Hotel Vladivostok, Vladivostok
"I'll get you that divorce. Right now!" growled Robert making for the door.
"No! You will not kill him!" said Robin.
"Won't I?"
Robin rushed to the door. She stood her ground facing up to an enraged Robert. She didn't yell. She didn't have to. The room was silent as a tomb. "I have too much blood on my hands. I don't want more. It has to stop. I choose to stop it right now."
"What are you talking about? Sinclair is responsible for everything. Don't forget he created the first compound," said Robert. "We saw your room. How could you defend someone who would put you into a cage for a day, a month, for years?"
"I'm not. I can't," said Robin. She took a deep breath. "Back off and let ... let me explain. Please." She pulled a wad of folded sheets of paper from her back pocket. She waved the wad in the air. "Peter will do anything to get this back."
In one smooth motion, Robert picked up a chair and smashed it against the wall reducing it to bits of wood and upholstery. The veins throbbed in his neck and his eyes flashed with fury. Robin recoiled as did everyone else in the room.
Robert raged, "I am NOT losing my family because of a piece of paper!"
"Robin, get away! Now!" yelled Anna rushing towards Robert.
"If ... if you'll just listen, Dad!" cried Robin.
"It's not happening! My wife ... our son gone just like that!" Robert stepped towards Robin forcing her against the door. "No!"
Anna grabbed hold of Robert's left wrist. She whispered urgently, "It's not Christmas. I'm here with you." She caressed his face and said in a voice of infinite care and love. "Look at me. Trust me." She tapped his watch. "Trust in us. Robert, come back to me."
Robert stared at her uncomprehendingly. Anna remained wedged between Robert and Robin never breaking eye contact with Robert. In soothing tones, she said, "They lied. I'm here. Our family is here. Together." She stood on tiptoe and whispered into his ear. "I love you and only you. I'm here for you."
Robert blinked several times. His voice was ragged, "Not Christmas. No paper."
"No paper," said Anna. She waited not releasing his hand or moving from where she stood shielding Robin. "Everything is ... is going to be all right. Stay with me."
Robin stepped away from the door. "What's wrong with Dad? He looked ready to kill me."
"Stress. Tension. Too much to control all at once," said Anna. "Andrew, get your father something to drink."
Robert sagged against the wall. He looked around dazed. "What did I do?" He looked at Anna. "Did I hurt you?"
"No. It's okay," said Anna leading him towards the living room.
Robert followed on uncertain legs until he saw Robin and he stopped. "You're not going. You can't."
"You told me once that I should face my fears. I ... I'm afraid of Peter but I want him out of my life for good. I can make that happen," insisted Robin. "I have to try."
"Let's regroup. Robin, please sit over here and explain. Robert, sit down by me." Anna took a seat on the couch. "Robin, do you want everyone here?"
"It's better that this is out in the open," said Robin.
Dinner forgotten, everyone moved back to the living room. They sat on chairs, the couch and the floor.
"Tell us how is it you're married and ... and ... oh, god just explain," said Anna. "Help us, all of us, to understand."
"This is unbelievable," said Mac. "Has he brainwashed you?"
At the suggestion, Robert started to rise to his feet. Anna pulled on his hand to keep him seated next to her. She said, "Mac, let's hold off on assuming anything. Robin. I ... I think you better start at the beginning."
Robin faced her audience. "The beginning is patchy for me. I went to England for a walking tour and to, maybe, meet someone, um, Vincent, actually. Mom, this was after I came back from seeing you in Pine Valley. I was ... was using the trip to think about the coming year. I had a new job waiting for me at a research lab in Paris. I was going into a new term at university. I just needed time to sort things through. I was at the door to my hotel room when I was taken from behind and chloroformed."
Seated side by side, both Mac and Robert tensed. Their ladies held on to a hand each and kept them seated.
"I woke up in a reclined position and tied up," said Robin. "The first person I saw was Faison." Robin took a deep breath before continuing. "He wanted to know what you'd remembered, Mom. He became more and more agitated because, I guess, I wasn't giving him the answers he wanted. I mean you hardly told me anything about what happened on the boat and that's what he wanted to know about. I tried to explain but he ... he wouldn't listen."
