Hal Emmerich was trying to do a great many things all at once. Instead of making progress on each of these tasks, he accomplished very little with any of them. He didn't exactly have the luxury of taking his time either now that his decision had been made. There were plans to make, multiple people to contact, and a traveling case to pack. As he threw his phone into the open suitcase on his bed rather than the rolled up pair of socks in his other hand, Hal had to stop for a second in his sparsely decorated bedroom and just sigh.

It was so much easier to multitask when it came to the digital world. He had always excelled on that front, thrived in it, lived for it. When it came to real life however he always found himself to be woefully lacking. Exchanging the phone for the socks, Hal continued to pack for a stay of a yet undetermined length of time.

The call from Boris from the secure line had been a surprise after a month of silence, but honestly not an entirely unexpected one. The news delivered however had been like a punch to the gut. Upon hearing word of Raiden's and John's disappearance Hal had to take a seat for a moment and breathe.

It was like three years ago all over again: the searching, the desperation, the failures. Hal had been deeply worried that something like this would happen but chose instead to have faith in Boris and his people. He had repeatedly reassured Sunny and himself that the security measures at Maverick was more than adequate to keep them safe.

Well.. he had been wrong before.

Some of the heaviness that had settled on Hal's shoulders had been eased by Boris' unshakable conviction that the missing group had evaded capture and had made it to a safe location. The knowledge that Bladewolf and Boris' best agent were with the two did much to ward off the worst case scenarios that were running through his mind. Unfortunately worry took a new form and came back with a vengeance with what the older man had to say next.

"There have been some developments here that are beyond my peoples abilities. I desperately need your help."

Hal looked back and forth between the two shirts he held, unable to make a decision on which one to pack. With a frustrated huff, he decided to pack them both to save himself the trouble of choosing. Into the bag went an extra pair of glasses in addition to spare contacts. As he continued with the packing he had yet another pang of worry that agreeing to take an active role in this wasn't the wisest choice.

Hal had been long done with missions, intel, and hiding. He had already had more than enough of that to last a lifetime. Sunny had been in agreement with him, back when their trio had been cut down to two due to the unkind machinations of fate, that they were done with that lifestyle. She had soon managed to happily find work at the worlds best aeronautic company, diving headlong into it with all her intellect and focus. And Hal…he had left alone once more with his tech.

During that three year hunt for Raiden he had plenty of free time to help. Hal had dove into the task with all that he had, and he had considerable skill to work with. And more recently when help was needed find out more about this elusive oppressive opponent he had assisted as well, albeit with more caution. Now though...now he was being asked to take a direct role in events which would no doubt draw the Hunter's attention.

It was not as if Hal were unused to this sort of pressure, its just that it wasn't exactly himself that he was concerned about.

Looking back on their conversation over the secured line, Hal had to admit that Boris had made some compelling arguments. The technology expert had more experience than possibly anyone else alive in avoiding detection against an overwhelming digital force. Not to mention he had the skills to potentially set up a means of a counter attack against this hacker. As Boris had told him of the failures of Maverick's security and the complete lack of clues found in the minds of the survivors, Hal began to become intrigued despite his reflexive reluctance to keep out of the forefront of this situation.

So Doktor Voigt suspected that this was the work of an AI? Boris seemed to be convinced that this was the malicious sort of will that only humankind possessed. Based off his intel and what he knew of Raiden and his dark past, Hal was inclined to agree with Boris. That did still did not mean that he was going to discount the intuition of another man of science.

Hal had never been one to back down from challenges of the mind. Although that tendency has bit him in the ass before. But more than that, he still felt that he owed Raiden for failing to help find him those three years ago. Other than trying to get his distracted mind to focus enough on setting his affairs in order and packing, Hal's most pressing worry, and the main reason for his reluctance to get involved, was Sunny.

Assuming that he could convince her to stay at the Solis compound after informing her of what was going on, and that was a big if, he wondered if it would even be safe for her to stay there. So far the two of them have been unharassed by this individual that was hell bent on Raiden, but Hal had little illusions that it would say that way should he begin to interfere.

Bringing her along was also a difficult choice. Not only would she be in the midst of things, she had just returned to her job after such a long absence. Solis had been exceptionally patient with her time off as Sunny's contributions to the field were invaluable but even they had to have their limits. There was also the not so minor issue of Maverick and their infiltration making the security company feel less than secure.

The muffled ringing of his phone pulled Hal from his fretful thoughts. It took several moments of digging around in his bag that had somehow claimed the device again before he found it and answered.

"Hello?"

