A/N: this chapter turned so long I had to split it in two. This is the first half; I'll post the second one next weekend.
(Yes, I know this update was much faster than usual. I think it speaks volumes on how I was looking forward to get to this part.)

Thanks a lot to Keyanna for proofreading. There were a lot of mistakes in this one, so thanks a lot for your patience!

"Nothing."

The word that leaves Blackquill sounds more like a snarl than proper human speech, and he has to hold back from throwing his cellphone across the door... or directly into Justice's conveniently vast forehead. The goon was telling the truth: there must be some kind of signal jammer in the room, making it impossible for them to contact anyone. They're trapped in, they can't call for help, and Athena is being held hostage. The situation couldn't possibly get worse... and Blackquill turns on the only person within his grasp he can hold responsible for this.

"What on Earth were you doing here? I told both of you to steer clear!"

The outburst causes Justice to wince and step back. He brings up his hands as though to shield himself. "I- We thought we could-!"

"Poppycock! You spared no time at all to think! You put yourselves in danger for no reason – you put Athena in danger for no reason! Wasn't one lost friend enough for you, Justice?"

Blackquill knows he's crossed the line the moment those words leave him. Justice's fear seems to vanish, only to be replaced by fury. "We were looking for the Phantom and we wanted to help you out. Athena was worried about you, and now that she's been taken all you can do is playing the blame game? Seriously?"

He is right, Blackquill knows. Letting anger rule him will get them precisely nowhere. He draws in a deep breath and nods. "... Very well. Fair enough. My apologies."

"And it's not like- wait, what?" Justice stammers, taken aback. His anger seems to vanish all at once. "Did you just apologize?"

"Hmph. Are your amazing perceiving capabilities balanced by a defective hearing?" Blackquill snorts, and looks around. They've been locked in what looks like a small library, with no windows, a few sturdy tables and armchairs and book-filled shelves on all walls. "The signal jammer must be in here somewhere. If we can find it and break it, when we might be able to call Agent Lang and request immediate help."

Justice nods. "Good point. So I suppose we'll have to make it cease its jammering," he says in a rather lousy imitation of Blackquill's own voice. The grin on his face fades before Blackquill's unamused look. "... You'd find that funny if Athena said it."

"... Refrain from further embarrassing yourself and help me find that infernal device."

A sigh. "Okay."

As he locks the door behind himself and puts the key card in his breast pocket, Harrison Fire looks perfectly calm. And the Phantom truly is calm, or at least he's willing himself to be. He has to.

Mind over matter. I am no one. Nothing but an endless abyss.

Of the three security guards, two are now guarding the door and one more moved to the bottom of the stairs. It's so that he can send away anyone who tries to approach before they can get close enough to hear either Blackquill or Justice calling out through the door of the room they're locked into, sure enough. Still, it doesn't seem to be necessary: when Harrison Fire stops before the door, he can hear nothing coming from inside. It's hardly a surprise, since they know that screaming now would put Athena in danger... or at least, so they think. For their own sake, they had better keep thinking so for a while.

"Is everything alright?" he asks, pausing before the security guards.

"Yeah. They know they gotta behave now," on of them mutters, carefully touching a bruise on his cheekbone. "That son of a bitch could fight, damn him."

"What about the girl?" the other one – the one from whose hand he yanked the gun – asks.

"She's currently unconscious, bound and locked away. Don't concern yourselves about her."

"Alright. Look, uh... we could have handled the guy. Really. We're pros. But we didn't expect those other two – Outis only warned us about Mr. Black and White."

"I understand. Do not worry, I'll personally tell Outis what happened. Make sure they stay locked in," he adds before walking past them and back to the upper deck, to the casino. He doesn't want to be absent when the auction resumes, as his absence would certainly be noticed.

As he goes upstairs he doesn't hear, cannot hear, the security guards speaking amongst themselves.

"Didn't he say he'll tell him anyway?"

"Look, I don't care. Outis told us to let him know if we got the guy, so I'm gonna send him that message anyway. He's not the kind of guy I'd like to make angry. Worst that could happen is that he hears about it twice. No harm done, right?"

