Slowly but surely MIB headquarters was being rebuilt piece by piece. Although the new structure was based on schematics from the original building, the main difference was that MIB was now located completely underground, safe from prying satellites and eyes, human or otherwise. Zeeltor had been more than eager to design several improvements as well: DNA scanners in the entryways, a triple-reinforced defense deflector grid, a supercomputer even the twins couldn't hack and an encrypted whisper frequency for the com links, multiple backup generators drawing from various energy sources, and a flavor-preserving programmable coffee machine for the Worms.

Nevertheless, there was still a lot of work to be done. Because Zed was wary of alien contractors working on the building after the near Ixion invasion, he insisted that his agents not only thoroughly inspect all the alien technology that came in, but personally attend to all the important repairs as well.

"We should be out there catching alien perps," muttered Jay, as he tightened the newly installed faucets in the washroom, "not playing handyman here."

"The Gullanthrian ambassadors are coming into town to bring us satellite equipment," Kay replied, not bothering to look away as he applied a coat of Thermo-spackle to the walls. "When you travel 8.3 galaxies to make a special delivery, you can demand decent accommodations."

"Speaking of accommodations, when are we going to get our own rooms?" They had been sleeping in makeshift quarters for the past month, the men in the main lobby and the women in the cafeteria. "The chief snores louder than Zeeltor's pet bacteria."

"That depends on how fast you work, Slick."

Jay mopped the sweat from his forehead and narrowed his eyes. "Hey, why isn't he playing this old house along with the rest of us?"

"I heard that," growled Agent X. Aside from abnormally large ears, he also possessed the enhanced hearing abilities typical of his species. X shoved the newspapers that he had been reading into Jay's face. "Look, the alien crime rate's been off the charts ever since HQ got blown up but earth escaped destruction."

"Aren't you supposed to be with your partner?" said Kay flatly.

"Elle's helping Zeeltor install the lab equipment. Which means I'm free to do some patrolling—"

"Out of the question, X. Besides, most of the unauthorized activity comes from teenaged aliens egged by their friends into making daredevil earth landings," grunted Zed. The chief had an uncanny ability to pop out of nowhere with an agility that belied his large build. "With inadequate detainment units, a shortage of available agents, not to mention an unfinished med lab, as long as their activities remain covert and do not endanger humans, we leave them alone for now. Save our resources for when the big fish come calling."

"That just don't feel right," protested Agent Jay.

"I don't like it either," huffed Zed, "but until we can operate at full capacity, we lie low and regroup. During this critical period, restoring MIB is our number one priority. Now get back to work, boys."

xxx

"Is that the last of the new equipment for today?" grunted Elle, wheeling a trolley piled high with parts into the lab. It was at times like this she missed alien technology the most but their stash of anti-grav dollies had been incinerated along with the rest of MIB. Elle was the sort to be attracted to technology of kind. She pried open the crates immediately and pulled out the manual. "Sintillian life support system. Fancy."

Zeeltor scooted over to take a look. "I'm ever so glad we managed to get one. They're in such high demand nowadays, ever since rumors got out of a plague outbreak in the core planets of the Feforos system."

"Looks like one of those some-assembly-required deals," muttered Elle, carefully placing all the broken parts onto the examining table.

"Oh, it's nothing a bit of spit and gum can't take care of," sang Zeeltor, rubbing his hands together.

"Then I'll leave you to it," said Elle, pulling off the work coveralls she was wearing over her street clothes. "It's time to pick up that scanner."

xxx

It had been a long time since she'd stepped foot outside of the MIB base. Ever since they'd started the rebuilding process, she had spent every waking hour renovating the lab with Zeeltor. While it was a blessed reprieve from being yoked to X all the time, it also meant she didn't get to see Jay and Kay as regularly either.

She climbed into the LTD and put the car into ignition. It hummed beautifully. Despite Jay's protests, Kay had let her borrow the car for the meantime. He, too, was eager to get a hold of the scanner.

"I didn't think you were the type to sneak off the premises." X's overgrown head popped into her field of vision and before she knew it, he had slipped into the passenger's seat. "I want in on the action."

"If you'd been wallpapering with the rest of them instead of complaining to the worms in the kitchen, I would have invited you along," Elle lied.

"Well now that I'm here, where to?"

"Jeeb's pawnshop," said Elle, hoping X would find this "mission" beneath him. "to pick up a part for the quick cloner. Still keen?"

X nodded. "Anything to get out for a bit."

Elle sighed. "Put on your face then. We're surfacing in five." She then proceeded to block out his predictable comments about why the human visage was so revolting until they made it to the shabby neighborhood where Jeeb's shop was located.

With his typical aplomb, X kicked down the door. "Hello Jeebs."

Instead of the familiar tracksuit clad figure they'd expected at the counter, there was a skinny woman with a very ugly perm and a shocked expression that matched her electric pink wardrobe.

"Sorry about that," said Elle, jerking her head at X. "Is Jeebs in?"

"What's the rush? I'm coming, I'm coming," came Jeeb's whiny voice, and two seconds later, he appeared from the backroom.

"Who's the gal?" asked X.

"Barbara," said Jeebs, with a moist smile. He slipped an arm around her waist, "Met her at a bar two weeks ago."

"Good for you Jeebs. I'm sure she's a lovely girl." said Elle, without a hint of interest. "Now, do you have the scanner?"

Jeebs tugged at the collar of his shirt. "Yeah, about that scanner. It hasn't arrived yet. The universal postal system is terribly unreliable, you know that."

"How long does it take to come by another scanner?" asked X.

"Oh, three or four months."

X gritted his teeth. "We can't wait that long."

"I hope at least the rest of your stock arrived on time," said Elle, casually scanning the merchandise on display.

"Um, yeah," said Jeebs. "Take a look, something might interest you. I'll sell it to you at a discount, to make up for the snafu."

"You're right. This shipping receipt is of great interest to me," grinned Elle, showing the slip of paper she'd found on one of the lower shelves. "One analogue scanner, delivered in a timely fashion."

"As in delivered today," growled X. Elle thought it redundant of him.

"What a coincidence!" Jeebs' pinched voice went up a notch.

X cocked his gun and smirked. "I wonder if Barbara splats as well as you do."

"Hey, leave her out of it," shouted Jeebs, waving his hands. "I could sue for harassment."

"No need. Just tell us who you sold our scanner to."

Jeebs shrugged. "Dunno. He didn't un-suit himself. He wore a Red Sox cap. And he's never bought from me before. But even so, he was offering a much better price than Miss Parsimonious here. It's enough to take Barbara somewhere real nice." Elle rolled her eyes.

"He took a call while he was here," Barbara piped up. "He was chatting with some guy named Sebastian. Said he'd meet him down at the white way in thirty minutes."

"And when was he in here?"

Barbara looked at her clock. "About forty minutes ago."

"Thanks," said Elle, rushing out the door. "We may catch them yet."

X nodded, and then blasted Jeebs in the head for good measure. "That's for selling what's ours."