Vienna, Austria

Twelve blocks from the Foundation, the team regrouped in shopping center parking lot. The Range Rover and Mercedes were joined by a television crew truck. Robert opened the door of the Mercedes and Heloise stepped out.

"Time to split up," murmured Robert for Heloise's ear alone.

"Give Anna as much time as possible," whispered Heloise.

"Faison is a tough nut to crack. He's a fighter. Worse, he's always got something up his sleeve."

"You have no faith in Andrew or Anna?"

"I have all the faith in the world in them," said Robert quietly as they joined the rest. "I simply don't trust Faison. Not one bit."

In the shadow of the open door of the TV truck stood Holly, Nyssa and Jackie. Perhaps, Nyssa's positioning was a necessity between the two old adversaries.

"Everything going well, Robert?" asked Holly.

"Uh, huh. Countdown to zero hour has begun. Time to get this dog and pony show on the road," said Robert. "Nyssa, you're with me. All set?"

Nyssa dressed in a fitted black catsuit nodded. "I have what I need."

"Jackie, you've got Heloise and Holly with you. Get going and be on time, huh?"

"I'm never late when it counts," said Jackie.

"I'll make sure we're not late," said Holly. Her face turned serious as she looked at Robert. "We'll be there. Don't worry about us."

"Nestor, Edgar and Shane, are we ready?" asked Robert of the three black clad men.

"Is the word given?" asked Edgar.

"Yes. Get into position. Keep to the timetable no matter what."

The team scattered. Their vehicles went off into the darkness in various directions.

In the Mercedes, Nyssa studied Robert. It was an opportunity to learn from an experienced agent. She wasn't going to pass it up. She asked, "Are you always this tense?"

"It shows?"

"If you gripped the wheel any harder, you'd wrench it off."

"I must be losing my touch."

Surmising what was on his mind, Nyssa added, "We all know what we need to do and what could go wrong. We know the business end from the other."

"I have other things on my mind," said Robert. "Things I shouldn't be thinking of now. I have to prepare, too."

"You haven't?"

"Not as well or as thoroughly as I'd like," said Robert. "In the old days, I could tolerate a ... a level of uncertainty. Improvise around them."

"And now?"

"It's not the old days any more." Robert lapsed into silence as he maneuvered the car into their pre-selected location to wait out the clock.

Tick, tick, tick.

Majestic Theater

Andrew awakened Faison who seemed calmer. Anna took up the same position as before.

"Let's return to London," said Andrew.

"No."

"You know that you lived in London?"

Faison hesitated before saying, "Yes."

"Very good. When you lived there, you had many friends who would visit you. Is that right?"

"No. No friends."

Anna mouthed the word "family" at Andrew. Andrew asked the question again with a minor change. "When you lived there, in London, you had family who would visit you. Is that right?"

"Yes."

"A daughter? Someone you cared for?"

Faison seemed to freeze in the middle of answering like an old-fashioned vinyl record player that had reached the end of the record and was only playing static.

"Faison?"

There was no response or reaction.

"Faison, do you hear me?"

Again, no visible reaction.

Anna came over and looked down on Faison. "What happened?"

"That confirms that London plus Robin is an equation he is conditioned to not answer. His mind goes to sleep or goes deeper into his subconscious to get away from conscious thought and action. Anything about Robin or a daughter triggers this I would guess," said Andrew. "I ... I have to b-b-be more forceful."

Anna looked at her watch. "If we had more time, Andrew, I would ... I wouldn't-"

"I know, Mum." Andrew sat up straighter in the chair. "I have one more thing to try." He searched through his cell phone's pictures and stopped at one picture. He handed the phone to Anna. He stood up and with one motion backhanded Faison hard across the face. He said, "Cesar Faison, awake!"

Faison fell to the side against the edge of the sofa. His eyes fluttered.

Andrew looked at his hand and clenched it into a fist. He put his hand behind his back. "Do you hear me, Faison?"

