Lexi's men drag Aria into the room and toss her on the floor at Quinn's feet after pulling the hood from her head with enough force to bang her head off of the stone floor for the proper effect. Mack, Shelley and Vance look down at her bloodied face and hands with concern. The only bright spot is that Eliot is not with her. From her appearance, their sniper has been in a hell of a hand to hand fight. "Did you lose something Alexander." Lexi enters the room with the swagger of a mobster. Quinn looks at him with a bit of a scowl for finding Aria before he did. Either way, Damian will be pleased with the turn out to this little party.
"Where is Eliot?" Quinn's question is legitimate given that Eliot was not with the other three. Lexi looks back with a wicked smile. "He has been dealt with." Quinn pulls Aria to her knees and faces her towards her boys. Once she is where he wants her, he strikes her across the face. "Missed you too, Darling." Aria's voice drips with sarcasm as she barely moves from her position. She seems to absorb the strike. Mack recognizes Lexi. Aria is not easily betrayed. In some F'd up way this must be part of the plan. "Well I assume you can handle this from here?" Lexi's voice is controlled and authoritative. Quinn is obviously put off by his presence. "Yes, we can take it from here." Lexi motions for his men to follow. "Good, you wouldn't want to keep Damian waiting, Gentlemen." He tips his hat towards Moriarty as he exits.
"So Kitten, It would appear that your current plan is not being executed in your favor. The arms shipment... that was a ballsy plan even for you. My my." He touches her face with her hand. "Could it be this Kitten is on the 9th life? Does that make you nervous?" Aria looks up with a completely straight face. "I'm bleeding, Alexander, not sweating." He circles around to her boys, who all look a bit worse for the wear, and stands next to Moriarty. Aria remains focused with no emotion. Aria won't give either of them the satisfaction of a response. This is one of those rare moments when the hell that Moriarty put her through was worth it. Moriarty walks up to Aria. He touches her face before placing the barrel of a .45 to against her forehead. Aria does not flinch or move. She remains defiant. "I will never understand you Aria… so gifted… such a waste." Aria looks up at him with a smirk. "When someone is holding a gun to your head, there are 146 options available. The funny thing is… I only need one." He makes a sudden move. "Hmmm…. Which one… my pet… which one…" Aria knows what he is about to do. She knows that he is going to inflict pain on her the only way he knows how… he is going to take it out on them. These are the moments when her training kicks in and instinct takes over. Aria doesn't move, she doesn't react… at this moment she might as well have been carved from stone.
Vance watches Aria, this the first time he recognizes the assassin coming to the surface. He has seen the sniper countless times. He has seen the soldier. He has never seen the trained assassin so vividly displayed.
Eliot watches the seen unfold with Lexi. It takes all of his internal fortitude not to react to the situation in front of him. He is desperately trying to trust in Aria. This is what she does. It is who she is. Eliot knows how skilled she is… she would never allow for them to be hurt or worse on her watch.
Quinn calls them out to her. "Your mentor… your partner… or your savior." Aria's voice is cold and methodical as she responds. "Remember my promise." He paces as he stalks them and stares Aria down. "That if I harm a hair… you will end me? It would not seem that is a likely scenario at this moment. Enough of the games." He turns and fires hitting Shelley in the leg. Shelley does not cry out. He takes the pain but his breathing is now heavy. Despite everything desire to react differently, she remains steadfast. Aria takes a quick survey of her boys. Shelley is losing blood fast from the gunshot wound in his leg. Mack is in and out of consciousness and Vance is fighting to maintain focus on her. Moriarty's attention is suddenly drawn back to Aria and her sudden movements. She is on her feetand walking towards him.
Neither Mack nor Vance can figure out what she is going to do. Seconds tick like eternity, the scene before them plays out as if it is in slow motion. Moriarty raises the gun towards Aria. "Looks like I'll see you in hell, my Darling." Aria's reaction is instantaneous as she speaks. "You first." She holds the cuffs above her head. A bullet breaks the chain between the cuffs. Out of thin air, two handguns fall from the ceiling into her hands. Her movements are so rapid. Time itself seems to be distorted.