"Yeah. True enough."

Blackquill and someone else came along. Locked them up. Mr. Fire got hostage so they won't act up.

Outis raises an eyebrow, rather surprised by the second part of the message. So Blackquill was not alone? Now that's unexpected, he has to admit, though not as much as knowing the Phantom had a hand in locking him up. It probably was for Blackquill's own safety, he muses... but what's this about a hostage? Who may it be? When may he have taken them?

For a moment Outis is tempted to go and find out, but a quick glance at his watch is enough for him to decide against it. The auction is about to start, and he cannot be absent. Not from the very start, at least... but let them see him there before he leaves, taking with him the one thing that keeps them protected from the Interpol – the signal jammer.

The auction is just about to start again when Outis walks back in the casino. He politely nods at a few people – Harrison Fire included, of course – and smiles at the CEO before he picks up the pen-jammer he left there and leans once again against the wall. As the auction starts, with YggdraCorp's experts answering all lingering question from the potential buyers, no one is looking at him anymore. Not even Harrison, because he can't possibly turn to look at him without his movement being obvious... and last thing he'd want is being caught turning to look at him, Outis is sure. Harrison Fire wouldn't, and so neither will he. He'll act like nothing is wrong until he's forced to break character by circumstances, precisely as he was trained to do.

He was always such a good pupil. The very best.

Outis allows himself one last look at Harrison Fire's back before he silently opens the door to leave, the signal jammer with him. He's certain it won't take the Interpol much to hear something that would allow them to intervene, but he trusts that by then he'll already be away from there along with Blackquill. Tricking him won't be too difficult: he used a different voice when calling him, and the prosecutor never saw his face.

He cannot imagine how wrong he is.

"Where is he?"

Even as he growls the question, pacing back and forth, Lang knows none of his men has the answer. It's been too long, he thinks, and Blackquill has not yet called. He dares not call him, for it could lead him to be discovered for all he knows, and he's starting to regret allowing that fool to go there by himself.

If the worst happens, regret nothing. I never gave you a choice.

Blackquill, you bastard...!

"Shifu! We have a transmission!"

Lang's head turns to quickly that he can almost hear a crack coming from his neck, but it pays it no mind. The next moment is at the console, putting on the second set of headphones. Sure enough, now he can hear everything – voices, a few chuckles... and one voice especially, louder than the others.

He glances to his left to make sure the technician is recording everything – he is – and turns his full attention to what he's hearing. He has no idea what caused the interference to disappear, but he's not going to complain: now he can only hope that they'll soon say something that will give them a good reason to intervene... so that he can arrest them all, and find out where in the world Blackquill is.

He won't be disappointed.

"Athena. So that's what they called the woman?"

"Yes. No idea who the other kid is, though."

Outis smiles. "Not to worry, boys. I think I can guess who it is, although it's not someone especially involved. It really is true that you find attorneys everywhere these days. And Mr. Fire said he brought this Athena to his cabin, right?"

A nod. "Yeah. Mr. Fire said she's bound and unconscious. He took her hostage, to make those two behave. I'd say it worked. "

Of course it did, Outis thought, because at this point the Phantom must know that Blackquill is in danger. He must have figured that, at the moment, keeping him locked up was the only way to keep him safe until he had the time to think of some other plan. Too bad he won't give him any time to do so. Justice's presence is a bit unexpected, but disposing of him won't be a problem. Once he's disposed of these two, of course.

"I see. Thank you, boys. You did an outstanding job. I'm sorry this has to happen."

"Wha-?" one of them starts, but he has no time to add anything else. The stun gun hits him straight in the chest, and the electric charge it releases is enough to make him crumple with barely a noise. The other one does let out a noise, one that could turn into a cry if given enough time – but Outis gives no time to cry out, no time to pull out the gun. One moment, one electric charge, and he falls heavily against the door as well.

Just like that, they're both out cold – and now there is nothing but a door between Outis and his prey.

"Hey, did you hear that?"