Faison's words were slow and slurred. "Y-y-yes."

With his free hand, Andrew straightened Faison on the sofa. His injured leg dangled uselessly. "Open your eyes! Now!"

Faison's eyes snapped open but unfocused.

Andrew held the phone to Faison's face. It showed the locket found in the London flat by Vincent months ago.

"Do you know this? Recognize it?"

Faison nodded. His expression turned wistful. "Davnee's locket. I gave it to her."

Anna covered her mouth with her hand to keep silent.

"When? When did you give it to her?"

"On our honeymoon as ... as an expression of my love. I was so happy."

"Why did you give it to her?"

"I loved her. I wanted to give her my world."

"How did you get the locket? Where did you get it?"

Faison paused for a few seconds. "Davnee gave it to our child. I took care of ... of the child ... for Davnee."

"What was the child's name?"

"Lark. A beautiful name."

Perspiration began to form on Andrew's forehead. He wiped his clammy hands on his trousers. "Where is Lark? Where is she?"

Faison's eyes were puzzled. "I don't know. Davnee took her away. For her safety."

"Davnee must have told you where. You can tell me. Where is Lark?"

"Only Davnee knows."

Andrew rubbed both hands on his face. He thought for a moment then asked, "If Davnee was here, would you tell her where Lark is?"

"Davnee is words. My words. Not here."

"But she is. I'll go get her. Sleep now."

Faison closed his eyes. Andrew looked at his horrified mother.

"You don't know what you're asking," said Anna.

"Davnee holds the key to his world. You are Davnee."

"Like hell I am!"

"Mum, just pretend it's a game of ... of charades."

"This is no game."

"Talk to him as Davnee. What could it hurt?" Andrew added. "I'll turn off the audio recording."

"Keep the recording on. No more secrets. This is for Robin." Anna motioned for Andrew to get out of chair. She sat down. "Wake him up."

Andrew woke Faison and sat on the edge of the sofa watching Anna and Faison. "Davnee is here, Faison. Tell her about Lark. She wants to know about Lark."

"Liar. She's not here," said Faison.

Anna ran a hand down Faison's cheek. "I'm here. It's me. Davnee."

"Davnee?" Faison's eyes fluttered then widened as he saw Anna clearly.

"Yes, I'm here with you," said Anna.

"I'm dreaming."

"No, you're not." Anna grasped one of his hands. "Feel that? I'm here. While we're together, let's talk."

Faison tentatively reached out a hand to touch Anna's shoulder.

"Tell me about you and Robin."

"What do you want to know?"

"She visited you in London didn't she?"

A vague look entered his eyes. "Did she?"

"Yes. You lived in London and she visited you. She ... she left her locket behind."

His hand gripped the side of her neck. He said nothing. He looked at Anna with great intensity.

"You talked to her about me. You wanted to know about ... about us."

Faison's hand tightened yet still he said nothing.

"She told you I was well. That ... that I was living in Pine Valley. She told you that, right? You knew that," said Anna. "You know everything about me."

A smile lifted his lips yet melancholy was reflected in his eyes. His free hand touched her hair and cheek. "I love you. Still. I will never stop. I can't."

Anna leaned her hand and let her cheek return his touch. "Because you love me, please tell me about Robin."

"He's asleep now."

"Asleep?"

"The man who talked to lovely Robin. We should let him sleep."

Anna smiled coyly. "But I want to meet him. Now. Let's wake him up."

"No. He's an angry man, a mad man. He's not very nice."

"But just for a minute or two. Then he can go back to sleep."

Faison smirked. "He won't go back once free. That's why I ... I had our boy put him away. I turned the key in the lock. It was hard but I had to do it while I could. He's a bad man, you know. Crazy!"

Out of the corner of her eye, Anna could see Andrew's expression cycle from consternation to fear to open curiosity.

"I need to talk to him. But maybe you could find out for me. Ask him about Robin."

