She had finished assigning the rookies with tasks to aid Operation: Saviour when she noticed the Knight wasn't in the vicinity, and was strolling towards the elevator when Breaker provided information on his whereabouts. "He was called by Scarecrow to Stagg's airships, Alias," he said as she looked off her shoulder. "Something about a Cloudburst...maybe that has something to do with the fear toxin."

"Simon Stagg, huh? A partnership gone south, that what it sounds like. Thank you for the update, Breaker, and please make sure that the rookies don't mess up. I got enough on my mind as it is."

"I'll do my best."

"That's all I ask." Breaker parted from Alias's side to attend to his task when Rex forwarded her, a nod starting their side campaign. He offered his hand and she took it without hesitation and, before the elevator doors could open, he moved the two of them through reality fast enough that they let out a static shockwave when they appeared. They were back at the warehouse where the Knight and herself ran into Syndicate goons but by the pressure surrounding her hand, Alias knew something wasn't right.

You'd expect the carpet to be how it was, with glass and your ice still here, but someone was here.

"You're not wrong, their heat signature still lingers. But it's more than one person. Five at most, three of them Metas." The mist rose against her face and she examined the smeared colours within the room as she moved, identifying temperatures that were the same yet completely different. It danced mostly around the centre of the room, but some strayed up towards the ceiling and others against the wall. That was when she noticed the glass ceiling was intact. Strange.

In fact, I think I can display what they did in here.

She blinked hard. "You can do that?"

I may not be the strongest telepath, but Scarecrow did tell me to rig the place with psychic links after the incident. May I? She let the mist fade from her face and reluctantly forwarded Rex again, a soft smile on his face. He could feel the worry just by the look in her eyes but her brain waves indicated something nestled deep within her mind that she didn't want to recall, and he held her shoulders. I realised what you meant when you mentioned your abhorrence towards mind-control…

Alias made an uneasy expression, "I can't even trust my own mind. But I trust yours...show me." He spun her around so that she was facing the centre and moved his hand towards her temple, before tapping it. Like a bubble of obscurity had suddenly been popped, Alias could feel his power running through her body and rushing along her skin. It was light yet violent, sounds and smells that she didn't experience rushing to her senses. She stepped back, overwhelmed by what was happening and felt Rex's hands still on her shoulders.

Click.

Her head snapped to the door, a group of armed people dressed in padded black walking in with a woman in front. Alias watched as the woman walked up towards her before stopping short and crouching down to pick up a small cluster of violet ice off the carpet. This was what Rex meant when he rigged the warehouse; she was, essentially, living his memory. The woman examined it carefully before gripping it in her fist and standing, facing her bodyguards. "Get him in here," she informed one of them and they rushed to fulfill her order, her New Zealander accent sharp enough to cut her words. "The reports were right, she is alive."

Alias furrowed her brows as the woman swore to herself, combing back her tousled blonde hair in annoyance, and attempted to understand who 'she' was. She was about to ask Rex what the hell she was seeing when she moved to get a better view but a shiver that melted down her nape stopped her. The man that was called into the room arrived with his dress shoes clicking with every step he made. He appeared different from the rest, dressed in a dark navy suit and slicked blonde hair the same shade as the woman's. Rex glanced at Alias, who was frozen on the spot, and paused his memory. She may have gaps in her memory about her past, but she could never forget the man who snapped it.

Alias…

"I know exactly who he is," she muttered. "He's Taeyeon Sinclair."

Sinclair? You mean the co-director of Sinclair Hospital?

"He's also the founder of Syndicate, and the reason why I'm here. He's a fluid Meta, a Meta with several abilities. A sadist at best..." She held her arms tight around her chest and Rex hesitated to continue the memory, Sinclair confronting the woman with a handsome smile.

"What's wrong, my dear Rhys? You're looking quite sour today."

She showed him the cluster in her possession, "You care to explain this Tae, hm? Because it seems to me that your favourite mercenary is back on grid miles away from her last known location."

"What, what are you talking about?"

"Whose ice could this be? There's only one Meta who had purple ice―"

"Alias is here?" Sinclair chuckled in happiness, "My gorgeous, pink Alias is really here? But, how?"

"That's something I'd kill to know. Care to explain?"

"You think I brought her here? Why would I do that if she was recorded to be out of commission years ago? Rhys, you have to stop doubting me sometimes. You really put me on edge, especially when you make that cute face."

"Are you honestly not getting how serious this is? A mercenary has not only escaped Syndicate, but has also managed to reanimate herself. Is this not processing in that silly mind of yours?"

The suited man chuckled again, "You're so serious it's almost adorable. Of course I acknowledge the situation. I'm just not worried is all. Right now, she's with the Arkham Knight. The men on the ground are saying that she's stronger than before. Now she has this weird mist thing that amplifies her condition."

"Mist? You mean she has access to Arcadius now?"

"She might not even know who that is. A shame, actually. It's saved her life many times before, maybe it's inhabiting her body now and the Alias we know doesn't exist anymore."

