Species: Angel of Vermin

by WeAreHarbinger

(THIS STORY TIES IN TO SPECIES: THE SURVIVOR) Sil regenerated herself from a Rat in Los Angeles, and has remained in the shadows ever since. Over the years, an urban legend has emerged in her wake, the urban myth of the Angel of Vermin. Now she dwells in the alleys and abandoned places of a dystopian New York, an alpha predator in the shadows, but her true test lies ahead of her.

8. Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8: WHISPER'S WAR (Flashback Part. 1)

BERLIN - GERMANY - 6 AND A HALF YEARS EARLIER

Maya Le Fauconnière settled into her position on the rooftop, she had limited time to plan this, it would have to be a perfect shot. New York had gone incredibly bad. Katya was dead, that was confirmed. As for Connar. There was certainly evidence that he was still alive. The lockup he had been using had been blown to hell, and several bodies inside were definitely Dalton's men.

Maya knew she had her work cut out, Preston Lennox, the last bodyguard on Dalton's detail in New York was recovering in hospital, true to form, Connar had done a job on him. He was out of his coma, but he was not out of trouble.

All the reports were that he had blown the assassin off a rooftop into the East River. The body had not been recovered, but Connar had not been in contact and his sister Kazia was growing concerned. Maya knew Connar well enough to know he was likely laying low and brooding over losing Katya and then failing to kill Dalton.

A lot was riding on the shot Maya was about to make. Maya had seen reports on Lennox's exploits, including a highly classified and redacted report of a dangerous mission in Los Angeles which culminated in the deaths of a prominent government scientist and a Harvard Professor, both of whom were on Lennox's team...

It was curious… but none of that would mean much if he walked out of the hospital to find Kazia Braden waiting for him with a hammer and a bag of nails, ready to turn him into a human cactus.

She had set up on a couple of boxes, an elevated position in the centre of the rooftop, but the shot would be tight. She could have gone closer, but this position offered the better escape route.

Maya was laying flat on the rooftop of 2 Bertolt-Brecht-Platz. Below her was a lovely traditional eatery from the 1880's with a riverside terrace and a delicious French menu. Her suppressor was set. She had only recently traded up her Draganov for this GM6 LYNX , and had spent weeks breaking it in and training with it.

Dalton was in a meeting in the Bode Museum about a mile away across the river. He had held meetings here before and liked to walk out across the small footbridge to the Hektor Köpf sculpture by Markus Lüpertz to ensure there were no eavesdroppers.

If all went well, this would be his last meeting. Maya checked her watch, any minute now, he would be exchanging his pleasantries inside the building, and then he would wander outside to walk under the watchful eye of his protection detail.

Maya focussed, let her acuity take over, remembered her training, she was more than Sighted, she was a Whisper… she had been trained from the age of seven for operations like this… only now, she only took orders from herself.

"This is for you Katya, and you Connar… My God, I hope you're alright" She breathed. Her rhythms relaxed, her heart slowed, her body flat, her mind clear. She attuned herself to her target. Move with him, breathe with him, be with him.

Maya watched Dalton walk out across the walkway, known as the Monbijoubrücke with his backer and they began to talk by the sculpture.

Maya was fully attuned. Attuned to his rhythms, attuned to his mind, she knew his every gesture, every move before he made it.

The wind was low, shielded by the buildings, it was the early evening, there was little to no heat rising from the river, it was winter, and it was evening… the conditions were set… the time was now.

"We are the shield, we are the sword, we are truth in shadow… we are the Whispers, and we do not fear the flames…"

Breathe… Breathe… Breathe… SEND IT….

Maya squeezed the trigger and let the round fly. The weapon was equipped with a reciprocating barrel which absorbed the majority of the muzzle energy, sparing the user from the usual kick of a 50 Calibre shot.

The bullet would be travelling roughly 650 metres at 1400 feet per second. It would take the average person roughly 10 minutes to walk from the building where Maya had set herself to Dalton's exact position. Meaning the round would be in flight for just under 3 seconds. Long enough for a single heartbeat.

Maya counted, and allowed herself a breath, then watched through the scope as Dalton's head was obliterated. You hunt our kind, our children, as your kind have for centuries "Die in Darkness… inquisitor" Maya uttered. The shot was perfect.

Dalton had been standing directly in front of the sculpture, which had absorbed the round, sparing any collateral damage. Dalton's client, on the other hand, was hit with an explosion of blood, brain matter and skull fragments, he stood there with his arms wide and his mouth agape, unable to process what just occurred.

The price you pay for having dealings with a man who set up children's charities with the clandestine purpose of identifying the Sighted ones, so they could be kidnapped and forged into living weapons Maya thought.

Her shot was suppressed, meaning Maya had some precious minutes before they had any idea where the shot came from. She wasted not a single second. Clearing and retracting the barrel, retrieving the shell casing, removing the suppressor and slotting the rifle into her backpack. She didn't rush herself Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast.

Lastly, Maya took out a plastic bottle and splashed sulfuric acid across the area she had lain to take the shot, that would destroy any clothing fibres and skin cells. The edge of the roof was five paces away where she had set up a cable on the opposite side.

A suppressor did not silence a rifle, contrary to what many laymen believed, however, in this environment, she had fired her rifle from a rooftop, directed down and effectively along the length of a river which curved slightly.

The river was flanked on both sides by tall buildings. The water, the bridge, and the buildings would absorb and reverberate the acoustic and make it difficult to determine the point of origin.

Maya clipped herself onto the cable with a grapple and swung herself over the side of the building, to land in the narrow alley in between the restaurant and the Berliner Ensemble theatre.

There was nobody around and two CCTV cameras which she had taken care of earlier. There were few CCTV cameras in the area, and Maya knew where the others were. Her attire and route would shield her from identification.

They would likely find the cable, but since it was purchased in a common sporting goods store with branches across Europe, and she had taken care not to touch it with her bare hands, they would not be pulling any useful evidence from it.

Even if they somehow managed to find CCTV of her buying it, she had purchased it on a cold day, while dressed in forgettable tourist attire while wearing a scarf.

Thirty seconds later, she had walked around the corner and down onto the riverside walkway and vanished into the evening foot traffic.

---

NEW YORK HARBOUR HEALTHCARE - VETERANS AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT

Dan had made the trip over to see Press on Laura's behalf, she had been to see him in his recovery a few times but was stuck in Washington this weekend.

Press had made a remarkable recovery. He was out of his coma after three weeks, it have now been almost eight, and he was up and around and in a few days, he would likely be discharged. The man he had saved, Joaquim Dalton, had taken care of all his medical fees, and according to Laura, had sent him a bonus of $500'000, likely pocket change to a man like that.

"Hay, how you doing?" Dan asked as he entered the room. Press was reading a newspaper. "I'm good" Press put the paper down and looked up "Get over here, Dan, it's been too long". Dan knew better than to try and hug him, even though he wanted to, he was still healing.

They clapped hands together instead. "How much longer are they keeping you in?" Dan asked. "Shouldn't be too much longer now" Press said "The operation to seal up my chest wound, and remove the bullet from my shoulder were a success, they said I should be out by next week".

Dan leaned in "Laura misses you, she got stuck in Washington, this new job she's doing, you know what it is?". "Nah" Press sighed "It's apparently a big classified thing… hope they haven't got her making another Sil" Press started to chuckle.

Dan thought for a moment, wondering if he should just say it, then decided that he would "You guys need to make it happen…". "You're right Dan, I made the switch to protection work after Sil, figured it'd be safer… then along comes a heavily armed assassin and ruins my day… ruined my date with Laura too, we were gonna spend that weekend together".

Dan nodded, looking at the floor "Yeah, she mentioned it, scary times, they ever find his body?". "It's hard to get word about it here, they say stress might affect my recovery. I talked to the NYPD Anti-Terrorism Unit, they say they found blood on Roosevelt island, but no Body, then, just the other week, there was a big explosion in a warehouse by the docks, West Bronx, they found a bunch of charred bodies in there DNA typed some of them. Mercenaries with ties to Apex Stratagem… Dalton's consultancy firm".

"Jeez" Dan said "You think someone's been cleaning house?". Press laughed "Where did you hear that term?" Press asked. "You know I like documentaries, I was watching one about Criminal organisations and the way they operate".

"Yeah, but we're talking about an international consultancy firm, I had a suspicion that Dalton might have had some shady dealings, but I've never seen an assassin that brazen or relentless before… he must've pissed off someone serious".

"Wait, back up a second" Dan said "What about the blood they found, no DNA matches?". Press nodded "Ahh, I can tell there's a detective in the family" he said "But that's the interesting part, the DNA they got back yielded no matches, not even a familial match, a place to start, I know it's a cliche, but the guy's a ghost".

Dan's senses picked up on someone approaching "There's someone at the door" Dan said, before Press could respond, there was a knock at the door. Press glanced at the door, then back at Dan and smiled "You've definitely still got it, Dan… Come in!"

A tall man in a suit entered. "Press" the man said. Press sat up a little more "Oh hay Frank". Press turned to Dan and made the introductions "Dan Smithson, this is Frank Gideon, from the NYPD Anti-Terror Unit, we worked together on a few cases and he's keeping me up to date on the investigation".

Dan shook hands with Frank and then Frank seemed to set himself, Dan could tell before Frank said anything that he was about to deliver some bad news "I wish I had better news, Press, are you sure you wanna hear this?".

"I'd gonna be bad Press, I feel it" Dan said. He could sense that whatever Frank was about to say was very serious, he was here to deliver dire news. Press's own rhythms spiked, then he steeled himself. Press was a strong man who had been through a lot, he was hardened to such things. Dan admired that about him. Dan had to take breaks after each case which involved him soaking up all the negativity into his own psyche.

"Oh… hit me with it" Press said with a sigh. "Well, there's no easy way to say this, Joaquim Dalton was killed last night in Berlin".

For a few moments, nobody said anything, Dan watched Press and fought the urge to reach out to him. Press wasn't one for that kind of comforting.

"Fuck…" Press said, and his face twisted into a grimace "Un-fucking-believable… what happened". "Sniper" Frank took out a folder and placed it on Press's lap. "Ahh, Jesus" Press said as he looked at the photo's of the scene. Dan had seen plenty of gory things in his time too, he used to hate the sight of blood, and there was plenty of it in the photo.

The images showed a grotesque scene, a man in a suit lay headless next to a statue on white cobbles. "He was shot while standing on the Monbijoubrücke walkway outside the Bode Museum in Berlin". Press flipped though the file "Christ, right out in the open, where was his protection detail?".

Frank sighed "He was holding a private meeting with a client or something, he apparently likes to chat in that spot". "Somebody fucked up, how the hell do they let him walk out into the open like that after what happened?... Did they identify a shooter?".

Again, before Frank spoke, Dan knew it would be disappointing judging by his internal thoughts "They identified the position from where the shot was taken, it was incredibly tight". Frank reached over and turned the page, it showed a stack of boxes on a rooftop facing down river. A blown up image showed that the walkway was visible in the distance.

" , Custom slug, untraceable, so was the rifling, the shooter took the casing and doused the area in acid. It took a while to find the spot, the shooter fired down river and probably used a suppressor, none of the witnesses heard anything… wouldn't wanna mess with whoever made that shot".

Press shook his head "No witnesses, no CCTV, nothing?". "There isn't a great deal of CCTV in Germany" Frank said "They've had bad experiences with state surveillance in the past and don't really believe blanket coverage increases public safety, just ask the London MET".

Frank paused then continued "There were only two cameras covering a small alley where people park their cars between the restaurant building and the theatre next door, they were disabled prior to the shooting".

"Fuck… of course they were, so nobody saw anyone entering or leaving that area?". Frank breathed "Like I said, I hate to be the bearer of bad news".

"There is only one image, but our experts have gone over it and concluded it's not enough for an ID" Frank said, he flipped to the last page and there was a grainy, blown up image of a dark figure, wearing a hood, a peak cap, and carrying a backpack, moving along the riverside walk "This image was taken by a camera in a Cafe across the river, it just happened to pick up this individual walking away".

"That's it?" Press asked. "The only thing the analysts can confirm is that it's a woman… so at least your Crow guy didn't show up to finish the job". Press glanced at Frank, then back at the grainy image "Can't see much on that at all. Forensics, fibres, DNA, blast residue?".

"I saw the footage, she never turned, kept facing away, she likely knew that camera was there" Frank said "As for forensics, she doused the area in Sulfuric acid" Press grimaced "Shit… She's a pro".

For a few moments, nobody said anything, Dan felt he had to chime in with the only positive note he could think of "Press, it didn't happen on your watch… all the news is calling you a hero, you went above and beyond".

Frank nodded "Dan's right, that's what you should take away from this. I looked into that Hooded Crow's reputation, still can't identify the guy, but it's formidable… Press, you went toe to toe with one of the most dangerous operatives in the world, and you kicked his ass!... and everyone knows it. You should do Diplomatic Protection, you'll have skilled guy's beating down your door to come work for you".

---

BETHESDA TERRACE - CENTRAL PARK - MANHATTAN

Nikki sat on the edge of the fountain, enjoying the fresh, frigid air. It had just hit midnight. There weren't many people around now. Even through the darkness, she could see what was happening beneath the walkway, between the pillars.

Connar stood with four men, all of whom were sporting various Irish or Massachusetts themed tattoos. These men were members of a Boston organised crime outfit known as "Southie Crew" with whom Connar apparently had family ties. Their outfit also held long standing rivalries with many New York outfits.

He was conversing with one of them, a man in his fifties with a shaved head, ginger beard and a wide grin. A witty fast talker like Connar. Nikki had never done anything like this before and was watching intently.

The key to these exchanges was making arrangements ahead of time and then not changing anything at the last minute. Connar had made the arrangements with this man by the name of Tommy Rearden.

A few days after the warehouse fire, Connar had ventured up to the surface and donned a disguise as an FDNY Fire Investigator to get through the cordon and gain access to the investigation.

They had recovered the bodies of the mercenaries. He had actually visited the coroner's office under the guise of an NYPD Detective and came back with a fragment of one of her dorsal blades which had been pulled out of one of the bodies, luckily, he had managed to retrieve it before it had gone through any analysis.

It was almost unnerving how he was able to adopt a different accent and personality to match the character of his disguise, with the relevant ID and documents to get him through the door.

That was a close call, if that fragment had been analysed, the government would be back on the hunt. Fortunately the fire had taken care of the rest of the evidence. They had grown much closer in the days and weeks since.

Over the past few days, Nikki had introduced Connar to her way of making a living. While it was true, people on the streets left small offerings in what they came to call "Angel Alleys" in places she frequented, she made the majority of her living from raiding the stash houses of drug dealers.

Using her keen senses, she often watched street dealers and followed them till they made a hand off or drop, then tracked it back to where it was stored, usually somewhere hidden, then broke in and took it when it was left unattended.

Connar had immediately taken to this and even sped up the process by making buys from the dealers while Nikki watched from a nearby rooftop.

They then worked in unison to track their drops. They had managed to identify four large stashes in as many days, netting them enough money to last for months.

There would likely be a gang war in Hell's Kitchen over the lost stashes, but that was of no concern to them. Nobody ever saw Nikki come or go from a raid. However, there was also the matter of the large amount of drugs, guns and even some explosives they had found at the last location.

Under normal circumstances, Nikki would have ignored the drugs and weapons and only taken the cash. Connar, on the other hand, had seen the opportunity to double their profits and also get word back to his sister that he was alive, and so, here they were.

Connar nodded to Nikki and she made her way over to them. "Hay, god damn, he's been keeping you quiet, shit Connar, no wonder you stayed in the rotten Big Apple" Tommy said as she approached, then gave Connar a playful punch on the shoulder. "I like my mystery," Nikky said.

"Mystery huh? You're goddamn gorgeous, What's your name?" Tommy asked. His voice was a little too loud for Nikki's liking, but he seemed friendly enough "Nicole".

"Nikki, this is Tommy" Connar said "Part of the American branch of the family". "That's right, we're dug in on every continent like ticks" Tommy chimed in "His Mom is the daughter of my Granddad's sister… so like what does that make us anyway? 2nd, 3rd Cousin's or something?".

Nikki watched Connar begin to think about it, clearly something he hadn't really given much consideration "Not sure, 2nd I think,". "Nah dude" the man next to Tommy piped up, a big bruiser of a man who went by the street name "Knock Knock".

"It makes you first cousins, once removed… or just like two assholes on their first date". "Listen to this guy, remind me why I keep your wise ass around, Knock?" Tommy laughed. Knock Knock shrugged "I'm good at shooting motherfuckers".

Despite her misgivings, Nikki found herself laughing at the exchange. "Nikki, you got the keys?" Connar asked. Nikki took the keys out of her back pocket and handed them to Tommy, who in turn handed them to Knock Knock. The big man then promptly walked off in the direction of Terrace Drive where Nikki had parked an old van with all the gear inside.

"The van's clean, all the gear is in there… you got that other thing I asked for?" Connar asked Tommy. "Ahh, I think I can find it" Tommy reached into his jacket and came out with a small wooden box.

He handed the box to Connar who promptly pocketed it. Nikki knew nothing about any exchange of items, just cash, and began to grow suspicious, Was Connar up to something?

Tommy then turned his attention back to her "You don't look like you're from around here" Tommy said, rubbing his hands together against the cold "Tall, strong, blonde, your features… Let me guess, Iceland, Greenland, Scandinavia originally maybe? You're like…really Nordic… like a Viking. You look like you were born about five or six centuries too late, like you'd be more at home screaming across a battlefield all painted up, swinging an axe into some poor Christian's face, right?". Tommy laughed at his own joke.

Nikki glanced at Connar sceptically, he had a nervous smile and simply shrugged. "West Coast" she said. "Out West huh… woman of few words" Tommy said "My wife's from Charlestown, she's the total opposite".

"You're married?" Nikki was genuinely surprised, and realised she had given it away in her tone as she asked the question. Tommy grinned "Fifteen years" Tommy said, pulling open his shirt to reveal a tattoo of a woman's face right in the centre of his chest "That's my Annie". The tattoo was the image of a necklace that went up around his shoulders.

"You guys should come up to Boston in the summer" Tommy continued "We hold a big cook out for the whole street, feed everybody, they go home happy". While Nikki had her reservations about this, she was reading his rhythms and he was genuine about what he was saying.

Tommy gestured to Connar "And hay, I got stories about this guy and his crazy family that you wouldn't believe". "I'm starting to sense that" Nikki grinned.

"Speaking of the family" Connar said "I'm laying low down here, Tommy. Can you get the word to Kazia that I'm alright, things got a little crazy a few weeks back, I'm gonna be incommunicado for a while and I don't want her to worry".

Nikki then saw the more serious and caring side of Tommy, he stepped up, grabbed Connar's hand and pulled him into a hug "You know I will, anything for you Cuz. We've been having problems with the Chelsea boys again so what you got for me is really gonna help".

"Hay there's something else" Connar said, prompting Tommy to pull back "When you talk to Kazia, ask her to tell Maya, that I'm sorry I fucked up, she'll know what I'm talking about. Tell them I love them all and I'll be in contact when all the dust settles"

One of Tommy's friends then got a text, pulled out his phone and said "Knock Knock says It's all there". "Well" Tommy began "Pleasure doing business with you Cuz, and again, thanks for all the hardware, it's gonna be a big help". Connar shook his head and gestured to Nikki "Ohh, don't thank me, I just helped… Nikki's the one, she got all that gear…".

Tommy and his friends turned to face her, clearly surprised as Connar Continued "In this city, she's the Robin Hood, the Anne Bonny and the Kaizer Soze all rolled into one". It was strange hearing someone big her up like that, Nikki gave a small shrug and smile, leaning into the image that Connar had just painted of her.

"Well, whoever you are Nikki, you're a real one I can tell" Tommy said, then he extended a hand. Nikki took his hand and he had a good strong grip, though he seemed to know better than to pull her into a hug, the way he had with Connar.

