First Mutant
By David D. Amaya
Chapter 23
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Exhibit Hall B, Washington Convention Center, 9th St. NW, Downtown, 1342 EST. Day 21
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Calmly crossing the main exhibit floor that is playing host to the International Brotherhood of Peace Officers annual United States convention, Jubilee was pushing a large covered meal cart toward the west facing wall, disguised in a server's uniform.
Having utilized expert espionage skills learned in service to his country, Agent Nichols walked alongside her, himself now under the guise of Major Nathaniel Green. Massachusetts State Police.
"So Major Minor." she asked. "When do I get to clock out?"
"Jubilee, you do not have to do this," replied the 'trooper.' "If I get compromised, I took you hostage, so scream your lungs out."
"Look, Secret Squirrel, I haven't known ya that long, but an X-Man don't bail on their friends!"
You sound just like Charlie when you say that, thought the Secret Service agent.
"You will not be abandoning your friends," he pressed upon the young mutant as they started to weave their way through the display booths. "I made a promise to get Cyrus home, even to the risk of my safety, NOT YOURS!"
"But..."
"No buts, Jubilee. I have been with the Secret Service since I was just older than you are now. I know their protocols, their security templates, and their mindset. I am prepared for 'what if,' Jubilee. This, is what I do."
Ya know how much ya sound like Wolvie when you say that? Wondered Jubilee. I knew there was a reason I like you, and I hate cops.
As they approached a vendors table, Agent Nichols flashed his new badge at the two men standing next to a high tech metal detector.
"Major Nathaniel Green, MSP, Troop F," he said to both men. "My department is considering one of these new airport snifters. Do you mind a demonstration?"
"Not at all, Major Green. How can we help you?"
"Well gentlemen, I borrowed this, very helpful, young lady from the kitchen, and her cart, to see if you can discover the contraband hidden in this cart, if any, without disturbing it physically."
The two men just looked at each other as if insulted.
"Oh, we just thought you wanted to give us a challenge, Major."
"You see our company prides itself on top notch security," he pitched to the disguised 'State Trooper.' "We are in six international airports in Europe and the White House; we even have a portable unit in service with Air Force One, Major."
"Is that so?"
"Yes sir, we are also proud to say that another one of our portable units in service with this building because of the President's speech this afternoon."
"You don't say?"
"Yes sir, now young lady, would you please walk your cart between these two walls and stop when the monitor tells you."
"Like, no prob."
She pushed the cart through the two black panels and stopped about halfway through.
The three seconds that she waited seemed like an eternity to the young pyrotechnic until the screen told her to exit.
"You see Major, our security is foolproof." The demonstration team declared. "As you can see with this readout the cart is made of high density plastic and contains a sterling silver serving dish covering three Black Rhino bullets that you no doubt borrowed from the Customs table, and a half-eaten bologna on rye."
"Not to mention that the young lady also has a pair of sunglasses, a pack of gum, and a leather wallet in her pockets," his partner added.
"So you see Major, this new technology can make Logan Airport so safe, you couldn't smuggle a pack of Yipes-Stripes out of the country."
"Well that is impressive, you have everything on the list, but you do realize that I didn't account for her personal items. Thank you both, now young lady let us get you back into the kitchen before your boss gets mad."
"Like, okie-dokie, Major Dude"
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Main kitchen, Washington Convention Center Lower Level, 9th St. NW, Downtown, 1347 EST
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As the young mutant, the wanted federal agent, and their borrowed cart, entering the kitchen, Cyrus Parkman was let out of his hiding place with a sigh of relief.
"Man, it was cramped in there," he replied as he lifted the cover off of the cart. "I take it this hi-tech magic 8-ball works then?" he asked as he pulled the small orb in question out of his Mariners jacket.
"It sure did 'Watt," Jubilee replied. "But you should have seen Secret Agent, dude, he was sweatin' buckets!"
"I knew that SHIELD technology is way ahead of everyone else in the field," Agent Nichols replied to the remark. "but I had to be sure that new Stark Solutions snifter would not compromise our entry before we reach your father."
"I just hope that broom closet was comfy, 'Watt," Jubilee joked to the President's son taking a bite of the sandwich.
