The Court, Milton Keynes, England
The library was the scene of an unusual standoff. Robert loomed over Elyot, the Red King, who sat in his wheelchair not the least bit intimidated. Anna and Augusta sat on opposite ends of a sofa.
Earlier, Elyot had made his case for knowing more information on the hypnotherapy expert that the Scorpios employed. Robert and Anna had hemmed and hawed doing all they could to not reveal that Andrew was their expert. Surprisingly, it was Augusta's gentle but relentless probing that had forced a reluctant revelation.
"And Andrew has lost this ability? All of it?" asked Elyot.
"Once Faison removed the persona so went the skill," said Robert.
"Rather the power and technique that allowed him to execute with ease," clarified Anna.
"He could re-learn the basics but that's not an option we're giving him," added Robert.
"Then we have no method to truly detect Faison's nanny agents with certainty," said Augusta.
"There's always the reliable techniques of investigation. Everyone, programmed or not, makes mistakes. Shows their hand. When they do, you'll have them," said Robert.
"There is that but I had hoped for a speedier resolution," said Elyot. "I fear that Faison senses he is a hunted man. He will be more circumspect and more ruthless. We must execute with rapid precision."
"We suspect that this infiltration has been in progress for decades before computers came to be everywhere. That means that there's a paper trail. We're simply not looking in the right places," said Anna. "Nannies can stay in contact with their charges long after they are no longer needed. We can locate individuals that were in service or employment very early on."
"And trace their movements and associations from that point to the present," finished Augusta.
"It won't be easy but it's a first step," said Anna.
"The Nanny Network code and rhymes. That's the starting point," said Robert.
"That data pertained to one person only," said Augusta.
"We were only looking for one person. After it was sent to the WSB for further code breaking, we lost track of it. As elaborate as that setup was, I find it hard to believe that Faison wouldn't have used it for other means. That would have been a waste," said Robert. "Faison's mind works in layers. It's reflected in everything he does. We need to dig into the Nanny data again. Dig hard. Dig deep."
After more discussion on which group would be charged with what task, they adjourned for lunch.
Spoon Island
The Kestrel bumped gently against the dock. In the short ride from the harbor to the island the weather had changed for the worse. Clouds had gathered blocking the sun. The wind blew harder. A light rain began to fall.
The island was dark and deserted. The main house was without power. Nikolas had sent the house staff to the Metro Court hotel until power was fully restored. He and Thanos stayed with Alexis much to her dismay.
Maxie and Andrew pounded down the dock. Frisco and Robin followed at a more leisurely pace.
Robin called out, "Stop! We'll go to the house later."
"Where to, Robin?" asked Andrew.
"The place where I found the crystal. It's this way. I remember it's to the back and left of the stables." Robin cinched the backpack tighter and led the way.
The Court, Milton Keynes, England
The gentlemen had retreated to the masculine comforts of the study. The ladies opted to stroll amidst the ferns and flowers within the combination solarium and greenhouse.
Augusta beamed at Anna saying, "I am so pleased you're here."
Anna smiled shyly. "I am, too. It feels right. If anyone knows about keeping secrets and staying in hiding, it would be me. I'm sorry for my rudeness."
"It was a shock. I dare say I would have reacted far worse had I been in your place," said Augusta.
"I doubt that," said Anna. She looked around. They were alone. "Auntie, I need a favor."
"Is this the first test of … family loyalty?" asked Augusta.
"Woman to woman actually."
"Say on."
"I need to see to something and I need Robert to be occupied. So occupied that he won't miss me," said Anna. "He's a bit clingy right now."
"For how long?"
"Two hours at the most."
"May I ask why?"
"I have a ghost to exorcise from one of my old missions."
"And Robert will not approve?"
"Oh, he'd be first in line to help but I can't have him there," said Anna.
"Out of the line of fire. I see."
"The problem is I may be the one doing the shooting," said Anna.
"Interesting life you lead," noted Augusta.
"You don't know the half of it," replied Anna. "Will you give me two hours?"
Augusta nodded. "It should not be difficult now that Elyot has agreed to mentor Robert in the ways of Abelard. The study will be well used. I suggest you leave now, my dear. When you return, will you tell me what you've done?"
Anna grinned. "Just the good parts."
