It quickly became apparent that it wasn't easy to plan a heist against a top secret federal agency. Elsie had predicted that, of course, but the slow planning process still made her impatient. After their group's (nicknamed CAT, or Camilla Acquisition Team, by Mack) initial gathering, they tried to keep from meeting up all at once to avoid raising suspicions. This made their planning take even longer, especially because they didn't know when they were being monitored. While Hitomi had managed to share the software she used to ensure her laptop couldn't be tracked, there was only so much the rest of them could do with just their computers against one of the most secure facilities in the country.

After a week of this, it was obvious  their methods were definitely not working. Not only were they no closer to uncovering the secrets of Farallon, but they couldn't even verify Camilla had been taken there at all. The only lead they had was that they knew Quentin was looking for AJ and Ian, and the next time they met up as a complete group, they agreed they needed to bring Quentin into their plan as well.

Mack took charge of getting Quentin to meet up with them at the end of the week, disguising it as a get-together at his apartment for the sake of boosting the kids' morale. Initially, Quentin didn't seem very keen on the idea, but when Mack hinted that Elsie might be there, Quentin eventually gave in.

On the day of the meeting, everyone arrived at Mack's apartment early to find that Jordan had taken the extra steps to make their excuse for Quentin an actual reality. With Mack and Minyoung's help, they prepared an assortment of snacks and beverages for everyone; Elsie even spotted Jordan's karaoke machine ready to go.

"I figured... why not?" Jordan said sheepishly when Elsie asked. "I don't know about you guys but I've just been constantly worried this whole time. No one said this fake party couldn't be a real one, right?"

When no one answered right away, too busy exchanging glances or studying the set-up, Jordan paled.

"That's a serious question, by the way. Did someone say it couldn't be a real party? Because I can totally put everything back—"

"No, it's fine!" Elsie said. "It's... perfect actually. I think we all could use this. Thanks."

Even if the fake party wasn't wanted, Jordan's resulting smile was worth it.

By the time Quentin arrived about an hour later, their impromptu get-together had actually become a real party. Their plan was to give Quentin a chance to get comfortable in the environment before Hitomi approached him to verify his trustworthiness, and while Elsie thought it seemed almost as if they were hunting, she had to agree it was the best move.

But as soon as Quentin was done being greeted by Mack at the door, his eyes immediately locked onto Elsie's and he began heading straight in her direction. Elsie stifled her surprise as best as she could, but she didn't know what to do after that.

She had to act. Her role? A heartbroken, traumatized young woman whose life was threatened almost a month ago by someone she considered a friend. She played worse parts.

"Hey, Quentin," Elsie said, giving him a small, tentative smile.

"Elsie, hey," Quentin returned, slightly nervous as well.

Elsie hadn't seen Quentin in almost a year, ever since he and Amira acted as her bodyguards. At the time, she always saw Quentin as an eager and talented rookie guardian who could always be counted on to add some energy into a room. But like most guardians Elsie knew, he had changed significantly since then, and a sense of desperate determination seemed to mask the weight of his exhaustion.

His bloodshot eyes darted around the room before returning to Elsie, and he hesitated a moment before continuing.

"Sorry, but can we talk? In private?"

They hadn't planned for this. But Elsie was used to her co-stars going off-script.

"Sure," she replied easily, then lifted up her empty cup. "Mind joining me for a refill first though? My throat's a little dry."

Quentin nodded as he stuffed his hands in his pants pockets, and he trailed behind Elsie as she headed for the kitchen. When he had arrived earlier, Elsie had spotted Hitomi slipping into the kitchen and out of sight, and she emerged right on time to greet them in the living room.

"Oh, Elsie!" Hitomi exclaimed, feigning surprise. "Hello!"

"Hitomi!" Elsie replied, equally enthused. They exchanged friendly hugs, as if they hadn't been living with each other for over a week already. "It's been a while. Did you just get here?"

"A few minutes ago, yes. And we have not seen each other since... Honolulu, was it?" Hitomi's nostalgic sigh was a little much, but no one was trying to win any best acting awards here. "A lot has changed since then." After a moment, she turned to Quentin, eyebrows raised. "And I do not believe we have met before have we?"

"Oh, right," Elsie stepped in. "Hitomi, this is Quentin Juneau. Quentin, this is Hitomi Andou. You might have seen each other during the Games."

"Ah, yes," Hitomi said, offering Quentin a handshake. "You and your team did very well."

Quentin seemed a little impatient by the run-in with Hitomi, but not enough to be rude about it.

"Thanks," he muttered stiffly, then accepted Hitomi's handshake.

Suddenly, Hitomi's pleasant smile vanished, and her eyes grew wide. A second later, Quentin had fallen to his knees and left hand, shaking and panting; his right hand was still in Hitomi's tight grasp as she absorbed his energy, and she refused to let go no matter how much he struggled.

"What is it?" Mack exclaimed as he rushed over, Nakia and Finn right behind him. All of them looked between Hitomi and Quentin, ready to attack if needed.

"He is hiding something," Hitomi hissed, her tone filled with anger and unspoken threats. When Quentin tried to get back to his feet, Hitomi's abilities easily forced him down again, making him look as if he just ran a marathon. "I do not know what, but he is suspicious. He definitely does not trust any of us guardians." Hitomi lifted her gaze to Elsie. "And he is after you."

