The chain of thoughts is interrupted when Amy ominously hears the sound of a hammer being pulled back on a gun close to her. Amy turns around quickly; her right hand instinctively reaches for her gun resting in the holster. Amy's eyes dart open as she meets the gaze of the person holding a gun to her face from across the room.

"Janet?"

"Amy?" The petite blonde DEBS agent and ex-teammate stares at her with astonished eyes. "Oh my God, Amy! Is that you?" Janet begins to lower her gun, but as the situation sinks in, she catches herself and raises it back up.

"Janet, please." Amy pleads with her. A part of her mind is increasingly distraught as she realizes the plan to rescue Lucy is quickly faltering, finding herself between a computer she can't hack into and an agent with a gun to her head.

"What are you doing here, Amy? And why did you steal all that money since you left? I've never known you to be so greedy." Janet babbles on, seemingly confused as to whether this was a reunion between friends or an interrogation at a suspect.

Ignoring the second part of the question, Amy answers, "They've got Lucy locked up here, Janet. I have to get her out."

Janet's face twisted as it always did when perplexed. "What? ...Lucy's dead, Amy." She suddenly feels regretful that she has to remind her friend of this sad fact.

"No, Janet. She's here." Amy said with sureness in her voice. "They locked her up here in secret and lied to us all about it."

Amy then proceeds to summarize to an incredulous-looking Janet about what she knows of this place, and what Bobby did to get her inside. She knew there would be a risk in telling her, but at this juncture, there was really no other choice.

Janet now looked even more confused, if it were possible. She didn't know what to say. She's either being let in on a major government conspiracy or her friend has lost more than a few marbles since her departure. It was like her veins have frozen shut. Janet stood there stunned, confused as to what to do next.

Janet never really cared for Lucy in particular. For a while, she was resentful of her, feeling that she was taking advantage of a vulnerable Amy, who had broken up a relationship only a few hours prior. But later she saw, quite undeniably, how miserable Amy became after she was apart from her; how it broke Amy's heart to deliver a speech condemning her; how happy Amy looked when she finally told the world she wanted nothing else but to be with her; and how it completely shattered her spirit when Amy was told she was dead.

Amy tries to steady her voice as she tries to reason with her old friend. "Janet, I need your help. I need to get into the computer to disable the field around her cell. I know you can help me. ...Please." Amy slowly raises her hand to her ear, removes the transmitter, and offers it to Janet. "Scud has an idea, talk to him."

It seems now the pressure on Janet was doubled with that last statement. She would not only be assisting a wanted criminal to break into a government computer, but also equally as alarming was the prospect of speaking with the man she lost; the quirky man who at one point she felt like she was falling in love with.

Janet looks at the blank computer screens with only a small message displayed on each one. Whoever it was they are holding, it's clear that their security protocols also include hiding the identity of the person in the event of a lockdown. This entire mission to protect the facility seemed fishy right from the beginning, especially since they seemed to have been told so little about the place. Amy's explanation might not be completely plausible, but it makes far more sense than what any of her superiors had told her.

Janet lowered her gun, stepped forward, and reached for the transmitter. She wrapped it around her ear, and with tremendous apprehension, she spoke. "Hello?"

"...Janet?" Scud replied after a pause. They both seemed unable to utter another word for the next few moments, but then Scud finally breaks the silence.

"Janet, I'm sorry I broke off contact like that. I was distraught, depressed... I couldn't cope..." Scud fumbled in his words. Never in his wildest dreams did he think he'd be making this speech today.

"Never mind that now, Scud." Janet spoke seriously without the usual wide variances in vocal tone she usually speaks with. "How do I get in?"

Amy smiled in relief as Janet seems to be comprehending Scud's instructions and translating them into commands into the computer. It really was a lot ask of her, probably too much. If anybody found out, not only would her career be in serious jeopardy, but she could also be tried for aiding a criminal act. As well, Amy briefly notices by looking at her collar, that she still hasn't received her stripes. If she is caught, she will probably never get them. This just goes to show how good a friend she has here, and also makes Amy more than a bit regretful that she abandoned the team so abruptly.

"I'm in." Janet speaks without any of the usual excitement she usually has when she's successful in a computer hack.

Amy quickly turns towards the screen, but only sees a screen full of numbers and codes.

"The system is still in lockdown. I was able to start a maintenance cycle to initialize shutdown of the field and the motion sensors, but the cameras are still out." Janet says somberly. "But the system is pre-set to a 10-minute delay before field shutdown, and it will only be off for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. That's your only window of opportunity to get her out."

Amy looks at her watch and sets the timer for 12 minutes. "Thank you, so very much Janet." Amy looks at her friend with gratefulness she hasn't expressed in ages.

"Don't mention it." Janet replies softly. Then a small smirk of playfulness returns to her face. "Really Amy. DON'T mention it."

"I won't. I promise." Amy smiles. She straightens the straps on her shoulders that's holding up her backpack, turns, and heads for the door.

"Amy! I... I didn't come here alone."

"...I figured as much. How are Dom and Max these days?"

"Dom will always be Dom. Max... well, It hasn't been easy. And she's rejected every new recruit they try to bring to us."

Amy opened her mouth to speak but couldn't really find the words to say anything of value. But Janet continued, "Don't forget this." Janet points to the transmitter in her ear.

Just as Janet was about to remove the device, Scud chimes in. "Janet... It was really nice to talk to you again. I've missed you."

Janet hesitates with her hands on the device, before finally responding, "Good talking with you too Scud." Then quickly pulled it off her ear and tossed it to Amy, who grabbed it with a knowing smile and positioned it back on her ear.

- to be continued -