p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"stronguVeronica Versus The Ring:/u/strong/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica, what are your plans for the future?" General Beckham asked the Intersect-free girl at Castle./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, I just started college. I'm studying journalism, and we'll see where things go from there," Veronica replied. "Why do you ask?"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Because I was wondering if you would like to continue working on the Intersect project," Beckham replied. "The government has been rebuilding its own Intersect, and you've shown real promise. We'd like you to be an analyst," he offered. "You're country is calling you, Ms. Sawyer."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked a bit bashful. "I think my country might have the wrong number," she observed. "I'm just Veronica Sawyer."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"General Beckham sighed. "Very well. I guess that concludes Project Sawyer," he acknowledged before turning to the other members of Team Sawyer. "Colonel Hamilton and Agent Hansen, please issue Ms. Sawyer before your Special Forces team ship out for Waziristan. Agent Heere and Agent Deetz, I'll need you to stay behind for a moment."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What exactly is this?" Veronica asked as Alex handed her an envelope. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's your paycheck," Evan replied, standing next to the older man./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica opened it, only to see-/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hi-oh!" Veronica exclaimed./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""If you were a true patriot, you wouldn't cash it," Alex warned./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wow, guys, just…emwow/em," Veronica gushed. "Thank you both so much. Not just for the money, but for saving my life at least once a week."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""We didn't pay you, the government did," Alex corrected, before relenting. "But all in all, you did good work, V."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Aww, Alex," Veronica cooed in a mocking way. "Come here," she instructed while holding her arms out and walking towards him. She wrapped him up in a hug, before using her right hand to signal Evan join in, to which he did./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Okay," Alex professed a few seconds later. "Time to let go now."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah," Evan agreed, immediately backing off./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Totally," Veronica affirmed, repeating the same action as Evan./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Mr. Heere and Ms. Deetz, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know you're in charge of the new project, working in tandem with Agent Larkin," General Beckham announced./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait, are you talking about the new Intersect plan?" Jeremy asked, to which Beckham nodded. This only caused the young man's excitement to grow. "Did you hear that, Lydia?! We get to be in charge of the new Intersect!"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I know, because I heard him," Lydia stated somewhat sarcastically./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"That didn't deter Jeremy though. He turned back to the General. "Sir, I have emso many/em ideas-"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""And I can't wait to hear all of them," a familiar voice interrupted, walking in from behind./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia and Jeremy turned around to see-/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?!" The two spoke in unison./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey guys," she greeted, holding the Intersect Cube in her hand./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She's our new Intersect," General Beckham revealed. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""And now that we've got the Cube, it's ready for upload," Phoebe concurred as she put the object into a secure locker that only secret agents would have./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Just as Lydia and Jeremy were starting to process this information, Beckham spoke up:/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""The three of you will leave for Zurich at 0800. Auf Wiedersehen," he concluded before logging off. strong(Goodbye)./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe walked up to Lydia and Jeremy, putting an arm around both their shoulders. "The trio is back," she happily stated. "Finally. We can get you guys out of here."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""See? I told ya there be slushies here!" Veronica exclaimed to JD that night at the football party, cementing the team's first win./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You didn't tell me there would only be two flavors though," JD pointed out, sipping his Cherry Slurpee along the way. "Regardless, I'm just happy to be having a good time with you tonight," he disclosed before pulling her in for a romantic kiss./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey, my parents gave me some money as a gift for finishing my first week here," Veronica stated to JD a few seconds later. "I was thinking maybe you and I could go on a little vacay somewhere?"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Vacay?" JD asked, to which Veronica nodded. "How much money did your parents give you?" He inquired./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Let's just say they had a lot of money left over from me choosing here instead of Harvard," Veronica replied. "Just think about it. We could go to the beach, feel the sand between our toes…"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A sunny vacation? I love it," JD revealed. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to use the bathroom."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem. I'll get us a table."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica sat down at the table, sipping on her slushie./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A few seconds later, she felt a small emthud/em beneath the counter./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She looked under there, only to see two caterers with a emcircle of blood surrounding their hearts/em./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica started to gasp, before putting both hands on top of her mouth. This was a college party after all. Nobody wanted dead caterers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When Veronica looked up, a man sat down in front of her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A man who wasn't JD./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ted Roark," Veronica grumbled./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark slightly chuckled at that. "No, I'm Ted Roark. You're the CIA agent who's in deep trouble," he explained. "By the way, congrats on the big football win. They emdominated/em on that field. And this par-"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What do you want?" Veronica rudely interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Now, there's no need for that kind of behavior. You know what I want," Roark chided./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I don-"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I want the Intersect Cube," Roark revealed./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was stumped. "I c-can't give you that."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, I'm sure you'll find a way," Roark reassured her, before getting up and walking away. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark took two steps forward before turning back to Veronica. "Sorry, I forgot the threat part," he recalled before leaning down to whisper in Veronica's ear. "If you don't deliver within a half hour, forty minutes tops with traffic," he observed, "I'm going to kill everybody here, starting with the quarterback and ending with your boyfriend."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ronnie, where are you going?" Martha asked as she noticed Veronica walking quickly towards the exit./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica stopped and turned to her friend. "It's, uh," she paused, not knowing how to continue, "emspy/em stuff," Veronica whispered once Martha was close enough./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha looked a bit baffled. "emSpy/em stuff?" She whispered, to which Veronica nodded. "I thought you were done with that?"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Apparently not," Veronica admitted. "Ted Roark's gonna kill everyone within the next forty minutes if I don't give him the Intersect Cube."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""WHAT?!" Martha yelled, causing a few people to glare at her./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Keep your voice down," Veronica warned. "Roark said he'll kill everyone starting with Kurt. I think that means his killing spree will happen when the pinatas come out."br /br /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But that will start in twenty minutes," Martha reminded her./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Then, a emlightbulb/em turned on in her head./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Of course, I could always stall the wedding," Martha pointed out. "JD will ask fewer questions. No one else will know you're gone. They'll blame me. It'll be fine."