Hey guys! Congrats to Blueassphire1 for winning the competition! :D

And I would like to thank myself just coz! Even though the contest is over, I like to finish what I start so this story is still in full operation! :)

Enjoy this new chapter!

Chapter 7

Present day

Nataliya Romanova gave the small photo one last look and put it down on the desk beside her.

Her mother smiled back, her eyes full of care and concern. Nataliya had been thinking about her a lot lately. She kept recalling her funeral. What had gone right. What had gone wrong.

She was supposed to be working on breaking the entry code to the Tomas stronghold in South Africa. Just another assignment Isabel Kabra ordered her to do. Irina was in her office, researching. Nataliya adored Irina. She was reaching out to her, because she wanted to be her friend.

Her best friend.

Irina wasn't initially receptive, but Nataliya noticed that she was starting to open up to her. Which was progress. It's no use being a team when they were being hostile to each other. Besides, she wanted to really know who Irina Spasky really was.

Nataliya was glad that Isabel was pairing the two of them for regular missions and assignments. It gave her an opportunity to learn about Irina, rather than being confined to the private company of herself and the Kabras for the past three years. She once resented their snobbish faces, but now she was used to them. Even happy to work for them. And the Kabras gave her dignity and respect as time went on.

Nataliya sighed and turned back to her computer screen. She activated her hacking programs and virtual code breaking systems. Breaking into the Tomas Stronghold would be as easy as poking a stick at it. She needed a challenge. Isabel was underestimating her capabilities.

And then a rebellious, yet brilliant idea sparked in her head.

The Tomas can wait...why don't we see what secrets the Kabras have?/

Before Nataliya could come to her senses, she took the plunge.

First, she opened the files found in the Amber Room, which were virtually uploaded to all computers in the stronghold. After a moment, she found the file marked 'Kabras' just above the one called 'Janus'. Nataliya clicked on it and read through the file. It explained the distant family of both Vikram and Isabel. It also covered Isabel and Irina's successful Lucian operations and missions, as well as their current status as head of the branch. All Lucian strongholds probably had the same information. Nothing stood out to her. Nataliya knew the Kabras held more than this. Where would Vikram and Isabel keep secret information hidden?

Then her eyes flicked over two words in the file that revealed the answer.

Kabra Mansion.

Got it.

Nataliya stretched her fingers and got to work. As she embarked on her voyage to the Kabra's home server, she scolded herself for not doing this in the first place. But the rewards would be great, and Nataliya anticipated this with pleasure. Knowing the truth about the Kabras would become a great asset. Who knows what she would discover? Scandal, bribery, blackmail...the possibilities were endless. Moments later, she found herself inside the computerised Kabra Archives. It had heavy security, not like it did with the Stronghold files.

Someone wants to keep their stuff safe. Nataliya thought smugly.

And then she commenced with the hacking. The code-breaking program decoded the security lock on the archive in a matter if minutes. Nataliya looked down at her mother.

"This is for you." She whispered.

Anastasia smiled at her.

She turned back to the screen and found that the program had finished. Nataliya put an easy palm on the mouse and opened the archive.

There was only one folder marked 'Stronghold Files.' Upon opening it up, she found that it held the exact same information as the Amber Room had. Disbelief washed over Nataliya as she closed the file.

This is not right.

And then she saw the words imprinted at the bottom of the archive.

All other files kept and stored in hard copy in East Wing of Kabra Mansion.

"Drat!" Nataliya cursed, pounding the desk.

"A problem?" Came the voice of Irina Spasky.

Nataliya looked up in surprise, like a deer in the headlights of a fast-approaching vehicle.

"No!" She said, minimising her screen. "Not at all."

Irina moved from the doorway and approached her. "You pounded the desk with anger."

"Oh, that was because my computer, uh, has a virus."

"A virus?"

"That's right."

Irina moved around the desk to see the computer. "How bad is this virus?"

"Oh, it's gone now." Nataliya said quickly.

"It's gone?"

"That's right."

Irina crossed her arms. "I do not believe you."

Nataliya knew her cover-up was poorly convincing, is she changed the subject.

"How's the research?" She asked.

Irina relaxed and sat down in a chair next to the desk. "So so. I'm not up with computers. The internet baffles me."

"What have you gathered so far?"

"Two common references come up: Zulu and Pretoria. To what connection I don't know."

"It's like that song." Nataliya mused.

Irina glanced at her. "What song?"

"I'm with you and you're with me and we are all together! Marching to Peoria! Marching to Peoria!"

Irina stared at her as if she had just spoken an alien language. "What?"

Nataliya shook her head. "Never mind."

Irina took a pen and scribbled something onto her notebook.

Nataliya looked over. "What's that?"

Irina looked up. "What you told me."

"Oh. I guess that struck you, did it?"

"I would never be interested in stupid songs, apart from the lyrics of this one."

Nataliya noticed Irina was acting hostile again. Maybe she'd been too nosy. She turned back to her computer screen and started to prepare for hacking into the Tomas. But the song replayed itself in her mind, and the reference niggled her brain. Marching to Peoria! Marching to Peoria!Peoria...Pretoria. She sighed and looked at Irina, who was pondering over her notes.

She looked back at the computer screen and opened the internet browser. She couldn't hack and have this mental itch annoy her. After a while, she came across a picture of the Zulu warrior, with a brandished shield.

Bingo. Nataliya thought, as she saw the Tomas crest proudly displayed on the shield.

She turned her screen toward Irina. "Is this what you're looking for?"

The look of Irina's face was priceless. "Where did you get that?" She snapped.

"I found it on the web." Nataliya replied casually.

"You should be doing your job, not mine!" Irina hollered.

Nataliya couldn't help but throw her head back in laughter. She tried to stifle herself, but her attempts were useless. Irina looked scornfully at her, but then she found herself laughing too.

"Stop this!" She laughed.

Nataliya giggled even harder, so much that tears ran down her face. And then after a minute, the noise died down and they could easily breath again. And then silence.

"Nataliya?" Irina asked, after a moment.

"Yes?"

"Why did Isabel want you to oversee our missions?"

This one blew Nataliya by surprise. "I...I'm not sure. Maybe she wants to keep me safe."

She felt so bad. She had just lied to Irina. The real reason was far more complex, but she wasn't ready to admit it to Irina yet. She didn't know what she'd say.

She didn't want to lose her only friend.

Irina frowned. Obviously, it didn't make sense to her. But she bought it. That meant she trusted her. And that meant she felt even worse for lying.

"I have to go." Nataliya said, standing up.

And she left the room in a hurry. She felt Irina's eyes pore at her from behind. But she tried to forget that and rushed away so she could be alone with herself.