(( Is it just me or are most of the First Order assassins either psychotically out of their minds, or not fanatical enough? >.>;; <.<;; ))

Earlier

A long silence fell over the room after Scrya was done speaking, and it became uncomfortable in a hurry. "So, Wolf..." she started, clearing her throat softly. "I read your after-action report."

"Yeah?" Wolf asked, nodding his head almost absently.

"I read about what you did for Kaitlin..." She rose from her sent then, and went over towards him, adding, "How you were able to save her."

She gestured for him to hold up his hand, and as he tried to say something she stopped him, putting a finger to her lips. He blinked at her and stayed silent, then raised his hand, palm towards her, as she'd asked. She placed her palm against his gently, and looked into his eyes as he suddenly felt a rush of something unexplainable... emotion... fear? Sadness? Hope... a tingling sensation... within the span of a second, he could hear her thoughts and feel everything she felt... the two of them were suddenly one entity as their nanites communicated emotions and thoughts between each other. Even as she spoke, his lips tried to move a bit as he heard her thoughts and tried to say them himself, but he was able to stop himself a couple words in before he looked foolish. "You've taken your first step," she whispered.

As quickly as the connection was made it vanished, leaving him to blink and stare at her blankly as she went back over and sat next to Wraith, taking his hand in hers again and leaning her weight on the bed next to him.

(( Errrr... >_>; ))

OOC: Wow...that was actually very thought provoking, Zeph.

BIC: Wolf recalled his...experience with Scrya as the jet headed back across the Atlantic.

She said I've taken my first step...but towards what? he wondered as he looked at his hand. Is there more to all of this? Is there more to the nano-augs than really meets the eye?

Kaitiln snapped Wolf out of his ruminations. "You've been staring at your hand for 30 minutes and it's obvious you don't use pot...what gives?"

"Nothing...it's just that connection between my own nanites and Scrya's has gotten me thinking."

"About what?"

"About whether there's more to them. If there really is a limit to how they can be used...and I keep feeling like I've barely scratched the surface of their capabilites. I mean...I was able to feel what she was feeling, and think what she was thinking...like some kind of mind-meld."

"Well, we've all seen what they can be used for, and how...maybe you were meant to find out how to best use them for good. Maybe she was trying to show you how to connect with them so that you become one with your augmentations...so that they become a part of yourself...an extension of yourself. And that there's endless possibilites as to how they can be used."

"...possibly..." Wolf simply said as the Phantom began to enter American airspace.

OOC: Also, Zeph, all of the assassins are fanatical and psychotic, it's just that some of them are deluded into being that way, as MC showed us.

OOC: Time skip a smidge...

BIC: Jade opened her eyes to a bright light. Great, the hospital. I'm here far too many times... She tried to get up, but winced in pain as she lay back down. Her shoulder and ribs were completely wrapped tight with tape, and her leg was in a cast. She took a deep breath and almost cried out from pain. I guess I'm not completely healed yet, but my nanos should have kicked in. Dr. Oedipe chose that moment to walk in, and upon seeing Jade's expression gave her a look. "You tried to get up didn't you? Why are you so eager to hurt yourself again?"

"Why aren't I healed yet? My nanos..."

"Your nanos were burnt out completely, especially from you running around with that shoulder wound. I locked them down to rest at least until your major injuries heal normally as to not strain them. I'm restricting you to bed rest and DON'T try to argue with me."

"I wouldn't dream of it. How are the others?"

"Wolf and Kailtin are fine as is Scrya. Wraith and Devin are recovering. Angel...is still in a coma, but he has an excellent chance of waking up."

"And Monk?"

"Well after I kicked him out of here because he wouldn't leave you, he apparently slept for three days strait. He's healed though and I'm pretty sure he wants to see you, think you're up to it?"

"Of course." A few minutes later Monk peeked his head into the room. "So, Monk or Myth, which one do I get this time?"

Dr. Oedupe walked out of the room, only to bump into Monk's body which had healed pretty well, save the few scars and brusies that still covered his torso. "She'll see you now."

"I know." Monk smiled and popped his head in. Jade asked who it was, but she knew full well it was Monk, there was a softness in the brown of his eyes that gave it away. "The doc said you were good for a visit." She nodded as he sat down on the bed next to her, taking one of her hands in both of his. "I'm... so sorry that I couldn't get to you in faster time..."

