The Lafayette Restaurant, Hay Adams Hotel, Washington, D.C.
The view was postcard perfect. There framed in the window was the White House. It was a fitting view for two men who had served their country their entire lives - former Ambassador Philip Coughlin and Senator Steven Ungaro. They talked business over a light but superbly prepared lunch of grilled Eberly Farm chicken and seared diver scallops.
"Sean didn't exactly jump at the offer but he did agree to head our special team," said Coughlin. "I'm certain that with him at the lead, the team will be able to deal with Smoke successfully and get it off the board."
"We need to address the succession, Philip. None of us are getting younger," said Ungaro. "The Committee's middle ranks are depleted. We need to begin active recruitment. I'm going to sound out my son Paul on his next visit home. I think he's getting to the point of wanting something different than being a WSB field lackey. He doesn't have his older brother's ambition but Paul is loyal, dedicated and smart. Once committed, he won't sway from the right course."
"I do have one prospect that I've had my eye on for quite some time. You know her, Steven. What do you think of Connie Townley?"
"An excellent choice, Philip, but will she ever give up the Bureau? She doesn't have enough of an ego to be overly ambitious outside of the agency," said Ungaro. "However, she does know how to maneuver through the rank and file as well as the executive. She's not the traitor that Ross was, thank God. She's probably a damn good poker player."
"Sean was my first choice to succeed me but Connie is rapidly becoming an alternate choice. After some training, she could be a true asset," said Coughlin.
"We've had women as Committee Chiefs before. Each one has served with distinction," said Ungaro.
"I feel like we're entering a dangerous cycle. Sean agrees which is why he turned down the top seat. He didn't feel that he could dedicate the requisite energy and will. It may be time for a woman's touch," said Coughlin with a small smile.
World Security Bureau Headquarters, NY
"This place was busier than Grand Central Station, Connie," said Larry Norvell, the lead WSB agent in Turkey, over the video connection to headquarters.
"Did anyone mark you or your team?" asked Connie.
"Negative. I had enough locals that we blended in."
"What happened after the ... uh, exodus?"
"I split up my team. Alpha stayed to monitor the compound until you gave us the go ahead to do the exchange or abort. I went with Beta to follow the convoy," said Larry. 'They were in such a hurry that they didn't notice our tail."
"Where did you end up?"
"A middle-of-nowhere village called Kizilin. There was a guide with a boat waiting for them. My team and I tried to follow but we were stonewalled - no boats, no guides, no go," said Larry.
"Did you see who was in the convoy?: asked Connie.
"Absolute identification of Peter Sinclair, Helena Cassadine and Charlotte Devane plus assorted guards. Mostly mercenaries and local thugs," said Larry.
Deputy Director Edwin Link whistled. "They were all together. All this time. Amazing."
"It doesn't surprise me," added Connie in a tone drier than the Sahara desert. "Go on, Larry."
"The village wasn't very welcoming so we retreated to a location along the river but far enough away from the village to be out of sight. I was guessing they'd gone west but I was wrong. They went east."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Edwin whose visage appeared in another square on Larry's display.
"We were waiting for about twenty minutes when another party on a fast boat went past us going east," said Larry. "The passenger looked like Sinclair but it wasn't him."
"Any pictures?" asked Edwin.
"No. We weren't set up for that when they came through," said Larry. "I was about to order a change in location when we heard shots. Four silenced rifle shots one after the other. We ducked for cover. I wasn't going to lose my head to a sniper."
"What direction did the sounds come from?" asked Connie.
"That's the damndest thing, Connie. It sounded very close to my position. My side of the river but a little further east. Too far and I wouldn't have heard them. Definitely sniper rifles with a silencing muzzle," said Larry.
"The hidden threat. Classic," said Connie under her breath. "What next?"
"Ten minutes later there was one more shot. Small arms. Five minutes went by and I saw the first boat returning at speed but only with Helena Cassadine on board. No Devane. No Sinclair. She and her guards left in a hurry." said Larry. "A few minutes behind them came the second boat with the same male passenger. I waited another five minutes but no one else came down. It was past dusk. We were preparing to leave when one of my people spotted a body floating on the water. I did the ID myself. No mistake. It was Sinclair."
