The Agency was very lively and busy when Decha arrived. It was around midday, the usual slow time of day, so he was quite surprised to see everyone running around back and forth. It wasn't until Decha entered the computer room that he understood why.

The Agents were running back and forth, carrying large boxes full of storage disks outside. Some were at their desks unplugging their own PCs. Theodore, Jamison, Amir, and Jax were all up front, along with Amir's friend whom he recognized when they first started investigating.

What was his name again? That's right, Henry.

Decha walked down the aisle of desks and chairs and everyone paused what they were doing and watched him. It's as if they'd seen a ghost. Decha wondered why they were all staring. But a second later, everyone began saluting him.

Decha stopped walking and studied everyone suspiciously. "What are you all looking at?"

"N96!" Henry called and motioned him over. "It's an honor to see you again. I'm so excited that we finally get to work together!"

"Pipe down a bit, Henry," Theodore spoke harshly, and Henry coughed awkwardly.

"Sorry, I'm just a little nervous."

"Why is everyone disassembling their computers?" Decha nodded to the Agents behind them.

"These two are the only ones that haven't been corrupted by Kilos," Jamison answered and pointed to the two screens.

"We arrived a little late. By the time we got here, Kilos was already tapped into most of the Lab. Clarke stopped it at just these two." Jax explained.

"And why is he here?" Decha pointed at Henry.

"N9899 and N95 told me that you wanted Jamison to take over the computers while you go and chase Deliverance. I'd rather you take some of my Agents with you, but you seem to have already formulated a plan. But I'm assigning Henry to your headsets too, just to make sure this Bracketer doesn't try anything against my team."

"He won't," Decha brushed by Theodore and slapped his hand on Jamison's shoulders. "Not if he knows what's good for him." His words were voiced politely, but Jamison knew well that it was a threat.

"I'll keep checking in," Theodore sighed. "Do whatever you have to do to protect Astell... and The Brackets."

"Will do," Decha nodded. "Let's suit up." He gestured at both Amir and Jax. The three men exited the computer lab and went into the armory next door. There, they equipped heavier gear. The armor they wore was firm.

"Dress light," Decha ordered them and took away their helmets. "You guys don't need this."

"Have you lost your mind again?" Amir scoffed, "You're saying we don't need our HELMETS?"

"Sort of," Decha pressed his lips thin. "I have a good feeling that we won't need them,"

"So our safety depends on your good feeling?" Amir narrowed his eyes. "I'm taking mine, just in case,"

"Suit yourself, literally," Jax snickered and shrugged.

"We have to think things through before heading to the coordinates. Windsor could be tracking us through his team. So we need to figure out a way to get there without being spotted."

"Why can't we just use one of the Agency's shuttles? There's a signal jammer inside." Amir suggested.

"Too big and too noisy," Decha shook his head. He clapped his hands together and the display with POYO's coordinates popped up.

"It may take us a while to get there, but there's an underground tunnel, right under the Agency. It hasn't been used in years, but maybe one of the pods could take us and connect directly with another tunnel to get to this neighborhood."

"If it hasn't been used in years, that means we won't know what to expect under there. We don't wanna be ambushed when we arrive. The goal is for them not to expect us, not the other way around."

"Oh! I got it! What if we dressed in disguises?" Jax smiled.

"You want us to play dress up? How old are you?" Amir rolled his eyes.

"Old enough to best your arse in combat."

"You wanna test that theory?"

"It isn't just a theory, it's proven!"

"Would you two pull yourselves together?" Decha hissed. "You guys can have your little rendezvous after we catch Deliverance. Dressing up doesn't seem like such a bad idea. Windsor would be expecting those of High ranks to show up, but if we put on a different uniform, he won't know it's us."

"So how will we get there?"

"By pod, in Mink uniform." Decha took off his cap and disheveled his hair. Then he flicked a button near the lockers. The room scanned all three men, before altering their usual black clothing into a lighter gray.