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You'd do that for me?" Veronica asked, a bit astonished./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Of course I would," Martha replied. "You saved us more than we'll ever know. It's time someone did the same for you."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica gave her friend a tight hug. "Thank you. You don't how much this means to me." /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem," Martha affirmed, before breaking the hug. "Now, go get that cube."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What's that smell?!" Alex happily yelled to his manly special forces team when he walked onto a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft. "Ladies, you get soft without me?!" He joked./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Colonel," a soldier greeted, walking up to Alex. "It's good to see you," he said, shaking the older man's hand./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Long time, Miles," Alex acknowledged, before turning to the others. "Who's ready for some hunting?!"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hooyah!" The soldiers crowed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Come on!" Alex yelled, motioning for them to leave./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Not without me!" Evan announced as he entered the aircraft./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Nevertheless, the chanting resumed, drowning out the sound of Alex's phone ringing./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica rushed into Castle, opening the locker that the Intersect cube was located in./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's gone," Phoebe announced after Veronica opened the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?" Veronica asked, a bit surprised to see her there. "Where?! Where is it?!" She demanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I can't tell you that," Phoebe replied. "That's top secret. Not even Beck-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, I need it! My boyfriend's in danger!" Veronica desperately yelled. "Ted Roark and his team are at Westerberg University's football party. He's going to kill everyone unless I bring him the Cube."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, you're gonna bring him emme/em," Phoebe revealed, now realizing the gravity of the situation. "They think I'm the Intersect. They've been looking for me all along," she reminded the younger girl. "The Cube can't fall into the wrong hands. I made a promise to Orion."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah, but you sent the Intersect to the wrong person."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Doesn't mean I still can't look out for his family," Phoebe corrected. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep my promise to him."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Meanwhile, Ted Roark watched as Martha Dunnstock fumbled her way through some stand-up comedy. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Unbeknownst to him, Lydia was watching the older man from afar./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Lydia?" Stephen whispered as he approached./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stephen?" Lydia greeted. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on your way to Burbank."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I was, but I had a gut feeling the drive-in air show wasn't the end," Stephen replied. "I found out about the party and thought I would find one of you here."br /br /"And you couldn't have called?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I figured no one would believe me without evidence," Stephen answered. "And it's sitting right over there," he said before nudging his head towards Roark. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Did you bring a gun?" Stephen asked a few seconds later./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, but I'll think of something."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia ducked under a cart covered with tablecloth as Roark and his men entered the backstage area. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This is boring," Roark stated in reference to Martha's stand-up comedy. "Might as well start the real show now," he said while pulling out a pistol./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Don't you dare," Veronica warned as she charged into the room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica?" Lydia whispered to herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""If you want to see the Intersect again, you will not touch anything in here," Veronica growled at Roark. "Do I make myself clear?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark looked at his men before his eyes landed back on Veronica. "Where's the Intersect, Veronica?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica faltered a little bit. "A-About that-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Kill her," Roark ordered his men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""HOLD ON!" Veronica yelled, putting her hands up in defense. "I brought an Intersect with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""emAn/em Intersect?" Roark asked skeptically./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe entered the room as loud music started to play in the auditorium. "Mr. Roark," she formally greeted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ms. Larkin," Roark addressed. "The Human Intersect."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This is between you and me, Roark," Phoebe noted. "If you let Veronica and her team go, I'll come with you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Terrific plan," Roark sarcastically remind. "The thing is, Fulcrum wants Veronica dead no matter what. So with that said," he turned to his men, "shoot Ms. Sawyer here."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the man at Roark's right side was hit with a emknife/em in the stomach. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe used the distraction as an opportunity to pull out her own gun, shooting the enemies as best as she could./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Meanwhile, Veronica turned and saw Lydia by the cart, knives in hand. "Take cover!" The younger girl yelled, to which Veronica obeyed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm out!" Phoebe yelled to Lydia once she took cover a few minutes later. "Any more knives?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Nope. I threw all eight," Lydia replied, sounding a bit defeated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the gunfire ended with the sound of a gun cocking in front of the cart. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Get up," Roark ordered the trio./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The three reluctantly obeyed him, putting their hands in the air. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Say hello to my little friend," Roark threatened with a short-armed rifle in his hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, soldiers invaded the area, arresting Roark and his men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hello, Ted," Stephen greeted as he approached Roark. He then punched him in the face, earning a grunt from the enemy. "I waited twenty years to do that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""All clear, sir," Evan informed Alex, who nodded in thanks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The older man then walked up to Veronica, showing her his phone. "You rang?"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sir, Roark wants to talk with you," a soldier informed Miles at Castle later that night./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles and the soldier walked into Castle's temporary holding base, where Roark sat in one of the cells./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This better not be about the food," Miles challenged Roark, before pulling out a emgun/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""DON'T!" The soldier yelled as Miles pulled the trigger, the bullet hitting Roark's heart. Miles then turned and did the same to the other man./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"An alarm went off as two other soldiers rushed in, both meeting the same fate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Alex and Evan charged into Castle, stopping to look at the security footage, only to see emdead/em bodies in the holding base./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, both men felt the barrel of a gun behind their heads./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sorry, gentlemen. We've been through a lot," Miles coldly greeted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""H-how l-long have you b-been with F-Fulcrum?" Evan stuttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm not with Fulcrum," Miles revealed, confusing both men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go ahead, pull the trigger," Alex challenged a few seconds later. He knew that this was an effective method of dealing with traitors. "I don't want to see your face."