Chapter 9After getting an extension for Irina on the one condition that the evidence proved to be true, Kendall called a meeting.
"As some of you know," he started off, "We now have Irina Derevko in our custody again."
"We do?" Sydney asked.
"Yes. Your father got some intel that gave us her location and he managed to apprehend her."
"Is she cooperating?"
"She has already provided us with intelligence that could have a huge effect on what we believe we know about her."
"What do you mean?"
"She CLAIMS that she never killed those twelve agents. She CLAIMS that there is a disk that gives those agents' whereabouts."
"Did she say anything about my father?"
"She only said that the disk would answer our questions. The disk is in a vault in Champagne, France."
"Champagne?" Marshall asked.
"Champagne," Kendall repeated himself.
"So all we have to do is go there and get a disk out of a safe?" Vaughn said. "Sounds easy."
"Not quite."
"What else is there?"
"The safe is one of the newest types," Marshall stated. "I studied the schematics and I couldn't find a way to bypass the code aspect. This thing is so hard to crack it's like…how many here have read the X-Men comic books?"
Weiss's hand went up. "What about it?"
"Wolverine's claws are made of adamantium, which is basically an indestructible metal. This safe compared to other safes is like adamantium compared to other metals. It's indestructible."
"So how do we get in?" Sydney asked.
"The current code is stored in a file in Paris at a server farm."
"So we go to Paris, get the code, and then go to Champagne and get in the safe?"
"Not quite," Kendall said again.
"What else is there?"
"Right," Marshall started. "The access to the server that has the code is protected by a biometric sensor. To get into the file, you need a copy of Jon Modal's fingerprint. He lives in Orleans, France"
"Wow," Sydney said.
"Sydney, you're on point. Vaughn, you're on coms. Your plane leaves in three hours."
"Uh, Director Kendall?"
"What is it Sydney?"
"I can't go."
"And why not?"
Sydney looked around. "I can't go because I'm pregnant."
A gasp sounded around the table. Sydney could see Jack tense up.
"Pregnant?" Kendall asked incredulously.
"Pregnant." Sydney affirmed.
"Okay, change of plans. Vaughn, you're on point; Dixon, you're on coms. Go see Marshall for your op-tech."
"Okay," Dixon said.
"That's all. Sydney, could you stay for a moment?"
"Sure," she stated.
As the small group of people filed out of the meeting, Vaughn saw Jack heading towards him. He did not look happy.
…TBC…