Lucas caved. Yes, he knew if ECHO found out they wouldn't be too happy, but then again, they never had to know. When did I start hiding things from the agency? He wondered. The thought was shoved aside as he and Nathan headed for their dorm room.

Nathan was more than thrilled at the idea of joining the ECHO agent in returning to the hockey arena.

I wonder if he would react the same if he knew it wasn't exactly the government I work for... Lucas wondered as he watched his roommate charge through their room searching for 'supplies'.

Turning his back, Lucas went through what he could use. A few bugs were taken, though he was pretty sure that even if he placed them correctly they would get fried. He slipped them into a pocket before grabbing a small bag of power. If would help detecting lasers. A pair of gloves to avoid fingerprints, wire cutters just in case, and a capsule that contained acid strong enough to eat its way through steel or concrete. He also grabbed a pair of what looked like nothing more than batteries.

The items he could take were limited as Lucas needed to be able to hide them within the clothes he currently wore. A change of clothes and a backpack would only raise suspicion. After a moment of debate he added a knife disguised as a pen. Done, he turned.

He paused as he stared at the person before him. 'What are you doing?"

Nathan turned. He was dressed in black from head to toe. A marker was in his hands, the lid popped off, and it looked like he had been ready to draw black lines on his face.

The pen we raised. "Getting my camouflage on. Why?"

Lucas eyed his getup. "That's just screaming suspicion."

"But..."

"It's daytime. How do you expect to explain wearing that across campus?"

Nathan hesitated. "You do have a point..." The lid of the pen was replaced. "Do we at least get to take a gun?"

Lucas shook his head.

"That's no fun." With a sigh, Nathan turned and began to strip, throwing the clothes he had worn before back on. "No weapon at all?" He asked hopefully as he pulled on his shirt.

"Are you wanting to kill someone?" Lucas raised his eyebrows.

"Sleep darts?"

"Nope."

With the shirt on, Nathan went for his shoes. "Ok. Great. So you could probably defend yourself with just your thumb...but what happens when someone pulls a weapon on me?"

Lucas leaned against the way, amusement flickering through him. "What makes you think there'll be a situation like that?"

Second shoe half on, Nathan paused to glance up. "No fighting?" His face fell.

"Not if we can avoid it..." The ECHO agent straightened as Nathan finished slipping his shoes on. "Trust me. It's not as cool as they make it look on TV."

"Nothing's as cool as they make it look," came the response. "But it would be fun..."

Lucas snorted. "Fun?" He grabbed the edge of his shirt. "Trust me." He lifted it slightly, showing only a few of his battle scars. "It's not fun." His shirt was dropped and he walked by his roommate.

"T-that..." Nathan spluttered as he hurried to catch up. "That..." He fell into step beside his friend. "How are you still alive?" he asked in wonder.

Lucas shot him a glance out of the corner of his eyes. "The funny thing about humans is that if you stitch them together right, they heal."

Nathan nodded. His eyes returned to the spot Lucas had briefly flashed. "It looks kinda..."

Lucas groaned. "Don't say cool."

Nathan grinned. "Epic."

"It's not."

"Maybe I could get a scar..."

"It's painful."

"Painkillers?"

"You think I carry painkillers around with me?"

"You don't?"

The two exited the dorm.

"What about if it's just a flesh-wound?" Nathan didn't seem to want to drop the topic.

"Stings...probably won't ever a scar either."

"Hmm..." Nathan looked thoughtful. "So I would have to at least get shot..." His hand went to his shoulder. "A scar right here..."

"You're crazy," Lucas informed him.

"Coming from the one covered in..." Nathan stopped as he seemed to realize they were outside. He shot a glance around before he turned back to Lucas. "Dude, can I see them again?"

"That's it." Lucas increased his pace. "I'm leaving you behind."

"What?" Nathan had come to a halt. "But..." He jogged after Lucas. "But you can't!"

"Watch me."

"I'd tell the world!"

"I'd kill you first."

Nathan grinned. "I don't doubt that."

Lucas shot him a glance. How the boy wasn't bothered by the thought made him curious. It seemed like his roommate was happy no matter what. Being an ECHO agent...that would ruin him. The thought surprised him. It was followed by another. What would I have been like if– He shoved it from his mind. What ifs didn't change anything.

They exchanged greetings with other students wandering around on the way. When they reached the ice rink Lucas turned to his roommate. "Any questions, you wanted to go there after hearing I tried out...it's lame, but it might work. If they catch us anywhere we shouldn't be, then we were planning a prank."

