A/N: Oh, hey... I know I know I told to write to other fics... But this just came to me. This was way too easy to write. And you'll get some cameos in this chapter!


Chapter 2: Escalating too fast yet too slow

Year 19Z0, Future London, Olivia's apartment

The young woman barely held back a snarl of anger when she pulled on dark brown wig and a mask, the final pieces of her disguise. She couldn't help but remember the first time she'd met Emmy Altava. Not that Olivia had known the other girl's name at the time or remembered her face during later encounters.

"It's fine, it's fine. Just a day or two… Until Professor Layton blows this all up like he did with Professor Sycamore's plans." Olivia chanted under her breath as she checked from the mirror that the mask sat perfectly on her face.

She sighed dejectedly and went to the corridor. Before going down the starts, she stopped by one door and knocked softly on it.

"Al? Have you done your homework already?"

"Yeah…" Came the answer form behind the door.

"Good. I don't know when I'll be back so make sure you eat and… don't stay up too late."

"Sure."

"Shipley might stop by. He has the key. Don't open the door to anyone else."

"I know…" The door was open now. A tuft of burgundy coloured hair was seen in the gap along with golden yellow eyes. "Be careful, sis."

"I will. And I will come back home as soon as possible." Olivia crouched on the floor and let the boy hug her. The foreign face didn't deter the kid at all. It was his sis behind it.


Year 19Y0, November, The Dove Residence

"We're home!" The Dove siblings chorused as soon as they were inside the foyer and the door was firmly shut after them. Their cheeks were red from exertion and adrenaline of the events not even an hour ago.

"Welcome back, Miss Olivia, Young Master Clive." A maid, Maud, greeted the two. "How was your school day?"

"Umm…" Clive was at the loss of words so he concentrated on taking off his winter coat.

"Enlightening." Olivia provided, letting Maud take her hat and coat. "We'll be at my room, doing our homework. If you please would sent tea for us, it'd be most kind. But knock before entering." The girl instructed quickly.

"Of course." Maud nodded, gathering the sibling's coats on her arms and left.

"Let's go before someone else obstructs our way."

The two dumped the papers and books they'd stolen on the floor of Olivia's room. Clive was immediately reading he file Olivia had shown him. The one probably related to the explosion.

"Time-machine?!" The boy exclaimed. "They paid for some Bill Hawks to test their energy source in his and some other guy's time-machine?"

"Bill Hawks? Isn't be a politician? I hear in couple of years he's aiming for Prime Minister's seat." Olivia frowned. "He used to be a nobody but I guess that's where he got the money for his campaign…"

"Disgusting." Clive gritted his teeth while pouring over the file. "Utterly disgusting."

"I guess that money was used to keep the press and other sources silent too."

"Do you think I can find this other guy involved? Doctor… Dimitri Allen?"

"Wait for a couple of years a finish your schooling before doing anything drastic." The girl advised. There was a knock on the door and Olivia went to open it. There was Maud with the tea tray. "Thank you Maud. Was this all?"

"Mistress expresses her wish for you to join her on the dinner in few hours."

"Tell Granny Constance that we will. Hopefully we are finished by then."

"Yes." Maud curtseyed and left. Olivia carried the tray on a side table and poured two cups of tea. Taking a sip of the perfectly brewed tea, she looked down at her brother pouring over all the papers on the floor.

"Find anything else interesting?"

"Malire… Has been recruiting during the past years. Looking for more archeologists and funding… He even visited Granny Constance four years ago." Clive frowned and picked another paper. It was a newspaper clipping of a house fire somewhere in the countryside.

"What's that?" Olivia held out her hand for the paper. "'Sycamore residence burns down'? This is from last week!"

"It says no one survived but in the other hand there was trouble recognizing the bodies."

"Desmond Sycamore was a renowned archeologist and scientist… I've read some articles he published before he got married. I guess he wanted to devote more time for his family."

"Yeah…Malire's records who that he visited the residence over a year ago, trying to persuade the man to work for this organization called Targent. The answer was negative."

