A perfect silence was broken only by the occasional clicking as fingers rushed over a keyboard.

A woman with bright red lipstick and hair pulled into a tight bun sat behind a desk. As her fingers flew across the keys, her eyes took in the words forming on the screen.

Sitting across the room from her, Lucas' head was tipped back, eyes close. Bandage was plastered to the side of his head, the only sign of the other hidden wounds he carried beneath his clothes. It hadn't taken the doctor but a few minutes to patch him up. The mental strain from the truth syringe was another story.

"It'll take some weeks," the voice echoed in the operative's mind.

Lucas could feel the headache coming even as the memory flashed through. He didn't flinch, mind focused on other thoughts – more important ones.

A door creaked and another woman popped her head through the opening.

The lady at the desk continued typing rapidly, seeming oblivious.

"They're ready for you," the newcomer called.

Lucas' eyes slowly opened. He got to his feet, steeling himself for the ordeal that lay ahead – debriefing.

As he approached the door, it opened fully.

Lucas stepped through. The door clanked shut behind him, several locks sounding in succession.

Security is high, the agent noted at once. The higher ups have got to be resent. He resisted the urge to swallow and stepped forward, no hesitation.

A moment later the room opened up.

It was dimly lit. One man sat at the steel table ahead. Lucas recognized him immediately – Stanly. It was his supervisor, one of the few who assigned him missions. Behind him stood Conner.

As always, Lucas couldn't help the thought.

He kept his eyes on Stanly, ignoring the seven large screens around the wall. Each showed a silhouette of a person. The lack of movement revealed that the person on the other end of every screen had already disconnected.

Lucas had never attempted to figure out the identities. If an ECHO agent knew without it being revealed intentionally, they would be executed. For the seven figures were the heads of ECHO, the ones who owned every operative and had to give their go ahead on any move the agency made.

The screens gave away an important piece of information. They had a meeting with Stanly just before the debriefing. That meant that most likely Lucas' mission had been vital to the organization.

These thoughts flashed through the young operative's mind in the brief moment he came to stand before the steel table. He spread his legs slightly, placing his hands behind his back as he put himself on his best behavior.

A smile stretched across Stanly's face.

"Welcome back K13."

That's the first time Stanly hasn't called me by my name. Lucas showed no trace of the thought, he simply nodded.

"You retrieved the object and achieved the objective." Stanly reached out and took a file handed to him by Conner. He placed it down and opened it. "However," the eyes rose to pierce Lucas'. "It was messy."

Behind his back, Lucas squeezed one wrist with his other hand.

"I take full responsibility."

Stanly nodded and pushed the papers together. "I understand you've been physically declared ready for work by the doctor." He looked up. "You'll go through psychological analysis next."

Lucas' mind shot a warning. He knew what they would be looking for. A change in character, a change in his outlook of life. Had he become soft? Began to question ECHO?

"Once that is cleared, you'll be contacted with your next mission." He drummed his fingers on the table. "Your report," a nod to the file before him, "is quite thorough. I'm impressed."

Lucas nodded his thanks.

"It seems you had quite an interesting and yet difficult time."

"Nothing I couldn't handle," Lucas responded.

"How was it?" Stanly shot back. "Living life as a boy your age?"

Again, Lucas expertly showed no change in his face as his mind worked. Fun, the word flashed through his mind. "Tedious," he responded with the one he was sure would be received well.

Stanly chuckled. "Yes. The world you come from is quite different." The file was snapped shut and he lifted a hand, motioning to Conner.

The other man stepped forward, clearing his throat as he did so. "Though the mission was successful, you not only teamed up with an operative from a competitor, but your real name was used in a cover where part of your identity was exposed."

Lucas felt a tug in his gut. He knew he wouldn't like what was coming.

"There has been no link make to ECHO. However..."

"The fact remains that they have a name," Stanly cut in. He threw an arm over file and leaned forward. "K13, the name Lucas," his eyes met the boy's. "is no longer yours. We picked a new one."

