A conversation among three men and one woman transpired within Harry's Chicago office, one of many he used, depending on where he was. Men like him were never tied to a central desk when their playground was the world. Porsche was present, heavily medicated and held together by a compression bodysuit under clothing. Still, she moved stiffly as if her joints were abraded in sand. The others were Papa and Rotter, rescued, dried out and were more than eager to get back into the fight. Papa's condition, however, was degenerating quicker than expected, while Rotter seemed remarkably fine. And listening over them was the old crow who pecked with machinations.

"That's just it, we can't penetrate their security perimeters," Papa said. "We need a hacker to scramble their security firewalls. And I'm not sure it can be done. Sophisticated stuff in there -- the building has mil-spec hardware -- intense EM baffles coming out of that place."

"There's no time to find digital lock pickers," Porsche said.

"Then I don't know how else to get into Oz," Papa snorted. He stiffened suddenly, his muscles cramping. He put out a hand to say he was okay. "Oz is no joke. It's a super-max, the only one in DC where opponents of the PIP go. It's run by the Special Security Service."

"Yeah, Balkan's Praetorians," Rotter affirmed with vigorous nods.

"We need a human back door," Porsche said abruptly.

"That's funny." Rotter sighed at Porsche with dreamy eyes and a perpetual smile. Everything she said sounded wonderful.

Papa snapped his fingers at Rotter's face. "You with us or what?"

"Yeah, man," Rotter said, straightening his posture. "I'm cool."

Porsche affirmed, "This is the only way I know how to get into tight places. I need access codes and an insider to open doors and walk me through. I'll take care of the rest."

"I'll see what I can do," Harry said.

"If she's going alone," Rotter said protectively. "Then I'm going in too."

Papa rolled his eyes.

Harry shook his head. "They know your face, kid. Besides, she knows what she's doing." He returned to Porsche. "You'll have Oz's security access codes, I'll make sure of that."

"How?" Papa was surprised and impressed.

"That's my business, Mr. Murphy."

"Fine," Porsche said coolly. "You get them asap. Also, I'm going to need a morphing agent. Something mild, not so caustic, just to make me pass for a different race temporarily."

Harry shook his head, not liking the idea. "It's going to be murder on your body. The cordite resin is toxic as you know -- it will discolor you. You'll be sick, my dear."

"We have an agreement." She narrowed her eyes at Harry. "I'll recoup in the Cote Azure after all this is over with a new bod," Porsche said with a wink to Rotter who melted with a longing sigh. "And lots of zeros in my account to bear the pain easier."

"You've used this morphing agent before?" Papa asked.

"Only because I had to. Changes you from within and scars your inside," Porsche explained. "Not a pleasant trip."

"I've never seen it done before. How long before it takes effect?"

"Two, maybe three hours of delicious pain, if you're into that sort of thing."

"And how long does it last?" Papa asked.

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"Long enough," Harry said.

"I want the counter-agent with me, just in case," Porsche said. "Now for the insider."

"That's the easy part. We have people on the payroll."

"Okay, assuming you could get me the access codes and keys, where am I meeting your guard?"

"I have a plan in mind."

She eyed Harry warily.

"Relax, he'll find you," Harry said with surety.

"Once in, what's your priority?" Papa asked.

"Free Marlboro," she said and gave Harry a harsh glance, "and hope to question Lockheart about the whereabouts of the drive."

"Will you kill Lockheart?" Papa pressed.

"I don't know." She shrugged it off, not wanting to dwell on it.

"So then I will leave Porsche to your care," Harry said to Papa. "You ferry her there and you make sure she returns to me in one piece. Clear?"

"Copy that," Papa replied. "Least I can do."

"For sure, we'll see to it. Nothing bad's gonna happen." Rotter beamed from a carmine wash of his cheeks.

"And how's your condition?" Harry asked gingerly. "Forgive me I didn't inquire about it 'til now."

