Quinlan, Fet and Roman made their way back to New York as quickly as possible. The closer they got the more nervous they felt about what they would be returning to. As they approached the Hudson River night was beginning to fall upon them. They stopped to survey the best way into the city.

"What do you think slick?"

"Our best option is to go across the Washington Bridge, it appears to have the least traffic and security. Hopefully we will go undetected", as Quinlan finished they heard an explosion and watched as the first bridge crumbled into the river. Almost like a domino effect, each bridge leading into the city exploded and fell to pieces into the waters below.

Almost sarcastically Fet laughed, "well there goes that idea! I guess we'll be crossing the Hudson by boat." Fet slapped him on the back as he walked past returning to the van. Quinlan and Roman followed and climbed into the vehicle. "I saw a place coming in we might need to stop by before we cross." With that Fet started the engine and sped off.

He pulled to a stop slowly, and Roman asked, "What are you doing?"

"Well if we are crossing the Hudson by boat there is no way we aren't going to be stopped. We are going to need some proper attire. That there, is guaranteed to have a few people from the Partnership inside." Fet climbed out as he crept up to the building, Quinlan followed suit. Within minutes the two returned to the vehicle with Partnership uniforms and arm bands for each of them. "Alright now lets get us boat."

The slowly pulled in to dock and as Fet had guessed they were almost immediately greeted by guards employed by the Partnership. They're guns were aimed at the boat as one called out, "Sir please turn off the engine and step into the light." Roman was the only one to appear.

"Is there a problem?"

"No vessels are to be entering the city. What is your business?"

"I have special cargo I am to be delivering by tonight."

"What special", his question was immediately silence by Quinlan snapping his neck. Roman had kept them occupied long enough that he was able to sneak off the boat and up behind them. Before the man's body hit the ground Quinlan drove his sword through the next as one charged at him he dodged it throwing the man over his shoulder. As the man landed hard on his back Quinlan retracted his sword and drove the tip down through the man that now laid on the ground.

"Shit man", Roman said as he watched Quinlan kill the three men in only seconds.

"Lets go, we'll take their van it will allow us to transport the nuke without drawing to much attention."

As they pulled up to the building they saw Gus, Dutch and Eph loading up an SUV with a large amount of supplies. Fet hopped out and walked up to them, "what's going on guys?"

Dutch stopped as tears swelled in her eyes she did not mean to sound bitter but she did, "oh nothing just trying to hold shit together here but that's bloody well impossible it seems!"

Gus kind of nudged her along, he would fill them in, he knew Dutch was not ready to talk about the events of the past month. "Sorry everyone's kind of on edge here Fet."

"Why what happen?" Fet looked around and noticed it was not just weapons in the vehicle but food and clothes too. "Where you guys goin'?"

"We need to leave, they know we're here", Quinlan joined them now and it took everything inside of Gus to refrain from hitting him, for now. "I guess I'll start from the beginning the night you guys left Lianna went missing. Dutch and I went out the next morning to try and find her, we didn't but neither of us were willing to give up. Then Dutch got picked up by the Partnership while we were looking for her a few days later. Luckily she found the chance to escape before that creep Eichorst could drink her blood. Oh and then heres the kicker", Gus said with sarcasm in his voice and a tenge of anger, "Eichorst some how managed to follow me back and got the Professor. Lucky for me Dutch got here just in time before I could be dessert."

Quinlan and Fet both paused trying to process everything, Quinlan was the first to speak, "why was Lianna alone?"

Gus was infuriated by this comment but before he could speak Dutch cut in, "she left because of you! And because of you they have done god knows what to her!"

Gus spoke now, "you know what that means right", he stepped closer to Quinlan now, "it means Eichorst most likely tortured her every day since you left. When we find her we'll be lucky if she's still whole." With that said Gus finally unleashed the anger that had built up over time and struck Quinlan across the face. Quinlan knew he could have avoided the punch, but parts of him felt he deserved the beating Gus was about to give. Gus continued to swing, as one fist pulled back to swing again the other would connect to Quinlan's face.

Eph and Fet pulled Gus off of Quinlan, "alright thats enough! This isn't going to help us get her back!"

Quinlan just stood there his heart in his stomach, he had never hated himself more than he did in that moment. He hated himself for being a coward to Lianna, but most of all he hated himself for the chain of events his cowardliness caused. He would not rest until Lianna was returned safely. He promised himself in that moment that when Lianna was back in his arms he would not be cowardly to her again.

They all climbed into the vehicles until they reached a new safe house Gus had scouted out in case something like this ever happened. They all unloaded in complete silence, no one was quite sure what to say. Gus was the first to break the silence, "guys we need to talk all of us. The Professor said only when we took out the Master's human associates would we be in a position to use the bomb. Dutch I think you might like my plan. I know how to get into the facility you were held in virtually undetected. It was the plan I came up with if you hadn't returned by the time these guys did. But once inside we'd need you to lead us to the office of the man who over saw things there." Dutch nodded, "he will be the first associate for us to remove from play, he seems to be top of the food chain, so hopefully he can also provide us with information regarding Lianna's location and the Master's." They all agreed and at dusk the next day they would put their plan into play.