As he did, he gestured with his free hand to one of his guys who handed him a small duffel bag. "As we agreed, the cash, plus some new ID's and Documents are all in there".

Tommy unzipped the bag, revealing rolls of cash and handed it to Nikki "Don't be a stranger, huh" he winked and waved to his guy, after that, they all moved off and made their way up the stairs, leaving Nikki and Connar alone.

"That was… interesting" Nikki said, throwing the duffle bag over her shoulder. Connar smiled and began heading back over to the fountain "Well, now you get the general idea what my family's like".

"Is he one of those Whispers too?" Nikki asked as she sat down on the edge of the fountain. "Tommy, no, he's not a Whisper… he might be a gangster, but he's a good guy, looks out for his own". "What was that thing he gave you?" Nikki asked, trying not to sound suspicious or stern.

The way Connar looked at her made her realise she had sounded sharper than she intended "Sorry, I haven't survived this long by being quick to trust". "I understand that Nikki, I'm the same… but relax it's a gift".

"A gift?" Nikki asked. "Mermaid, you saved me… twice, you took me in when nobody else would have, this is to say thank you" Connar pulled the box out of his pocket and opened it.

Inside was a very expensive looking platinum bracelet. It wove around in elaborate Celtic knot patterns and at its centre was a Mermaid holding a small diamond. "It's… it's for me?".

Nikki unexpectedly had a lump in her throat and found herself tearing up "Nobody ever got me a gift before" she whispered. Connar took the bracelet out of the box, then took Nikki by the hand and clipped it onto her wrist "The Merrow, the Mermaid is a symbol of magic and change, power to overcome, become something better… however you started out, you've become so much more. I've seen the way the people on these streets look up to you, what you mean to them… and what you mean to me".

Nikki stood up, holding the bracelet up under the golden hue of the street lights. Her eyes were streaming with warm tears "It's beautiful… I don't deserve beautiful". Nikki felt his hand on her shoulder and turned to face him "Yes you do, Nikki… more than I think you realise".

Without saying another word, Nikki felt overcome, and leaned into a gentle, but very passionate kiss. Nikki was accustomed to this feeling, happiness, contentment, she watched other people, couples, only ever in passing, looking happy together, giving themselves to one another… was this what it felt like?

Nikki stopped kissing only to breathe, resting their heads together "Come on" she said "Lets get home".

They made their way together up the stairs and along the famous Central Park Mall, as they walked, Nikki noticed several benches were occupied by sleepers. Nikki knew some of them, or had seen them around, she remembered every scent. She reached into the duffel bag and pulled out a £3,000 roll of cash, then walked over to a bench and nudged a man she recognised from the streets.

The man stirred groggily, but upon seeing hooded visage of Nikki standing over him, with only her cat-like reflective eyes peering out from beneath her hood, he practically jumped to attention like a soldier "The Angel!" he gasped.

"Terrence isn't it?" Nikki asked after a pause, letting it sink in "You like to feed the birds in Bryant Park, and you pad out your jacket with romance novels because you say the passion keeps you warm".

"Why… Y…Yes Ma'am, that's me… how did you know all that?". "The streets talk…I listen" Nikki said, and handed him the £3,000 cash "See that gets evenly distributed here on these benches Terrence, and get yourself something warm to eat".

"Th… thank you" Terrance said. As Nikki moved away, she heard him mutter "The Angel Protects".

It wasn't long before they exited the park, crossed 5th avenue and walked several streets over to a 24 hour 7-Eleven to buy some celebratory drinks, which they would enjoy once they got back down to Terminus.

"Hay, they were doing a run of Champagne before Christmas, see if they still have any" Nikki said as she collected stacks. "They have three bottles left" she heard Connar call around the corner of the isle "But they all have Captain Ken-Doll's face on the label, sure you want him joining in?". Nikki smiled "I'm feeling generous tonight, so he can watch".

Connar leaned backwards around the isle, holding a box of Space Flakes with Patrick Ross's grinning face on them. Connar's eyes were poking over the top "Oh, can he now?". Nikki laughed "Put that shit back" Nikki tapped the duffel bag around her waist "We eat like kings now".

Connar grinned and disappeared around the isle, Nikki could hear him picking up bottles. Connar moved parallel to her along the other isle. Nikki removed a box from the shelf and could see Connar on the other side "What about a trip?" he asked. "What do you have in mind? Acid? Ayahuasca?" Nikki quipped "I'm game".

"No, I mean a road trip, upstate for a few days, maybe even take Tommy up about going to Boston… plenty of motels along the way" Connar said "Or why stop there? We could go out west for a few weeks".

"I stayed in Boston before I came to New York, I do return to the city usually once a year in December… it's personal though… I think I'd be up for it". "Personal?" Connar asked. Nikki locked eyes with him though the shelves, "Not tonight" Tonight we celebrate our win. I'll tell you more some other time".

"Sounds good, want me to bring all three of these bottles?" Connar asked. "Well, I'm not driving" Nikki quipped "Get some regular beers too, I'll meet you at the counter".

Nikki finished grabbing snacks and made her way around to the counter, she had been into this 7-Eleven before, the regular night shift guy's name was Pasquale something, he knew her face. "Slow night?" Nikki asked. "School night" Pasquale closed his book and stood up.

"Shanty, come on" Nikki called out. Connar appeared around the isle carrying a basket with the three bottles plus a case of beers. As he approached the counter, his smile suddenly faded away and Nikki noticed he was looking at the TV screen on the wall behind Pasquale.

Nikki turned and saw what Connar was looking at, some late night trending news, on the headline was a face she knew, it was the man Connar had been trying to kill weeks ago… Joaquim Dalton. In the image, he was smiling, standing with a beautiful model on a red carpet, surrounded by other business moguls "Shit… that's" ...

"Excuse me, my friend, can you turn that up please" Connar said to Pasquale. Pasquale obliged, picked up the remote and turned up the volume.

"Tonight's top story, Joaquim Dalton, famed financier and business mogul was assassinated earlier today as he exited the Bode Museum in Berlin"

The scene cut to the beautiful walkway and platform in front of the museum on the river Spree which ran through central Berlin. There were numerous police cordons and tape, the camera panned up to show two helicopters overhead and armed GSG9 officers standing guard.

"Dalton recently survived a separate assassination attempt in New York City, when his motorcade was attacked by an as yet unidentified assailant. The assassin was later shot and fell from a rooftop into the East River by Hero Bodyguard Preston Lennox. However after an extensive search, the would-be assassin's body has yet to be found".

Nikki felt her anger rise as the image briefly switched to that of Preston Lennox, calling him a Hero… he was nothing but a killer. She felt Connar step closer and put his hand on her shoulder.

"So far, all that has been released is that the shot was taken from the rooftop of a cafe on Bertolt Brecht Platz, just up river. Police would like to speak to this individual as a potential witness in connection with the shooting… in other news, the crew of the Excursion Voyage are due to make their first livestream broadcast next week, using an innovative system of satellite buoys to relay the signal back to Earth… Senator Judson Ross had this to say…"

The news showed the location from where the shot was taken, and then cut to a grainy, blown up CCTV image of someone walking along the riverside pathway. The person was wearing a dark hood and a peaked cap. Nikki turned around and saw the look on Connar's face, a subtle nod of satisfaction and whispered under his breath "Nice Shot Carpathian...".

A few minutes later, they emerged from the 7-Eleven and could talk more openly "You know who that was in the picture?" Nikki asked. Connar linked arms with her and pulled her close to speak in a low voice "I have two sisters by blood and a 3rd. Her name's Maya, we came up together through Project Morrigan, she led Day-Zero, she helped me escape".

"So the man you came here to kill is dead… what does that mean for you?" Nikki asked. "It means, whether they know it or not, Sighted people everywhere can sleep a little easier tonight" Connar grinned.

Nikki felt she had to ask, given that she had found out Connar didn't plan on surviving the night they met "He was gonna be your last one… is it still the case?". "It is" Connar said. "So you're gonna stay?".

With their arms still linked, Connar took her hand over his and held it tight "I'm not going anywhere, Nikki, that's a promise". "Yes you are, Shanty" Nikki leaned in "You're going home with me!".

---

MONROE AIR FORCE BASE - BIOHAZARD COMPLEX - SUBLEVEL 4 - VIRGINIA

"What is it, Laura" Eve was lying on a Yoga mat in the middle of the floor of her enclosure, stretching off, getting ready to work out. Eve's voice snapped Laura away from the TV in the corner, playing a news clip of Joaqum Dalton's brutal assassination "I… don't worry Eve, it's nothing". "Why to you look so upset?" Eve started to get up make her way over to the other end of the enclosure.

Laura switched off the TV quickly, she couldn't have Eve getting distracted or curious about a man, even if it was a man who was now dead. "What's wrong" Eve tilted her head and rested a gentle hand on Laura's shoulder, prompting Ruth to take a step closer to the Tether console.

Laura saw this and waved her hand, letting Ruth know everything was fine. "It's ok, Eve, nothing for you to worry about". "You can tell me, we have no secrets," Eve said softly with a half smile. "It's really ok, Eve, listen, finish your stretches, I just have to go make a call and I'll be right back".

Eve nodded, but looked slightly dissatisfied. She knew all her boundaries, Laura hated that sometimes. She had expected a natural born killer in Eve, and what she got was a kind hearted, gentle and incredibly intelligent young woman who, despite her dire circumstances, tried to see the best in people.

Laura rubbed Eve's shoulder reassuringly and Eve smiled and went back to her routine. Laura meanwhile, make her way out of Eve's enclosure, out through the giant blast-proof doors and down the hall to the lockers.

All phones were strictly prohibited inside the lab, on the off chance anyone with access to Eve's enclosure dropped or accidentally left a phone and Eve found it, they would all find themselves in the Marianna trench as far as deep shit goes.

Laura retrieved her phone from the locker and pulled up Press's contact. It would have to be a Wifi app, as there was no cell phone signal several stories underground.

After a few rings, Press finally answered "I take it you heard". Press's opening statement, and his tone told her that he must have known before the news broke. "Are you alright?" Laura asked.

"I have to be" Press replied "Not much I can do about it". Under normal circumstances, Press's response might have come across as cold, but Laura knew he had distinguished himself and, for the sake of his recovery, it was a good attitude to have.

"You're almost recovered" Laura said "Don't go doing anything crazy, concentrate on getting right". "I'm good, Laura" Press said. "You already did everything that was expected of you and more" Laura naturally felt concerned, Press, while a consummate professional, did have a compulsive streak.

Wanting to make sure the job was done. Laura had seen this when the rest of their team believed Sil to be dead, Press couldn't accept it. "Was it the same guy?" Laura asked. Press paused for a moment "No, I've been shown some material from the case, they think the assassin might have been a woman".

"Remember when Fitch said women were more docile and controllable?" Press asked, causing Laura to instantly chuckle. "He said it so matter of fact I almost jumped out of my goddamn chair and slapped him".

"Hay listen Laura" Press said "I know you're probably worrying that I'm gonna go off after whoever did this… I'm not, I've got too much riding on getting better, you really don't have to worry".

"Ok" Laura replied, feeling relieved that Press was taking a less impulsive approach to this "Listen, I have to get back to it, but I'll call you later ok". "Ok, speak soon" Press said.

Laura put the phone back into the locker and knew before she closed it that she wasn't alone. True enough, when she closed the locker, Colonel Carter Burgess Jr was leaning against the wall on the far end of the room "Hope you give Press my best next time you speak" Burgess said.

Laura felt a chill, for a large man, sometimes, he could be a little too quiet. "Shame about Dalton. I met him myself a few times at the UN, good man, good negotiator, he'll be missed".

Laura wouldn't normally engage Burgess in any kind of personal conversation, but the fact that he ambushed her like this, made her feel like she had to say something "I met him at the hospital, he helped Press, seemed like a nice guy, I have no idea what he could he have done to deserve that?".

Burgess rubbed his hands together "When you reach his level, you tend to make enemies" he said… then after a short pause, he added "But he had friends in high places too, including the Generals, so you, and Press can rest assured, whoever these goddamn assassins are, they will be found and dealt with".

Laura never liked Burgess, and his brutal reputation from his previous exploits was intimidating to say the least… but given what that assassin had done to Press, Laura had never felt that kind of anger before, towards a man she never knew, perhaps in this case, what Burgess was saying was right.

Laura wouldn't be shedding a tear for a person who could, so coldly, blow a man's head off in a public place, or shoot and slice their way through almost twenty men, plus bring down a helicopter, all in the pursuit of killing one man.

As Burgess moved away, it put things in sharper perspective for Laura. There were some profoundly dangerous, ruthless, morally bankrupt people walking free out in the world right now… but that young woman down there in that reinforced glass enclosure… she was not one of them.

Colonel Carter Burgess Jr made his way back up to his office overlooking the lab, from where he could observe, though one way glass, everything that happened below.

He watched as Baker made her way back into the creature's enclosure as it began its exercise routine. Baker thought too much of that animal and not enough about how to eliminate the damn thing.

However it seemed that the alien creature wasn't the only issue plaguing the US Government's interests lately. Joaquim Dalton may have been a public figure and major financier, but behind the scenes, he was an expert facilitator and had provided logistical support for many black operations.

At the time of his death, he was involved in a clandestine operation to seek out those individuals known colloquially as Sighted, who possessed an extrasensory perception. Years ago, there was a project in the UK, which ran for years, and the operatives it created were highly efficient and hyper lethal.

Unfortunately those same operatives, it seems, didn't appreciate being kidnapped as children and trained for combat and espionage, a number of them escaped, and systematically murdered every scientist, military coordinator and financier linked to the operation.

All reports he had ever seen were third hand information and heavily redacted. But it was enough to perk the interest of the US military and intelligence community, they wanted their own program. Dalton had been a facilitator for the UK program and they wanted him to assist in rebuilding it. The planning was in the early stages, and now Dalton was dead, and the initial plan was in tatters.

Whoever these assassins were, they were highly skilled and lethal, but they couldn't be allowed to succeed.

Sure enough, it wasn't long before his phone rang, the contact came up *Pentagon*. Burgess answered, knowing it would likely be one of "The Trio" the three powerful generals in charge of a number of Black Ops across the world. "Burgess, this is General Becker, I trust you've seen the news".

"Yes Sir, a true tragedy" Burgess replied. "More than you know Colonel, the Sil task force got very lucky, given the data we've been seeing from the E.V.E. Vulnerability tests, taking out that creature was a fluke of long odds". "I'll have Dr. Baker re-double her efforts Sir, we'll find a way to eighty-six the creature, rest assured".

"After the Sil project went south, the administration became very interested in ESP-Abled operatives" Becker said. Burgess was in no doubt, this was a party line, he was likely on a speaker phone in their large office and the other two were silently listening.

Becker continued "The intelligence reports we received from the other side of the pond suggest that these individuals, properly trained from an early age, are the only ones who might have a chance against these alien bastards if they ever come back".

Come back? Burgess thought, I'm staring at one right now that you ordered us to create…

"And now someone has taken out the man who could source them at an early age through his charities" Burgess said. "That's right, we believe the rogue operators who escaped from Project Morrigan, I believe it was called, are still active" Becker replied, he paused for a moment, and then continued "We are looking into out-sourcing to a new asset, he just completed work on a new training facility in the DRC, he will be recruiting soon".

Recruits, Burgess thought, that was Black-Ops Speak for kidnapping ESP Abled youngsters. Experimenting on aliens was Tuesday for Burgess, but the idea of this did send a chill up his spine. "With Dalton Dead and Preston Lennox out of action for the time being, we want your best team on this… there's a lot at stake, when this operation begins, if these Rogue Operators strike again, I want them dealt with".

"Understood General" Burgess said "I'll put a team of first class pipe-hitters together, if these guys show up again, they won't know

what hit them". Becker seemed satisfied at this and unceremoniously hung up. Burgess wandered back over to the window and watched Dr. Baker and Eve were now sitting reading something together.

Burgess shook his head "Fine" he said out loud. Whoever is messing with the General's operation, we'll deal with them, and then we'll deal with the fact that Dr. Baker seems to think the alien is a goddamn passion project.

---

YAKUTSK - SAKHA REPUBLIC - RUSSIA

Maya never really called this place home, a small apartment she maintained in one of Russia's most remote cities. The Winters here could dip as low as -40 in the winter. Maya had made her way straight back here after Germany, a journey that had taken her over a week. She had changed cars no less than seven times. Flying, even employing one of her regular smuggling pilots was too risky after such a high-profile hit.

There was a deep lake roughly five miles outside of the town, on a lonely road to nowhere. This time of year the lake was frozen solid. Rather than bring her last stolen car into town, she had driven it out onto the middle of the lake, collected her rifle and her gear from the trunk and placed a small timed explosive beneath the underside of the car.

Once she was safely on shore, she pressed the small detonator switch and watched as the explosion cracked the thick ice beneath the car. Gravity would do the rest. The vehicle disappeared beneath the ice as Maya made the rest of her journey on foot.

She stored her gear in the small shack she owned around the back of the apartment building on Ulitsa Yakova Potapova, which was just up the street from a small supermarket. The fatigue from the journey was beginning to make it's presence known. Maya stretched her neck, feeling it crack from sitting in a driver's seat for days on end.

The GM6-LYNX had performed Admirably, she had made sure it was freshly oiled and cleaned before she placed it on a stand on the table and made sure it was secure.

It was then that Maya sensed someone approaching, her highly acute empathic and telepathic acuity was like a sonar, it picked up the presence of other minds, sighted or not. She knew the boy from downstairs was coming before she heard his crunching footsteps in the snow.

No need to hurry and cover up the weapon, she knew it was before he appeared "Hello Abrasha" she called out. "Maya, you're back!" the young boy said as he rounded the side of the shack, the first thing he saw was the fifty calibre rifle on the table "Whooaaa" Almost instinctively, he reached out.

"Ahh" Maya said "What did we say about touching things?". "Sorry, just, this one's really cool!" Abrasha said "Where did you get it?". Maya shrugged "Well, I know a guy, who knows a girl, who shot a guy?". Abrasha started to giggle.

Maya picked up a thick towel and threw it over the rifle "It's pretty late. Don't you have school tomorrow?". "It got colder than -45 last week, normally we'd be back in by now, but there was damage to all the pipes, it flooded then froze, so, no school now till the middle of next week, at least" the boy said, idly kicking some snow. Maya grinned "Yay…".

"Not really, there's nothing to do around here, especially this time of year" Abrasha said… then he added "Unless…". "Oh, here we go…" Maya droned. "Please, it was the best day ever".

"You want me to take you out shooting again don't you?". "Please, I got really good last time… you're a good teacher… by the time I'm old enough for National Service, I'll be an Ace". "You have to shoot a lot of people to be a Sniper Ace, Abrasha, I don't want that for you. Did you finish those books I gave you?" Maya asked. "Cover to cover" the boy said proudly "I went down to the Library and got more".

Abrasha was 13, he lived in the apartment below Maya with his mother, Agnieska, and had few friends, he was shy and bookish, and had taken an interest in her almost as soon as she arrived here three years ago. She was a fresh face in this relatively quiet, isolated part of an isolated city… who wouldn't take an interest in a lone westerner all the way out here.

Despite her tendency to keep to herself, she found living out here perhaps a little too isolationist, and had struck up friendships with both Abrasha, and his mother.

When he had inadvertently seen her collection of weapons in the shack, he had immediately asked to have a go. Maya had initially refused, but he had been persistent until he had convinced her to take him out shooting.

He had expressed an interest in history and other cultures, so Maya had given him books by explorers such as Alexandra David-Néel, Earnest Shackleton, Livingstone and others, as well as European, Russian and New World history…also also the Sun Tzu Art of War, because she had read it cover to cover and absorbed it all.

