Past, Present, and Future – Sequel to Extraction

Chapter 7 Family Dinner

Note: I do not own Inception.

Arthur gave a low chuckle as his brother Archie finished his story. "You laugh bro, but seriously my work day is nothing but a gong show all the time," Archie insisted.

"You think you have it bad, at least you do not have Mrs. H as a patient," Aaron declared as he took a sip of his wine. Everyone at the table laughed now.

"Who is this Mrs. H?" Ariadne asked as the waitress began to clear the empty dishes from their table. The food had been delicious, but then Ariadne figured it should have been since nothing on the menu had been under fifty dollars.

"She's just a patient of mine, an elderly woman. She's actually quite sweet but she's in the office every other day or calling because she's convinced she's dying. Yet, if I make any suggestions, about getting some tests or blood work, she refuses, claiming she's ready to die," Aaron explained.

"If she's ready to die then why does she keep coming into the office and calling you?" Arthur asked.

"Well now that's the million dollar question isn't?" Aaron said, laughing again. "I think she's just looking for sympathy, her kids don't leave nearby so I'm sure they censor her calls and avoid her as much as possible."

"Poor woman, but honestly, her family should try and get her under control already!" Arthur's father said sternly.

"Can I get you anything else, some dessert menus?" the waitress asked as she returned.

"No, just the bill please," Arthur's father declared in his usual gruff voice.

"We have some delicious chocolate cake waiting back at our place," Arthur's mother said once the waitress was gone. "You'll all come back to our place for coffee won't you?" she asked the table's occupants.

Everyone agreed. As the group waited for the waitress to return with the bill an Asian man in a very nice suit approached the table. He came up behind Arthur and Ariadne so the duo didn't notice him.

"Arthur, just the man I've been meaning to get a hold of," drawled the professional looking man in a thickly accented voice, as he dropped a hand onto Arthur's shoulder.

Arthur turned in his seat to see who was addressing him. "Saito, uh Mr. Saito," he quickly correctly for the benefit of his family.

Saito smiled in response and turned to Ariadne. "A pleasure to see you again too my dear." Ariadne nodded her head in agreement.

"I'm surprised to see you here," Arthur said.

"Yes, just doing business as usual."

"So, you wanted to get a hold of me?" Arthur asked.

"Yes, I have a job opportunity I'd like to discuss with you. I understand Cobb is no longer in the business, but I trust you could put together and head an appropriate team. I'd of course hope to see Ariadne as architect; after all she is remarkable at what she does," Saito explained and threw a smile at Ariadne.

"I certainly would be interested in doing another job for you Mr. Saito," Arthur agreed fervently. "But it would of course depend on just what you're asking me to do. I'm not as adventurous as Cobb was."

"Of course, of course." Saito slipped Arthur his business card. "You can reach me at that number any time, no rush though, whenever you have some free time." Arthur nodded and pocketed the card.

"I also couldn't help but notice the ring, are congratulations in order?" Saito remarked as he addressed Ariadne now.

The girl blushed before responding. "Yes, Arthur proposed yesterday," the girl indicated Arthur now.

"How wonderful! Well, I will let you all get back to your celebrations then. Forgive my intrusion, and I look forward to working with you both again," Saito declared as he bowed slightly and took his leave.

"Was that Mr. Saito as in THE Mr. Saito head of-" Archie began, but was cut off by Arthur.

"Yes, yes. Now shall we head back to mom and dad's?" Arthur hissed as the waitress finally returned with the bill. Arthur's hurried response drew some quizzical looks from his family members, but Arthur ignored them.


"Mmm, this cake is delicious!" Ariadne declared as she took another bite of Arthur's mother's creation.

"She refuses to give me the recipe!" Candice cried now. "It's so unfair." The girl pouted, but then smiled to show she was only joking. A murmur of laughter broke out before a long comfortable silence set in.

At that moment Lisa returned to the dining room from her bathroom trip and broke the silence.

