Buck had just gotten into her Jeep when there was a ping on her phone indicating an incoming message. With a quick glance at her surroundings, she pulled the device from her pocket and took a glance at the message.

UNKNOWN

Meet me at the Santa Monica pier. 12 noon. Come alone. I have a package that belongs to you.

(YOU)

Who is this?

Noon. Meet at the end of the pier.

how will i find you?

ill find you

With a frown Buck glanced at her watch and noted she had about 20 min to reach the pier.
She glanced up briefly as she heard the station bell toll and saw the ladder truck and ambo leave, she sent an agreement to the unknown sender and started her vehicle and drove off in the direction of the Pier.

20 min later found Buck scoping out the people from the side of the game booth as she watched the crowd for her mystery sender.
Not willing to expose her back to the open space provided by the benches overlooking the vast blue ocean just yet.

25 minutes after she arrived she saw a male dressed in jeans and a t-shrit with glasses covring his eyes and a cap on his head, carrying a paper bag with what looked like popcorn in it walking causully towards the bench. Something about the man's causual approach had her paying closer attention as the man leaned on the rail of the pier, glancing calmly at the water.

"You sure are distrutful." the man said softly as he glacnced briefly in her direction with a smirk and look away.

"Who are you? And what do you want?" Buck said as she slid her hand into the pocket of her cargo pants and touched the Provoke she carried with her

"You dont need that." the man said with a glance at her hand in her pocket.

Buck said nothing, mearly raised an eyebrow and gazed at the man.

"Its been a bit of few years since we last saw eachother Viper. Maybe Maldova will help you remember?"

"Maldova? Hell. You have got to be kidding me. The hell are you doing her? I thought you were with the company?"

"I was. We have since seperated. I am moslty local nowadays. But i heard some chatter on an op i was on that led me to your current predicament."

" Oh? And that would be what?"

"Hard not to hear when SEALs start dropping like flies and more of said SEALs and their families suddenly 'take vacation'"

"What have you heard Ghost?"

"Let's just say that there is trouble brewing and it is heading straight for LA and you and yours might need a lead-lined umbrella. Enjoy the popcorn. It's fresh." Ghost said as he nodded at the paper bag he left near her hand. " Be careful. And if you need anything you know how to reach me."

Buck took the popcorn and nodded at him as he disappeared into the crowd.
With a glance at her surroundings, Buck headed away from the crowd, moving like a ghost and slipping unnoticed through the crowd as she made her way to the parking lot from the opposite side from which she entered and moved towards her Jeep.

Once inside Buck drove towards the I10 and home.

Reaching home was quick and easy, Buck entered her home and took in the quiet that was settled over the house since the kids were both still at their respective schools.

She took her laptop sat down on the couch and logged in. Once logged in she stuck her hand into the bag of popcorn and felt around, her hand touching plastic, she pulled out a flash drive. After a moment of contemplation, she plugged in the drive and waited for it to load.

The soft ding from her pc drew her attention from her introspection, a glance showed her a single file pop-up on her desktop.
She clicked on the green-grayish thumbnail and watched it load.

15 minutes later she knew what had happened that night with Knight and his team that would cause the ripple effects 8 years later and cause the repercussions they were now dealing with.

The only thing they didn't know was who was leading the charge for vengeance.
After a quick message to Athena and her own husband asking to get the team together that evening dinner and for an update on the situation, Buck made a copy of the video and secured everything and cleaned up.

She had a few minutes to make a afternoon snack and get some prep done for dinner with everyone in mind.

She knew they were making headway and that soon her team would touch down in LA, but for now she was on going to focus in her kids and their needs. Life had to matter to she thought resolutely.