Time went on, and Desmond's wound slowly began to heal. He woke up each day with more strength and, soon, he was walking around his tiny room. Perhaps it was his enhanced body that allowed him to heal slightly faster than the average man, but it was only a matter of days before Desmond was somewhat recovered from his injury. As his strength increased he began to venture outside of the room he was enclosed in. He did not see Olivia for a long time until one day he actually found her sitting in the courtyard meditating.

     Her eyes were closed and she didn't see him standing from a distance. Desmond stared at the woman he never knew but who had tried to save him after he was shot. There was a confliction of emotions within him; he did not know whether to like or hate her. Nevertheless, he left before she could see him.

     After about a week since his arrival, Sensei began to talk more with Desmond. He began to teach Desmond how to meditate and clear his mind. Upon asking him what Olivia was doing Sensei remained vague. He insisted that Olivia was on her own path.

     More days passed and things started to get increasingly physical. It started small, like Desmond helped Sensei gather wood or supplies, but then he began helping hunt. Sensei gave Desmond a bow of which he was to use his strength on. The bow would snap if he pulled too hard so he had to use just the right amount of strength in order to not break the weapon. Sensei said it would teach him to balance his enhanced ability, and it did so. Two weeks after arriving in the temple Desmond was hunting side by side with his adopted mentor.

     By the third week, Desmond had moved on to tougher challenges. He began jogging around the temple, a feat that was always difficult because of the altitude. Desmond also began having mock fights with Sensei in order to improve his defensive techniques. Sensei taught him how to block and use the terrain to his advantage. However, Sensei may have been old but he was not easy to beat. Desmond lost every single fight, and some even left bruises. There was one such occasion where he lost his temper:

     "I can't do it!" he said to himself angrily. "I can't do this!"

     "Yes you can!" Sensei encouraged. "Channel your energy! You are becoming a warrior!"

     Desmond's limbs were exhausted but anger flushed through him, "I am not a soldier!" he yelled, hitting Sensei in the chest.

     The frail man doubled back a couple steps, clutching his chest. However, after a moment doubled over, Sensei straightened.

     "That is enough training for today," he mumbled. "End with a meditation."

     "I'm sorry," Desmond muttered. "It's just....I..."

     Sensei walked away and Desmond was left alone. He looked down at his calloused hands and clenched his fingers together. Desmond hated himself for not being able to fulfill Sensei's demands. He felt unworthy, in a way, and that he was not just failing his mentor but also himself. Desmond sauntered up to a spot overlooking the vast mountain range and sat with his legs folded. He closed his eyes and meditated, letting his anger go just as Sensei had taught him.

     Desmond's mind drifted through his consciousness. He thought back to Sensei's promise at the beginning of everything and of how he was going to let his parents go.

     Desmond's mind shifted back to his own life. He began to feel an odd guilt for everything he had ever done since his parents' deaths. Desmond squeezed his eyes shut, remembering the old man who had begged for money outside Platinum Tower. All he had needed was money, and Desmond had more money than he would ever need. Yet, he had turned away from him as if he were a stray dog. Desmond furrowed his brow in angst, also remembering the celebration commemorating Pierce Enterprises' success. It was meant to be a tribute to his father and he had let him down.

     "LOOK AT WHAT I'VE DONE WITH PIERCE FRICKING ENTERPRISES!" he had once said.

     Desmond was beginning to change, and he was desperately trying to leave behind the man he had been. However, some of it continued to linger within and haunt his essence. The man that used to be Desmond Pierce would always be a part of him, no matter how far he was buried. It would always bother him how much he had let everyone down simply because of his own selfish fears. Desmond could have done so much more with his money but he flaunted it on everything except what his father had wanted him to become.

     "Pierce?" a voice said from behind him.

     "...Olivia?" Desmond answered before he opened his eyes, it had been weeks since he had last talked to her.

