Title: Rosmole (5/10)

Author: Kata

E-mail: Katayla@juno.com

Disclaimer: Newsflash: Neither The Mole nor Roswell belongs to me.

Rating: PG

******

Ten friends playing for up to one million dollars. Among them a saboteur, a traitor, the mole. The winner? The one who answers the question, who is the mole?

"Ooh, another cozy German town, just what I need," Maria grumbled as the contestants climbed into the van for yet another journey to yet another hotel.

Michael shot her a concerned look. "You okay?"

"Just tired of traveling, I guess."

"I know!" Isabel groaned. "Give me little old Roswell anytime."

"Don't you want to win the money?" Kyle asked.

"Yes, but I would like to stay in the same place for more than one day for once." Maria sighed. "And I didn't get much sleep last night."

"Planning moley activities?" Alex asked.

"Moley?" Isabel asked, turning to stare at Alex. "Is that even a word?"

"Maria's not the mole, anyway," Tess broke in.

"Really," Kyle said, sarcastically. "Then tell me O Wise One, who it is?"

Tess looked serious. "Well, it's either you, Alex, Michael, or Isabel."

"Not you?" Maria asked, amused.

Tess shook her head, curls flying. "Of course not! I'm perfectly innocent."

"Don't believe her!" Kyle shouted. "She's completely corrupt! Tess is the mole!"

Michael was studying all his fellow contestants. "I think the mole is. . . Isabel."

"Me?" Isabel asked.

"You be the perfect choice, Izzy. You can keep your emotions from your face. Completely emotionless."

"I sure wasn't very emotionless when Alex and I had to climb down from that tower!" Isabel protested. "Tess would make a much better mole than I would. Or Kyle." She added as an afterthought.

"What? Why?" Kyle demanded.

Isabel shrugged. "Because you joined our group later. We don't know you quite as well. I thought it was Maria's mom, but I guess I was wrong."

"Wait a minute," Maria said. "If you thought it was my mom, how did you get this far? Wouldn't you have gotten all the questions wrong?"

Isabel burst out laughing. "Listen to yourself, Maria. Do you remember those questions? 'Who was the last person out of the van on the way to the book challenge?' 'Who figured out the fifth clue in the book challenge?' Does anyone remember those?"

"Sure," Michael said. "Maria was the last person out of the van. I remember because she nearly ran me over."

"But I don't have any idea who was the one to figure out the fifth clue," Maria admitted. "I guess you're off the hook, Isabel."

"Thanks," Isabel said dryly.

"I don't have a clue who the mole is. So far I've just flipped a coin for the execution test."

"That's not even possible," Kyle objected. "How can you flip a coin for a multi-choice test?"

"I take out however many coins there are answers and flip them," Maria exclaimed. "Then I count up the number of tails and go with that answer."

"Why not heads?"

Maria shrugged. "I don't know. I always liked tails better for some reason."

Alex shook his head. "I prefer my way." He pulled out his notebook. "Careful observation."

"So what does your careful observation tell you?" Maria asked.

Alex looked mournfully at his book. "Absolutely nothing."

Maria sighed. "Sounds like we're all in the same boat. Nobody knows who the mole is."

"Actually," Michael spoke up. "I can guarantee you that at least one of us knows who the mole is."

"Oh, shut up."

The rest of the van ride passed in silence as each contestant pondered the identity of the mole.

******

In just over two hours, the Roswellians arrived at their new hotel. "You know," Maria said, as she climbed out of the van. "I've become used to all these great hotels. Maids to clean up after you, room service...."

"It's to make up for all the torture they put us through," Isabel murmured.

"Ah, come on, Izzy," Alex said, wrapping his arm around her. "You know you loved every minute of it."

Anderson had once again mysteriously arrived at the hotel before they did and was waiting in the lobby.

Kyle groaned when he saw him. "Don't tell me we have to do another challenge now! I just spent two hours in a van with the most insane people you'll ever meet."

"You're just feeling guilty because you're the mole," Maria told him airily.

