Craig looked across the rooftop, turning as he looked into the garden. Focusing his vision, he found more pockets of fanatics beginning to surround the mansion.

"Bre, they are surrounding us," Craig called, "we will lose people if we don't pull them."

"Tell Cara the repositioning," Breanna called as she aimed into an oncoming group, "get our snipers out of the trees."

"On it. Birgit," Jasmine called "energise."

"Coming," Birgit called, moving across the roof to where Jasmine was already preparing to phase.

"Just keep me energised," Jasmine said, "we have to work quickly to get everyone here."

"Bre, Hana says the helicopters are the issue," Valencia said, "apparently, she chatted with Cara and has found a ... hole to rip open."

"Phoenix," Breanna turned to the levitating man, "you need to get rid of the helicopters, or we need to override one, if not all."

"Cara will try, but she may find barriers," Phoenix warbled from his height, "do you have anyone who can take over the machine?"

"No one is taking over the machine," Breanna called.

Jasmine, Trevet and Birgit appeared on the rooftop just below Phoenix. Birgit straightened; her eyes were glazed. She seemed to be listening. Jesse hovered nearby, watching for anything that may harm Valencia /Birgit, reacting to anything nearby.

"There are a lot of clones," Birgit said, "each group has clones."

"How do we know the clones from the others?" David asked.

"Simple," Jasmine muttered as she helped Trevet to his wobbly feet, "they are the ones taking orders."

"Get rid of the clones, and you'll have a large amount of this army disappearing," Birgit said.

"Phoenix, take out the helicopters," Clio called, "send them high enough to have minimal fallout."

"That would mean nothing to fall," Phoenix smiled, "I would enjoy that."

Raising his arms wide, palms spread facing the inky dark sky Phoenix inhaled deeply, pushing upwards as he exhaled.

Fiona ran up, looking at the helicopters rising against their will, "They are communicating with the ground troops from the helicopters."

"How? They don't have radios or communication units," David said.

"Steve. The same way it happened with Steve," Fiona raised her voice to be heard over the sudden howl of an instantaneous wind.

"Gadgets in their heads," Clio shouted, "wouldn't that kill them?"

"You want them alive for what?" David shouted, aiming and shooting into a group of attackers, "to have hand-to-hand combat?"

"Give you that one," Clio muttered, extending a punch to a black-clad fanatic climbing over the top of the roof, "we have to do something. They are getting closer and more in range. Every time we clear one area, there are a few more."

"Do it, Phoenix," Breanna called, "Cara ... warning."

Cara braced her feet and balled her hands; taking a deep breath, she connected with the Agency minds. Oran kept a vigilant guard, only letting it relax a little when Cara had completed her task.

Phoenix raised his arms to shoulder height, lifting the helicopters higher and higher until the whirring was a hum in the sky. Maintaining them with one hand, he clenched the other, throwing balls of fire into the night sky, each hitting their target with stunning accuracy. Debris began to rain on the groups at the bottom. David spread his fingers wide on his hand, grunting as the joints began to complain. Breathing in deeply, he blew out his breath between pursed lips. Glowing bubbles popped from his fingertips, heading in each group's direction.

"Nice work Dave," Breanna nodded as she watched David move under the still levitating form of Phoenix, who extended his protective shield over David as well.

"Cara," Breanna called, sounding eerie in her bubble, "we can take out whatever is left."

The sound of scrapping feet over stone brought both Breanna and Clio spinning with raised guns. Clio froze, her gun lowering a little before her hand steadied and her arm levelled with their shoulder again, "Chuck, what are you doing here?"

The man rose from where he had landed, "Heard about a fight coming and thought you may need a hand," he tugged at the tight necklace around his neck, "this thing has gotten tighter in the last day, and it keeps spiking me. I can't get it off."

"Clio, if he touches me," Breanna said, striding forward, "kill him."

