Benjamin Linus & Abhay

Pulling down the long lane, Benjamin passed by the familiar blue truck and parked his vehicle up closer to the garage. Though he had said nothing the whole way here, he had spared a few side-glances at the teen, gaging any reaction he might have to coming to this place.

Stepping out of the car, he walked up to the deck that stretched across the back side of the house, and paused their to wait for Conan.

From the far corner of the yard, Abhay nickered and trotted towards the car, "Nadeem, we have a visitor! Come on, man, come out and greet them! And give me some food, I'm starving!"

Conan*Raimi

Conan had kept his stone face all the way here, not willing to give Ben any more information to work on. The first bit of emotion that was seen from him was a half-smile as he got up out of the car and balanced Raimi on his hip, shaking his head at the stallion, before venturing another set of fumbled words. "Abh-hay, Koma-al," were the words he repeated from the memory of listening to the Indian speak to his horse. This was said as he willingly moved forward to stroke the velvety nose, never able to be so close to any horse and not admire them.

Raimi was also chanting merrily, "Horsey, horsey, horsey," as was his habit, but Conan's eyes, once he had greeted the horse, flickered toward the house, waiting for Nadeem to come out.

Benjamin Linus & Abhay

Relishing in the attention, Abhay nickered again, leaning his muzzle into the touch, "So you do speak! I thought you did." The ebony stallion went on, "Just don't start calling commands like Nadeem does all the time. I like to hear my name though - you can say that again if you want to."

"A charming fellow, that one." Benjamin commented casually, with a nod to the small Marwari horse, before opening the door and stepping inside. He paused for a moment, looking expectantly at the two Carlyles, "Well, aren't you coming in?"

The stallion shifted his eyes to Ben, "If you're going in there, tell Nadeem to get his lazy bum out here and feed me. He forgot to do that today, blast him!" He pawed once at the ground, mildly, before nudging Conan affectionately against the shoulder.

Conan*Raimi

He had given the horse a smile and a click of tongue in greeting, and had proceeded to lavish the dark horse with attnetion, but watching Ben enter the house, without so much as an announcement of their presence or a word of warning, put Conan on his guard, and his hand dropped from stroking the soft muzzle.

He suddenly, powerfully wished that he'd brought the rifle with him, but that was back at the Wallock's house, in the closet where it wouldn't disturb Summer. There was nothing to be done, though, except gather his courage... and follow Ben inside.

Benjamin Linus & Abhay

When it became evident that the two were heading inside, Abhay's ears went back and he stamped the ground a little harder, "Aww, don't do that! You want to stay out here and pet me, right?"

Benjamin was over at the kitchen sink, filling up a glass of water. He looked over when Conan came in, and directioned towards the kitchen table, "Please, have a seat. We have a lot of catching up to do."

From the nearby hall, Tom came striding towards the table. The older man greeted the three with a slightly snarky but still surprisingly friendly smile, "Good, you got the kid to come with you. Conan, it's been a while." He said, extending a hand to shake, though he was sure the gesture would be denied by the teen.

Conan*Raimi

Indeed, Tom guessed well, for Conan shifted his body so that his shoulder blocked Raimi from the other man, eyeing the extended hand with suspicion and distaste, staring it down before turning to look at Ben.

He battled his fumbling tongue again to force it to produce words, and when they came out, they were just as mangled as before. "Werez... Nadm?" His fingers twitched reflexively to sign this also, though he knew Ben couldn't understand, and knew the odds of Tom's getting it were slim to none.

Raimi, on the other hand, was completely undisturbed, still cooing and wriggling, and trying to bend past Conan to look at Tom.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

The hand was left extended for a moment longer before being dropped, "Still a little sore about our last meetin'? Alright, kid, I understand." When it looked like Tom was going to seat himself at the table and join the group in their conversation, he got a pointed look from Ben and suddenly took his leave, heading for the door to keep a watch out.

Finishing his glass of water, Benjamin pulled out a chair and sat across from Conan, "Nadeem? I suppose that is a pertinent question, considering this is his house." The man gave a thoughtful look about, then shrugged lightly, "We'll talk about that later. Right now, I need to know exactly what happened between you and CrypticSilvers when you got your brother back."