Anderson smiled. "I'm glad to see you're all on top of the game, but it might be a little premature to make accusations, Maria."

"Oh, I've got it narrowed done to five suspects."

Anderson shook his head. "To answer your question, Kyle, there's no challenge today. Just meet here in the lobby at noon tomorrow."

"What about lunch?" Kyle wanted to know.

"Food is never far from Kyle's mind." Tess grinned.

"Lunch is at eleven," Anderson supplied. "You're all free for the rest of the day."

******

Michael rushed into the lobby the next morning, late. "Sorry," he gasped. "I was looking for Maria." He looked around the room. "She's not here?"

Isabel looked bewildered. "Wasn't she with you? I asked her to go shopping, but she said she had made plans with you."

Michael shook his head. "That was in the morning. I haven't seen her since lunch."

"And that is your next challenge," Anderson broke in. "Maria is being held captive. Your job is to rescue her."

Michael snorted. "Can't we just leave her there?"

"Michael!" Isabel slapped him. "I'm going to tell her you said that!"

Michael made a disgusted face. "You chicks always stick together."

Anderson cleared him throat. "Far be it from me to interrupt this fascinating conversation, but wouldn't you like to learn how to earn fifty thousand dollars for the pot?"

"You've got my attention," Alex commented.

"Good. Now, Maria is being held captive somewhere in the town. You have two hours to find her to earn the money."

"That's it?" Kyle asked. "Isn't there some catch?"

Anderson smiled. "You know us too well. There are also snipers stationed around the town, with paintball guns. You'll recognize them by the green footprints on their coats. Watch out for them."

"Okay," Isabel said. "So we need to avoid the snipers. That shouldn't be too bad, but how are we supposed to know where Maria is?"

"Look down," Anderson said. The contestants followed his gaze to see a red footprint, pointing in the direction of the door. "There are several footprints stationed around the city. Each one points to the next footprint. When you find a green one, Maria is near."

Alex shook his head. "Wow. You guys think of everything,."

Isabel turned to the others. "Well, I guess we should get started. The footprint is pointing towards the door, so . . . ." she began walking towards the door.

The others followed. Isabel scanned the ground. "No footprint, no footprint . . . there should be one somewhere around here."

"Do you think it would be in an obvious place?" Tess asked. "It wouldn't necessarily be one the ground." Her face brightened. "Look!" Tess pointed to a large tree where a red footprint was pasted.

"Good thinking, Tess," Isabel congratulated her.

Michael was looking at the footprint. "So I guess we go this way now," he said, gesturing towards the left. "Keep your eye out for footprints."

"Of course," Kyle said. "We're not dumb, you know."

"Hey, give me some slack," Michael laughed. "I'm supposed to be fearless leader when Max isn't around."

Isabel rolled her eyes and muttered something about male egos. She was so absorbed in her thoughts, that she didn't even notice the red footprint she had stepped on until Alex shouted to her.

Isabel looked down and laughed. "Guess I was looking for one in the trees again."

Tess smiled ruefully. "Me, too."

"Maybe we should all look in different places?" Alex suggested. "How about Isabel and I look on the ground and the rest of you look around at the trees and stuff?"

The others quickly agreed to his plan and found the next footprint quickly.

"All right!" Kyle cheered. "But doesn't this seem a little too easy? We're there supposed to be snip--"

Before he could finish his sentence, Isabel shouted, "Run!" She pointed across the street where a man holding a paintball gun stood. She grabbed the nearest person--Alex-- and pulled him after her, the others sprinting after the couple. After making a couple of turns down several streets, they paused for a breath.

"Whew," Alex said, breathing hard. "Good thing you were paying attention, Izzy. I didn't even notice them."

Isabel shook her head. "Me either, until Kyle said something."

Meanwhile, Tess had noticed something. "Um guys? In our mad rush to avoid getting shot, did any of you happen to notice the way back?"

Kyle groaned. "I give up. Tell Maria you can call me a dumb jock after all."

"Ah, poor baby," Tess said sympathetically. "But don't forget we all missed it. Or does anyone remember?"

