OK don't confuse this for our agents being at their best. This shows them struggling with their insecurities.
I promise to get them back on track.


Chapter Two Being Bright But Still in the Dark

If Helena thought the temperature outside was dropping rapidly, it was nothing compared to the increasing icy conditions in the room. Myka sat there staring at her friend, waiting for her to explain her declaration. HG could tell from Myka's reaction that she had offended her but was struggling to get at what the issue was. It was simple in HG's head – but she could tell there was something she was missing. The one thing she was sure of was she better turn on the charm. Myka rarely could resist it.

"Myka darling, I am sorry if I somehow offended you. It certainly was not my intent, you must know that," HG said slowly, her accent thick as she said each word. Her body language spoke true innocence to Myka who knew in her heart she was over reacting.

"I know it's silly….," Myka started and if HG had only let her finish her thought things might have turned out better.

"Yes, the number means very little really …..," and if HG had stopped there things might have turned out better - but she continued with "…. Except of course if you're in the upper echelon which Mr. Lattimer clearly is not," and you could hear the thud of those words.

Helena was attempting to appease Myka and rebuke Pete at the same time and it wasn't working. Each time she slapped Pete's wrist, Myka's cheek felt it. It was very confusing for the inventor that things were not going as she planned them. HG waited for Myka to succumb to the charm, to the sense she was making, to the way she was looking at her but it wasn't happening. Myka's arms crossed again and now it was Helena who looked surprised.

"So let me see if I understand you, Helena. You're saying Pete's assertion that he's a couple of points ahead of me is no big deal because neither one of us is in your category? Is that what you're saying, Helena?" Myka asked her.

Helena reflected on how Myka sounded. "Well, yes," she said thinking it would bring closure.

"I don't believe you! Are you suggesting that because I am not a genius like you, I should not care about the score? Am I too stupid to get what it means?" Myka said now retracting her original thoughts that she had over reacted.

Pete and Claudia watched the ping pong argument and didn't like that Myka was getting so upset. HG upset was not unusual but it was a rare event to see Myka lose control of her emotions.

"Mykes, let's forget this, OK? I'm sorry I even told you about it. It's nothing," Pete tried.

"Oh, so now you're on her side? Is that because you're closer to her IQ than I am?" Myka asked.

"Well, yes I am closer but no, I'm not siding with anyone," Pete said getting confused by the emotionality of the subject.

Claudia felt like a deer in headlights. She didn't know what to do with everyone talking so loudly. She felt responsible and wanted to do something. Who should she start with? Myka who she never saw this upset? HG whose stare alone scared her? She better start with Pete. She felt safer with Pete right now.

"Pete, you are not seven points away from HG's score," she said thinking her words would be the water to put out the fire brewing.

"What? Yes, I am," he said because he saw the numbers. Helena thought, "Finally!" because as much as she admired Pete, she knew no matter how well he did on that test, she had done brilliantly.

"Pete, I don't think you noticed the little plus sign after HG's score," she said and missed that her words were igniting not extinguishing.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"HG's score …. The number you saw was the bottom score for that category. Her score was higher, much higher, dude. But they don't list the real number just the first indicator for that class," the teckie tried to clarify.

"How much higher?" Myka asked.

"Like freaking way higher, dude," Claudia answered and her lingo was lost on HG but that didn't stop a smirk appearing on her face. A really irritating smirk. It was intended for Pete but he hardly noticed but Myka saw it.

"There, it's settled then," HG said believing it really was by Claudia's admission.

"I don't think so," Myka said. "So before I was a couple…..," and Pete foolishly corrected her; "Three, Myka," he said.

She gritted her teeth. "So before - I scored three less than Pete who thought he scored seven less than HG which would mean I scored ten less than her but now you're saying we both scored a lot less and that's supposed to make us feel better?" Myka asked and the frustration was mounting.

Now Claudia realized she had not found the solution and in fact, may have made it worse. Pete was confused with the adding and subtracting. Myka was desperately trying to remain in control because she knew better than to give in to her own insecurity in front of everyone. The only calm person in the room was Helena who before now never cared what her score was and now only wanted to make sure Pete knew there was a huge gap between them because he had made it a competition. Claudia understood Myka's question and was proud of herself that she followed the subtracting, adding and conclusion.

"Yes, you both scored a lot less but no, I'm not saying it should make you feel better," Claudia said slowly hoping that was the right answer. It wasn't.

"Let's just stop talking about this OK?" Myka said but didn't mean. But everyone agreed in unison; "Yeah, sure."

They all sat down in their original places again but this time, with more space between them. They all feigned interest in the TV show. Just then the host asked: "the name of this deep red also means "of prime importance," …..and Myka said 'crimson' but she was answering too soon. Pete yelled out 'cardinal' just before the correct answer was given and confirmed he was right. It was the last straw. Myka huffed off feeling angry for being upped again and silly for giving into the feeling but her feet were moving in the direction of her room and so she followed.

"Bravo, Mr. Lattimer. Now you've done it!" HG hissed at him.

"Yeah, well all those extra points you have didn't help the matter. You're the one who annoyed her the most," he retorted defensively.

"It's not my fault you make everything into a competition," HG snapped back.

