"So... what exactly kind of game did you have in mind?" Waga Baba Bobo asked curiously.

"Conkers," Rock Justice simply replied.

Hearing that instantly brought Waga Baba Bobo back to the year prior when he'd decided to take the London Underground instead of taking the usual route to his humble abode and encountered a mook who'd made people play that game.

"Conkers, as in that one game I deliberately lost in to take part in the competition?" Waga Baba Bobo asked again.

Rock Justice nodded. "The very same."

Waga Baba Bobo couldn't help but feel a mix of nostalgia and apprehension. Playing Conkers again meant revisiting a painful memory, but if it was the last wish of Maxime, he felt compelled to honor it. As they gathered in the living room, Rock Justice retrieved a bag from a nearby shelf. He carefully opened it, revealing a collection of shiny, polished conkers that had been threaded onto pieces of white string, with one being about six centimeters in diameter and the other being half that size. Waga Baba Bobo's eyes widened as he recognized the familiar sight.

"Here they are," Rock Justice said, a hint of excitement in his voice. "The same conkers Maxime and Pamela told me you'd used against one of my clone-brothers."

"Wait, that mook Waga Baba Bobo deliberately lost against was also a Maxime clone?" Victor asked.

Maxime weakly nodded. "Oui, he was also a clone."

"So... were all the mooks working for you in Lemuria also your clones?"

"Yes, they were all my clones!" Maxime suddenly started coughing. "Well, a few of them were clones of Pamela, but they were mostly my clones."

"Can we please stop stalling and just get on with the game?" Elodie asked, growing irritated with the whole conversation. "Every moment we spent dawdling about is another moment Maxime has to spend dying!"

Victor sighed and crossed his arms across his chest. "Fine."

Waga Baba Bobo reached out and picked up one of the conkers, feeling its weight in his hand. Instantly, memories flooded back to him - him handing the masked Maxime clone twenty Bank of England £50 notes, him being the first to strike, him going at the game with the clone until his conker eventually broke apart... Indeed, it had been a much simpler time, before he knew the truth about Rock Justice.

He looked up to find Rock Justice watching him closely, his gaze filled with a mixture of hope and remorse. "I know you may not forgive me, Pineapple Chunks; but I hope that by playing this game together, we can at least find some closure."

Waga Baba Bobo sighed, torn between his lingering resentment and the flicker of friendship that remained. He knew deep down that he still cared about Rock Justice, despite everything. With a nod, he made up his mind. "Alright. Let's play. This time, I'll be picking the bigger conker."

Rock Justice nodded. "Good call, Pineapple Chunks."

The room fell silent as Waga Baba Bobo and Rock Justice prepared for a game of conkers together. They gathered around a small coffee table, placing their chosen conkers on the surface. The tension in the room was palpable as both participants took their turn, swinging their conker with precision and skill.

"Oh mein Gott..." Professor Professor muttered. "I can't believe they're actually doing this..."

"Me neither," Celia rejoined. "Look at them go!"

As the game progressed, Waga Baba Bobo couldn't help but notice the genuine smile on Rock Justice's face. It was a stark contrast to the burdened expression he had worn before. It seemed that playing Conkers had brought back a piece of the old Rock Justice - the one who had been his ally and friend.

"Come on, Waga Baba Bobo!" Victor called out to his boss. "You can do it! You can win this!"

The game continued, each strike carrying the weight of their complicated history and uncertain future. As the strikes went on and on, Waga Baba Bobo found himself letting go of some of his anger and resentment.

Finally, after several intense clashes, Waga Baba Bobo's conker struck Rock Justice's with a resounding crack, splitting it in half. The room fell silent as they both looked at the broken conker, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Well played, Pineapple Chunks," Rock Justice said softly, breaking the silence.

Just as Waga Baba Bobo was about to rejoin that statement, they were suddenly made aware of the sound of Maxime's heart monitor sounding off a loud, monotone beep. Elodie decided to check Maxime's heartbeat. Nothing.

"He's gone," Elodie said. "Thank you for honoring Maxime's wish."

Waga Baba Bobo sighed, his gaze meeting Rock Justice's. "I may never fully understand everything that happened, but I can appreciate the honesty and the chance to say goodbye properly."

Rock Justice nodded, a sense of closure settling over them. "Thank you for giving me that chance."

"You're welcome. I know you won't remember it tomorrow, but I'm glad I could be there for you."

"Likewise."

With that, Waga Baba Bobo and his group prepared to bid farewell to Rock Justice and Maxime, their hearts heavy with conflicting emotions. Just then, there was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" Elodie called out.