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You guys flatter me," Miles chuckled. "I would never kill anyone who saved my life," he added before knocking them out with the barrels of his guns./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Mr. Sawyer," Phoebe greeted as the two of them met outside of a closed Best Buy that night. "Or should I say, emOrion/em?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It actually involves both," Stephen replied. "I reconfigured the Cube for you under two conditions: You stop looking for me and leave my family alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So this is goodbye, huh?" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Not so fast," Stephen responded. "You made changes to the Intersect. To my initial designs. The data architecture is different. What does this new computer do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You don't wanna know," Phoebe warned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, an agent walked up to the pair. "Agent Larkin, it's time to go," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Stephen looked at his face, and that's when he emflashed/em. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Stephen's Intersect wasn't like Veronica's. It was slightly slower, showing pictures in a View-Master form. Once it was over, Stephen staggered towards the wall for support as Phoebe walked away with an enemy agent./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica woke up to the sound of rocks hitting her bedroom window that night. Curious, she walked over and looked down to see Stephen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Now a bit agitated, Veronica opened the window. "What?!" Veronica whisper-yelled to Stephen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A-An agent got Phoebe. He isn't a CIA agent. He's supposed to be dead," Stephen replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was now concerned, but it wasn't just about Phoebe./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stephen, how could you empossibly/em know that?" Veronica cautiously asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I have an Intersect in my head," Stephen conceded. "I-I tested the computer. I was young and stupid. But the intel was good. That man isn't CIA."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""NSA?" Veronica asked, hoping for the best./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Unfortunately not."br /br /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Lydia," Veronica said. "I think her and Jeremy were re-teaming with Phoebe again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Fulcrum's gonna kill them," Stephen warned. "They're gonna download the Intersect into their team."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, if they know about Phoebe-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""They know about Alex and Evan," Stephen finished for Veronica./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Do they know about Lydia and Jeremy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""More than likely," Stephen reluctantly replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Is that why you came here?" Veronica asked. "Because you need someone to save them? I hate to break it to you, Stephen, but I'm out of the spy game."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But you're the only one who can do the job," Stephen argued. "Look, I can't risk running into a Fulcrum base. You may not be a spy anymore, but you can still be a hero," he noted, showing Veronica his wrist computer./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica approached Lydia and Jeremy as they walked out of Castle that night. "I'm coming with you," she announced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stay here," Jeremy instructed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You're not a spy anymore," Lydia reminded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait," Veronica warned, stopping the two of them in their tracks. "This is the Intersect we're talking about," she said before moving up right sleeve, "and you need me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Jeremy stared at the wrist computer. "Wow," he gawked. "You've got to show me how to use that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Can't you just use it yourself?" Lydia asked. "V's not a spy, remember?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah, but I know both this," Veronica replied, showing the wrist computer, "and the Intersect better than either of you," she pointed out. "No offense," she added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Jeremy and Lydia looked at each other, before nodding in agreement./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Let's go," Veronica instructed as the trio ran towards the van./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe was still being led by the same agent to her "temporary holding cell." This was normal for a spy going into hiding though. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"What emwasn't/em normal was seeing Alex and Evan, hands shackled to the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the agent pulled a gun on Phoebe./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ms. Larkin," Miles greeted as he approached her with agents behind him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe gave him a smug half-smile, before moving away from the one agent's gun, using his finger to shoot at the other agents. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"All of the other enemy agents ducked as they pulled out their weapons, save for Miles. He shot as Phoebe turned the one agent around, causing the bullets to enter his back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles and his men chased Phoebe. A door closed just as they were about to enter. Miles put in the code for entry./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emACCESS DENIED/em. A robotic voice stated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Open this door!" Miles ordered the others./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia, Jeremy, and Veronica entered a room at the Fulcrum base, only to see dead agents./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""They're already here," Lydia deduced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked at the wrist computer, tracking the Intersect Cube, before pointing in the right direction. The trio went that way, entering what looked like a storage room. The device on Veronica's hand beeped more frequently as they got closer to the Intersect. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The trio turned a corner only to see enemy agents. Luckily, Lydia and Jeremy already had pistols out as the others started to shoot them, getting Lydia in the knee. Veronica was a few steps behind for safety. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe must be in the vault!" Veronica yelled to her teammates./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go get help!" Lydia ordered./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica stole a set of keys off a dead agent's body before releasing Alex and Evan from their shackles, giving them guns along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Thanks," Evan muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem," Veronica responded before the three of them dashed out into the hallway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The wrist computer beeped like crazy when Veronica stood under an air vent in the middle of the hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Guys, I need one of you to lift me up. It's the only way I can get Phoebe," Veronica revealed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Are you emnuts/em?" Alex questioned. "There's no way we're leaving you alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well right now, our only other way to get there is through the gunfire and I'm sure you don't want me to be a part of that," Veronica argued. "Look, Lydia got shot in the knee, so she can't help Jeremy as much. However, I don't think Phoebe has a lot of time either."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Evan and Alex looked at each other, before forming some sort of silent agreement. "emFine/em," Alex conceded, before squatting down. Veronica put her legs on his shoulders. Then, he lifted her up, groaning along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You're a lot heavier than you look," Alex remarked, almost out of breath./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica grunted as she removed the cover to the air vent. "Evan, catch," she ordered before tossing the item to him. She then pulled herself up, allowing Alex to fully breathe again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Thanks, guys," Veronica complimented. "Now, emgo/em."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""AAH!" Veronica yelled as she fell into the Intersect Room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The room was completely white. There was nothing in there except for a laptop on a stand and an agent breathing heavily against a wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hello, Veronica," Phoebe greeted weakly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey," Veronica said. "Listen, the others are pinned down outside. We need your help."