"Hey Arthur, there's a man outside snooping around your car. I don't know if he's a burglar or what, but maybe you guys should go scare him off?" Lisa suggested as she pointed towards the front of the house where Arthur had parked his rental vehicle.

Arthur got up with a confused look on his face, as did everyone else. Everyone was now heading towards the large window in the parlour to check out the prowler. As Ariadne approached she noticed Arthur's stiff stature.

"Should we call the police?" Arthur's mother asked worriedly as she tried to sneak a glance outside between her much taller sons who occupied the window.

"No, I think if we just go give a shout the guy will get spooked off," Aaron said as he began heading towards the door.

"No!" Arthur snapped quickly causing his brother to stop.

"No?" Aaron asked, eyes widening as he watched Arthur pull a small gun from the inside of his jacket. Arthur began pulling the thick panelled curtains closed.

"Arthur what is it?" Ariadne asked now as she hurried to squeeze by Archie to see outside, moving the curtains slightly. However, whoever Arthur had spotted was no longer by their car.

"Arthur?" Ariadne hissed determined to get an answer.

"What's going on?" Arthur's father asked his voice booming throughout the small space causing Ariadne to jump.

Arthur knelt on the floor and reached for a gun he had strapped to his ankle.

"Arthur, just how many weapons do you have on you?" Archie asked incredulously.

"And why do you have so many weapons on you?" Aaron continued.

Arthur tossed the gun to Ariadne now. "Secure my family in one of the front bedrooms upstairs and cover me," he instructed the girl. Ariadne nodded, but raised an eyebrow in question.

"It's Leeson," Arthur finally offered noticing her questioning look. Alarm fixed itself onto Ariadne's face.

"What do you think he wants?" Ariadne whispered before Arthur could leave the room.

"Well that's what I'm going to find out," he replied as he hurried towards the backdoor of the house.

"Where is he going? What's going on here?" Arthur's mother asked worriedly. Lisa nodded her head suggesting that was the question on her mind as well.

"We need to go upstairs," Ariadne said quickly as she gently pushed Lisa in the direction of the staircase. "Now!" Ariadne added forcefully when no one else moved.

"Who is that man outside?" Candice asked as she and Lisa allowed themselves to be escorted by Ariadne to the staircase.

"Someone you don't want to meet," Ariadne replied stiffly.

"Archie, Aaron, come on everyone!" Ariadne snapped again. Aaron seeming to finally understand the seriousness of the situation began to herd the rest of the family up the stairs as well.

Finally, everyone was in one of the guest rooms facing the driveway where Leeson had been moments before. Ariadne opened the window as silently as she could and closed the blinds halfway to provide some cover. She then grabbed a chair from the desk in the room and used it to help steady herself as she knelt at the window, gun at the ready.

Ariadne took some deep calming breaths to try and steady her shaky hands. Arthur had been giving her self-defence and shooting lessons for the past several months now, but Ariadne still wasn't a great shot. She just didn't seem to have a knack for it, but as she was Arthur's only back-up Ariadne was going to try her best to focus on the task at hand and pray she wasn't needed.

"Who is outside?" Archie hissed from his crouching position on the floor. Candice huddled close to him.

"Leeson, stop right where you are and put your hands where I can see them! Do it now!" Arthur's shouts could now be heard filtering in from the open window.

"How many others are with you?" Arthur barked. Ariadne scanned the area. She couldn't see any Cobol back up, but that didn't necessarily mean they weren't out there. Arthur's family was now silent as they strained to hear what was going on just outside their home.

Even Ariadne couldn't hear Leeson's responses from her spot by the window, but he seemed to be co-operating with Arthur's requests so far. Ariadne continued scanning the street, but it was silent, not a soul in sight, probably due to the fact that is was nearly 10:30pm on a Monday night and most of the people in this neighbourhood were working professionals who had to be awake early tomorrow morning for work.

"What's happening?" Arthur's father hissed now. Ariadne could hear him crawling towards her.

