Chapter 10
Beginning of the End Part 1
The dorm room at Malibu University that once belonged to Christine was empty and quiet now. The only thing remaining was her old bed and papers that littered the floor. Reaching down and picking one up, Sam saw that it was some old homework Chris had completed. She presumed the other wrinkled parchments were similar. A breeze swept through the room, and Sam let it snatch the paper out of her grasp.
"I guess she really is gone then," she said drably. "I didn't want to believe it, but..."
"She could've at least said goodbye!" yelled Alex, cutting Sam off. "Man, she cleaned this place out! There isn't even a shred of evidence left here! If there's one thing I'll give Chris credit for, it's that she's thorough!"
"Are you seriously complimenting her right now?! She's totally that SOAP spy! I can't believe it!" Clover rested her head in her hands and glowered while she sat on Chris' bed. "She just lied to us the whole time about who she was! If I ever see her again, I'm gonna totally give her a piece of my mind!"
"She...had her reasons. I'm sure of it," mumbled Sam.
"Huh? How come you're defending her? She's theenemy!" replied Alex. Oinky, her pet pig, poked its head out of her shirt just then and squealed weakly. "Aw! See, even Oinky's upset at everything! I can't believe I trusted Chris with you that one time!"
"You should've told us from the start that you knew who she really was, Sam!" said Clover.
Sam could offer up no words or excuses to this. Her friends were spot on. Instead, she stared out of a nearby window, desiring to take back things already done.
"This one's gonna come back to haunt us..."
"Well, let's not let that mean, ol' Chris get us down!" said Clover. She cheered up to the best of her ability and sprang to her feet before wrapping her arms around her friend's shoulders. "We probably won't ever be seeing her again anyway! What's say we go down to The Groove and do some serious shopping?"
"The Groove? I-I dunno, I'm not really in the mood," said Alex.
"Me neither," added Sam. "I don't even wanna study..."
Clover groaned at this. "C-Come on! I-It'll be fun! Whadya say?!"
Seeing her friend laugh, Sam knew her heart wasn't in her words. All of them, whether they wanted to admit it or not, felt something from Chris' sudden departure. Perhaps the only thing stopping them from seeking out their friend was pride.
"Hmm? My X-Powder's ringing," said Sam as she pulled the device out. She let out a long, drawn out gasp at what it told her. "N-No way!"
"What? Is Jer bothering us with another mission again?" asked Clover. "Well, tell him to get someone else because we're so going shopping!"
"I don't even have any money!" Alex sniffled at this fact. She was in between paychecks from her job at the coffee shop, though she called off from work today because of the situation with Chris.
"N-No, it's not that, you guys! WOOHP is under attack right now!" exclaimed Sam. With their jaws lowered at this development, Clover and Alex took a gander at Sam's X-Powder, nearly fainting afterward.
"I-I guess we aren't going shopping then," Clover mumbled.
"Dang it! I was actually coming around to the idea too!" said Alex.
"Forget about that, girls! We gotta get to WOOHP!" said Sam. She got the feeling Chris' disappearance and this attack on WOOHP had something to do with one another. "I really hope I'm wrong!"
#
"...Agh! Why is it so boring around here?!" said the man sitting behind the front desk at WOOHP headquarters. Yawning, he rubbed his tear-stained eyes and sat back in his chair, wishing something, anything of interest would happen. "Jeez, how in the world did I end up with a job like this? I'm just...the guy who sits at the entrance of a building of a spy organization. This certainly wasn't what I planned out for myself." He slumped even farther back in his seat and mulled his words over. "...Then again, maybe I shouldn't be complaining. I mean, yeah, it's always boring just sitting here because no one really comes in this place, but I gotta think of the positives. I've got a steady paycheck, and I'll probably be able to retire comfortably in a couple of years. Well...maybe if Jerry weren't such a cheapskate!"
He chuckled but leered forward when light from the entrance opening reflected off his black sunglasses. A young woman stepped inside, and the man promptly straightened himself up, cleared his throat, and put on a big smile.
"Welcome to WOOHP!" he started. "Er...c-can I help you with something today, miss?" As the girl smiled back at him, his eyelid twitched at her phenomenal height. "Holy...! You must drink a lot of milk, miss!"
"Hi! I was wondering if I could see Jerry Lewis today!" the girl stated.
"Huh? J-Jerry? Sorry, kid, but he's currently out at the moment. Besides, he never said anything about having an appointment today. If you really want to speak with him, you're going to have to write your name down here. We here at WOOHP will get back to you at a later date about your appointment."
"Really? That won't do though! I need to see Jerry as soon as possible!"
"It's like I just said though. He isn't in right now!"
"Are you sure? Can't you double-check or something?"
The man rolled his eyes at her persistence. "...Listen, kid. Even if you did write your name down here, I seriously doubt Jerry would wanna see you, not unless you're his niece or something. Just...go home, alright? I've got a...uh...lot of work I need to get through!"
"Not without seeing Jerry first!"
"D-Dammit! T-This kid...!" the man searched around for assistance but noted he was the sole person present. "...Why is it you need to see Jerry so badly? What's your name?"
The girl's grin widened as she answered, "It's Tabitha! Tabitha Connor!"
"Tabitha...Connor? Why does that name..." Realization hit the front desk attendant. He wasted little time in standing and reaching for a walkie-talkie. "I-I'm gonna need a squad up here at the...!"
Tabitha snatched the device out of his hands and effortlessly crushed it between her fingertips, leaving him speechless. "Now, now! It's not nice to tattle-tell! We can't have you informing everyone we're here!"
"'W-We're...?' What do you...?!"
His shaking eyes moved over to the entrance again. Dozens of Tabithas were swarming inside the premises like locust.
"...This is why Mother said I should've chased after another profession," the WOOHP agent stated. He readied to combat the threat facing him, yet one of the many Tabithas dispatched him with a punch to the jaw.
"There we go! Go ahead and sleep for a while!" she said sweetly. She then faced the others and added, "Here we go, everyone! Let's find Jerry and destroy him!"
Her comrades in arms gave a resounding cry and followed after her while she marched into the heart of WOOHP. Once there, the Tabithas proceeded to destroy everything in sight along with taking down any unsuspecting WOOHP agents that stood in their path. Within minutes, the entire building had been wrought with complete and utter chaos. Kicking a grate aside and jumping down from the inside of a vent, chaos suited Chris just fine.
