Jerome has spent his whole life working for the 'bad guys'. Born in the slums of Chicago, he'd always figured it he'd come to an early end working for one criminal organization or another. Then the Company came along and implanted him with several million dollars worth of technology so bleeding edge most governments didn't even know it was technologically feasible yet. Most of what he did was still illegal, and he wasn't likely to make thirty-five, but the pay was better. Only things had become more complicated lately. The potentials were degenerating more quickly and he'd lost an alarming number of associates to the flesh beasts that most potentials turned into when they finally lost control. Not only that, the Resistance had experienced a remarkable string of victories ever since Coffee had defected. She'd picked off every team sent after her so far and managed to stiffen the spine of the freaks who didn't understand the survival of most of the human race depended on the sheep continuing to remain unaware of the growing threat from all kinds of degenerates. His current mission should be a piece of cake, a simple snatch and grab that would give him a chance to get nominally out from under the psych types constantly watching for signs he needed put down like a rabid dog. Manpower was stretched too thin for them to send along backup but he'd always preferred to work alone. He didn't count on what was about to come next. 'Backlash' is one of a series of loosely-related short stories set in a world where shadowy operatives with advanced technology hunt down 'potentials' who have the ability to manifest powers and abilities which have so far defied explanation.