Chapter 3

"So how's the mission going?" Taya asked.

Dan glanced up. It was the next day, and the pair were making their way to school.

"I mean, I'm probably not supposed to ask, it being classified and all," Taya added, with a shrug.

"Well I think you've had enough input on the mission to know, MI9 or not." Dan reasoned. "We've got evidence that Maria Constantala was definitely connected to the theft of the virus," he explained, "but we still can't work out where it is or what she's planning to do with it. And if we arrest her now, there's a chance that the case and the virus could be lost forever. Her brother seemed to think she had bigger plans than just selling it on to the higher bidder, but what could an ex-model want with a vial of a deadly virus?"

Taya contemplated the issue. "Well, what did she do before she was a model? I can't remember exactly – she wasn't our main target, but wasn't it something to do with biochemistry? Or pharmacy? That's how she ended up in the cosmetics industry, isn't it? There might be a motive or connection or something there somewhere?"

Dan looked up, considering this idea. "I hadn't thought about that," he admitted.

Taya chuckled. "Typical. People only remember celebrities for what they're famous for."

Dan shook his head, smiling. "Seriously though, that's not a bad shout."

Taya shrugged in mock modesty. "Where would you be without me?" she asked with a grin and Dan laughed.

He had noticed the more upbeat, jokey side of Taya start to come out, replacing the shyer, more nervous persona they had first seen. This seemed to be more like her natural self, and Dan was glad she felt relaxed enough to show it. It was obvious, too, that Taya enjoyed the challenges and puzzles spy work presented.

"Y'know, you could still join us," Dan suggested. Taya looked at him, brow furrowed. "On the mission. You'd be great on the team."

"Dan," she sighed. "I couldn't even if I wanted to."

"Look, I know you resigned but I think you –"

"Wait… resigned?" Taya interrupted, confused. "They told you I resigned?"

It was Dan's turned to look puzzled.

"Yeah, Frank said you resigned after what happened."

"I didn't resign." Taya seemed to be reluctant to explain. The cheerful Taya was retreating once more and when she spoke again, her voice was quieter but with a matter-of-factness that seemed slightly forced. "Stella gave me a dressing down when I came back. Turned out it was my fault the booby trap went off: it was connected to the chest containing the virus that I was trying to open and I set it off. I was responsible for what happened. For… well, anyway." She cleared her throat. "After that, I was sacked."

"What?"

"I was sacked," Taya repeated. She shrugged like it was nothing, but Dan noticed the poorly-veiled emotions on her face. A black sea of guilt, grief and pain churned just below the surface. "All I deserved, I suppose." She looked him in the eye and smiled weakly. "Seriously, you're better off without me on the team."

Dan was silent for a minute, taking all in. He barely heard the last comment. Meanwhile, Taya was distractedly searching her pockets and had glanced back the way they had come.

"But-" Dan started but Taya had turned around.

"I dropped my communicator. Hold on a tick."

Without waiting for him, she turned and hurried back down the road.

Dan stared after her, processing what she had said. It didn't make any sense. Why hadn't Stella or Frank told them? How could they have sacked her – surely it hadn't been her fault, and even if it had been…

The sound of screeching tyres as a heavy vehicle sped round the corner and braked quickly made him turn round. An unmarked white van had pulled up further up the road, the doors flung open and four or five figures leapt out. Taya jumped in surprise, dropping the pencil communicator she had just picked up. The figures went for her and she hit out at them. Dan was already sprinting towards them. He saw one of them pull something out from inside their jacket and clasp it over Taya's mouth. Her struggling became weaker and the attackers dragged her towards the van.

"Hey!" Dan called out, putting on a burst of speed.

The attackers looked round but instead of stopping, they sped up, manhandling Taya into the back of the van and jumping in after her. As soon as the doors had slammed shut, the driver slammed their foot on the accelerator and the van sped off. Dan had still not caught up but he gave chase, putting on a burst of speed himself. The van cleared the end of the street and turned onto the dual carriage way beyond, swerving in and out of cars to the sound of angry horn blares. By the time Dan had reached the corner, the van was already speeding its way out of sight. He kicked the ground in frustration.

Dejectedly, he made his way back to the spot where the van had been, casting about for anything the attackers might have dropped. But there was nothing. All that was left was Taya's pencil communicator, broken under someone's boot, lying where it had fallen.

The others had already gathered in the base by the time Dan got there. They looked up as the lift doors opened to smile a greeting.

"Ah, Dan, good," Frank said as Dan strode into the room. "Have you seen Taya this morning?"

But nobody got any further as they registered the fury on Dan's face. He strode towards the circular table and slammed the broken pencil communicator on the surface.

"She's gone," he said, managing barely not to shout. "They took her."

