Katherine walked down the hallway of I.D. headquarters and stopped as she reached the door of their resident technological genius.
"Hi Glenn, do you have a sec?" Kat asked as she knocked on the door.
"Sure Kat, I always have a second for you, in fact I was just about to call you, we got some Intel that I think may be of help to you," Glenn told her as she entered the office.
"I take that to mean you have some information that will help me sneak back into Anton Mercer's house," Kat said as Glenn pulled up the information on his computer.
"Well that chip that you placed in his office has allowed us to hear everything that goes on there and this morning Mercer placed a phone call to some caterers, apparently he's hosting some big party at his house tomorrow evening and the caterers are arriving this afternoon to set everything up," Glenn informed her.
"Hmm, so all I have to do is disguise myself as an employee of the catering service and I can walk in there without anyone suspecting anything," Kat decided.
"Yeah, I've taken the liberty of already getting you set up, this is an i.d badge identical to the one the other workers will be wearing, and this is the uniform that you'll need," Glenn said as he handed the items.
"Thanks Glenn, what would we ever do without you," Kat said with a smile.
Kat left Glenn's office and headed back to her desk where she found Will waiting for her with an envelope in his hand.
"What's that?" Kat asked.
"I might ask you the same thing," Will said referring to the things she held in her hand.
"I asked you first," Kat said as she sat down.
"This is an invitation to party that Anton Mercer's giving at his mansion, it's some sort of fundraiser for scientific research and he's invited the two of us to attend," Will explained.
"That's great, I mean we've been waiting for an opportunity to get back into that house," Kat told him.
"It won't be easy with that many people around but at least Mercer will be distracted enough not to notice if we slip away," Will replied.
"The invitation says black-tie, I guess I'd better go shopping, I didn't really bring any formal dresses with me when I moved here," Kat said.
"Before you take off on your shopping spree, mind explaining what you were doing in Glenn's office," Will responded.
"Glenn found a way for me to get inside Mercer's house before the party begins so that I can look around alone," Kat replied.
"And when were you planning on telling me about his little mission of yours?" Will questioned.
"I just did," Kat said.
"You were about to go over there without telling me weren't you, you were just gonna waltz in there without any back up," Will snapped.
"Relax Will, I just figured it'd be easier for me to go in alone, if it'll make you fill any better, just go to Glenn and have him rig up my equipment so that if anything goes wrong I'll be able to contact you directly," Kat told him.
"Fine but no more going behind my back ok," Will told her.
"Sorry it won't happen again," Kat promised.
Katherine arrived at the catering service dressed in the uniform that Glenn had given her and checked out her reflection in the window to make sure that everything was in place. She was donning a short black wig and green contact lenses in an effort to make sure that none of Mercer's staff would recognize her from having been there only a few days before.
"You must be Melanie's replacement," a man said as she entered the building.
"Yes, I'm Susie, is it true this job is in the mansion of one of the wealthiest men in Reefside, my mama will never believe I got to go inside a place like that," Kat said in a Southern accent.
"You've never worked a job like this before have you?" the man questioned.
"Is it that obvious, the temp agency usually only gets me jobs answering phones, but don't you worry, I'm a real quick study," Kat replied.
"It's too late to get someone else so I guess I'll just have to take your word for it, the others are in the back loading up the vans why don't you go help them," he told her.
"Sure thing, and I promise you won't regret giving me a chance," Kat said as she headed to the back.
"That's some accent; you know maybe you should have been an actress." Will voice said coming into Katherine's earpiece. "It's working isn't it," Kat said as she came to where the employees were loading the vans.
An hour later, Katherine sat in one of the catering vans with the catering service employees as they drove to Anton Mercer's mansion. They arrived at the front gate and the van stopped as the driver pushed the intercom button.
"Ok, the stuff in this van goes to the kitchen, the rest of this we'll set up in the backyard next to the pool," the manager said once the vans were inside the estate and the employees were standing in front of him.
"Margie and I take the kitchen stuff," Kat spoke as she pulled the arm of the girl standing next to her. "My mama will just kill me if I don't get a peek at that kitchen."
She and Margie began unloading the van with the food and soon made their way inside the house and into the kitchen. They had to make several trips before all the food was unloaded. Once they were done, Kat decided that it was time for her to slip away on her own.