"I'm very tired, and I'm going to the store, so if you help carry some bags, I'll take you shooting at the weekend" Maya finally said. "Deal!" Abrasha said "You know, if we hurry, we can make it back in time for the Excursion livestream". "Oh, that's happening tonight is it?" Maya asked.

After Maya locked up the Shack, it took roughly thirty minutes for her to go to the end of the street, pick up her items and return to her small apartment with Abrasha in tow. True enough, when they made it back and Maya switched on the power breakers, the Excursion livestream was just getting started.

Anne Sampas, Patrick Ross and Dennis Gamble were all waving and smiling at the camera. "Welcome everyone to the first live broadcast from the Excursion Voyage" Patrick began.

As the three of them discussed their journey so far, how they had adjusted to life in the capsule and the day to day workings of the ship, Maya threw some eggs, beans and bacon into a pan.

"In a few years, they'll have a base on Mars, and people will be going up there to live and work… I'll be one of them" Abrasha said. "What's the tallest mountain in the whole Solar System" Maya said without turning around. "That's an easy one, Olympus Mons, on Mars" Abrasha replied. "So you're going to be a martian ditch-digger, breaking rocks on Olympus Mons?".

"I'll explore it" Abrasha said "Like the people in the books you gave me, Mars has poles, I'll be the first to reach them, and then I'll write about it". "And I'll look forward to reading all about it" Maya said as she placed a share of the food in front of him "Eat up, you're freezing".

"Those books you gave me were all really good, but they made me realise, everywhere on Earth has been explored" Abrasha said "Sooo what? You wouldn't want to go, if you had the chance?". "What? To Mars?" Maya chuckled. "Yeah" Abrasha said between mouthfuls "You're smart, fair and tough, Mars will need a Sheriff".

"A sheriff?" Maya laughed. "That book you gave me about westward expansion, all those post offices, railroads and saloons… sooner or later, Mars will be no different". The boy's assessment was accurate, Maya had no doubt that somewhere, probably in a corporate office, at this very moment, someone was already eyeing Mars for the next big Gold Rush.

Ultimately, Humanity would start is slow crawl towards armageddon all over again on red soil.

"When Mars becomes a new frontier" Maya began "I suppose it's a good thing the soil of Mars is Red… people won't notice the blood they're building on".

---

SODUS POINT - UPSTATE NEW YORK

Connar picked up a handful of sand and let it run through his fingers. He felt more relaxed here, and more at peace than he had in years. He couldn't remember the last time he had a clear horizon.

Dalton was the last one. After Day-Zero, the former Project Morrigan operatives had all become Whispers, joining hands with the ancient secret group of Sighted for protection and fellowship. From there, they had spread to the four corners of the Earth, hunting anyone and everyone responsible for the project.

Connar was familiar with Whispers, his family's history with them was extensive and sometimes turbulent. Connar had joined the Whispers when Maya got him out, before Day Zero. Together, they had worked tirelessly, and through many hardships to extract more of their fellow Sighted before initiating the tide of blood that became known as Day-Zero.

It had been over a week since Connar learned Dalton had died. It was definitely Maya who had taken the shot, he hoped Tommy had gotten word to Kazia, from there, Connar knew Kazia would get word to Maya that he had survived.

On the way out here, Nikki had opened up about her past. Escaping from some government lab in Utah and hopping a train to Los Angeles. She had done horrific things there… and had horrific things done to her.

Connar had seen first hand how Nikki changed, transformed, he knew she wasn't a mermaid, it was clear, whatever she was, she was something beyond human understanding. Her story of a government, lab, worms coming out of her skin to form a cocoon, her horrific battle for survival in Los Angeles, and the loss of her child was almost too much to take in.

Her story did explain the source of the near constant pain she felt, a hole in her heart. Connar had seen Nikki shrug off a barrage of high calibre rounds, she could heal from anything, knives, bullets, flames, but the loss of a child was a wound that refused to heal. He had his own share of uniquely shitty experiences, but nothing compared or came close.

Since learning more about her, and the way he had come to feel about her, Connar was more sure than ever, he wanted to stay with her. He knew he may never be able to heal that wound, but he was willing to spend his life trying, and if only he could soothe it, it would be worth it.

Here they were now, on the shores of Lake Ontario. He was sitting secluded in the dunes away from the beach, with Nikki resting on him. It was winter and it was cold, but he didn't care, he was ready to start a new chapter in his life. Finally, he could draw a line under Project Morrigan and all it had wrought.

"These past couple of months with you Nikki… they've been the best of my life, I've never felt more at peace than I do now" he said. He felt her shift in his arms and her emotional state spiked. "Are you about to tell me you're leaving again? Now that the man you came here to kill is dead" she asked.

Connar realised he hadn't worded his opening properly and knew he needed to say what he felt more directly "No, Nikki… just the opposite… what do you think about staying together?... You and me.. Us".

She breathed deeply, Connar had his arms folded around her, feeling her chest rise and fall and she became instantly calm again. "I'd like that" she finally said "But you know I'm not like anyone else, you've seen what I keep hidden, who I… What I really am… Can you live with that, Connar? I mean, REALLY live with that? You don't know what might happen down the line".

Connar felt determined in his answer "Whatever happens we'll deal with it together. No more being alone, for either of us". Nikki closed her eyes for a moment and turned to look out at the waves. Connar took the opportunity to nuzzle into her hair and kiss her gently on the back of the neck. He was attuned to her emotions well by now, he felt her contentment, and he felt her stir within at his touch. Her heart rate quickened and she breathed deeply again.

It was late afternoon and the sun was getting low, casting an almost blinding light across the waves. "I can't remember the last time I felt like this… it's just peaceful here". Nikki closed her eyes again and just took in the sound of the waves lapping against the beach.

Connar held her a little tighter, feeling the warmth she was exuding "Why don't we stay a little longer?" he asked. Nikki shifted very slightly in his arms "Hmm" he could tell she was close to falling.

Connar lost track of time, how long they stayed there, not saying anything. Staring at the waves until they both felt relaxed to the point of being drowsy. Connar forgot about the cold, because Nikki gave off so much heat. It was late January and the sun was going down fast. The Moon and some stars were becoming visible and the temperature dropped fast.

The only light they could see came from distant fishing boats out on lake Ontario. It was Nikki who stirred first "Hmm" She reached up, and cupped her hand around the back of his neck "Wanna head back to the motel?" she asked.

Connar began to stretch "Thought you'd never ask". Nikki slowly stretched herself, up, dusted the sand from her jeans and offered her hand. Connar knew what was coming before he took her hand, no sooner had he taken it than she pulled him up onto his feet, into a tight embrace and a ferociously passionate kiss.

"Good thing we're checked in under false names" Connar said when he caught his breath. Nikki laughed "Why?". Connar grinned "Something tells me their insurance isn't gonna cover what's about to happen".

The two of them laughed, Connar took Nikki's hand and they made their way back along the beach, lit by the moonlight. Just the two of them and the sound of the waves. Nikki looked beautiful in any light, but those bright green reflective eyes in the moonlight were incredibly alluring.

There was no question about it, Whatever Nikki was, she was an apex predator, Connar was under no illusions, even with his deadly skills, if Nikki wished him harm, there would be little to nothing he could do to stop her. The fact she had chosen him as a partner, even though neither of them had initially intended their relationship to develop this way.

He wanted to say it out loud, he was going to say it, to make it real. He had felt this way for a while and now it needed the outlet, the words formed in Connar's mind, I love you… Nikki Toombs but as they walked, and he opened his mouth to give voice to the words. Nikki suddenly stopped.

Nikki stared at him with those reflective eyes and he felt her finger touch his lips, to stop him from uttering the words could she hear his thoughts… it was possible, he could sometimes hear hers. "I feel it too… I didn't know I could" Nikki whispered "Let's not say it, let's just feel it, know it". With that, she pulled him in close again and the two of them shared a long, romantic kiss under the pale moonlight, to the sound of lapping waves.

---

SAKHA REPUBLIC AIRSPACE

"It has been almost a full year since the historic Excursion Mission launched. Anne Sampas, Dennis Gamble and Patrick Ross are now one month away from their triumphant return to Earth having made history, and now, everybody wants to know what's going to happen next" The reporter turned to the tall suited man next to her.

"Senator Ross, what are your thoughts on the next step after your Son's return to Earth?" Senator Ross smiled and set himself before speaking "Well, the first thing I'm going to do is give Patrick the biggest hug, and tell him how proud I am… that my only wish is that his mother could be here to witness this, and I'm sure he's thinking the same thing. We just took a huge step, not just as a nation, but as a species, we must now focus our goals on the next step".

Amitra Jha switched off the monitor, "Distract and Conquer" Amitra said "Everyone so focused on the big human triumph of the Excursion to notice the American congress pass three separate bills that limit personal freedom's, women's rights and what amounts to voter suppression".

The man sitting opposite her was a tall, gruff man with in his 50's a handlebar moustache, long black hair and thin but wiry frame. With his cargo's, combat boots and long leather jacket, which he used to conceal a short barrel assault rifle, he looked like a vision of a modern day Impaler.

Amitra knew his real name was Rupert Stone, but most others, including many Whispers simply knew him as "Rust". The fleur de lis tattoo on his neck with the years 1990-2007 marked his service to the Foreign Legion where he was a combat instructor.

"Isn't it always the way?" Rust uttered "Reminds us why Whispers are". "Indeed, our numbers increase slightly every few years, but our fight is getting harder, governments are waking up to the numbers of Sighted in the population, our task is getting more difficult".

"Since Braden fucked up in New York" Rust began, but Amitra cut him off "Braden was always an edge case, Maya brought him into our order because there was no other place for him, as for his sister… well" Amitra trailed off. "The Bradens have guarded our western flank for hundreds of years" Rust said.

"I'm well aware of their family history and exploits" Amitra cut in "But this is different, Morrigan may have been swept away, and if we don't act now, something even worse will rise to take its place".

Amitra looked out of the window and saw the vast Siberian expanse below "Why the fuck has Maya got to live all the way out here?".

Amitra had clawed her way to the top. Some might say being born into the lowest Dalit or "Untouchable" caste in Mumbai was a disadvantage, but for Amitra, being born Sighted, she never viewed it that way.

She had been taken in by the Whispers at the age of 10, they had found her wandering the streets covered in blood after having gutted three men who used her. They had seen to her education and given her a new identity, new purpose, new life.

She had entered the Indian intelligence service at the age of 18, with her test scores being off the charts. For a woman in the intelligence world, her rise through the ranks had been meteoric. She had overseen many dangerous operations and been an active participant in many more.

Throughout it all, nobody had ever suspected her true allegiance was not to her country, but to her own kind, the Sighted. The Sighted had faced persecution in many societies over the centuries.

With her rise through the ranks in the intelligence community, she had been able to redirect her Whisper Brethren to eliminate, any potentially hostile programs that targeted Sighted individuals.

For many years, Project Morrigan was her primary focus, her one true enemy. As she rose to the position of chief of the Special Research Department of Intelligence in India and oversaw anti-terror operations, her true, primary focus was the careful extraction and deprogramming of Morrigan Operatives.

Project Morrigan had kidnapped Sighted Children from all over the world, trained them, honed their psychic acuity to a sharp edge, and then deployed them out into the world as some of the most lethal operatives the world had ever seen.

Maya Le Fauconnière was her first success, and Connar Braden was the second, hand picked by Maya herself once she was freed. The two of them had then worked tirelessly to capture and extract many more before launching their Day-Zero initiative.

After Day-Zero, Amitra had retired from her position as Chief of Indian Intelligence, to give her remaining years to the Whispers, her true family.

---

YAKUTSK - SAKHA REPUBLIC - RUSSIA

Maya had bought herself this truck 3rd, possibly 4th hand over two weeks ago and spent much of that time replacing parts and getting it to work. After personally replacing the cambelt, oil filters, fuel filters, tyres, and spark plug, as well as replacing the headlights and rewiring some of the electrical system, it was almost there.

"Ok, hit it" Maya called out. Abrasha was sitting in the driver's seat and turned over the ignition. The engine sputtered at first, then turned over and finally roared to life, with none of the imperfections it had displayed when she first bought it.

Abrasha climbed out of the driver's seat of the 1999 Nissan Frontier and immediately high-fived her "We did it!". "We sure did, I'll just get cleaned up and we'll take it out for a test drive".

Maya's senses picked it up about the same time Abrasha looked up the road behind her and spotted the tall, lean man with long hair and a moustache getting out of a rental car. Maya immediately knew who it was before she even turned around. He was sighted, like herself.

Sure enough, it was Rust, the long time bodyguard, confidant of Amitra Jha, the woman who had helped her plan and execute Day-Zero. Upon seeing him, Maya turned back to Abrasha "I'll be back soon, Abrasha, would you reverse the truck back into my garage and lock up please?".

Abrasha didn't know the nature of her livelihood, but he was smart enough to have worked out what he needed to. That she travelled to dangerous places, did dangerous things, and associated with dangerous people. He did as he was asked.

---

PERMAFROST TUNNEL - YAKUTSK - RUSSIA

Maya took her padded silver coat and boots from the man at the desk before heading down into one of the main attractions in the city, known locally as the Permafrost Kingdom.

Permafrost affected many aspects of life in Yakutsk, affecting drainage, building foundations and occasionally pushing up mounds of earth to release gases trapped within. The effects of climate change.

Rust waited near the entrance and Maya carried on into the tunnel, entering the section that was beautifully lit with neon lights, showing off the ice sculptures and works of art.

Maya rounded the corner and found Amitra admiring an Icy rendition of Picasso's Guernica, carved into the wall "Even though it's bloody cold down here, the ingenuity never fails to inspire". Maya smiled "Hello Amitra, it's been too long". Amitra turned and spread her arms "Of course it has, you couldn't pick up a phone, drop a postcard in the mail, or perhaps even start a goddamn social media account to let me know you're ok!".

Amitra was 67 years old, stood 5.4" and looked almost comical bundled up in one of the silver jackets with the hood pulled up, but she had the voice of a giant, like honey poured over gravel or "Serrated Caramel" as Connar had once awkwardly commented within earshot of her. Thankfully, she had taken it as a compliment, and ignored his lack of a propriety filter.

Maya made her way over the ice to her old friend and pulled her into a tight embrace, Amitra gave her a customary kiss on both cheeks "Why don't you live somewhere normal, like a small village in the south of France, or the highlands of Scotland, instead you stay all the way out here in the frozen middle of nowhere" Amitra remarked with an air of mock frustration. Maya smiled "This place has it's charms, it's quiet, not much happens, so I see any possible threats before they come, and the people are kind".

They began to wander deeper into the tunnel "To what do I owe this visit?" Maya asked. Amitra turned "Aside from the fact that I just wanted to see you with my own eyes, to make sure you were ok after what happened with Connar in New York". Maya dropped her eyes "I know… New York was a mess, and losing Katya…".

Amitra slowed down and locked eyes with her "We all felt their loss, I knew Katya from when she was a little girl, and I know how much Connar meant to you, like a little brother, and his family have always been ready to fight for the sighted, for generations".

Amitra would find out sooner or later, so Maya thought it best to tell her what she knew "Amitra, Connar's alive". Amitra was hard to read and her face betrayed nothing for several long seconds before "Fucking what!".

"His sister Kazia called me, told me he's still in New York, at least at the time, that was a few months back, apparently laying low with some woman called Nikki". Amitra's eyes went wide "Kazia saw him herself?".

"No, his cousin Tommy Reardan, the American branch of the clan saw him, apparently Connar called him and traded him a van full of guns and drugs he'd stolen for a bag full of cash and some new ID's". "For fuck's sake" Amitra cursed "He sure made a mess of things in New York, and now he's cozying up to his cousin the fucking Gangster from Boston?... and who's this Nikki? What's he playing at?".

"As usual with Connar I have no idea, if his actions seem random, it's because that's what he wants you to think" Maya said "I was going to travel out there after a while and find him, find out what he's up to, but after what happened, and finally having wiped out the last remnants of Morrigan, I was giving him his space, we all have to figure out a new path now".

"Well, don't celebrate too soon" Amitra said in a serious tone "I maintain a lot of my former contacts and I found out that Dalton, though his various charitable foundations, was compiling a list of potently Sighted kids from a number of different countries, a few weeks ago, several of them were reported missing".

Maya suddenly went numb and the cold felt sharper than ever as the blood drained from her hands. No, she had ended it, it was over. The Threat from Morrigan was dead "Please Amitra" she breathed, involuntarily backing away "Please don't… we can't, I can't go through this again!".

"I have people on this, a few of the other Whispers who were former Morrigan Operators, the ones you and Connar got out. They have been made aware and are ready to move on this, but I knew I had to tell you personally, it was you, Maya, you got them all out, you ended Morrigan. If this is what I think it is, we have the opportunity to stop a resurgent project before the damage is done".

"This is a fucking nightmare" Maya almost buckled "10 years we spent hunting down the remnants of Morrigan, and now, after we finally kill the last of them, someone starts it again!". "I know it's hard, but my own granddaughter is on that list, I've had her moved to a safe location, I need you Maya… and if Connar is alive, I need him too, I need you both running point on this".

Maya breathed deeply and turned away, running her hands through her hair "This is a fucking nightmare, when will it end for us?". "If I knew anyone better, believe me I'd be knocking on their door… but it's you, you and Braden, the biggest mistake I made was giving you all separate targets, you're better together".

Maya centred herself, regardless of whether or not she wanted to go back out there into a war she thought had just ended. The reality was, she needed to… and she needed Connar by her side to finish this once and for all "What's the plan?".

Amitra set herself "Two of the names on that list are in New York, I have someone on one of them, the other is in an Orphanage in the City, name's Paul Wiseman, 13 years old, has displayed an ESP ability since and early age, in and out of foster care".

Amitra produced a file from her coat and handed it to Maya "Extraction?" she asked. "Only if necessary, first, I need you, and preferably Connar too, now I know he's still alive, to perform surveillance, and if someone shows up, you take them…alive".

"You want to use this one as bait? Amitra that's not like you, it's a kid!" Maya said. "This time, things will be different, I want you to find out who's doing this, and then we are going to make an example of them, that way, next time anyone thinks of fucking with the Sighted, they will remember that we are watching and we are prepared to unleash horrors upon anyone who tries this shit again!"

Maya shook her head. It was clear from this that Amitra was desperate, she had no idea who was behind this and needed to generate a solid lead in order to get enough information to act upon.

For her part, Maya knew she had to see this through, whatever was going on, was likely still in its early stages, if they acted decisively, they could stamp it out before it became established. Amitra fixed her with a determined look "Ours is a code, written in silence". Whispers were not prepared for something on the scale of the original Project Morrigan, as a result, they had become entrenched into a two decade long battle of attrition against them. Maya would not allow that to happen again, she was resolved to do anything and everything possible to remove this shadow from over their heads.

"We are the Shield and the Sword, We are Truth in Shadow…" Maya said, bowing her head. Amitra stepped forward and gave her a gentle kiss on the forehead "We do not fear the flames". Amitra stepped back "I hate to burden you with this…". "It's no burden when it must be done…" Maya replied "We are Sighted, and protect our own kind, whatever the cost".

"I'll inform the others, you'll have additional support, find Connar and this time, try to stop him launching a one-man assault on the entire fucking city" Amitra warned. The two of them shared a long awaited hug and started making their way back.

---

NEW YORK CITY - USA

Abrasha had been upset to see her leave so suddenly, but it wasn't the first time. Maya had left him a long list of books to get into while she was gone. She had told him she hoped not to be gone too long and the two of them had shared a long hug at the end of which she had told him to take care of his mother.

Maya had loaded all the weapons and gear she needed onto Amitra's private plane and from there, it had been a long, 12 hour flight to a secluded landing strip outside the city. Amitra had provided a truck for Maya to use and she had brought four different ID's for the US. After all, Maya had undertaken an operation for the SVR here once and one of her identities had been blown.

