I was surprised by the ease of our escape, particularly considering the ease of our capture and that we had no idea what was going on with us, even though our original captors seemed to know. Yes, I was convinced that who we escaped from was not our original captors. It was all a little suspicious to me, but I had more important concerns on my mind, like survival.

"I think this is San Francisco."

Terry glanced at her sister, who was still carrying her, though she was moving faster than Terry possibly could, & wasn't tiring either. She heard her stomach growl, & wondered when the last time she ate was. How long has it been since she ate? How long was she in those things? She missed her first date.

"Damn…" Terry muttered under her breath.

"I don't know. If we are in San Francisco, then we are only a two hour drive from home."

Terry brought her mind back into the current moment, the current dilemma. She glanced around & it did seem like they were in San Francisco. The warehouse they were in was one of the Pier buildings along the Embarcadero, & they were currently running down the Embarcadero, with the Bay Bridge approaching.

"We need to get off this road. The way we are dressed we stick out."

Sherry looked down at what she was wearing for the first time. They were wearing a skintight outfit that showed off every curve of their bodies. Sherry kinda of liked it personally. The outfits were black with red boots & gloves. Very chic in her mind. But it did kinda stick out, so some other clothes would probably be to their benefit. She looked around & saw that there was nothing around here. But, from previous visits to San Francisco, she knew that Union Square had stores. In fact, she could go for Macys right now.

"Hold on", Sherry announced as she veered off the Embarcadero heading off towards Union Square. Terry clutched Sherry tighter as she made her turn. Terry glanced around & noticed there was hardly anyone on the streets. It must be real early morning, like around three or four.

"Where are we going? We need to figure out what we are going to do next."

Sherry smiled as she stated, "We're going to get less conspicuous clothes."

Terry glanced over at her in puzzlement. "Where at?"

"Macys!"

"They probably are not open, & if they were, we don't have any money."

Sherry thought for a moment & then said, "Desperate times calls for desperate measure."

Realization hit Terry, as she exclaimed, "NO! We are not going to steal!"

"You have a better idea?"

Terry thought for a moment. Supposed Federal Agents took them from their home. They awoke in the hands of criminals, who were unconnected to their original abductors. Who knows what the original abductors were doing right now…were they trying to find them? Probably. So where does that leave them?

Terry sighed. "Alright, let's get there fast before I change my mind."

"How do you propose we get into there?"

Sherry looked at the store, checking out the displays in the window. Entering from the front would be too noticeable. So…

"Follow me."

Terry followed her sister around to the back alley & the loading dock. There was a door off to the side & Sherry was heading right for it.

"Umm…Sherry, it's probably…"

Sherry raised her foot & kicked the door. The door gave under Sherry's foot & the way was cleared.

"…Alarmed," Terry finished.

"Well, we better hurry then," Sherry commented as she passed through the opening where the door once stood. Terry stood there for a second & then sighed as she followed her sister inside. This is some kind of hell I'm in, she thought as she entered.

In a dark room, filled with security monitors, a lone figure sat in a chair with his legs propped up on a console. He reached over with his black gloved hand for the coffee next to him, when an insistent beeping from his console grabbed his attention. He turned to a monitor screen on his console to bring up the alert.

REPORTED BREAK-IN

MACYS"S, UNION SQUARE

Something that normally wouldn't warrant his attention, but they were on a Code: Red alert, which means everything in or near the coverage zone must be reported. He flipped on his Comm Mic & spoke, "Break-In reported at Union Square Macys. Could be our rogues. Please advise."

There was a silence & then a cool hard voice replied, "Divert police from scene. I'll be on the scene shortly to investigate."

"Roger," he replied as he sent a false alarm signal to the police that had them diverted from the scene. It was amazing the kind of things you could do from this room. The power. But, he knew if he abused it, they would know & he would be punished, & punished severely. So, he sat back in his seat & finally had another sip of that coffee. It was going to be a long night.

Sherry was darting through racks going through clothes like a gangbuster. She pulled a pair of sturdy brown pants from a Men's rack. They were on the lamb, so they needed practical, yet stylish outfits. She handed the pants to Terry.

"Here, try these pants. They will go great with the jacket you are holding."

Terry groaned as she handed them to her. Terry looked around & noticed that Sherry was the only one in sight. She extended her mental senses, but didn't find any other mental signs but a guard on the 1^st floor, who was nice & unconscious, thanks to a little nudge from Terry's mental powers. She was starting to feel more at home with these abilities, & she was feeling stronger after shaking off the numbness of the cryotube. Her stomach growled again, to remind her she hadn't eaten in awhile.

"Here's a t-shirt. Best I can do on the limited time we are on."

Terry snapped out of her gaze & looked at Sherry.

"You're zoning on me again. You think too much sometimes. Now, get out of that wetsuit or whatever it is, & try on those clothes."

