Carlson Boatyard, Port Charles

Larry Ashton stepped jauntily down the dock towards his yacht Aphrodite. Repairs were being tendered and for now the boat was secure in boat slip. He nodded at workmen leaving the dock for the day. The yacht's crew was on leave for the next week while repairs were in progress. The vessel was empty. Ashton clambered aboard. He paused on the main deck and looked around in all directions. He entered the main salon to find that the boat wasn't empty.

From the sofa rose a familiar Danish accent, "You requested a meeting. I am here."

"Yes, thank you for coming. I have information for you."

Cesar Faison raised a chin and scrutinized Ashton. "It must be good. You know my rules about personal contact."

Ashton nodded then said. "It's about Anna. I have standing orders to watch her don't I? And the family?"

Faison sat straighter. "What about Anna?"

"Her daughter, Robin, has died from AIDS."

This news caught Faison off guard. He gaped.

"Robin grew up to be such a caring and dedicated doctor. I can't believe it myself," said Ashton. "I nearly saw her grow up before me."

"R-R-Robin? How? Was she not on medication?" asked Faison. "How can this happen?"

"The family has tried to quash the news about her death but that would be impossible," Ashton said. "She was admitted to the hospital and very rapidly deteriorated. She is ... was buried today."

"And you tell me this only now ... when I can do nothing?" said Faison. He took out a cigarette case and took out a clove cigarette which he lit with shaking hands.

"By the time I found out, it was too late. Monica told me that she had never seen anything like it. Days instead of weeks or months. Nothing they tried worked."

"Little Robin," said Faison in a soft voice. "So bright and talented. She could have been ... anything." He rubbed at his left temple. He grimaced in pain.

"Something wrong?"

"A headache. Stress," said Faison. "These public appearances of mine drain me."

"It's doing wonders for your bank account," chuckled Ashton. "Your old titles are popular again."

"My fans have a certain expectation. I must comply and give them the fantasy of P.K. Sinclair," said Faison. "My publishers are the real piranhas in the water. But they finance these appearances so I must abide by their requirements. I will admit that they are an unexpectedly good cover for my real meetings. Enough about that. How is Anna?"

"In seclusion at their farm outside the city limits."

"She must be devastated. Her children are her world," said Faison. "I must pay my respects. Where is the grave?"

"The grave is at the farm. Completely private," said Ashton. "I'm told that even the former Jason Quartermaine has not been allowed entrance. I doubt you would be any more welcome."

"I have other means to gain access," said Faison. "My poor Anna. I must see her." He blinked a few times and rubbed at both his temples."This headache is worse."

Ashton moved towards his desk. He rummaged through the drawers. "Arielle gets these dreadful migraines. There are pills here that she swears by."

"Did you know that Robin gave me a gift once. I have it still. Of course, she was poisoned against me but at the time of the giving she saw me as a friend, a mentor," said Faison. "Ashton, you said Robin did you not? Robin Scorpio."

"Yes. It was Robin Scorpio-Drake after she married." Ashton brandished a prescription bottle. "Here it is. Let me get some water for you."

"Scorpio-Drake. I ... I thought there was ... was another name," said Faison.

"I don't believe she ever used her stepfather's name - Lavery." Ashton poured a glass of water.

"Something about Scotland," said Faison vaguely. He pulled at his collar and loosened his tie.

"I remember ferrying her school group to your island. A bunch of little mites chattering away like cute magpies," said Ashton. He handed the glass of water to Faison. In the other hand, he held out a single white pill.

Faison gripped the glass and took the pill. He swallowed the pill and followed it up with a healthy gulp of water.

"On to other business. Arielle has fled. As you had predicted, she did attempt to blackmail me. I've laid a paper trail that should convince the authorities that she was calling the shots," said Ashton.

The glass fell to the floor and shattered. Faison's eyes fluttered rapidly before he slumped forward.

"Faison?" Ashton bent over the unresponsive man. "Faison?"

Tom's River, New Jersey

The Samoli Fuel Dock was always busy as workers fueled a series of vessels of every size and shape throughout the day and night. On the far side of the marina complex, five motor launches tethered themselves to a short, out of the way dock meant for private customers. On each launch, men hastily unloaded cargo - heavy, watertight trunks that bore all the marks of having been submerged in salt water for some time. All the cargo were loaded into flatbed trucks and whisked away.

