Daylight slowly gave way to night and the old pier was quickly swallowed up with thick darkness�so thick, she could barely see. She squinted her eyes as if it would help and crept against the wall of the brick building with her gun held firmly in both hands. The moon played a game of peek-a-boo from behind the dark clouds, spraying a low blue light at the darkness every now and then and giving her a quick glimpse of her surroundings. Jarod�s usual shenanigans had brought her to this old abandoned warehouse that was set right next to a lake called Murky Waters, which was very appropriate. There were four buildings in total, each three stories high, and they were all set side-by-side, lined with the docks on the south side. Her ears strained, desperate to catch the slightest sound that would clue her in to where he had run off to, but all she heard were the lapping waters in the distance.

�Anything?� the small radio crackled on her belt loop. She closed her eyes briefly in surprise, before yanking the walkie-talkie from her pants to her mouth.

�No.�

Lyle and his goons had split up, they off on the other side of the plantation, while she was stuck with this end by her lonesome. She wondered briefly how she had gotten herself into this, or rather, how Sydney and Broots managed to get away from going. She was sick of this game and wanted nothing more than to end it then. Just one cap in his knee and all this prancing around in abandoned buildings would be finished.

Something like a board hitting pavement shattered the silent air and Miss Parker spun around, gun aimed, in that direction. Hesitating for only a second, she darted for the sound and sprinted full force around the old brick building to the other side. Skidding to a stop, she looked around the empty alley, and then her eyes caught sight of the pulled down fire escape. Tucking her gun in the waist band of her pants, she began to ascend the ladder, reaching the platform and taking the stairs two at a time.

Pure determination in getting him back fueled her as she climbed, pushing her legs faster and faster until she reached the roof. Panting softly, she pulled her gun out again and searched the roof with her eyes. Old boards were tossed carelessly around and old broken furniture were scattered everywhere. Two long boards were laid side-bye-side across the edge of the building to another one and she followed the small bridge with her eyes to the neighboring warehouse, catching sight of his receding leather back.

�Jarod!� Parker screamed, running to the edge. He looked over his shoulder in surprise and then took off. She slowed down when she reached the boards and carefully began to wobble across, her arms outstretched to maintain balance. As soon as she stepped foot on the next roof, she sprinted towards the pretender, who was now crossing another make-shift bridge to the next building. �Jarod! Stop! Or I�ll shoot!�

He was already to the middle of the boards when she began to cross them and their combined weights made the boards wobble dangerously, both having to wave their arms madly to keep from plummeting down three stories to the alleyway below.

There was about a foot left of the bridge for Jarod to go and he leaped across to safety, his momentum causing the board to twist. Parker screamed as she was knocked off balance, falling forward and slamming against the wood hard. She wrapped her arms around the slab as it flipped over with her weight, finding herself suddenly hanging upside down.

�Shit!� she screamed, looking down, or rather up, at the ground below.

�Miss Parker!� Jarod shouted in alarm, spinning around. �Hold on!�

�I�m going to kill you, I�m going to kill you,� she ranted.

Somehow she managed to keep her stubborn grip on her 9mm as she clutched desperately at the board as Jarod slowly inched his way towards her. He reached a hand out for her gun and tried to pry it from her fingers, but she would not let it go.

�Gimme it!� Jarod shouted through clenched teeth.

�Drop dead!� she shot back.

�Do you really want to say that to *me* right now?� Jarod asked, gesturing towards the ground with his head. He tried for the gun again. �Let it go, Parker.�

She released her hold and watched as he tossed it behind him, it clattering across the roof top a couple yards away.

�Alright Parker, I�m going to flip the board over again. Okay?�

�Oh shit,� she gasped under her breath and then closed her eyes.

He gripped both sides of the board and gritted his teeth as he pushed with all his might, the board and Parker, wrapped tightly around it, slowly turning over. With a slap, the board landing right side up again and Parker yelped in surprise, bobbing a little for a moment before peeling one eye open. Jarod�s grinning face was the image that met her and she felt the burn of anger on her face.

Carefully, she crawled on her hands and knees to the roof top and got to her feet with Jarod�s help.

�Promise you�ll take the stairs?� Jarod asked, his face still split into that annoying grin.

Parker glared at him, before her eyes skipped over to where her gun lay. It was a mistake on her part, for Jarod read her mind.

�Love to� hang out,� Jarod said, winking at her. �But, I gotta run.�

A swift kick took her legs out from underneath her and she fell with a thump on her rear, allowing Jarod to make a break for it. She howled in anger and leaped to her feet, sprinting after him as he ran for the roof door.

With no weapon, she was running on little options as his hand reached the door knob and, with all her strength, she used her body as her weapon. She slammed him from behind with her shoulder and he hit the door with a thud. But, it didn�t seem to faze him as he pushed off from the surface with both hands, pushing her backwards. She stumbled but managed to stay on her feet, gaining leverage on one foot and kicking out. A three-inch heel connected with his lower abdomen and he grunted, collapsing to the ground.

�Oh, good shot,� he gasped.

�What are you talking about?� Parker panted. �I missed.�

Jarod�s eyebrows shot up briefly, before he rolled out of the way just as she kicked out again, narrowly missing his chest within inches. He popped to his feet and blocked a punch, grabbing her other arm and twisting it backwards. She was briefly held in place by her arm being held behind her and Jarod used the pause to catch his breath.

�Since when did we get so physical?� Jarod voiced.

Parker grunted and slammed her foot down on his and he howled in pain, releasing his hold on her. Parker staggered forward and turned around, just in time to see him make a break for it towards the opposite side of the roof. She sprinted after him, spotting her gun and changing her course. Leaning down, she snatched it and aimed it at him as he skidded to a stop at the edge of the building. She watched as he looked down and then turned his head over his shoulder to look at her.

�No where to go, Jarod,� she grinned bitterly, slowly advancing on him with the gun. �So give up now.�

�I suppose I deserved the ass kicking for leading you up here,� Jarod said, glancing briefly down the side of the building at the dock below, where a far enough jump could land him in the water. �But, I don�t deserve to go back to the Centre.�

�Like hell you do,� Parker snarled. �You *will* go back, Jarod.�

�You won�t shoot me.�

She bared all teeth in a twisted smile. �And what makes you so certain, Rat Boy?�

�You can�t do it. You won�t do it,� Jarod replied, taking a step back from the edge.

Her eyes followed his movement before looking up at his face. �Don�t tempt me.�

Jarod�s eyes flashed with something she wasn�t sure of before he darted towards the edge. She gasped and screamed his name as he leaped into the air, and without thinking, she squeezed the trigger. She didn�t know where she hit him, but she saw his body jerk as he fell, and she leaned over the side to watch him hit the water below. He made a huge splash as he pierced the black water with his feet first, his head last to go under. The surface bubbled where he dove and, with wide, unblinking eyes, she watched that very spot for his resurfacing head.

�Did you get him?� Lyle�s voice said over the radio at her side. She ignored it as she kept watching the water for movement. She was about to turn away to run down there when she saw him break the surface of the water, gasping loudly for air. He paddled for the dock, but was making it very slowly, and she cursed under her breath and spun for the roof door.

It seemed like an eternity before she hit the last step and burst through the door to the outside. She sprinted for the dock, her footsteps echoing loudly on the hollow boards as she ran across them to the end, and she stopped to look over the edge. He was gone, but he couldn�t have gotten far. Her hair whipped across her face as she looked around, before she turned and ran for the shore.

Stepping off the dock, she slid down the small steep hill to the where the water lapped underneath and spotted a dark form lying half in the water a couple yards away. Swallowing against the lump that had launched itself in her throat and tucking her gun away, she ducked under the docks and splashed through the water towards him. He had his back towards her and didn�t move as she leaned down beside him in the chilly water, careful not to get her gun or radio wet. Her hands hovered over him in hesitation, before she carefully turned him over.

A steady dark stream seeped from the hole in his side and she took it in with wide eyes. Peeling her eyes away after a good moment, she looked up at his pale face.

He was staring at her through his eyelashes and his purple lips parted to say, �You shot me.�

�I�m sorry,� fell from her lips in a whisper, feeling as though she might be sick. It was an accident, she wanted to say. I�m so sorry Jarod. I didn�t mean to hurt you.

Her eyes glittered as she stared into his, slowly pulling the radio from her belt loop and held it to her lips.

�I got him.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Silence hung heavy in the air of the office, the three either too afraid or too ashamed to say anything. But finally, the valiant brunette stood from the leather couch and began to pace the length of the floor, hissing, �What the hell was I supposed to do?�

Sydney looked up from his work on his desk and gave the young woman a look. �He was hurt, Parker. He couldn�t have gotten away. It wasn�t fair for you to��

�Since when is this game fair?� Parker snarled, stopping abruptly to look at him.

�That�s just it, Parker,� Sydney bellowed, standing from his desk and Broots shrunk in fear on the couch. �It *isn�t* a game. This is his life!�

�This is my life too!� Parker snapped, shoving a finger at him. �I have to make choices, Syd! Most of them will affect my life and everyone around me. I couldn�t just take him to a hospital without raising any suspicion. I couldn�t just leave him there, either. He needed medical treatment! So I got him some.�

�Do you honestly believe the Centre is the best place for him?� Sydney asked softly, furrowing his brow.

Her shoulders dropped and her face held disbelief as she stared at the older man. �A couple of years ago we wouldn�t have even *dreamed* of this conversation. We�ve grown too soft, Syd.� She spun on her heel, giving Broots a look, before placing both hands on her hips and returning her eyes back to the old man over her shoulder. �Jarod belongs here. This is his home.�

Sydney shook his head sadly and opened his mouth to say something, but was silenced when Lyle and Raines barged through the office door. Parker turned to face the intruders and sneered at the two men.

�What brings you two to this neck of the woods?� she asked dryly, her eyes skipping from each face.

�We came down here personally to congratulate you, Parker,� Raines replied, but his face held anything but congratulation. �The Triumvirate is very impressed with your performance.�

�Charmed,� Parker replied.