Vance is trying to focus, he heard two shots. Aria did not… could not have fired both of those shots. The weapons were not yet in her hands on the first shot and no matter how good of a sniper she is, she has not figured out how to telepathically fire a gun… at least not yet. The second shot dropped Moriarty where he stood. Smoke drifts from the barrel of Aria's gun. Moriarty is lying against the wall dead from a shot to the heart. Who the hell did Aria bring with her? Vance is running a list through his muddled mind. Aria is a gifted marksman… this is someone just as gifted. The one shot one kill is what puts Quinn over the edge and other two guards are on alert. They don't know if Aria or her marksman dropped Moriarty. Quinn is painfully aware of Aria's abilities. Aria is pointing one gun squarely at the guards and one pointed directly at him. Aria scolds Quinn who is holding a gun pointed at her head.
"Try it Quinn… you may kill me but I guarantee I'll make your head look like a canoe first." In the haze of their wounds, the three can hear the commotion fill the room. Aria orders the men to drop their weapons. "I said please." Parker drops from the ceiling and collects them as other men enter the room. Aria orders them to get Vance, Shelley and Mack out of there. Eliot stands with Lexi behind Aria. Quinn drops the gun to Aria's feet. It would seem that he too now has been betrayed. He is dumbfounded as to how she pulled this off.
Eliot leads the men out of the room as Aria puts on gloves before picking up Quinn's gun. She removes the clip and holds it in her hand for a moment. She looks at Eliot and Lexi… "You need to go." Her tone is concise and clear. They each watch Aria closely. This is what she lets no one see. She has sent them away so many times. Eliot and Parker help Shelley to his feet. Through the haze of the pain, he makes eye contact with Aria. Mack and Vance help each other with the assistance of Lexi's men. Her boys each glance back at her a final time before their exit. Aria cannot look at them. She needs to do what she needs to do. This is her duty, obligation and cross to bear… not theirs. Once they are gone, Aria picks up a chair and places it across from her. She pulls another for herself.
Quinn and Aria stare each other down. Aria speaks in Russian to Quinn. "Hardison, you have eyes on her? " "Yes… sending it now." Hardison is streaming this video to Eliot's phone as the vehicles approach. He cannot believe what is taking place right before his eyes. Sophie and Nate listen to the unfolding scene with Hardison.
There is still the unanswered question as to who is the sniper with Aria… Mack recognized the sound of Aria's sniper rifle. The sound of her rifle, he would know that sound anywhere. He knew Aria's rifle was missing from the castle. Now he knows where it is just not whose hands it is in.
"You know this is ending one way Alexander." Aria takes her place in the chair across from Quinn. "You know if you killed me on US soil it would have been murder, Aria. Eliot actually helped you." Aria folds her arms and crosses her legs in a very business –like fashion. "Good thing we are not in the US, anywhere else it is simply my job Alexander. " She is removing the bullets from the clip of his gun.
"You have a choice Alexander… either way the outcome will be the same." Aria returns the clip to the gun with a single bullet remaining. She stands and crosses towards Quinn placing the gun on the table near him. "Mind if I smoke." Aria nods an affirmation as an answer. "Suit yourself." He takes out a cigarette and lights it. He makes himself comfortable in the chair.
"How did you know?" She turns around with a sly smile. "You have always talked in your sleep.. You think I would not recognize someone from my own country?" Aria takes her seat again. "How did you turn Lexi?" She smiles. "I didn't turn him… there was never a need to turn him. He is an old friend."
Quinn is unnervingly calm during this exchange. "You still manage to amaze me Vivian. How did you turn your back on your legacy? You are a Romanov for God's sake." Aria's eyes burn a hole in him. "I am also a Sullivan." His tone changes. "For what it's worth… we had quite the adventure Kitten." He laughs as the checks the firearm in front of him. The conversation continues for a long while. The details revealed are intriguing and only lead to more questions about their mysterious friend. From the conversation, it is obvious that Quinn and Aria had an interesting relationship. They speak of their adventures and better times in great detail. Eliot cannot help but notice her tone. It is genuine. She had feelings for Quinn. He just cannot gauge their depth. Maybe, his own bias is getting in the way.
Eliot is beside himself with the thoughts running through his head… was Aria a double agent… is that how she knew these KGB agents… is that how she had contacts through the Russian mob? Is that why her Russian was perfect… She is a Romanov? What does that mean? Lexi's drivers obeyed Aria's wishes and made sure that the two factions of her team were reunited at the Van.
After joining Nate and company, Mack and the others watch the events unfold as Sophie tends to Shelley's leg. Shelley cannot take his eyes off of the screen before them despite Sophie's pokes and prods. Hardison is focused but happy to have Parker back by his side. Parker has an air about her… like she knows exactly how this will end. The question as to what has she been up to runs through everyone's mind.
