"Ready?" Leon barked into the comm, " are out of range." he got back from the infiltrators.

"Good, Gl, Alpha let's go." He shot at the spider tanks trying to break back into the facility. It was slow going, he was feeling bone deep exhausted after all the action. Maybe he would try to nap inside the GL network when they got back to transport. It had taken much longer than usual since they had found several hundred people being used as lab rats in the building. The constant attack on their evac wasn't helping anything. Union wanted this place, bad.

Just a little bit further. Then they'd be home. Then this not so simple mission could be put behind them.

They got out of range of the tanks with him helping Miranda and Jodie get into the transport. The last refugee transport lifted off just before they did. The plane lifted off and it was just Gen:Lock to get out of there when Leon saw a pylon looking device shoot into the ground. He stumbled back and then tried to surge forward when they lit up. His Holon locked up, every joint and part stopping and Leon felt red hot pain screech through the back of his head.

"What's going on!" Kazu demanded his mech having gone face first in the dirt.

Leon glanced out of the corner of his eye over at a Pylon next to him, it was just in reach. He could feel it in his bones, as tired as he was, that if he took care of it they could be free to move. He tried to force his arm to move. "C'mon…" He grit through his teeth. But his physical body wouldn't move.

"Cammie?" Chase demanded.

"I can't do anything!" Cammie yelled back desperation in her voice. Leon 'closed' his eyes and looked inward. Looking around he could see the whole team in varying states of being wrapped up by what looked like black thorns. They were all paralysed by the things.

Reaching up he tangled his hands in his hair, and then let go and looked down at his hands. He wasn't covered in thorns, but his whole body had the circuit pattern and he could move!

He ran over to Chase; ignoring how the world shifted around them so they were face to face. "Chase I need your help."

"How come you can move?" Chase demanded, Leon looked down at his arms.

Chase's eyes widened and Leon saw his body in the network relax as a hexagonal pattern covered his skin. "I can't- My holon won't move."

"Neither can mine, I need your help." He couldn't believe he was going to try this.

"How?"

So Leon explained. Chase grabbed his hands and they both nodded.

Leon felt like he was being ripped in two, but the more intense the feeling the more he could reach. Hands met metal, then slowly with Chase Pushing against him he pulled himself out of the Holon. And for a precious moment he felt the breeze on his face, dirt under his boots and he breathed out air.

He coughed suddenly, blood coating his throat. Pain screeching through him, red hot and spiking all over, every joint ached so deeply he worried his legs and arms were broken. He spat out the blood and slowly got to his feet. Barely focusing on the world around him except the Pylon that was less than two yards away. He stood and then stumbled, forced himself to stand again. Dragging his feet; one hand clenched around his stomach where the pain was the worst, Step by painful step he got closer. He could feel the pulse of the technology in the back of his brain. He stumbled again, and hit the ground hard. He was so close. He could just reach-

Boots crunched on the ground next to him and he looked up into a Union helmet the skull pattern against the red glass spelling his death. For a moment Leon could only narrow in on the helmet and his only thought was that he had failed. This was the end and he couldn't even save-

But then strong hands grabbed him and helped him up and helped him press his fingers against the pylon. "Well? do your thing." the voice told him distorted through the material.

"Turn off. Let them go." He breathed at the pylon and felt something reach for him and then…. The pylons shut off… Then one by one started to heat up. All the Holons immediately dropped and they shook off their paralysis.

"Time to go." the soldier nodded, Leon turned to the Holon. "I need to- Get back."

"Really!? You want back in that thing?" the other man snapped looking at Leon.

"Those are going to explode. Neither of us will survive unless I can get back into that thing." Leon pointed; he could feel the heat radiating off the machine with the whirr of mechanics overloading. It pounded against his senses. He-

The soldier made a disgusted noise, and started hauling him towards the Holon. Stopping so Leon could reach out and touch it. "I hope you're right."

Leon touched his Holon's foot and tried to find that connection again. He hacked, blood splattering against the metal.

"Oh for fucks sake." The soldier pulled off a glove and pressed his free hand into Leon's neck. A jolt of lightning flew through him and suddenly it was easy. He dropped back into his Holon, relief instantaneous.

Opening up his eyes he scooped up the soldier in his hands. "Need a ride?" he asked.

They gave him a thumbs up as he ran from the exploding machine. The soldier in his hands cheered and pulled off his helmet; it was a face he recognized. It was the one he'd learned from debrief what felt like years ago now. The man in his hands looked like he'd been through hell, a couple of cuts still oozed blood and a black eye. Robert Sinclair looked haggard but alive.

"Guys I-" He began then Leon's vision went dark.