�I thought you would like to know that they are planning re-education right away,� Lyle said, beaming a smile at her and then flashing it at Sydney�s appalled expression.

�Re-education?� Parker repeated.

�Jarod is the key,� Lyle replied. �The triumvirate needs him in working order right away.�

�And how do they plan on doing that?� Sydney asked.

Raines looked over at him, dripping with satisfaction. �They�ve put me head of the operation.�

�What?� Sydney boomed. �You�ll destroy him!�

�For once, that�s exactly what they want.� Raines and Lyle exchanged smiles, before turning to leave.

�Again, good job sis,� Lyle called over his shoulder, before both men disappeared from the office.

Sydney was seething as he stood behind his desk, clenching and unclenching his fists. He circled around and headed towards Parker, hissing, �What would your mother think of you now, Parker?� She closed her eyes briefly as he pushed passed her, he yanking the office door open so fast it slammed into the wall ruthlessly as he briskly walked out.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Is that him?� the tall man asked, looking through the one-way mirror at the unconscious figure on the bed.

�Yes,� replied the other beside him. �Would you like to go in?�

�No,� he said firmly. �We�ll meet when the timing is right.�

�Are you sure this is going to work?�

�He is the key. It has to. If it doesn�t, the Centre may not survive.� His brown eyes peeled away from the window to the shorter man, his strong yet aged face drawn without any expression. �Get him ready. We must start right away.�

�Yes sir.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The cafeteria was completely empty except for one man, who was hunched over a cold cup of coffee. She stopped at the doors, allowing them to swing shut behind her, before she headed towards the lone seated form.

�Is this seat taken?� she asked unnecessarily, placing her hands on the back of the chair across the table from him.

Sydney looked up at her with an unreadable expression, but said nothing.

She glanced briefly around before taking the seat anyway, folding her hands out in front of her. �Look Syd, I don�t know what to tell you.�

�Then why did you come here, Parker?� he asked, sipping at the coffee and making a disgusted face. He set the cup down and slid it away from him with his fingertips.

She looked away from the coffee to his face, explaining softly, �I don�t know why I pulled the trigger. I just... did it. He jumped and I got scared. It was kind of a reaction, I suppose.�

�He was helpless. He couldn�t have escaped if he wanted to,� Sydney sighed, dropping his eyes to the table. �And you lead them right to him.�

�I did what I had to do.� She stared at him for a moment, but he wouldn�t meet her eyes. �If it�s any consolation... I�m sorry.� This got his attention, and he looked up at her. �The fact that I had actually pulled the trigger eats me alive.�

�That�s something I wanted to hear,� Sydney confessed. �I needed some sign that you felt... anything.� He reached over and laid his hand on hers, patting it twice. �I suppose I�m directing all my anger towards you unfairly. I feel utterly helpless, knowing that Jarod is in their hands again.�

�There�s nothing we can do, Syd.�

�Yes,� Sydney sighed, determination lighting his face. �There has to be something.�

�What are you suggesting?�

Sydney sighed heavily, but said nothing as he stared at her evenly.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

It felt like he had to muster all his strength just to peel his eyelids open and his blurry vision was greeted by the sight of a white ceiling. That�s when realization came crashing down on him and his heart sank. He swallowed back his panic and darted his eyes around the plain white room. The Centre infirmary�it had to be.

The door creaked open and Jarod�s wide eyes flickered over to the three men that entered, clad in simple white scrubs. Fear boiled up inside him as they approached him menacingly, and that fear tripled when he watched one pull a tray full of tools along with him to the bed.

�Don�t,� Jarod said, surprised to hear his speech slurred. They probably had sedatives pumping in him right now, he thought.

Two of the men assumed their spots on each side of the bed, putting all their weight down on the weakened pretender�s arms to halt any struggle. Unable to move his torso, Jarod thrashed his head back and forth, not allowing himself to plea with them. The man with the tools held up a leather strap and advanced on Jarod, stopping his movement with one hand and forcing the strap in his mouth with the other. Silently, the men at Jarod�s sides grabbed each side of the strap to keep it in place, still holding down his arms.

�Don�t want you to bite off your tongue,� the third man said with no emotion in his tone.

Jarod whimpered against the barrier in his clenched teeth as he watched the man with fearful eyes. The evil doctor looked away from the distressed pretender to his tray of goodies, lifting up his first tool: a knife.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Sydney watched as the young woman resumed her earlier pacing as the technician typed furiously at the keyboard. The tech lab was drained from any other employees for they had gone home, and, besides the clicking of the keyboard, Parker�s high heels echoed loudly in the quiet room. �Now, if we�re caught, we could get into a lot of trouble for this,� Broots mumbled without taking his eyes from the screen.

�You don�t think we know that?� Parker hissed, shooting a look at the back of the tech�s head. She paused and flickered her eyes around the lab. �Are you sure there aren�t any cameras in here?�

�Already checked,� Broots replied.

�How�s it coming along, Broots?� Sydney asked calmly from where he was seated at the leather couch.

Broots cleared his throat, furrowing his brow as he kept typing commands. �Um... well, if you�re positive it�s room 106, then it will be just another second until I�yes, got it.� The computer clicked and there shown on the screen was a white room, where three men hovered over a bed. The person that occupied the bed could not be seen, but they could clearly see the squirming legs underneath the white sheets.

�Is this happening right now?� Parker asked, leaning over his shoulder as Sydney stood to join them.

�Yes, it�s the security feed from that room,� Broots answered. �I was able to break into the Centre mainframe��

�What are they doing?� Parker interrupted, furrowing her brow as she watched the screen intently.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Jarod�s scream was muffled as he felt the searing pain explode in his side as the knife dove in. He squeezed his eyes shut and strained his head back against the pillow, feeling the prickle of white heat course through his entire body. They are going to carve the bullet out, he thought, or kill me in the process. It scared him to think that he�d rather have it that way as another wave of pain washed over him and he whimpered when the man twisted the blade into the tender flesh.

He felt as though he might vomit and he pushed at the strap with his tongue desperately, feeling panicked. He snapped his wide-eyes open and looked up into the faces that hovered over him, looking from each face in hopes of triggering any kind of emotion. He failed miserably when the men just kept staring down at him, heartless expressions molded on their faces.

He felt dizzy and prayed he would pass out as the pain deepened, the mad man adding tweezers to the wound. Through the nauseating pain, Jarod could feel something flowing down his side like hot water and realized with devastation it was his own blood soaking the bed under him.

Warm tears trickled from the corners of his eyes and slid down the side of his face as he continued to whimper and squirm in their tight hold. His mouth was completely dry now from panting so hard around the leather gag and found it difficult to swallow.

Jarod screamed through his clenched teeth and jerked his head back into the pillow when he felt another gush of pain envelope his side. It felt like he literally exploded and a searing heat washed over him and pulled him into darkness. With relief, Jarod fell unconscious.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The trio watched as the struggling ceased from the patient on the bed, but the three men in white remained working. Finally, the man that was apparently leading the operation leaned up and dropped something in a small tin bowl and it made a small clank noise.

�It�s Jarod,� Parker gasped, watching with wide eyes as the two men at the sides of the bed took a step back from the unconscious man.

�What were they doing?� Broots mumbled, fidgeting in his chair.

�They removed the bullet,� Sydney replied quietly, briefly looking at Miss Parker. The color drained from her face, but she remained silently staring at the screen.

�W-when he was still awake?� Broots stammered.

The lab fell silent as the trio watched the doctor pull a strap from Jarod�s mouth and began to wipe off his bloodied tools. Not until his equipment was placed back on the tray did he tend the gushing wound at Jarod�s side. He taped white gauze on it to stop the bleeding, instructing one of the men to hold down on it firmly as he pushed his tray out of the room. After a few minutes, the two other men followed suit and left the unconscious man to his fitful sleep.

Parker straightened from where she was leaning over and swallowed hard against the lump in her throat. Sydney stood beside her and looked at her carefully with worried eyes.

�Are you alright?�

�Fine, Syd,� she replied sharply, directing her gaze at him. �Just hunky-dory.�

�What do we do now?� Broots asked.

Parker dropped her gaze at the tech and lifted both her eyebrows. �Nothing. We don�t do a damn thing.�

�Parker...� Sydney began on a whisper.

�What do we do, Syd?� she snarled, looking up at him again. �What the hell do we do?�

�I thought...�

�I feel bad that I shot him, Syd. But, not bad enough to help him escape. I�m not risking my ass for the bastard that had always called me in the middle of the night to torture�� Her voice caught as she gestured towards the screen with an open palm and stopped, staring at the man on the white bed. She pursed her lips together, her eyes glittering as she fought with herself. Slowly, she continued with a shaky voice, �Torture me about my mother.� She stopped, her face twisting into sorrow as she lowered her eyes from the screen to the floor. �Damn it,� she gasped in a quivering voice.

�He doesn�t deserve this,� Sydney whispered, taking a step towards her. �He doesn�t deserve this and you know it, Parker.�

Heaving a trembling sigh, Parker raised her eyes to the older man and shook her head sadly. �I can�t...�

�Please Parker. Do it for your mother.�

�Shit,� she cursed, spinning away from him and slapping her arms at her sides. �Always my mother.� She stared at the opposite wall for a moment to gather her composure and then spun angrily towards the two men. �My mother was always the one to do the *right* thing, wasn�t she? But, where did that get her? Huh? She�s dead!�

�I can�t believe you,� Sydney replied.