Robert let go of Anna's hand and slung his long arm around her. He drew her to him giving her what comfort he could. So far Robin's story was mirroring what Eve had told them she had seen on the videotape. Hearing it from Robin's lips was ten times worse.
"Did Faison hurt you in any way?" asked Robert.
"Not physically. I could tell he really wanted to let me have it a few times as he got more frustrated but no he didn't hurt me. I lost my temper. I goaded him. You know how sarcastic I can get sometimes," said Robin. "There was someone else there but I didn't know it was Peter at the time. After Faison had had enough, he had Peter give me an injection. I don't think it was Faison's idea. Peter was guaranteeing that I would talk."
"And you did," said Mac. "What could you know though."
Robin shook her head. "I didn't, Uncle Mac. I passed out. From this point, it's, um, fragmented. I woke up in a different place. It was darker, grayer. I only saw Peter."
"How did you feel?" asked Alex.
"Dizzy and disoriented when I woke up. Afterwards, really tired. All the time. I couldn't think straight," said Robin. "My tongue, lips and gums were sore. I think I had some kind of seizure while under. I'm not sure."
"A violent reaction to whatever he gave you," said Alex.
"I think Peter got scared. He tried to give me liquids, food and medicines but I couldn't keep anything down. I got weaker and weaker," said Robin. "I thought I would sleep and never wake up again."
"And, when you were awake, you couldn't always remember where you were or who you were," said Anna quietly. "You weren't angry or agitated just so very sad but you weren't sure why you were sad."
"Yes, exactly!" said Robin. "I had to remember who I was when I couldn't recall right away, too. Peter would ask me question after question and I answered. I didn't think to lie or not answer except ... when the drugs were ... dissipating from my system. In those times, I felt angry and my mind was a little clearer. Sometimes I could think of an answer before replying. Not often but sometimes. I changed my answer a little."
"Like what?" asked Robert.
"Dad, he was asking me details about my life even the intimate things. That didn't feel right to me. I wanted to lash out, fight back. So, I embellished or exaggerated. I said that ... that Mom and Alex used to change places when they were young. I said that the one thing I wanted was to have a family because I'd lost mine. That wasn't exactly true," said Robin. "I had a taste of having a family with Jason and baby Michael. It turned out to not be what I thought it would be. Having isn't always the same as wanting."
"You don't want a family? A child of your own?" asked Holly.
"I do if it happens but it's not the end all and be all for me," replied Robin. "I ... I may never have children. I know that."
Anna and Robert shared a pained look as they were both thinking of Emma. How would Robin react to learning what Eve had wrought?
"What do you want most?" asked Dianara.
"I want my life back. I want to be in full control. I want to try everything and anything. I want to live without fear, without regrets," said Robin. "And I want to ... to atone for the pain and suffering that my work has meant to people."
"Robin, it's not-" began Robert.
"Dad, no one put a literal gun to my head when I studied the formulas and the data. I refined a process that was near instant death to one of slow, if painless, death. Death is death. Call a spade a spade! Was it the right thing to do? I'll never know."
"You did save lives, Robin," said Alex. "Andrew's for one."
"What?"
"He was dosed with Compound X. It had an idiosyncratic result but he's still here with us," said Alex.
"The base of the compound doesn't work well for HIV positive subjects for some reason." Robin looked closely at Andrew. "Are you HIV positive? I'm sorry, Andrew."
"I'm not HIV positive, I have an old, built-in, immunity to carbon disulfide. Compound X is a variant of that, yes?" said Andrew. "It had a decidedly unforgettable effect on me."
"I still don't see how it's your fault, Robin. You WERE under duress. Work or die? That's one heck of a gun in my view," said Mac. "Just stop blaming yourself, please."
"Robin, we believe that we've shut down the manufacturer of the compounds. No more people will be subjected to it," said Robert.
"You have?" asked Robin.
"We've been busy this last year. We'll go into more detail later but know that no one will be making it anymore."
