Following the meeting, the entire Circle became alive with noise and motion. Despite their growing numbers, the mission Overture had given them was grand in scale and equally as dangerous, and with so little time to prepare! Finale, Overture and Vivace had secluded themselves into a conference room moments after the meeting room had vacated, strategizing and generally over thinking every aspect of the mission (not a bad habit). Vivace's subordinates Canon and Minuet were left to scour the town and public domains nearby where the terrorists' headquarters were located. Occasionally they dipped in and out of the conference room, no doubt reporting to their leader before being given a new lead and once more set out to secure information. Crescendo had taken up the task of prepping for the exchange alongside with Forte ranging for stocking munitions and cleaning rifle barrels to preparing meals for the following day. And then there were the eyes of the Circle, Sharp and Signature. Both were sent out to secure locations in the actual exchange site, given that the site wasn't changed last minute. Not entirely a safe job to do, but Sharp was with the newbie, so there wasn't much to worry about. Any who weren't given a task to concentrate on were left at the shooting range. No doubt that was where Grave was now.

Rest was never comfortable with the idea of charging into the fray. Normally playing the diplomat meant little harm but being the diplomat in this mission was probably the most dangerous position. He would be the one making the exchange. He would be the one whose weapons would be pointed at. Aside from Rest's amiable disposition, they picked him for the job simply because he had that disarming presence that made him so effective as a diplomat. Dolce would be his aide for similar reasons (at least he had some weapons experience, Rest wouldn't feel comfortable otherwise). No doubt he wouldn't be wading into enemy territory. He only needed to be there to calm any tensions and receive Connor safely. Nevertheless, Rest felt uneasy simply being within gun shot range. Rest shook his head. He and Dolce would be the only front, but that didn't mean they were alone. Overture and Finale would be ensuring their and Connor's safety, no doubt. There was little reason to be thinking about something that couldn't be changed. Rest took to thinking about the task at hand.

The building smelled of mildew and certainly the damp had gotten to everything, even the stone walls and lanterns looked damp. It was a prison building that was long past its prime. This building lacked the steam generators that powered heat and controlled the doors. Everything here was lock and key. It lacked the vigilance spheres, general air control, even the cameras here weren't functioning. Phones were fake too. Perhaps the only functioning machinery here were the tiny light bulbs that flickered and swung from a thin wire attached to the ceiling. The prison employed the old time three inch diameter metal bars, the multitude of partitions that separated the prisoners from the front door, the fist sized locks and the array of long stemmed keys. Even the warden here seemed wrinkly and tired. Neglected, just like everything else.

From what Rest was told, this prison was a reserved for the less known crimes. Embezzlement, tax evasion, generally the less noticable ones. It wasn't a prison that many people paid attention to. Underneath, however, this was where Reeves' kept his most despised villains. Any man or woman who openly slandered Reeves' name or spoke out against his practices or laws were either killed or imprisoned here. Just looking at the state of the building suggested Reeves' general opinion of these people. He neglected them just as equally. They weren't fed well, generally didn't receive visitors, and often left to rot inside their cells. Everyone who stepped into their cell here weren't going to leave until the janitors were cleaning up their bones. There wasn't any need on upping security here either. Most of the criminals here weren't subjected to labor, were generally intellectuals cursed with passion instead of prudence. No brawn to help them past the three inch bars. The ones who had the strength to resist usually never made it to their cell. The lucky ones.

A metal door creaked open, prompting Rest to rise from his seat. A guard had appeared at the doorway, pulling a gaunt spindly looking man behind him. His face was drawn and lined, his unkempt dark hair speckled with dust and gray streaks. There was no prison uniform here. Judging from the stains and tears on the prisoner's clothes, Rest could only guess that they went to their unending confinement with the clothes on their backs. Needless to say, he smelled horrible. Rest managed a smile, fighting his gag reflex, and nodded to the guard before the thin man was uncuffed and ushered towards Rest. He fought against the smell to recall a name.

"Mr. Clyde Rayford. A pleasure to meet you." He held out a hand.

The man let out a raspy grunt, bypassing the hand altogether with an unpleasant spit. "Might as well call me Roman."

Rest withdrew his hand without much insult, still maintaining his smile. "I take it you're already informed about the exchange. Clemency from this place seems like a pretty good deal, hm?"

He peered at Rest through his disheveled hair, the original fire that had gotten him locked in a place like this still burning surprisingly. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

"Rest, from the Twelfth Circle. I'm here to pick you up. Maybe share some tea. Catch you up on the times."

Clyde sneered at him, showing a row of yellowed teeth. "Don't patronize me. You've got the stench of Reeves all over you."

"I'm surprised you can smell anything, really. As far as I'm concerned, the Circle is paying me to let you out of this hell hole and fix you up so you resemble Roman Francesco." Rest surveyed Clyde from head to toe. "From what I last remember, Roman had shoes. And a bath. Not to be rude or anything, but we do have a shower waiting for you back in headquarters."

"I'm not stupid. I know Reeves doesn't want me alive! He's always got something up his sleeve. "

The man was paranoid, that much was clear. Whether this was because of his incarceration here or if he was like this before was unclear. "Of course he does. As do most politicians. But if this was an elaborate ruse to kill you, he wouldn't have bothered keeping you here for three years. Reeves doesn't even know your name. You look like Roman Francesco and that's it."

Clyde hadn't responded so Rest pressed on. "It's not as if you're going to be bound to Reeves after this operation. You play the part, you go home free. The Circle will be providing you protection, Reeves will grant you amnesty, the terrorists get wiped out and everyone goes home happy." Still no response. Rest heaved a sigh. "I'm not forcing you to come with me, not sure why you'd want to stay though. You can walk back to your cell but I'm going to at least start the sprinklers here so you can get a shower. Granted that they're still working."

Clyde scoffed, looking away. "So how can I call it freedom if you're just handing me to the terrorists?"

Rest blinked, as if suddenly confronted with a paradox.

"You're having me walk straight to a bunch of outlaws. If Reeves isn't gonna kill me, they will. Don't tell me you didn't think about that."

Rest's frowned. "We will have men hidden in the enemy ranks. They'll take you into custody before the going gets bad. The Circle promises you protection the entire way through. We wouldn't neglect something like that." Right?

Clyde studied Rest's face, and perhaps if he had gotten his rest and meal, if his mind weren't addled by solitude and starvation, he would have seen clear through Rest's lie. Instead, Clyde relented and retreated back into the shell of a tortured man finally granted freedom. Immediately Rest was wracked with guilt. It wasn't a complete lie. With all the talk about the actual exchange, Overture had forgotten to mention about what was to happen after the exchange aside from the inevitable firefight. No doubt the leaders were already discussing such matters and it would probably be unveiled during the briefing. He forced down the nervous thoughts with the trust he had come to recognize amongst his peers. Rest would have to make sure it wasn't a lie then.