Conan*Raimi

Just because he had grudgingly come with Ben didn't mean he trusted him a mite, and Conan intended to make this as difficult for him as he could. So, though he did finally take a seat across from Ben, watching Tom intently as he left, Conan took up the notepad and wrote determinedly. NO, WE'LL DISCUSS IT NOW. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH HIM? INFORMATION FOR INFORMATION, BEN. I HAVE WHAT YOU WANT, SO YOU MUST FIRST TELL ME THAT WHICH I WANT TO KNOW. WHERE IS HE?

He thought back to Abhay outside, and how he'd behaved, now easily understanding that the stallion obviously hadn't seen his master all day. That disturbed Conan, enough to tighten his grip around his little brother as he waited for Ben to consider his answer.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

Benjamin was silent for a long moment, debating with whether or not he should give this information out now, or pry harder at Conan to get him to speak about CS. At least, after allowing some tension to fester, he went on in a voice that seemed a touch regretful, "Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for that. I came over here yesterday to speak with him about Aralyn, and I found that he wasn't home. A strange thing, considering his vehicle and horse were both here." A look of deep thought crossed him now, though it was too expressive to be geniune from Ben - no, this was look of wonder was something that was almost mocking, "I wonder if the CS have gotten to him? Which would be a shame, conisdering this is also where Aralyn lives. It's a damned good thing she's still in the hospital, Rasputin, for if she got captured on your account again..." He drew back to the girl now, his words growing briefly icy, and offering a very slight hint as to what his motives might be behind all of this.

Conan*Raimi

Conan was watching Ben carefully, doing his best to analyze the face before him, but in the end being forced to admit that he just didn't know enough about this elusive man to wrest the secrets from him. After a moment, he had to act on sheer instinct. He nodded to indicate that he understood and believed that Nadeem was missing.

But when Ben took up the old, familiar threat against him, suggesting that Conan would bring harm to Aralyn, he didn't have to write it down for the look in his eyes to be clearly expressed. Watch it, those blue eyes said as he met their twins across the table. Don't you dare make that suggestion to me.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

So far so good; the cards were falling into his hands as he wanted, but he was still very far from the end goal, and it would take a lot of careful planning and manipulating to get everything to work out. It was the telling look that he got out of the teen that told Benjamin his words were working, "I'm not the one who attacked the CrypticSilver and dragged Arayln's boyfriend with them for help, and thus brought her into immediate danger for the second time. And that, Conan, is the reason I belive you will help me fix this mess that you caused. You are going to do what I say, when I say, because we both have to protect her." He again fastened the boy with a look that could pierce straight through one's soul, judging the teen's every move and flicker of expression, looking for his utter and unwavering compliance. Without it, the plan would shred at the seams.

Conan

The cold eyes were cast down in troubled thought as Ben spoke to him, his heart and soul crying out at the injustice of hurting Aralyn again, as he had promised himself that he wouldn't.

Because now Ben had him again, pressed with something that he couldn't deny. He was silent for a moment, trying to thing up excuses as to why this wasn't his fault, but for all that they hated each other, Ben knew Conan's weak spot very well, and exploited it with all the expertise of his years. The boy just hadn't been able to attain that level yet. So finally, his eyes raised up to meet their counterparts once more, and he nodded, just once, not squirming under the piercing gaze Ben sliced at him with as he wrote some more and pushed the pad across the table. ALRIGHT. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO?

Benjamin Linus & Tom

"I knew you'd come around eventually." A hollow smile flashed in grim amusement before it vanished away again. The boy's concern over Aralyn was one of the only reasons he didn't try to kill him outright in order to appease Cassidy. The primary reason, however, was to save the girl from the emotional distress of having her brother-figure murdered, and him with the guilty conscience. As far as Cassidy went, she was just too much of an unknown to risk trying to kill right now, and she had proven herself as a valuable asset to Benjamin.

"I need to know exactly what happened between you and the CrypticSilvers when you stole your brother back." Benjamin watched him closely, but held off telling him anything of the plan yet, or the fact that he a bounty on his head that Ben himself was suppose to be collecting. In order not to get caught in his own web of lies, he had to be absolutely certain he knew everything that the teen did.

Conan

Despite his word, Conan still considered Ben for a long moment before he picked up the pen again, and wrote for a long while before handing it back.

