Around midnight or so, I get a text from Cody:
Hey, kid. Come to my Riverton location, ASAP. There's someone I'd like you to meet.
Luckily, I still have my rocket boots after all this time. Even better, they still work. I'm about to put them on and turn them on...then I decide it's better to wait until I'm outside first.
"WHOAOAOAOA!" As I hit the wooden floor, I'm grateful the window was open, so I didn't get glass shards in me. Groaning and getting up, I turn around to find Cody holding up a notepad, the number "10" written on it.
"That...was literally, like the best landing, ever."
"Whatever, man." I notice a hot Asian girl with a bob-style haircut sitting in a chair against the wall, properly poised. "Well, hello, who are you?" I ask, raising an eyebrow in interest.
"My name is Atsuko Kasshoku," she stands up, bowing respectfully. "I am from CROW's branch in Tokyo, Japan, but I have transferred to the one here in Riverton."
"We have a branch in Japan?" I ask.
Cody throws his head back in laughter. "Oh, Talon...we have branches essentially everywhere." He props his feet up on his desk. "Anyways, I've been looking for some female recruits in the area around your age, and Atsuko, who's looking for a place to stay in Riverton, was happy to volunteer."
"For what?"
"To pose as your girlfriend, silly," Atsuko chimes.
"Woah, what?! Hey," I laugh nervously. "That's moving kind of fast, isn't it? I don't know about you, but you should probably get to know someone before you call them your boyfriend."
"Easy, Romeo, I said to pose as your girlfriend. Cody told me what's going on, and this girl you are interested in seems to be distraction for you. All I'd have to do is be around you when she is, so the two of you won't be tempted to flirt."
"For how long?"
"Just until this is over. After CROW has accomplished its goal, you could marry her and start a family for all I care. Besides, it's not like we'd really be dating, it's just a façade."
"Hm," Cody sits up. "I have a good feeling about you two: I bet you'll get along great."
Apparently, Cody arranged for her to stay in a nearby hotel, all expenses paid. So, the next day, Atsuko met me at my apartment (my address also being provided by him), I showed her where the HQ branch for Riverton was, and signed her up for the agent training program. After all, they figured I'm more likely to run into Penny on missions than anywhere else, so it would be a good move to have Atsuko pose as an HQ agent as well.
Shortly afterwards, I received my mission for the day: apparently, the Mayor of Metro City's six-year-old son, Wyatt, has been captured, with the Metro City branch threatening that he give him a ransom for his release, but he was believed to be held in the Riverton base to throw them off. I roll my eyes. You would think they would be more creative with where they operate by now.
Turning on my "Matt" disguise, hoping it would be enough to fool Atsuko, just in case she happened to run into us. Smiling at the thought of meeting Penny there somewhere, I think to myself, I appreciate the help, Cody, but I can handle myself.
Sure enough, there she is: out on hill just outside the Riverton base, scanning the building for heat signatures. Normally, I hate routine, but I'm glad being able to see her on a regular basis is one thing I can count on. Looking over and smiling at me, I can tell she's come to expect the same thing.
"You see him?" I ask. Turning on the heat signature setting on her Codex again, she scans the building.
"There," she turns it off, "in a room in the back. I don't know his current condition, but his was a little cooler than the others, so it made him harder to see. They must have drugged the poor kid or something."
"Well, what're we waiting for? Let's go in there and bust up those kidnappers!"
"Hang on. The number of agents was higher than anticipated, so I've called for a little back-up, hope you don't mind."
"No, no, not at all. They've actually sent a few others to come with me, but, those slow-pokes just couldn't keep up, I guess."
"Hey!" Kayla comes running up the hill, running out of breath. Looks like her ankle's gotten better. "Hey, sorry I'm late. Phew. What'd I miss?"
"Not much, where are the others?"
"Catching up."
The plan is simple, and pretty straightforward: Penny, Kayla, and the other agents (once they get their out-of-shape asses over here) beat up the M.A.D. agents, while I sneak into the back through all the commotion, grab the kid, and get out.
It happened so fast, I wasn't quite sure how it started. All I knew was that I had to dodge the bullets and crap being fired back and forth at each other. Activating a laser on my wristwatch, I used it to pick the lock on the door.
"No!" the little kid shields his face. "Please don't hurt me!"
"It's okay. My name is Agent Matt Hill, I'm one of the good guys, I promise." Groggily, he looks up at me with dark eyes, but wiping a tear away, he nods. "Can you walk?"
"Not well."
"Well, don't worry. We're going to get you safe and sound back to your dad, okay?"
Fortunately, he's really not heavy at all. I run through the shadows with his head buried in my shoulder.
Within minutes, everyone else has the M.A.D. agents wrapped up, and the police arrive to take them in. The Metro City mayor was so grateful to have his son back, he was going to throw a celebration for returning him, and all of the HQ agents who went on the mission were invited.
"So, you heading to that celebration tomorrow?"
"Duh! What would I miss it for?" I ask.
She laughs. "Hey, um...I don't mean to come on strong or anything but...I was wondering if maybe you'd like to grab some lunch or something?"
Before I can answer, my cellphone rings. The caller doesn't have an identity, but the number looks familiar. "Just a sec, I gotta take this." I pick up the phone. "Hello?"
"Talon, where are you?" Atsuko is on the other side. That's why I recognized it: we exchanged numbers last night, just in case we needed to reach each other. I hadn't bothered to put her in my phone yet.
"Um, just wrapping up something. Why?"
"The training session ended early. Some stupid kid played a prank that set the whole training area on fire."
"Oh, jeez. You okay?"
"I'm fine. No one's hurt or anything but, I'm stuck here: I don't know how to get back to the hotel."
"Uh...yeah, I'll come pick you up, no problem."
"Do you have a cold? Your voice sounds different."
"Not to worry, I'll be right over, bye." I hang up quickly before she can say anything else.
Penny and I are caught in an awkward silence.
"So...I take it now's not a good time?" she asks.
"Unfortunately, no. But that's okay: maybe we'll get something after the party tomorrow. Granted they don't bring food there and we end up stuffing ourselves before we can go get anything."
"Haha, that doesn't sound too bad. It'd be cheaper at least."
"Hey, Pen, could you come over here a sec?" Kayla calls. "We could use your help with something."
"Coming!" she calls back. "Looks like I have to go, too."
"Kay, I'll just see you at the party then."
Turning to leave, I realize how hot my cheeks have gotten. Did she really just ask me out? On one hand, this is great! I didn't think she would move on so quickly. On the other...I'm not sure how long I can keep the charade up. But maybe it wouldn't have to be permanent. It would just be until this whole good vs evil thing came to its knees.
But what would happen then? Do I reveal myself? Do I leave town and never come back? I take a deep breath. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime, if I'm going to be seeing Penny on a regular basis, I'm going to have to figure out how to juggle her, and my act with Atsuko until that day comes.