Special thanks to KaKaAnko for regularly reviewing. Thanks also to X. I'm glad you are enjoying the story. So if you like or dislike this please let me know. It's not quite turning out like I wanted.

I do not own the characters.

Episode 14

Kenwyn and Noah arrived at school the next day. All the kids were milling around outside the front entrance, yellow caution tape still surrounding the school.

"What's going on?" Noah asked innocently.

Tiffany the biggest gossip was eager to tell him the news, "Didn't you hear? The school was vandalized over the weekend. They won't let us in because of the on-going investigation."

Kenwyn and Noah looked at each other. A few minutes later Annie and Claire joined them.

"What happened?" Claire asked.

"All I know is it couldn't have been me. I just got here." Annie said firmly.

Before either Noah or Kenwyn could answer, Principal Rothberger stepped out the front of the school. He had a bullhorn.

"The school board and I have decided that because of extenuating circumstances, school will be cancelled for the rest of the year. Since most of your grades are immutable anyway, finals will also be cancelled."

The students present let out a cheer. Then someone shouted, "What about the prom?"

"And graduation?" Another added.

Rothberger turned his bullhorn on again. "Since the school is in no shape to hold the dance here, a hotel has graciously offered us one of its halls but the prom will be moved to Wednesday. Graduation will be held at the local university at the usual time as planned. "

The seniors gasped. One girl yelled. "I have to go get my dress!" Many of the seniors began leaving.

Rothberger turned his bullhorn on again, "Those of you who need to talk to teachers or counselors, they have set up tables on the track field. Report cards will be mailed. That is all." He turned around and went back inside.

Chaos reigned as students started heading en masse to the field.

Beverly who had been standing off to the side frowned. Now that the school was closed off how was she supposed to investigate anything?

"Hi, Bev! Isn't it great? Summer came early." Chad said breathlessly as he trotted over to her.

"Oh, Chad, I didn't see you. Yeah, I guess that's good." Beverly said hesitantly.

"Oh, yeah, that's right you transferred in. What's going to happen to your grades? Can you even graduate?" Chad looked concerned.

"I guess I better go talk to those counselors." She sighed turning to follow the crowd.

"Hey, wait. I know what's going to happen. There's going to be a huge line while everyone sorts through their mess. You won't even get near the tables for hours. Why don't we let the eager beavers go first and we'll come back later."

"I guess that makes sense." Beverly agreed slowly.

"Let's go to the Burger Shack." Chad said holding her hand.

"Uh sure." Beverly was a little uncomfortable but followed anyway.

0o0

Circe slowly started to wake. Her vision gradually became clearer. When she was fully conscious, she noticed that she was sitting on the floor propped up against the wall. Lifting up her head she realized that her mouth was muzzled.

"Mmmph!" She mumbled indignantly. She tried to remove it when she noticed her arms were restrained behind her back by rope. "Mmmph!" She banged the back of her head against the wall and looked up in annoyance.

"Yeah, my thoughts exactly." Someone said next to her. Circe looked over and saw Rothberger without his gag but still tied to the chair.

"Mmmph mmph mmph mmph mmph mmph?" Circe asked.

Apparently Rothberger understood muzzled speech because he answered despondently, "Well, about a several weeks ago, or it could have been months I've lost track of time, my doorbell rang. I went to answer it and there I was standing there! Then I blacked out. When I come to, I'm tied here in my basement. They feed me and let me go to the bathroom only once a day. It's been a nightmare. I don't know what they've been doing to my beautiful school!"

"Mmmph." Circe said. She knew she had to figure out a way to get out of here and warn Rex that the current principal is a fake. She guessed Rothberger's usefulness will soon be at an end. It won't be long before he'd be eliminated along with her. She chillingly remembered the other Rothberger's parting words. It'll be over soon. She gave the room a once over. Her heart sank when she realized there was no way out.

0o0

Six took several deep breaths before he left his room. If all went well, tonight he'd be an engaged man. The thought thrilled and terrified him like nothing else. But in the meantime he had to act normal. So he walked out with his usual stoic expression… at least until Rex ran head on into him.

"Oooph, oh sorry Six, I didn't see you. Have you seen Caesar?" Rex asked helping the obviously annoyed agent up.

"Rex," Six's calm demeanor belayed his deep aggravation at the young EVO. "Watch where you are going. And no, I haven't seen your brother." He brushed himself off.

"How about Circe? I need to talk to her." Rex asked risking the agent's wrath.

"No, I haven't seen her either and I have to talk to her about trading assignments with unreliable monkeys."

"Hey, I'm a chimpanzee … a pan troglodytes." Bobo informed Six huffily.

"Circe hasn't returned yet? She was just going to check out Principal Rothberger's house." Rex asked worriedly. "Maybe I should go and see if she's okay."

