Chapter One's a bit shaky. I haven't written anything in forever. Please, review away...Give me a reason to post more!
Disclaimer: I do not own, nor am I affiliated with Totally Spies.
A heavy silence hung on the air in the communications room. On the large projector screen was the silhouette of a person. No physical characteristics were discernable. Jerry didn't like any of it one bit.
"What is it that you contacted me for?" Jerry asked, folding his hands on top of his desk. There was a soft, digitally distorted chuckle.
"You're not one for beating around the bush, I see." the genderless voice chortled.
"Not in situations like this. Now tell me, what is it you want?" Jerry was pushing it now. Whatever business this person had with him, he wanted it over with, and soon.
"Well, a few things, actually." the anonymous individual began. "I want the files on the three female super spies that you have working in your organization"
Jerry froze. His heart skipped a beat. Sweat began to roll down the back of his neck as he listened to the words, still ringing in the air. He cleared his throat and spoke firmly.
"Absolutely not."
"I figured that you would say as much. They are like daughters to you, aren't they?" the silhouette crooned. The laughter was given a more sinister air due to the distortion. "This is why I have developed an ultimatum: Surrender the files, or the United States falls under a nuclear holocaust."
Jerry's hands curled into tight fists as he listened to the terrorist's demands. He was now raging an internal battle: surrender the files, or have the deaths of every US citizen on his conscience. He didn't know what to do.
"I'll give you forty-eight hours to think on it. Remember, there are some things more important than family-like bonds, Jerry." and with that last statement, the screen flickered out and turned to black. The lights slowly came on over his desk, leaving Jerry in more than one uncomfortable spotlight. To betray his spies or betray his country?
"Oh, Jerry, what have you managed to crawl into this time..." he mumbled quietly.
"Just one nuclear warhead could create enough fallout to cause toxic conditions in countries on the other side of the planet." Mr. Robinson explained, continuing his lecture on why the nuclear bomb was so destructive. Sam was propped on her desk with her chin in her hand, spacing in and out. Clover, who was seated next to her, was out like a light, her mouth open and drooling.
'The chances of another nuclear war are like, slim to none.' Sam thought as she gave herself mental excuses as to why she was right in not paying attention. 'I mean, honestly, with Alex, Clover, and I working as super spies with WOOHP, how COULD it happen...'
There was a sharp knock on the door that brought Sam out of her thoughts and disrupted Robinson's ever so riveting lecture. The portly, balding man waddled to the door and opened, shaking the hand of his guest. He led them into the classroom and had them stand at the front.
"Everyone, your attention, please! We have an honored guest in class today. This is Lindsey Tailor, daughter of renowned scientist Archibald Tailor, who is the leading scientific authority on the nuclear bomb and all of its principles!" Robinson squealed as he spoke. In a way, he reminded Sam of a school girl who just met her favorite boy band.
"Actually, I'm just here because-" Lindsey started.
"Would you care to give us an explanation behind how the nuclear bomb works?" Robinson asked, his eyes lighting up. Lindsey smiled weakly and sighed.
"But-"
"Oh, come now, don't be shy." Robinson said as he pushed her over to the blackboard. He took a seat at his desk and looked on, smiling.
"Well, um...Isn't it something about fission of atoms or something?" Lindsey asked, shrugging her shoulder. She ran a hand through her short, brown hair, nervous. "I mean, my dad's the scientist..."
Robinson looked disappointed. "Yes, I suppose you're right. Well, Miss Tailor, please do have a seat."
Lindsey quickly stepped out from behind Robinson's desk and took a seat next to Sam. As she set her books down on her desk, she pulled a glasses case out of her pocket and put on a pair of thin-rimmed reading glasses. Sam looked over at her and smiled.
"Hey. I'm Sam. Sorry about Mr. Robinson. He gets too excited sometimes." Sam whispered as Robinson, a little less enthused, resumed his lecture.
"Well, I'm Lindsey. And it's not a problem. I'm used to it." Lindsey whispered with a smile.
The two girls continued to converse throughout the class, getting to know each other better. They found out that they had a great deal in common. Both girls enjoyed Thai food, they loved science, and both were academically advanced. Just as they were about to branch off into a conversation regarding political figures during the French Revolution, the bell rang.
"Ah. Darn. I was looking forward to an interesting conversation." Lindsey said, a bit disappointed. Sam smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, me too. So what class do you have next?" she asked. Lindsey took out her schedule and unfolded it.
"Um...British Literature."
"Really? Clover has that class. Don't you Clover?" Sam asked as she turned. Clover was still asleep, mouth open. A small puddle of drool had accumulated in front of her face. Sam shook the desk, causing her friend to shoot upright.