"Ya, Jubes. Reminded me of the dumbwaiter back at Oz's old pad, give me the rest of my lunch!" as he retrieved his sandwich lucky jacket, Jubilee's trenchcoat, Agent Nichols's Sig Sower, and the other two SHIELD-issued Electron-field generators that shielded the items from the hi-tech security device, and will aid them to move about the area undetected.
"It is time we introduce Jubilation to the President."
"Nah, I think she'll be better off just saying hi to my dad," he quipped as the trio headed back up to the main floor of the Convention Center.
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Outside the District Building, Pennsylvania Ave., Downtown 1350 EST.
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As the bodies of 14 dead black ops troops were being carted of by the District Coroner, the Director began to personally brief hand-picked agents that he personally trusted, about the new twist in the search for the President's son.
"This may not be popular and many of you may even hate this," he barked at his agents, "but Agent Nichols is not only innocent, but he, and the X-Men, rescued Kilowatt and as of this moment I deputized them to assist.
"They are now under Federal authority to prevent what is believed to be a terrorist event at Pin Cushion."
"But sir," an agent spoke up. "What about those eyewitnesses that gave a sworn statement saying that mutants abducted Kilowatt?"
The Director walked over to a sheet-covered gurney and lifted it revealed the cyclist from Idaho St, dressed in SWAT armor, dead as the rest of his unit.
"I believe that this piece of shit's confession isn't worth the ink he wasted on it, Agent Boyd.
"Agent Beck, take six agents, you will go straight to Castle and personally guard Kaleidoscope and Kryptonite along with Ron Ziegler, if I even find a speck of dust getting past any of you, it's your asses!
"Agent Carr, get me Nick Fury on a secured uplink. There are moles in MY command so now SHIELD is in charge of Crown Watch until further notice!
"The rest of you will head to Pin Cushion and assist the X-Men in any way you are able, do you got that!?"
"YES, SIR!"
"But, sir how can you trust them?"
"I don't, Agent Carr, but I already have someone deep-cover at Pin Cushion…"
"Agent Block," said Agent Frank. "I'm getting a Blue Light Special for you, from Candlestick."
She then removed her ear-piece and wrist comm unit and handed them both to Agent Block
"This is Charles Block."
"Charlie? This is Ron," the White House Agent-in-Charge spoke into the earpiece. "We just got word from the Director. Kilowatt was just assaulted by some of our own. You are now back on duty as of right now. Protect Sheepskin and take him and his staff to Punch Bowl through the front entrance."
"Sir, what about the principal?"
"I'm told by the Director himself that he's been taken to Center Stage by Nichols."
"Sir, whatever you do, DON'T ALERT ANYONE ELSE ON THAT WATCH! He's still a wanted man and there might be moles there as well.
"See if you can contact Knight directly, Ron. He knows the whole song and dance by now, but we don't know who to trust."
"I wish I could, Charlie. But the Director just called out the SHIELD hounds; they are calling the shots now. Smart move under the circumstances, I'd say."
"That's an understatement," quipped Agent Block. "We're still waiting for the fireworks here. I hope you guys had planed to call in the District PD. It's already a jungle out here and it will be like Napalm on a propane fire.
"Get me Nick or GW on the horn, Ron. I'll brief them personally and besides both those punks owes me a favor."
"Who in this town doesn't, Charlie? Look alive, Bulletproof, you know what they say about gunshots wounds, thirty times the charm!"
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Office Room 38, Lower Level, Washington Convention Center, Downtown, 1403 EST.
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"Like, okay Secret Agent Dude. You aren't gonna tell me that the Prez is, like, in this dinky hole-in-the-wall," Jubilee asked. "Like, Frostie's leather lingerie closet is bigger."
///Knock, knock, knock\\\
"Yes?" asked a voice from behind Office 38.
"Special Agent Nichols," he displayed his badge to the door's peep hole. "I need to come in."
"Of course, Agent" she said as she opened the door for the trio.
Then she got a good look at the man in front of her. The one she saw on the advance sheets the last two nights.
"Wait, you're the one who…"
She did not get the chance to complete the sentence, as the wanted federal agent enclosed her neck in a well used choke-hold, with the speed of cobra.
"DAMN!" Cried out Jubilee. "Like, remind me not to get you pissed at me!"