"Fine, take the monkey with you." Six was glad to have both out of his hair for the day so he could get some work done.

"It's chimpanzee, green bean." Bobo called out.

Six didn't answer.

"Come on Principal Bobo let's pay a courtesy visit to Principal Rothberger." Rex smirked.

"With pleasure." Bobo smirked back.

Rex formed his rex ride and Bobo hopped on the back. They zoomed off.

Just before they reached the hanger they spotted Caesar.

Rex pulled over and rescinded his build. Bobo hopped off. "Rex, I'm gonna use the little chimp's room before we go."

"Wash your hands!" Rex called after his sidekick. Then he turned to Caesar, "Hey bro, where have you been?"

"I'm working on something for Beverly." Caesar said. "Can you give me a lift to town?"

"Sure, I guess. Don't you want to bring one of your own contraptions?" Rex asked.

"Uhh, no most are in the testing stage right now." Caesar hedged.

Rex knew that was code for it might blow up. "Get on." He sighed as he made his rex ride again. They rode out of the hanger.

There was a sound of flushing and Bobo stepped out of the men's room. He looked around. Rex was gone. "Oh come on, I rinsed my hands… a little."

Rex was a little concerned that Circe hadn't returned or reported back yet. He drove a little faster than normal. They arrived fairly quickly. Rex dropped Caesar off a block away from the school.

"How are you even going to find her?" Rex asked.

"Oh, when we were working on the new engine for the stealth cycle I might have accidently sprayed her with a mild radioactive dye." Caesar admitted. "She should still have traces of residue on her."

"What! How… actually, I won't even ask how that happened. " Rex looked at him. "Geez, if Holiday finds out she's gonna kill you."

"Well, she won't, will she." Caesar answered.

Rex shook his head. Lord, help Beverly if Caesar actually succeeded in getting her to go out with him.

"OK bro, don't do anything, oh I don't know, crazier than usual." Rex warned him.

Caesar waved without looking back as he pointed his Geiger counter in different directions trying to get a radioactive signal. After walking a few blocks he saw her profile sitting at a local hang out. He smiled and approached the eatery but then stopped.

Chad had appeared with a tray of drinks and food. He said something to her. It must have been funny because she was laughing and smiling. Caesar paused. His resolve faded. She looked so happy. He couldn't go and disrupt them. The least he could do was to let her be happy. He sadly walked away. Caesar decided to see what Rex was up to. Besides, Rex was his ride back to base.

Rex carefully surveyed the house. Everything looked normal but the house looked disheveled. It didn't seem to match the meticulous man that was Rothberger. He decided to go the direct route. He marched up to the door and rang the doorbell. No surprise; there was no answer. Just to be sure, he rang it several more times in rapid succession. Noah would have a heart attack. Rex looked around. When he was sure no one was paying any attention he jimmied the lock. The door gave way easily. Rex cautiously stepped inside. The house was a mess. Rex couldn't believe that Rothberger or anyone else could live this way. "And Six says my room is a pig sty." He muttered.

He shoved over empty pizza boxes and empty soda cans with his foot to make his way through the hallway to the living room. The living room was just as messy with empty food cartons strewn around. Rex held his nose and he walked through what must have been week old garbage. Finally, he made it into the kitchen. Surprisingly, the kitchen was pristine. On a whim he opened the refrigerator. He sucked in his breath. The fridge was filled with vials. "Holy… I hit the mother lode." Rex gasped. He pressed his comlink. "Six? Six? Come in?" Static answered him. Rex frowned. This can't be right. Their comlinks almost never failed unless they were broken or… something was blocking their signal. Something moved in Rex's peripheral vision. He stiffened for a second… then he spun around forming his smack hands just as a katana came down. Rex pushed the sword away and took a good look at the assailant. It was a black pawn.

0o0

Circe found that if she twisted her arm in a certain way it loosened the ropes around her wrists. Unfortunately, it was also quite painful. Circe was reminded of the story of some guy who cut his own leg off so he could escape being trapped. She hoped she wouldn't have to go to that extreme. She wiggled several times, each time getting use to the pain. At last she was able to maneuver her hand over the small blade she always concealed in her belt. Circe knew that if her belt was still on they had not discovered it. Patiently she nudged the blade into her hand. When the knife was in her hand, she used it to cut her ropes. The blade was small and the roped thick so the process was slow. When the rope was almost cut through, there was a loud bang from upstairs. The noise startled her. She almost dropped her knife. There was more banging and then sounds of furniture breaking as well as walls being demolished.

"What the bloody blue blazes are they doing up there?" Rothberger demanded.

Circe didn't know and right now was concerned about sawing through the stubborn rope. The next bang brought plaster from the ceiling. Circe broke through. She grabbed the muzzle and yanked it off. She swiftly cut Rothberger's ropes. She made him wait while she ran upstairs to see what was going on. When she swung open the door a pawn sailed past her. She looked in surprise at Rex who was on his back holding off a black pawn who was trying to impale him on its katana.