"I wasn't asleep, see! I was reading the entire time!" Clover shouted as she lifted up her saturated science book.
"Oh...Oh that's just perfect. This is how I've always imagined you, Clover." a somewhat nasally and whiny voice scoffed from behind. Mandy walked up and laughed, watching Clover's face go red.
"Save it, Mandy! You act like you weren't sleeping through that stupid lecture, too!" Clover said angrily as she slammed the book down on her desk. Some of the spittle launched off of the desk and landed on the floor next to Mandy's shoe.
"Watch it, Rover, you almost got drool on my new shoes." Mandy said as she took a quick step back. Clover stood, the vein in her head pulsing. Just as she was about to grab Mandy around the neck and wring her dry, Mandy let out a squeal of delight and launched herself at Lindsey.
"OMG, I thought you were gone for ever!" Mandy shouted as she threw her arms around Lindsey's neck. Lindsey gave an awkward smile and hugged her back.
"Yeah. Dad got a job at a lab here. He figured that it would be good for me to meet up with some of my old friends instead of moving to another new school where I don't know anybody." Lindsey explained. "So, I guess you three know each other?"
"Yeah, unfortunately..." Clover grumbled. Mandy looked at Clover and rolled her eyes, turning to Sam.
"Well, Sammy, I'm going to have to steal Lindsey here from you." Mandy said as she linked arms with Lindsey and started to lead her out of the classroom. Before she stepped out of the door, she turned to Clover.
"Oh, and Clover? You're really rockin' the "booger on the face" look."
Mandy laughed and began to escort Lindsey, who turned and waved to Sam, out of the door. Clover pulled out her mirror and began looking at her face, desperate to find that booger. Sam sighed and looked at her friend.
"Clover, there was never a booger on your face."
"Are you sure?" the blonde asked desperately, checking up her nose.
"Yes." Sam said, exasperated. "She only said that to get you to do what you're doing now."
"What's that?" Clover asked as she put her mirror away and gathered her book. Sam sighed.
"Do you really want to know?"
Clover nodded furiously. If she was being made a fool of, she wanted to know how.
"You're acting like an idiot..." Sam muttered. Clover stood there for a second, taking it in.
"OH, that Mandy...I swear, one of these days I'm gonna break her pencil neck!" Clover shouted. Sam grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out of the classroom.
"Come on, I need to go to my locker." Sam grumbled as she pulled Clover along. As she turned the corner she ran into the man of her dreams, David. Abandoning Clover, she walked up to David and initiated a conversation.
"Hi, David, how's it going?" Sam asked meekly. David smiled.
"Oh, hi Sam. I'm alright. Saving the world one step at a time." he answered. Sam let out a short giggle.
"So, are you going to be busy tonight?" Sam asked, curious.
David shook his head. "No, I'm sorry. Tonight I leave for China to have a sit-down with the Chinese delegates to discuss a plan to help the diminishing panda population."
"Oh..." Sam began, discouraged. "How about next weekend?"
"Sorry. I'm going to be flying to South Africa to help out at a refugee camp."
"The weekend after?" Sam asked, reaching.
"Let me think..." David began. He scratched his head. "Sorry. I'm busy then, too."
"Let me guess, helping out Eskimos in Alaska?" Sam asked.
"No, silly. The Eskimos are doing just fine. I'm going to be attending a peace rally in Russia." David explained. He smiled.
"I see. Well, you have fun with all of that." she said, her heart sinking.
"Thanks Sam. Well, I'm going to get to class before I'm late. I wouldn't want to ruin my spotless record." David half-sang. As he went off down the hallway, he waved.
Sam let out a sigh and hung her head. Not even once had she managed to go o0n a date with David. Either he was busy, or WOOHP decided that it was a good time for Sam to be busy. But with her recent promotion to super spy, it was only logical that her schedule became tighter.
Sam walked to her locker and turned the dial, entering her combination. She placed her books in and closed the door. The only good thing about Home Economics was that you didn't need a text book.
Sam waked back around the corner only to hear shouting. What she saw was funny in a sick way. Clover was trying to get at Mandy, claming and kicking at her, and Mandy was doing her best to attack Clover, scratching and flailing. The only thing separating the two from getting into an all-out cat fight was Lindsey, who had her arms outstretched, one hand on Clover's face, the other in Mandy's stomach.
"Sam...Help!" Lindsey pleaded as Clover's knee met up with her face. Mandy paused and saw the slightest trace of blood dribble down Lindsey's lip.
