Madame Riker and clones had split the Wasabi Warriors amongst themselves. Milton, Lela and Bella were to steal all of Branca's files during the chaos. Jerry joined Aella and her two teammates to create a distraction, while Kim and Jack were the main offensive with Mella and three other clones. Rudy and another trio were the secondary offensive team, while Madame Riker, Eddie and the remaining two were to locate Juliana and Ella and get them to safety.
"If something goes wrong, do what you must," Madame Riker's voice was controlled as she addressed the fourteen clones. "I am proud of each of you. You are all my daughters."
Kim and Jack shared a look, similarly unnerved.
Why did it sound like she was saying goodbye?

"I guess we'll see each other later," Milton said awkwardly.
Madame Riker had discussed the numbers he'd found and swore him to secrecy the day before but the knowledge was killing him inside. He hoped they'd all emerge unscathed and he'd never have to tell them the numbers' terrible secret.
Jerry was uncharacteristically sullen but nodded.
"Yeah…good luck."
Rudy glanced at them. They'd been equipped with lightweight black body armour and gear for each of their missions. He worried that the stress of the upcoming battle might degrade their skills, but chose to put a confident front instead.
"We'll get out of this," Rudy reassured them. "Wasabi on three."
They were tired and drained, but summoned their last remaining vestiges of energy.
"One, two, three, WASABI!" The teens yelled.
It was almost done. Once the gang had stopped Branca they could recover from the toll this adventure had taken on all of them.
"Almost over," Eddie muttered to himself. "It's almost over."

At first everything seemed to go according to plan. Branca's scientific personnel were swiftly overpowered and locked away while their security forces were decoyed away from the main building. They were neutralized by the primary offensive team, while the secondary offensive crew cleared the way for Madame Riker's group and the information gatherers.
But that's when things began to go wrong.

"What are you doing?!"
Jack found himself under attack by Fayla and Ola. Mella, Hilla and Kim quickly aided him in fending them off.
"Fayla, Ola wake up!" Mella yelled. "What's wrong with you?!"
The girls didn't respond. Their expressions were blank, showed no reaction to being hit, and executed brutal combat techniques.
Fayla got her hands around Kim's neck but she swiftly escaped before she could strangle her.
"Run!" Jack shoved Ola into a tree, while Mella knocked Fayla over. The quartet ran from the wilder fringes of the property, retreating in a panic. "Why are they trying to kill us?!" Kim shouted at Hilla. "I don't know, I think it's connected to their mental programming!" Hilla hollered in response.
"Then how do we stop them from killing us?!" Jack demanded. He turned his head briefly and glimpsed Fayla chasing after them.
"They did all that stuff in the main building!" Hilla swivelled to the left. "If there's a way to shut it off it'll be there!"

Jerry nearly cursed as he tripped, shooting pain rising from his right leg. "Holy frijoles!"
He, Aella, Nella and Celia had successfully completed their part of the operation (it involved explosives, dead leaves, nets and pipes) when Nella suddenly whacked Aella across the back with a steel bar. The girl had collapsed, and Jerry had turned to see Celia about to do the same to him. He'd dodged and ran past her, hoping to get away. Now both of the clones were after him, and he'd just sprained his ankle.
"I'm so dead," he gritted his teeth. Jerry tore cloth from his t-shirt to make a rough tension bandage. Tying it tightly, he heard a branch snap.
"Totally dead," Jerry muttered, testing his foot. He limped away as quickly as he could, remembering Nella and Celia's cold, dead eyes.
An arm reached out and caught his shoulder. Jerry shut his eyes and flinched, trembling.
"Kill me gently!" He begged.

Milton and Bella locked themselves inside a server room after Lela tried to stab them with a pen. Now she was systematically picking at the lock.
"You brought your phone?!" Bella hissed as Milton removed the device from his shirt's inner pocket.
"You said nothing against it!" He retorted.
"'Cause it's common sense!" She growled. "Why would you bring your phone on a mission?!"
"Julie is supposed to text me later!" He hissed in return. "Anyway, this could save us!"
Bella groaned. "Don't tell me your friends did the same thing…"
"Jack or Kim wouldn't," Milton focused on his contacts. "The others I'm not so sure."
Bella rolled her eyes. "Saved by this generation's addiction to smart devices. I'll never live it down."
A strange whine filled the air as the door trembled.
"She's going to get through!" Bella cried out before leaping into action. She began rewiring the cables around them with a speed impossible to see.
"If you get electrocuted, we're both dead!" Milton said as he texted, then called the same number.
"I'm an electrician-mechanic-technician," Bella spoke without taking her eyes off her task. "That was my specialty among the clones. If anyone can survive this it's me."
Milton shrugged, but the person on the other side picked up.
"Lela's trying to kill us!" He screeched into the phone.
"You could say hi first."
"Hi. Lela's trying to kill us!"
"Where are you?"
"Third floor! Hurry!"
"I'll try, but Lela's not the only one who's gone insane," Rudy hung up and ducked as a chair flew by his head.
Della was struggling to save an unconscious Kela from Ila, Ola and Fayla, the latter two having come across their team while hunting for Jack's group. Now, they'd joined forces with Ila to take the others out.
Rudy aided Della to fight off her murderous sisters, but they were outnumbered.
"We're all trained in martial arts," Della informed him grimly. "And pain suppression." "As if this day couldn't get any better!" Rudy groaned. "Why are they doing this?!"

Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
The clock persevered, unfazed by the invaders' assault.
"Mental conditioning is an admirable thing," Miss Mohindra remarked. "It can get people to do things without even realizing it."
She had a strange weapon on her desk that resembled a harpoon. Remaining seated, she watched as a mindless Jilla and Gila pointed guns at Madame Riker's head.
"Rani, stop this!" She was tense, her accent becoming more pronounced. "This is wrong!"
Miss Mohindra laughed softly. "Really, Madame Riker? You taught me to follow my orders before you betrayed us."
"I never taught you to live without a conscience!" Madame Riker clamoured. "You told me you'd be working overseas before I left!"
Miss Mohindra rolled her eyes. "You were fired, remember? Besides, I did go overseas. London is a beautiful city, you should visit it sometime."
"Why do you want Juliana?!" Madame Riker cried out. "She is just a child!"
The other woman scoffed.
"Your maternal overprotectiveness was what drove her away in the first place," Miss Mohindra asserted. "Don't worry, my dear mentor. I'll take good care of your daughter. Once she surrenders herself to protect you, Juliana will be a great asset to the cause."
"What cause?" Madame Riker demanded.
"To better the world, of course," Miss Mohindra sniffed. "For such an astute woman you've been extremely obtuse."
Something beeped loudly, heralding a computer monitor emerging from Miss Mohindra's desk. She took a look before smirking.
"It appears we're about to have some company," she articulated with relish, then pressed a button.

Jack and Kim were just entering the building when their remaining teammates screeched.
"Mella! You okay?!" Kim caught her before she fell. Hilla was already sprawled on the ground, convulsing.
The girls clutched their heads in pain.
"Get away," Hilla spoke through gritted teeth. "Get out! Hurry!"
Jack understood at once. He grabbed Kim and fled as the clones' agonized reactions faded, replaced by impassivity.

Milton gaped in amazement. Lela had barely touched the edge of Bella's wire barrier before being flung across the room. She'd been knocked unconscious.
"I got that power!" Bella grinned victoriously. "Pun intended. Let's get out of here."
Bella undid her work and the two left the room, dragging Lela behind them.
Milton ran to the computer monitor and removed his USB. The download had completed, and their portion of the mission was over.
"Let's go—" Milton turned and froze.
A gun barrel was pointed at his face.
"Walk, or I'll shoot," Bella spoke in a monotone, her eyes empty. "Now."

Bella pushed Milton into Miss Mohindra's office.
As he stopped himself from falling, he saw Rudy, Kim and Jack sitting on the couch. They stood when he entered.
"Milton!" Jack rushed to his friend. "Are you okay?"
"I guess," He surveyed the room. Each clone was armed with vacuous expressions and deadly sidearms. "Are we?"
His sensei's brow creased. "Have you seen Jerry or Eddie?"
"No," Milton felt his heart skip a beat. "Holy Christmas nuts, are they okay?!"
Kim exhaled. "We don't know. We only know the clones got brain zapped. Some of them later than others."
Milton nodded. "Yeah. Bella was fine at first, but after she knocked out Lela, she…yeah."
"Welcome back."
A section of the wall behind the desk swung forward, revealing Miss Mohindra.
"As you can see I replaced my door. It's quite unfortunate you didn't accept my offer." She held her harpoon/weapon at the ready.
"Where's Jerry and Eddie?" Rudy growled. "What did you do to my students?!"
He lunged, then faltered after she aimed her contraption at his chest.
"You don't want to find out what this can do," she cautioned. "Trust me, it's unpleasant."
The others grabbed him and dragged him a couple steps away.
Miss Mohindra considered for a moment as she pulled out her cell phone. "But I guess I owe you something, at least. Mr. Jones?"
Eddie appeared behind her, absolutely miserable.