The man rose his hands to the side, palms spread. He passively watched as Breanna strode toward him, reached for his necklace, squeezed it and pulled the chain and pendant from around his neck.

"Who are you fighting with?" Breanna asked quietly, "why are you here... now?"

"I have been stuck with that thing around my neck for five years," Chuck met her penetrating gaze, "I don't work for madmen or women, and I didn't sign up for what she does to people."

"Answer the questions?" Breanna stepped back, raising her weapon.

Clio followed by raising her weapon and aiming at his forehead.

"Okay," Chuck said quickly, waving his hands. "I want to choose my battles. Those idiots are following these random orders in their heads," he reached up, pulling something from behind his ear, throwing it to the ground and trampling on it. "One of my abilities is to expel foreign objects from myself, someone else and my environment ... they had to put it behind my ear on the outside."

"That is the first question," Breanna muttered, flinching as bullets ricocheted off David's protective dome around her, "next."

"Clones coming over the wall," Birgit called as she pulled the weapon from Jasmine's belt, firing it into the group on the far end of the rooftop. "Jasmine, where are the snipers?" Breanna called.

"Those in immediate danger on the rooftop," Jasmine said, "why?"

"I want Birgit and yourself to get everyone on the rooftop," Breanna said.

"On it," Birgit called as she placed her hand on Jasmine's shoulder, "Phoenix three o clock... all clones."

Phoenix looked in the direction given, finding a large group of black-clad fanatics rippling over the rooftop like black molasses.

"No, you don't," he muttered as the fireball flew in their direction. Oran, Cara and Craig ran up just then, taking in what was happening. Oran stopped short, raising his weapon on Chuck.

"What are you doing here?" he growled the question on the night air, "do you still have the ability to deceive?"

"Yes," Chuck nodded, "but I'm not using it now."

Breanna felt her confused ability jolt at something, grasp it and begin twisting, "What is that?" Breanna frowned.

Chuck dropped to his knees, gasping, "What are you doing?"

"That is what I'm asking," Breanna lowered her weapon looking at Craig; she sighed, "I've got this. Help Jasmine and Birgit get everyone up here and dome the rooftop."

Craig nodded, heading off to check what was happening with the dissipating gunshots on the ground.

"Cara, I need Valencia to tell me what she knows about this squirming man on the floor," Breanna said quietly.

Cara's eyes glazed over momentarily before opening again and looking up at Phoenix.

"She's mind linked with Phoenix at the moment," Cara chuckled, "Birgit even thinks it is an amazing rush of power."

"What do you sense?" Breanna asked, glancing at Phoenix.

Phoenix threw a few fireballs before turning back to the now gasping man on the floor, "High level. Multi enhanced. You found the duplicity ability and are ... tugging at it."

Phoenix blinked slowly, "Why is Chuck on the floor?"

"He climbed over the parapet and tried to take off his necklace," Clio said, gasping a little as Birgit and Jasmine arrived with Reilly.

"Fair enough," Phoenix nodded, going back to the task.

Reilly walked up to the staggering Chuck, pulled back his right fist and let it fly, "That is for lying to me and about me."

"Great," Breanna muttered, shaking her head, "the man wants asylum, and he has to run the gauntlet first."

"People," David called, "does anyone know if Madden is in the forces still coming against us."

"No, he isn't," Valencia said, her eyes slightly out of focus, "but several high-level enhanced beings are trying to surround us."

"Newbie," David strode up to Chuck, "who are they and what are their abilities?"

"High-level dudes I only met today, but I know that one of them wants Phoenix," Chuck said quietly, "plus they are commissioned with bringing in Breanna."

He looked directly at her, his stare becoming focused and cold. Breanna felt all her abilities spring to life at once.

"No," Clio yelled, backing away and down, "don't do that."

"What is going on?" Craig called over the high-pressure building within the protective bubble David had supplied.

David grunted, "Can't hold her ... much longer."