"And the human testing? Yes, I know about that. I did that, too." Robin ran a hand across her face. She slumped into an armchair. "Hilda, Charlotte and all the rest dead because of me."
"Who are they?" asked Anna.
"Hilda was my caretaker and nanny. She tried to help me escape but I didn't believe her. Her body was found earlier today," said Robin. "Charlotte is YOUR Charlotte, Alex - your mother Charlotte Devane."
"What?" exclaimed Alex and Anna together.
"If it wasn't for her I couldn't have escaped."
Alex closed her eyes remembering past pain. Dimitri laid a hand on her arm. "When ... when did you last see her?"
"A few days ago. The day I left," said Robin.
"It could not have been her. Papa dis-um-disposed of her. He told me so," said Andrew.
"Faison doesn't like to get his hands dirty unless he has to. He uses henchmen for that. Someone botched it," said Mac.
"When did he tell you this? I wasn't told." asked Robert looking at Andrew then at Anna. "You knew didn't you?"
"You call him Papa?" asked Robin weakly.
"Charlotte is a very resourceful woman. She could have escaped," said Anna.
"So she could still be alive ..." Alex's voice trailed away. "It can't be. It just can't."
"How did you ... she get to your lab in the first place?" asked Anna. "It's too impossible to believe."
"Did you or did you not know, Anna? Why didn't you tell me?" asked Robert.
"Enough!" yelled Anna. "This is such a tangled mess. The only way to untangle it is ... is one thing at a time. Let's stick to the matter at hand which is Robin and Charlotte. Everything else is ancient history. Go on, Robin." She said as an aside to Robert, "We'll talk later."
"She was a special case. Sometimes, an individual is brought in for testing by a client of the lab. We ... I administer the most current version of the drug to the subject. We monitor their progress for many hours then release them to the client. While we had the process down cold, every patient was different and we watched so we could make adjustments on a case by case basis. When processing was done, the patient would be a ... a blank slate ready to be molded into someone else by the client," said Robin. "That's what was supposed to happen but it didn't. You see I've been working on a serum that I thought would block the memory destroying aspect of the compounds. That's not accurate. I hoped that the serum would allow the subject to retain some aspect of their actual personality and life. Maybe, remember a fragment of memory or a person that was important to them. I would administer this serum to them after they had been injected with the compound and before they were released. No one knew what I was doing."
"While I gave them the serum, I tried to tell them what to expect as the compound took hold of them taking over their mind and spirit. I tried to apologize every time. It was little comfort and, maybe, it was more for me than them," said Robin. "Charlotte woke up while I was giving her the serum. She convinced me of her identity. I gave her a stimulant to keep her talking. She told me about you, Mom, and how things were with my double. That's how I knew about her. I thought the double was Peter's ... informant. He was always insinuating that he could hurt you, Uncle Mac, the girls, at any moment if I gave him problems. Finding out about the double changed everything. I made up my mind to escape right then and there. I had to warn Mom some way."
"And Charlotte?"
"I'm sorry, Alex. She'd been given the compound. She wouldn't be Charlotte anymore if she's still alive that is."
"Wasn't she delivered back to the client, whoever it is," said Alex.
Robin shook her head. "I timed my escape at about the same time that Charlotte would have been delivered. I was running down the tunnel that connected the lab and the house when she came from the opposite direction. She was screaming at me to keep going. She was firing at the guards who were chasing after me with tranquilizer guns. If she hadn't done that, I know I couldn't have escaped. I had been shot with a dart. I was slowing down. But seeing her and having the guards distracted, gave me that extra energy to get out the door. Once I was out, I ran."
"We didn't find any patients or ... bodies ... when we searched the lab," said Dianara.
"She begged me. She said we could escape together and she would tell me about my family," said Robin. "I turned my back on her. I'm sorry, Alex."
"It's all right, Robin," said Alex.
"Extreme situations often call for extreme decisions. Second guessing and finger pointing will drive you mad," said Anna. "It happened. That's it."
Alex looked at Dimitri. "Is it possible that she could still be around as someone else?"
"I'll let Anton know. We have to assume the worse and keep Vik under lock and key," said Dimitri. "We can't underestimate her."