"You BITCH!" she screamed as she jumped and tried to climb over Lindsey to get to Clover. Sam acted just in time. She pulled Clover away from Mandy and Lindsey managed to drag Mandy a few more feet away. Both girls were screaming their heads off.
"That STUPID COW needs to watch where she's going!" Clover screamed out, doing her best to make sure that Mandy heard what she had said. Mandy was, for the most part, ignoring Clover and taking interest in Lindsey's injury.
"Did she kick you or something? Because if she did, I'll cut her...I'll cut her deep." Mandy growled. "You hear that, bitch! I'm gonna cut you!"
"You're not going to cut anyone!" Lindsey said as she grabbed Mandy by the shoulders. She forced her to stay still. "Clover DIDN'T...DID NOT...kick me in the face. She accidentally, as in "not on purpose", kneed me in the chin, causing me to bit my lip. Understand?"
"Yeah, I understand..." Mandy started, feigning guilt that instantly turned back into rage. "I understand that if I ever catch her near you again, I'm gonna fight!"
Mandy started to try and jump at Clover over Lindsey's shoulder. Clover was, yet again, trying to get at Mandy as well. Even when they were on opposite walls, being held back, neither let up.
"Clover, chill! She's not worth it! She's not!" Sam said as she kept on stepping from side to side, staying in front of Clover the entire time. Clover stood still and exhaled. She fixed her hair and stood, poised.
"You know what, Sam? You're right. She's not worth it. I wouldn't want to mess up my manicure on her face, anyway."
Mandy stopped trying to climb over Lindsey and glared at Clover, fuming. Lindsey took her hands off of Mandy's shoulders and stepped back, wiping the sweat from her face.
Sam and Lindsey walked away, feeling that they had done the best they could have. They both knew that if they stayed, nothing would get better. And as a bonus, they would be late to class.
"What's with those two?" Lindsey asked, not sure what had just gone on.
"They've been like that since they were in elementary school. Always butting heads, those two." Sam explained. She sighed.
"Mandy was never like that when I used to live here. That was only a few years ago." Lindsey commented. Sam thought back. There was a period of time in middle school when Mandy was barely around enough to torture Clover. She always had somewhere else to be, someone to see.
"I don't remember you ever being here." Sam said. She had never seen Lindsey around before.
"I tend to keep to myself. The only people I talked to were Mandy, Arnold, and..."
"There you are, Sam! I can't remember where my British Lit. class is! Can you help me?" Alex asked as she practically appeared out of nowhere. Lindsey's face lit up.
"It's on the North wing, second hall." she answered. Alex looked up.
"Lindsey!? HOMYGAWD!!" Alex screamed as she jumped at Lindsey, throwing her arms around her and almost knocking her to the ground. She was squeezing the life out of the girl.
"Yep...I missed you, too Alex...And you're going to miss me a lot more if...you don't loosen up. I kind of need to...breathe!" Lindsey said as she gasped for air. Alex let go and grabbed on to her shirt.
"How have you been?" she asked as she shook Lindsey's sleeve.
"Good. Busy. But who hasn't been lately?"
All three girls laughed.
"You have a point." Sam commented. She looked at her watch. "Holy cheese! We're all about to be late!"
And with that, Lindsey and Alex parted ways with Sam. They made their way to the British Literature class and walked into the door just as the bell rang. Alex found two seats and went ahead and set her books down. Lindsey dropped her books, only to have them caught. She looked up to see Mandy smiling widely.
"Oh, hey Mandy. I forgot that you had this class." Lindsey said with a smile. Mandy shot Alex a look, causing the girl to flinch slightly and draw back.
"How about sitting with me?" Mandy asked sweetly. She smiled her widest and did her best to look innocent. Lindsey looked from Alex to Mandy.
"Actually," she answered. "I kind of promised Alex that I'd sit with her already."
"Oh..." Mandy said, obviously irritated. "Well, I'm sure that Alex wouldn't mind if I stole you for a little bit. Would you?"
Alex shook her head. "I'll watch your desk for you, Lindsey." Alex half-mumbled.
"Thanks, Alex."
Mandy dragged Lindsey to her desk at the back of the class. She sat on the top of the desk and frowned slightly.
"Why Alex?" she asked harshly. Lindsey didn't understand.
"What?"
"Why sit with Alex instead of me?" Mandy asked, harsher than the previous time.
"Well, I haven't talked to Alex since I moved. I talked to you on the phone and over e-mails and stuff. I figured you'd understand." Lindsey answered.
"Okay. I see now." Mandy said, exhaling in what seemed to be relief. "I was just kind of, I don't know, jealous or something."
