The Heritage Foundation, Vienna, Austria

Andre had easily breached the electronic locks on the level above the sub cellar. He had found living quarters and an office not the work areas filled with more atrocities as he had expected. He had added to his backpack a few items he'd found — some floppy disks and a small laptop.

"That objective is done," he said to himself. He shrugged on the backpack. "Time to see Roger."

WHIRR CLICK BEEP

Andre froze as he heard the electronic lock engage and open. Someone was coming. He doused his flashlight and crouched behind the large desk.

Raine and Felicia with a docile Therese walking between them reached the maintenance elevator but there was no sign of Vincent. Raine stepped into the elevator. Vincent's head appeared in the ceiling through an open access panel.

"Get in," hissed Vincent. "Hurry."

They entered and Felicia pressed a button but the elevator did not move. "What's going on?"

"Power is out. On generator and backup power. We can't chance the emergency stairs," said Vincent. He stuck a hand out. "One of you first, then Therese."

"She's more at ease with you. Go first, Felicia," said Raine. She pulled out her Glock pistol and guarded the door as Vincent lifted Felicia upwards.

A minute later, Therese was rising through the ceiling. Raine replaced the panel after she was lifted up. Felicia tied a rope around Therese and wound it around Vincent's belt loops while Vincent hummed Waltzing Matilda as he had been taught to do prior to the mission. Clutching the scrap of scarf in one hand, Therese was calm and did not react negatively to being set against Vincent's back.

Using her flashlight, Raine surveyed the elevator shaft easily picking out shaft ladder. She led the way up. Felicia came next. Both women were ready to provide cover fire should their ascent be discovered. Vincent came last with Therese strapped on and clinging to his shoulders.

No banter was exchanged. As silently as they could, they made their way higher and higher.

Nyssa, perched higher up in the tree, looked at the incoming text message. It simply said: In position. Hold on for fireworks.

She looked down on her watch. She estimated another thirty minutes before Vincent's hour deadline. Using her flashlight, she gave a short signal in the same direction across the side lawn as before. A few seconds later came an answering signal.

Edgar and Heloise's teams were in position. She had to trust that the inside team had a solid plan. She tried Robert's phone again. Still no answer.

Blue strobe lights from two police cars washed over the front doors of the Foundation. Against the backdrop of the still smoking ruin of the Mercedes, Foundation management were in heated discussion with the police who were none too pleased with being barred from the premises and their questions ignored. Foundation security personnel stood guard at the massive doors.

Nyssa watched all this with growing excitement and worry. There had been no further word from the inside team. It would have been nice to have some idea of what was really going on. Another police car arrived and then a fire truck. Nyssa smiled at the conversations she could hear. The fire marshall had been roused from bed it seems. He was venting to a harassed Foundation manager about endangering the public and not reporting a public hazard.

The Range Rover rumbled down the driver with all of its lights blazing. It fishtailed and parked parallel to the entrance in front of Nyssa's watch tree. Out the doors facing the entrance sprang Jackie Templeton with a tape recorder in hand and Nestor with the camcorder on his shoulder recording everything. Shane slipped out of the other side out of view of the agitated police. He ran towards the darkened lawn lugging a heavy sack on his back. Edgar slipped out of the driver's side and walked towards Nyssa's tree.

Leaning against the tree snapping still pictures, Edgar whispered urgently up to Nyssa, "Change in plans."

"What else is new," said Nyssa.

"Get yourself to the back," said Edgar. "I'll follow you there."

Nyssa shinnied down the tree. "No signal from the boss. Orders?"

"What else? Improvise. Go!"

Roger Barrett entered the study. The beam of his flashlight rested on the desk.

"What the hell! I know it was here," said Roger. He turned around shining light across the wall of shelves and cabinets. He was yanked back by the hair. A muscular arm snaked around his neck. "Hmmmph ..."

"You have unfinished business downstairs. Let's go," said Andre.

"H-h-how do you ... who are you?" said Roger.

"You're right handed as a I recall so this shouldn't be a big deal." Andre twisted and pulled Roger's arm.

"Aargh!" screamed Roger. His now dislocated left shoulder hung useless by his side.

"Move!" Andre pushed Roger forward but the former spy resisted.

Roger elbowed Andre in the ribs.

Andre held on to Roger's shoulder as he slammed a knee into Roger's spine driving him to his knees. "We have all the evidence we need. But people like you tend to get off on technicalities and the protection of old friends. There's no justice in that. So, I'm going to make things really simple. No loopholes necessary."