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm on it," Phoebe stated before grunting in pain from the movement./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"It was only then that Veronica noticed Phoebe's right arm was covering a embloody/em spot on her stomach./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe, you've been shot!" Veronica realized as she rushed to the woman's aid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, really? I hadn't noticed," Phoebe sarcastically stated, before turning serious. "I'm really sorry about this," she confessed as Veronica tried to assess the wound. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica tried to reassure her. "No, it's ok. You're gonna be fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I wasn't talking about emthis/em," Phoebe stated, pointing to her stomach. "I'm sorry for sending you the Intersect. I-I never m-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Shh, it's ok," Veronica whispered. "That's in the past."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You know? A part of me is actually glad you got the Intersect," Phoebe admitted. "You've done some great things with it. Jeremy and Lydia are lucky to have you. T-take c-care of them, ok?" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Don't say that. You're emnot/em dying," Veronica stated hopefully./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Dying," Phoebe repeated, before her eyes went wide. "Here," Phoebe said as she handed Veronica a computer chip the size of a credit card. "This'll destroy the Intersect. The new computer is too powerful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But-but you need the computer to fight Fulcrum," Veronica argued./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Fulcrum doesn't matter," Phoebe revealed. "T-they're j-just p-part of the R-Ring," she divulged. "T-They'll use it ag-against us. You h-have to do this," Phoebe instructed. "You have to d-destroy that c-computer and g-get out of h-here."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But you could beat them," Veronica stated. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But all Phoebe did was sit emcompletely still/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?" Veronica asked, before shaking her. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After a few seconds, Veronica realized that Phoebe's heartbeat emcouldn't be felt anywhere/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was emhorrified/em. Sure, she was never super close with Phoebe, but her death was still tragic nonetheless. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica then remembered Phoebe's final wish. She looked down at the blood-splattered computer chip, before walking over to the laptop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The screen only contained a green box with the words emDO YOU WISH TO ACTIVATE? /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"In other words, it was asking if Veronica was going to destroy the Intersect or emnot/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"None of the bad guys could get the Intersect if it was gone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"This new Intersect could help good people./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emDo I take the upgrade?/em Veronica nervously thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica clicked the "ACTIVATE" button. That's when the room went dark, before the walls lit up with all sorts of different videos. Veronica felt nostalgic as the information went through her. When it was over, Veronica grunted as she fell, catching herself with the stand. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica then put the chip into the laptop. She watched as the screen went red with the words emPOWER SURGE/em, before deactivating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Miles barged into the room, gun in position. "What did you do?" He asked Veronica. "What did you do?!" He repeated more seriously when Veronica didn't respond./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I destroyed it," Veronica replied. "You're too late."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You'll die last," Miles warned while he went to investigate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Then, Team Sawyer ran in with some of Miles' men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia just happened to turn to her left and saw Phoebe's body lying up against the wall. "Phoebe?!" She panicked, causing Jeremy to join her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?!" Jeremy stated, trying to shake her awake. "No, wait!" He yelled as he and Lydia were pulled away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Lydia screamed as some of the enemy agents grabbed Phoebe's body, taking her away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia looked at Veronica once the men let go of her. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm sorry," Veronica mouthed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""There's nothing left," Miles stated in disbelief, referring to the laptop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So, you lose?" Alex smugly asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles slightly chuckled. "You should know this: No one stops emus/em," Miles stated as he and his men gathered around Veronica. "No one ever emhas/em."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Who emare/em you?" Jeremy fearfully asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Spies, Agent Heere," Miles replied, while walking over to Jeremy. "The embest/em," he added before aiming his gun at Jeremy's head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Veronica had a emflash/em. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"However, instead of showing her secret information, the Intersect gave Veronica various Chinese terms./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sir, you should come look at this," one of Miles' men suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles reluctantly left his spot and marched over to Veronica, wanting to know what the problem was. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But Team Sawyer emknew/em that cross-eyed look on Veronica's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When the flash was over, Veronica started to pant a little bit. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica, did you just flash?" Evan cautiously asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She uploaded it," Jeremy stated when Veronica didn't respond. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Kill her!" Miles angrily ordered his men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Veronica's body emslapped/em the guns away from the enemies. She ducked as one man tried to kick her, causing him to knock out his buddy instead. Another one tried to boot her with his hands on the floor. However, Veronica dodged his attack by embackflipping/em away from the conflict. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked at her hands in shock, before looking at her teammates, who felt just the same. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The conflict caught up with Veronica again. She ducked and rolled as Miles tried to kick her. She instantly got up and gave his stomach a knifehand strike before emtossing/em him against the wall, knocking him out. Another man tried to punch Veronica, but she grabbed his fist, readjusted her grip, and emflipped/em him over. She then gave a knockout punch to another enemy. Finally, she sparred with an agent, before punching him in the throat, causing him to choke before Veronica kicked him towards the wall. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When all was said and done, Veronica was able to observe her surroundings. She breathed heavily as she took in all of the unconscious bodies laying on the floor. Veronica then looked at her hands, which were positioned like eagle claws near her chest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emI did this./em Veronica nervously thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Uhhhh," Alex said, looking at his other teammates. He was hoping that someone would help him break the ice./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""V-Veronica?" Evan asked, concerned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Guys," Veronica started, bracing for impact, "I know kung fu."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongA/N: BOOK TWO IS FINISHED! WHOOP WHOOP!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongAnyway, thank you to everybody who's ever read this! I appreciate y'all! /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongAs always, any constructive criticism is welcome, along with any other thoughts or theories./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong…What's that? You want a little bit of info about Book 3? Well, ok!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongThe title of Book 3 is:/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong*drumroll please*/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongVeronica Versus The Ring/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong…Not the most original title, I know lol./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongBut anyway, please be on the lookout for Veronica Versus The Ring. It should be out within the next month-ish. /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica, what are your plans for the future?" General Beckham asked the Intersect-free girl at Castle./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, I just started college. I'm studying journalism, and we'll see where things go from there," Veronica replied. "Why do you ask?