�Too much Sydney,� she whispered, shaking her head. �Too many times I have had to deal with shit like this. I�m sick of it. Everyday we track him and hunt him down. We have taken our time away from our lives, our families,� she shouted, looking pointedly at Broots, �Trying to get him back. And when I finally get his ass in this place, you guys suddenly want to get him out!�

Broots darted his eyes around nervously, fearing someone might hear them. Sydney, as if reading his thoughts, hushed her, �Stop it, Parker. Just stop it.�

�No!� she hissed, shoving a finger at him. �This is the Centre�the place that took my mother away from me, my life, my-my Tommy...� She stopped, covering her mouth as she sobbed quietly. She swallowed her tears and took a couple steps back, collapsing on the couch behind her. She pulled her hand down to her chest and looked up at them, finding them staring at her with concern. �I can�t lose anyone else.�

Sydney moved from the spot he was planted to and sat down beside her, placing a hesitant arm around her shoulders. �I�m sorry, Parker. We have all dealt with a lot from this place and have lost too many people we care about as well. We don�t want to lose anyone else either,� he whispered. �But, what happens if we *don�t* help him?�

Parker looked up at him as a single tear slipped down her face and stared at him in consideration. Finally, she took a breath and wiped the tear from her face. �What do we do then?�

A small smile pulled at Sydney�s lips and he answered, �We do whatever we can to keep him safe for now. If he is to get out of here, he needs to be healthy enough to do it himself. I�m going to try and get some kind of access to him.�

�I�ll monitor the security feeds and keep track of where they take him,� Broots offered. �If any information is stored on the mainframe about �Re-education�, I�ll find it.�

�I�m in the Triumvirate�s good graces,� Parker said quietly. �I�m sure I can make some kind of deal.�

Sydney nodded and looked from his two colleagues�his friends. �Thank you so much.�

�Thank us later, Syd,� Parker said evenly, looking at him. �We haven�t risked our asses yet.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Jarod groaned and peeled his eyelids back, feeling as though he had been unconscious for days and days. He felt disoriented and looked around the room slowly, realizing with dread that it wasn�t a dream. He *was* back at the Centre.

His traveling eyes stopped when they reached the corner of the room next to the door, finding a tall brunette standing there with her arms folded in front of her. His heart squeezed in his chest at the very sight of her and he moved his lips to say something, but he was too weak to utter a word.

�Glad you came back to the living,� she said without emotion, before she pushed off the wall she was leaning against and approached his bed. �How�s the wound?�

�Parker,� Jarod croaked, finally managing to make his voice work.

She took a seat by his side and crooked her head as she studied him, her lips looking as though they were fighting a bitter smile. �They tell me they�re proud. I pull the trigger and they pat me on the back.�

Jarod furrowed his brow, staring into her eyes with question. She looked different... Something was wrong. He couldn�t help but flinch when she raised her hand to his face, and she frowned as she drifted her fingertips down his cheek.

�Don�t be scared of me, dear pretender,� she whispered. �I would never hurt you.�

�You shot me,� Jarod whispered in his haggard voice.

�Oh,� she said simply, stopping her movements, and then tipped her head back to bark in laughter. �That�s right!�

�Parker?� Jarod whimpered, staring at her in horror.

�Hush,� she cooed, leaning over him and cupping the sides of his face with her hands. �Hush, lovely.� She bared all her teeth in a smile, staring deep into his eyes. �I can still remember all the times we spent together when we were young. I loved you so much then, Jarod. So much.� Her smile faded and she bit her lower lip, her eyes taking in every little detail on his face. �Sydney is worried about you and so is Broots. They�re even thinking about getting you out of here.�

Jarod opened his mouth to say something, but she silenced him with a kiss. His eyes went wide, but she pulled back before he could react.

�They want me to help them,� she confessed, shaking her head. �But the Centre needs you too much. You�re the key, Jarod. The Centre is nothing without you.� She lowered her eyes sadly, removing one of her hands from his face to reach behind her. �And... that�s why I have to do this, Jarod.� Her blue eyes glittered with tears as she looked back into his, whispering, �I�m sorry.�

Jarod gasped when he caught the gleam of the knife as she raised it over her head. �Parker,� he said on a breath and she swung it down, burying it into his chest.

Jarod shouted out and thrashed his head back, opening his teary eyes to see the white ceiling above him. Gasping, he jerked his head down and looked around the room, finding it empty.

�Oh god,� Jarod sobbed, squeezing his eyes shut.

�Hello Jarod.�

His eyes snapped open and he lowered his view to the doorway, finding a lean woman with long blonde locks that curled around her face. She wore an expensive three piece suit that flattered her form and behind her were two men in black suits.

�Bad dream?� she smiled.

�Who are you?� Jarod croaked.

She entered the room slowly, leaving the two men at the door, and her high heels clicked as she advanced towards him. She stopped by his side and crossed her arms over her chest, staring down at him over the bridge of her small nose.

She was beautiful, he had to admit, with the same air of confidence Parker carried with her, and he felt a pang of sorrow at that thought. Her shiny light hair fell around her face as she leaned over him and her eyes gleamed as she took him in.

�Miss Andr�,� she introduced with a slight British accent, answering the question he had forgot he had asked. �I work for the Triumvirate.�

�The Triumvirate?� Jarod repeated.

�They have big plans for you, pretender,� she replied, straightening and slowly circling around the bed to inspect him.

�What are you talking about?� Jarod whispered, following her with his eyes.

�I�m talking about plans you�ve never dreamed of.� She stopped at the foot of the bed and leaned on it, quirking an eyebrow at him. �I�m talking about the �Powers that Be�.�

�What do they want with me?�

�Everything,� she replied with a shake of her head. �You�re their little problem solver. And I�m here to give you the problem.�

�What makes you think I�ll help them?� Jarod asked carefully, staring at her through his eyelashes.

She straightened up and slowly walked to his side, placing her hands on the bed by his shoulders to lean over him menacingly. �I don�t think you were in any condition to refuse, Jarod.� Jarod stared up at her with resentment and watched as she leaned in, her smooth red lips inches from his own. Her green eyes flickered to his mouth, whispering on a breath, �Raines will be in shortly to start �Re-education�.� Looking up from his lips, she smiled sweetly at him, adding, �And then, I will start my own... �Re-education�.�

Jarod�s eyes narrowed in question and watched as she stood and winked at him, turning on her heel for the door. She squeezed passed her two body guards, ordering, �Let�s go,� before the room was empty from their presence.

Jarod released the breath he wasn�t aware he had been holding and sank into his pillow, staring up at the ceiling in thought.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Anything on �Re-education,� Broots?� Parker asked as soon as she stepped foot in the lab.

�Uh no,� Broots answered, briefly looking away from the screen to acknowledge her. �But, I was watching the security feed and apparently the Triumvirate is being very hands on with �Re-education�.�

�What?� Parker asked, coming up behind him and looking over his shoulder at the screen.

�Well, a woman named Miss Andr� gave Jarod a visit,� Broots replied. �She works for the��

�Triumvirate,� Parker finished, staring unfocused at the screen.

�R-right,� Broots replied, studying her face. �You know her?�

�She worked for Mutumbo... well, before he was murdered.� She shook her head, saying more to herself, �His eyes were gouged right out of his head.�

�Do you think Miss Andr� had something to do with that?�

�Well, I certainly don�t believe Brigitte did it.�

�This is not good.�

�No, it�s not,� Parker said, looking away from the sleeping pretender on the screen to the tech. �If the Triumvirate is directly related to this �Re-education� thing, then it�s big. Really big.�

Broots swallowed and watched her with wide eyes. �What�s our next move?�

�Find everything you can about Raines� new project.� Parker turned for the door and then thought of something, snapping her fingers at the tech to get his attention. �And I want a file on our Miss Andr� on my desk right away.�

�Yes, Miss Parker,� Broots answered, but the door had already clicked shut behind her.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

By now he should have learned that closing your eyes for a second was very bad at the Centre, for when he awoke, he found himself strapped to a chair in the middle of a dark room, with a single light shining above his head. He blinked hard into the intense beam, his eyes fighting to adjust to the change in lighting, and felt that same fear begin to boil up inside him when he realized that his life at the Centre was about to begin.

It felt like his stomach was eating at itself, and that�s when he tried his best to remember when the time he last ate. It was a deep ache, so painful he felt nauseous. And to add to his misery, his side hurt like hell.

But, it was just about to get worse when Raines revealed himself into the light, pulling his oxygen tank behind him. �Hello Jarod,� the old man grinned. �Welcome home.�

�This was never my home,� Jarod wanted to snarl, but his voice came out only above a whisper. Swallowing hard against his dry throat, Jarod tried again, �I�ll die before I call it my home.�

�Death,� Raines said, pouting his lower lip in a show of consideration as he slowly began to pace a circle around him�like a lion stalking his prey. �How wonderful an ending. But, unfortunately for you, your legacy has just began.�

�Legacy?� Jarod repeated on a breath.

�I�m here to simply break you,� Raines beamed, stopping directly in front of Jarod�s view. �Something I�ve waited so long to do. And believe me, I will enjoy every... single... second of it.�

There was no doubt in Jarod�s mind that he would, and his stomach gave another twist. He clenched his teeth together as hard as he could, trying to take his mind off the pain of hunger and the wound at his side. He had to be fully aware of the older man�s actions if he wanted to outwit or outsmart him.

�But, first things first,� Raines said. He slowly slipped into the darkness and disappeared from Jarod�s view, but returned shortly after, holding a black cloth in his hand. The whimper escaped Jarod�s lips before he could stop it and he sank back into the chair with fear. Raines lifted the cloth higher, his face twisting into a smile and said slowly, �Where are the DSA�s, Jarod?�

�I destroyed them,� Jarod said quietly, his wide eyes staring at the hood in Raines� hand.

�Liar,� Raines hissed, shoving the hood at the pretender. �Where are they?�

Jarod swallowed hard and looked away from the material to the doctor�s face, narrowing his brown eyes with as much hatred he could muster. �Go to hell.�

Raines stepped forward abruptly and yanked the hood over Jarod�s head, ignoring the pretender�s surprised gasp and the whimpering that followed. Stepping back, Raines watched with amusement in his eyes as the pretender struggled in his binds before his thrashing slowly died out. Jarod�s chest heaved up and down as he fought to control his panic, clenching and unclenching his bound fists.