"Ah, dudes – nice dueling but shouldn't someone go check on Myka?" Claudia asked and both saw her point.

If Helena felt Pete was to blame for this, she felt she was the one to make it right even if she had been unsuccessful thus far. "I will talk to Myka," HG announced as she left to go upstairs.

"Geez, what has gotten into everyone around here?" Pete asked and Claudia was just happy not to be in the hot seat for having started all of this.

"Yeah," was all she said as guilt started to swell up inside her. Had she not hacked into the files this wouldn't be happening, right?


Helena stood outside Myka's door and knocked gently. "Myka, darling?" No answer. "Myka, please open the door so we can talk about this," she pleaded. No answer. "Love, this is silly really," HG said laughing and putting her hands in her pockets out of frustration. No answer.

She was running out of ideas. Charm had backfired. Logic had bombed and pleading wasn't working. What was left she wondered and then it occurred to her.

"Myka Bering, open this door at once!" she said sternly and the door flew open. The glare coming from the green orbs was not friendly and for a second HG was taken aback.

"Myka, you're being very unreasonable about this," her friend said admonishingly. But Myka already knew that. HG watched as Myka tightened her jaw but didn't say anything.

"Yes well, I know that Pete made a big deal about this and Claudia shouldn't have hacked in the first place…," and Myka's hands went to her hips as she tapped her right foot.

Had Helena rushed in where fools fear to tread? It was at the very least a slippery slope and she knew she was failing but didn't understand why. And since she couldn't figure it out, it must be Myka she concluded. Now, how to tell her that – gingerly.

"Myka darling, do you think perhaps you are over reacting to this nonsense?" HG tried to put her thought across carefully.

"Let me see which one of those words I find most offensive, Helena." Myka said now her arms folded across her chest.

"Hmmm, is it darling, over reacting or nonsense? Touch choice," she said sarcastically and her tone was lost on her uninvited guest. "I am going to go with nonsense. How dare you say it's drivel when I react but it makes perfect sense for you to challenge Pete on the very same issue? Please explain that to me but don't use big words Helena because I may not understand you," she said staring at HG.

"Don't be ridiculous darling," HG started and then realized the sarcastic remark was intentional. This was getting harder and harder for HG who thought she had it all figured out. Her eyes darted as she tried to approach this from another angle.

"Myka, I think I have made a mess of this," the Brit said and the statement was accompanied by the appropriate amount of guilt in her eyes as she looked at her. It immediately softened Myka.

"Really?" Myka asked in the first calm tone of the evening.

"Yes," HG said.

"I'm sorry, Helena. I over reacted," Myka conceded and laughed at how embarrassed she felt. HG was pleased to see her eyes lose the glare and relax. "I don't know what happened. I just got so upset," she confessed still unsure of her what it was that bothered her so.

"It's OK, Myka. We all get carried away over things sometimes," HG commiserated.

And if HG had left it at that, maybe Myka could have appreciated her attempt at empathy.

"I dare say I allowed Pete to bait me with his ridiculous attempt to make this a rivalry," she said and Myka was glad to hear HG say that. Myka knew that it was challenging for HG to be humble most times and was glad to hear she was learning.

"Actually, it was unfair of me to engage him on this at all. I mean he at least has an excuse but I should have known better," she said thoughtfully and something about her admission didn't sit right with Myka.

"Wait, what excuse does Pete have, Helena?" Myka asked as her eyes widened again.

"Pardon?" HG asked.

"What is Pete's excuse, Helena?" Myka asked a little more forcefully now.

"Well, you can't hold Pete to the same standard…., I mean it's not his fault he's… , I should have known better than to ….," HG started three times to explain and each time sensed she was not on the right track.

"Are you suggesting that Pete should not be held accountable because of his score?" Myka asked and her intonation strained.

"No, no! That would be ridiculous, darling. I just meant that it was I who should have realized this was a fruitless endeavor and put an end to it to spare Pete the disappointment. I mean that would have been kinder, yes?" HG said.

"Spare him the disappointment of finding out he's not as smart as you?" Myka said trying to figure out what the hell Helena was getting at.

HG was so lost and tangled in her own words that she was unsure of what she meant. She just knew she did not want Myka mad at her.

"Helena, is that what you meant?" Myka pushed her and HG was too busy thinking of how to charm her way out of this.

"Yes," she said so she could get back to thinking - but that was not going to happen. Myka slammed the door.

HG was stunned. "What did I do?" she asked through the door but it was Pete's voice from behind that answered her.

"Nice going, HG. You just dissed your girlfriend there big time," he said shaking his head in disapproval.

"But how? How did I do that? I admitted I was wrong!" HG stammered.

"Yeah you did and right after that you admitted you were so freaking brilliant, us mere mortals should be held to lower standards," he explained.

"Mr. Lattimer, I did no such thing," HG protested but the look on Claudia's face offered confirmation.

"Oh bloody hell," HG yelled and retreated to her room, slamming the door loudly.

"Is that Artie's car?" Pete said as a joke but it sent Claudia flying to her room banging her door.

Pete stood on the landing looking at the three doors of his fellow agents. "Must be PMS time - I swear," he said as he retreated downstairs to enjoy the TV all to himself.


Too far off?