"Jake, what are you doing?" Josiah asked, "You can't gear up and go out there; someone needs to coordinate."

"I'm not that person," Jake said, "I can do what some of those out there cannot. Besides, I remember Grandfather saying we were people who led, not directed."

Sighing, Josiah nodded, "This is true. I'm going to the armoury to make sure they have enough weapons. Give me a lift."

"Will do," Jake said, turning to his siblings, "Candy ... do what you're meant to, coordinate and direct. Jason .... what is it you do?"

"I'm excellent and putting together damning information," Jason smiled, slipping into the seat Jake had vacated, "be careful out there, little brother; I'll scorch my brain with filth and finish putting all this info into correct folders ready for The Nisim."

"Do you think she'll come?" Jake asked.

"Yes, she will," Josiah said, "I sent a message for her that only she will know what to do."

"We'll need a security detail for her," Jake said, frowning, "I don't know if we have that manpower."

"No need," Jonaraja said as he strode into the makeshift operations centre, "she is coming with her own."

"Who?" Jake asked.

"Bevis," Jonaraja said, "don't scoff; you may be surprised by how capable she is."

"If everyone is ready," Josaih clapped his hands together, "can we go now?"

"Be safe out there," Jonaraja called, "I shall not let this house fall."

Josiah smiled at his old friend, grasping him at the elbow and having the grasp returned, "Thank you, brother."

Turning, he followed Jake into the madness of an unsought battle to destroy the life built here for many people. Jake was right; someone had to lead them to victory if they were willing to stand. Glancing over this shoulder, Josaiah watched as Candy and Jason worked side by side, acknowledging that this may be the last time he could see his family. He was happy that they had at least one parent still alive for them to live with. Jonaraja saluted him before laying his hand over his heart and nodding. Josiah nodded in return, mirroring his actions. Jonaraja would protect his lineage to his death if necessary.

"Dad, you coming?" Jake called, drawing Josaih's attention toward the stairs and the garage.

"Yeah, I'm coming," taking the stairs quickly, he strode to the idling truck and climbed in, "... let's end this one way or another."

"Oh, there is no "other" way this is going to end," Jake said, "we will protect this land or die trying."

"You mean you're determined to keep it in the family?" Josiah asked, looking at Jake as he drove down the dusty road.

"I always meant to keep it in the family," Jake said, "no other family has worked as hard as we have to maintain the safety of these people, and none will continue with the legacy but us."

Candy glanced in her departing family's direction, sighing as her father disappeared, "Will we see them again, Jay?

"Don't do that," Jason said, "yes ... we will see them again, and we will celebrate the victory of defeating the enemy."

"Who is the enemy?" she asked, turning toward her eldest brother, "Who is it that we're fighting?"

Jason looked at her, seeing the worry, concern and multitude of questions in her eyes; sighing, he turned toward her, "If someone we knew decided we were good enough to kill, would that make him friend or foe?"

"Foe," she said quietly.

"It's the same with what is happening here," Jason said, "these people have come to us for help because they know we protect those who cannot protect themselves. The lines do get blurred, but it's the same question."

"If they come to harm anyone we protect, that would make them foes," Candy said, "it's easy to understand in my head, but in my heart .... Jay ... we're fighting other people's families; it doesn't make it right."

"No, morally it doesn't, but if we don't..." he sighed, "... those whose own families are coming to kill them will die, and then where do we stand with our mandate?"

Candy frowned, "So we're basically an ally to others being attacked."

Jason met her gaze, surprise lighting in his eyes, "Yes, that is what we are. A superpower that helps smaller countries to survive."

Nodding, Candy sighed, "Then we better not break out the treaty."

Smiling, Jason turned back to his screen, preparing himself to sort through decades of inhumane acts; Jake needed to get out. After seeing what he had been watching, Jason understood why he required an avenue to rid himself of the thoughts and feelings these images invoked.

"I have never been able to understand how someone can get so much pleasure out of hurting and killing other people," Jason said as he sorted yet another gruesome recording into a file, "there are thousands of hours of this kind of stuff, and she really enjoys dealing in death."

"From what I've heard, the family is drenched in violence," Candy said, "it doesn't surprise me," a vibration next to her drew her eyes to the mobile phone their father had been using, "Jason do you know anyone named Eitan Chacham?"