"That goes double for me," added the President's son. "I'm sorry for the way I was dressed for the first day at Sidwell, Lariat."
"Apologize later," replied Agent Nichols. "Get in here; I have to get our prints uploaded on the Lizard mini-frame, To enter high-level clearance areas you have to have your fingerprints on file to gain access."
Nichols logged in using the unconscious Service technician's thumbprint and began to access the Lizard Command post protocols.
"Jubilee, watch the door." Kordel started to hack through the passwords to the security platform. "Cyrus keep an eye on Sleeping Beauty."
After about two minutes of pounding the keyboard a loud beep told everyone in the room that the secret part in the Service's name is there for a reason.
"Damn," he grunted out loud. "That Black Plague script should have worked."
"Black Plague?" Cyrus asked. "When did you learn to be a hacker, Lariat?"
"Two years ago," He replied as he began anew to crack the system source code. "I was assigned to the Spokane office to infiltrate a hackers club called the 'Rainbow Borg.'
"They were accused of illegally transferring $250 million out of the Cayman Islands. During my investigation I unearthed evidence that they took it from a break-away faction of the Sons of the Serpent group in Wyoming when that organization had electronically stole it during a nation-wide bank robbing spree.
"You see the group had injured the sister of the Borg's leader, someone called 'The Emerald Wizard' during a shootout with the FBI in their first heist in Casper, so they used their high-tech skills to extract a measure of revenge with the group."
Another beep signaled the fact that the government did not stock the Secret Service with inferior software.
"Damn," Kordel grunted again. "After they took the money, they found out that the heist was payment for a stolen shipment of SHIELD battle suits they were going to use in an effort to attempt to breakout their leader from the Raft at Ricker's Island. When intel suggested they had contacted SHIELD with their suspicions, I was ordered to avail myself and with offers of immunity, they assisted the Service, Bureau, and SHIELD to catch them red-handed.
"The money returned, and 85 counts later, each member of that group was sentenced to over 200 years each and every member the Borg rewarded with a slap on the wrist, and a quiet thanks from Nick Fury, two of them work as SHIELD operatives now. This malicious script was what they used to infiltrate the transfer. I memorized it for just this type of use."
"You ever meet this 'Emerald Wizard' person, Lariat?"
Another beep sounded failure.
"No, why do you ask?"
"Promise you won't wig out?" he asked as he slid the keyboard away from his agent. Then the President's son began to try to do what the Secret Service agent failed to do.
Only Cyrus' effort met with success after only 20 seconds.
"Fingerprint ID systems use an asymmetric encryption cipher, Lariat. The asymptotic notation here was 2n + 365 It should be 2n² + 5. I know it's subtle, but that's what makes it work."
"YOU ARE THE EMERALD WIZARD!?"
"Nope, I went by Psychedelic Kola," he responded with pride. "Oz is 'The Emerald Wizard'. Oz's sister Miho was the teller at the Wells Fargo branch in Casper. They shot her in the stomach, The heist went down a week after she found out she was pregnant with her son, Ando.
"Since I now know you were in charge of Operation: Circuit Breaker, didn't you ever ask yourself why there was never any physical evidence of that, Oh, so, sweet piece of hacktivism, Lariat? The signal out of the Grand Cayman was getting bounced from the Situation Room in the White House!
"I inserted in a few lines of man-in-the-middle implementation code one cold and rainy Monday night when the Redskins were in overtime with the Jets. Come on! Tell me you don't know how many monitors are tuned in to sports after dark downstairs!? Me an' Oz started the Borg in a chat-room. The meetings you went to were for collage students, from U-Dub. Did you think they would take a pair of 10-year-olds seriously? Well, Oz ways wanted to say thanks for helping us. OH WAIT! Then that would make you 'Rabid Chinchilla,' wouldn't it?"
"'Rabid Chinchilla!'" the Gen-X student squealed.
"We can reminiscence over that one later," said Agent Nichols as he reclaimed the keyboard. "Please come here, Jubilee. I have to get your prints loaded in the computer so I can print you an access card. And Cyrus?"
"Yea, Lariat?"
"We will be discussing your sordid past at a later date!"
End of Chapter twenty-three
© David D. Amaya 2007