{"id":1007,"date":"2022-01-03T16:40:32","date_gmt":"2022-01-03T22:40:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=1007"},"modified":"2022-01-03T16:40:40","modified_gmt":"2022-01-03T22:40:40","slug":"part1","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode12\/part1\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 12: \u00a0Mr. Body Beautiful<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 1<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

The agent crept down the long, dark hallway. He had assumed he would be alone at this hour, but the sound of distant voices disrupted this notion. Adjusting his night-vision goggles, he saw two figures approaching him from the opposite end of the hall. Hoping they hadn\u2019t noticed him, he ducked around a corner and flattened himself against the wall. He held his breath, his heart hammering in his throat as he listened to their footsteps growing steadily louder. He closed his eyes and prayed they would pass by him.<\/p>\n

\u201cImagine yourself as a hippopotamus. There is always more than meets the eye.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would imagine yourself as a hippo, Grasshopper!\u201d He cringed as he recognized the voice of 00Carter, who continued speaking. \u201cLecturing to yourself at midnight again?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll birds settle to roost.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat does that even mean?\u201d Nick groaned. A knock on a nearby door followed.<\/p>\n

For a few moments, the hallway was silent until Grasshopper finally spoke with a dry but joking tone. \u201cA river\u2019s cattails are useless without the wind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat.\u201d Nick banged on the door again. \u201cHey, Di! Just like last week!\u201d<\/p>\n

Grasshopper chuckled quietly to himself. \u201cEvery river eventually rushes past the stubborn rocks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick banged on the door again, then stormed away in a huff, muttering to himself. \u201cBeauty sleep. Should\u2019ve known when she didn\u2019t text me back. Unless she\u2019s with that useless Vitruvi-lame.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the voices faded away, the agent let out his breath in a low sigh of relief. He waited a few more moments to make sure the coast was clear, then returned to the task at hand.<\/p>\n

Reaching behind him, he touched the item tucked inside his back pocket, making sure that he hadn\u2019t forgotten it. He would never be forgiven if he could not complete this mission. He turned his attention to the security pad outside the door.<\/p>\n

He would need K\u2019s code to unlock the final lock. He wiped the sweat from his brow and pulled out the compact he had taken from Lancy\u2019s desk earlier. Opening the compact, he crushed the powder and lightly dusted the keypad. A smile formed on his lips when he saw the keys that K had used to unlock his own door. I didn\u2019t think you\u2019d be so predictable, K,<\/em> he thought as he punched in the code to the door. His smile grew when he heard the door latch click, allowing him to enter the room.<\/p>\n

He made sure the door closed silently behind him and readjusted his goggles. Tiptoeing through the room, he approached the bed where K was sleeping — soundly, by the look of it, though the sweat on his brow made the intruder think he was dreaming something uncomfortable.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too bad your dreams aren\u2019t pleasant tonight. They\u2019re likely the last you\u2019ll ever have.\u201d The man snickered but held his breath when K rolled to face him, mumbling in his sleep. K\u2019s eyes did not open, so he moved closer to see if he could hear what the head of HimTak was saying in his sleep.<\/p>\n

The only thing he could hear was K mumble \u201cNathaniel\u201d before falling back into his fitful sleep.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t have long until you\u2019ll join them.\u201d He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the item. His heart beat with anticipation as he uncapped the needle. He still couldn\u2019t believe that inside this syringe was a microscopic bomb. The thought thrilled him. Holding his breath, he leaned closer to K and held his arm as he injected the needle into its most visible vein.<\/p>\n

K started to mumble again, but his eyes stayed firmly closed. Restless though he seemed, he slept on soundly.<\/p>\n

Once he had pushed the plunger all the way, the intruder quickly pulled the needle out. \u201cDr. Rough is a brilliant man, as you will soon come to realize,\u201d he whispered into K\u2019s ear before turning to leave the room.<\/p>\n

Once outside, he rearmed the lock and laughed to himself. He really was the perfect inside man. The stupid HimTak agents were blind to what was going on right beneath their noses.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cThe deed\u2019s been done, Dr. Rough.\u201d<\/p>\n

Upon hearing the long-awaited report from his undercover agent, Dr. Rough allowed an evil smile to spread slowly across his face. On the video screen in front of him, his minion appeared equally pleased with himself. \u201cAm I to understand, then, that their security has been breached? Their system has been hacked?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd no one in Himitsu Takana suspects you are not on their side?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cExcellent,\u201d said Dr. Rough, stroking the top of Dr. Twitches\u2019 head. \u201cYou have served me well. I knew I could count on you to get the job done. You make an outstanding mole.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, master.\u201d<\/p>\n