"It's me, Pam," a feminine voice replied in a French accent. "Let me in, Mother."

Elodie quickly made her way over to the door. "Alright, hold on, dear."

She opened the door to find her daughter standing right there, her arms akimbo and a blank expression on her face.

"Mother, what's going on here?" Pamela asked Elodie. "Why are Burger King Foot Lettuce and his team here?"

"His name is Waga Baba Bobo today, Pam," Elodie corrected her.

"Sorry, why are Waga Baba Bobo and his team here?"

"Why, Rock Justice sent them here, of course. Didn't you get my text message?"

"No, I was busy with work. You know how it is."

"Ah. Well, anyway, your father just died. Just thought I should let you know."

"I see..." Pamela turned to look Rock Justice dead in the eyes. "Thank you, Rock Justice. Your services will no longer be required."

With that, she pulled out an FN Hi-Power gun and aimed it right at Rock Justice's head. She then pulled the trigger and just watched with little emotion as blood and brain matter splatted behind her father's clone onto a nearby wall and then as he fell to the floor dead.

"Rock Justice!" Waga Baba Bobo cried out. "No!"

Victor, Celia, and Professor Professor could only stare as blood seeped out of Rock Justice's lifeless body.

Celia turned to Pamela, still shell-shocked by what had just transpired. "You killed him..."

Waga Baba Bobo was overwhelmed by emotion at the sight of Pamela's complete lack of remorse. "You rotter! How could you do that to him? He didn't deserve that!"

Pamela could only offer up a shrug. "Well, clones are clones. He fulfilled his duty, so there was no reason to keep him around any longer."

"You're barking mad, Pamela! How can you say that about Rock Justice, a human being?"

"Like I said, clones are clones." Pamela then pointed right at Waga Baba Bobo's face. "Now, if I were you, I'd shut up and come with for a special trip."

Beads of sweat started rolling down Waga Baba Bobo's face. "What special trip?"

"I won't tell you until we get there." She then maneuvered behind her hostage, gun still pointed at him, and started pushing him out the door and down the hallway. "Now come on. I'm taking you to my special spider-bike. Won't it be fun? I'm sure you think so, judging by how your sweat smells."

Victor, Celia, and Professor Professor immediately sprang into action and followed Pamela as she led Waga Baba Bobo further down the hallway and then downstairs towards the front doors. As they passed by the front entrance, they could see that Waga Baba Bobo was calling out for help. Eventually, they were outside and had managed to follow Pamela as she was practically dragging Waga Baba Bobo to her shiny jet-black spider-bike.

"Where do you think you're going with him?" Celia asked.

"No need to ask," Pamela replied. "Ce n'est pas tes oignons."

With that, Pamela took off with Waga Baba Bobo in her spider-bike. Undeterred, Victor and his group proceeded to hop onto their skybikes and trail behind her.

While en route to a top secret location, Waga Baba Bobo continued to plead for his life, but his pleas fell on deaf ears. Pamela could only stare directly ahead as she drove her spider-bike to her destination. She was dead-set on getting there no matter what. As she continued her journey, she spotted a vast and shadowy building in the distance. The building seemed to loom over the landscape, an imposing structure that exuded an aura of mystery and danger. Pamela's heart raced as she drew closer. As she approached, the gate stood wide open, inviting her in. With a deep breath, she rode through the entrance, her bike humming softly beneath her. At last, she and her hostage had arrived.

"Now that we're here, tell me what we're doing," Waga Baba Bobo was quick to command.

Pamela nodded. "Alright, I guess I've kept you waiting long enough. We're here to inform the Expendables that my father has just died."

Waga Baba Bobo raised an eyebrow. "That's all?"

"Well, actually, there's more; but we'll get to that later."

Waga Baba Bobo gulped. "M-More?"

Inside, the atmosphere was thick with tension. The air crackled with energy, and the faint sound of voices echoed through the corridors. Pamela carefully navigated through the dimly lit hallways, following a trail of flickering lights that guided her towards her destination. Finally, she arrived at a heavily guarded door. Two burly guards stood on either side, their expressions stern and unyielding.

As Pamela stepped forward, she stared up at them and met their gaze with unwavering determination. "Relax, you two. It's just me. I brought a hostage with me."

One of the guards nodded. "Of course. Come on in, Kafka."