Blackquill – who has paused with his search, the handful of books he had taken off a shelf still in his arms – nods. He heard it too, all right: a thud against the wooden door that's keeping them trapped in there. And now there is another sound, that of a door being unlocked. Blackquill immediately drops the books and takes a step back as the door opens. The guards are on the floor, unconscious, but all Blackquill can stare at is the man standing in the doorway. A tall, lanky man with black hair whose face he has already seen.

You must look out for this man. He goes by the name of Ulysses Outis, and he has shown an uncanny interest in you... While I don't know who he precisely is yet, I can tell he's dangerous.

Unaware of his thoughts, the man smiles. "Prosecutor Blackquill. I'm sorry it took me so long to get to you."

As Justice stays silent at his side – he recognized him as well, he must have, for he has shown him the picture – Blackquill narrows his eyes. "Who might you be? You know me, but I don't know you."

The man gives him an easy smile. "I'm here on the Interpol's behalf, to your rescue," he says, gesturing to the still bodies of the men who were guarding the door. "Agent Lang will explain you everything, but now we have to move. We don't have much time before someone notices I've sneaked in here. Shall we go?"

If it wasn't for the Phantom's message, Blackquill may have decided to follow him. He wouldn't have trusted him much, of course, but the fact he subdued the security guards to let him and Justice out would have seemed enough of a reason to follow him for time being; better than simply staying there.

He's a spy as well; YggdraCorp hired him to find me.

Even if the Phantom lied, Blackquill knows for a fact that Lang never knew this man, either. He can't be here on the Interpol's behalf as he claims. "... I see," he finally says.

"We need to find Athena," Justice speaks up, his gaze moving from Blackquill to Outis. Even though he knows this man is not to be trusted, it's obvious Athena's well-being is his very first concern. Blackquill can understand that; finding her is what he wants the most right now. Hopefully, once subdued Outis may tell them where she is... whether he wants to or not. "She can't be far! They must have locked her somewhere!"

Outis smiles. "Don't you worry. Miss Cykes is safe and sound, and already in the Interpol's care. She's worried sick about you. Please, do follow me."

While his blood boils at the bold-faced lie, Blackquill manages to keep calm. "Very well. Do lead the way."

And he does turn to walk out, sure enough, because he thinks they'll follow; he doesn't know that they know, and thus he has no reason to believe otherwise. Not that it will last.

He moves quickly, before Outis has the time to take another step. The man doesn't even gasp when Blackquill reaches to latch an arm around his neck, his other hand grabbing Outis' left wrist to twist his hand behind his back. He hisses when his hand his pinned between his shoulder blades, but that's it. "Enough with the masquerade, Outis," Blackquill hisses. After a moment of silence, Outis lets out a laugh.

"Hah! You got me, Prosecutor. You're just as bright as they say. Do tell, what gave me away? How did you learn my name?"

"Tch. That's hardly important. What matters is what you're going to tell me now," Blackquill says darkly, twisting his arm a little harder behind his back. "Where is she?"

Outis ignores his question. "Say, was it good old Robb who told you?" he asks, and Blackquill's moment of hesitation is apparently all he needs to understand. "Ah, so it was him. Did he try to warn you? He couldn't save his friend, so now he hopes he can save you? How pitiful. Looks like he has yet to realize he's done playing the role of that foolish detective quite a while ba-"

"Silence!" Blackquill snaps, twisting his arm even harder. A little more strength and he may just twist it out of its socket, but – again – a soft hiss is all the reaction Outis gives.

"Answer us!" Justice snaps, his hands balled into tight fists. "Where is she? Where is Athena?"

"Heh. How would I know? You should ask your phantom. He's the one who took her."

That causes Justice to recoil. "The Phantom...?"

"Yes. Or Harrison Fire, as you prefer. Shame you couldn't tell it was him; he'd be in your clutches now. But not to worry – you'll face him again soon, I promise you."