Rex shut down the memory right before Alias could tell him, a distraught look on her freckled face as she attempted to fathom what she just saw. Question upon question surged in her mind, adding to her already dark and scarred past. Why was Sinclair here? Who's...what was Arcadius? Were they being metaphorical about her 'reanimation', or literal? Alias brought the mist up once more to feel for a change in her abilities, but looked at Rex and realised where she was. She suppressed all doubts and allegations with a sigh, the mist fading in unison, and instead made a face of curiosity. Of course she could never hide her true feelings from a telepath, a psychic, but he knew he wouldn't question her about what she just witnessed.

"Was there more that happened here? I know that Sinclair repaired the glass ceiling, but someone else came in here."

Yes. A man in blue and black ambushed Syndicate. Not a combat Meta but his skills were flawless, disciplined. Claiming to know you. He hid his face well, as well as mask his voice, so tracking him down would prove difficult, even for a telepath like me.

Alias shook her head, "There's no need. He's not the priority...Sinclair is, as much as the masked man does intrigue me. Is it possible to set a relay here?"

What...oh. A telepathic relay? Yes, I think I can manage that. It does put quite a strain on my mind and body, but if it's to protect you...anything. Alias peered at Rex softly as she wondered how she managed to find a guy willing enough to become her living shield and her sharpened blade. Even for a mute, Rex does talk a lot. She chuckled and walked over towards the blonde man, wrapping her arm around his bicep and hugging it momentarily.

"You really are something, Rex."

"I am." She jumped but it was too late, Rex's hands wrapped tight around her throat and, with the strength he possessed, swept her completely off her feet. Alias wheezed against the pressure around her neck and fought against it, desperately clawing at his hand.

Rex made a pleased expression and chuckled lightly, "Hello, darling," he spoke, his voice much more smoother than she thought and projected via telepathy; he did move his mouth for decoration. "I see you've grown well. Very well..." She was unable to speak, his thumbs dug into her larynx with a strain that hurt like hell, and involuntary tears stung her eyes. "Oh? Crying for me? I thought I'd never see the day. It's a shame your friend here is also naive with his ability, always leaving traces behind. I'm not just your nightmare, my Alias, I'm also your reality." He finally let go when Alias threw him against the wall with a shot of ice, restraining his limbs and neck, although very uneasy and catching her breath in greedy gasps. The man did not react accordingly but instead marvelled at her quick thinking.

"Sinclair, get out of his body. Now. Or, I swear―"

"Swear what? That you'll kill me? You've tried that already, don't you have something new?"

"Okay," she pulled herself off the floor and let the haze reach her face, Sinclair's once confident expression fading gradually. "I'll let Arcadius kill you. Or is this what you call the mist? It's the only way I've been able to constantly sense heat signatures. I know you're not here, and I wished you were, but you rigged the place with your own psychic sigils didn't you? That's the only way you'd know I'd be back in here."

"Smart girl. You were always my favourite."

"Why are you here?"

"That's my line."

"Care to explain how you managed to find me?"

He gestured his head to the glass ceiling, "Your Arkham Knight in the sky. You were cloaked in darkness, until you became allies with the modern, slightly volatile man. And what a match you two are. Both broken at young ages and reborn into gods." Alias looked away, all this poetry bullshit Sinclair spoke in really did piss her off but, as much as she wanted to kill him, killing Rex to do that was a very, very VERY bad idea. "Oh," he broke Alias's concentration. "Rhys is calling me again. That woman really does not like me, but I love her ruthlessness as much as I love your pink hair. Eventually, you will see me again and you will have to face me whether you like it or not." The ice suddenly shattered and Alias unconsciously took a step back, fear rather than defense moving her limbs as the man who broke her mind inhabited the body who wanted to protect it, but she bared her teeth. Regardless of who it was, she had no other choice. "Starting now."

An ice katana materialised in both hands and the mist dispersed in unison, Sinclair letting out a sound of cool surprise at her change in heart and brought out Rex's energy sword. "Last chance."

"Threatening me, are you? You do realise I'm in the body of a telepath. Should I demonstrate our times together again? All the pain you felt...it was always so nice to see you suffer. Your pretty face writhed in agony, your muscles convulsing at once, even the drool that you couldn't stop falling past your rosy lips...haa. I wouldn't mind another session...would you?" She shuddered. It wasn't always people who could tear her walls like this can scare her, but even just the thought broke her down.

But she stood tall, unfazed by his insults. "Not even an inch? Wow, Alias...you really have grown up. Unfortunately, I always save the best things for last. Until we meet again, my rose." And just like that Rex's body sank under Taeyeon's psychic weight and Alias had to think fast to catch him and not stab him at the same time: the swords had just about dissipated as she stretched her arms out. With the unexpected weight she wheezed and collapsed onto one knee, whispering worry and anxiety at a lifeless Rex. She cupped his face, his heat signature barely hanging onto the silver of life in his body. He was there. Just about.

"Oh God…I'm so sorry, Rex...I never meant to drag you into this...I'm sorry…"

Alias pressed her forehead against Rex. She swore, she swore on her life that Sinclair wasn't going to get away with this.