WHEN I WENT INTO THE HOSPITAL, I LEFT RAIMI IN THE CARE OF FREYA, A GIRL WHO'D BEEN STAYING WITH US. WHEN I RETURNED AFTER RECOVERY, BOTH SHE AND RAIMI WERE GONE, AS YOU ALREADY KNOW. I DIDN'T HAVE ANYONE TO HELP ME FIND HIM, SO WITHOUT ANYWHERE ELSE TO GO, I WANDERED ABOUT TOWN, LOOKING FOR HIM MYSELF.

IT WAS DURING THIS TIME THAT I CAME TO YOU FOR HELP IN FINDING ARALYN, AND AFTER RECOVERING HER... WELL I WAS UPSET. I HAD LEFT HER IN NADEEM'S CARE, AND FELT HE'D BETRAYED MY TRUST SO... SO I CAME HERE, AND LAID ON HIM A BIT TO GET HIM TO HELP ME FIND RAIMI.

LONG STORY SHORT, NADEEM SPIED ON THE CS ON A HUNCH OF MINE, AND WE DISCOVERED THEY HAD RAIMI. SO RATHER THAN CONFRONT THEM AND DEFINITELY GET KILLED, I DECIDED TO USE A DISTRACTION. I PICKED OUT ONE OF THEIR MEMBERS AND FIRED AN AKATSUKI ARROW AT THEM, GIVING THEM A GOOD WOUND. tHEY WENT TO THE GANG AND REPORTED THE INCIDENT, THE CS, AS PER THEIR USUAL, JUMPED TO CONCLUSIONS, AND CARTED OFF TO SEEK REVENGE.

THAT PUTS US AT THE AKATSUKI PLACE, WATCHING THE BATTLE ERUPT. WHEN THEY WERE DEEPLY ENBRAWLED IN THE BATTLE, NADEEM AND I SNUCK DOWN TO THE VAN AND I RELIEVED THE SINGLE GUARD OF HIS WEAPON. NADEEM WENT FOR RAIMI... BUT THE CS I'D FIRED THE ARROW AT CORNERED US, AND WE WERE CAPTURED.

THEY TOOK US TO A WAREHOUSE DOWNTOWN, THERE TO KEEP US UNTIL THEY TOSSED US INTO THE RIVER THAT NIGHT. BUT APPARENTLY A WILD DOG PACK HAD TAKEN UP RESIDENCE THERE. THEY ATTACKED THE CS, I RELEASED MYSELF AND NADEEM, AND WE GRABBED RAIMI AND RAN FOR OUR LIVES. THE REST, YOU KNOW.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

Most of this was known to him, but there were a few new details to be noted. He was satisfied, too, that this was all a truthful account of events, for he had gotten a near identically account from Nadeem as far as their brash assault against the CrypticSilvers went. "I have to admit, that was a good plan. And it almost worked." He pushed the notepad back to Conan, "However, there is one fatal flaw, which you're already aware of. They're after you with a vengence."

Benjamin glanced to the sliding glass doorway, where Tom was pacing along the deck and keeping a watchout. "As it turns out, I am not out to kill you as you seem to think I am. So long as Aralyn holds you in such high reguards, I'm obliged to make sure you don't die if there's anything I can do about it." This he stated bluntly, "Our problem right now is that the CS is aligned with the political powers of this town, making them difficult even for me to touch." This was true of course, and it was a convinient excuse for him to use instead of telling Conan that he had a powerful informant in the CS, and that was the reason he couldn't openly assault them.

"Do you know much about the person you shot? Or were they a total stranger to you?" Covering that last bit of information, careful not to implicate himself on the fact that he knew her.

Conan

Again, Conan noted that there was one small advantage to being forced to write down your thoughts. Whatever emotion was displayed on your face was not immediately connected to the words that you'd spoken. So his face was calm as he once again scrawled on the sheet.

I KNOW HER AS ONE KNOWS A FACE ON A WANTED POSTER FROM THE OLD WEST, AS SOMEONE TO BE WARY OF, AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS A GOOD DEAL OF POWER IN THE CS DYNASTY. PERSONALLY, I DON'T KNOW HER AT ALL.

Well, that wasn't true... but then again it was, in a way. He didn't really know Cassidy personally, but he had watched her enough to know a good deal about her, anyway.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

This was an aspect that Ben was finding to be something of a challenge for him. While the boy's words so far had proven to be true, based both on what Benjamin knew to be true and what they'd gotten out of Nadeem, he was left somewhat in the dark about what the boy's feelings were reguarding it all.

