"Overheard a little of the chatter between you and the loon," Zeke says, joining into the call. "Think it's a good idea running with someone like that? Might be a mess you can clean up."

"Hey, man, who else is there," Cole grunts out and Zeke knows exactly who his friend is referring to. "Got a Blast Core out of this." He shrugs more to himself.

"Let's meet up before you spark that thing. I'll watch your back while you're sleeping it off." Zeke's words are followed by a beep as he sends coordinates. "'Sides, I got a surprise for you."

The destination Zeke sent was a-ways across the city, but Cole got there in no time thanks to his parkour skills.

He lands on the specified roof and takes a look around. It's not long before a grin reaches his lips. "Looks just like home."

"Cole?" Comes Zeke from around the corner of an LED sign, hand morphed into the shape of a gun. "Get your hands up you deviant subhuman homosapien."

Cole eyes the strikingly familiar clothes warily. "You joined the militia...?"

"Nah." Zeke shakes his head and gives a presentary spin. "It's more like, Zeke Dunbar: Double Agent." He mimics shooting a gun with his hands. "Get it? I'm a spy!"

"For our side, right," Cole asks distrustfully, gesturing to himself.

Zeke's smile falls the slightest bit.
"Oh, ye of little faith."

Cole cocks his head. "Well, my faith's been shaken before, Zeke."

His friend visibly shrinks under Cole's harsh words. His chuckle is followed by silence.

The boys didn't hear when a pair of feet landed near them, body crouched low and stance steady.

"Was this a bad time?" An unfamiliar, feminine voice pitched in, startling the two men. "I tried to leave a message, or trail before I came but..." the voice trails off with a wince.

Zeke and Cole whip around so fast they have to take a moment to let their vision clear back up.

"Who the hell are you," Cole asks with accusing eyes.
"Cole, I think that's..." Zeke drags off when the person lifts a welcoming hand.

"Y/n Brookstone, nice to meet ya!"

Standing in front of them, she kept her hand held out, a small grin making its way up her face.
Cole silently analyzed her body.

Dark brown sweatpants...
A tight fitted, long-sleeved, black shirt that seemed to have a band of brown around the wrist of the left sleeve.
Black running shoes.

"So you're the Brookstone Bender," Zeke asked before humming to himself. "...that name makes a lot more sense now..."

"Waitwaitwait," Cole interjected, holding a hand across Zeke's chest in protection. He didn't know this girl, or her intentions. "A trail? What's that supposed to mean?"

The girl gives them a blank stare and allows a few moments of silence pass, letting her arm fall back to her side." "Are you...? Oh you're serious?" She gives them a frown. "You're kidding right?"

Cole's glare deepens, but this time in confusion.
Y/n's eyebrows raise. "Oh, lord... did I...I really overestimated you."

"Hey," Zeke shouts in offense.
"Answer the damn question," Cole adds in anger.

"Okay...! No need to get defensive," she said, hands raising slightly. "It's just..." she trailed off again and Cole could feel his patience thinning. "How do you think I was able to show up to every place you went?"

Cole and Zeke tilted their heads in unison.
"You stalked him," Zeke suggested jokingly, but his smile fell when Y/n gave him a so-so gesture.

"Kinda? I mean, I hacked your phone's frequency and listened in on your conversations. When I was finished I left trails back to my number in Morse Code. Apparently," she scratched her head, "you didn't notice."

Cole let his arm falls back to his side with a grumbled, "Zeke..."
"Sorry, man!"

Silence filled the air and Y/n shuffled her feet. "Uh, right, Kuo? Was it? I'm... sorry about what happened to her and Wolfe. I tried my best to help."

"Yeah, you made the ramp! Awesome-"
"You failed."

"Excuse me?" Y/n paused and took a step back.
"Cole, come on, man..." Zeke tries.

"We don't want your help if you're going to fail like that again," Cole spits, fists clenching so hard, sparks seem to fly from his white knuckles.

"You..." Y/n scoffs, shaking her head in disbelief. "You of all people should know we have our limits; us conduits. Don't think I didn't see you in Empire City."

Cole's eyes widen and for a split second, a flash of hurt crossed over his features.

"You gave it your all, right? But guess what? The Beast is still alive. You can't dare tell me I didn't do everything I could in that moment," Y/n sneers, lips pulled into a frown and her eyes glaze over.

She wasn't expecting such a hurtful welcoming.
"Look, I'm sorry about Wolfe, but you're alive, aren't you? And so is Kuo; missing, but alive."
She begins to back up from where she came. "If you don't want my help, fine, you won't get it."

She turns and prepares to lift off, but a strong hand wraps around her left wrist.
"Wait."

Cole turns her around, his face now downcast with pity. "You're right, we do have our limits... thank you for trying..."

She quirked an eyebrow when his mouth stayed open like he wanted to continue to speak. "And..."

"...and we could use your help."
"Hell yeah, we could," Zeke cheered. "We've seen some of your work since we got here. Gotta say, pretty impressive!"

Y/n shrunk slightly under the praise. "T-thanks. It's just all in a day's work." She pulls her hand from Cole's grip.

Cole realizes the small space between him and the girl and steps away.

"Anyway," Zeke clears his throat. "Why choose now to drop in?"
Y/n gives a simple shrug. "Figured I could help protect Cole while he's out."

"Hey..." Zeke starts, offended, but his words dies down at Cole's glare. He shakes the pressure he feels from the two pairs of eyes on him. "You ready for that Blast Core?"

Cole takes out the core, and Y/n's eyes widen slightly. She feels the power it has even from a few feet away.

Cole switches his gaze over to the girl, gripping the core tight in his hands. "I better not wake up in a militia cage."

Y/n sends a glance over Cole's shoulder to Zeke before saluting the conduit. "Got nothin' to worry about, MacGrath."

He takes a huge gulp of air before bringing the core closer to his chest, absorbing it.

Zeke watches in complete awe as the power surrounds Coke before he passes out on the ground. "Woah."

Wide-eyed and jaw slacked, Zeke turns to Y/n, who is lazily crouched on the ground, scratching at the roof.

"You don't look so surprised," he chuckles."
Through half-lidded eyes, she sighs out, "Not the first time I've seen it in action."