Although Bahri was experienced in several different forms of fear, the variety had expanded further in the last month. While he felt a certain sense of security in being among friends he trusted implicitly, the extraordinary stress of having been locked into a narrow compartment and not knowing what was taking place on the other side was truly testing his nerves.

He'd specifically requested to be "hidden" alone, but now the elohim regretted it. It cannot be much longer. Someone will let me out. They will not abandon me here. El, please...Bahri cut off the thought before it could go anywhere. There is little point in speaking with Him. He has not cared to listen for weeks as it is.

Truthfully, he wasn't only nervous about the process of being spirited into the United States, but of what would happen when someone did let him out. Bahri had readily agreed to do everything he could to help the others, but the elohim was anxious about meeting their government friend, and the phone call they were going to plant.

It seems one of them could probably pretend to be me. This doctor would not be able to see who was speaking. However, it will be tricky enough for me to imitate the Vagari's speech patterns and arrogance, even with the experience I have...endured. Bahri sighed deeply. It does have to be me. I just wish that it did not.

Footsteps made his blood run cold, and his chest tightened so that he could barely breathe. Please let it be one of the terrapins. Let this nightmare almost be over. So it can begin all over again, he added ruefully.

A light knock sounded on the chamber door. Air escaped from his tight lungs when Donatello peered down, then offered him a hand. Although Bahri felt better for receiving the secret blood transfusion, he still needed his friend's assistance to climb out.

The terrapin left a supportive arm around his back. "Are you all right?"

"It seemed to take longer than I thought it would."

"Anticipation plays tricks on the mind, Bahri. We have an opening: a clear path to a van just a couple yards from the jet."

"And your people are driving?"

"Our friend, Director Kelley. The group will be split up over three vehicles, but we've got to catch our other guy up. We'll be with you every step. You don't have to be afraid of him."

The alien shuddered. "We must move now?"

Donatello nodded. "The sooner, the better. The rest of our...sensitive members are already waiting for us. I saved you for last, because I know you're nervous."

"It is hard not to be, Donatello. Even riding in the same vehicle as your son could prove hazardous for me."

"Jayden won't hurt you," he promised. "He's mad. He's separated from his twin, his cousin...Jay's frustrated, and he's taking it out on you." Donatello glanced over his shoulder. "We really do need to go."

"Okay."

Bahri stumbled forward on unwilling legs. Forcing himself to duck through the open hatch of the Gulfstream was a challenge in itself; taking the first step down the stairs felt like the equivalent of jumping off a cliff.

The surrounding darkness left him a little more secure, though the lack of light coming from nearby lamps was puzzling. Donatello's grip guided him gently, but firmly toward the closest van, and the sense of impending doom returned full force.

He allowed the terrapin to usher him to the passenger side door behind the driver, which inched open upon their approach.

"Want me to go first?" Donatello offered.

Bahri gratefully allowed his friend to put himself between him and whatever waited on the other side. The elohim had to hunch down to fit properly in the seat, but it also made it easier not to focus on anyone. Bending over was the perfect excuse to avoid eye contact.

"We're all in, right?" The stranger peered around the driver's seat, and unintentionally came within inches of Bahri.

The alien jerked backwards, and would have slid to the floor to escape notice if it were possible.

"We're here," Donatello answered. "Will you get us off the air strip?"

Bahri wished he could jump out of the vehicle before it started, but the driver was already putting the car into gear.

"You're not gonna make me wait anymore for answers, are you?" the man demanded gruffly. "Because I gotta tell you, I haven't cared for the last seventy-two hours."

"Neither have we," Leonardo agreed. "But we'll do our best to get you up to speed."

"Is it my understanding that the two individuals who've joined us are not...from around here?"

The vague parameters of the driver's question made no sense to Bahri.

"No, they're not," the blue-masked terrapin affirmed. "They both come from the planet we visited a few years back."

"And now they're visiting us?"

"If that's what you want to call it," Kamryn volunteered sharply.

The elohim's anxiety spiked once more when the stranger turned his head in response, even though the van was in motion.

"If you would please watch where you are going, it would be beneficial to everyone," Bahri suggested.

"Director, do you think you could get us out of here, and then meet everyone properly?" Leonardo sounded patient, but Bahri sensed iritation in his frame.

"All right, but I need to know where we're going."

"Follow Greg," the oldest terrapin directed. "He has a spot picked out a few miles away. We need to make it somewhere remote."

"And I have to be in the dark the whole way? Why couldn't you tell me anything?"

"Because we don't know who's listening, that's why!" Raphael shot back. "What if they bugged your office phone too? Does the fact that we were completely exposed AGAIN mean nothin' to you?"

"Of course it does! This is the reason I didn't want to know where you ended up to start with. But if it was my stupidity that led them to you regardless, I'll probably never forgive myself."

The man's genuine concern made some of the tension leave Bahri's frame. He is their friend. He cares about what happens to them, as do the rest of their family. If I cannot begin to put some trust in him, I have no reason to be here.

