Robin crept silently along the side of the wall trying to figure out the layout of the villa as she did so. She moved carefully, well aware of the fact that she had no weapons on her and was therefore trying to do her best to avoid running into any guards. From the noise and movement she observed, she guessed that Faison had discovered her absence and was not to happy about it. She could only hope that Lucky had managed to get himself and Emily out of that dungeon or they would pay the price for her escape.

At least until she could manage to rescue them.

She turned the corner and stopped when she spotted a surveillance camera down the hall. She looked behind her, but there was no way she was going back there so she had to figure out some way to take out that camera. Come on Robin, she urged herself silently. Think. After a second, she reached down and took off her shoe.

A camera was a lot smaller target than a bear she thought with a half smile as she took aim.

Of course I’m a lot better at these kinds of things now than when I was a kid she realized as the shoe knocked the camera so that it pointed to one wall.

Smiling, she moved down across the corridor quickly.

She guessed from the lack of windows anywhere that she was underground, probably some sort of secret area that most of the villa’s residents, including her mother, knew nothing about. A place where Faison could bring his victims and torture them as loud and as noisily as he wanted and not have to worry about anyone discovering his dirty little secrets. So her best bet out of here was to try to find a staircase and staircases were usually located in corners of buildings which meant...

She stopped as she turned the corner and collided with a solid figure, her hand clenching the key Lucky had slipped her earlier as the only possible weapon she had.

“Frisco?”

“Robin?” Before he had finished whispering her name, she was in his arms and his hold on her was so tight it was difficult to breath but she didn’t care. He breathed deeply and tightened his hold even further for a split second before releasing her for a second.

His hand as it touched her cheek was shaking.

“I was so scared.”

“I know.” She whispered the words as her eyes never left his.

He nodded, no further words between them were needed. Words between them were never really needed.

“Come on, we need to get out of here.”

Robin shook her head. “We have to find Lucky.”

“Lucky can take care of himself and he can more than take care of Emily. Come on. I need to get you out of here before....”

He grabbed her as the ground shook and the light fixture in the center of the corridor fell.

“Damn. Somehow I don’t think this villa is up to earthquake code.”

“Good. I want the whole place to go to hell.”

“But not with us in it.” Frisco reminded her softly. “Let’s get out of here.”

“I don’t think so.” A cool voice from behind them interrupted them. “I haven’t said the game was finished.” The figure behind them had a small gun in his hand, a gun that was pointed right at them.

“Oh it’s all finished all right Faison.” Frisco raised his own gun. “It’s as dead as you will be in just about one minute.”

“Arrogant as always Agent Jones. It’s such a relief to know that some things never change.” Faison grinned. “You might as well give up. There is no way you can make it out of this villa alive.”

“Maybe. Maybe not. But there’s no way in hell you can make it out of this corridor alive.”

“I think you’ll find that hell is full of ways that a peasant like you cannot begin to imagine.”

“Name calling Cesear. My how the mighty have fallen.”

“You were always an annoying little pest Jones. If it hadn’t been for you, Robin would have been mine a long time ago.”

“What the hell are you babbling about now Faison?” Frisco demanded as he felt Robin shiver.

“My dear sweet Robin,” Faison approached a few inches closer until Frisco clicked the gun and removed the safety. “I had it all planned out, you know. I’d been watching you for years, watching you waste your time with that Neanderthal Morgan. He could never have given you what you need, what you crave. Unfortunately he always had guards on you, watching you and I couldn’t get close so I watched and waited. When you came to your senses and left him, I made arrangements to meet your flight in Paris. You were alone, vulnerable, and you would have been mine in a heartbeat.”

“I would never have been yours. Never.” Robin yelled.

“I wouldn’t be too sure of that. Look at your mother and how easily she fell into my arms and into my bed. If it had been me you had run into in that airport instead of Jones....” Faison’s voice trailed off.

