Part 1
So this is the Agency, huh? Bobby asked, looking up at the Harding Building with a skeptical expression on his face. He was far from impressed.
Yep, this is the place, Darien said, nodding. Quite a piece of work, I tell ya. The roof leaks, the wiring is faulty, half the toilets don't work....
Not exactly something you'd see in Home and Garden, eh?
Darien laughed. Definitely not. But you get used to it after a while.
As they walked through the door, Bobby frowned. Okay, I gotta ask -- why Fish and Game?
Darien winced. They were the only ones the Official could convince to sponsor us this year.
Bobby shook his head. If you ask me, the whole thing just sounds like a big joke.
The rest of the alphabet agencies think so too. But at least this gives us kind of a back door. Most people don't expect someone working for F&G to work any serious cases, except maybe animal smuggling, so the bad guys are too busy laughing to notice what we're up to until we slap the handcuffs on their wrists," Darien said wryly. He stopped in front of a small room. This is our office.
Bobby looked inside and wrinkled his nose in disgust. What, does it double as the janitor's closet?
The Fish wants us to be eager to head out into the field, Darien said, the irritation in his tone making it quite clear exactly what he thought of that.
Well, I think his plan's working, Bobby deadpanned, I wanna get out of here already.
I'm supposed to take you down to Claire's lab so she can give you your shot, and then up to the Official's office for your orientation lecture.
Man, I hate those things, Bobby said, heaving a deep sigh. There isn't any way I can cut class, is there?
Look at it this way. At least you've got a day or two until your first case.
Ooh, a whole day. Not much of a silver lining if you ask me, Bobby muttered.
Darien shook his head, an amused expression on his face. Come on, let's get you down to the lab for your shot. You're getting a little cranky here.
Bobby shook his head, saying defiantly, Am not! Still, he followed Darien down the hall. They quickly came upon a large metal door, which seemed to Bobby rather ominous. Darien fished around in his pockets for a moment and then pulled out a keycard, running it through the appropriate slot on the right-hand side of the door. The door slid open with a whoosh, and Darien walked inside. Bobby followed, albeit in a tentative fashion.
Whatever he had expected to find when he walked through the door, it certainly wasn't what he saw. Florescent lights bathed some areas of the room in an otherworldly glow. There were Bunsen burners, beakers filled with strange liquids, and a variety of other medical and scientific equipment, but there were also plants and several glass cages, in which were located a variety of animals: Lab-rats, naturally, but also some fish, a snake, and even a tarantula. Much to Bobby's amusement, Darien seemed bent on avoiding the tarantula.
Then Bobby saw the woman on the other side of the room, and for one telltale moment he forgot to breathe. She was hunched over a microscope mesmerized by what she saw. Bobby found himself wishing that he knew what it was that held her attention so raptly.
Darien walked over to the woman and tapped her on the shoulder. Hey Claire, you've got company.
Claire looked up, surprised. Oh, hi Darien. She turned and looked at Bobby, giving him a friendly smile. And you must be Mr. Hobbes, she said, extending her hand.
That's me, Bobby said, shaking her hand. Bobby Hobbes, at your service. You can call me Bobby," he added, a husky quality dripping into his tone.
Well, if you'll just have a seat, Claire said, gesturing at a very uncomfortable-looking chair, I'll give you your shot.
Bobby winced; he had hoped that Claire wouldn't want to get down to business so quickly. He sat down, discovering in the process that the chair was every bit as uncomfortable as it looked to be, and pulled up his shirtsleeve. He watched nervously as Claire prepped a needle and pulled out a tourniquet. She wrapped it around his arm, waited for a vein to appear, and then plunged the needle into his arm. Bobby did his best to muffle the hiss as she injected the counteragent into his bloodstream, but he was only half-successful.
There, that wasn't so bad, was it? Claire asked, pulling out the needle and removing the tourniquet.
Bobby resisted the urge to say that yes, it was. Instead, he flexed his arm in an experimental fashion and muttered, Coulda been worse.
After your meeting I'm going to need you to come back to the lab for some tests, Claire said, looking pointedly at Bobby.
Bobby repeated, wincing. Can't we just hang out and swap life stories or something instead?
Claire shook her head. Sorry, but no deal. I need to see what effects the gland is having on your system, make sure the counteragent isn't interacting strangely with your other medication, that sort of thing.
Bobby nodded reluctantly. Okay, fine. But can we swap life stories too?
A brief smile crossed Claire's face.
Darien tapped a finger against his watch. C'mon Hobbesy, you can kill time later. The Official's waiting.
Bobby rolled his eyes and started to follow Darien out the door, but Claire stopped him. You'll need this, she said, handing him a keycard identical to the one Darien had used to get into the room earlier.
Bobby gave Claire one of his most charming smiles. Then he hurried out the door to catch up to Darien.
Darien took one look at Bobby and held up a hand warningly. She's not available.
Bobby's heart sank. Darien had answered his question before he had even gotten up the nerve to ask.
Darien shook his head.
Bobby said, a sympathetic look appearing on his face. The memory of Vivian's death was still fresh in his mind, and though they had never actually been married, and had barely seen each other in the span of the last six years, the blow had still been a rough one for him. He couldn't imagine how painful it must have been to lose someone who you had believed you were going to spend your entire life with.