Nathan saluted.

"Also...act normal," Lucas added.

Another salute.

"So refrain from actions such as that."

"Ah..." Nathan's hand dropped.

Hiding the grin, Lucas led the way into the building.

Silence greeted them. However, silence wasn't necessarily good. Lucas turned, heading in the direction of the locker rooms. When they reached them, he paused.

More silence.

Instead of going in he glanced up, his mind retracing the direction he had taken in the vents. Without a word, he began to follow that route along the ground. They went along one hallway and turned into another. However, where Lucas needed to turn right, there was a wall blocking his way. He glanced around for a door, but there was none. Turning, he slid past Nathan who promptly followed. They went around another corner to find a door. Lucas opened it, only to find himself in a small storage closet.

His mind worked. No visible door...looks like I'll have to access the area through the vents. Glancing up he was met with nothing. If I go through the locker room I'll have to move or jam the camera...too much coincidence for it to happen in the same place. He poked his head into the hallway. At one end there was a vent. A camera pointed right at it.

"Take this." Lucas dug a battery from his pocket and plopped it into Nathan's hands.

"Jeeze," his roommate turned it over. "I've always wanted a battery. Thanks."

"Press down on the plus side," the ECHO agent informed him as he planted a bug on the wall.

"Really!" Nathan turned it over, eyes wide with excitement. "Does it explode?"

"Yes."

"Cool!"

"That's why I'm asking you to press it."

Nathan's shoulders fell. "It doesn't, does it?"

"Nope." Lucas turned and nodded to the camera pointing at the vent. "I'm going up," he murmured. "The battery jams anything electric for a few minutes. For cameras, it forces them to go on a re-run of the last few seconds..."

"Now that's pretty cool...Where exactly are we going after..."

"No we. I."

"Seriously?" Nathan's face fell.

"That only works in a five meter radius," Lucas pointed at the battery. "The fact that the camera is on loop might be figured out pretty soon if anyone comes by. If we leave the battery, someone will find it..."

"So...you want to plant it on me and have me stay in the area?"

"Exactly."

Nathan shrugged. "Doesn't sound too fun but ok...what if someone comes."

"Warn me."

"Ohh! Do you have earpieces or something?"

Lucas shook his head. "Something better."

"Like what?" Nathan eagerly leaned forward.

"Your voice."

"Huh?"

"If someone comes, scream like a girl."

"Ah..." Nathan scratched the back of his head. "I guess I can do that."

"Good. Now press the button."

Nathan did as told. When nothing happened, he examined the device. "How do you know it's working."

"It is." With that Lucas pushed Nathan toward the vent.

When they reached it he motioned to it. "Give me a boost."

Nathan let out a sigh. "Why do I get a feeling I won't get to do that much?"

"Because you won't."

Nathan stuffed the battery in a pocket and cupped his hands together. "What if someone comes carrying a gun?"

Lucas put one leg into Nathan's hands, pulling the gloves on with the other. "Scream louder."

His roommate boosted him up. Lucas pushed the vent guard up and to the side. He then grabbed a hold of the edge and pulled himself fully up. Once in, he turned to find Nathan looking up.

"Don't wander off," Lucas informed him.

"I won't."

"And remember, scream like a girl."

Thumbs were raised in response.

The vent guard was replaced and Lucas turned. He wasn't going to even consider taking his roommate further. If I drag him along it could end badly for either of us. He made his way along the path before him. The map in his mind took him in the direction he needed to go. He kept his ears open. Pretty soon he rounded the corner to the same place where the lasers were.

He stopped, listening to the high pitched buzz that gave away the security measure. Reaching into a pocket he pulled out the powder. A quick toss showed him the red lines crossing the area before him.

"Bingo." His hand went to the pocket that held the second battery and his thumb hit the plus side. The lasers stuttered and then died.

With nothing to stop his path, Lucas crawled onward. He reached another opening where he paused. Glancing down his heartbeat increased at the sight. He was staring at a room filled with computers. They hummed and buzzed. Cameras were at every corner, all pointing to one area. Changing his position somewhat, Lucas caught sight of what it was.

"Bingo," he breathed.

He was staring at a metal safe. Hidden away, locked in a safe...security measures around... Lucas's eyes darted around the room. He saw no visible door. On top of that, there seemed to be no more security measures, but that in itself gave away that there were more. His eyes returned to the safe. The likelihood of it containing my target...eighty percent.

