"Well that still doesn't explain why there are 8 cameras setup 2 in the loft and the rest down here." Said Ralph. "You know what I bet the time Collins broke in to give Cabe that time is when he put them up." Wondered Sylvester out loud.
As Ralph was walking over to Walter's desk and sat down with one of the cameras and took it apart. Everyone else started looking for the rest. Paige suddenly stopped and rushed over to Ralph and said "If Collins set these up won't he be able to see us?" Ralph shook his head no and replied "No the battery life is only about 5 years so we will be fine. Collins was probably watching after the break up, waited 6 months and saw how depressed Dad was and took him then he watched for maybe another year and saw that nobody came back so there is no reason to keep watching and no sense to change out the batteries." Paige sat down next to him grateful that they weren't being watched now but sad because after she broke up with him everyone abandoned him.
As the rest of the gang gathered around with all the cameras they all looked inward and tried to figure out how they could make this right with Walter. He had done so much for all of them and they in essence threw him away like trash. Cabe was praying that they could find his son in time, Sly was thinking about how disappointed Megan would be in him with how he treated Walter, Toby had thought about all the times he gave Walt conflicting advice and how he had seen Walter as his younger brother and he picked on him for his own sick enjoyment. Happy was thinking about her best friend and said "As awful as we all were to Walt it a surprise he didn't do something very drastic." They all gasped and Toby said "It's possible, but with Baghdad and losing his sister he never showed any real credible signs. Now losing Paige and Ralph may have pushed him over but again even in his letters he never leaned that way he was definitely hoping to reunite with them." Sylvester added "I have been there before and when Walter saved me we had a lot of talks about that and he swore he would never get to that point because of Megan. He didn't want to leave her and he knew she would be so disappointed."
"He's not dead!" Yelled Ralph. "Oh sweetie we don't think he's dead we are just trying to explore every possible scenario." Paige said as she made her way next to Ralph. "No I'm telling you he's not dead, he's 6.3 miles East of here." Said Ralph. "Son, how can you know that already?" Asked Cabe. "Well while you guys were doing your thing over there I was able to see where this camera was transmitting to and was able to hack into a camera feed and saw Dad." Replied Ralph with a smug tone. "But I don't want Collins to see me in there and warn him so I terminated the connection." "Now that we know where he is let's go get him!" Said Happy as she moved over to grab some tools. "I'll contact Homeland and get some reinforcements." Said Cabe as he pulled out his cell phone.
"Wait a minute everyone. I want to get Dad more than anything but we need a plan before we go over there. We are dealing with Collins so we need to think about every possible scenario for every move we make." Ralph said as he stood up. "Sly you need to get a layout of the location and everything within a block of it and we need blueprints for it all. Happy you need to go over everything he finds and find every weakness possible and where someone like Collins would put traps. Toby, get on the cameras in that area and profile everyone, the homeless, delivery people, people that are in any building on a regular basis. Mom get with Toby and find us the best options for disguises. We need to be able to get as close as possible without Collins getting suspicious. Grandpa, you need to get us any equipment we will need and I will get someone to help. Keep off the main lines we have no idea if Collins has anyone working for him. It's Tuesday now. I want full reports from everyone by Friday. That will give us the weekend to get prepped and organized so Monday we can get Dad."
"Now hold on Ralph, why are you giving out orders?" Asked Paige with her arms crossed. "Mom, let's be real when Scorpion was together it was always Dad giving out the assignments, he knew who was best to do what and he could run through all the possible outcomes faster than anyone here. Everyone has said that I am just like him when he was my age so naturally it would be me to take his place. I suspect that Dad knew that too so I honestly think he was just waiting for me to be old enough to take over for him. Actually not to sound arrogant but I'm probably better than him now because of you, he always wanted me to pay attention and learn EQ from you so I wouldn't have his deficiencies as an adult." Replied Ralph. Paige stood there looking up at him and realized that he was correct and no longer was she looking at the little boy in the diner with the sugar packets but an incredibly smart and honorable young man who was the best part of everyone in this crazy family. She put her arms around him and hugged him as tight as she could for a minute before stepping back, wiping the tears from her eyes and taking a deep breath turned around and said "Alright you heard him lt get to work so we can bring Walter home."
Instantly everyone jumped up to the different parts of the garage to start getting what was needed done. The first one to come up to him was Sylvester who said "Where they are is zoned as residential and commercial mostly a couple of rundown apartment buildings a couple houses and a large warehouse that is owned by the city as a training ground for law enforcement. It looks like the city is trying to rezone the area to all commercial. It's just the owners of the apartments and houses are holding out for as much money as possible." Ralph sat at Walter's desk and leaned back while listening, already coming up with half a dozen plans and stuck out his hand for a fist bump and said thanks. Sylvester was so excited because that was the first time in 5 years that Ralph had even acknowledged him so he bumped fists and ran back to his whiteboard to do some more work.