In a small office overlooking the private dock, Dino Venturi looked on missing nothing of the activity happening before him. Beside him, Arielle Ashton stood also keeping a watch. She had paid for the shipment after all. Venturi's people had been responsible for pickup and storage. Seeing the trucks moving away on their way to the warehouse, Arielle breathed a sigh of relief. The first and, in her mind, hardest part was over.

As the last truck left, Dino turned to her and extended his hand. "Job well done wouldn't you say, Mrs. Ashton?"

"Very smooth. Problem-free. Thank you." Arielle shook his hand in return. "And, please, use Arielle."

Dino cocked his head towards Franjo Curic who was studying the cargo manifests at a desk. "Franjo may have vouched for your identity but I need cash. My people continued on with this job even after it blew up because I asked them to. They expect to be paid."

"To the point just like Etienne described you."

"I owe him a lot." Dino was not to be deterred or charmed. "Are you ready to conclude this deal?"

"I can use the warehouse for as long as I want?" asked Arielle.

"Sure. I'll even throw in transport to wherever you want it to go next."

Arielle glanced over to the far side of the room where Paulie sat on a much-taped leather sofa catching up on Port Charles gossip with a new acquaintance Helena Cassadine. Arielle walked over to the pair.

"Helena, cargo is confirmed as delivered. Franjo will need to physically inspect and verify the shipment once it's at the warehouse," said Arielle. "I don't believe this is a repeat of the ... switch tactics from last time. I don't think even Scorpio could have hauled the shipments from international waters, replaced the contents and put them back down anchored on the bottom of the ocean. We can pay Dino now for a job well done."

"Fine with me," said Helena. She leaned over the side of the sofa and lifted up a briefcase. She handed it to Paulie. "The amount in cash as agreed."

Paulie opened the briefcase and inspected the stacks of hundred dollar bills inside. He smiled genially at Helena then Arielle. "It's a first for me dealing with women and I hope it's not the last."

Dino stifled a smile. Paulie had obviously fallen for their clients' ample charms. In a gruff voice, he asked, "All there?"

"All here, Dino." Paulie closed the briefcase and stood up. He handed the briefcase to Dino. "Franjo and I will head on over to the warehouse."

"I can do that," said Dino.

"You can but you shouldn't," said Paulie. "Ladies, it has been a pleasure."

Paulie and Franjo left the room. Helena considered Dino Venturi. She was finding more and more things to like about him as a man and as a potential associate.

"Mr. Venturi, Dino, could you join Arielle and I for coffee?"

"I sense opportunity in the wind," said Dino fishing for information before committing himself to anything even something as innocent as a cup of coffee.

"We have a mutual enemy - Robert Scorpio and all who stand with him."

"Especially his family, " added Helena with bitter malice.

"If revenge is what you have in mind, then I'm out," said Dino. "I have better things to do."

"You want the former Alcazar holdings, network and businesses in Port Charles? We may be able to help each other," added Arielle.

"My family has had dealings with Alcazar in the past. He took his secrets to the grave or so people believe," said Helena. "Information is always useful."

Dino replied with a smile, "It won't hurt to listen. Follow me, please. I know a cafe that serves espresso the old-fashioned way."

Carlson Boatyard, Port Charles

Larry Ashton had shaken Faison gently then a bit harder. Faison had not awoken. Ashton laid him back in the chair while dithering about what to do next.

"He's breathing. Has a pulse. Thank god!" muttered Ashton. He could easily envision being lauded a hero for ridding the world of a master criminal like Faison but his glory would be short-lived. Faison's agents would exact revenge. And, if even half of the things he knew or heard about were true, revenge would be gruesome and worse than death.

Ashton looked around the room for something to help Faison but his mind only conjured weapons. A throw pillow would be ideal for smothering. A loaded pistol in a desk drawer would be quick and clean. A heavy statue resting on a side table could rest on Faison's head just as easily. He said flippantly, "I say Lord Ashton in the salon on the yacht with a pistol. What a headline but messy."