"Cause of death?" asked Link.
"There were no outward signs of trauma. No wounds, scratches or abrasions. Nothing," said Larry. "I don't think he was in the water long enough to drown either."
"Likely he was dead before he hit the water," said Connie. "Anything on him?"
"No. We got the body into our truck and left. I wish I'd waited a few minutes more."
"Why?" asked Link.
"I saw lights on the river. Boats coming towards the village from the east. I counted two boats," said Larry. "I was really curious to know who else was at this river rendezvous but the way the locals were eyeing us I thought better of staying around."
Connie displayed a picture of Faison on the internal monitors. "Larry, does this look like the male passenger on the boat?"
Larry was quick to answer, "Yes, that's him. Same face, shorter hair though. Who is he?"
"Someone to steer clear of," said Connie. She glanced at the door as Lionel Beam, WSB medical director, came in. "Lionel?"
"This just came in." Lionel put a sheet of paper on Connie's desk. It was a media release with a picture of an obvious corpse beside the text. "Charlotte Devane is dead per Interpol. Absolute confirmation."
Edwin whistled softly. "Sinclair and Devane in one stroke."
"Also, the United Nations and the Hague have officially put Compound X on the banned substance list. One country has already followed suit. Parador has passed a law to prohibit the manufacturing and distribution of Compound X and made violations as cause for deportation or immediate imprisonment. The ball is rolling. Other contries are expected to pass their own legislation in a matter of weeks, " added Lionel. "That's three wins for the good side. If we're not careful, we may be out of business."
"Damn. I knew I should have stayed around longer," said Larry. "Something happened at the rendezvous."
"Helena sold out her two partners. That's what happened. She's alive and they're not," said Connie. "Larry, do you have anything else to report?"
"They were doing clean up by the time I got back to the compound. Trucks left and thirty minutes later the place was burning down," said Larry. "We traced the trucks to the airport. Whatever their cargo was it's not in Turkey anymore."
"Excellent work. I'll be putting in commendations for everyone on your team, Larry. Get some down time. You've earned it." Connie cut the video connection before addressing Edwin and Lionel. "We need to start tracking Compound X, Lionel. Now that the ban is in place, whatever is left out there is going to go for premium prices."
"Who would want it now?" asked Edwin.
"Anyone who has the ability to reverse engineer it. Connie's right. It's value is going to skyrocket," said Lionel. "We can't assume that the source was only Sinclair. Or assume that it's use is as limited as we've been led to believe."
"What do you mean?" asked Connie.
"Besides the Charlotte item, I had another reason for coming by. A friend of mine who works at the Center for Disease Control passed me some chemical analysis to cross check with our database. It got a 60% match with Compound X. I ran the test three times with the same results. I haven't told the CDC yet of my findings. I wanted to pass it by you first, Connie."
Connie's brows furrowed in thought. "The match means that it could be a derivative of Compound X, right?"
Lionel nodded. "Yes. It gets stranger. Twenty percent of the solution was similar to methampetamine. The other twenty percent has similarities to certain mood altering drugs like Clopidine."
"Get high and moody?" asked Edwin in all seriousness.
"No. The combination translates to a long-lasting sense of real euphoria. Those who have taken it have nicknamed it as Fly," said Lionel. "The CDC received a brief on Fly from the Port Charles Police Department. Apparently, it is believed to be the cause of numerous incidents of disorderly conduct and physical collapses during the recent weather phenomenon. The PCPD is urging the CDC to investigate the matter as soon as possible."
"Why involve the CDC? Why not the DEA?" asked Edwin.
"Because of the suspicion that Fly distribution is mimicking legitimate drugs like Valium or Xanax," said Lionel.
"Like counterfeit drugs?" asked Connie.
"Not exactly. Fly is distributed through specific pharmacies. A doctor makes a prescription of a legitimate drug such as Xanax but when the pharmacy fills the order, it's Fly in the physical form of the Xanax which is given to the customer. The customer is fully aware that what he or she is buying is Fly," explained Lionel.
