Disclaimer: I don't own anything Numb3rs, it's all property of CBS and whatnot, so don't sue.

Chapter 15: Upgrade

With a small grumble, a pair of deep brown eyes fluttered open. Ghost took a moment to blink away the remnants of his induced slumber to realize he was in a car which had stopped and that the driver was a familiar blonde haired friend of his.

" Rise and shine Honey." Said Toby with a chuckle.

" Shut up Cabby." Grumbled Ghost, a smile tugging at his lips.

With a sigh, Ghost shouldered his bag and climbed out of the vehicle. He was met with the cool night air, he glanced at his watch and was mildly surprised, it read 11:30 PM, the pickup had been around 5:00 PM. That was seven and a half hours of driving to this place he stood before now, an old aircraft hanger out in the middle of a desert nowhere. He turned to Toby and the two of them headed inside the looming building, which was already swarming with military and CIA personel.

Ghost and Toby made their way over to the war-room table where a familiar face greeted them.

Commander Derek Steele stood up from where he sat and turned to greet his best Operative and one of his trusted CIA Agents.

" Did you have a nice nap Ghost?" Asked Steele with an innocentsmile.

" Very restful sir." Said Ghost flatly, though a smile tugged at his lips.

" Are Mojave and Nighthawk in yet?" Asked Ghost.

" Mojave got in five minutes before you and Nighthawk is well on his way." Said Steele as he motioned to a door at the very back of the hanger.

With a nod, Ghost walked off towards that direction, with the watchful eyes of both Steele and Toby following him as he went. Ghost reached the door and turned the knob. When the door swung open, Ghost let a smile grace his face when his gaze fell on Julio Vargas, who was currently conked out in one of the chairs in the room, mouth open and snoring to his hearts content.

Ghost slowly stalked his way over to his sleeping friend and leaned in until his lips were right by the latino's ear.

" Juliooooo, Come out to Plaayyyyy." Said Ghost, imitating the taunt of Luther fromThe Warriors in that same, eerie, soft voice, all he was missing now, was three beer bottles on his fingers.Ghost looked around the room and noticed the table adorned with several food items. Ghost went over and got a bottle of water,than moved so that he loomed over the sleeping man.

He allowed Julio a few more snores as he unscrewedthe bottle's cap. Then with a ceshire grin, Ghost upturned the bottle and allowed it's contents to spill out, all of it onto Julio Vargas's sleeping vasage.

" GAAAAAAAHHHHHHH...Cough!...Cough!...!"

Julio came to awareness with a yell and sputtering. He looked around disoriented until the sound of harty laughter caught his attention. His eyes widened when they fell on his leader, big CIA Operative rolling around on the floor holding his aching sides.

" I'M GONNA KILL YOU, YOU ASS!" Shrieked a well saturated Julio as he pounced on his still laughing companion and started trying to get him into a choke-hold. Ghost easily manuvered out of each attempt. The two of them were so engrossed in the situation, they didn't notice when the door opened and the final member of the Big Three stepped in.

" Woah, there is a lot of love in here." Came a very amused voice. Christian Wolfe.

" Hey Nighthawk." Said Ghost, with some difficulty seeing as to how Mojave had him pinned to the floor now.

" Hey hermano."Grinned Mojave as he got up and helped Ghost to his feet. The two other men walked over to the new arrival. Christian took one look at Mojave and turned to Ghost with a knowing look.

" Let me guess, Mariachi Man over here fell asleep again."

Ghost merely nodded, both he and Nighthawk holding back chuckles when Mojave gave them the one-finger salute before heading over to his stuff to get a dry shirt.

" How've you two been?" Asked Ghost as he took a seat in one of the chairs, Mojave and Nighthawk doing the same.

" Well, I got a promotion and am now head pastry Chef." Said Nighthawk.

" Congrats man." Smiled Ghost.

" Don't start getting fat now that you can get your hands on the best stuff now!" Snickered Mojave, earning a mock-glare from Nighthawk.

" What about you Mr. Narco-Cop?" Grinned Nighthawk.

" Well, not much has been going on, the usual bust hereand there but nothing big. I did take up rock-climbing though." Answered Mojave before he and Nighthawk turned to their leader with expectant looks on their faces.

" What about you oh fearless leader?" Croned Nighthawk.

Ghost shrugged before he spoke.

" Well, the only thing I can think of that's new is thatmy order for a Voice Changer came in. Other than that it's same old same old. Teach, work ontheories, help out the FBI, practice Kendo regularly,go to the shooting ranges tokeep up my accuracy, and just be." Answered Ghost.

Mojave was about to ask if he could seethis niftylittle gadget when the door opened to reveal Tobias Finch with a somewhat worried look on his face,

" Hey guys, the boss want all of you." Said Toby. The three Operatives got up and followed the blonde Agent back to the war-room table. When they got their, two new faces greeted them, a middle-aged African American woman and a thirty-ish white man with honey-blonde hair.

Steele greeted them and spoke.

" Guys, this is Dr.Nenna Ogdashloo and Dr. Alan Colbere. They will be assisting us in this new mission."

Ghost turned to look at the two Doctors and nodded silently, Mojave and Nighthawk doing the same.

" Gentlemen, please have a seat." Said Ogdashloo.

The three mendid as they were told and waited to be briefed about the situation.

" As you well know, you are the ellite CIA Unit out of all the other units. You have been called here today to see if we can give you an upgrade." Said Colbere.

" What do you have in mind." Asked Ghost in a neutral tone, though curiosity was aroused.

" Men,I have been informed by Intel that in eastern Ukraine, there is without a doubt,terrorist activity going on. Be advised this mission is far more dangerous and bigger than anything we've dealt with before. It's substancial enough that we have another unit going in with you." Said Steele. He was expecting at least one of them to object but was instead met with silence.

" Just as long as they know what their doing, were good." Drawled Nighthawk.

" Gentlemen, we have two months before we go in for extraction. In these two months, you will be introduced and expected to pass a new program that has been developed by these two esteemed Doctors." Said Steele.

" What may I ask, is this new program?" Asked Mojave.

" Torture Survival." Said Ogdashloo grimly.

Mojave and Nighthawk felt the forshadowing of what would be two months of pure hell. They turned to their leader. Ghost turned to meet their expectant gazes.

Nighthawk and Mojave felt chills of anticipation as they watch a slow, predatory smile spread across Ghost's face. The three of them turned and gave Ogdashloo and Colbere dazzeling smiles before Ghost spoke.

" Bring it on."

Ogdashloo and Colbere looked at each other a moment.

" These guys really are crazy." They both thought.