Ch.4: In bad company
"To whom do I owe this pleasure?" Doctor Doctor asked.
Kent had recently been released from bondage.
Doctor Doctor had every intention of losing the keys to his prison. Unfortunately due to Kent's outstanding record with T.H.E.M. it nullified his sentence very quickly.
Kent had gained the trust of U.Z.Z. no doubt, so she still had uses for him. That was the deal when she recruited him, the traitor of U.Z.Z., the back stabbing Judas that located the secret thing.
It was all because of him; of course she was somewhat indebted to him.
"That was you're free get out of jail card. I suggest you be more weary next time," Doctor Doctor rearranged herself on her lavish spider themed chair. Legs crossed with an arm hanging off the side of the armrest. While the other hand sat square underneath her chin, she was not amused.
Kent's poker face quickly turned into a sour scowl. "by all means Doctor Doctor," he quickly saluted her for a show of respect.
"Please continue," Doctor Doctor replied returning his expression.
"I have good news, ma'am," Kent understood that under the Geneva Convention. No true torture like in the years of wars past would be inflicted. But old school tactics were enforced for the safety of the enemy spy. Kowalski was stuck again in a dark jail cell, perhaps never to see the sun again.
"This better be good news." the Russian woman warned.
Ray and his company made it as far to the woods before moving out into the open. For Doctor Doctor's base was just within their sights ready to be infiltrated. Luckily to Ray's crack team of trainees working with their secret agent counterparts it was discovered the woods were bugged with sensitive equipment ready to state their presence.
Ray ordered his team to settle their sky bikes on the ground. "quietly and gently," he demonstrated mostly for Ashley's benefit. The craft he was driving flowed to the ground gently nestled in the snow.
Everyone followed suite, all of them killing their motors, they were to do the rest on foot.
"We're regular foot soldiers aren't we?" Todd hopped off his sky bike remarked to his comrades.
"Yep, as were our forefathers." Ray chuckled as he landed on the soft snow.
"So now what do we do, "Ashley asked weaving aimlessly between Scott, Todd, and Ray. She was mesmerized by how much land there was between them and Doctor Doctor's base.
"Why don't we begin shall we?" Ray said rubbing his hands together.
Scott, Todd, and Ashley nodded in unison.
Doctor Doctor could not help but to laugh. "you'd be giving yourself away," she thoughtfully pointed out.
"I would be betraying my position, but not without help," Kent remembered his best friend residing inside the base.
"Then I suspect your proposition has something to do with the girl then?" Doctor Doctor flatly remarked.
"Yes," Kent replied to her conclusion.
"Whatever," Doctor Doctor growled.
Standing up from her seat to face her subordinate, poking his chest menacingly she said. "but don't expect me to help you fix your mistake."
A shiver crawled up his spine. Kent was fully aware of the consequences that might ensue. "I understand," he said willing to accept responsibility for the prisoner.
No sooner than Doctor Doctor gave Kent permission another threat was making itself known.
An expendable came rushing through the door to alert Doctor Doctor. "we've located intruders surrounding the woods just beyond the base."
Doctor Doctor's head snapped behind her shoulder. "is it Victor and Anita?" she hissed.
The expendable shook his head no. "a party of four, they look like they can be easily subdued."
"Let me see." Doctor Doctor pushed him out of the way heading for the exit. She no sooner arrived at terminal filled with security cameras. They kept an eye around the base when she herself could not be present staring at a square of four different television sets. Doctor Doctor spotted the trespassers walking through the forest.
"They never give up do they?" Doctor Doctor muttered under her breathe. Her eyes scanned the quartet leading her to a startling discovery. The man that was in charge of the group was none other than Ray himself. The bad news is compared to Victor Volt; Ray was the more worthy adversary.
They barely came into to contact with each other enough. Doctor Doctor's mouth open wide smiling. "he will rue the day he stepped into my personal dominion," she finished the sentence with a devilish cackle.
"Let us make our plans," Doctor Doctor hummed lacing her fingers together.
Kent and the expendable that joined her in the room exchanged unsure glances back to each other.
"So, Ray," Ashley tried not to sound so casual. It was beginning to become night as they spotted the bright sun falling beneath the pine trees.
"Yes, Ashley," Ray asked. He was a bit busy trying to determine where there enemies might be coming from.
"It's far too quiet...don't you think?" Todd as everyone was becoming exceptionally quiet.
"Do you think they'd go as far as setting off punji traps?" Ashley was afraid of stepping into a pit of spikes.
"Maybe," Ray suggested. "or they could deliberately try to find ways to sabotage our passing. We may live in the twenty-first century, but as far as the art of war. It's pretty old as far as we know it." he sniffed the air inhaling invisible fragrances. The cold did not have a scent as much as the spring or the summer did. Ray sure did like to mention the many scents he inhaled back in the day. Ashley figured it was just a survival technique, Anita and Victor was knocked out by a certain knock out gas.
"As far as technologically advanced we are now. I think we practically got it down to a science." Scott remarked.
"So how do you think will do then?" Ashley whispered hopping over a fallen tree.
Ray shrugged his shoulders to her question. "we'll never know unless we try."
Kent stepped inside the jail cell.
It was the same one that they forced Stinky Winky into.
Far into the tiny corner of the room Kowalski was hugging her knees. This was what it meant to be a captive, held against your will. There was nothing fun about it, you either interrogated for information, executed, or live your life in a cell.
Kowalski realized it was one of her best friends.
Staggering to her feet she managed to hug Kent's waist. "oh, Kent I thought I'd never see you again," she said through shaky breathes. Kent could feel her icy fingers wishing for warmth.
Her fingernails were stabbing him in his back only to his dismay he didn't pull her away. "I didn't make it out either, Kowalski. We're still stuck here and that's all to it."
"That's not true," Kowalski gasped. "your still here... and help will be on its way any minute."
Kent grimaced. "for her sake," he thought.
Kent winced and asked Kowalski shaking his head. "what do you mean?" he was curious how she obtained such information. T.H.E.M. confiscated everything she owned that might contact outside world.
"Professor Professor did it to me when my back was turned just like all the rest," she whispered straightening her body up. She was facing Kent to eye level staring into his black round glasses.
"You don't mean," he stopped thinking about what her sentence implied.
"But my ability was based on Professor Professor's later obsessions," Kowalski turned her head embarrassed.
"What's it called?" Kent replied.
Professor Professor was an odd little man, but for the most part.
He was rather interesting when he made his inventions. There was never a dull day in the facility when he was testing something dangerous. It made for excellent drama and action that you'd never find in civilian life.
"His brand of foresight," Kowalski laughed weakly.
She was jealous of Victor and Anita's ability to contact base by either a touch of a pinky or a twist of a finger in the ear. It really wasn't funny how Professor Professor had to test on anyone that he so happened to think. iThis is a good idea, let me see what happens when the next unconscious agent gets wheeled into the infirmary./i She never claimed that he thought these words, but sometimes she couldn't help, but not to wonder.
Kent suddenly fell on the floor ready to give up already. Kowalski sat down wondering what would become of the both of them.
"So, Kowalski," Kent said. "I do have one idea on how to get us out of here faster."
Kowalski could only listen as Kent threw out his idea. "what is it," she asked.