The helicopter's blades hummed above them as Eitan stared out of the open door. It has been a whirlwind of plans, discussions, and phone calls. Eventually, they took a boat to the site where the team was meeting them and supplied the body armour and weapons. He had never seen someone given so much respect and love; it sounded strange coming from a team of lethal killers, but it was so; the joy of seeing his father was plain. They accepted him without hesitation when they knew his relation to his father. The sensations experienced were strange and unfamiliar. Nothing had to be worked for, nothing had to be earned; it was just ... there.

"Five minutes out," one of the black-clad men shouted, waving hand signals to the teams. In unison, they checked their weapons and ammunition supplies and gave the thumbs-up that they were ready. Eitan was surprised when his father leaned against his shoulder, asking if he had enough to complete the mission. Quickly checking through his supplies and gear, he gave a nod and a tight smile.

"What about you?" Eitan asked.

"Everything is as it should be," Eitan Snr said, smiling at his son, "I'm happy to be doing this with you."

Eitan turned, looking over his shoulder, meeting his father's gaze, "Are you? I thought you kept me close so I didn't mess up your plans."

"It may feel like that, but if you were here to be kept from ... messing up my plans," Eitan chuckled, "you would be in handcuffs and not going into battle with us."

"Battle," Eitan shook his head, "I've always been in battle ... sometimes it's never required weapons."

"We're here," one of the team shouted as the helicopter landed on the roof, "weapons hot and engage at will. Lethal action has been authorised."

The team spilt out onto the rooftop alert for enemy engagement, waiting until the helicopter took off before gathering together and moving across the rooftop.

Jake's eyes flickered to the names of the three faces he had been searching for, "Well, I'll be damned. These people are everywhere."

"Who is everywhere?" Josiah asked, leaning over Jake's shoulder.

Jake pointed to the screen indicating the company's address and then the three people who worked for it, "How can they be hunted?"

"You be surprised who can be hunted," Josiah said, "in helping them, I have a global army on hand whenever my lands are under attack. Do you think I could coordinate shipments of arms for something like this while relocating and settling people needing the covering of our mandate? Why did you look up these three?"

"They haven't stopped staring at me since I arrived," Jake said, "plus the woman has been very edgy around me when she needs to deal with me."

"Hmmm ... it could be because you look like someone they know," Josiah said, pointing to a picture on the far wall, "that is one of our family that is hand in glove with another who is now causing trouble not far from here."

"Wow, I look similar to … who is that?" Jake asked.

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"A man that should have died many years ago," said a mellow female voice, "now you know who we are … we know who you are."

"Why did you need to know who I am?" Jake asked.

"If you were …" she pointed at the picture, "… you would have known immediately who we are since it was …" she pointed at the picture again, "… who tried to kill us. But you looked us up instead. Now we have the confirmation we were looking for."

Nodding, Jake sighed, "So much deception … so many lies …. all because someone wanted something they couldn't have decades ago and decided to take it by force," Jake shook his head, "this has to end. It's no way for anyone to live, not the people under the tyranny, not those defending those under attack and not those hiding from the people doing it. We need to end this … today."

A buzzing came over Chelsea's laptop, drawing everyone's attention to the screen. Jake pulled up the alert and attached messages.

"Huh …. it looks like Eitan is moving into place," Jake said, "there's another message: Chelsea is coming in with the team and …" he paused, looking at his father, "The Nisim is coming here with Bevis."

"What do you mean here?" Josiah asked, frowning. "Surely you mean the house, right?"

Jake quickly typed on the keyboard and paused momentarily; another ding came, and he silently read before looking at Josiah.

"First the house to drop off the journals and then coming here," Jake said, "Bevis will be coming here while Chelsea and her team head out to the standoff."

"Did you say Bevis is coming here?" a woman asked, turning from a nearby table, "My apologies ... I wasn't eavesdropping; I just heard my daughter's name."

They turned, taking in the medium-height, athletic-looking woman. A gasp came from nearby workers, but Jake was struck by how similar Bevis looked to this woman.

"You're her mother," Jake said, "you're supposed to be at the house."

"No one said I must be at the house," the woman said, "my husband is there, and I am here; this way, we cover all bases."

A murmur rippled around them, making Jake frown as he took in the face of consternation and worry, "Okay … people the of eight-two-zero-zero, what is with the I've-seen-a-ghost faces?"

"Jonaraja," a woman whispered, stepping forward, "why have you come?"

"To fulfil my mission," the woman said, her expression softening, "many years ago, I could not, but the secrets I have held close to my heart have to be used, told and bring this endless pain to a close."

The woman relaxed, nodding, moving closer, "What do you need?"

"You wish to help me?" Jonaraja asked, her gaze narrowing.

"My mother worked with both of you and told me of your … kindness when my father was murdered," the woman said, clearing her throat, "I would like to repay that by helping you fulfil your mission."

"Thank you. I do need assistance," Jonaraja said, moving to the table, and the young woman followed her.

"Wow," someone whispered, "we have a real live secret keeper in our midst."

Jake turned toward the young man watching the women at the table, "Is that unusual?"

"Never does a secret keeper mix with combatants, but when a secret keeper comes into the operation site," another young man said, glancing toward Jake before looking back at the table, "it is with a clear reason either to collect information, dispense with information or end something … and that can be a life or a situation. We are never told when they will appear or if we're to be ... dispensed with."

"Never knew it was such a big thing," Josiah said, "to us they are just people."

Those around them looked at Jake and Josiah with awed expressions until Josaih turned away, nudging Jake.

"We have work to do," Josiah said, "and everyone else can return to work."

"Why did your words bring that kind of a response?" Jake whispered.

"No idea, but it feels creepy being stared at like that," Josiah murmured, glaring at Jake as he attempted to smother a laugh, "where are we in the operation?"

Clearing his throat, Jake looked at his father with his laughing expression, drawing a grin from the older man before beginning his update.