A/N: The final installment of The Lost Century. Stay tuned for the prequel, coming soon to a grocery store near you. Like always, we own absolutely nothing.
[BADLANDS, SOUTH DAKOTA - 2010]
Claudia stared glumly at her computer. So far, she'd placed a tracer on Myka's phone, with no result. The agent had probably turned it off so nobody would convince her to return. Dammit... Might as well see if Doug's online. I need to talk to someone who won't be raving about H.G. Wells being crazy and evil, or trying to work out why Myka left. I need normal. She signed onto her instant messaging program, and sighed. Nope, dougievampslayer was offline. Oh, well. It was worth a try... but there was no sense in staying online if Doug wasn't on. Her mouse hovered over the "sign off" option.
A new message popped up on her screen.
DoubleDealinDiva (3:28:09 PM): Meet me at the side entrance of the Warehouse. I need to properly thank you for figuring out what was going on with H.G. Wells.
"Yeah, sure," Claudia muttered. She read aloud as she typed a reply, "I'll be there... in..." She checked the clock. "Twenty minutes."
DoubleDealinDiva (3:30:45 PM): I'll be waiting.
Claudia signed off and grabbed her keys.
[AT THE SAME TIME]
"Where did Claudia go?" Leena asked after the long silence following Myka's departure. Pete had just returned and was currently sitting in the corner of the office.
"She said she was going to her room," Artie said absently,
"Are you sure it's wise to leave her alone?" Leena wanted to know.
"I'll check on her," he sighed, getting up. "Who knows what sort of trouble she's probably getting into..." He wasn't stupid. He knew Claudia would probably be messing with something she shouldn't as a way to keep her mind off of Myka's departure.
"Call me when you get there."
"Sure," he grumped, pulling on a coat.
She smiled. "That wasn't a question."
Artie just grumbled and walked out of his office.
[TEN MINUTES LATER]
The bed and breakfast was, unsurprisingly, quiet. If Claudia was here, she was probably doing something nondestructive. Thank god. Well, time to find out. Artie rapped lightly on Claudia's closed door, hesitated, and pushed it open. "Claudia? Claudia, I realize that – that Myka's, ah, departure... might have upset you, but I – but helping out around here will help you take your mind off of – Claudia?"
Artie trailed off when he realized that there was no techie present in the room. However, it was strange of her to leave her computer on... Surely it couldn't hurt to look. After all, it might offer a clue to her location. Claudia was always running around, performing odd tasks on a whim.
He read the words on the screen aloud, brow furrowed. "Where in the Warehouse – Oh my god. Claudia!"
[AT THE SAME TIME]
Claudia pulled up to the side entrance of the Warehouse. Indeed, there was someone waiting for her. She looks familiar... She shook off that thought and climbed out of her car. "Hey."
The woman turned and smiled at Claudia. "I'm so glad you could make it, dear."
"Yeah, yeah. Hello to you, too," the young woman muttered. This was cutting into her moping time! Wait... She stopped, and stared at the woman before a look of recognition crossed her features. "Oh my god, I know you..."
The woman smiled in reply, sending a chill down Claudia's spine. "Yes, you do. It's about time we met face-to-face."
"What do you want?" Claudia wanted to know, almost afraid of the answer.
"You."
"What..." Her vision faded as she felt herself moving towards the door.
[TWENTY MINUTES LATER]
Myka slammed on the brakes at the sight in front of her. A twisted metal heap lay on the dusty road in front of her, accompanied by a familiar car. A few figures huddled around the wrecked vehicle. Is that Claudia...? Brow furrowed in confusion, she stepped out of her car and crept closer, straining her ears to catch the sounds of their voices.
"Well, now we have no automobile. Are you sure you thought this through, dear?" Helena.
"Of course I did. Helena, meet Claudia's car." That voice, while sounding offended, was familiar as well... Wait. Was it really the woman in red?