�Tell me where they are and I will remove the hood,� Raines said over Jarod�s panting.

Jarod thrashed his head back and forth in hopes of throwing the hood off, but it was no use and he stopped, leaning his head back against the chair in defeat.

Again, Raines repeated his question, �Where are they?�

�Go. To. Hell,� Jarod snarled slowly.

Raines reached over and grabbed the rope at the bottom hem of the hood, yanking it tight. Jarod gasped at the pressure on his neck and felt another wave of panic rise from his gut, twisting his sore body in the chair helplessly.

�I�ll give you one more chance before this gets really ugly, Jarod,� Raines warned. �Where did you put the DSA�s?� Jarod remained silent, panting quietly as he fought for control over himself in the darkness of the hood. He heard Raines sigh heavily and call out to someone, �Bring me the tools.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Got it,� Broots declared, tapping a key. �They took him to Sim Lab 47.�

Sydney frowned and leaned over the younger man�s shoulder, staring at the screen as Raines paced around the hooded pretender. Sydney shook his head sadly, watching as the pretender did his best to control his fear of being hooded.

�The Centre will not stop at nothing,� Sydney whispered under his breath.

�Bring me the tools,� Raines suddenly said on the screen.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Jarod�s heart sank at the words and strained his ears to listen to the movement around him. He could hear the creaking wheels of a cart being pushed towards him and Raines footsteps as he moved closer to his chair. Something clicked and suddenly the seat he was sitting in began to recline back, sprawling him on his back with his arms at his sides. Jarod moved a little to test his bounds, but it was no use and he dropped his head back against the hard cushion.

All he could do now was... survive.

�Every time you refuse to answer the question, I will double the pain. Got it, Jarod?� Jarod didn�t feel the need to answer and regretted it when he felt a blistering heat pierce his side with a zap. He shouted out, arching off the chair as he heard Raines snarl close to his ear, �Got it?�

�Yes,� Jarod gave in, only to avoid another blistering shock.

�Good,� Raines cooed, moving around the pretender carefully. �Now, how did you escape the Centre?�

Jarod tensed. Revealing his plan may diminish any hopes of getting out of here again, so he quickly thought up a lie. �Through the vents,� was his muffled reply.

He cried out as his shoulder exploded into heat as he felt two zaps course through him. Jerking his head to the side, Jarod moaned, digging his nails into his palms to try and regain himself.

�Don�t lie to me,� Raines warned.

�I wasn�t,� Jarod gasped.

Three zaps this time and Jarod arched off the chair, feeling the hot tears slide down his face. �Try again, Jarod.�

Jarod groaned deep his throat, rolling his head slowly back and forth, trying to think through the haziness in his head. He had to give him something, anything that would make him happy. But he didn�t have to answer, for Raines was already continuing his questions.

�Did you have help?�

Jarod swallowed and whispered carefully, �No.�

Four zaps this time and Jarod shouted in pain. �Did you have help?� Raines repeated.

�Yes!� Jarod shouted, sobbing. �Shit!�

�Who?�

�I��

�Who?� Raines boomed in his ear.

�He�s dead! I don�t know his name!� Jarod cried. �He was another pretender...�

He panted heavily for a minute, waiting for Raines� next move, but there was a lengthy pause. Quieting down, Jarod strained his ears to hear the other man and jerked a little in surprise when Raines asked, �Are you in love with Miss Parker?�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Broots and Sydney both blinked in surprise and exchanged brief looks with each other. Turning back to the screen, they fell completely silent as they waited for the answer.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Raines repeated it again, drawing out each word, �Are you in love with Miss Parker?�

Jarod opened his mouth to answer, but the words caught, completely taken back by the question. What feasible use would they have to ask such a question? Would his answer affect her?

�Answer the question, Jarod,� Raines growled.

�Why do you��

Five zaps this time and Jarod screamed in agony, trembling violently as he cried in pain. �I�m asking the questions here!� Raines shouted angrily. �Now answer the damn��

�Yes!� Jarod cried, the answer seeming to echo off the walls.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Both men�s eyes went wide and Broots sat back in his chair in shock, his gaze glued on the screen. Silently, Sydney nodded his head, his face slack of any emotion as he watched on.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The room fell completely silent and Jarod panted heavily, rolling his head in the direction he last knew Raines to be standing. �I love her in some sense,� he justified quietly.

�Have you ever been romantically involved with Miss Parker?� Raines continued on.

Jarod swallowed hard and answered strongly, �No.�

His arm exploded into pain and he jerked his head away, suppressing a cry. �Have you ever been romantically involved with Miss Parker?� Raines repeated.

�We kissed once,� Jarod confessed, gasping. �But, that was when we were children.�

The room fell silent again and Jarod listened carefully to the footsteps that paced around him. He heard the doctor stop at his head and lean over him, sensing his presence hovering above his face.

�Very good, Jarod,� Raines rewarded softly. �But, you still haven�t answered a question for me.� The man paused, letting the pretender register what he was saying. Finally, he broke the silence with, �Where are the DSA�s?�

Jarod�s heart sank, before he shook his head back and forth, breathing heavily. �Hurt me all you want. You�ll never get your hands on�� His sentence was interrupted with a cry, counting six zaps cutting through his right side. He blinked hard as the pain subsided, feeling dizzy and nauseous.

�Where are the damn DSA�s?!� Raines screamed, hitting his fist on the cushion at Jarod�s shoulder.

�Fuck you!� Jarod shouted in anger, before he felt the electric shock reach its full strength through his body. He convulsed with pain, roaring as wave after wave coursed through his helpless form. Dizziness washed over him and Jarod fell limply on the chair, falling into the comforting darkness.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Damn it,� Sydney cursed, slamming his fist on the desk as he watched the pretender go limp on the reclined chair. Running his shaky fingers through his grey hair, Sydney watched as Raines tossed the stun gun away with an angry growl, before disappearing into the shadows.

Broots slowly peeled his eyes away from the screen to the older man leaning over him. �Why the questions, Syd?�

�They�re trying to find something to use against him,� Sydney answered.

�Should we tell Miss Parker?� Broots whispered, his eyes darting around the room. �She could be in danger now.�

�I don�t believe the Centre will go to any real extremes.�

�We should at least tell her what he said,� Broots said.

�Who said what?�

Both men turned towards the door in surprise, finding the tall brunette standing there with her hands on her hips.

�Miss Parker!� Broots gasped, scrambling for a folder on the desk and getting up to give it to her. �H-here�s the folder you wanted on Miss Andr�.�

Parker looked questionably between the two men before yanking the folder out of Broots� hands and flipping it open. Her eyebrows shot up briefly and sighed, slapping the folder shut. �And about �Re-education�? What did you find?�

�See, that�s where it gets weird. I can�t find a *single* thing on �Re-education�. No project report saying Raines is in charge. Nothing. I�m not even sure if it�s a solid project, or if the name is even �Re-education�.�

�Damn it,� Miss Parker whispered under her breath, before her eyes caught the sight of the screen. She slowly walked over to it, looking briefly at Sydney, before turning her eyes back to the screen. �Is that Jarod hooded?�

�Yes,� Sydney replied quietly.

�What did they do to him?�

�Got some answers out of him,� Sydney said, looking over at Broots.

Parker caught the quick exchange, looking over at Broots with narrowed eyes and turning back to Sydney. �I feel as if you�re keeping something from me.� She remained staring at him for a moment, and then questioned, �What did they ask?�

Sydney and Broots exchanged another look.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I have to pee, was his first thought as he resurfaced from unconsciousness. He blinked his eyelids hard and looked around the familiar white room, dragging a long sigh out in exasperation. He felt numb, so incredibly numb, and wondered what they were pumping into him as he looked down at the IV in his arm. That�s when he noticed he was strapped to the bed, cushioned cuffs holding his wrists and ankles in place. They weren�t taking any chances, he thought bitterly, rolling his head to the side and staring at the bedpan on the table next to him longingly. God, he really had to pee.

�How are you feeling today, Jarod?� came a British voice from the doorway.

Jarod pulled his eyes away from the bedpan to the blonde that stared at him confidently. Her eyes flickered to the object he was staring at, before she bared a smile of twisted glee. Slowly, she walked towards him, her arms firmly crossed over her chest as she stared deep into his face.

�Are you going to answer my question?�

�You ask like you care,� Jarod rasped in a slurred voice. Again, he wondered what they were giving him and his eyes fell to the IV on his arm.

�Just precautions,� she explained his unasked question, noticing his directed gaze. �The Centre finally has learned never to underestimate you.�

�Flattering,� Jarod sighed, dropping his head against the pillow and staring up at the ceiling.

Miss Andr� smiled a thin lipped smile and trailed her eyes down his form, saying, �I�m impressed by you, Jarod. You�re strong. I�ve seen bigger men give into the torture.�

�I did give in,� Jarod replied softly, still staring at the ceiling with unfocused eyes. �I answered the questions.�

�Not the most important ones,� Miss Andr� replied, spreading the fingers of her right hand out in front of her to inspect her nails. �I did, however, find your answer... odd... concerning your Miss Parker.�

�I will not let them use her as a tool,� Jarod said slowly, lowering his eyes to look at her. �I know what they are trying to do.�

�But, my dear,� Miss Andr� smiled, shaking her head. �You already answered the question... And I recall your answer was... yes.�

Jarod�s heart sank and he swallowed hard, boring his eyes into her. �Don�t touch her...�

�You show so much concern for your huntress,� Miss Andr� murmured, leaning over him to brush at his short hair, he realizing for the first time they had cut it. �Yet, she�s the one that bloody shot you! Brought you back to the hell you�re in now.�

�It�s complicated,� Jarod whispered.

�Complicated?� Miss Andr� repeated, leaning back to her full height and crossing her arms again. �I find it quite simple. Miss Parker is the very first girl in your life, and being so isolated, you attach yourself to her. Even after all that you two have been through, what she has done, what you have done, you�re still attached to her because she was the *first* girl. You justify her actions, wanting�needing to know that she did because she had no other choice... Right?�

Jarod just stared at her with narrowed eyes and she bared a huge smile at him, her eyes darting to the bed pan on the table.