Roger spat out, "A deal?"

Andre pulled Roger up to his feet. He half carried and half pushed him towards the door. "Disarm the bomb and I'll show you more mercy in death than you've ever shown for any of your hundreds of victims."

Roger began to struggle in earnest. "Go to hell!"

"Right after you!" Andre threw Roger against the wall.

BOOM!

The floor shook.

Andre's fingers tightened around Roger's throat. "What did you do?"

"An end to everyone's misery," said Roger. "What you w-w-wanted - justice."

BOOM!

Pieces of the ceiling began to rain down on them.

Accompanied by two guards on the top floor, Elena maneuvered her chair down the hallway from her room towards the maintenance elevator.

One of the guards spoke into his walkie talkie. "Emergency power to the elevator. Schnell, Hedich, for Madame!"

The second guard looked back at a sound. Several bullets tore through his torso. The first guard returned fire while extolling Elena to get to the elevator.

On the run and getting closer to his quarry, Robert had not bothered to aim. He had pulled the trigger and swept it across the width of the corridor. He saw one guard go down then the other sagged against the wall but still conscious and firing back. One vicious backhand to the face later and the guard joined his colleague on the floor.

"Elena!" shouted Robert as he sprinted after her.

Elena punched at the elevator button. The indicator arrow was pointing up. The elevator was on the first floor and ascending.

Robert took a firm hold on one of the handles of the wheelchair. "Going somewhere without me?"

Elena sneered, "As hard to kill as ever?"

"You should have done the job yourself," replied Robert. "What did he say?"

"Let go!"

"Answers first!" snarled Robert.

BOOM!

Elena's face betrayed a mixture of anger and fear as the aftershocks shook the building. "It's too soon. Something's happened. You ... you've destroyed everything!"

BOOM!

The elevator door opened much too slowly. Robert kept his hold on the chair pulling back and preventing it from moving forward.

Ungently, Robert's fingers clamped tight about Elena's jaw and tilted her face upward. "You want my help? You know the price. Where's my daughter?"

"I'm useless to you dead," countered Elena.

BOOM!

The floor beneath them rolled like a carpet. The floors beneath them were disintegrating. It was only a matter of time before the entire building began to topple in earnest. Robert pushed the chair into the elevator. Elena eagerly punched the first floor. The elevator began to descend.

"My daughter for your life then," rasped Robert.

"I'll take what I can get," said Elena. "Peter didn't say where she is. I ... I could tell he has her but I'll talk to him again. We'll do an exchange."

BOOM!

The elevator's downward motion stopped with a violent jerk. The emergency lights flickered.

"Where's Peter now?" Robert stabbed at all the buttons on the panel.

A strange smile curved about Elena's lips. "That was the fourth bomb."

"You'd bring the whole thing down to cover your escape. I never placed you for a coward."

"A survivor, surely," said Elena. "The last two bombs will do the job. Let's try to pass the time pleasantly. Your daughter is important to him. Very."

Robert leaned into Elena's face. His hands clenched around the chair's armwrests. "Is? She's alive? Where is she?"

"I can only assume that she's with Peter in Vladivostok," said Elena. "He has a research lab there."

Robert searched her eyes for deceit and found none. He fumbled about his pocket and took his IPhone out. The phone answered immediately. "Anna! Vladivostok! That's where Robin's at!"

"We're at the airport now. Stopping over in Vienna to pick up all of you en route."

"I'll try to be there," said Robert softly. He turned away from Elena.

"Robert?" asked Anna warily. "What's going on over there? Everyone's scrambling. You WILL get out. Promise me!"

"I'm in a bit of a pickle," said Robert. "They've started detonating bombs to bring the building down and ... and to bury their sins. I really should have let you come along. Could have come in handy."

"Yeah. Next time," said Anna. "There will be a next time."

"77-91-09," said Robert.

Anna finished the thought for them both. "Forever."

Robert sighed. "Place is falling apart 'round my ears, luv."

"Mission is aborted. Get moving!"

"That's not going to be easy," said Robert. "While I can talk, here are more bits you can use. Sinclair has her at a laboratory of some kind. He knows we're looking for her. At least I know she's alive. That's enough for me."

"Robert, don't talk. Listen. This is from today," commanded Anna. She replayed Robin's message.

Robert's throat tightened more and more as he listened. He swayed on his feet. After the message ended, he declared with conviction, "He's a dead man."

"Be there at the airport."