"What are you-?" Blackquill starts, but he has no time to say more. The next instant two different noises reach his ears: Justice's warning cry and the sound of a blade springing out of a handle. And then there is the sudden pain in his thigh, and next thing he knows is that Outis is free from his grasp. He tries to regain his balance despite the pain in his leg, but Outis is faster: he dodges Justice's attempt at restraining him himself and turns to Blackquill with something in his hand, something that crackles with electricity.

Jolts of Justice, he thinks confusedly one moment before the object is shoved against his chest. The jolt is so powerful it throws him on the ground, his vision darkening before he even hits it. For a moment he's still aware of a struggle going on, he hears Justice's cry; then nothingness claims him, and he hears nothing more.

"Very well, men, we've heard enough!"

Lang's sudden bark caused most of his men to recoil, but it lasts only a moment; the next instant they're all stranding, ready to move. Lang smirks and pulls out his own gun. "Lang Zi says: let your enemies give you the rope to hang them. These bastards have enough for us to hang them from the moon. Everyone with me – time for a roundup. Let none escape least you wish me to chew you up and spit you back out," he barks.

He's rarely been more satisfied to order a roundup: now that he has a clear enough idea of what it is these people have created and experimented on humans, he feels far more disgusted than he believed was possible.

He's going to quite enjoy throwing each and every of them in jail.

As much as he doesn't mind unexpected circumstances – as far as he's concerned, it's all good exercise; even a child can stick to a plan if everything goes as it should – Outis has to admit that this is quite a troublesome surprise. He had planned to take Blackquill somewhere more secluded before he subdued him, but circumstances forced him to knock him out in the worst possible place.

Had he had more time, he could have dragged him away... but time's up. By fighting him, Blackquill has made him waste a crucial amount of time. Now the Interpol is coming: he can hear them coming up the stairs and the security guard uselessly yelling that there's a private event going on. There is no way for him to drag Blackquill's unconscious body away from there without being caught; he's right halfway between the stairs and the hallway leading up to the casino they're heading to. It seems he can no longer use Blackquill as a hostage, after all.

Pity, he thinks... but, then again, the Phantom has graciously provided him with an alternative. A very good one.

After one last look at Blackquill and Justice's unconscious forms, Outis turns to run to the hallway on the other side of the stairs. Since the Interpol will be heading for the casino, he'll have all the time he needs to retrieve the guest in Harrison Fire's cabin and take her just where he needs his bait to be.

Good thing he thought of getting himself a universal key for every door in the ship before boarding.

"We've reached five-hundred millions! Now, who- oh, raised hand over there!"

The Phantom isn't paying much attention to the auction as it progresses. There isn't more information he could gain aside from knowing who's going to get the formula, and that's something he'll know at the very end; no need to listen to all offers. Besides, he has far more important things to think of. Namely, how to keep Blackquill from falling in Outis' hands.

As much as he itches to turn and see where Outis is, if he's still in the room, he knows he cannot. He's supposed to be entirely focused on the auction, and someone might wonder if he began looking around. Besides, if he turns and Outis isn't there, what is there he could do? He can't get up and leave without raising suspicion.

In the brief conversation they managed to have in the restroom before he had to return to the casino, the Yatagarasu had offered to go 'save his ex's butt', as she put it, while the auction went on. Tempting as the offer was, he had decided against it: an attempt at escaping could result in Blackquill being shot, after all. At the moment he is safer in there... or so he hopes. Perhaps, as soon as the auction is over with, they both might-

There is a sudden bang, the room's door suddenly thrown open. The Phantom turns to see several men running in, all of them holding up guns. He can recognize Agent Lang among them, his lips pulled back as though he's snarling. "Freeze! You're all under arrest!"

Obviously enough, no one freezes: the next moment it's pure chaos, everyone getting up and several people reaching for their own guns. Before anyone can shoot there is a clang, the grate that covered the air duct falling on the floor and narrowly missing a buyer.

"Earring!" he hears a well-known voice shouting before something is thrown below through the hole. The Phantom realizes what it is just on time and shuts his eyes, shielding them with one arm for good measure. The resulting flash is so bright he'd swear he can almost see it even though his eyelids, and then there are several cries at once. When the Phantom opens his eyes everyone in the room is either holding their hands on their eyes or trying and failing to keep them open.

