Ellie turned to her brother as Lexi drew out a shaky sigh.

"Okay guys, I have a plan," Ellie announced. "Matt, Lexi, you two are going to rally up both our families to Jason's barge. I'll go tell Grams the plan and fill her in on what's happening."

"We also need to keep our phones on in case we run into any trouble." Matt added.

"Good thinking, Matt. Let's try to meet in about an hour's tops, okay?"

Matt and Lexi nodded.

"If you two aren't back before then, I will search for you guys. Okay?"

Again they nodded. They stared at each other briefly before forming a small group hug. The group hug ended before anyone was truly satisfied.

"Me and Lexi will go to her house first since it's farther away on the country side. I doubt Ronson will be keeping too much of his attention all the way down there."

Ellie nodded, small tears creeping into her eyes. She quickly wiped them away. "Alright, let's do this."

With one last look at one another they split up, Matt and Lexi running towards the east while Ellie ran back south towards the James' family barge.

...

The momentary truce certainly didn't last very long. They stood in an intersection. They had the choice to continue forward, go right or left.

"I think we should track on forward to see if Danny can sniff anything," said Jason. "If not, come right back here."

Bug shook his head. "No. I think we should split up. One team could go left and the other right. If we can't find anything we'll meet back here."

Jason frowned. "No. That's not a good idea. That mutant can sneak up on any of us and we won't be there to protect one another. I say we keep going forward and search a little more before coming back here."

Danny blinked. It was clear to him that the two didn't quite get along. He turned to Bobby and asked, "Are they always like this?"

Bobby nodded. His voice was hoarse and mechanical. "Most of the time."

Danny shook his head. Jackie had to be out there somewhere in the tunnels…

Suddenly, his attention was brought ahead. Was it just him, or had he heard something?

"Jackie…"

Danny took another moment to listen before he spoke up.

"I agree with Jason. We should go now."

The two older males could see the urgency in the younger male's eyes.

"We need to go now whether you come or not Bug," said Jason, catching on.

With that, Jason turned his back on Bug and began running straight ahead.

Bug growled in annoyance. As much as he hated to admit it, he would feel guilty if he let Jason die, and not to mention Ellie wouldn't be happy at all. He sighed, lifted Bobby up, and ran to catch up with Jason. Danny followed close behind.

Danny could smell the mutant close and it made him edgy. If it hadn't been for Jackie who gotten him out of the way, he would have been crushed by the mutant or even the rocks if he had fallen through the hole. He reminded himself that it wasn't just the mutant he could smell, but Jackie as well. They came to a curve and stared in awe as their shadows curved along the wall eerily.

Jason walked ahead, anxious to find his little sister.

'Oh Jack I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you...I should have taken you with me...'

Jason decided to turn into his mutant self to conceal his identity before continuing forward.

There was fire in his eyes.

...

Ellie sprinted until an agonizing pain finally forced to stop, deciding to take a quick break by a large broadcasting building. Little did she know that she would regret it...

Suddenly it flickered on. Citizens paused to look up, seeing the image of Brett Ronson. The anger boiling inside of him was practically felt.

"My dear fellow citizens, it has come to my attention that we now have a crisis at hand." He paused for a moment before continuing. "The true identity of the notorious Zevo-3 gang leader has been revealed." Every citizen stared in disbelief at one another whispering and murmuring. "Here is an image of him." And right there, right in front of Ellie's face, was a school picture of Jason James.

Tears began to fill in her eyes. Choking back a sob, she ran as fast she could, her vision blurred with tears. The tears were stubborn, despite her efforts to hide them.

Everyone now knew the true identity of Z-Strap, and there was nothing she could do about it.

Ellie nearly choked on a loud sob as she reached the barge. She leaned against the door before slumping to the floor. From her position she knocked on the door before closing her eyes.

She could hear the many locks being unlocked, the soft clicking sound and then the twisting of the knob. Ellie quickly rose to her feet, but before she could say a word she was pulled inside. Grams eyed her for a moment before nodding grimly.

"Can't be too careful now, can we?" Her voice was shaky but still strong. "They know." She could hardly bring herself to say those two words before breaking down into tears.

"I know."

Ellie cried for a small while before forcing herself to calm down. She had to tell Grams the plan.

"Come, help me prepare the dinner."

Ellie hesitated. "N-no, I can't. I have to meet up with my brother…it's been fifteen minutes already, a-and I haven't heard from anyone."

Grams nodded again. "Go to them."

Ellie nodded, wiping one last tear before she turned towards the door.

"One more thing, Ellie." Ellie turned around. "Be strong."

Ellie turned again and ran as fast as she could out the door. Grams gave a small smile.

...

Matt and Lexi panted as they reached the small ranch.

"Lexi, hon', where've ya been all this time?"

Lexi blushed, looking at her tall, grey-haired father. "Pa, uh, I was with one of my boyfriend's friends. He invited us and his family over for a dinner. Tell ma we need ta go now!"

Matt blinked and smirked. Lexi shot him a glare.

"I didn't know you can talk like a hillbilly, Lexi," Matt whispered.

Lexi, irritated, slapped Matt's arm before she looked back to her father.

"All righ' now. That sounds like a mighty fine idea. I'll go call yer Ma so we can head on over!"

Both Matt and Lexi were relieved. Lexi's father stood from his spot on an old rocking chair and walked inside. The younger couple could hear Lexi's parents conversing and agreeing, and soon they both came out. Lexi's mother was a rather nice and plump woman with golden-blonde hair.

"Well, let's head on over to that friend of yers. Son, here, catch!" Lexi's mother tossed Matt a pair of old car keys.