"What? Jealous? Why?" Lindsey asked, having no idea what Mandy was going on about.
"Well, You know that I've always wanted you to be my best and most special friend." Mandy said quietly as she grabbed a hold of Lindsey's hand.
"Look, Mandy, we've been over this..." Lindsey started. She took her hand back and went to turn away.
"I know we have, but I'm different now! It could work with us. I know you want me. I can see it in your eyes." Mandy blurted as she grabbed a hold of Lindsey's arm. Lindsey turned back to face her.
"Look, no matter what my feelings may or may not be, it's not going to happen."
Mandy looked crushed. She let go of Lindsey's arm as the girl turned and walked back to her desk.
'I hope you don't think this is over, love, because trust me...Amanda Luxe always gets what she wants...ALWAYS...' she thought. She looked over at Lindsey and Alex who were talking and laughing. 'Alex needs to go...'
"Would Alexandra Vasquez and Lindsey Tailor please report to the front office?" cracked the voice of the office secretary over the intercom. Alex and Lindsey looked at each other and stood, leaving the classroom. In the hall they met up with Sam and Clover.
"Okay, so who knows what's going on?" Lindsey asked. Sam shrugged.
"That bimbo, Mandy, probably went and squealed like the pig she is..." Clover growled. Lindsey looked at her.
"You know, she's not that bad." Lindsey said defensively. Clover gaped at her.
"She tried to tear me apart! How can you say that!?" the blonde half-screamed. Lindsey simply shrugged.
"Well, you don't know her like I do." she muttered.
"I don't even know what you guys are talking about, so it can't be that." Alex interjected.
"She's right, girls. Come on, Clover. Chill out." Sam added. Clover sighed, dropping the subject.
Alex was digging around in her pocket. She pulled out her hand and dropped a cylindrical tube on the ground. It rolled across the floor and stopped in front of a trashcan.
"Oh no, my new bubble-gum lip gloss!" she cried as she chased the tube. The group stopped in front of the trashcan as Alex started to bend down to pick up her lip gloss.
"Hey, do you think it's a..." Sam started to ask as she looked at Clover, who shrugged. Alex looked back at her friends, lip gloss in hand.
"Sam it couldn't be. If it was we'd have been su-AAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!!" Alex screamed as the trashcan slid to the side, revealing a tube that was sucking the four girls in.
"WHAT THE HECK!?" Lindsey yelled. She took a couple of steps back and leaned against the flow of the air, trying to resist. The vacuum picked up strength and down she went, through the metallic tube.
Lindsey could see the other three girls ahead of her, all of them silent, not even screaming anymore. Lindsey herself was doing her best to hold her shirt down, keeping her stomach covered. She swore that she felt them go into a couple of loop-de-loops, and after a few more seconds, she saw a light at the bottom of the tunnel. As the light got closer Lindsey had to shield her eyes. She felt herself falling, and then BAM! She hit the floor, butt first.
Clover, Alex, and Sam were staring at Jerry, wide-eyed. they kept nodding behind the couch where Lindsey had landed, trying to draw Jerry's attention to her.
'Has Jerry gone senile?' Sam thought, horrified at what had just happened. All three of their identities had just been blown sky high.
"Dammit, Jerry. What the HELL!?" Lindsey grumbled as she stood, rubbing her back side tenderly. "Maybe you should think of getting cushion put in on the floor..."
"That kind of language in not necessary, Miss Tailor, but your request is duly noted." Jerry said. Sam, Alex, and Clover gave each other confused looks and then they all stared at Jerry.
"Jer, what's going on?" Clover asked, not sure how exactly he and Lindsey knew each other.
"There's not time for that, Clover. I have a very high-priority conflict that needs to be resolved."
"What is it, Jerry?" Sam and Lindsey asked simultaneously. They looked at each other and quirked their eyebrows.
"Someone is after you, Sam. Clover and Alex as well. They want your files and are threatening a nuclear holocaust if I do not hand them over." Jerry explained.
"And? We DO NOT negotiate with terrorists!" Lindsey shouted, her fist clenched. Jerry sighed.
"If only it were that easy, Lindsey. Unfortunately, with a threat this severe, we have no choice but to give in. Sam, Alex, Clover...I am so sorry that WOOHP has failed you this way. I am sorry that I have failed you."
"Jerry..." Alex started. "You didn't fail us. Just give us the opportunity to stop this psycho."
"Would you three girls be willing to work with Lindsey on this?" Jerry asked. "We need a new face, just in case."
Clover, Alex, and Sam nodded. Lindsey just smiled.
"I never knew you were a poet, Jer."