Robin shook her head. “If it hadn’t been Paris it would have been Cairo or Venice or New York or somewhere else, but there would have been a somewhere else because Frisco and I were meant for each other. Frisco is the man I love with all that I am and you are nothing but a sick perverted bastard who deserves to rot in hell for what you have done.”

“My poor Robin, how badly you malign me. It cuts me to the bone to think of how badly they have twisted your perception of me.”

“The only thing twisted around here is you and cutting you to the bone sounds pretty good to me.” Robin replied as she moved to go forward and Frisco pulled her back.

“That’s not a very polite way to speak to your father.” Faison said quietly.

Robin’s head shot up. “My father is dead because you killed him you bastard.”

“Oh Robert Scorpio is dead, I have no doubts about that. In fact someday if you ask me nicely I’ll let you watch him die. I have it all on videotape you know. And after that I’ll let you watch as I....sorry I got off track for a minute there. Like I said, Robert Scorpio is dead but he wasn’t your father.” He grinned. “That honor belongs to me. Let’s just say that even in the beginning your mother was never as...loyal as she should have been.”

“You’re lying. You’re doing it again, playing mind games, trying to destroy my life.”

“I’m trying to set you free. You deserve so much better than this.”

“No. There were blood tests. DNA tests.”

“If I remember correctly weren’t there also DNA tests on Lucky Spencer’s corpse. Tests are so easily manipulated.”

“Robert Scorpio is my father.”

“Saying it doesn’t make it true.”

Robin had never ever been so furious in her life. “Stop telling lies. My God a few minutes ago you ...” She shook her head and tried to control her fury. “You wouldn’t have tried to rape me if you thought I was your daughter....”

“Are you sure of that?” Faison asked her softly as Frisco swore softly and his fingers tightened on the trigger.

“I wouldn’t. Kill me now and you will never know the truth.”

“I already know the truth. You are a lying scum bag and I’m going to blow your head off.” Frisco said coldly.

“Really? At this close range I don’t think either of us will miss.” Faison grinned. “So I think this is what you call a stalemate.”

“I don’t think so...” A fourth voice cut in as a heavy vase was brought down on Faison’s head and he crumpled to the floor. Alex Masters turned to Frisco and Robin. “You guys alright?” At their nod, Alex turned to survey Faison before kicking him in the stomach to see if he got any reaction. He leaned down and picked up his gun. “I don’t see why this guy needs all of this junk when he could just bore his enemies to death.”

“Let’s just say he’s fond of playing games.” Frisco turned away from Faison and to Robin. “You know he was lying, don’t you?”

Robin’s face was pale as she nodded. “Let’s just get out of here.”

“My thoughts exactly.” He turned to Alex. “You got a read on Lucky?”

Alex flipped open the small tracking device. “The implant in his shoulder is working. My guess is that he and Emily have made it to the family section of the villa. They’re almost out.”

“Good. That saves us from going after them.”

“What happened to he can take care of himself?” Robin asked softly.

Frisco grinned. “You want to explain to Lila Quartermaine that we let something happen to Emily go ahead. Personally I’d prefer to face a roomful of Faison’s than one Lila with bad news about Emily.”

“Right.” Robin shook her head. “Like I buy that excuse but I’ll let it go for now.” She took one look at Faison and then turned back to Frisco. “What do we do about him?”

“Leave him,” Alex advised softly. “If the explosives I just finished setting do what they are supposed to do this whole compound is going to go sky high.”

“I think we should...”

Whatever Robin was going to say was cut off as another explosion rocked the compound.

“You were saying?” Frisco yelled as more debris fell around them kicking up a dust that made it difficult to breathe.

“Like I said I think we should get out of here.” Robin yelled back.

Together the three WSB agents continued to make their way out of the villa.

