In town Frank makes the newcomers wait to see him. He wants to see how antsy they get while waiting. Two hours after they arrive he walks into the office. Two men wait for him and he knows another 4 are out getting a meal under the watchful eyes of his followers.
"Welcome, friends," he says to them. "Do you need a drink or food?"
Cyrus shakes his head. "No, thank you."
Frank gestures to the chairs in front of his desk. "Please have a seat. As soon as my…colleague arrives we can talk business. For now I just ask did you have a pleasant journey from…uh, where again?"
Cyrus grins. "We didn't say. Information is power, sir. We'll keep that close to the vest until the end of this chat."
Frank nods. He would have done the same thing. He studies the two men and sees no nerves, no sign of irritation that they had to wait. They are perfectly calm as they await Zeke's entrance. Frank finally breaks the silence.
"Is that a Bible?"
Cyrus nods. "I never go anywhere without the good book. If gives me strength and peace."
"Ah. Lovely," Frank responds with a voice which says he believes it is anything BUT lovely.
Cyrus gives him a slight smile. "I take it you don't believe in the Word?"
"Let's just say I have yet to find a reason to believe in a book over the complexity of man. Words don't stop men from acting; power stops men from acting."
Cyrus chuckles. "Proverbs 3:11-12 tells us 'My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction.' The Lord our God will be the final judge of us all and will punish all accordingly."
"Right. Well, Frank 101 says 'Fuck with me, I'll slit your fucking throat. No need to wait for some imaginary deity to pass judgment.' I like my little saying better than yours," he finishes with a slimy grin.
Cyrus merely smiles. In just a few words he has seen this is a man that puts himself on a solitary pedestal. And it is easy to topple a top-heavy pedestal. After 5 more minutes of silently studying each other, Zeke finally enters the room. Frank immediately sees he is agitated about something. But that can be dealt with later.
"Ben Cyrus, meet Ezekiel Jareau, former mayor of this little hamlet."
Cyrus smiles and extends his hand. "Ah, Ezekiel. In the good book, your namesake was a prophet who detailed visions regarding the destruction of Jerusalem, the restoring of Israel, and the building of the Millennial Temple."
"Well, let's hope old Zeke here doesn't foresee the fall of East Alleghany," Frank remarks snidely.
Cyrus nods as Zeke glares at Frank. Zeke turns to the visitors.
"So, why are you here? Peddling Bibles?"
Cyrus grins. "No, sir. I am looking for a missing member of my flock; a woman who has lost her way and needs to return with me. She was led astray by a man who pretended to care for her but betrayed her. I am here to save her soul."
Zeke stares at the man incredulously. Frank is silent a moment then bursts into laughter.
"You are so full of shit! Now, I believe you are looking for a woman but I doubt it's to save her. What's your angle, friend?"
Cyrus thinks a second. "I am searching for a woman. The why doesn't matter only that I know she was here and I know she has become a bane of your existence. Let me have her and your problem goes away."
"And who might this bane be?" Frank asks.
"Emily Prentiss."
"Bullshit!" Zeke blurts out. Frank starts to smile. Zeke marches over to Cyrus. "How do you know Prentiss?"
"She's a murderer. Not her fault as her father created her. As such I will give her a chance to turn away from him and side with me or she will stand as an example to all parents what happens if you teach your child to sin. For as Matthew 10:21 says, 'Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death.'"
"So you take her and either get her to betray her father or you kill her and dump her on her father's doorstep." Frank considers this a moment. "You know, Cyrus, I think I might like you more than I like old Zeke here. Granted, I could do without the Bible spouting but to each their own. So I agree: we capture Prentiss and she is yours. What do I get in return?"
"You get her out of your hair."
"She is no bother to me. Just another woman to become porch art. I want something more."
"And what might I offer you?" Cyrus asks.
"Guns and ammo. Something tells me you and the few that came through the front gates have more stashed back with the rest of your team." Cyrus lifts his chin in surprise. "Yes, I know you have more people about a half hour from here. Not enough to take the town, mind you, but enough to be an annoying cloud of gnats."
"I'm impressed by your diligence. You can have our ammo. All I ask is to keep enough to allow us to make our journey home safely. Two guns per man, two rounds of ammo per gun."
