Transient Reality – Part 9

"Admittedly, I don't know much about regulations and requirements for national security issues, but the more I think about this, the more it seems that it really is walking a decidedly precarious line between legal and illegal." Kevin Wilson turned the WorldEx security badge over in his hand, studying the photographic image and the name "Agent Keith Wellsby," again. The photograph was his, taken with equipment at WorldEx headquarters, but the name was not.

"As long as you don't try to report in to work on Monday, it will be fine, Kev," MB assured him. "I told you that I even wiped all the information out of the system as soon as I was done creating the badges. No one will ever know."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Kevin muttered softly to himself as he closed the wallet holding the badge and returned it to the pocket inside of his jacket. Kevin had never been one for the "cloak and dagger" types of things that MB liked to take part in when requiring information was necessary; he typically went along with them however because MB's delight and enthusiasm at such was infectious and nearly impossible to resist. This particular endeavor was no exception. Though he and Ami gave resistance to the idea of posing as WorldEx security agents, here they were traveling through Denver in a rental car charged to a security account at WorldEx.

From the front passenger seat, Ami gave Kevin a smile over her shoulder. "I think Kevin's more worried about the possibility of deportation."

"They don't deport you for impersonating a security agent," MB teased, "At least I don't think they do." MB paused a beat, then continued in more serious tones. "Just relax and stick with the plan and everything will be fine."

"Refresh my memory, what exactly is the plan?"

"Ami talks to Lawhorne and you do that voodoo that you do so well."

Kevin stared at the back of MB's head, sending the older man an image of his scowling face. "And what are you going to be doing while Ami and I engage in quasi-legal interrogation?"

MB took a quick glance back at Kevin, a large, lopsided and all too familiar smile which heralding untold recklessness plastered on his face. "Snooping."

"Snooping? What –"

A low whistle from Ami cut off Kevin's argument. "I think that we are all in the wrong occupations. Who exactly does a person have to kill or betray to own a home like this by the time they're thirty?" The woman paused, glanced at the folder in her lap and snapped it closed. "Correction, thirty-two."

Kevin followed his friend's gaze out the window and drew a breath. This was definitely not your average suburbia. Sprawling houses nestled deep within acres of land, many of them hidden behind stone and iron wrought gates and winding driveways. The architecture and the feeling of the neighborhood all screamed wealth and prestige. Kevin had to stop himself from slouching down in the seat at the feeling of complete inadequacy and alienation he felt from the surrounding area.

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea," Kevin suggested. "There have to be other ways to get information about Lawhorne."

"None as direct as going to the source." MB turned the car onto a private driveway, registering no surprise when the gate opened to permit the car entry. Of course, with MB's rather unique talent for manipulating and controlling electronics and mechanical equipment, Kevin wasn't surprised by the instant entry either. That however, only served to make him feel more uncomfortable.

"MB, perhaps it would have been a good idea to have rang at the gate and waited for entry," Ami scolded, voicing Kevin's own thoughts. "It doesn't make for a particularly good cover when the security gate suddenly isn't very good at being secure."

MB's grin told Kevin that this was a losing battle. The red head was clearly enjoying this more and more by the minute. "What? The gate was broken."

Ami groaned audibly and Kevin banged his head lightly against the headrest. Too late he recognized the familiar tight sensation in his stomach; he hadn't felt it since he was a teenager, so it was a bit foreign to him. It could only be described as realizing that he'd been suckered into one of MB's grand adventures, and now it was too late to do a damn thing about it.

/Missed it, hmm?/ Ami nudged softly at the edge of his mind.

Kevin straightened up and tightened his shields, his eyes meeting hers in the passenger side rearview mirror. /What? No. We're too old for this./

Her dark eyes twinkled and she projected a smile into his mind. /Your secret's safe with me, Kev. We can't let MB know that we might be enjoying ourselves. He gets horribly insufferable when he's right./

The words had the desired effect and Kevin sent her a smile back. /Just remember, if I go down for actually getting nostalgic about all of this, I'm taking you with me./

End of Part Nine