Matt looked confused. "You want me to drive?"

Lexi's father chuckled. "Well, of course! We don' gone know where yer friend lives!"

"O-okay..." Matt swallowed hard.

They all got in the car, Mat sitting in the driver's seat. Lexi saw that he was nervous, and she smirked.

"Well, go ahead Matt! Start the car!"

"N-not funny, L-Lex..."

Matt turned the key and began to push the accelerate petal lightly, and the car began to move rather slowly…

'Maybe I can do this!'

Confidentially, Matt stepped on the petal harder, and the car practically ripped through the speed of light. Lexi dug her nails to her seat as Matt passed stop signs here and there. In the back she could hear her parents 'woo-hoo-ing' about Matt's 'amazing' driving skills.

"I sure hope our little Lex keeps this one! He sure knows how to drive!" Lexi's father exclaimed. Lexi blushed, concealing the grin, and was internally laughing with joy.

Matt thankfully didn't hit anyone when doing sharp turns or when he had ran through stop signs when people were crossing. They managed to safely make it to the barge (which was considered a miracle to Lexi). They all climbed out of the car as Matt locked the doors with a rather smug look.

"Was that cool or what?"

"Or what," muttered Lexi.

"Whoo! Boy, yer skills are even better then a'magined! Heck a'wish a'could drive as good as ya!"

Matt smirked proudly. "Thank you, Mr. Leviart!"

The older man waved a dismissive hand. "Boy at this rate, you might as well call me 'Pa'!"

Lexi sighed shaking her head.

Her mother giggled. "Now let's go inside before the food gets any colder!"

They walked inside and Grams greeted them with a smile. She allowed Lexi's parents to pass, but kept Matt and Lexi at the door.

"Have you two seen Ellie? She said she was going to look for you two."

Matt looked shocked. "You mean she's not here?!"

Grams shook her head. "No. I want you two to stay. I'll contact Jason…she might have went with his group. If she's not with him, we'll search."

The two nodded.

"Now Matt, go get your family. We need to get them here before it begins..."

"Before what begins?" Lexi asked.

"War."

...

Just one second was all the mutant needed. It snapped out of its trance and turned swiftly. Jackie's eyes widened in horror as the mutant's powerful tail swung and hit her in the stomach, sending her straight to the wall. Jackie couldn't hold it in anymore. She got on all fours and vomited. When she was done, she let out a frustrated growl, tears streaming down her eyes. She sobbed loudly. She thought she heard someone frantically calling her name, but her mind was so hazy and jumbled. It was hard to remember where she was for a second, so she didn't bother to answer.

"Jackie!" Jason sprinted to the side of the cave-like tunnel to where Jackie was lying, looking pathetic in her own vomit. Jason narrowly missed getting impaled in the stomach and chest by the mutant's tail. He jumped, slid and zigzagged until he reached his sister. He hugged her tightly.

"Oh god Jackie, I-I'm so sorry! I should've taken you with me! I'm so sorry!"

Jackie lifted her face up from her brother's grasp. "Brother?"

Jason simply nodded. Sadly, their reunion was quickly cut short. The booming, thunderous roar of the mutant caused the tunnel to shake.

Bug growled. "Bobby, go with Jason and his sister and stay there!"

Bobby nodded and on wobbly legs darted towards the small corner where Jason and Jackie sat. Jason quickly rose up.

"Jackie, stay here."

Jackie swallowed hard. She so badly wanted to help, but she knew better than disobey her brother. She nodded silently.

Jason's eyes grew very dark. His anger was now in control of his mind. Jason was going to make this mutant regret looking at his little sister! His body began to change as he turned his entire body into pure titanium metal, his arms turning into large metallic mallets. He let out a feral-like growl that could size up a lion's, as he ran straight at the mutant catching it by surprise and hitting it square in its face.

Danny snuck past Jason, Bug, and the mutant as they fought, towards Jackie.

"Oi, you doing alright there, mate?"

Jackie looked up and nodded, then when she winced, shook her head. "I think I'm going to vomit again…"

Danny sat next to her while Bobby watched the fight from behind a large rock.

"You know, you gave us quite a scare there mate. Please don't do that again…I hate to be in a situation like this again. Oi, it's a miracle this Aussie is even walking." Danny snorted. "Ay, your brother and that green guy gave me a huge headache! They disagree on EVERYTHING!"

Jackie couldn't help but let out a snort of laughter. "Really?"

Danny chuckled. "Oh yeah. My brain is already a smoothie from all their bickering!" The two burst into laughter. Even Bobby couldn't resist the chance to laugh at his 'brother'.

Their laughter caught both Jason and Bug off guard and the mutant used this momentum to smack Jason against the wall opposite of Jackie's, and Bug was thrown further down the tunnel, out of view. The three gasped and gaped in shock as the mutant began to stock closer to them. Danny rose up and growled lowly.

The mutant paused, pondering on what to do. Danny used this moment to run and leap into the air right onto the mutant's large bulky back. The mutant quickly responded by bucking and charging at nothing as it tried to knock Danny off, only to no avail. Jason recovered from the powerful blow and got on wobbly feet just in time to watch as Danny was thrown into a large boulder before being lifted again and thrown once again, and again, and again, and again, like a lifeless rag doll.

Jason quickly rushed towards the mutant, his rage returning. He didn't hesitate to throw himself into the mutant's side. Instantly the mutant let go of Danny and let him drop on the ground. Danny fell with a loud thump.

Jackie quickly forgot her promise to stay put and darted from her spot behind the boulders and ran to where Danny was lying lifelessly.