"Eh..." Amir examined his appearance with a look of disgust. "I haven't worn something like this in a long time."

"Well, looks like it's time for a reunion," Decha snatched Amir's cap and messed up his black hair as well. "Leave the weapons, and let's go."

~~~

The pod zipped to the stop at the edge of the neighborhood where they were headed. Decha was the first to hop out of the pod. He examined the area and saw a few large apartment buildings behind a tall fence, along with some garages and warehouses lined up next to them.

There was a swamp behind the buildings full of abandoned rusty tools or machines. Decha brought up the coordinates.

"Blegh, look at all that rust," Amir covered his nose and mouth with his arm. "It reeks!"

"Just across that pool of dump water is where rust is accumulated in The Brackets." Jax pointed out.

"Windsor may have decided to base here because we wouldn't have suspected it. We knew Kilos bought rust, but since this area naturally produces it, we would've never known." Decha plugged an earpiece into his ear, before tossing both Jax and Amir a pair too.

"Clarke," Decha spoke through his, hoping that the signal wouldn't be transmitted to wherever POYO was held.

"You called?" Jamison radioed back.

"We're here, I'm sending these coordinates to you and Henry. Both N9899 and N95 also have their ears open and ready to hear. If anything happens to one of us, be sure to alert the Agency."

"Roger that," Henry chimed in.

"Don't say that," Decha hissed. "That's not how we say things."

"Really? That sounds about right from all the shows I've seen,"

"You watch too much TV," Jamison huffed.

"Cut the chit-chat a bit," Decha sneered. Not only was he dealing with two childlike men in the field, but also over the phone. "We'll need you to tell us whether we are getting closer to our target,"

"Like hide and go seek!" Henry and Jax voiced together.

"No, like a homing device," Decha mumbled. "Nevermind. Let's go." Decha stepped forward but then he remembered Rory's inventions. "Oh wait," Decha spun around and pulled the gloves out of his pockets. "You'll need these,"

"Gloves?" Amir snickered. "What are they for? To protect our hands from the rust?"

"Something like that..." Decha handed the pair to Jax and the one to Amir.

"Where's the other one?"

"I'm not sure," Decha shrugged.

"So he gets a pair and I get a stray? Now we know who your real best friend is," Amir huffed and slid his one glove onto his right hand. "What now?"

"Uh..." Decha trailed off. Weren't they supposed to activate a weapon of some sort?

"You don't know, do you?" Amir scowled. "So you led us out here, unprepared and without any weapons for what? To get our arses handed to us?"

Decha studied his gloves and grumbled. "Come on Rory, don't embarrass me like this," He snapped his fingers. Nothing happened. His face reddened. Were these just prototypes? Had she even finished them?

They were screwed if that were the case. Decha placed his hands on his hips and grunted. "We're going to have to improvise,"

"Not at all," Rory's hologram appeared in front of the three, and everyone jumped back.

"Heavens!" Amir held his hand close to his chest.

"Where'd she come from?" Jax puffed.

"I apologize for my delayed response. I was putting together a database for the new users. This way, I can track your skills and speed." Rory's hologram hummed. "How may I assist you, sir?"

"Sir?" Decha chortled. "Just call me by my name, Rory,"

"I am not Rory. I am merely just a model programmed with her features to provide... N96 with emotional support."

Amir and Jax both snickered.

"I am Rox3. A personal assistant for all users, but I am made to follow direct orders from N96. Everything you need in combat, I will provide accordingly based on your personal skill sets. Where shall I start, sir?"

"Rox3? Yeah, no, I'll just call you Rox," Decha smirked.

"The name Rox has been saved into my code. You may call me Rox." Rox smiled, and Decha's eyes lit up. It wasn't Rory, but it still comforted him to see the hologram.

"I'd like for you to explain to them how to use their own... uh..."

"Personalized Adequate Combat Data-mitts." Rox answered, "Rory is still figuring out a name for her creations."

"So uh... we're just gonna let a hologram tell us what to do? Maybe we shouldn't rely too much on tech." Amir murmured.