Michael shook his head ruefully. "Maria had map duty on all our road trips."

"And I was too worried about getting shot," Isabel said, "but it can't be that hard. We didn't run *that* far."

Tess brightened. "That's true."

Michael ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I know we came from that direction," he said, pointing up the street. "We can start with that."

But within minutes, they had arrived at a cross street. Michael sighed. "And this is when fearless leader steps back and lets his loyal sidekicks take over."

Isabel grimaced. "Not me."

Tess sighed. "Me either."

Kyle shook his head. "Typical girls. No sense of direction."

Tess shoved him. "Maria has a point. You *are* a sexist pig!"

Alex was lost in thought. "I remember turning a couple of times. Maybe we should try going right?"

Michael shrugged. "Why not? No one has a better suggestion."

A couple of minutes later, Michael stopped in frustration. "Now what?" he demanded as they came to another cross street.

Isabel reached into her pocket. "When in doubt, flip a coin!"

Alex smiled. "Why not? I don't think we ever went straight, so let's say tails is right and heads is left?"

Kyle shrugged. "Sounds good to me."

Isabel flipped the coin. "Heads. Left it is."

After one more similar decision, they came to familiar streets. "I think this was it," Tess said. "Any snipers around?"

"Don't see any," Kyle decided, after a careful look around.

"Then let's start looking for footprints."

Now that they were in the right place, the friends had no trouble finding the footprint. Isabel was in the lead, getting ready to cross the street, when Tess grabbed her arm.

"Look," she hissed. "Snipers!"

"Now what?" Kyle groaned. "I don't want to do the mad-rush through the streets again."

"I don't think he saw us," Isabel said. "Maybe we can make it?"

Alex nodded. "We have to give it a try. Let's mingle with them." He gestured towards a noisy group of teenagers.

The Roswellians feel behind the Germans, trying to act as they belonged, while looking for the footprint.

"There!" Isabel whispered, clutching Alex's arm. "On the building."

Alex groaned. "That footprint is leading us right past the sniper!"

Tess bit her lip. "It's not like we have another option."

"And our time is getting short," Michael added. "We only have half-an-hour left."

"Let's go one at a time," Kyle suggested. "I'll go last, I'm used to avoiding getting tackled in football. This can't be that different."

"I'll go first," Isabel volunteered.

"Go for it, Izzy," Michael said. "Do that saunter-down-the-hallway-and-make-all-the-guys-jealous-of-Alex thing."

Isabel shot him a sour look. "I don't need your help." She tossed her hair and walked down the street, barely earning a glance from the sniper.

Michael shrugged. "My turn?" He made it down the street, ducking behind various fellow pedestrians.

"I'll go next," Alex offered. "If they can do it, so can I!" He walked briskly down the street, the others watching cautiously.

"Oh, no!" Tess cried softly. "The sniper sees him. Run Alex!" she cried.

It was too late. The sniper had pulled out his gun and sprayed Alex in a coat of red paint.

"Okay, Tess," Kyle said briskly. "Climb on my back. We're going to have to run for it."

Tess did as asked and Kyle was off; running through the crowds. When he made it to the others, who had found a small shop to hide in, he was panting.

"Alex is out," Tess said, sliding off Kyle's back.

"What?" Isabel cried. "But he didn't even see the rest of us."

Michael shook his head. "We can't worry about it now. Time is running out. Is the sniper still out there?"

Kyle shook his head. "Tess screamed at Alex to get out of the way, so the sniper started walking in our direction. I don't think he saw where we went."

"Then let's go," Michael said simply.

After a couple more turns and close calls with snipers, it seemed they were no closer to finding Maria than they were at the start of the game.

Michael checked his watch. "Five minutes?" he gasped. "We'll never make it!"

"And a sniper!" Tess reminded him. Isabel had pointed out a sniper only moments before.

Isabel shook her head. "We can't worry about the snipers anymore. It's run for your life now."

"She's right," Kyle said. "Let's just run as fast as we can. If we lose someone, don't stop. Just look for the footprints and go."

Michael nodded. "That's the best we can do. Ready everyone? Then go!"

