Lucas shot a look down the hall towards the lounge. Brian might be done and waiting for me... his head turned in the other direction. A larger part of him wanted to continue to play the game, to win, and yet he knew what had to be done.

Focus on the mission, no distractions. Suspicious activity must be investigated, he realized reluctantly.

"Sorry team RDT," he murmured. "I'll try finish this fast," he added. He went back into the room and closed the door. If they have cameras and are wondering, I'll just say I was taking a dump. He came up with the alibi in a second as he headed to the bathroom. He closed the door before turning around.

Looking up, he caught sight of the opening to the vent. It was small, but he was sure he would be able to squeeze through. Lucas hesitated as he glanced down at the guns in his hands. Unnecessary bulk... he decided as he opened the door and threw one back into the room. He paused as he turned the other in his hand. But in the case someone catches me in the vent...I need an excuse for being there.

Closing the door, he tucked the other in his pants. He decided that he could just say he was tracking down other players.

Not waiting any longer, He put down the toilet seat and stood on it. Reaching up, he put his fingers through the grate covering the vent. He was grateful for the gloves he wore. Pushing, he tried to pry the grate off. It wouldn't move.

Lucas wasn't fazed. He pushed harder. It gave way and he lifted the grate up. Slowly, he put it down in the vent, next the hole he had opened. Without a second thought, he pulled himself up, through the hole. It was a tight squeeze, but he made it.

Scooting to the side, he closed the hole up once more. He then turned his head to stare down the length of the vent. It was lit up by the constant openings above other rooms. Lucas lifted the mask up for a better view. As much as he wanted to get rid of it and the helmet, he knew he would have to keep his paintballing equipment in the case that he needed it for his cover.

Lucas managed to force himself on his hands and knees with some scrapping in the narrow space. He winced at any sound. Succeeding in his task, he began to make his way down the vent. The narrow space didn't bother him. He had learned to cast away the fear of enclosed spaces. There had been a mission or two where he had had to squeeze into a space almost too small for him for a few hours. His training had prepared him for it, helping him learn tricks on how to stop his muscles from cramping and how to keep his limbs from falling asleep.

As he crawled on, he passed by one room after the other. He had no doubt on if he was going in the right direction or not. He had studied even the lay out of the vents well back at headquarters.

I wonder if Brian is waiting... the thought caught him by surprise and Lucas quickly shook it off. Keep your mind on the task ahead. Never stop focusing for even a second, he lectured himself.

It was when the neared the lounge of that dorm wing that he heard voices. There was no large opening here, only the slightest crack in the vent. Lucas made certain to not make a sound as he approached it.

"No...we shouldn't...not a good idea..." the words drifted to his ears.

Lucas stopped by the crack. He realized at once that it wasn't enough to let him see those below. If he could not hear, Lucas would read lips, and if he could not see, then he would simply use his ears. Leaning down, Lucas put his ear on the crack.

"I don't think it should be moved," the voice spoke.

Lucas' mind sprang into action at once, filtering it through the voices he had heard so far. He couldn't think of a match.

"But if we really have a problem..."

Lucas furrowed his forehead. That voice sounded strangely familiar, yet for some reason he couldn't quite place it.

"Having us move it may be the aim. I say we wait."

Even though he couldn't place the voice, Lucas was sure he was hearing something he shouldn't be...or in his case, very much should. He pressed his ear against the crack even harder.

"I don't know..."

"What did he say?"

Lucas was hoping for a name to be dropped, anything. Yet, if he really was listening to something that had to do with his mission, he doubted those below would do so. It was a rule every operative knew. Never mention a name when talking about anything related to a job, and if you did, then a cover one.

"It stays."

It? Lucas pressed his ear even closer, as it this would reveal more. Are they talking about that 'it'? He felt his heart rate increasing in excitement.

"We should probably move out from here...there's a game going on. We wouldn't want any questions being..."

Creak.

It was the smallest sound, and yet Lucas heard it at once. His head snapped up.

There's someone else in the vent! He realized.

The voices below had cut off abruptly. Lucas' head turned back to the crack. The hairs on his neck rose in warning and his instincts told him he needed to get out of there.

Having never ignored his instincts before, Lucas began to back up at once. The pain hit him not even a split second later. It tore through his side, the burning all too familiar. There was no sound, signaling a silencer had been used.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Someone swore.

"What if it's a student?" he heard the protest.

"Why would they be up there?"

Lucas was already crawling backwards, taking every care not to make a sound as he made his escape. His side was burning, and yet he bit back the gasp of pain.

Looks like I stumbled on the right conversation, he thought before his hand went to his side. The action made agony explode through him.

