Chris watched her head out, before sighing heavily.

"...one could argue I already did something stupid by defying Vanessa and betraying her as I did." he said. "Not... that I regret it." he then told himself, thinking about it. No matter how many times he replayed the scenario in his mind... no matter how many times he asked himself if he would change anything... it led to the same result; him rescuing Ayla and getting out of there.

That was the ultimate conclusion he always came to.

'Mistake or not, I don't regret it.' he thought. 'Now I just have to see what fate awaits me now. How my past will catch up to me, and what it will do...' he lamented.

Meanwhile, Hal was in his office, sifting through a few things, when his receptionist buzzed him.

"There's an Ashleigh Encrae here to see you." she said.

"Let her through." Hal responded.

On the other side, the receptionist gestured for Ashleigh to enter.

Hal was silent for a moment as he heard what Ashleigh had to say, and saw how beat up she was.

"...uh..." he stammered.

"May I ask for some clarification?" he asked.

"Because... well, I can gather the gist of it from what you've told me, but may I have some further details?" he asked further.

"How would Vanessa have any of my agents under her control?" he asked her.

"Surely our sensors... and even JAKE... would notice her mana."

"...." Hal was silent again upon hearing that.

"I... see." he said.

"Damn it, she's clever." he growled.

"But my agents will be all right? And all the mana was taken out?" he asked her.

Ashleigh nodded in response.

"Now, the BIG question." Hal then said.

"Are YOU all right?" he asked.

Hal nodded in response.

"Very well." he said.

"Now, let us discuss payment for the many services you've rendered since coming here..." he then told her with a small smile.

---

Meanwhile, the one that had called in the woman just smiled as he hung up the phone. He knew he might get into trouble for this... but considering that the person in question was making a speedy and complete recovery, he was sure she'd be all right with this.

"Hopefully she'll forgive the interruption." he mumbled.

---

Chris just sighed to himself, as the security guard closely escorted him to the lab. This would be his first 'shift' there, and he was wondering JUST how awkward it was going to be. He still hadn't figured out who Ashleigh had been referring to, so he was preparing for the worse.

The two of them made their way to the lab, where the guard knocked on the door before using their key card to get them both in.

"No funny business." he warned Chris. "Just stay here until someone comes for you." he told him.

"Sir, yes sir." Chris responded in a half-sarcastic tone.

Chris looked at the one that had addressed him, and sighed as he watched the guard disappear back into the building.

"Well, believe it." he then told her.

"Seems I'm you're new guinea pig to do whatever you want with." he said.

"And yes, I'm well aware you probably don't like me for the hand I've had in causing your family and friends pain and misery, so feel free to take it all out on me if you want to." he went on.

"Or don't. Your choice." he shrugged.

"Anyway, let's... well, do whatever it is you want me to do." he finished.

"..." Chris was silent, before following her.

He sighed, thinking about the number of people that this woman was related to. And he wondered how long before one potentially hunted him out.

He also wondered who this other tester was.

"So." he said.

"Was I 'hired' here just because it seems like there's a hiring freeze on testers here?" he asked.

"Yes, I heard that you were short of testers, but couldn't get more for whatever reason." he went on. "And the only reason I'm in this position is because my pay is room and board here."

Chris just shrugged.

"Fair enough." he said.

"Better than just withering and waiting to die, I guess." he went on.

"Though I may still just be waiting to die." he then said further. "Depends on what the Triad and Council have to say." he reasoned, as they continued to make their way through the halls.

"I know the Triad loves to hand down capital punishment." he then said.

"The Council, not so much, but... I probably don't fit under their jurisdiction any longer." he continued.

"...not sure WHERE I'D fit in anymore, in that regard..." he admitted at the end, looking himself over.

As Chris looked around, he noticed the sheer variety and quality of what was there. It was amazing, and better than Vanessa had. She had really good stuff, but that was top-quality. It was impressive.

'Wow.' he thought.

'All this is really nice.' he thought further, before looking over to the one that was there.

"..." he was silent, looking at their back, before some bells of familiarity started to ring in his mind.

And he felt a vague sense of immense guilt within him.

"...right." he then managed to say.

"Fair... fair enough."

Chris's eyes widened when he heard her voice, and saw who it was.

'..oh...' he thought. 'Oh, no...' he thought further, before sighing quietly.

"Look, don't... just..." he muttered, before looking at Kiah.

"If she DOES do anything to me, let's just make things easier and assume I deserved it." he told her.

"...odds are I probably did, given the past." he lamented.

"But don't reprimand her if she decides to get some payback on me." he said.

Chris shook his head.

"You know I am bound to whatever it is you tell me to do." he told her.

"My word means nothing, even though you have it, that I won't do anything to go after Miss Hazel." he said. "Besides, like I said, Ashleigh made certain I wouldn't do anything to stir the pot. Or if I tried, the consequences will be dire." he reminded her.

"So while I will make sure I don't die... I don't see myself fending off any... attempts she makes to vent any frustrations." he continued.

He then looked at Hazel again, and sighed.

"I know these words will ring hollow and insincere, but... I feel they must be said." he said to her.

"I'm sorry. For everything."