He's the only one who can see right now, and that's his chance to get away... but the door is out of question, for he can hear more people coming. To get out of there, his only way to go is up – and the Yatagarasu seems to have come to the same conclusion.

"Move it!" she yells again, and the Phantom wastes no time: he runs right beneath the opening, shoving several people aside, and lifts his left arm. The grappling hook shoots out of his watch, and within an instant he's brought up, his hands grasping the edge of the opening.

The Yatagarasu reaches up grab him under the shoulders and pulls him inside the duct; while it's something he could have done by himself, this is quicker and he's not up to complain.

"Hah! This was fun, wasn't it? Pity I don't get to say hi to Lang," she says with a wide grin.

The Phantom ignores the remark. "We need to get on another deck," he says, tearing Harrison Fire's face off to show another mask beneath – that of a rather unremarkable man in his late fifties. The Yatagarasu does the same; her own mask is that of a woman with brown hair and rather droopy eyes. Neither face is designed to catch the eye.

"Sure. I know the way. Let's get going before those guy start seeing again."

While he's observed the ship's outline well enough to have a general idea of it, the Yatagarasu is the one who took more time to study it. He follows, faintly wondering at what point in their cooperation it has started to feel natural to him – simply entrusting his life to her judgment and skills. She has done the same with him as well, though, and it has worked so far; there is no reason to think it won't work this time.

"So, I guess Blackquill and the kids must be safe now? With Interpol stepping in and all," she says quietly as they keep moving through the air ducts. "They have probably found them. They were right on the way, after all."

"That's what I hope," the Phantom replied, as though he doesn't feel quite as certain as he'd like. He couldn't see Outis anywhere when the Interpol burst inside and interrupted the auction; what if he got to Blackquill first...? "I suppose we'll know shortly. No point in wondering now," he hears himself saying.

"True," she concedes, and gives a brief chortle. "I doubt some of those gentlemen will go down without a fight. Lang had better not get killed, either. I kinda like it how he's still burning to capture me. It's kind of nice knowing that there's someone who won't stop looking for you, isn't it?"

The Phantom can say nothing to that. As much as he dreads the thought Blackquill may get himself killed to pursue him now, he remembers clearly how the first thing that struck him about the prosecutor was the absolute determination to find him. He had even given him a name of sort, one he had made his own as well. Not even just a phantom – Simon Blackquill's phantom.

It was the closest thing to an identity he had had since he could remember, and Blackquill's obsession with him was almost a proof of his own existence. That was likely what had first prompted him to trying to keep Blackquill's execution from happening, the reason why once caught it was Blackquill's hatred he relied on – because you cannot hate what doesn't exist.

But now it's all so different; now the thought of Blackquill's hatred cuts like a knife, and he dreads nothing more than being chased yet again by him. His resolve to turn himself over hasn't changed... although now he finds himself wondering what would the Yatagarasu think of it, if it would bother her at all. Perhap it would, if there's any truth to what she said the night before they boarded.

I'd miss you if you died – so don't get yourself killed on that ship, you hear?

"Hey, what's this?"

Her voice, along with the fact she suddenly stopped in front of him and forced him to stop as well, causes him to snap out of his thoughts.

"What is it?" he asks. It's the first time she's stopped, having led him through several turns and two long slides down with no hint of hesitation. They're not lost, are they?

"This," is all she says, and he realizes she's using her pen-flashlight to examine something right in front of her. But her answer isn't telling him much, since her own body keeps him from seeing what it is. The ducts are large enough for a grown man to crawl in it, but not for two people to be side to side.

"It's like some sort of cube," she says. "All metal. I think its sides can come off, but there are some clasps keeping it shut..."

… Wait.

"Let me see that," the Phantom says, holding up his arm. "Pass it behind. Careful not to drop it. If it's what I think it may be, opening it is just about the last thing you want to do."

"Alright. Here, catch... oops! I think it fell!"