"He's sleeping. Deep. The door is locked."

"You have the key don't you?"

"No. You do," said Faison.

"Me?"

"Poetic justice since Charlotte created him inside of me.'

"What? She did?"

"It was the only way I could survive her ... treatments. I had to develop a persona that could shield me and keep me safe. He had to be strong. He was. I found a way out and he saved me."

"But if he saved you why put him away to sleep?"

"He hurt Andrew before I could stop him. I couldn't risk more damage. He nearly destroyed everything I worked for. I've spent years repairing the damage."

"It's been years, Cesar. I know he must be rested and calm. We CAN talk to him. He won't hurt me." Andrew shook his head trying to signal Anna to stop. She saw him but she went ahead. "Get the key, Cesar. Open the door."

"I can't. Only ... only you can open it," said Faison. "I thought it was the safest of keys."

"Andrew, I want you to face the wall," commanded Anna.

"Excuse me?" asked Andrew.

"Turn around, Andrew. Face anywhere but this way."

"Why? I promise you I'd never say anything about any of this," said Andrew.

"I do NOT want you to have any ... misleading images in your head where Faison and I are concerned," said Anna.

"That's a bit paranoid, Mum," said Andrew. "What could you possibly do that I would find troubling?"

Anna sighed. "It's bad enough that you have to listen. If you're anything like your father, trust me, I am simply saving you from future therapy bills. Turn, please."

Andrew turned but continued protesting. "Why do I have to?"

"Because I know what the key is and there are some things that you shouldn't be witness to."

"What ARE you planning to do, Mum?"

"Faison taught you a lot of fairy tales, yeah?"

"Yes."

"Well, think about sleeping beauties and frog princes."

"Ah, I see," said Andrew. "Don't do it. This is a bad idea."

"I agree but do you have an alternative?"

"No but-"

"Turn away, Andrew. Here goes something I hope." Anna cupped Faison's face and began to kiss him gently at first then with some force in order to coax a response from him.

A sigh escaped Faison's lips between kisses.

Breathing a little heavily, Anna broke the kiss. She studied Faison's face. WIth his eyes closed, she could gauge no difference. "Cesar? Wake up."

Faison's eyes opened slowly. In the instance that their gazes met, Anna knew she'd made a mistake. There WAS something different in his eyes - an almost feral look. Even his small smile seemed menacing to her. "Anna! My Anna."

Anna gathered her courage and forged on. "Tell me about Robin. When she visited you in London, your cousin was there - Peter. Where is he now? What happened to Robin?"

"Peter? I helped him fund his laboratory."

"Where? A city? An address?"

"He was in Paris for awhile then Vienna. I heard that he had become acquainted with a former student of mine Elena Cosgrove. They're both rather cold-hearted. They should work well together," said Faison. "Why must we talk of them when we have so much to discuss."

"Robin? Where did she go after you met her in London?"

"She went back to Paris. She fell ill and I ordered Peter to take care of her. I would have killed him if anything, anything at all, had happened to Robin," said Faison. "He told me she had recovered and had returned to Paris."

"Are you sure of that?"

"He may be my cousin but where you and your children are concerned I have always taken precautions," said Faison. "I observed her in Paris. From a distance, of course. She has your temper and spirit."

"And she was all right? In Paris?"

"Yes. She was sitting on her balcony reading from a book."

"But she's not all right! She's not!" Anna exploded. "That wasn't Robin you saw!"

"She seemed recovered from her ordeal. I did not mean to agitate her at all but she was fiery. Imagine she thought to protect you from me! Preposterous!"

"It wasn't her, Cesar," said Anna. "Peter substituted a double. Someone who FOOLED you!"

"No. Impossible. I've known Robin since she was a little girl. I care for her."

"You were fooled. So were we."

"Peter wouldn't do that."

"I put nothing beyond him. Peter used his drugs on me to try to make me into someone else. Someone that would love him."