"Don't you be late."

"Never," said Anna. "Do you need assistance? Up, down, sideways? I'll keep playing the message until you get moving."

"You have a way of motivating a man's survival instincts, Devane."

"It only works on you, Scorpio."

Robert eyed the elevator ceiling. "I've got a likely exit strategy. See you soon." He ended the connection and initiated a call to Nyssa. "Mission is aborted. They've rigged the place to really blow."

"The calvary is here. Need help?" asked Nyssa.

Robert remembered Elena's pseudo-terrorist plot. "Got things under control. No one leaves anything - weapons, explosives, nada. I'm coming out topside. Get everyone clear."

"Andre?"

"He's taking care of Barrett. Don't worry about him. Out." Robert pocketed his phone then moved Elena's wheelchair and locked the wheels manually.

"What ... what are you doing?" asked Elena. "What's happened to Roger?"

"You didn't think we'd leave a loose cannon like Roger to do as he pleases do you? He was planting the bombs while we talked earlier wasn't he? Neat trick, Elena. He's up to his neck in this and he's going to answer for it."

"And me?"

"What about you?" Robert balanced himself on the two back wheels. With one hand he punched at the ceiling panel which gave way.

"You said ... you promised my life for information."

"In our history, I recall several attempts to kill me. That tends to color my viewpoint about you." Robert hoisted himself up to the elevator's roof. He could smell acrid smoke coming from all directions.

"You lied to me," said Elena.

"Yes."

Elena looked up at him. "You're an honorable man."

"People change even me."

"You can't ... can't just leave me here!"

"You got between me and those I care about," said Robert. "Guess what my choice will be."

"You HAVE to help me!"

"I gave you an exit before and you ordered me killed. Talk about biting the hand that feeds," said Robert. "By the way, all the evidence we have will be delivered to the appropriate authorities today. One way or another, the voices of your victims will be heard. I hope it brings them some peace. As for you, goodbye, Elena."

Robert began to climb upward using the shaft ladder. He had to get to the roof.

"Scorpio! This isn't the end! You'll find out! You will!" Elena fumbled with the walkie talkie. "Roger! Roger, I need help! Send somebody! Roger!"

Smoke began to rise from the elevator's control panel. The lights flickered then went off completely leaving Elena in total darkness. She reached for the manual brakes and released them. She began to pound at the elevator doors.

"Someone help! I need help!" said Elena. "Help me!"

The television van lumbered down the back driveway towards the loading dock.

"Do you see her?" asked Holly peering out the window.

"No but she'll be here," said Heloise. "We must keep them occupied. Are you ready?"

Holly fingered the press pass hanging on a lanyard around her neck. "I think so."

Heloise hit the brakes abruptly at sighting a flashing light ahead of her on the side of the driveway. "Nyssa!" She deciphered the signal easily. "Mission aborted."

"And?" asked Holly. She turned on the external cameras and spotlights.

"Carte blanche. We get everyone out in whatever way necessary."

In that instant, on the far side of the enormous structure, windows blew outward chased by fiery flames, bricks, stones and other debris. Heloise accelerated and screeched to a halt in front of the loading dock. Injured men and women were running out of the doors. Staff pushed and pulled patients along in gurneys and wheelchairs. Another explosion sounded on the other side this time.

Poised just outside the van, Holly and Heloise fended off official inquiries from panicked guards and watched for the inside team to emerge. Heloise nodded at Nyssa who waded against the outgoing sea of people and into the dock.

"Where are they?" fretted Holly. "It must be an inferno in there."

"I'm going in," said Heloise. "You know what to do?"

Holly dangled the second set of van keys. "Go on. I'll report in."

She called Command and Control. "We're in place for immediate extraction."

"How is it?" asked Genji.

"Wait. Activating the external link." Holly ran inside the van and hurriedly found the jury-rigged control panel. She flicked a lever up. "There you go."

Anna's voice came over the connection. "Holly?"

"Yes, here, Anna."

"Robert's coming out from the roof. Is Nyssa around?"

"No. She and Heloise have gone in to find the others. It's a madhouse here!" said Holly.

"All right, um, Robert may not be thinking too clearly. He needs a beacon of some sort as a guide to your location. Can you do something?"

Holly's mind whirled. Her eyes alighted on the spotlights. "Yes! I've got an idea."

"Good." Anna began issuing more instructions over the channel.

Holly fiddled with the miniature joystick on the spotlight controls until she had one trained along the roof line. Mentally reciting the sequence of short and long flashes, she began to turn the lights off and on.

