The Cordovan troops began to enter the Beta clan. Surprising the Under Army, they came in and provided distraction from their untoward mission. There were people running around outside screaming. Men and women in dark colored uniforms were taking aim and firing their weapons towards them. People who were hit fell hard to the ground and stayed there.
As the cavalry began to flood the streets, they began to shoot towards the white uniforms. Shots were fired back towards them. This gave people more time to run towards safety. As Cordovan forces advanced, the commanders of the UA began to panic. Their charge was to infect civilians and take control of the entire group until they had further orders. Some attempted to run away as their comrades fell to their death. Others dropped their weapons and held up their arms in surrender. Fewer were firing their weapons. They had not anticipated a fight.
Slowly, the white uniforms gained control of the area and began marching prisoners towards the center of the village. They trained their weapons on them as they sat, helpless, with their hands behind their heads. Small groups of white uniforms were chasing down those that ran. The commanding officer sent a message to her superiors to inform them that the Beta clan was secure. She ordered some troops to find the civilians that were hit and infected. They were all equipped with syringes of the antidote.
Some of the people that were hit were beginning to reanimate. They were walking slowly and aimlessly. As they were injecting the antidote, the bodies would collapse back to the ground. A few of the people lying on the ground were also injected and they stayed where they were. A few came out of hiding when they realized that troops had taken control. They began to take their neighbors, friends, and colleagues who had been injected to safety.
Reports were coming in that the same scenario was happening in the other clans. A woman came out into the street asking who the commanding officer was. She was loud and relentless. A soldier stopped her and asked her what her name was and why she wanted to speak to his superior. "I'm Angela Rizzoli and I need to speak to President Isles. I'm the clan's head chef and someone murdered my assistant. They left a message in blood that said, 'I'm going to enjoy slitting your daughter's throat."
"Ma'am, why would you need to speak to President Isles?"
"Because it also said they were going to kill doctor Maura Isles." The man looked at her and lifted his wrist and requested for Commander Martin to immediately come to his location. He knew that she would need to hear what this woman had to say.
Frankie Rizzoli had his orders. He was supposed to meet with a man named TJ who was going to bring him and his small team information on the location of the warehouse that housed the weapons that he was already familiar with. His objective was to take control of the facility and redirect efforts to remove the infection and replace it with the antidote so that they could send in troops to reclaim those that were wondering the jungle. They saw the UA enter the capital and they also knew that Cordovan troops would be able to handle the situation. TJ was late. He hoped that he had not been caught up in the chaos. He looked at Riley as he stood, ready to leave.
"Frankie, give the guy another ten minutes." He rolled his eyes and sat back down. There was a noise and someone was running towards them. The group stood and held their weapons as a man came running around the corner.
"I was just looking for a yellow rose," the man said. Frankie stood up.
"There are many around, but not this time of year."
"Good." The man reached out his hand and Frankie met him as they shook. "I'm TJ. And you are?"
"Rizzoli. Frankie Rizzoli." The man's eyes widened and a smile came over his face.
"Frankie? Another family reunion." Frankie looked at him with confusion. "I used to go by Tommy. But I'm pretty sure Jane said I called you Fwankie." The confusion was still there. He had been in the jungle for a long time. He couldn't remember anyone that he grew up with who called him that. Just his little brother who was taken away many years before. Tommy. His face softened.
"Tommy?"
"Yeah, it's me!" Both men stood there awkwardly not knowing what to do next. "I know you have a lot of questions, I promise to answer them. We have a job to do. I found out where the hole is located. There are about twenty guards standing over about ten people who are on the production line." He looked at the group of six standing in front of him. "I guess we'll have to hope that seven is enough."
"Once we take control, we have to destroy the infection." Frankie said. The group nodded in understanding. He decided he could figure out later what to do about his little brother that he thought was dead. He looked at him for a while. The man before him moved with a relaxed familial motion. His brow furrowed just like Jane. It was difficult for him to see him. He no longer looked like the little boy he had seen last.
They began to make a plan for the attack. TJ drew out a rough floor plan, from his memory, in the dirt. He directed everyone and they all nodded in agreement and headed towards the hole.
Jane and Maura were walking down a long hallway. Korsak was next to them, Admiral Frost was following up behind while his son lead the way. Jane's hand had begun bleeding again when the scalpels were ripped out of her hands. They had ripped some fabric and quickly wrapped them. Maura looked over and saw that they were beginning to be saturated with blood.
