"What the fuck are you doing with my sister?" That was probably an overreaction from Max. But after the stress they had gone through, finding James and Pj in bed together was the last straw. While their team had stretched themselves thin, trying in vain to find them before their enemies could, they were acting as though it was some kind of vacation. There was no other explanation as to why, despite her brainwashing or whatever, the two were making out in bed. Max was going to wring James' neck for playing into Pj's conditioning. Hadn't they been through enough shit. Why did he have to go and make it worse.
Once the teams split, the younger agents headed straight for Ben. Felicity wasn't able to catch a trace of the stupid pair. They had to get into their heads, and what they could've possibly been thinking. Yet that was so drastically unclear. The Triad was the best place they could think to start. It was the strongest connection from Pj's first rogue stint. She was probably seeking more information to run off into the dangerously unknown. However, Ben had no idea what was occurring. They had kept it vague, not wanting to cause a panic at the fact that things were going so wrong so fast. Yet it didn't matter. They were still grasping at straws, "Sorry guys, I haven't heard anything since the rescue. Is everything alright?"
Maybe the young agents should've kept the Triad informed. The enemy of the enemy was their friend, right. Besides, they had been a great help regarding information and operations. It would be smart to have as many sources as possible locate Pj and James. But the agents didn't say a word. They assured that as long as Ben continued messing with the Shop his own way, it would be alright. At least, that was what they hoped. The whole situation was causing them to lose focus and patience for the future. Kara was already starting to crack under the pressure, "If they didn't go to Ben, then where the hell are they?"
"Who knows what the fuck they were thinking," Oliver was overwhelmed with the same frustrations as his sister. The team had asked that question thousands of times in regards to the rogues. However, the answer hadn't become any clearer as time went on. In fact, it became more muddled and insane. They couldn't follow any normal trains of thought. It wasn't as though their war had ever been normal; there were simply patterns and procedures they could pick up on and follow. But with one of their own acting insane and the other encouraging it, well that only made trying to find James and Pj in the city so much more difficult. If they just had a starting point, then maybe they could trace any breadcrumbs left behind.
"They wouldn't… they wouldn't return to the Shop facility would they?" Locating the breadcrumbs, however, was just speculation. Felicity wasn't certain if her anxiety filled guess was correct or not. She hoped it wasn't true. No good could come from that. After all, when Pj had returned to the fighting ring, she was kidnapped by Amanda. Roaming around a Shop facility, deserted or not, was a terrible idea- especially with her current state of mind. Even if James was watching her back, trouble was bound to ensue.
"I can't stand those two," Sighing, Max led the way. The young agents had no clue what they were walking into. Their entire journey to the building was spent raising their guards and planning for any worst case scenario. Hands clutched weapons, and eyes scanned the area. They kept as close together as possible, not daring to split for any reason. Yet, as they approached the facility, all that anxiety appeared to have been for nothing. The place really was abandoned and left to rot among the other deserted buildings in the city. Even the camera's had been disconnected. It was like a ghost town.
In the team's defense, they hadn't been on the rescue mission; they didn't know what else to suspect. Kara, Oliver, and Max had left to gather intel, and Felicity had remained behind her computer. None of them had experienced hell first hand. However, walking through the debris sent chills up their spine. The young agents had faced the fear of loss before- they faced it too often for people their age. Witnessing tangible evidence of the torture Amanda could put one through was worse than that, though. They weren't losing somebody to a weapon, but to their own mind as they purposefully pulled themselves away from the people who loved them. Kara couldn't help but grab Max's hand and shiver, "This has to be hell."
"I just want to know what happened," With a squeeze to her hand, he managed a whisper. Was that too much to ask for- to know just what the hell was going on. And not only concerning Pj. But also Owen/Sam and the BND officer and the doubles. Shouldn't they have known enough about the war by then. It had been decades upon decades of pain and torment, and what did they have to show for it. The whole team was just wandering around in the dark, making pitiful stabs at a criminal organization that might've been too much for them to handle. They kept being pulled apart at the seams, after all. Wasn't that proof enough that they were downing.