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Because I was wondering if you would like to continue working on the Intersect project," Beckham replied. "The government has been rebuilding its own Intersect, and you've shown real promise. We'd like you to be an analyst," he offered. "You're country is calling you, Ms. Sawyer."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked a bit bashful. "I think my country might have the wrong number," she observed. "I'm just Veronica Sawyer."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"General Beckham sighed. "Very well. I guess that concludes Project Sawyer," he acknowledged before turning to the other members of Team Sawyer. "Colonel Hamilton and Agent Hansen, please issue Ms. Sawyer before your Special Forces team ship out for Waziristan. Agent Heere and Agent Deetz, I'll need you to stay behind for a moment."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What exactly is this?" Veronica asked as Alex handed her an envelope. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's your paycheck," Evan replied, standing next to the older man./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica opened it, only to see-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hi-oh!" Veronica exclaimed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""If you were a true patriot, you wouldn't cash it," Alex warned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wow, guys, just…emwow/em," Veronica gushed. "Thank you both so much. Not just for the money, but for saving my life at least once a week."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""We didn't pay you, the government did," Alex corrected, before relenting. "But all in all, you did good work, V."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Aww, Alex," Veronica cooed in a mocking way. "Come here," she instructed while holding her arms out and walking towards him. She wrapped him up in a hug, before using her right hand to signal Evan join in, to which he did./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Okay," Alex professed a few seconds later. "Time to let go now."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah," Evan agreed, immediately backing off./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Totally," Veronica affirmed, repeating the same action as Evan./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Mr. Heere and Ms. Deetz, I'm sure you'll be pleased to know you're in charge of the new project, working in tandem with Agent Larkin," General Beckham announced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait, are you talking about the new Intersect plan?" Jeremy asked, to which Beckham nodded. This only caused the young man's excitement to grow. "Did you hear that, Lydia?! We get to be in charge of the new Intersect!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I know, because I heard him," Lydia stated somewhat sarcastically./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"That didn't deter Jeremy though. He turned back to the General. "Sir, I have emso many/em ideas-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""And I can't wait to hear all of them," a familiar voice interrupted, walking in from behind./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia and Jeremy turned around to see-/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?!" The two spoke in unison./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey guys," she greeted, holding the Intersect Cube in her hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She's our new Intersect," General Beckham revealed. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""And now that we've got the Cube, it's ready for upload," Phoebe concurred as she put the object into a secure locker that only secret agents would have./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Just as Lydia and Jeremy were starting to process this information, Beckham spoke up:/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""The three of you will leave for Zurich at 0800. Auf Wiedersehen," he concluded before logging off. strong(Goodbye)./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe walked up to Lydia and Jeremy, putting an arm around both their shoulders. "The trio is back," she happily stated. "Finally. We can get you guys out of here."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""See? I told ya there be slushies here!" Veronica exclaimed to JD that night at the football party, cementing the team's first win./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You didn't tell me there would only be two flavors though," JD pointed out, sipping his Cherry Slurpee along the way. "Regardless, I'm just happy to be having a good time with you tonight," he disclosed before pulling her in for a romantic kiss./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey, my parents gave me some money as a gift for finishing my first week here," Veronica stated to JD a few seconds later. "I was thinking maybe you and I could go on a little vacay somewhere?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Vacay?" JD asked, to which Veronica nodded. "How much money did your parents give you?" He inquired./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Let's just say they had a lot of money left over from me choosing here instead of Harvard," Veronica replied. "Just think about it. We could go to the beach, feel the sand between our toes…"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A sunny vacation? I love it," JD revealed. "Now, if you excuse me, I have to use the bathroom."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem. I'll get us a table."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica sat down at the table, sipping on her slushie./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A few seconds later, she felt a small emthud/em beneath the counter./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"She looked under there, only to see two caterers with a emcircle of blood surrounding their hearts/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica started to gasp, before putting both hands on top of her mouth. This was a college party after all. Nobody wanted dead caterers./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When Veronica looked up, a man sat down in front of her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"A man who wasn't JD./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ted Roark," Veronica grumbled./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark slightly chuckled at that. "No, I'm Ted Roark. You're the CIA agent who's in deep trouble," he explained. "By the way, congrats on the big football win. They emdominated/em on that field. And this par-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What do you want?" Veronica rudely interrupted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Now, there's no need for that kind of behavior. You know what I want," Roark chided./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I don-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I want the Intersect Cube," Roark revealed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was stumped. "I c-can't give you that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, I'm sure you'll find a way," Roark reassured her, before getting up and walking away. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark took two steps forward before turning back to Veronica. "Sorry, I forgot the threat part," he recalled before leaning down to whisper in Veronica's ear. "If you don't deliver within a half hour, forty minutes tops with traffic," he observed, "I'm going to kill everybody here, starting with the quarterback and ending with your boyfriend."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ronnie, where are you going?" Martha asked as she noticed Veronica walking quickly towards the exit./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica stopped and turned to her friend. "It's, uh," she paused, not knowing how to continue, "emspy/em stuff," Veronica whispered once Martha was close enough./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Martha looked a bit baffled. "emSpy/em stuff?" She whispered, to which Veronica nodded. "I thought you were done with that?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Apparently not," Veronica admitted. "Ted Roark's gonna kill everyone within the next forty minutes if I don't give him the Intersect Cube."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""WHAT?!" Martha yelled, causing a few people to glare at her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Keep your voice down," Veronica warned. "Roark said he'll kill everyone starting with Kurt. I think that means his killing spree will happen when the pinatas come out."br /br /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But that will start in twenty minutes," Martha reminded her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Then, a emlightbulb/em turned on in her head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Of course, I could always stall the wedding," Martha pointed out. "JD will ask fewer questions. No one else will know you're gone. They'll blame me. It'll be fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You'd do that for me?" Veronica asked, a bit astonished./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Of course I would," Martha replied. "You saved us more than we'll ever know. It's time someone did the same for you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica gave her friend a tight hug. "Thank you. You don't how much this means to me." /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem," Martha affirmed, before breaking the hug. "Now, go get that cube."