Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just play with them. All original characters are my own, but you can use them if you just ask. I made no money from this story I do it merely for a hobby. "nuff said, Lets write!
Chapter 1
The hallway was vast, gutted and the acoustics left plenty to be desired. Every gentle footstep threatened to echo just loud enough to draw some very unwanted attention. His knees protested as he crouched once again into the nearest shadow at the sound of approaching footsteps.
"Hurry Eliot," he heard Nate pleading in his ear, "You gotta hurry."
Eliot knew this. He could hear the same conversation in his com. Sophie was in trouble. Their mark, a scientist by the name of Dr. Michael Grayson, had suddenly become very suspicious of the Grifter and had begun an assault of questions. Now, Eliot was attempting to reach her location and Sophie was doing her best to keep up with answers coming from both Nate, and the Internet researches provided by Hardison.
They had been approached two weeks earlier by Jean Braxton, a biochemist for a large chemical manufacturer. She had enlisted the help of Leverage Inc. to retrieve some chemical formulas that she had developed and claimed had been stolen by Dr. Grayson, who intended to create a chemical bomb using the completed formula. After some extensive research, Hardison had discovered that Dr. Grayon had recently partnered with one Colonel Chapman of the United States Army, who was supposed to be on assignment in Afghanistan. He definately was not in Afghanistan, in fact he had been spotted entering a scientific research center in Boston mere hours before Hardison had done his search. After calculating the amount of risk to the team vs. the danger a completed chemical bomb would pose, the team agreed to take the job.
Sophie had skillfully been accepted into the program as Dr. Denise Jacobi, an acclaimed Russian physicist with a somewhat checkered past, bordering on unethical. Their story of course backed and proven by the talented Mr. Harison and his unlimited knowledge of the world wide web. At first Grayson had been a bit offset by the presence of Dr. Jacobi's personal bodyguard, but Sophie had already prepared for this.
"With a reputation such as mine Dr. Grayson, one must take precautions." She had told him in a flawless Russian accent, "Andrew has been with me for two years now, and quite frankly, I trust him more then I trust you."
Nate had tensed up at the remark, but Dr. Grayson had eaten it up, smiling and allowing Eliot full access to any areas that Dr. Jacobi would be working.
The job had been going flawlessly, until Eliot had been separated from Sophie due to a security breach in her lab. Now, as he creeped down the hallway after taking out three guards that had been waiting for him in the lab, he knew that somehow they had been blown.
"I'm out." Parker announced as she exited the building undetected. She had been posing as a custodian for the last week for the sole purpose of lifting as many access cards and pass codes as possible.
"Good, Parker head back to the office and make sure you're not followed." Nate instructed, chewing on his thumbnail nervously.
Parker knew this already but didn't say anything. Nate had more important things on his mind. This job was dangerous to begin with and was quickly going horribly wrong.
"What is this all about Dr. Grayson?" Sophie asked flatly, willing herself to stay calm, "I grow tired of your interrogation."
"Good Sophie, keep him talking as long as you can. Eliot is on his way" Nate coaxed
"Eliot, there's a stairwell up on your left, take it down one floor. They're in the room down the hall to the right." Hardison directed from the blueprint displayed on the monitor in front of him
Eliot instantly obeyed, rushing down the stairs, checked the hallway and ran to the last door to the right and entered carefully.
"Whats going on here? Are you alright Dr. Jacobi?" he asked in character.
"I'm impressed, I expected you to be in custody by now," Grayon said with a smirk.
"What are you talking about?" Sophie asked, instinctively stepping closer to Elliot.
"You can cut the act Dr., if you even are a physicist. Did you really believe you could waltz in here and walk back out with all my research?"
"Get out of there guys!" Nate ordered
The cracking sound of a taser made Sophie jump and Eliot grimaced, his muscles tightening and he toppled forward to the floor. Sophie fought the urge to grab at her ear as the electric boost cause Eliot's com to squeal and crackle out. Two uniformed guards slapped handcuffs on Eliot's wrists while another detained Sophie.
"You really want to know about the weapon we are working on?" Grayson sneered, "You'll get a first hand look. We'll need someone to test the prototype before we can produce it."
Grayson waved his hand at the guards to take them away and Eliot caught a glimpse of the terrified expression on Sophie's face before they were roughly escorted out.
"Eliot? Sophie?" Nate yelled into his com. "Parker, can you hear me?"
"Yes. I'm almost there." she answered.
"Hardison?" Nate yelled, turning to face the hacker, "What the hell happened to the coms?"
"We lost them. The electricity fried it."
Parker arrived at the office a few minutes later and found Nate pacing the floor in front of the monitors. Hardison looked up at her as she entered the room and fell into the couch next to him.
"I need to know everything on this Grayson guy."
"We already have everything I could find on him. There isn't anymore." Hardison replied staring at the information he had.
"Parker, did you get the tap on his office phone?"
"I got one on Grayson's phone, but not the Colonel's." she shrugged, "I didn't have time."
"Damnit!" Nate cursed and kicked a chair across the room causing Parker to jump.
"Hey, chill man." Hardison said glancing from Parker to Nate
"Chill? We just lost Sophie AND Eliot to a terrorist group in possession of a chemical that is capable of killing them in a horribly slow and painful manner and you tell me to chill."
"Stop." Parker said barely above a whisper. She had never seen Nate so angry and it scared her.
"We have no idea how close he is to completing those formulas, or how long they have after being exposed to it." Nate continued
"Stop it!" Parker yelled, standing up from the couch and looking down at the floor. "This isn't doing anybody any good."
Nate worked the muscles in his jaw and glared at the thief. He knew she was right. No matter how much he yelled and demanded action, he knew that Hardison had gotten everything he could find, and if there was anything to be known about Grayson or the Colonel, they would have discovered it already.
"Ate?..." Sophie's voice cracked in his ear, " ardison?"
"Sophie!" Nate pressed his fingers against his ear, "Thank god, are you guys alright?"
"Yes, we're alright. I think we've overstayed our welcome though, hows about that plan to get us out of here?"
"We're working on it." Nate thought for a moment, "Sophie, the chemical?"
"It's not finished. We've got some time, but once it's finished..."
"How long before he gets a working prototype?"
"A week, give or take a day." she paused for a moment, "Nate, if he gets it before you get us out..."
"How long do you have after exposure?" He held his breath, he really didn't want to know the answer, but he needed to know.
"48 hours."