Frank nods. "I believe that is acceptable. I hope you understand that I will have to send three men with you to protect my fee."
"Of course." Cyrus stands and offers his hand to Frank. "I offer my hand in friendship to seal this transaction."
Frank stands and surprises Zeke by shaking the offered hand. "See you in a couple of hours, Mr. Cyrus."
"A couple hours it is, sir. Thank you."
Cyrus and his men walk out to gather their group together. Zeke marches over to Frank.
"Do you think it's a wise deal? We don't even have Prentiss yet!"
"But we'll have her soon. My bet is she'll be part of the peace talks tomorrow. If not, we'll offer a trade: the delegation for her."
"But what about executing the delegation?"
Frank slowly turns his gaze on Zeke. "How the hell did you ever gain control here? We'll get Prentiss and keep the delegation. It's called a double-cross. And it will be our first demonstration to the pathetic masses in the woods that their plans for retaking their town are pathetic fallacies. They can try but they will fail and die. How many do you think will accept death so easily?"
Zeke nods. "Okay. Good plan. What if we trade the delegation for Prentiss and my wife and daughter?"
Frank gives Zeke a saccharin grin. "Now, now, Zeke, let's not be greedy. Now, I do have one other bit of business to discuss with you."
"What's that?"
Frank spins quickly and grabs Zeke by the throat. "Where's Jane?"
Zeke starts at first but then forces a smile to his face. "Fuck. You."
Frank considers killing the man and being done with him but he can't risk that Zeke is the only one who knows where Jane is.
"When I kill you, I will savor it more than any other kill. And when I make wind chimes out of you I may use more than just your ribs."
He shoves Zeke away and storms out of the room. Zeke rubs his neck and smiles. Only Zeke and one other know where Jane is being held and that is the man guarding her. The simple woman doesn't even know she's a captive; she believes she was hidden away by Frank for her safety. As long as Frank doesn't discover the secret passage in the basement all should be just fine. Let Frank do the dirty work; let his mercenaries die in the battle that is on the horizon. Then Zeke and his people will be there to sweep up the mess and retake their town.
"And first thing I will do is destroy the fucking power plant and kill those assholes that keep it running. I'll start with that sniveling bastard Spencer Reid. And I will make sure Jenny lives long enough to watch him die a slow, painful death."
Zeke smiles as he pictures his daughter's fear and horror as she watches her friend die. He moves to the bar and pours himself a drink. He knocks it back quickly then goes out and grabs a couple of his men to escort him to the Red Light district. Time to have a little fun with Trixie, regardless of what time it is. She'll open early for Zeke or else find her clientele go from the elite to the common overnight.
Cyrus and his men leave the town with 3 of Frank's men and a horse drawn cart. As they walk Cyrus gives a sermon on doing the work of the Lord and the way he can rain down punishment on those that dare defy him or his messengers on Earth. His men are enthralled the entire trip. By the time they reach the clearing where the rest of his men wait he sees two of the men with them are still rolling their eyes. The third is very curious. As men start to fill the cart, Cyrus walks up to the man.
"You seem intrigued by the word of the Lord. Did you grow up with religion in your life?"
The man nods, a wistful smile on his face as he remembers his youth. "Yes, I did. My father was a preacher. We'd go to church every Sunday. Afterwards we'd go and see the sick, injured, disabled. He always made people happy with just a few words and just by…by being there for him."
"He sounds like a good man," Cyrus says sincerely. "What happened to him."
"He was a good man. But one day gunmen burst into the church. They separated men, women and children. All the men, my father included, were executed on the spot." The man looks at Cyrus, tears in his eyes. "Until the end my father was preaching peace and forgiveness. He told the men that would murder him to repent and he would see them in the Kingdom of Heaven. I guess…watching that…I think that was the day I gave up religion. His Bible, his God didn't save him. But hearing you talk…for the first time in I don't know how many years I remember his words and suddenly…suddenly I know he'd be disgusted with me and the path I have chosen. That's a hard realization to deal with."
Cyrus puts a fatherly hand on his shoulder. "I understand. It is time now to repent your sins. Join me and my men on our mission. I can show you a path to peace."
"How…how do I do that? Frank will kill me if I don't go back."