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""What's that smell?!" Alex happily yelled to his manly special forces team when he walked onto a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft. "Ladies, you get soft without me?!" He joked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Colonel," a soldier greeted, walking up to Alex. "It's good to see you," he said, shaking the older man's hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Long time, Miles," Alex acknowledged, before turning to the others. "Who's ready for some hunting?!"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hooyah!" The soldiers crowed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Come on!" Alex yelled, motioning for them to leave./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Not without me!" Evan announced as he entered the aircraft./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Nevertheless, the chanting resumed, drowning out the sound of Alex's phone ringing./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica rushed into Castle, opening the locker that the Intersect cube was located in./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It's gone," Phoebe announced after Veronica opened the door./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?" Veronica asked, a bit surprised to see her there. "Where?! Where is it?!" She demanded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I can't tell you that," Phoebe replied. "That's top secret. Not even Beck-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, I need it! My boyfriend's in danger!" Veronica desperately yelled. "Ted Roark and his team are at Westerberg University's football party. He's going to kill everyone unless I bring him the Cube."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, you're gonna bring him emme/em," Phoebe revealed, now realizing the gravity of the situation. "They think I'm the Intersect. They've been looking for me all along," she reminded the younger girl. "The Cube can't fall into the wrong hands. I made a promise to Orion."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah, but you sent the Intersect to the wrong person."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Doesn't mean I still can't look out for his family," Phoebe corrected. "I'll do whatever it takes to keep my promise to him."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Meanwhile, Ted Roark watched as Martha Dunnstock fumbled her way through some stand-up comedy. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Unbeknownst to him, Lydia was watching the older man from afar./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Lydia?" Stephen whispered as he approached./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stephen?" Lydia greeted. "What are you doing here? I thought you were on your way to Burbank."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I was, but I had a gut feeling the drive-in air show wasn't the end," Stephen replied. "I found out about the party and thought I would find one of you here."br /br /"And you couldn't have called?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I figured no one would believe me without evidence," Stephen answered. "And it's sitting right over there," he said before nudging his head towards Roark. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Did you bring a gun?" Stephen asked a few seconds later./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, but I'll think of something."/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia ducked under a cart covered with tablecloth as Roark and his men entered the backstage area. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This is boring," Roark stated in reference to Martha's stand-up comedy. "Might as well start the real show now," he said while pulling out a pistol./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Don't you dare," Veronica warned as she charged into the room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica?" Lydia whispered to herself./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""If you want to see the Intersect again, you will not touch anything in here," Veronica growled at Roark. "Do I make myself clear?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Roark looked at his men before his eyes landed back on Veronica. "Where's the Intersect, Veronica?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica faltered a little bit. "A-About that-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Kill her," Roark ordered his men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""HOLD ON!" Veronica yelled, putting her hands up in defense. "I brought an Intersect with me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""emAn/em Intersect?" Roark asked skeptically./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe entered the room as loud music started to play in the auditorium. "Mr. Roark," she formally greeted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ms. Larkin," Roark addressed. "The Human Intersect."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This is between you and me, Roark," Phoebe noted. "If you let Veronica and her team go, I'll come with you."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Terrific plan," Roark sarcastically remind. "The thing is, Fulcrum wants Veronica dead no matter what. So with that said," he turned to his men, "shoot Ms. Sawyer here."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the man at Roark's right side was hit with a emknife/em in the stomach. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe used the distraction as an opportunity to pull out her own gun, shooting the enemies as best as she could./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Meanwhile, Veronica turned and saw Lydia by the cart, knives in hand. "Take cover!" The younger girl yelled, to which Veronica obeyed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm out!" Phoebe yelled to Lydia once she took cover a few minutes later. "Any more knives?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Nope. I threw all eight," Lydia replied, sounding a bit defeated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the gunfire ended with the sound of a gun cocking in front of the cart. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Get up," Roark ordered the trio./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The three reluctantly obeyed him, putting their hands in the air. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Say hello to my little friend," Roark threatened with a short-armed rifle in his hand./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, soldiers invaded the area, arresting Roark and his men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hello, Ted," Stephen greeted as he approached Roark. He then punched him in the face, earning a grunt from the enemy. "I waited twenty years to do that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""All clear, sir," Evan informed Alex, who nodded in thanks./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The older man then walked up to Veronica, showing her his phone. "You rang?"/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sir, Roark wants to talk with you," a soldier informed Miles at Castle later that night./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles and the soldier walked into Castle's temporary holding base, where Roark sat in one of the cells./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""This better not be about the food," Miles challenged Roark, before pulling out a emgun/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""DON'T!" The soldier yelled as Miles pulled the trigger, the bullet hitting Roark's heart. Miles then turned and did the same to the other man./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"An alarm went off as two other soldiers rushed in, both meeting the same fate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Alex and Evan charged into Castle, stopping to look at the security footage, only to see emdead/em bodies in the holding base./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, both men felt the barrel of a gun behind their heads./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sorry, gentlemen. We've been through a lot," Miles coldly greeted./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""H-how l-long have you b-been with F-Fulcrum?" Evan stuttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm not with Fulcrum," Miles revealed, confusing both men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go ahead, pull the trigger," Alex challenged a few seconds later. He knew that this was an effective method of dealing with traitors. "I don't want to see your face."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You guys flatter me," Miles chuckled. "I would never kill anyone who saved my life," he added before knocking them out with the barrels of his guns./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Mr. Sawyer," Phoebe greeted as the two of them met outside of a closed Best Buy that night. "Or should I say, emOrion/em?