Reunion

(At The Rook...)

(Bell, Marshall, Adler, Sev, Felix, and Woods are all gathered)

Sev: A liability? Seriously?

Marshall: You'd never pass for Delta

Sev: An interpreter then. You don't even speak Arabic. Ugh, I'm wasting my breath...

Marshall: I'm not taking a vote here, okay, you're staying back. I want you here with Felix and Woods

Sev: Well. If you have this figured out, I'm not just going to sit around. I'm going out

(Sev walks away)

Woods: Let her go

Marshall: Moving on. Adler, you sure that's all Alawi told you? Before you executed him?

Adler: You're in my world now, Marshall. Gonna have to grow up fast

Marshall: I'm listening

Adler: Alawi knew that Pantheon had a presence in Iraq. It's part of a technology exchange with Saddam Hussein. Pantheon gets cover and facilities, Hussein gets access to an experimental weapon

Woods: But Alawi didn't know what the weapon was?

Adler: No. Only that they're calling it "the cradle"

Woods: "The Cradle"...

Marshall: And it's in Iraq, right now?

Adler: Presumably. Alawi said that it was in transit to a remote palace. A demonstration is taking place in a bunker underneath

Felix: Hussein is a world class collector of palaces - there are many on this map alone. Alawi was confident he knew the one?

Adler: Yes

(Adler puts a cigarette case on one of the Xs on the map)

Adler: This one

(Marshall examines the location on the map)

Marshall: Let's take a firsthand look then. We'll finalize plans soon and we'll ship out. Dismissed

Woods: I'll take these.

(Woods takes the cigarette case that Adler put on the map)

Adler: Enjoy 'em. I brought 'em for you

Woods: Figured. You don't usually smoke the shit brands

(Adler lights up Woods's cigarette as the latter then smokes it)

Adler: Don't want you raising your standards

Woods: Well, there's never been a better time to be cheap as hell

Marshall: Hey

Adler: Yeah?

Marshall: Listen, I understand that in your own Adler-ass way you invited us to this place. Maybe you've got squatter's rights, but don't much care

Adler: You got a point?

Marshall: What I do care about, what I need you to understand, is that this here is MY team. You need us more than we need you, okay? We just broke you out of that black site, and I just need an excuse to send you back. Bottom line, you're a stranger to me. All I got on you is your reputation and it ain't all roses, Adler

Adler: You don't have to trust me, Marshall. But it might be best if you do. For you and your team

Marshall: I'll be the judge of that

Sev: Ooo, a contest! So exciting. Should I get a ruler? By the way, Adler, I'm still waiting to get paid

Adler: I had a little something stashed for you upstairs, but it seems I was robbed while on vacation

Woods: Ah, you just loaned it to us. Forgot to tell you is all. But on the bright side, we have a training facility, weapons workbench, and equipment workshop. Surprise

Adler: I just think you and I should spend some quality time together. We should get plenty in Iraq

Marshall: My thoughts exactly...

Woods: Relax. I've known Adler since 'Nam. Give it twenty years, he'll grow on you

Felix: Poor Sevati. The nightlife around here is limited to owls and jackals

Adler: So. Here we are

Bell: Alright, spill it. How did you discover the pantheon?

Adler: Remember Jason Hudson?

Bell: Yeah. "Mr. Shades"

Adler: He was one of the casualties back in Panama. Just weeks before he was killed, he told me about a paramilitary group that may have infiltrated the CIA. Hudson seemed to believe they were homegrown - maybe transnational but American dominated. Most likely military and intelligence experts. Their recruits seem Western trained, English speaking. They know how to think like us and fight like us, which makes 'em especially dangerous

Bell: Woods took a big leap of faith with you

Adler: After Frank got out of Walter Reed, the news was that I put him in that chair. That I was the one who compromised his Panama mission in '89. Got Hudson killed and Mason and Woods wounded. All bullshit. When I skipped town, I went silent on him. On everyone. Better he hate me than get caught in the net, but I guess it didn't matter in the end. So yeah. He did take a leap. He's loyal

Bell: Someone set you up

Adler: Last March, someone produced documents showing encrypted transfers. From the drug lord Raul Menendez to my personal bank account. I got wind of it before Langley called me in from Morocco. Decided not to get on that plane

Bell: And Iraq?

Adler: I'd been in contact with Alawi since the beginning of the year. He wanted a red carpet out of Iraq and was willing to talk for it. As a Minister of Defense, his value was high, and he knew it. After Coalition forces attacked, well, his timeline changed. I was to meet him in Kuwait and supply passage through Europe. Seems I wasn't the only one who knew his plans

Bell: Gotcha. Talk later

Adler: Uh huh