"There's no trace of them anywhere," Oliver huffed, kicking at an empty box. There was a chance the rogues had been there. Yet that was just it, only a chance. Maybe Pj's memory resurfaced after seeing where she had been held, or maybe James got her to settle and go somewhere else. The hope that they could find their sibling and friend was beginning to run so dangerously low. It had always been a stretch- everything they had been doing lately seemed to be. Things used to make sense; there used to be a reason for all of that. However, then it felt as though all they were doing was chasing their tails.
Ryan was probably right about Pj only being the distraction. Hell, it was possible Sam was too. Amanda discovered the kids were involved in the crusade as well, and decided to divide and conquer. It wasn't a secret that the best way to take out the team was to destroy their loved ones. As they ran around trying to protect one another, the Shop got to do whatever it wanted. They had to get their shit together before they could make any new moves. If the team couldn't stay as one, then how could they keep the world from falling to pieces. While the young agents finally exited the building, Felicity made one last effort at being positive. Sure, they could drown in the negatives all they wanted. But at least one attempt at positivity might've seen them through, "Could they be smart and be doing research?"
"We've got nothing else to go on," A shrug from Oliver had the team taking off once more. They focused on libraries in the area with access to computers and public Wi-Fi. Although the young agents had to canvas on foot to find Pj and James, the concrete action felt good. They were doing something productive. Libraries were closing for the night, though, so they had to be quick. Their cover story was that they were finding their friends to meet up and study, but there had been a miscommunication. Either their age or their ability to lie made their rushed explanation plausible. But it didn't matter, they were making progress.
"Please tell me you've seen two college kids roaming around here," Well, some progress. Kara nearly begged the latest librarian for any sign of James and Pj. After that attempt, the libraries would be closed and the trail would go cold again. They didn't think they could take it if it did. The fluctuation of hope, despair, frustration, and fear was eating away at them. It was almost enough to make them give up. It took them three months to find Pj previously. She had been in a sound mind at that time, sure. Yet then she had a partner that would follow her to the ends of the Earth. The rogues were going to continue to roam free, and the war would never end.
"One looks like a rogue boyscout, and the other looks like some kind of rocker chick. They're probably being too PDA for comfort," And that, combined with the librarian's expression at Kara's obvious question, made Oliver snap. The description of his brother and friend wasn't helpful at all, but no one contradicted it. Feeling too overwhelmed and worn out, all determination, stubbornness, and focus left them. Again, they were probably playing into Amanda's hands. Except, what else were they supposed to feel after so much.
"I think I know who you're talking about. They were over in the corner. But they left a while ago," The librarian eventually nodded, somehow understanding Oliver. She pointed in some vague direction she thought she saw James and Pj go. However, that was enough to excite the young agents. They shouted their thanks and followed the slim yet tangible lead. They had to stumble a few blocks until they found a row of hotels. No doubt, at the late hour and the two's rogue status, that was exactly where they were. Another whiplash of hope surged through the kids. Those tidal waves of emotions had to be put in check. But it had to be later, when they could finally breathe.
"Of course they went to a hotel. Okay. Start with cheap and easy to steal," Max comfortably commanded. Since the young agents had managed to understand the rogues' train of thought, things didn't seem to be too much. They didn't have to be dragged down by guilt or anger; they had worked together and done something great. Keeping that momentum going just might end the war. Everyone had to be together. They had to talk, and think, and feel as the family that they were. That was all easier said than done. But if they just discussed things without being too stubborn or angry, they could do it. They could keep that surge of hope.
"Look. Missing keys but empty log book," At one of the cheaper motels, while Oliver and Felicity distracted the manager, Kara found a solid lead on James and Pj. Every missing room key was accounted for, except for one. That had to be where the rogues' room. Not even bothering with an excuse, the young agents moved to break into their space. They weren't going to listen to their doubts that it might not have been them; they were done with negativity. What good had that ever done them. Hell, they probably wouldn't have even been in that mess had they not thought the worst of what happened to Pj.
Shaking that guilt away, Max picked the lock of the room. Honestly, he didn't know what he expected when he opened the door. Yet, never in a million years did he think he'd catch James making the moves on his brainwashed sister. Chances were, Pj started it. Yet James didn't stop her from kissing him. He kissed her in return, pulling her with him as he settled against the pillows. Kara, Oliver, and Felicity stood behind Max in shock. They knew they had to say something. Except all they could do was stare. Until, the protective older brother shouted, "What the fuck are you doing with my sister?"