He heard the scrambling below. He saw the crack ahead of him opening more. At once he increased his pace, rounding the corner just before the hole opened up further and a head popped through.

"There's blood!" he heard the loud whisper. "We have a rat. Find him!"

Lucas knew he had no time. As soon as he reached the next vent he lost no time in opening it. He stumbled out into the bathroom below. Still ignoring the pain, he closed the vent up. He would have taken the time to examine the wound, yet he didn't have time to linger.

Sucking in his breath through his teeth, he headed for the door. He could only hope the room was abandoned as everyone was hopefully out still playing the game. A quick feel to the wound shot another stab of pain through him, yet it also made him aware of the location of the point of entry. As he stumbled into the room, Lucas' hand went around the back.

The bullet went through, he realized as he felt the point of exit. Stupid, he added on. To get shot in such a place. He could only hope that the dark clothes he wore would help hide the bleeding. I need to get back to my room. Stop the bleeding. He pulled his paintball gun out as he headed for the room. It was empty, and he headed for the hallway next.

He was hurt, but he knew better than to simply make a run for it. They would be searching for the shot culprit, and if they found him... he shook his head.

Reaching the door, he paused. Holding his gun up, he steadied his hands. Got to look like I'm still playing. He gritted his teeth and threw himself into the hallway. He half hoped someone would be there to shoot him with paint. If he was out, he could get to his room and take things from there. However, the hallway was empty.

His eyes darted down to the lounge area. Where are they? He couldn't help but wonder. His gaze turned up. Did they go in the vents? Brushing the thought aside, he headed back to the lobby. He could feel dizziness creeping in, the pain seemed to increase. Lucas still bore it.

As he had been taught, he took the pain and mentally shoved it in a box, forcing the lid closed. Pain is good, it means you're alive, he repeated in his mind. He made sure not to run, concentrating to calm his breathing. An increased heart rate would only lead to more bleeding.

He came to the end of the hallway and reached for the door. Not pausing, he went through. A force hit him in the chest, paint exploded across him.

"Bingo!" he heard someone exclaim.

"That makes it kill number ten," another voice added.

Lucas didn't respond. He reached behind him and pulled his name tag down.

"Sorry, mate," a guy with a yellow armband told him as he took his nametag. "Better luck next time."

A door burst open and paint exploded across that very guy's helmet. There was a yell before the other guy was taken out too.

Lucas was beginning to feel his vision blur. He turned his eyes in the direction of the newcomer to see Brian heading over.

"You out?" Brian asked, disappointment flashing across his face.

Lucas nodded. The pain was rattling in the box he had put it in.

"Looks like it's all up to you now," Lucas told him, his voice calm and even. He couldn't show any sign of weakness. Not here, not now.

"Man." Brain took the name tags from the two guys he had shot. "Guess I'll have to work twice as hard."

Lucas gave him a thumb up, secretly hoping that Brian would simply move on and leave the room.

Brain paused. He leaned forward. "You okay?" he suddenly asked.

Lucas felt sweat drip down his forehead. Even though he was mentally holding on, his body was beginning to react.

"Yup," he replied cheerily. He stuck out his gun towards Brian. "I still have some amo. You could probably use it."

Brian hesitated. Yet, then he simply took the gun. "Sure. Thanks." He stuck the extra gun in his pocket. "It was a good run."

Lucas nodded.

"Guess I'll go take revenge for team RDT."

Again, Lucas simply nodded.

Brian turned and headed towards another dorm. Just before reaching it, he paused.

Lucas watched him turn around.

"You know...you should grab some pizza," Brian began.

Lucas raised his eyebrows.

"You look kinda hungry," Brian finished off.

Lucas resisted the urge to snort.

Brian simply lifted a hand in farewell and disappeared through the door. Lucas watched for a moment. When he was sure that Brian was gone, he turned towards his own dorm. He hadn't gone three steps when a hand clamped on his shoulder. He didn't even sense it coming.

"The exit is this way," one of the guys, whom Brian had shot, told him.

Lucas knew he couldn't resist without raising suspicion.

"Right," he simply said before following the guy.

Every step was proving to be an effort. I'm going to bleed out at this rate. He needed medical attention, and soon.

They made it outside to find a full party going on. Music was blaring, sodas were being handed out, and pizza was being passed around. Someone tried to hand Lucas a piece but he waved it off. He was feeling nauseous.

Blinking to try and see through his blurry vision, he stumbled over to a bench where he sat down.

Keep calm, he told himself as he began to concentrate on the breathing. The blaring music wasn't helping in the least.

"Lucas!" he faintly heard his name being called. "Lucas!"

He looked up to see a blurry image of Peter. He was standing with a soda in one hand.

"You get out, too?" he asked.

