Majestic Theater, Port Charles, New York

Dani watched Lars as he tuned his earplugs before inserting one in each ear. She handed him a tranquilizer pistol. Behind them was a tall rack of medical monitors and systems displaying various life signs and statistics. A thick cord of bundled wires led from the rack and under the dressing room door.

"Sorry for cutting into your beauty sleep," said Dani. "But who else would have been able to fix up this monitoring rig?"

"Was that a compliment?" asked Lars placing his Glock in his hip holster and the tranquilizer pistol in his shoulder holster.

"Just the truth and you know it."

"A good commander knows his or her limits and when to ask for help." Lars grinned. "That WAS a compliment. Welcome to the senior officer cadre," He offered his hand to Dani.

Dani shook his hand. "Does this mean no more condescending, patronizing comments on the comm channel?"

"No promises," said Lars.

"If the mutual admiration society chat is over, can one of you activate the monitor feeds to us?" asked Giles over Dani's IPhone. "Alex wants to monitor vital signs."

"Faison's?" asked Dani.

"Andrew's," said Alex coming into view on the display. "I'm hoping we'll see some kind of telemetry change if Andrew's psychosis emerges - a rise in pulse rate, blood pressure, body temperature. Something definite."

Dani looked at the closed door and back to the display. "Do you think it's a possibility? I've been watching him all day. All normal."

"His transformation caught me by surprise, too. I wish Anna would let me videotape the proceedings," said Alex.

"We could not set up anything non-intrusive in such a short time," said Lars. "Andrew said he didn't want any visual distractions. I do have a mini-microphone in there on feed channel 794. Volume is faint but audible."

"Ah, thank you!" said Alex.

General Hospital

Maxie sat on the examination table with her eyes scrunched tight in concentration. Detective Lucky Spencer was jotting down whatever she could remember about her assailant.

"He moved, I don't know, with purpose," said Maxie.

"How do you know? You were blindfolded," said Lucky.

"Before that. He got me at the door then carried me standing up to the kitchen. He was really strong," said Maxie. "Dad, he carried through the kitchen as he hunted around for something to tie me with."

"You don't weigh that much," said Mac who stood beside her.

"A man has to be fit to carry anyone, right? He was fit," said Maxie. "Then when he found the tape he did everything fast."

"He's a professional. We know that."

"He reminded me of Uncle Robert."

"Robbie?"

"When Uncle Robert does something it's always ... always to the point. If there are four things to do on the list, he does all of them in order and doesn't stop until he's done," said Maxie. "Robin used to do the same ... same thing. She'd dot every 'i' and cross every 't' before going to the next thing."

"What else can you remember?" asked Lucky. "Did he say anything? Make noises?"

"Quiet. That's the only thing he said. That I should be quiet. One word."

"Did he sound young or old? Did he have an accent?" asked Lucky.

"Older, middle-aged. He had an accent but not obvious."

"Could you tell what it was? European? British? Latin American?" asked Mac.

Maxie shook her head. "Not British. I'm sure of that."

Mac began to say the word quiet over and over in various accents. Some of them made Maxie smile.

"He sounded like Ivan," said Maxie. She cocked her head to the side as if replaying the memory in her head. "Yeah, an older Ivan."

"That's not good," said Mac. "Not good at all."

"Ivan who?" asked Lucky.

"I want you at the Villa ASAP. You stay there and ... and keep Emma company."

"I love Emma and all, Dad, but I have my own place now. And, it's perfectly safe," said Maxie. "You said so yourself."

"Who's Ivan?" asked Lucky.

"Until I check this out with Ivan, I want to know you're safe."

"Dad, please. Dianara would know if-"

"She's not here, is she?" countered Mac.

"Doctor Quartermaine has checked me out. I'm all good. I'm going home right now," Maxie slid off the table. She looked at Lucky. "Can you give me a ride?"

"Only if you tell me who Ivan is," said Lucky.

"Just a friend."

"With an accent."

"Yeah."