"Hal Emmerich? Hello. This is Louise Milton from Solis. I'm calling in regards to Sunny." Hal felt an intense surge of anxiety at the words on the other end of the line. Ms. Milton was Sunny's supervisor at Solis and the two had spoken with one another quite a few times. The woman was a consummate professional however and calling so late in the day was starkly out of character for her.

Hal's first impression that his agreement to directly help Boris and Raiden had been intercepted and there had been an incident at the aeronautical company. He was kept from outright panic by the woman's voice that was far too bright to be the herald of bad news.

"I do hope I'm not calling at an inopportune time. I do realize that this is outside business hours and I sincerely apologize for that."

"No, no." Hal ran a hand through his hair mussing it up furhter, trying to school his worried tone to something less concerning for the woman. "I was preoccupied with something, several somethings actually, and had my mind elsewhere. Is everything alright?"

"Yes quite. Although it is considered a very sad day by my coworkers here, I am one of the many that consider us lucky to have had a chance to work beside such an extraordinary young woman such as Sunny. She has made some simply marvelous technological leaps in the field. Awe inspiring actually."

"That she has." Hal managed to get out as a reply despite his utter confusion as to what the woman was talking about. "I've been very proud of her accomplishments these past several years."

"As we all have been. She's an exceptionally gifted young woman." The woman said with a sincere smile in her voice. "I suppose that's what makes her leaving the company so bittersweet. While Solis will miss her dearly Sunny is destined for great things. Can't have space and aeronautics hogging all her talents, now can we?"

Hal shared a laugh with the tittering woman, actually managing to sell it well despite how less than amused he felt. Sunny had left Solis? He came up with a number of different theories about what was going on ranging from the headache inducing to those filled with dread. While the alarmist in him wanted to jump to the worst possible conclusion, Hal had a strong hunch which theory of his was correct.

If he was right then he was going to have words with a certain someone.

"Yeah. Sunny's talents and mind will lead her wherever she wishes. Who am I to say otherwise?" Hal flipped the lid of his suitcase down in irritation.

"While myself and a good many others have already spoke to her extensively about this, please let her know that Solis will miss her dearly and if she ever wants her position back just say the word. It will happen whenever and without question. Yes?"

"I will pass on the message but its hard to change her mind once its made up. I would know. I've met some exceptionally hard headed individuals over the course of my life, but she gives them all a run for their money." Hal said, eyeing a photograph he had stealthy taken when Sunny had managed to cajole a reluctant Snake into giving her a piggyback ride.

As soon as the pleasantries and goodbyes were exchanged with Ms. Milton, Hal was dialing Sunny's number as quickly as his fingers could manage. As the phone rang he couldn't decide whether to be worried or annoyed.

"I take it that you just got a call from Solis?" Was the first thing out of Sunny's mouth whenever she answered his video call. Judging from the background of the call she was in the back of a vehicle with the desert land passing by the windows. Seeing that she was completely safe Hal decided to settle on feeling annoyed.

"Since you obviously knew that they would be calling me I have to ask, what the hell Sunny?" He began to pace throughout his room.

"Hal…" On her end of the video call, Sunny rubbed at her head at a forming headache.

"You're quitting your job at Solis? After all those years you put into that place? And after all the effort it took for us to even get you into that job because of your age? Is this some spur of the moment teenage rebellion thing or have you been planning on doing this for a while now? And if so, why didn't you give me a heads up on this? Wait...this is your choice, isn't it? You're not being forced to quit or blackmailed are you? Are you safe and is this conversation secure?"

"No Hal. I'm not being blackmailed or anything." Sunny sighed, sinking lower into her seat. "My driver is taking me home. There's a privacy screen in here and no bugs, I've already checked. This is my own choice."

"But why quit?" Hal asked with an edge of frustration to his voice. "For years all you would talk about would be your work and then this?" Sunny let out a growl of frustration, a bad habit that she had picked up from Snake and steadfastly looked out the window instead of at Hal.

"I know what happened." Her voice was tight and mildly accusatory. "Boris snuck me an emergency phone before we left Maverick. Secure line. He called today and told me about Raiden and John. He also told me what kind of person is after them. He asked for my help."

"Christ…" Hal took a moment to remove his glasses and rub a hand down his face. 'Well…' he thought 'on the bright side I don't have to worry about breaking the news to her anymore.'

"How long did you know about all of this?" Sunny looked away from the window to her phone, a spark of anger lit in her eyes.

"Boris contacted me about two hours ago." Hal said with complete honesty. He migrated around the room to sit on the bed, tiredness was preemptively hitting him over this impending conversation.

"He called me too, right after he had called you. But I'm talking about something else. How long have you known about this guy that's after Raiden?"