"Jane," she looked down at her hands.
"I'm ok. I'll get stitched up soon. I'm more worried about your arm." Maura grimaced slightly as she held it against herself. "He killed my mother. She's gone." It was starting to hit her. She was thinking about how she finally got her father back, just to lose her mother. Tears welled in her eyes and Maura leaned her head over and saw her fighting the reaction.
"I'm so sorry." Korsak started, "I've known her for a long time. She was an amazing woman." They reached a door. The Admiral used his clearance to open it. Inside were sitting the majority of the Cabinet and President Isles was sitting in a chair leaned over with her face in her hands. She slowly looked up when she heard the door open. Her faced had tear tracks.
"Maura?" She said as she stood and ran over to embrace her daughter. Maura moved back still holding her arm.
"Mother, we're fine. My arm is broken and Jane's hands..." She looked over at Jane. "Hoyt killed Angela. He had her apron, it was soaked in blood. He said he slit her throat. Constance looked over at Jane and went up to her, careful of her hands, and grabbed her.
"I'm so sorry, sweetheart. I loved your mother very much. She was a good friend to me." The two women stood there and cried together. Constance stood back. "We need a medical team to take these to the hospital."
Frost spoke up, "Ma'am. Until we have control of what is going on out there, we are stuck here."
Gabriel Dean stood up. "We have a few simple supplies here. I think with our Doctor here, we could figure something out." He walked over to a cupboard and opened it. "Here we are." He pulled out a container and opened it. Maura appeared next to him and directed him to open it and sort through the supplies.
"I need something to create a splint. And then I'll use that as a sling." She pointed as Dean looked around for something that was long and sturdy enough for a splint. She looked through a few bottles of pain medicine. She grabbed one and asked Korsak to open it. He poured out a few pills. "Give three to Jane." She took her own and swallowed them. Dean came back empty handed.
Jane looked at a small table. "What about the leg of that table?" Dean looked over and agreed. He grabbed it and slammed it onto the ground and one of the legs broke off. He held it against Maura's arm and wrapped a little bit of gauze around it. He fashioned a sling and Maura focused on Jane. She ordered to her sit and she carefully removed the fabric. It tore slightly as the blood stuck. Jane breathed in sharply. Maura used her good hand and held Jane's hand up and looked at it. "It's incredible that he shoved this one through without hitting any bones. There are multiple ligaments and tendons. There is significant damage to the lumbrical muscle. I suspect that your palmar artery has been sliced. We can plug the hole with gauze or I can try to stitch it."
Jane shook her head, "Am I going to need surgery?" Maura nodded. "Then, let's not stitch it up yet. The bleeding seems to have stopped for the most part." Maura nodded. She looked at the other hand.
"Your right hand has more damage because you pushed the scalpel through it. I can see that it nicked the bone." She used the supplies to clean out the wound. Jane grunted in pain. She placed gauze in and around the wounds. She had Dean held wrap her hands. When they were finished Maura kissed Jane on her cheek. Forgetting who was present in the room she suddenly looked around and apologized.
Her mother spoke, "Maura, no one is judging you here. The both of you have been through enough." Maura smiled in gratitude. The pain medication was starting to kick in. The pain in her arm was not as intense. She suddenly felt very tired. Jane saw her and insisted that they sit down. They leaned against one another and fell asleep.
The woman was standing uneasily next to the soldier. "I'm Commander Hope Martin. What do you need to discuss with me?"
Angela breathed a sigh of relief. "I didn't feel well yesterday and had my assistant Giovanni control my kitchen. I'm the clan's head chef. This morning, I reached the kitchen and went into the pantry and..." She paused for a moment and wiped a tear from her eye. She stood up straighter with more resolve. "The room was red. I looked down and Giovanni was lying on the floor covered in blood. There were words written on the back wall in blood that said, 'I'm going to enjoy slitting your daughter's throat. Then, I'm going to kill her lover, Maura Isles.' My daughter is Captain Jane Rizzoli. She's on assignment as Dr. Isles protection detail. I've been a personal friend of the President for many years. When I first tried to tell someone, this mess was everywhere." She gestured around them.