He was after her? Well, that made things easier.

The commotion had put some distance between her and Quentin, so Elsie stepped closer to him slowly, watching his face carefully as she did so. She heard Mack telling her to stay away from him, that he could be dangerous, but she ignored him.

Elsie was in character. While her earlier persona had been timid and hesitant, her current personality didn't waver so easily. And when Elsie carefully knelt down to Quentin's level, she watched his eyes dart nervously between herself and Hitomi.

Her role now? A vengeful young woman who would do everything in her power to save the love of her life.

"Earlier, you said you wanted to speak with me in private," Elsie said, and she went silent as she pretended to mull her words over in her mind. "That's a little strange, don't you think? What could you possibly have to say to me?"

As expected, Quentin remained quiet. The only indication that he gave that showed he heard her was the sight of his jaw tensing.

"I wonder..." Elsie pondered aloud. "Were you trying to hurt me?"

"No!" Quentin exclaimed, just as the rest of Wyatt Squad took a threatening step closer. "No, of course not!"

"Really?" Elsie hummed in thought. "But you weren't trying to be my friend either, were you? No..." She stared directly into his eyes. "You wanted to talk because you have questions. And you thought I would have answers."

Quentin's silence was enough of a confirmation. If he had questions for Elsie, then he must have known Elsie met AJ. But did he know Elsie remembered the encounter, or did he believe she was made to forget? And how did he know the official story about what happened that night was fake to begin with?

Whatever the case, Elsie had to at least make sure whose side he wasn't on.

"Are you working for Hester?" Elsie asked.

"Hell no," Quentin said immediately, sounding a lot tougher than he looked under Hitomi's mercy. "I hate that bitch."

A quick glance at Hitomi verified Quentin was being truthful. But before Elsie could interrogate him further, there was a muffled sound of breaking glass, and a second later, three people dressed like burglars barged out of Mack's bedroom and into the living room.

Without missing a beat, the guardians jumped into action. Nakia attacked first, keeping the intruders back with a forceful shockwave. At the same time, Mack and Hitomi only needed to glance at each other before Mack took over in keeping Quentin down, freeing Hitomi to go after the intruders. She was just in time too, because the largest of the trio had broken through Nakia's attack, and Hitomi met them with the full force of her heightened strength before they could get much further.

With Hitomi occupying one and Nakia and Finn paired against the other two, the fights were evenly matched, and by the time Minyoung and Jordan regrouped by Elsie, it was a toss-up as to who would be victorious.

"Quentin, call them off," Elsie demanded.

Quentin sneered weakly but cockily. "Let me go first." 

Elsie gritted her teeth. They both knew she had to give at least a little ground if she wanted them all to come out of this unscathed, but Elsie wasn't going to fold completely just yet.

"You know," Elsie began, glaring at Quentin, "I think I like your sister a lot better than you."

As Quentin's eyes widened and his sneer faltered, Elsie got to her feet and made a show of brushing off her knees.

"I have faith in my friends' abilities," Elsie said with confidence she didn't quite feel. "We'll come back when they're done, and then you and your friends can all talk."

Just as Elsie, Jordan, and Minyoung turned towards the kitchen as if to wait them out, Quentin finally gave in.

"Wait!" Quentin called after her, then to his friends yelled, "Stop, you guys!"

Elsie didn't turn until she heard the fighting settle down, and when she finally did face Quentin again, she maintained her facade of being unimpressed by what she was seeing.

"We're not your enemy, Elsie," Quentin insisted, desperate. "The people that took my family, the people that took Wyatt, they are your enemy. And they're mine too." He nodded at his friends. "And theirs as well."

When Elsie pretended to continue looking unimpressed, Quentin sighed.

"Please, Elsie, you have to believe me," Quentin pleaded. "We can help each other."

"We don't need them, Q," the largest of the intruders chimed in, looking like they were itching to get back to their fight with Hitomi.

"We do not need you either," Hitomi replied snidely. "You just decided to show up, uninvited."

"Q was invited," Finn's opponent retorted, taking the intermission to wring out the water that Finn had gotten on their clothes. "We were just concerned about him."

Mack narrowed his eyes, then reached for Quentin's head with his free hand. Quentin was too focused on Elsie to resist, and Mack pulled his hand back a few moments later with an earpiece between his fingers. When Quentin had stepped in range of Hitomi's anti-bugging devices, it must have cut off the communications with his friends.

"He's real trustworthy," Mack muttered as he tossed the earpiece to Jordan, who caught it deftly.

"Elsie, please," Quentin repeated. "I just want to know about my family. And I'll tell you what we know about Wyatt."

Elsie couldn't help but scoff at his words. After recent events, she wasn't just about to trust someone just because they begged her to. Especially when that someone was already proven to be a liar.

"Who are you guys anyway?" Elsie replied, gesturing vaguely at the intruder trio. "What's your goal exactly? What's in it for you?"

Quentin's three friends exchanged looks, then turned to Quentin. Whatever their gazes said must have been enough because when Quentin glanced back at them, he let out a deep sigh, then looked back at Elsie, hesitant.

"I want to find the truth about my sister and brother," Quentin began. "And I can't speak entirely for my friends, but I know we all want the same thing: to see the Org burn. It's why we're here." He paused, and took a deep breath. "It's why we joined Exodos."

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