"It did not. I would have felt a clang if it did."

"Aw, you didn't believe that for one moment?"

"Shut up and hand over that thing."

"Aww, now you're hurting my delicate feel-"

"Chrysalis!"

She slaps a hand over her mouth to keep herself from laughing, and a honk leaves her though her nose. "Pfft! Using my name now? How sweet of you, Robert," she says with something worryingly close to a giggle. Still, she does hand the cube over to him... and it turns out to be precisely what he feared it might be.

"Erysichthon," he mutters. "I've seen these at the demonstration. This is where the toxin is stored in its gaseous form. It can be released by remote from a long distance."

That definitely doesn't make her laugh. "Wait, what? Why the hell would they that stuff in the ship's air ducts?"

"Is that a rhetorical question?" the Phantom says flatly. There can only be one reason why a deadly gas was be put in the air ducts – to make it spread through the greatest part of the ship as quickly as possible. There may be more around, placed strategically to allow the toxin to spread more easily... and thus to bring up the body count.

"Yeah, okay, dumb question. But why? This stuff could kill everyone on the ship. Even if they have the antidote, this doesn't sound like something YggdraCorp would pull," the Yatagarasu mutters, and the Phantom has to agree.

"No, it does not. Besides, I'm rather certain Harrison Fire would know if this was part of their plans," he says, and holds the cube carefully under his arm. As far as he knows opening it without the remote isn't easy, but it's best not to take risks. "Let's keep going. We'll think this over once we're out of here."

It doesn't take much for them to reach their destination: a restroom on the fourth deck. "I broke the sink last night, so it's out of order. Wanted to make sure no one would be in today," she explains as she climbs down and reaches up to take the cube. The Phantom hands it over to her just enough time for him to climb down as well and put the grate back in place.

"Okay, so they put the virus inside the ship's ventilation ducts. And there may be more around. That's bad news. They could be activated any time, and it's not like we can keep it from happening unless we get our hands on the remote."

"Or we find them all and put them inside a sealed room. Once out in its gas form, the toxin is only active for a few days," the Phantom says. "If they're all in the ventilation ducts, we may have a chance. You know this ship's outline perfectly by no-"

A sudden burst of static causes him to trail off, and the next moment Outis' voice is resounding through the room... and through the whole ship, most likely. He must have gotten through the captain's communication system.

"My apologies for the interruption of... well, whatever activity you've been enjoying until now. If you're here on vacation or you're part of the crew, feel free to ignore me – this isn't about you. Do have your fun. Now, old friend... I suppose calling you Harrison will do for now, although I'm certain you've already shed that mask. This is for you – listen well and listen close, my boy. If you don't, I'm afraid the friend of yours currently under my care may have an unpleasant accident. Sad accidents happen a lot in our field, as you already know."

The Phantom goes very still, his gaze fixed on the wall ahead. He has Blackquill? But how? Did he get him before the Interpol reached the deck? What is he planning to do now?

He doesn't have to wonder for long.

"I want you to come to me, and then we'll have a chat. You'll come alone, obviously. Bring anyone with you, and... well. I'm certain you can imagine what will happen. You'll find me easily, I trust – there is a name that by now should tell you something. You have one hour to show up. Which reminds me I have a message for the Interpol as well. Agent Lang, by now I'm certain you have an idea of what the auction was about. You must have a rather good idea of what they were up to sell... and I'm certain you will know from any of the gentlemen you have in your custody just how powerful their little toy is."

Taken as he is by what he's hearing, the Phantom hears the Yatagarasu releasing a long breath beside him. He can understand why: Outis' words are confirming that Lang is alive and well, and wasn't shot during the roundup.

"I have put seven containers with that product in several places in the ship. I'll give you a bit of help – they're all in the ship's ventilation system. I have a switch to release the gas they hold; I'll press the button if you try to track me down or to come between me and the one you call Phantom. Not that I think you'll waste time on it, because the containers will open on their own in exactly... oh, wait, the countdown started two minutes ago. My bad, I didn't do that on purpose. Ah well. Let's say you have little less than an hour before they open. Not enough to evacuate all passengers on the lifeboats, by the way. So I suppose you should focus on looking for them rather than for me – priorities, right? That's about all. I wish you luck. See you soon, Harrison."

