A/N: All right, I have chosen to include a certain agency in this fic because of certain message board conversations (props to Julia, HoneyB, and Akili) and just because I love those bastards so damn much. Ciao!
Chapter 3Max Steel and his partner Kat Ryan were standing in a huge pile of rubble-what was left of the American Embassy in France. A well-dressed European man was in front of them, talking quickly to them in French.
Kat stooped and picked up what was left of what used to be a desk drawer. "English, please," she said to the man standing in front of her.
The man checked himself and began again slowly in English. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm just so upset! The American Embassy! Surely you know how tense relationships have been between our countries lately!"
Kat nodded and tried to look understanding, but stomped on Max's foot as she heard him mutter something about beret-wearing French fries.
The man looked at them questioningly, but continued after Kat offered no explanation for her action.
"The US government has already been hinting that this could have been the work of some French resistance group, which is certainly-"
"Out of the question?" Kat asked hopefully.
The man hesitated. "Not exactly the words I was going to use, but-"
Kat sighed and rubbed her head with one hand. "So this could've been work of some French group?"
"It is not probable."
"Why do you say that?"
As his partner continued to go back and forth with the official, Max noticed how tired she looked. And why shouldn't she be? Unlike him, she needed time and rest to recharge-not just a few minutes with a generator. All week they had been flying all over the world to sites exactly like the one they were currently standing in.
Ever since he and Berto and been rescued a few weeks ago, there had been an unending streak of terrorist attacks. More than usual. Much more. Someone seemed intent on destroying pretty much every international relationship that had been worked at for decades.
What had been so bothersome about the attacks was that there were no clues as to who or which organization was responsible. Every place N-Tek had been to showed no signs of anything suspicious. Besides the explosives, of course. It seemed like in every location, the foundations of the building had been practically covered in plastic explosives. Usually it wasn't too difficult to trace the manufacturer of the explosives, but these had been different. Upon examining them, N-Tek had been unable to determine who had made the damn things.
Realizing that it might be slightly obvious he wasn't paying attention to the situation at hand, Max decided then would be a good time to tune back in to the conversation going on between Kat and the Frenchman.
"But that still doesn't explain how they got past the security!"
"I know, mademoiselle! Believe me, we've examined the building from every possible angle! There has no evidence of attempted forced entry, no alarm triggered for the last three weeks!"
"Why only three weeks?" Kat looked suspicious.
"A minor mishap," the man waved his hand dismissively. "We had an alarm-one of our security cameras had blacked out. We panicked and sent law enforcement officials to check on the situation. Three units. But…we were embarrassed to see that it was only our head of security cleaning the lens. He had never been previously so conscious of appearance, but there was a rumor of an impending inspection…you get the idea."
Kat nodded. "Yeah, I understand, but-"
She was cut off as the man's cell phone rang. "Excuse me," he said. He moved out of hearing range, but Kat could tell he was having a very heated conversation with whoever was on the other line. She glanced at Max, and gave him an expectant look.
Max feigned a look of surprise. "What, now you want my help?"
Kat crossed her arms. "Not your help, just your hearing."
"I don't speak French! Besides, you hurt my toe."
"You're so full of it!" She picked up a chunk of cement from the surriounding rubble and threw it as hard as she could at his foot. The cement bounced off, and Kat had proven her point. "Steel-enforced boots. You know that. I know that." She picked up a larger piece of cement. "NOW TELL ME WHAT HE'S SAYING OUR I'LL THROW THIS AT YOU WHERE IT'S NOT STEEL-ENFORCED!"
At that moment, the man came back over to them, and Kat grinned sheepishly and dropped the piece of cement before giving Max a dirty look.
The man shrugged, then said "That was my government. They have just received a tip on who might have done this."
"I thought they were talking about gardens," Max said quietly.
"Well, maybe you should pay more attention instead of French class instead of doodling pictures of the teacher's head exploding all the time."
"Hey! Berto wasn't supposed to tell anyone that!"
She stuck her tongue out at him.
The man looked exasperated. "Please! This is a slightly pressing matter here!"
Kat realized how they'd been acting and sighed. "Sorry. It's been a long week."
"I'm sure." The man expressed a look of sympathy, but then continued with what he had to say. "The tip was very clear, but we're not sure yet if it's the real culprits, or others trying to claim credit."
"Better let us be the judge of that," Max said.
"Well, it was a video transmition-"
"Excuse me," a new voice cut into the conversation as a man in a black suit came walking out of what seemed like nowhere.
"Can I help you?" Kat seemed a little ticked off. She just wanted to get this over with and go home. She didn't need any interruptions.
"Agent Williams. We'll be taking over this investigation from here, with assistance from other agencies of course."
"We're one of the 'assisting' agencies on the list, you moron," Kat responded.
"I'm afraid not. You're not on the list of those my agency is specified to cooperate with."
"And what agency is that, exactly?" Kat narrowed her eyes.
"That's not really any of your concern. However, I have a job to do, so if you'll excuse me." With that, he firmly took the arm of the Frenchman Kat and Max had been talking to and led him to a waiting car.
"Hold on!" Kat ran after them and stood in front of the new guy. "If you're going to take the person who was helping us out, you have to at least tell me who the hell you are!"
The man looked around, then noticed the N-Tek symbols on their uniforms. He flashed a badge quickly; Kat hardly saw it. "Central Intelligence Agency, United States. I have a schedule to keep, and you have been relieved as being…too close to the problem. Maybe even part of the problem."
Kat was furious. "YOU CAN'T JUST-"
The man took out a folded piece of paper from inside his suit jacket and handed it to her. "A bench warrant. Goodbye, Ms. Ryan."
Kat and Max stood frozen in the place as the two men got into the car and were driven away.
"Well, I guess that's it," said Max, sounding slightly relieved.
"Like hell it is," answered Kat. She grabbed Max's wrist and led him back to where Hawk was waiting in stealth mode. "We're going to Jefferson. Now."