"You're an observant one; my informants report the same thing. While it's not her we're interested in at the moment, I have a feeling she's got a lot to blame for this hit that's out on you. And that's where I need you to do something for me. Are you willing to murder?"

Conan

He kept his face very carefully expressionless as he listened to Ben, thinking on his words while carefully maintaining his outward composure. Wouldn't put it past that slinky, half-dressed demon friend of Raven's... she always hated my guts, and when he died and I was left... well it doesn't surprise me.

But the three words he wrote down on the paper were neither this thought, nor an answer to Ben's question. No, after carefully considering what the man had said, Conan asked a question of his own. TO PROTECT WHOM?

Benjamin Linus & Tom

Study the other as he might, he could pick up no messages from his blankened face. "Ultimately, Aralyn." In essence, it wasn't entirely a lie, though it was an awful stretch of the truth. "But more directly, it is to protect the both of us from suspicion, and help to get their focus off of you until I can arrange a more... permanent solution."

Conan

Again he payed very close attention to Ben's choice of words, not about to let a single detail slip past his attention. But, in the end, he was still out of his depth in judging Ben's intentions, and he sighed a little.

But he still did not directly answer the question put to him. He might not have the level of keen intellect that the man seated across from him possessed, but he had an admirable reasoning power, for someone his age, something that set him on a higher level altogether than anyone else his age. And it was this part of him that made him ask, WHO DID YOU HAVE IN MIND?

It might have sounded like an agreement, but it was not. It was exactly the question it sounded like, and keenly put. Before he decided whether he would do as Ben asked, he would know exactly what it was that the man wanted. So he neither agreed or refused, but tactically prodded for more information.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

As serious as this situation was, Benjamin was enjoying the little game that the two were playing, trying each other for information and scrambling to pick up on the faintest of emotional slips or hints. Hiding what wanted to be a grin behind his own expressionless facade, Benjamin offered up the victim without a struggle of wordplay, "Carl Savichos. Will this be a problem?"

The purpose behind this was two-fold, the the latter reason was known only to him and his fellow ATHA members.

Conan

The instant that Ben spoke the name, Conan felt a small degree of relief flood through him. Carl... another person he knew by name and reputation only, as he knew James and Lanny. He had no personal attachments to this fellow, either way. So he shook his head and answered, NO, THIS WILL NOT BE A PROBLEM. I KNOW HIM BY REPUTATION, BUT HAVE NEVER ENCOUNTERED HIM BEFORE. BUT I DO QUESTION YOUR REASONING. WHAT THREAT IS THIS FELLOW TO ARALYN, AND HOW WILL MY ATTACKING ANOTHER MEMBER OF THE CS REDUCE THE RISK TO HER?

Now suspicion was aroused in him. As if the CrypticSilvers weren't already pissed enough at him, Ben wanted him to attempt to assassinate another one? But still, amazed as he was, Conan kept this to himself, and had enough presence of mind to still refuse to confirm or deny his intentions to do as Ben asked.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

He wasn't about to get to the very roots of his reasoning behind this, but he allowed for an explanation that would hopefully satisfy Conan's understandable question over it. "His younger brother was killed last year, and it had a rather decisive impact on Lauwrence Zelkovi - second in command of the CS. To be more specific, he took up binge drinking. Offing the other brother would not only drive Lauwrence further to alcohol, impairing his judgement, but given his influence in the heirarchy of the gang, it would most likely force them to shift their attention to his killer." Benjamin let his words sink in before going on, "You of course are not going to be seen as the killer, and that part I will take care of to some degree, if you pull this off properly." This was only half the plan that Benjamin had in mind, not to mention part of it was simply for revenge for the time when Carl very nearly killed Ethan.

Conan

This was definitely something that Conan hadn't known, but with the questionable facts presented to him thus, he was forced to take them into consideration. But he didn't bother to hide his disgust as he once again scribbled a reply on the page.

THEN LAURENCE ZELKOVI IS A FOOL. AS IF THE DRINK WASN'T ENOUGH TO MAKE HIM SO, IT IS DEFINITELY A FOOL WHO USES AN ORGANIZATION TO EXACT HIS OWN, PRIVATE REVENGE. THAT'S WHAT GOT RAVEN KILLED, MAY HE NEVER KNOW A MOMENT'S EAST REST IN ETERNITY. TOO DAMNED FULL OF HIS OWN POWER, AND WITHOUT ENOUGH SENSE TO COVER HIS BUTT.