He looked down on the vulnerable, unaware man in the chair. "Dead you're worth something to me. Alive you're my guarantee of relative good health possibly for as long as I live."

He took a decanter of water from the bar. He uncorked the decanter. Then with a flick of his wrist, he poured. A stream of water landed on Faison's face. It flowed river-like along the planes of his face then down to his neck and soaking his shirt and coat. Ashton did not stop pouring. If he couldn't kill him, Ashton could at least have some enjoyment out of the experience.

Faison shivered and stirred. He began to splutter and stutter as he ascended from whatever depths he had been in. "What? What are ... YOU doing? You imbecile!" He sprang to his feet only to collapse back into his seat after his legs buckled from under him.

"You may thank me later for waking you up," said Ashton in clipped, patrician tones that did nothing to mollify the angry Dane. He tossed a bar towel at Faison. "Here you are. Dry off."

"What happened?" asked Faison dabbing at his wet face and neck.

"I'm not sure. I heard you drop your glass and then you slumped over. Do you have some chronic medical condition? You were complaining about headaches earlier."

"Was I?"

"You don't remember the headaches?"

"I do not feel one now," said Faison. "I must have fainted. Yes, that is it."

"You remember our conversation?" Ashton probed suspecting that Faison may have had a black out.

"Yes. We were talking about Robin," Faison stood up. He swayed this time but remained upright. "I need to see Anna."

"Perhaps you ought to lie down first. Rest."

"I am tired from my appearances but rest must wait."

"Will you march to their front gate and demand an audience?"

"Of course not. Scorpio must have issued orders to shoot to kill if I was ever seen in the vicinity. I would do the same for him."

"No love lost?"

"None whatsoever," said Faison. "But I will see Anna. I must see for myself that she's all right and Andrew, too."

"He seemed a very well brought up young man."

Faison sneered. "And you thought he would be what? Uncouth, rash, impulsive, devious?"

"I admit to some preconceived notions when you told me about raising him from a baby. I didn't think you were ... are good father material."

"Andrew was a delightful boy. He will reach his full potential one day and he will know that everything I've done is for him and for that goal," said Faison proudly. "He may hate me but he will know. I hated my father but I respect all he's done. It will be the same for Andrew."

"Forgive me for doubting you but you're not in his life now. Anna and Robert's influence is ... is stamped all over that boy. I saw it with my own eyes at the fundraiser."

"Perhaps on the outside and to the unseeing eye but I know my son," said Faison. He folded the towel and deposited it on his chair. "He will always be MY son. I expect some rebellion as he finds his way in this world of ours. I do not wish to control him as my father tried and tried with me. Andrew is too much like Anna. He flourishes when free to soar and fall on his own. I'll give him that chance. He will be stronger for it I suspect."

"And what if he turns away from you?"

"He already has. He wants to be his own person. I would have failed as a parent if he had been too weak and timid to crave autonomy from me. I gave him the tools to be a warrior and a leader. He has Anna's passion and heart. Through Scorpio, Andrew has learned the giving and receiving of loyalty and trust," said Faison. "It is these last two traits that shall bring him back to me. Someday. I only need to be patient."

"You sound so certain."

"I am."

"How can you be?"

"I leave very little to chance."

Ashton wet his lips and then said, "You could die tomorrow and what use is patience then?"

"It will happen as I planned it to. Not because of me but because of my son," said Faison. "His destiny is within himself. He can fight it all he wants and he will. But, in the end, he won't be able to resist a challenge. When he takes up that challenge, I win. He can even kill me afterwards but my victory will already been assured."

"What victory?

"Andrew is my son and the world will know the truth in his actions not just his name or his words. His destiny will be my triumph."

Unknown Location

It had been a losing battle to stay awake earlier but now Charlotte's eyes fluttered open. Robin had told her that the paralysis was temporary. She was true to her word.

Charlotte concentrated to move some part of her body. The fingers on her right hand began to tap against the mattress. She welcomed the tingling sensation in her legs. Even more refreshing was the clarity of her mind. Whatever treatment she had been given did not seem to have had its desired effect. She should have had no mind to return to at all. Was it the result of the two injections Robin had administered to her?

She smiled. It was only a matter of time now.