�I�ll send an orderly in here to help you out with that,� she said, turning on her heel. Jarod watched as she left the room before closing his eyes in defeat, knowing he was officially in hell.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Parker sighed and tossed the worthless folder down. Nothing on Miss Andr� that she could use, not even the projects she was involved with were worth looking for. Sitting back in her chair, Parker chewed on her lip and stared down at her desk in thought.

�He what?� she had said in astonishment when the two men had finally told her what they said.

�He said yes,� Sydney replied.

Oh god, he said yes. Why would he... after everything that�s happened over the passed two days? Over the years?

She inhaled sharply and lifted her drink up from her desk, sipping at it carefully. She closed her eyes briefly as the burning liquid slid down her throat, settling warmly in her stomach.

�Catching up on your reading, Miss Parker?� an accented voice said and Parker looked up at the blonde that had invaded her office.

Lifting both eyebrows to cover her surprise, Parker stood, eyeing the folder on her desk. �Just keeping on top of things.�

�Hmm,� Miss Andr� nodded. �Like, how you were using the security feed to keep on top of things, eh?� Parker�s eyes went wide as the woman held up a tape recorder and saying, �Or this.� She pushed play and Parker listened as her recorded voice sliced the silent office air:

�Everyday we track him and hunt him down. We have taken our time away from our lives, our families, trying to get him back. And when I finally get his ass in this place, you guys suddenly want to get him out!�

Miss Andr� stopped the recording and smiled at Miss Parker, thoroughly enjoying her appalled expression. �You and your friends could get in *a lot* of trouble for this, Miss Parker. Death even.�

Parker�s heart was beating loudly in her ears as she stared at the woman, forcing herself to keep a cool exterior.

�But,� Miss Andr� said slowly. �I�m willing to cut you a deal.�

�What kind of deal?� Parker asked.

�The Centre won�t have to know about this,� Miss Andr� smiled, wagging the tape recorder in the air. �If... you help us.�

Parker swallowed hard, her wide eyes slowly narrowing at the devious woman. �Help you?�

�What will it be, Parker? Jarod or your friends...?�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

He wasn�t strapped down anymore and there was no IV poking in his arm. Jarod blinked, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings as his mind fought to place where he was. It was still a plain room, but it was obvious he wasn�t in the infirmary anymore. There was a white bed, a dresser and a door that lead to the bathroom, and of course a damn watchful camera in the far corner of the room.

Looking away from the blinking red light, Jarod slowly sat up, clutching the wound on his right side. He was in pain, but wasn�t as weak anymore, and that gave him some kind of hope. Now, he only had to figure out what they next step was.

He figured he was just about to find out when the entrance of the room slid open and in stepped a long pair of legs. He expected Miss Andr� to be glaring down at him, but as he trailed his eyes up the slim body, his surprised eyes settled on the face of...

�Miss Parker,� Jarod whispered.

Her face was hard as stone, barreling into him with her crystal eyes. He remembered his dream and feared that it was an apparition to what�s to come. His eyes flickered around the room, then to himself, realizing that they had dressed him in the normal grey Centre attire. Looking back at her, he studied her appearance longingly�a short black mini skirt and a black jacket that covered a red, dangerously low-cut tank top. She was dressed to kill as usual and looked absolutely stunning.

She gave the door behind her a brief, hesitant look, before taking a step into the room. Her blue eyes met his brown and she hated what she saw in them: desperation, aching need. He looked lost and sore, tired and hungry. And above all, he looked... scared. She wanted to take him by the shoulders and shake him hard, screaming at him. But, she remained rooted to the spot and the odd impulse slowly passed.

�Why are you here?� Jarod whispered, almost fearfully.

�I�m here because of you, Jarod,� she said, finally able to find her voice. She swallowed and continued, �I�m here because of what you said.�

�What I said?� Jarod asked. She watched as the realization hit him and his eyebrows shot up. �What I said...�

�It�s laughable, really,� Parker replied, turning to pace in front of the bed at which he sat watching her. �After everything that been said or done...�

�Ever since we were kids,� Jarod whispered, his eyes following her back and forth. �I�ve never stopped loving��

�Cut the crap, Jarod!� Parker snarled, stopping to face him. �You�re so pathetic! How the hell could someone be so weak?�

Jarod closed his mouth and leaned back a little in shock, boring his eyes in question. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed and he shook his head. �Whatever they�re doing Parker... It�s not going to work.� He looked away from the woman to the camera in the corner, shouting at it, �It is not going to work!�

�Shut up,� Parker hissed, advancing on him. �You think you know everything, don�t you?� Jarod turned his narrowed eyes on her as she stopped right next to the bed. �You�re just a god damn genius, huh?� Jarod turned his head away, but she grabbed him by the chin and yanked his head up to look into her eyes. �Well, Sydney and Broots are going to be killed because you.�

His eyes went large. �What?�

�I will probably suffer that same fate.�

�I��

�You selfish son-of-a-bitch,� Parker whispered, her eyes glittering with emotion. �It�s always about you. How much pain you�re in, how much you miss your god damn family... We�re all in pain!� She let go off his chin and Jarod looked away quickly, closing his eyes as she continued. �I have thrown my whole life away just to hunt you down! Sydney, Broots and I have been through hell just so you can have your *precious* freedom!�

�I deserve to be free!� Jarod shouted at her, his eyes glittering as well.

�Like shit you do!� Parker snapped. �You should be locked behind bars for all the lives you have destroyed here.�

�No!� Jarod yelled. �No! They forced me! I couldn�t��

�Oh right, you couldn�t control it,� Parker mocked. �Just like all those murderers and thieves and criminals out there,� she shoved a finger towards the door, �couldn�t control it. You�re a monster, Jarod! You�re a conniving little freak who shouldn�t be anywhere *but* the Centre. I�m *glad* I shot you!� She glared at him with disgust, shaking her head slowly. �And to think, *anyone* could ever love a... thing like you.�

�No,� Jarod sobbed, a tear escaping his eye. �You don�t mean that. They made you say this!�

�You only wish,� Parker whispered, backing away from him. �I hope you rot in hell.� She turned on her heel, stopping at the door and pounding on it twice.

�I love you, Parker,� Jarod cried, sliding off the bed and limping over to her. �Please! Please, don�t leave me!�

He grabbed her arm and she yanked it away cruelly, knocking him off balance. He stumbled against the wall and slid down it, quaking sobs wrenching his body as the door opened and she escaped the room.

�No!� he screamed as the door closed behind her. �Parker, please!�

He pulled his legs up against him, ignoring the pain in his side as he rocked back and forth. He rested his forehead against his drawn up arms and wept and wept until his eyes were sore.

�I loved you so much,� he whispered to the empty room.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Open it,� Parker ordered shakily and the guard rummaged through his set of keys for the lock. The door was soon opened and she hesitated for a moment, before stepping inside.

Both men looked up at the woman as she entered and they took in her white face with concern, her whole body seeming to be quivering.

�Parker? Are you alright?� Sydney asked, getting up from the white bed. �What�s going on?�

�Why are we locked in here?� Broots whispered nervously from where he leaned against the wall.

Parker bit her lip and looked at the still open door behind her. �You�re free. Let�s get out of here.�

Both men looked at each other, before quickly following the woman out of the room.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Talk to us, Parker,� Sydney said, falling into her quick stride as she stalked towards the Sim lab.

She pushed through the doors and stepped into the room, the psychiatrist and the technician close behind. Slowly, she walked towards the couch and collapsed onto it, completely dissolved into tears.

Broots shot Sydney a wide-eyed look, before the older man rushed to her side and pulled her into his arms. �Hush, Parker... What happened?�

She pushed him away stubbornly and wiped at her eyes. �The room is bugged,� she whispered shakily, willing herself to get under control. �They know everything we said in here.�

�What?� Broots gasped, looking around.

�How?� Sydney asked calmly.

�Miss Andr�,� Parker replied, staring at the floor. �She threatened to bring all this to the surface if I didn�t help her.�

�Help her with what, Parker?� Sydney carefully questioned.

�We need to get somewhere safer,� Parker whispered, pushing herself off the couch to her feet.

�Help her with what, Parker?� Sydney asked again.

Biting her lip, Parker looked over at him, swallowing new tears.

�Breaking Jarod.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Is he ready?� the tall man asked, staring at the monitor.

�He�s ready,� Miss Andr� replied with a knowing smile. �I know the triumvirate is tired of waiting.�

�Without him, there is no triumvirate.�

She looked from the security feed to the man that stood next to her, studying his graying dark hair and strong facial features. �He looks like you, y�know.�

The man turned hard eyes on her, staring at the valiant young woman. �Would make sense,� the man replied dryly.

�Why is that, Mr. Gene?� Miss Andr� asked, furrowing her brow.

�Jarod is my son.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The sun was going down and there was a light breeze that drifted through the small Dover Park. Broots jumped in surprise as two people on rollerblades glided by before turning back to his two friends. Parker was pacing in front of the bench that Sydney and Broots sat at, and the two men followed her movements like a tennis match.

�It doesn�t make sense,� Broots said. �It�s not like the Centre to just... forget about something like that. Our plan to help Jarod escape is a high felony.�

�His eyes,� Parker whispered distractedly, stopping in her tracks to stare off in the distance. �I�ve never seen so much pain in his eyes...�

�Parker, what do we do?� Broots asked nervously. �The Centre might retaliate.�

�Shit,� Parker said on an exhale, dropping her forehead in her hand. �What *are* we going to do?�

�I feel there�s something much bigger the Centre has to deal with then to take care of us,� Sydney informed.

�What do you think *is* going on, Syd?� Broots asked, looking at him.