From there, she had driven into the city and begun her search for Connar. Maya knew this wouldn't be easy. Connar was counterintelligence trained, like her. IF he was still somewhere in this city, and didn't want to be found, he could disappear into the masses.

Luckily, Maya and Connar had performed a number of Jobs in New York and maintained some of the same contacts for supplies, weapons, vehicles and street level intelligence.

After speaking to a local Fixer named Reggie Rae, Maya had found out that Connar was still in the city somewhere, but his behaviour had changed significantly. Reggie owned a scrapyard in Hunts Point, a front for his numerous under-the-table activities.

Connar had apparently traded in the Toyota Hilux he had been using before and bought a battered 1969 Dodge Charger, which Reggie had seen him in on several occasions since, having heavily modified the vehicle.

Reggie told how Connar seemed very much calmer, more contented and was often seen in the presence of a woman who called herself Nikki, he didn't know her last name, but described her as beautiful but had an edge that made you not want to mess with her.

Connar had apparently taken up life as a Fixer himself, and had his finger on the underworld pulse in the city, but when asked where one might find Connar, Reggie had simply drawn a blank, saying "He finds you when he needs you".

Maya knew she may not have long to locate him and get him to help her deal with the new threat. It was a long shot, but if Maya could get a sense on Connar, she might be able to track him. She asked Reggie if Connar had ever met him in an area of the city more than once and Reggie said that he had passed Connar information on two separate occasions in Bryant Park.

Maya had been forced to use all her senses for this, but this is what she had been trained for. If someone spent a long time in a certain location, they left a well of emotion, an aura, that could be picked up and tracked.

Connar's was well known to her, if she could find a place where he possibly spent a lot of time, then perhaps she could get a read on him and track him down.

Maya had then driven down into Midtown, locked up her truck, and in a process similar to Dousing, she had walked around Bryant park looking to pick up any sign of Connar in the area.

On the occasions they had been to New York in the past, Connar did like Park areas, he didn't usually take very well to urban environments, but Maya had to remember the one fundamental fact about him, he was born and raised in a travelling community before Project Morrigan took him, Connar could live comfortably anywhere. One of those rare people who would find living in a mansion or penthouse distasteful, in favour of living in a van, tent or cave.

Maya had eventually struck gold. She had found one of his haunts, but then, something unexpected happened. She actually saw him. Maya had to fight the urge to run to him, she hadn't seen him in over a year.

The last time they had seen each other, they had shared wine together in a streetside bar in Paris. Shortly thereafter, Maya had tracked a former Project Morrigan facilitator to Vienna and Connar had departed for New York to link up with Katya and take out Dalton.

Maya spotted him, hooded, walking across the park on the opposite side, carrying a backpack. She made a decision in that moment I'm going to follow him, see what he's up to.

Sure enough, a few moments later, Connar stopped and turned. Maya ducked out of sight. She was a fair distance away and used her training to narrow her psychic presence, it appeared to work.

Connar was on the edge of the park on the edge of a busy New York street, he had sensed something, but the sensory intake in a place like this was overwhelming at the best of times.

Connar seemed to look around suspiciously and then went back about his business. Maya found him hard to keep up with. He had obviously gotten a fleeting sense of another presence. Clearly not enough sensory intake for him to surmise that it was her, otherwise he wouldn't have left.

Connar moved through the streets for several blocks before disappearing down into the subway. Maya followed, taking care at all times to keep her presence null and stay well back, utilising cover.

To her surprise. Connar did not board the Subway, he hopped the barrier in the corner when nobody was watching, and ducked out into the tunnel on foot.

Maya knew now that she had to be very careful, she was curious more than anything. What was he up to. Taking care to avoid detection, either through sight, sound or psychic presence, she managed to track Connar down through several levels of disused tunnels.

He had eventually disappeared into a part of the tunnel that, according to the local Hobo Glyph markings, was off limits. There was also a strange mural, graffiti on the wall, a hooded woman, her face hidden, and large wings sprouting from her back, however, these wings were made not of feathers, but many biting rats. Beneath the mural, someone had written "The Angel Protects".

Other more crude "Angel" Markings followed the further she went into the tunnel with words such as "The Angel Protects" or "Angel Territory". Maya frowned, was this some sort of gang?

It wasn't long before she found a hidden hatch that she wouldn't have been able to detect without her Psychic acuity. She considered lifting it herself, but then she sensed someone was coming up from beneath, she heard voices and Nulled her Acuity down to a fine point.

Maya retreated up the tunnel and sure enough, Connar emerged from the hatch. She managed to stay hidden as he left, making his way back where he came from up the tunnel. It was now or never. Maya went back to the secluded abandoned tunnel and lifted the hatch.

It led to a deeper section of tunnel, but this looked either burrowed out or unfinished. There were hanging wires that looked like they had been rigged and retrofitted, providing pirate electricity down here.

Eventually, Maya came to a pair of heavy steel doors, They were latched but not secured. Evidently, Connar didn't intend to be gone long. Maya pushed the doors and made her way inside, expecting to find some kind of underground operation… instead, she found a large, mostly empty space.

Over in one corner, there was a set of military style crates, Connar's Nanofibre jacket, Morrigan helmet and some weapons were nearly arrayed around a work bench, clearly this was where he maintained his gear.

Maya made her way to the middle of the space, where she found an old sofa, an armchair and a large living room style table, filled with books. Books were also being used to prop up one of the legs.

"What the fuck is this Connar" Maya said to herself "Are you living down here?". Maya picked up one of the books on the edge of the table, it was a book on cultural anthropology, written by a Harvard Professor named Steven Arden. Maya was familiar with Arden's writings, she had even given Abrasha some of his books.

Suddenly, Maya sensed she wasn't alone, this wasn't Connar's presence, it was someone, no.. something else. Maya instinctively pulled her HK-45 sidearm, and chambered a round. She aimed around her. She knew she wasn't alone.

Suddenly, there was a deep guttural growl from somewhere above. Maya aimed at the source of the sound, but there was nothing there. Only then did she notice that this place, some kind of forgotten deep storage space, had at least three levels to it, something was in here, and it wasn't human.

It gave off a type of presence, power and aura that Maya couldn't place. There it was again. The deep inhuman growl. Whatever this was, it knew she was here, it was toying with her. "Show yourself!" Maya shouted. It was very rare that Maya found herself on the backfoot in any situation, but here it was.

She spun around, and realised she was being reactive, not proactive, and began backing up towards the door.

It was just at that moment when she started to back up, that she heard whatever it was land on the ground behind her. Maya spun around, and brought the pistol to bear, but a large, clawed hand shot out of the dark and seized the gun.

Maya pulled the trigger, the sound of the in this underground space reverberated around the walls. Prompting only a short growl from whatever it was in response. Before she could make another move, the gun was wrenched out of her hand and another clawed hand was around her neck.

Maya was shoved backwards with a might she had never encountered and fell over onto the sofa behind her. Whatever it was came with her. Now Maya saw it, as it came into the dim light and pinned her down.

It's eyes were blue/green slits, vaguely reptilian, it's skin was ridged, chitinous and partially transparent, where the hair should have been, were a collection of chitinous tendrils.

Maya started back at this creature with a mixture of fear and awe, was Connar living with this thing "What the fuck are you". The only response was a grimace which formed on the creature's face, followed by a hard swift punch and everything went black.

---

TERMINUS - BENEATH MIDTOWN EAST

Maya wasn't out for long, she felt herself being dragged across the floor, thrown into a chair and then felt duct tape being wrapped around her arms, legs and chest.

For added measure, there zip ties were applied and finally, she felt duct tape being placed across her mouth. She was dazed and it wasn't often she felt real fear, but whatever that was that attacked her was inhuman.

Maya managed to open her eyes after a few minutes to see the creature nose to nose with her, every time it blinked, she noticed it had tertiary membranous eyelids that opened and closed. It issued a low, rumbling growl and sank back into the darkness.

After that, Maya tried to find it by remote viewing, concentrating as hard as she could, it was still in the space, somewhere, and she knew it was watching her, but she couldn't get a proper read on it, like it was everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

Maya began to struggle against the restraints, but another guttural growl from somewhere in the shadows made her stop… the creature was close, it was watching, Maya knew she was being studied.

She felt the presence of a powerful mind trying to probe hers, to find a connection. Maya shut herself down and felt a stab of anger from the mental intruder as it pushed harder, trying to gain a mental foothold "No… NO! Get out of my head!" Maya screamed mentally, and just at that moment, Maya caught a vision, perhaps a memory, roaring flames, a primal scream of fury and pain, and something else… loss…

Suddenly, there was nothing, the creature, whatever it was, pulled its mind back. Maya heard it move somewhere out of sight and issue another growl.

After that, there was a protracted stalemate. Maya knew the creature was somewhere, she did not attempt to remote view, or find with her senses, it was clearly Sighted too… potently so, and could launch mental attacks.

This terrifying vigil went on for the better part of an hour, before Maya heard the hatch at the end of the tunnel slam closed and a few minutes later, Connar emerged through the large steel doors "Hay Nikki, Jesse and Doc were really happy with those supplies, Wanna go out?" he sounded like he was casually coming back from a day at the office.

Maya shouted to Connar through the gag on her mouth and he immediately snapped around to look at her… the expression on his face was shock and confusion "Maya!... MAYA!". Connar immediately rushed over to her and began removing her restraints "How the hell did you get in here?".

"Sorry, this is gonna hurt" Connar said and pulled off the gag. "AAAGGH Fuck…Connar!" Maya began "I don't know what the fuck is going on, but there's something down here! Get me out!".

Connar suddenly stopped and looked at off to one side awkwardly. Maya followed his gaze and saw two cat-like reflective eyes shining in the dark, the creature had been less than ten feet away from her the whole time. "Jesus christ, Connar!" Maya yelled "What the fuck is that thing!".

Connar finished cutting the restraints, then put a hand on her shoulder "Maya… listen, I know it seems strange, but everything's ok,

you're safe". "I decide who's fucking safe down here" a woman's voice came from the shadows. "Nikki… this is Maya, I told you about Maya remember, we came up through Project Morrigan together, she's like a sister to me".

"If you two are so close, why did she follow you down here, and think she could sneak into my home uninvited…" The woman said. "Connar, start talking, what the hell is going on down here.. and what the hell is that thing!" Maya shouted.

"Shanty, you told me only good things about her… but if she calls me a thing one more fucking time!" the woman said sharply. It wasn't often Maya was confused, perhaps it was the hit to the head.

"Easy Nikki, just, both of you chill out for a second…" Connar paused, he looked like he was trying very hard to choose his words carefully "Ok, Maya, this is Nikki, and you're safe… there is no thing down here, alright…" Connar paused again, and stared at her, confused "What the fuck are you following me for? I thought I sensed someone up on the street, why didn't you just come say hi?".

Connar's nonchalant attitude, why didn't you just come say hi in that moment, got under Maya's skin and filled her with anger, she threw off the last of her restraints and stood up, taking a step towards him "Just come say Hi?... JUST COME SAY FUCKING HI!" Maya couldn't hold herself back any longer, she had thought he was dead for weeks, then she had to find out 3rd hand that he was alive, through his idiot cousin the Boston gang leader.

Maya was unable to stop herself. She threw a full force punch connected with the side of Connar's face. Connar staggered back several feet and used a metal stanchion to stop himself from falling. Maya heard that distinctive guttural growl off to her left, the woman in the dark was eyeing her the way the wolf looks at a lamb.

Connar's arm immediately shot out, holding out an open hand in a calming gesture to the woman "No…Nikki, it's ok… I… I had that coming…".

"YOU'RE FUCKING RIGHT YOU DID" Maya closed the distance between them, balling up her fists, suddenly uncaring of the lurking threat in the room "It's been almost a year you arsehole! Not a SINGLE FUCKING WORD!".

Maya seized fistfulls of Connar's jacket and pulled him close so they were nose to nose "First we lose Katya, then you start a fucking war in midtown! You blow up the old safehouse, and then, I have to find out 3rd hand from your cousin in the Irish Mob that you're happily kicking around in New York robbing drug dealers with your new lady friend or… whatever she is right there" Maya gestured with her head to the strange woman in the shadows "So YES Connar! I fucking followed you, to see what you were up to… you are a fucking arsehole Connar!".

Maya then did what she had wanted to do since she laid eyes on him, Connar was like a little brother to her, and she was so relieved to see him alive and well, she pulled him close into a tight hug "You're the only family I've got you bloody fool! Don't you ever go dark on me like that again!"

Maya felt Connar's arms slip around her and hug her tightly, he sniffled and she could tell he was sorry before he said it "I'm sorry Maya… I…I know I fucked up… but then everything changed…".

Maya finally released the embrace, hot tears were streaming down her face, and when Connar pulled back, she saw he was crying too "I… I was hurt bad…" Connar began "Nikki saved me, she pulled me out of the river, I spent weeks down here healing, then when I went to the lockup to go after Dalton again, his goon squad attacked us… I was wounded and Nikki saved me a second time".

The woman, the one Connar called "Nikki" chuckled "It's getting to be a habit for me… saving your Shanty ass". She stepped out of the shadows and for the first time, Maya saw her. She was tall, slender, blonde and fit, exactly how she had been described, dangerous and beautiful in equal measure.

The most unnerving thing about her was those eyes, still reflecting green in the low light. The Psychic presence she gave off was also very strange, incredibly potent, like nothing Maya had ever felt.

"No.. no wait… when I came in here, there was…" Maya began, but Connar held up his hands. He looked over at Nikki as if seeking permission, and she shrugged. "Maya, Nikki isn't like anyone else… ok, she's different".

"Different? That thing was…" Maya started to speak, but Nikki shot her a look that freeze hell over "Thing?... I have killed assholes for a hell of a lot less than that!". Connar continued, he was instinctively holding out his arms to keep them apart "Look, you saw Nikki as she truly is…".

Nikki gave a slight chuckle "The way he tells it, Maya, you're a real leader… cool, calm, collected, decisive…Like Annie Oakley and Queen Boadicea had a baby. Born with her eye in a scope" Nikki said, holding up her fingers in speech bubbles "Don't go and ruin my image of you".

Nikki spoke in a low tone, and Maya started to get the impression that this Nikki, whoever she was, was a woman who had also been through a lot of pain, and now, absolutely didn't give a fuck…

"Ok" Connar said, wiping his eyes and rubbing his face, he was still holding out his hands, separating them "Why don't we just zero the fucking clock here, alright, I hoped you two would meet eventually… Ok… Maya, this is Nicole Toombs, they call her The Angel. Nikki, this is Maya Le Fauconnière, and they call her The Carpathian, we came up through Project Morrigan together".

"And then we ended it" Maya added. Maya knew that she had essentially entered this woman's home and decided that Connar was right, it was time to retry the first impression, who, or whatever she was, people clearly looked up to her…

There was also the fact, that when she got close to Connar, her senses picked up his emotions, and she sensed something in him she never thought she would…he was in love with this woman.

Maya extended her hand and waited. Nikki seemed hesitant at first, and Connar backed up out of the way. Nikki looked at Maya's hand, then up to her eyes, then finally stepped forward and shook it. "Call me Nikki" she said, and then reached into her wristband and handed Maya back her HK-45.

"Ok, are we all cool now?" Connar asked. Maya nodded "Yeah…I… That really was you before?". Nikki nodded and then added "One of my Party Tricks". "Err… Sorry about…". Before Maya could finish, Nikki held up her hand, which now looked like a normal human hand, the armour piercing round that Maya had fired point blank into that hand hadn't even left a mark "No Biggie, I'm a fast healer" Nikki said.

Maya could only think of one thing she wanted to ask "So… what are you?". Nikki cracked a half smile and gave an exaggerated shrug "No fucking idea… Connar and I have a wager, he thinks I'm a Mermaid, I went with Ghetto-Terrestrial… just in case we ever do find out…".

"If you want in on the wager it'll cost you $100" Connar added. Nikki smirked and wandered off towards the centre of the space and relaxed onto her sofa with her feet on the table. Connar followed "Come on Maya".

Maya took a breath, centred herself and joined them "Listen, Connar, as much as I wanted to see you, I came to find you because I need your help… turns out Morrigan isn't quite as dead as we'd both like".

Connar stared at her "But Dalton was the last one, there were no others involved". "Amitra found out he was compiling a list of Sighted kids through his charitable foundations… there were a lot of names on that list, worldwide, and some of them have gone missing".

Connar closed his eyes and leaned back "Oh… fuck, don't tell me this shit, Maya! We finished it, you and me, we killed them to the last". "It's true" Maya continued, feeling his frustration and pain "Two of the names on the list are here in New York, Amitra is having one of them moved to safety, the other is in an Orphanage in Midtown".

"You mean the one over on Irving?" Nikki asked "Near Union Square Park?". Maya nodded, feeling marginally surprised that Nikki was even taking an interest. "Nikki knows the city like no other" Connar said "You need to find something, or someone in New York, you talk to her".

"This kid's name is Paul Wiseman, he has no family, been in and out of foster care his whole life" Maya told them "We need to sit on that place, see if anyone makes a move on this kid and stop them".

Connar's expression turned dark "You're telling me that Amitra had one kid moved to safety and this one in the orphanage is what? Bait? Is that the fucking plan? No, fuck that! We should go get that kid now, and take him to the nearest Whisper Commune!".

As was always the case, they bickered back and forth for several minutes until Maya managed to get the point across that there were no leads on whoever was doing this, and that Amitra was attempting to generate one. Throughout the entire exchange, Maya noticed Nikki quietly listening.

"Big Picture Connar!" Maya shouted "If we extract him now, we miss the opportunity to find out who's doing this!" she let it sink in before continuing "We need to intercept them, find out who's turning these wheels, then we hunt the fuckers down and end this before it goes any further!... There was a time you'd have understood that!".

"Amitra's heart has always been in the right place, but she was never in Project Morrigan, she didn't go through what we did… I hear her talking through you Maya" Connar countered "No way you came up with a plan like this, there was a time, you'd have gotten him out straight away… when you escaped Morrigan and Joined the Whispers, you wasted no time in coming to find me!".

Maya felt a stab of irritation, Maya knew at some point, there would be a fight, she needed Connar. His normal response to a situation like this was to ask only one question… "whose car we gonna take?", but now he seemed to be going for the easiest option that amounted to a quick extraction, a stealthy asset denial avoiding direct confrontation.

Had almost getting killed on that rooftop changed him? Or was it something else… was it whatever he had going on with this Nikki? "I don't like it either but it's what needs to happen, others have already been taken. Amitra is turning the heat up under all her resources but we need a solid lead".

"Amitra's here? In the City?" Connar asked. "She personally brought me here from Yakutsk, Connar, this is serious, all hands on deck, there are Whispers on standby across Europe and North America ready to move on this… but Amitra wants us on point".

Connar looked genuinely pained, and Maya understood, he had thought it was all over once Dalton was dead, he was trying to settle into a new life… whatever this was beneath the streets of New York. He had changed and Maya was finding him hard to read, she was beginning to fear he would reject it all and refuse to come.

Maya's relief was palpable at Connar's next words "I have some false FBI and NYPD credentials that'll get us through the door, but Maya, if anything, and I mean anything happens, we're extracting that kid to the nearest Whisper commune, there are two in New England and another one up in Canada, then we'll find another way to get to whoever's doing this".

"Well" Nikki abruptly uncrossed her legs and stood up, stretching and cracking her neck "I've heard all I need to hear…and I agree with Connar's first idea, nobody uses a kid as bait, not in my city! I'm going to get that kid out, then you can take him to one of your safe houses". "Hay…wait, hold on!" Maya jumped up "First of all, you're not a Whisper, and we need to find out who's doing this!".