"Frank can't harm you when you are under my protection. Join me, pledge your life to the Lord and I can give you peace," Cyrus encourages.
The man studies Cyrus and remembers his father working with those who felt lost due to the war. He slowly nods his head.
"I want…want to make my father proud. I'll join you."
Cyrus smiles. "Good. What is your name?"
"Wesley."
Cyrus places a hand on either side of the man's head and brings it forward to kiss his forehead. "Welcome to my flock, Brother Wesley. Your salvation starts today."
Cyrus turns to his men who are watching the other two mercenaries load the cart. Cyrus nods…and the two men are attacked. In seconds they are bound and on the ground.
"These men are minions of the devil and as such will be crucified to send a message that no one should defy God. Are you okay with that, Wesley?"
Wesley takes a few tentative steps towards the men. He had seen them kill without remorse; seen them laugh as they maimed people. To him they are no better than the men that killed his father. He drops his gun to the ground. He takes off his weapons belt and drops it, too. He walks back to Cyrus and kneels before him.
"If it is God's will they die, it is my will, too. I will serve the Lord in peace."
Cyrus smiles and pats the man on his head. "Rise, Brother Wesley. He has heard your words and seen your heart. Welcome to The Light, my child."
Wesley stands and takes his place beside Cyrus. The leader looks at four men. "You know what to do. The rest of you with me: we'll go directly to those in the woods. Two of you will infiltrate and find Prentiss. Once we know where she is and how she is armed we'll make our plans to take her."
The men nod. Soon they are moving out as four men prepare crosses for the captured men. They would plant them just before dawn so that as the sun rises those in town will see what happens to those who mock God and His teachings.
Hotch pours water over his head. The quad tracks have cut travel time immensely but they lack air conditioning. As such they have to stop every hour once the sun is up or risk heat stroke. One of Gibbs' men, a fellow named McGee, walks up to him.
"We should be there by this time tomorrow, Boss."
Hotch nods. "Good. You're a hell of a navigator."
"Thank you, sir. Always had a knack for it, which was helpful when my ship's computers got fried by an EMP burst. Got us back to port without losing a life."
Hotch nods. "Well done. Last sea tour?"
"Yes. By the time I got back the Navy was done. No one was left to fix it, not that there was any reason to. The Navy was done; hell all the armed forces were." He looks Hotch in the eyes. "Gibbs respects you or he wouldn't have joined the coalition. Nor would he have offered up me or the quads. It wasn't just about his family."
Hotch nods. "Thank you for saying that. I respect him, too. I think we piss each other off so much because we are too much alike," he concludes with a grin.
McGee chuckles. "Well, I wasn't going to point that out but…"
Hotch nods. They stand for a few more minutes then McGee looks at the sun. "We should get going. We'll need to stop about 5 p.m. while we still have sun left to let these charge back up and be ready for the journey in the morning."
Hotch stands up from the machine he is leaning on. "Okay. EVERYONE! MOUNT UP!" The two start to their quads. "McGee?" The man turns. "Thank you for your help."
McGee just nods and climbs into his quad to continue the journey north.
Emily stares at the 5 men whole will be leading squads of fighters into battle. She closes her eyes a moment.
"Not fighters. Not soldiers. Just people using their hunting skills to try to take back their home. What a clusterfuck," she thinks to herself.
With the arrival of Cyrus the battle plan had been changed. They have no idea how this third egomaniacal dictator could affect things in the town and they cannot risk waiting until after the so-called peace talks to act. Emily has to hope the drills Roz had ordered over the last month will be enough to help these people take back their town.
She opens her eyes and starts to pace. "How many of you have prior military experience. Like before the fall of society?" Three raise their hands. "Good. I am assuming you other 2 have some militia experience? Maybe leading a block squad or something?" The men nod. "Good. We have found a series of secret ways into the town. Turns out the Jareau house has an escape tunnel with several exits in and around the town. Earlier today a member of the resistance snuck into town, entered one of the tunnels and followed a path that took them to an exit right near the mines."
"Wait, we just found out about them today? Why the hell didn't Roz or JJ tell us about them?" One man demands.
"Their father never told them they were there. Their mother didn't know, either. You know knowledge is power and Zeke wasn't about to tell women he had no respect for about those passages. Morgan attained information regarding the tunnels and checked them out. He ran out of time before he could check the final 2 passages. One was a dead end. The other was to the mines."