"I'm in," she said. "That was easier than I thought it would be."
Taking a step forward, she inspected the unconscious WOOHP agents filling the hallway. She then heard gunfire all around her, as well as the distinctive giggling of the army of Tabithas.
"Then again, I guess there wasn't really anyone in the condition to stop me. I might as well have just come through the front door like those androids." Chris playfully jabbed her finger against a sleeping spy and tittered joyfully. "Well then, let's get started." She grabbed her Z-Powder off her spy leotard and opened it. "Scar, it's me. I made it inside WOOHP without any difficulties."
"Good job, Christine," said Scar's smirking image on the small screen.
"Don't call me that."
"Ah, of course. My apologies. Give me a status report. What's happening in there?"
"Everything's going better than we anticipated by the looks of it. WOOHP wasn't ready for that army of Tabitha Connors SOAP mass produced, Scar. They're quickly taking control of the building as we speak."
"Excellent. All of this is thanks to those wonderful schematics you stole from Doctor Heisenberg, Agent C. Those machines, while quite talkative, should make this little operation of ours progress smoothly. Nevertheless, we shouldn't get careless. While those robots are making a mess of things, I want you to head straight for Jerry Lewis' office. I'm confident you know what to do once getting there. Good luck, agent."
Pressing her Z-Powder shut, Chris definitely had some ideas. "At last, I can avenge my parents! I just have to wait a bit longer!"
Two WOOHP agents, attempting to help their allies in an adjacent corridor, stopped in their tracks when they stumbled upon Chris.
"W-Who are you?!" one of them asked.
"No doubt she has something to do with what's happening!" said the other. "We should take her in for questioning!"
Chris wasn't in the mood for another WOOHP interrogation, so she quickly dispatched one of her enemies with a swift roundhouse kick ahead of downing the other by punching him below the belt when he attempted to grab hold of her. He cringed, let out a rather humorous cry, and then fell to his knees.
"Sorry. I don't usually fight that dirty..." Chris said to him. She then laid him out with the aid of a spinning heel kick. "...but then again, there's certainly nothing nice about what I'm about to do to your boss. Now then, where was Jerry's office again?"
She vaguely recalled what path to take from her prior visits to WOOHP, and as such, she got on her way to accomplish her mission. Without a doubt, it would be her most important one.
#
Although Chris didn't know it, Jerry wasn't in his office at the moment. Rather, he was walking the streets and humming a sweet tune with an unmarked box in his hands. Without a care in the world, he took in a deep breath, letting the sweet-smelling air penetrate his lungs. The skyline, cloudless and sunny, was glorious in his opinion. Honestly, he couldn't imagine a more perfect afternoon.
"How did Mother know I was all out of Earl Grey? Bless her heart! I think I'll head back to my office and whip up a fresh batch!"
There wasn't a better way he could think of to spend the rest of his day. There weren't any open cases going on or anything of real importance for him to fret his head over for once. He would use the opportunity to relax.
"Really now! I'm always working! What's wrong with me taking some time off?!" he demanded of no one in particular. Catching himself and the suspicious glances being thrown his way, he cleared his throat. "C-Clearly, Ido need a break!"
He began humming again, though he broke off from it upon seeing the state WOOHP was in. Fires burned on a number of floors, and random bullets came flying out of windows, sending sharp glass tumbling below. Jerry stepped back to avoid some, and out of shock, he dropped his box of Earl Gray.
"W-What in the world is happening?!"
Standing outside slack-jawed wasn't going to solve anything, so he ran inside of WOOHP, took an elevator up, and arrived at one of the main floors. There, the destruction was even worse than on the outside.
"J-Just what in the world could have happened here?! D-Don't tell me...!"
"Found you!" yelled a Tabitha. She pointed at Jerry and within seconds, was inches away from him. "Come here and give me a big hug!"
When she wrapped her arms around Jerry's waist, he felt the hug anything but friendly. In fact, he winced as she squeezed down tighter and tighter. It didn't take much imagination to think of what would happen if he didn't find a way to escape this predicament.
"Get away from him, you metal freak!" screamed Sam. Her foot planted its way into the side of Tabitha's head, sending it clean off her neck. Her body hit the floor, and Jerry, struggling to breath, flashed Sam a thumbs up.
"Samantha! It's good to see a friendly face!" Jerry stretched his aching back. "Argh! I may need to see a chiropractor after this..."
"Good to see you're alright, Jerry! I got worried these Tabithas might have gotten to you!"
"Hey! That was really rude!" said Tabitha's head in the distance. Annoyed, Sam and Jerry chose to ignore it.
"Sam, do you have any idea what's going on?!" asked Jerry. "And what do you mean by 'Tabithas?' Are you saying there's more of her?!"
"That's right! This place is crawling with these things! Other than that though, I really don't know why this is happening! The automated systems here at WOOHP told me, Clover, and Alex the place was under attack, so we got here as fast as we could! Alex and Clover are on the other side of the building helping who they can! We can't stay here though! Those Tabithas will find us in no time! Theyreally seem to be looking for you, Jerry!"
"Me?" Jerry fixed his tie and then put his hand on his chin in deep thought. "...I see. It's likely I know who's behind this whole dastardly plot then! Come, Sam! We need to go to my office so we can get a full assessment of what's going on! We'll stop this, no matter what!"
Sam nodded, but couldn't get herself in the same positive demeanor as her boss. That was because there was a chance everything that was happening somewhat was her fault.
#
"Hiya! Take that and that and that!" cried Alex. With a blurring array of kicks, she sent a Tabitha flailing into a wall, destroying her. "Ha! I'm totally not afraid of robots anymore! Just bring it on!"
Her confidence faded when another giggling Tabitha latched itself onto her back.
"A-AHHH! GET IT OFF! GET IT OFF! SOMEONE HELP!"
Clover came to her rescue, throwing the Tabitha over her shoulder and smashing her to pieces. With her heart racing, Alex clutched her chest and shot her friend an anxious nod.
"I mighta...jumped the gun on that whole 'not being scared of robots' thing."
"You think?" replied Clover, shaking her head. She helped her friend to her feet, adding, "Didn't we lock up that loony Heisenberg?! Where are these Tabithas coming from?!"