Terry grappled for a zipper & peeled the skintight outfit off her. She then proceeded to put on the clothes Sherry had gathered for her.

"Here, I found some boots that might work", Sherry stated as she tossed a pair of black hiking boots over to Terry.

Terry grabbed the boots & put them on. They were a good fit, but then, Sherry knew all her measurements, as their measurements were practically identical. She had to admit she had been tempted to try on Sherry's clothes before, but knew Sherry would get upset at her for doing so. So, she opted not to.

"And, to finish out the ensemble," Sherry gleamed as she tossed over a pair of brown gloves.

Terry put them on & looked at herself. It was comfortable & loose, the way most of her outfits at home were. She could live with it.

"A bit on the utilitarian side, but it will have to do."

Terry looked at her sister & noticed she was still in the cryosuit.

"What about you?"

Sherry smiled & reached over to a nearby rack. She pulled off a scarlet vest & put it on.

"Look at this vest…goes well with this outfit."

Terry was stunned that Sherry was only going to add a vest to what she was already wearing. She was about to protest when she picked up a stray thought. There was a mind close by…real close.

"Sherry, we're not alone."

Sherry turned her head from side to side, looking for any sign of movement.

"Where…", she started to say when from out of the shadows, a figure jumped out, wielding two katanas. He swung both katanas around to strike Sherry from both sides. Sherry yelped in pain, as she kicked out to hit only empty air. Her mysterious opponent has already twisted around to the side & was standing at ready next to her.

Terry took her eyes off that confrontation, as she sensed other minds in the store. The attacker's comrades. She focused in on one & stabbed out with her mind. She heard a yelp coming from the shadows, followed by the thump of a person hitting the ground. She could sense two more minds & they were approaching fast. Terry started to dart the other way.

Sherry took stock of the figure in front of her. He was a tall man, looked to be in his early 30s, with long black hair & a black headband wrapped around his head. He was wearing the same outfit as the attackers in her home, though his shoulder pads contained Japanese writing in blood red. His face was scared, though his most striking feature was his glowing red eyes that were focused on her.

Sherry heard her sister running off, & knew she probably should as well. But, looking into the eyes of this man in front of her, she knew she would not make it that way. She had to take him down. She noticed movement heading toward her sister, but there was nothing she could do about that at the moment.

The man in front of her made a move & she reacted by throwing a punch…that hit empty air. She turned around only to have a sword hit her in the ribs. She glanced down & noticed it didn't draw blood, but the force of the blow hurt. She looked up again to see him standing there, swords at ready, those glowing red eyes focused on her. It unnerved her.

Terry bolted through a double door into a stockroom. It was dark, which means she might be able to hide. She darted right, stumbling over a couple of boxes. She heard the door she just came through open, with a man carrying a sword trying to sneak through. She focused her thoughts on the form & lashed out with her full might. The man screamed as he grabbed his head and collapsed. She sensed his partner was just outside of her sightline. She reached out and touched his mind.

So, he has had experience with Telepaths before, though his experience tells him they need to see him to affect him. He was thinking of a way to get into the storeroom without being seen. He could call for backup, as there was two more downstairs guarding the door waiting for regular backup.

That was all Terry needed to know. Sherry & her needed to get out of here fast if they were going to make it at all. She lashed out once more with her telepathic might & heard the man scream in agony & collapse. No telling how long they'll remain out, so she will have to hurry. She hurried out of the storeroom wishing she had a faster way to move around.

The mysterious figure stood there, eyeing her…studying her? Was he hesitating…not wanting to hurt her? She jabbed out with another kick…contact! He stumbled back a few steps, letting out a grunt, but he was still standing. His head jerked up, the focus back in those haunting red eyes. Whoever this guy was, he was a tough customer.

He leapt at her, both swords raised high, poised to strike. Sherry darted off to the side, but one of the swords connected with her legs, but it was only a graze as she barely felt it. Sherry slid on the floor and stopped in a crouched position. Her opponent was up again, his sword once again at the ready. Was that a look of admiration on his face?

Sherry looked beyond her opponent & saw Terry sneaking into the room. Good, she seemed to have been able to care of her pursuers. Now, they had a chance. Which is good, because Sherry was hurting & didn't know how many more blows from swordboy she could take.

Terry, seeing that Sherry was still fighting the swordsman, knew that they didn't have time for this. Time was in favor of the enemy. The longer he kept us here, the better the chance of them being recaptured. Once more, she reached out with her telepathic abilities, & was shocked. He was fighting back against her. This man was possessed of remarkable willpower & was being driven by a burning hot fire of determination. She was having a hard time locking on to him.

The man snapped his head into Terry's direction, his burning red eyes focusing in on her. Terry immediately was feeling uneasy, as she was getting used to everyone being easily susceptible to her power. But, before her stood an individual who could fight her. She knew she could probably win the mental battle, but she wasn't sure she could win before he got his hands on her.