The comatose Angel had been forcefully healed enough to allow him to breath on his own.

However, the doctors had also determined that he stood a good chance of being paralyzed from the waist down.

That, and sneezing wasn't killing him anymore. There was also a nice scar running along the left side of his face as well.

OOC: Does anyone besides me think SS is not so subtly hinting us to authorize the use of nano-augmentations on Angel?

BIC: Kaitiln had spent the past few days recovering and giving her nanites time to reactivate. Wolf, on the other hand, was consistently busy. Since Jade had been rendered unconscious from her battle in France, Wolf was busy dealing with all the PR praise and backlash that came with the victory. The good news was that most of the news about their victory was good, praising the Cyber Force for their decisive action at the risk of their own lives. Unfortunately, President Hammond (USA) was torn between praising Devin and Angel, and wanting to immolate them for the damage incurred to the White House. Some of the smaller nations of the world were also calling the Cyber Force overrated, and were asking why the teams hadn't done anything to help their countries, which had been beseiged for so long.

I wonder where I could smack that guy and not get caught, Wolf thought as he shut off CNN in the middle of Hammond's bipolar speech. Maybe if I borrowed one of Knight's cloaking devices...no...I need to focus on something other than beating up elected officials

He turned back to Scrya's cryptic message, and was still baffled. Where is all this going? he wondered. Of course...I could just ask...and maybe I will...but later. Right now I want to try and figure this out for myself.

"No, it's my fault for running into there thinking I could be of use"

Monk sighed. "No... I welcome the help, I'm just ashamed that you had to go through all that pain." He bowed his head and took a deep breath. "You know... he was my best friend."

Jade winced again as she took a breath. "I had no idea...it must have been hard for you to kill him."

"Not... really. He had strayed from the path, even he knew that. That was the only chance of redemption for him." He decided to change the subject by asking a stupid question, "So uh... how are you?" He put on an akward smile.

"Well, I'm in pain for one thing, but I'll live, I always do. What about you?"

"Walking about. My body heals pretty quick, and I don't need any machines in me to do that." He patted his chest. "Yep... this body has served me well"

"It would seem so. Well, at least this phase of battles is over with, but you have to wonder how many more battles we have to fight."

"Too many... we have already fought too many battles." His gand gripped hers a little tighter. "I dont know how much longer we can keep pulling off victories."

"I know, it seems every time we get closer to death. Angel's in a coma."

His head dropped, clenching teeth, squeezing harder. "This is getting rediculous..."

"Uh..hand squeezing...I don't need anymore injuries."

"Huh?" He looked down at his hands, and quickly let go, "I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok. I can understnad your frustrations. If I wasn't in bed, I'd be breaking something."

"No... you stay in bed, you hear me?"

"Yea, yea I hear you not that you ever listen to me though."

Monk chuckled, "This is true... but I'll stop in and make SURE you stay in bed. I'll hold you down myself I f I have to..."

"I'll stay in bed I promise..." Jade was silent for a minute. "Can I ask you something?"

Monk just looked deep into her eyes, "Of course..."

"Well you kind of turned into Myth a couple of times..."

"Well... Uh..." He looked around. "What was the question?"

"Well, is he...safe?"

Monk grinned, "Yes... he is. In fact, he saved you."

"Are you two, the same person?"

Monk had to think for a minute before he could give an answer. "N... no. No we're not."

"Oh well, tell him thanks then."

"No need. He already knows."
"Oh, I see. And you...thanks for saving me as well."

Monk smiled and leaned in slowly, whispering softly, "Well... it wasn't like I could let you die... I mean... what would happen to this team?"

"I doubt you saved me because of the team, but good try"

"The team got along just fine when I was in jail."

The love-struck fighter dropped his head in defeat. "All right... then how about this?" He placed a hand on her cheek, "It wasn't like I could let you die... I mean..." He leaned in lower, "what would happen to me?"

"Hmmm...I wouldn't know, I'd be dead remember? You tell me."

"I wouldn't be able to go on... I would be so depressed that I couldn't... wouldn't go on. Jade... I love you."

"I love you too, that's why I'm not going anywhere." Jade wrapped her good arm around Monk's neck and pulled him in closer. "I promise that I won't leave you if youwon't leave me."