The minion bowed his head in reverence, and the screen went black. The FANS leader turned his attention to a second screen, which showed a red-haired woman talking into the two-way glass of her bathroom mirror, unaware of the camera mounted on the other side of it. He turned up the volume on the feed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi! My name is Rachel, and I\u2019m from Orlando, Florida, the theme park capital of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The redhead leaned into her mirror, smiling open-mouthed as she applied a fresh layer of glossy, coral lipstick.<\/p>\n

\u201cI used to work at the most popular theme park there is: Walt Disney World\u2019s Magic Kingdom. I played the part of the Little Mermaid, Ariel. That\u2019s how I met my boyfriend, Donnie. He was there guarding a bomb planted by the international terrorist organization he\u2019s a part of, but I didn\u2019t care about that. I just thought he looked hot in his Buzz Lightyear costume!\u201d<\/p>\n

She giggled, twirling a tendril of her long hair around her finger. Then she puckered her lips and smacked them together, blowing a kiss into the mirror.<\/p>\n

\u201cDonnie and I hit it off right away, and things moved quickly. Now I\u2019m living in his terrorist league\u2019s lair, way out in the middle of the Everglades. There\u2019s not much to do here unless you like genetically modifying penguins and plotting world domination. I\u2019d rather be singing \u2018Part of Your World\u2019 at Disney, but I can\u2019t exactly play Ariel anymore because\u2026 I\u2019m pregnant.\u201d<\/p>\n

She stepped back, running her hands over the big, round bump protruding from her front, and sighed as she turned sideways to scrutinize her profile. \u201cTwenty-nine weeks\u2026 I look more like a whale than a mermaid now. I wonder if–\u201d But she didn\u2019t finish her sentence, jumping as someone knocked on the closed bathroom door.<\/p>\n

\u201cRachel?\u201d a male voice called. \u201cYou okay in there? Who you talkin\u2019 to?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBe out in a minute!\u201d Rachel hollered. She waited until his footsteps had faded away, then rolled her eyes at the mirror. \u201cThat\u2019s Donnie. I know he cares about me and our baby, but sometimes I think he cares more about pleasing Dr. Rough and practicing his mad rap skills. I just hope he\u2019ll be a good father\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI just hope he\u2019ll be a good father,\u201d<\/em> Dr. Rough mocked in a high-pitched drawl, rolling his eyes at the screen on which he\u2019d been watching this silly soliloquy. \u201cIt\u2019s starting to sound like an MTV reality show around here,\u201d he grumbled. \u201cNow even I\u2019m doing it — talking to myself! Gah!\u201d<\/p>\n

He muted the feed on the dormitory Donnie shared with his pregnant girlfriend and turned his attention to the other monitors mounted on his wall, which displayed live footage from the many high-tech surveillance cameras hidden around the FANS compound, allowing him to spy on his minions without leaving the comforts of his private chamber.<\/p>\n

Lounging in his luxurious bed piled high with plush, purple pillows, Dr. Twitches curled on his chest, Dr. Rough watched Donnie leave his dormitory, where Rachel was still doing voice-overs in the bathroom, and walk down the hall. \u201cYo, I\u2019m Donnie Wahlberg,\u201d he said into thin air, \u201cand I\u2019ve been bullied since I first joined FANS. I\u2019ve never totally fit in here\u2026 I mean, my code name\u2019s still New Kid. What\u2019s up wit dat? Being an easy target for bullies SUCKS, yo, and that\u2019s why I started rapping. Rapping helps me get my feelings out and blow off some steam, you know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho are you talking<\/em> to?\u201d Dr. Rough muttered, frowning in bewilderment as Donnie continued to narrate his walk.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m sick of being bullied, and I\u2019m tired of being the laughing stock of FANS. I wanna be taken seriously when I\u2019m spinnin\u2019 my rhymes. I wanna stand up to the haters and earn some respect. I wanna be a hardcore rapper villain. I wanna be\u2026 MADE.\u201d<\/p>\n

He disappeared around the corner and out of camera view, reappearing a few minutes later on a different screen, which monitored the FANS\u2019 rumpus room. There the minions gathered around pool tables, ping-pong courts, and Twister mats, making merry as they laughed and played together. Donnie strutted amongst them, walking with a swagger Dr. Rough had never seen in him before. But this new confidence seemed to fail him as he reached the small karaoke stage in the corner, where Drums stood waiting for him.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2019Sup, New Kid?\u201d Drums greeted him, extending his silver hook.<\/p>\n