     "It's me," Olivia murmured from a ways behind him. "It's been awhile since we last talked."

     "It's not like we have anything to talk about," Desmond muttered in an agitated tone.

     "I just wanted to..." Olivia paused, struggling with words. "I just wanted to apologize."

     Desmond looked behind him, "Apologize?"

     "For the way things have been..." Olivia answered. "I've judged you from everything I've seen on the news to the reports I've read..."

     "So you basically view me as an international prick," Desmond sighed. "Look, if you dislike me so much why stay? Escape, leave, or do something else if I'm such an idiot."

     "I've chosen to stay for the same reason you have," Olivia stated. "I want to control my abilities."

     "Really?" Desmond countered cautiously. "Or is that just another lie? Who are you really Olivia Smith?"

     Olivia approached Desmond, "My name is not Olivia Smith, it's Olivia...Jones. I'm an agent for an organization called the Central Intelligence for National Assurance."

     "What? A spy?" Desmond asked with a tone implying disbelief.

     Olivia nodded her head, "I was sent here to destroy several factions of the Black Dragon. However my team was killed, and I was taken in for experimentation. That's when I met you."

     "Why are you telling me this?" asked Desmond. "Why blow your cover?"

     "Because I feel that I owe you an explanation," answered Olivia. "We're both in this together, and we both went through trauma that we wish we can forget."

     "Together?" scoffed Desmond. "Olivia, you accused me for being motivation for a terrorist."

     "I know, and that's what the apology is for," she replied. "It's up to you on whether or not you want to accept it."

     "Oh believe me, I..." started Desmond.

     But when he turned, she was already gone.

     He sighed; he needed to clear his head. With Sensei's permission he might be allowed to go on a hunt.

**

     The temple was built into the mountainside and consisted of enormous structures. Ancient towers melded with cracked domes and snow-covered pillars. The architecture often reminded Desmond of the ancient Greeks, but he knew that the temple was really a centuries-old monastery.

     Inside the temple, Desmond gathered his weapons and prepared to go on an afternoon hunt. He had received Sensei's permission to go out on his own, just so long as he stayed within the vicinity of the temple. Desmond had agreed and was just about to leave when he accidentally ran into Olivia. He tried to act like he had not seen her but when she walked in front of him he couldn't ignore her.

     "Where are you going?" asked Olivia.

     Desmond paused, "I'm going on a solo hunt."

     Olivia tilted her head, "Okay, do you mind if I join you?"

     Desmond shuddered, "No, not at all..."

     "Your aura tells me otherwise," Olivia suggested.

     He relaxed, "It's meant to clear my head. I would prefer to go it alone."

     "I'm going with you," Olivia insisted. "Based on what I've seen, I'd think that you'd need some protection out there."

     Desmond rolled his eyes in response and mumbled with embarrassment, "Fine, you can find the weapons in the southern hallway..."

     She shook her head, "Oh, I don't need weapons."

     They were in silence for a moment so Desmond carried on out of the perimeter with Olivia hot on his heels. He could tell that she knew his irritation with her since apparently she could sense emotions. It was like Olivia was able to read his mind and that disturbed him.

     They hiked on for several minutes, journeying deeper into the surrounding forest. The silence was deafening, with the occasional rustling of trees and the crunching of snow. Their hide-away was situated so high up that there was always a little snow. Desmond had to be careful to cover his tracks so it looked like he had never been there. The helicopters had been constantly surveying for them even though it had been nearly a month since their escape.

     Desmond began to crouch and become as noiseless as possible, just as Sensei had told him to do when hunting. Animals in their region of the mountains were sparse, but there was the occasional wild boar that would suffice for a meal. Killing to eat was something that, initially, had quite disgusted Desmond. After the weeks wore on, however, he came to realize that it was his only way of surviving. He had to put all ethical implications behind him.

     "Pierce?" Olivia asked from behind him.

     "Yeah?" Desmond whispered, keeping low to the brush.