"Who was the client that gave her to the lab in the first place?" asked Anna. "Faison?"
"I don't remember seeing his name on the order. That I would remember. There was a different client name for pick up though. That's odd. It's normally the same client on both ends of the transaction," said Robin. "For Charlotte, she was supposed to be picked up by our top tier client - the Gemini Limited corporation."
Anna's head snapped up. "Gemini? You're sure about that?"
"Yeah, they're a regular client for us," said Robin. "It's slowed down in the last six months but before that we ... processed at least one subject per month sometimes more."
"Gemini, Anna," said Alex.
"It would be too enormous a coincidence, Alex," said Anna. "Robin, do you remember if the Gemini Limited Corporation had a logo of some kind?"
"Sure. Stylized parallel slashes in gold with bars on top. Is it important?"
"Uh, oh," said Andrew exchanging looks with Edgar and Nestor.
"This is some sort of reverse karmic payback isn't it?" asked Robert to no one in particular. "Can't we get a break just once? Faison, Sinclair, this Gemini thing and now Charlotte. Who's next? Elena rising from the ashes of the ruins?"
From the dining room table where she'd been scribbling madly, Jackie said, "It was confirmed today by my station that Elena's body was found and identified in ... in an elevator of all things. She's not coming back."
"That was the tight spot you mentioned?" asked Anna of Robert.
"Yeah. It was touch and go there," said Robert.
"We'll talk later," said Anna. She raised her voice. "Okay, we have a new data point the Gemini Limited Corporation. Edgar, Nestor, the usual procedure on fact finding, please."
Edgar looked up from his IPhone display. "In progress at C and C, Anna."
"Let's bring this back to the original topic, you and Sinclair, Robin," said Anna. "How did you end up married to him?"
"It was after all the questioning. I'm not sure if it was the drugs or my HIV medications or something else, but I became sicker and sicker. I lost weight. I had long periods of sleeping or being unconscious," said Robin. "I think I may have been in Paris by then. I'm not sure. I remember pictures being taken. You know the kind for passports."
"He was trying to move you out of the country?" asked Robert.
"Yes but there were problems. He would tell them that I was his ward or his wife and I would always raise a fuss and deny it. He became very frustrated," said Robin. "One day he showed me a ... a tape of Mom and clippings about Dimitri's cousin I think. Gillian was her name. She died and Peter said he'd ordered it and ... and if I didn't cooperate he would have Mom killed."
"No, Robin, oh god," groaned Anna.
At the mention of Gillian, his beloved cousin, Dimitri stalked to the far windows followed by Alex. There they stayed conversing in low voices. Her violent and sudden death had devastated Dimitri. Her assassin had intended to kill Anna but had mistaken Gillian for Anna.
"If I married him and didn't fight it, he wouldn't hurt Mom," said Robin. "If not Mom, then Alex or Mac or the girls. I didn't believe him at first but he showed me more pictures and more videos. It was obvious that he knew where they were and that he had some kind of easy access to them. What could I do? I married him."
"I should have gone to Paris with you when you asked me to. I could have ... I mean what was more important to me you or my life? I should have been there for you," said Anna.
"It's okay, Mom. I survived. I'm here," said Robin.
"No, it is not okay. It will never be okay," said Anna.
"The marriage was done under pressure. It will not stand in court, any court," said Mac. "Even if it was consummated ... was it?"
Robin avoided looking at anyone. "I'm not sure."
"Not sure?"
"I have dreams of something but there's no ... evidence on me physically. Do I have to be explicit?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"He's never tried anything on me that I'm aware of," said Robin.
"That doesn't mean that he didn't try," said Anna. "You were completely in his power and control."
"I don't know. I don't want to know," said Robin. "I just want a divorce and to move on. If you won't help me then I'll do this on my own."
Felicia paced the floor attempting a call every few minutes. Finally, her call was answered.
"Frisco!" she said.
"Honey, it's not a good time right now," said Frisco.
"You haven't taken my calls for two days. Dia made it to the Villa and has no idea where you are. Neither does Connie. She's mad at you," said Felicia. "Activate your video. I want to see you."