"So…when the hell did he find them? And how?"
"He and I did a bit of information gathering. That's all you need to know," she says, irritated about the conversation so far. "Now you can keep asking questions that have no bearing on battle or we can get down to what you'll need to do to win your town back. Your choice, gentlemen."
She slowly meets the eyes of each man. Satisfied they are going to keep their mouth shut she leans over and points to the map on the table.
"These are the five entrances. Four teams will enter them via the mines entrance. Team 1 will go through this passage and come out near the power plant. Team 2 will go to this one just outside the front gates. You'll need to take dynamite and blow a hole in the wall. It will cause injury to those guarding the front gate and give you a way in." She pauses. "That explosion will be the klaxon telling all teams when to attack." The men nod, agreeing it will be the best way to ensure concurrent strikes. "Team 3 you'll go down this passage and come out near the old schoolhouse. Then team 4 you will go this way and come out by the Red Light district. Team 5, you won't be in the tunnels. I'll be with you and we'll make our approach from the mines to make sure the mercenaries can't get up that way and destroy the operation. So far they've left it alone but they may move against it if they feel they are losing the town. Any questions?"
"Who is leading which team?" one man asks.
"We'll get to that in a second."
"You really think this will get our town back?"
"Not in one night. There is no way this will be over in one big battle though I hope to hell I am wrong. Our main aim is to secure this power plant side of town, the mines, and the front gates by the end of the battle. Most likely there will be several small battles with a few skirmishes in between. Best scenario is we take the town back in a week. As long as we keep the element of surprise for this first attack and secure those three points we'll be fine."
"And if we don't?"
"We regroup and plan to take them next battle. We have more people than they do and we have a hell of a lot more to fight for. I know for the last month you have been drilling your squads. Today will be more about building up their confidence, giving them the pep talk that will give them the excitement and eagerness needed to go into this fight with their heads high and their hearts aflame. Frank and Zeke expect our emissaries to go to peace talks tomorrow. Angus had been prepared to give his life to show that those two bastards can't be trusted. I don't like sacrificial lambs. We attack tonight when they least expect it and do as much damage to them as possible. Get with your squads, get them ready."
She tells each man what squad they will be leading and their timing for entering the tunnels or entering the mining area. If everything is timed perfectly they will be able to be in position when the blast at the front gates goes.
"And gentlemen, know people under your command are going to die. You could die, too. Spend time with your family, make sure your kids know you love them and do this to give them a future. Your wives are on different teams for a reason but it is possible you could both die this night or in the coming days. Make sure there are provisions made for your children just in case. Encourage your teams to do the same."
The men nod.
"Very good. See you at 10 p.m. tonight."
The men get up and go to get with their teams. Emily stares at the map, hoping she's made the right assignments. Thank goodness Jordan had volunteered to go check on the passages Morgan hadn't been able to get to. With those extra 2 passages they are able to make a better circle around the town. If all goes well, it could cut the battle down by 2 or 3 days.
"You give good pep talks."
Emily turns and sees Roz approaching her. "Thanks. Think it will help?"
"Yes, I do. I'll give a good rally cry tonight before we set out to get into position." She leans back against the table. "Angus is pissed we're jumping his chance to be a martyr instead of letting him suffer for a week or two."
Emily grins. "Oh, damn. My heart may not recover."
Roz grins. "Right. I have decided to go straight to my father's house with a small team. We'll enter there once all hell is breaking loose. We can kill anyone left there and find any plans Zeke and Frank have come up with."
Emily stiffens. "That wasn't what we discussed earlier."
"I'm the boss and we need their intel. We need to know who their spies are and what they have going on in town and what future plans are. Plus this will keep that chickenshit from being able to run that way, because I know that's what Zeke will do."
Emily tries to come up with a different option. "What if…if I do that?"
Roz laughs. "Right. You in the tunnels. You think I didn't hear about the cellar test?" Emily blushes. "Look, a lot of people can't go into the mines and those same people will be given a chance to move to the squad going down the mine road. Sorry, Prentiss, I won't send you into the tunnels. I'll go and either join the battle via the front or back door, or I will return to the tunnel and take the passage to the old schoolhouse."
