All HIMYM characters belong to Carter Bays and Craig Thomas.

Unrelated characters are my own invention.

Double Update because I feel bad for not writing this for so long. Don't convince me to not feel bad, okay?

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IAA Headquarters6:30pm

After Ted left for his date with Tracy, Elizabeth and Joshua headed on out as well. The two of them were silent, and had been since their fight in New York. Elizabeth was too mad at him. What he had said was unforgiveable. She had been avoiding him ever since they got back from New York. Unfortunatly, avoiding him wasn't something she could do for the rest of her life. Eventually, he was needed since he was working the case with her. But still, she never spoke to him.

"Elizabeth, will you please talk to me? I'm sorry for what I said," Joshua apologized.

Elizabeth didn't reply. The two were walking down the grittier part of Toronto, meeting up with a source of Elizabeths'. They had contacted her with some valuable information pertaining to the case. The source could possibly know who was behind the attack in New York, and who wanted to use some of the more powerful members of IAA as military weapons.

Finally, they arrived at the agreed location. The two waited in tense silence for the source to show up. About two minutes passed before a tall man, with a beak like nose and white spiky hair approached.

"Hawk," Elizabeth called out.

"Black Shadow."

Elizabeth smirked. Teds code name for her was catching on. She liked it.

"You heard, huh?" She commented.

"Nothing gets passed us, Agent Striker. It's a pretty badass code name."

The man coughed before continuing.

"So, where's my money?"

Elizabeth looked at Joshua briefly and nodded her head towards Hawk. Joshua sighed, and fished out his wallet. Because she wasn't talking to him, Joshua had to pick up on her subtle clues as to what she wanted or needed him to do. He thumbed through some bills, before handing over one-hundred dollars.

"One-hundred dollars?" Hawk squawked.

"You'll get the other half after you tell me what you know," Elizabeth spoke sotto voce.

Hawk rolled his eyes.

"Fine. From what's been whispered in the underground, the person behind the attack and conspiracy is someone inside IAA."

"Are you saying this is an inside job?" Joshua asked, shocked.

"Positive."

"Do you know who?" Elizabeth asked.

Hawk looked at her, then at Joshua. Joshua felt a little unsettled by the way this informant was looking at him, as if he was a piece of meat or something. Joshua looked away from the informant.

"Not entirely. But it's someone whose never too far away; someone close. My suggestion: Keep a watchful eye on President Edsons office tonight," Hawk explained.

With a nod, Joshua handed over the rest of the money, then watched the informant disappear.

"He gives me the creeps."

Elizabeth again didn't reply, but did give a little nod in agreement. She walked away and Joshua followed.

"Are you ever going to talk to me?"

No reply. Sighing, Joshua followed her on back to IAA.


Arriving back, the two went over to President Edson office to see if he was there.

He wasn't. The office was dark and empty.

"You're not thinking about staying out here all night hiding in the shadows just to see if someone that shouldn't be going in there, goes in there, are you?" Joshua asked.

Elizabeth looked at him, folded her arms across her chest, then looked away with a look that seemed to say 'why not'? Joshua seethed.

"For crying out loud, how old are you! Six?" Joshua exploded.

Elizabeth glared daggers at him. Joshua didn't back down.

"Sooner or later, you're going to have to talk to me again."

She flipped him the bird. Joshua glared angrily at her.

"You know what, fine! Be that way. I'm leaving. Have fun sulking in the shadows," Joshua grumbled and stormed off.

What was his problem? Ever since New York, he had been so grumpy; impatient. It didn't happen until after Ted told them that he had powers. Did Joshua feel threatened by Ted? Because there was nothing going on between them. Elizabeth had no romantic interests in Ted, and well...he was currently on a date with Tracy McConnell. So, what was Joshuas' problem? Without talking to him, Elizabeth had to use her powers of deduction to find out...and it didn't take long for things to click.