"Connar told me about the Whispers, so I know you have the resources, find another way…" Nikki said over her shoulder as she made her way to the corner where the weapons were being kept. Nikki lifted the lid of the container, which Maya saw was filled with weapons, no doubt pilfered from various criminal organisations throughout the city.

She pulled out pistols from the top, an STI-MPI 1911, which she checked, loaded and holstered on her belt, the Staccato XC, she tossed to Connar.

It was clear that Connar wasn't going to bother arguing with Nikki, he walked over and put on his gun belt, and began filling the pouches with magazines. "We can't go in there heavy" Maya said.

"You don't have to go in there at all" Nikki turned around, casually loading extra magazines into a pouches on her own belt "There's an MTA near there with a maintenance access that'll take us closer to the building".

Maya knew she was losing ground here, whoever Nikki was, she was clearly not one to be argued with "Listen to me, both of you, this isn't a fucking game, the first kids were taken in Eastern Europe, then more in Germany, France and the UK, we need to be smart about this, whoever is behind this is organised". Nikki fixed her with a hard look "Good, they show up, I'll organise a funeral for them".

"Alright, look, fine!" Maya held up her hands "Amitra's not going to like it, but it was my first reaction too, we'll get the kid out, and take him to the safe house, she can get him to safety, and then we'll find another way to end this… but remember, this is an orphanage, we are not weapons free".

Maya had to respect the fact that this was Nikki's home, and she clearly wouldn't be swayed from this course of action. Maya had been wrestling with this same dilemma since Amitra had told her, risking a Sighted child so that they could get a look at whoever was taking them.

Amitra was a born strategist, like herself, like Connar, but Connar was more driven by emotion, clearly Nikki was too. Not only that, but Amitra had clearly grown desperate enough to suggest an course of action that was against the Whisper Code. Maya knew, once anyone started down that path, they had already lost.

"Fine" she said "Let's do this".

---

UNION SQUARE - MANHATTAN

Nikki led them though the labyrinth of tunnels and maintenance accessways to the exit near the Union Square Park MTA. From there, it was a short walk to Irving. All three of them stared up at the building. Nikki quickly noted every possible point of ingress and decided that the best way in without being seen was probably from the roof.

There was a low, unsupported Portico on the lower building next door, Nikki knew she could climb up there, vault to the lower rooftop and from there, she could climb the brick wall and be on the roof in less than 20 seconds.

"Do you know what floor this kid is on?" Nikki asked. Maya was checking her false FBI credentials and looked up "No, just that he's not in a dorm, he's in a single room, apparently he keeps trying to run away". "I like him already" Nikki said "Ok, I'm going up to the roof, I'll work my way down to you".

"Wait" Maya hissed, trying not to raise her voice, but Nikki was done talking and already making her way across the street "Shanty, call me if you run into any trouble" she said over her shoulder.

She hopped up and swung herself onto the top of the low Portico, then jumped up, catching the edge of the lower building, and just like she planned, she ran to the point where the buildings connected, took a running leap and dug her claws into the brickwork.

She cleared floor by floor in single bounds up until she reached the top, then turned and shot a cursory glance back down onto the street. Connar was grinning and Maya looked awestruck. Nikki had to admit to herself, despite the dire circumstances, she was enjoying herself.

All that was left was to retrieve this kid, keep him safe from whatever was going on. Connar had told Nikki a lot about the Whispers, something he shouldn't have done by their code, but the fact was, he had joined them out of a sheer need for survival at the time, and although it remained unsaid, Nikki had suspected he wanted to leave it all behind, and to move on with his life.

Despite all that, Nikki felt genuinely curious, when Connar had first told her about the Whispers, she had been sceptical, she knew Sighted people existed… one of them had hunted her in L.A. but a whole underground secret society of them that stretched way back into history?… Nikki had been incredulous.

With the arrival of Maya, and the mention of this Amitra and others, Nikki suspected she would soon catch a glimpse into the inner workings of their secretive world, and that made her curious. A mythos had grown around her exploits on the streets, and now she would get to explore another one.

---

Maya was astonished at the speed and agility Nikki displayed, she went from street level to the top of a 15 story building in as many seconds. Maya had been all over the world, and witnessed many outstanding physical feats, but Nikki truly was something else.

"Connar…" Maya asked. He was looking up there with a big smile on his face "Yes Maya". Maya shook her head, he was clearly enjoying this "Where did you find her?". Connar shrugged "I didn't, Maya, she found me, and I never looked back, we gonna do this?".

Connar took a beanie hat out of his jacket and put it on to cover his temple tattoo as he crossed the street. He seemed calmer, more stable than she had seen him in years. Maya found herself wondering what had happened down there in the dark after his failed attempt against Dalton.

Maya had many questions, not because she was merely curious, but because Connar was the closest thing to a brother that she had in this world, and at his core, Maya knew he was broken… had this woman's presence begun to heal him in some way? Who and whatever she was, it remained to be seen whether or not she was a good influence.

As they approached the door, Maya took out her false FBI credentials. Tonight he was NYPD Marcus Wright and she was FBI Special Agent Kathryn Aristide. Connar cleared his throat and raised his arm to knock on the door, in the time it took him to cross the pavement he had fully adopted the character.

Before they reached the door they both knew something wasn't right, there was a feeling, a sense of danger between them both "Something's wrong" Maya whispered. Connar looked back at her "Yeah" then turned his attention back to the door.

"NYPD, we need to…" Connar hit the door once in a classic Cop Knock that could wake the dead… but as he struck the door, it nudged open… it was open and unlocked. This was supposed to be a secure building, they both exchanged a knowing look and drew their sidearms in unison.

Connar entered and swept right, Maya swept left, covering him. The lobby was quiet. It only took a second for the coppery smell of blood to reach Maya's senses, she knew from Connar's rhythms that he also smelled it. The dead gave off no aspect, and someone was dead here.

Maya backed up and leaned over the front desk and sure enough, there was a female security officer laying on the floor with her throat cut. "You feel that?" Connar whispered. "Fear" Maya replied. There was a sense, an aspect, an emotional well in the immediate area.

Connar made his way around the front desk and gently tried the door to the back office. A second later, he looked at Maya and nodded, this was his indication that someone was present inside. Connar wasted no time and booted the door. He was immediately met with a piercing scream.

An elderly Nun was cowering in the office. Connar knelt and put away his sidearm "Ma'am you're safe, I'm detective Marcus Wright with the NYPD, this is Special Agent Aristide with the FBI". "Oh God" she whimpered "They killed Lydia". Maya leaned back out of the office and noticed the badge on the security guard's lapel matched the name.

"They wanted the boy" the Nun sobbed. "The Boy? Paul Wiseman?" Maya asked. "Yes, he's on the top floor, please…" The Nun was distraught. "You said They… How many?" Connar asked. "I… I saw two…" she said.

"Alright Ma'am I need you to close this door and barricade it until our backup arrives, can you do that? We'll be right back". "Please don't let them hurt him" the Nun begged. "Ma'am close the door" Connar said sternly and moved out of the office. He took the keys from the dead security guard.

Maya knew that there would be no backup, there was only one objective now, stop whoever was doing this. From this point, they were engaged. They covered one another, as they had been trained, advancing, and covering as they made their way up the stairs.

---

"Shit" Nathanial Gaunt cursed as he heard the thud and the piercing scream from somewhere downstairs, that meant police were in the building and they still hadn't located the boy. As it turned out, he was a fucking escape artist and frequent runaway "R-99, get your arse moving down there, clear that floor, NYPD are en-route".

"A double click on the radio was the acknowledgement". The pickup target was Paul Wiseman… this little fucker was an escape artist. They had gone to his room and found he'd picked the lock, he was loose somewhere in the building.

Wiseman reminded Gaunt of another kid from the original Project: Morrigan, one he'd personally overseen, one who had escaped and then returned years later, his greatest failure.

He had attempted to kill R-23 Braden in the Old Silo's Canteen area, but, a testament to his training, his former trainee had bested him…

On what they called Day-Zero, he had been shot, scalped, thrown down an open elevator shaft and had a building collapsed on top of him… and yet, here he was, a former Captain in the British SAS, then head overseer at the Ill-Fated Project Morrigan, now he was back doing what he did best. This new Project would be different, it's output would be more stable.

Gaunt checked the time, curious, he keyed his radio to the support crew in the van around the block "How long before police backup?". The reply came "No calls boss, the air is clean". Curious, if that wasn't the cops then… Whispers… Finally!

"R-99 move your arse, we have guests". This time, he replied, his voice was slow and breezy, "I sense three, two below, one above… the one above is … odd". A symptom of his new status as a Shade was that he tended to talk slower. The Science boys had said it would improve.

R-99 as well as several other former Sighted Morrigan Operatives who had joined that fucking underground movement had been recaptured and undergone a new form of lobotomy, it was precise, allowing them to retain some higher functions, and even their Psychic Acuity, but also made them less independent and susceptible to suggestion… meaning they followed orders to the letter and there was no longer a risk of rebellion.

"Locate the target, I'll hold them off" Gaunt said. With that, he knew this would be a gloves off type of night, swept back his jacket and checked his Genesis 12 shotgun … oh, this is going to be a night to remember he thought.

As he rounded the next corner, he noticed the fire escape door at the far end of the corridor was slightly ajar. Yes, he thought, the little bastard had gone up to the roof, he'd be trapped.

Gaunt moved up the hallway and used his foot to open the door, remembering that there was a Sighted up here somewhere, if it was a Raven, a former Morrigan operative, they were all highly trained, he didn't want to be ambushed.

Cautiously making his way up the stairs and onto the roof, he was immediately met with a hail of semi-automatic fire. Gaunt ducked into the doorway and stole a glance around the side of the roof entrance. It was a tall, slender woman with blonde hair, the lower part of her face was hidden under a mask and she was hooded.

She had the Package Paul Wiseman over her shoulder in a fireman's lift and in her free hand she was aiming at him. She loosed off several more shots, forcing him to duck back into the entrance. Gaunt heard the kid whimper, then scream, it was now or never, he rounded the corner and brought up his shotgun to an aim, if he wasn't leaving with the kid, then it was asset denial... they both die.

His finger was on the trigger, but she was gone, so was the kid. There was no cable, no rope "What the fuck". Apart from the rooftop entrance, the roof was unremarkable, only a few points of decent cover, he checked them first, where the hell did she go… it was 10 stories down to the lower rooftop next door.

No way she fucking jumped Gaunt cautiously made his way over to the edge and looked over the side of the building just in time to see the woman, with the kid still on her back, climbing over the edge of the lower building. Out of range of his shotgun.

She looked up and made eye contact with him… a curious detail were the bright, reflective eyes… a detail he'd never seen before.

The sound of shots being fired drew his attention, R-99 was engaged with the other two "We lost the package, disengage and Bug Out" he spoke into his radio "bring the fucking van around, we are leaving!".

Fine, you got this round he thought, and made straight for the main stairwell.

---

Paul Wiseman had wanted out, he hated it here, the other kids hated him, he had planned his biggest escape for tonight. The day before he had been in yet another fight with Billy Vargas, after the prick poured milk on him in the canteen and called him a weirdo. He had hit him with his lunch tray and broken his nose.

While being chewed out in the office, he noticed a small cabinet half open and a jar full of money, no doubt one of the charity collection jars. He had learned things on the streets after his parents died, like how to pick locks and pockets, so he thought that's it, tonight, I'm out of here.

After picking the lock to his room, he had made his way down 5 floors to the canteen, taken one of the backpacks hanging on the wall in the cloak room and filled it with fruits, canned food and breakfast bars.

The office was on the same floor. After avoiding Lydia, the night guard on her rounds, he had picked the lock and taken the jar, turned out there was $167 and 79 cents in there, perfect, that would be enough to get him out of New York. Maybe he could find his way to L.A? Sunny California… Maybe… if he could hop a freight train or something.

But as he was making his way back to the stairs, he heard a strange sound and looked down over the edge. He saw two men, both really ugly. One had this strange scar across the top and sides of his head, like someone gave him brain surgery, the other looked like he tried to shave his head with a sanding machine.

They were talking to Lydia, and Paul heard his name being mentioned, then, without warning, Brain surgery guy whipped out a knife and slashed Lydia's throat. The other man, in a London Gangster type voice, ordered him to drag her into the back.

Paul had seen enough, he had decided to leave this place just one fucking night too late, he turned, took his shoes off and ran back up the stairs to avoid being heard, no doubt they would come up looking for him.

Just as he made it back to the top floor, he had the most desperate idea yet, he had to get up to the roof.

Putting his sneakers back on at the top, he ran towards the fire exit to the roof. Just as he was within reach, he heard a metallic clank and the door swung open revealing a tall woman in a long green jacket that flowed down to her ankles. She looked like she'd come from the street, but she had a half-face mask and there was something about her eyes…

Paul had been able to sense the thoughts and feelings of others since he could remember, he knew how most people felt, but there was something very different about her, something different, something other.

Paul couldn't stop on a dime, he slid on the tile floor and slipped, the tile floor came up hard, that would definitely be a bruised ass, he heard the glass jar in his backpack break "Fuck! Ahh". The woman tilted her head slightly and Paul was sure she smirked under that mask. He wasn't going to wait and see what she wanted, he was instantly up and running back the way he came.

She didn't call out to him, but he heard her footsteps. Maybe he could break a window, reach a fire escape, maybe. As he reached the corner, he saw through the glass partition that one of the men was coming up the stairs, then he felt a strong hand fill the back of his collar and wrench him back around the corner.

His natural instinct was to struggle, but she was unusually strong, her grip on his arm was like a vice. Before he could scream, there was a hand over his mouth. Paul didn't know what these people wanted with him, but he knew he didn't want any part of it. He did the only thing he could at that point and bit down hard on the woman's hand.

There was absolutely no reaction from her at all, no struggle, no pulling her hand away, no scream, nothing. A few seconds later he turned his head enough to see her, she was glancing around the corner. Then abruptly, she spun him around to face her and put a finger over her mask, where her lips would be, the universal gesture of be fucking quiet.

As she did this, she used the same hand Paul had just bit, he couldn't believe what he saw, as she made the be quiet gesture, Paul saw the blood seep back into the wound and then it closed over, leaving smooth skin, no marking whatsoever… he had only ever seen that in superhero comics and movies.

The woman made another quick glance around the corner, and then grabbed him hard, pulling him back up the hallway towards the fire escape.

They got back out onto the roof and Paul was instantly aware there was no way down, the woman didn't seem to care "hold onto me" she said in a low voice. "Wait, who are you.. What are you?" Paul demanded. "Wanna stay here, kid? Fine with me". Paul didn't want to stay there, he had wanted to escape before the people came for him.

He looked back at the rooftop door, and then back at the woman "But how do we get down?". She didn't answer, only grabbed him, pulled him over her shoulder and picked him up "Hay!".

Just then Paul heard the door at the far end of the rooftop. The Woman's reaction was almost too fast for him to process, she drew a pistol from her hip and fired the whole magazine at the doorway.

She flicked away the magazine and reloaded so fast, Paul barely noticed, then she fired a few more times. Before he knew what was going on, she turned and just stepped off the edge of the roof. Paul screamed as he saw the lower rooftop coming up to meet him, feeling sure he was about to die.

She landed and absorbed all the impact, then marched to the edge of the edge and jumped down to the street before finally letting him down. His legs were wobbly and she steadied him. "Whoa… what… what…". Paul couldn't believe what had just happened.

She wasn't finished yet. The woman led him across the street and into a small back ally. "Wait, who are you, Lady?" He asked as he watched her casually pull up a heavy manhole cover with one hand "Get in" she said. "No way, what's down there?". The woman's hand shot out and seized him by the shirt, pulling him face to face "I'm sorry, did you think I was asking?".

She lifted Paul and put him down the manhole, he looked up at her and noticed for the first time that her eyes were reflecting bright green, like the predators in those nature documentaries. "Stay right here till I come get you" she said harshly. "Hay wait" Paul began, but before he could finish the sentence, the manhole cover came down with a loud metallic thump and he was plunged into the dark.

He climbed down to the bottom of the ladder and found that he couldn't see his hand in front of his face… but he was out, he hated that place. Maybe… just maybe, he should do like the scary lady said, and stay put. If she came back and had to chase him though these tunnels… well, he didn't even want to think about pissing her off.

---

Connar drew his sidearm and darted up the stairs with Maya close behind. They moved up, covering each other, in perfect sync as they always had, easily falling back into the habit.

They moved up each flight of stairs, working the corners, reaching out with their senses, both of them sensed that they were getting closer.

By the time they reached the 10th floor, a canteen area, they saw the door had been kicked in and covered each other. Connar pulled the door open while Maya entered, they moved up the hallway into the canteen area, checking rooms.

Both of them sensed it at the same time, a Sighted presence, familiar, yet.. Something was wrong, missing, there was no emotional presence. Soon enough, they heard the unmistakable footfalls of heavy combat boots.

Connar's attention was drawn upwards by the unmistakable sound of gunfire several floors above… "Nikki". He looked across the hall and Maya was staring at him harshly "Get your head in the game".

A second later their attention was drawn back into the canteen. A tall figure stepped into view out of one of the side rooms. They both instantly recognised him. He was one of them, he had been through Project: Morrigan, he was around Connar's age and they had all been friends.

When Maya got out and rescued Connar, he was one of the first they went after to get him to the Whispers. Like them, he had become a Whisper and taken part in Day-Zero, after that, like the rest of them, he had gone off into the world, hunting anyone involved and taking on mercenary work to earn a living.

Ethan Hall stared at them blankly. His skin was pale and there was no recognition, his stare was cold. His hair had been buzzcut and there was a long scar over the crown of his head and another around his left temple. "Ethan… Ethan it's us… its Connar and Maya… Ethan… what have they done to you?"

Connar stepped out and lowered his gun… "NO!" Maya bellowed, just at that moment, Ethan swept back his coat and came up with a Cz Scorpion EVO 3. Connar threw over one of the metal tables and they both dropped into cover, narrowly avoiding the burst of automatic fire across the canteen. Maya returned fire and Ethan ducked out of sight, kicking over a table on the far side.

"What the fuck, Ethan, we're your friends!" Connar shouted. "Ethan!" Maya also called out to him "Whatever they did we'll fix it, you know we'll help you". Connar sensed another familiar presence, one he knew to be dead. "No… it can't be…". From where Connar was, he could see back down the hallway to the glass partition that led out to the stairwell.

Like a ghost from the past, Overseer Gaunt was standing on the other side of the glass, smiling. His face was a patchwork of horrific scars. "Connar!" Maya shouted. They acted as one, lest they get pinned from opposing sides. Connar aimed down the hallway and emptied half a Magazine. Maya did the same. They both broke cover and dove over the counter into the kitchen area.

Ethan broke cover and let off another burst at Maya. Thankfully she was wearing Nano-Fibre which absorbed the rounds, but it still knocked the wind out of her. They landed side by side and checked their surroundings. The only ways in or out of the kitchen were through the canteen.

"Fuck, we're pinned" Connar hissed. "Well, well well, it's like a big old family reunion. We've got R-99, he's a good boy now, we made some alterations, R-42 Maya Durand, what is it you call yourself nowadays "Le Fauconnière"? The Carpathian? Sorry, I lost track… and you, my little favourite, you cheeky little bastard, R-23, enjoying life in the Big Apple, are ya? I heard about your little accident, you were always a rabid Dog" Gaunt's voice was full of glee "I can't tell you how long I've been waiting for this".

"I see you're still rocking that trendy new haircut I gave you Gaunt" Connar shouted "Here we are, back in a mess hall, hold still, I'll give you another trim". "What have you done to Ethan!" Maya shouted. "Oh, we gave him a little upgrade, still got all his higher functions, his ESP, but now, he'll never meet an order he can't follow".