"I found out shortly before my visit to see him. I briefed Boris and Raiden about what all I learned, gave them a more detailed copy of the information, then I immediately left with you."

This was the wrong thing to say. Sunny didn't yell, or even truly raise her voice, but the fiery temper of her Russian heritage had been fully fanned to life.

"And you didn't tell me anything in all that time?" Her pale cheeks flushed in anger even as she fought to keep her voice even. "You should have told me. We could have had a month to prepare. We could have caught this guy whenever he tried to make his move. All of this could have been over by now Hal!"

"We also could have been the next to disappear Sunny. Just like Rose did when she got too close to the truth." Hal snapped back and then immediately felt regretful of his words. The hurt look on Sunny's face only worsened the guilt. He pressed his point on while he could. "Raiden wanted you kept safe and away from all of this. You know how he is. He would never let someone be put in harms way to help himself. Especially you."

"Yeah but…" Sunny's protests died off as the undeniable truth of the words sunk in. Without a reply she turned away from her screen, fighting a sniffle.

"I had thought that Boris was in agreement with us about keeping you uninvolved." Hal said, completely pissed at the other man's actions but doing his best to keep it contained. "I suppose I was wrong. I do know, however, that Raiden would not support your involvement in any way."

"He can be mad at me all he wants when we get him back." Sunny's tone was unyielding even as she wiped at her eyes. "And don't be too mad at Boris."

"Oh I am." Hal instantly shot back. The teen ignored him and continued on.

"He told me that it wasn't an easy choice to make to call me and ask for help. But some of his people had died, some have had their heads messed with in a way that Dr. Voigt doesn't know how to get to the bottom of. He did offer to hide me away somewhere until everything is over but said it likely wasn't good enough."

"Of course it's not. It's…"

"He said because the safest place would be with you."

Now that stopped Hal in his tracks and Sunny pressed on in the wake of his silence.

"This kind of thing isn't new to us Hal. We know how to stay hidden. We know how these kinds of battles are fought, not with guns and swords, but through computers and information. We work well together and I'm not a little kid anymore. It's time for us to step up like we used to."

Hal looked away from his phone with a sigh. Isn't all of this what he had been telling himself already? And with her working at his side not only would he not have to worry about her staying safe out of sight, but they could make much more progress together.

"Snake would have grumbled at us for waiting so long to get on this. Right after he finished grumbling about Raiden getting himself in trouble yet again." Hal chuckled ruefully to himself.

"Yeah." Sunny chuckled even as she wiped at slightly misty eyes. "I really will miss the aeronautics field but I for right now there is still part of my family that I can help by using my skills and I intend on doing it."

"And I'll be right there with you. We'll both see this thing through to the end." A bit of fanciful imagination probably, but Hal could almost feel the approval of his long time companion from the misty beyond. "But I have to ask, did you need to quit your job though?" He didn't intend for the question to come out as a whine, but he was still reeling from the miniature heart attack he had received when Solis called.

"I know you're upset about it but I've been considering this for a while. I've just took a vacation. It would be wrong to keep everyone waiting again, especially as I really have no idea when I would be back." On the video Sunny wistfully looked out of the car's window, as if giving the landscape one last long look goodbye. "And besides the only reason I went into space and aeronautics was because...you know. But he's been gone for years and you don't seem to care as much about that possible space trip like you used to."

"You're right." Hal admitted with a reluctant sigh. That pipe dream had faded years ago. "Even if I had a choice tomorrow to go I doubt that I would take it. It wouldn't be the same alone. But what about you? Say all this is over with, what field do you plan to get into?"

"I'm torn between two actually." Sunny said, a little too brightly. "During my time at Maverick Dr. Voigt would talk my ear off about the cybernetic fields and its advancements of past years. I don't want to sound arrogant but I know I can do it better. But also I've been strongly considering picking up where Naomi left off with nanotechnology. During that incident in Pakistan I had a chance to see some interesting applications of the tech in action and ever since then its been giving me such ideas..."

Hal continued to pack his bag as Sunny chattered on excitedly about potential applications for the tech. From revolutionizing healthcare to construction work and infrastructure. It was nice to hear her talk about the potentials for the future rather than dwell on a past already set in stone. She continued her ideas as Hal continued to pack. If it seemed that the stream of words held an almost desperate edge to it in an attempt to shove aside worry about the current situation, he pretended not to notice.

He was worried too, but things were set in motion and there was no turning back now.

-0-0-0-

It was the gutted little office of the lodge that George had claimed as his own personal workstation. It could hardly be considered a worthwhile medical room with only his meager supplies and the two sturdy chairs he had scrounged up but it was his and he was determined to make the most of it.

