"Hmmm." Hal mumbled.

"I can try, most certainly." he said.

"Anything in my power." he added with a nod.

"Regardless, I will afford you a dorm, as well as privileges for the dining hall." he then told Chris. "However, do not expect people to be too friendly at first, and for some to be outright hostile." he added.

"I expect it." Chris replied.

"After all I've done, and helped to orchestrate, people have a right to hate me." he reasoned.

"...." Hal was just silent, and looked at Serenity with an expression that said 'Wow... what a turnaround in attitude'.

"....." Azari was silent, before nodding.

"Yes." he replied.

"I sent two of your most disposable pawns out with him." he told her.

"They'll find the closest Wood Elf village, start bragging about a plan, and we both know what will happen from there." he continued.

"...they won't know the difference." he then mumbled.

"He'll blend in perfectly." he assured her.

"No matter what happens... eventually... regardless of where you are... you'll have the last laugh." he added with a confident smile.

"Indeed." Azari replied.

"...and that's already set into motion." he told her.

"She'll want to come here. She'll demand it." he went on.

"And that's when the plan is finalised." he said further, looking at her with some sadness in his eyes.

"I've got everything prepared to tell everyone here when you leave." he then said.

"They will know that Ashley will be their new Mistress, and that anyone that thinks otherwise is a traitor to the cause."

Azari was silent, before sighing heavily.

"My stance still has not changed from before." he told her.

"While I want your machinations to remain in motion... I know that it just wouldn't be the same here without you. Not for me, anyway." he said honestly.

"Will I be able to follow Ashley? Yes. Yes, I will be able to follow her." he told her.

"However, I would also prefer to join you in the afterlife." he then said.

"So it's not really an either/or question. But if left up to me, entirely, I would stick around just long enough to make sure things go smoothly, before departing." he went on.

"...also, I'm not sure how your sister would react to my presence, either." he then admitted.

Azari listened to his choices, before nodding.

"I know." he said with quiet conviction.

- - -

Hal and Terra were in his office, talking about the state of the world, and how things seemed to have... lightened up a little, but they were unsure as to what that meant. But they were not going to let their guard down.

"We need to figure out what to do." Hal said.

"This needs to-" he started to say, before Chris suddenly burst into the room.

"I'VE REMEMBERED!" he declared, shocking the two of them with his entrance.

"I've remembered EXACTLY where Vanessa is!"

"...." Hal and Chris were silent, before Chris cleared his throat.

"Maybe... maybe that might not be the best idea." he said.

"Oh?" Hal asked. "And why is that?" he asked further.

"We don't know what Vanessa will have there waiting for whomever goes there." Chris replied.

"As I was told, that wood elf was ready with that device earlier... who knows what else is there? I don't know if I'm comfortable with Miss Terra going there and potentially being hurt even worse." he went on.

"......and who might you suggest?" Hal then inquired.

"Well... Ashley." Chris replied.

"Because... well... if nothing else, it takes a dark elf to kill a dark elf." he reasoned.

"A REAL one. Not... a whatever-I-am..." he added quietly.

"That would truly be the end of it all." Hal agreed.

"But I don't trust someone going alone." he then said.

"I'd prefer if one of my agents went with her." he reasoned.

"All right, but who?" Chris asked.

There was silence for a moment, before they heard a brief knock, and Azazel poked his head in.

"Boss, just letting you know that the shipment arrived for the lab." he said.

"Ah, thank you, Agent Az." Hal responded.

"...everything ok here?" Azazel then asked.

"We're trying to determine who would be safe to go to Vanessa's hideout." Chris responded.

"...why not me?" Azazel asked. "As a demon, I'm practically immune to it."

Hal nodded.

"I do." he replied.

"Agent Az, stay here." he told Azazel.

Azazel just nodded in response, as Hal called Ashley.

"Ashley, it's Agent Sharp." he said when she answered.

"Come to the Unit immediately." he told her.

"There's been a major break in the search for Vanessa. I'll make sure the security guard lets you in quickly." he added.

"The security area." Hal replied.

"You'll be let in as soon as you get there." he told her, before she hung up.

"....." Chris was silent as this happened.

"Maybe... maybe I should go." he said.

"I... I'm not sure she wants to see me right now." he commented.

"Last I remember, she was... not the nicest. Granted, I was insufferable, but... yeah..." he mumbled.

"You'll need to tell her where Vanessa is." Hal said.

"........right." was Chris's reply, his expression nervous.

It was easy to see that Chris wanted to retreat, but he held his ground and looked at the scene.

"He did." Hal replied. "He's remembered exactly where Vanessa is." he told her.

"Once he tells us, you and Agent Az will go and deal with things there." he then explained. "You'll leave immediately after he regales the info, and I will personally send you there." he finished.

"Understood?" he asked.

"Understood." Azazel replied.

Hal then looked at Chris, who proceeded to tell them exactly where Vanessa's base was located.

All the while, those that were there couldn't help but notice that Ashley's presence was far more ominous and oppressive.

For Hal and Chris... it felt like Vanessa herself was there, more than ever before.