"That sounds very convoluted," said Edwin.
"And very hard to track. How does one know what's legitimate and what's not?" said Connie. "How do the doctors and the pharmacists differentiate? Is this contained to Port Charles?"
"The report only details the occurences there. The current theory is that the drug is being produced locally. However, the subtext is that the drug is spreading both the manufacturing and the usage," said Lionel.
"How addictive is it?" asked Connie.
"No hard data on it. The aspect that troubles me is the reported cases of death or permanent injury stemming from Fly usage for those people who have chronic illnesses like asthma or epilepsy," said Lionel. "We need to act on this. With the media descending on the city it will only be a matter of time before Fly is big news nationally."
Connie groaned. "If it's not one thing, it's another. What is in the water of that place?"
"Port Charles does seem to have a higher incidence of WSB involvement historically speaking than most places in the world excluding London or Paris," said Edwin.
"The CDC has dispatched a team to the city. My contact is on the team. He has promised to keep me updated," said Lionel. "I will be updating my staff and devising ways to detect Fly. I'll have to pull in some of the chemists from the Science division."
"Fine. Pull as many as you need," said Connie.
"Why do we need to create our own test?" asked Edwin.
"Because Fly could be weaponized, Edwin. Imagine an enemy agent slipping a tablet or powder into our agent's beverage or food. If the agent has a known illness, then Fly could make his or her death look very natural," said Lionel. "Need I remind you of the recent near simultaneous assassinations carried out worldwide as a dubious and soon to be infamous precedent?"
"Point taken," said Edwin. "Speaking of that, an organization called Smoke is claiming responsibility. Said organization has posted on various intel sites detailed information on each targeted subject. I've been crossmatching that data with our own and it's proof positive that each had been suborned by the other side. Before you ask, Connie, we did try to trace the origins of the postings. No luck. Each post was routed through at least thirty different gateways before it got to the site. No trace can go that far back."
"The finger pointing has already begun within the intel community," said Connie. "Soon governments, including ours, will begin questioning the integrity and capability of home grown intelligence agencies. How could so many have remained undetected for so long? How can one unknown agency have found out when we couldn't or wouldn't? It's going to be messy for a long time."
"Smoke did us all a favor then," said Edwin.
"That's one way of looking at it," said Lionel sharing a knowing glance with Connie. "Or maybe not. In my experience, favors are never bestowed without cost."
Connie sighed. "Smoke is out in the open so to speak. It's going to be targeted by every intel agency in the world. The loss of anonymity - that's the cost. From here on out, they can't afford any mistakes. Not anymore."
"What about the cost to us, Connie, what will that be?" asked Lionel.
Connie reclined in her chair. "Whatever is it, we'll have to pay. We won't have a choice. I hope that reckoning is far into the future because we're not ready."
Vadsel Estate, Hungary
The trouble twins walked through the solarium after a hasty evening meal. Dimitri and Robert were in the study enjoying some masculine bonding time. Alex flipped through the pictures of hers and Anna's parents displayed on Anna's IPhone. Unlike Anna who retained faint but existing memories of them, Alex had no familial attachment to them. She had been raised by Charlotte after all. These people were strangers to her.
"We'll have to establish ties to them I suppose," said Alex. "Shall I tell Aidan and Gabriel?"
"Yes, please do," replied Anna. "You're taking this well."
"I'm numb," said Alex. "You could put a long lost child in front of me and I would react the same. I've waited so long to be rid of Charlotte and now all I feel is ... regret."
"She made the choices she made and so did we," said Anna.
"The situation wasn't under your control or Robert's. Do what you can to convince Robert that I do understand. He can barely look me in the eye," said Alex.
"He feels guilty and horrified. We both do. Robert didn't know what Faison was planning where Charlotte was concerned," said Anna. "That was between Faison and Helena."
Alex paused by a two-tiered stone fountain. The lowest level was a actually a pool filled with glistening red gold koi fish. Water streamed down like a small waterfall from the higher but smaller tier. "There's a little voice in my head that keeps saying ... wishing that things had never gotten to this point. It was inevitable really. Mum's ambition had to be curbed."