Joshua was lonely. He was the only person in IAA without abilities of his own. He felt like he didn't belong. Elizabeth knew how that felt. When she first gained her abilities, she was different from all of the others around her. She used to be on her own too. When Joshua told her that people needed protecting from her, he was talking about how he needed protecting, because without abilities, and just the skills that he had, Joshua was weak. And men hated being viewed as weak.

She felt bad. As Elizabeth continued to hide in the shadows while keeping an eye on President Edsons office door, she pulled out her phone to call him. She listened to the phone ring a couple of times.

This is Agent Reynolds. I'm not here right now. Please leave a message and I'll get back to you.

Strange...why did it go to his voicemail? He was the one who kept begging her to talk to him. Then again, he could be busy and just wasn't able to answer right now. Hanging up the phone, Elizabeth put it back in her pocket just as she saw someone approach the door. Their back was too her, so she had no clue who it was. They appeared to be limping and were hunched over. The figure fiddled with the door handle when Elizabeth stepped out of the shadows.

"Ya know, President Edson doesn't take kindly to people breaking in to his office," She spoke up.

The figure turned around.

"I'm sure he won't mind."

"President Edson! I'm so sorry! I didn't realize it was you..."

Elizabeth stopped and looked at the older man. He seemed to be in discomfort.

"Are you alright, sir?"

President Edson shook his head and unlocked his office door. Just as he walked in, he began to fall over.

"Sir!" Elizabeth caught him and helped him over to his couch in the corner.

She set him down carefully and laid a blanket on him.

"What's wrong?"

"I need my...medication. In the top right drawer of my desk," President Edson wheezed.

Nodding, Elizabeth went to grab it, as well as his water bottle that was sitting atop the desk. She brought them over and he took them. He popped a pill in his mouth, and drank some water. After a few seconds, he was able to sit up.

"I saw what the medication label was. You have appendicitis," Elizabeth observed.

President Edson nodded.

"Among other things. I'm getting old, Agent Striker. My time in IAA is becoming limited," He explained.

Elizabeth frowned, but wasn't devastated. She understood that one day he wouldn't be around to govern over IAA.

"Have you picked your successor?" She asked.

President Edson nodded.

"General McLean is planning on retirement in the near future. He picked Agent Coolidge to be his successor. I think Agent Reynolds would be a perfect fit to govern over IAA," President Edson explained.

"Really?"

"Yes. He has proved himself worthy of being here. He doesn't need abilities to lead IAA. He has a good heart."

"You didn't want Tracy to take your place?"

"Tracy is a good kid too, but I know where her strengths and weaknesses lie. Plus, she's not one to bask in the limelight of things."

"Fair."

There was a pause between the two.

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

Another pause.

"Do you happen to know who could be behind the attacks and plan to turn some of us in to military weapons? A source of mine said it's someone here in IAA," Elizabeth explained.

President Edson shook his head.

"I have no idea, Elizabeth. I'm sorry."

"That's alright. Rest easy, sir."

Elizabeth got up and helped President Edson pull out the hide-a-bed that was inside his couch. She set it up, and assisted him back in to bed. After he was comfortable, she left his office; turning on a dim light before closing the door behind her. Once in the hallway, Elizabeth leaned up against the wall, her arms folded in front of her. She seemed deep in thought. She was putting together what she knew...which was still very little. There wasn't really much evidence as to who this mystery person was. All she knew were the facts at hand.

"Maybe Joshua found something."

She pulled out her phone to call him. Then, she remembered that he didn't answer the last time. Pulling up his information, Elizabeth enabled his tracking device in his phone. He was in his car, heading towards Hamilton. What was in Hamilton? She went to go find out. Perhaps he had an informant of his own, or he had discovered a lead that took him there. Coming to the garage, Elizabeth got in her car; a red volkswagen jetta. Turning on her engine, she left the garage, only to be stopped when she saw Ted and Tracy rush in. She slammed on the brakes!

