Like a stampede of frightened wildebeest, people began bolting for the tunnels, leaving all of their belongings abandoned along the curved walls of the dome. Dirt acted as a makeshift smoke screen as poor and the few Defectives fled in all directions. The weak crashed into the ground, unable to fight against the jostled bodies, all fighting to get more distance between their friends.

Aiden watched them, his bag gathered over his shoulder and backed to the far wall to allow people more space and avoid getting crushed. He pulled his fox mask back over his face; the panicked crowd died off as everyone began dashing in odd directions down the tunnels. He looked towards the tunnel that patiently awaited his exploration.

Wails echoed over the tunnel, followed by the eerie silence as people scattered in all directions with their oil lamps, rushing for safety inside the weaving tunnels. It sounded similar to fire crackling against the metal, but it was actually sparks flying off the cylinder surface he began racing towards. A petite girl clutching a worn teddy bear tripped over her sandals, and fell heavily into the dirt as her mother raced ahead in a blind panic. The girl cried, horrified her parent left her side without a second thought.

    Aiden leaped into action, yanking the girl to her feet and shoving her towards the opposite entrance of the tunnel, towards the wide space that the poor normally used as living quarters. The lamp light faded as the group retreated further into the tunnel system, but the girl wasted no time chasing after them crying pitifully for her mother. Watching her body immerse in the black, he turned in the direction of the fighting.

    He abandoned his pack where he left it to offer up his food; his weapons already at his sides. Running quickly down the tunnel, using his power to boost his speed, he fumbled in his jacket for his plastic bag of debris. Jagged bits of shrapnel poked his skin, a comfortable weight with the rocks when he pulled out a fistful. Wind howled in his ears at the speed he ran, tangling his hair and stinging his eyes behind his Japanese fox mask. it was only a mere two minutes, the noise increased dramatically in volume. Impacts of metal bodies shuddered the tunnel, the ground vibrated like vicious explosions underneath his sneakers. He kicked a metal pipe in his path, and he momentarily paused to pick it up before dashing off again, showering the tunnel with dirt.

    His breathes escaped him in pants, his feet slowed to a swift walk as he hugged the curving tunnel. His heart pounded against his fragile rib cage, threatening to shatter his brittle bones if given the chance. Aiden pulled his mask away from his face to gather his bearings, ignoring the flighty urges that excited him. Eyes closed, he listened intently to the sharp voices of Squads shouting through their helmets into their radio devices. The claws of a cyborg tried to rake at someone he couldn't follow the footsteps of. Another knelt closer to him as though taking notes on the scene. He could feel the sweat coating their faces, the rapid beat as the one dodged the cyborg and narrowly missing the flying one as he heard the flap of metallic wings.

Eyes opened, he peeked his head from his hiding spot, and absorbed the scene of a small battle before him. Three squad men stood on standby with tranquilizers in their hands, guarded by the strangest model of cyborg Aiden has seen in a while. A long tail curled around the dainty foot a blonde haired girl in a hoodie and jean shorts, jerking her towards the rows of spinning teeth like a wood chewer encased in the jaws of a cat and monkey hybrid cyborg. What the creature lacked in size for it only came up to Aiden's abdomen, it earned in speed. The girl didn't stand a chance. Another cyborg, an older model looking like a sort of falcon splattered black goo as it landed on one of the squad men's shoulders. The eyes glowed a white, targeted on the blonde girl as she suddenly vanished and reappeared behind the hybrid cyborg to aim a roundhouse kick at its head.

Mere inches from the girl knelt a young man seemingly only a few years older than her, talking into a comm buried inside his ear canal. Aiden widened his eyes in realization seeing the man who had been dragged from the alleyway earlier that morning. He had been sure the poor fool had been a goner was injected with the purple liquid. It was phenomenal to see him here of all places, free and awake.

Aiden stepped back behind the wall to shield himself from view to contemplate his best course of action. The pair handled their own well, and didn't seem to be in any sort of harm. He worried little about their welfare, it was the burning rage that bubbled in his chest that wanted him to fight. Hunting the squads who invaded the tunnels was the sole purpose he ventured below the surface so often. The reason behind his actions was a mystery to him.

He felt his hands instinctively reach for the crooked metal pipe leaned against the tunnel wall. Fingers coiled over the rusted metal, he felt his breathing slow as it seemed like another being took control of his mind. A sense of his old self he knew long ago stirred, buried underneath the layers of identities he stole. It told him to stop his hesitation and attack; as a Defective, this was his duty. Aiden checked his pockets for his knives and various debris, it would be all he needed.