I didn't say "I do"
To take control of you
I have no chains to hold you down
If you'll let me spread my wings
You'll get the best of me
Deep in your heart is where I'm bound


I will not forsake you
I will take your hand
Beside you always
I will stand


Elsewhere in the villa

“Emily!” Lucky yelled as the gunshot passed him by and struck Emily in the arm. With deadly accuracy, he gunned down the guard who had just shot at them before he turned frantically to Emily. Pushing her into an open doorway, he bolted the door behind them.

“You’re bleeding.”

“It’s okay. It’s the arm I hurt in the crash anyway. I was getting used to it hurting like hell and swelling up to ten times its size and...” She closed her eyes. “It hurts Lucky.”

He ached. He really, really ached for her. “Shhh. It’s okay. You’re just a little in shock that’s all.” He looked around the room he had pushed her into. It was a small bedroom, probably a guest room. Grabbing the sheet off the bed, he tore at it and used it as bandages to bind the bullet wound. “I don’t think it hit anything major. It looks like just a flesh wound.”

“It hurts.” She knew she sounded pathetic and whiny but she couldn’t help it.

He smiled at her. “I know. You want me to kiss it and make it better?”

She rolled her eyes at him. “Give it up Spencer, you’re good but not that good.”

“I’m good?”

“Lucky!”

“Just asking.” He looked around the room again. He could hear sounds of gunfire going off both inside and outside of the villa, punctuated by the occasional explosion that rattled the building causing pieces of it to fall down. He looked out the window and could see the servants fleeing the building and the compound itself. The room was located at the rear of the house, directly across from the garages and the back gate to the compound. Staring out the window, he judged there to be about 50 yards of open space between the main house and the garages.

50 yards of unprotected space, guards in towers, guards on the ground....

“Do you think we can make it?” Emily asked shivering slightly.

“We’re going to have to try.” Lucky’s voice was calm. “ You first. I’ll cover you.”

“Who’s going to cover you?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you.” He reached for the fingers of her uninjured hand. “You will be safe I promise.”

“I won’t ever be safe without you.”

“Em...” He kissed the tips of her fingers. “I’ll be right behind you. I swear it.” He smiled at her. “You are not getting away from me that easily.”

She stared at him for a moment and then reached forward and kissed him softly on the lips. “You promised me forever Spencer.” She helped him open the window. “Just remember that.”

“Ready?” Lucky whispered as she partially climbed out of the window.

“No.”

“That’s my girl.” Lucky lay down a barrage of gunfire in the direction of one of the towers. “Go!”

Emily ran, ignoring the noise and chaos, she focused on the garage and the safe haven it represented. When she got there, she leaned against the edge of the building, breathing heavily.

“Lucky. Oh my God Lucky we made it.” She froze when she realized that she couldn’t hear his response, couldn’t feel him next to her. Her heart jammed into her throat, she turned and saw Lucky on the ground twenty feet away. She glanced up at the tower and saw the guard slumped over the edge but there was still gunfire coming from somewhere and there was no way in the world she was going to be able to reach Lucky without risking another bullet and....

She had no choice.

Die trying to save him. Learn to live without him. The latter was too painful to even begin to contemplate.

Without giving herself much of a chance to stop and think, Emily rushed forward to try to pull Lucky to safety.

When she heard the roar of a machine gun, she continued to pull Lucky closer to the garage even as she braced herself for the impact of the bullets and prayed that it wasn’t as painful a way to die as it sounded.

Only when the bullets didn’t hurt her, she looked up to see an older woman with dark hair and dark eyes aim an automatic rifle at another guard, knocking them down.

“Anna?”

“Do I know you?” The woman asked and Emily frowned at the slightly crazed look in her eyes.

“No but I know your daughter Robin and....”

“Robin.” The woman seized on Robin’s name as soon as she said. “Robin is in there and I have to go rescue her.”

“Wait.” Emily grabbed her gently with her one good hand. “Robin would want you to wait here where its safe.”

“I can’t.” Anna said gently. Anna turned briefly to Lucky, who had a crease of blood at his forehead. “I think he was just grazed. He’ll be okay.” She loosened Lucky’s grip on his gun and handed it to Emily. “If any of Faison’s men come after you, shoot them.”