This was the first time he'd ever willingly discussed either of his brothers, though Ben could easily guess why his words were so uncomplimentary.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

He was almost unnerved by the irony of Conan's written response, but chose to believe that it was just coincidence in wording rather than a subtly, under-handed blow against him by the boy, or some way of calling him out without directly doing so. No, he couldn't know...

"Power is folly without the smarts to know when and how to use it. Hopefully you learned from the mistakes of your brothers?" Benjamin replied coolly, struggling just briefly to keep a look of suspicion from creeping into his icy eyes, "He is as much a fool as most of them are, and the drink will only help convince him to turn their sights elsewhere." What he didn't tell Conan was that the woman he had shot was not such a person to be so easily caught up in revenge; at least, not in such a blinded way like so many others were. That's why he needed to strike some tension between her plans of revenge, and those of Lanny's. But to do that, he had to figure out a way to bring her intentions to light.

Conan

To answer Ben's cool comment, Conan quirked a cruel smile, something of dark amusement making itself seen in his eyes as he wrote. WHATEVER YOU MAY THINK OF ME, BEN, YOU KNOW THAT I AM NOT A FOOL. I WILL NOT BE SWAYED BY THE PASSIONS OF OTHER MEN, WHETHER FOR DRINK, OR BATTLE, OR OTHER THINGS.

And he nodded his understanding of the final statement, though it was still not an agreement. He was still waiting.

,hr> Benjamin Linus & Tom

A half-hearted chuckle sounded from the man, "No, indeed not. I fool to your emotions maybe -" He slipped in the sly comment, letting it roll right along with the rest of his words without so much as a pause to signify what he had said, "-but you've got intelligence and reasoning. That's why I know you can pull this off." That aside, Benjamin again adopted a serious facade, "There is one more than that I must ask of you. How willing are you to lie to your friends?"

Conan

The very fact that he continued to ask questions without ever voicing or suggesting his acceptance of this mission said that Conan had grown a little wiser in his dealings with Ben, and as he let the man's half-veiled insult roll off of him, he once again neglected a direct answer and asked a new question. WITH WHAT MOTIVATION?

Benjamin Linus & Tom

"Either you lie to them, or they die. Motivation enough?" He shot back without a pause for thought or any reasoning behind why it was neccessary to lie. He knew he had to be careful about what facts he gave to who, so as his lies wouldn't be muddled, "I needn't remind you just how dangerous these people are that we're dealing with."

Conan

A distinctly creepy smirk lit his face as he met and held Ben's gaze as he scrawled on the paper without looking at it. The resulting handwriting was less uniform and boring, but no less clear. I AM WELL EXPERIENCED WITH DEALING WITH DANGEROUS MEN, AS I'M SURE YOU REMEMBER. EVEN IF NOT FOR MY FATHER AND THE CS, THERE'S ALWAYS YOU TO ADD TO MY LIST...

And there the words faded off, none-too-gently reminding Ben that while he was forced to work with him, he did not trust him, and did not like him. But after Ben had read the first part of the note, Conan reluctantly took it back, the pencil scribbling before he turned it back to the other man. WHAT LIES WOULD YOU HAVE ME TELL?

Benjamin Linus & Tom

A haughty grin met the first part of Conan's reply, and he dipped his head in a nod, "Just making sure you understand, and it seems you do." Now reading the second part of the response, the grin on the man's face slowly drifted away to be taken up by careful determination. His words were given at length as he began, picking over them gingerly, "You are one of very few people who know who I am and what powers and resources I have at my disposal. I would like for it to remain that way." Benjamin was silent for a moment, then went on with more certainty, "We have Mr. Tarak, and he is under the illusion that he is being held by the CS. When all is said and done, I need for you to maintain that idea. He and the others are not to know about us."

Conan

He listened very carefully to Ben's explanation, with the attention to detail he'd developed so quickly under that man's tutelage, and instantly understood what he meant.

