken out fast. It's why he told his men to take care when they finally trapped the transgenics.

"Tell squad Echo to move a safe distance from the pair but have snipers move into position with tranquilizers and wait for my order to engage."

Donalds nodded and relayed his orders as he removed his hand from the receiver. "Well, Deck, sounds like this recapture isn't proceeding quite as you expected." Hearing the false sympathy in Renfro's voice made him want to grind his teeth in agitation. She had no idea how to handle his kids. Hell, if the bitch had it her way, his kids would be turned into painted whores or wiped out if there were any slip-ups.

"Everything is under control, Madam Director. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have two soldiers that need my attention." A laugh followed his reply. Prissy bitch.

"Fine, Deck, but see that both 494 and 493 are brought back to Manticore, undamaged. The committee won't be pleased if you not only fail to recapture one of the escapees but lose one of our superior field operatives." He was aware that 494 was one of their most effective agents. It's why he'd been selected for the Berrisford assignment.

"The committee has nothing to be concerned with." He clicked his cell phone off, not bothering to wait for her reply.

"Donalds, what is our ETA for the rendezvous?"

"Five minutes, sir."

"Make it two, soldier," he commanded as he settled back and the vehicle sped up.

"Yes, sir."

?

494 looked around in confusion. He was surrounded by mountains, a lake, and trees. It was all very… picturesque and kind of boring. So, why was he here? Possibly a dream? Since this wasn't the kind of place, you take a super-soldier for idle time. No, that would be the training hall or a gun range, and if he'd gotten to pick, 494 would have preferred a bar, a real dive, because those environments were always amusing. But instead, he was surrounded by nature, and, taking in the details of his present environment to get a better idea of his location, 494 quickly realized that the area around him had an untouched quality like it had never been spoiled by humanity.

"Exactly."

He felt the hair on the back of his neck rise, and 494 cautiously turned about to find out who got close enough without him taking notice of their approach. Lydecker would be shitting kittens at his blunder.

When he got a good look at the individual, all 494 could think was damn, someone must have been passing out the DNA strands of a giant when they made this guy. Seriously he's a decent size, but this guy had at least a couple of inches on him. When the stranger turned around to face him, 494 felt something inside him unknot itself because he knew this guy, which was impossible. After all, his eidetic memory supplied no recollection of the man before him. Nothing from a mission or during his time at Manticore. Absolutely nothing, nada; just one big zilch in regards to Big and Tall.

Unless Psy-ops expunged the memory, which was a possibility. His memories surrounding Ben and Unit 4 were still fractured after his multiple runs through psy-ops. So, he prodded the splintered memories considered useless and therefore forgettable. He ignored the guy's ginormous height as he tried to attach the image before him and pulled at the damaged parts of his memory. Long brown hair, pleasant features that most would consider boyishly handsome, hazel eyes that were more brown rather than green like his own. Gargantuan height, which seemed wrong: he should be shorter, his mind supplied with certainty. Muscled frame, and clothing one would associate with mountain men or people with no taste.

As he ran the image of this guy through his mind, nothing popped up.

But when he smiled with familiarity and sympathy, 494's tension drained away, leaving a sense of security in its place, making him feel uncomfortable since this guy was not a part of his unit. And outside of Ben, they were the only ones that made him feel… safe.

"Yes, I suppose metaphorically speaking, that's correct. We're not brothers. However, let's say spiritually we fit all the right x's and o's." His smile slid from comforting to ominous as he spoke in a glib tone. 494 would compare it to the sneer he regularly witnessed on his handlers when they weren't doing impressions of a wooden door.

Even as he stepped back, self-preservation instincts kicked in, he paused, realizing belatedly that this guy had just read his thoughts…? "But enough of that." The stranger gestured to the striking scenery surrounding them. "I thought for our first face-to-face, we'd talk here, in a rendition of God's paradise." The sneer had melted away, and a look of contentment radiated from his massive companion. Okay, glad he liked the scenery. Not sure about the God part, having only breezed through the Bible, since they were required to learn the basics for all religions associated with possible targets. But sure, he'll give the big guy credit. It is attractive and far more palatable than some of the locations Manticore had shipped him off to, but it's not like you could pick and choose your assignments. His handlers say jump, he asks how high.

The stranger started to laugh. While that laugh wasn't pleasant, it wasn't unpleasant either, but 494 recognized the baleful yet playful edge. That reaction had become his regular bread and butter when dealing with, well, everything. "You never change, but Alec - can I call you that? Smart-Alec suits you like a tee."