"What the hell, Ted!? I almost ran you down!" Elizabeth yelled, rolling down her window.

"We know who's behind the attacks!" Ted exclaimed.

"Get in."

Tracy and Ted climbed in to the backseat of Elizabeths car as she drove.

"Wait, where are you going, he's inside!"

"Who is?"

"Ed Mattice!"

Elizabeth slammed on the brakes again.

"Are you sure?"

"I got a good look at his eyes. It was definitely Ed behind the mask," Tracy explained.

"This makes no sense. Why Ed? Yeah, he's weird, but he's also kinda dumb. There's no way he could be behind the attacks all on his own. He must be working for someone. He's just the muscle," Elizabeth determined.

She pulled out her phone and turned on Eds tracking device. Weird...he was in Hamilton as well. Elizabeth looked at Joshuas tracker. His was way off from where Eds was. Joshua probably had no clue, or at least was about to find out.

"Buckle up, guys. This is going to be one hell of a ride."

"I'd do as she says, Ted. She's not kidding."

Ted looked at Elizabeth with some concern as he buckled him. As soon as it buckle clicked in place, Elizabeth stepped on the gas and drove at a high speed; one that she was allowed to get away with as she turned on her siren.


Hamilton, Ontario

10:00pm

By the time Tracy, Ted and Elizabeth arrived in Hamilton, the three of them were changed. Elizabeth had a spare catsuit in the trunk, and Tracy, with her scientific mind, created a way to store hers in her little purse. All she had to do was add a drop of water, and it expanded. Her outfit was a dark red ombre jumpsuit with a halter top style to it. She also had on dark red boots. Ted had changed in to a simple black outfit to help blend in. They had arrived at the place that Eds tracker took them too.

"So, what do we do?" Tracy asked.

Elizabeth looked around the building. It was the Century Manor Insane Asylum...or at least half of it. The main building was gone. Elizabeth looked at the tracker. It said that Ed was right in this spot...but...where? She didn't see him anywhere, with and without her enhanced vision abilities.

"Wait, wait...this is the Century Manor Insane Asylum. I learned about this place in college. It was built in the eighteen hundreds, and was home to the criminally insane. They say its haunted," Ted started rambling.

"Is there a point to this architectural rant?" Elizabeth asked.

"Yes, yes, I'm getting there. See, when this place was built, they made tunnels..."

"Say no more, Ted. Where are the tunnels?" Elizabeth asked.

"If I remember correctly from my history classes..." Ted walked around a little, looking at the ground beneath his feet.

He stopped when he hit something. Bending down, he moved some dirt aside to expose a handle. He pulled on it and opened a door. Tracy and Elizabeth walked on over.

"Ladies first," Ted gestured.

Elizabeth went down first, then Tracy. Looking around to make sure the coast was clear, Ted followed after them and closed the tunnel door. Climbing down the ladder and reaching the bottom, Ted searched for the women in the dark.

"Tracy, wanna give us a light?" Ted heard Elizabeths voice.

The tunnel brightened up with a softly dim light of deep sea blue. It was a beautiful color; and it complimented Tracy perfectly. It also only shone on the three of them, and seemed to blend flawlessy with the nautral darkness of the tunnel, to keep them from being caught. The three of them walked down the tunnel, with Tracy and Ted following after Elizabeth as she used her hearing senses. Even with her enhanced hearing, Elizabeth couldn't make out the voices that she was hearing. But as they got closer, she could definitely hear Eds voice. He was talking to someone, but the other person wasn't replying at the time.

"So, everything is ready, then?" Ed asked.

Elizabeth didn't hear a reply. She continued walking until she came to an archway. She stayed behind and hugged the wall. Ted and Tracy copied her. Elizabeth leaned forward slightly to peer into the open area that Ed was in. He was talking to someone who was hiding in a dark corner, tinkering at something. There was some advanced machinery in the open area, as well as a surgical table. There was also a prison cell. What the hell was all of this?