\u201cH-hey, Drums. Uh, what happened to your new silver h-hand?\u201d asked Donnie, sounding much more like his old, stammering self.<\/p>\n

Drums scowled. \u201cIt\u2019s got a glitch or somethin\u2019 — started tryin\u2019 to strangle me da otha night! Dr. Rough said he gon\u2019 take anotha look at it, so fo\u2019 now I\u2019m stuck wit dis again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cO-oh. I see.\u201d Donnie grasped the hook gingerly, and Drums reeled him into a man hug, slapping his back.<\/p>\n

\u201cYo, you ready to bust a rhyme, dirty dawg?\u201d asked Drums.<\/p>\n

\u201cY-yeah, alright\u2026 let\u2019s do this.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHolla. I\u2019ma try out dis new beat. Check it out\u2026\u201d Drums pushed play<\/a> on the boombox behind him. \u201cWhoa\u2026 yeah, yeah, yeah\u2026\u201d<\/em> he adlibbed, grooving to the hip-hop music that blasted out into the room. \u201cDrums\u2026 and Shy Donnaaay!\u201d<\/em> The minions stopped in the middle of their games and looked up as Drums started to sing. \u201cWe\u2019 like SPECTRE and V.I.L.E., takin\u2019 over the whole world! Just like KAOS and M.A.D., FANS gonna bring the hurrrt.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Rough couldn\u2019t help but watch his right-hand man in admiration, marveling over his smooth singing voice and mad rhyme skills. He bobbed his head to the beat as Drums went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd HimTak, it\u2019s gonna blow, \u2018cause we plant the bomb! We gon\u2019 take out Carter, like we say right in this song\u2026 Shy Donnaaay!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

As he turned the mic over to Donnie, Dr. Rough sat up in his bed, leaning forward to hear how his Rough Riders thought they were going to take out 00Carter. But after \u201cYeah, I\u2019m Shy Donnie, and\u2026\u201d<\/em> he couldn\u2019t understand a word of Donnie\u2019s rap. The quivering minion got softer and softer as he mumbled into his microphone with his eyes downcast, staring at his awkwardly shuffling feet on the stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cSpeak up!\u201d<\/em> sang Drums, frowning over at Donnie. \u201cShy Donnaaay\u2026 speak up!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSeriously, speak up!\u201d Dr. Rough barked at the TV screen.<\/p>\n

Drums put his hand to his head in frustration. Unfortunately, he picked the wrong hand. \u201cOh no\u2026 Oh no-o-o!\u201d<\/em> he sang suddenly. \u201cMah hook\u2019s caught in mah hair\u2026 Mah hook\u2019s caught in mah hair!\u201d<\/em> After a few seconds of trying to untangle his hook from his curly, blond afro without success, he darted off the stage and out of the room.<\/p>\n

When Drums had gone, Donnie stopped mumbling and looked up and around the room. Suddenly, to the surprise of Dr. Rough and all the minions present, he launched into a full-fledged rap<\/a> that was perfectly intelligible.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo more games, boys, my name\u2019s Shy Donnie;<\/em>
\nI hate the haters and love my fly honey.<\/em>
\nWitness the New Kid\u2026 as I kick this.<\/em>
\nI\u2019m on a mission, so listen as I dismiss<\/em>
\nall this negativity we\u2019ve faced in the past<\/em>
\nas forgotten agents in need of status.<\/em>
\nNo sell out, so get the hell out. We do it Rough\u2019s way.<\/em>
\nWho gives a damn about K and Jay?<\/em>
\nSaid we wouldn\u2019t last,<\/em>
\nSaid we didn\u2019t pass,<\/em>
\nSo we founded FANS\u2026<\/em>
\nNow we\u2019re all kicking ass.<\/em>
\nThe D-O-N-N-I-E, the W-A-H-L to the B-E-R-G has spoken,<\/em>
\nand now the games must cease\u2026<\/em>
\nand to the non-believers, I say peace!<\/em>
\nStop playing those games!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