"Correction. I am not here to command you. I am here only to assist you with your troubles. N95... Amir Tasiman, General of the Agency."

"Woah woah woah! That's enough, don't scan me."

"I have not scanned you. I am only inputting N96's knowledge of you into my program to better assist you." Rox frowned. "Rory hasn't identified your talent... but she has provided you with the ability to sabotage blasters and machinery."

A long metal sleeve appeared on Amir's gloved arm with buttons and switches. "Holy sh—" He shouted and almost smacked himself in the face with the tech.

"Jax Strout... N9899, A future Council Member awaiting the completion of his trial... Rory has acknowledged your ability to attack from a long range. She fears you may have trouble when it comes to keeping your weapon on you. She has provided you with the ability to attack from afar and close-range, while keeping your hold sturdy."

A thick blaster with neon glowing trims appeared in Jax's hands. "Woah! Ha!" Jax posed with the gun proudly. "Never let Rory go, Decha. Never let her go." Jax kissed the blaster excitedly. "This thing is beautiful!"

"And N96... Decha Chen—"

"No need to tell me what I can do," Decha snapped his fingers, and the bo staff fizzed into his hands, startling both Amir and Jax. Decha snapped the staff in half and stepped forward with a smile.

"I see you've figured out the technique," Rox nodded in approval.

"Wait! How come I get a sucky sleeve and he gets a whole battle staff?" Amir whined. "And he has some special technique? Not fair! Rory's playing favorites."

"Unfortunately, Decha's provision is the hardest to master. This staff was modeled after the void staff of the First War. N96 will have to learn how to defend himself while commencing attacks with an outdated technique."

"It won't take me long," Decha voiced confidently. "I'm a quick learner."

"And that is why Rory entrusted you with it," Rox gestured to the staff. "Is there anything else, sir?"

"That should be all," Decha walked ahead. Rox fizzed out of sight and Jax and Amir followed closely behind. The three climbed over the fence and landed on the other side. The dirt was extremely muddy. When Amir's shoes touched the ground, they sank.

He heaved and covered his mouth. "Shite! My shoes!"

"Afraid of a little dirt?" Jax chuckled. "You can wash your boots when we get back."

Amir flipped the bird at Jax and treaded forward carefully. Decha wiped his feet off on an old mat that was laying around when the mud turned into gravel. They approached one warehouse with a big logo and fancy writing. The garage door was open and there was nothing but abandoned furniture inside.

"How close are we, Clarke?"

"Very," Jamison confirmed. "Go straight several meters and then on the left is your target."

"Check for bombs." Decha looked to Amir, who blinked in response.

"Me?" Amir looked between Jax and Decha.

"Well, you CAN interfere with machines, can't you? Who else?" Decha gestured at the sleeve on Amir's arm. "There's no way Windsor would let us waltz in and catch him easily."

Amir raised his arm and held it like it was a weapon. "How am I supposed to use it?"

"Aim directly at a target. Grenades or smaller explosives are circular and usually tucked into dirty or mud-like environments." Rod's voice chipped in.

"Oh, yeah, I knew that. Combat training and all." Amir cackled.

"I never doubted you did. It was simply just a reminder." Rox retorted.

Amir hovered his hand over the dirt, and he felt a wave of energy leave the glove. A trail of landmines ahead of them popped out of the ground and put out small amounts of smoke.

"Well, that did something," Jax uttered, shocked by what he just saw.

Decha jogged over to a building with multiple floors, which was just a few meters ahead as Jamison described.

"There! Stop." Jamison shouted over the earpiece. "On your left, that's where the target is."

Decha looked to his left and he saw a rusty door. There was a keypad to the right and Decha motioned Amir over. Amir quickly grazed his gloved fingers across the device and it cracked. The door opened.

Before anyone could step inside, a large crowd of Kilos Engineers and Scientists spotted them and dropped all their tools before grabbing blasters.