The others looked shocked.

"What?" they asked. "What do you mean they took her? Who took her?"

He turned away, unable to look at either Stella or Frank.

"Dan, we need to know what happened," Frank pressed him. "When was this? And where? Dan?"

Dan was pacing up and down in front of the lift trying to contain his anger. He spat out an explanation.

"Just now, outside the school. A van came up and these black clothed guys grabbed her, stuck her in the van and drove off." Horror was dawning on his friends' faces but it was the look of concern on Stella's face the he couldn't stand. This was her fault.

He span round, eyes flashing.

"And you know why she didn't fight back? Because you told her she was no good." He was yelling now. "After all she went through, you made her think it was all her fault, that she had killed her friends and messed up and you threw her out on the dump just like that."

Frank frowned. Stella looked down.

"Dan," Aneisha said shakily, distressed by her friend's outburst, "what do you mean?"

But Dan didn't want to explain. He was too angry.

"Ask her," he said instead, pointing a shaking finger at Stella.

Tom and Aneisha turned to their boss.

Stella looked up, pursing her lips.

"It wasn't like that," she began. "After her last mission, Taya and I had words about her work. It appeared that it was due to her mistakes the mission ended badly. They were avoidable errors and MI9 felt it wouldn't be a good idea for her to carry on working for us." She looked back at Dan, annoyed. "But we did not 'throw her out onto the dump'."

But Dan was shaking his head. Anger, scorn and disappointment twisted his features. His voice was quiet now. Deadly quiet.

"You told her it was her fault her friends died. Have you any idea what that would feel like? And then, on top of that, you sacked her." He shook his head again, not bothering to express his feelings right now. "This –" he gestured back to the lift and the world above. "This is your fault." He glared at Stella one last time. "I'm going to go find her."

With that he turned on his heel and left.

After his departure, there was silence.

No one quite knew what to say. Stella's face was a mask of quiet fury and she stared straight ahead at the closed doors of the lift.

Tom and Aneisha exchanged a glance. Both knew what they wanted to do – to go off after Dan; find Taya. But should they?

Frank's quiet voice broke the silence.

"Tom, Aneisha, I want you to go after Dan. Go to the place they kidnapped Taya. We need to work out what's happened to her. Check back in with me when you're there or if you find anything."

Silently, they nodded and quickly left the base.

"Stella?" Frank asked. She didn't reply. "Stella, talk to me. Tell me what really happened after the last mission."

Stella turned abruptly to face Frank. "You know what happened. You saw my report. Poor decisions were made on the part of Taya Shepherd which led to the death of two agents, the loss of vital information on various criminal networks, not to mention the near loss of the virus that was only later recovered by luck. As a result, there was an investigation into the procedure and practices of MI9 and the whole department was nearly shut down, not to mention the whole MI High operation. If it had got out that the government had employed teenagers in a job that had got them killed, we would have been in serious trouble. The whole thing was an absolute disaster. I had to sack Agent Shepherd. There was no other option."

She turned away from him.

"I understand the issues," Frank conceded, "But did you or did you not tell Taya that she had caused the death of her friends? Or that she was no good as an agent?"

Stella didn't answer but her silence was all the response Frank needed. He sucked in breath through his teeth.

"So not only did you sack her but you gave her a full dressing down, and told her it was her fault. People make mistakes, Stella. Are you telling me that you're entire Military Intelligence career has been spotless? Have you never done the slightest thing wrong?" He shook his head in disbelief. "How could you do that? She was probably already blaming herself for the death of her friends – believe me, I've been there. Any faith in herself she still had or would regain given time, you smashed to pieces."

Stella cut across him angrily.

"She needed to be reprimanded –"

"She needed to be supported!" Frank shouted. "Even if she wasn't a child, how could you think that was the right response?"

Stella exhaled, annoyed. "Oh come on, Frank. This is MI9. This isn't some namby-pamby profession, we don't always have the comfort of being able to wrap our employees in cotton wool. They aren't just children, they're field agents. They are trained and trusted with dealing in the most delicate circumstances. They've done it before. They know what's expected of them."

"There's a line, Stella, and you crossed it," Frank retorted. He shook his head. "Y'know, I know several people have had their doubts about MI High – using teenagers as spies – and I'll admit there have been a couple of occasions when I've come close to having them, too, but I've come to realise: there's nothing wrong with the kids as spies. It's the adults behind them that are the problem."

Furious and disgusted, he took one last look at Stella and then followed his team out.

A/N: First of all, thank you so much to Pumpkin-Scrubs and J.4.5.M.1.N.3 and Guest for your lovely reviews! They made my day! :) I hope you enjoyed this slightly more dramatic chapter... more to come soon(ish). Please review!