"Rocks, people," Birgit and Valencia yelled as the bubble popped and Breanna seemed to glow with the energy from within.

Jasmine vapourised with Birgit / Valencia as the group dropped ... all but Chuck.

"You wanted to deceive me into believing you came in peace," she slowly holstered her weapon, "you wanted me to believe you would help us. You wanted me to believe that Darcia was a bad person. The only thing you really want is to retrieve me ..." Breanna breathed in deeply. "I'm not Darcia... I don't believe in controlling others. I don't stand by while I or those around me are lied to and ..." she cocked her head, "... harvested."

"They will be harvested," he snarled, baring his teeth like an angry dog, "you will be killed."

"Jasmine is everyone on the rooftop," Craig called.

"They are now," Jasmine said, appearing next to him and releasing the three people besides Birgit who were with her, "damn ... Breanna is glowing."

"David," Craig shouted, hoping to be heard against the rising pressure, "dome the rooftop."

"Chuck is trying to kill her," Clio shouted, "she is furious and has no control at the moment. We need to get out of the way and take care of the others."

Jasmine stood rooted to the spot while the others ran in various directions. Closing her eyes, she could feel Breanna's energy levels.

"No, don't absorb this energy," Birgit said quietly, "it will only tear you apart."

"What levels are we looking at?" Jasmine watched, mesmerised, as Breanna started walking toward Chuck.

"We are talking about a level 7," Valencia said, "now she is on a level that Darcia would rage at everyone to achieve."

"She is stronger than anyone else here," Jasmine breathed, "she could tear someone apart one cell from another."

"Yep," Birgit tugged at Jasmine's arm, "you never see her using her powers unless provoked. Phoenix may be able to talk her down a bit, but not much. Let's go help the others."

"What is she going to do to Chuck?" Jasmine asked, turning and walking toward where David stood to keep the dome in place.

"That depends on Chuck," Clio said, "right now, we have to make sure we all come out alive."

Phoenix landed near Breanna, "Don't let him get to you. Be clear why you're doing this," Phoenix said to Breanna, "don't let him goad you into losing the light."

Breanna looked at Phoenix, "Thank you for the reminder. Now. Go."

Phoenix watched Breanna glow brighter, "You get any stronger; you could destroy all of us, Bre."

"Oh, I don't plan on destroying our family," Breanna spoke softly, "only the person who is here to destroy it. Go Phoenix."

"Your mental barrier is solid," Chuck muttered, his gaze becoming more focused and challenging, "you're certainly a challenge."

"No," Breanna said, "you were never pitted against anyone like me," stopping in front of the man, she reached out her right hand, resting it against his forehead."

"What are you doing?" Chuck gasped.

"Oh boy," Phoenix muttered as he stepped back from the pair, "Clio, get Rose and Hana down. David, when I say... drop the dome."

Phoenix continued to walk backwards as Breanna closed her eyes while talking.

"You lied to everyone your entire life, Chuck," Breanna murmured.

"You need to die for Darcia to live," Chuck grunted, "Darcia will come out of hiding when you are back under our care."

Phoenix stopped next to David, "What is she going to do?"

"Don't ask me," David said, "she is the one who is going to blow."

"I don't understand why Bre is like this," Phoenix muttered, "I know she can do this, but why?"

"Chuck is trying to kill her with a thought," Clio said as she signalled for the others on the roof to remain on the ground, "I tried that I didn't wake up for a while. This ..." Clio motioned to Breanna's glowing form, "only happens when the person doing it is definitely trying to kill her. It's like a preservation ability."

"How new is it?" Phoenix asked, watching Breanna glow brighter.

"It's not new," Clio shook her head, "just ... more advanced."

Breanna spread her arms to the side as the pressure pushed toward them, her head slowly tilting back.

"Get ready," Phoenix said, glancing at David, who nodded. Phoenix glanced at Clio, nodding.

David dropped the protective dome as Clio yelled across the rooftop, "Everyone down."

