BLACK MAGIC
CHAPTER 1
Disclaimer: I don't own 'Scorpion' or the song 'Black Magic'. I'm just playing with them for entertainment only.
The tension hung heavy in the air of the garage like a thick San Francisco fog. No one was speaking so every sound was amplified.
Toby slouched back on the sofa clutching his hatless head in his hands, the ghastly greenish cast of his face clashing with the red couch cushions. Beside him on the coffee table sat an empty tequila bottle and assorted containers of aspirin, B vitamins and Alka-Seltzer.
Happy could be found, face obscured, behind her welding helmet sending sparks sizzling from her torch. She was taking her frustrations out on metal in lieu of torturing a certain shrink.
Paige was at her desk, her shoulders slumped, looking exhausted and dejected with dark circles she'd failed to conceal beneath her eyes. She snapped memos from her inbox one at a time and stared at them pretending each one was of vital importance. Occasionally she would write notes on them forcefully dotting every 'i' with precision.
Walter was scowling at his computer screen as if it had committed some egregious offence. His eyes were red and he had a two day growth of dark stubble on his clenched jaw.
Sylvester's eyes darted from friend to friend, frustrated with his inability to help and paralyzed with anxiety from all the stress around him.
Cabe and Tim burst through the door and everyone jumped like startled hares.
"Morning! We've got a hot one!" Cabe announced, "So all of you put aside last weekend's nonsense and get your game faces on!"
The team stood and moved to join him at the conference table, Toby emitting a loud groan upon rising. They were as far apart as possible and no one was making eye contact. Tim joined the uncomfortable huddle and kept his own eyes averted from Paige's. His normally perfectly groomed hair was standing on end in places as if he'd run agitated fingers through it.
Cabe, the only one seemingly unaffected by the atmosphere, continued,"We have two missing kids and an odd ransom demand. These kids are brother and sister and their parents work for a tech company that makes baby monitors. They are developing a new system that would allow parents to track their kids using an APP on their phones. A chip implanted in a pendant on the children would allow the parents to not only know the children's whereabouts but actually allow them to see the kids by tapping into traffic cams, ATMs, security systems, PCs, phones or any devices in their vicinity. The kidnappers want the code for the project and all the research and gave the parents until 6:00 today to comply with their demands."
"That project sounds very invasive and more than a little illegal," Sylvester said.
"It was just in the development stages at this point," Cabe answered, "and it was only going to be marketed for the children of high ranking officials, politicians or diplomats at least at first."
"So why don't they just turn over the research?" Paige asked.
Walter squeezed his eyes shut and rubbed his aching forehead with the heel of one hand. "The tech was being developed for parents to watch their kids, but the average person is photographed more than 75 times a day. If this system was utilized in the wrong way by the wrong people, they could surveil anyone without his or her knowledge," he sighed and asked Cabe, "What exactly do they need Scorpion to do?"
"Well, it's time sensitive of course. The FBI needs you and Sly to write code similar to the one for the project that appears to work but will actually track the user. They need Toby's skills to analyze the parents and their coworkers to see if this is an inside job. Happy needs to design something wearable, like a watch or necklace, for the tracking chip that will also amplify the signal. And Paige needs to do some hand holding with Mom and Dad to see if they remember anything else useful and to keep them from turning over their research unless it becomes absolutely necessary," Cabe explained.
The team all began talking at once as the tensions finally spilled over.
"Why make something from scratch," Toby said in a sour voice, "when I have a perfectly good customized ring no one is using? We could insert the chip in it," he finished with a sarcastic smirk.
Sylvester interrupted nervously trying to avert disaster, "Uh, Paige? Maybe we could use Ralph's coding skills on this mission too. Do you think he could miss school today for something this important?"
"I know a better place to insert that chip!" Happy spat acerbically, talking over Sly and staring daggers at Toby.
"Yes, then Ralph could see his mother since they didn't spend any time together over the weekend," Walter stated bluntly glaring at the floor.
"Wait. What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Paige shot back rolling her eyes, "Are you accusing me of neglecting my son? At least he knows I love him because I can actually admit it and say it out loud!"
"Oh, no one would ever accuse you of negligence, Paige," Tim chimed in with false innocence, "You'd never leave anyone hanging now, would you?" His smile seemed a bit strained.
Narrowing his eyes at Tim, lip curling, Walter sneered, "You may know his mom very well after this weekend, but I know her son better than you ever could."
Paige gasped and whipped around preparing to blast them both, when Cabe yelled, "Enough! All of you! I will remind you we have two missing kids and two terrified parents counting on us. Put all the personal garbage on ice and focus! Now!"
The team reluctantly clammed up again and had the grace to look abashed and a little ashamed. Cabe continued, "Paige, it probably would be helpful to pull Ralph in on this if you wouldn't mind."
Paige agreed and left to go pick him up.
After that, the team buckled down and quickly got to work. There was no good natured teasing and none of the usual camaraderie. In fact, no one spoke unless it was necessary to the mission, but they worked efficiently and managed to get the job done in the end with everyone's unique contributions. Toby's behaviorist skills uncovered an inside man. Walter, Sylvester and Ralph were able to devise a code that fooled the buyer and Happy's device enabled them to track the kidnapper. Paige reassured the parents and kept them calm until the mission was successfully completed. Then she comforted and encouraged the children so they were able to give a statement and a detailed description of the kidnapper before being returned to their parents unharmed. Tim and Cabe took down and arrested all those involved. All around it was quite a successful and triumphant day. But it was a silent and downcast cyclone gathering their things and preparing to go home.
"Get your bag, Ralph," Paige said tiredly, "We need to get going."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"No disrespect meant, mom, but we won't be leaving just yet," Ralph answered calmly, "Sylvester and I decided we need to have a family meeting first."
Sylvester nodded his agreement even while shifting foot to foot apprehensively.
"There are a number of issues between members of the team that need to be addressed before they are allowed to fester and become worse. Individuals need to discuss their differences and resolve them. Sly, Cabe and I can act as mediators if necessary, but no one is leaving until understandings are reached," Ralph said stubbornly, "Scorpion is about solving problems. It's past time to solve our own problems so we can function properly as a team again."
"I'll bar the exits, kid," Cabe said grinning as everyone began to protest, "and remember I'm armed!"
AN: I just got back from vacation and I'm going through a massive software upgrade at work, so I'm woefully behind on reviewing stories and I've read some truly incredible ones since the season finale. I borrowed this title from the song by Ruston Kelly that played in the last scene of the finale. Its an awesome song! This is my version of what could happen in Episode 1 of Season 3. I intended this to be a one shot, but it was getting too long (*and see time contraints above). I'm having to remind myself to handle real life before concentrating on fictional people! This story should be about two more chapters. I've never attempted writing Quintis so you will have to tell me if I get their chapter right. Waige is my OTP, but I love Happy and Toby together too, so I couldn't leave them where "Toby or Not Toby" left them. Enjoy!
