Kraken tried to conjure up the memory that Roulette was speaking about. Nothing came to mind though. Sure, he knew that he'd killed a few guards at Dr. Terminal's laboratories. They all had. Even Séance probably had, which was quite an accomplishment because at that time in his life he'd once gotten on a foot stool and shrieked at the sight of a mouse.

It was probably just his luck that the one he'd killed had had a psychopathic wife.

"I think that this has gone far enough."

Everyone turned to see Hargreeves enter the room with an air of arrogant authority. Kraken clenched his fists.

"Hargreeves," Roulette said, her voice dripping with hatred.

He turned back to the screen, where the three members of Monte Carlo glared at Hargreeves like he was the sum of all the loathsome things in the world. Then again, he was.

"I'm glad to see that you took the trouble to find out my name Mrs. Ivanov," he said, "and this does seem like it took a good deal of planning. But I will remind you that you're doing this all for a girl who's been nothing but a disappointment, especially considering all the trouble I went through to get her, and a husband who couldn't even defend himself against .02. Have you seen his knife work? It's incredibly sloppy."

He saw a snarl form on Roulette's lips.

"He was my husband. And Vanya's my daughter. Someone like you wouldn't understand this. I don't think you understand anything that doesn't have to do with your own personal gain."

"Look," Kraken said, "Let's just get to the point. What do you want us to give you so that you'll let Vanya go?"

Roulette looked confused.

"I have no intention of doing that," she said, "What made you think I'd do that? She's my daughter. I want her well out of this, so of course I'm not letting her out there with you. Besides, braid hair, watch movies, you know, things like that. I've got twenty years to catch up to you know."

Kraken clenched his fists.

"Come on," Rumor said, "If it makes you feel any better, they've probably already killed her."

Kraken's head snapped up. He felt like wrapping his hands around Rumor's neck and shutting her up for good.

"Excuse me?" Roulette asked, raising her eyebrows.

"I don't buy this whole mother-daughter bonding bullshit," she said, "You're probably just yanking our chain on this and you've killed her hours ago."

"I'm her mother! Her only parent!"

"I've been to far too many domestic disputes for that to mean shit," Rumor said.

As she said that she shifted her body slightly so that she stood at an awkward angle, making some of her invisible to the camera. It was from that angle that she winked at Kraken. It was then that Kraken realized what Rumor was trying to do. Maybe she was smarter then he gave her credit for.

"Besides," finished Rumor, "They're villains. She probably killed her because she's her daughter."

Glaring at Rumor through narrow eyes, Roulette beckoned Blackjack closer. She whispered to him for a few minutes. He whispered back and disappeared off screen.
"You'll see I'm right," she said coldly.

"Personally I couldn't care less. Now could you please stop with all the theatrics and just tell us what you want?" yawned Hargreeves, "Because I'm a very busy man and I haven't got all day."

It was then that Kraken realized for the first time that Hargreeves wasn't just a bastard towards them. He was just a bastard in general.

"I want all of you dead," she said, losing her temper, "And when I say all, I mean all. That includes Hargreeves and the chimp. I'll give you twenty-four hours to settle your affairs, because I'm generous. Then all of you are going to come to 115th Elm street, and we'll kill you in whatever manner we deem most pleasurable to inflict. And just so you know we're serious-"

Slots pulled a briefcase out from under the table. She opened it, revealing five nuclear devices.

"-if you don't we'll nuke the city from here to hell," she said, "After that we'll just use the other four for our own personal enjoyment. Your choice."

There was a very pregnant pause. Hargreeves gave a short laugh.

"The Umbrella Academy doesn't negotiate with terrorists."

"We'll give you some time to think about it," Roulette said patronizingly, "After all, you've all had very stressful day."

"I doubt we will," said Hargreeves.

As soon as Hargreeves finished speaking Blackjack came back into the room. He leaned over and whispered quietly to Roulette. She nodded, looking rather smug. Then she turned back to the screen and smiled triumphantly. Just as Kraken started wondering what she was on about now, Vanya came into the room.

She looked sort of dazed, perhaps she'd been drugged. There was also a rather nasty bruise forming near her left temple. Other then that she looked fine. Her hands were uncuffed, which Kraken took as a good sign. Maybe the fact that she was Roulette's daughter offered some sort of protection. As she looked tiredly around the room, she locked eyes with Kraken.

He moved forward towards the glass of the TV screen. Kraken could see Vanya standing close to it on her side. She seemed so near, like he could simply reach out and touch her. Subconsciously he leaned forward little by little until his fingertips were pressed up against the glass screen. He knew that it was silly and irrational. Yet, he really didn't care. The only thing he cared about was that he wanted to be a little nearer to her.

Kraken's eyes were still slightly open as he increased the pressure on his fingertips, letting his gaze rest on them for a minute. This was how he discovered that Vanya was doing the same thing on her side. He even thought that he could feel some of her warmth coming faintly through the glass. He was probably just imagining it, but still… Kraken didn't want it to end, didn't want to be reminded that the one person in the world that he needed was in mortal peril.

Close as they were Kraken couldn't help but notice the small tear that slipped down her cheek. At that moment Kraken would've given anything for the glass to disappear even for a few moments. All he wanted was for some scraps of time to take her in his arms and kiss her, protect her from it all. As a second tear joined the first he was overwhelmed with the urge to save her somehow and rip apart the bastards who were hurting her. Despite his wishes the glass remained.

"Now that that's over," Roulette said, and Kraken heard her voice as if from far away, "We'll see you in tomorrow."

With that, the image left, leaving Kraken feeling more bereft and furious then ever before.