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""It actually involves both," Stephen replied. "I reconfigured the Cube for you under two conditions: You stop looking for me and leave my family alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So this is goodbye, huh?" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Not so fast," Stephen responded. "You made changes to the Intersect. To my initial designs. The data architecture is different. What does this new computer do?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You don't wanna know," Phoebe warned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, an agent walked up to the pair. "Agent Larkin, it's time to go," he said./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Stephen looked at his face, and that's when he emflashed/em. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Stephen's Intersect wasn't like Veronica's. It was slightly slower, showing pictures in a View-Master form. Once it was over, Stephen staggered towards the wall for support as Phoebe walked away with an enemy agent./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica woke up to the sound of rocks hitting her bedroom window that night. Curious, she walked over and looked down to see Stephen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Now a bit agitated, Veronica opened the window. "What?!" Veronica whisper-yelled to Stephen./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""A-An agent got Phoebe. He isn't a CIA agent. He's supposed to be dead," Stephen replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was now concerned, but it wasn't just about Phoebe./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stephen, how could you empossibly/em know that?" Veronica cautiously asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I have an Intersect in my head," Stephen conceded. "I-I tested the computer. I was young and stupid. But the intel was good. That man isn't CIA."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""NSA?" Veronica asked, hoping for the best./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Unfortunately not."br /br /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Lydia," Veronica said. "I think her and Jeremy were re-teaming with Phoebe again."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Fulcrum's gonna kill them," Stephen warned. "They're gonna download the Intersect into their team."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well, if they know about Phoebe-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""They know about Alex and Evan," Stephen finished for Veronica./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Do they know about Lydia and Jeremy?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""More than likely," Stephen reluctantly replied./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Is that why you came here?" Veronica asked. "Because you need someone to save them? I hate to break it to you, Stephen, but I'm out of the spy game."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But you're the only one who can do the job," Stephen argued. "Look, I can't risk running into a Fulcrum base. You may not be a spy anymore, but you can still be a hero," he noted, showing Veronica his wrist computer./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica approached Lydia and Jeremy as they walked out of Castle that night. "I'm coming with you," she announced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Stay here," Jeremy instructed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You're not a spy anymore," Lydia reminded./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait," Veronica warned, stopping the two of them in their tracks. "This is the Intersect we're talking about," she said before moving up right sleeve, "and you need me."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Jeremy stared at the wrist computer. "Wow," he gawked. "You've got to show me how to use that."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Can't you just use it yourself?" Lydia asked. "V's not a spy, remember?"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yeah, but I know both this," Veronica replied, showing the wrist computer, "and the Intersect better than either of you," she pointed out. "No offense," she added./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Jeremy and Lydia looked at each other, before nodding in agreement./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Let's go," Veronica instructed as the trio ran towards the van./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe was still being led by the same agent to her "temporary holding cell." This was normal for a spy going into hiding though. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"What emwasn't/em normal was seeing Alex and Evan, hands shackled to the wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, the agent pulled a gun on Phoebe./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ms. Larkin," Miles greeted as he approached her with agents behind him./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Phoebe gave him a smug half-smile, before moving away from the one agent's gun, using his finger to shoot at the other agents. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"All of the other enemy agents ducked as they pulled out their weapons, save for Miles. He shot as Phoebe turned the one agent around, causing the bullets to enter his back./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles and his men chased Phoebe. A door closed just as they were about to enter. Miles put in the code for entry./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emACCESS DENIED/em. A robotic voice stated./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Open this door!" Miles ordered the others./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia, Jeremy, and Veronica entered a room at the Fulcrum base, only to see dead agents./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""They're already here," Lydia deduced./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked at the wrist computer, tracking the Intersect Cube, before pointing in the right direction. The trio went that way, entering what looked like a storage room. The device on Veronica's hand beeped more frequently as they got closer to the Intersect. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The trio turned a corner only to see enemy agents. Luckily, Lydia and Jeremy already had pistols out as the others started to shoot them, getting Lydia in the knee. Veronica was a few steps behind for safety. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe must be in the vault!" Veronica yelled to her teammates./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go get help!" Lydia ordered./p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica stole a set of keys off a dead agent's body before releasing Alex and Evan from their shackles, giving them guns along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Thanks," Evan muttered./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No problem," Veronica responded before the three of them dashed out into the hallway./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The wrist computer beeped like crazy when Veronica stood under an air vent in the middle of the hall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Guys, I need one of you to lift me up. It's the only way I can get Phoebe," Veronica revealed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Are you emnuts/em?" Alex questioned. "There's no way we're leaving you alone."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Well right now, our only other way to get there is through the gunfire and I'm sure you don't want me to be a part of that," Veronica argued. "Look, Lydia got shot in the knee, so she can't help Jeremy as much. However, I don't think Phoebe has a lot of time either."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Evan and Alex looked at each other, before forming some sort of silent agreement. "emFine/em," Alex conceded, before squatting down. Veronica put her legs on his shoulders. Then, he lifted her up, groaning along the way./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You're a lot heavier than you look," Alex remarked, almost out of breath./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica grunted as she removed the cover to the air vent. "Evan, catch," she ordered before tossing the item to him. She then pulled herself up, allowing Alex to fully breathe again./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Thanks, guys," Veronica complimented. "Now, emgo/em."/p
div style="font-size: medium; border-top: none; border-right: none; border-left: none; border-image: initial; border-bottom: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;" /p
/div
