A/N - Happy New Year's Eve everybody! I hope all of you are doing well and going into 2019 with good spirits. I'm making my New Year's resolution to upload a chapter EVERY week AND begin Beta Reading in full force. I've had a few people ask me if I could review their work so I decided to become a more active Beta Reader. For those who don't know, Beta Reading involves looking at other people's stories and providing feedback. I thoroughly enjoy reading other people's works as it helps me with my own. In short, if you would like me to review something you've written, shoot me a PM. Is there anything else I should say? Umm… Oh! I hope you guys enjoy!

When the two of them awoke, they were greeted by Sam, Alex, and Bentley, as well as Delsin, Fetch, and Eugene. Sam helped Cole to his feet and Delsin helped Ryan to his. It took a few seconds for them to shake off the dizziness, but once they did, Ryan immediately looked at Cole.

"Well? Did it work?" he asked.

Cole closed his prosthetic fist and opened it again. When it opened, he generated a small bluish orb. However, after a few seconds, the arm began to audibly whir and a smoke trail snaked up from it. It was overheating. Noticing this, Bentley quickly donned some heat-resistant gloves went to work on the prosthetic.

"What's going on?" Cole asked.

"The machine fried the prosthetic's internal circuitry," he explained as he pried the device off Cole's arm. He held it in his hand and examined it at a distance. However, the heat soon became too much for Bentley, even through the gloves, and he was forced to place the arm on a nearby counter.

"I should've expected that," Bentley said admittedly.

"Well, if this worked, you may have just saved my life. I see no reason to apologize," Cole stated. Bentley nodded uneasily before addressing everyone else.

"What's wrong?" Sam asked.

"The power," Bentley answered. That's when Ryan just realized the power went out.

"That should be an easy fix, right?" Sam asked.

"Yes. However, that means I have to start the tracking process over again."

A collected sigh came from everyone in the room before Bentley continued.

"I was able to locate Celia, but I'll have to relocate Ashton and Sebastian."

"Where is she?" Delsin asked.

"Just outside Seattle."

Delsin and Fetch traded glances with each other, both sharing the same thought.

"We'll go find her," Delsin suggested.

"Absolutely not," Alex butted in.

"Then what are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to wait here for the tracker to find the others?" Delsin asked.

"You can use this opportunity to hone your powers," Alex suggested.

"Training?" Delsin reiterated.

"We were this close to being discovered last time," Bentley reminded, pinching his fingers together.

"We were ambushed, we did what we needed to be done," Fetch argued.

"That's still a no. Sam, gather your team and meet me in my office in one hour. Bentley, get Cole to the medical ward and start working on fixing that prosthetic. The rest of you are dismissed," Alex ordered.

Jessica was forced awake when she heard the heavy door to her cell open. She sat up and saw Director Davis sitting in his wheelchair. She was immediately scared and confused.

"Follow me," he ordered.

As she followed the Director to his office, another pair of curious eyes stood watching. On his way to his daily training, Troy saw the sight and decided to follow as well. However, it was far enough behind to not appear suspicious. He saw the Director, Jessica, and a group of armed guards walk into his office. When the door closed behind them, Troy took a seat on the bench just outside and listened.

"Jessica Ellege," Director Davis began while reading over a report detailing her abilities.

"Is this about my test yesterday?" she asked.

"It is actually. It's my understanding that Agent Cooper altered your examination, and against my authority."

"Why?"

"Both Agent Cooper and Mr. Simms think you have potential."
"I know I have potential."

"Then why do you waste your time in a cell?"

"You think I want to? Who put me there?"

"You left us with no ch—"

Davis was once again interrupted by a coughing fit, this one more violent than the last. One of the guards attempted to walk up to him but was stopped when the Director held up his finger in protest. Davis pulled out a tissue and held it to his face until the coughing subsided. He then tossed the used handkerchief into a wastebin and cleared his throat while turning to address Jessica once again.

"Listen, I didn't bring you here to argue with you."

"Then why am I here?"

"I want you to admit that what you did was wrong."

"What?"

"You assisted Celia in kidnapping two of our conduits, leaving several dead and dozens more injured. However, it's my understanding that you were helping her against your will. So I want to hear… what you have to say about that."

She looked at the floor in front of her, refusing to respond. Davis waited for several seconds, but when she didn't, he sighed in defeat.

"Well then, I guess this conversation is over," he said, motioning the guards to return her to her cell.

"Our," she spoke just as a pair of guards grabbed her shoulders, "You said 'our conduits'."