"Helena won't escape justice forever," said Anna.
"I've had my fill of revenge. Do with Helena what you want," said Alex taking a seat on the edge of the pool. One hand played in the water.
"You're sure?"
"I am. I've had such a cloud hanging over me because of Mum. It does feel good to feel truly safe," said Alex. "I want to focus on working with Robin one hundred percent. By the way, I've sent hair, blood and tissue samples from Mum to Robin via courier. Perhaps in death, Mum may do some good towards humanity."
"Samples?" asked Anna.
"Mum was subjected to the full amnesia and Compound X treatment yet she retained her full identity and was not physically or mentally debilitated in any measurable form. Was that because of Robin's serum and the stimulant combining in some unexpected way? Robin will be concentrating on the antidote or antigen angle. My research will be aimed at finding some treatment to improve the cognitive abiliies of the Foundation's surviving victims. Robin and I will have to do some chemical reverse engineering but they are both goals that I feel are within our reach."
"You can cure Therese?" asked Anna walking a circuit around the fountain.
"Not cure, no, but possibly help her become more aware of her surroundings, herself and retain some limited skills in order to function more independently," said Alex. "It's a stretch to hope for that much but I want to try. One challenge will be to gather all the knowledge Robin has accumulated. I don't believe she realizes how groundbreaking her work is. She can only see the harm it has done."
"When she's not wandering around town, Robin's in the lab. She's driven in a way that scares me in its singlemindedness," said Anna.
"It's similar to Andrew and his manias and interests," said Alex. "Be glad that Robin has found something active and positive to cling to. She could have simply despaired and sunk into herself."
"True but there must be more I can do," said Anna. "I want MY Robin back. I want to talk with her about her problems. I want to laugh with her. I want to see her smile and not see any sadness in her eyes."
"You have to be patient," said Alex. "Robin literally changed her behavior and her patterns of thinking in order to survive and stay sane while in captivity. Wishing to have the old Robin back may be futile. Fragments of her yet remain but that is all they are. I suggest getting to know THIS Robin instead of trying to tease the old Robin out of her."
"I've resorted to having Robert check in on her every day. I get too intense and it puts Robin in a bad mood," said Anna. "I crave to have the connection with her that I had before."
"She doesn't talk about her experiences?"
"Not at all. Keeping silent is her way of moving forward I think," said Anna. "I suppose she tells Vincent. He's her safety valve and security blanket."
"Has a full physical with labs been done?"
"No. Why? Should there have been one? I thought you said she was fine," said Anna.
"From the superficial examination I did, I determined that she had not been suffering from abuse, malnutrition or illness. I always assumed that once she got home that a full physical would be completed," said Alex.
"You think there's something wrong with her don't you?" asked Anna taking a seat by her sister.
"I only want to be certain-"
Now visibly worried, Anna pressed her twin sister for an honest answer, "What's wrong with her?"
"It could be nothing. I could be reading too much into-"
"You're not one to overreact. Tell me!"
"While reading through the Foundation files I discovered how they were able to keep their victims docile and under their control. They had guerillas and war prisoners for the most part. Not exactly the most passive of people. How did they keep them in line?"
"I'm following. Go on."
Alex cleared her throat. "Control and authority was established by chemical means."
"Mood altering drugs?"
"No. There is a certain class of drugs that was used as late as the 1970s to increase passivity within incarcerated populations - men and women. These drugs affect hormonal balance. In most cases, a reduction in certain hormones induced passive behavior without any narcotic effects." Alex took a deep breath before continuing. "When used for long periods of time, the recipients' bodies are affected on the biological level. For example, all of a woman's naturally occuring hormones may be reduced to such a level that she may be unable to ... conceive or ... or have a normal period cycle or ... be unable to experience pleasurable sensations during any kind of physical intimacy."
Anna stared at her sister completely horrified. "No. Not to my Robin. She's lost so much already."
"Robin could not have been the easiest of victims. It's entirely possible," said Alex gently.
"Is ... is it permanent?"
