Chloe McQueen: Spy Car: Chapter 4: First Day At C.H.R.O.M.E. Headquarters
One week after her secret training was complete, Chloe found the Detroit headquarters of C.H.R.O.M.E. to accept her first field assignment.
"Well, here goes, no turning back now." Chloe took a deep breath and drove down the secret passageway that led to the Chief's office. All the while, she was wondering what her first mission would be like. She learned at the academy that most missions aren't exactly like the ones taught in classes. She also learned that the door to the Chief's office was to the left at the bottom of the hallway. She remembered, sort of.
"Let's see, left at the bottom, ah here it is." Chloe said as she saw what she thought was the Chief's door, only to find that it was some sort of weapons and chemical laboratory with, strangely enough, some romance novels."
"Of course, I had to get lost on the first day." Chloe groaned.
"So you're the new agent, eh?" A voice said from behind her. Just like before, Chloe's instincts got the best of her and she instantly swung at a small grey forklift about the same size as Sparky.
"Hey watch it, I was just curious!"
"I'm so sorry, it's just a…"
"Reflex, it's no problem, although this reflex usually starts after a few years on the job." The forklift then went back to checking chemical tubes and lighting up a Bunsen burner.
"I can guess that, so where's the Chief's office?"
"Oh right, you probably thought that the 'bottom of the hallway' was the last door, it's a prank they usually play on first-timers."
"Well, I'm not the one for pranks; I just need to get to the office."
"I'd love to help you but I can't really give you any information being a first-timer, policy."
"All right, thanks, anyway I haven't introduced myself, I'm Agent Chloe McQueen."
"And I'm Henry, say; you're the car that saved Agent Redline, right?"
"Guilty."
Henry drew closer to her and said "Do you believe in love at first sight?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"He seems perfect for you."
Chloe raised a 'roof-brow' "Okay, I really gotta go, bye."
She quickly left and began searching for a secret entrance on the left side.
As she rolled her tire against one area she felt it move away. Then she saw an elevator with DNA identification monitor on the side door.
"Finally, now it begins." Chloe said bravely as she opened her mouth so that the monitor could recognize her.
Soon the elevator was going down, and Chloe held her breath all the way.
. . .
"Redline, I know it's been difficult getting back to the field but it's not like I'm demoting you." Johnson P. Router, head of the Detroit division of C.H.R.O.M.E. said to Rod after he told him he was going to train a rookie.
"I know that Chief, but rookies are always the most hard-headed, obnoxious, and careless agents out there. I'm not saying I was one of them but I was a little bit stubborn back then." Rod said as he paced back and forth.
"A bit, you were considered a bulldozer you were that stubborn."
"The point is that, well, what'll make this rookie any different, I mean he's probably…"
"SHE will be here any minute, and I want you to make a good impression on her."
"Wait, she? Well this changes my opinion."
Router rolled his eyes.
"All right Chief, I have three things I want to ask, where her first mission is, is she cute, and most importantly is she single."
"I'll have to ask the Chief, I have been given complements from time to time, and don't even think about that last one."
Rod turned swiftly around to see Chloe smirking at him.
"Small world isn't it? Glad to see you." Rod laughed, with a hint of embarrassment.
"Glad to see you too."
"Well, now that you've announced your acquaintances again, I'll introduce myself as Mr. Johnson P. Router, head of the Detroit division. Pleased to meet you Agent McQueen, Agent Redline here'll be your spy mentor."
"Thanks sir, now what's the mission?" Chloe said.
"Well I see no other way to get you started. We've gotten intel that there are several weapons missing from the oil rig on the Allinol case. This is the weapon." He then showed a hologram of a parking boot with electricity surrounding it.
"This parking boot can emit the same energy released from the fake WGP camera; the only difference is that this device isn't as obscure as the camera, since its remote control also emits a ray that connects the two together. Zundapp probably used this as some sort of alibi or even a torture device for spies. Either way, when we investigated the oil rig, only three of these weapons were found outside of the ten made for their cases. Zundapp won't say anything about where they might be, and neither will the other lemons. If this weapon gets loose, it could cause serious damage. We've located our lead Tomber in Paris, so you'll need to talk to him in the black market. He's a friend of another agent, McMissile. C.H.R.O.M.E. chose him and Agent Shiftwell first but with their involvement in the Allinol affair we can't risk enemies finding out their identities, that and they're pretty busy on a mission in Beirut. With Redline it's different, they think he's dead, so he can do this mission, that and he begged me to go."
"I don't beg, I just pressed the case that I can still handle a field mission." Rod said indignantly.
"Whatever makes you feel better, now Henry give you your weapons. Your flight leaves in about two hours at the private airport so you'd better hurry."
"Yes sir." Chloe said.
"Just call me Chief."
"Alright then Chief thanks." And with that, Chloe and Rod left.
"I just hope that rookie will go far." Chief Router said.
. . .
"Well, here's your hidden cameras, your hidden tracking devices, and my personal favorite, the instant DNA matcher 3.5" Henry said proudly.
"Thanks Henry." Rod said as he and Chloe left.
"No problem, anyway, what do you think of Chloe?"
"You're really going to go there?"" Rod smirked.
"I wouldn't fight it if…" Henry started just as Rod shut the door.
"Is he always like this?" Chloe said.
"Pretty much, he's a die-hard romantic, as you've seen, he trusts too easily."
"I can imagine he doesn't go out on any field missions?"
"Yep, he's still a nice guy though, and pretty great at designing these weapons."
"I can see that." Chloe smiled.
"You'll get used to him, but I have some migraine pills just in case."
Chloe rolled her eyes and went behind Rod as he led the way to the airport where Cooper, the spy jet, was waiting.
"'Bought time you two showed up." He said impatiently.
"You know I like to be fashionably late." Rod laughed.
"Alright, let's just get to Paris."
Chloe and Rod boarded Cooper and finally were on course to Paris, tout de suite.