"Considering how criminals seem to get out of the containment facility on a regular basis, I wouldn't be shocked if he broke out and is trying to kill us again."
"Eh, good point. Jer really needs to step up security there!"
"Don't say that! He'll just get us to do it!"
"T-That'd be so like him!"
A third person appeared in the corner of their eyes, interrupting their casual chat. They expected more Tabithas, so both got ready to rumble. Instead, they both gasped at seeing none other than Chris.
"...Dammit," mumbled Chris. She too wasn't sure what to say. "...I really didn't want to run into any of you guys, but I guess that was just wishful thinking."
"C-Chris..." said Clover slowly. Her body froze, and her mind went blank. She earlier claimed to have a mouthful for Chris if she ever encountered her again, but right now, she struggled to even get a single word out.
"You've got a lot of nerve showing up here!" Alex, on the other hand, knew exactly what she wanted to tell Chris. "So, you really are that SOAP spy after all!"
"Yes, that is correct. Guess Sam couldn't keep her mouth shut. Then again, why should she have? I suppose that's in the past now. I have a very important mission to accomplish, so I'll ask you two to step aside," said Chris calmly
"You seriously think we're gonna fall for that?!" asked Clover, holding out her arms to form a brick wall using her body. "You're not going anywhere, Chris!"
Alex mimicked this. "Yeah! We'll stop you, no matter what it takes."
"Tsk! I don't have time for this! If you two won't move, I'll make you!"
"Don't think we'll hold back just because we were friends!"
Friends? Hearing this made Chris laugh. Only Sam, Alex, and Clover held such delusions. Chris had long since cast aside those feelings, or at least, that's what she convinced herself of. As Clover and Alex charged at her, a tiny part of her had reservations about what she had to do.
...If it's these two, I really do have to make it quick...
Clover and Alex's opening strike, dual flying kicks, hit nothing but thin air, and they smacked their heads against the wall. Moaning in pain, they got up and were confounded at how Chris had traversed one side of the hallway to the other in an instant.
"Try again," Chris taunted, crossing her arms. Her frustrated opponents did just that, but they again ended up swiping at nothing, with Chris somehow moving back enough to avoid damage. Unwilling to give up, Clover and Alex kept up their assault, yet Chris zipped around everywhere in the blink of an eye. "Well, I guess I can give you both an A for effort."
"Okay, what's going on?!" asked Alex. "Is she a witch or something?!"
"Seriously! That kind of speed can't be normal!" added a red-faced Clover. "Especially when she's moving around in high-heeled boots!"nonchalant
"It doesn't matter how hard you two try. You'll never hit me," claimed Chris.
"Huh?! How come?!" said Alex.
"...I'm wearing Doctor Heisenberg's Lightspeed Power Suit underneath my clothing. I believe you two have seen in action. Therefore, you know how serious my claim is."
"What?! No fair!"
"Fair or not, Alex, we're still going to stop her!" said Clover. "Let's go!"
Awestruck at her friend's stubbornness, Chris resolved herself to end things in one blow. Her tremendous speed gave her the upper hand, letting her get behind the attacking WOOHP spies. Afterward, she made her move, yet her eyes widened when her fist went right through her targets.
"Holograms?!"
The apparent holograms vanished, and thereal Clover and Alex pounced on top of Chris from the shadows.
"Dammit," she uttered, grinding her teeth. "How in the world did I fall for such a trick?"
"Sorry, Chris, but you're not as unbeatable as you think!" said a triumphant Clover.
"Even if you can move fast, it doesn't matter if you can't move at all!" said Alex. Chris frowned when she realized Alex was quoting the words she herself used against Doctor Heisenberg.
"As embarrassed as I am, I must admit you two fooled me good." she then remarked, taking heed of the ring on Alex's finger. "I see. The Hologram Projecting Mood Ring. How ironic the gadget that helped me escape this place would assist in my capture when I come back."
"Don't try anything funny, Chris! We'll hurt you if we have to!" said Clover.
"Yeah! Just sit tight until we figure out what to do with you!" added Alex.
"You two are wasting your breath. I've no desire to surrender, even in this situation," replied Chris. "Rather than acting like imbeciles, you should be using this opportunity to finish me off once and for all. There really is no room for compassion in espionage."
Clover and Alex were uncertain how Chris could say something so heartless so candidly. Unfazed by their reaction, Chris closed her eyes to get a moment to gather her scattered thoughts. Per her earlier claim, she wasn't ready to give up just yet, not when Jerry Lewis was so close. An idea came to her then, she having no clue why she hadn't come up with it sooner. She gradually moved her hand downward, hoping not to draw her captor's attention.
"Were you the one who sent all these Tabithas?!" Clover inquired.
"In a manner of speaking, yes, though it was actually SOAP as a whole who plotted this attack," Chris admitted. "Though they aren't as strong as the original, we figured they'd be more than enough to overwhelm the agents here at WOOHP. Seems we weren't wrong. They obviously aren't a match for you two however."
"Why are you doing all this?! Just to get Jerry?!" asked Alex.
"Yes. Our plan is to destroy WOOHP, yet taking down each and everyone one of its operatives is far too time consuming. If we destroy its leader, the rest of the pieces will come tumbling down. A classic battle strategy but an effective one nonetheless."
"How come you wanna destroy WOOHP?!" Clover inquired next.
"...Per our name, SOAP is out to destroy any facets of peace. Since WOOHP's entire reason for existence is ensuring it, we must stamp it and anything else like it out. Also, I suppose my leader wants revenge."
"Revenge? For what?" said Alex, turning her head.
"You'd have to ask him. I have my own reasons for wanting your organization gone."
"And those would be?" Clover raised an eyebrow when Chris kept her lips sealed this time around. "Well, I guess it doesn't matter! How come you're being so talkative now though?"
"I wonder." The chat gave Chris ample time to grab a metallic cube off her person. She pressed a button on it, and without warning, a blinding, white light emanated off it. "And this is why you two should have finished me off while you had the chance."
"W-What the heck?!" cried Alex as she shielded her eyes.
"I-I don't feel so hot," said Clover groggily. "This whole room is shaking!"
Strength was sapped from their bodies, enabling Chris to easily push them off of her. Stars twinkled in their eyes, whereas Chris brushed herself off and exhaled disapprovingly.