Currently the sixteen year old was sorting through his supplies, keeping them neat and organized from the surprisingly heavy use they had been put through during their stay there. At the time the boy had thought it was overkill to send so many extra repair units but he soon realized that the Dok had been right to do so. Despite there being no attacks or incidents, Raiden had been burning through them at an alarming rate.

It was a conflicting churning of emotions inside of George that was both equal parts happy and upset that Raiden sought out his help so much. The teen was naturally overjoyed that the man had been filled with the drive to fully recover and was actually making those improvements with outstanding success. Knowing that he would be harassed for all the details later, George had been making many mental notes for the Dok about all Raiden's restoration to his former self and his unique methods for doing so.

Setting aside yet another empty box to be discarded later, the teen let out a great sigh at those same methods. The man was improving immensely, yes, but George just wished that he would not be so rough with himself in a careless almost hateful sort of way. It was hard to see someone he cared for so much show so little care for themselves.

It was just yesterday morning when the little makeshift medical office was graced by Raiden yet again after he had ran through his latest batch of repair units. It had been mildly alarming to the teen to see him with half of his face deeply scraped up along with several dislocated fingers.

"And what in the hells did you do to yourself this time?" The boy had scolded him even as he worked on getting the digits back into proper alignment, the metal protesting with grinding sounds. As he usually did Raiden took the scolding in good grace, knowing full well that he deserved it and had no place to argue.

"Lets just say I'm used to having a little more power behind my jumps." Raiden had told him in a rueful joking sort of manner. It had been pleasant to see the man in a good mood that day despite his current damaged state. "I guess I got a little carried away and fell."

"Fell huh?" George had given him the side eye hard. "I notice ya conveniently leaving out falling from what and how high." The lightly accusatory tone had only caused the man to laugh. Despite his concerns the boy could not help but laugh along with him.

"It doesn't matter. Don't worry kid. It won't happen again."

The man always said that whenever he came to the teen to be patched up. 'It won't happen again'. But to Raiden's credit that promise was always true. Whenever one maneuver would give him trouble he would focus on mastering it, never making that mistake again. George's problem was that the man was always finding new ways to damage himself. He wasn't the only one who thought so.

John had noticed the same problem and was just as bothered by it as the older teen was. Not that they didn't want Raiden to improve, and it was true his moods were always lighter after he had the chance to roam and train freely. It was just seeing the side effects of his harsh training was distressing to the two boys.

Late at night in the bunk room where they slept near one another, the two teens would often chatter away in the night trying to think of ways to convince the man to slow down. Or at the very least take better care of himself. George and John had made lists of numerous possibilities to get him to rest, but after many late night debates they had decided that none of them were truly viable in the face of the blond man's determination.

Instead it had become a game of sorts between the two to see who could come up with the most convoluted and outlandish plot to stop him, often falling into absurd territory. More often than not these play brainstorming sessions would have them in fits of laughter that they would fiercely have to muffle so not to disturb Kevin and Sam who slept on the other side of the room.

When they were not formulating humorous plots against Raiden the two would often chat over mealtimes or when everyone else in the lodge was too preoccupied to entertain two teenage boys. The topics of their conversation would vary from the heavy to the irrelevant depending on their moods. Whenever John would fall asleep after a late night chat had died down George would often just lay there happy, wondering if this was what having a brother felt like.

It was not as if he was not around plenty of other kids his age at the orphanage that he shared a bond with. He was was strong friends with all the other boys despite their rough start at the beginning and the language barriers. They were all connected in a sort of a cybernetic brotherhood that wasn't easily overlooked or broken.

There everyone was bonded with everyone else, almost as if they were a unit. They all lived and helped each other out equally. While it was nice to have so many at his back, and to be able to take care of many there in return, George still felt somewhat separate. Perhaps it was selfishness on his part but he wanted something more. He was desperate for someone to not see him as part of a whole, but simply as himself.

Not an easy task for anyone when there was simply so many that had that same craving for individual attention. There was in fact quite a few of the other boys that needed far more care than George ever did as he was was still somewhat normal. And so the teen had faded into the background once more in his life.

But here, out in the middle of nowhere with no daily maintenance, head counts, lessons, and sheer numbers to wade through it felt different. It was just him and John playing pranks, chattering away about anything and everything that came to mind, and spending time with one another while the adults were off taking care of their own affairs.

It was a good different. The shorter boy may have been a few years younger with a completely contrasting history but he really seemed to listen and see George. They had been becoming fast friends back at Maverick but here in this dusty wasteland it seemed a little more connected than that.

Or rather, George had been hoping that it was something more.