As one, the group broke out in a run. The sniper, startled, made a wild shot at them.

"I'm hit!" Isabel cried. The others didn't glance back.

"Sorry, Iz!" was all Michael had time to yell.

"Footprint!" Tess gasped. They swerved, trying to avoid the German pedestrians.

A couple of seconds later, Tess was splattered in red paint. "Keep going!" was all she said.

Moments later, it was Kyle who got soaked in red paint, leaving Michael to continue alone. It was only ten minutes before he found the green footprint, but unfortunately that was five minutes too late.

Anderson looked sympathetic. "Sorry, Michael, but you know the rules. Five minutes late is still late. No money."

Michael was still trying to regain his breath from his wild run. "All I care about right now is getting some water." he gasped.

Maria walked up behind him. "Couldn't find me in time, Spaceboy?" she said sweetly.

"Sorry, Maria. We lost this one," Michael said, downing the glass of water Anderson handed him in one gulp.

Maria frowned. "We're not going to make any money if we keep going like this."

At that moment, the other contestants walked in, splattered with various degrees of paint. "This is washable, right?" Isabel asked, trying unsuccessfully to wipe off her shirt.

Alex glanced at Michael and Maria's dejected faces. "We lost?" he guessed.

Michael nodded. "Five minutes, that's all. If only we hadn't lost our heads running from that sniper. . . ."

Kyle shook his head. "No time for regrets. We'll just have to win the next challenge."

Anderson held up his hand. "Hold your horses, Kyle. Not until tomorrow! You have the rest of the day to recover from the challenge. I have a feeling most of you will want a shower?"

Isabel touched her now red hair. "How did you ever guess? Come on, guys. I want to get into the shower and scrub!"

The hotel was surprising close to Maria's "prison."

"You couldn't make it this far in two hour?" Maria asked surprised.

Michael shrugged. "They must have led us in circles. Plus we got lost."

"*And* we were running from snipers," Tess pointed out. "You got off easy this time."

"Not to mention the mole's involvement," Alex added.

"You think the mole was involved?" Isabel asked, surprised.

"I don't have any specific examples, but I don't know how else we could have lost that easily."

Kyle groaned. "I do. We're directionless idiots!"

"I'll second that one!" Maria said, deftly avoiding Michael's good-natured shove.

"I'm focusing on the next challenge," Isabel said. "We have to win some money!"

Michael grinned. "No kidding! I need that money."

"Oh, so you're going to win it, huh?" Maria asked.

"Yeah, did I tell you that?" Michael answered, swinging his arm around Maria's shoulders.

Once they got to the hotel, the group split up. All of them except Michael and Maria needed showers, and Michael and Maria were eager to have some time alone. It seemed as if they never got any time to just be a couple anymore.

******

"Ready for your next challenge?" Anderson asked the next morning, as the contestants stood in the middle of a large shopping center. "I know at least two of you will love this one."

Alex groaned. "Just tell us what it is!"

Anderson pulled out a stack of bills. "I have one-thousand euros Your job is to spend it all and meet me back here in ten minutes."

"That's all?" Maria said disdainfully. "That's a cinch!"

Anderson held up a finger. "Come on, Maria, you know us better than that. There are a couple of catches. You can't spend more than one-hundred euros in any one shop, and no item can cost more than ten euros."

"Okay," Tess said. "Can we split up?"

"Yes, but in groups of two. The challenge is worth ten-thousand dollars, but you lose a thousand for every minute you're late."

Michael nodded. "Okay." He glanced at the others. "Same teams as usual?"

Anderson looked at his watch and handed the bills to Michael. "Your time starts now."

Michael quickly handed out the money. "You each get three-hundred euros. Maria and I will take the extra hundred. Go! And be careful not to go into the same shops!"

Maria hauled Michael into the general store across the street. "Let's do make-up," she suggested, running down the aisle. "That's always expensive."

"Make-up? My life has come to this?" Michael shook his head, but followed after Maria, who had already accumulated one-hundred euros worth of lip-stick, foundation, eye shadow, and nail polish.