"So they gave him some time to change his answer before getting rid of him?" Olivia sat on the floor next to Clive.

"It seems so. It's very unlikely that anyone survived that fire."

"Pity. I'd liked to meet him. He sounded like a fascinating person."

"Really?"

"Yes. And what I find suspicious is the timing… This happened a week ago. An exactly the next day Malire decided to take some chosen history students to Norwell Wall… That can't be a coincidence."


Year 19Y0, November, Gressenheller Secondary School

"Olivia, did you hear, did you hear?" Marcela came running through the masses of students, somehow nimbly dodging every single one of them.

"Did I hear what?" Olivia asked resignedly although she had an inkling to what was the gossip in question this time.

"Mr. Malire! He was found beaten in his office. And the office was really turned up-side down!" The Italian explained with wide brown eyes. Doe eyes.

"Is that so? I think I heard sirens earlier." Olivia mused.

"Olivia, this is serious!"

"Why? The guy was an… an arse. I doubt anyone will miss him. Whatever he did to anger someone to that degree… Well, good luck for the police to find the culprit. He made enemies throughout the campus. From teachers to students to faculty." Olivia gestured the people around them. The other girl gave a thoughtful nod.

"True… I didn't really like him either. Police will surely struggle. I hear it is some junior inspector or something leading the case. Bloom I think…" Marcela frowned as she tried to remember the name. "He looked quite dreamy to be honest."

"I see… Let's hope he has as much skills as looks then."


During the next week the police milled about the campus area, visiting also the university buildings few blocks over. Students were interviewed occasionally but no one could tell anything but their honest opinions of the man. Nothing much to help catching the culprit. Or the weapon Malire was assaulted with. From the grape wine Olivia did find out that the man was in a hospital, in deep coma. There was no telling whether or not he'd ever wake up.

And then someone blabbed on Olivia. Bloody Toby Broodle. So Olivia was asked to come into questioning. Questioning, not interrogation. Nevertheless, Clive was in the known once again, armed with a telescope this time and in the wait outside the window. Thankfully the room the police was using was in the ground floor.

"So, Miss Dove… I hear Mr. Malire asked to meet you after lessons?" Leonard Bloom walked in front of the desk at which Olivia was sitting.

"He did."

"Did you meet with him?"

"I waited outside his last class because I don't know where his office is." It was true. Before that day, she hadn't known where Malire worked when he wasn't in a classroom. "But he told me to meet on the day after instead. He seemed… busy."

"So you left the campus then?"

"Yes. Because I had already stayed an hour later than normally on Wednesdays I hurried home."

"Did you notice anything odd in Mr. Malire's demeanor that day?"

"Aside from wanting to see me after classes? No, sir." Olivia closed her eyes and shook her head gently. All the while gathering her thoughts. She needed to divert the police inspector's attention elsewhere than her. Malire's behavior was perfect bait for them.

"What was so unusual in that request then? Don't teachers ask to meet students occasionally. Especially if it's about falling grades." Bloom frowned slightly, thinking.

"Not Mr. Malire, sir. He never asked students to meet after classes. He always told things publicly to them. The way he berates people when they fail in quizzes… It's humiliating to both the target and the listeners. That's why it was so unusual. And I don't mean to brag but I'm one of the best in our class. My grades were not in any danger unless he had something personal against me. But I was not aware of any of his thoughts towards me. I'm just a student, female at that, among others."

"Hmm… Maybe he was expecting to meet someone then…" Bloom muttered to himself, turning towards the window. "You may go now, Miss Dove. And take your bodyguard with you."

"Ah!" Olivia couldn't help but have blush rising on her cheeks. "Sorry, sir. My brother is very worried about me."

"…That's what brothers do, don't they?" Bloom smiled slightly and nodded to the girl. "Have a good day, Miss Dove. Thank you for the information you provided."

"Likewise, sir. I wish your investigation will be fruitful." Olivia curtseyed like it was expected of the girl of her standing and exited the room. Fooling the inspector seemed to have been a success.


"I'm sorry Olivia. He caught me off guard." Clive sighed once meeting up with the girl.