Jason frowned, "Where did you hear that name?"

"He's texted Dad's phone ... something about bringing in the required information to lay against his sister," Candy said, "that can't be ..." she looked at Jason, "... is that The Calderone's enforcer?"

Jason nodded, "I wonder what could have changed his path?"

"I'm hoping he found something that proved how evil that family is," Candy said, "oh ... he's half an hour out."

"Which way is he coming in?" Jason asked, pushing from his chair, "I need to advise that he's friendly."

"By way of the river," Candy said, pulling up the coordinates, "he's on a hovercraft and should be arriving at ... our dock."

"Fair enough," Jason said, pulling out his phone and dialling his brother's number, "Jake, is Dad still with you?" he paused, "put him on, please. I need details of the deal he made with Eitan Chacham."

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

Jason remained silent for a while, listening, "Understood," he nodded and cancelled the call.

"Wow, never heard you stay quiet for that long on a phone call," Candy said, moving toward her silent brother, "what was the deal?"

"Apparently, he is already expected," Jason said, his words coming softly on the space around them, "he contacted Dad last night after discovering that his family manipulated him into doing what he has been doing. He wanted out and knew that we were the only option he had to turn bad into good. He has all the missing journals and will be bringing them with him. Dad gave him the coordinates to the dock, and he will be coming through the basement tunnel ... escorted and delivered to us here."

"Is he a prisoner or an asylum seeker?" Candy asked, shaking her head.

"Asylum seeker," Jason whispered, "never thought this day would come, but everything our Grandfather said was true. Not some story to justify what we're doing here but absolute truth."

"Then there is no doubt that we have to protect these people and this land," Candy said, looking down at the phone, "he's on his way through the tunnel."

"We have a delay, which means someone is trying to jam our signals or hack into our system," Jason said, moving to a bank of servers and monitors typing furiously and nodding as he found the issue and typing once more, "and they are out."

"Isn't it fortunate you decided to study all those electives Grandfather said was a waste of time," Candy said, grinning and turning as the door to the basement opened; a tall man dressed in black jeans and a black short-sleeve t-shirt, with heavy-duty boots, stepped out, a backpack was hanging on one of his shoulders he was flanked by two armed dock guards.

"Josiah said you were expecting him," one of them said, "we need to get back ... is everything in order?"

Jason nodded, "Thank you and stay vigilant."

They nodded before closing the basement door and leaving Eitan Chacham to his fate. Jason stared at the young man before moving toward him.

"Why, after all this time, have you decided to change sides?" Jason asked.

"Josiah was right; he said you'd go straight to business. Okay, I can play along. I always wanted to work on the side of the law," his mellow voice rumbled, "my family lied to me, manipulating me into thinking by being the family enforcer, I was doing what was right ..." he sighed, shaking his head, "... I should have known better. I found journals with writings about what really happened."

"Whose journals?" Candy asked, moving to stand beside Jason.

"The daughter of Sabra Nisim," Eitan Chacham said, "I thought they were a rumour, a myth, something made up, but I found one and then when I went through my sister's room ..." he shuddered, "... I found the rest and some other incriminating evidence she has been keeping."

"Incriminating of whom?" Jason asked, narrowing his gaze on Eitan.

"Recordings ... of family members who aligned themselves with mine," Eitan said, "of the atrocities recorded for future Caldersone's to gloat over."

"If it's anything we've been looking at, I'm sure you feel like you need a good scrubbing," Jason said, indicating for the man to come forward, "my father tells me you're an asylum seeker."

"I am, but I also know her plan and am willing to sell her out completely to put an end to this," Eitan said, dropping the backpack to the round table and leaning his hands on the back of a chair, "does that make me a bad person or a bad brother?"

Candy and Jason looked at each other surprised.

"You're worried she will expect you to side with her?" Candy asked.

"Oh, I know she will," Eitan said, shaking his head, "I ... can't do ... her biding anymore ... not now that I know the truth."

"Then I guess you're getting your wish to work for law enforcement after all," Jason said, pushing a plate of sandwiches toward him, "have something to eat ...sit ... you look ready to drop."

"Thanks," Eitan said, "I've been on the move for the last forty-eight hours," he said, slowly lowering himself into a chair, "she sent her goons after me ..." sighing, he sat back, "... don't worry ... they won't be reporting in at all."