Before Emily could respond, Anna had slipped away again.

Lucky opened his eyes once, closed them, and opened them again hoping that the would somehow come into focus. Luckily, it did.

“Em?” His voice was hoarse as the last few seconds hit him, the desperate race across the courtyard, the explosion in his head, the darkness...

“Shhhh It’s okay. I’m right here.”

Lucky touched her, felt her warmth, and the panic receded. He wasn’t back there again. It was safe to breath. Good to breath.

“What’s happening?” He tried to look around but moving his head even slightly caused a sickening pain that made him nauseous.

“I don’t know. There were a couple of huge explosions and more gunfire and then it’s been...quiet. Really, really quiet.” She pointed to the barrel that was helping to keep them hidden.

“Have you seen anyone?”

“Just lots of servants and a few guards. Everyone seems to be running away.”

“How long was I out?”

“A few minutes. That’s all.”

He turned then and looked across the courtyard. “How did you?”

“I had some help...” Emily began when he heard a shout.

“Junior!”

“Frisco! Over here.” A few seconds later Frisco and Alex were helping Lucky and Emily to their feet.

“Is it over?” Lucky asked staring around at the courtyard, which was littered with dead bodies and the villa itself, which looked like a tornado had hit it, which he supposed it had.

Frisco nodded. “I think so. Faison’s men are good but they tend to lose their loyalty factor in the face of such tremendous odds.”

“Not to mention a dozen or so very effectively placed explosions.” Alex added. “I think I’ll have to put in for a pay raise.”

“You can’t. You’re retired.” Frisco reminded him as he helped Emily bandage Lucky’s wound. “Besides you know Sean doesn’t believe in merit pay. If he did I’d be a millionaire by now.”

Lucky cut into their banter. “Is Lulu safe?” At Frisco’s nod, Lucky breathed a sigh of relief. “Good then let’s get Emily and Robin .....” He stopped and looked around. “Where is Robin?”

Frisco frowned. “She should have made it out by now. That last explosion collapsed the corridor and she got stuck on the other side of the debris but she said she was okay and would make her way out on her own. Most of the guards are dead or gone and she had a weapon of her own so.....” He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have let her try to find a way out on her own. God I’m an idiot...”

“Now that’s a statement that I completely agree with.” A cold mocking voice from behind them said and they turned to see Faison approaching, his arm holding Robin tight, a knife held to her neck.

Lucky was the first to react, reaching out to grab Frisco and hold him back

“Let me go.” Frisco hissed as he struggled against the younger man’s iron hold.

Lucky shook his head. “No way. Not until you calm down.”

“I’ll calm down after I’ve snapped that bastard’s neck with my bare hands.”

“As much as I approve of the sentiment,” Lucky whispered softly... “You and I both know that going in half-cocked is going to do nothing but get Robin killed.”

“I’m your superior Junior.”

“And you can put me on report when we get out of this mess. Right now you need to calm down and get yourself under control.”

Frisco forced himself to relax, to not think of the edge of that knife cutting into Robin’s skin... “Let me go.”

“Only if you promise to play nice and behave yourself like a good little secret agent.”

“You know I’m going to get you for this.”

“I know.” Lucky paused. “But you know that I’m right.”

After a long moment, Frisco nodded. After a longer moment, Lucky released him.

“What a touching scene.” Faison’s voice mocked them.

“Let her go Faison.” Frisco’s voice was flat and deliberately remote, even while his eyes locked with Robin’s and exchanged a message only the two of them could understand. “The WSB will be crawling all over this place any minute. Your organization is destroyed and you don’t have a prayer of escape. Let her go and plead for mercy and maybe the WSB will spare your life.”

“Now that speech would be truly effective if it wasn’t laughable. You won’t make a move in my direction as long as I’m holding my pretty little bird hostage.”

