Angel walked with Rasa through the underground citadel. He had been led through everything but their temple and he was glad to have missed that on one level. He knew a thing or two about demon goddesses and figured he'd be just fine passing that up.
Rasa held to his arm but he knew that he was perfectly safe. He was immune to her bite after all. He knew that she was trying to charm him though. Talk about unification as if it were the answer to all their trouble when historically the division was all that had saved them as a race, but he said nothing about that now. He would save those arguments for the negotiations.
Angel almost wished that it was Lindsey he was going against. It had been a long time since there had been an opponent he could really sink his teeth into ... well... figuratively speaking. While the tiny Texan got on his nerves, he was occasionally a challenge and Angel was itching for a challenge. He didn't think Tara's boy Eliot was up to the challenge. He had no experience with the supernatural. He was totally out of his depth and set up to take the fall into the bargain.
They strode back to the center of the complex and found Goran waiting for them once more.
"You do not look pleased, Cousin," She said and wondered if she had underestimated the tribunal.
"They wish to consider your suggestion a little longer. They will inform me tomorrow. Regardless, the negotiations will begin at sundown tomorrow. Word has been sent to Wolfram and Hart to await further word. "
Angel nodded. "Very well. You'll let me know when you find out?"
Goran nodded.
"Thank you," Angel said. "It was good to see you again Rasa, Goran. Until tomorrow." He turned to walk away.
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Lilah Morgan was not happy. First, the Elevators had malfunctioned; then the phones had gone completely haywire. Calls were placed randomly often with no one on the other end and the outside lines were completely down. The lights were flickering enough to give her a headache. So far the best anyone could say was it was either an electrical problem or gremlins.
She would rather it be gremlins. Those she knew how to deal with. Electrical problems meant strangers coming into the building. It meant chaos. She couldn't afford Chaos.
She picked up her purse and walked to the door, she would give Hardwick his instructions in person, check on Spencer then go home for the night. She wasn't getting anything else done there.
The door wouldn't open.
And of course, now her phone decided to not work at all. Every time she attempted to dial anywhere she got the same female voice thanking her for her interest in the Abernathy Funeral Home, where they really cared about your loved ones' passage into the afterlife.
She took out her cell phone; no bars. Who had ordered the block on cell phones? Lilah swore and went back to the door, pounding on it to get someone, anyone's attention. The only response was for the room to go dark as the lights on her floor went out.
Parker giggled silently, as she watched the video feed of Lilah Morgan's plight. Who said revenge couldn't be fun?
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Hardwick watched Tara and Eliot. It was disappointing that she seemed to take so much interest in Spencer. He didn't suspect her of knowing who he was or of any disloyalty. He just hated seeing her waste her time on a man who had maybe 24 hours to live. Well, that was if Ms. Morgan was feeling compassionate. If not the man's life would be one long drawn-out hell. He knew which way he was betting.
"It's time to call it a day, Mr. McDonald," He finally said.
"I have too much work to do," Eliot said moving on to the next file for the third time that day.
"So do I, which means I need to escort you to your room now," Hardwick said. "Unless you want to handle it the way we did earlier. I can give the doc a call."
The look he received from his prisoner, almost made him take a step back; especially when he got up from his chair angrily. One-on-one Spencer would be a hell of a lot harder to subdue, but Eliot grabbed his jacket and walked past him out the door, not waiting for Hardwick to follow. He knew the way now.
Hardwick caught up to him at the Elevator. "They're pretty sporadic today. We're taking the stairs. "
"This day just keeps getting better," Eliot grumbled and motioned for Hardwick to lead the way. "She's out of your league you know," He said almost conversationally. "Hell, she's out of mine too. What? You thought it was a secret? First, you're male, second, you're obvious."
"Shut up and head down the stairs," Hardwick grumbled.
It felt good to be moving. It hurt, but at the same time, it beat being caged. Eliot was a physical man. He needed physical activity.
"You know once this is over me and you are gonna have a long talk," Eliot said. He liked talking with his hands; usually hard and fast.
Hardwick just chuckled, "I don't know, you didn't do so well at talking this morning."
"Who are you kidding? I was injured and drugged and even then it took three of you and that freak you call a doctor to take me down."
"Keep telling yourself that," He said unlocking the door to let them out onto the prison level.
"I don't have to man," he laughed. "And she stood there and saw it. Three of you and you didn't bother to jump in until I was already on the floor." he shook his head. "You are so out of the game there."