"I told you, it's not your fault," Leonardo insisted. "No one knew they were onto you, though, we probably should have expected it. I promise we'll explain everything, Director. In the meantime, stay on Greg's tail."

The only thing Bahri could currently make out of their surroundings were gently rolling hills, and large fields that contained some type of crop swaying in the breeze. The night sky was filled with stars he'd studied and graphed from a distance, but never seen with the naked eye. The dazzling sight was so distracting, he nearly forgot about the figure currently staring at him.

"...So, are we looking at an impending invasion?" The Director appeared to have difficulty asking the question.

"It is unlikely the Vagari will 'invade' as you understand it," Bahri replied. "It is an unnecessary process from their point of view, and puts them at too much risk from your atmosphere. They have other tools to do their dirty work, as your people would say."

"How do you know what our people would say?"

"I have studied your culture and history for over a century," the elohim said honestly.

"I can't tell you how uncomfortable that makes me," the man complained.

"He isn't the problem," Leo defended swiftly. "The Vagari are. Let's focus please. Director Kelley, this is Bahri. He was my first friend on Zuhur. His knowledge is indispensable, and his heart is pure."

The elohim ducked his head shyly at the description, but reluctantly accepted the human's beefy hand when it was offered.

"You'll have to forgive my suspicion," Director Kelley told him. "It's my first time meeting a real alien. I mean...there have been plenty of illegal foreigners in the line of duty, but this falls well outside the realm of normal experience."

Bahri managed a small smile while Leonardo tugged his counterpart forward.

"This is Kamryn. She's also a loyal friend who was extremely supportive to Donny while he was imprisoned. She's one of the bravest people I've ever met...and she's got hidden talents that will shock you."

"Hidden talents?" The Director gazed at the woman across from him, until she found the boldness to return his look with a scowl.

"I'm not what you were expecting for an alien?"

"Not exactly. You look so much like one of us."

"If I'd been born on Earth, I would be like you. Instead, I was bred in captivity to human slaves that I never met, and was eventually selected for experimentation based on my unique genome structure."

The man crossed and uncrossed his arms pensively. "That's quite a story."

"It's also the truth. I'm not so 'normal' on the inside. When we get close to the Vagari, you'll see that firsthand."

"One thing at a time, Kamryn," Leonardo urged. "First, we have to set a trap for Lendano to fall in." The terrapin turned around to search out his brother. "Don, how's the signal?"

Donatello was slightly separated from the others with Jazz; a fact which Bahri hadn't noticed until seconds before.

"Cell service is a little low," he returned. "I think we should head for higher ground, and make the call from there."

"What about the satellite?" Leonardo asked. "Will you be able to use it?"

"Getting access isn't the problem, Leo. It's whether or not Lendano is listening, or even leaving a trail I can measure."

The oldest terrapin shrugged. "We'll never know until we try. If you'll get us into position, I'm in favor of beginning immediately."

Bahri's heart rate jumped the moment they climbed back into the car. It is almost time to perform. I hope I can somehow make it believable. I cannot fail. Not if they are to have any chance.

"Do you know what you're gonna say?"

Bahri swiveled at Nate's question, and then cast Kamryn a quick glance. "We created a type of script for me to follow."

"It wouldn't hurt you to go over it again," she pointed out. "Hearing the last conversation Muhsin had with Ribiero is helpful for accuracy, but you still have to deliver it effectively. "

He found it unnecessary to mention he'd read the paragraphs so many times during the flight, the words were ingrained to memory. Bahri looked down at the sheet anyway, to provide the illusion of studying for Kamryn's sake.

"What language is that?"

Bahri jolted severely, as he'd been unaware of the young red-masked turtle looking over his shoulder. "It is Portuguese. Being from Brazil, I expect the Vagari conversed with Doctor Ribiero in her native tongue to establish their relationship."

"Don't forget to use contractions like the Vagari," Kamryn reminded him.

"Must be fun to memorize a speech in another language," Olivia murmured.

"Portuguese is not challenging," he assured her. "I speak most of Earth's common languages fluently."

"You what?" Director Kelley looked back, this time from the front passenger seat. "How many languages do you speak?"

"I do not usually count them. There are probably around seventy-five tongues in which I am proficient, though Earth possesses thousands more. I am still expanding."

"Seventy-five?" The man didn't seem to believe it. "Does everyone speak that many languages where you come from?"

"No, Director, not in the least. I was genetically engineered for language capacity. You could say I was bred to be a bookworm."

Donatello's head tilted slightly toward Bahri from the driver's seat. "That's what I called you."

"And it is still my favorite title, terrapin."

"But you actually speak all those languages?" the Director repeated.

"Yes, I do."

"You only have to wait and see," Kamryn spoke up. "Or in your case, sit back and be bait."

The man wasn't amused with her comment. "What if they come here? Are we setting ourselves up to be caught by the Vagari?"