Davis sighed, sensing her motive.

"This is why she does what she does. You don't own us. We're not 'your conduits'," she argued.

"So you support her?"

"I support her mission, her belief. I don't support the way she executes it though."

"Then why not help us change that? I can tell your heart is in the right place."

"If I leave here, she'll kill me."

"We will do everything in our power to keep you from harm."

"You don't get it, do you? There's nothing 'in your power' that you can do," she argued, "At least I get to keep my head if I stay here."

"How are you so sure that she'll find you?"

"She has… ways of finding conduits."

"What do you mean by 'ways'? Does she have a tracker of her own?"

"I don't know, but you think it's a coincidence that she disappears right when you locate her?"

"Listen, Jessica. If you have any information, you have to share it with us. Lives are at stake here."

"You're right, lives are at stake. But I'm not willing to risk mine."

The Director sighed in defeat and simply stared at the young conduit in front of him for a few moments. He then turned to the two guards that stood beside her.

"Can you please escort Ms. Ellege to her cell?"

With a silent nod, the two guards grabbed hold of her shoulders and made their way for the door. Just outside, Troy dashed away from the door and behind a corner. The door to his office swung open and the cuffed conduit made her way back to her cell, with her entourage in tow. After hearing their conversation, Troy felt angry, not at Jessica for refusing to help, but at the Director.

Davis was willing to send her into the field, someone who actively betrayed them, and yet he was still stuck here. He watched Jessica from a distance and his rage only built up. Once she disappeared around a corner, his attention was drawn to the door to Davis' office.

"And remember, we're still trying to capture her alive. However, if you find yourself in a situation where it's your life or hers… you better be the one walking away." Alex stated, concluding her briefing of Sam's team, "If there aren't any questions, the chopper's prepped."

After a brief moment of silence, Sam and his team left Alex's office and walked towards the hanger. Most of them felt discouraged more than anything, seeing as they have yet to even identify her in the field. However, two of them remained as determined as ever: Sam and Sarah. They knew what they were up against, what Celia was capable of.

Outside the Director's office, Troy watched as Sam's team approached the hanger. His eyes were fixated on Sam and his suit. He heard of all the weapons and gadgets that it had. That had to be a lot of firepower too right? Why does Sam get to run these missions and he just sits on the sidelines? He decided it was time to get some answers. He knocked on Davis' door.

"Come in," he called from inside.

Ryan walked in and was greeted by the Director working on paperwork of some kind from behind his desk. He looked up for a brief second and then looked back at his work. However, once he realized who it was, he looked back and his eyes stayed there.

"You're Troy, correct?"

"Yes sir, I was hoping I could ask you a question."

"Very well," Davis stated while placing aside his work for a moment.

"Why aren't I in the field sir? I've passed every test."

"Collateral. You cause too much collateral during your simulations. You destroy cars and buildings freely as if… they're toys."

"I let loose in there because I can. There isn't anyone in there that can get hurt, not even any simulated people."

"But you have to assume there are Troy. You think these cities are just gonna' be empty?"

"It could be after they've been evacuated, or it could represent an enemy establishment where collateral isn't—"

"Are you listening to yourself? This is exactly why you aren't ready."

"Are you scared I'm gonna' hurt others? Is that it?" Troy asked, his frustration growing.

"Yes," Davis answered calmly.

"Then why are you letting Jessica be an agent?" he challenged.

"Troy… were you… eavesdropping on my conversation with Ms. Ellege?" Davis asked, his brow furrowed. Suddenly, Troy realized his mistake and took a second to think.

"Get out of my office," Davis ordered

"No," Troy replied after a moment of silence.

"Excuse me?"

"I'm not gonna' leave until you make me an agent."

"How can I possibly make you an agent when you can't follow a simple command?"

"This is unfair! If Jessica deserves to fight out there, so do I!" Troy shouted, his anger reaching a boiling point.

"You need to leave and calm down. You are not ready!" Davis replied, his own anger making his voice growly.

"I am! Why can't you see that!

"No... you're... no—"

It was at this point that Davis was once again interrupted by a coughing fit. This one was much more violent than the one Troy overheard, and when he saw the Director's face change to purple, Troy's rage slowly transitioned to fear. The coughing grew louder and louder and Davis found it harder and harder to breathe. Troy started to panic. He stepped up to the Director and he held up a finger to protest. However, a few seconds later he fell out of his chair and his coughing changed to gasping for air. Troy immediately left the room and shouted at the passerby.

"Help! The Director needs help!"