"I doubt it though…" The teen mumbled to himself as he shoved the box of supplies away from himself and sat back in his weathered wooden seat. Despite how desperate he was to believe otherwise, it was probably just his own lonely wishful thinking that he and the other boy were anything more than friends of circumstance, much less anything even resembling brothers.

He looked about the worn and largely empty room then to the door that lead to where all the others were. Alone here in the room without any witnesses to put on a front for, George couldn't deny it any longer.

He was lonely.

When the others were around he always held his happy and upbeat demeanor but during times like this when he was alone he let the mask fall away. Propping his forehead up against the palm of his flesh hand, the teen allowed himself this moment of weakness to acknowledge his loneliness before he had to put on the cheerful and helpful act once more.

Kev was nice and all but all of the man's free time was either spent writing in his notebook or playing mediator whenever Raiden and Sam were in proximity of one another, which was admittedly a full time job. Sam himself, when he wasn't working hard to get a rise out of Raiden, usually kept to himself either patrolling or meditating.

George had no issue with the man personally but he secretly disliked him on principle because Raiden did not like him. It typically was only because of Kevin's warning looks to the teen that George did not get involved in the verbal clashes between the two men.

Other than getting snappy and storming off, the way that Raiden had no choice but to take the harassment reminded George of his time living on the streets. Trying to fight against the older and larger boys would only have ended badly. Better to be left hungry than to be left bleeding. That angry look that Raiden would often get before leaving often reminded George of the expression he had on his own face time after time. Kevin may have kept the teen from interfering but Sam couldn't avoid his little med room forever. Then the man would be sorry.

George also resolved to have poor bedside manner with the Brazilian just for the fact that his antagonizing ate into potentially spending time with Raiden whenever he was in the lodge. Other than his outings with Bladewolf, which as of late was no longer confined to night seeing as how it was the worst kept secret in the desert, Raiden was either arguing with Sam over something, or spending his time with John.

Despite his friendship with the other boy, George was deeply envious of the other teenager. He felt guilty for it, and that guilt gnawed at him sometimes at night. He's heard John's confessions, his worries about being stuck here, his fear about being hunted, his missing mother. John wasn't having the greatest time right now. But still he still had something George desperately wanted: family.

He wanted the depth of attention that Raiden gave to John that the older teen simply can't get through their lighthearted conversations in the office/med room. He wanted to be cared over like the younger boy, even if it was something as simple as John being given the best tasting parts of the MRE's while Raiden took the small unsavory portions for himself. He wanted to know that somewhere out there a mother was that wanted him and loved him.

He was desperate for it in the same way a man in the desert was desperate for water. But it seemed like this oasis of the lodge was only a mirage.

Raising his head from where he had it bowed, George looked about the room with its sparse furniture and medical supplies. This was his place, tucked away until someone needed him. He was just the medic who rather forcefully butted in and volunteered whenever he overheard the Dok being worried about having someone trustworthy to go to the safe house.

Doktor had thought it was just hero worship that caused George to want to go along and circumstance had allowed it. The truth of the matter was that the teen was looking for proof that Raiden was nothing special and just like every other person he had ever known.

If George could just look past their chaotic meeting that put his life on a better path and see him as a regular person then things wouldn't sting so bad when the man would one day leave. Raiden would leave the teen behind where he would ultimately end up back in the orphanage, just another face amongst many. George could not help but hate that the more that he interacted with the man and came to know him the more he liked him, prickles and flaws and all.

It made the sting of knowing that he would never be a part of that family hurt all the more fiercely.

'Well…' he thought looking about the empty room with a sigh, 'at least I'm used to being alone. I've had plenty of practice after all.'

-0-0-0-

Much to Aaron's intense distress two more people had just arrived to the already crowded labs. One person he instantly recognized as that blond girl that was constantly down here around a month ago and the other was a thin looking guy that initially seemed unobtrusive except once you got a better look at his eyes. They were watchful and restless, the look someone that had seen too much and was vigilant against more.

The last thing Aaron needed right now was yet another set of alert eyes down here in the labs.

From what he had been able to eavesdrop during their arrival between the Dok and the boss was that the lean man was going to be working on improving the cyber security around here and the girl would be working on a tracing program against their infiltrator. It sounded like a daunting challenge and the only positive side about their presence that Aaron could find was that they would likely be so engrossed in their projects that they would pay him little mind. On the negative side, the two would constantly be down in the labs preventing him from freely looking for the information that his 'new employer' demanded.

Finding the location of the blond man was proving to be just as difficult as he feared and Aaron was worried that he was running out of time.

If questioned he would freely admit that it was his own fault that he was now in this sticky situation. When all of this fuss had started he had initially brushed off the nearly frenzied need for heightened security and the tightening of protocols. Maverick was a security company, one of the best after all, that was why Aaron had worked so hard to be taken on. What was there to be worried about?