"Stay where you are!" Ariadne snapped angrily. The girl cringed; she hadn't meant to be so harsh. After all the man was just concerned for his family and his youngest son who was outside holding a man at gunpoint.

"Arthur's leading the man towards the house," Ariadne finally offered and a few moments later the front door could be heard opening and closing with a loud clatter.

"Ariadne!" Arthur shouted. The girl quickly abandoned her position at the window and headed for the bedroom door.

"Stay here!" she instructed; however, by the time Ariadne had reached the stairs Aaron was already hot on her heels as was the rest of Arthur's family.

"Arthur, what the hell is going on?" Aaron asked from behind Ariadne as everyone came down the stairs now.

"Do you have any rope?" Arthur asked not bothering to answer his oldest brother's question.

"Rope?" his father repeated.

"Yes, dad rope!" Arthur snapped.

"Uh, t-the garage," he finally stammered, his powerful gruff appearance finally cracking. Leeson was now standing in the parlour with his hands pressed against the wall chest level and his legs spread. Arthur's gun trained on him.

"Someone go get me that rope," Arthur yelled as he motioned for Ariadne to take his place beside Leeson. Ariadne raised her gun pointing it at Leeson, confident that even she couldn't miss at this range if the need arose. Arthur then began frisking Leeson.

"Got anything on you I should know about?" Arthur asked.

"Couple of knives strapped to my ankle and a gun tucked into the back of my pants," Leeson finally uttered.

"Rope!" Arthur snapped again when he noticed no one had gone to do as he had asked. This time Aaron obeyed and took off down a hall that Ariadne assumed led to the garage.

"How many others are there?" Ariadne asked worriedly, as Arthur removed the weaponry from Leeson's person.

"He claims to be alone," Arthur remarked as he felt the pockets of Leeson's pants. He then slipped his hands inside and removed the objects he had felt: a pack of cigarettes and a small Ziploc of marijuana. Arthur felt the back pockets of Leeson's pants now and removed a cell phone from one of them.

Leeson gave a low chuckle. " I definitely preferred it when your hands were down my pants sweetie," Leeson croaked as he turned his head slightly to glance at Ariadne.

"Shut the fuck up!" Arthur barked as he smacked Leeson in the back of the head. Aaron returned from the garage now, with various types of ropes in his hands.

"Get me a knife," Arthur instructed and Aaron obeyed returning moments later. "You know the drill, Leeson."

Leeson rolled his eyes and brought his hands behind his back so Arthur could tie them. Arthur then used the kitchen knife to cut the rope into the lengths he desired.

"Sit on the floor," Arthur instructed and Leeson turned and sat down, allowing his back to rest against the wall. Arthur then tied his feet.

"What does he want?" Ariadne asked Arthur once he had completed his task. Leeson just sat on the floor grinning.

"He claims to want our help. He wants to leave Cobol," Arthur informed her. He sounded unconvinced.

"I do want out! I don't know if you performed an extraction on me or what, but I know you were part of that extraction team who failed on the Saito job and I know you can help me get out!"

"What makes you think I can help you?" Arthur asked as he rested his hands on the pockets of his pants leisurely.

"You've managed to avoid Cobol's wrath this long haven't you?" Leeson smirked now, his eyes narrowing. "And I know you had to have something to do with Cobb's rescue operation, which is what makes me think you did perform an extraction on me. You're good at what you do. I'll give you that."

"Why me? Why do you want my help specifically? Surely one of Cobol's enemies would be able to offer you protection in exchange for information," Arthur asked.

"Because I wouldn't get within 500 feet of one of Cobol's competitors without getting shot. I figure that's where you come in. You get me in contact with one of Cobol's enemies, and then you can vouch for me," Leeson explained with a grin, his yellow teeth exposing themselves now.

Arthur laughed. "You're crazy if you think I'm going to help you."

"Oh, you'll help me," Leeson insisted.

"Okay I'll bite. Why are you so sure I'll help you?"