Spoon Island
By the time they reached their destination, their coats were heavy with rain and their skin prickled at the windy chill. Robin studied the area where she had found the crystal decades ago. There were no bushes or trees in the immediate area. The lumpy soil was black as new fertiser. By contrast, the soil around the area was a dark brown.
Frisco scanned the area ocassionally calling out, "Casey? You around? It's me, Frisco! Casey?"
"Who's Casey?" asked Maxie.
"An old friend," said Frisco. "Robin, I'll be right back. I want to look around." He left at a jog.
Robin knelt on the ground and removed the crystal from her pack.
"What are you doing?" asked Andrew peering over his sister's shoulder.
"Playing a hunch," replied Robin. She laid the crystal flat on the black soil.
"Now what?" asked Maxie.
"We wait and-" Robin stopped at hearing a faint humming sound. "Listen, it's humming."
They watched in silence for a few minutes. The humming waned and rose in pitch and volume.
SHARATAK!
Lightning flashed across the sky. Thunder was at its heels.
BOOM!
Frisco maneuvered himself in front of Maxie. "I'm getting a bad feeling about all this. Maxie, get behind me."
"No! I want to see!" Maxie protested.
"Stay there!" yelled Frisco.
Inside the crystal, a bright blue light began to pulse. Blue. White. Blue. White. Blue White. Every few minutes it's bright intensity would increase until they had to shield their eyes from the glare.
"What's happening?!" asked Maxie holding on to her father's coat.
"Robin! Time to go!" said Frisco.
"Just a little longer!" replied Robin.
Andrew lay prone on the ground. His gaze was fixed on the crystal.
The wind howled around them causing the rain to hammer at them from all directions.
The Aphrodite
On his private yacht, Larry Ashton sipped coffee while he watched the deteriorating weather conditions through the wide salon window. He really didn't need to see it. He felt the power of the weather system with every roll of his ship's deck.
"A little test he said," muttered Ashton. His hand shot out to steady himself against the wall as the boat rolled and tilted. "We're in for another bumpy ride."
Donely Docks & Warehouse
Sean conferred with federal officials inside his biggest warehouse. His assistant Faith took assiduous notes.
"Get all your people inside," said Sean.
"There's still half of the cargo left aboard," said one official.
"It's going to stay there. I'm not sending out my people when it's this bad."
"We have a contract and-"
"And I have safety in mind." He turned to Faith. "Tell the foremen to bring their people in and secure anything not tied down."
Faith scurried to deliver his orders. The officials glared at Sean.
"Someone in Washington is going to get a complaint about this," said the tallest official.
Sean glared. "Go ahead. Do what you want."
"You're a big shot in this podunk town. That's it, Donely."
Sean smirked. "And I dance pretty well, too."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a green glow on the water. Heedless of the cold and rain, he ran to the edge of his dock. He squinted into the distance.
"Spoon Island? What's going on over there?" asked Sean.
SHREEK!
He winced at the shrill sound. He shook his head before covering his ears. He ran for the shelter of his warehouse.
Spoon Island
SHREEK! SHREEK!
The tone had started as little more than periodic chirps. Now, it was pitched to cause pain driving anyone too close to their knees. Hands covered ears and eyes squinted into slits against the growing intensity of light being given off by the crystal.
Port Charles
Cars stalled in the middle of the street for no reason. Glass shattered everywhere - in car windows, store displays, skycraper windows, boat windows. On the street, people scrambled to find safety. Several yelped in pain as shards of glass blown by the winds embedded themselves in flesh.
They could escape the wind and the rain but not the pervasive, distressing shrill tones.
SHREEK!
Command and Control, Villa Scorpio
Headsets lay on top of the console. Deep in the earth, the tone was muted but still audible.
"SIMON's dampening filters can't handle it," said Edgar entering the room from the door to the Lair. He glanced at Alys sitting behind the main control console. "Any word from the Majestic?"
"Negative. No signal reception from the Majestic either. Our main comm tower is down. Lightning strike," said Alys. "Most of our personnel are inside."
"Most?"
"Vincent is unaccounted for," said Alys. "Locator signals are non-functioning."
"Where is the Kestrel?" asked Edgar bent over his console reading the streams of data being displayed.
"Nyssa's last check in indicated they were heading for Spoon Island."
"Wonderful. Just wonderful," said Edgar.