�I don�t know, Mr. Broots,� Sydney sighed. �But, it has everything to do with Jarod.�

�We have to get him out of there, Syd,� Parker said softly, looking over at the older man.

�Wait, wait,� Broots said, standing up and looking between the two. �What you�re suggesting we do will not only end our career at the Centre, but endanger our lives!� The tech watched as Parker and Sydney looked at each other briefly, before turning their eyes back on him. His shoulders visibly squared and he stood straighter in determination. �When do we start?�

Parker grinned. �Safety first,� she declared. �I want you to get Debbie far away from here as possible.�

�Already planned on it,� Broots sighed, rubbing his forehead nervously.

�We all need to pack,� Sydney stated, standing. �Just in case we need to pick up and go.�

�We need to be fully prepared for everything,� Parker put in, wiping the brown hair from her face when the breeze caught it. �Medical supplies, bathroom necessities and clothes for Jarod...�

�Weapons and protection,� Sydney listed.

�Equipment and technology,� Broots added.

�Tonight we�ll pack,� Parker affirmed. �We need a secure location to meet.�

�We�ll decide later,� Sydney said. �We shouldn�t decide right now, just in case of prying eyes.�

�Or ears,� Broots inserted.

�Alright, go home and pack,� Parker ordered, looking between her two companions. �Get your daughter out of the state,� Parker said to Broots, and then turned to Sydney, �Then I�ll contact both of you. If you don�t hear from me before 1:00am, then run... Get away from Blue Cove as fast as you can. Got it?�

Broots swallowed and nodded, Sydney slowly following suit.

Parker checked her watch. �This gives us six hours.� Looking back at the two in front of her, she heaved a determined sigh. �Time for a new Parker legacy.�

�Your mother would be proud,� Sydney smiled.

�I know she would,� Parker replied. Bobbing her head once in fortitude, Parker reminded, �1:00am guys.�

�Got it.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

She must be crazy... She *has* to be crazy.

Parker held up a blue blouse and frowned at it, before stuffing it in her suitcase.

Yup... definitely nuts.

Grabbing her gun from the nightstand, she checked the clip the thousandth time and tucked it in the holster at the small of her back. Eyeing the clock, she read 12:52 and quickly reached for her phone. She began to dial, but before she could push the last number, something clicked behind her and she froze.

Slowly turning around, she met the business end of a .22 caliber pistol and her eyes went wide. Flicking her eyes away from the gun, she met the intruder behind the weapon and found Miss Andr�s smiling face.

�Sending a triumvirate operative to do the dirty work,� Parker said slowly. �This *is* big.�

�I offered,� Miss Andr� grinned. �How are you, Miss Parker?�

Parker crooked an eyebrow at the gun. �Lovely,� she said dryly.

�Y�know, I really do appreciate what you did for us,� Miss Andr� said with a twisted grin. �I mean, that had to have been hard for you.� Parker stared at her, but failed to comment. �You did much more than what you think. You set the game pieces in place.�

�It�s just a game to you people, isn�t it?� Parker whispered. �It always has.�

�And it�s your �game over�,� Miss Andr� replied, taking a step towards her with the gun leveled on her head.

Before Miss Andr� could get the chance to squeeze the trigger, Parker twisted around and kicked out, knocking the gun across the room. The blonde howled in frustration and lunged towards her, knocking her back on the bed with a thump and sending Parker�s phone flying from her hand. Miss Andr� drew her arm back and backhanded Parker across the face, stunning her, and Andr� took the opportunity to wrap her hands around her neck. Parker gagged and brought up a knee, knocking the air out of the blonde and sending her to the ground.

Parker quickly eyed the clock: 12:56.

Yanking out her gun, Parker aimed the 9mm down at Andr� and bared all her teeth in a smile.

�I�m disappointed. I expected more out of a triumvirate operative,� Parker replied in an even voice.

�I�m just getting warmed up, lovely,� Miss Andr� smiled, kicking her legs out from underneath her.

Parker hit the floor with a thud and the gun skidded across the carpet and under the bed. Springing to her feet, Andr� kicked Parker in the side before she could move and the other woman gasped in pain. �God, I love that sound,� Andr� laughed, kicking Parker again and again.

Crumbled and panting on the floor, Parker struggled to regain herself as she blinked away the haziness that had clouded her vision. She watched as Miss Andr� slowly stalked around her in a circle, talking in a tone that held such glee.

�Y�know, there�s just something about someone else being at your misery that is so... thrilling,� she sighed, stopping and placing her hands on her hips. �But, the biggest victory yet would have to be your dear �ol boyfriend. He *was* a tough one.�

�What about Mutumbo,� Parker gasped, trying to catch her breath. �Killing the man that is head of it all must have been a huge kick.�

�See,� Andr� said through her clenched teeth, leaning down on her haunches next to the fallen woman. �That�s where you�re wrong, Parker. I didn�t kill him, your father did.� Parker blinked and her face drained of color, and Miss Andr� groaned, shaking her head in disgust. �Oh, don�t look so surprised, Parker. You knew all along.�

Parker closed her eyes briefly, before looking up at the lit numbers on the nightstand: 12:59.

Reaching over, Andr� lifted her gun up from the floor and inspected it carefully. �And another thing... Mutumbo wasn�t head of it all.�

Parker looked up at her in question as the blonde stood her full height, aiming the gun down at the brunette.

�Who?� Parker whispered shakily.

It was 1:00.

�A man named... Mr. Gene.�

Andr� paused, watching the conflict radiate off the woman�s face, before she exposed her white teeth in a smile. �Bye, bye, Miss Parker.�

The room exploded with the sound of a gun shot and Parker let out a gasp as blood dotted the carpet.

Miss Andr� fell with a thud to her knees, her mouth agape in horror as she stared at Miss Parker with stunned eyes. Shakily, her gaze dropped to the neat bullet hole in her blouse before turning it to the other end of the room. Parker followed her gaze and smiled when she saw Sydney standing there, holding a steaming gun.

The life slowly slipped from Miss Andr�s face and her body fell forward onto the floor, lying forever still face down.

Climbing to her feet carefully, Miss Parker beamed at the older man, who quickly came to her aid in helping her stand. �Sydney, I am *so* glad to see you.�

�Like you, I�m not very patient. Sorry I couldn�t wait until one,� the older man said, smiling a little.

�I think I can forgive you,� Parker sighed.

�Let�s get out of here before the wrong people show up.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�I suppose it was the Centre�s best kept secret� That the Powers That Be weren�t all that powerful,� Broots said, setting down the computer and reaching under the hotel table to plug it in.

�I want you to find out who Mr. Gene is,� Parker replied. She pulled the curtains back to peer at the parking lot, sighing when the rain began to pour heavily on the very few vehicles outside.

�Jacob knew...� Sydney whispered. �We can�t waste another second,� Sydney spoke up strongly from where he sat on the cheap bed spread. �We need to find out where Jarod is and get him out of there.�

�I will see what I can do, Syd,� Broots said over his shoulder as the computer booted up.

�Well, do it,� Parker ordered, turning around to face them. �We are going to act tonight.�

�Tonight?� Broots gaped. �And h-how do you propose we do it?�

�Why... just walk right in...�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Her high heels clicked loudly on the floor as she briskly walked down the corridor, her blue eyes staring steadily ahead. It was very late so there were few employees around, which made it a lot easier for her to slide right in as the new security guard. The name tag dangled from her suit pocket, naming her as Thelma Florence. She had gagged at the picture of the blonde, but Broots claimed that was all he could do. So here she was, Miss Blonde Thelma Florence, wearing a heavy blonde wig and a black suit. How wonderful.

Turning the corner, she immediately pressed her back against the wall and looked up at the camera above her. Holding her wrist to her mouth, she spoke softly into the tiny microphone, �Alright, now.� Dropping her hand, she watched the camera closely, watching it blink twice before going off. Pushing off the wall, she trotted down the hallway, slowing her pace when she reached half way. �Now,� she spoke into her wrist. The next camera blinked and then shut off.

Turning the corner, Parker looked around carefully, before approaching the door marked D304. Pulling out a card connected to a small keypad, Parker carefully slid the card through the slot on the panel by the door and pressed the code Broots had told her earlier. The panel beeped in affirmative and the door hissed as it unlocked.

�Too easy,� she whispered, looking around.

Pushing her hand against the door, she stepped into the dark room and squinted her eyes to adjust to the low light. Her heart sank when they did and she looked around hastily in the empty room.

�Shit,� she whispered to herself after her quick search, before pulling her wrist up to her mouth. �Broots,� she barked in a hushed tone. �He�s not here.�

�What?� was the static reply in her ear.

�They must have m�� Her sentence was cut short when sirens suddenly began to blare and she ducked in surprise. Looking around in fear, she darted for the door and skidded to a stop out into the hall. She froze with wide eyes and backed up against the wall at the sight of a dozen guns aimed in her direction. Looking from face to face, she realized with dread that they knew she was coming and she suddenly felt nauseous.

�Hold your hands up where I can see them!� one of the men ordered, and slowly Parker relented. He stepped forward and reached into her jacket, pulling out her 9mm from the holster at her side. �I don�t know why you were in there, but you do not have authorization.�

�I know exactly why she was in there,� someone said from the back of the crowd.

Parker�s eyes flickered away from the guard and watched as the crowd parted. A man in a dark pin-striped suit stepped forward and her eyes grew wide with horror.

�Oh my god,� she gasped.

�Hello, Miss Parker,� the man replied. He stepped forward and she shrunk away a little as he pulled the wig free from her head. �They told me you�d come.�

�What the hell?� she whispered, her eyes searching his unreadable face. �What did they do to you, Jarod?�

Jarod�s eyes darkened and his lips twisted into a bitter smile. �I go by the name... Mr. Gene.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Miss Parker?� Broots said into the radio. He sat at the desk, hunched over his computer and stared at the walkie talkie with wide eyes. �Miss Parker, are you there?�

�What�s wrong?� Sydney asked, leaning over the tech�s shoulder. �What happened?�

�I don�t know,� he replied slowly. �I just lost connection.�

Sydney cursed under his breath and turned away abruptly to pace. �I pray she wasn�t caught.�

�I�m going to break into the Centre mainframe,� Broots replied over his shoulder, turning to the keyboard and typing furiously. �Maybe I can find out something.�

�Hurry,� Sydney encouraged. �I have a very bad feeling.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�You have a lot of explaining to do,� he said in a low voice, pacing around her chair menacingly. Parker looked up at him and stared at his face as he walked along the T-board to take his seat at the other end.

