Setting the tech on the glass coffee table from Matthew, Nate didn't care how the blood would stain it. He finished bandaging Matthew up, then scooped him up into his arms to lay him across the couch. Nate glanced at the door, listening to Mark's muffled words for a moment. Collecting his knife and the tech, he took them to the sink to clean them off. He wanted a better look at this stuff. After cleaning his pocket tools, he stashed it away in his boot. Washing the chips, he examined them more closely. Why were these in Matthew? Did Mark have them in him too? When the muffled voices stopped beyond the door, Nate shut off the water. Setting the stuff aside, he moved to the front door to peek out of the small hole. Mark was gone. Shaking his head, he cursed. Sliding his hands down the door, he tried to figure out how to open it. Noticing the scanner, he placed his hand on it, but it denied him. Frustrated, he smacked the door. He had to get out of here.

Behind him, a cool voice told him. "I haven't put you in the system yet. The house doesn't recognize you." Nate slowly turned, growling out. "Open it." Matthew sat up slowly, pulling a blanket down from the back of the couch as he asked him wearily. "Why? Don't you get it...? There is nowhere for you to go." Nate walked to the back of the other couch, grabbing it aggressively as he said aloud. "He needs me. I'm not going to just sit here! I should have been there! You had no right to leave me here!" Matthew sighed, mumbling out. "I... I was trying to protect you. I didn't know what Mother was going to do..." Nate leaned more over the couch, yelling out. "I DON'T NEED PROTECTING! Because of you they got him!" Matthew bowed his head, hugging the blanket to his chest as he grimly mumbled out with teary eyes. "I... I know. I'm sorry..." Nate's anger melted away. He hated seeing Matthew cry. It reminded him too much of Sean. Taking a silent breath, Nate calmly walked around and kneeled beside Matthew.

Hesitantly putting a hand on Matthew's leg to comfort him, Nate avoided Matthew's eyes as he asked a little nicer. "Make it up to me. Let me go." Matthew shook his head, telling him through a sniffle. "I can't. You'll get caught. And if Matthias gets his hands on you... I already blame myself for Sean. I can't handle your loss too." Nate removed his hand, sternly replying. "You can't keep me locked in here. He needs me! And no offense... But your brother will NEVER find him. I CAN!" Matthew turned emotionless eyes on Nate, stating out firmly. "I said no. You don't know Mark. He built those Slums. He can handle people and he can survive through anything. He-" Nate stood up, bracing his hands on the couch on either side of Matthew's shoulders, causing Matthew to go silent and look at him with timid eyes. Staring into his eyes, Nate told him without flinching. "He hasn't lived there. He doesn't know the people there. Whatever that crazy mother of yours is up too... It's going to take more than just some buffed Elite to save him."

Matthew blinked, asking in a mousey voice. "Why do you care so much about Sean? You know that he... That he loves Mark." Nate felt the pain of his words like a dagger in the heart, but he answered him as honestly as he could. "Sean has always been there for me. Even when we fight, we look out for each other. He may not love me... but it doesn't change the fact that he means a lot to me. He'd come looking for me if our roles were switched. He'd never leave me behind. So, I'm not going to abandon him now. He needs me. I can feel it." Matthew sniffled, shaking his head as he whispered out. "You'll never manage to get out of this city..." Nate huffed, rolling his eyes as he told him. "People told me that I couldn't break into Valhalla either. My raid made history. Don't underestimate me. As long as I have the will, I will find a way." Nate gently grabbed one of Matthew's bandaged wrists, adding in softly. "Your brother would do the same for you. You're just going to let him face them down alone?"

Matthew's eyes drifted down to his wrist, before he mumbled out to him reluctantly. "Nate... I'm not like my brothers. I'm not strong. I'm an introvert. I rarely leave my house. I rarely talk to people. All I had was my Pet and Matthias took her... I... I can't help anyone." Nate swallowed; he had a strong urge welling up in him. He needed Matthew to believe he was more. Letting go of Matthew's wrist, Nate cupped Matthew's cheek. Tilting his head back with his thumb, Nate lowered his lips down to his in a tender kiss. Nate kept the kiss light. He didn't want to scare him. Although, he found himself more terrified by it. Matthew's lips were so soft that Nate didn't have the strength to pull away from him. His heart leapt in his chest, causing a rush to flood his veins until his head was swimming with a mixture of feelings. This had never happened to him before. When he felt like he was going to fall over from being lightheaded, he forced himself to pull back from the kiss.