"What's going on?" she insisted, staring at the women in front of her with confusion.
Three heads whipped around as one to stare at Myka. Claudia... Helena... And... the woman in the red hat. Oh my god, why didn't I see it before?
Blue eyes bored into her own as the woman in the red hat stood silently beside Helena and Claudia. She raised her eyebrows, as if challenging the agent. That did it. Nobody played Myka and got away with it. She rushed forward, drawing her Tesla. She drew closer to the trio, and happened to glance at the unknown woman again. It may have just been a trick of the light, or the way the sunlight lit up her face, but Myka could have sworn she knew the woman... and then it hit her. "No..."
The last thing Myka saw was the furious face of the woman in the red hat as a beam of red light sped at her. I really don't get paid enough for this job... And the world went black.
[TEN MINUTES LATER]
"Myka? Myka?" The voice... why did she recognize that voice?
Myka groaned, head lolling to one side. "Wha..." She struggled to open her eyes. Why were there two Petes standing above her? She squinted at them.
"She's waking up!" both Petes said excitedly.
Two Arties now filled Myka's vision. "Myka, what happened?"
"Jeez Artie, impatient much?" the Petes snorted.
"The longer we wait, the more time they have to get away!" Artie and Artie snapped, before melting together into one.
"Artie? Pete? What happened?" Myka asked, dazed. At least she wasn't seeing double anymore. That was a scary thought: multiples of each Warehouse agent.
Pete glanced at Artie. Who would explain? Artie stared back at Pete. Both tried speaking at once, and promptly shut up. Pete narrowed his eyes at his boss, who motioned for him to go ahead. "We tried calling the Farnsworth but you didn't pick up," he explained.
Myka blinked, confused. "I had the – I had the Farnsworth?" She checked her pockets. "I don't have the Farnsworth!"
"Well, I don't have it!" Pete replied. This quickly escalated into a fight between the two agents, reminding Artie of a schoolyard squabble. Honestly, sometimes his agents acted like five-year olds.
"Children, children," Artie cut in. "There's an explanation for all of this, but first... inside! I will explain all." He turned and began stomping back towards the Warehouse. Without turning back, he added, "And don't say another word!"
[IN THE WAREHOUSE]
"Do either of you have any burning questions before I get started?" Artie asked. "Any thoughts?"
"Not at all," Pete admitted.
"No, I–" Myka's eyes widened as she remembered exactly why she'd been unconscious in the first place. "Wait, Artie, I know who it is. It's–"
"I know," he interrupted, "I know."
"Shouldn't we do something about it?"
"Um, guys? I'm a little lost here..." Pete interjected. "Who exactly are we doing something about? And I know it's that damn woman, it just sounds like you guys know who she is, so I kinda want to know too. Let me be in the little loop you've got going there." At least he knew who they were talking about, even if he didn't know who who she was. And whoever she was, Artie and Myka did not sound happy about it.
"Pete, we have to find Carmen Sandiego."
Pete laughed, expecting Myka and Artie to join in. Any minute now... any minute... "Wait...You're serious?"
Was Artie serious? Why wouldn't he be? "Dead serious."
"So, does this mean that Waldo's real too?" Myka punched him and mouthed 'this isn't the time.' "Ow! Okay, sorry for asking! Jeez. So we have to find Carmen Sandiego. Hahaha!" Pete quieted upon noticing the twin death glares directed at him. "Sorry. I was playing that with Claudia the other day. I just didn't expect Carmen to be, you know, real."
"No, see, Waldo – Wally, if you want to be technical about it – came about as a result of–" Artie began, before Myka shushed him. He grumbled under his breath for a moment before speaking up again. "Oh, Carmen's real, all right. And she's every bit as dangerous as H.G. Wells."
"Oh... I see. So, can I ask a really fast question? It's relevant."
Myka glanced at Pete. Well, he seemed serious this time, so... "Go for it."
"Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?"
Myka groaned and punched Pete.