"What do we do?" Ted whispered.

Elizabeth turned to look at him.

"Start recording. We need to expose this," Elizabeth handed Ted her phone.

This was the first time that Ted actually got to hold her phone. He knew it was advanced...he didn't realize how advanced it was. It was confusing. He still had his old one, since his plan wasn't done yet. It was just a little rectangle in his hand. The screen was on and the icons on it seemed complicated...but they were labeled.

"Ah, camera." He tapped on the icon and the camera screen popped up.

"Woah...how do I record?" Ted asked.

Tracy help him as Elizabeth slowly and quietly made her way in to the open area; sticking to the shadows to avoid Ed. As she hid in the shadows and made her way around, she came to see the front side of Ed and she cringed. God, he always creeped her out. They had a bit of a history, but nothing serious. She had ended their casual relationship and he seemed chill with it. Eventually, she was close enough to see him fully from the front side.

Behind the archway, Tracy had helped Ted with the recording on Elizabeths phone, and she called General McLean to tell him about the situation. She kept her voice low and quiet.

Elizabeth listened to Ed talk to whoever else was in the room with him. Who was it? She used her night vision, but couldn't really see much since she was a little out of range. Hopefully they decided to speak up; it would help determine who it could be.

"Well you know, if you don't want to say anything, you don't have to," Ed spoke to the mystery figure.

"When do I get paid? You said that if I did those attacks, I would get some money. I set up the terrorist attack in New York for you, and I almost got away with robbing that restaurant before Mosby and McConnell stopped me," Ed explained.

Elizabeth held back a gasp. Ted and Tracy had been attacked? ON THEIR DATE!? Oh, Ed was going down. Elizabeth stepped out of the shadows.

"Almost...but luckily, Ted and Tracy are way more powerful than you think," Elizabeth spoke up.

Ed nearly jumped out of his skin when Elizabeth revealed herself to him.

"So, you're just someones lackey. Figures, since you're a little too slow to come up with something like this," Elizabeth gestured to the advanced machinery.

"How did you find me?" Ed asked.

"Uh duh, you have a tracking device in your phone, remember?"

Ed looked awkwardly in to the darkness behind Elizabeth. Elizabeth noticed and turned around.

"I'd like to meet the real brains behind this whole thing. Planning to turn the most powerful members of IAA in to weapons against the military? I gotta admit, that's pretty smart." Elizabeth spoke up, arms folded across her chest.

Slowly, the figure walked out of the shadows one foot at a time; the light creeping up their body as they slowly walked out.


"Hang on, kids, I gotta refill my water cup," Ted excused himself.

"DAD!" Penny cried in agony.

"UGH! Man, dad sucks! I hate cliffhangers!" Luke complained.

The two groaned as they waited for their dad. Ted finally came back in to the study with his water cup. He sat it on top of his desk, then continued with the story.


The figure walked out of the shadows one foot at a time; the light creeping up their body as they slowly walked out. Elizabeths eyes widened in horror as the man before her revealed himself. She felt tears of betrayal begin to run down her face.

"No..." She gasped in a whisper.

Steely blue eyes stared in to her emerald green ones. A masculine hand slicked back coal black hair, then readjusted the collar of the dark blue leather jacket that they wore.

"Oh yes," The man spoke.

Ted had no idea who was revealing themselves, as he kept hidden behind the archway, while only the tip of the camera peeked out of the corner. He couldn't look at the screen. He couldn't even hear who it was, since they spoke in a low tone.

"Why?" Elizabeth asked, seemingly disappointed at the man standing in front of her.

He stepped forward and gripped her tightly by her arms. He got right in to her face and gave her a short shake as he spoke.

"Power! That's why! All of my life, I've done what others told me; men in power who made me do their bidding. I grew to hate every single one of them. That's why I'm doing this, Elizabeth. Because with you and every other powerful member of IAA, I can give these men what they deserve."

