My ears naturally blocked out any other disturbances that came from the R.U. For two seconds, my attention was fixed on the older version of the assassin I was acquainted with, as we travel back three years in time. It was not possible, how? Something purged at my heart, I couldn't quite put a finger on it, but I think I myself was battling between approaching him as a friend or a foe.

The Liam that stared at me grew exceptionally well over the last couple of years. He'd gotten a bit of height on him, and buffer from training. His hair was submissively gelled to part a bit as the tips passed the tops of his eyes and gave him a rather strangely satisfying appearance. A single, modest small-sized silver lining ear ring hung from his left ear, although his unpierced right ear was facing me. He wore black training clothing, with gadgets like his fancy watch, straps, pockets, and weapons forming the thick illusion that lined his body.

I tried finding something familiar that I could connect with, and I subconsciously directed my attention to his eyes. I tried connecting with him, I expected him to connect back as well. His eyes and expressions remained stoic as the seconds passed, and he looked at me like every other agent in this building was right now, more so adding a slight tilt of his head like he was waiting for my next move. And that's when I realized there was something awfully wrong with the situation. This man had no idea who I was.

What...?

I bit back my attempt to call out his name as a stern eye from Jay told me to stop being distracted and get back in the game. Save the questions for later, he told me in a single frown.

But right then disaster stroke. Bennet had seen Carter. He saw his comrade being held back by the 'threatening stares coming from Jay and I.' Three years of pent up anger and longing for his closest friend made his choice violent. And when the new leader of the Renai initiated fire, you better bet your head the rest of his subordinates were going to go into war with you.

The R.U. Assault team charged forward with Aaron leading the fires. I cracked my knuckles and swiftly slid to the side of the crowd, ducking a fast, lethal bullet and punching two women in the guts as I advanced. We can't reason with them, I thought grimly as I resorted to my gun at last, Shoot everyone in your path.

Hundreds of shots fired every two seconds as moans and snaps replaced the once audible heavy breathing and loud footsteps. I heard the back-lines reloading constantly, and was always impressed with how long the front-lines could hold out in contrast. As dirty as it sounds, pools of blood began collecting on the ground rapidly. Every skid and every fall spread the red like a wildfire on ground. Soon, everyone was engulfed in that fire. Blood splattered our suits, our arms, our guns, our throats. Broken shards of glass and metal threatened to peel our skin off with a single gash. Our ears became deaf, and we could only rely on our vision to see where and what to do. While my eyes, and the snipers that trained in the same occupation as me, easily scouted out the Renai's uniform in a quarter of a second, it soon became a slight struggle for the rest. I feared shooting our own agents as well, as much as I feared not knowing why we were shooting, and I avoided firing blindly as best I could, though my skills have been polished up pretty well on the last few missions I've been on for hand-to-hand combat.

Little did I know my next target would trigger me again. My breath hitched as I laid eyes upon the woman I knew, yet I still managed to pull the trigger and aim steady for her chest before she could grab my sore arms. At this close range, the bullet-proof suit would not work this time.

Like it had last time.

The tables have turned.

She growled in pain and backed off momentarily, catching her breath as her hand clutched her bleeding upper chest.

"Lennon," She jeered up at me, gasping. I clenched my jaw and brought forth my left arm, violently pushing her out of the way as I brushed pass her.

I didn't ask for her love anyway. I didn't need her on my side. Besides, the woman had explicitly stated before, that she hated my guts.

-

The R.U. locked down the building and had special agents patrol the front area for the meantime. The headquarter had called forth R.U. hackers who were now working around the clock in secured offices to repair the security and defense systems. Axel would be getting no sleep tonight.

All team leaders were called back to an emergency meeting that had been going on for the past hour. There was no chance to ask Jay any questions, he was ripped from my eyes the moment we were able to push back the Renai's.

It was obvious we would anyway. They were in our territory, our land. The four elite agents were also back at the R.U., coincidentally all coming home from missions on this day. We were not going to let our names die down without a fight.

And me?

Well, I was locked up with a man.

_

Sweat pounded my face as I internally and externally cried for breath. My neck and shoulders ached and went sore like there was no tomorrow. Five minutes passed as no Renai agents were left in the building. Five minutes passed where I stood still regaining my breath, regaining air, regaining balance and stability.

My hands dragged at my hips as I swung my head back in large, silent gasps. A few feet from me Jean had collapsed on the ground, telling anyone coming near her to shoo, that she would sleep and guard the ground for a night. Hunter criss-crossed on the ground diagonal from her after falling with a thump while one arm propped up on his thighs, hand permanently glued in his wet hair. Aaron was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed firmly against his heaving chest as his mouth parted slightly open to allow air passage through his lungs, and his eyes stayed shut for some time.