"I better switch this thing off before it starts to mess with me too." With haste, she deactivated the cube in her possession. The brilliant light that had shone at full length in the corridor died with it. "I never imagined this silly Cube of Confusion would ever come in handy. Not that I'm complaining."
"We should totally hit the mall later and do some shopping..." muttered Clover. It was obvious she was out of it. Her head moved about erratically, and she smiled at no one in particular while she spoke.
Alex, in the same sorry state, answered, "I could totally get Oinky some cute, new clothes while we're there..."
"...Okay then." Chris shrugged her shoulders. "I'll just leave you two to your planning. In the meantime, I'm going to pay your boss a visit."
When she endevoured to get there in a hurry, she discovered, to her dismay, that the Lightspeed Power Suit was out of power.
"Great. This is what I get for not charging its batteries before I got here. Oh well. Guess I'll have to go the old-fashioned way."
#
Maybe Jerry sensed he was being spoken of unconsciously because he let out a tremendous sneeze. He wiped his nose clean with some tissue, dismissing the gesture as his allergies flaring up Besides, he was far too absorbed in the computer screen in front of him to fret over the matter.
"I've managed to seal off a number of vital areas in the building," he said. His fingers clacked against a keyboard, they and his brain racing against time. "Those machines outside won't be getting their hands on anything of importance. Still, they've made a rather good mess of the security system. Thanks to their efforts. I can't see what's happening in most places from inside of this office."
Sam expected news like this. Hearing it lowered her spirits anyway. She and Jerry fled to the latter's office in the hopes of finding a way to save WOOHP. Instead, the room had become more of a prison to them. Being the one safe area left, it was also their only salvation from being torn apart by an army of upbeat androids.
"I don't like this," she declared. She forced herself to keep a straight face, despite her nerves eating at her. "Iknow SOAP is behind all this! They have to be!"
"Yes, I believe we are in the same line of thinking. This definitely has Scar's handiwork written all over it. Perhaps it was foolish of me, but I never imagined he would go this far just for a bit of payback. I should have thoroughly prepared for something like this."
"You said this Scar used to be a WOOHP agent, right, Jer?"
Jerry paused before answering, "...Indeed, but that was a long time ago. Now, he's simply a man with sinister ambitions. We must stop him at all cost!"
"But how? We won't be able to do much of anything if we can't even leave this room!"
"Calm yourself, Samantha. If I know Scar as well as I think he'll do, he won't be in much of a hurry to finish us off. He's the sort of individual that would rather try to destroy everything we hold dear before then. That gives us an advantage and some time to plan a counter attack."
"I-I guess, but...!"
The automatic doors that led into the room, the ones that were supposed to be sealed, slid open just then. Black boots then tapped against the flooring, and letting herself in, Chris placed her hands on her hips and took a gander around.
"Nice office you got here, Jerry," she said nonchalantly. "Then again, I guess I've been here a couple times before. That couch over there is still tacky as hell, Jerry. You really should get a new one."
"How did you...?!" Jerry kicked over his rotating chair while he stood. "T-There's no way you should've gotten past those doors! Not with all the security measures I put in place!"
"Hmm? You really thought those measly locks could keep me out? You seem to forget I'm a spy. Infiltration is one of my specialties. I'll admit though that getting in here was quite the hassle. I thought the Tabithas might've taken out all your men, but there were still a few looking for a fight. You must pay them rather well."
"Chris...!" The name left Sam's mouth and nearly left a gash on her lips from the magnitude in which she said it. "...I let you leave WOOHP scot free because I figured it would knock some sense into that thick skull of yours, but I see I made a mistake!"
"I never said I would be a good girl when you let me bo, Sam. You're a smart person. I was certain you would've known what to do once you discovered my identity, but I guess not. Sorry things had to end up this way, but I guess fate just has a sense of humor sometimes."
Jerry was completely lost at what they were discussing, his head moving from each one of them as they glared at the other.
"My business here isn't with you, Sam," Chris said in the wake of a lengthy silence. "Outta my way. I don't want to hurt you if I don't have to, but I've got a mission to accomplish."
"Yeah, right!" Sam replied. "You're only out for revenge! You're just using your status at SOAP as an excuse for your own selfishness!"
"...Fair enough. You're right. Even if I weren't a SOAP operative, this is something I would've done. Now then, are you going to stand aside or not?!"
"Not a chance! Just go home, Chris! It's not too late! I don't want to have to fight you either, but I'm not letting you or your boss destroy WOOHP!"
"...I don't have a home, Sam! You can thank that murderer behind you for that! I don't get it! Why are you defending this place?! Why are you defending Jerry Lewis you?! You, Alex, and Clover should be onmy side!"
Sam was taken aback. "What are you talking about, Chris?! Jerry wouldn't...!"
"...Now I remember!" said Jerry. His features illuminated comprehension. "You're...Christine! That's right! You were here at WOOHP! I captured you!"
"I thought you were just getting senile, but I guess the effects of the memory erasing gun has finally worn off, old man," replied Chris. "I'm actually glad you remember me! There wouldn't be any fun in killing you if you couldn't!"
Jerry paced the floor in deep thinking for a few moments. He then answered, "...While I could see why you would want to destroy me from your point of view, you appear to have a couple of the facts mixed up, Christine. It sounds to me as if Scar has been telling you something other than the truth in terms of what happened to your parents in that accident long ago. I garner he has led you believe I'm the one that ended their lives. Allow me to inform you once and for all that this isn't the case."
"Tsk! I've heard that before from you! You're simply saying that to try to weasel out of what's coming to you! I don't care how many WOOHP agents I have to crush to get you! Iwill avenge my mother and father!Today is the day WOOHP and you end! I'll make sure of it!"
"Chris, stop it! I'm serious!" hollered Sam. Her voice shook with anger and fear. "Don't do something you'll end up regretting!"
"I'm not going to regret this! Trust me!"
"My, you certainly are impatient. Just like your mother, I suppose." Jerry rubbed his tired eyelids and walked past Sam, close enough to Chris to put himself in harm's way. "You really do resemble Diane a great deal, though knowing her, she would be scolding you a great deal if she could see you now."
"S-Shut up! Like you have a right to criticize me over anything after what you did! And don't talk about my mother like you two were friends or anything!"
"And you're always shouting like your father Nathaniel. You really are their child."
Finding no comprehension in Jerry's words, Chris let her rage take over, and she swung at WOOHP's leader, intending to shut him up forcefully. Sam caught her trembling fist instead.