They all headed out right as dusk fell. As they came upon the facility Gus drove up to a gate that deliveries were frequently brought to. As he stopped the guard asked, "what is your business here?"

"I have a delivery." The others tried hard to remain as quiet as possible in the back of the delivery truck.

"There is no deliveries scheduled for right now. Come back at your correct delivery time."

"You don't understand if I don't deliver this order now they're going to have my job. I've got a family man, please." Gus played off the man's emotions and after the man debated his options he opened the gate and gestured for Gus to go ahead. "Thank you man, you have no idea what this means to me." He truly didn't, Gus finally felt closer to finding Lianna.

Gus backed the truck up to the loading dock and threw open the back. Fet walked out first as the rest followed, "alright let's go get this son of a bitch." Fet smiled ear to ear he couldn't wait to get his hands on this guy. Dutch made her way to the front of the group and led them to the man's office. As they got closer Dutch's heart sank, she never wanted to return to this place. She knew though that this was their best hope of getting Lianna back.

As they got closer to the office they split up, Dutch informed the other group how to get around to the second door that led into the office. It only had two exits and this way there was no way he was getting away from them. They all drew their weapons as they got closer, one of the groups ran into a doctor that quickly ran and pulled the alarm. Luckily they were close enough to the office it didn't matter. Almost in sync the two groups barged through the doors of the office. They found the man coward under his desk, Quinlan approached him and yanked him out from underneath the desk dragging him as he threw him against the wall.

Dutch stood beside Quinlan as she spoke, "you're a sick man, the only reason you are still breathing is because we need you!" With that said Quinlan punched the man so hard he fell unconscious immediately. 

When he awoke he was tied to a chair, Fet pulled a chair up and sat in front of him. "Alright friend we can either do this the easy way or the hard way...what's it going to be?" The man did not move he only stared at Fet with anger, "Just tell us where the Master is?"

"Never, it's people like you who are preventing progress."

"Progress, what progress? Draining people in your facility is progress?"

"Yes! Yes it is!" Dutch's stomach turned, how could a man be so sick?

"Let me make this clearer you can either tell me or you can tell him", Fet pointed to Quinlan who stood in the shadows.

"I'm not telling you shit!"

Fet stood, "fine, have fun with this guy", a large smile crossed his lips, he knew whatever Quinlan had in store the man deserved.

Quinlan slowly walked up pulling out a large dagger, "you should have just told him", Quinlan took the dagger and drove it into the soft part of the man's knee as deep as it would go. He walked around to the back of the chair yanking the man's head back exposing his neck. "I do believe its lunch time, either tell me or I drink you!" As he waited for the man to speak his stinger crept from his mouth and slowly towards the man's neck.

Quinlan could hear the mans heart race, "ok! Ok! Please just stop, I'll tell you anything you want to know!"

Quinlan retracted his stinger back into his mouth as he threw a pen and pad into the mans lap. He walked to the back of the chair and cut his hands free, "tells us where the Master is and then draw his nest to the best of your memory."

"The Empire State Building! 102nd floor!"

"Good now draw!" Quinlan paused before he asked the question he really wanted to know, "Eichorst kept himself a prize, a woman. Do you know anything about her?"

"Yes, Eichorst visited her frequently. I don't know much I just know he always got off on the 82nd floor. He had the floor turned into his private quarters That's all I know I swear!" With that Quinlan took his leave he needed air.

As he felt the chill of the night air hit his face he let out  loud growl. He hated having to wait, he now knew where she was. It took every ounce of control he could muster to not leave at once for her. He knew they needed to be smart about this, if they were lucky they could retrieve Lianna and kill the Master all in one night. Just hold on we are coming for you, Lianna.

When  Quinlan returned to the others they were all standing around waiting for him. Gus was the one to speak, "Quinlan I know you most likely want to be the one to find Lianna but we need you on the 102nd floor. You are the only one who can over power the Master. I will be the one to get Lianna out of there. The others will be waiting below with the nuke, waiting for your order. We will evacuate the area as soon as I return with Lianna to safety and you give the green light." Everyone looked at Quinlan, when the silence grew uncomfortable Gus asked, "you ok with that?"

Quinlan looked at Gus, "if this plan is successful on all fronts...I will never see Lianna again..."

"No...", everyone's heart ached for Quinlan in that moment they knew he wanted nothing more than to see her again. It was Gus's heart that ached the most for Lianna though, he knew if she was still alive it was her faith that she would see Quinlan again that kept her going.

After another long pause Quinlan spoke and as he did they all heard the heartbreak he felt, "just tell her I am sorry, and that I love her", Gus nodded, "and that I will be waiting for her, even if I have to wait an eternity. I will be there waiting when she leaves this earth." Gus nodded and a jarring silence followed as they all hung their heads. They had waited for the end for so very long and could not believe that the moment had finally come....or so they thought...