Agent X tried to appeal to Alicia's humanity. All his efforts were futile, realizing what stood before him was a cold-blooded calculating killer. It wasn't an easy task to reach out to her. Alicia's eyes were black as the pearls of the sea. No trace of humanity in them. Just an empty shell of a human being. The question was how would he be able to reach her without taking her life? It was a promise he made to Jared. Something that he owed to him.  

"Enough with your lies," Alicia said. "Are you gonna put up or shut up?"

"Don't make me kill you," Agent X said, trying to hold back from pulling the trigger. 

Alicia got up close enough. She charged at him, pushing the gun up in the air, elbowing him in the face and flipping him over; he countered her move from breaking his arm and got into a fighting stance.

Agent X grabbed hold of Alicia's hands when he spun her around, holding firm on his grip. "Stop, I don't want to hurt you."

Alicia gritted her teeth. "Oh, but I want to hurt you."She struggled to get out of his hold.

Agent X held on to her arms as she tried to push away."Deshed poisoned your mind. He only cares about one thing and that is himself. You think he will still favor you. As soon as he gets what he wants, he will dispose of you like he did me."

There were five dark cars with high beams heading into their direction on the path near the woods. Alicia's face curled to a devilish grin. "Looks like the cavalry has arrived."

One of the agents, dressed in a purple suit with a golden tie, got out of the car with his gun drawn out, spitting out a wooden toothpick on the ground. His eyes darted to Alicia and Agent X. He pointed the gun to Agent X. "Let her go."

"Agent R and U go get Senator Guynan into the car," One man said.  "If it isn't the traitor Agent X. 

Agent X looked confused at the man. "Do I know you?"

The man chuckled. "Oh, I forgot Deshed wiped out your memories. A shame you don't remember me."

"And you are?" Agent X asked with his eyes locked on to his new foe.

"What? You don't see the family resemblance? I'm Agent T, your brother." 

"What? You are my brother?" Agent X asked, dumbfounded by the news. 

"And here I thought I had issues," Alicia said with a sassy tone.

"Mind your tongue, Alicia, Deshed would like a word with you," Agent T said in a snipping tone.

She hissed. "This isn't over," Alicia stood in his face.

Agent T smirked, staring her down. "Don't test my patience. I am not as forgiving as Deshed."

Alicia walked to the car and turned her head at Agent T. "I'll deal with you later."

Agent turned his attention to Agent X. "There is a lot you don't know. Deshed took a lot from you. Secrets that lay buried in that broken mind of yours."

"What do you mean?" Agent X asked.

Agent T waved his hand to jester Agent X to follow. "You and I play a big part in the Raven Agency direction. Follow me, I'll explain everything."

Agent X felt in his gut that Agent T was up to no good. Something sinister was brewing. He decided it would be best to play along to find out more information about him that can help fill in the gaps with his past. Whether or not they were brothers. 

"How do I know if this is some trick?"

"The choice is yours.?" Agent T threw a cell phone on the ground. "If you change my mind, you will hear from me in two days."

"And if I choose not to join your cause?" Agent X asked, prying deeper.

"That would be unfortunate for you, brother," Agent T said, walking toward the black car.

Agent T gave the hand signal for everyone to leave. "Until we meet again." Everyone entered the black vehicles as the tires mashed in the ground spurring pebbles and they took off.

Agent X didn't know what to make with the encounter with Agent T. But one thing for sure, he needed to know the truth about his past and what Deshed had stolen from him. Agent X had doubts about saving Alicia. For the sake of Jared, he was willing to do what he could to restore her humanity. Choices had to be made and not a minute to spare. There was no telling how far the rabbit hole will go for Agent X to uncover everything from Deshed schemes in his government plot. One thing for certain Deshed had to be dealt with. Even if it meant going through all the agents just to get to him.

Agent X's cell phone began to buzz. He swiped to answer. "Hello."

"When all hell breaks loose and you didn't invite me to the party," Agent Q said. 

"I thought you were dead?" Agent X said.

"You know me, I'm always one step ahead Deshed, '' Agent Q said, going through files on the laptop.

"Why did you call me?" 

"It's about Casey."

When Agent X heard her name, it felt like thrones had penetrated his heart in two different locations. It was a deep festering wound that wouldn't go away on its own. He wonders if he failed Casey in some way. Siding with the enemy was a consequence that Agent X didn't foresee.  

"What about her?" Agent X asked, feeling anxious. 

"She is making a move with Deshed to take out top members of the Raven Agency," Agent Q said.

"Do you know where this is taking place?" Agent X asked.

"Falcon Falls tomorrow night. The place will be crawling with senior agents. Some that are not part of the project we went through.These guys don't play for keeps like you and me."

"What of the Zala drugs?" Agent X inquired. 

"About that? The Zala drugs have been altered with some special compound that is hard to trace and are injected into each Agent granting them advanced reflexes and slight healing abilities. If I were you, I would watch your back."

"I didn't think you cared."

"I don't. I'm only helping you because I want Deshed out of the picture just as much as you. Which is why I took the liberty of sending the coordinates on how to get there."

"At least you are good for something," Agent X said, leaving the woods.

"This doesn't change anything," Agent Q said, typing on his laptop. "We both know how this ends."

"Yeah, I do," Agent X said, hanging up his cell phone.

Agent X took a moment to breathe and stared up into the night sky. The grass beneath his feet was wet with dew. A moon glimmered with light. A part of him found solace in the fact he won't be alone in the fight against Deshed and his acolytes of assassins. The danger was real. And he has to do everything in his power to put an end to The Raven Agency or die trying. 

The path he must embark on won't be easy. And brokering a chance to get to know his brother could work to his advantage. It would be the key to unravel the Raven Agency from the inside by earning his trust. The secrets to his past might hold the key to everything Agent X longed for.  Some secrets are best kept in the dark. But, was he willing to face his demons when the time came? 

The hard part would be to face Casey.  He struggled with his consciousness and guilt and didn't know how it would play out when the time had arrived. He managed to hotwire one of the vehicles left behind parked on the curb and drove off.  The cool breeze hit his face like a bag of needles stinging his cold cheek. His phone rang again as he sighed.

It was an unknown caller Agent X didn't recognize. Out of reluctance, he answered the caller and placed it on bluetooth.

"Who is this?" Agent X asked, turning on the main road.

There was screaming on the phone and then gunshots. Agent X knuckles clenched the steering wheel, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

"Did you really think I wouldn't find  you?" Deshed asked.

Agent Q was crawling on the floor in a room with a bruised face covered in blood. Deshed kicked him in the ribs. Agent Q moaned in agony.  

"I hope you are listening to Agent X," Deshed said, kicking Agent Q harder in the face. "This is what happens to traitors who think they can grow big and expand their empire. "Time to shut you down." Deshed took his laptop off the table and threw it against the wall. 

 "Let him go, Deshed, is me you want," Agent X said, trying to reason with a mad man.

"You're right," Deshed said as he shot Agent Q in the head.