Robin kept her eyes focused on Frisco trying to figure out what he wanted her to do. She couldn’t speak, the knife against her neck would slice into her if she she so much as breathed heavily.

“You really don’t get the WSB at all, do you? You’re not walking away from this Faison. If Robin’s life is what it will cost to take you down once and for all then so be it.” Frisco said calmly.

Behind him, unnoticed by Faison, Lucky caught Frisco’s glance and began to separate himself from the group slightly. On the other side of Frisco, Alex did the same.

“Stay where you are or I’ll kill her.” Faison yelled

With all of the attention on Robin and Faison, no one noticed the figure that emerged from behind them.

“Wrong. You let her go or I’ll kill you.” The voice was cool and calm. Faison whirled Robin around, the movement causing the knife to slightly prick her skin.

“Robin!” Frisco yelled.

“Anna” Faison’s voice shook even as he tried to recover. “Anna my beautiful Anna.”

“Shut up Faison and let my daughter go.” Anna shifted the gun she was holding. “Or I’ll kill you.”

“And risk killing your precious daughter.” Faison smiled. “Somehow I don’t think you will.”

“I would rather see Robin dead than your hostage. If she dies than I know that she is safe from your madness.”

“Anna back down.” Frisco yelled.

“I won’t let him take her.”

“Mom...” Robin’s voice was barely a whisper but Anna heard it nonetheless and her gun lowered slightly as she wavered. “Robin sweetheart...”

“Not exactly the mother daughter reunion that I was hoping for...” Faison grinned as he tightened his hold on Robin. “Perhaps you would care to join myself and Robin as we make our escape.”

The gun went back up and Anna’s hold on it tightened. “You are a bastard.”

“So I’ve been told.”

The tension rose as the seconds dragged by, no one moving, no one making a sound as Faison continued to hold Robin at knife point and Anna’s fingers began to squeeze the trigger.

Robin closed her eyes, knowing that there was no way that Faison’s hand on the knife would not slice her throat open. Even if Lucky or Frisco or Alex tried to take him out from behind, the reflex of his muscle would cause the knife to cut her throat open.

She was going to die. After all of these years of living with knowing that she was going to die because of that damned virus, she was going to die like this. Now.

It would almost have been a relief if it wasn’t for one thing.

She didn’t want to leave Frisco. She had wanted to hold onto every second of whatever future they could grab together.

It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

She just hoped that Frisco knew how much he had given her. How much she loved him.

Funny how things worked out. Her mother was alive and now it was her turn to die.

Only her death would be final.

Lucky swore as he stepped forward, knowing that there was nothing that he could do but knowing that he had to try.

“Come on Faison, what are you going to do? Where are you going to go? New York? California? You know what the banks there are like....” Frisco’s voice trailed off as he moved around the side so that he was in front of Robin and Faison, parallel to Anna.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Robin’s eyes widened and Lucky move silently as he too made the connection. Banks. California. The robbery in Southern California before all of this started when the man had held Robin at gunpoint and....n

Good. They got the message. Now if he could just keep Anna calm long enough for them to put their plan into action...

They never got that chance.

What happened took just a few seconds in real time but for those involved, those seconds seemed more like hours.

An noise rocked the rear gate of the compound and they all turned to see a tank come crashing through the iron bars.

It was a momentary distraction.

But it was long enough.

It wasn’t that loud of a crash.

But it was loud enough.

The finger Anna held on the trigger tightened just a little.

But it too was enough.

And as the bullet hit Faison, Lucky and Frisco moved forward.

But they were too late.

And the knife that Faison was holding, slit Robin’s throat as all hell did truly break loose.

No matter what happens
This feeling will stay
Till the day that I die
You'll fill up the heart of my soul
That I'll take to the other side


And you'll be the only one
When all is said and done
I'll keep you close to me I swear
If ever you are down
No need to look around
Just close your eyes and I'll be there


I'll love you forever
I will be your man
Beside you always
I will stand
To be continued.....