***Secret Hideout Somewhere, February 13th, 1976, 2:14 A.M.***

"Was it really necessary to call me here this early, Master?" William said, groggily wiping his eyes.

"Of course… Mister Vaughn, I've come into knowledge of another artifact. And it can be yours." All this time, a black leather chair was overlooking a view of a lake. William knew that his master was in that chair, but he'd been told never to look him directly in the face. As the chair started to swivel, William bowed his head down. He heard the sound of leather sliding across his master's wooden desk. The desk swiveled back around, and Will saw the black portfolio on the desk.

"Impossible…" William said, reading the portfolio. "No way could Rambaldi have made a telescope like that. Galileo would have killed to get this."

"Funny you should mention that, Mr. Vaughn…"

Will was curious, but he read the portfolio just a little bit more. "In India? I mean honestly, how does Rambaldi get his stuff that far across the world? He's Italian!"

"Mr. Vaughn, you really should get going. You don't quite have the time to get there." Will read a little bit deeper, and saw that the telescope would be traded that afternoon.

"I'm off, don't worry."

***Memphis, Tennessee, February 13th, 1976, 7:37 A.M.***

"Mr. O'Quinn!" Will sighed into the phone

"William, where the hell are you? You were due for a brief at six this morning!"

"I know sir, but I've got some crucial intelligence for you."

"Why should I believe you again?"

"Mr. O'Quinn, I recognize that I'm not exactly the most reliable agent you have, but hear me out."

In L.A., O'Quinn looked at his watch.

"You've got two minutes, I, unlike some people, have somewhere to be."

"In addition to learning something more about Rambaldi, I've learned of a trade between two Russians. They just so happen to be on the Top 10 Wanted list."

"You're proposing a hit?"

"Of course."

"So what's being traded this time?"

"That's irrelevant."

William stood in anticipation at the pay phone booth he was in. He could almost hear O'Quinn thinking it over in his head.

"Who are the two Russians?" O'Quinn inquired.

"Alexei Molonkov, and…"

"Hurry up, Agent Vaughn. I have a meeting, remember?"

He quickly breathed out a mumble of syllables, but O'Quinn heard it.

"Derevko's alive?!? How?"

"I'm not quite sure, but I managed to steal some video footage from Alexander Khasinou. She's still alive."

"Vaughn, don't let this kind of thing get out, ok? Bristow's still in deep psychiatric treatment. And since 'Laura's' death, Sloane's been acting rather strange."

"Really? Imagine that." Vaughn thought to himself.

"Do you have the tools to maim these two?"

"I don't go anywhere without my tranquilizer pistol, Director," Vaughn said, lightly feeling his shoulder holster.

"Feel free to proceed. I presume you're in place already?"

Will bit his lip, then said "I guess you could say that…"

"Good. I expect this artifact, and two new prisoners tomorrow"

"No problem, Terry," Will said with a chuckle.

"That's Director!"

With a click, William turned out of the booth. In the relentless traffic, William saw one set of eyes staring at him. Underneath a sombrero and a poncho, a mysterious pair of eyes glared at him. He knew instantly who it was, and wasn't surprised when the figure flew up into the air and out of sight. What was even less surprising is that nobody saw it.

"I'll beat you this time, Rambaldi…"

And he hopped on his motorcycle…

***Los Angeles, California, February 13th, 1976, 7:40 A.M.***

O'Quinn hung up the phone.

"Did you get that trace, Ms. Flinkman?"

With a few spastic stutters that captured the hearts of millions in another universe, she said, "Yes. He's in Memphis."

TBC….