Hardwick unlocked Eliot's door and stood waiting for him to go inside. It was all he could do to keep from punching him in the mouth.
Eliot stood there for a moment as if challenging him to do it then stepped inside. He locked gazes with the man until the door was closed then let out a long sigh and laid down on his bed. God, he was exhausted.
Hardwick ran the stairs back up and smiled finding Tara still there, finishing up. "So, can I cash in that rain check tonight?" Spencer didn't know what he was talking about and Hardwick was going to prove it.
Tara smiled. People were so predictable. "I guess. There's a bar not too far from here. It's got great food and live music."
Hardwick smiled. "Let me get cleaned up and I'll meet you back here," He told her. Lilah hadn't contacted him with any new instructions. He saw no need to stay there when the others could handle watching the repairmen without him.
"I'll be here," She said. Once he was out of sight she smiled. "We're on," She said into her earbud.
*Alright,* Nate said. *We'll be ready for you. Parker, how are things going on your end*
*It would be better if there was a way to cut off the oxygen in there. Is there a way to do that?* She asked watching as Lilah Morgan tried desperately to get someone's attention.
*No. hell no,* Hardison answered.
*She hurt Eliot,* Parker said as if that changed things.
*And we're going to make sure she can never do that again but we need to keep our heads in the game,* Nate said. *Just keep things chaotic. And Parker. be careful*
"He's coming back," Tara said quietly.
"Ready to go?" Hardwick said with a smile.
"Absolutely!" She smiled. " After a day like today, I could use a little fun and probably a lot of alcohol."
"I think we can arrange for both." Out of the game, like hell. He was batting a thousand as far as he was concerned.
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Parker slid through the ductwork cautiously. Tara had told her that they used unorthodox security so she took extra precautions as she traveled. She had found out where they were keeping Eliot when looking through the security files. It was weird to keep the location of people you kidnapped on a company computer; nothing about this made any sense to Parker. She moved the ceiling panel and dropped down into the cramped bathroom wondering how Eliot managed to get his shoulders to fit through the door.
She peered out the door into the small cell and slipped silently within after making sure no one was looking. "Eliot," She said softly, kneeling beside the bed he lay on. He didn't look good; at least not like himself. He was pale and warm to the touch. Not quite feverish, but hot nonetheless. He didn't rouse.
"Eliot?" She asked again. "Guys, he's not waking up."
*Let him rest, Parker,* Nate said. *From what Tara has said he's been through a lot today.* He was worried but he didn't need Parker going off the reservation again. If they didn't pull this off they would lose Eliot entirely.
"But Eliot never sleeps this heavy," Parker insisted.
There was a moment of silence. *I know,* Nate said, his concern showing in his tone. *But we have a job to do if we are going to keep him safe. I need you back in position,* he said gently.
"But-"
*If you want to help Eliot, you need to stick to the plan,* Nate said more firmly.
"Fine, but I don't like it," Parker told him. She slipped away from Eliot and back into the ductwork. As the tile slid back into place the room went white.
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In the white room, Lindsey McDonald pulled himself across the floor. He wanted out of the glaring whiteness. He wanted out of the building. He'd had thoughts of going back to Tibet if it came to it. He didn't want back under the Sr. Partners' thumbs.
He finally stopped and rolled over onto his back as he came to realize that the room was as large as the Conduit needed it to be. He would never be able to reach the far side where the door was supposed to be.
"Shut up," He yelled as the voices began again. "Shut up," He yelled louder, covering his ears. THEY were talking to him, filling his head with things he had never wanted to imagine much less know. Lindsey curled around himself, instinctively making himself a smaller target, but it didn't help.
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Tara smiled at Hardwick. Strangely he was easy to talk to and she thought she might like him if he wasn't neck-deep in an evil corporation that wanted nothing more than to bring their special brand of hell to earth. She spotted the team (what was left of it) positioned around the club, and watched, waiting for things to begin. She was just there to be a distraction this time. Nate had a plan that might actually work. Of course, it might also actually get them killed or worse.
Hardwick got up and went to the bar to get a pitcher of beer and Sophie moved in. Her disguise was subtle enough not to look fake but it changed her appearance enough that he didn't recognize her. She knew that security all had pictures of Nate's crew and to be on the lookout for them.
While he was paying for the drinks Sophie lifted his security pass and held it next to her phone for a moment while Hardison collected the data. With practiced ease, she slipped it back into the man's jacket pocket and disappeared into the crowd.