"I can do the trip and back, by then Bonnie will have delivered," Papa said, a little sad.

"Sorry," Harry said.

"It's our fourth, she'll understand."

"And the pain?"

"They're controllable. For how long, I don't know."

"How bout you?" Harry asked Rotter.

"This kid feels great," Rotter said, puffing up his chest, aware Porsche was watching him. "Ever since I got shanked in the Black Irish."

Harry gave Rotter an odd look.

"Great? I didn't expect that."

"Yeah, no joke. Never felt better in my life."

"We're going to have to give you a full medical workup when we get back."

"Sure thing."

"Okay, how do we get back east?" Papa said. "I don't suppose we're using terrestrial modes, yes?"

"A V-jet is waiting nearby, hangar 53B. It's fueled and prepped. But no one moves an inch until I secure the access keys."

"Smart," Porsche answered for all of them.

* * *

"Christmas is only a few days away. You have something or have I wasted a trip?" Harry said, sitting in her apartment without lights.

"Jesus Christ, you can't be in my apartment. There are networked cameras."

"Relax, they've been switched off," Harry said, crossing his legs. "The building manager guarantees we have ten minutes. So let's get on with it."

"This will be my swan song." Lisbeth handed him a black drive the size of a plump date. "Conversation between Balkan and Chairmark Drexel. Even the President doesn't know."

"It would upset him, I imagine."

"Give it to your pals, go public, burn it, I don't care. Now, will you just leave?"

"Is it safe? I don't want Balkan's Praetorians kicking down my door once I turn it on."

"It's encrypted. But the data is safe to handle."

Harry looked at the drive with great interest, his eyes vacillated between her and it.

"If you're so determined to bring him down, why not go public as we suggested? Expose Balkan for what he is. Bring him out into the light, for his wrongs. Regent Augustine is looking for --"

"You think that's easy? Do we ask him to confess his long list of trespasses? He's Tsar Protector for the continent, for God's sake. He's got the military and those Praetorians behind him. You could remove the President easier than you could unseat Balkan, now that he's been offered the Oval Office. Besides, what venue would you suggest I follow? The PIP controls the Executive and all the cabinet posts. They own Justice. So do I go on TV?" She scoffed. "What protection do I have they can't circumvent?"

"You're a public official."

Lisbeth blew air between her lips. "That used to mean something, not so much these days. I'll be deader than a snail crawling on a stretch of salt."

"Yet you give me this toxic thing." Harry clasped it in his palm. "Isn't that contradictory?"

"Doesn't matter anymore."

"They'll know where this came from eventually."

"Like I said, this is my parting shot."

"Maybe you should go away. Don't pack, don't tell anyone. Just go."

"A wonderful idea, isn't it?" Lisbeth smirked. "And how would I live, in the woods? They'll turn off my Atlas, then where would I be?"

"We can help with asylum."

"Great, and transfer my debts to another fief lord. I'm an Unaffiliate for a reason."

"Ms. Hunt, you can either sit back and wait for your arrest, or you can go on the offensive."

"No thanks, I'll stay put and roll the dice," she said with a ferocity that emanated from some deep dark well. "They will know who hurt them. I won't run."

"Pity for such a brave soul." Harry prepared to leave. "You have something else for me? The security pass to Oz?"

Lisbeth produced a clear card from her coat pocket and handed it to him. It had a red V on the front. "This is the best I could get in such a short time. Visitor badge only accesses non-critical areas. But it will get you inside . . ."

Harry pocketed the key.

"Dream darkly, and it may come true," she remarked offhand, deep in some thought. "I heard they're doing a number on those caught on the Lady Celeste. You better hurry."

Harry glanced at her, eyes narrowed. "Come with me. You have nothing else here. Don't sacrifice yourself whee you don't have to."

"Please go. I'd like to be alone."

Harry offered his hand.

Lisbeth walked past him without shaking it.

"Take care of yourself," he said and left by the front door.