"Once the drugs are no longer in the system, the body may return to normal levels over time."
"May return?"
"There is no certainty ... of anything. Our bodies are amazingly adaptive. Her body has adapted to what it could. She may never be the same as she was. You have to accept that," said Alex. "I believe Robin knows more than she's letting on. She had to have watched everything she ate or drank. I would guess that if she had been given these drugs then her body is in a state of flux at this time. It's in a phase of volatile readjustment."
Anna was thoughtful. Many things that had puzzled her about Robin was now explained. Her insistence that she wouldn't have children. Her temper that flared at the most unexpected of things. "Alex, she's living with Vincent in the cottage. That doesn't fit your diagnosis."
"It doesn't mean they're together in the physical sense," said Alex. "However, if Robin was self-diagnosing she and Vincent may be ... experimenting."
"That's good right?" asked Anna.
"We can hope that the results have been positive," said Alex. "She has been so strong for so long that her fragility is all the more suspect to me. If she experiences irreversible damage, it would be psychologically shattering for her."
"I can hardly ask her can I?"
"That would cross too many boundaries. You'll have to wait for Robin to come to you for help if she feels she needs it," said Alex. "This is an extremely private issue for anyone. I can see why Robin would keep it to herself."
"Yet another thing I can't tell Robert," said Anna.
"What happened to the no secrets pact?" asked Alex.
"Of late it's become remarkably flexible," answered Anna getting to her feet and beginning to pace.
"I don't like what I think I'm hearing."
"You didn't hear anything," Anna insisted. "Even with everything going on, Robert is doing much better with managing his stress disorder. I don't want anything to interfere with that."
"That's the only reason?" asked Alex watching Anna's face for telltale signs of evasion or outright lying.
"I have ... have other reasons. Good ones. I can't have Robert involved. That's all," said Anna.
"I hope you know what you're doing," warned Alex.
"So do I," said Anna. She rose to her feet and led the way out of the solarium.
Ashton Townhouse
Larry Ashton, worldy financier and savior of start ups in financial crisis, read the text message on his phone for the third time.
it said: Unfinished business. Arriving tomorrow. Be ready to assist. PK
"Be ready for what? Assist who?" asked Ashton aloud. He had just arrived from the Majestic Theater. Though he was thoroughly exhausted, Faison's message was clearing the fog from his mind.
He trudged up the stairs to his bedroom. He lay on the bed not sleeping. He let his mind wander to all the memories of doing the Cartel's bidding for years and years. Absently, he clicked on the remote and the television turned on set to the local news.
"What more could Faison want from me?" asked Ashton. He sat bolt upright when he heard the announcer confirm that international criminals Peter Sinclair and Charlotte Devane had been killed.
"Faison, you busy, busy man," said Ashton. "The Cartel is down to two original members Helena and Faison. How fitting."
Donely Warehouse & Dock
Luke leaned on the warehouse wall and watched the seemingly endless stream of workers unloading ships carrying water and food, gasoline, generators and other critical disaster relief his vantage point he could see the Morgan and Corinthos docks or rather where they used to be. They were no longer there save for a few planks of wood that had managed to defy the storm wind and water surges. One good wave would undoubtedly pull them down into watery oblivion.
He eyed the security personnel. They seemed a harder but no less professional bunch than Robert and Anna's people. The Scorpio team was more continental and polished. Donely's crew had no accent more exotic than Brooklyn, New York and to a person seemed the shoot first and ask questions last type.
"Yeah, between a rock and a hard place, which should I go with," muttered Luke. The Haunted Star had gone down with some of the materials meant for the museum exhibit. He had seeded Dino's shipment in among the museum materials. It was the perfect camouflage but no one had bothered to inform Mother Nature what the phrase "Fragile - Handle With Care" meant. The insurance on the boat could not entirely cover what he owed to Dino which was the advance money plus twenty percent. Luke was in search of cash and he couldn't go to Tracy. "Sean's going to be a hard sell but I gotta try."
Luke waltzed into the main office and asked to see Sean. He wasn't kept waiting long.