     "I saw what happened between you and Sensei," Olivia murmured. "I saw that you're...struggling."

     Desmond shuddered, "I...I know. I mean, I want to become a better person, but sometimes...I just..."

     Olivia stood next to Desmond, surveying the vast forest with him. They stood in silence for a moment before Desmond asked:

     "What were your parents like?"

     Olivia seemed caught off guard, "What?"

     "Your parents," Desmond repeated, in a low tone, "what were they like?"

     Olivia stared off into the distance and sighed, "They were...good people, but I was taken from them. I was viewed as a powerful asset to C.I.N.A. and they took me away."

     "The Central Intelligence for National Assurance?" Desmond asked. "They just, took you?"

     "They stick to the sidelines, but they do what needs to be done to keep the world safe," Olivia explained, dodging any specific details. "But this isn't about them...not yet anyway."

     Desmond closed his eyes and sighed, "I'm sorry I'm a complete failure."

     Olivia stared off, "Pierce..."

     "Yes I am," Desmond insisted. "You said it yourself when we first met."

     Olivia stared off into the distance, her hair slightly whipping in the silent wind, "Sshh."

     "What?" he asked. "Did you just--"

     "Quiet!" Olivia whispered, ducking low to the ground.

     Desmond ducked low too and, far off into the wilderness, he saw two men dressed in heavy combat gear patrolling the forest. Both of them were dressed in dark, hooded, combat clothes and had heavy machine guns. Desmond was sure they had not been seen but one of them oddly looked in their direction.

     "I don't think they saw us," whispered Desmond.

     "Careful," whispered Olivia while she pushed herself closer to a tree.

     The man turned away and began to walk off with his partner.

     "Phew," Desmond said, taking a step back. "I think we're--"

      He stepped on a branch and it let out an ear-splitting crack. The sound echoed through the deafening silence and both men immediately turned in their direction.

     "Thanks Pierce," Olivia growled.

     Desmond held his bow at ready, trying to keep his heart rate down. However, Olivia stood up in front of him.

     "Olivia?" Desmond hissed under his breath. "What are you doing?"

     "Don't worry, get behind me," Olivia responded, taking several deep breaths. "I know what I'm doing."

     The two men on the other side held up their weapons and appeared to be aiming. As Desmond prepared to attack, Olivia began to become shrouded in an eerie green light. He looked at her and stepped back, confused at what he was seeing.

     "Are you..." he trailed off in confusion. "Olivia?"

     Olivia thrust her arm out and a blinding flash of green jetted from her hand. It silently flew threw the forest and hit one of the men square in the chest. He flew back and the other took several steps away in shock. Olivia made the same motion and sent another jet of her aura through the clearing. It hit the second soldier and he fell down in a heap.

     "Oh. My. God," whispered Desmond. "How the...did you just...how???"

     Olivia turned back, sweat riddling her face, "Sensei taught me how to control my own aura."

     Desmond was flabbergasted, "When?"

     "These past few weeks," Olivia simply explained. "I've been practicing quite a lot."

     "Evidently, you have," Desmond whispered. "That was the most extraordinary thing I've ever seen!"

     "Well, close your mouth before you start drooling," Olivia taunted. "I knew that you would need my help."

     Desmond shook his head and sprinted over to the soldiers, "What did you do? Are they dead?"

     "I don't know," Olivia breathed. "Maybe."

     Desmond crouched down and felt the soldier's neck. There was no pulse.

     "You got em' alright," he muttered, examining their outfit.

     "What are you doing?" asked Olivia as Desmond began tearing off the hooded shirt that the man was wearing.

     "I'm sending them a message," Desmond said, tucking the garment into his bag. "Next time they see me, I'll be wearing the clothing of one of their fallen."

     "We need to get out of here," Olivia answered. "Before more of them come."

     Desmond nodded his head, "Alright. And Olivia?"