When he, like the rest of the workers down in the labs, had been warned to be alert for the time being with their life outside of HQ he had only listened with half an ear, mind too full of the surely attention grabbing work he was doing.

The recent raid on the building should have been his warning to start taking the security measures more seriously. Instead Aaron had foolishly took it as a sign that everything was finally done and over with. After all, the attackers had been after that unsettling blue eyed man but now he was gone. No more target, no more threat. What measures Aaron had been taking were relaxed entirely and he started going to his old haunts during his off hours once more.

He really should have listened to the security lectures. But it was too late to go back and change that fateful afternoon now.

Sitting in one of his favorite shops Aaron happily sipped boba tea as he worked. The shop was a little out of the way place that didn't see a great deal of traffic which made it a great place to find some peace in the city. The owner, all too glad to have warm bodies in his shop, would happily let you work in there for hours so long as you didn't skip on you bill and didn't make a fuss.

He had been doodling away at his designs for the past thirty minutes when, while hardly noticing their approach, someone silently slipped into the chair opposite of him. Aaron was sure that the expression on his face was something to behold as his brain transitioned from being deep in thought over his newest designs to looking up to see an ample bust, then quickly up to their owner.

A woman sat opposite of him, early thirties, and dressed in casual business suit in shades of grey. Given the more laid back customers that usually frequented the little tea shop in the quieter part of the city the woman stood somewhat out of place.

She held an undeniable air of someone in command in her posture and expression, but something was slightly off. Aaron didn't get where he was in his chosen field by lacking attention to detail. In contrast to her cold authoritative body language, the woman's auburn hair was not done up professionally but rather hung loose in soft untamed curls. Also underneath the auburn hair Aaron saw cybernetic ports peeking out that looked high quality.

And while Aaron was woefully single, he knew enough about women that they did not walk about in public with a distinct lack of makeup on. Perhaps it was a new natural look or something that was trending but the lax presentation struck him odd with the demeanor of the woman that was observing him closely.

"H-hello?" He managed to get out, with all the suave and charm of a teenage boy learning how to talk to girls for the first time. The weight of her unwavering stare was unnerving.

"Aaron Fitzpatrick." The woman said in a somewhat monotone voice as she sat her phone face down on the table. His name was said as a statement, not a question. "I was wondering if you would show up in this shop today. I'm glad that I didn't miss you."

"I...uhhh….Can I help you with something?"

"Yes." The woman said after a long considering moment. "Yes I think you can. You see Mr. Fitzpatrick, I've been watching you for quite some time. For someone your age you are quite accomplished. Top grades constantly across the board. Innovative designs in weaponry that has caught the eye of the US military. Managing to get taken on as an employee in the Maverick Security Company labs. And all before the age of thirty. Impressive." For all that she was singing his praises her face nor her inflection wavered once from its monotone. "Such interesting things you must see down in those labs."

"Okay..." Aaron said sliding his notebook back into his bag, trying to ignore the chill that was running through him. The young man suddenly realized that he should have been taking all those repeated precautions a little more seriously. He fucked up in coming here. He knew it. Now it was only a matter of getting out of this place and back to HQ to see if he still had the chance to come out of this safe. "I think I'm just gonna…"

"I also happen to know your address, birth date, social security number, and blood type. And not only yours, but the same for every living relative you have left. Shall we discuss them?" The sharp words froze Aaron to his seat, keeping his legs from carrying him out of the booth and away from that unblinking gaze.

"No." Aaron slowly sat his bag back down, seeing the subtle threat for what it was. "No. Lets find other things to talk about." The woman rewarded him with a smile that was all show and no soul.

"As I've said, I've been watching you for some time, along with a great many others. Given your accomplishments and position, I thought you the best choice to answer a few questions that I have. I do not want any trouble or harm to come to you, truly, I just want answers."

"Alright." Aaron reluctantly agreed. It felt like coming to an agreement with Satan himself, but the option to refuse was starkly absent and they both knew it.

"First I would like to verify something with you." After a glance over to the other side of the shop where the owner was engrossed their foreign tv drama at quite the volume, she turned her phone over and slowly slid it towards Aaron. "Familiar?"

He had to do a double take at the image being presented to him. On the screen was a picture of that same blue eyed man that had been plaguing Aaron and Maverick for the past month. In the photo the man was in a different model body than the one that the Dok had given him but Aaron would know that piercing look anywhere. This was the man that such a fuss was being raised over.

Aaron didn't need to answer her, the shocked look on his face had already told her everything.