Sean looked up from studying documents on his desk. "Luke, I heard about the Star. I'm sorry."
"She went down fighting," said Luke taking a seat in a chair opposite the desk.
"If there's a way for me and Tiff to help, let me know."
"That's why I'm here. I need a loan. Very short term," said Luke.
Sean nodded. "The insurance paperwork can be a nightmare especially after a disaster. I can float you an advance until your insurance pays up."
"I need the cash for something else," said Luke. "I can't ask Tracy so I'm here."
Sean sat back in his chair and eyed Luke like he was a student called into the principal's office. "How about your good friend Sonny Corinthos?"
"He's having cash flow problems himself from what I hear."
"I should say that problem is severe enough for Sonny to resort to selling Jason's ELQ shares," said Sean. To his eyes, Luke was a glowing neon sign of opportunity as most desperate men were.
"He's selling them? Are you sure?" asked Luke.
"Absolutely. From the recent mob wars, his current issues with Morgan and now the total loss of his docks, Sonny has to be really hurting for cash," said Sean.
Luke snapped a finger. "Edward and Tracy know about the shares. That's why they've been so secretive around me."
"Nothing much gets past those two," noted Sean. "Add to that Mayor Floyd's death and Sonny's problems seem endless."
"You have hooked into the local gossip vine and fast," said Luke.
"See what you miss by not going to Chamber of Commerce meetings, Luke. Everyone has always known that Floyd was in Sonny's payroll. Our next mayor may actually be an honest man."
"All I know is it won't be me. Been there. Done that," said Luke. "I can't worry about Sonny. I have enough drama in my own life."
"How much do you need?" asked Sean.
"Fifty thousand by tomorrow. Cash," said Luke.
Sean let out a low whistle. "That's steep. Have you seen the state of my docks? I've got expenses too."
"And you got dollar signs walking in every second. Your dock is the only one that's still fully functional. Don't tell me that you're not making hay from the Feds."
"It helps that I had the pilings reinforced with concrete years ago," said Sean.
"We both know that you have me by the short hairs here. I'll agree to whatever loan terms you want," said Luke.
"Anything?"
"Anything."
The two men gazed at each other like two gunfighters readying to draw. Luke broke eye contact first.
"I'm not giving you a loan."
"Sean, you're my last-"
"I'm giving you a gift." Sean grinned at the shocked look on Luke's face.
"A gift? The catch is gotta be wider than the Grand Canyon!" exclaimed Luke.
"I have two conditions. Meet them and you'll get the cash you need tomorrow."
"I'm listening."
"First condition is you tell me the truth about why you need this money. I won't tell a soul just satisfy my ... curiosity," said Sean. "Second, I want your promise, your word, that you'll do me a favor when I need one without questioning me or telling Robert and Anna about it."
Luke let out his breath slowly. "You know how to surprise a guy. I have no problems with the first condition but the second one is a deal breaker."
"Right. The Robin, Helena and syringe thing landed you in the Scorpio doghouse," said Sean.
"Not anymore. After some nagging from Anna, Robert and I have made up. I have few friends, Sean, and I don't want to lose them," said Luke.
"I share the same sentiments."
"Robert's about to open the kimono and let me in on the action. I need to feel that high again, to feel really alive," said Luke. "My keeping one secret almost destroyed my friendship with Robert. I can't risk it."
Sean picked up a folder on his desk and took several papers out. "Here. FEMA disaster relief loans. I'm sure you could qualify." He pushed the papers towards Luke.
"You loved dressing up as the Devil on Halloween as a kid didn't you?"
"I was actually more into Huck Finn and Zorro," said Sean. "My offer is on the table, Luke. No repayment necessary if you keep to the two conditions. The clock is ticking and I'm a busy man."
"I go way back with Robert," said Luke.
"I go further with Robert AND Anna," countered Sean. "Who do you think they'll be more furious at?"
"And you want to keep something from them? Who's walking on the edge me or you?"
"Hopefully neither. I may not need that favor. It's only a ... a backup."
"Is it legal?" asked Luke.
"In some countries, yes but not here," replied Sean.
"Done in public or private?"