And they had. All of the minions were staring at him in rapt attention, their hands frozen on pool cues, ping-pong paddles, or colorful circles on the Twister mat. Then they suddenly began to chant in unison as if they\u2019d rehearsed it. \u201cOh-ee-oh\u2026 ohh, oh! Games, games, games, games, games! Oh-ee-oh\u2026 ohh, oh! Games, games, games, games, games!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Dr. Rough stared, stunned by the command Donnie had over the other minions. Perhaps he had underestimated his sniveling servant. Just when he was starting to think of promoting Donnie to a higher rank, the door of the rumpus room flew open, and Donnie and the minions fell abruptly silent as Drums swaggered back into the room. \u201cIt\u2019s cool, y\u2019all,\u201d he said when he noticed them all staring at him. \u201cMah \u2018fro\u2019s fine. Now, where were we?\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough nodded in satisfaction as Drums took control once more. He had picked the right man to be his second in command. But it was good to know Donnie did have some balls, tiny as they must be.<\/p>\n

After watching for a few more minutes, he grew bored of spying on the minions and instead turned his attention to the camera mounted in the ceiling of Sexi\u2019s room, right over her bed, so as to provide a birds-eye view of her as she slept. She was getting ready for bed now. His pulse raced with excitement as he watched her undress, slipping into a satin negligee and nothing else. He would have been content to watch her sleep — or lie there and touch herself as she often did before she drifted off — but it occurred to him that while Drums was hanging out with the minions, it would be the perfect opportunity for him to sneak down to her room and enjoy a little Sexi time in person.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough rolled out of bed eagerly, upsetting Twitches. He would make up some excuse on his way to Sexi\u2019s room, some reason for turning up there at this hour. It didn\u2019t need to be good; after all, he was Dr. Rough, and this was his headquarters.<\/p>\n

He didn\u2019t even glance at his wall of monitors as he crept out of his bedroom. If he had, he might have seen silly Rachel, the pregnant mermaid, collapse in a pool of her own blood. But he did not, leaving only the cameras to capture the sound of her screams and the sight of the creature that slid out from between her legs.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Hours later, Dr. Rough returned to his room with Sexi in tow. The reason he\u2019d given her for his nighttime visit had been to bring his sole female agent a nightcap, into which he had slipped a roofie. She had accepted the drug-laden drink gratefully. Now, after finishing it, Sexi was loose and giggly, hanging all over him as she stumbled up the hall in her stiletto heels. Her satin lingerie flew up as he pulled her into his room and flung her backward onto his bed, exposing the smooth caramel skin of her inner thighs.<\/p>\n

He climbed on top of her and reached between her legs, but before he could touch her, Sexi let out a startled \u201cOh!\u201d Realizing that she was looking not at him but at something over his shoulder, Dr. Rough sat back on his haunches and twisted around.<\/p>\n

The door to his private bathroom was open, he realized, and the light was on. A shadow flickered across the tiled floor. Someone was there, standing just inside the doorway, out of sight.<\/p>\n

Frowning, he left Sexi behind on the bed and stalked toward the bathroom. As he approached the doorway, he could see articles of clothing strewn across the floor. They were stained with what appeared to be blood. There were drips of it on the floor and countertop as well. His heart began to beat faster, and he suddenly wished he was armed. He took one more tentative step forward and peered into the bathroom, eyes fixed on the blood-soaked clothing.<\/p>\n

He saw the feet first. Bare feet, pressed close together. His eyes panned upwards, taking in the skinny ankles, the scrawny white legs, the grayish briefs, and the pale, naked chest. They were already starting to roll by the time they settled on the familiar face.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamn it, Donnie!\u201d he cried angrily, losing his cool completely. \u201cTighty-whities again? Didn\u2019t I tell you I never wanted to see you less than fully clothed again after the L.A. bus\u2026 incident? And now you\u2019ve broken into my<\/em> chamber and entered my<\/em> private bathroom!\u201d<\/p>\n

His eye twitched as he watched Donnie stand there quivering, rubbing one hand maniacally up and down his forearm. He could feel the vein in his forehead pulsing with rage as he realized his rare Sexi time had just been ruined by a man he had considered promoting just hours earlier. What a lapse in judgment that<\/em> had been!<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know so many things,\u201d murmured Donnie in a tiny voice, staring miserably at him. He took a few faltering steps forward into the doorway and covered his mouth with both of his hands. They were streaked with red — evidently, he had been trying to wash off the blood. \u201cDo you know why you\u2019re afraid when you\u2019re alone? I do\u2026 I do\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cKnock it off, Donnie,\u201d Dr. Rough snapped. \u201cEither tell me why you\u2019re covered in blood or go away; I have more important matters to contend with tonight.\u201d He glanced back at Sexi, who sat up on his bed, staring at Donnie in concern, and he felt his resentment grow. Drugs or not, he doubted she would be in the mood to mess around with him after witnessing another one of Donnie\u2019s psychotic meltdowns.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe was afraid!\u201d Donnie screamed. \u201cI told her she would be alright. I was wrong; I was wrong. NOW LOOK AT ME!!! I don\u2019t wanna be afraid no more,\u201d he whimpered as Dr. Rough stared at him in bewilderment.<\/p>\n