Taking a deep breath, Nate felt his arms and legs shake like he had overworked them. Matthew's eyes were just as wide as his own, looking for an answer that he didn't know himself. Clearing his throat, Nate strained out in an attempt at normal. "You're stronger than you think. Maybe not physically... but-" Nate was cut off by Matthew cupping the sides of his neck to pull him back down into another kiss. This one longer with a hunger for desire. Nate's hands grabbed the couch in a death grip to keep himself from falling on top of Matthew. His legs giving on him though, until he had to put his knee on the couch to support himself. Matthew took it differently. Scooting down more on the couch, Matthew yanked the blanket off his body to let it fall to the floor. Then wrapped his arms around Nate to pull him down over him. Nate tried not to, but he was off balance enough the Matthew succeed without much of a fight. Adjusting over him, Nate lost himself in the kiss.

Matthew's legs rose to pin his hips between his legs, his hands sliding down his bare back to slip under the back of his leather pants. When his fingers clawed back up his back, Nate broke the kiss to groan pleasantly. Matthew leaned up to bite the hanging chain collar around his neck, tugging on it with a blushing grin. Nate couldn't stop himself from smiling. Something about it was cute. Leaning down, Nate went for Matthew's throat to bite him playfully. Matthew squealed, bursting out in giggles as it tickled him. As Matthew's hands reached Nate's shoulders, his hands moved down his exposed arm muscles slowly. The warm feeling that gave Nate, drew his lips up Matthew's cheek to claim his lips. After a passionate kiss, Nate pried his lips off his to ask breathlessly. "Shouldn't you be afraid of me?" Matthew smirked, wrapping his arms around his neck as he told him just as breathlessly over his lips. "Maybe... but I can't help feeling so... alive around you."

Nate closed his eyes, letting that ring through his mind. Then kissed him tenderly. Nate's hand was just starting to slide down Matthew's side to his hip, when Matthew's watch started to go off. Nate stopped, leaning back a bit to let Matthew look at it. Matthew's blushing face slowly turned into one of concern. As Matthew sat up, Nate adjusted to sit back on his heels, asking him curiously. "What is it?" Matthew lowered his arm to let him see the pictures on the screen of the watch, upon answering in a distant voice. "My brother sent me something... Looks like plans to... make humans." Nate held the watch steady, mumbling out. "That's not possible." Matthew shrugged, saying a little distracted. "Well, in theory ya. Even machines can't create a soul to inhabit the body... but we did learn how to clone animals recently..." Nate raised his eyes to meet his, asking uneasily. "What's with the look?" Matthew swallowed nervously, telling Nate a little shaken up. "I think Mark is right. Mother was the one who told me the formula to make clones of animals using their previous DNA that she had on file."

Nate's eyes widened as he said under his breath. "You don't think she'd clone Sean, do you?" Matthew began typing on his watch, stating out. "Oh, I think she would if she wants Mark to do something. You're right. We need to go." Nate watched Matthew scramble to his feet, racing to dress himself. Nate climbed off the couch at a slower pace, watching Matthew race around the house. Matthew seemed to be lost in his thoughts as he began to say aloud. "Damn it! I should have seen this!" Nate shrugged, stating out coolly. "Slow down. So, she makes a clone of Sean. What does that get her in the end? As you said. Without a soul it will just be-" Matthew slipped on his white jacket, cutting in to answer a little calmer. "The clone will have a robotic brain. She'd be able to download herself into it. Allowing her to wirelessly walk around and do things." Nate rushed over to stop Matthew from running to the door as he asked him. "Hold on. Wait a minute. Something isn't right. She can do that... but she lures Mark to an abandoned lab in the Slums?"

Matthew froze, asking perplexed. "What...?" Nate pointed to the watch, telling him. "I recognize the background. That's the old lab in the Slums. No one knew what it was for originally, but guys used to dare each other to go in. They said it was haunted... Why are you looking at me like that?" Matthew grabbed Nate's shoulders, asking him in a sudden rush. "Why did they think it was haunted, Nate?" Nate shrugged, uttering out dismissively. "I don't know... Someone said they used to hear a woman crying to someone in there. Something about an explosion...? What does it matter?" Matthew ran to his computer desk in the corner. Nate followed him as Matthew began typing wildly to bring up files on anything about an old abandoned lab in the Slums. After a minute, Matthew struck the desk, grumbling out. "Damn it! He's locked me out of the library files too!" Nate leaned over the desk, waving Matthew away as he told him. "Relax. I got this." Nate had hacked into stuff like this for years to find info on deliveries. It was nothing. Took him less than a minute to break the lock on it.