Frisco sighed. "I'm kinda running for my life right now."
"What?"
"I have them trapped in a warehouse. It'll be over in a few minutes. Did you get Robin?"
"Yes. She's fine. She says hello."
"Tell her the same from me will you. I gotta go take them down now. Anything else?"
Felicia rolled her eyes. "No backup?"
"I was ambushed. Look, they're amateurs. This should be easy," said Frisco. "I'll call you once I'm in the clear. Bye now. Love ya!"
'I love you, too. Be careful." Felicia ended the connection.
She left her room and went into Anna and Robert's suite where everyone was gathered in the living room. Their dinner lay cold and forgotten.
Seiyo Hotel, Vladivostok
Pictures of Anna, Robert and Andrew flashed on the screen. Taylor and the now roused team members all agreed that these were the people that had put them out of commission.
"Scorpio said to my face that we had his daughter," said Taylor. "He wasn't playing around. I have a baby boy. I know exactly how he was feeling."
"For retired agents, they're in great shape," said the agent that Anna had first taken down.
"And tough," said the agent that threw Anna against the wall. "I will never forget the look she gave me after she hit the wall. If looks could kill, I tell you."
"The boy was fast, Hunter," said Taylor. "Speed and a bit of power. He's going to be stronger when he gets older. I got the impression he was holding back, too."
"It didn't feel that way to me," said the man that Andrew had hit in the neck. "The boy knows his martial arts."
On another screen, pajama-clad Arnold Vandenberg watched and listened intently, "You're absolutely sure it was them?"
To a man they all nodded yes.
"What about the ones who brought you here?" asked Arn.
"I don't remember much just impressions," said Taylor. "Three men and the boy."
"Anything else?"
"They were trained. Professionals. We were in the trunk then we were at the door. No idle chit chat," said Taylor. "Maybe I'll remember more later. I'm sorry, Arn."
"It's all right. Things happen. We can't prepare for the unexpected can we?" Arn consulted something on his desk. "Get out of there clean right now."
"Should we at least put them under surveillance?" asked Hunter.
"At this point, a strategic retreat is a better idea until we have a handle on what we're facing."
"They have their daughter back. What more could they want?"
"I'm only seeing a bit of the big picture. I don't think we've seen the last of the Scorpio team," said Arn.
"What about Sinclair?"
"That is a problem. Leave Sinclair to Scorpio. He'll still be in one piece afterwards. Then we'll deal with him," said Arn.
"He'll run."
"We would find him. He won't run far. He has no resources left," said Arn. "Get your people out, Hunter. That mission in Paris is more important. I have to discuss Sinclair with Chase. Check in with HQ when you arrive in Paris." Arn ended the transmission.
"We cannot be out of here too soon for me," said Taylor. "I do not want to hear the name Scorpio for a long time."
Arms crossed, Hunter was grim. "Get used to it. We're going to be investigating Robin Scorpio backwards and forwards in Paris. Get packed. We evacuate in two hours."
"Scorpio and Devane are the good guys. Always have been. They wanted their daughter back that's all," said Taylor. "Why are we targeting them?"
Hunter looked at his people. Two of the six were legacies - children or grandchildren of operatives of the World Security Bureau. Hunter was one himself. "I don't know why, Taylor, but I don't think it's anything bad. We have to know who's for and against us, don't we? Maybe, we can help them out in the future or vice versa."
"So, we're just fact-finding in Paris?" asked Taylor.
"Yes. Clean and simple job. We spend a few days and then we're back home in Milton Keynes HQ," said Hunter. "You'll be in time for your boy Micah's birthday."
Mollified, the team began preparations to evacuate the hotel. There was a knock on the door. Hunter opened the door, "Yes?"
His vision turned a hazy red as multiple bullets entered his body. The room was invaded by dark shapes. The Gem team was rapidly decimated. The shadows left the bodies as they were. All was quiet and dark save for the display monitor that still showed the pictures of the Scorpio family clipped from a newspaper on the night of the Alan Quartermaine pavilion fundraiser.