Connar ejected his magazine and stuffed it into his pocket, replacing it with a full one. No way he was going to allow Gaunt to walk out of here alive, time to finish what he should have all those years ago. As he looked up, he noticed Maya fixing him with a harsh stare and shaking her head slowly "Don't" she whispered "It's what he wants".

Connar focussed his mind, realising Maya was right, and centred himself, rooting himself in a calm moment where he could think more clearly. The moment he chose: that night with Nikki at Sodus Point. Maya's rhythms calmed, knowing his head was in the game "What have you done with the Kid?" Connar asked.

"Oh, you mean the sneaky little escape artist? Reminds me of you" Gaunt said. "What did you do with him?" Connar asked, and he sensed Gaunt's rhythms spike, he was angry. "Oh well, win some, lose some, tell me, who the fuck was that crazy bitch upstairs? Definitely not one of mine".

The next few moments happened really fast, there was a metallic clang on the kitchen counter and a grenade fell into the space between them. Connar grabbed it and threw it over the food preparation tables where it unfortunately bounced, hit the side of one of the cookers and promptly went off.

They were shielded from the frag, but the gas line and subsequent wall of flame that erupted out of the far side of the kitchen was powerful enough to destroy half the room. Connar and Maya covered each other, their Nano-Fibre tactical clothing was fire retardant.

Gaunt and Ethan opened fire into the flaming kitchen, keeping them pinned down, Connar knew what their objective was, they were going to keep them in here until the smoke, gas or flames took them. "You think Nikki got the kid out?" Maya asked. "I know she did, Gaunt was pissed" Connar told her. "Right" Maya growled "let's fucking finish this".

Both Gaunt and Ethan stopped to reload, Maya threw a flashbang they both primed their wrist mounted Gyro-Jet Gauntlets.

The flashbang went off and they both came up firing. Gaunt and Ethan both overturned tables and went for cover. The explosive rounds ripped the canteen to pieces. Connar and Maya were over the counter and back down behind their original table an instant later, both knew what to do from here.

Maya flanked left while Connar would go up the middle. Gaunt shot up out of cover and Connar went at him with everything he had. He was also wearing Nano-Fibre, at this range, the Gyro-Jets would do as much damage to Connar, he emptied his magazine into Gaunt as he closed the distance.

Gaunt was a larger man than Connar, but he wasn't Sighted, Connar knew he was going to swing for him before he did and ducked his swing, coming up and ramming his fist into Gaunt's jaw.

Gaunt recovered quickly and swung for him with his left hand, on which he also wore a Gyro Gauntlet. Connar caught the swing and snapped his arm back. A burst of Gyro rounds was sent into the roof, bringing down most of the tiling and the fluorescent lighting rig.

Connar was only partially aware that Maya was also engaged in CQB with Ethan who she had managed to grapple with while he was reloading. There was so much noise and smashing that one loud smash barely caught anyone's attention.

Gaunt went for a Typhoon Knife, which Connar managed to catch, they struggled and Connar felt Gaunt's leg kick out and sweep his feet out from under him. A second later, Connar was on his back with Gaunt on top of him, pushing the twisting blade down, millimetres from his eye.

Connar managed to block him, but Gaunt was bigger and heavier, he attempted to re-position his grip to slam the blade into Connar's throat, with the bigger man bearing down on him with gritted teeth like an angry pitbull "You were always a fucking rabid dog, and it's past time you were put down!".

Connar only became aware that Nikki was even in the room when he noticed a fleshy, semi-transparent off-green tentacle coil around Gaunt's neck.

Gaunt's expression changed to confusion for a brief moment "What the FFFF?" before he was wrenched backwards and slung 20 feet through the air, with his shotgun and knife falling on the floor. Gaunt hit the ground and slid on the smooth floor tiles most of the way back up the hallway near the stairs.

Connar saw his chance, rolled over and grabbed the Genesis 12, Gaunt, finished the loading cycle, switched the Semi-Auto and began raining shells on Gaunt as he picked himself up.

The big man swung his arm out, firing Gyro-Jet rounds in a wide arc, causing Nikki to duck, but Connar didn't, even as the explosive rounds detonated around him, he could only think of everything this man had done to him, the beatings, the hot box, the humiliation, forcing him to sleep in a cage in freezing rain, it all came back.

He had unleashed an ugly wrath on the man on Day-Zero, but he had somehow clung to life, Connar would fix that now. CLICK… the shotgun ran dry, Gaunt dove through the wood and glass partition and out onto the stairwell, practically throwing himself down the stairs. Connar followed him but his senses picked up on something… they were being watched. Connar aimed over the stairwell and saw that every floor now had a group of kids on the landing, staring, wondering what was happening.

Gaunt raised his arm from the floor below and let loose another volley of Gyro-Jets which obliterated the edge of the landing where Connar stood. Connar dropped and rolled backwards, then immediately recovered and tried to aim down, but there were too many kids out here now, if Gaunt fired another volley of explosive rounds, Connar couldn't risk it.

The big man ran down the stairs and across the lobby, Connar seethed as he watched him vanish out of sight. His attention was drawn back into the Canteen area by shouts from Maya.

Connar turned, grabbed the shotgun and made his way back into the canteen, the sight that greeted him made his heart sink even further into dispair "Ohh… no.. no FUCK!" he raised his arms and covered his mouth, unable to look, then leaned against the wall and sank as he saw Nikki standing over Maya and Ethen looking sullen.

White foam was bubbling out from between Ethan's clenched teeth. Maya was desperately trying to unclench his jaw "No, No, No! ETHAN!".

In the few moments Connar had gone after his old Overseer, Nikki had helped Maya restrain Ethan, but Ethan had bitten into something once he realised he was caught.

Nikki sniffed the air "I know that smell… Cyanide… burns the insides". "Fucking Suicide Capsule! But he got rid of his, we all did" Maya cried "What the fuck did they do to him?".

"The Kid is safe, Cops are on the way, we gotta go" Nikki said quietly. Connar wouldn't hear the sirens for a full 30 seconds, a testament to Nikki's exceptional senses.

Maya was still kneeling over Ethan, who took several long, sucking breaths, and then slumped into her arms, Connar reached over and closed his eyes, it was over "Come on Maya, we can't do anything for him now".

They both searched his body, taking a phone and his Gyro-Jet Gauntlet, which was equipped with an advanced drone control system. They may contain meta-data on his previous locations.

Connar placed the phone and the gauntlet into a Faraday Pouch to prevent them being tracked while Maya took a picture of his scars with her phone "Maybe one of Amitra's people can make sense of this".

By now the sirens were close, too close. "MOVE!" Nikki shouted, and the three of them ran down the stairs. Connar looked up and saw that most of the kids were still on the landings. Nikki was the first to reach the bottom, where she pulled the fire alarm and bellowed up the stairwell "EVERYBODY OUT!".

Maya broke off and grabbed the Elderly Nun out of the office, ordering her to get the Kids out of the building, telling her that there was a fire on the 10th floor. The old Nun immediately ran for the stairs, passing Nikki and Connar. Maya moved to the doorway just as the first NYPD car arrived "Fuck… we're not getting out that way!".

"Follow me" Nikki demanded and ran down darkened hallway until she located the basement door. "We'll be trapped down there" Maya said. Nikki kicked in the door "Just shut up and follow me". Maya turned to face Connar "It's ok Maya, if there's a way out, Nikki will find it, trust her".

"Running down through a basement while people with guns come after me, again… fuck this night" Nikki cursed as she vaulted over the side of the basement stairwell and landed in the middle of the floor "Hold them off, I need to find the right point".

Maya took out another flashbang and tossed it back down the hallway "That won't hold them for long". Connar switched places with her and took aim down the corridor. Connar saw several SWAT units coming into the main entrance with Ballistic Shields "Work fast Nikki". "Not helping!" she retorted.

Nikki was down on her hands and knees with her ear to the ground, Connar knew what she was doing, he had seen her do it before, but never to escape a building. One of Nikki's many hidden talents… burrowing through solid concrete.

She knew a maintenance line ran beneath this basement, she just needed to find the right spot to break through.

"Mind telling me what your're fucking doing?" Maya demanded. Nikki looked up and fixed her with a hard look "This!". Nikki abruptly rose up and slammed both her fists into the ground.

Nikki's hands began to transform until they resembled large Chitinous claws. Connar tossed a flashbang and let off several Gyro-Jet rounds around the advancing cops, then ducked into the doorway as they returned fire.

Nikki was tearing out large chunks of concrete, burrowing through the solid floor, Maya was staring at her in astonishment, then up at Connar. Nikki ripped, tore and smashed, burrowing down through five feet of solid concrete until she finally broke though into the maintenance line. She widened the hole with a few powerful stomps before sliding herself down and disappearing into the dark below.

It was now or never. Connar signalled to Maya to get out, she followed Nikki down the hole. Connar was the last, he repeated Nikki's move, jumping over the railing to land in the middle of the floor, then rolled into the hole just as the cops reached the doorway and filled the room with a hail of bullets.

He landed on his back and Nikki was almost instantly pulling him up to his feet. She reached into his belt, took his last flashbang, pulled the pin and threw it back up through the hole "Move, this way". All three of them were already moving by the time they heard the concussive blast from the flashbang followed by a series of shouts.

---

Paul thought about running, but he was underground, in the dark, he wasn't afraid of the dark, he had used it to hide before, but he just couldn't see a thing. He gripped the ladder and waited, just like the lady said.

It wasn't long before he heard something, loud thumps and bangs, but they were echoing all around, he couldn't tell where they were coming from. He had hidden underground before, but never down a manhole, he knew that beneath New York was a maze of tunnels and passageways.

The banging became louder, until eventually heard voices. There was one very loud bang that reverberated around the pipes and walls. Paul startled when he saw two bright green, reflective eyes coming at him down the tunnel "Huh… thought you'd be halfway to grand central station by now Kid".

It was her, the lady from the roof. "What's going on?" he asked. "We saved your ass, now get it moving" the lady replied as she grabbed his arm and pulled him to his feet.

Only now did Paul notice there were two more people with her, a guy with odd coloured eyes, the other woman had dark hair, which she wore tied back, but there were several plaits which it looked like she did herself.

"You're safe now, come with us" the other woman said, and Paul noticed the upper class British accent, it instantly made Paul think of a videogame character known for archeology and shooting things.

The blonde woman took him by the arm and guided him down the tunnel, deeper into the dark. "I… My name's Paul, what's yours" he asked. "Nikki" she said. "Who were those guys, Nikki, what did they want with me?". Nikki shook her head "Nothing good, kid, but we're like you, you know… different… and that lady back there, she's gonna take you to others who will keep you safe".

When they got to a junction in the tunnel, Nikki let go of him, it was gloomy down here, but he could at least see where he was going. Paul got a sense from the other two, their presence felt stronger than other people, sharper, brighter, they were like him. Nikki turned to the other woman "Maya, keep that guy's phone in your Faraday pouch while you're down here". Maya nodded "Don't worry, we have someone who can look at it, they'll take care of that".

Paul looked back at Nikki, who was walking ahead of him, she gave off an altogether different presence, it was like looking into the eye of a storm.

She turned and regarded him as she walked, Paul saw her eyes reflect in the dark again, had she sensed him trying to get a read on her? He thought. They broke through a maintenance access panel, crossed a live subway tunnel and down into a set of darker, abandoned tunnels. Who were these people? Definitely not cops or feds.

Their route took them deeper, through older tunnels that Paul was sure weren't on any map of the city. They passed an underground "Mole" Camp, several of the homeless people saw Nikki passing and nodded to her, Paul was sure he heard one of them call her "Angel".

Suddenly, Paul got it, "The Angel Protects". Meaning that if you slept in an alley, or a tunnel where the Angel of Vermin was known to frequent, you were safe.

Paul had heard the stories, but never believed them, but was this her? Was she real? They moved deeper into the tunnel and Paul jogged to catch up with her "Nikki, is it you?". "Is what me?" she asked in a dry tone as she unlocked and pulled up a large metal hatch.

"I've heard stories of the Angel of Vermin" Paul asked "We all have, in that place, some of us came from the streets, some real shithole places… is it really you?". "Don't believe everything you hear, kid" Nikki said "Come on, get down there".

Paul stared at her in awe "Some say you can disappear, others say you can fly, or that you can turn into a…". "Kid" Nikki held up her hand, cutting him off. She raised her eyebrows and pointed down the hole. For the second time that night, Paul got the message that's enough now, get moving.

Nikki held that hatch open until they were all in, then closed it over.

---

TERMINUS - BENEATH MIDTOWN EAST

They all agreed that Maya and the kid were going to have to stay down here until the Sun got low the following day. It was a 3 hour drive to the Whisper safe house in the Catskills. "Everyone get some rest" Nikki told them "Kid, there's food and water up on the 3rd level, stay close to the railings".

Nikki gestured with her head to Connar to come with her and made her way up to their sleeping area on the second level, it was a recessed area that could be closed off, complete with a maintenance hatchway leading to an old shaft, should they need to get out fast "You're unusually quiet, who the hell was that back there".

Connar looked reluctant, but eventually spoke "I…It was… a man who should be dead". Nikki narrowed her eyes "I told you about L.A. You don't talk much about your past".

"Because I thought it was buried" Connar said "I thought it was all over when Dalton died, I thought we could breathe easy, start over… I was so ready to start over and I'm sorry I got you into this Nikki, you've been through enough, I…".

Nikki liked the fact that Connar was strong, but not afraid to be vulnerable, but sometimes, it just wasn't what she needed to hear.

"Shut up… shut the fuck up… right now" Nikki said as calmly as she could "You didn't get me into that shit tonight, I was the first one out the fucking door… now, I don't give a shit about the Whispers, or all this shit… I do give a shit about you, and about us, we've got something good here…".

"You're right" Connar finally said "I wasn't keeping it from you, I just didn't want you shouldering my baggage". "We share each other's load" Nikki said "Tell me what we're looking at here".

Connar had told Nikki about Project Morrigan, and about the Whispers, but now, he sat on the mattress they shared and told her in more detail… it was more detail than she was prepared for.

The man in the Orphanage was his old Overseer, a man by the name of Nathanial Gaunt, former British SAS. He had taken a dislike to Connar since the day he was brought to the place they called The Institute, or The Silo. Connar had originally spoken with an Irish Accent and his Traveller Shelta.

They were being trained to be spies and assassins to operate internationally. Gaunt had beaten him until he spoke "The Queen's English, received pronunciation". Connar had incurred his wrath on many occasions through escape attempts and being caught out of bed at night.

Gaunt had taken to throwing Connar into the kennels with the attack dogs, but eventually Gaunt figured out that Connar, being Sighted, actually preferred the dreams of Sleeping Dogs to being in a barracks with a hundred other kids who were having nightmares.

As a response, Gaunt had taken to locking him in a cage outside by himself. Eventually it was deemed that Connar was ready for service, and came the "Graduation". Gaunt had taken Connar into a room and presented him with the Tactical Sword, Helmet and Gyro-Jet Gauntlet.

Then a young woman, with a black hood over her head, whom Connar didn't know was brought into the room. Gaunt had then aimed a shotgun at Connar's head and presented him with a choice, use the blade on the woman, and pass the graduation, or stay his hand and fail, in which case, they both die. This was the standard Project: Morrigan Graduation, Maya had also gone through it, as had they all.

After the process was complete, and Connar had proven that he would follow a kill order without question. Gaunt had taken him up out onto the training yard, which Connar immediately noticed were covered in blood.

Gaunt had shot all the Attack Dogs that Connar had gotten attached to during his time in the kennels and told him "I don't need them anymore, You're my Dog now".

After Maya got him out and they planned Day-Zero, Connar had personally scalped Gaunt with a Tracker Knife and thrown him down the Silos elevator shaft. Somehow, the bastard had survived. Connar had said that none of it was her problem, but by then it was too late, she was going to make it her fucking problem… and the best way to escape a problem was to solve it.

"Then this time, we'll make sure he's dead, agreed?" Nikki realised how harsh her tone was, but she meant it "I may not be able to get at Press, or the others without tipping the whole fucking government that I'm still alive… but I can help you finish the job".

---

DRC - CENTRAL AFRICA

Armin Sulaimann felt a stab of irritation at losing one of the targets, Gaunt and the other Shades had not failed before, while it was true, a few of the targets had gone missing, no doubt the activity of the underground group known as "Whispers" this was something new "You seem Agitated" he said.

Nathaniel Gaunt looked a little worse for wear on the monitor. He was sporting several cuts and bruises "R-23 Connar Braden, and R-42 Maya Durand, they intercepted the pickup, took the boy, I don't know where". "Ahh, The Hooded Crow, and the Carpathian, they were two of the best Operators Morrigan ever produced… until they turned on it of course" Sulaimann said.

"Apologies, sir" Gaunt said "It won't happen again, we'll move on to other targets". "Do that, but first, alert our American friends to the terrorist cell operating in the New York Area, they're interested in our products, they won't want any further interference".

"Right away, Sir" Gaunt said and then he paused. "Something more?" Sulaimann asked. "They had someone else with them tonight, the one who extracted the kid, never seen her before, but she moved like nothing I've ever seen" Gaunt explained. "Hmm, possibly another member of their cell, find out who she is, and Gaunt, if you can take any of them alive, do it, experienced candidates make for great show pieces when the bidding starts".

"Will do, Sir" Gaunt said. With that, the conversation ended and Sulaimann contemplated the future. One target wasn't much of a loss, the only potential problem was the underground group were apparently a lot quicker to react than he previously anticipated. To make matters worse, the two operators who ran point on Day-Zero were on top of this, with their new, unknown friend.

It didn't matter, he had lost one Shade, but he had more, and when he unleashed them on the underground group, it would be a perfect selling point for his new products. The Shades were an upgrade on Project Morrigan's operatives. Instead of a test of loyalty and a graduation, a new conditioning procedure would render them perfectly compliant, no more rebellions, no more trouble.

Sulaimann took a sip of his expensive whisky and stared out over the tree canopy from his observation deck, the deepest jungles of the DRC were perfect for this kind of operation, miles from anywhere, and there would always be more candidates.

---

CATSKILLS - UPSTATE NEW YORK

Nikki looked up at the old, rusted gates set into a black stone, gothic style pillars "Well… this place isn't creepy at all". Paul shuffled closer to her on the back seat, he had taken to her throughout the day, he was good company, even with his pestering questions about the Angel of Vermin, the unintentional urban myth that had grown around her from city to city over the years.

Nikki had ended up explaining to him that she never called herself by that moniker, others did because she didn't take any shit. The first person to utter the name Angel of Vermin was a crazy, homeless street preacher in Detroit, Nikki never knew his real name, everyone else on that row just called him Preacher Blood. The only detail about his life that she ever learned was that he fought in Vietnam and Panama.

He was a streetwise kid and she was able to respect that, she had once had to find her way in the world, she knew what it was like. "Seven Hundred Acres, some of it is flooded, eighteen bedrooms, an unfinished pool, The original owner had some money trouble while building it, the Whispers have several trusts, we got it at a steal" Maya said.

Nikki Chuckled "A steal? It's a huge, creepy old mansion in the middle of the woods". Maya frowned and smirked, looking at her in the rear-view mirror "Says the person who lives in a turn of the century foundation beneath an abandoned subway station, in near perpetual darkness". "Fair point" Nikki grinned.

Nikki watched as a flashlight appeared in the dark, coming down the long dirt drive towards the gothic style gate. A man in a dark green hunting jacket and woolly hat came out and up to the side of the truck.

As he drew closer, Nikki sensed that he was Sighted, she knew from Connar's stories that most Whispers were Sighted, the few that weren't were friends and loved one's of those that were.

Nikki had to remember this, she could keep her other side under control, but they would still sense that she wasn't fully human, whatever she was, her extrasensory perception, her acuity was more powerful than any human's, they would pick up on this.

"Here for the wedding?" the man asked, leaning into the driver's side window. "No, we're here for the free food" Maya replied. Nikki realised it was some kind of code phrase as the man smirked and waved them through "Go straight up" he said.