�So do you,� she replied.

�I have nothing to explain to *you*, Miss Parker,� the man hissed.

�Jarod��

�Mr. Gene,� he barked. �Don�t get me confused with Jarod. Jarod is dead.�

Her eyes went wide as she stared at the man before her, looking so much like the man she once knew yet looking so different. In his eyes, there was something she just couldn�t read and that scared her. She slowly leaned forward in her seat and placed her handcuffed hands on the table, the metal rattling against the surface. �Who are you then?�

�I�m the Powers that Be,� he grinned proudly, leaning back in his seat and touching his fingertips together. �I�m the Triumvirate.�

�Mr. Gene,� Parker whispered to herself, staring at him with unblinking eyes. �The man that is head of it all.�

Pushing himself up from the leather chair, the handsome man straightened his expensive suit and slowly advanced on her. �Now, I have a few questions for you.� Parker leaned away from him as he stopped in front of her and her eyes narrowed as he searched her face for a moment. �You were the chairmen�s daughter, were you not?�

Her brow furrowed. �You don�t know?�

�Answer the question,� Mr. Gene hissed.

�Yes, I was,� she snapped.

�You were assigned to track a pretender down, am I correct?�

�Jarod,� she answered, her face holding confusion. �I was assigned to track... a man that resembles you...�

�Hmm,� Mr. Gene hummed, leaning against the table and folding his arms over his chest. �For nearly five years you�ve been hunting... this man, yet we find you tonight in his room to help him escape.�

�Help him escape?� she repeated. �No... You�re wrong.�

�Am I?� Mr. Gene inquired with a crooked eyebrow. With a single blink, Parker suddenly found herself staring down the barrel of a 9mm�her 9mm, and she looked up at the man in surprise. He gripped the gun expertly, his arm straight and stiff as he held the gun just within inches of her forehead. �Give me one good reason why I shouldn�t shoot you, Miss Parker.�

She swallowed hard, but did not break eye contact with him. �Many loyal years I have spent working for the Centre. I would not do something that would jeopardize my job.�

�Funny,� Mr. Gene said, baring his white teeth. �Just like your mother did?�

Her eyes bore into him and made no sign she was affected. �I would not help Jarod escape. I�ve sacrificed too much to do that.�

�Why were you in his room?�

�I got news from an unknown source that tonight he was going to escape. I had to do something.�

�How very... loyal... of you, Miss Parker,� Mr. Gene grinned.

�Why do you look like him?� she asked before she could stop herself.

Mr. Gene craned his head to the side, not breaking eye contact with her as his lips slowly drew up in a smile. �Well, Miss Parker, you of all people should know the Centre is very good at keeping secrets.� He pushed off the table and tucked the gun back in the inside of his suit jacket, staring at her carefully. �Especially when it comes to the Triumvirate.�

�What are you talking about?� she asked quietly, watching as he leaned over the table to lift up a folder. He tossed it across the table and it slid to a stop in front of her. Looking away from him, she opened the file and found a picture paper clipped to a profile inside. It was a photograph of a man that looked sort of like Jarod, yet older and more distinguished. He had dark eyes and graying hair and his face was stricken from any laugh lines.

�Say hello to your former Mr. Gene,� the man replied, tucking his hands in his pants pockets.

�Former?� Parker questioned, looking up at him.

�The Triumvirate is the very heart of the Centre. Without it, the Centre can not�and will not�survive,� he explained, watching as she lifted up the picture to scan over the papers underneath.

�Mr. Gene was a pretender,� Miss Parker read, looking up at the man before her in surprise.

�A very good one,� tall man replied. �A good leader too.�

�So, why former?�

�Mr. Gene had a fatal disease and wasn�t going to last much longer. The Triumvirate had to act quickly to find a replacement. They needed someone that was just as�or even better than�our dear Mr. Gene. They needed a pretender...�

It suddenly fell into place and Parker looked up at him with wide eyes. �A pretender like Jarod.�

�In 1963, Jacob Green brought in a little boy named Jarod,� the young Mr. Gene began. �He showed brilliant potential and helped the Centre rise. But, of course this was all to be expected... He *was* Mr. Gene�s son.�

Parker blinked several times in shock and then lowered her eyes to the man in the picture. �What about Major Charles? And Margaret?�

�All a lie. Everything was a carefully planned cover up. Medical files and any other evidence Jarod came across were faked and planted. Charles and Margaret were *programmed* to think they were Jarod�s parents.�

�Just like they programmed you,� Parker replied, looking up and staring at him hard. �You *are* Jarod.�

�Was,� he corrected, narrowing his eyes. �I�ve learned what I must do. Run the Centre.�

�They scrambled your brain,� she whispered. �The Jarod I knew would rather die than run the Centre.�

He leaned on the table with both hands. �Well, the Jarod you knew is dead. I�m running the show now.�

�That�s what my father meant,� she said softly, her eyes studying his face for any sign of the pretender that used to torment her. �Jarod is the key.�

�Always has been.�

�You�re like a prince here, aren�t you? True royalty.�

�I guess you could look at it that way,� Mr. Gene smiled, turning to take his chair.

�So, Mr. Triumvirate,� Parker hissed. �Why tell me all this? It�s not Centre-style to leak so much precious information to someone that is under the radar.�

�Won�t matter much anyway,� he sighed, lounging in his seat. �We�re going to squeeze all the information we can out of you like a tube of toothpaste and then rid the Centre of the damn Parker legacy for good. Your twin is probably sleeping with the fishes already.�

Parker stared at him, shaking her head softly. �You won�t do this. In your heart, you *are* Jarod. He would never do this.�

�Oh, get off your high horse, Miss P.,� Mr. Gene groaned, sitting up in his seat. �You had a hand in all this. Actually, we couldn�t have done it without you.� He leaned on the table, placing his cheek in his right palm. �I may not remember Jarod, but I saw the tape of you ripping on him. That was pretty mean. And the bullet wound.� He touched a hand to his side lightly.

Parker closed her eyes briefly and lowered her head.

�Any who,� Mr. Gene sighed, abruptly standing. �I must be getting to work. Someone will be in shortly for you.�

Parker reached out both handcuffed hands to snatch his arm as he passed her by and he looked down at her in sheer disgust. �Jarod... please...�

He whipped his arm out her grip violently and leaned down, grabbing her face in his hands roughly. He jerked her head until she looked straight into his eyes and he held her gaze for the longest moment. Slowly, he said, �Tell me, Parker. What do you see?� She opened her mouth to answer and he shook her, repeating, �What do you see?�

�Nothing,� she replied tightly.

He pushed her back in her seat and stood, straightening his suit. �Someone will be in shortly... Thank you for your patience.� And then he was gone, briskly walking out of the T-board room and slamming the doors behind him.

Parker released the breath she was unaware of holding and looked around the room, trying to gather all the information she had just learned.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

He looked up from twiddling his thumbs on the bed and stared at the back of the tech�s head. It had been an hour since Broots had last spoke and Sydney was beginning to wonder if he had fallen asleep still typing.

Finally, there were signs of life. �Whoa, Syd... I think I found something...�

�What is it?� Sydney asked, standing up and walking over to him. �You find Miss Parker?�

�No, but I did find something strange.�

�What�s there?�

�Well, it�s more like what�s *not* there,� Broots corrected, turning his head sideways to look at the man.

�Pardon?�

�There are files missing,� Broots replied, typing a couple commands on the keyboard. �At first, I didn�t really notice. Only unimportant files were disappearing. Now even the big ones are going... Like someone is deleting them.�

�Could it be a virus?�

�Possibly,� Broots shrugged. �But, I do think whatever�s going on is happening behind the Centre�s back.�

�Jarod?�

�I�m not sure.�

�Keep looking. We need to find out what�s going on there.�

�Okay.�

�In the meantime,� Sydney sighed, walking over to the door and grabbing his coat from the arm chair beside it. �I�m going to Blue Cove.�

�Syd?� Broots questioned, turning in his chair to look at the older man.

�I�m not waiting for her heads up,� he replied. �I�m going to get into position just in case.�

�Be careful, Sydney. You may have to go in blindly if I can�t regain communication with Miss Parker.�

�If that�s what I have to do...� he said softly. He reached down and turned the door handle, still staring at the tech with kind eyes. �I�ll call you when I�m in place.�

Broots nodded silently and watched as he closed the door behind him. The tech sighed heavily and returned to the glowing computer screen, saying a silent pray in his head for his friends.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

It was dark in the room, much like the room they had Jarod in when they were torturing answers out of him. She shivered at the notion, the movement restricted by the leather straps holding her to the chair. Poetic justice, she thought as she eyed the restraints warily.

�Well, hello Miss Parker,� she heard a voice hiss in the darkness and looked up to see Mr. Raines step into the light. He smiled bitterly at her and Parker looked away in disgust, feeling the fear well up inside the pit of her stomach. This all was like a bad dream�just another twisted Centre image that played in her nightmares. How easily things change in this hell.

