The Raven's Apprentice - Chapter 31

"Finally, we reached Doctor Key's lab," Cassie said.

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Section 6 Research Lab, 2000

"Cas," Gwen called from inside her cell. "What are you doing here?!"

"Rescuing you," I called back.

"You always were one of my most capable agents, Bella, apart from your unfortunate sentimentality," Doctor Key said, ignoring us. "Stand down, and I will not report this intrusion to the Committee."

"Let the girl go, Key," Bella replied, her smile a predatory baring of teeth, "and I won't kick Hand's green ass up between his pointy ears."

"I never understood Senior Research 6001's... affection... for you, Goth," Agent Hand snarled. "You're just another filthy hybrid... an outlier of a failed experiment."

"Last chance, Hand," she said. "Back down and give us the girl."

I wondered if Hand recognized the cool, calm voice that accompanied Bella's genuine rage. I'd only heard it a few times myself and been glad that, for all our friction, it had never been directed at me.

"I will derive great satisfaction from your defeat," Hand replied.

"You've been wearing your bio-mask too long, Hand," Bella sneered. "The testosterone has seeped into your brain."

"Cas, get to the cell. Use the override I gave you," Bella said. "Hand... let's dance."

"I'll deal with the juvenile next," Hand snarled.

"Oh... wrong threat, you dickless ET," Bella snarled, throwing herself at him.

Of course, while Bella took on Agent Hand, I still had to get past Doctor Key.

"Cassandra Goth," he said, almost conversationally. "You are, as they say, in over your head, young woman. Bella will not be able to protect you. Surrender now."

"Fuck you! You kidnapped Gwen," I snapped. "You killed my mom, you alien bastard!"

"Your mother's death was unfortunate," Key said evenly. "Even more unfortunate that you did not inherit her abilities."

"Mistake," I said, with a predatory smile of my own.

"Cas," Gwen shouted. "The arch!" 

Put your anger to work, Bella had told me. So, I did. 

"NO!" Key shouted. "The Portal!"

Turns out Bella was right. Hostiles find things bursting into flames very distracting.

Agent Hand broke off his fight with Bella to help Doctor Key try to extinguish the burning Portal.

While they did that, we made good our escape.

When we reached the lobby, Gwen threw her arms around me.

"Oh goddess, you came," she whispered into my shoulder. "Why did you come?"

"They kidnapped you," I answered. "They thought you caused the breach... but it was me..."

"That's why I let them take me," Gwen said. "To protect you! Oh, why did you come?"

"Because... because," I stammered.

Then I realized, Molly did have it right. 

Had that really only been a couple of hours ago?

Sometimes, words aren't important.

The Raven's Apprentice - Chapter 30

"While Gwen was being examined by Section 6, we were already on our way to rescue her," Cassie said, taking up the story again. "Unfortunately, the storm seriously slowed us down. Flooded streets and downed power lines blocked our way and sheets of rain meant Bella was sometimes driving almost blind."

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TransWorld Building, Magnolia Prominade, 2000

Despite the delays, we eventually arrived at the TransWorld office building, the Agency's front in Willow Creek.

"Alright, Cas," Bella said as we marched through the doors into the empty lobby. "I need you to be perfectly clear... you stay behind me. You do what I tell you, when I tell you, without question. I'm serious."

"OK," I said.

"Remember your self-defense training and you'll be fine," she added with a gentler smile. "Also, don't be afraid to use your powers... take any advantage you can get." 

"Umm, well, you see..." I hesitated. "I only really know the one spell... you know, to set things on fire." 

"In my experience, hostiles find things bursting to flames very distracting," Bella said.

"Selvadorada, '98," Felix laughed. "Operation Tree Frog, wasn't it?"

"Hey, they were dumb enough to leave those fuel barrels out in the open," Bella smiled.

"Yeah, your mom was really cool," Felix smiled. "Plus, those cut-off jean shorts... mmm, cheeky."

"Stepmom," I whispered, blushing.

"Agent Light, go get Bridges." Bella rolled her eyes. 

Felix headed off toward the elevators and, I presume, Director Bridges's office. Meanwhile, Bella led me to a nondescript door that opened into a stairwell. 

"What's with that guy?" I asked. "Wait, are you and he...?"

"Felix? In his dreams," Bella chuckled. "Honestly, not even there. He's a Protector drone. As I understand it, that means he's genetically male but functionally asexual. The whole locker room humor thing is his way to trying to assimilate into our culture. I've never really decided if it's funny how wrong he gets it or sad how right he gets it. That aside, Felix is a good agent. I trust him." 

"Did... did Section 6 have something to do with... with my mom?" The idea had occurred to me on the drive over.

"Yes," Bella said softly, as she continued to lead us down. "Doctor Key, the head of Section 6, issued a containment order on her just like he did on Gwen. He made up some excuse... some petty infraction. I tried to warn her, but she wasn't going to be scared off by him. She also wasn't going to just submit... not Vickie. She actually shouted Agent Hand down and walked away... only to be hit by that car. I... I couldn't save her.

"I've never been able to prove Key was directly responsible for her death," Bella sighed. "The driver of the car was a civilian. No connection to the Agency or the Settlers. Maybe it was just an accident, maybe it wasn't. Either way, if Key hadn't trumped up a containment order, she never would have been there."

"OK." I took a deep breath, feeling the anger building inside me. "OK... and this Key guy has Gwen."

"Yes," Bella said.

"No," I snarled. "Hell, no."

"Good," Bella nodded. "Now, keep your head and put that anger to work. It gets harder from here."

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They knew we were there.

"Senior Researcher," Agent Hand said. "Agent Goth and Operative 4398 have been sighted in the building, along with a female juvenile we believe to be Cassandra Goth. Operative 4398 appears to be attempting to contact Director Bridges. Operative 6791 will intercept him."

"And Agent Goth?" Doctor Key mused.

"She and the juvenile have entered the records room," Agent Hand replied. "Operative 6529 will intercept her. She will not disturb you, sir."

"Guard the door," Doctor Key ordered. "You should not underestimate our Bella."

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OK, I'll be honest. Until that night, I'd always thought of Bella as either an overprotective tyrant or a gold digger who used her big... um, chest... squeezed into the smallest, tightest red minidress she could legally wear, to get what she wanted. 

Even with her having told me she worked for the Agency, the idea that she was a government trained assassin just didn't fit with my image of her. 

The Section 6 guards never stood a chance. 

Neither did the security doors.

It turns out, my stepmom was a freaking super-spy.