"President Isles was taken to a safe place. I would have to contact Admiral Frost. I will make sure that your request gets to her. Please wait here, I will do what I can to make sure your daughter is safe." She stepped away and pressed a button on her wrist. "Admiral, I have a woman here that says Dr. Isles life was threatened as was her escort, Captain Jane Rizzoli. She wants to talk directly to President Isles."
Admiral Frost looked at the two women sleeping on the couch. "They are safe in the safehouse. The capital is secured. We will go out to deal with this. We've been discussing what sort of trial system we will use for the traitors. President Isles has been preparing a speech."
Commander Martin absorbed the information for a moment. "Understood. I've heard reports that we aren't the only ones that have regained control."
"No, we have all clans secured. Hoyt was smart about how he wanted to control the capital, but we have it under control. Your troops are closest bring in this woman to the cabinet room immediately. I want to question her. Do not tell her that they are safe."
"Sir, if I may ask..." Commander Martin started.
"No, you may not. I will question her myself." The commander agreed and pressed her wrist. She walked back over to Angela.
"Alright, Mrs. Rizzoli, I'll take you to see President Isles." She barked out a few orders and put her second into temporary command. Angela followed her as they headed towards the capital.
Frankie saw the entrance. He motioned for the other half of the group to go with Riley to the rear. He entered with his weapon drawn and soon after they proceed into the stairwell. When they reached the bottom, he opened the door slowly. A guard was standing next to it was stunned by the intrusion and one of his team easily knocked him out. They continued through rooms and hallways taking out guards one by one. When they reached the door to the manufacturing room, they prepared to handle the last eight guards. Frankie hit a button on his wrist to send a silent message to Riley. When his wrist blinked twice, and he nodded. That was the signal.
At the same time, both teams stormed in and the guards jumped to defend. There were workers scattering around as shots rang out. The guards were losing men as the team advanced. There were two men left and they were surrounded. Riley jumped out from cover and one of the guards fired. Riley was hit and she fell to the floor. Frankie ran out shooting and hit the guy in the shoulder. He fell back as the last man standing shot. Frankie felt the bullet hit him in the chest and felt felt the air leave his lungs. When he hit the floor, more shots rang out.
It was over. TJ ran over and started to check Frankie. He sat up and coughed and struggled to get air. He ripped open his shirt and the bullet sat snugly in the center of his chest against the vest. "That's gonna hurt for a few days." TJ said. Frankie looked over at Riley. She too was coughing and holding her chest in pain. The rest of the team collected the workers and began giving them orders.
TJ took charge and gave everyone a task. After being under heavily guarded conditions, most of them were relieved that someone finally came to help their plight. Some offered to help destroy the serum. A few just wanted to know if they could finally see their families. They had been gone for years. Frankie and Riley did what they could as soon as they could breathe almost normally. After the serum was destroyed, they gathered the workers so that they could take them back to follow the same procedure that Frank Rizzoli went through after he was recovered.
Angela Rizzoli sat alone in the large room. The table usually sat the members of the cabinet for important meetings. Now, a worried woman was wringing her hands. Finally, the door opened. Admiral Frost walked into the room and sat at the table across from her. "I am Admiral Frost. I heard that you wanted to speak to President Isles. She is busy dealing with the invasion at the moment. I thought perhaps that I could help you."
"Admiral Frost! I wish we could have formally met under better circumstances. Your son, Barry, is a great kid. I need to warn Constance that her daughter and my own were in danger."
He was slightly confused. "Your daughter?"
"Yes, Captain Jane Rizzoli. I'm her mother Angela." He looked at her and stood up.
"Ma'am, I'm so sorry, I need you to come with me." Angela followed him. He took her into the safe room. She walked in and saw Jane with her hands wrapped and she was talking to Korsak and President Isles.
"Jane!" Jane turned her head.
"Ma! You're alive?" She started crying slightly and rushed over and embraced her. They held each other for a few moments when Angela opened her eyes and saw Maura standing there with her arm in a sling.
"Jane, Giovanni is dead. What happened to the two of you?" Jane nodded in understanding. He was sacrificed instead of her mother.
President Isles stood and hugged her friend. "There is a lot that's happened Angela. I'm so happy that you're here. We thought you were dead. We will tell you everything, but for now, I have to address the country." Angela nodded as Constance and the cabinet members walked out of the room. After a few minutes, a song played in the room. There was a flash of light and a blue image of Constance stood before them, the entire cabinet stood behind her in full support.