     Olivia turned.

     "Your apology is accepted," Desmond answered.

     Then the two ran back toward the temple.

**

      They reached the temple and relayed what had happened to Sensei. He seemed worried but remained confident that they were safe in the temple. However, they were not permitted to go on any more hunting expeditions alone. After their conversation Sensei went to his room to meditate.

     Desmond went back to his room and slipped the hooded shirt over top his regular clothes. There was a mirror at the far end of the room and Desmond looked into it. He was shocked at the drastic change his body had seen in the past few weeks.

     He saw a muscular figure dressed in a form-fitting, dark-blue suit that consisted of tough leather and durable cloth. His face was rugged and a thick beard had grown over his face; he was going to need a shave. Desmond stood for a moment before pulling up the hood and staring at himself for several long seconds. The hood obscured his face and it truly gave a feeling of stealth. As Desmond Pierce stood there he wondered what kind of a person he was becoming.

**

     The next morning, Desmond found Olivia meditating in his favorite spot. He went over, no longer irritated with the woman who had lied to him. The other day had been the second time she had saved his life, with the first being when he had been shot. Olivia Jones may have given him false information and she may have accused him of unspeakable crimes. But, in the end, she was something Desmond had always needed: someone who had his back.

     "Hey," Desmond said, sitting next to her, "I just wanted to say 'thanks' for what happened yesterday. I know I'm not skilled enough to take on two Black Dragon soldiers on my own."

     Olivia, without opening her eyes, responded, "You're welcome."

     Desmond continued, "You know, I've always been hesitant to trust people. But, after you saved my life not once, but twice, I'm getting the feeling that I can trust you. Tell me though, why? Why did you save me back there?"

     Olivia opened her eyes, "Because, back at the facility, you could've left me in that chair to die. I had openly told you that I hated you, but...you went back for me. It showed me that you had compassion that I had originally thought you didn't have...and it was worth saving," she turned to him. "You've shown me that you aren't the selfish man I always thought you were."

     Desmond smiled, "So... we're cool?"

     Olivia broke into a smile, "Yeah, we're...'cool'. You know I think I see something in you Desmond; maybe your father was right."

     They sat in silence for a while more before Olivia asked:

     "Tell me again, why did you save me?" she asked. "It still don't understand."

     "Like I said before, it just seemed like the right thing to do," he answered. "But I think...that it's something more than just that. I think it's because I'm tired of the way things used to be," he looked over at her. "I'm tired of the endless parties, the wine, the women, and the constant suffering. I'm tired of living in fear, because for the past 19 years I have lived in a constant state of fear," he took a breath, "I guess what I'm trying to say is: I'm ready to change. I'm ready to become the man my father had always knew that I would become. It has taken kidnapping, experimentation, and near-death to make me finally realize this, but I finally know that it's time to move on..."

     "Really?" asked Olivia.

     "I know, and my track record isn't clean," Desmond answered. "But Sensei gave me a chance, an opportunity, and I chose to take it. All I've ever done is sit and watch life go by, but now...I'm ready to live."

     Olivia looked over at the man she barely knew but had already been through so much with.

     "I'm ready to forget," Desmond continued. "For my father's sake, and my mother's, I'm ready to move on."

     He looked over at the woman he knew he could now trust. It was hard to explain, but he could feel a small bond growing between him. Instead of trying to fight it Desmond embraced it. He finally felt like he was not alone in the world and the feeling helped release him from the burden he had carried for years. For once, it was not all on his shoulders.

     And, for the first time in a long time, he felt at peace.

**

In the Depths of the Black Dragon Facility...

     "They n-never returned sir," the Black Dragon soldier gasped, kneeling in front of his superior master.

     The dark figure shifted, "Then it means that they're still out there. Keep searching, I cannot rest until they're both dead."

     "Yes, my lord," the soldier whispered before he went away.

     His master sat back, anger brewing in his heart.