At noon the next day, Big D, Coiley, and Multi were at Megatropolis International Airport. The two Impossibles were in their rock 'n roller identities, in order to avoid scaring off Condor, if she happened to see them in their superhero attire. Big D was carrying the sphere inside a bowling bag, belonging to Coiley's father. It was the only thing they could think of carrying it in without looking inconspicuous. Skittles was with the group, but she was inside a pet carrier, and she absolutely hated traveling this way, and she made no reservations voicing her complaints.
"Take it easy, Skittles," Multi said. "I know you hate traveling in the carrier, but we have to obey the rules. And the rules are pets must be in their carriers at all times."
Skittles knew that, but she still whined about it. All Multi could do was sigh. He knew Skittles wouldn't stop whining until she fell asleep, got tired of it, or was let out of the carrier.
"Did this Condor lady mention how you would know it was her?" Coiley asked.
"She gave me a code name," Big D explained. "Chances are, she's going to call me by it when we run into her."
The trio walked around the terminal, looking for gate 7A, which was where flight 529 to Moscow was boarding. When they were nearing it, they saw a woman with short, dark hair, wearing army fatigues and combat boots sitting by the window. She was reading a magazine, and drinking a can of Coke. Multi and Coiley stopped in their tracks.
"G.I. Jane!" they shouted in unison.
"What?" Big D asked, giving the boys a confused look.
"One of the women at the club the other night," Multi said. "Fluey said you two ran into her during the first incident with the RU."
"Yes, come to think of it, she does look familiar," Big D said. "But there's no way of proving she has anything to do with this mess."
G.I. Jane looked up from her magazine, and saw the chief and the two Impossibles. She put down her can, stood up, tossed the magazine on her chair, and approached them.
"Gregory Wilkins, I presume?" she asked.
"Yes," Big D said. "And I assume you're Ms. Condor?"
"Don't blab that around here, chief. But yeah, I'm the one who's been in contact with you. Call me by my real name, Narnia Veretennikov."
"Ah yes. The young woman from the American Victory Alliance with the itchy trigger finger."
"Don't get cute. Anyway, have you got the sphere?"
"Yes, right in this bag. Now what's this all about?"
"I said I'd tell you when we got to Moscow."
"I don't like this, chief," Multi said. "How come you're not telling us now?"
"Us?" Narnia asked. "Correct me if I'm wrong, chief, but didn't I instruct you to come out here alone?"
"Yes," Big D said. "But after what happened the last time I had a sphere like this one in my possession, I decided to have some back up."
"At least you can tell us where Fluey is," Coiley said. He didn't bother with using Fluey's real name. Narnia probably already knew the Impossibles' real identities anyway.
"He's in Moscow with my partner," Narnia said. "She's looking forward to meeting you, chief. In any case, your friend is okay, still a little sick from the gas attack. Now, if you boys don't mind, clear out."
"Not a chance, lady," Multi said. "We're going along on this trip."
"No wonder you guys are called the Impossibles," Narnia groaned. "You are impossible! Look, you two have absolutely nothing to do with this, so shove off!"
"Let me put it to you this way, Ms. Veretennikov," Big D said, folding his arms across his chest. "Either they go to Moscow with us, or you go to jail on murder and kidnapping charges."
Narnia groaned loudly, but gave in. That's when she heard whining coming from Multi's pet carrier. She saw Skittles, and glared at the red-haired Impossible.
"All right, you two can come, but the dog has to stay here," she said. "I'm not a dog person. I really don't like them. As a matter of fact, I hate them!"
"I don't know," Multi said. "After all, she is part of the team."
"Look, I told you, you and your buddy can come, but not the dog!" Narnia shouted.
"But she's just a puppy," Multi said. "I'm sure she . . . . ."
"No dogs," Narnia said. "And that's it! If you two want to come along with us, you have to leave the mutt here."
Multi and Coiley looked at each other, and then at Big D.
"Is that the only choice?" Big D asked.
"Yeah," Narnia said. "Otherwise, I might be tempted to squash the little runt if I see her outside of that thing."
"All right, boys," Big D sighed. "I know you don't like it, but I'm afraid you'll have to leave your dog here, Multi."
"But chief . . . ." Multi started.
"If you two want to tag along, that is," Narnia said. "Otherwise, you have to stay here."
Multi and Coiley stepped away to discuss this. Then they returned to Narnia and Big D.
"Okay," Multi said. "We'll leave Skittles here. I'll call Phyllis and have her pick her up now. She has plenty of time to get here, the plane doesn't leave for another two hours."
"All right," Narnia said. "Since we're being adult about this, I'll go get you two some tickets."
"How come we're going commercial?" Coiley asked. "Multi and I have a jet we could use, and it might get us there faster. And we won't have to sit around here for two hours until the flight leaves."
"We're doing it this way to throw off the AVA's enemies," Narnia said. "Now do you two want to come with us or not? Make up your minds, already!"