Lucas managed a weak nod. He pulled off his helmet and the mask. They were getting suffocating. He dropped them next to him.

"No!" Nathan's voice sounded. He appeared out of the crowd. "How can this be, brother?" He handed Peter his soda before falling to his knees before Lucas. "That you would join me in the afterlife so soon!"

Peter rolled his eyes and Lucas managed to muster a weak smile.

"Brian still in?" Nathan asked eagerly.

Lucas gave a brief nod, trying to hold down the content his stomach wanted to empty so badly.

"Hope lives!" Nathan exclaimed as he threw a fist in the air. "RDT will be avenged!"

Lucas' eyes drifted down to his side. It was good that it was dark outside, not to mention all the paint on him, otherwise someone would have picked up on the red staining him. Another wave of nausea washed through him.

Keep it together. He clenched his fingers into fists.

"You want some coke?" Peter asked.

"No thanks," Lucas replied. His own voice sounded distant to himself. "When can we go back in?"

Peter shrugged.

"When the game's done," Nathan replied.

Someone came over and threw an arm around Peter. The two disappeared, leaving Lucas and Nathan alone.

"So, how many did you get?" Nathan asked.

Lucas shrugged. He was running out of energy.

"Coming through!" a voice yelled. Someone sprinted past, carrying a box of pizza.

Two more figures followed.

"Hey, Lucas. You alright?"

Lucas didn't reply.

"You look kinda pale," Nathan told him.

"Must be from running around," Lucas replied smoothly.

Nathan was distracted as he was hit by a spit ball. He jumped to his feet and ran towards the offender with a yell.

Lucas didn't even watch him go. His hand itched to go to his side, yet he resisted. He was dimly aware of Jamie standing in one corner, sipping on a drink as he watched him with the eyes of a hawk.

And then Lucas suddenly felt as though all eyes were on him. The guy standing nearby, eating a pizza. Another, listening to a friend talking. It was as though they were secretly all watching him.

Lucas' breathing increased. It's all in your mind, something told him. You're losing your senses. He leaned back. I need to get out of here...

As though in an answer to his plea, a horn blared. The last remaining players emerged and there were cheers and boos from dorms.

Lucas didn't pay any of it any heed. He was on his feet and pushing his way through people, heading back to the dorm at once. No one else seemed to want to go, staying with the food.

"Lucas!" he heard someone yell.

"I need a shower," Lucas shot back, waving a hand in the general direction. He kept his strides steady, concentrating on his breathing every step of the way.

Everything was a blur around him as his feet took him back to his room. He somehow reached it. Closing the door, he went to his closet at once. In the room, he no longer forced himself to put up an act. He stumbled towards his destination.

Upon opening the closet, it took but a moment for him to find what he wanted. He grabbed the thick text book and went for the bathroom. Hands shaking and vision blurring, he pushed the door shut.

He dumped the book on the sink before he worked quickly, taking off the gear that covered his torso. He winced at the pain every movement caused. He was finally down to his shirt, which was wet. Lifting it, he left out a hiss as he pulled it off. He tossed it to the side without looking, eyes already on the source of his pain.

A hole went clearly through his side. Lucas turned to see his back in the mirror.

Clean exit, he confirmed with a sigh of relief. It meant he wouldn't have to extract any bullets. He pulled off his gloves and his bare fingers went to the wound and probed. He let out another hiss at the pain. Blood oozed out.

Turning to the book, Lucas pried it open. The inside pages had been dug out to reveal a small supply of medical equipment. Lucas went right for an injection. He pulled the cap off with his teeth and stabbed the needle into his arm without hesitation.

A second was all he needed to inject the contents. It was a combination of painkillers and medication to boost his immune system against the threat of infection.

His hands bloody, Lucas reached for the needle and thread. Why was there someone else in the vent? He couldn't help but wonder. The painkillers would take a good two minutes to take effect, yet he couldn't waste any more time or lose more blood.

Is someone else here with the same objective? He threaded the needle and went to work, starting with the wound at the front. Lucas was just about to begin when the door to the bathroom flew open.

"Hey, you alright...?"

He turned to find Nathan standing there.

The boy stood frozen. His eyes were on the needle in Lucas' bloody hands. It went from the need to the obvious bullet wound. Lucas felt his heart sink. ECHO's first rule, eliminate any obstacles. Yet, something else stopped him. It was a different feeling...one he wasn't sure he could quite place. It was something that made him hesitate.

Tired, dizzy, and in pain, Lucas felt confusion wash through him at what to do.

a) Eliminate the threat

b) Tell Nathan the truth...or part of it anyway. Lucas could use an ally.

c) Make up a story, Lucas can find a way out.

d) Knock the threat out, try figure out things from there when Lucas can think clearer.