"Private. Very."
"How long would this favor take? An hour? A day?" asked Luke.
"Miinutes. Fifteen or twenty at the most."
"Who else would know?"
"Just the two of us."
Luke was caught by surprise again. "Keeping it from Tiff? Oh, man, you are playing with fire. F-I-R-E!
"Tiffany has forgiven me many things. I'm sure she'll see this as another to add to the list," said Sean seriously.
"Will it be dangerous?"
"Not to you," said Sean. "Do we have a deal?"
"I'm going to regret this aren't I?"
Sean looked Luke straight in the eye. "You would be helping me out, Luke. The only one who will have regrets is me."
"I don't like the sound of that. Not one bit," said Luke.
Sean rubbed at his eyes. "I didn't mean to make it sound so morbidly serious. I'm tired. Been a long day." Sean extended a hand towards Luke. "This is one friend helping out another. Simple as that. Shake on it?"
Luke swallowed his doubts and suspicions. He shook Sean's hand.
"Come here about eleven tomorrow morning. We'll go for a walk and I'll hand it over after you fulfill condition one," said Sean.
Luke stood up. He began buttoning his coat. "Thank you, Sean. Not a word to Tracy, Tiff or Bobbie, okay?"
"You have my word." Sean escorted Luke out of his office and warehouse. When Sean returned, he slumped in his chair. He said in an Irish brogue, "First Anna and now Luke. What are you going to do for a wee encore, Sean my lad?"
Majestic Theater - Catacombs
Maxie led a disguised Robin and Andrew from the Kestrel, through the warehouse and down into the catacombs entrance underneath Warehouse Two. A few minutes and some twisty turns later, they began hearing the hum of voices. It was the Asian Quarter refugees.
Strings of multicolored holiday lights were hung the length of the tunnels. The lights were bright enough that one could forego using a flashlight. As they made their way past people huddled in familial clumps, Robin smiled at hearing the strains of Chinese. It brought to her mind memories of Olin. She was the Chinese woman who took care of her after her grandmother Filomena had died at the hands of the crazed Grant Putnam. Later, Olin had become a source of inspiration and wisdom in the Asian community.
Too busy keeping a running commentary to Robin, Maxie bumped into a tall figure as she made a turn towards the theatre.
"Hey, sorry!"
"Maxie? Is that you?" asked Mac. "What are you doing here?"
A bright beam of light was aimed at Maxie and her companions. The light wavered as Frisco moved closer. He spied Robin. "You shouldn't be here. Any of you."
"Would you believe we want to pitch in?" asked Maxie.
Both Mac and Frisco answered in unison, "No."
Robin whispered, "I need to go to my old house on Baptiste Way."
"For god's sake why?" asked Mac.
Robin took the crystal out of her backpack and unwrapped a portion of it. "Because of this."
"Spock is back. I knew it," said Frisco barely able to contain his excitement.
"Mr. Spock?" asked Maxie.
"You haven't seen any signs down here have you, Frisco?" asked Robin.
"Nope and I've been looking," said Frisco.
"Someone needs to tell me what's going on," said Mac.
"Then we have to check at the house," concluded Robin.
"Right. I'll get you there," said Frisco.
"No one is going anywhere until I get an explanation," said Mac. Before he could say any more one of the Mayor's assistants took him away for an impromptu meeting with the mayor.
"I'll take care of 'em. Don't worry!" called Frisco after him. To the kids he said, "Upstairs while I get transport together."
"We can walk there," said Maxie.
"We can but maybe not, um, it's best if we have a car," said Robin ascending the stairs into the theater.
In quick order, Frisco got them sequestered in the Writers Room.
Robin stretched out on the sofa. "This is downtown headquarters?"
"Yes," said Andrew with audible pride. He sat down by a laptop and began to view the latest news. "Do you like it?"
"Oh, I do. It's incredible," said Robin.
"Are we talking about Leonard Nimoy?" asked Maxie.
"You know his name. I'm impressed," said Andrew.
"My sister Georgie dragged me to every single Star Trek movie ever made," said Maxie. "She was a total Trekkie."
