Well, I'm back! Miss me? (I'm here to stay- I'd hate to disappoint you guys)

"I don't like this." Amy whispered to Ian as they slid out of the car. Matt was already waiting outside, his eyes constantly scanning their surroundings.

"Neither do I." Ian muttered, picking a piece of lint off of his shirt. Amy knew he meant the fact that they were out here, unprotected and in the middle of the enemy's nest. And what's more worrisome, thought Amy, Is that Matt doesn't seem at all concerned. But, like good branch leaders, Ian and Amy stepped out of the car and joined Matt.

"Any word from them?" Ian asked, referring to either Nellie and Dan or Alistair and Elias. Matt nodded, distracted as he checked the alley behind them. They were in a quiet neighborhood that seemed to be largely uninhabited, probably due to the evidence that there was a fire in the area recently: Many of the buildings surrounding them were blackened and partly demolished, and all the trees that would have been twisting from gaps in the pavement were charred and bare. The prefect place to hide.

"Nellie and Dan are about two minutes away." He said, looking back at them. "Alistair should be here in about ten minutes."

"Well can't they hurry?" Amy muttered to herself. She leaned against the car and tried to focus on Dan, hoping that somehow, he would feel her mind and get here faster. Because the faster they rendezvoused, the faster they could plan their next step.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a car grumbling over the rough pavement. Her first thought was Oh, God, not now, but then she saw it was the black SUV that Dan and Nellie had left in, and relief flooded over her. They parked alongside Matt's car and jumped out. Amy noticed they both looked a little shaken, and because Dan wasn't wearing makeup, she could see his face was ashen.

"Are you two alright?" Ian asked, also looking them over. Nellie waved a ring-encrusted hand.

"Just a little run-in, no biggie." Dan nodded, still mute. Amy subconsciously moved closer to him as they approached.

"So, what's the plan?" Nellie directed the question at Matt, but it was also meant for her or Ian as well. It was Matt, naturally, who answered.

"Well, I just was talking with Alistair." He paused, looking around one last time, then lowered his voice. "He was communicating with the Janus in India and the Tomas here in Nepal, and they both told him of increased levels of suspicious activity around the Nepal-India border. More specifically, around the Nepalese city of Darchula and the Indian state of Uttarakhand."

"Never heard of them." Nellie ran a hand through her hair. "Does Alistair have any idea why?"

"Why you've never heard of these places?" Matt asked. Nellie scowled, and Matt looked slightly amused.

"Well, I've never heard of them either." Amy spoke up, and all heads swiveled to her. She held Matt's gaze. "But that's where we're going."

…..xxxxxxxx….

"Do you know exactly why we're going to Neal?" Zai asked after a few moments of silence. Natalie shrugged.

"I'm sure the Madrigals will have plans for us. Maybe someone will be waiting for us at the airport." Natalie stretched and yawned.

"Or maybe it's a trap." He sighed. "Well, if it happens, it happens."

"You're awfully pessimistic." Natalie chided him, though she was grinning. Zai found himself grinning back. There was something different in the atmosphere between them. Or maybe something's not there anymore. Like a wall was lifted. And that scared Zai. He wouldn't be close to anybody, he couldn't be close to anybody. That was the deal. I already had my happiness, and it was taken way years ago. Nobody gets a second chance at that kind of thing. That isn't fair. Natalie isn't being fair. Trying to get me to like her, to be her friend.

He looked over at her again. She caught his gaze and gave him a small, very un-Natalie-like smile. He tried not to smile back.

But I don't hate her. I can't hate her. We've needed each other this past week. And I don't want to hurt her. He almost glanced at her again, but didn't want to meet her gaze. But I don't know if I'll be able to help it. Hurting people and getting hurt. That's all I know. He leaned back in his seat, pressing his eyelids together. The map showed them over northern Pakistan. Just a few more hours. Zai felt a pang of sadness inside him that he quickly suppressed. I don't deserve this. I had a family. Now I have nothing. I can't love anybody again. I can't like Natalie. I have a sister. I can't replace her. Why couldn't it have been Elias? I will never like him. I can't let whatever is happening to me go on.

Trying to mentally distance himself from her, Zai turned his back on Natalie and closed his eyes. The sooner I can move on, the better. For the both of us.

….…XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX…..

"Are you certain this is the best way?" Ian, referring to their mode of transportation, asked from the front seat. Matt was at the wheel, staring straight ahead at as they left the bustle and pollution of Kathmandu behind.

"Yes, I am certain." Matt replied bluntly. "We're safest on the road, as our disastrous hop across the Channel should have taught you. And these are the most secure possible vehicle we could be in."

"But don't you think we're a little…conspicuous?" Amy asked. She glanced out the rear window. Trailing them was Nellie and Dan, and behind them, Alistair and Elias. A caravan of hulking, black SUVs.

"It does matter if the Vesper forces see us; they already know we're here. And there not fools; they know the only rational place we'd be headed is Darchula."

"I guess." Amy murmured. But she wasn't completely convinced. Something seemed wrong. Maybe it was just instinct, as all the traveling she'd done with Dan and Nellie was hurried and tense.

But it's different now. We're not the weaker element. We're the threat to them. We're on the attack, going to confront them on their own grounds. No more sneaking around. This is the opening salvo of the first Cahill-Vesper all-out war.

As always, enjoy and stay tuned! Till next time