The youth talking into the ear piece, instructing his sister and the rest of his team miles away paused at the sound of shoes shifting on the ground behind him. Gritting his teeth, he leaned into a crouch and whipped around, ready to engage in combat with the enemy's backup. Instead, his eyes widened at the sight of a grungy and skinny boy walk towards the fight. The poreclain fox mask over his face gleaned as a white spotlight hit it. "Sam, retreat for a second," the man pressed his ear piece and muttered.

A moment later after the slightest flicker, the man's sister landed beside him scowling. "What is it," she breathed heavily, glaring at him out the corner of her green eyes under her curtain of light blonde hair. She followed her brother's thumb as he pointed at Aiden.

The squads stiffened to raise their guns, aimed directly on Aiden's heart as he lumbered closer to them, dragging his metal pipe in the dirt. His head titled slightly to the side, sneakers slapped the ground, revving up his power. Energy poured through his legs as he grabbed hold of his speed.

The hybrid cyborg growled mechanically at the threat. Steam puffed from both sides of its mouth, red eyes glowed as it geared its functions into defeating the set target. Water seeped through the metal plates along it's belly and chest, dampening the ugly mass of black fur oozing the similar black type of goo as the bird cyborg. Tiny sets of razor sharp teeth whirred to life under its steel trap jaws.

Aiden made the first move, darting forward to meet the cyborg head on as it leaped for his neck, monkey tail unraveled to crack the air like a horse riding crop. Using his speed, he gained on the beast to whip his metal pipe above his head. It bashed the top of the hybrid cyborg's head; a sickening crunch of dented metal followed. He jumped, using the head as leverage for his feet to leap over the cyborg he rammed into the dirt. The squad nearest to him fired his machine gun, spraying bullets in all directions. Aiden felt a sharp sting bloom in his side but ignored the pain.

The bird cyborg screeched, wings flapping as it reached out to embedd its talons into Aiden's eye sockets. Claws glinting near his face, he ducked last moment and felt strands of his hair float off his head. Teeth clenched, he closed the gap between him and the squad. He heard the muffled shout of surprise behind the tinted black helmet, the gun useless as it was slower than the boy. Aiden pulled a pocket knife from his jacket when he felt something coil around his right ankle. He glanced down momentarily to see a metal tail constricted around his ankle, before he was thrown backwards.

Both the young man and girl named Sam froze in shock, awaiting the sound of his body crushed under the impact as he neared the metal tunnel wall. Aiden pressed his feet on the wall and bounced off the surface like a bouncy ball. The hybrid cyborg was ready for his onslaught, its jaws spread wide open to swallow his shoulder. He felt the teeth grind deep into his flesh but prepared himself for the pain. His knife still grasped firm in his hand, he jammed the blade deep into the skull of the hybrid cyborg and twisted deeper. It jolted as the teeth suddenly stopped moving, the jaw slackened enough for Aiden to escape.

The squads shouted into their comms for backup, charging at Aiden while aiming their guns meant to harm him but not pulverize him. He found that to be odd, but didn't dwell on the matter long. The bird cyborg circled over him, diving for another tackle, but he dodged out of its reach. Hitting the dirt, it scrabbled for a purchase, wings flapping frantically.

Aiden decided now was the perfect moment for retreat and turned to run towards the two still standing dumb-founded at his display. "Follow me," he grunted under his mask, grabbing the girl's arm to direct her in the other direction.

The squads pounded after them, demanding they stop or they would fire to kill.

The girl, Sam, snatched her brother's hand in her's. She looked at Aiden as he reached inside his pocket. He threw the debris, manipulating their speed so they acted as deadly make shift bullets. Blinding sparks and a boom were the after effects, the squads dropping like heavy stones as the shrapnel buried deep in their throats. "Hold my hand," Sam ordered Aiden, grabbing it before he could complain.

Colors melted together, a blended spinning motion that swirled around his head like a child melted down their box of crayons to create a messy rainbow that he hard a time visualizing. He was numb, unable to feel the girl's hand squeezing his tiny fingers as she struggled to hold onto him. As soon as it occurred, they all dropped into an unfamiliar area. Aiden gasped and landed on his back, feeling the pain in his side through his muddled mind that worked to bring his world back into focus.

The girl appeared into view, leaning over him to peer inside the eye holes of his mask. Aiden didn't reply, catching his breath and ignoring the nausea bubbling bile up from his stomach. His eyes rolled crazily in their sockets.

"It's always the worst the first time," the girl explained carefully, refraining from pulling back his mask. "My power is teleportation I'm sure you figured out."

Aiden heard a groan to his left. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself into a sitting position and then a stand. He wavered on the spot for a moment, smacking away the girl's hands as she reached to steady him. A sharp stab of pain rippled up his side like a tidal wave, almost knocking him off his feet. His fingers already reached under his clothes; blood smeared them when he snaked his hand out.