Elizabeth felt more tears run down her face, and her body grew weak from the intense emotion of betrayal in her heart. She looked up at the man with the steely blue eyes.

"I'm so disappointed in you...Joshua."

Hearing Elizabeth speak the name, Ted and Tracy gasped silently.

Joshua let go of Elizabeth and stood tall.

"Why should you? You're not even my girlfriend. You have no sincere emotions for me," He spoke.

"Ed, bring Ted Mosby and his girlfriend in here," Joshua ordered.

"You knew?! Ted! Get out of here!" Elizabeth yelled.

Hearing this, Ted ended the recording and went to pocket his phone in a panic. Tracy was already halfway down the tunnel to meet up with General McLean when Elizabeth yelled out. Ed rounded the corner and threw his fist out; connecting it with Teds nose. Hearing cartlidge break, Ted cried in pain and double over.

"Ted!" Tracy yelled.

"Go!" Ted shouted.

Tracy climbed the ladder and left the tunnel as Ed gripped Ted by the jacket and dragged him in to the open area. He dragged him over to the cell, opened the door, and threw him in. Closing the cell door, Ed locked it.

"A cage won't hold me," Ted seethed.

"Uh, yeah it will," Joshua replied.

He grabbed a small remote and pressed a button. The cell began to light up, and the bars that Ted held on to burned the palms of his hands. With a yelp, Ted pulled his hands away. Fired up, Ted threw out his hand to focus on energy to create a way out of the cell. Except...

Ted felt no energy emit from his palms.

He tried again.

Nothing.

"Yeah, I'm not an idiot. I designed the cell to keep people like you from using your abilities," Joshua explained.

"You must have a degree in Advanced Technology Engineering," Ted observed.

"That, and I did work at Charmichael Tech for a while. I may have stolen some idea," Joshua shrugged.

He turned his attention back to Elizabeth, who seemed to have gone in some sort of catatonic state. Joshua grinned, for he knew why she ended up in the state that she was currently in.

"Aw, poor Elizabeth. Post traumatic stress will do that to you, I guess. You know...from the last time you were experimented on? I guess you're not as tough as you think you are," Joshua mocked.

"Leave her alone!" Ted demanded.

"Tracy is on her way back with General McLean, and trust me, you don't want to know what they'll do to you!"

Joshua cracked up with laughter, and Ed chuckled.

"I was actually kind of hoping that someone would go get General McLean. He'll bring the powerful ones back here...which is kind of what I want," Joshua explained.

Teds eyes widened in horror.

"This was all a set up, wasn't it!? This is just an elaborate trap! Get all of the powerful agents of IAA in here, trap them, and brainwash them to do your bidding!" Ted realized.

"Oh good, you're not as stupid as I thought. Yeah, that's pretty much it. As soon as they enter the tunnel, I can seal off the door. The entire tunnel is wired with the same stuff as the cage that you're in. Once that turns on...well...you know," Joshua explained.

Ted felt panic begin to set in. Tracy...

Robin, Marshall, Lily and Barney! He promised them that nothing would ever happen to him! That promise was now broken. Ted couldn't use his powers and pretty soon...nobody else would be able to either.

"Elizabeth! Elizabeth! Come on, you've gotta snap out of it! Elizabeth!" Ted pleaded.

Joshua looked at Elizabeth again. She didn't so much as flinch. He shook his head with disappointment.

"I at least thought that I'd get a fight out of this," Joshua remarked.

"What are you going to do with her while we wait for the others?" Ed asked.

Joshua looked Elizabeth up and down, a look of lust blazing in his steely blue eyes. He then spread his lips in to a malicious grin.

"I know exactly what I'm going to do."

"No...no! Elizabeth! Snap out of it!" Ted yelled, gripping the bars.

They burned his hands again, but Ted bit through the pain as he continued yelling.

"Elizabeth!"

He watched as Joshua grabbed her and led her in to the shadows.

"NOOOO!"


End scene