Lucas didn't flinch, but his heart squeezed. Perhaps the man before him knew the sting of the blow. For Lucas' name had been the last thing that was his own. The only thing that connected him to a life before ECHO.

"From now on," Stanly continued, "You're Kris."

The boy nodded. He knew there would be a price to pay when he decided to go along with Amber.

"Lucas?"

He didn't even flinch when the name was said.

"Good." Stanly leaned back, a satisfied smile on his face. "Welcome back, Kris." He motioned to the door. "You'll hear from me soon."

Knowing he was being dismissed, Lucas headed to the door. He was almost upon it when he was stopped.

"One more thing...K13."

Lucas paused.

"Did you at any point, take a look at the contents?"

He knew immediately what was being referred to. Too much hesitation and it'll be read as yes. Too quick of a reaction and it'll be the same result.

Lucas hand was inches from the door handle. He lowered it, grasping the door before he turned his head. "If I did, you would know, would you not?" he asked. There was not a single change in his own face or tone as he watched the other man, reading his.

Stanly's lips stretched into a smile. "Good job, K13."

Lucas nodded before leaving the room.

Even outside, his body language didn't change, not showing the relief that flashed through his mind.

The woman from before was waiting for him. She motioned to another door and Lucas followed.

Within it was a lone chair and a desk. He sat in it without hesitation.

They took my name, he thought. The door opened behind him. The clicking of heels sounded.

It was surprising that they let me keep it at all...and for as long as they did. But he had never thought they would actually take it.

"K13?" a silky voice asked as a soft hand landed on his shoulder. It squeezed before the click click of heels resounded. The smell of roses itched Lucas' nose as an angel appeared in his sight.

A long legged blonde in a white coat longer than the mini dress underneath, smiled at him from under her heavy lashes. Her bright red lips parted somewhat as she lifted a finger to them and cocked her head questioningly to the side.

Her black heels were at least three inches. The perfect weapon if taken of.

"Petra," Lucas deadpanned.

The plump lips turned into a pout. "You're not excited to see me?"

"Thrilled," was the response Lucas gave in the same tone.

Petra let out a sigh. "You could at least say you missed me."

"Not at all."

A huff escaped the woman. "You always were bad at showing affection."

"Only when there are none."

"Tsk." A smile spread across Petra's face.

Lucas shot her his own, however, despite the woman's banter and beautiful exterior, he knew well who he was dealing with. Petra was lethal. One mistake in front of her and you wouldn't even see death coming.

Just my luck that they sent her, the thought passed through his mind. If there was anyone that could pick up on changes in the boy, it was her.

"Well then." Petra reached up. She pulled down a video screen and then made a motion.

Footsteps combined with a rolling of wheels hit Lucas' ears. He didn't move to look. He already knew the assistants would be there with wires, cameras, and devices which, once attached, would help pick out anything the human eye missed.

"Let's get started then." Those red lips spread into a smile.

Lucas didn't resist as wires were attached to his forehead and forearms. A camera was added, the lens uncomfortable close to his right eye. An image of his pupils appeared on a screen to the left.

Though nothing showed it, the ECHO agent used those moments to create a box in his mind. Into it, he shoved every new feeling he had experienced in the past few months. He also added every face that had made him feel human again.

Over the next two hours, Lucas was bombarded with questions and treated to horrific images and videos of death and destruction. All the while, Petra sat quietly in a chair nearby, eyes on the agent as she scribbled away on a paper.

To end it all off, the boy was given a virtual reality headset.

"Your mission, is to make to the extraction point," Petra's voice spoke from outside the world of bloodstained walls Lucas was staring at. "Kill anyone and anything that gets in your way."

That was it, the only instructions.

Lucas found himself running through the virtual rooms with no weapons but his bare hands. The first two men he encountered, were armed soldiers. He made quick work of them, picking up a weapon in the process.