With a synchronized movement, they stepped aside, allowing her access to the room beyond. Pamela entered cautiously. The room was dimly lit, save for a single spotlight illuminating a figure seated behind an imposing desk. A Maxime clone looked up from his papers, his piercing gaze locked onto Pamela. She could feel his scrutiny, as if he were peering into her very soul. Despite the weight of his presence, she stood tall, determined to deliver to him the bad news.

"I'm afraid I've got some bad news, Camus," Pamela began, her voice steady. "It's actually a good thing you're already sitting down."

Camus leaned back in his chair, his expression inscrutable. "What is it? Speak."

Pamela took a deep breath. "Father's dead."

"Dead? When did he die?"

"I don't know, but he was already dead when I got there."

Silence hung heavily in the room as Camus processed the information. His normally composed demeanor cracked, revealing a flicker of vulnerability.

"I can't believe it," Camus could only utter. "He's... he's gone?"

"I'm afraid so, Camus," Pamela replied.

Camus's gaze shifted to the hostage, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. "And what does he have to do with all this?"

"Well, Waga Baba Bobo was there with Victor, Celia, and Professor Professor when Father died. Mother told me that Rock Justice had invited them there."

A flicker of interest sparked in Camus's eyes as he leaned forward, his voice filled with a newfound intensity. "Is that true, Waga Baba Bobo? Were you there when Maxime took his last breath?"

Waga Baba Bobo swallowed nervously, his eyes darting between Pamela and Camus. "Y-Yes, but why else did you bring me here?"

Camus gave a little smirk. "I heard you and the Deaf lady formed quite the friendship with Rock Justice. Tell me... what was it like for you to find out the truth?"

"Why are you asking me that? I'm still grieving over him!"

Camus leaned back in his chair, a sly smile forming on his lips. "Oh, Waga Baba Bobo, don't be so naive. We all know the truth can be a bitter pill to swallow. It was only a matter of time before you found out he was one of Maxime's many clones. Tell me, how much did you tell him for your friends to find the competition?"

Waga Baba Bobo was thrown off-guard by that question. "Is that the other reason I was brought here? Because you thought I sent U.Z.Z. your way?"

"Don't act so obtuse. You know that's why."

"No, I don't!"

"Alright, Camus, that's enough," Pamela softly said. "Why don't we take this to the lavatory? Maybe we can get the answers out of him there."

Waga Baba Bobo's eyes widened as Camus got up out of his seat. "Oh, no, no, no, no! Don't waterboard me! Please!"

Unfortunately for Waga Baba Bobo, however, his plea fell on deaf ears. Soon, Camus and Pamela began to drag him away to begin the process of waterboarding him.

Not too far behind, Victor, Celia, and Professor Professor snuck in through the gate that had been left wide open. Apprehensive as the three were about this rescue mission, they were determined to see it through and get Waga Baba Bobo out of there safe and sound. Celia and Victor assumed the position up front while Professor Professor took position in the back in order to remain inconspicuous. The two field agents stepped forward and started roaming the dimly lit corridors, hoping to get some sort of clue on where they could find Waga Baba Bobo. As they cautiously made their way through the labyrinthine corridors, Victor and Celia could hear the faint echoes of voices in the distance. They exchanged a glance, realizing that they must be getting closer to their target. The tension in the air grew thicker with every step, but they remained focused and determined.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Victor said.

"Me too," Celia conceded. "But we can't let it get to us. Our number one priority is to find Waga Baba Bobo."

Suddenly, a door creaked open nearby, causing the trio to freeze in their tracks. They pressed themselves against the wall, hiding in the shadows as a group of guards passed by. Their hearts pounded in their chests as they waited for the coast to clear.

Once the guards were out of sight, they continued moving forward. It wasn't long before they stumbled upon a room with a flickering light coming from underneath the door. Celia carefully turned the handle, and they peered inside. What they saw shocked them. Pamela and Camus were repeatedly shoving Waga Baba Bobo's head into a toilet and then giving him a swirlie every time he gave them an answer they didn't want to hear.

"Holy shit..." Celia murmured. "It sounds like they're trying to torture information out of him..."

"That's exactly what they're doing," Professor Professor murmured back. "I think it's over us..."

"Why?" Victor asked. "Why us exactly?"

Professor Professor shook his head. "I don't know, and I'm not sure I want to find out."

Celia's heart sank as she watched the horrific scene unfold before her eyes. The sight of Waga Baba Bobo, a once-respected and powerful figure, being humiliated like this only served to break her heart. The sight in front of them was horrifying, but it only strengthened their resolve to rescue Waga Baba Bobo as quickly as possible. They knew they had to act fast, but they also had to be careful not to alert Pamela and Camus to their presence.