"Uh... sorry? Wrong house?" Jax jumped when a beam almost grazed his leg. "Woah!" He threw himself back and hid against the wall. Decha pulled Amir aside and looked around the wall blocking them from getting shot.

Jax propped his blaster around and began to aim.

"Don't shoot them!" Decha yelled.

"What? They're trying to kill us, and you tell him not to shoot?" Amir coughed.

"Deliverance is controlling them!" Decha huffed, reminding them about their chip. "Aim for their weapons, not the people."

Jax got into position and began to pull the trigger. Using his skills to the best of his ability, he shot 10 blasters out of the hands of the Kilos workers. His aim was spot on, as expected, but one of the opposing beams struck his weapon.

He dropped the blaster, but he extended his hand in a panic and it flew right back into his grasp. "Oh..." Jax moaned in satisfaction. "Decha, you'd better marry that Bracket woman or I'll murder your arse in the years to come."

"I'm sure Rory would enjoy that very much, N9899." Rox's voice chirped in response. Decha became flustered when Jax wiggled his eyebrows at him.

Jax smirked and propped his gun back around, knocking out the guns of 8 more people. After a while, his arms were getting tired. "There's too many of them!"

"I recommend N95 use one of the knobs on his sleeve to increase wave sensitivity." Rox voiced.

"Um... can you say that again, but in a way a toddler could understand it?" Amir sweatdropped.

"The red knob on your forearm. Turn it and aim towards your opponent."

Amir looked around the wall and looked back at his glove. There was no way he'd make it out alive if he jumped into the open fire. "You want me to throw myself into danger?!"

"Do it, Amir!" Decha clenched his teeth.

"Nope! We have to find another way in!"

"There is no other way! Trust the tool you were given and do it you coward!" Jax spat and fired again. "I won't be able to hold them all off!"

Amir felt his heart race. There was a lot of pressure on him that he wasn't used to. His usual missions were way less advanced than this. It wasn't easy for him to forget everything he knew and to put his trust in Rory's equipment.

But if he didn't do anything, the entire plan would be jeopardized. He didn't want Astell to fall into the hands of that Engineering Professor. Windsor looked weak, so what was bound to go wrong anyway? So what if there was an army of scientists with the intent to kill? He had faced rough situations in the Brackets.

Was this truly any different than handling cocky Bracketers? Maybe. But there was only one way to find out.

Amir charged forward with a battle cry and aimed at the inside of the room. He quickly twisted the red dial and an entire gust of wind knocked all of the shooters back, as well as destroying all the remaining blasters. When he finished, everyone inside collapsed.

"W-what the heck?" Amir huffed. "Did I kill them?"

Jax and Decha quickly went inside. All men were on guard, looking around to make sure there would be nothing else to surprise them.

"They're not dead," Rox stated. "It seems that each of them has some sort of microchip placed into their wrists. When the energy wave was activated, it destroyed their ability to compute. These people are in a temporary state of unconsciousness."

"They won't remember anything about working for Kilos or Deliverance." Decha groaned. "Jamison, is the target still here?"

"They are. The building you're in has 4 floors."

"Maybe the target is above you?" Henry added.

"Would it be better for us to separate?" Amir inquired.

"No!" Rox's full form appeared again. "Rory does not recommend you take on anyone alone yet. My programming does not allow me to help each of you in separate areas. Once the signal is cut—"

"I'm not listening to a hologram Bracketer." Amir shook his head and brushed by her. "What's the word, Decha?"

"I say we stick together. What if one of us runs into POYO? You guys can't take that thing alone," Decha agreed with Rox and Amir frowned.

Decha sauntered into the elevator with both Jax and Amir close behind. "Keep your guard up," He warned them both. Amir grasped onto his sleeve and Jax aimed his blaster at the door. Decha crossed the glowing rods in his hands and awaited the danger.

The elevator stopped at the next floor, and the doors opened.