Emily paces a second. She hates the thought of sending Roz into the lion's den because it is high risk and that means JJ could lose her sister. Again. But everything Roz said was true.
"Son of a bitch…"
"Aw, you really do love me," Roz teases.
Emily huffs out a laugh. "Tolerate you. It's Jen I love and you and I both know the odds of you living through that mission are slim to none."
"True. But I'm feeling lucky tonight. And that's what I'm going to hang on to." She stands and pats Emily on the arm. "It's done, Prentiss. This is a good plan. Every bit of it. Go spend time with your wife and children. Just in case, you know?"
Emily nods. "I know. Stay alive, Roz. For Jen."
"That's the plan. You, too. I want her to be driving you crazy for the next 50 years or so."
Emily grins. "Me, too. See you tonight."
Roz nods as Emily walks away. As the brunette walks she can't help but think there is something she needs to do before spending time with her sons and wife. She makes her way to the supplies area and asks for a pencil, paper and envelope. She goes to a place she can sit and be alone with her thoughts. She sits down at a makeshift table near the river and stares at the blank piece of paper a few minutes before finally bringing the pencil to it.
Dear Dad,
I need you to know it means so much to me that you sent Morgan to find me. He told me about your attempt to rescue me, even if it meant war. You always said that a leader has to consider the people below him, not his personal feelings. I can't tell you what it means to me to know you were willing to ignore that for me.
When I was 10 I woke up in the hospital fully aware of what happened to me and my parents. I felt so alone; so despondent. And then you appeared at my bedside. You told me I'd be okay and you'd find me a place to live and be safe. And you did. I was safe beside you and for some reason you kept me around. I knew from the moment we met I trusted you. And as soon as I understood devotion I knew I would lay down my life for yours, as you would lay yours down for me. I have no regrets for things I did on behalf of Fidelis and on behalf of you. I am sorry I did not appropriately avenge Hailey for you but in rescuing Jennifer and Garcia I think I saved both of our souls. You let them both go with me and Morgan. That tells me you knew it was right to let them go. I am so thankful for that.
I want you to know 2 things. First of all, I married Jennifer. Morgan gave me away on your behalf but I wish it could have been you in person. She is the light of my life, Dad. She has healed a part of me inside that I didn't know was damaged. She makes the day better just by being in it. I hope Hailey gives you the same joy.
Secondly, I am a mother again. Jen has a son named Henry. He calls me Mama. He is smart and energetic and a bit of a schemer. I adore him and hope someday you get to meet him. And in addition to Henry, I am mother to Declan. He looks just like Henry and JJ and he saved my life. When I escaped Doyle I was in bad shape. Injuries got infected and if it hadn't been for Declan going for help I'd have died. Dad, his father was Ian Doyle. Thank God he is NOTHING like his fucking father. He is sweet and good and finally learning to be a kid again. His laughter has been healing me since the first time I heard it. He, Henry and JJ made me imagine a future of peace and wish I live to be 100.
But if you're reading this, I didn't live through this last battle. We're mounting an attack to take East Alleghany back. These people aren't soldiers but they are determined to get their town back. I will do everything I can to help them so that Declan, Henry and JJ can live in a house once more under a true leader, not the dictator that aligned with mercenaries and destroyed the tranquility this town had enjoyed. My only regret will be dying before seeing you and being able to tell you all of this in person. So I hope this letter absolves you of any guilt you may feel over what I went through at Doyle's hand. Everything I suffered was worth it even if it only gave me these few months of love. I die a happy woman, Dad, with no regrets.
If there is a Heaven, which I really hope there is, I pray God will reunite us there someday far in the future. Find your happiness, Dad. Don't let leadership turn you cold and bitter. Find your light and your love and with it you will find life. And life is pretty damn good, Dad.
I love you,
Emily.
Emily rereads the letter and nods. She puts it in the envelope and ties it closed. She would give it to Garcia so it can be sent to Hotch once things settle down and a messenger can be dispatched south. She grins. Considering the relationship between Morgan and Jordan, her best friend may not be delivering any message anytime soon. And she doesn't blame him a bit.
She stands and tucks the envelope in her duster and goes to spend time with her family before the coming first volley.