Lucky rubbed at his chin. "You know there's been a lot more people with accents around ever since Robert and Anna came back to town."

"They're regular pied pipers," said Mac. He took his jacket off and put it around his daughter's shoulders. "I want you to check in every hour."

"That's ridiculous!"

"Don't start with me, Maxie. I've had it with the headstrong, stubborn women in this family!" exclaimed Mac. "At least one of you will follow my request. Check in every two hours?"

Maxie sighed. "Fine."

As they walked out of the emergency room, Maxie asked Mac, "What did Aunt Anna do this time?"

"You don't want to know. I wish I didn't know," said Mac. "if you remember something, let me or Lucky know, got it? You have your phone?"

Maxie patted her purse. "Safe and sound." She gasped. "The phone! He took out the phone! The tape, Dad. He pulled it out."

"The tape from the answering machine?" asked Mac.

"The phone rang and I heard him running from upstairs to the phone in the living room. I heard the tape squeal as it was pulled out," said Maxie.

"I'll request the phone records from the telephone company," said Lucky.

"That would take too long." Maxie pulled out her IPhone and contacted SIMON. "Simon, please display the phone record from my Dad's house."

"From what time duration?" asked SIMON's not quite human voice.

"Could you pull up the last week?" asked Maxie.

Within a minute, the display changed to a listing of phone numbers and their geographical origination. Mac and Maxie peered at the display. They made the occasional comment on recognizing phone numbers of friends and family. Lucky craned his neck to see.

"Lucky, return to the station," said Mac.

"This is spy stuff isn't it? You're hacked into the phone system. That has to be it," said Lucky.

"Have no idea. I'm no techie," said Mac.

Lucky looked at Maxie then at the phone then back at Maxie. "You're one of THEM now?"

Maxie shrugged. "Just a junior trainee."

"Very junior," said Mac.

"But ... but how? When?" spluttered Lucky.

"It IS the family business, Lucky," said Maxie. "Your dad taught you stuff. You were on the run all over the world."

"Yeah, but we were always running from trouble. You're in the thick of it. I want in," said Lucky. "Mac? Chief?"

"Nope," said Mac.

"I've kept quiet just like you said. I KNOW there's something going on. Something big," said Lucky. "Is it the Cassadines? You'll need all the help you can get."

"This is not your fight."

"Does my dad know about this? Is that why he's been acting all weird lately?"

"No, he's not involved and neither are you," said Mac. "Stop whining. It's orders from Robert."

"Damn! I shouldn't have ... have opened my big mouth that time, huh?"

"Your timing could have been better," said Mac. "I'm sorry, Lucky."

Lucky walked out into the parking lot muttering words like "foreigners", "connection" and Helena.

In Mac's car on the way to Crimson, Maxie continued to scroll down the list eliminating numbers she recognized. The list was getting smaller.

Majestic Theater, Port Charles, New York

Faison rested his back against one end of the sofa and stretched his injured leg out. Bandages were wound around his thigh and calf. A wire led from his calf and out under the dressing room door. His normally neat appearance was no longer. He reached for his cigarette case lying flat on the end table.

"No. No smoking," said Anna.

"I thought prisoners were allowed a final wish," said Faison.

"You're not a prisoner."

"No?" Faison raised his handcuffed hands towards Anna. "What are these?"

"You're not here, remember?" Anna watched Andrew's every motion.

She expected Andrew to be nervous and scared but he wasn't. He was calm and collected as he read over the procedure document as dictated by Faison earlier and the document copied from the Krieg electronic archives. He had not even responded to Faison's jibes doubting his abilities. Andrew had been the picture of focus and impassive concentration. It was his demeanor that frightened Anna. It reminded her of Peter Krieg's clinical detachment.

"I'm ready to start." Andrew put a chair opposite Faison and sat down. Around one wrist was a bracelet with a long wire extending which, like Faison's, led out under the door.

"This is foolish, Anna," said Faison. "Nothing will come of this."

