"Well, isn't this an unpleasant surprise," Destro ground out as he sat in the small room, his hands still cuffed together. She nodded to the guard standing behind him, and he unlocked the cuffs, closing the door firmly behind him. She could see him standing guard outside the small window cut into the door.

Destro rubbed his wrists, his gaze flickering to the two men standing behind her. Wait, not two men but….he began to chuckle.

"I see you have been tapped, then," he told her, amused.

Allie stared at the man who had, at one time in her life, been her favorite uncle. Now she barely recognized the man…and she didn't blame it on the mask.

"Uncle," she began in Gaelic, hoping to soften his attitude and have him speak frankly with her about the issue. She nodded at Grunt and Stealth who, by silent agreement, left the room. "We can speak more freely now."

"Oh yes," he replied sarcastically, "because they won't be monitoring our conversation in the warden's office."

She waved a hand and gave him a tight smile. "Well, now they won't."

"Impressive," he said, stroking his metal chin. "I see you have picked up several…talents….since we last saw one another." He paused. "When did you begin?"

"About the time GI Joe was disbanded."

"That would make sense," he said thoughtfully, his attitude beginning to soften. Even on opposite sides, she had always been one of his favorites. "Your time is just about up then, isn't it?"

"Yes," she replied. Leaning forward, she warned him, "We don't have much time. I need to know a few things, and I figured you'd be my best source."

"Well, now that you've gotten rid of your bodyguards, ask away, niece," he told her, sitting back, looking relaxed with his arms crossed.

"When you went on your…journey, what…changed you? How were you able to control your… impulses?"

He snorted. "Interesting you should ask me that. You know as well as I do that the journey changed me from what I was." He studied her closely. "You feel it has changed you as well, then?"

He's your uncle, above all else, she reminded herself in the silence as he awaited her answer. He, out of everyone, should understand what you're going through.

Destro nodded, as if she had spoken. "I see," he said thoughtfully. "You've developed a taste for it, and now feel guilty."

She looked stunned. "How did you know?"

He gave a bitter chuckle. "My dear, you are not the first it's happened to, nor will you be the last. When you travel in the company of nonhumans….demons, in your case…..you tend to pick up on their habits. Is it the hunt or the kill, then?"

"Both," she whispered, ashamed.

He shrugged. "Nothing to be overly concerned about. Like any bad habit, once you're away from it for awhile, it'll stop. Oh, yes, you might hunger for it for awhile, like any addiction, but it'll fade with time. I'm sure your friends helped influence you as well."

At her surprised look, he chuckled again. "You don't think they influenced you? Even now, they're probably planning on you volunteering again, aren't they?"

He got up and began to pace. "Let me guess. They isolated you from your friends, I'm sure you and Flint are over and done with, and it's been one big party since?"

"Yes and no," she replied defensively, his words ringing true. "They were bound…"

"Yes, let's not go there," Destro replied dryly with a wave. "That doesn't mean they don't show their true nature. Who do you think corrupted me?"

"I thought…"

"That I got paid off by one of the victims? No, that would be my partner who informed me she was pregnant when I refused to sign on again. Not possible, I thought, but there you go." He waved a dismissive hand.

There was a knock on the door to signal their time was almost up. Allie mirrored her uncle's frown.

She turned to him, saying quickly, "So, what should I do? I'm afraid if I don't…."

"They can't touch you. That's the one thing they are bound by, unless you give them permission," he reminded her. "They cannot touch the family, either, or another one you are bound to."

He paused, glancing back at the door. "Do me a favor…" he began, then paused.

"Yes?" she asked, not sure what he would ask for.

"Find a way to get me out of here. I know I have to serve my time," he stated sarcastically, "but at least out of this hell hole and into someplace where I can actually see out of a window onto a nice countryside."

She gave him a smile. "I'll see what I can do," and realized she meant it. He had helped her out more than he would know, and she thought she could see about using some familial influence about the matter.

"Thank you," he replied gratefully as the door opened and he was cuffed and led away.