A little bit later Happy came over and reported "So I looked at all plans and the apartments are no good for Collins to use. There are too many units for him to monitor and secure. The warehouse is used all the time for law enforcement and first responder training so that's out. All that's left is 2 houses 1 is not suitable for use, no power, no water and no way for 2 people for any amount of time so we have 1 house. 2 story with a basement, basic setup 1st floor living, kitchen, dining and half bath 2nd floor full bath 3 bedroom. There is a detached carport. Bills are all paid on time, nothing out of the ordinary from the outside." Ralph thought about it for a little bit and asked "Is there any way that you can see if any of the buildings or units have any cameras in them that could alert Collins to us? If you have to take Birdroni and see if you can get any more information. Try and see if there is a parking garage nearby with any long term spots, Collins may have a vehicle nearby to escape if needed. So see if there are any and who they are registered to." Happy said "Copy that." While she walked over to her workbench.
Toby was the next one to come over. "So there's not much foot traffic going through that area aside from law enforcement for training, mostly it's just delivery services. There would be no way to get close without alerting Collins, unless we disguise ourselves as SWAT. Knowing Collins he knows everything that goes on in that area so he would realize something was up if a group of people were there with no schedule." Ralph replied "You're most likely correct so once we get all of the information we need I will hack into the police and set up a large scale practice under the guise of an emergency training, 1 that will explain why there is a larger the normal amount of law enforcement there and 2 will show why there is a rush for the training." "That's a great idea but can you make it to include emergency services there so we have medical nearby to cover us just in case?" "Yes I can and I can make it seem like that ems need to go into a live scenario and police and SWAT are the for cover." Said Ralph while holding his hand up for a high five.
Ralph walked over to Cabe and waited for him to finish his call. "So I am coming up with a plan and I need you to get enough tactical swat gear for 9 people, 3 of the guns need to be loaded with blanks, the rest with live ammo, is that something you can do? Asked Ralph. At first Cabe looked confused and said "Yeah I can arrange that but why 3 with blanks?" Ralph turned a
And looked at the rest of the group and replied "I don't want Toby, Sylvester and my mom to have live rounds. Between you, me, Happy and the 3 others I have on the team we don't need anymore shooters." Cabe thought about it and agreed. "The rest I will go over when everyone is here and I can go over the plan." Said Ralph as he turned and headed back to his desk.
45 minutes later and the door opened up and 3 men walked in with one of them being James Corbin. After all the introductions were made everyone gathered and table in the center of the garage and waited for Ralph to start. Ralph came down from the loft and looked around. "Ok, so we are going to split up into 2 teams. We are all going as SWAT. Team 1 is me, mom, James and Edwards. Team 2 is Happy, Toby, Sly, Cabe, and Jacobs. Happy you have point. look for any traps, Jacobs you are next your goal is to protect Sly. Sly you are providing Happy with probabilities and you are to follow Jacobs everywhere. Toby you're next, if you guys find dad first you take point and do whatever to keep him alive and ready for transport, Cabe you take rear and cover the teams six. If you find Dad Sly you become Toby's nurse, Happy you provide close cover protection, Cabe you and Jacobs change from rescue to search and find Collins." Everyone nodded at their assignments. For Team 1, I'll take point, Edwards is next your my medic . Everything I said to Toby applies to you. Mom, you're next, you are Edwards' nurse if we find Dad. James you have our six and provide close quarters protection for Mom. If she gets hurt you will have to deal with me. If we get to Dad first I'll shift to search. James you continue covering. Whichever team finds Dad first the other team meets up quickly. Toby you are point with Edwards assisting mom and Sly continue to help your respective person. Happy and Cabe provides cover for the room, James and Jacobs are with me. Everyone understand?"
Everyone replied "Copy." They then dispersed around the garage having their own conversations, while Paige started making lunch for everyone and Ralph finalized a plan.
After lunch Ralph called Toby, Edwards, Sly and Paige over to his desk. "Toby I need you and Edwards to get a list of everything you need to become walking ers. I mean every possible scenario, account for broken bones, overdoses, drug dependencies, coma, viruses, fevers, seizures, dehydration, anything we could possibly find wrong with Dad. Fill every pocket and every bag with supplies and use mom and Sly to carry anything extra. Just keep in mind that we need to stay mobile." He then walked over to Happy and Cabe and said "Happy, I need you to get a list of any tools that you need for any traps that may come up and build a pack with extras in of breaks or malfunctions and make 2 sets. 1 for me and 1 for you. Cabe can you help her?"
He then called James and Jacobs to follow him upstairs to the loft. After he makes sure the intercom was unhooked he went right up to them and said "Ok let's get serious, after we find Dad and go after Collins I want to be certain that he does not walk out of that house. He has done too much to my family and especially my Dad. Once we are past this I want Collins to be a memory." James and Jacobs looked at each other and looked at Ralph and saw the determination in his eyes and nodded realizing that 9 people would be walking in and only 10 people will be leaving alive. Jacobs replied "10-4" and James replied "Copy that."