"Because it would be a shame if Cobol became aware of your pretty little play thing there." Leeson nodded in Ariadne's direction now.

"Well I could always just kill you now and solve all my problems," Arthur reasoned as he pointed his gun at Leeson again.

Leeson laughed. "Come on, give me some credit. I'll admit I'm not the smartest guy out there, but you don't become one of Cobol's top muscles by being stupid."

Arthur raised his eyebrows, obviously indicating Leeson should continue. "I've left instructions with my brother, to send an anonymous tip to Cobol that cutie over there was involved in the Cobb rescue mission, that is if he doesn't hear from me in the next 30 minutes."

"You're bluffing," Arthur hissed.

"Maybe, but are you willing to take that chance?" Leeson asked. Arthur cursed now and Leeson let out a loud gravely laugh.

"What makes you think I was part of the Cobb rescue mission?" Ariadne asked now trying to sound indifferent.

"I have my sources," Leeson sneered.

Ariadne shook her head in disbelief and then paused as realization dawned on her. "You hacked my cell phone!"

Leeson laughed now. "Yeah, just about anybody with half a brain can hack a cell phone nowadays."

Arthur cursed now. "Your pictures on your cell!" Ariadne gave Arthur a confused look so the point man continued, "you said they were school projects, but I saw some of them were of you and Sara!"

"Uh, yeah, I guess there might have been," Ariadne admitted still not seeing why Leeson getting a photo of her was devastating. "But I don't see how a picture of me and Sara in a park would suggest to Cobol I was part of the Cobb rescue mission."

Leeson laughed now. "You were at my brother's wedding! There's a security tape of you leaving the hotel, with that guy," Leeson indicated Arthur now, "the night Cobb was sprung, and seeing as your boyfriend is a person of interest to Cobol that alone would get Cobol's attention."

Arthur nodded his head as though he had already put this information together. Ariadne just stood wide-eyed.

"Plus, there's a large enough gap that you could have performed an extraction on me and then made it from Vancouver to the location Cobb was being held at no problem, the timeline fits. So, all Cobol would need is the photo of you and that security tape and you'd be drug in for 'questioning,'" Leeson sniggered. Arthur cursed again, obviously blaming himself for the whole situation.

"So, about you helping me," Leeson continued.

"How do I know you even want out of Cobol? How do I know this isn't some sort of set-up by your employer?" Arthur asked angrily.

"You don't, but I do want out."

"Why?" Ariadne spat the word out, her worry turning to anger.

"My reasons are my own," Leeson barked harshly. Arthur then reached into his back pocket for his car keys.

"If he moves, shoot him," Arthur instructed Ariadne.

"Where are you going?" the girl asked anxiously.

"We need to go into his subconscious, see what his game is. I have everything we need in the trunk of the car," Arthur explained. Ariadne nodded and stiffened as Arthur left, her gun trained on Leeson.

Arthur's family was still huddled by the stairs obviously frightened; even Arthur's dominating father looked uncharacteristically frail. Ariadne tried to offer them a reassuring smile, but out of the corner of her eye Ariadne noticed Leeson pushing his back against the wall to help himself stand up.

"Leeson stop right now or I'll shoot you!" Ariadne warned. He just grinned and then continued to attempt to push himself into a standing position - a grunt escaping his lips from the effort.

At that moment a gun went off with a loud bang. Lisa and Candice both screamed in surprise. Leeson sank to the floor in surprise, but he was uninjured. The bullet had gone wide and had embedded itself in the wall just centimetres from where Leeson's shoulder had been.

"I told you not to move Leeson! Next time I will shoot you," Arthur informed the man as he returned to the parlour. "Sorry, I'll pay for the damage." Arthur directed the last part at his parents. They had both sunk to the floor now and were clutching each other for support.

"Are we both going into his subconscious?" Ariadne asked, as Arthur set the familiar shiny suitcase on the coffee table and opened it.