The girl held her brother's wrist and allowed him to use her as support while he regained his balance. He kept shaking his head like trying to get rid of a pesky head ache. The girl's eyes glanced over at the younger boy who watched them with a reproachful gaze at their sudden weakness.

Aiden looked away to avoid before her silent stare turned to one of irritation. He searched the blackness of the tunnel to decipher his location in the tunnels. After the girl warped them, his sense of direction went scatter-brained and he could only stare at the circular walls of the tunnel that gave him no sign of level or how to get back above ground.

"We are on the third level," the girl broke the prolonged silence, "the western tunnel of the third tunnel. They won't be able to find us for a while." She whispered as though the squads would leap from the shadows any second despite the lack of danger.

"We have to go," Aiden muttered, annoyed by the distance he would have to travel to retrieve his bag left in the dome. There was no point now; he was on the squad's hunted list. All his weapons. Gone.

"Let's rest up a bit," the brother held his head with one hand, but his voice had command. "I want to thank you for fighting the squads but you didn't need to put yourself in danger like that."

Aiden ignored him and began to walk towards a point on the southern end of the tunnel where they could get to surface. "We have to go," he repeated stubbornly and glared at the two from underneath his fox mask. The throb in his side increased as he felt hot, sticky blood soak through his clothes.

The brother looked ready to protest, his mouth tightened in a frown of disapproval. He straightened his sluggish appearance of a drunkard, slumped shoulders stiffened and his eyes sparked back to life.

"Do you know how to get out?" the girl asked him, putting a hand on her brother's arm. She glanced at him for a moment before looking back at Aiden.

Aiden paused for a moment. "Yes," he finally stated blandly, growing impatient as the minutes ticked. Unlike those two, he had to keep on a schedule. The mother waiting for him to return home would be angered he skipped her dinner. His life called him to come back above ground; he had the littlest interest in talking pleasantries with the two siblings. In fact, it was the last thing on his mind. Bleeding from his abdomen and with soldiers searching for them he couldn't rest.

They whispered with heads bowed so close their foreheads touched. Uncertainly narrowed their eyes and hardened their words as they discussed the best course of action. The girl glanced up momentarily to notice Aiden disappear into the dark, leaving them to their own devices. "We have to stay with him, he's just a child." She hissed at her brother, urging him forward.

Sam's brother winced as he took a pace forward. "Sam, we don't know who he is or what he is." He said through gritted teeth but allowed his sister to lean on him as they walked forward.

"That's exactly why we need to keep an eye on him." Sam said. She gave him a friendly nudge in the side and added under breath. "I think something is wrong with him."

This caught his attention for both of them turned their gaze towards the darkened spot Aiden disappeared. He picked up his pace despite his obvious limp. "Go on ahead, keep an eye on him."

Sam didn't reply and jobbed to catch up to the boy who steadily tread down the tunnel. He spared her not a single glance as she took up step just behind him. His clothes were ripped in an assortment of places, showing glimpses of pale skin. Fox ears poked through his head of brown curls streaked with watery cyborg goo and blood. She tried to guess what his face behind the fox mask; his dark blue eyes were her only clue.

"What is your name?" she asked him hesitantly as he walked.

Aiden didn't respond, quickening his pace so she didn't linger next to him. His fingers itched to cradle his injured side but he repelled the idea. He couldn't show weakness in front of strangers. "Does it matter?" His gruff voice bounced off the tunnel walls. "Where is the other one."

"My brother? He is behind me," Sam blinked, her hands held behind her back. She felt unsure how to approach his evident hostility. "I wanted to thank you for saving me, and I can't do that unless I know your name."

Aiden paused causing Sam almost bump into him. He looked over his shoulder. "I have many names."

Sam paused, not knowing what to say to that. What exactly did he mean by many names? She decided not to talk anymore to him as they walked, eventually hearing the fumbled steps of her brother. "Hey kid, let's wait for Will for a second. I don't think the squads are going to find us here."

Aiden barely heard her voice that sounded muffled like his ears have been stuffed with cotton. White flashes burned across his vision and the world spun around him. He barely ripped off his fox mask before he felt his stomach heave and he clapped his hand over his mouth. 

"Are you okay?" Sam cried out as she watched trickles of blood escape past his mouth until he was unable to hold it in and a fountain of red splashed the ground. 

He coughed, vomiting up blood as he felt a familiar buzzing in his head. This has only happened one time before, but he knew at that moment he used up too much of his power. Sam's hand touched his shoulder as he felt the world went black.