"It's alright. He doesn't suspect anything. We should hurry home soon though. It's fencing today."

"Argh… I hate fencing." The boy groaned. During the two years he'd lived in Dove residence, fencing had been one of the new lessons he'd been introduced to under the watchful eyes of private tutors.

"Which is why I'm better than you. You don't have light enough of a step nor a motivation to perfect your technique."

"I still don't get why you wanted to take up the lessons when I had to."

"You needed an equal partner to learn along with and keep up the competition. And I find the subject interesting. Especially considering how sword fighting has been a vital part of many conflicts in history. It was the way to fight before guns were invented."

"And the future scholar in you is talking again."

"You know very well that I'm never going to be a scholar." Olivia sighed. "I'll be taking over the Dove Residence and continue what Granny Constance is doing now."

"And I also know that your nature won't allow you to sit still and become a mere decoration shown around in social functions."


Year 19Y1, January, Gressenheller Secondary School

"Marcela, what's wrong? You look so thin and pale…" Olivia laid a hand on her friend's shoulder.

"I shouldn't worry you with my problems." Marcela smiled sadly.

"You are my friend. Of course I worry about you."

"No, I really shouldn't."

"Just tell me…"

"I lost my job. Some months ago when Miss Mary died. I've been living off my savings but haven't been able to find a new job."

Olivia frowned. Gressenheller wasn't the cheapest place to study yet Marcela was here. If she also had to work… There was some huge contradiction in there.

"I have a benefactor. He pays for my schooling. But everything else I need to take care of myself." Marcela explained kindly.

"What about your parents?"

"My mother passed away a while back. I never knew my father."

"I'm sorry to hear that. What sort of work did you do?"

"I was a maid. It didn't pay too much but I had a room, food, nice environment to study when I had the time… Now my money has gone into a cheap motel room…"

"I think we could always do with another maid…" Olivia mused aloud. "Martha is retiring soon anyways. She is getting married and her husband can provide for them both."

"I couldn't ask you such thing! I don't even have any official qualifications!"

"Don't worry, Marcela. I'll vouch for you. You are my friend so this is the least I can do for you."

"Th-Thank you!" The Italian threw herself at Olivia. "Thank you so much, Miss Olivia!"

"H-Hey, I'm not one of your employers yet. You can just call me Olivia." The girl laughed.


Year 19Y1, February, Unknown location

Olivia tied her hair up and put a blue cap on to cover them. She pulled a blue uniform jacket that she'd taken from a Targent goon on too. The man in question was stripped down to his underwear, tied up and deep asleep. He had a large men's trench coat tossed on him so he wouldn't freeze to death. Olivia wouldn't need it anymore anyways. Besides it was just something she'd had Cogg buy from a secondhand store.

"Right… Here we go." She slipped a pair of sunglasses on her face stepped on the yard surrounded by a fence. Cars were driving around with or without cargo and similarly dressed people. No one paid any attention to her. They all were so generic and faceless. She didn't stand up.

The girl made her way to the closest buildings and into the rooms of them. They weren't anything special. Just some archives of some really old stuff behind decades. Financial records, coordinates… Normally Olivia would've stopped to take a look at them but now she was looking for a map of the facility. She needed to find a way to the top offices if he wanted any up to date information.

Once finding the map… An alarm sounded in the area.

"This will be tricky." Olivia muttered. Figures were running outside. One agent burst into the archives. A round and short one. Olivia gripped the knife she had in her pocket.

"Agent Knight! We need all the hands on board! Quickly before he gets away."

Olivia took a second to realise the man was confusing her with the guy she'd taken the uniform from. They looked quite similar in a sense. Roundish face, short stature(she was only sixteen, she'd grow some more) and average weight. The sunglasses made a good job in obscuring her face some more along with the dim lighting of the room.

"The same guy again?" Olivia asked with a gruff voice.

"Yes, but this time we'll get him. Jean Descole, the criminal won't be running for long. Not if I, agent Bishop have anything to say."

"Good. Go get agent… Rook." Chesspieces, really? "And make sure the criminal won't get to the fuel storages. If this place goes up in smoke, boss won't be happy. I'll go to secure the upper offices."

