One Temple Court
Sean and Tiffany lounged in their living room watching television when Belle came in.
"Honey, you're back early. I thought you and Andrew had a session at the radio station?" asked Tiffany.
"We did but I got chased out," said Belle as she walked towards her parents and sat down next to her mother.
"Chased out?" asked Sean.
"Session was cancelled. There's something going on over there. Dani and Lars were both tense and their teams were scrambling. There were wires and boxes of equipment backstage. Aunt Anna was ... was ... I've never seen her like that," said Belle.
"Like what, honey?"
"There was this expression on her face. I saw her coming in from the auditorium into the backstage area, Dad. She looked mad, crazed mad. She was scary," said Belle. "Not that I blame her with Cesar Faison in town."
Sean sat up abruptly causing Tiffany to look up at him in annoyance. "What did you say?"
"Faison is here?" asked Tiffany. Her annoyance faded instantly.
"It's in the papers and the news this morning. How could you miss it? He was interviewed, too."
Tiffany rubbed at her eyes. "We had a late night, sugar plum."
Sean stood up and nearly sprinted to the coat closet. "I'm going over there. Don't wait up. Anna might need help."
A burst of sirens came through from the television set. Reporter Eva Mendez's face appeared. She said, "I'm here outside General Hospital. International best-selling author P.K. Sinclair has just been brought into the emergency room. We're told that Mr. Sinclair has been shot."
"Shot?" exclaimed Sean.
"About time," said Tiffany. She turned her full attention to the television.
"We are unclear how Mr. Sinclair was injured. The police department has no comment at this time. We will be staying here waiting for an update from hospital personnel," said Eva. "Back to you at the studio, Susan."
"I wonder who did the honors?" asked Tiffany.
"Only one person comes to mind," said Sean as he opened the front door. "I'll call you later."
"Don't bother. I'm coming with you." Tiffany stood up and marched towards the coat closet.
"Me, too," said Belle. "Ready when you are."
"Whoa, whoa a minute! It's probably not safe for, um, civilians."
"Oh, please, Sean. Whatever happened there has passed. How could we not be safe with a whole herd of security agents hovering around?" Tiffany shrugged on her coat. "C'mon. We may be able to help with mop up and damage control."
The Donelys went down the elevator to the underground garage. In minutes they would be at the Majestic.
Vienna, Austria
Knobby tires digging into the frosted grass of the Foundation's lawn, the armada of vehicles made their way closer and closer to the main building. Nearly soundless, tiny in relative mass and hugging close to the ground, the armada failed to trip any motion sensors. They zigged, paused, zagged then paused again mimicking the natural movements of nocturnal creatures.
In a battered Range Rover two hundred feet away, Shane, Nestor and Edgar watched small monitors displaying night vision views of the Foundation's grounds. Various remote controls lay around them. Some remotes controlled only one specialized vehicle while others controlled more than one.
"One more minute to go," intoned Edgar.
"Mine are in position," said Shane.
"Same here," said Hector. "I have the signal tree in sight."
"Robert should be on point," said Edgar. "Arm charges, gentlemen, mark."
Up in the cloudless sky, four black-clad figures jettisoned out of a low flying plane in pairs. They stretched their limbs as far and wide as they could allowing their wing suits to expand and catch the air. Like webbing on a duck's feet, their arms were connected to their torso by tough rubber materials. The same fabric connected their legs together. Spread out, each diver presented the maximum surface area aimed at catching the most wind draft. All four plummeted down at fantastic speed. Their lips silently counted down to a pre-set number.
At the right count, the infiltration team pulled their chute cords. Angular shapes ejected from their packs and unfolded into flattened miniature glider chutes with handles on either end. Andre and Raine grabbed the handles of their gliders, reduced speed and began a controlled descent. Above them, Vincent and Felicia did the same. As they spiraled lower and lower, their eyes were trained downward looking for the telltale light pattern signaling their landing zone.
Where were the lights?
Windows down, Robert paused just outside the tall gates. He spoke into the security video setup. "I demand to speak to Elena Cosgrove Villiers. Tell her it's her old friend, Robert Scorpio."
"It is very late and-" said a male voice.
"She'll want to see me I'm sure. Let her know I'm here. I'll wait."
After a few minutes of static, the voice of Roger Barrett came on. "Scorpio, long time no see."
"You know, Roger, you're the first person I thought of as heading this operation. It's rIght up your alley."
"What do you want?"