"It's be hard to push me away..." He leaned in ever so close. "I'm pretty strong." With that, he closed his eyes and matched lips with the fallen warrior.

Jade pressed into Monk's kiss and winced a little, but would not break it if her life depended on it.

Monk could sense her pain, pushed in for another moment, then peeled off of her. "No... none of that right now... Right to bed with you Missy..." He stood upright.

"But...aw..."

Jade lay back in bed, "fine I'll be good. Wouldn't want you and the doctor getting on my case."

"Now now..." The caring father leaned in and pulled the blanket up around her neck. "You need some sleep. I promise you, when you're up and about, I"ll kiss you all you want. Trust me, this hurts me just as much as you." He leaned in and kissed her gently on the forehead. "Not to mention... I shall be sitting in front of your door. You get up and push that door, you hit my bad and disturb my meditation. You will regret it."

"But what if I need to use the bathroom?"

Monk sighed and pointed to a bag, "Isn't that what that's for?"

"Ew, no! That's for my extra bandages. I don't pee in that."

"Hm..." The obvious non-doctor rubbed the back of his head. "What about that?" He pointed to something else.

"*sigh* Don't worry about it, I was just kidding. I'll be fine."

"That?"

"I was kidding, there's a bathroom behind that door."

"Oh..." The fighter dropped his head and blushed. "I... I knew that." He leaned in and kissed her again on the forehead. "I'll be waiting..."

"Well, I've got nowhere to go, I'll be waiting too."

He got a grip on the doorknob and twisted it, "You sleep... get me."

"I will..."

"I love you Jade... Dream of me?"

"Always."

Monk smiled and left her to her sleeping habits.

Angel's eyes flittered open. He would've sat up, but he was a giant block of pain. Granted, there weren't any tubes stuck into his face. Groaning, he willed his muscles to obey and sat up.

There was a Secret Service sitting in a chair in his room. Asleep. Angel grabbed his PDAP to check the date, but noticed a blinking light that said "New message"

He opened it. And saw a picture of the man he'd supposedly killed before engaging the First Order assasin. The man was dangling Andrea's necklace between his fingers. There was a squirming figure in the background. As Angel watched the man went over and licked the captive before putting up a sign that said "You know what to do"

"SONUVABITCH!" was all Angel could yell before whipping his PDAP as hard as he could at the nearest wall. Before the echos of his yell echoed through the medical wing, his PDAP exploded against the wall.

The echoes shot through the medical wing, and the agent at Angel's bed snapped up, gun levelled at nothing. Angel but his head in his hand, and tried to pull his legs into cross-legged position.

Nothing happened. This time, he merely yelled as he punched the nearest wall hard enough to put a good size hole in it and split a knuckle open.

Wolf still hadn't figured out what Scrya was trying to hint to him...and his attempts to dwell on the subject were constantly interrupted by his other thoughts, mostly about his wounded teammates.

This was way too close for comfort, he thought. Half of the team is rendered out of action for no less than a few days...and Angel...well he keeps falling between stable and critical conditions. On top of that, there's the way I went beserk on that assassin. Sure, it was probably warranted...but did I overdo it? Did I enjoy the visceral thrill of killing way too much?

His thoughts were cut short by a knock at his door. "Come in," he said, and Kaitiln entered. He looked up at her. "I thought you were resting to give your nanites time to come back online?"

"Well, they've been back online for a couple hours now, because my shoulder injury finally sealed up. I thought I might check up on you, see how you're handling things."

"Fine...I guess. Physically I'm ok, but all the press has made my head ache, and I'm still concerned for Jade, Wraith, Devin, and especially Angel. I know they'll be fine, but it still stands as a painful reminder that we were all extremely lucky this time."

"Well, it's better to be lucky than good...and a lot of the Cyber Force is both." Kaitiln said.

"Well, that's true..." Wolf replied. "But there's another thing too, and I'm not talking about that whole 'first step' thing that I haven't figured out yet. My mind has drifted back to the battle...when I completely unloaded on that bitch of an assassin."

"Why exactly?"

"I don't know...for some reason...I think I enjoyed it way too much." Wolf said. "The Magnum round I put in her chest would have killed her...apparently the bullet was a black talon style round, and at the muzzle velocity it went it would have killed even a grizzly bear....and yet I then shot her in the head."