"Ah. I see that you have seen this man before. Good. That will make this process go much more smoothly."The woman said with a smile tried to appear pleasant but only came out as thin and icy.

"I can't help you." Aaron blurted out abruptly. It was not out of sense of loyalty to his company or out of a protective sense over the man that the rest of the veteran staff did. It was he knew that whatever she was after was beyond him.

"Is that so?" Instead of trying to persuade him or even getting irritated with him, she held no expression at all. Instead of the somewhat friendly air that she was trying to project, it was like a sheet of metal came down behind her eyes. It was a steely look that made Aaron's hackles begin to raise.

"Its not that I don't want to." He quickly amended, holding up his hands half in a placating gesture, half in surrender. "Its because I can't. He's left. And besides, even if he was still there I couldn't have helped. I'm in a different section of the labs entirely. I've seen him perhaps a handful of times that he's been there. Tops."

"And yet those few glances left an impact, didn't they?" The woman asked with a curious tilt of her head. That simple statement silenced his rambling as the truth of the words struck him. "When you looked at that photo I watched your eyes. Recognition. Fear. You knew from the moment that you looked at him that there was something wrong with this person. It's instinct. Like how wild animals know to stay away from those that are mad. Rabid. What all do you know about this man?"

"Not much." Aaron confessed, holding onto his cup of tea like it was a lifeline. "His name started with an R or something and he always had kids around him." This actually seemed to give the woman pause for a heartbeat or so before she shook it off.

Leaning forward (and oh how Aaron wished that she wouldn't get closer to him with those mad looking eyes of hers), she slowly slid her phone towards him.

"Would you like to know?"

It was the wrong choice to make. Aaron knew this deep down in his bones. But he also knew that that curiosity was one of his many faults. Perhaps this woman knew too. Almost against his will he nodded and took the offered phone.

Aaron hesitantly turned away from her and began to flip through the photos that were already open and waiting for him. In every picture was that same damn man from the labs. There were photos taken from CCTVs, some were vision snapshots of cyborgs, and a few of the older ones looked to be from older handheld cameras.

The man may have had different bodies in these photos, some even of his unmodified self, but in every one of those photos blood was flowing freely. Feeling sick, Aaron had to look away.

"This man is a killer." The woman said flatly. "He has eliminated of two renown political figures. PMC employees, police officers, soldiers...anyone who stands in his way. He has cut a bloody path through hundreds. And this is not even covering his numerous war crimes in a conflict overseas. He has many aliases, he most commonly goes by Raiden, but his real name is Jack Sears."

The woman's largely monotone manner of speaking did not waver much but there was a distinct shift that Aaron could not help but notice. Underneath the surface of those words ran an undercurrent of hate. It flowed like a river of acid as she continued to speak. Outwardly calm but anything but.

"You should also know that your employer, Boris Popov, is well aware of this man's crimes and still chose to employee him and to extend the protection of his company to this man."

"What?" The brief and bloody recounting of the blue eyed man's history was not surprising in the least, especially with photographic proof to back it up in extreme detail. What shocked Aaron was that Boris, who claimed that Maverick was a different sort of PMC, a company that refused to give into corruption, would support someone like this at all.

"I understand that this may be difficult to hear. Especially given your struggles to be accepted into such a company." That barely contained rage and hatred seemed to cool down as the woman once more returned to flat expression and words. "I thought it prudent to inform you just in case you decide to turn to Maverick for assistance rather than help me find what I'm after. Not the sort of people you can put your faith in, now are they?"

"Who are you?" Aaron kept his voice low trying not to let her see how much this information had crushed him. His eyes quickly darted about for any sort of assistance, but other than the distracted and largely deaf store owner they were the only two occupants of the shop.

"I am the one who had captured that man before. I had him locked away for the good of the world but Maverick interfered. Keeps interfering. I nearly had him but once again your company blocked me from my target. Its not going to happen a third time and you are going to help me. If you refuse then what was done to my target will look lovely in comparison to what I will do to you if you even think of trying to stop me."

The woman stared at him with that same unwavering stare. As Aaron had looked into those soft brown eyes he could have swore he felt the same skin crawling sensation that the man Raiden had given him. They had the exact same eyes.

Aaron was willing to agree to anything she wanted just so long as he could escape that look.

"W-what...what do you need me to do?" Aaron didn't care that his voice was shaking.

"I need you to find out where he is hidden."

"Wait wait wait." Aaron gripped his hair in a panic at the impossible task that he was being forced to take on. "That information is heavily locked down. The Dok wouldn't allow records to be taken or...or even us talking when certain equipment was being prepped to be shipped out. What you're asking of me is impossible to find." His pleas fell on deaf ears, the expressionless woman was unyielding as iron.

