Our ride's here.

Dom Cobb glanced down at the text as he made his way through the hotel lobby. Abruptly, he slipped the phone back into his pocket and quickened his pace but not so much as to garner any attention. He pushed through the heavy dual-paned glass doors and was immediately pelted by the pouring rain. Though it was dark, he spied a black limo idling at the curb right in front. The brief honk of its horn told him this was his ride. Hurriedly, he approached the open door and slid into the seat, slamming the door firmly behind him.

"Good evening, Mr. Cobb."

Cobb stared at the stranger sitting across from him. He frowned. "I'm sorry...?" His wide-eyed gaze shifted to the grim-faced man seated a few feet from the stranger. "Arthur, who...?" His friend opened his mouth as if to speak.

"Someone who is in need of your...unique skills," the man interjected smoothly, in an accent that was a strange fusion of English and Scottish.

Cobb cocked his eyebrow. "Look, pal, I don't know who the hell you are or how you know me, but I'm not in that line of work anymore."

The man's smirk deepened. "No, not officially." He shifted the object in his hand, which appeared to be a cane, and Cobb spied a glint of gold reflecting the dim light inside the limo. "But we all know how that went for you."

Cobb frowned in growing annoyance. "You don't know anything about me."

The man's dark eyes glittered. "Quite the contrary. Your reputation precedes you."

Cobb shook his head dismissively and glanced at Arthur. "This is over, let's go," he said firmly, reaching for the door handle.

"How are the children, Mr. Cobb?"

He froze.

"I'm sure they've enjoyed having their father home at long last."

Cobb clenched his fist.

"Would be a pity if something should happen-"

"Stay away from them," Cobb warned.

The man's gaze was cold. "-to their father."

Cobb smirked and shook his head. "You shouldn't make idle threats if you're not able to deliver."

The stranger smirked back. "Do you think Mr. Saito is the only person with the power to deliver results?" His voice acquired a hard edge on the last four words.

"And you can?"

"Let's just say that I have many business associates in high places, and some of them owe me a favor."

Again Cobb glanced over at Arthur. Frowning with resignation, his friend gave the slightest shake of his head, as if telling him to stand down. Exhaling sharply, Cobb released his grip on the door handle and slowly sat back. "Who are you?"

The man raised his eyebrows in feigned amusement. "Suddenly interested in what I have to say?"

Cobb fixed him with a piercing stare, waiting.

"The name's Gold."

"How did you find me?"

The man smiled indulgently. "Like I said, Mr. Cobb, I have eyes and ears in many places, but that's hardly important. What's important is, I've done my research, and I know everything about you." He shifted in his seat, and the cane handle glinted again. "And knowing what I know, I require your services."

Cobb's gaze didn't waver. "Which is..."

"I believe you know."

Cobb's mouth went dry. "Inception." He took a breath. "Why me?"

"Well, I tried going through other channels, but those means turned out to be...unsatisfactory." Gold leaned forward slightly. "And you're the only one who has been successful at it."

Cobb folded his arms. "Then you know how simple the idea has to be."

"Naturally." Gold's expression became pensive. "Like you, Mr. Cobb, I have a select few who are near and dear to me, but as of late, things have been a bit rocky." He looked away for a few moments before continuing. "I need a certain...family member to see me in a different light."

Cobb glanced down at the man's left hand ring finger and narrowed his eyes. "I'm not in the business of reconciliation, Mr. Gold."

The corners of Gold's mouth quirked upward. "No, but you are in the business of supplying the idea that can lead to it."

Cobb shook his head. "Can't be done. Too many complexities involved."

Gold straightened. "No, I'm not asking you to plant the idea of reconciliation, Mr. Cobb. I'm asking you to give this person the idea that everything I've done...is for her." Sadness traced the edge of those last words.

Cobb cocked his head. "Not to seem old-fashioned, but why don't you just go to her?"

Gold glanced down. "She will not have any contact with me. I've been...banished, in a manner of speaking." His thumb stroked the band on his ring finger absently.

"What makes you think inception will work?"

Gold looked back up. "It worked with your wife."

Cobb pursed his lips together. He could feel Arthur's eyes boring into him. "It didn't."

"You were able to find that secret place that no one else knew about, and you planted an idea in her mind that grew so strongly that it drove everything she did thereafter."

"And I assume you know how that turned out," Cobb muttered bitterly.

To his surprise, Gold's expression softened a bit. "I know something about the guilt and shame you must feel to this day. Always present, when you open your eyes every morning and every night when you close them."

Cobb leaned forward. "Then I think it would be in your best interest if you reconsider going forward with this."

Gold blinked. "It's too late for that. I've come too far to turn back now."

"You don't know the gravity of what you're asking," Cobb said quietly but emphatically. "This idea may change your wife's behavior in ways that you never anticipated. It may come to change everything about her. And it could have unforeseen consequences for you."

Gold's face was grim but he gave a slow nod. "That's a price I'm willing to pay."

Cobb shook his head. "I think you need to find someone else for this job, sir." He reached for the door handle for the second time, this time fully intent on walking away.

"And I think you need to be reminded of what's in this for you, Mr. Cobb." The charm and the softened edges were gone from Gold's voice and expression.

Cobb paused but didn't look at the man.

"With one phone call, Saito restored everything that had been taken away from you: your children, your home, your freedom. With one phone call," Gold leaned forward, holding his index finger aloft, "I can take it away yet again."

Finally, Cobb looked into the man's face, and the menace and malicious intent he saw there gave him pause.

Seeing him relent, Gold asked, "Do we have a deal?"

Cobb didn't reply, but glanced down and dipped his head slightly in acquiescence.

"Excellent." Gold relaxed and sat back. "Assemble your team, Mr. Cobb. We will be in touch." He motioned with his hand. "Now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen. Your ride is just ahead." He motioned again, this time towards the driver, and the limo moved forward along the curb, stopping behind a medium-sized sedan. At that moment, the door locks were released.

Sharing a look, Cobb and Arthur stepped out into the rain, which had lessened to a light shower. One of the limo passenger windows rolled down. "Mr. Cobb," Gold called. Cobb leaned down just enough to hear.

"One more thing," Gold began, peering up at him with a smirk. "You might want to consider looking for a more trustworthy forger for this job." With that, the window rolled up and the limo pulled away.