"Well, she was First Order...you were just making sure...besides, you were pissed."

"Well, yeah...but I look back on it...and I took pleasure in the kill...and not from saving you, at least not at that moment. It felt...inhuman."

Kaitlin leaned in and put a reasurring hand on Wolf's shoulder

"Look, it may have felt inhuman then, and even now, but the fact that you realize that isn't so bad. At least you know that it wasn't right to take pride from the kill instead of basking in it. Regret eventually comes to us all."

Wolf smiled and gave Kaitlin a quick peck on the cheek. "I guess you're right...but I still need to make sure I don't ever try to wander down the path of inhumanity again. To do that...we'll need to find an end to this war. Not just for my own sake...but for us all. After all, who knows what the next mission may bring, and who knows how many of us won't make it back?"

"Well, I know you know what I've already promised. And I'm seeing this war out until the end. Mastermind took away too much from me to allow me to just walk out now."

"I know...and I don't plan to leave either. Mastermind drove us apart...but now he's unwittingly made sure we never leave each other." He hugged Kaitlin "I promise I'll keep us both safe."

She let out a small chuckle. "I can take care of myself Jason,"

He smiled. "I know...but you always need to have backup."

OOC: Yes, I know...this makes zip sense.

(( Does this make much more sense? :p ))

They'd moved Wraith over to L.A., but still he was confined to a bed, lungs healing from the injury. Scrya, however, is still at his side, faithfully holding his hand in hers and refusing to move, like a dog attached to its master. Sitting there, staring off into the distance and drifting into her own thoughts as he watches the TV overhead, she finally remembers to ask him something. "Wraith..."

"Mm?"

"...I never knew you had an accent."

He chuckles and turns away a bit, then looks back at her. "Ah us'lly trah to cover it. But raht now ah'm tired an' rilly don' give a fuck."

She giggles softly, grinning toothily at him, but doesn't move much from her place. He looks back to the TV then, and adds, "'Sides, people don' us'lly understan' an accent this thick."

She moves their hands a bit, just looking at him, but then releases and stands suddenly. "I'm gonna go get us something to eat. Okay?"

"Ah'll be right here," he answers, shifting his leg a bit.

Nodding, she then leaves and goes to do what she said.

He walked up to his door, and paused, noting the aura of another soul in the room. he would wait for her to leave.

Leaning up against the wall next to Wolf's door and crossing his arms he dropped his head, brown hair covering up his closed eyes as he waited for the other person to leave. He didn't know why, but he just wasn't able to talk with girls.

Kaitlin left Wolf's room and noticed that Monk was standing by the door.

"I'm guessing you want to talk with him; go right ahead." she said as she headed down the hall.

***

Wolf looked up again as his door opened and Monk stepped into the room.

"What's up?" he asked

Scrya returns to the room in a few minutes with their lunch, the hospital's regular menu of cafeteria foodstuffs...

Shoveling a spoonfull of the slop they call "applesauce" in his mouth, he chews and grimaces, asking, "D'you really hafta spoonfeed me?"

"I wouldn't be much of a caretaker if I didn't," she says with a smile.

Taking the spoon in his own hand and taking a bite on his power, he responds, "Ah'm a big boy, ah can do this m'self."

She takes the plate and spoon back to his protests, and waves him away. "Tut tut tut tut tut, I'll do this, I'll do this..."

Groaning, he has to sit back again as she feeds him.

(( *BUMP* ))

Time passes as they eat their lunch, but now, twenty minutes later, they're just sitting in bed, flipping through the channels. Scrya has the remote, and somehow comes across a music channel playing classic music videos... and it lands on old concert footage of Guns n' Roses playing Knockin' on Heaven's Door live...

They both pause and stare as the music overtakes them, each well-played riff and note of Axl's voice rippling through their bodies as a light shiver... "Wow..." Wraith finally says, softly. With a chuckle, he adds, "Nice."

She smiles at him, laughing a bit herself, and takes his hand in hers again. "I thought I'd almost lost you..."

He holds her hand up to catch her attention, saying, "It ain't gonna be that easy to get rid'a me."

She smiles down at him, but as he looks back in her eyes he finally gets the nerve to ask her a question that just recently came to his lips. "Scrya... why exactly are you so worried about losing me?"