GEM HQ, Milton Keynes
"Arn?" came the security officer's low voice over the internal phone line.
"Yes, Willie, what is it?" asked Arnold Vandenberg, the director of operations of the shadow organization.
"Someone here at reception. She wants to speak with the person in charge," said Willie.
"Does this person have a name?"
"I heard her say Anna Devane," said Willie.
"Put her on the monitors."
"I have. Channel 16."
Arnold switched his monitor to sixteen. His brows rose at the clear image of Anna in a gray trench coat. He adjusted the display to zoom in on her face. As if sensing she was being watched, Anna tilted her hed a little and looked straight at the camera.
"Must be my lucky day." He turned back to the intercom. "Willie, stall for time."
"Will do," came Willie's voice before he disconnected.
Arnold stepped out of office and down the short hall to Chase Masters' office. "We have a problem."
"What now?" asked Chase.
"Anna Devane is at reception. She wants to talk," said Arnold.
"With us?"
"Who else? I guess she and Scorpio are doing the tag team act," said Arnold.
"Well, you wanted to meet her. Here's your chance."
"But you're much more … more charming and as the head of our group, you should have the honor," said Arnold. "If she sees us, she'll know this is our headquarters and not Comdem Office Services as it says on the plaque outside."
"I think she knows already. That's why she's here," said Chase.
Arnold reached across the desk and activated Chase's monitor and tuned it to the right channel. "I don't know, Chase. I don't get that impression. Look for yourself. And she didn't ask for either of us by name. Why not?"
"She's keeping to her cover," said Chase.
Arnold looked at Chase as if he was the village idiot. "Nearly everyone here knows that name. Why would she use her real name if she was undercover?"
The two men stared at the monitor with their arms crossed against their chests. Anna moved to sit in the waiting area. She was cool and unhurried. She seemed to know where the cameras were though. A time or two she looked directly at the camera.
"What does she know?" asked Chase.
"Why is she here?" asked Arnold.
Spoon Island
SHREEK! SHREEK!
The ground had turned to mud. The storm raged around them. The crystal was brighter and louder than before. Maxie lay unconscious splayed on the ground. Frisco cradled her head. Robin and Andrew both attempted to reach the crystal. The closer they got the louder the noise.
"Let's get out of here while we … we can!" shouted Frisco.
"Go! Go back to the boat!" yelled Andrew.
"Not without you two!"
"Get Maxie out!" yelled Robin. She looked at her brother. "We'll take care of this!"
"How?" asked Frisco.
"Just go, Frisco!"
Frisco scooped Maxie into his arms. He staggered towards the dock.
SHREEEEEK!
Robin held her hand outward trying to shield her eyes. "Have to … have to get … it off the … the ground!I think."
Andrew nodded. "I'll get it!"
"Wait!"
Andrew lunged forward stretching his whole body length. His fingers closed around the crystal. Pain shot out from the palms of his hand. "Aaaah!" The crystal's shrill cry stopped but it began to glow in alternating reds and yellows. Andrew held the crystal above his head and rolled towards Robin.
Robin watched the crystal. The longer that Andrew held it, the darker the red flashes cycled.
SHREEEEEEEEEEEEK!
Andrew's body convulsed as the crystal emitted a white light. The light's nimbus spread over Robin and Andrew. As the light faded so did the humming and noise.
She snatched the crystal from Andrew's grip. Her fingers grazed the hot surface and the red flashes changed into yellow. She put the crystal back in her bag.
BOOM!
Robin shook Andrew's shoulder. "Andrew? Come on. Wake up! We have to return to the boat. Andrew!"
Andrew lay still. Robin lay a hand on his chest. It rose and fell still. "Andrew!"
Movement at the corner of her eye made her look up. It was Vincent in a light green slicker and black rain boots.
"He's out cold!" yelled Robin.
"I have him! Go!" Vincent hoisted Andrew over his shoulder.
They ran through the storm and back to the waiting Kestrel. Vincent laid Andrew on the long couch in the main salon. Robin checked for vital signs. His pulse was too fast. His skin was hot to the touch. His breathing was shallow. She could not wake him. He did not stir.
"General Hospital, now!" ordered Robin.
A revived Maxie asked, "Is he going to be all right?"
"He better be," replied Robin.