Okay, so this guy knew the name Max had given to him, which confirmed that this had to be a dream or hallucination. It made sense and explained their familiarity and how this stranger could read his thoughts since he was nothing but a figment of his unconscious mind. Which meant he had met this stranger before, even though he still couldn't recall when exactly. And now his subconscious was using his face to remember an event? Possibly. Although they were repeatedly told that transgenics did not dream, 494 didn't feel that was completely accurate. He'd long suspected their dreams were more focused, like repeating a scene, and less waking up with no pants or nightmares that could compromise a mission.

"Alec," guess his permission isn't required for him to use that name. Then again, this was him. "Oh, but it is. Trust me when I say that I'm fascinated by you and your fellow transgenics." Now his features showed focused intent, "but you, especially."

He swallowed as those hazel eyes continued to eye him with… interest? That was beginning to feel uncomfortable, and he reminded himself this wasn't real. 494 shook his head. Damnit, he was a trained super-soldier, genetically superior to ordinaries. And this guy was a subconscious delusion, likely crafted from an erased memory, so why did this guy leave him feeling torn?

"Listen whoever you are and-," he paused. This is a dream-illusion. "Who are you? Since I'd like to know why my neurosis is putting your image in my head." The stranger tilted his head at his question, his look sliding from fondness that felt weirdly familiar to calculating. Now that was a look he was familiar with. After all, everyone else looked at him with that same expression.

The stranger shrugged, "perhaps later we'll have a more in-depth talk. Until then, take care, Alec." Just as he finished speaking, the world surrounding 494 began to shift before he felt himself waking up.

Shouting and buzzing… was he in psy-ops? It would explain the disconnected feeling radiating throughout his mind. Because 494 wasn't sure what was happening or where he was, only that his head felt faint and his limbs weren't working correctly.

When he attempted to fixate his mind, he saw a guy with - long brown hair? And they'd been somewhere… pretty?

Although he tried to give the images greater depth, they continued to slip past, like water running through his fingers. Nothing but a blank slate was left in their wake, which annoyed 494. He had a near-perfect memory and wasn't supposed to forget anything unless Psy-ops deemed it worthless. Technically even those memories always made a comeback. They were damaged, but they did return.

Shuffling that recap aside, he attempted to focus on the lost scene. However, 494's attention snapped back to the present when he felt something beginning to squeeze him, making it difficult to move and breathe. The discomfort helped him regain further clarity, and he recognized that he was gagged, his hands were tied together, and he was upon another's shoulder in a fireman's carry.

Also, his benefactor was starting to squeeze the life out of him. 494 jerked sharply, having no desire to experience asphyxiation while being carried around like a sack of potatoes. But as he struggled weakly to remove himself, his abductor's grip tightened around his body, making breathing harder. But this act made it obvious that his kidnapper was transgenic, too much strength for an ordinary, and his lightheadedness was increasing. So, he took a deep breath willing his mind to clear and refocus. Gaining a bit of lucidity, the day's events trickled across his thoughts, the order to kill Berrisford, trying to save Rachel, the explosion, Rachel's unmoving body, and… Ben!

He felt his earlier alarm return, but it felt muted, distant, like everything else. What the hell did Ben inject him with? He asked silently as he struggled harder against the grip and numbness that was wearing off far too sluggishly. Ben loosened his hold. Was he letting go? Nope, he reiterated lamely when he felt the muzzle of a gun pressed against his head and immediately stilled. Understanding crossed his mind that if Ben pulled the trigger, not even being transgenic could save him.

"One bullet, that's all it will take; I'm not going back to Manticore, and I won't… I won't let you take Alec!"

Okay, Ben was feeling suicidal. 494 was not. Yes, he deserved whatever punishment Manticore threw at him for failing to save Rachel. However, if that included death, which was a likely scenario, 494 wouldn't accept it. He didn't want to die. For some reason, the notion horrified him. It was funny, because he was regularly put into situations that ended with death. Perhaps that's why he'd always made it his prerogative to go above and beyond.

"Son, don't do anything rash; we don't want this to end violently. Let's talk," Lydecker, his voice carrying false sympathy. And it was laughable because, with him, the only way this could end was in violence. His CO wasn't the type to accept a stalemate or option B when it didn't align with his end game. Since Ben wasn't firing on all cylinders, kidnapping and drugging him verified that point and meant this impasse would probably go south.

The question remained: how should he react?