She pauses, taken aback, and sits straighter to answer with her jaw slightly agape. "You're the first real friend I've had in a long time..."

"Sure there's not somethin' more to'it?"

"No, why?"

"Well, you sho' were tyin' hard to jump mah bones back in Chicago..." he says, arching an eyebrow at the end.

She stiffens up a bit, giving him a "look", then sighs while smiling, leaning back down towards him and relaxing. "I'm past that phase."

"Like yer Bloodthirsty Pyscho Killa phase?"

Her head snaps up quickly and looks at him with a very shocked look, but he fast adds with a wave of his hand, "Nevermin', forget ah brought it up..."

There's a moment where they're just quiet, uncomfortably, Wraith feeling a little sheepish for bringing that old subject up, and so bluntly. Scrya, meanwhile, feels a little insulted and guilty in her own way... and can't just let the subject drop, either. "Uh, Wraith..."

She sighs and slumps down on the side of the bed, barely holding her head off the sheets. "That... ...I was someone different that night... when those lights went down in the compound, see..."

She shakes her head and sighs again, trying to collect her thoughts. Guilt-ridden eyes then look up at him as hair falls around them. "Do you know what they did to people in there? How they treated the inmates?"

He looks over at her with sad, almost placid eyes. "I heard stories."

"When the power went down... I felt..." She pauses for a second, then takes a hold of his arm and looks deep in his eyes for understanding. "I felt like I just wanted to get and get my revenge on them all for what they tried to do to me, and what they were doing to the other inmates... revenge for... trying to beat me... trying to take my dignity away..."

She suddenly drops her head and tries to control herself just so she can continue. "For everything Mastermind turned me in to, and took from me... I just wanted... to make them pay..."

She forces back a sob of rage and guilt as he takes her hand in his. "Hey, hey..." he whispers. "Shh, shhhh... it's all right now... at least you got the right guys."

"No... no..." she starts repeating, shaking her head.

"No, really, it's okay, ah know you think that you mahght've gotten ta some of the others if they hadn't been there, but really you didn't an' so there's no harm--"

She repeated "no" the whole time he spoke, and now looks back up at him, cutting him off with a forceful, "No!"

They both pause and look at each other while she sniffs and forces her gaze on him. "Wraith, I killed two of the officers guarding Solitary that night."

He stops and just stares at her as she shakes her head again, making a face. "And I don't mean just kill and be done with it... I -- killed them... like they were farm animals... I -- gutted them, until there was nothing left to recognize!"

Her voice is rough and firm, angry even as she feels the rage of that night flooding back to her in the memory. He gazes at that look a moment, then looks away to the wall across from him, considering what she just said. "So you see? When I'm done here, I'll have to answer for that."

"Maybe..." he tries to start, but she shakes her head again and stops him.

"No, they'll find me... they'll find a way to link me with those two men." She pulls back again and looks at him, still unsure of how exactly to express herself. "But I've got that part of me under control now..."

She takes his hand again and rubs it between hers, searching his eyes again for understanding and some form of acceptance. "You believe me, right? That wasn't me... not the real me."

He looks back at her with his own two deep-thinking eyes, finally squeezing her hand a bit in answer. "I know..."

Dropping his voice to a whisper, he adds, "I know, Scrya... we'll find a way to make everything right. We always do..."

As the song fades out and heads for the next one, they again fall into silence, passing the time as they have for the last few days... together.

Coyote's anger was boiling up in him.

"Will those finks hurry up. I want to get back to my own skin."

Coyote found a female program, data routing trying to fix his mess.

"Oh Agent Thompson." She said seeing him walk up."

"Agent over. Virus = Very Yes" Coyote said. He then punched her in the gut impaling her on his fist releasing one of his daughters into her shell.

When Monk didn't answer right awat Wolf took a closer look Monk's face, and was caught off guard looking into his eyes. While they were calm, they had a hint of red in them. He seen this hint of red in only one set of brown eyes before, and here they were again. He was staring down the face of death once more. He was staring into Myth's eyes. He slowly reached for his Colt .45 which he had tucked under his desk

"You are not going to need the gun Wolf..."

Wolf's hand hung in midair for a second. Something in the tone of Myth's voice, something in the way he spoke, kept him from continuing to reach for the gun. He moved his hand away from the Colt. "Ok, I'm going to take your word for it. What is it that you want, then?" he asked.

