"Stan, what are you doing here?" Jeff asked, shaking hands with his ex-partner and friend, "thought you'd be in the thick of it with Sam."

"Needed to bring in that witness and do my report," Stan said, "and a ten-year-old case is now closed. The Bassett's are alive and well ... plus we have uncovered some so-called research labs that do no research. It was a surprise to see you out there with your teams."

"It was good to close everything off and get you back to finish it, but you didn't return to help Sam," Jeff said.

"I'm on the way to doing that," Stan grinned, "when you have an independent, capable woman like Sam who believes nothing else will do but everything happening her way ... don't argue. I tagged her before leaving."

"She changed her clothes," Jeff said, frowning as he narrowed his eyes at his friend, "wait ... how did you tag her?"

"With a little spray I borrowed from one of your team," Stan grinned, "apparently, you spray it on the skin, and it stays there indefinitely."

"Yeah, I've heard of that but never seen it in action. Guess I will now. Hold up," Jeff frowned, "you said something about research labs that didn't do any research. What do they do?" Jeff asked, flipping open a file, "and which ones? There are a lot of them."

Stan pointed to several lines causing Jeff to give a low whistle, "One of them was a ward in a hospital ... that is where we found Cherry Bassett's records and what was done to her. Every one of these employs doctors who are not actual doctors. They have doctorates in virology, genetics, and that kind of thing. Their patients are test subjects to build an army of people the Tenderhooks can control. Most people in these places have something or someone held over their heads."

"Damn, so they could be doing it against their wills. You're saying Cherry Bassett was one of these test subjects," Jeff shook his head, "does she know?"

"When I saw her last, she had bandages along the areas where the implants were done," Stan said, "she had a young man with her ... named Steve."

"Yeah, I've heard of him and saw him," Jeff nodded, "is he sound?"

"I get the feeling that he is there for more than just being her friend," Stan said, "he seemed focused on getting her to wherever she needed to be ... they were talking about some back door. Even Sam mentioned it."

"Jeff, have you seen that report on the Bassetts deaths?" Carl asked as he entered the office, "oh, sorry, didn't realise you were busy."

"Stan, this is Carl," Jeff said, "the man who runs it all. Why are you frowning, Stan?"

"I remember something about your family being one of the first who was manipulated by the Tenderhook men," Stan said, "I have a bit of a photographic memory when it comes to crime. "

"When it comes to anything," Jeff said, "but how did you know about that?"

"Had time to spare and wanted to understand why Sam is so hell-bent on destroying these people," Stan said, "I understand they killed her parents, but she is extraordinarily motivated. There is much evidence of what will stand against these people, and no one can take them down."

"Witnesses die, people change their minds and statements or simply become something or someone else," Carl nodded, "it's more than two generations of men who have a lot to pay for. My question is, why are they so focused on this mountain?"

"That is the question," Jeff nodded as he looked at his phone, "just got a text about a location marker inside a mountain range."

"Ah, it's up and running," Carl smiled, "nice move on that spray. I've been after the Tenderhooks for years. Samantha's parents worked with and for me and were friends and part of the people protecting the contents kept safe in that mountain."

"What are we looking at?" Stan asked, "a pandora's box type of event."

"No," Carl shook his head, "if the Tenderhooks ever get their hands on what is being kept in there or get the rights to access it, the world as we know it ends and becomes something torturous and plainly nasty."

"Then it's clear," Stan said, "we just don't let it get that way."

"That is the plan," Jeff grinned, "Carl, where is the location marker, and what do we need to help these people ..." Jeff looked between the two men, "why are you looking at me like that? You know they will need help against the Tenderhooks, and they know we all have a stake in getting even."

Carl stared at him for a moment before nodding, "Good point," he sighed, "this way ... it's time you learnt of the separate division within the company."

Stan followed the two men into a long, dimly lit room computers attached to moveable spherical pod-shaped desks ran along the walls and hung periodically from the ceiling, enabling the person manning the machine to turn in any direction and interact with those on the raised semicircle platform at the end of the room or with each other. The pods were lit with white lights running around the edge of the desk and chair while a soft purple light glowed from the floors. The effect was to make the room look like something from a science fiction movie.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"Carl, why the purple lights?" Stan asked.

"We tried different lighting colours, but this one seemed to be the most soothing for those working; plus, it looks cool," Carl smiled, "like something out of the future. This is where we monitor everything about the Tenderhooks and everything happening around the mountain. There has been a lot of activity in the past few days."

"I'm not surprised," Stan said, "Cherry remembered and started heading home. Something about a coming of age celebration where she takes over the heritage of her people."