"Yessir! Getting agent Rook right away sir!" And the agent dashed away.

"That's… That was easier than I though." Olivia pulled her cap down on her face and left the archives with the map with her.


Making her way to the highest office (literally) in the area wasn't easy. There was several locks to be opened. Some she managed with the keys she'd swiped but some were harder. They were puzzles of all things! Why puzzles? What was their point especially when some of the agents seemed to be idiots like Bishop. Maybe she'd find out later.

But Olivia found the place. No one was in there but from the interior it was clear the owner of the office wasn't like other people at the place. Not to mention that the puzzle on the door was much harder than any of the other ones.

"So many artifacts in here… Is this guy an archeologist?" Olivia mused and made her way quickly to the desk. She didn't know how long she had until the hassle caused by the other intruder – she noticed through the window some cloaked figure running in the yard manically while the agents chased after him – was blown over.

Some of the drawers were locked. With a hairpin Olivia made a quick work on opening them. She'd been practicing with manor and school locks since October so she'd become quite proficient on the art. Olivia went quickly through the papers and took only what she saw would be actual use of her but not be immediately missed. She was certain that she couldn't go to the police about Targent so there was a lot of papers she wouldn't have any use to. So she concentrated on something she could understand and study later. Like texts about archeology. The books she'd taken from Malire had been quite generic and hadn't actually contained much about the Azran civilization. Maybe as a recruiter the man hadn't known much either. Just a bit higher of a rank than the regular goons… But this guy… Whoever owned the office. He had some serious stuff. Translations, sketches, notes…

"Jackpot." Olivia whispered and stored the papers inside a flat bag she had underneath her Targent uniform jacket. She closed the drawers that she'd already inspected and went to take a look on the objects on the bookshelves and side tables. She didn't have a camera with her but a small sketch book she did. Olivia drew the carvings seen on stones and other artifacts. She didn't have much time left…

"What are you doing here?" A female (quite young) voice asked angrily. Olivia turned slowly to look at the woman standing in her doorway. The person was maybe a bit older than her. She had curly brown hair and wearing Targent uniform. "This is Uncle Leon's… The boss's office when he comes to this place, no one is authorized to be here when he isn't!"

"Then what are you doing here?" Olivia asked smoothly dropping the gruff voice she used to Bishop since the beginning and slipped her drawing utensils into her pocket. "If no one is authorized."

"I… I had a permission. And! That's not the point! All workers know that boss's office is out of bounds." The young woman continued. Boss's office? Jackpot indeed.

"Ho? Is that so?" Olivia let a smile spread on her face. She needed a plan and quick. That agent must not sound yet another alarm.

"You are spy, aren't you?"

"What if I am? Targent has a way to destroy lives, don't you think?"

"Then I'll stop you myself." That was both good and bad thing. Good because the woman wasn't running off to alert others. Bad because Olivia had no idea how good that woman was in fighting. Because a fight was definitely going to ensue now. Olivia needed something longer than arm. The girl glanced around the room. Where, where… There!

"Keep your eyes on me!" The woman ran forward and jumped to attack Olivia. The girl ducked and rolled underneath the woman, towards her chosen weapon. It wasn't anything special. Just a discarded pipe. The corner of the room seemed to have some repairs in progress but since 'no one is authorized' it was work in progress.

Olivia grabbed the pipe and turned around just in time to meet with the next attack, a kick aimed at her head. The pipe was different size, shape and weight than her foil but it'd do.

"This'll do just fine." Olivia smirked as she swung the pipe and unbalanced the attacker. Thanks to the pipe's weight she had much more power behind swings. But there was no time to idle. Olivia charged, aiming a jab to the woman's midsection. It was dodged just barely. When the woman was about to retaliate and grab the weapon, Olivia was quick to jump to the side and prepare for the next attack.

"You can't win, girl, I've trained among the Targent's best since I was a child."

"I admit… I do not have the experience you seem to have but I'm no rookie either." Olivia spoke, crouching slightly and pointing the pipe at the woman. En garde. "And sometimes… sometimes even experience has to bow down to intuition." And she attacked.