Nikki noted he looked like any normal gamekeeper type, were it not for the fact that when he leaned over to speak to Maya, Nikki spotted a Suppressed MP9 in his jacket. So, they are covert and know how to protect themselves, Nikki made a mental note.

They pulled up in front of the old house and were greeted by two more, a man and a woman who looked more overt than the man at the gate, both wearing plain clothes, jackets and hoodies, but carrying modern AKM Assault Rifles, both Suppressed.
The doors opened to reveal a young woman with short hair down to her jawline, wearing torn jeans, a black sweater stepped out and a woolly hat.

She practically threw her arms around Maya "Ahh, Maya it's been too long" she said "Missed you so much". Maya hugged her back "Me too, Matilda, hope you've been taking care of yourself".

Matilda looked like she was in her early to mid 20's, she spotted Connar getting out of the passenger seat and practically ran to him, again throwing her arms around him "Oh my God!... Connar, where've you been? I thought you were dead, we all did". He hugged her too, almost picking her up off her feet "It's good to see you too Tilly, I've been laying low in the city".

Nikki told Paul to stay in the car for a minute as she stepped out. The girl turned and looked at her, Nikki immediately sensed Matilda's Sighted mind reaching out, these people clearly shared a deep connection. Matilda turned to face her and looked slightly confused, clearly sensing something different about her.

Nikki glanced up at the porch, the man and woman on guard duty also looked at her with suspicion, they had also sensed something different about her, but were unable to place it.

"You have GOT to be the reason he stayed in New York" Matilda said cheerfully "Which Coven are you with?". Nikki knew the Whispers operated in cells known as "Covens" a throwback name from when they were being hunted by the church. "Matilda, this is Nikki, she's not affiliated, but she pulled me out of the East River that night, she saved me".

"There's something about you?" Matilda said, slightly tilting her head. Nikki shifted, not wanting to have this conversation, and almost involuntarily blocked herself off "Yeah". Matilda was clearly extroverted and quite forward, but she seemed to get the message and wasn't irritated "Well" She said "Long drive, there's hot food in the back and Amitra's expecting you, and come upstairs when you're done, I wanna hear what you've been up to".

Nikki got Paul out of the truck and walked with him into the house "I'll catch up to you after I make sure he's safe" she told them, making sure that whoever was watching over the camera above the porch could hear it.

---

"Finally" Amitra said, as she watched Maya's truck appear on the monitors at the front gate. When it finally came into view of the cameras above the front porch, she watch Matilda go out and greet Maya and Connar.

To her right, Zackery Edison, and Ravi Bachchan, her tech experts were working diligently on the CCTV footage of the surrounding streets after the incident the previous night, it was a complete mess.

Connar had serious questions to answer, why he broke protocol after Katya's death, why he practically went to war right out in the open in New York City, and why he stayed off the grid this long.

Then, a third figure got out of the vehicle, a tall woman in a hood. Amitra could barely make out her face on the camera, but noted she looked fierce, and had a strong bearing. After a brief conversation, they brought the kid out of the truck and entered the house. "Stay calm" Rust said in a measured tone "Let's hear what they have to say".

When Maya and Connar entered the hollowed out basement which had been turned into a mobile operations centre, Amitra took a deep breath. She was glad they were both alright, and that the kid was safe.

She walked forward to greet them as they came down the stairs "I'm so glad you both are alright, last night was a mess, I was so worried, but I'm glad you made it here… and Connar, come here".

Seeing him again was a palpable relief. Amitra had two daughters of her own, and a granddaughter, but she regarded all the survivors of Project Morrigan as her children, they were all dear to her.

"I missed you Amitra, I'm sorry I stayed quiet for so long". Amitra hugged him tight, and stretched out with her senses, her acuity told her something had changed in Connar, his aura and rhythms felt lighter, steadier than they ever had before… "Connar, don't you ever do that again… I actually mourned you…".

"I'm sorry Amitra" he whispered "I tried to get word out quietly, it was just a little too quietly".

Amitra pulled back and stared at him before kissing him on both cheeks "Let me look at you" she said in a motherly tone, then added "Ahh, now I see why you stayed here, you fell in love… don't deny it, we're all Sighted here, I feel what you do". Maya shifted and smirked, Connar's rhythms changed again, he wasn't embarrassed, but it was clear he felt put on the spot.

"Never thought I'd see the day" Amitra said… then turned to Maya "How is the kid?". "He's fine, he's just getting settled in". Now Amitra wanted answers "Right, so let's go though what happened….". Before Amitra could finish the sentence, Connar spoke again "It was Gaunt… and he had Ethan Hall with him".

Maya pulled out her phone and handed it to Amitra, showing pictures of Ethan Hall, one of the Morrigan Survivors. It looked like he had gone though some kind of horrific surgery. "What the fuck is this?" she asked, utterly horrified. "We don't know, whatever they did to him, he was totally susceptible to suggestion, obeyed Gaunt without question" Maya told her.

"This is a real fucking nightmare" Amitra said "Just while you were in the city, another two names on the list were taken in Spain and Romania". "Shit" Maya hissed "So, Gaunt isn't working alone, are there any more leads?".

Amitra looked down and shook her head "No, and to make matters worse, I put word out to all the former Morrigan Operatives, all but Six responded, Ethan was one of the six".

"So there could be as many as five more like him out there, lobotomised, blindly obeying the orders of whoever's doing this" Connar said "Fuck me! How did this get away from us?".

Now, Amitra had to say it, Connar's rampage against Dalton had resulted in her having to put out a lot of fires "It dosen't help, Connar, when I have to pull people off of critical intelligence gathering, and send them to infiltrate both NYPD and Federal forensics labs, evidence vaults and even certain military interests, in order to clean up the mountain of evidence you left behind on your fucking one-man crusade several months back, or had you forgotten that!"

Connar's eyes dropped to the floor, Amitra stepped up close to him "I know Katya's death hurt, but what were you thinking?". Connar slowly raised his eyes, there had definitely been a change in him, she had never seen him this humble "I wasn't thinking" he said in a low tone "I just wanted him dead at any cost, I didn't really plan on walking away from that night… but then someone showed me it was ok to live again".

For a long moment, they were all silent. Amitra knew the Morrigan survivors had been though a lot, and deserved more in life, but that didn't excuse the mess he made or the risks that others had been forced to take to clean it up. However, upon hearing that, she had to try a more measured tone.

Amitra set herself and fixed his gaze "Connar, you know I love you, and I know what Gaunt did to you, but no more of this Lone Wolf bullshit, I need you… we all need you both on this". Connar nodded "I understand, and I'm sorry, I got word to Kazia and Maya that I was alive through my cousin, I should have reached out before, it won't happen again".

"Alright" Amitra said "We're going to have to save the rest of our reunion until later, right now, we have a world class shitshow on our hands, Zeke and Ravi here have been into the surveillance system and they've spent much of the past 24 hours trying to scrub the images of you out of the system".

"Good work boys" Maya said "Try to get rid of my holiday photos from two years ago, I ate way too much". They were younger guys and it was obvious they both had eyes for Maya. "Looks like we got very lucky last night" Maya said.

"Yeah" came a voice from the top of the basement stairs, causing Amitra to turn "Lucky I was there, otherwise you'd have been fucked" it was the other woman who was with them, it wasn't well lit where she was standing, and Amitra was instantly perturbed to see the eerie animal-like reflective quality of her eyes.

It reminded her of an incident in her childhood, scavenging for scraps on the edge of the city, late evening, the sun had gone down. She remembered looking up into the underbrush and seeing the shining eyes of a 700 pound Tiger. This woman, whoever she was, had a predatory quality about her, and something else, something that made Amitra's extrasensory perception put her on high alert.

"Where's Paul, is he ok?" Connar asked her. One thing Amitra noted was that the Rhythms of everyone in the room, including Maya spiked… all but Connar's, his felt soothed by her presence.

The woman started making her way down the stairs "He's fine, he ate, now he's asleep, the kid's been through a lot". The woman reached the bottom of the stairs, looked around, then slowly and confidently made her way forward. Rust instinctively stood up, sensing the same thing they all did. The woman had an underlying predatory aggression.

"He's been through a lot" the woman continued "Because someone could have moved him to safety, but chose not to, hoping to catch whoever was doing this… effectively using him as bait… that's you right, you look like the one in charge of all this".

After years of fighting an underground war, a thankless vocation that had had chosen her, not the other way around, Amitra was not about to be questioned or shamed by someone who was uninitiated and uninformed of the things she had been through and the decisions she had been forced to make, that ultimately saved lives, even if those decisions made it difficult to look in the mirror.

Amitra stepped forward, closing the distance with the woman "Now, you listen, whoever the fuck you are, you don't know anything about what we are trying to stop here!... Secondly, over fifty have gone missing already, and we have no leads. I needed to observe whoever was doing this, and find a way to track them… and now, thanks to your rash actions, all I have is a photograph of a dead man, whom I used to call a friend… someone who maybe, just maybe, could have been helped!".

The woman clenched her jaw and set herself before speaking "The way I see it, my rash actions are the only reason that Kid upstairs, as well as these two are still alive" she gestured to Maya and Connar.

Amitra refused to break eye contact with the woman, she might have gotten a strange sense from her, but she wouldn't be cowed by her, or anyone. Connar stepped around Rust and up to the woman's side "Nikki, it's cool, we're working it out".

Amitra narrowed her eyes and fixed the woman's glare "Nikki, is that really your name?" Amitra asked "I sense not… now, since you've chosen to involve yourself in our affairs, Whisper affairs, perhaps you should take a step back and look at the bigger fucking picture".

Nikki shrugged with a sarcastic smile "By all means". "Whoa wait, Ma'am" Rust cut in "You're not just gonna bring her in on this. You don't know who this is, she's uninitiated".

"Uninitiated?" Nikki laughed "Listen, Dracula, why don't you go take your moustache for a walk back to 15th century Romania, I'm as initiated as it gets".

Rust stepped up to Nikki, who held her ground "You listen, the people you see here in this building, and others elsewhere, have been doing this for longer than you can imagine, we've been hunted, we've been used, we've been persecuted and we said "No More". We take care of our own. You come in here with nothing but broad-stroke assumptions and think you can push people around? Who the fuck do you think you are?".

Connar put his hand out, stopping Rust "Rupert, I really wouldn't mate, trust me". Rust pushed Connar's hand away "Trust you? After the mess you made, I hope you got a good kick out of it because others had to put themselves at risk to stop the investigation from leading right back here!".

"No, it's ok, Connar" Nikki hissed, stepping in so close to Rust they were practically nose to nose "Altight, I may not be a Whisper, I may not be part of your secret little club, but I've heard that stupid fucking code of yours We do not fear the flames…"

Rust bristled, he was a Whisper to the core, Ravi and Zack also turned around in their seats, to hear the Stone Canon, the Whisper code belittled like that wasn't something any of them were prepared for, but Nikki wasn't finished "Tell me, big guy, have you ever actually been burned? Or… better yet, tell me… have you ever had to watch your own baby, no name yet, just minutes old, burn to death in front of you…we don't fear the flames… take it from me…you know fuck all about the flames". Nikki then turned to Amitra "Still wondering why I disagree?"

Nobody was prepared for that, and for a long moment, they all stood there in stunned silence. They had all heard her words, but moreover, everyone present was Sighted and they felt her internal anguish as she spoke. Rust slowly put his hands up and took a step back.

Amitra could see that this debate was likely to get out of hand. This "Nikki" was clearly volatile, but before she could say anything Maya stepped between them "Right, look, I don't know Nikki, but I do trust her, if it weren't for her, we'd both be dead, or captured. I know we have our rites and protocols, but in this case, we need her… that is, of course, if she's willing to see this through?".

Nikki gave a half smirk "Like you said, Maya, you'd be dead or caught without me, so I'll stick around for now". "Fine" Amitra cut in "Enough with this bullshit, you want in, all of you come over here".

Amitra began to lay out what had been happening, since Dalton's death, a number of children and teenagers, some from Whisper families had gone missing. Amitra had investigated, and the trail had led back to one of Dalton's charities, it had subsidiary links to APEX Solutions, his international consultancy firm.

Matilda had looked into it and found that Dalton had been compiling a list of Sighted youngsters at the time of his death. Now they knew that the former Project Morrigan Overseer, Nathaniel Gaunt was involved, and that several survivors of the project were missing. "So now you do have leads" Nikki said. Amitra stepped up to the screens "It's not that simple, we've been hearing government chatter on this".

Connar fell in beside her "Which Government?". "All the major players" Amitra breathed regretfully "They're all still playing like it's the cold war, only they're stepping up. The next cold war will be fought by the Sighted".

A small blip began to sound on the laptop to Ravi's left, he turned and regarded it for a moment, then another blip began on a second point. "Ma'am we have a perimeter alert".

---

Colonel Carter Burgess Jr sat pensively in the back of the (MCCV) Mobile Command and Control Vehicle. From the outside it resembled a common black Coach Bus, however it was significantly modified with drones, surveillance equipment, and heavy weapon countermeasures.

He had assembled five squads of outside contractors, all of whom were divided into to similar vehicles. This had to be handled quietly, and the military's hands needed to be clean. Therefore, they had outsourced to Blackbear International for the men and the weaponry had been provided by APEX Solutions.

This place had not been easy to find. They had been forced to work fast. After a tip off from Sulaimann's man on the ground, an ex special forces spook named Nathaniel Gaunt, who was one of the overseers on the original project in the UK. He had been able to act swiftly.

The Generals were interested in reaping the benefits of a force of ESP Abled Operators who would follow even the most distasteful orders without question, but having lost one of his targets, Gaunt had informed them that they faced a significant threat from a highly mobile group who most likely had a safe-house within driving range of the city.

He had provided an image of the target, named Paul Wiseman, which Burgess was able to feed into facial recognition software, by a sheer stroke of luck, the kid had been briefly caught on camera in a multi-story parking lot near Midtown East in the company of three adults, all of whom were hooded and practising anti-surveillance techniques.

Gaunt had warned Burgess that these people were determined, highly skilled and would not be a pushover, hence the extra manpower. Once the vehicle was identified, they had been able to track it's progress out of the city on traffic cameras, once it disappeared into the small country lanes of the Catskills, they had been forced to extrapolate the location via satellite.

Fortunately, they had been able to locate the vehicle on it's way to an abandoned house once owned by a wall street big-shot who had recently been arrested for insider trading, it was remote, isolated, there were several outbuildings and it made for the perfect safe house.

Burgess had hand picked his team leader, a man named Arno Bekker to lead the assault. Bekker had a solid resume, a former South African Special Forces Recce who began doing contract work internationally for the CIA. Their Objectives were primarily to eliminate all targets on the premises, if possible they were to retrieve Wiseman from this unknown group.

The only other warning he had from Gaunt is that this group were all ESP Abled Individuals, their mental acuity and senses were higher than average, and would react swiftly, so the element of surprise would be key.

Burgess could see on the cameras that the two other vehicles were in position and ready to deploy, he gave the order "Spread out, Squads one and two approach from the south east end of the property, squads four and five north, lock down that potential escape route, squad three move up the middle, converge with squad two when you reach the main house".

"Acknowledged Sir" came Bekker's voice over the radio. Burgess watched as the squads spread out. From where they were at the property line, it would be a long walk to the main house, but fortunately they had the cover of the trees for most of it.

Burgess watched intently, wishing the generals had authorised him to personally lead them, he had been itching for some action on this, and this underground group contained highly skilled assassins, worthy opponents for a man like him.

After a few minutes his squads reached a point just inside the tree line, from here, he would send in a probing force. "Hold at the tree line and observe".

The squads reported back two individuals at the front, both armed with Russian AKM Assault Rifles, there were two more at the back and a couple more on patrol, all carrying 7.62 Assault Rifles with suppressors.

"Looks like they're doing a shift change" Bekker reported. Other squads reported that the individuals on guard and patrol were idly returning to the main house and did not look spooked.

Burgess leaned forward "On my go, move up and breach".

---

Nikki looked around, the house was suddenly a flurry of activity, when she had taken Paul upstairs for some food, Matilda had come with her, she had counted thirty seven others inside the house of varying ages, some were families. Her senses also picked up on another six outside, not including the guy at the gate, or the two on the front porch.

Amitra recalled everyone inside as hidden cameras across the property picked up a significant number of men in tactical gear converging on both sides.

Matilda brought Paul down into the basement and joined Amitra. Nikki joined Maya and Connar as Rust led them into a sectioned off portion of the basement which was obviously their armoury.

Nikki didn't really need guns, and found them only useful for taking on someone from a distance, however, this was going to be close quarters. It seemed that Whispers preferred High-Calibre firepower and armour piercing rounds. This was due to their propensity of using their psychic abilities to identify targets in closed spaces and shooting accurately through walls, doors, ceilings and floors.

Both Connar and Maya were were carrying 28 inch tactical blades and their Gyro-Jet Arm Bracers. Nikki found a tactical Trench Hawk in the armoury and hooked it to her belt.

Both Maya and Connar armed themselves with a pair of .308 Armalite AR-10's, while Nikki found the short barrel 50. Beowulf more appealing, it might fire MASSIVE rounds, but it was little more than a pistol in her hands.

"Can you handle that?" Rust asked. Nikki was in no mood for a conversation about it "Yeah…". Rust continued "You sure?". Connar cut him off "Yeah, she's sure!". There was a hatch in the middle of the basement where the non-fighters, including Paul, were now going. Nikki knew what was about to happen, they would stay behind and hold off the attack while the others escaped.

"Nikki" Paul shouted as Matilda ushered him towards the escape tunnel. "It's ok, go with them, Kid, we'll handle this". Paul looked like he was about to protest, but Matilda turned him around and helped him down the hatch before he could. "You go with them Matilda" Amitra told her. "I can fight" Matilda argued.

Amitra leaned down and put her hand on Matilda's shoulder "I know you can fight, but I need someone to lead the others to safety, now, go, take the others out to the rendezvous point". Matilda looked disappointed but nodded "I'll see you soon".

Connar was just finishing loading his magazines when Amitra turned to him "Connar, as a welcome back gift, why don't you kick off the evening's festivities and help set the table for our new guests… the control panel is over there".

Connar put his hand on his chest in an exaggerated show of gratitude "Amitra, you spoil me, It would be my genuine pleasure" and made his way over to the corner where Ravi and Zachery had been seated but were now over in the armoury getting equipped.

Nikki joined him by the screens, pulling on her half-face mask and raising her hood. Connar took an improvised control panel from the side and watched the screens. Several squads of soldiers with no insignia began to break cover from the tree line and move towards the house.

Connar watched intently and to Nikki's surprise, he began to hum. He was humming the tune to Amazing grace as he watched the squads approaching, and then he began to mockingly sing the lyrics under his breath "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like meeee… I once was lost, but now I'm found". "What the fuck are you doing Connar?" Nikki asked, slightly annoyed as the soldiers were approaching and he apeared to be fucking around instead of doing anything about it.

Connar locked her gaze and smiled "I was blind…." then flipped the first switch…Nikki watched the screen, and the few small lights outside the house went out, punching the property into darkness.

The soldiers reacted, one of them held up a fist, and then signalled for them all to get down. Nikki watched them all take a knee in near unison and pull down the IR Night vision goggles. As the team leader signalled Forward and they began to move, Connar piped up again, finishing the verse with a smirk "But now… I see…".

Connar flipped a second switch and large floodlights hidden around the perimeter of the house activated. Nikki suddenly got it, he was drawing them in and messing with them, first he makes them deploy night vision, then he blinds them. IR goggles and bright lights didn't mix. Nikki watched as they all stopped, covered the lenses and spent a few seconds removing them. Even the team leader looked like he'd been caught off-guard.

