Fiona could hear voices near and around her; her throat felt dry, and her body heavy.

"Can I have some water?" she sounded like she had smoked a pack of cigarettes every day of her adult life.

"She's awake," she heard a male voice call, "fill the glass with water, please."

Slowly she lifted her sluggish eyelids, "Where am I?"

"In the infirmary," Rose spoke softly next to her, "she seems to have fully recovered."

"Recovered from what?" Fiona focussed on the faces around her.

"What is the last thing you remember?" Hana asked.

"Finding a room with a hybrid between a microwave and toaster on a table in the centre of a round room," Fiona felt her eyes widen, "I remember everything."

"Good," Harvey said, "she is ready for the adaptation machine."

"Why do I need to go into another machine?" Fiona felt the panic rise within, the old fear of incarceration slamming into her like a freight train.

"To make sure you don't see-saw with your abilities or anything new that comes out of this," Harvey explained, "and for you to be able to walk once more."

"You know what is required?" Hana looked at Harvey, who nodded, "can you take her through the process, please. All of us have experienced procedures with no explanation or understanding. It will work better if fear is not part of the equation."

"Good point," Harvey nodded as Fiona was wheeled into a nearby room.

Harvey began explaining what he was doing and what would happen while she was in the machine. Another round room. What could she do? At the moment, she couldn't lift her hand from her side. Trusting Harvey knew what needed to be done was best for her, Fiona tried to feel the panic and fear.

"Harvey," her single soft word brought his full attention to her, "I don't want to die."

"You're not going to die," he answered softly, "you'll find you have a whole new life to live after this."

"How often have you done this?" she whispered, fear accompanying the words.

"A few times," he smiled gently, "and it was a success every time; there is nothing to fear."

"Okay," Fiona sighed, "let's do this."

Harvey pushed her into the round room and closed the door. Fiona heard the whirring for the second time in a day, but instead of feeling the pain, she closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.

Jesse met Harvey at the infirmary door as he carried Valencia in. Hana and Rose attended to her while he stood at the bottom of the bed. Cara came to a stop next to him and looked at Harvey.

"You're needed again in about half an hour," she said quietly, "one of Craig's team this time."

"What is wrong with everyone?" Harvey frowned.

"Apparently, word has spread quickly," Cara sighed. "Everyone wants to be able to step up to the plate and help where they can. If that means having restrictions removed ..." she shrugged, "... I don't know why they feel this is necessary, but apparently, they feel this is the only way."

"Fiona has pulled through," Harvey sighed, pocketing his phone, "she is eating up a storm in the kitchen."

"That was fast," Jesse frowned, looking at his watch, "three hours."

"She was awake in about one and a half," Harvey said, attaching the heart monitor to Valencia/Birgit. "She went through the modular adapter and came out the other side saying she was starving."

"Let's hope each one is as successful," Hana said quietly as she and Rose hovered with their hands over Valencia.

Jesse watched them work on Valencia and Birgit. He could not describe what he felt. Relief that she had made it out. Anger that she was foolhardy to do something like this, but hopefully, she would survive.

"What are the chances of her surviving this?" Jesse asked quietly.

He felt the startled look from Cara and Hana. Harvey's expression of pensiveness melted into understanding that nearly brought him to his knees.

"At this point, fifty-fifty," Harvey spoke softly, "it depends on Valencia if she pulls through."

"Valencia and Birgit," Jesse corrected, "there are two in there."

"Oh," Rose sighed, "I was beginning to think I'd lost my mind."

"Sorry should have mentioned it before," Jesse smiled tightly, "she won't be any trouble. They get along at the moment."

Rose nodded, "Birgit and I didn't have a good start."

"Jesse," Cara spoke quietly, "let them work."

"I'm in the library if anyone needs me," he whispered, turning to leave his gaze settled on Craig sitting in the far corner of the infirmary reading quietly to Tina. Nodding a greeting, Jesse strode from the room. In the library, he headed for the alcohol trolley, poured a double shot of brandy and drank it in one gulp. He welcomed the burn as it worked its way to his stomach.

"Jesse," Breanna spoke quietly from an alcove, "I heard about Valencia. Are you okay?"

"No," Jesse turned to his best friend, "I want to throw something. Break something. Hurt something."

He swallowed against the tears as they filled his eyes. Breanna slid from where she sat, striding toward him and wrapped him in a warm hug.

"What if she doesn't make it, Bre," he whispered around the lump in his throat, "what if neither of them makes it."

"Valencia is a determined woman," Breanna whispered, "and what I know of Birgit, she will not allow Valencia to die. If that body went into that room, they both had to agree to it."

Jesse nodded before moving out of Breanna's embrace, "Thanks."

"Have another brandy. You may feel a little better," Breanna murmured, "I was looking for David when I heard about Valencia, and now one of Craig's men is in there. I don't understand why everyone is putting their lives on the line."