"We need to come up with a plan," Victor whispered urgently. "We can't just barge in there."

"I agree," Celia replied, her eyes fixed on the scene through the crack in the door. "We need to find a way to distract them."

Professor Professor nodded thoughtfully. "I may have an idea. Follow my lead."

With that, he quietly slipped away down the corridor, leaving Victor and Celia to keep watch on the room. Minutes later, they heard a commotion coming from a different part of the facility, as well as the sound of footsteps rushing in that direction.

"Now's our chance," Victor said, motioning for Celia to follow him as they entered the room.

To their surprise, Pamela and Camus seemed to have already left. Presumably, they'd gotten sick of Waga Baba Bobo giving them the runaround and had decided to take a break. Meanwhile, there the chief of U.Z.Z. lay, disoriented and shaken by the whole ordeal.

Waga Baba Bobo barely held his head up, exhausted from having been tortured repeatedly. "Victor, Celia, thank goodness you're here... I didn't know if you were ever going to come..."

"It's okay, Waga Baba Bobo," Celia assured him. "You're safe now."

The three quickly embraced, exchanging whispered words of reassurance and making a plan for their escape. They knew they couldn't waste any time.

"Okay, what now?" Victor asked Celia.

"We're getting out of here right now," Celia replied. "There's no beating around the bush here."

As they made their way back through the corridors, they could hear the voices of Pamela and Camus growing louder as they returned from investigating the distraction. The trio quickened their pace, knowing they were running out of time. With Professor Professor's expertise in devising intricate plans, they were confident in their ability to navigate the treacherous path ahead. They proceeded to move through the facility, avoiding surveillance cameras and dodging patrolling guards, every obstacle they overcame only fueling their determination to bring Waga Baba Bobo back to safety.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they reached the main entrance. But just as they were about to make their escape, a loud alarm blared throughout the whole building. Their hearts sank as they realized they had been discovered.

"Shit, now what, Victor?" Celia urgently asked him.

Victor's quickly composed himself for the sake of his partner. "We do what we've always done, Celia. we fight our way out of this!"

With renewed determination, Victor, Celia, and Professor Professor braced themselves for the impending chaos. They knew that escaping wouldn't be easy, but they were prepared to do whatever it took to get Waga Baba Bobo to safety. As the alarm continued to blare, the facility seemed to come alive with activity. Guards rushed towards them from all directions, their footsteps echoing through the corridors. Victor swiftly pulled out his trusty grappling hook, ready to swing into action.

"Follow my lead," Victor shouted over the noise, his voice filled with determination. "We stick together and fight our way out!"

Celia nodded, her eyes focused on the approaching guards. She reached into her utility belt, retrieving a pair of electrified batons. With a flick of her wrist, they crackled to life, emitting a menacing blue glow. Professor Professor, always the analytical mind, remained calm amidst the chaos. He pulled out a small device from his pocket and pressed a button, causing it to emit a bright flash of light. The guards momentarily paused, their vision momentarily obscured. Seizing the opportunity, the trio swiftly moved into action. Victor launched his grappling hook, swinging across the corridor and delivering a powerful kick that sent one guard flying. Celia expertly maneuvered between opponents, using her batons to deliver precise shocks that incapacitated several guards at once. Professor Professor used his quick thinking and vast knowledge to outsmart the guards. He activated hidden traps along their path, causing sections of the floor to drop away or releasing smoke screens that disoriented their pursuers. As they fought their way through the facility, their teamwork and skills complemented each other perfectly. Victor's agility and combat prowess, Celia's lightning-fast reflexes and strategic strikes, and Professor Professor's cunning intellect created a formidable force that left their adversaries in awe. Despite the overwhelming odds against them, the trio continued to push forward. With each guard they defeated and each obstacle they overcame, their resolve only grew stronger. They were unstoppable, fueled by their unwavering determination to protect Waga Baba Bobo and bring him back to safety.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of battling their way through the facility, they reached the final obstacle— a heavily fortified door blocking their escape. Without hesitation, Victor pulled out a set of lock picks and began skillfully working on the intricate mechanism.

Celia stood guard, ready to defend them from any last-minute attacks. Her batons crackled with electricity as she scanned the area for any signs of approaching guards.

With a satisfying click, Victor successfully unlocked the door. The trio burst through, stepping out into the cool night air. They had made it. They had successfully rescued Waga Baba Bobo and escaped from T.H.E.M.'s clutches.

