A/N: Halfway through! If you've made it this far, thanks! Your support really makes a difference. Would love to hear any thoughts you have!

Chapter Five

One drawback of her life choices, Carly's time was never her own. Everything she'd told Larry were the same promises told to her, but not achievable without years of sacrifice. Yeah, someday she's have her own evil empire, own some mansion built upon her evil deeds. But for now she had to play along, prove her worth and loyalty at every opportunity. Becky was still making eyes at her new friend. Good. Now to capture a moment alone with Lance. Except where the heck did Captain Elephant go? Ice gripped her at the thought he had bailed, confounding all her plans. He was just here! Curses…

An arm slipped under hers, casual, as if they really were family friends. "Having fun?" said the voice attached to the arm.

Carly almost fell into Lance's gray eyes.

"Absolutely. Love these folks. Great music. Best party eva."

"Cut the BS." His gaze lasered straight into her soul. No, too much light! Too many secrets. Too much pain. Cover it with a smile.

"Fine. Yeah. Everyone's a bit stiff. Too polite. Scholars and athletes. Intense."

"You mean just like you."

Wow. Carly smirked. "No, not like me at all. They're serious intense. I'm…intense fun. I don't care about all this hoopla."

"Then what do you care about?"

Carly had to break the gaze. She nibbled her lip. Not really the moment to tell him about her desire to break mankind free of the yokes of governments and corporations and rules. "I could tell you, but not here. Doesn't this place have anywhere private?"

Lance smiled with just the corners of his mouth. Carly could do a soul-stare too, with her lips parted, body close to his, dress pumping out heat. She touched his arm lightly with her fingertips, no pressure. There. A slight shiver. An inhalation of breath. She'd heard all about 'female persuasion' but it had never worked for her before, she usually just heard the 'get lost, kid' response whenever she tried. His head tilted to the side. "Sure. This way."

Damn, it worked! As she followed him, she watched for guards, readouts streaming in her eyes. She hoped the boys in the truck were having fun. Footstomp Phase 2 initiated, easier than she had thought. Her instructor always said she was underestimating herself. Still, she half-expected him to stop and call it off, realize she was a phony. He led her out of the hall, down some corridors, and into what looked like a study with books and a large desk with a screen and keyboard. Lance latched the door, locking them in. She had to admit to a little disappointment at the lack of evil lust in his gaze. May she'd read him wrong.

"So," Lance said, pacing around the room.

"So." Carly eyed the books, crime novels and legal texts and court documents.

Lance stopped and crossed his arms. "What are you really doing at this party, Carly? I know you snuck in. You're not on the original list, and no one's changed it. Someone hacked you into this party."

Carly looked around. No obvious cameras. No state cops about to pounce. He must want to confront her alone. Why? "Are you going to turn us in?" Maybe he was evil after all. Blackmail? She thought about what the mission profile said about using her body. No. Hell no.

"Depends," he said.

"On what?"

"On whether you tell me the truth. Right now." He put his hand on a desk phone.

"Truth?" Carly sighed. Damn boy wants answers, not touchy-feely. Where were all the evil kids? She could work with evil. Not with responsible. "Fine. I'm here to find out if you're really Elephant Boy. There's the truth. I told you my story, now you tell me yours."

Lance rolled his eyes but let go of the phone. "Cripes. There is no 'Elephant Boy' or 'Captain Elephant' or whatever. I don't know where people get that from."

"Whatever you call it, are you it…that?"

Lance paused, shook his head. "I think you better get going." He put his hand on Carly's arm to escort her from the room, but she used her extra strength to stay put.

"No. I need you to tell me."

Lance pushed harder, but Carly stuck.

"What the hell? What's going on?"

Carly grabbed Lance's hand, yanked it away from her arm and squeezed it hard. Lance yelped. She pulled him close enough to feel his elevated breathing against her forehead. "Now tell me. Do you have super powers or not?"

Lance did not look happy. "Who are you?" He pushed Carly weakly but she held.

"Super powers. Either reveal them or I break this hand." Squeezed harder.

Lance stopped his whimpering act and stood straight. He peeled Carly's fingers off his hand with fingers of iron. Definitely super. His other hand shot to Carly's throat, gripped like an angry vice. "There. Revealed. Now tell me who you are or I'll use my powers to pull the truth out of you. And you better hurry, because there are S.H.I.E.L.D. agents on their way, and I bet they won't ask as nicely."