"Say Margie, you worked many of these kinds of parties before?" Kat asked.
"All the time, you wouldn't believe the all the things these rich people buy," Margie commented.
"I'm glad you said that cause I'm just dying to have a look around, be a dear and cover for me if the boss comes around," Kat replied.
"Alright but if you're not back in time, don't go blaming me if the boss fires you," Margie told her as Kat left the kitchen and made her way up the stairs to Anton Mercer's office.
Kat entered the office and found that it was empty. She began searching around the room hoping to once again find that portal.
"Ok, I'm inside Mercer's office," Kat said knowing that Will was listening to her every word.
"Tell me again what is it you're looking for?" Will asked her.
"Last time we were here, I saw this glowing green light, I'm pretty sure it was some kind of portal and if I can find it again I might be able to find out where it leads," Kat told him. "Kat, you can't enter that portal alone, who knows where you might end up," Will said. "Don't worry I'll be fine," Kat said as she continued to walk around the room.
"I found it!" Kat exclaimed as once again the green light appeared. "Ok, you found it, now get out of there, the two of us can come back tomorrow and we'll slip away during the party to figure out where it leads," Will told her.
"Sorry Will, but it has to be now, who knows if we'll even be able to get away, it's now or never," Kat decided. "Kat, you leave that room immediately," Will ordered.
Ignoring the protests of Will in her ear, Kat approached the portal and the light surrounded her. Here goes nothing. She thought as she entered the portal.
"What on earth, where am I?" Kat wondered as she looked around the room the portal had brought her to.
Kat looked around and saw that she was in some kind of lab almost like it was a secret hide out or something. "Will come in, you won't believe what just happened," Kat spoke in a quiet voice. "Fox, this is Nightingale, do you read me," she said finally using her field name but there was nothing but silence.
"Ok so obviously, I'm not in Reefside anymore, that portal must lead to another dimension or something," Kat decided. Could this be some secret lab of Anton's? I mean who else would have the knowledge to create a portal like that.
"Zeltrax!" a voice yelled and Katherine heard footsteps approaching. I have to hide and fast. Kat thought as she frantically searched for somewhere to hide.
"Yes, my lord," Zeltrax said as he and Mesogog entered the main room of the fortress.
"Where is Elsa?" Mesogog hissed.
"She is nearing the "carbon fusion" and will arrive to it soon," Zeltrax told him.
"Good, we have kept Tommy from finding our prize for nearly a year and once it is in my possession, nothing will be able to stop me," Mesogog laughed.
I don't believe this. I've accidentally stumble into the lair of the Dino Rangers' biggest enemy. But what is its connection to Anton Mercer? Kat thought from her hiding place inside the air vent in the ceiling. She watched as Mesogog left the room but Zeltrax stayed. Great, now I'm stuck here until he leaves.
After what seemed like hours but was really only about thirty minutes. Katherine watched as Elsa entered the room with a large black stone and set it down.
"There had better be good news," Mesogog said as entered the room. Elsa was busy trying to cut into the black stone as Zeltrax hovered behind her.
"Sorry my lord, it's going to take a little while longer, but have patience in only a matter of hours this power will be yours," Elsa replied.
"Fine, but you had better not fail me, come Zeltrax," Mesogog said as they left.
I better get back or Will's going to send the entire agency after me. At least now I know how to get into this place. Only question now is how I am going to get out. Duh, I can't believe I forgot about this. I just hope it still works.
Katherine rolled up her sleeve to reveal the communicator that she had used when she was a ranger. She had brought it in case she couldn't get back to the portal and needed to find a way out. Only problem is I have no idea if this can get me back to Reefside. Oh well, here goes nothing. Kat pushed the button and disappeared in a flash of pink.
"At least I'm still alive," Kat spoke as she landed in a familiar place. Kat is that you, I've been trying to reach you for over an hour.
"Yeah Will, it's good to hear your voice, um I'm going to need an extraction," Kat told him.
"Where are you?" he asked.
"Angel Grove," Kat replied and gave him her coordinates.
Author's Note: My last chapter was kinda short, so I decided to make up for it with an even longer one. Hope you enjoyed it, please keep the reviews coming.