Coiley and Multi gave in. Narnia was in charge for the moment, and, even though they didn't like it, the boys, and Big D, were going to have to play by her rules. Narnia went to the desk in order to get a couple of tickets for Multi and Coiley, while Multi stepped off to the side to contact Phyllis about picking up Skittles. Once Phyllis arrived at the airport, Skittles began whining even more.
"Sorry, girl," Multi said, handing his pet carrier to Phyllis. "I know you want to come, but whatever Narnia says goes for right now."
"And she says Skittles has to go, huh?" Phyllis said.
"Unfortunately yes. We can't do anything about it. At least she's letting Coiley and me go with her."
"Don't worry, Multi, I'll take care of Skittles. I really do think the two of you should go with Big D, anyway."
"Right, after what happened the last time. See you later, Phyllis."
Phyllis nodded, and left the terminal, with a loudly whining Skittles.
After a ten hour flight (most of which was spent sleeping), our heroes landed in Moscow, feeling extremely jet-lagged.
"I still say we should've taken the Impossi-Jet," Coiley said, stifling a yawn.
"You two wanted to come," Narnia said, shrugging. "Still got the sphere, chief?"
"Yes," Big D said. "Now that we're in Moscow, would you kindly explain what this is all about?"
"All in due time," Narnia said. She led Big D and the two Impossibles out of the airport, and onto the sidewalk.
"Taxi!" she shouted, extending her arm like she was hailing a cab in New York, except her arm was at waist level.
A cab drove up shortly afterward, and the group climbed in. Narnia said something to him in Russian, and the driver drove off. Half an hour later, the cab stopped at a street corner. Narnia paid the fare, and waited until our heroes climbed out of the car.
"Okay, troops," she said. "If you will be so kind as to follow me."
Big D, Coiley, and Multi followed Narnia down the street, and through some kind of tunnel. At the other end of the tunnel was what appeared to be a ghost town. The very same ghost town Big D was in when he dealt with the Russian Underground.
"Back here again, eh?" he asked. "And just what exactly is the purpose of this?"
"You'll find out when the time's right," Narnia said. "The time just isn't right yet."
"You're starting to wear my nerves, Ms. Veretennikov."
"Just be patient, chief. You'll find out what's going on."
Big D groaned, but he continued following Narnia. Multi and Coiley did the same, until they came to an old house. Narnia opened the door, and led our heroes inside.
"Anyone home?!" she called out.
"Da, Narnia," a Russian accented voice answered from down the hall. "After all, vhere are ve goink?"
Into the room stepped the other woman the Impossibles had spotted at the club the other night. The one they dubbed "Pinky Lee" because of her pink suit.
"Boys, I'd like you to meet my sister-in-law, Natasha Glamorski," Narnia said to Multi and Coiley.
"A pleasure, dahlinks," Natasha said. Then she looked at Big D. "Vonderful to see you again, Big D."
"Yes, well," Big D said, clearing his throat. Natasha just giggled, and batted her long eyelashes.
"Come on, Tash," Narnia sighed. "I'm sure the chief would like to see his grandson right now. You entertain our uninvited guests."
"Very funny," Multi said, glaring at Narnia.
Narnia ignored the red-haired Impossible and led Big D down the hall, up a flight of stairs, and into a bedroom of sorts. There was Fluey, sleeping soundly in the bed. There was also a black cat with bright green eyes laying next to him. The cat looked up at Big D and Narnia, and hissed.
"Panther!" Narnia scolded. "Bad!"
"Panther?" Big D repeated.
"My cat," Narnia explained. She picked up the cat, and left the room with him. Big D closed the door, and approached the bed. Fluey started to stir, and he slowly opened his eyes.
"Hi, chief," he said.
"Are you all right?" Big D asked. "You know you had me scared to death!"
"Not entirely my fault, chief," Fluey said, coughing a little. "But I'm okay."
Big D put his hand against Fluey's forehead for a moment.
"Well, you feel a little warm," he said. "Are you sure you're all right?"
"Yeah, fine," Fluey said. "I just breathed in too much of that gas they dropped on those two military guys, that's all. It was a lot worse a few days ago."
"You said it," Narnia said, coming back into the room. Panther jumped out of her arms, jumped onto the bed, and began rubbing his head against Fluey's hand, and licking his fingers. Fluey smiled, and began scratching the side of the cat's head.
"Natasha thought she'd never break that fever he had," Narnia continued. "And she said he was coughing so hard, it sounded like he was gonna cough up a lung!"
"How long ago was this?" Big D asked.
"Three days before I sent you the ticket," Narnia said. "I wanted to make sure he was improving before I brought you here. By tomorrow, he should be back on his feet."
"And then will you tell me what's going on?" Big D asked. "I don't have much patience left in that regard, Ms. Veretennikov!"
"Tomorrow," Narnia said, nodding. "I'll explain everything tomorrow."