The rest of the agents stood, but the same patterns of heaving and packing up their guns stayed. Chestin proceeded forward for me—arms, face, and suit barely covered in as much dried up blood as the rest of us—but before he could do so, I had my mind set on one other thing.

Confronting a certain man.

Liam looked at me as I inhaled sharply while regaining my breath, staring at his every action as I stood up straighter and found the strength in me to move my legs towards his form.

"We need to talk," I frowned at him, "Please."

He too was heaving big breaths of air, and nodded without second thought to my odd request. I saw blood on his face and suit and had a difficult time recalling that he went against his own people in the earlier battle period.

"Jamie STOP," Chestin urged, growing angry, "I need to talk to you. Would you look at me?"

I snapped my head to him as Liam looked up from his bent down state and eyed Chestin curiously.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Hall," I growled, glaring in his eyes, "I have matters to attend to. Leave me alone."

He returned my look yet held onto my gaze firmly. "I'm saying it as your partner. We have things to talk about."

"And I'm saying it as your partner," I stressed, my eyes narrowing, "Leave. Me. Alone. I can talk with you later. We live together in the same dorm for fuck's sake, Chestin!"

Liam watched the scene unfold before him with slightly arched brows and a weirded out expression.

"Liam," I turned to him.

He stared back at me weirdly, once again.

"Who is Liam?" Liam eyed me skeptically, almost laughing, "I'm Jason."

Jason my ass. Freakin', Liliana McCarter.

I coughed, and cleared my throat. "Jay..son.." I corrected, the name stumbling out my mouth like pebbles rolling off cliffs.

"Have we met before?" I tested his memory, watching him from up close.

He shifted his weight to the other leg and crossed his arms quietly. "No." He let out with no wavering emotions, "Although I have heard of you subtly."

"Look, Agent W," he continued, unfolding and pulling out his hands to emphasize his point, "I'm a busy man. I have things to attend to. Seven o'clock sharp tonight to be exact. Mind filling me in on stuff without involving me in you and your boyfriend's problems?"

Oh, my god.

Liam... who? Carter, who? I only know Jason. Freakin Jasalina McCarter Muffins.

"Quite a mouth you've got there," I snarled through gritted teeth. I realized I would have to wait for Jay to have my questions answered. My job right now was just to keep Liam in my sight until the meeting was over.

Chestin stood on the side-lines watching the scene unfold in disbelief.

"Quite a temper you've got there yourself, miss," Liam returned, dully checking his watch and making his decision. "Shit," He mumbled out, tightening his gadgets and rechecking the security of the strings that held his daggers and knives in place.

He tried turning to leave to his matters after running a hand through his hair, obviously a bit stressed and under schedule, but I wasn't having it.

So I walked forward and grabbed his wrist.

That's right. I, Jamie Lennon, did the wrist-grabbing cliché scene to a man.

Axel owed me 10 dollars for a bet we made six years ago.

Instantly, however, I regretted it when I heard a sharp irritation coming from Chestin as he tried holding me back.

A tiny light on the watch flashed bright red and began working its gears, loudly preparing for something. In less than two seconds of me touching his wrist, a cuff sprung out of the suspicious device and wrung me abruptly closer to him. I felt the metal thickness of its body cutting into my own wrist. My body lunged forward and I skidded a few inches on the ground, jaw tensing and face darkening. My dominant right arm was cuffed in a matter of seconds to the left arm of a man I had just reunited with.

I jerked my arm back towards my body, only to have Liam become unbalanced and irritated as well, as he too tried to pry off the watch. Before I could, Liam took out his gun and aimed the weapon between our hands, putting a bit of a distance so that our hands wouldn't be shot off. My face was scrunched up in confused lines as I watched the crisis unfold, stopping the struggling. Liam glanced at me as if waiting for me to give the signal that I was ready for us to be shot at. He was breathing hard and had no idea what was going on, yet he kept a relatively calm manner and arched his brows at me. I nodded quickly and braced myself for a loud— and possibly painful— fire.

The bullet shot.

Both of our bodies were forcibly dragged inches to the right and we stumbled on our feet while dealing with now aching wrists.

I was about to go crazy. I tugged and jerked and used my own fists and fingers in attempts to unleash the cuffs. Liam watched me in silence— with occasionally few grunts as he felt the pain reside on his skin— as he kept stable or else we'd both fall.

Eventually, I dropped down to my knees, more exhausted than ever as my mouth parted open for audible gasps to escape my lips, and my eyes dazed with defeat.

Five minutes later, it was his turn to attempt to set us free.

Extra emphasis... on 'attempt.'

-