"I can't get this information by force." She laced her fingers together and closed her eyes as she said this. Aaron tried not to squirm as that undercurrent of rage stirred once more. "Popov is too stubborn to give up someone he sees as a friend and has left very few weak points open for attack. If I act more directly then my target will disappear underground, perhaps for good. That is...unacceptable. I want Sears tracked down and in my hands once more."

"But how?" Aaron pleaded, desperation bleeding into his voice. "How do I find him when you can't even find the answers?"

"I have looked digitally to no avail. You will have to be my eyes physically." She stood and edged out of the booth, preparing to leave. "I've seen your work Aaron Fitzpatrick. You are a clever man. I am sure you can figure it out. Do keep in mind though that this offer has a time limit on it. I will not wait forever."

The woman reached across the table to once more retrieve her phone. Aaron watched as it was pulled away, on the screen there was still paused footage of Raiden, bloody and violent looking.

She turned to leave but paused for a calculated moment before turning back to Aaron.

"Do keep in mind that this is a private conversation. I would rather not have your family involved in this but will accept that there will be collateral damage if need be."

"Wait!" Aaron reached out towards her retreating form. The woman halted but did not turn to face him. "Say by some chance I do find this location, how do I contact you?"

"Quite easily. All you have to do is go online and type in 'I found him.' It does not matter when or where truly. If you type it, I will see it." She gave him one last piercing look over her shoulder. "I see everything and I am always watching."

And with that like a predator stalking through the jungle, the terrifying woman fluidly walked away and exited the little shop. Aaron was left with his turbulent thoughts and the sound of the owner arguing with the tv dramas plot twist in the background, blissfully oblivious to the exchange that had occurred.

Ever since that fateful day work was a nerve wracking affair.

Aaron went about his tasks dutifully but always with his mind elsewhere. Conversations that he previously ignored in favor of his own work now piqued his interest. He listened in whenever he could for any whisper of where the man might be hidden. There never was any info to be gleaned, which only caused his desperation to build.

The coworkers that he had previously held and easy rapport with were now eyed with suspicion. Had any of them had been given the same offer? Was there someone else that was always watching and listening for any clue that might spell out their salvation and his damnation?

Even at home there was no easing of the pressure. Typically his usual evenings consisted of either playing video games, frequenting his chosen social media sites, or just browsing the internet whichever way his whims lay for that particular evening. Now he could only see the open search bar of his computer, blank and waiting. He could never bring himself to visit his usual sites, knowing that someone unseen was watching along right beside of him...

"Aaron are you listening to me?"

Aaron nearly jumped out of his skin whenever Doktor laid a hand on his shoulder, jarring him from his troubled thoughts. In the wake of Dok's confused expression at the seemingly excessive reaction, the younger man tried his best to play it off.

"Sorry Doktor. I was off in my own little world there and you kinda caught me off guard." Aaron wished the calmness that he put into his words would extend to his racing of his heart.

"Ja, I can see that. Did you happen to hear what I said?"

"No sir, sorry." Aaron tried his best to sound contrite. He was thankful that he had somewhat of a reputation for being easily distracted. Something like that would most certainly work out in his favor for disguising anything wrong.

"Its quite alright, quite alright. I was telling you that I'm sure that you have noticed our reoccurring and new guest to the labs. You will undoubtedly see them quite often in the following weeks. Please consider any request made by them as if it were an order coming from me."

"Yes sir. Will do." The Doktor smiled at him and made to leave but paused once a thought struck him.

"Oh and while its on my mind, I know that you are quite enthusiastic about your weaponry designs but please refrain from mentioning such things around Dr. Emmerich. It will not be welcome and we don't want our guests feel uncomfortable. Take care of yourself my boy and don't get too stressed about recent events. I'm sure that we will be back to our normal routine in no time."

"Yes sir." Aaron agreed with an easy smile. Once the older man was out of sight the smile faded away like a snowflake melting away once it touched skin.

The old normal routine was now out of his grasp forever. And now Aaron was left desperately attempting the impossible task of finding what seemed to be unfindable or face that barely contained wrath behind those empty cold eyes.

Aaron knew that his life depended on him locating that man.

He just didn't know how he was going to do it.

.

Authors notes: Took me longer than I wanted to get this one out. Between the unrelenting godawful brutal heat (I'm a winter person if you couldn't tell), I dealt with a break up, and I also managed to re-hurt my hand. I don't know about the rest of you but 2024 has not been my year lol. Shout out to my few but regular readers. Without your feedback I don't know if I could have kept this little experimental project of mine going. Thank you for all the reviews and I hope that this chapter was worth your while.