"I want to speak with Elena."
"Make an appointment."
"We don't work like that. Have you forgotten? Out of practice?"
"We are a legitimate business, a non-profit. You can damn well follow the rules."
"Is that your final word on the subject?" asked Robert.
"I'll let Elena know. Come back tomorrow and we'll see where we stand then."
"I seem to remember saving you from a DVX gulag."
"I recall that we were even by the time I left the Biscayne Islands. Get out of here, Scorpio, before I send the guards out!"
Robert backed the Mercedes fifty feet. He gunned the motor. It growled like a stalking panther. He said out loud to Nyssa who lay crouched in the back seat. "It's a go! Hang on!"
The Majestic Theater
The Donelys strode backstage just as Anna and Andrew were finishing their tea. Anna kept glancing at her watch.
"You've been busy I hear," said Sean.
Anna smiled. "How was your trip? Progress on the museum project?"
"Not as much as there was here."
"Stop the subtle spy talk already," said Tiffany. "Someone tell me who shot Faison."
"I did," admitted Anna.
"Was it an accident?" asked Sean.
"Who cares!" exclaimed Tiffany. "Hit any vital parts?"
"No, Tif. One flesh wound and another that will leave him hobbling for a time. He will recover."
"With Robert out of town, it was foolish of you to tackle Faison on your own," said Sean.
"I had a lot of help."
"And Robert knows?"
"Yes, he does. Look, Sean, this wasn't planned. I didn't know Faison was coming in. I improvised." Anna looked at her watch. "I don't want to talk about this right this minute."
"We are going to talk about this now. You're the one who wants Faison out of your lives yet at every opportunity you let him waltz back in."
"How dare you!"
"I dare because I know you! I thought you'd put aside this impulsive streak you have. I guess not."
"The days of you second guessing me are over. OVER!" Anna snapped. "I did what I had to do."
"And what was that?"
Andrew interjected, "Let's all go upstairs to the station. The police forensics team will be here soon."
"That is just great," said Sean. "We can't keep expecting Mac to cover for us."
"He's busy with Maxie's assault and battery case," said Andrew.
"What happened?" asked Tiffany. "Is she all right? I've wondered where she was all day."
"Maxie was tied and gagged when she checked in at the house," said Anna. "She hit her panic button. The team found her safe and sound."
"Upstairs, everyone!" said Andrew.
Vienna, Austria
The Mercedes rammed the gates at high speed. More decorative than protective, the gates gave way. As Robert rounded a bend partially obscured by tall trees, Nyssa slipped out of the rear window and rolled across the ground as the car sped ahead of her.
Like a cat, she shimmied up the tree and found an easy perch from which to observe and coordinate the action. She heard the squeal of the Mercedes' tires on the brick paving. Robert had reached the main entrance.
"Time to give him a helping hand," said Nyssa to herself.
Nyssa fished out a small flashlight. She aimed it outwards towards the clear lawn at the side of the Foundation's imposing main building.
FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH.
Signal given, she laid down flat on her stomach and trained her night vision binoculars towards the lawn. She didn't have long to wait.
BOOM! CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!
From various floors of the Foundation's outside wall, windows shattered under a barrage of small projectiles that exploded on contact. Floodlights all around the grounds instantly activated bathing the grounds in an otherworldly blue haze. Alarm sirens blared into the night loud and shrill.
Nyssa could hear the front doors banging open. The shouts of panicked security guards reached her ears. She smiled then flashed another signal.
FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH. FLASH. FLASH.
Second later, more explosions sounded on the other side of the building.
CRACK! BOOM! CRACK!
Round spotlights began to sweep across the grounds.
SHRAK!
The spotlight's glass shattered. The grounds grew dim again.
"TIme for phase two," said Nyssa. She scanned the skies briefly and saw nothing. She sent off another signal.
FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH.
A vibrating hum began to be heard louder and louder. Suddenly, like neon mushrooms dotting the grounds, the lights of the miniature armada came on. Each vehicle ran a specific pattern. Their lights - reds, blues, yellows and greens - made a pretty picture like large fireflies dancing across the earth. If one could see from the air, it would have looked like a welcoming landing pattern.
The hum changed into a high pitched whine that made Nyssa want to cover her ears. She bore it stoically. She tightened her hold on her perch just as the alarm was silenced. She could hear the tramp of footfalls coming closer and the shouts turning into curses.
SHARAK-BOOM! PHOOM!