Armed, he continued on his way, all the while wondering what surprise awaited him.

He found out in a few minutes when suddenly a familiar person popped into view – Brian.

The new box rattled, Lucas snapped it shut. He couldn't hesitate, couldn't feel emotions here.

They're watching you, he reminded himself before leaping into action.

Over the next few moments, he was faced with countless familiar faces, all from Ellison High. Though he knew it wasn't real, it felt like it. Every scream, every movement, every splatter of blood. Auden, Jordan, Peter, Banster, his teammates and even Nathan. Lucas did away with them one by one, ignoring the feeling of a hammer smashing his heart every time.

Emotions make you weak! He told himself.

He reached the goal, covered in blood and breathing hard.

A bright light engulfed him and a moment later he found himself sitting in the chair in the room from before. He blinked, having gotten sucked into the virtual world almost completely at the end.

Petra was tapping a heel, eyes on a screen before her. She turned, the same smile as before on her face.

"Congratulations," she told Lucas. "You're still sane." A snicker escaped her mouth at the choice of word.

Lucas didn't respond as the cameras were removed. The wires followed.

Petra lifted the pen and bit the end, eyes still on Lucas. "Someone will be in contact." She reached into a pocket and pulled something out.

It was tossed at Lucas who caught it. He glanced down – a cellphone.

The pen pointed to the door.

Lucas got to his feet.

"I hope we get to work together soon, Kris!" Petra called after him in a honey like voice.

Lucas felt as though a block of ice had been dropped down his back. The uncomfortable feeling stemmed from the images he had seen of Petra's mission. The woman was messy, leaving carnage in her path.

"I hope not," he responded.

He heard Petra's chuckle follow him outside. The door clicked shut behind him.

Lucas wanted to take a moment to collect himself, however, he knew better. There were eyes everywhere. Instead, he left the building and headed back to the hotel room he currently had booked.

The boy took the elevator to the thirteenth floor. Only when he was in his room and had the door locked, did he lean against it.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Images rushed through his head. Images of Ellison high boys covered in blood, lifeless eyes staring up at him in horror as he killed them one by one.

It wasn't real, he reminded himself.

It still stung.

Feeling as though it was unusually stuffy, Lucas' hand went up to his chest. He clutched it, eyes slowly opening.

"What's happening to me?" he asked.

"It's called a conscience," the voice made him jerk his head up.

He hadn't noticed the presence. Lucas' eyes scanned the room. They landed on the open balcony door. A familiar figure stood outside.

"When did you get here?" Lucas asked.

In the moment he walked across the room, he had already collected himself.

He joined the man outside.

M18 gazed at the view from the balcony. "I heard they gave you a new name."

Lucas didn't respond.

"Kris." M18 turned to look at him. "Lucas suites you better."

The younger agent didn't move, eyes on M18 as he tried to read him. Everything he'd done up until then...the older man was hiding something from ECHO, Lucas was sure of it. And yet, he was one of ECHO's best.

A part of Lucas wanted to grow closer to him, to trust him, but a weary part kept him on his toes.

"What game are you playing at?" Lucas finally asked.

M18 turned back to the view. He rested his arms on the railing. "What did you find?" he responded with the question.

Lucas didn't bat an eyelash, but he knew what M18 was referring to. He had been the one to suggest it in the first place.

He's also going against protocol. There's no way he could report me without it ruining him too, the knowledge made Lucas relax somewhat.

"A name," he revealed.

M18 didn't react in any way.

"And..." Lucas paused. "I have a bother." The word sounded foreign on his tongue.

This time, M18 nodded, confirming he either knew or had guessed as much. "You hacked it and yet didn't even leave a trace." He whistled. "You really are a prodigy."

Lucas eyed him. "What's your role in all this?" he asked bluntly. "How did you know that there was something on me?"

M18 leaned forward, into the railing. "You've been curious, haven't you?" he asked after a moment of silence. "About your past?"