The boy looked up to meet Ben's gaze again as he spoke of Nadeem, but something in his eyes said it without his ever writing it down. Why am I not surprised? But after a moment, he nodded, an indication that he would maintain this lie, at least for now. He was willing to bet that Ben didn't realize exactly how duplicitous he could be, if he put his mind to it, but until he decided that it would be safe or beneficial to reveal to Nadeem this thing, he would, indeed, keep the secret.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

He caught the look portrayed in the boy's eyes, and a slight smugness revealed itself in his returned gaze before he got back down to business. Reaching in his pocket, he pulled out Nadeem's phone, looking over the screen as he went on to talk with Conan, "My people are currently tracking your target. When they find him in a secure enough spot, I will be calling you with the coordinates. Have your equipment ready." Setting the phone down, he looked up to Conan, "Seeing as this will be a dangerous mission, what do you plan on doing with Raimi while you deal with the enemy?"

Conan

He ignored that look, keeping his eyes focused intently on the older man's face as he looked down at his little brother, who had sat so quietly in his grasp, this whole time. Seeing his brother's attention return to him, the boy giggled and patted up at the familiar face with a tiny hand, bringing a brief flash of something to the teen's face before he grabbed it back again. But it had been too small a thing to be called an emotion, and he chose not to comment on that, but to answer Ben.

NEVER YOU MIND WHAT I'LL DO WITH HIM. I HAVE PLACES I CAN PUT HIM. AREN'T YOU GOING TO TELL ME WHO THE 'TARGET' IS?

Benjamin Linus & Tom

"Mr. Savichos." He replied coolly, watching the interaction between the two brothers without so much as a comment, though he already knew enough of Conan's fierce protection of the toddler. "Above all else, you cannot be seen by any CS, or the plan will be jeapordize." Benjamin stood up, taking his time to scoot the chair back in place and tuck the cellphone back into his pocket, "For Raimi's sake, I hope you can pull this off." He added quietly, his emotions underlaid with a dark threat. "You should recieve a call within the next hour or two. What you do till then is your concern, but I would suggest finding your brother a very secure hiding spot."

Conan

Conan's eyes turned a little sharp as Ben again repeated that name. This was the second time the teen had asked who the target was, but there was a purpose behind it. Now, with his suspicions confirmed by this repetition, Conan formed another block of text on the paper, and stood as he handed it to Ben. MR. SAVICHOS IS NOT THE TARGET. YOU WANT HIM DEAD, YES... BUT HE IS MERELY THE EXCUSE TO COVER WHATEVER ELSE YOU ARE DOING. HOWEVER, I KNOW PERHAPS BETTER THAN YOUR AVERAGE FELLOW THAT IF YOU CHOOSE NOT TO DIVULGE THAT INFORMATION, THERE IS LITTLE I CAN DO TO PRY IT FROM YOU. JUST KNOW THIS, CREATURE OF EVIL. IF HARM COMES TO ME OR MINE THROUGH WHATEVER SCHEME YOU'RE PLOTTING, I WILL EXACT THE ACTIONS I HAVE PROMISED. DO NOT MISTAKE ME IN THIS. I SAY IT AGAIN SO THAT WE MAY BE CLEAR. DO NOT BETRAY ME.

His eyes enveloped that chill again, colder this time, and more threatening as he pressed them into Ben's, cementing the repeated threat between them.

Benjamin Linus & Tom

Again the smile spread over his face, but it was more subtle this time and hindered by a touch of annoyance that glistened in his sky-blue eyes. Very few people had the mettle to not only see through his plans, but to outright speak on it. "You have my word, Conan. You do your job, and I'll do mine - and we'll both be satisified." Part of his annoyance came also in the fact that he had been directly threatened by the red-head again, but he choose not to redirect any threats back at the boy. Where he stood now, he felt completely in control, though he wouldn't admit that the success of his plans rested almost entirely on how well Conan delt with Carl.

"Should I drop you off at the Wallocks, or do you have another location in mind?"

Conan*Raimi

His face was mostly calm now, having regained his careful control, though the intensity of his gaze never faltered upon Ben, as if the impress this upon him by the sheer weight of his glance. But when Ben spoke on the topic, he gathered up the notepad and scribbled some more, before tearing out the page, balling it up and tossing it onto the table as he stalked out.

I CAN PROVIDE MY OWN TRANSPORTATION. I'VE BIGGER GAME.

No explanation as to what he meant by that final comment, or what this "bigger game" was, or what he intended to do. Just... that statement, and then the teen was out the door.