The figure turned & darted towards her, his swords raised to strike at her. Sherry bolted into action & dived and tackled him into the ground, crashing into the floor with a loud thud. Sherry looked at the man below her. He was still conscious & his eyes were burning a hole in her mind. He was struggling under her & it took both of her arms to keep him restrained.

"Terry, I need your help."

Terry got up & ran over to where Sherry & the man laid. She looked down & saw the rage in his eyes, but also…the pain. She reached out to his mind, but it fought against her. Whatever the source of the pain, he wanted to keep it well hidden. Sighing, Terry stabbed at him with her mental strength, only to find he was still conscious, though only barely. She stabbed once more & he was out.

Terry looked down at the unconscious figure as Sherry got up off him. She probed again, but even unconscious, he was still a hard mind to read. What had caused him this pain she felt, this rage he seemed to burn with. Something haunted him, that was sure.

"Terry, what can you get about our pursuers from his mind?"

Terry probed once more, but the mind didn't want to give up those secrets easily. She withdrew & instead focused her abilities on the unconscious form she first took out in the shadows. His mind was a lot easier to probe.

They were Silent Death Squad & they were led by Silent Death, the man she felt the rage & pain in. They were apart of the Paranormal Control Unit, or PCU, & were charged with bringing in any individual shown to possess paranormal abilities. Silent Death Squad was based at the San Francisco Headquarters, which was in the Deerdon Technologies building down by the wharf.

"I know who they are & where they come from?"

Sherry, who went over to one of the windows overlooking Union Square, responded, "Great, so, we'll tell his friends who just arrived, 'We know who you are.' I don't think that will work well."

Terry stomach sickened, as she realized that the reinforcements had arrived. They will be recaptured & taken to wherever they were to be taken. Probably the Deerdon Technologies Building, according to the unconscious agent. She ran over to the window & joined her sister. Looking down, she can see a bunch of agents deploying like an army around Macys. They will probably strike once they are all in position & there were simply too many to take out. Besides, they are trained to take out Paranormals, like her & her sister. There probably was a telepath or two down there, like the one who took out her sister back at their home in Salinas.

Then, she felt in her mind something she could do. In times of crisis, one can sometimes draw on abilities they didn't realize they have in them. Terry knew there was something they can do.

"Sherry, throw something through the window."

"What good would that…"

Terry put her arm on her sister & though no words were spoken, Sherry heard…Trust Me.

Sherry grabbed a nearby mannequin & tossed it through the window. Laser fire erupted as the blasters fired on the falling object before it landed on one of the trucks that had brought these men.

Grab my hands. And don't let go.

Sherry nodded as she grabbed Terry's hands. Terry closed her eyes concentrating on the task at hand. Tapping into what she sense were the proper abilities, she focused her mind into two directions. One was to augment her hold on Sherry, while the other part of her mind concentrated on lifting her off the ground. Terry lifted off the ground & started to float over to window. She opened her eyes & smiled at her sister.

Ready…

Sherry was staring at Terry in disbelief. Her sister was floating off the ground, which was amazing. But then, she realized what Terry had in mind.

"You're not thinking of…"

Yes, I am.

And they bolted out the window, Terry leading the way with Sherry clutching onto Terry's hand for dear life.

"Teeerrrrrrrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy…."

Laser blast shot around them as they flew several stories over their pursuer's head. One blast grazed Sherry's leg, but she hardly noticed as she realized they were climbing higher. They flew over Union Square & headed up Stockton, towards Chinatown & Fisherman's Wharf. Sherry clutched Terry tighter as the blasts subsided & they put some distance between themselves & their pursuers.

She glanced off toward the east, where the hills that loom over Oakland came into view as they left the canyons of buildings that made up Downtown San Francisco. In the distance, the sun started to peek over the hills, marking the beginning of a new day. It was a beautiful sight & for one moment, Sherry forgot they were being chased after, shot at, & flying 20 stories above the ground. For one perfect moment, the world didn't seem that bleak, & Sherry smiled.

Five men in black uniforms with the metallic shoulder pads ran out of the Macys, the symbol of dynamite sticks emblazoned on their pads.

"Bombs placed, sir."

Lieutenant Dornado nodded as he turned to another agent.

"Is our men & equipment out of there?"

"Yes, sir. Silent Death & his men are being taken back to HQ for treatment. In addition, the bomb threat has been placed & we expect police arrival in 1.5 minutes."

Lieutenant Dornado nodded & the man ran over to the last truck on the scene & hopped in. The lieutenant jogged over to his black Dodge Viper & got in. He started the Viper & drove off, following the truck out. He turned to the man who sat in the passenger seat, an older man, whose hair was starting to grey. But his eyes still held the fire that was youth.

"Hit it."

The older man nodded & pressed a button in a panel on the center console.

And Union Square's Macys went up in a ball of flame.