The desert was a hot place during the day, and nobody knew that more than Rodriguez did. Under his two piece suit and half faced mask, the heat was almost unbearable. But the afternoon's dying sun was low on his list of thoughts that day.

He had been given another chance to finish things. This time he wouldn't act a fool and be tricked by some pathetic pretender. He would have his vengeance.

The gravel was crunching under his dry leather shoes, his feet aching due to his incredibly long and unrelenting walk. But it would be worth it. All of his sufferings would be worth it in the end.

After another five minutes of walking and a small black shape appeared in the distance. Peering ahead, Rodriguez could just make out the shape of a car. Getting closer he could also see that there was a figure standing still next to it.

A couple of minutes later Rodriguez was stepping up next to the figure. Clad entirely in a full body black cloak and wearing a hood covering the face, the figure's only movement was turning its head to see note Rodriguez was there.

'Shall we go?' Rodriguez asked quietly.

The cloaked figure barely nodded before turning and getting into the driver's seat of the black four door sedan. Rodriguez took this is a confirmation of leave, so he also got into the car, sitting in the front passenger's seat, resting his head back on the cool leather headrest.

The car was started and moved into action, the wheels crunching over the gravelly ground, making a slow turn and continuing in a straight course.

The cloaked figure broke the silence, but didn't as much as turn a head to Rodriguez. 'So what name are you going under now?' the deep and tired voice asked.

After a long pause the passenger answered, 'Rodriguez.'

The hooded driver nodded to himself, 'very local.'

Not seeing much point in continuing conversation, Rodriguez rested his head back down and closed his eyes, feeling refreshed and calm in the car's air conditioned interior.

Hazy memories began to flash in his mind, not one focusing for any longer than a couple of seconds; getting some form of confirmation over the phone; a slow walk across some carpark; sitting down across from a wheelchair bound old man; a sudden, shocking realization, not knowing he was too late, and finally, exiting the blown to hell room and collapsing onto the floor, a hint of stinging on the right side of his face…

Rubbing his forehead, Gus gave a deep sigh and turned to his driver; 'what happened to you?'

Still not turning from his view of the vast and empty desert ahead, Mike answered, 'shot.'

In a cool and seemingly uncaring tone, Gus asked, 'by whom?'

'…Walter.'

'Ah, I should have expected as much. What did you do to make him do that?'

'You know, I honestly don't know. Guess I hurt his feelings, a bit.'

'And what…' Gus asked slowly, 'exactly happened to me? I can't seem to completely remember.'

Without a seconds pause, Mike replied casually, 'blown up in a nursing home.'

'Huh,' Gus grunted to himself quietly.

They sat in silence for several more minutes before Mike asked, 'so what exactly is the plan, now that's we're, ah… back in action?'

Gus sighed, 'I thought it would have been obvious to you.'

In the distance loomed a building; Albuquerque's tax revenue office. They'd reached the city.