Suddenly the screen goes black as a single gunshot fills the air with sound. Mack knows this shot is not Aria's sniper rifle. That was the sound of a Glock. Aria favors Sigs as her side arm. That sound concerns him greatly. "What the hell just happened?" The concern in Vance's voice is obvious. Hardison is frantically trying to restore the video. The audio is deafeningly silent. Eliot knows that Aria would have had Sigs not a Glock. Someone else came into that room.
After several moments, Hardison restores the video to a disturbing scene. Quinn is slumped backward in the chair. The gun is lying on the ground where it dropped from his hand. Aria is nowhere to be seen. Eliot looks at the gun. He knows a Sig when he sees one. Sophie is astonished. "Did she just convinced a man to commit suicide?" Nate adds to Sophie's thought. Sophie's head fills with the thoughts of the conversations between her and Aria. She wonders just how neutral Aria really was in that relationship. She had looked like a girl in love not a girl on a mission.
Aria walks outside into the cold air to catch her breath. She leans against the wall. After a moment she slides down to sit against it. She is trying to process and trying to center herself when a man approaches her out of the darkness. Aria does not react or respond. She knows who this is. "Hello Vivian." Aria rubs her hands on her face before looking up. "Hello Father." He props her gun against the wall next to her. "She's a beauty. I see why you like her." He sits next to Aria on the ground. "I know that was not easy. It had to be done." She leans her had back. "Yeah… I know." He stands and offers Aria a hand and pulls her to her feet. "Vivian, Look at me." Aria eyes meet her father's. "It will pass." Finally words she needs to hear. "Come Princess, your boys need some patching up and looks like you could use a bit too. Let's get you away from here." Aria's father pulls her to her feet as a car pulls up out of the darkness. Sterling comes into view in the driver's seat as Aria and her father get into the vehicle.
At the Van:
"Sophie she is not a sociopath. She has a moral code. She has emotions and empathy." Mack adds to the conversation in defense of Aria. Mack's tone is fierce in defense of his partner. "She just convinced a man to commit suicide." "No Sophie, she allowed someone to choose their own fate. That was free will." Eliot adds as he paces and keeps an eye out for Aria.
Lexi's men have another truck brought to the door along with another car. They return to a safe house to regroup. Eliot helps Shelley to the house. Shelley has lost a lot of blood and is losing consciousness. Eliot throws him over his shoulder and takes him into the kitchen at Lexi's direction. Eliot cannot figure out how Aria managed to beat them there since she standing in the living room. It is at that moment that Eliot notices Sterling and of all people, Aria's father.
Lexi meets Eliot in the kitchen with several other men. Aria rushes in behind Eliot and is immediately stopped in her tracks by Lexi. "Kitten, I have got this. He will be fine… go… go." Eliot takes Aria reluctantly from the room. "Aria, he is in good hands." Lexi makes sure that Aria is gone before they begin to work on Shelley. Lexi can see the look of love in Aria's eyes. This man is important to her and he will make sure that he is cared for appropriately. Eliot takes Aria into a parlor. She looks around as the others enter the room. She cannot deal with them at this moment. She excuses herself to get some air she can't breathe in the house. It is too close... too many people. Mack and Vance are intimately familiar with Aria's process.
Sophie watches Aria and decides to join her despite Eliot's warning to leave Aria alone. Aria sits on the stone balcony staring towards the kitchen window below. Sophie takes a seat next to her. "Hey." Aria looks up to see Sophie's approach. Sophie has brought a blanket to cover her. "Hey, you okay?" Aria turns towards her. "Yeah… long night."
Hardison and Parker steal some time to themselves. He has been worried sick about her. He knew how close Parker and Aria had become. Now, he just wants her to himself. She was gone too long with no contact. He knows why she disappeared. She is the one who "stole" Aria's sniper rifle. She is the one who brought the mysterious sniper into the fold. Haridson thinks he knows why Aria used Parker.
Lexi's men works on Shelley for a long while. When they are finished, he has two of his men carry him up to a bedroom and lay him on the bed. Other of his men clean up the kitchen and take up posts outside. He adjourns to the parlor to speak with the others.
Vance and Mack have been watching Aria through the window. They know from experience that it is best to leave her be after an op. A little separation from the event is required to protect their
relationships. Nate and Sterling are sipping Scotch with Paddy Sullivan sharing stories in the corner of the room. Nate and Paddy have found mutual common ground speaking about Nate's father. Sophie is amazed as to how the relationship between Nate and Sterling has changed due to the mutual relationship with Aria. She sits near them taking in the whole scene. Parker and Haridson join them a short while later.