Exhausted yet triumphant, they took a moment to catch their breath and regroup.

Waga Baba Bobo looked at them with gratitude in his eyes. "I can't thank you enough for saving me."

Celia smiled warmly. "It was our honor, Waga Baba Bobo. We're just glad you're safe."

Victor nodded in agreement. "Now let's get you somewhere secure. We'll figure out our next move from there."

And with that, the group disappeared into the night, leaving behind a trail of defeated guards and a facility in disarray. Once they were certain they could no longer see the building in the distance, they headed off to a nearby building that would provide them with an overnight stay so everyone could recharge for their trip back to the airport. Inside, Victor, Celia, Professor Professor, and Waga Baba Bobo found a safe haven. They were finally able to let their guard down and take a moment to rest. The adrenaline that had fueled them during their escape began to wear off, leaving them feeling both physically and mentally drained.

"Oh man, I should probably check on Anita at some point," Victor groaned. "I bet she's worried sick about me."

"Go ahead and call her, then," Celia urged him. "She probably hasn't heard from you all day."

Victor sighed. "That's exactly what I'm afraid of."

With that, Victor gave Anita a call and gave her a rundown of everything that had happened so far, including Waga Baba Bobo's kidnapping. He knew that all the infodumping he had to do was too much for his wife to process all at once, but he needed to let everything spill out somehow. He couldn't but worry at times if he was treating her more like a therapist he could vent to than a wife and friend. So much had changed over the past year that he couldn't help but wonder how much of it had taken a toll on his mental health. However, those were thoughts for another day, another time. After he was finished infodumping on her, he and Anita exchanged their hopes to see each other when he came home and then they exchanged their goodbyes. Afterwards, he hung up.

"Everything holding up at home, Victor?" Celia asked him.

Victor just nodded. "Yeah, as much as we can, anyway. Anita's still adjusting to having to use a wheelchair to get around. I'm trying my best to accommodate her. Hell, I even had a wheelchair ramp installed at our house."

"Awesome. Your wife's one of the strongest people I've ever met. I don't know how she does it."

Victor amusingly shook his head. "Me neither."

Soon enough, everyone prepared to turn in for the night, knowing that they had a busy day ahead of them tomorrow. They found makeshift sleeping arrangements and took turns keeping watch throughout the night. Despite their physical and mental exhaustion, the adrenaline of the escape still lingered, making it difficult for some of them to fall asleep.

As they lay there, thoughts raced through their minds— thoughts of the dangerous mission they had just completed, thoughts of their loved ones back home, and thoughts of what lay ahead. Each of them coped with these swirling emotions in their own way, finding solace in the company of their companions.

Victor lay awake, staring at the ceiling, his mind still reeling from the events of the day. He couldn't quite shake this feeling of unease that he was getting. He knew that their mission wasn't over yet. The looming threat of retaliation from T.H.E.M. hung heavy in the air as he continued to lay there and collect his thoughts.

Meanwhile, Celia sat by the window, gazing out into the night, lost in her own thoughts. As grateful as she was for the temporary reprieve, she couldn't shake the feeling that danger still lurked in the shadows. She wasn't sure she wanted to sleep at all that night, but she needed to if she and the others were going to take the flight home.

Professor Professor busied himself with examining some documents they had managed to retrieve during their mission. He was determined to uncover any valuable information that could help them in their fight against the organization.

Waga Baba Bobo, on the other hand, sat silently in meditation, finding peace and clarity in the stillness of the night. He knew that their journey was far from over and focused on centering himself for the challenges that lay ahead. He couldn't help but wonder, though: would Rock Justice have been proud of him for fighting off his fellow Maxime clones? How did he even feel about them anyway? How long did it take for Rock Justice to realize he was actually a clone? So many questions, but so little time to answer them.

As the night wore on, each of them eventually succumbed to sleep, finding a brief moment of respite before they would once again face the unknown.

The next day, as everyone made their way back to the airport, Waga Baba Bobo couldn't shake the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions that filled his mind. The revelations about Rock Justice's true identity and Maxime's illness had left him grappling with a mix of betrayal, understanding, and a newfound sense of empathy. Despite everything, he couldn't deny the genuine bond he had formed with Rock Justice and the impact their alliance had on him during the competition.

As he settled into his seat on the plane, he knew that this unexpected reunion had changed him in ways he was only beginning to comprehend. With a heavy heart and a mind filled with memories, he closed his eyes and let himself drift into a restless slumber, eager to return home and make sense of everything that had transpired.