Bahri shook his head. "Lingering in your atmosphere draws too much unwanted attention. They are light years from Earth as we speak. They have technology which they use to spy, and they also have human contacts, as you have come to understand. But even if they were already within striking distance, they would have to wait for acclimation of their lungs."

"I don't know what that means," the man said.

"It means you have time to focus on where we are, and not who could be coming after us. We're not going to abandon you, Director," Donatello encouraged him.

The man huffed. "I should hope not – even if I'm just the loud mouth who gave away your new hiding spot."

"You didn't do it on purpose," Nate protested.

"Doesn't matter." Matthew Kelley suddenly sounded very far away.

The purple-masked terrapin's phone ringing made it unnecessary for anyone else to speak. "Hello? Yeah?...That sounds promising. I'll go ahead and pull over. See you in a minute."

Bahri didn't care why they were stopping; it still made his heart skip a few beats. He climbed out of the van more slowly this time. The pronounced pinching pain in his back was compounded by their traveling, and the glare of Donatello's son wasn't helping matters.

The elohim wasn't expecting to find himself so close to an overlook, and was immediately captured by the impressive stone structure across the water from them. "Where are we?"

"Cold Spring, New York...about sixty miles north of Manhattan." Donatello was already beckoning him to come back toward the car. "Come stand here, Bahri. You need to be ready to take the phone from Director Kelley, if I can establish the connection they're using to hack his blue tooth."

The alien nodded.

"I established a back door when I took on a project for NovaPulse a few years ago. It won't take long to get control of the satellite, but ideally, I want a better cushion for time. Lendano can listen, but they won't be able to cut in. Your job is to keep them interested and on the line. Got your script?"

"I know what to say," he answered faintly.

Jayden scowled toward him. "You can't say it like that."

Bahri met the young one's accusing gaze with a grimace.

"Jayden, give us some space," Donatello said firmly, and gave Bahri an apologetic look as his son flounced the opposite direction. "You'll be all right. You have to own it, Bahri. You can convince them."

"I will do my best."

The others lingering nearby took their cue to depart as well, until it was down to Bahri and the Director of the FBI Field operatives. The elohim didn't want to face the man alone, but there was little choice now. He was somewhat relieved to read the obvious nerves in the human's body language too, and grateful he didn't try to speak to him. Bahri took the lapse in conversation as an opportunity for a few deep, calming breaths.

When Matthew's phone rang, they both nearly jumped off their seats. The Director awkwardly laughed it off and adjusted his earpiece before answering.

"Hello?...Yeah, I can hear you. I need to know what this is all about, Leonardo! You can't keep me in the dark for...What?"

Bahri didn't know what the terrapin was telling him, but the human played the role of a bewildered and concerned friend well.

"Why didn't you call me?! I could have helped!...Are you sure...No. No, I haven't seen anything from my side, but I thought you'd be safe there! Where did you go exactly?" The man was silent for several seconds.

Bahri was watching the scene so intently, a knock on the window made him hit his head on the ceiling. Michelangelo inched the door open and motioned for quiet.

"Don's tracking something," the orange-masked terrapin hissed. "Go ahead and get the phone."

"Wait a minute!" The way the Director interrupted made Bahri think he was talking to him. "No, I thought I heard something. Don't hang up." The man motioned to Bahri severely, but the alien had no idea what he wanted.

Michelangelo appeared to interpret the signal better, though the way he threw open the car door with startling force made Bahri cringe. When Matthew hurled himself against the opposite side of the car, what they were doing clicked. It is the sound of a struggle. I am not actually good for anything.

Matthew nudged him insistently, while crying out far enough from his earpiece to make it sound like he was further away. He held out the device, which Bahri accepted with shaking fingers.

El, if You even bother to listen, I know You do not condone lying. But surely there can be an exception for such a case as this. If You could help me for them, and not myself...I would be grateful.

With a final deep breath, he snapped the earpiece on, and recalled the script. "I sincerely hope you are listening, Doctor Ribiero, because your time is almost up. You were told you would have to prove your worthiness once more, and I'm on the way to test you myself. There are many reasons I shouldn't bother with you at all, but you have managed to leave a little valuable insight along the way."

Bahri paused for effect, and flattened his tone dangerously. "You'd better be prepared for my arrival, because I won't tolerate any more betrayal from you or your kind. We provided you tools out of our own good will, with the hope of securing a friendship for the ages. But don't think we won't deal with you as severely as you deserve.

"Time is running out, woman. For your sake, I hope you're ready. We won't accept any more excuses on your part. You have cost us valuable opportunities, but perhaps...we may yet have some things to do together."

There was more to the "script", but the door swinging back open caused Bahri to hesitate. A giant thumbs up from Michelangelo made him almost sigh in relief over the phone. Instead, the elohim quickly hung up.

"I hope that Donatello has what he needed."

The orange-masked terrapin grinned. "We've got another field trip to take."