"S-Seriously, Chris! Just listen to what Jerry has to say! Scar's lying to you! Even without me knowing the whole story, I can tell that much! Why can't you?!"
"W-What wouldyou know?! You think you have a right to make that determination?!"
"Maybe if you weren't always so secretive about things, Iwould know!"
"There's a reason I keep to myself! People tend to hurt me, Sam! I don't want anything to do with them!"
"You don't mean that, and you know it! I think you've been wanting friends all along!"
Chris hesitated. "...Get out of my way, Sam! I'm done talking!"
"Never!"
"I SAID MOVE!"
"I WON'T!"
It was inevitable things would come to this. Chris predicted as much. She snarled at Sam like a rabid dog, wanting to crush the woman standing before her. However, she couldn't bring herself to do it, not when her friend gazed at her with those eyes, eyes overflowing with sorrow, pity, and compassion.
"...D-Dammit!" Chris backed down, prompting Sam to release her hold on her. "...W-Why?! My head and my heart are screaming two different things! Why can I never seem to bring myself to finish you guys?!"
"...I'm glad to see Scar hasn't turned you into a monster like him." Jerry inched even closer to Chrism and she responded by taking a wary step back.
"S-Stay away from me, you...you...!"
"Christine, listen to me. It is very important you understand what happened ten years ago was no accident."
"I-I know that!You killed my parents! It was no accident either!"
"No! Remember! Remember back to that day! Scar may have filled your head with lies, but you of all people should be able to recall what happened!"
Reliving the events of ten years prior wasn't difficult. They often flooded her thoughts, overwhelming her at times. She never wanted to recount them. She wanted nothing to do with them. Falling to her knees, she clutched at her throbbing heart.
"What is it you're trying to tell me, old man?!" she howled at Jerry. "WHAT IS IT?!"
#
That fateful day ten years ago stood out for being extraordinarily warm. Because of the weather, Christine's mother had draped her daughter in a red, summer dress held up by white straps. Nevertheless, the sun managed to bother her anyway, making tiny drops of sweat coat her forehead.
"It's hot!" a much younger Chris complained, being carried along by the arm. "Mommy, I'm thirsty!"
The woman holding her hand smiled down at her. Her features and silver hair greatly resembled Chris', so much so that it would have been clear to anyone she was her mother. The bright, orange catsuit she wore contrasted greatly with the drab, gray, and generally quiet airfield the two were walking in. Only the sound of the jet in the background buzzing could be heard for miles on end.
"Just hang on a little longer, sweetie. They'll be something to drink on the plane," Diane informed her daughter. She then fanned herself with her hand. "Boy, it sure is hot though! The weatherman called for rain today too! Even with all this wondrous technology we have nowadays, they still can't get the forecast right."
"Mommy, where are we going?!" asked Chris.
"Hmm? Did I forget to say it? Huh, I guess I did with everything else that's been happening! I'm sorry, sweetie!" said Diane. She laughed at her simplemindedness. "Guess what, Chris? Today, you're going to get to see what Mommy and Daddy do for a living!"
"R-Really?! You mean I get to go on a mission with you?!"
"That's right! We're gonna fly in a big jet across the ocean to deliver something for WOOHP!"
The news transformed Chris in a bubbling ball of excitement. Never before had her parents brought her along for one of their missions. They usually left her behind in the care of relatives, not coming back for days at a time. Chris was often sad and lonely until their return, but this time, things were different.
"Ugh! What an ugly jet! I-I thought I was seeing things in the distance, but..."
Staring Chris and her mother straight on was avery pink plane with white flowers patterned all over its bright hull. It was truthfully painful to look at, and Diane found herself cover her face.
"Wow! Are we really going to ride in that?!" asked Chris excitedly.
"Unfortunately," Diane muttered. She caught herself and quickly added, "E-Er...I-I mean, yes we are, Chris! Isn't it...er...l-lovely?"
This was Chris' first time seeing a plane this close, so to her, it really was. She wouldn't have cared if it was purple for that matter.
"No doubt this was Jerry's idea." A vein throbbed on Diane's head. "Is this a joke?"
Up ahead, a large, burly, and brown-haired man waved his hand feverishly to get Diane's and Chris' attention. The second she saw him, Chris wrenched her hand free from her mother's grasp and fell into his arms.
"Daddy!" she exclaimed.
"Haha! There's my girl!" Nathaniel, her father, stated. "Say, have you gotten taller since the last time I've seen you?"
"Mmhm! I've grown this much!" Chris exaggerated her increased stature by raising her arms as high as she could. "I'm gonna be as tall as you some day!"
Nathaniel chuckled heartily again. "Is that so? Looks like I better watch out!"
He snatched Chris up and placed her on his shoulders, much to her amusement.
"So, are you ready to go on a 'super secret mission' with your folks?" he said to her afterward. She nodded her head eagerly. "Haha! Atta girl!"
Diane walked over to the two, saying, "Don't you think that jet is a bit too much?"
"Hey, it was Jerry's idea. He said a lot of the younger agents are really into this sort of thing," Nathaniel replied. "I agree though. We're gonna stick out like a sore thumb in something like this."
"Yeah, that's a bit of an understatement!"
"Haha! I'm sure things will be fine. After all, we're not going to be doing much in it other than dropping something off. I've been wondering though if bringing our dear Chris along is a good idea."
"It should be perfectly fine. There won't be a hint of danger after us today. I would've been far more concerned if we'd brought her on ourprevious mission."
"Ah, the one with the evil, mad scientist trying to take over the world with mind controlled gorillas? Yeah, that was indeed a hairy situation! Um...no pun intended! I still can't believe we made it outta that one in one piece!"
"You werethis close to getting peeled like a banana by one of those gorillas!"
The two shared a laugh recounting the hair-raising experience, and Chris stared at them both curiously. It sure didn't sound all that thrilling to her.
"I guess you're right, honey. Today will be a brisk jog in comparison!" said Nathaniel.
"It'll be nice for Chris to see us at work. After all, maybe some day she'll want to become a spy just like us!" added Diane.
"Mhmm! I wanna be a spy just like you two!" Chris exclaimed.
"That's my girl! She's got out blood running through her veins alright!" said Nathaniel.
"I certainly hope I'm not interrupting anything."