"C'mon, Robert, See the signal!" said Holly. "Don't disappoint me now."

Nyssa and Heloise found Vincent carrying Therese. She could hear gunfire echoing through the smoke-filled corridor.

"Take her. I have to go back." Vincent pushed Therese into Heloise's arms.

"Non, Vincent!" said Heloise.

Vincent shouted back as he ran back. "They're pinned. Fire fight!"

"Go, Nyssa," instructed Heloise. "You have fifteen minutes and no more." She hooked Therese's arm over her shoulder and began to half carry the woman outside to the waiting van.

The sounds of various alarms was deafening. The amber and red emergency lights mixed with the smoke and rising heat made for a suitable facsimile of hell.

Nyssa ran to Felicia's side. Immediately, she laid down cover fire giving Felicia some breathing room. Beside them, Vincent rose to his feet with Raine in his arms. Beyond the hazy smoke, dark figures could be made out as well as the bright flashes of their gun muzzles.

"I've got this. Cover them and get out!" yelled Nyssa. She followed their progress and when she judged them far enough away, she withdrew a fragment grenade from her side pack. "The building is coming down. It won't mind a little help."

She tossed the grenade with an expert's arm then sprinted after the others.

Robert half ran and half stumbled across the roof avoiding sudden craters and blowing debris. He'd had to pry the elevator doors open on the top floor then dash to the roof while the building imploded around and beneath him.

FLASH. FLASH. LONG FLASH. FLASH. FLASH. FLASH. FLASH.

The signal kept repeating across one portion of the sky. He ran towards it muttering a stream of his inner monologue. "Robin's alive. We're coming. Hang on, sweetheart. Hang on."

A figure wreathed in flames jumped out of a second floor window and down to the expansive lawn. Andre executed a perfect body roll and kept rolling to extinguish the flames biting at his clothes. He stopped spread on the ground looking up at the night sky.

"This is what you call fun?" asked Shane from the darkness.

"Just another day at the office," said Andre. He rolled to his knees. "Let's go!"

"I ought to watch for Robert. I thought he'd be with you," said Shane.

Andre shook his head. "Got separated. He'll be fine. We need to disappear. Go!"

The two men crouched and ran for the Range Rover.

Robert peered over the side of the roof. He easily spotted the TV van. He vaulted over the side and landed on to the roof of the dock extension.

He rubbed at his sore knees. "I've got to stop getting myself into this sort of thing."

He crawled to the end managed to slowly swing himself off and down. Hobbling as fast as he could, he reached the van. He called out, "Everyone in?"

"Yes. Front team is leaving and so are we," said Heloise as she tended to Raine who was beginning to regain consciousness. "No serious injuries."

As if on cue, Nyssa turned the van and began to speed down the rear driveway. In the passenger side, Vincent was reporting into Genji at Command and Control.

"Robert? You all right?" asked Holly.

Robert smiled and nodded. "Did you hear? Robin's alive. I heard her. She sounded so good. So alive."

"That's wonderful news!" said Holly. She tapped Robert's arm. She turned towards the back of the van. "There's someone else here you need to see."

Robert made his way to Therese. He watched her silently for a time as she and Felicia hummed Waltzing Matilda.

He whispered, "Therese? Do you know me?"

Therese Curic stopped swaying and looked at him. She began to frantically pat at her clothes. She started to whimper.

Robert looked at Felicia. "What's wrong?"

"Vincent! The cloth! You got it?" asked Felicia.

After a minute, the small scrap of brown faded cloth was handed from person to person from the front to the rear. Felicia gave it to Therese who instantly calmed down. She beamed at Robert and shyly held out the cloth to him. She asked with an innocent's happiness, "Li-o?"

Robert took her hand in his. "Thank you, Therese." He moved closer. He kissed her forehead. He said some words in a language none of them understood but Therese did. She kissed his cheek then began to lie down on the camp bed.

Heloise tucked the blanket around her patient. "She knew you. That is amazing after all this time."

"It's the cloth not me. It's part of a shirt that ... that she always kept washed, pressed and ready ... for me. Whenever Franjo and I would come home, there was a meal and clean clothes," said Robert. "She took such good care of us. She's going to get the best of care. There are several good places back home."

"What did she call you? Li-oh?" asked Holly.

"I was Leo Jarvil in a former life," said Robert quietly. "Leo loved her in his way and I, well, I owe her for the rest of my life. Therese was ... is a remarkable woman." Robert looked at Heloise. "You know about our next stop?"