Phoenix flattened himself to the rooftop as continuous waves of cell ripping pressure moved above them. The scene in front of him cemented his cause for concern where Breanna was concerned. Her head tilted right back while her legs held her braced to the rooftop and her arms stretched to the side, palms stretched to capacity.

"Has she done this before?" Phoenix shouted to the panting duo next to him.

"Once, but it was not nearly this bad," Clio shouted back, "usually, what will happen after this is the mental knock out punch, but I'm not sure who she is aiming at."

Cara and Oran arrived via leopard crawl on the other side of Phoenix. The twins lay as flat as possible.

"She is seeking the people who have negative emotions toward the Enhanced Protectors ..." Oran pulled his sister closer to his side as she grunted against the increasing pressure. "Those are the people she targets."

"How many people feel that way?" David panted, "when is she going to let go?"

Suddenly the pressure mounted in a spike pulling groans from all on the rooftop. She quickly snapped her head up and made eye contact with the grunting man in front of her. She slapped her palms closed and open fast. The sound of agony filled the air on the rooftop and on the ground beneath them. Suddenly the pressure was gone, and Breanna stood over an unconscious Chuck, panting hard.

"That was ... such a rush," she grinned at the slowly rising group around her, "haven't done that in a long time."

"No one has been stupid enough to try a mental attack in a long while," Clio said, glancing over her shoulder, checking if everyone was okay. Rose and Hana rose from their hiding space and attended to the injured in the group.

"Everyone okay?" David called into the sudden silence.

A garble of acknowledgement rippled back to them. Craig rolled up from his position, looking over the side of the roof. Bodies lay below. Motionless. An unearthly stillness filled the void.

Slowly The Enhanced Protection Agency gathered together. Chatting among themselves, while some checking on each other. Others stared at Breanna in awe, having never seen her react to a mental attack of this kind.

"Where do we stand?" Breanna asked, her voice a little husky from the use of her ability.

"The helicopters are down," Phoenix said, "we have a few injuries, but Rose and Hana are seeing them."

"Bodies are littering the grounds. There is one on our rooftop," Craig nodded toward the still form of Chuck, "and I don't think one of these was Madden."

"No," Fiona shook her head, "I think this was a show for someone to see, but I'm not sure the outcome was exactly what he wanted."

"I agree with Fiona," Jarred said, "I do not understand why this was levelled against us. What was the purpose?"

Tina appeared on the rooftop, "We've got a problem."

"What's going on?" Breanna frowned as she took in the worried expression on Tina's face.

Tina activated her tablet and poked at the screen a few times before handing it to Breanna.

"Where is this coming from?" she breathed out a little before handing it to David and Craig to see their fight being broadcast.

"May I?" Calla asked, taking the tablet from Craig's hands, "it's a ..." she hesitated, "... satellite link."

"What?" Clio holstered her weapon, "this was engineered just when the satellite would be directly above us."

"Where is that going out to?" Breanna asked softly.

"The internet," Calla whispered, looking up with horror in her eyes, "it's a live broadcast."

"Does it have sound?" Craig whispered, understanding the enormity of what this could lead to.

"Who would do something like this?" Rose whispered from next to Calla.

"Only one person hoping to still get what he wants from world domination," Clio said, looking around the group, "Madden."

"Where is Michael?" Breanna sighed.

"In his office," Tina swallowed hard, "he has been on the phone for the last ten minutes."

"Let's go see the damage," Breanna sighed, walking through the group toward the stairs winding into the house.

Slowly the group followed. Calla watched them depart on the tablet. The group disappeared into the mansion. Some carrying their injured, some helping others to their feet and negotiating the stairs. Finally, they had all disappeared. Leaving dead bodies and helicopter debris scattering the lawns and perimeter fencing.

"What is going to happen now?" Rose whispered to her sisters, "if they close us down, where will we go."

"Wherever we go," Calla said, "I'm sure we will go together."