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""AAH!" Veronica yelled as she fell into the Intersect Room./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The room was completely white. There was nothing in there except for a laptop on a stand and an agent breathing heavily against a wall./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hello, Veronica," Phoebe greeted weakly./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Hey," Veronica said. "Listen, the others are pinned down outside. We need your help."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm on it," Phoebe stated before grunting in pain from the movement./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"It was only then that Veronica noticed Phoebe's right arm was covering a embloody/em spot on her stomach./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe, you've been shot!" Veronica realized as she rushed to the woman's aid./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No, really? I hadn't noticed," Phoebe sarcastically stated, before turning serious. "I'm really sorry about this," she confessed as Veronica tried to assess the wound. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica tried to reassure her. "No, it's ok. You're gonna be fine."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I wasn't talking about emthis/em," Phoebe stated, pointing to her stomach. "I'm sorry for sending you the Intersect. I-I never m-"/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Shh, it's ok," Veronica whispered. "That's in the past."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You know? A part of me is actually glad you got the Intersect," Phoebe admitted. "You've done some great things with it. Jeremy and Lydia are lucky to have you. T-take c-care of them, ok?" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Don't say that. You're emnot/em dying," Veronica stated hopefully./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Dying," Phoebe repeated, before her eyes went wide. "Here," Phoebe said as she handed Veronica a computer chip the size of a credit card. "This'll destroy the Intersect. The new computer is too powerful."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But-but you need the computer to fight Fulcrum," Veronica argued./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Fulcrum doesn't matter," Phoebe revealed. "T-they're j-just p-part of the R-Ring," she divulged. "T-They'll use it ag-against us. You h-have to do this," Phoebe instructed. "You have to d-destroy that c-computer and g-get out of h-here."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""But you could beat them," Veronica stated. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But all Phoebe did was sit emcompletely still/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?" Veronica asked, before shaking her. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After a few seconds, Veronica realized that Phoebe's heartbeat emcouldn't be felt anywhere/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica was emhorrified/em. Sure, she was never super close with Phoebe, but her death was still tragic nonetheless. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica then remembered Phoebe's final wish. She looked down at the blood-splattered computer chip, before walking over to the laptop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The screen only contained a green box with the words emDO YOU WISH TO ACTIVATE? /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"In other words, it was asking if Veronica was going to destroy the Intersect or emnot/em./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"None of the bad guys could get the Intersect if it was gone./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But…/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"This new Intersect could help good people./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emDo I take the upgrade?/em Veronica nervously thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica clicked the "ACTIVATE" button. That's when the room went dark, before the walls lit up with all sorts of different videos. Veronica felt nostalgic as the information went through her. When it was over, Veronica grunted as she fell, catching herself with the stand. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica then put the chip into the laptop. She watched as the screen went red with the words emPOWER SURGE/em, before deactivating./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Miles barged into the room, gun in position. "What did you do?" He asked Veronica. "What did you do?!" He repeated more seriously when Veronica didn't respond./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I destroyed it," Veronica replied. "You're too late."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You'll die last," Miles warned while he went to investigate./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Then, Team Sawyer ran in with some of Miles' men. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia just happened to turn to her left and saw Phoebe's body lying up against the wall. "Phoebe?!" She panicked, causing Jeremy to join her./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Phoebe?!" Jeremy stated, trying to shake her awake. "No, wait!" He yelled as he and Lydia were pulled away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HER!" Lydia screamed as some of the enemy agents grabbed Phoebe's body, taking her away./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Lydia looked at Veronica once the men let go of her. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I'm sorry," Veronica mouthed./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""There's nothing left," Miles stated in disbelief, referring to the laptop./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""So, you lose?" Alex smugly asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles slightly chuckled. "You should know this: No one stops emus/em," Miles stated as he and his men gathered around Veronica. "No one ever emhas/em."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Who emare/em you?" Jeremy fearfully asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Spies, Agent Heere," Miles replied, while walking over to Jeremy. "The embest/em," he added before aiming his gun at Jeremy's head./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Veronica had a emflash/em. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"However, instead of showing her secret information, the Intersect gave Veronica various Chinese terms./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Sir, you should come look at this," one of Miles' men suggested./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Miles reluctantly left his spot and marched over to Veronica, wanting to know what the problem was. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"But Team Sawyer emknew/em that cross-eyed look on Veronica's face./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When the flash was over, Veronica started to pant a little bit. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Veronica, did you just flash?" Evan cautiously asked./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""She uploaded it," Jeremy stated when Veronica didn't respond. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Kill her!" Miles angrily ordered his men./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Suddenly, Veronica's body emslapped/em the guns away from the enemies. She ducked as one man tried to kick her, causing him to knock out his buddy instead. Another one tried to boot her with his hands on the floor. However, Veronica dodged his attack by embackflipping/em away from the conflict. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Veronica looked at her hands in shock, before looking at her teammates, who felt just the same. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The conflict caught up with Veronica again. She ducked and rolled as Miles tried to kick her. She instantly got up and gave his stomach a knifehand strike before emtossing/em him against the wall, knocking him out. Another man tried to punch Veronica, but she grabbed his fist, readjusted her grip, and emflipped/em him over. She then gave a knockout punch to another enemy. Finally, she sparred with an agent, before punching him in the throat, causing him to choke before Veronica kicked him towards the wall. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"When all was said and done, Veronica was able to observe her surroundings. She breathed heavily as she took in all of the unconscious bodies laying on the floor. Veronica then looked at her hands, which were positioned like eagle claws near her chest./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emI did this./em Veronica nervously thought./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Uhhhh," Alex said, looking at his other teammates. He was hoping that someone would help him break the ice./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""V-Veronica?" Evan asked, concerned./p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Guys," Veronica started, bracing for impact, "I know kung fu."/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;" /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongA/N: BOOK TWO IS FINISHED! WHOOP WHOOP!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongAnyway, thank you to everybody who's ever read this! I appreciate y'all! /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongAs always, any constructive criticism is welcome, along with any other thoughts or theories./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong…What's that? You want a little bit of info about Book 3? Well, ok!/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongThe title of Book 3 is:/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong*drumroll please*/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongVeronica Versus The Ring/strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong…Not the most original title, I know lol./strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strong /strong/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongBut anyway, please be on the lookout for Veronica Versus The Ring. It should be out within the next month-ish. /strong/p