"Rex? What are you doing here?" She asked.

"Umm, rescuing you?" Rex grunted as the blade was inches from his face.

Circe rolled her eyes. She blasted the black pawn off Rex.

"I could have taken him." Rex said.

"Sure you could. My hero." She smirked. But she was glad to see Rex. Footsteps behind Circe put Rex into a fighting stance.

"Relax, it's just Rothberger… the real Rothberger." Circe looked to see Rex's confused expression.

"My house, my beautiful house." Rothberger moaned.

"Come on, sir. It's not safe."Circe grabbed his arm.

Rothberger stared at Rex. "Do I know you from somewhere?"

Rex cleared his throat and deepened his voice. "I don't think we've met." He turned on his heels and left. Circe shook her head and escorted a distraught Rothberger through his razed house.

When they reached outside they were confronted by a group of black pawns, all with rifles aimed at them.

"You are not authorized to be here. You will be terminated." One said in a mechanical voice.

"He's talking to you." Circe said as she supported Rothberger who had slumped in fear and exhaustion.

"Well you're not authorized either." Rex protested.

"But I was here already in the basement." Circe told him. "You're new."

"Oh so I'm the only one who's going to be terminated?" Rex scoffed.

The black pawns head went back and forth between the two squabbling agents. The argument seemed to confuse them.

"Oh yeah?" Rex yelled.

"Yeah!" Circe replied.

"Well, then…" Rex formed his smack hands and with one swipe knocked down all the black pawns

Circe surveyed the damage. "Works everytime."

"By the way, you were a little weak on that last delivery." Rex critiqued.

"Don't start with me." Circe grumbled.

"Rex! Circe!" Rex and Circe turned to see who was calling them. Caesar ran into the yard. He looked at the black pawns littered on the floor.

"Huh, guess you've been busy." Caesar commented.

"Caesar, look in the kitchen. There's hundreds of those vials in the fridge." Rex said to his brother.

"There's also a lab down in the basement." Circe added.

"Interesting. Could this be the place where they are manufacturing…? No it couldn't be. Such a complex and sophisticated drug needs more space and equipment than an average house can hold. This must be a way station." Caesar was talking to himself as he walked up the stairs. Just as he walked to the top of the porch the house exploded. Caesar was thrown back by the force as was Circe, Rex and Rothberger.

"Caesar!" Rex yelled.

Caesar got up with a hand on his head. "I'm okay, mijo." He glared at the house which was now on fire. "I guess whoever was here didn't want us finding out their secrets."

"My house!" Rothberger squeaked before he passed out. Circe who was holding him was almost dragged down to the floor.

"Ooph, for a little guy he sure is heavy." She complained as she gently laid him on the ground.

"Well, now what?" Rex growled. "Every lead we have blows up in our face. In this case, literally."

Circe walked to the house and using her sonic blast put out the fire.

"Did I ever tell you that's really impressive?" Rex asked walking over to her.

Circe looked at him mildly surprised. "No."

"Well, it is."

"Thanks."

"You're welcome." They looked at each other awkwardly.

"Hey, if you two are finished come help me look for any clues." Caesar had already entered the smoldering house.

Rex and Circe followed after Caesar. Circe used her sonic blasts to put out any remaining flames.

Caesar entered the kitchen. It was completely obliterated.

"Looks like the blasts originated from here." Caesar observed. Next they tried to go down to the basement but it was sealed off by debris. "Well, they were thorough."

"Guys, look at this." Circe picked up a burnt flyer off the floor.

"It's for the prom, so what?" Rex shrugged.

"Look on the back." Circe said.

Rex turned the paper over. Scrawled across the back it said:

Final phase at the prom. Investors watching. Deal done.

"What does that mean?" Rex wondered.

"It means we need to keep an eye out at the prom."

"Prom?" Caesar's face went paled. "Beverly's going to the prom."

"Really?" Rex was surprised. "With who?"

"Chad." Caesar and Circe said at the same time.

"I thought you were going to talk to Beverly." Rex looked at Caesar.

"I was, but then I saw her. She was so happy with… with Chad that I couldn't." Caesar stared downcast at the ground.

Circe smacked him over the head.

"Oww, what was that for?" Casear rubbed his head.

"Oh sorry, I meant to do this too." Circe apologized. Then she punched him in the arm.

"Oww, quit it." Caesar glared at her.

"That was for the centrifuge." She sniffed. "The first was for being an idiot."

"Huh?" Caesar looked puzzled as Circe walked away. He looked at Rex.

Rex shrugged. "Don't look at me. I don't get woman."