Faison's face flushed. His expression darkened. "He tried to ... do that? To you?"

"Yes, he did and he fooled you with Robin." Anna looked Faison in the eye. "How does it feel to be cuckolded, hmm? To be betrayed ... again?"

"He's a dead man."

"No! I want him. You'll give him to me. Tell me where else he's stayed in the past. Tell me!"

"Paris. Vienna. He's had to stay in hiding for long periods of time. He doesn't move too often. His work cannot be moved. That's all I know, Anna," said Faison. "But I will find him. I will deal with him. Personally."

"Not if I get to him first."

"No, that honor is for me, your champion. I must be the one to vanquish your enemies. In that way I may earn your love."

At those words, Andrew turned around and stared at Faison in horror. Anna had by now lost all color in her face. He used hand gestures to let Anna know to put Faison to sleep again.

"Cesar, you must be tired. Let's go to sleep now."

"Sleep? I can't."

"Why not?" asked Anna dreading the response.

"I've had too much sleep and-"

Andrew stood in front of Faison and said, "It's time to sleep. You're tired. We're all tired."

"Yes, I am tired." Faison slumped. His eyes drifted close.

Andrew and Anna watched for a few seconds making sure that Faison was sleeping.

"I'll let Dani and Lars in. I have to call your father," said Anna. "Ten minutes to go."

"Does this help Father?"

"It'll make him even more determined to break some rules, personal and otherwise. I don't know if I can stop him and I need to." Anna left the dressing room in a hurry.

Andrew began to remove the bandage holding the monitoring wires on Faison's calf when Faison's voice said, "Privacy at last. I'm fully aware, Andrew, of what you did to me. It was underhanded with a touch of whimsy. I approve."

"Sleep!" cried Andrew.

"That trick won't work on me twice. The djinn is out of the bottle. There is no returning to what was," said Faison. "Look at me."

"No." Andrew turned away. "You hold no power or influence over me any longer."

"Don't I?" asked Faison.

Dani and Lars came through the door. Faison settled back into the sofa and half closed his eyes. Andrew watched Dani give Faison an injection of a tranquilizer.

Before Faison drifted back to certain sleep, he said, "This is a new beginning, my boy, for all of us."

Vienna, Austria

Robert picked up the call immediately. "Yes, Anna? Did you shoot him again?"

"No but I wish I had," said Anna over the phone. "Your instincts were right about going into the Foundation. Faison did say that Peter stayed in Vienna for some time and with Elena."

"Bingo! Anything on Robin?"

"After some, um, coaxing, he did remember he had talked to Robin."

"Abducted and talked to," said Robert curtly.

"Yes all that. He said that she had gotten sick and he charged Peter with making her well. Peter said that Robin HAD gotten well and returned to Paris," said Anna. "Faison went to Paris to confirm that Robin was there and ... and he did see Robin from a distance."

"Who was really Eve? Damn!" exclaimed Robert. "You sound exhausted. Get some rest."

"Just ... just busy. That's all," said Anna. "I want you to be extra careful."

"Anna-" began Robert.

"I know you'll turn that place upside down looking but ... but come back to me. Don't follow through on Plan B. Find another way."

"I'm going to get answers."

"We're getting them. Slowly but they're coming in."

"Not fast enough to find Robin," said Robert. "And I have to get Therese out. I won't be able to live with myself if I don't."

"I know. Can you do one thing for me?"

"What's that?"

"Think before you do something permanent," said Anna. "And remember I love you."

"And I love you. I'll see you when I see you." Robert ended the call. He looked around outside before turning to speak to Nyssa. "Well, you heard. We're committed. We're going all in. Remember your first and primary task?"

"Make sure the extraction team gets out clear with the cargo," said Nyssa.

"And your second task?"

"Coordinate the show outside while you play for time."

"Perfect."

"I should be going in with you. To watch your back at the very least."

"Don't worry about me," said Robert. "This operation will be smooth as butter."