Did you get the Cipher?

They were on a mission. A group of mercenaries broke into the NSA labs and stole a Cipher. It was cut and dry. Emma was supposed to stay in the car like always, but the monitors stopped working and she thought she saw something she could flash on before it went dark. Regina and Mal were looking for the Cipher, she wasn't going anywhere near that.

What Emma didn't expect was this huge Hagrid-looking fellow. And suddenly Emma was hanging upside down by her ankles from the window. "Before you do anything rash, I think you should know that I have the Cipher," Emma said holding the device out so the man could see it.

"Hand it over right now." The tiny giant ordered.

"Don't you think we should discuss terms first?" Emma asked hoping he didn't lose his grip because she hated the sight of blood and brain especially her own.

The tiny giant grabbed her by the shirt and pulled her up by the collar still dangling her over the city. "Now... who are you?"

Nervously, Emma kept her hands where he could see them even though her back was still precariously leaning toward the street. "You know what?" She stated hyperventilating. "You probably wouldn't believe me."

The bad guy leaned her back a bit. "Last chance. Who are you?" He asked. Though he was threatening her life, his tone was calm as if there really was no threat at all.

So Emma thought maybe she should just answer his question. "Emma."

The hagrid look alike smiled and said, "Okay. Now, tell me everything, Emma."

Emma's knees shook as she stood precariously on that ledge. She didn't know what to do. 'There is no way he's going to believe me, and I don't blame him'. Emma thought panicking because there really was no way out. ' I mean, who would believe that the government put all their secrets into one supercomputer - the Intersect. And all those secrets got downloaded into my brain. Of course, I can't tell this guy that.' Emma was taking too long to answer and he pushed her back a little more. She screamed. "Oh! O-Okay, okay." She started then took a deep breath. "Okay, see th-the thing is I-I kind of sort of work for the CIA and the NSA in my off-hours when I'm not working at the store. It's kind of like a second job for me. And though I don't look it - you should know that I'm probably the most important intelligence asset in the world."

Keeping a straight face, the tiny giant said. "That is the single dumbest story I've ever heard."

Emma nodded frantically knowing this was going to be his reaction. She didn't know who this guy was, There was no flash no nothing, so she couldn't really guess at his temperament except that he had her dangling at the window, She could only think maybe because she was a girl he would give her the benefit of the doubt. "That very well may be, but... if you drop me, there are a couple of people who are going to be very, very upset."

Just then Regina and Mal bust in through the door. Emma took the momentary distraction to stuff the cipher into the waistband of her skinny jeans. The bearded giant was distracted by the two women with guns and pulled Emma inside a bit. "Let the geek go!" Agen Blaize screamed.

"Wait!" Regina screamed at the same time. "Not out the window."

"Aren't we picky!" Mal quipped training her revolver at the giant. The bearded man Threw Emma across the room at the women. Mal caught Emma and placed her gently… for her, on the discarded sofa.

"Nice hands, Blaize." Emma said her heart pounding in her throat. The Bad guy jumped out of the window having thrown a rope over. Mal ran to the window.

"Why didn't you stay in the car?" Regina scolded Emma putting her gun in her waistband.

"You know what?" Emma screamed back. "It's never safe in the car."

Mal searched for the man but it was too dark out so he slipped away. She turned to Emma with a less annoyed scowl than Regina. "Well, did you get it?" She asked lowering her weapon. Emma looked at her, still not quite in the room yet, trying to get her thoughts together. "Tell me you got it."

Emma's breath was still hard, loud in her own ears but she finally understood the question. "I got it." She pulled it out and showed her. "'Course I got it. It's me."

Blaize snatched the Cipher from the younger blonde and headed back to the car. And Emma finally collapsed in exhaustion. She missed the Look of utter adoration Regina gave her. But Blaize didn't but she wasn't going to get on Mills about it. They had a Debriefing to get to.

Back in Mal's apartment, The trio stands before the monitor to speak with Agent Humbart and General Mills to debrief. "Excellent work, Walker, Blaize. Our transporters will be taking the Cipher out of Los Angeles."

Regina looked to her mother brows furrowed, "General, what exactly is the Cipher?" She asked curiously. "I mean, mercenaries break into the NSA lab, and it's the only thing they take?"

The general looks to Graham, unsure if this part should be said in front of the Intersect. But The girl should know what is befalling her. She could sugarcoat it. "The Cipher is the artificial brain for the new Intersect computer."

Emma looked up at the screen. "The new Intersect?"

"We've been working on a new one ever since the original Intersect was destroyed." Humbard continued. "The Cipher is the final piece."

"Uh, wait, time out just for a second here," Emma said standing and coming closer to the screen. "What-what happens to me, the old Intersect?"

"Tomorrow, the new computer will be online, and Operation Swan officially comes to an end." He stated. Emma was not sure how to take this, on the one hand… no more scary missions, but on the other hand… no more Regina. "You'll be done with us. No more briefings, no more missions, no more spies. Enjoy the rest of your life, Emma."

A slow smile came to her features, this was a great thing. Now she had to think about what else she had to do with her life. She could live it now. She left Mal's apartment in a happy daze. Regina caught up to her. "Are you okay, Emma?"

The girl smiled, "Huh? Yeah, I'm, uh, uh... I mean," She paused trying to find the words. "I don't believe it, but-but, uh, I- I think I'm great!"

The two women continued en route to the apartment as they talked. "You're going to get your old life back," Retina said with a smile.

"Yeah, I was starting to think that you and Blaize were going to be my spy protectors forever." She paused just outside of her door. "Or, whatever the adult version of forever is."

Regina grinned. "Don't tell me you're going to miss all of this."

"No. No, of course not." Emma stated shaking her head emphatically. "I don't think I'm really cut out for a job where you disarm a bomb, steal a diamond, and then jump off a building."

"Well, you could have fooled me." The brunette smirked.

Suddenly Emma felt bashful. She looked at Regina through her princess lashes. "That's very kind of you to say, but I'm pretty sure my girlish screams in the face of danger give me away."

The brunette chuckled. "So, what happens now? You're almost free. What are you going to do next?"

Emma took a deep breath and let out a deep sigh. "Well, you know I got the Apple Store…"

"Emma Swan, can I tell you something?" Regina interrupted her.

"Of course."

"You can do anything." The older woman shook her head. "I've seen you in action. And I'm not just talking about the b*mb defusing or the diamond stealing. I mean, anything you wanted, you could have."

Meanwhile in Mal's apartment…

After the fools in love left Mal stood in front of her monitor. She waited for a bit and her screen came to life again. "I thought you might call."

We see on the screen the picture of General Mills popped up, "Major Blaize, you understand the situation? We can't have another Intersect wandering around Los Angeles getting into trouble." She said. "No matter how fond of him my daughter is."

"General, Emma Swan may be a novice spy, but the results speak for themselves." Mal hedged. "Surely we can find another exit strategy."

"You have your orders, Major." General mills interrupted. "Tomorrow night, eliminate Emma Swan." Then the simbol fo the NSA popped up on the screen and she was gone.

Mal growled to herself. "I used to like the sound of that."