"Let the games begin" Connar said, and flipped a third switch. Nikki watched. What happened on the screens next was almost painful to watch… almost. The squads that remained in the tree line numbered some thirty men. A string of hidden claymore mines suddenly deployed all across the property throughout the woods.

Each Anti-Personnel mine sent forth hundreds of steel ball bearings, saturating the wooded area of the property with flying metal, ripping the men there to shreds. The ones that had advanced beyond the tree line were now in disarray…. But Connar wasn't finished, he flipped a fourth switch.

"...And for the finishing touch, because, as you well know, Overkill is underrated". Nikki now saw a giant plume of flames as one by one, IED's containing home-made napalm exploded around the property. There were wounded men inside the tree line and a few still mobile trying to help the ones that were down, all of them were incinerated by the blasts. Yes Nikki thought That's how it fucking feels!

Ravi looked up from loading his gun and grinned "Ohh, and the Quarterback is toast". Zachery gave him a playful punch "You beat me by like one second!"

Connar hit a final switch which apparently did nothing, but Nikki saw the squads that were on the grounds all struggling with their earpieces and communications, that last switch must have been a signal jammer.

It would take a few minutes, but the remaining squads would breach the house, Nikki, Maya, Connar and Rust were now all prepared. The other armed Whispers had been sent into the escape tunnel and Amitra had elected to stay behind in the basement while Zachery and Ravi packed up any vital equipment.

All of them now spread out throughout the house and waited for the inevitable breach.

---

"FALL BACK… FALL BACK!" Burgess almost screamed into the Radio before it went dead. He had just witnessed one of the worst blunders of his long military career. The contractors he had sent in there had walked into a trap. First they had been startled by a clever ruse with the lights, then an array of Claymores and IED's had laid waste to three entire squads.

To his credit Bekker was trying to maintain control and ordered the breach. "Breach and Clear" was the last thing Burgess heard him say over the radio, before the frequencies were jammed, all the helmet camera feeds also went dead at the same time.

Burgess opened the door of the MCCV and stepped down, from where he was, in a recessed area on a nearby hill, he could see the property in the distance… there was an orange glow that he knew would be secluded from anyone who didn't have this precise vantage point.

"Fuck me!" Burgess cursed as he heard the distant crack and rumble of gunfire.

---

[WRITERS NOTE: SOUNDTRACK: ARTIST: HYPER
TRACKS: CLOCKWORK, FLATLINE, BREED]

Nikki had positioned herself by a low wall which had been in what was once a hall or extra large lounge in the west wing of the house. From here, she could guard a side entrance.

She checked her weapons and silently promised herself that she wouldn't unleash her other side unless it became necessary, these were likely government forces, and if she could avoid tipping her hand that she was still alive, she would.

Now was also the time that she could use her own Psychic Senses, like the others, if she focussed, she could sense the precise location of individuals on the other side of walls, time to show these Whispers how she did things.

The screams of the dying outside had died down, and the house was relatively quiet. Nikki sensed where the others were. Connar was by the front entrance, Maya was in the kitchen with a field of fire towards the back. Rust was in the east wing of the house and Maya remained in the basement. The others had gone into the escape tunnel and were performing a rear-guard action… they wouldn't need it.

Nikki spotted the camera in the corner and knew Amitra was watching. Movement caught her attention. She watched three shadows move across the papered living room window and towards the side entrance.

Nikki readied herself, her muscles were tense, she was poised as the first of the three soldiers cautiously opened the door and tossed in a flashbang. Nikki closed her eyes, covered her ears and opened her mouth to reduce the concussive blast.

The thunderous blast would have discombobulated any normal person, but Nikki was anything but normal, even if she'd like to be… she waited.

The three soldiers cautiously entered, she saw the beams for their entry lights cutting through the smoke… closer… closer…perfect! Nikki braced her STI-MPI 1911 against the thin drywall and pulled the trigger. The first soldier screamed as the Armour piercing round hit him square in the back of the knee, blowing out his left kneecap.

He toppled over the low wall as Nikki reached up. She grabbed his kevlar helmet and lifted it, exposing his forehead, then she pressed the barrel of the Tactical 1911 to his face and pulled the trigger once, twice, three times. His teammates reacted swiftly, but not swiftly enough to stop her.

Nikki hopped up and over the low wall as the second soldier turned and aimed his MP5 at her, she grabbed the barrel and lifted it up, taking it offline with her body as she pressed the barrel of the 1911 into his pelvic bowl below his body armour and fired three times, then raised the gun to his head and fired once more.

The third soldier was close behind and was searching for a shot, he never got one. Nikki might have expended her first clip, but she wasn't done. Nikki put her hand on the chest of the now dead standing soldier she had just killed, and launched him at his teammate.

The momentum carried the last team member backwards, and pinned him by the door. Before he could raise his rifle, Nikki had ejected the magazine, reloaded and swiftly ended him with a headshot.

Nikki sensed five more coming around the side of the building, holstered the sidearm and dove clear across the room as they opened fire through the window. The rolled, and came up with the , took aim and let fly with the weapon on full auto, she barely felt the kick.

All of them went down, blown to pieces by the barrage of heavy rounds. Nikki reloaded and went looking for more prey.

---

Connar cleared his mind, breathing slowly, and focussing on the core, the mind singularity, the key to his acuity. He could sense them, all of them, he could see them in his head, by remote viewing all around at the same time. Like a submarine pinging sonar and returns were the precise positions, emotional and mental states of the people around him, even their thoughts.

He could hear Nikki taking care of the interlopers on her side of the building and sensed he was about to get some at the front. He crouched down next to a pillar that provided cover near the main entrance and reached out with his acuity. One… two…three…four soldiers stacking up to breach the front door.

Connar knew it would be a shotgun to the lock, then a flashbang… he never gave them the chance. He switched the AR10 to Semi-Auto and moved quietly up to the front door. He couldn't see the soldiers on the other side… not with his eyes, but he knew their precise body positions and actions.

He heard the breacher rack his shotgun and took aim at the door, knowing precisely where the soldier's head would be on the other side. Connar pulled the trigger, CRACK! And Connar was rewarded with a shotgun blast coming through the door near the top left, as the dead soldier on the other side toppled back and his shot at the lock went awry.

Connar pressed his advantage, before the breacher had hit the floor, Connar had taken precise headshots through the door and the wall to the right, killing all three of his remaining teammates.

It was only by sheer luck that Connar had stepped to the right to kill the last breacher, as he heard the distinctive PLUNK sound of 40mm Frag Rounds being fired at the door and took cover as the door was blasted apart.

Connar dove to the side as more came in. Instantly they were on him, but he was also on them, he grabbed the first man, rolled him to the floor and executed him with his Staccato XC.

Before the others could bring their weapons to bear and find a clean shot, Connar had rolled clear, behind a pillar. The pillar absorbed the barrage of rounds, allowing Connar to holster his sidearm and come struck out with the AR-10.

Three of them went down instantly, but the fourth was wearing heavier armour, the AR-10 knocked him back, but he needed more to go down. When the rifle ran dry, Connar slung it and performed a quick switch back to his sidearm, coming up low on the heavily armoured breacher with the 40mm Launcher.

The big man actually tried to point the 40mm launcher at Connar at close range, even with his nano-fibre, it would have ended him, but he was lighter and faster, quickly taking the 40mm offline.

It went off and blew out a chunk of the staircase but by then, Connar grappled him, jumped up, hooked his legs around the man's neck and shoulder, then used his weight to bring him down. The man struggled, but Connar was able to end him quickly by lifting his visor and giving him a bullet to the eye.

Connar checked his surroundings and knew that another squad was coming. He fired a burst of Gyro-Jets out though the, now destroyed, main door and went into cover to reload. Time to link up with Nikki and get rid of the rest of them.

---

Maya had used her Gyro-Jets in combination with her .308 AR-10 to take out the squad that breached the back door just after she heard Connar taking on the one's at the front. She executed the last one and moved on. There was sporadic gunfire all around and Maya knew they had to link up.

Maya heard actual screams coming from the west wing of the building, Nikki was clearly doing whatever she did to them. Now they were the ones who were outnumbered, but with their communication cut off, they had no way of knowing it.

She sensed where Connar was, he had joined rust and they had killed another squad in the East Wing of the house. They were moving back now. Nikki was harder to find, she was too fast and knew how to mentally block herself from being found, a pure ambush predator.

Maya stalked towards the West Wing, after every few bursts of gunfire, Maya would hear a loud crash. It didn't take long to see what was happening, there were holes in the floor and ceilings. Maya had no idea what Nikki was, but she was using her immense strength to her advantage, jumping through the ceiling into the attic, then coming down in the middle of a squad, eliminating any chance of a clean shot.

Nikki was a smart one, wily, and utterly ruthless with those she perceived as a threat, that much was obvious.

Maya stepped over several mercenaries who had been pulled down through the floor and executed with a bladed weapon, likely the trench axe Nikki picked up earlier. She had moved up to the second floor to take on a squad which had managed to make entry.

Without being able to precisely locate Nikki, Maya resorted to calling out her position, she knew there were no more mercenaries in this side of the building "Nikki…". For a moment, there was no answer, then she heard thud, thud, thud… The ceiling exploded further down the hallway and Nikki landed in a kneeling position.

Maya took a moment to centre herself before speaking, Nikki had an unnerving energy when one locked eyes with her.

Nikki's attention was drawn back to the main entrance where the final squad were making entry. Maya turned and ran back to the central point on the second floor, a balcony overlooking the main grand staircase. Nikki got up and smashed through the wall to her left, disappearing in a cloud of dust kicked out by the impact.

---

Nikki was low on ammunition now. The squads had split into several smaller units to attack from multiple points. None of it mattered, they were finished from the moment they got near this house. For the past few minutes, she had been using the attic to drop on them from above.

After Maya called her. She made her way to the main hall of the house, but she was going to approach it indirectly as only she could. She got there just as the final squad breached. They were led by the same man she had seen on the video feed giving signals.

They tossed in flashbangs and entered, sweeping right and left, but were quickly caught in overlapping fields of fire by Connar and Rust, with Maya on the 2nd floor landing firing down. The squad of mercenaries became pinned and used the pillars for cover, but it was over. Nikki ran and leaped from the second story balcony, landing right in between them.

She threw the Trench Hawk into the skull of the first man, and, using one hand, she fired the 50. Beowulf from the hip into the second, causing catastrophic damage, the third and fourth men turned and aimed their rifles at her, but before they could shoot, they were all taken out by .308's to the head from either side but Connar and Maya.

Only the team leader was left now and Nikki was out of ammunition… but that didn't matter when you could become the weapon. The team leader turned to run, but Nikki shot out her tendril and snared his leg, causing him to fall face first onto the marble floor.

There was a loud wet crack as he broke his nose as she dragged him back to the middle of the hall. Connar appeared out of the smoke and came to her side "You ok?". Nikki nodded "I'm always ok".

Rust emerged from the shadows on the opposite side and Maya made her way down the stairs. Soon they all converged around the team leader who was on his knees nursing a bullet wound on his shoulder and his nose was badly broken.

The lights came back on, and with them, the team leader's radio crackled to life. Amitra had turned off the signal jammer and was making her way upstairs. Connar pulled the team leader's radio out of it's pouch and listened.

"They won't stop, we were just the first…." before the team leader could finish the sentence, Nikki put her finger on his lips "Shhh… save your last few breaths". The Radio crackled "Disciple 1.1 this is Actual, come in!" the voice on the radio shouted "Disciple 1.1 respond... What the fuck is going on up there!".

Connar looked like he was about to say something into the radio, but Amitra came up from the basement and approached him, holding out her hand. With her hood up and her long black saree, she looked like the reaper emerging through the smoke.

Connar handed her the radio and she listened. "All the helmet feeds are dead, I'm blind here, what's happening up there! Disciple 1.1. Respond God-Damnit!".

Amitra's rhythms were steady but her anger was palpable, Nikki could feel it radiating from her and found herself drawn to the older woman's side, curious as to what she was about to do.

---

Burgess returned to the MCCV and tried to raise Bekker several times but the frequencies were jammed.

Finally Burgess heard the shooting stop, antihist surprise, whatever was jamming the frequencies stopped. Had Bekker been successful? After trying to raise him several times, Burgess got a response, just not the one he expected.

A voice with an indiscernible accent suddenly came over Bekker's Comm. The voice was powerful but feminine, the voice had a strange gravelly but smooth quality. Like silk draped over a bed of nails.

"Whoever you are, let this be a lesson in what happens when you send sheep to catch wolves". Burgess wasn't used to mission failure, he felt his anger rise like never before, but kept his response as measured as he could "The best thing you can do is give yourselves up, we are the United States Military".

The response came immediately "A word to the obviously unwise, I don't do second chances... and I never forget". Before Burgess could respond, the Radio cracked into feedback and went dead.

---

Nikki had never met anyone quite like this woman, although they had not gotten off to a good start, Nikki silently admitted to herself, she saw a lot of herself in her, Amitra was clearly ruthless with her enemies.

Amitra unceremoniously dropped the Radio just as Connar seized the Mercenary leader by his hear, forcing his head back to look at Amitra. She stepped closer and looked down, fixing him with a cold stare "What is your name?" she asked. The man began to sweat, but eventually answered "Arno…. Arno Bekker" he had a distinctive South African accent.

Nikki watched Connar's free hand sweep hack his jacket and unclip the strap holding his tactical blade in its Kevlar scabbard. He gripped the hilt and partly drew the blade, offering it to Amitra. In that moment, Nikki knew that Connar had clearly done this before.

Nikki watched Amitra's eyes move from the grip of Connar's blade, then up to meet his eyes, and then back down to the team leader, she reached out and gently touched his face, Nikki sensed her anger rising, but knew that to one who didn't possess extrasensory perception it wouldn't be obvious in her body language. Amitra had a regal bearing and a seemingly matriarchal manner.

Nikki didn't see where the knife came from, but one moment, Amitra's free hand was empty, the next, a Karambit knife seemed to appear out of nowhere and was instantly plunged into Bekker's throat. She slowly drew it across his neck, never breaking eye contact with him.

"Die in Darkness…"

The team leader, the man called Arno Bekker, winced and gargled. His open windpipe made a sound like a mournful flute, as a steady flow of blood flowed down and pooled between his knees. Connar released his grip and the man slumped back onto the ground with blood pooling around him.

Amitra pulled out a small cloth and wiped the blade, then calmly walked away, Rust followed her, leaving Nikki, Connar and Maya standing in the main hall of the house alone.

Nikki looked around, there were bodies all over the place, the fires were slowly dying outside, what wasn't splattered with blood was covered in expended shell casings. "We'd better get to the tunnel" Maya said and made her way down to the basement, leaving just Nikki and Connar.

"Is this what it's like?" she asked. Connar dropped his eyes "Now you know why I stayed down in Terminus with you… I was getting sick of this shit… we can still..". "No" Nikki cut him off "We're gonna finish this, then we'll go home".

"Are we good, Nikki" Connar asked. Nikki reached up, pulled him in and kissed him passionately "We are… now, let's get the fuck out of here". Nikki headed for the basement and the escape tunnel and Connar fell in behind her "You really took charge back there… I like it".

Nikki half turned and smirked "You'd better get used to it".

---

Nikki had come a long way since she escaped from that cold glass enclosure, where her Father had attempted to kill her with gas… but she knew, deep down, that she was embarking on something entirely new.

As Nikki followed the others out through the escape tunnel to the rendezvous point on the other side of the hill, she was aware of a powerful THUMP, and looked south, seeing a bright orange glow.

The entire house had been rigged to blow, destroying any and all evidence of their presence. The others were climbing into trucks and leaving in different directions. Nikki saw Paul being taken to a truck, he broke away from the others and ran over to her, hugging her around her mid section.

"Its ok, Kid, go with them" Nikki said. "I feel safer with you" Paul hugged tighter. Nikki turned to see Connar climbing out of the escape tunnel. He stood up, looked around and started preparing an IED to collapse the entrance.

When he turned to her, she shrugged, not knowing how to handle it. Connar nodded and gave a thumbs up with subtle smile, his way of telling her that all was well… and also that he didn't know how to handle it either.

Nikki rolled her eyes and focussed on the kid, he had really taken to her since finding out she was the one who's name was whispered on the streets of New York. "Paul, look at me" Nikki said, and Paul looked up with tearful eyes, he had just experienced something nobody his age should have to experience, gun battles, death, suffering, but he would handle it, because what choice did any of them have.

Nikki looked into his eyes "When I found you, you were already trying to escape that place, you fought, you kicked, you bit me. Now, I'm gonna go with Connar and Maya and we're gonna stop those guys who came after you, but I need you to stay strong, just like when we met, can you do that?"

Nikki was relieved when he released his grip and nodded, wiping his eyes. Nikki had a lump in her throat when she spoke her next words, but was determined to get her point across "Listen, Paul, I had a little boy once, he had eyes like yours… I wonder what he could have been… but I lost him".

Paul blinked and Nikki knew he was picking up on her emotions, Paul had also suffered loss, his parents, he dropped his eyes, but Nikki cupped his chin and made him look at her before continuing "That's why you have to stay alive… I'm not gonna let what happened to my little boy happen to you, or any of the others they've taken… I've… done a lot of bad things, now's my chance to try and make up for it".

Paul seemed to resolve himself and took on a more determined look and finally uttered "Ok". Matilda came over to her now, and Nikki immediately noticed she had a slightly awestruck expression "On our way out here, Paul told me you're the one they call the Angel of V…".

Nikki rolled her eyes again and put a hand up, stopping her "Hay, I don't call myself that, some crazy street preacher said it, and it followed me from city to city… long story".

Matilda grinned "Long story? Long flight". Nikki suddenly felt very perturbed and shut down her emotions as much as possible, knowing her present company could sense her emotional output "Flight?". "Yeah" Matilda said "Paul is going to a Whisper commune near Provins, it's a beautiful little mediaeval village outside Paris… oh and it has a lot of useful underground tunnels, there's the one's they know about, and the ones we know about".

"Paris?" Nikki asked "We're going to Paris?..." then, slightly embarrassed, she added "I've… never been on a plane". "The next names on the list are in Paris" Amitra said, walking over to join them "I'll have a safe house ready by the time you arrive… this time, we need a win".

"We already have two wins" Nikki said "We have Paul, and those guys are all dead". "You know what I mean, Nikki" Amitra countered "We need to find a rea lead on the ones that were taken before they end up like poor Ethan Hall". Nikki nodded "I understand".

Maya was waiting by the last truck, loading her gear and that huge rifle of hers into the back "Time to go guys" she said. Amitra turned and regarded Nikki up and down "You handle yourself well, are you coming?". Nikki nodded, resolving herself to see this through to the end…

"Hay, Shanty, you coming?" Nikki asked. "No, it's just the way I'm standing" Connar quipped and hit the remote trigger for the IED he'd just primed and thrown down the tunnel. There was a loud THUD and a plume of dust was kicked up into the air from the tunnel entrance.

Connar joined Nikki and they both got into the truck… Nikki took one last look at the fading orange glow over the hill and knew this journey would test her, and before this was over, she would need to unleash her true self. Whoever was doing this, taking these Sighted children… they were about to feel Sil's wrath.

[WRITER'S NOTE - SOUNDTRACK: EMPIRE OF EXCELLENCE - DALEILLA]

---

WRITERS NOTE: This in a flashback chapter, and there will be more. Some of the Characters introduced in this chapter, Amitra Jha, Rupert "Rust" Stone, Paul Wiseman and others will be appearing again, in Species: Angel of Vermin and also in my other, interconnected story, Species: The Survivor. Maya has already made an appearance in Species: The Survivor.

Dan, the Psychic Empath was introduced in the 1st movie, and one of the biggest questions I always had about him was "Are there others like him? Do they have the same powers or different powers?".

The Whispers are an original idea and a standalone story about them is in the works.