There is a clicking noise, and then nothing more: everything is silent again.

"... Well," the Yatagarasu speaks, "now we know who put that in the duct. What are you doing?"

The Phantom doesn't reply right away: he keeps staring at his watch, looking for the passengers list. A name that should tell him something, he thinks – and he cannot be that of Ulysses Outis, because he wouldn't pick a name the Interpol may recognize. There is another name he went by once, though, when training him. Umber, he recalls. Only Umber, a name the Interpol wouldn't know about. He enters the name and searches... and, sure enough, he gets a result.

Umber Dupont.

That's it, he thinks, that's got to be it: he can remember that Dupont was the surname he used for himself when he was recruited. It cannot possibly be a coincidence. Outis must have chosen that name to make sure he'd recognize it. He wants him to find the cabin, after all.

"I know what cabin he's in," the Phantom says, his voice flat. "Second deck. I'll be going. You keep your head down."

She looks at him as though he's starting to grow a set of antlers and a pair of wings. "Are you kidding? You can't just go alone!"

The Phantom scoffs. "I must. I won't be risking Blackquill's life. I don't get a choice."

"He'll try to kill you."

"Most likely."

"He may kill Blackquill as well anyway."

"... I know. But if Otis realizes I'm trying to trick him, he'll be dead for sure."

She groans. "Do you have any idea how just plain irrational that is?"

That causes the Phantom to give a faint smile. "Human beings are like that, I suppose. You lie low for a while and-" he trails off when she throws back her head and laughs.

"Pwwfff- HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh my, don't- HAHAH! You're hilarious!" she laughs, slapping his back. "Lie low? With Lang on board and a deadly toxin hidden in the air ducts? Forget about it! I'll be helping those suckers to look for the cubes. The idiot will die trying to find them otherwise, and I do know this ship's outline better than whoever built it."

For a moment the Phantom almost tries to talk her out of it, but he doesn't. With what he's planning to do, it's not like he can tell her to sit back and watch, either. Besides, she's a skilled spy. She may be able to make it. "Lang isn't likely to accept your help. And if he does, he certainly won't let you go afterward."

The Yatagarasu stares at him for a moment, then she smiles. Still, it's not one of her usual smile. This one is different, almost somber. "Neither will Blackquill let go of you. Don't worry, I'm a grown up. I'll be able to handle this. You had better be able to handle Outis," she says, and steps past him to the door. "Hey, Robert."

"Yes?"

"Be careful."

"... I will. You too."

She nods without turning and the next moment she's out, the door closing silently behind her.

"I'm truly sorry, you know. It wasn't you I meant to use. But then again it fits, doesn't it? You helped break him, so you have your share of blame, and your loss just might be worse than death for Blackquill. You should have thought twice before you used that gift of yours on him, young lady. You really should have."

Athena tries to move, tries to speak, but she can't. The effects of whatever tranquilizer was used on her are wearing off slowly, just enough for her to understand the words she's hearing... and to know she's not in a good predicament at all. She's still bound, this man is definitely not LaRoche, and something is strapped over her nose and mouth – a plastic mask connected to a nebulizer. What it's for, though, she cannot tell.

"I believe you've breathed in enough of it," the man says almost gently somewhere above her. The nebulizer is turned off, the plastic mask removed from her face. "Wouldn't want it to be all over before he's even here. Oh, but he'll be here soon, I'm sure. You just wait."

Athena has no idea who they're waiting for, but even with her mind still partly clouded she can recognize a trap... and she can tell she's supposed to be bait. Someone will come here for her, someone will try to help her – and may die in doing so.

But it cannot happen, she can't let it happen. She promised herself long ago that never again she'd let someone put their life on the line for her. Never. Again.

Athena shuts her eyes tightly and starts trying to undo the knots that bind her arms behind her back.