When everyone turned around, Chris noticed a man with shaggy, black hair leering back at them. His gaze seemed fixed on her specifically, and she froze up because of this. It was as if his black eyes were piercing right through her, searching for something or another.
"Scar! No, you're here just in time in fact!" Nathaniel told Scar warmly. "We were just here having some family time!"
"'Family time?' I see. How enriching."
"Where were you by the way?"
"Me?" Scar gestured toward the jet behind him. "I was simply fine tuning our transportation before the mission. You can never be too careful when flying the skies. Only problem I found was that thing not having any sort of cloaking system."
"'Cloaking system?' Is there someone we'll need to hide from?" asked a concerned Diane.
Scar chuckled. "No, no. I'd just rather not be seen in such a hideous thing."
"Well, I certainly agree with you there! I don't know what Jerry was thinking." Diane smiled slyly and noted even when she wasn't looking directly at the plane, she could sense its hideousness bearing down on her.
"Is that the daughter you two prattle on about so much there?"
"You bet! This here's our little ray of sunshine, Christine! Chris, say hello to Scar here! You see, he's apart of our three-man-team at WOOHP! I couldn't ask for a better partner in the world!" proclaimed Nathaniel.
"Ahem!" Diane uttered as loud as she could.
"E-Er...except for my loving wife, of course! Haha!"
Scar bowed. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Christine."
Flinching, the way Scar said Chris' name made her strangely anxious. She wished he wouldn't say it again from now on.
"Nathaniel. Diane. I must compliment you two on producing such a fine daughter. Perhaps I'll be able to start a family of my own one day," added Scar.
"U-Um...n-nice to meet you, Mister Scar," replied Chris timidly. She never was good with first encounters. "Uh...w-why do they call you Scar? There's nothing on your face!"
"Heh. It's merely a codename. I never really understood where it came from either. Anyway, I believe we should get going. Are you bringing your daughter along for this mission?"
"That's right!" answered Nathaniel. "You don't mind, do you?"
"If that's what you two desire, you'll hear no complaints from me. Anyway, we'd better get going. We're already running late ,and Jerry will most likely scold us if we delay any further."
"He's lucky we're getting on that plane at all!" bellowed Diane. "I'm gonna tell him to scrap it the second we get back!"
No one was going to disagree with her on that.
"Ready to go, kiddo?" Nathaniel asked Chris, raising his arm enthusiastically.
"Yeah!" She emulated him and added, "Let's go! Let's go!"
"Haha! Alright, hold your horses! Here we go!"
The two cheered some more as they got on the jet, making Diane smile. It wasn't often they got to spend time together as a family like this. Missions tended to get in the way of that. Admittedly, she and her husband were away from Chris more than they liked.
"You know, we're thinking about retiring from this whole spy thing," she told Scar.
The news astonished Scar greatly. "Really now? This is the first I've heard of the matter. How serious are you both about this?"
Diane shrugged. "It wasn't a problem at first. We didn't have a kid, so we could go on as many missions as we wanted. As much as we love being in this business, Nathaniel and I have realized juggling work and time with our child is becoming impossible. We're simply going to miss out on too much of her life if we keep going like this. We've both talked about it, and we've told Jerry we'll do a couple more missions before hanging up our catsuits for good. He's not too keen on the idea, but I think we'll be able to turn him around to it eventually."
"...I can see why Jerry wouldn't want you to go. I'd be just as stubborn about it. I feel any partners Jerry gives me after your departure wouldn't be remotely the same as working with you two. However, I respect you and Nathaniel's decision here. Just know that I will miss you both."
"Aww! That's so sweet! We'll miss you too, Scar! You're always welcome to come over and visit us after we retire! After all, youare Chris' godfather! Right, we'd better get going! That package isn't going to deliver itself!"
Diane patted Scar on the head affectionately before joining Nathaniel and Chris on the jet. Scar remained put however, mulling Diane's words over.
"...I never expected them to bring their daughter along, but it's far too late for me to change my plans now. Forgive me, Diane, if you'll regret having deemed me worthy enough to be that child's godfather after today."
#
On board the plane, Diane strapped Chris into a leather seat and took the chair next to her.
"Whatever you do, Chris, stay in your seat, alright?" said Diane.
Chris nodded. "Mommy, when is the plane going to take off?"
"In a little bit, sweetie. Just hang in there for a little while longer."
Chris frowned. If there was anything she hated more than waiting, she couldn't think of it. Her attention shifted to the oval-shaped window beside her. It gave her a clear view of the outside. She couldn't see her father or Scar, making her search around. The second she did, the two entered the plane and took up positions in front of its controls.
"Let's see here..." Nathaniel scouted the wealth of buttons, levers, and switches awaiting him. "Well, I guess everything on the inside is familiar at least."
"Heaven forbid the controls be as ugly as the exterior," Scar mumbled.
"Still, I wonder why Jerry sent all three of us on this mission. The autopilot could practically handle a simple delivery like this!"
"Actually, I asked to tag along."
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow at this. "Really now?"
"Jerry was originally only going to send you and Diane, but I had nothing better to do, so here I am. I hope you both don't mind."
"Of course not! The more, the merrier!" Nathaniel stated. He then checked the status of his passengers. "Hang on tight, everyone! Things are about to get bumpy!"
Soon enough, the jet screeched off the runway and barreled into the sky. Chris felt some nausea as it do so, although she was far too thrilled with the prospect of flying with her parents to pay it much mind. Her beady eyes shifted about the outside of her window whilst she took in how high up she and the others were.
"Wow!" she said in a drawn out gasp. "Everything looks like ants! Mommy, this plane is really fast!"
"That's right, kiddo!" Nathaniel shot her a thumbs up. "While this thing might look silly, it's still the pinnacle of WOOHP technology! I doubt there's a faster jet in the entire world!"
"It's a shame then this amazing technology is in the hands of such a poor pilot. You'll most likely end up wrecking the thing," Scar joked.
"W-Watch it now!" Nathaniel replied. "I might just crash it on purpose if you keep that up!"
"I'd certainly hope not. You wouldn't want to kill your precious daughter on her first flight."
Nathaniel's face turned a deep crimson at the remark, and he was unable to think up a comeback for it. Scar, amused, noted he could usually outsmart his cohort when it came to a battle of wits. This time was no different.
