A/N: Hey y'all! Judging by your recent reviews, I'm guessing that the last chapter was a bit of a shocker. = O Well hold on to your seats, 'cause I'm just gettin' started!!!
ZIEL1: I'm glad you approve. :) Hope this chap is just as good!
Rogue151: FINALLY!! I've been waiting for somebody to get the Alias connection! That's where I get a lot of my ideas, so I'm sure a lot of things are going to seem very familiar…but there will be absolutely NO VAUGNE in this…unfortunately…(sigh)
Yumiko: Oh no! Not the begging e-mails!! Anything but that!!!
Lisboa Miraflores: Interesting name. And your waiting's over, cuz chapter 5 is here!
SorrowRain: I finally figured out why the format was so messed up—I kept forgetting to save it as a web page. D'oh! Well, I'm glad my story's fun to read…'tis fun to write, too!
Ishandahalf: To use one of my fave Alias quotes, "Truth takes time." In other words, all will be explained, just as soon as I figure out how to do it, k? K.
PantherNesmith: Rogue gets a lil help in this chap, as you'll see. And I HAVE narrowed her search down to…well, you'll just have to wait.
LadyTrunks: Well, by this point you know that Rogue isn't a criminal…although that's a great idea for another story.
And that's all for the thank-you's. Ruby quartz sunglasses for everybody!
By the way, this chapter is dedicated to my best friend, whom I shall lovingly refer to as Crazed Maniac. (Don't ask.)
Now on with chapter 5!!
Rogue stepped out of the elevator and onto a white tile floor. People in business suits filled the large room, moving about, sitting at desks, and talking with one another. It almost looked like your standard workplace…except the work being done *here* was anything but. The people weaving in and out between desks were delivering top-secret documents, not office memos. Sitting at desks were people typing up mission evaluations, not playing solitaire on the computer. And the ones engaging in conversation were discussing the current status of the world's top terrorists, not who should win 'employee of the month.'
This was the Collective, the New York branch of the CIA.
Rogue walked past all the desks of diligently working people, heading for a door in the back. It lead to a much smaller room, which appeared to be occupied by a single, oval table. Several people were seated around it, including the man with the dead eyes. Rogue took a seat next to the only woman, a tall black lady with long, wavy hair. Across from her sat the man with the dead eyes. At the head of the table sat a thin man with barely enough hair left to cover his head. He waited until Rogue was situated, then began speaking.
"Before we begin, I'd like to introduce you all to Special Agent Rogue. Rogue, allow me to introduce Special Agents Sharita Corprew and Geoffrey Smith, whom you have already met. They will be assisting you in England. My name is Special Agent Derrick O'Connell. As of now, I will be heading all missions regarding the Eye of Polyphemus.
Now that that's out of the way, let's get on with the mission briefing, shall we?"
A large screen, similar to those used for overhead projectors, slid down from the ceiling, covering the wall behind Agent O'Connell. A picture of a picture of a small diamond hanging on a silver chain filled the screen. The stone appeared to be marked with a golden K. Closer examination proved that it was in fact within the diamond. It reminded Rogue of the black spots in the Eye.
"The Keystone," said Agent O'Connell. "The only device capable of deciphering the code hidden within the Eye of Polyphemus. Its current location: England."
The picture of the Keystone shrank to the right corner of the screen, and a map of England appeared.
"Now, our agents have managed to narrow our search down to London (the map focused in on the city), but it will be up to you three to find it. According to the last person Agent Rogue spoke to, Darla Young, the Keystone *should* be in the possession of Mr. And Mrs. Pracket, but—"
"Wait a minute," Rogue broke in, "Ah don't remember her ever tellin' me that."
"She didn't. Another agent got the name from her," said Agent O'Connell. "Now as I was saying, the Keystone should be in the possession of the Pracket's, but they were robbed a few days ago. The crook obviously hasn't been found, or we wouldn't be having this conversation.
The chief investigator on the case is Detective Black." The map of London disappeared, giving way to a picture of the detective. He was very young, barely into his twenties. His age almost surprised Rogue, until she remembered that she was a 16-year-old sitting in the middle of the CIA. Black's hair was blond, cut very neatly above his light blue eyes. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, as if he were trying not to laugh at something.
"When you get to England, you should begin with Detective Black. You'll be disguised as cops going undercover to infiltrate a cocaine trading ring in the black market."
"Let me guess," said Agent Corprew, "the cocaine we're supposedly after is hidden inside diamonds."
"Exactly. You will tell Black that you believe the diamond stolen from the Prackets is being used by these smugglers. Any questions?"
"When'll all this be happening?" asked Rogue.
"Saturday morning. You will be leaving at exactly 7 a.m. Anything else?"
They all shook their heads, and were given permission to leave.
As she boarded the elevator several minutes later, Rogue glanced down at her watch. 10:56.
"Oh crud!" She had exactly 4 minutes to get back home.
"C'mon you stupid elevator, move! Move! C'mon c'mon c'mon…. Yes!" She tore through the doors, shoving aside two people who were trying to get into the elevator.
"Sorry!" she called over her shoulder. Several people looked at her indignantly, but she paid them no heed as she tore open the front doors. Out into the freezing street she ran. Her feet pounded the pavement in a tattoo second only to the pounding of her heart. Adrenaline coursed through her in torrents. Street signs blew past, to quickly for the eye to read. She chanced a look at her watch. 10:58. She ran harder. Beads of sweat dripped down into her eyes. Her legs were on fire, begging her to stop. Yet she continued to run, faster and faster, determined to beat the clock. 10:59. The sound of her heart banging against her ribs was all she could hear, except for the pounding of her feet, and the ragged panting that was her breath. She turned a corner; the mansion was in sight! Just 30 feet…now 25…now 20…her legs felt like lead…15 feet…each labored breath was agony…10 feet…every muscle seemed to be screaming 'stop!'…5 feet…she stretched out her hand for the security console…1 more foot…
Her hand slammed the buttons on the console, and the big iron gate swung open. She glanced at the watch. Ten seconds left. Her already spent muscles protested at being forced to run the relatively short distance to the mansion door, but Rogue ignored them. With a sudden burst of energy she leapt over the front steps, pulled open the door, and collapsed on the floor inside.
Wearily she raised her the watch into view.
11:00.
"Crud!" she said in between pants.
"It's all right." Rogue looked up to see the professor looking down at her. "You made it exactly one second before it turned eleven. Due to a great effort on your part, I'm assuming."
Rogue nodded. As soon as she could breath properly, she said, "Ah found a good book and sorta lost track of time."
"What was it about?"
"A London cop."
A/N: So, whattaya think? Am I meeting your standards? If not feel free to say so in a review. (wink wink)
Ummm, let's see, if you review this chapter you'll get…THE X-JET!!!!! Woohoo!
L8R!!
~Seshat