Andrew's phone began to ring the James Bond theme. "It's father." He took the call.
Robert's face appeared on the display. "This is your Daily Dad Check Up. May I ask what both my children are doing outside of the designated safe zone?"
Robin rushed to stand by Andrew's shoulder. "I needed some air, Dad."
Robert's eyes narrowed. "That's not going to fly, sweetheart."
"It has to. I've been in the lab all day. I needed to stretch out."
"That's why we got all that lovely acreage back at home base for running, walking, hiking and riding."
"Dad, please, don't make us go back. I ... I got the urge to see the old house. We're going straight back right after," said Robin. "We're in disguise. What could happen?"
Maxie stood on Andrew's other shoulder. "RealDad is with us, Uncle Robert."
"The three of you plus Frisco. I don't know if-" began Robert.
Anna's voice was heard but she was not seen. "If Robin says she has a good reason, then let her be. She'll be fine."
"Andrew, Frisco, Robin and Maxie. It doesn't matter in what order I say that, it always spells trouble to me," said Robert looking to the side.
Anna's face appeared next to Robert. "You promise to hit the Panic Button at the SLIGHTEST hint of potential problems?"
The three youngest people in the conversation nodded.
"That's good enough for me," said Anna. "We have to trust them, Robert."
Robin was studying her own phone. "What are you two doing at Vadsel?"
it was Anna and Robert's turn to look guilty. "We are ... were on a mission," said Robert. "It's over. We're fine. No need to worry."
"The news is probably out but you should hear it from us," said Anna. "Peter Sinclair and Charlotte Devane are both dead."
Robert added, "The threat they represent to our family is done. Over with. Kaput!"
"This day gets better and better," murmured Robin.
"This is confirmed?" asked Andrew.
Robert nodded. "Helena is still on the loose but we'll turn our attention to her in due course."
"We're heading for London for a day or two. Could you please stay safe until we get back?" asked Anna.
Andrew grinned, "We'll do our best."
Robin put in, "Don't worry about us." A look of mischief came over Robin's features. She unwrapped the crystal and held it to the phone camera. "I got my crystal again. We'll be fine."
Both Robert and Anna leaned into the display. They studied the crystal.
"That isn't the ... the original is it?" asked Robert.
"Not the exact same but I think it did come from Wyndemere. Andrew said it was originally burned. Look at how perfect it is," said Robin. "Now do you see why I have to check out the old house?"
Anna nodded. "I do. Be careful all right."
"You can't be serious? Again?" asked Robert looking at Anna then at Robin.
"Anything is possible," said Anna. "How are you feeling, Robin?"
Robin's good mood was evident. Her eyes shone with mischief and glee. Her smiles came easy. "Honestly, better than I've felt in days. I need to do this. It feels like it did before. Remember, Mom?"
Anna studied her daughter's face. She did not miss the glow of happiness that Robin was radiating like a small sun. "Yes, I do remember. Everything. If you feel it's right and good, then I have no objections. I just want you to be ... happy, sweetheart."
"Go ahead and find out then tell us," said Robert. "No wait. I don't want to know."
"You're not a little bit curious?" teased Anna.
"That kind of curiosity leads to bad things like talking to birds and stuff," said Robert.
"Casey wouldn't hurt ..." Anna's voice trailed off. "We need to get some sleep. All of you, please be careful and keep the Panic button on standby."
Frisco appeared above Andrew's head. "I got the kids covered, Anna, Robert. Don't worry."
"This is about the time I mention something about General Custer," said Robert.
"Thanks, Frisco," said Anna with a smile. "Good night!" She ended the call.
"Our van awaits," announced Frisco.
"And adventure beckons," finished Robin.
Frisco led the way down to the backstage area and out the loading dock door. He got behind the wheel and sped off.
"Who is Spock and Casey? A band? A comedy act?" asked Maxie.
Robin and Frisco burst into laughter while Andrew and Maxie looked perplexed.
Email Server Somewhere In The World
Charlotte's email sat waiting in her private folder. forty hours remained on the countdown counter.
Tick. Tock. Tick.