"What I want to know could be in your head. I have to have it," said Anna. "You wanted to know how far I would go. Here we are."

Faison looked at Andrew. "So, the student becomes the master? Should I be flattered?" He looked at Anna. "I may have consciously agreed to this experiment. However, assuming that Andrew can do as he boasts, my subconscious has not agreed. It has a potent will to survive. It will fight against our son. I've never known you to put your child at risk."

Anna bristled. "Andrew, remember the conditions I gave you?"

Andrew nodded. "Yes. Give the word."

"The word is given." Anna moved out of Andrew's sight line. Her tranquilizer pistol was unholstered. She knocked twice on the door as a signal to Dani and Lars outside. "We're starting."

Anna tapped her ears. Her earplugs were in place. They emitted a low frequency tone that they hoped disrupted verbal hypnosis. It emitted a constant pulse of white noise that was barely audible to the human being but was detectable by the brain. Initial testing with Andrew and Robert had told them it worked in a general scenario but Faison was a master hypnotist. So far he had not tried to sway anyone's mind but with him one had to be wary at all times.

She looked at her watch. So little time left.

Anna moved to a far corner behind the sofa. Out of Faison's direct view but in full sight of Andrew. Her son sat loose and casual on the chair not saying anything for a full minute. Faison glared at him through the silence.

"Well, begin!" said Faison. "What are you waiting for? Begin the mantra of influence. I shall try to not resist."

"I wanted to tell you something first - a confession of sorts."

"What confession?"

"Do you remember saying goodbye to me at Mohonk, the resort in the mountains?"

"Yes, you ejected me from your life as I recall - both of you." His eyes shifted left and right seeking out Anna and not finding her.

"I'm not sorry for that. I had to do it. It was the right thing to do," said Andrew. "I am sorry for one thing though. That's what I wanted to talk to you about first."

"What is this about?" asked Faison openly curious.

Andrew's voice softened. He looked down on the floor. "It's about forgiveness for something I've done to you. You must forgive me because I cannot forgive myself until you do."

Faison was surprised. He looked directly at Andrew. "What act could be so serious?"

At that same moment, Andrew's eyes snapped up and gazed straight into Faison's eyes. HIs voice changed to something clipped, sharp and direct. "Do you see the tyger burning bright?"

Faison gasped. Andrew pressed an index finger at a point just below Faison's collarbone. Faison flinched and remained still.

"Close your eyes. You hear nothing." Andrew commanded. Once Faison's eyes were closed, he stood up and walked towards Anna. "I have him, Mum."

"Are YOU all right? Any twinges of something else?" asked Anna studying his face.

"No. I've been studying Dr. Hardy's approach and adapting it into my repertoire. I believe it helps my symptoms if I minimize using the methods exactly as Faison had taught me," said Andrew. "It's like teaching a computer a different set of patterns for accomplishing the same tasks as before. Now comes the hard part."

"How did you get him under? That looked too easy."

"Lulled him into feeling paternal and indirectly open to my questions. Then struck when he wasn't expecting it. He won't fall for that trick again I assure you."

"What DID you to him in Mohonk?"

"He was inebriated. I was feeling sorry for him," said Andrew. "I put him to bed and planted some suggestions."

Anna nodded. "About his fans?"

"Sometimes one cannot appreciate what one has because they are looking elsewhere for happiness," said Andrew.

"You wanted to help him. I understand."

"It wasn't enough, Mum. Look at him. Still bitter and obsessed."

"He is who and what he is. If he wants to change, it's up to him not you or me," said Anna. "What's next?"

"I have to find those memories. Reading the notes I realized that it's impossible to completely erase memories especially those with emotional resonances. However, they can be bundled together and hidden away as was done in your case. I believe I did something slightly different," said Andrew. "I remember repeating fragments of phrases over and over again while I read of a list of items. I believe I took each strand of memory, rolled it up and disguised it as something else or hid each individually. If the latter, then I must find each one and activate the memory again."