"I do," Jesse sighed, "we've been pushed underground and hunted. Our abilities are all over the place, making us more of a problem than a solution. Now Craig not being able to head up the teams has reached many ears making some nervous and a little more unstable than we'd like," Jesse said. "We are not a group of people who sit by and accept what fate hands us. Everyone feels they can and wants to do more. If going into that machine will solve the problem of our abilities and help us be in a better place than before, they will do it a hundred times over," he hesitated before shrugging. "Plus, the fact that you only have five people to do this extraction motivates people to do some drastic stuff. No one wants to be left out of the fun."

Breanna sighed, rubbing her face with her hands, "All of that is ... admirable. But I cannot believe some wish to put their lives in danger to undo what was done to them to go on an extraction with abilities they are unfamiliar with."

"Really?" Jesse felt his eyebrows rise in surprise, "what you are describing sounds like every person who has decided to join the Agency."

Breanna groaned, covering her eyes with her hand, "It does."

"Bre, you can protect as much as they will allow you. When we started this group, it was clear that each of us had a choice," Jesse said, "you have been adamant about that ... always. Now you're seeing them grown, able and ready to spread their wings; they are making this choice."

"It doesn't make it any easier to watch, but you're right," Breanna nodded, sighing and shaking her head, "I'm worried they won't make it ... then what do I tell the rest of the family."

"The truth," Jesse said, shrugging.

Breanna met his gaze before nodding and swiping at her wet eyes, "Why do you have to be so logically right?"

"If we were both the caring, emotional type, there would be no balance," Jesse grinned, "now ... when do we need to strike?" Jesse asked quietly.

"What would I do without you, my friend," Breanna chuckled. " Business ... we need to move within two or three days from now," Breanna said, "why?"

"Well, according to Harvey," Jesse said, bringing the necessary facts to mind, "Fiona woke within an hour and a half of her event. Went through the modular adaptor, and currently is eating up a storm. If that is how everyone goes, most of us can be completed by tomorrow."

"You're not thinking of doing this," Breanna frowned, "are you?"

"The thought has gone through my mind," Jesse sighed, "I have to admit, but where others are lining up to use the machine, I'm not that motivated. It would be nice to not have whatever restrictions Darcia placed on my abilities. I do feel them at times, but to have abilities I don't know anything about," he shook his head, "not really something that makes me want to hurry to the front of the line."

"I can imagine," Breanna nodded, "I'd better give Michael an update. He's still busy at Head Office with placing the others who want a normal life."

"Wish him well from me," Jesse grinned, "I need to look up something about all of this. I'm not sure what it is, but I feel like there is something about this that may be to our benefit."

Jesse watched Breanna leave the room. Moving to the computer, he began to type. The niggling feeling turned into dread before he breathed a sigh, and his shoulders relaxed. "I thought so," Jesse nodded, "this may be a good thing."

Leaving the library, he headed back to the infirmary. He had to find Harvey.

Valencia could feel fresh air on her skin. She could feel Birgit as well, but she wasn't awake. Valencia tried to open her eyes while flexing her fingers and toes and clearing her dry throat. They felt heavy. Weighted. Slowly she peeled her eyes open. The light of the room hurt her eyes. She groaned.

"Val is awake," Hana called urgently as she stopped by her side doing a quick scan with her hands, "but Birgit is not."

'Easy way to get her to wake up," Rose said hurriedly, "pinch Valencia."

Rose quickly gave Valencia a hard pinch making her wince and moan in pain. Just as quickly, she moved on to another bed, leaving Hana to deal with the waking Birgit, who grunted and groaned.

"Harvey," Hana called as she moved away, "they are both awake and all yours."

Valencia didn't remember Rose and Hana being too busy to attend to a single patient.

"There are more than just you and Fiona," Cara said from the foot of the bed, "Harvey now. There is another one in the equaliser."

Harvey appeared next to Valencia, doing a vital check before looking into their eyes, "Who am I speaking to right now?"

"Me," Birgit grunted, "Valencia is awake, but I want to know who hurt her."

"Rose pinched Val to get you awake so we can put both of you in the modular adaptor," Harvey spoke as he pushed their bed out of the infirmary.

"What did Cara mean there is another in the equaliser?" Valencia asked quietly.

"After Fiona and you," Harvey said, setting the modular adapter, "there seems to be a trend of many Agency personnel visiting the equaliser."

"Is it because of Craig?" Birgit asked tentatively.

"We have no idea why they are doing it," Harvey sighed, "all the three of us know is the workload is huge, and Tina still needs to be attended to. Thank heaven Craig is there to assist us."

Valencia wanted to ask more questions, but Harvey stopped her.

"There is no time for talking now," he said, raising his hand, "you must complete this. I'm sure someone else will be waiting to use it as soon as you come out."