Yeah, and she's having a hard time dealing with it, so it might not be a good idea to.... Darien trailed off, freezing in mid-step. Aw crap. He began to back down the hall slowly.
Bobby looked where Darien had been looking and saw a woman standing in the hallway. She was tall and shapely, with green eyes and red hair cut in a short bob. And she was looking in Darien's direction. she yelled, a surprised look on her face. She began to run down the hall toward him. Darien stopped backing away, a trapped look on his face. The woman crossed the distance between them in a matter of moments and promptly slapped Darien across the face. Where have you been?
Darien placed a hand on his jaw and glared down at the woman angrily. Well hello to you too, Sophie. He glanced over at Bobby and said in a resigned tone, Bobby Hobbes, Sophie MacCleary. Sophie MacCleary, Bobby Hobbes.
Sophie gave Bobby a flirtatious wink. Hey there, cutie.
Bobby, rather befuddled by what had just gone on between Darien and Sophie, as well as Sophie's obvious flirtation, managed a very confused,
What's a hunk like you doing in a place like this? Sophie asked, a coy smile on her lips.
He's my new partner, Darien said icily.
Sophie said, looking rather disappointed. She turned to Bobby and placed a hand on his shoulder. I am so sorry. Then she turned and walked off down the hall, clicking her tongue disapprovingly. As she walked around a corner Bobby heard her mutter, I'll have to do something about that...
Bobby stared after Sophie in confusion. What was all that about?
Darien scowled. MacCleary was my partner back when I first came to the Agency. She was the reason I got the Official to reassign me to security detail.
She's that bad?
Worse. She's the ultimate ditz. The only things she's even remotely good at are temptation and seduction operations. She can't shoot, she can't drive, and she wears high heels so it's impossible for her to chase a perp on foot. The only reason she hasn't been fired is because she's the Official's niece.
You have a thing for her, don't you? Bobby asked, smirking.
Darien gave Bobby an irritable look. That isn't even remotely funny.
I'm just saying, she's a hot chick.
She's an idiot. They should have sent her packing long ago.
Now who's killing time? Bobby asked, tapping his wrist in the general area that a watch would be if he had been wearing one.
Darien's irritated expression transformed into one of outright anger. Don't start with me. He grabbed Bobby roughly by the sleeve. Then, despite Bobby's protests, Darien pulled him the rest of the way to the Official's office. The two of them stopped for a moment outside the door -- Bobby to calm his nerves a bit, Darien to check his hair. Then Darien flung the door open and the two of them walked into the office.
An obese man was sitting behind a large wooden desk. As Darien and Hobbes entered the room he looked up from the papers he had been reading. You're late, he said, a deep frown on his face.
There was no doubt in Bobby's mind; this was the Official. I needed a shot, sir, he said, purposely neglecting to mention the encounter with, and subsequent discussion about, Sophie MacCleary. He had the feeling the Official would not have approved.
You should have accounted for that beforehand, the Official said tersely.
Darien gave the Official a stubborn look. Maybe we did and your clock is fast.
Maybe you didn't and your watch is slow, the Official countered harshly.
Bobby rolled his eyes. Look, as much as I'm enjoying listening to this little conversation, I'm sure we all have better things to do with our time. Let's just get on with the meeting, huh?
The Official gave Bobby a harsh glare. Don't take that tone with me. I'm the one in charge here. He folded his hands on his desk. Now, let's start the meeting.
Just then a mousy-looking man rushed into the office, his face pale and his breath coming in gasps. He held a large manila folder clutched to his chest. The Official gave him an irritated look. What is it, Eberts?
Bobby frowned, looking at Eberts suspiciously. His suit was slightly rumpled at the moment, but Bobby had the feeling that under normal circumstances it would have been immaculately pressed. He seemed, to all appearances, to be the quintessential yes-man. Even his name was irritating! Eeeeeeeberts. It made Bobby want to punch him on the spot.
Eberts straightened his shirt-collar, saying in a grave tone, We have a problem, sir.
The Official frowned. What sort of problem? Eberts walked over to him and whispered a stream of words in his ear. The Official paled. Call in every available agent. We're going to need every man we can spare to deal with this.
Deal with what? Darien and Bobby asked at the same time, and then looked at each other in annoyance.
You'll find out soon enough, the Official snapped.
Umm, excuse me sir, Bobby said, holding up a hand, but you said to call in all the available agents. Would that mean--
It would and it does, the Official rumbled. Hobbes, you and Fawkes are on the case.
Along with all the rest of the Agency, Darien muttered, a deep frown on his face.
"Umm... not exactly, Eberts said nervously. The only agent not currently working a case-- besides the two of you, that is-- is Agent MacCleary.
Darien paled. Oh crap, please tell me you're joking.
Eberts shook his head. I'm afraid not.
All right then, put MacCleary on the case! the Official bellowed. And not a word out of you, Fawkes, he said, pointing a finger at Darien in an accusatory fashion.
Bobby shook his head. I'm not ready to do this, sir. I don't have any training--
You've been a thief for several years, the Official said gruffly, that counts for quite a bit of training in my book. Anything else you need to know, Fawkes can teach you.
Actually, there's something I need to know right now, Bobby said, giving the Official a pointed look. What exactly are we supposed to be doing?
the Official said in a somber tone, are going to capture a Catevari.
End Part 1
OK, are y'all gonna kill me now, or do you want me to continue?