"Yes. Andre and I will take Therese with us to Thanos' estate. We will stay there until things blow over. There will be consequences for this night," said Heloise. "We would go with you but family matters must take precedence."

"Of course. Salim is still there?"

"He and Thanos have reached an impasse about Jacques' last wish. Thanos is under some urgency but he will not say why. Only that he wants Helena found immediately."

"And Salim wants to go slower?"

"Yes. I cannot say I blame him." Heloise looked around. She saw tired and drawn faces. "Many things have happened. Many demands made of all of us. We must rest, Robert."

Robert nodded. "We'll talk more later. We need to make some decisions. How's Raine?"

Raine answered herself. "Concussion. Nothing serious."

"What happened?" asked Robert.

Felicia replied, "We got to a room that we thought was a good hiding place until the hour. As it turned that wasn't a good idea. It was filled with boxes and manufacturing equipment. Raine and I were checking out the premises when we got ambushed."

"Was it a chair that hit me?" asked Raine.

"The second time, yeah," said Felicia. "It was hand to hand then the guards came and the fire fight started. I was down to my last clip when Nyssa showed up." She pulled out a small package from her pocket. "We did get this from one of the packing boxes."

"What is it?" asked Heloise.

"I think it's pure Compound X. Someone will have to check it," said Felicia. "The best part is they come in packets. We can include one in each of the evidence packs being sent out to Interpol, MI6 and the rest of them."

"Good thinking," said Robert. "Raine, you and Shane go with Heloise. You're in charge of Therese's security. I want her kept under wraps. She's not going to be a ... a floorshow in the coming circus of finger pointing and denials. We'll pick you up on the swing back."

The small satellite video receiver squawked to life. A male announcer was reading a recent news story. In the background, they could see the entire Foundation building consumed by flames. Firefighters and other personnel were watching the blaze.

The announcer said, "In a stunning development, we have video of the renowned Heritage Foundation burning to the ground. Authorities tell us that they do not know yet why the fire became so uncontrollable in such a short time period. No official statement from the Foundation has been issued."

Holly turned the volume down. "I saw some patients being ferried out."

"Most likely the legitimate patients from the upper floors," said Felicia. "Anyone under the first floor are ... were considered past baggage. I don't think even the staff knew what was happening until it was too late."

"We have to believe that getting one out alive is a miracle. Our evidence, I hope, will be enough to condemn the Foundation once and for all," said Robert.

"But, if we'd only-"

"One at a time, Felicia," said Robert. "We have to pick our battles remember."

A long line of police and emergency vehicles snaked up the driveway. More television vans began to arrive.

Edgar gunned the engine. He shouted out the open window. "In, now! Mademoiselle, please!"

Jackie slid into the passenger side. Nestor squeezed into the back seat next to Shane and Andre.

"I gotta get to the van to upload this footage," said Jackie. "Is the van okay?"

"The van and the people are fine," said Andre consulting his phone and listening to the main communications channel. "Edgar, rendezvous at point Alpha. Jackie, thank you for everything. We will drop you and the van off at a cafe."

"And?" asked Jackie. "I'll never see you guys again?"

"We have an appointment in Russia."

"Have passport, will travel," said the reporter.

"That will have to be cleared with-"

"With Anna," finished Jackie. "What is she - a ten foot tall Amazon or something?"

"Or something," said Edgar with a grin.

"I go or I go public about this spy network of yours," said Jackie. "Don't deny that that's what this is either."

"You would not do that to Robert," said Edgar.

"Try me. You've given me the story of the year. I have a feeling there's more up your sleeves," said Jackie. "I'll sign another stack of non-disclosure, full secrecy agreements. The works!"

Andre contacted Robert. "Jackie wants to come along."

"She just wants to meet Anna," said Robert in a testy mood.

"Of course I do," said Jackie. "And your son, your daughter."

"And get reacquainted with my brother no doubt," said Robert.

"You have a brother?"

"Malcolm Scorpio. You met him in Paris."

"He said he was a cousin not a brother," said Jackie.

"I see," said Robert. "It shall be my pleasure to introduce you to his fiancee. I'm sure you and Anna and Dia will get along just fine."

"You like to live dangerously, Robert," said Heloise.

"And we're all going to be on the SAME plane." asked Felicia. "At the same time."

"It'll be great just like the old days," said Robert with a happy grin. "Ye of little faith."