In under two minutes, they had paid for the merchandise. "Bookstore!" Michael cried. By grabbing the first books they saw, Michael and Maria managed to get out that store even faster than the one before.

"Two hundred euros and five minutes, let's go!" Maria started pulling Michael down the street again.

Across the street, Alex and Isabel were having problems with the check-out lady. "It's ten euros, not eleven," Isabel said stubbornly. "I saw the sign."

The women shook her head. "Elf, nicht ten," she said, in her odd mix of German and English.

"Nein!" Isabel said, holding out ten fingers. "Ten!"

Alex was looking at his watch. "Forget it, Isabel. We have four minutes left and we haven't even spent our first hundred." He pulled the debated object-- a black T-shirt-- out of the pile of items. "We just want this stuff."

After they had paid for their purchase, Isabel and Alex rushed into the street. "Let's go there!" Isabel suggested, pointing at a shoe store.

Alex shook his head. "I saw Tess and Kyle go in there. Let's try the grocery store."

In a nearby candy store, Tess and Kyle were standing in line, Tess impatiently tapping her foot. "One minute." she announced, as Kyle handed the salesclerk their items.

"How much time now?" Kyle asked, as they emerged from the store.

"Twenty seconds," Tess answered.

Kyle crouched down. "Climb on my back, again. I can make it."

"Five seconds to spare!" Anderson congratulated the gasping Kyle. "You can walk, can't you Tess?"

"Occasionally."

Michael and Maria ran up. "Did we make it?"

"Just barely."

"Where are Isabel and Alex?" Maria asked. "Isabel should have been the first one done!"

Kyle shook his head. "Haven't seen them."

Two minutes later, Alex and Isabel rushed up, hands full of bags.

"Stubborn salesclerk," Isabel explained with a grimace. "We ended up only spending ninety euros in one store and had to go to an extra place."

Alex frowned. "And lost some more money."

Kyle shrugged. "The rest of us were on time. It's more money than we've been making."

"Eight thousand dollars," Anderson agreed. "That gives you a total of $270,000."

Maria shrugged. "That's not too shabby."

"What do we do with this stuff?" Alex asked holding up his bags.

"Keep it," Anderson told him. "Consider it part of your winnings."

"Good," Michael said. "I needed a new shade of lipstick. The one Maria grabbed should be perfect."

Maria rolled her eyes. "Not to mention all those wonderful books written in German!"

"We got candy!" Tess announced, pointing to the bag in Kyle's hand.

Maria perked up. "Kyle, did I ever tell you how much I love you?"

"Hey!" Michael protested.

"Shut up, Space-boy, you don't have the chocolate!"

"Really, Kyle. I've always considered you one of my best friends. . . ."

******

The mood was much solemner that night, when the next execution took place. "I wish we could stay this way," Maria muttered to Michael. "You and me, Kyle and Tess, Isabel and Alex. It's perfect."

"As long, as you don't go, I'm fine," Michael whispered back, dropping a kiss on Maria's head.

Maria smiled, and snuggled closer, hoping she and Michael would still be together in a couple of minutes.

Next to them, Alex and Isabel were holding hands, and Tess sat in Kyle's lap, arms around his neck. Similar thoughts ran through all their heads.

Even Anderson seemed a little subdued as he entered names into the computer. "Maria. . . .Michael. . .Tess. . .Kyle." A red fingerprint flashed. "Sorry, Kyle."

Tess reluctantly got off of Kyle's lap. "I'll miss you," she admitted.

Kyle ran his hand through his hair. "You know I'll miss you," he said, bending down to gently kiss her. "The rest of you, too," he added.

"I'll miss your sexist comments," Maria said, giving Kyle a hug.

"Tell Tess to give you some of the chocolate."

Kyle gave Tess one last hug, picked up his bag, and left the room.

Anderson looked at the remaining contestants. "We'll be leaving tomorrow at one o'clock. Be ready."

The contestants silently filed out of the room. None of them, not even the mole, ever felt much like talking after an execution.

TBC....

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