"The past is just that," Lucas crossed his arms. "Who I am now matters, nothing else."

"And yet, you've been trying to get the time off to look into it." M18 rested his chin on the railing. "And ECHO knows, but has been blocking you at every turn with more missions."

Lucas narrowed his eyes. "Then why would you help?" he challenged. "You were, after all, the one who told me to drop it."

"Ah." A gust of wind tussled at M18's hair. The man stood up straight. He lifted a hand, running it through to bring his hair back into its original position.

"Because sometimes, Lucas, things aren't black and white. Sometimes, there are colors, that no matter how hard you try to hide, they will eventually be seen."

Lucas scowled.

"Do you know what happens when you try to wipe away a splodge of red that lands on a black and white painting?" M18 turned to gaze at the teen.

Lucas waited for the answer.

It came a moment later. "You create a bigger mess, and suddenly, that black and white painting gets bathed in red." M18 leaned against the railing, facing the younger agent. "It can become something new and beautiful or..." he raised a hand as though to shield his eyes from the sun. "Haunting."

Where's he going with this? Lucas couldn't help but wonder.

M18 smiled. "But, if that painting were to just stay black and white, it would become a bore, wouldn't it? Sometimes you need change to see something better."

It wasn't the answer Lucas wanted, but for now, he leave it be.

"My question for you..." M18 lifted a finger and pointed it at Lucas. "Will you pursue it? That red? Or will you continue to gaze at that black and white painting forever?"

Lucas walked to the railing. His own gaze ran over the city stretched out.

He took it all in - the way it's rays touched the buildings, the bustle of the people below. Several months ago, the same view had looked dull and boring, yet now, something had changed – something inside him. Somehow...it all had color and life. Somehow, the air was clearer.

The young ECHO agent cocked his head to the side.

"I wonder," he murmured, unsure of the answer himself.

There was something about his past. Something that didn't add up. He knew the answer was out there, somewhere. M18 knew more than he was revealing, and yet the man didn't seem to want to give a straight answer. Lucas could try find it himself, but M18 had a point. ECHO seemed bent on not letting that happen.

Why? Curiosity tugged at the agent's mind. What are they hiding?

Lucas turned only to find the balcony empty.

The boy sighed.

M18 had managed to both come and go without him noticing.

It's your own fault for being so lost in your thoughts, the boy reprimanded himself.

He turned back for his room when his pocket buzzed.

Reaching in, Lucas pulled out the phone Petra had handed him. He didn't even bother looking at the number, knowing it would be marked as unknown.

As he walked into his room, he picked the call up.

"We have a new job for you, Kris," a robotic voice spoke.

Lucas slid the door to the balcony shut.

"Your plane leaves in two hours."

Lucas slid the lock into place. "Where am I headed?" he asked.

"South Korea," was the response. "A ticket and passport are waiting for you at the lobby."

Click.

The call was cut.

Lucas lowered the phone. Korea?

A familiar face flashed before his eyes. Long silky black hair, warm brown eyes. The girl that had almost had him.

Lucas' lips twitched into a smile. Yes. There was someone he wanted to see again that lived there.

Will you peruse it? That red? The question flashed through his mind.

Lucas paused. He lifted his green eyes portraying the struggle within. A moment later they cleared, decision made. With that, Lucas grabbed his bags. He was packed in moments. The boy slung a duffle bag over his shoulder and went for the door. He threw it open, excitement rushing through him.

A new adventure awaited. And who knew, maybe he could make a quick stop over in Korea and visit a certain brown eyed angel. He lips spread into a smile.

She was going to be furious when he saw her again.

Maybe I could bring flowers to make up for it?

An image of a group of boys dressed as girls flashed through his mind. He saw them running in the dark together, sneaking into a girls' school.

The memory made a chuckle escape his lips. "Idiots," he muttered fondly.

The ECHO agent left the room, bag slung over a shoulder.

There was no time to rest. Another job awaited him. And like always, he was planning to succeed.