It was odd to see him uneasy as he was, looking about the room making sure nothing was around to record their conversation. He softly shut the door behind him and sat on the ground. "Wolf... let me just state this now, just because I came to talk to you, does not mean we are friends, get me?"

Wolf slowly nodded. "I think so, but if you don't view me as a friend, then what am I?"

A deep breath was taken as his mind raced. "I don't know the word for it, but I respect you. Got it?" His eyes were flaring up, but he closed them and took a relaxing breath. "You have great strength, and I have to say I gave up during our last fight. If Monk hadn't of stepped in, your heart would have been mine."

Wolf didn't exactly take comfort in that last part, but he got the point. "I get it, you see me as a worthy adversary of sorts."

"Yeah... ok. Listen, enough chit chat, I didn't come here for your life story. I have this... favor to ask." He looked around once more to make sure there was still no one around. "I need to get out of here..."

"Out of here...as in out of Los Angeles..." there was a pause as Wolf pondered the meaning of Myth's question "or as in out of Monk's body?"

Myth's head dropped. "Yes... I need out of this body, but trust me, it's for everyone's good..."

"You're probably right," Wolf said "So...basically you need to be turned into an AI, separated from Monk's mind...and returned to the Cyber World; right?"

"Uh... yeah, that's about it actually..." Myth looked up with a surprised look. "That's excatly the reason. Anyway I needed to tell you. I can't tell Jade cause she'll flip..."

"I understand," Wolf said. "Don't worry, we can get that done without her knowledge, or anyone else's for that matter." he paused for a second. "Where will you go after all this?"

Myth sighed and looked toward the roof, "Back home..."

"Home?" Wolf thought out loud, "You don't mean...back to Mastermind's main system?"

"Not back to the womb you stupid wolf..." He got up to leave, "I meant back home..."

A memory from 3 months prior finally came to Wolf "...Monk's realm of fears..." he said slowly and quietly.

"Good bye Wolf. This will be the last time we speak. At least... I hope it will be." Walking to the door, Myth grabbed the knob. "And I have to say one more thing." He puased for a second, then tilted his head down and a little to the side, "If we had met under different circumstances, I would have called you friend." He looked at the door again, "All right get it all set up for me." With that, the door was forced open and he walked through the portal.

***

Not more than an hour later, everything was ready. The techs, as well as Dr. Oedupe, just in case of any complications, were ready to begin.

As Wolf looked on as the system checks were run, his thoughts went back to Myth's final words to him. Under different circumstances...did that mean that perhaps there was good in him after all?

"Sir, we're all ready, just give the word and we can begin the extraction and transfer." said the lead medtech.

Wolf snapped out of his thoughts and nodded. "...Make it so." he said.

Farewell...worthy adversary

Angel swore. His hand was just one big bruise.

And his PDAP was broken so he couldn't contact everyone.

To top it off, he was confined to bed.

For a long time, Devin was silent.

He always had to be that way when he came to see them again. It was only right.

Eventually, however, tradition bade him speak.

"Hello, guys."

They didn't answer.

"It's been a while, I know. And I suppose you won't talk to me, unless some miracle occurs. Not that I blame you. After all... you could say it's my fault we all ended up like this."

He coughed. The sound was lost in the gathering wind that pushed against him.

"I have news for you. We've cornered Mastermind at last. Very soon... it will all be over. What I need now is... strength, I guess. This will probably be the toughest mission ever - we'll be facing augmented adversaries in the real world... and the virtual one. Even with my augs, and the new team... it's not going to be a cakewalk."

Nothing changed, but something happened. It was as though a warm wave rose through Devin, and a small smile spread across his face.

"Thank you, guys. We will always be Red Cell - the few, the proud, the invincible."

Devin laid the posy of chrysanthemums before them, then walked away. Behind him, lightning silhouetted the five tombstones, black against a grey-clad sky.

******

(Later, in Angel's ward)

Devin swept the curtain aside, to lay hands on a very irate Angel. In a deliberately cheerful voice he smiled and chirped, "How're ya, darlin'?"

There was a silence.

"...darling?" Was all Angel could bring himself to say.

Getting to the question however, he said, "Downright homicidal. I'd show you why on my PDAP, but all the kings horses and all the king's men ain't getting it back together again."

OOC: New chapter