"Mr. Scar's kinda weird," said Chris. "Mommy, what kinda mission did you say you were doing today for um...W-WOO...WOO..."
"WOOHP, dear," said Diane. "And like I said, we're going to deliver a very important package to another branch of our organization in another country."
"What kind of package?"
Diane winked and replied, "It's a secret!"
"Aww, no fair! I wanna know what it is!"
Scar glanced back at the two, but said nothing and turned forward again.
"Pipe down back there, squirt!" Nathaniel stated. "If you wanna see it so badly, you'll have to wait until we get where we're going!"
Being told to wait again wasn't something Chris was comfortable with, yet she knew better than to speak back to her parents, so she nodded and went back to sightseeing.
"She's an inquisitive child, isn't she?" asked Scar as he co-piloted the jet.
"Haha! Tell me about it! We can hardly get her to be quiet for even a minute or two back home!" explained Nathaniel. "Still, we love her to death, you know? She gives us something to come home to. I just can't wait until the day she becomes a fine WOOHP agent like us! Hell, I think she'll be even better than us!"
"...'WOOHP agent', huh?" Scar repeated in a low voice.
"You say something?"
Scar shook his head. "Nothing at all. By the way, even though we shouldn't run into any trouble on this mission, it would be best to keep our eyes peeled."
"Yeah, yeah, Mom! No need to nag my ear off! Seriously, Scar, you worry too much!"
This might've been the case, though Scar didn't allude to it and simply went back to operating the plane.
#
The lengthy trip stretched into the wee hours of the night. Diane and Chris had dozed off, leaving Nathaniel and Scar to pilot the plane in relative silence. Neither had said a word to one another in some time, though it wasn't because they were upset. The two, though good friends, usually struggled to come up with conversation topics. It more or less had to do with their differing personalities. Scar was the intellectual type, whereas Nathaniel was strictly a man of action. As such, there was a sort of unspoken rule between them that they didn't have to force a discussion.
"God, this is boring," said Nathaniel just then. He yawned and wiped the tears from eyelids after he stretched his limbs. "At least we'll be there soon enough. I'm gonna switch the plane over to autopilot. Feel free to get some rest if you want, Scar. Looks like our passengers have already clocked out on us!"
Chris murmured a bit and shifted while resting her head on her mother's shoulder. The sight of this made Nathaniel feel all warm and tingly inside. It was moments like these that made him truly appreciate his loved ones.
"Hmm? Oh, I apologize, Nathaniel. I didn't hear a thing you said." Scar lowered the book shrouding his face. "I was engrossed reading about the American Revolution."
"H-Hey! How long have you not been helping me fly, you jerk?!"
Scar avoided the question. "Have you ever heard of a man by the name of Benedict Arnold? Everyone calls him a traitor, but I for one find his tale fascinating. He may have betrayed those close to him, but what's so wrong about becoming incensed at being under appreciated? That was the reason for his actions, the reason he threw everything and everyone he ever cherished away."
"Eh? Is this a history lesson or something?"
"...Heh. I suppose all of that had nothing to do with anything. I was merely speaking out loud." Scar slammed his book shut, and a small cloud of dust shot out of it. He then glimpsed back at Chris and Diane. "You know, I envy them. How is it they can sleep while knowing danger could be afoot at a moment's notice?"
"Danger? What are you talking about? Right now, we're nothing more than glorified mailmen! I mean, the only danger we're in is getting a ticket for flying around in something so ugly!"
"You certainly have a point there." Scar chuckled. "Still, it isn't wise for them to be letting their guards down. I suppose I could understand a child, but Diane..."
"...Okay, you're beginning to freak me out. You talk like you know something's going to happen," said Nathaniel. His tone was serious now. So was his expression. "Something you want to let me in on, Scar?"
"I haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about. I'm not a psychic, so there's no way I would be able to predict something like that. My words are merely cautionary."
Nathaniel wasn't buying it. Despite him being unable to explain it, the tension inside the jet had increased to the point of discomfort for him. His instincts were telling him Scar was hiding something, something important.
"By the way, what exactly are we carrying on this plane right now?" asked Scar.
"Jerry didn't tell you during the debriefing?"
"...No. Like I said, I jumped on board this mission at the last second, so I really didn't get a chance to get the details."
"I see. Well, I don't know what it is exactly. All I know is that it's an incredibly powerful weapon, and if it gets into the wrong hands...well, let's just say we don't wanna think about something like that. I figure that's why Jerry gave you the okay to join us. The more people guarding a thing like that, the better."
"...Interesting. Thank you, Nathaniel."
Scar went back to reading, while Nathaniel paused at his partner's gratitude. There was more to it than that, yet he couldn't determine the undertones. In spite working with Scar for so long, Nathaniel could never get a read on the man. He was as mysterious as he was effective during missions, a fact that made Nathaniel both happy and cautious.
"Does it bother you Jerry often leaves out important facts of our mission like this?" Scar then inquired.
"I don't follow you."
"I'm simply saying that he's always asking us to do dangerous things, yet he tends to leave important details out. Here we are risking our lives ferrying some unknown item, and he hadn't the decency to tell us what it was or who could be after us for having it. It's quite grating if you ask me."
Nathaniel, trying to avoid eye contact with Scar now, felt his friend had a point. However, that sort of thing never seriously bothered him. He assumed there were plenty of things Jerry, and WOOHP as a whole, needed to keep secret from his operatives to protect their affairs. Still, working for WOOHP was a privilege as much as it was a choice. Privileges such as those came with some restraints. Whatever they were carrying on this plane, Nathaniel knew it was important, important enough that Jerry tasked him and the others with getting rid of it. Having his boss place that much faith in him satisfied him enough.
"What type of leader is that?" Scar went on. Bitterness tainted his speech. Nathaniel figured he would've been an idiot not to take heed of this. "Quite honestly, I'm becoming dissatisfied with Jerry Lewis and WOOHP."
"Thinking about transferring to the spy agency down the street?" Nathaniel joked.