His first instinct was to take out Ben and surrender himself for failing to fulfill his duty and keep Rachel safe…. Her words and expression leaped to mind as she confessed that she loved him, which brought forward other memories of her: playing music, challenging him, and… lying in a pool of blood! No, he couldn't dwell on Rachel, not if he wanted to make it out of this in one piece. And swiftly reburied that pain before it impaired his capability to survive, understanding later. When it was safe, he could contemplate his failure and what it cost him. Right now, he needed to prioritize what was happening before it progressed to a point beyond his control. Because he recognized one horrifying truth: he couldn't return to Manticore.

That admittance was oddly painful despite the hell he'd endured in Manticore. It was still his home, the only place where he could be, well, himself. It's where he didn't have to put on a show or hold back, and more importantly, it's where his unit - his family - was. This prompt pushed forward images of his siblings and what could, no probably would, happen to them if he escaped. Reeducation was a high probability, and 387's leadership would be questioned. He reminded himself that if he returned to Manticore, there was a high possibility he'd either be terminated or endure another extended stay in Psy-ops. Because Manticore didn't accept failure, and he'd botched his mission.

494 refused to die and never wanted to be subjected to another lengthy stay in Psy-ops. Thanks to the torture he endured during his reeducation, parts of his memory were about as whole as a mound of Swiss cheese. Sure, his memory had healed, and he recalled more details of the memories Manticore wanted to be erased permanently. But they would never be fully restored, and he wasn't confident what would happen to his mind if he was shoved back into Psy-ops. The most likely scenario is that his brain would be turned into mush.

However, when the gun dug into his skull, he jumped back to the moment, since the Mexican standoff between Ben and Lydecker hadn't ended. This meant the likely outcome would either see him shot or have his mind reduced to a vegetable.

Wow, great picks, really superb.

Though he still felt unsteady from whatever drug Ben injected him with, his mind was now firing on all cylinders. Moving carefully, 494 avoided the gun still pressed securely against the back of his head and began to look around as he analyzed their situation. Lydecker and his men were keeping their distance, which meant snipers. The snipers would be armed with bullets or tranquilizers, depending on how Lydecker wanted to play this. Standard procedure for taking down a hostile target.

"Listen, 493, I understand you're confused. We only want to help. Please, son, put the gun away and let us help each other." Right. Lydecker wanted to help them with either a bullet or possibly a year in Psy-ops. Bindings were too tight. He wouldn't be able to remove them nor chew through the gag. All he could do was sit and watch the spectacle unfold.

Ben snorted. "You must think I'm stupid. I may have lost, but I know you, Lydecker. You'll either shoot us like Eva or send us to the nomlies." No, we'll be sent to psy-ops, which was worse, his mind unhelpfully supplied, but Ben did have a general idea, which meant he was still thinking with some coherence.

Except the gun against his head began to wobble, and 494 recognized the opportunity. If he elbowed Ben in the stomach, he could gain his freedom. If that happened, the snipers would shoot since Lydecker would recognize their vulnerability, and they'd be dead or carted back to Manticore for torture and later to rejoin the rest of the rejects down below.

But that's when the clapping - yes, it was clapping - started.

"Bravo, you put on quite a display, kid." 494 swiveled his head, searching for the voice, but could see nothing. "Seriously, Benny, you have that whole edgy, moody, about-to-go-off-the-deep-end vibe going for you loud and clear. If you marketed it right… well, trust me, you'd have the girls throwing themselves at you. Ladies love the emo types." The words and tone were wrong, laced with light mockery so it couldn't be Lydecker, nor any of his-

He was dropped onto the ground painfully as Ben whispered something, his voice cracking with strangled emotion, and Lydecker gave the order to fire. Shots rang out, fired by Barrett XM109s, which he recognized from the times he used that rifle in the field. But even as he tried to look towards the oncoming projectiles - tranquilizers, not bullets - something else caught his attention.

It was a brilliant light, and concentrating on it, everything else began to fade as he gazed upon a wondrous being that was beyond description. He shone with a light he could not properly reconcile with his understanding of physics. Its beauty was beyond comprehension and vaster than anything 494 could imagine as he tried to absorb the sight before him and failed. How? What was he? How could something like this even exist? "Interesting Pops, you really did give the newest babies all the right toys. Anyways, I'm getting sick of this soggy mess of a city. It quit being entertaining ages ago, so let's take this somewhere else, kids." Everything faded as the colossal breathtaking light and wings vanished, and a man stood in its place. He wasn't anything special to look at: brown hair, average height, and features. Only the golden-brown eyes gleaming at them with amusement and interest kept 494 fixated as the stranger smirked before snapping his fingers. Then everything surrounding them wavered until nothing but darkness was left, and 494 sank into the welcome oblivion.