Nyssa closed her eyes before she was blinded by the fireball erupting at the front doors of the Foundation. She knew without looking what had caused the fireball. She heard the crackle and hiss of flames as the Mercedes was engulfed in a fiery inferno.
SHRAK!
Elena Cosgrove Villiers manipulated her wheelchair motor's controls to go faster. Beside her Roger Barrett jogged to keep up. Around them, emergency lights shone in the hallways. Security guards ran past them in all directions. The absence of the expected alarms made the situation more ominous.
SHARAK-BOOM! PHOOM!
Elena and Roger instinctively ducked as the explosion's impact resonated through the building setting the walls to trembling for a minute or two.
"What is happening?" asked Elena.
"Scorpio ... it has to be him!" repleid Roger.
"You should have told me he was here."
"I didn't think he was serious. You were sleeping. I told him to come back in the morning," said Roger. "Who knew what he was up to?"
Elena restarted her chair. "You did what you thought was right. What are we doing about this?"
"Security is preparing to go out and secure the grounds," said Roger.
"What are we facing? And what happened to the alarms?"
"Snipers with incendiaries. All electronics like our computers and alarms inside are malfunctioning," explained Roger. "I don't know how they managed an EMP pulse. It's the only thing that could knock out our systems.
"Prepare my van and have it brought to the front."
"Where are you going?"
"The new facility. I'll let Peter know. Join me after you clean this place up," ordered Elena.
"A full cleanup?" asked Roger.
Elena said without hesitation or doubt, "It's time we moved on. The past is gone and we've hoarded it for too long. Make sure no artifact remains. You understand what I'm saying?"
Roger nodded. His mind began to catalogue the various tasks he needed to do to fulfill Elena's orders.
They reached the front lobby as the security guards were ushering in a visitor. The visitor spotted Elena and Roger and said, "Did I get your attention?"
"You know you did," said Elena. "What do you want?"
"Whatever happened to the niceties? Hello, Elena, how are you?" asked Robert.
"I was fine and you?" asked Elena playing along with Robert's mock civility.
"I was itching for some action and here I am."
KA-BOOM.
They all winced at the sound of windows shattering in order like dominos set to falling.
"Are you trying to bring the building down? Tell them to stop," said Elena.
Robert smiled. The explosion was a signal to him that Phase 3 was completed. Now, the operation was in full force. He had to do his part. "They'll stop eventually. Let's have our chat, shall we?"
"Handcuff him and take him downstairs," ordered Roger. "Your chat is denied."
Robert watched the guards begin to close. "That's not a good idea. I'm expected to be available and alive when they contact me. If they don't get me, they'll resume their activities and they won't stop. So, what will it be?"
Gliding on the night wind, shadows alighted on the Foundation's darkened rooftop. First two then the another pair. Without words each set about the tasks that they had drilled repeatedly.
Andre, crouched, reconnoitered the length of the roof to ensure the area was secured. He parked himself by the roof door.
Raine ran to the ege of the building overlooking the front of the building. Shielding her flashlight with one palm, she sent a signal.
FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH.
She immediately got an answering signal from Nyssa in her watch tree. Raine didn't stay around to see the armada douse their lights and begin to make their way off the grounds. But they all felt the subsequent explosive impact.
KA-BOOM.
Felicia, Vincent and Raine dismantled the heavy metal cover of an exhaust vent. As they had practiced, Felicia tied a guide rope around her waist and dropped down the vent while Vincent gave the rope some slack.
This was a moment of uncertainty for them all. The floor plans and blueprints had shown that the vent was wide enough to be used as a physical entry point. But plans could have been changed during construction. Would Felicia find her way in? They waited for a signal to be conveyed on the rope.
The rope was tugged two times. Vincent released his tight hold on the rope. One more signal would confirm success or failure. He let the rope rest on his palm. His every nerve was on the alert for the slightest movement.
TUG. TUG.
Vincent pulled on the rope three times to let Felicia know that her signal had been received. He motioned Raine to descend first. Andre moved closer but kept watch still. He would be the last inside.
Three minutes later, he was in the vent refitting the cover over the hole. Andre used two screws to secure the vent good enough to not blow over in a good wind yet easy enough to remove if they had use the vent as an exit.
Inside a small utility room on the top floor, Felicia and Raine arranged their disguises as Vincent then Andre joined them.
Andre looked at his watch. "Everyone, set mark. It's our turn now. Let's go."