Stepping back, Nate gestured to the computer with a smile as he said. "There you go." Matthew eyed him for a minute, then asked him as he opened up the files. "How did you learn to do that?" Nate leaned closer to whisper over his ear in a sweet voice. "Maybe one day I'll tell you." Matthew blushed, his eyes scanning over old security camera footage and data relating to the place. The cameras revealed nothing, until he saw Matthias talking to the Trader. Matthew zoomed in to see them exchanging money. Matthew shook his head, staring at the date on the video before he told Nate shakily. "Oh, shit... She was ahead of us... Matthias isn't human. He's a fucking clone. Mother used him to set up the assassination attempt on Mark. Used him to keep tabs on Sean. Used him to set the scene to get Mark to... the place he built." Nate stared blankly at him, saying. "I'm not following...?" Matthew turned to face him, rushing out bluntly. "Mother is going to self-destruct her clone! She's going to have Matthias self-destruct and blame everything on him! Which means..." Nate finished off for Matthew as it sank in. "She going to have to kill you."

Matthew hugged himself, starting to shake as he said. "Oh my god. She's going to kill me and Sean... and use Sean's clone to keep Mark at her side. When she blames it all on her clone of Matthias... The people will demand a change in leadership. Allowing the people to accept her clone of Sean a new ruler and with Mark at her side. The people will love them." Nate grabbed his face, yelling out. "Not if we get to them first! Come on!" The front door was kicked in then, revealing a third Valkyrie with the two that had been guarding the door. Nate pulled Matthew behind him as the large third Valkyrie stated in a deep robot voice. "Elite Matthew. I have a message from Mother. YOU ARE IN DANGER." The Valkyrie's white eyes turned into a blazing red as it drew its large blade from its back. The Valkyries behind him, all had their eyes turn red too as they drew their weapons. Matthew grabbed Nate's arm, uttering out. "I really wish Mark was here." Nate pushed Matthew back against the wall, telling him through a dark chuckle. "Just stay back." Matthew tried to grab his wrist, stammering out. "Ah... Nate? What are you doing? You can't-"

Nate walked forward, then flip kicked the glass coffee table up and at the Valkyrie. The glass table smashed against the metal body of the large Valkyrie. The metal frame hitting the robot's face hard enough to take his eyes off him. Running up to the kitchen counter, Nate swiped a knife from the sharping block and impaled it into the large Valkyries leg joint. The large Valkyrie staggered to a knee, allowing Nate to grab a broken piece of the metal frame to the coffee table to start beating his face with it. He managed to dent the face of the Valkyrie, before the other two leapt into the house. They swung their swords at him, but he ducked and kicked one into the kitchen. He dodged the other Valkyrie's wild swing, letting out a loud whistle. The Valkyrie raised his sword to swing again, when a metal horse came crashing into the house to tackle the Valkyrie to the ground. Nate leapt over the couch as the metal horse kicked the large Valkyrie back out of the house with its back hooves. Then it started stomping down on the downed Valkyrie's chest until it sparked.

The other Valkyrie got up from the kitchen, rushing the metal horse, only to get kicked into the sink. The sink busted apart, spewing water into the broken and exposed joints of the Valkyrie, causing it to spam and fry. The horse snorted, stomping its golden hoof. Nate got to his feet quickly, practically bouncing off the couch and up onto the back of the horse's white saddle. Trotting over to Matthew, he reached out for him and yelled out. "GET ON! NOW!" Matthew rushed up, grabbing his arm to let Nate pull him up behind him. While Matthew wrapped his arms around him, the large Valkyrie limped into the doorway. Over his shoulder, Matthew screamed out. "There is no way out!" Nate laughed, turning the horse to face the glass windows as he said casually. "That's not true..." Matthew shook his head rapidly, yelping out. "No! NO! NATE!" Nate clicked his heel on the saddle's gas stirrup, yelling out. "HANG ON!" The horse thundered across the living room for the large windows, its metal wings unfurling as it jumped and crashed headfirst into the glass.

Matthew let out a scream as the horse started to dive from the hundredth story building. Despite Matthew squeezing his ribs hard enough that it hurt, Nate shouted an excited cheer into the rush of wind. Slowly the horse's wings spread out, allowing it to gently catch the wind and level out as it soared around the buildings of Valhalla. Behind them, the large Valkyrie was following them, but Nate was more confident that he could lose him this way. After all... He lived to run, and this was a rush. To Be Continued...