"Took them out, did you?" Jason said, watching Eitan closely, "Ruff you up a little?"

"Somewhat," Eitan said, biting into a sandwich and closing his eyes as he chewed, "oh, this is good."

"Didn't you eat while on the move?" Candy asked, pouring some coffee into a mug and placing it within reach of the man.

"Dared not stop for a moment," Eitan said, "she has people everywhere, prepared to do unspeakable things for her to keep their loved ones alive. Little do they know anyone she takes captive doesn't last long."

"We've seen the footage," Jason said, "not something anyone should see, but is it true she enjoys it?"

"Oh yes, she gets off on it," Eitan said, "never could come to grips with how she feels ... elated when the person dies at her hands."

"Where are the journals?" Candy asked as she moved toward her station, resuming her coordination duties.

"Here," Eitan said, pushing the backpack toward Jason, "everything you need to stop her for good is in there."

Picking up the backpack, Jason nodded, "Thank you, eat, drink and rest ... there is a futon under those shelves ... you should be able to fit in and get some rest."

Nodding, Eitan pulled the coffee and sandwiches toward him as Jason returned to his station and continued compiling information to end decades of tyranny.

Eitan sat, taking in his surroundings for the first time since he had fled his sister's sick world. The place was comfortable. A large round table filled the centre of the room, while a small kitchen and bathroom were off the main area.

"This isn't the family room, is it?" Eitan asked as he bit into another sandwich.

"No, that is two floors up," Candy said, "why?"

"It doesn't fit the lived-in feel I think your family would have," Eitan said, "but then I could be wrong. Is it okay if I help myself to more coffee?"

"Go ahead," Jason said, standing and moving to the cupboard on the far end, "if you want to shower, there are supplies in the bathroom," he pulled out a pile of clothes, handing it to Eitan, "clean clothes for you to change into, a laundry off the kitchen to wash and dry the ones you have."

Eitan stared at Jason as he returned to his station, "Thanks," he murmured, putting the pile of clothes on the table and pouring another cup of coffee, "I didn't expect this kind of response."

"What did you expect?" Candy asked, looking at him.

"I wasn't sure, but nothing this ... accepting," Eitan said, "perhaps a dozen pat downs, a cavity search, a bug screening or two, a decontamination shower perhaps."

Candy grinned, "Who says you haven't already been through all of that?"

Eitan's gaze snapped to her mischievous one, "Oh, you nearly had me there."

She chuckled, "General, we take people at their word. Eat, clean up and rest. We may need your help sooner than you think."

Nodding, Eitan moved to the table, finished his food and scooped up the clean clothes; as he passed Jason's station, something in the current footage caught his gaze.

"Matilda," he whispered, staring at his sister's beating of a young woman, "she killed her."

"You knew this woman?" Jason asked, turning and surprising a look of haunted disbelief.

Eitan nodded as horror filled his gaze. Silent tears raced down his cheeks, "I was going to marry her and leave the family business."

"Oh, Eitan, I'm so sorry," Candy said softly.

"I didn't understand why she simply disappeared," Eitan whispered, "I searched for her for months, and my sister knew who she was ... knew what had happened to her ... knew I wanted to marry her."

"Did she know you intended to leave the family and the business?" Jason asked, his gently spoken words bringing with them a dawning expression of betrayal to Eitan's face as he silently nodded.

"She murdered the woman I loved to keep me bound to a family of murder," he whispered, swallowing hard, "let me shower, and I'll happily show you how to end all of this quicker than you would ever know."

He could feel them watching him stalk into the bathroom and slam the door shut. Dumping his clean clothes on the area next to the basin, he stripped his clothes off, turned on the shower and stepped inside, allowing the icy water to cool his raging anger. But the water quickly warmed, and the heat did nothing to cool off the heat of the burning revenge exploding inside as he scrubbed his skin clean. Nothing would wash the feeling of betrayal from his senses, heart or head.

"She doesn't know what she has unleashed," he snarled as he stepped into the misty room, vigorously towelling himself dry, "but she is about to learn just what I'm capable of ... and she won't enjoy how it will end everything about her. Payback .... cold and sweet, sister. That is what is coming your way."