"Listen, kid. I'm actually really impressed that you managed to get this far," the man's voice dripped with sarcasm, as he methodically took a step toward Jason. "You seem surprised, though?" Jason wasted no time unloading the assault rifle at his mysterious obstruction. The bullets didn't even meet their target. In a succession of movements, the figure unsheathed his katana and blocked every volley that Jason fired. His sword appeared to almost "absorb" the kinetic damage that was inflicted upon it, leaving not so much as a scratch upon the fine metal.

"Surprised? Me?" Jason did his best not to show any signs of his obvious unease. He threw the useless weapon to the ground. "What gave you that impression?" Jason's mind flashed, "Feedback, who is this guy? I have the feeling he's not like the others."

"No, he's not. His name is Plague. He's known for his ability to utilize nanobots as his weapon of choice. Word of caution keep your distance."

No kidding, Jason thought.

Plague chuckled. "Look, I think this is all a huge misunderstanding. You don't need to keep running from us." He continued to make his way to Jason who, by this point, was beginning to slowly ebb his way toward the door. "You can't escape, you know."

"Who's us!" Jason shouted.

Jason fumbled to grab the door handle behind him. However, thunderous, clicking sounds echoed from outside the stairwell door. Jason happened to glance back to witness the outside glass pane becoming covered with nanobots. Like a sea of blackened sand, they had completely covered the stairwells, his only exit. He was trapped. Running was no longer an option.

Unless.

Jason attempted to calm his senses and focus. He noticed for the first time since the beginning of his rampage that his claws made of shadow were gone. I wonder if I can summon them on demand, he thought. Time was running out. Plague was closing in, and he was beginning to hear the nanobots cracking the door's glass. His hands shook. He tried to recall what had caused him to summon the shadow before. Feedback had told him that he held power within him. He had seen that power manifest in the form of his rage.

Then that's what he'd have to do again. The only way out of this predicament was fighting. It was Jason's only hope for survival.

Mustering what rage he had, he channeled his anger into his mysterious powers. He could feel the inner darkness being summoned, being pulled from his very essence. Once again, tendrils of shadow began to envelop around his hands, creating the claws that he wielded before. It was at this moment that Plague charged.

Jason sidestepped before Plague pulverized the door that Jason had been standing in front of. For the next few seconds of Plague's onslaught, Jason did his best to avoid each of his blows. Plague's katana hummed and shifted as the nanobots it composed of yearned for the taste of Jason's blood. It was unlike anything that he had seen before. In a split-second, the katana shifted into a curved shape as Plague attempted to puncture Jason with a reverse backslash. The blade narrowly missed Jason's chest, causing him to draw back.

I can't let him keep me off balance with his blade. He has the advantage, while he wields it.

Plague lunged at Jason, his blade poised for Jason's chest. Using his shadow-claws, Jason grabbed the blade and attempted to hold it stationary above his head. The two men remained locked in a stalemate as both tried to overpower the other. Plague seethed, "Let go, you little— "

Jason's teeth gritted as he pushed with renewed strength against Plague's own force. Without waiting for Plague to speak, Jason pried the katana from his hands, and landed an uppercut to Plague's chin, before he could react. Plague managed to remain standing despite taking such a hard blow. He looked at Jason, with anger beginning to seep from his eyes. The katana that Jason held, began to shift once more, as the nanobots shifted toward Jason's arm. Before a single nanobot could touch his hand, Jason threw the katana through the wall, and out of Plague's reach.

"You're strong. I'll give you that," Now unarmed, Plague slowly began to back away from Jason. "But it takes more than disarming your opponent to put him out of the fight."

Jason took a step forward and flexed his claws, "Who said that I was just going to disarm you?" With surprising speed, Jason launched himself at Plague. The man did his best to fend off against Jason's onslaught, but the deltarian's strength was proving to be too much for Plague to compete with. Plague threw a punch at Jason, only to have Jason use his own arm's momentum to launch him through the hallway's wall like a catapult. Despite smashing through a wall, Plague managed to return to an upright position. Blood seeped from wounds on his face. He unlatched two previously hidden daggers from his belt and stood in a fighting stance.

"What do want with me?" Jason yelled. The two men clashed again, both furiously trying to swipe at one another. Plague's fighting style outmatched even Jason's own form. While Jason's brute strength and speed gave him an edge, the obvious truth was that Plague was a much better fighter than Jason. Jason screamed as Plague managed to lacerate part of Jason's arm. Black blood sprayed from the wound, as Plague inflicted another kick to Jason's torso that sent Jason reeling backward.

"Comply or perish," was all Plague responded as he made a grasping motion with his hand. A barrage of nanobots poured from the hole in the wall crept its way to where Jason stood. Once more Jason was trapped. A swarm of flesh-eating nanobots crept toward him from behind, and Plague stood in front of him poised for the kill.

Jason noticed their surrounding for the first time since the fight began. They had made their way into one of the hotel's more spacious rooms. Moonlight swept through the windows which lay behind Plague, shining along the edges of his near silhouetted form.

"I'd rather die, then be a pawn in whatever game you're playing with me," Jason spat.

"You have no choice, Jason," Plague's voice echoed throughout the empty room. "My superior has great uses for you. One way or another, you will be a part of our plans."

"Like I said. I'd rather die."

"And what alternatives do you have? Work for that bastard, Feedback, and his hopeless cause? Or be caught by DACTIC and be dissected like another lab-rat? My superior, alone, has the power. If you're not with us, you're against us." Plague stepped closer to Jason, his nanobots doing likewise from behind. "You can't fight against the tide."

Jason lowered his head. He was right, he had no other alternatives. No matter what happened, he would still be a pawn of someone. Regardless if he won or he lost, he'd still be trapped. He looked up into Plague's eyes. There was satisfaction written all over the man's face. He thought that he was getting through to Jason. No matter who controls me, I'd still be damned if I work for you.

Before Plague could react, Jason swung his claw of shadow at the lackey's face. A crimson spray of blood erupted from where Plague's lower jaw used to be. The man screamed a gargled plea as Jason rammed into his opponent and sent them both crashing through the window. As they both sailed toward the street far below, Jason could hear the nanobots in close pursuit as they cascaded through the broken window above.