Carl and Jeff turned toward Stan simultaneously, looking at Stan, "What?" Stan asked, "I picked that up from listening to Sam."

"Fair enough," Carl said, nodding, "you'll want to see how we know about the location of Sam and the mountain. Follow me."

Walking down the room, they received strange looks from many workers, but apart from glances and frowns, the employees returned to work. Stan took everything around him to memory, from the high-tech equipment to a countdown on a large screen above the platform.

"What is that for?" Stan asked, pointing toward the countdown.

"How long Cherry has before she loses her heritage," Carl said, "and it's not long. At least we know they are inside the mountain, that map shows the location of the lake they need to get to, and the moving red dot is Sam. She seems to be with Cherry at the moment."

"How do you know she is with Cherry?" Stan asked.

"The glowing yellow dot next to the red one," Carl said, "they are nearly there, but it seems something happened, and there has been a call to war."

"What?" Jeff asked, frowning, "that cannot be good."

"No, that is why our teams are gearing up, and we're flying out there," Carl said, "including me. I want to see the Tenderhook line come to an end."

"Where are the teams?" Jeff asked, looking around.

"When are we leaving?" Stan asked.

"The teams are through here," Carl said, heading to the one side of the platform where large wooden doors stood, "follow me."

The men moved through the doors feeling the whoosh as they closed behind them. The rock-walled room had a chill and was more brightly lit than the previous room. Three groups loaded weapons and pulled on tactical gear at large tables placed in a row with significant gaps between them.

Stan stopped walking, looking at the sandy floor and the rock formation on the room's walls.

"What is it?" Carl asked.

"How close are we to the mountain?" Stan asked.

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jeff asked.

"The type of sand on the floor, the rock structure on the walls, either this room has been built as a replica, or we are very close to ... if not part of the mountain," Stan said, "which is it?"

"Very good," Carl smiled, "we are very close ... part of the mountain, but we will need to use helicopters to get to where we need to go in time. Usually, if there is any alarm, we can be there in thirty to forty minutes on foot, but we don't have that time. A call to war requires the brethren to be on hand almost immediately."

"The brethren," Jeff whispered, "this is where Sam and her family lived, she used to say it was near nature, and she visited the Basset's cabin often. She lived with the rest of the brethren."

"Correct," Carl said, "not all the brethren live in the mountain protecting their heritage. Some of them live here, outside the restraints of the rules of engagement, and it helps to protect mankind and also target people like the Tenderhooks ... legally."

"Sir, we are ready to go," an officer said, striding up to Carl and shaking his hand, "the countdown has been synced with our watches ..." he paused, "and the helicopters are ready to go."

"Then let's get to it," Carl said, following the officer as commands were made and the groups moved toward the back of the room, "it has been many years, but finally, justice will be served."

"Are you sure it's justice or revenge?" Stan asked, watching Carl with a cocked head.

"Years ago, it would have been revenge, but now," Carl sighed, "after everything these people have done and gotten away with ... it's justice ... not just for me but everyone else who has suffered at their hands. Finally, we can give all the families closure."

"And yours?" Jeff asked.

"Yes, mine as well," Carl said, nodding toward the groups preparing to leave, "coming?"

"Right behind you," Jeff said, turning to Stan, "time to make good on your promise."

"What promise?" Stan asked, frowning in confusion.

"The one you made to Simon Headrow all those years ago," Jeff said, "when he stepped into our investigation ..." Jeff chuckled, "you've forgotten."

"Probably, but clearly, you haven't," Stan said, watching his friend.

"He wanted you to never stop looking for the killers of the Bassetts," Jeff said, "and you assured him you always get your man ... it may take a day, a month or a year, but you will get your man."

Stan paused, "I did say that, and he said he'd hold me to it."

"Yeah," Jeff said, "you stayed true to your word, and today you will be fulfilling a promise."

"Closure," Stan said, nodding toward the other man, "Carl is about to rally the troops."

Closing the distance, the two men stood a little from Carl as he cleared his throat, preparing to address the men and women preparing to enter the helicopters.

"Today, you are called to war for a place, people and culture that most of the world doesn't know about nor do they understand," Carl said, "your brethren have to hold to restricted engagement laws, but I charge you with this ... protect those who are being harmed, threatened or attacked. Remember your training out here ... away from your people, and use it to save your world."

Silently right hands raised in the air before they began filling the waiting helicopters. Departing in tense silence to engage with the threat that had relentlessly attempted attack after attack on their way of life, heritage and people.