It was a swift blow in the head that rendered the woman unconscious and lying on the carpeted floor of the office. Olivia stood still, breathing heavily. The fight hadn't lasted long but it had been quite strenous for her. It had been only luck that allowed her to win. On top of that, Olivia was getting a sense of déjà vu from the situation.

"Good pipe. I think I'll be keeping this." The girl mused, turning to leave the office. The way out was much quicker since now she knew the route. The things on the yard had quietened down. Presumably that Descole guy had gotten away.

"Agent Knight! We secured the fuel storages with agent Bishop as instructed and kept them safe from the intruder." A tall agent with narrow chin and long nose saluted briefly. Olivia assumed this was Rook then. Time to pretend to be Knight then.

"Good job, agent Rook. I was successful in my own mission too." The girl paused for a moment and pushed 'her' sunglasses up on her face to cover better her eyes. Thankfully she hadn't sustained any injuries during her fight with the strange woman, visible or not. "Say… Is any of the cars leaving for the city soon for a supply run?"

"Truck seven and eight are about to leave in few minutes sir."

"Thank you, agent Rook." Olivia nodded curtly, saluting halfheartedly. "You may go now."

"Sir, yessir!"

Olivia let the man leave her field of vision before making her way to the trucks. Number eight was still loading something but seven was already full.

"Any room for another passenger? I've been reassigned." She asked almost resignedly, mimicking Maud when someone asked her to make a run to the fishmarket. No one here seemed to recognize her but it also seemed to be a norm. Apparently only Rook and Bishop worked frequently with Knight. Maybe that's why the themed codenames.

"Sure, lass, we'll be leaving right away."

"Brill'." Olivia climbed swiftly on the passenger seat and closed the door behind. Via the side mirror she risked a glance at the office buildings. It seemed that the woman hadn't alerted anyone yet.


The truck drove to the closest city. The same one that Olivia had trekked from to the base. Name of which was Coop. Like the little house where chicken's lived in. Weird way to name a secret base.

"Thank you." Olivia told the driver when she was dropped off at train station. She immediately made her way to the lockers where she stowed away her backpack and regular clothes. Next stop was the bathroom where she changed into a dark green jacket and knee-length woolen skirt. With a scarf securely around her head and covering her hair, and the uniform in her bag, she looked like a regular commuter catching the evening train back to London.

On the way to buy her ticket, Olivia let herself smile. The plan had been a success.


A/N: And this chapter is done! A lot happened. A lot needed to be gotten out of the way. I hope Olivia doesn't come off... too multi-talented.

Thank you for the two who've put this story in their watch. It meakes me really happy to know there is people following this actively/passively.

Some more OCs and headcanons:

-Maud the Maid: Probably my favourite OC this far. She was a spur of moment. She hates the smell of fish and otherwise quite expressionless.

-Marcela Candela: She used to work as a maid? What could this possibly mean? And who is her 'benefactor'? Tune in for the next chapters.

-Toby Broodle: Enemy! The name is a pun for 'Though be brutal'. I got the 'broodle' from Ace Attorney: Trials and Tribulations where they had a Canadian judge and that's how he pronounced brutal. Toby probably won't be appearing in person.

-Coop and Knight: C'mon they have Nest and Roost(maybe?). Why not Coop? Knight was natural choice to the agent since they also have Bishop and Rook.

-Sycamores: They are dead! Some of you may wonder why they remained alive so long after Malire's visit... Well, there was some stuff going on in the background. And Malire doesn't have a habit of reporting his failures... But what about Desmond Sycamore who was pronounced dead too?! It will be explained too. In next two chapters I'd wager...

-Olivia playing a spy: What did you expect from her?

-Cameos: I bet you recognized the woman Olivia fought with. And whether or not Olivia fooled Bloom... that's up to you.

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This is all for now. Please review. And what do you think about making Emmy Asian-born? I've seen some headcanons regarding that. Or about Twoscoles? Shipping suggestions are relatively open too.