"That could be a very long time."

"Yes."

"We don't have the time."

"I will focus the session on specific things. I'm not exactly sure of what I'm looking for. So, there will be a degree of unpredictability. I will try different lines of questioning to see what ... what bears fruit." Andrew swallowed nervously. "He will offer resistance that I must counter. But I won't damage him, Mum. I do not want to resort to that."

"I don't want that either. He did submit willingly. I only want Robin. You can leave whatever other secrets he may have as they are," said Anna. "He must have had a good reason to want those memories buried."

"This may be the only time he ever allows me inside again. He'll know what I can do once he's out of trance."

"Maybe it will motivate him to stop manipulating you." Anna squeezed Andrew's shoulder. "Go on. I'll be here whatever happens."

Andrew took a sip of water then sat back in the chair. He woke Faison from trance. He asked, "What is your name?"

"Cesar Krieg."

"You are known as Cesar Faison?"

"Yes."

"Why not use your real name?"

"I changed my name when I joined the DVX. A disguise in plain sight is always best."

"Where do you live?"

"My home is where my heart is. Everywhere. Nowhere."

He held up a picture of the front of Faison's London flat. "You lived here. This is in London. London is a wonderful place. It has everything you desire - culture, opera, art. Everything you could want."

"Yes ... no," Faison's face became pained and haunted. "Nearly everything."

"In London, you worked on your business. Every single day. Remember, every day."

Andrew looked at Anna then at Faison. He held up another picture. This time it was a close up of a messy desk.

"You worked at this desk with your favorite pen and notebook. See? It's in the picture."

"Yes."

"Your desk with your things in your home in London. The picture doesn't lie. Say it. The picture doesn't lie."

"The picture doesn't lie."

"This means that you lived in London."

"No."

Andrew displayed more pictures on his IPhone's screen. Pictures that the London team had taken at their last visit. "This is your bedroom in London. Your solar with your miniature orchids. They're still growing. Say it. The picture doesn't lie.

"The picture doesn't lie."

He showed the photos again. "Your flat in London. Your desk. Your papers. You lived in London. The picture doesn't lie. You lived in London."

"Y-y-yes."

"I want you to visit your home in London. Go there now."

"No. No." Faison shook his head vigorously.

Andrew looked at Anna then at Faison. He decided on the spot to try a theory. "Davnee. She's waiting for you in London. You should go back there. Remember. Go back to Davnee."

Faison sat rigid as a statue. His face mirrored his internal struggle to resist. His head swayed from side to side as if trying to evade and hide from Andrew's words.

"No. Cannot."

"She's waiting for you. In London," Andrew leaned in closer to Faison. "Don't you miss her? Don't you want to see her? She's in London. Return to London."

Faison's hands swept upward and grabbed Andrew by the neck. "No! No! She's dead ... dead to me! My past is gone!"

Andrew held a hand out to stop Anna from interfering. Slowly, he pried Faison's fingers from his neck while Faison raved.

"Words! Words are all I have. She's with me in ... in my words," said Faison. "Y-y-you can't take her! She's mine!" He slid off the sofa without letting go of Andrew's throat. The tether of his wires was stretched taut.

Andrew pressed on the same pressure point he had used earlier. Faison slumped forward into Andrew's arms.

"We're coming in!" said Dani from the other side of the door. "Telemetry is all over the place!"

"No! All good!" cried out Anna. "Stay outside, Dani!"

Andrew put Faison back on the sofa. He stood back and looked at Anna. "Well, I found a hot spot. Now, I have to drill down until I find something. I wish I could remember more of what exactly he had me remove."

Author's Note: This story was begun and posted on September 2010 on my home page. Any similarity to any current GH storyline(s) is coincidental. This is a direct sequel to The Telltale Lie which is partially posted here on FFN. Though it's not necessary to read that previously, it would be helpful. Please see my profile home page on the status of this series. More chapters are posted on my home page. Like it or hate it? Please leave a comment or review.