0o0

Circe, Caesar, and Rex sat in front of Six. They had just submitted their report. Six flipped through the paper.

"Something big is happening here." Six threw the files back on his desk. He leaned back into his chair. "Tuck and Cricket said the dealer on the corner seemed to have vanished into thin air. The school has been closed because of vandalism. The fake Rothberger has disappeared. Bowman is still in a coma. The soccer players have been questioned and released to their parents. Jimmy too. They don't know anything. Apparently, they learned about N-juice through a rumor. The prom is our last and only lead. Kenwyn informed me that it has been moved up to Wednesday. That doesn't give us much time to prepare."

"What do we need to do?" Rex asked.

"The hotel where the prom is being held needs to be checked out and wired without the staff knowing. We also give information out on a need to know basis only. We don't know who to trust. It seems that Fell is always one step ahead of us. There might be a mole."

"A traitor in Providence?" Rex looked startled. "It can't be."

"Don't know yet Rex. But we need to be prepared for all eventualities." Six said. He pushed his intercom, "Ask Captain Calan and Dr. Holiday to come to my office." Six told his secretary. He looked up at the current group. "You're dismissed." Three of them got up to go. "Except you Circe. I want a word with you." Circe gulped and sat back down. Rex gave her a sympathetic look before he and Caesar left.

"Look, if it's about leaving Bobo…" Circe began.

"Actually, it's about you and Rex." Six stood up. He walked around his desk to stand in front of Circe. He casually leaned against the desk. Circe shifted uncomfortably. "Circe, believe it or not you and I are very much alike." At that Circe's head whipped up, a look of shock on her face.

Six continued. "We both grew up on our own, relying only on ourselves, sometimes doing… questionable things to survive. Everyday was a fight and a struggle."

Circe didn't answer. Her eyes dropped to the ground.

"The only difference is that I did find someone early on that cared about me but the damage was done. I was afraid to let anyone in. I still am, because when you let anyone get that close, they can hurt you. And I was tired of being hurt. I used all sorts of excuses to not get close to anyone. I built walls." He paused. Circe still didn't stir.

"Then Rex showed up. He started breaking down those walls. Holiday too. I couldn't stop them and I soon realized I didn't want to. The excuses I used were just that… excuses. The bottom line was that I was afraid. But when I finally let them in, it wasn't as bad as I thought. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Circe swallowed hard, "I think so."

"Give yourself a break. The past is the past. If you live too much in it you'll miss the future." Six finished.

"Agent Six, Captain Calan is here." The secretary's voice echoed in the office.

Circe got up. "Thank you."

Six nodded as he went back to his chair. "And Circe?" Circe turned her head back. "This conversation never happened."

Circe's face slowly broke into a half smile. "What conversation?"

Six smirked as Circe walked out of the office. Calan greeted her with a nod as he walked in.

"So what's the word?" Calan asked Six.

"We've got work to do and I have a hunch." Six answered.

Calan lifted a brow.

0o0

Six checked the time. If she didn't hurry they would be late. He had thought a lot about what he was about to do. After his conversation with Circe he knew it wasn't fair to Rebecca if he was proposing for selfish reasons. He had to make sure that this is what he wanted. It was. Now the question was, is it what she wanted?

Well, he'll find out tonight. He stood in the hanger by his jump jet waiting for Rebecca. He kept adjusting his tie which was the only indication that he was nervous. He was about to call her when the door slid opened. He drew in a sharp breath. She was dressed in a sequined black off the shoulder cocktail dress that hung on her every curve. Her hair hung down in soft curls. The black stilettos and matching purse completed the ensemble.

She smiled as she approached him, "Sorry, to keep you waiting. I'm ready."

Six's brain screamed at him to say something. But his mouth seemed to have forgotten how to form words. He swallowed hard and licked his lips. "You look…" He tried to think of some other word besides nice but failed. "Nice." He finished lamely.

"Thank you." She said as she moved pass him to the side of the jet and waited. It occurred to Six that she was waiting for him to help her up the ladder. He tried to smoothly walk over to do so. He held her hand to help her in. He carefully averted his eyes as she climbed in. He got into the front and closed the hatch.

"So where are we going?" Holiday asked seductively leaning over to him.

It suddenly got hard for him to breath. "It's a surprise."

"Can't you give me a little hint?" Her voice became low and husky.

Six cleared his throat. "You'll see." He quickly took off before she had a chance to say anything else.

Holiday smirked. It wasn't everyday she got the agent rattled. His lips were thinly pressed into a line. His hands gripped the tiller so tight she was sure it would snap soon. She wondered what the problem was and why he was being so cryptic. She looked at the back of his head and sighed. Sometimes she can't figure him out.

Unbeknownst to them several shadows appeared in the dessert landscape below them. The shadows started running then wings sprouted out of their backs and followed after the jet.