He did another sweep of the room. No one here... His hands moved to the opening. He gently tugged, nothing happened. He turned again, harder, still nothing. Glancing down he realized the problem. Welded shut. He contemplated this for a moment. I can dissolve it... His hand went for the small capsule he had packed. But what about the other security issues? Maybe I should first–

Thump.

Lucas whirled, eyes scanning the path behind him.

Thump.

Looks like whoever was here last time has returned... His blood pumped at the thought of a chase. His eyes darted back to the room below. I'll be back. With that he turned and stealthily headed in the direction of the noise.

He made his way around several corners, following any sound he heard. At last he was rewarded when he arrived he saw the grate missing from a vent ahead. There was the sound of shuffling from below. Lucas didn't make a sound as he crawled up to it. He peered over the edge to see a figure in a small room below. The person was bending over and stuffing something into a bag. The black mask over the head instantly told Lucas one thing. The person was hiding their identity meaning they weren't supposed to be here. Not with the government.

His muscles bunched up as adrenaline pumped. He needed to find out who this was and why they were here.

As the person began to straighten, Lucas leaped into action.

He pushed forward and slid right through the opening, legs first. His plan had been to drop and pin the masked person, but at the last minute they turned, twisting out of the way.

Lucas crouched on the ground but for a second before he struck. A hand went out to grab the stranger, but it was avoided. His target lashed out with a leg which Lucas promptly caught. He twisted it hard. Seeming to have guessed this move, his opponent took the opportunity and pushed off with the other leg. As a result, the masked person swung once before landing in a crouch. At the same time, a hand had reached into the bag.

Realizing what was happening, Lucas lashed out and knocked the gun from the hands of his attacker before it could be brought fulling out. The weapon went sliding. In a flash, Lucas' hand went to his pocket and he withdrew the knife-pen.

The person before him instantly went for his hand, attempting to strike the weapon and force him to drop it. Lucas's other hand reached out and stopped the attack before he followed up, striking with the knife. His opponent twisted, avoiding the blow. Lucas was quick to follow up but was blocked once again.

Small in stature...a girl? He assessed the opponent as he fought. Quick and agile...have to watch out for speed...

He saw the leg coming but it was too late to fully block. He raised the hand with the blade, pointing it so that the leg would ram itself onto it, but he was surprised when as a result the leg lifted higher, avoiding him but also avoiding the blade in the process.

Last minute switch in attack...Whoever it is, they went through training. Lucas dodged the next blow, readjusted his grip on the blade and lashed out. Another failed attempt as the blade was dodged. He easily switched hands and came from the other side. A block. ECHO agents? For a brief second he wondered if they had sent someone in after all. Don't recognize the fighting pattern... So it wasn't someone he knew.

The attacked turned, he saw the opening. The blade was sent true and straight, however, he saw his mistake. The attacker grabbed the vent grid from the ground. Lifting it, his blade got stuck between the holes. A jerk to the side and Lucas was left weaponless. It didn't slow him down for a moment.

He ran for the wall, pushed himself off, and attacked with a powerful kick. It was blocked, but the masked person stumbled backward as a result. Lucas followed up with another. His hand reached out and he was rewarded by grabbing the mask.

Let's see what you look like... He tugged hard.

Black hair tumbled free and as the person before him whirled Lucas caught a clear view of the face. He stood, shocked as he stared at familiar brown eyes. "Amber?" My traitor of a sister managed to get off early...some stupid dorm meeting, Nathan's words flashed through his mind.

A second of hesitation from his end was enough. The girl dived.

Shoot! Lucas saw the hand going for the knife. He rushed forward a jumped.

The girl was tackled to the ground and they rolled. On the way, Lucas felt something beneath him and his hand snatched it up. Once more roll and they ended up with Amber on top. The knife was pressed against Lucas' throat as she stared at him, eyes showing the same surprise he felt. Regret followed the emotion before he felt the knife press down harder.

"Ah," Lucas said as there was a click.

Amber froze. Her eyes traveled down to see the gun Lucas held and was now pointing at her.

"Guess we can both die or live...your choice," Lucas told her.

Amber's eyes returned to his, as though searching for something. She stayed where she was.

Lucas' own mind raced as he considered what to do. Maybe she's from ECHO...if not then...who? Curiosity tugged at him and at the same time he was painfully aware of his situation. He needed to do something.

Options:

a) Try to disarm Amber and find out what side she's working for.

b) Put his weapon down and coax Amber to do the same. Take it from there.

c) Don't ask questions. Eliminate the threat.