"People of the great nation of Cordova, we have had a traitor in our midst. His dark army attempted to attack our way of life. Our Cordovan military has brought these enemies to their knees. They have acknowledged defeat and declared unconditional surrender. This evil has ruined many lives and controlled an army that attacked each of your clans today. We can say with the fullest of confidence that this historic day of the defeat of what is known as the Under Army. The sacrifices that we have made and have always made in the name of freedom and independence and perseverance of Cordovans."
"The sudden onslaught that we have witnessed to did not affect us only on this day. There have been incalculable suffering by our people that we had long ago felt lost into thin air. We have found your family members, struggling in slavery to the tyranny of Charles Hoyt. We will have justice. There will be immediate investigations and trials for those who were accomplices in this evil plan. I ask that justice is swift. Our resolve is strong. We are a courageous people. We have survived the destruction of the planet and we will always survive."
"Cordovans, twenty years ago family members had been declared to be lost to the wasteland. To the Quarantine areas. I myself searched for dear friends for years. Some of those people have been found. Their slavery has ended. As your President, I have tried my best to keep you safe. Now, in light of this secret enemy showing their face, I will tell you some national secrets that must be made public so that trust in your government has not been weakened."
Maura stood shaking her head. She didn't agree with this idea when they were discussing it and she didn't agree to it now.
"When people started going missing twenty years ago. I put together a secret group. The unknowns were said to have sociopathic tendencies and before my tenure as your President, they were sent to live in the Quarantine area on their own and alone. Once I learned of this, I stopped the practice immediately. I took in these small children and gave them purpose. They are highly trained patriotic intelligence agents. If it was not for their hard work, Cordova would be in a much different place full of oppression, tyranny, and violence. Our Code of Promise held up our great nation today. My daughter, as their leader and commander fought alongside Admiral Frost, the troops of the Cordovan Military, and Captain Jane Rizzoli to being us our continued freedom."
"Captain Jane Rizzoli and Commander Isles were held captive by Charles Hoyt and tortured after being taken from the street in the middle of the night. Captain Rizzoli never forgot her training and killed Hoyt in an attempt to escape. Cabinet Member Vince Korsak, Lieutenant Barold Frost, Admiral Frost, and Lab technician Susie Chang were able to find them and rescue them. These heroes saved Cordova. These heroes took off the head of the dragon. We congratulate them and will publically decorate them in the coming weeks."
Angela looked sharply at the two of them. She pointed at them indicating that they needed to update her later.
"Please bear with us in the coming weeks. We have an antidote for the serum that has infected many of you and your loved ones. This will take time, but they will be restored. The missing will return to their families after we have taken care of them. The enemy will be punished for all that they have wrought upon us. Thank you all for your bravery." The blue light flickered and disappeared.
Maura shook her head. "Was it really necessary for her to give away that much information?"
Angela spoke up, "She's the president of our country. Someone attacked us and they will want as many answers as possible. It seems like a smart political move in my opinion."
"I disagree. Giving people too much information that they don't need does not always garner support. It can breed anger, confusion, and resentment."
"People love your mother. It will be fine. Now, tell me what the hell happened with you two." Angela abruptly changed the subject and looked at the two of them seriously. Jane looked at Maura sheepishly.
"Well, we need medical attention and you basically heard the gist from Constance."
"But you didn't hear that Hoyt killed Giovanni. I mean I assume it was him. There was a message saying he was going to kill the two of you."
"Ma, Hoyt had your chef's jacket and it was covered in blood. He said that he killed you." She looked at her mother, "I thought you were gone. I thought you wouldn't get to see Pop ever again or Tommy. Well, he goes by TJ now." Angela paled instantly and swayed slightly. Jane instinctively reached out to catch her. She yelled out in pain, Angela's eyes opened and she steadied herself.
"Jane, I'm sorry. Are you alright? What do you mean that I would get to see your father?"
"Tommy found him. Hoyt took him all those years ago. He didn't leave you for that girl." Two medics entered the room. They looked at Jane and Maura.
"We're here to take you to the medical facility. Dr. Faulkner has arrived to treat the both of you." Angela nodded and insisted that she was coming with them.