Her jaw set in determination, she turned back to the man, watching as he went through tools on a table that had been pushed towards him. �How did you do it, Mr. Raines?� she asked, her voice strained. �How the hell did you pull it off?�

�It was quite simple really,� he replied, lifting up a stun gun and sparking it twice. �When you break someone, it is very easy to mold them into what you want. By using drugs and different forms of hypnosis you can make them do what you please.� Raines smiled at the gun in satisfaction before looking at the woman with the same look. �But first you need to find their weak point. For Jarod... it was you.�

She swallowed hard, but refused to break eye contact with the monster. �You got what you wanted... Jarod running the Centre. What do you want with me?�

�No, no,� Raines said, shaking his head. �Jarod isn�t running the Centre. Mr. Gene�s son is. We simply had to mold a great mind into thinking like we do.�

�Jarod has always found a way to outsmart you. What makes you think he�s not pretending now?�

�That�s where you come in, Miss Parker,� Raines replied. �To prove his loyalty, he is going to kill you.�

Her eyes went wide before they darted over to movement in the dark, watching as Jarod�as Mr. Gene stepped into the light. He wore a smile that made her gut twist and she shrunk back in the chair with dread.

�I�m really going to enjoy this,� Mr. Gene replied.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Broots, I�m in place,� Sydney said into the phone. �Have you found anything new?�

�Nothing on Parker. There�s still no sign of her,� Broots replied on the other end. �But, I did find something very interesting.�

�What is it?�

�Well, on channel 42 news, there was a story about an arrest. A man was charged for the killings of four young women and will be serving his time in jail. Maybe even the death sentence!�

�Yeah? And?�

�Sydney... it was Lyle.�

�Lyle?� Sydney repeated.

�An anonymous person sent the authorities the evidence.�

�Couldn�t have been Jarod, could it?�

�Not sure.�

�Keep looking. I�ll stay in touch.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Parker leaned her head back against the chair and watched through her eyelashes as the man slowly paced around her. Her heart was beating in her ears but she would not let her fear show through. He can do what he wants, but she�d be damned if he got any satisfaction out of it.

�You and Jarod were friends when you were kids, were you not?� Mr. Gene asked, twirling her 9mm around his pointer finger.

She eyed him carefully, before turning her eyes back up towards the ceiling. He stopped his movement and turned his head to look at her, waiting for her response. After a moment of her refusal to answer, he lunged towards her and pressed the gun to her temple.

�Answer the question Miss Parker or it all ends now.�

�What does it matter?� Parker replied, still staring at the ceiling. �You�re going to kill me any ways.�

Mr. Gene stepped back, smiling a little, before turning to pace around her once again. �You gave him his first kiss, didn�t you? And by that, you unknowingly gave him a weakness. You then went off to school only to come back as a different person. Jarod couldn�t cope with the new you, because you acted like you hated him.�

Parker turned her head and followed him with her eyes. �How do you know all this? Do you remember?�

�Please,� he sighed, rolling his eyes. �The Centre keeps tabs on everything. Your life is a file, babe. If I wanted to know the exact time and date of your menstrual period I could just look it up.�

�Bastard,� Parker hissed.

�Bitch,� Mr. Gene shot back. They glared at each other for a moment, measuring each other up, before he continued. �From then on, you weren�t friends anymore. Or at least, you thought so. When Jarod escaped, subtle hints told you that he cared about you in the same way he did when you were kids. And that thought made you question your own feelings.� He stepped forward, his hardened face suddenly growing soft as he leaned over her. She stared up at him, feeling a prickle of pain in her chest when she noticed the Jarod she once knew in his eyes. �Question is: do you love him?�

Parker stared into his eyes, searching for any sign that the real Jarod was asking the question. �I wish that,� she began on a whisper. �I wish that... you�d go to hell.�

Mr. Gene�s face split into a smile and he straightened up. Making a tsking sound in disapproval, he made his way to the table and lifted up the stun gun. �I advise you to cooperate with me or this experience will suddenly get very painful.�

�You don�t want answers,� Parker sighed. �You want to ask me questions I won�t or can�t answer just so you can get your jilly-willies out of my pain.�

He lunged towards her, leaning over her and holding his face so close to her their noses nearly touched. His eyes flashed fury and he pushed the stun gun hard into her side. �Don�t think you have it all figured out, Miss Parker. That could get you seriously hurt.�

She narrowed her eyes into him, feeling the pressure of his other hand on the strap on her wrist. She could feel the strap tightening and she flexed her fingers. �Like I said, it doesn�t matter, does it?�

�It doesn�t,� Mr. Gene hissed, leaning over her so much that his entire body covered hers. �But, let me tell you what does matter. What does matter is the Centre and how it�s run. That everyone inside these walls is apart of what makes the Centre the Centre. I�m here to run the Centre. And I�m going to run it good.�

�Oh really?� Parker hissed. Her face registered slight shock when she felt the strap come loose on her wrist and something metal was pushed into her palm. Her eyes met his and she saw them flash with something.

�Yes... I�m going to run it,� Mr. Gene said, tossing the stun gun into the dark and pulling out a black 9mm from inside his jacket. �Right into the ground.� Aiming up, he shot the only light and it shattered, engulfing them in darkness.

Parker gasped as glass showered down on her and she tightened her hold on the object in her hand, realizing it was her gun. Her other hand fell loose from its bonds and she blinked into the pitch black as shouting and gun shots exploded into the room.

�Someone get in here!� she heard someone shout before another shot erupted. She reached down to fumble with the straps on her ankles, finally pulling them loose. Stumbling out of the chair, she bumped into something�or someone and she spun around in surprise.

�This way,� she heard him say and she felt herself being pulled in a direction. In front of her, a door opened and in sprayed painful light. She blinked and turned away from it as she was pulled into the bright hallway.

Bumping into him, she squinted up at him and found Mr. Gene�s face staring down at her. �You hit?� he asked.

Her eyes searched his face for a moment, before she gasped, �Jarod?�

His face hardened. �I�m not going to tell you again,� he growled. �It�s Mr. Gene.� And then he promptly winked at her.

A small smile pulled at her lips and she nodded. He turned away and briskly trotted down the corridor, she following close behind.

�All the men, including Raines, are dead,� he began, looking over his shoulder at her before peering around a corner. �But, it won�t be long �til some others come our way. So, we have to get out of here now.�

�Tell me what�s going on,� Parker whispered, pressing her back against the wall as he did.

He looked at her carefully and then shook his head. �I will when its safe. Just... trust me, okay?�

She nodded. �Okay.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

His phone rang and he lifted it up eagerly. �Broots?� he asked.

�No, it�s me.�

Sydney�s head swam with relief and his head fell back against the car seat. �Dear god, Miss Parker. I was so worried.�

�I know,� she replied, her voice holding a smile. �Can you reach the north side of the building in one minute?�

Sydney looked out the dark window to the looming fortress through the trees. �Yes, I believe I can try.�

�Thanks. See you soon.� *Click*.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

They darted across the grass, keeping low to the ground and finally reached the door to the van Sydney was waiting in. Parker grabbed the handle and slid it open to get in, smiling at Sydney�s surprised expression when Jarod slid in after her.

�Jarod,� the old man gasped, smiling. �So good to see you.�

�So good to see you,� he replied with a smile. He frowned and looked around the van. �Where�s Mr. Broots?�

�At the hotel,� Sydney replied. �Where we�re going now.�

Jarod looked briefly at Miss Parker with a smile and then nodded at the psychiatrist as he started the car. �Good.�

* * * * * * * * * * * *

�Welcome back, Jarod,� Broots said softly, opening the door and eyeing the three that entered.

Jarod smiled at the tech and bobbed his head once. �Thanks, Mr. Broots.�

�Good job, by the way.�

Jarod furrowed his brow. �With what?�

The tech looked up from inspecting Jarod�s expensive tailored suit with confusion to answer him with a smile, �The files. Getting Lyle arrested.�

�Lyle was arrested?� Parker spoke up, looking between the two.

�Yeah,� Broots grinned. �Finally got what he deserved.�

�Wow,� Parker sighed, lifting up both her eyebrows and walking over to the bed. �So... that�s it then. No more Centre.�

�How so?� Jarod asked, turning to look at her.

She looked up at him and blinked with confusion, before answering his question, �Well, Lyle is arrested, Raines is dead and the Triumvirate is gone. What�s left?�

�Not to mention all the files that were deleted,� Sydney said, smiling at Jarod when he looked his way.

�Yeah... I suppose the Centre has a lot of stuff to sort out with the authorities,� Jarod mumbled to himself. He looked up to meet the questioning gaze of the three surrounding him and he smiled some what sourly. �And it�s my job to make their job a whole lot easier.�

�What?� Parker snapped.

Jarod whipped out his 9mm and swung his arm behind him, nailing Broots across the jaw and sending him to the floor. Parker pulled out her gun in surprise and aimed it at Jarod just as he brought his gun to aim at her.

Sydney took a step towards the fallen tech but Jarod was watching him in the corner of his eye. �Don�t move, doc, or Missy here gets it,� he said slowly, keeping his eyes and aim steady on Miss Parker.

�Jarod... What are you doing?� Sydney asked carefully.

�When are you going to learn to never underestimate the Powers that Be,� Mr. Gene said, shaking his head slowly. �Like I said, I�m running the show now. And now that I got you three, there will be no stopping the Centre.�

�It was all a set up,� Parker whispered, staring at the man before her with wide eyes. �The whole escape plan... it was just a plan to have me lead you here.�

�Ooh, you are smart,� Mr. Gene smiled.

�I knew it was too easy.�

�And now, time to rid you guys from the Centre�s hair for good,� Mr. Gene said, tightening his finger on the trigger. Parker�s eyes went wide, her own grip tightening on her weapon. It was a stare down, each waiting for the other to make the move. Finally, Mr. Gene barked in laughter, his eyes twinkling as he stared at her. �You can�t do it. You can�t shoot Jarod even after all this.�

Parker�s eyes flickered over his shoulder briefly, before meeting his eyes again. �Maybe not. But, we sure can hit you.�

Mr. Gene�s brow furrowed before he grunted in pain, falling to the floor with a thud, unconscious. Parker looked up from the fallen form to the surprised tech, who held the hotel telephone in his hand.

�Whoa,� Broots stammered.

�Whoa is right,� Parker sighed, dropping her arm to her side.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

To be continued...