Not catching this, Scar replied, "...I'm also dissatisfied with being under appreciated. I've given my life, and practically my soul, to WOOHP, yet Jerry Lewis doesn't care. No, he casts aside my ideas and accomplishments like they were meaningless. He doesn't think me worthy enough to succeed him as the leader of WOOHP. What a fool he is! A majority of the technology we employ in the field is thanks to my efforts, yet do I receive an ounce of praise for this?! No. All Jerry Lewis cares about is dangling his power over my head, over all his operatives! We're nothing but pawns to that man. I empathize with Benedict Arnold now. He was no traitor. His repeated acts of bravery and intelligence were overlooked, so his actions after garnering no attention or praise are something I can sympathize with. Yes, he and are alike in many respects. Nevertheless, history has labeled him a villain. A pity."
Nathaniel didn't like where the chat was veering. He quietly continued to fly the plane though felt himself and his family in increasing danger the longer they stayed near Scar. This wasn't mere intuition; his gut was practically screaming at him.
Awkwardly clearing his throat, he said, "Look, there's probably a reason Jerry has been passing you up for a promotion. Perhaps he's just not ready to retire yet, or he just doesn't think you're ready yet. You really are a good operative, Scar, but..."
Suddenly, Scar slammed his hands onto the dashboard resting in front of him. Nathaniel jumped at this, immediately wishing he could take his words back.
"'Not ready yet?!' What in the hell are you talking about?! Of course I'm ready! I'vebeen ready! Everyone knows I'm the best operative at WOOHP right now! You and your idiotic wife would bedead if it weren't for my endeavors! I've saved you both more times than either of you could ever realize! That isn't the issue here! Don't you see?! Jerry's simplyafraid of me! He's afraid of everything I've accomplished so far, and rightly so! Jerry realizes I'm a far more capable leader than he is, so he's intentionally leaving me to fester as a field agent for as long as possible! The old fool! I suppose I'll give him credit at least for acknowledging me as a threat! Even so, how long does he think he can hide behind his audacious title as leader of WOOHP?! Nothing lasts forever! Iwill take my rightful place in due time! If I have to go through him or anyone else that stands in my way, so be it!"
This wasn't right. None of this was right. A look of utter disgust lined Nathaniel's expression as Scar descended into mad laughter. Thiswasnot the man he thought he knew as a friend all these years. No, that person had clearly been nothing more than a disguise, a facade played up by Scar to maintain a certain image. The vile fiend before Nathaniel was thereal Scar, a being no longer wrapped under false skin. How hadn't he noticed it beforehand?
"Scar, you…!"
"Hmm? What's going on?" Diane awoke from her slumber, unable to sleep with all the commotion. "W-What's with him, Nate? Did you tell a funny joke or something?"
Nathaniel, unable to answer his wife, wished that were simply the case. He clenched his jaw and slowly moved his head to Chris, who remained asleep in spite of everything.
#
An intense heat woke Chris up. It was different from earlier, and she could tell it wasn't the sun this time around. It was much closer, with the scent of burning fuel stinging her nostrils. Rubbing her sleep-ridden eyelids, she opened them to see an incredible inferno blazing in the distance. Wreckage from some time of vehicle was the probable cause, and sighting a piece of it, she noticed its pink, flower-patterned design was familiar.
"Huh? W-What's going on?"
She felt some type of blanket covering her, but more than that, someone was carrying her in their arms. Looking up, she saw Scar, her parent's associate. He paid her no mind, even as she poked at the black cloth covering the lower half of his face. She couldn't remember him wearing it before.
"What's this for, Mr. Scar?" she inquired. His countenance, deadpan and mysterious, made her retreat some. "Er...w-what's going on?"
"The...plane we were in. It crashed," he informed her plainly.
"W-What?! 'C-Crashed?!' H-How did that happen?! I-I don't...!"
"I couldn't save them," Scar muttered. He was more talking to himself than to Chris. "W-WOOHP killed them, yet there was nothing I could..."
"'W-WOOHP?'"
"Dammit!" Without warning, he fell to his knees and started sobbing. "I COULDN'T SAVE THEM!"
"W-Where are my parents?! Where's Mommy and Daddy?!" Now panicked, Chris' fear magnified when Scar ignored her. "I-I want Mommy and Daddy! I-I'm scared!"
She burst into tears, unable to cope with her confusion. For some time, she and Scar did nothing but weep. The flames in front of them crackled furiously in response.
"They're gone..." Scar composed himself enough to tell her this. "...Nathaniel and Diane are gone..."
"'G-Gone?!' Gone where?! I wanna see them?!"
Scar shook his head. "I'm afraid that's impossible, Christine. They've...gone someplace you'll be unable to see them from now on."
Chris didn't understand. All she really got was that she wanted to cry even more now. Scar did attempt to stop her.
#
"That's right. You're telling me to remember, but there's no way I could forget something like that!"
Back in the present, Chris shoved her memories aside and rose to her feet. Strolling down Memory Lane like this merely served to increase her already boiling anger to the breaking point.
"After I calmed down some, Scar told me what you and WOOHP did!" she continued. Her words were slightly muffled by how hard she was clenching her teeth. "That plane we were on was suddenly hit by a missile, a missile sent by none other than WOOHP! We checked the wreckage, and the remains of that missile definitely bore the WOOHP emblem! Scar even traced it back from the source! He said it came fromthis building!You people shot down that plane!You people killed my parents!"
"N-No way! T-That's impossible!" cried Sam. Even after hearing the story, she couldn't believe her boss would have it in him to do something so despicable. "Chris, w-why would WOOHP want to get rid of your parents?! You said it yourself they were really good agents!"
"Tsk! Maybe that's why he got rid of them! Scar told me they were talking about retiring so they could spend more time with me, but Jerry here didn't want them to go. In fact, Scar said the old timer was vehement about the matter. He didn't want to lose his best agents, so maybe he made sure they couldn't slink off to another spy agency or something! Or maybe he was just so petty, he didn't want them to live in peace!"
"Wait a sec! J-Jerry, tell her...!" Sam gasped at Jerry holding his head to the floor without saying anything to defend himself. It was practically an admission of guilt. "J-Jerry?! N-No! Y-You can't be serious!'
The doors to Jerry's office opened again. Clapping his hands, Scar himself made his presence now by stepping in front of Chris.
"Jerry Lewis, it's been far too long!" he yelled. "I haven't been this far inside WOOHP's walls in quite some time. I see you've moved things around a bit. Well, I guess it doesn't matter now. All of this will be gone soon enough. As will you. Of course, you've probably been preparing yourself for this day, the day I rightfully take my place as leader of the World Organization of Human Protection!"
END