After checking his watch, Sterling abruptly announces that he has to depart. Paddy has left Aria's sniper rifle by the fire place. After checking his phone, he picks up the rifle. "You are going to need this." He hands Aria's sniper rifle to Mack. Mack holds it in his hands for a moment. It is her is Marine rifle. This JAR had been with them through everything. Vance glances over at him. He knows how profoundly valuable that weapon is to him. The realization hits Vance. The sniper was Paddy Sullivan... the shot from the Glock... was him too. "That was quite a show." Nate as he refreshes his drink. "Sometimes you even surprise me." Sterling gives Nate a coy smirk. "I was in the military, Nate but I wasn't your friendly neighborhood sniper tonight." Sterling points over to Paddy. "Always a pleasure, all, Ta." Sterling departs out the door.
Everyone has been trying to figure out the connection. The words exchanged between Aria and Quinn about Russia. "So the legend… is true?" Nate crosses the room towards Lexi. The two men who figure the most into Aria Quinn's life are in this room. Eliot had spoken of the Russian that Aria was so close with and here stands before them, her father who unbeknownst to them at the time, assisted in his retirement. Sophie joins them. The grifter in her knows there is a story here. When Aria made the statement about recognizing someone from her own country… Is it possible that there is yet another layer to Aria's past that they did not know?" Lexi gets a drink and realizes that questions need to be answered.
"Before you question the loyalty of our little assassin, she is all American. True Blue. But, there are things you need to understand. She was born in Moscow to a dear friend of mine. Her parents were." He pauses to find an appropriate English word. "found in, let us call them unfortunately circumstances. A friend of her mother's arrived when she found out and took Vivian in. I believe you know the rest of the story." Lexi motions towards Paddy. Sophie wants the rest of the story. "How did you become acquainted with Vivian as Aria?" Lexi gets a faraway look for a moment before he answers Sophie's question. "The little minx was sent to "dispatch" me. She is the spitting image of her father. There was no mistaking a bloodline Romanov." "Why didn't she complete her mission." Vance's interest is peaked. "Aria, as you know her, knew her past. She already knew who I was. She made a "field" decision that I would be a better ally than corpse. She has been a valuable ally on more than one occasion. Sometimes it's good to keep the back channels open." Lexi and Paddy tap their glasses in a toast since back channels is exactly how this started.
Eliot decides to check on Shelley. As he leaves the parlor, he glances over to see that Aria has vanished from her perch on the balcony. He walks into the bedroom to find her sitting next to Shelley lost in her own thoughts. Eliot touches her on the shoulder as he approaches. "Aria, he will be ok… you know he will be okay." Aria nods. "He wasn't supposed to have been shot in the first place." Eliot laughs and quotes her own words back to her. "No matter how random events appear." She finishes the sentence. "There is still a plan." He sits next to her. "Talk to me." Aria looks down at Eliot. He is giving her that look. The look that makes her give up her secrets.
"Aria, what was your price?" Aria narrows her eyes as she reaches up and touches Shelley's face. "What makes you think this was anything other than duty." Eliot laughs. "Because what they asked you to do was impossible. Impossible always has a price. So start with the Russians. and work to how your father became your sniper." She knows Eliot has figured most of this out and Lexi's likely filled in the details. "It isn't always about who you know. It's about how you know them." Eliot finishes her words. "My enemy's enemy is my friend." Eliot position's himself so that this conversation will remain private and away from prying ears. "Aria is Lexi your father?" Aria knows exactly where this is going. "I am adopted Eliot. I was an orphan." Eliot shakes his head in disbelief. He thought he knew everything about Aria. Vivian… Veronica… everything he has learned in the last year has amazed him. No wonder her life story is a best seller… it is stranger than fiction.
Shelley moans a bit which stirs an immediate reaction out of Aria. She reaches down and comforts him breaking the conversation with Eliot. Once he is settled again, Eliot pulls Aria's focus back to their conversation. "What was the price A?" Aria sits back for a moment. "Freedom." Eliot gives her a curious look. "Who's freedom?" Shelley begins to stir again. The anesthetic is wearing off and he is beginning to feel the pain. Aria uses caring for Shelley to get the interrogation to stop. She has to deal with the agency. She kept up her side of the deal. She pulled off the impossible… time for the piper to pay.