"Whoa whoa, you aren't going into my head," Leeson said when he saw the device.

"If you aren't lying to us Leeson, then there's reason for you to be afraid," Arthur snapped.

"What is that and what the heck is going on?" Arthur's father demanded now as he re-gained his composure and got to his feet, though he did seem a little shaky.

"I can't explain right now," Arthur replied as he unravelled an IV and headed towards Leeson who was struggling against his bindings. "Stop resisting!" Arthur snapped as he approached Leeson.

However, Leeson ignored Arthur's suggestion and instead rolled to the side and kicked out with his bound legs. Arthur dodged the attack easily and tackled Leeson with a grunt. Trying to keep the much larger man pinned and still.

"Leeson, this is the only way I can know for certain that you aren't lying to me! If you want my help then you better start fucking cooperating!" Arthur shouted as he and the tied up Leeson continued to struggle on the floor. Archie, finally registering what was happening, hurried forward to help keep the large man still.

"I don't want you in my head! I'll cooperate if just the girl goes in!" Leeson finally gasped out.

"Can you handle it?" Arthur asked Ariadne, turning his head slightly so he could see the girl - she nodded. "Fine!" Arthur agreed and Leeson relaxed allowing Arthur to insert the IV.

"What are you going to do to him?" Archie asked as he crouched on his knees near Leeson. Arthur ignored his brother and went to Ariadne pulling her aside.

"Listen, when you go in be on your guard and remember if things get rough you can always kill yourself to wake up. I'm only going to put you under for two and a half minutes, giving you only thirty minutes in the dream," Arthur hurriedly explained to Ariadne in a hushed voice.

"Will that be enough time?" Ariadne asked.

"This isn't like a normal extraction. Leeson should be a willing participant if he's serious about wanting my help. So, all you'll have to determine is if the information he's feeding you is lies or not."

"What sort of layout do you suggest?" Ariadne asked.

"Leeson grew up in a duplex, a grungy looking place, with chipped paint, garbage and old cars out the front. It was a four bedroom, one bathroom place. It had grey walls, open concept floor design and old 70's style furniture throughout. Create something like that," Arthur said, obviously recalling some of the information he had found on Leeson back when they were going to go into his head to find Cobb's whereabouts.

"So, how will it work? Do I talk to his projections to try and get the truth out of them?"

"Yeah, dream that Leeson is still tied like he is here - in the living room of his place - so that you don't have any problems with him. Then, since you'll be re-constructing his childhood home he'll likely make one of the rooms in the house his old bedroom. You find that room and see if you can find a projection that's just a child."

Ariadne nodded her head in understanding and Arthur continued. "It's easier to interrogate children, you can tell when they're lying to you or withholding information. Also, we often admit our innermost feelings and secrets to that innocent and trusting part of our heart that still resides in us from our childhood days. No matter how crappy the childhood everyone is still born with a trusting child's heart, so there's always a tiny part that still clings to those innocent days. So, a child projection is often the manifestation and safe-keeper of those secrets and feelings."

"Wow, learn something new everyday," Ariadne muttered. Arthur nodded his face tight with worry.

"While you're under I'm going to do a quick sweep around the house. Leeson said he was the only one here, but I'm going to double check," Arthur informed her.

"Okay."

Ariadne moved to the couch now and grabbed an IV. "Leeson you better cooperate or I swear to God you'll regret it!" Arthur hissed through clenched teeth as he picked his gun up again.

"Arthur you need to start explaining some things!" Arthur's father began to shout in anger.

"See you in a couple of minutes," Ariadne said, giving Arthur an apologetic look. Arthur nodded pressing the button on the sleep-aid machine as he did so.

Note: Sorry about the late update, well not late necessarily, but I do like to try to get the new chapters up before lunch! It was a long chapter to go through and I have been busy all day trying to get school documents all signed and up-to-date so I am ready for September and of course all the buildings I needed to get to where spread all over campus (bleh). Hope you enjoyed this chapter.