\u201cGive me a minute\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI WAITED TWO HOURS FOR YOU!\u201d roared Donnie, punching the door frame. Spit flew from his lips, dribbling down his chin as he began to sob. \u201cI\u2019m not giving you nothing. You failed me! YOU FAILED ME!\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough frowned. \u201cWhat are you talking about? What do you need from me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too late\u2026 It\u2019s too late…\u201d wept Donnie. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing you can do. She\u2019s dead. She\u2019s DEAD!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWho\u2019s dead?\u201d<\/p>\n

Donnie turned and ripped open the shower curtain that surrounded Dr. Rough\u2019s massive marble tub. Sprawled across the bottom of it lay the body of his girlfriend, Rachel, naked and bloody from the waist down.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough swayed at the sight of her, feeling light-headed. \u201cWhat happened to her?\u201d he demanded hoarsely.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe\u2026 b-baby\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

The corpse\u2019s belly was still swollen, but the shriveled-looking gray umbilical cord hanging out from between her legs proved she had given birth. \u201cWhere is it?\u201d he asked, looking around.<\/p>\n

Donnie just shook his head, shaking and sobbing.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough was surprised to find he felt sympathy towards the minion. He reached out and placed a hand awkwardly on his trembling shoulder. \u201cWhat did you do with the child?\u201d he asked again, more gently this time.<\/p>\n

Donnie continued to shake his head. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t a child\u2026 wasn\u2019t a child\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough frowned, growing frustrated with him again. \u201cWhat are you talking about? Where\u2019s the baby?\u201d<\/p>\n

Without a word, Donnie slipped past him, out of the bathroom. Dr. Rough turned and followed him as he left the room and slunk down the hall, leaving a puzzled Sexi behind. They walked through the compound\u2019s labyrinth of hallways, finally reaching the minions\u2019 quarters. The door to Donnie\u2019s dormitory stood open. Donnie stopped outside it, refusing to cross the threshold.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough entered the room alone. He walked in slowly, looking around. There was a trail of blood on the floor, much thicker here than in his own chamber, leading into the tiny bathroom. He followed it and saw the place where Rachel had given birth. There were bloody towels spread out on the floor and dangling from the counter. And there, in the sink, wrapped up in one of them, was the creature she\u2019d birthed.<\/p>\n

Creature was the word that entered Dr. Rough\u2019s mind, not child, because Donnie was right: this was no child. This was a monster.<\/p>\n

Its head was bulbous and misshapen, its eyes massive even though they were closed, with lids that joined in a vertical line, like a pair of double doors, and no lashes. There was no nose either, only slits for nostrils, and no lips, only an ovular mouth that hung open like a black hole.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough\u2019s hand shook as he reached out and plucked up one edge of the towel it was swathed in, taking care not to touch the creature itself. He drew back the towel and felt his breath catch in his throat as he took in the full view of it. The smooth, hairless skin that covered its body was a dusky shade of indigo, and there was no sign of movement to suggest it was breathing or alive at all. The four limbs, ending in three webbed digits each, lay limp and motionless. He shuddered at the thought of touching it, so he left it there in the sink instead and returned to Donnie, his head spinning with more questions than he knew how to ask.<\/p>\n

At first, all he could get out was, \u201c\u2026How?\u201d<\/p>\n

At first, Donnie seemed incapable of forming answers. As he stood there rocking, his arms hugging his naked, quivering body, all he could do was shake his head.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough didn\u2019t know what to make of it. But he did know one thing: his discovery was going to change everything.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Nick frowned as he walked into Pearl\u2019s lab and noticed Jay occupying her place at the computers. A sweeping glance around the room only confused him more, as it seemed she was nowhere to be found — in fact, both his favorite blonde Carter Girls were missing. At least his favorite ginger, Red Jewel, was present, though he was disappointed to see her sitting next to his least favorite agent, Leonardo Di-Crapio.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey\u2026 where\u2019s Pearl?\u201d he asked as he leaned back against one of Pearl\u2019s worktables.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs I was just about to say,\u201d K began, irritated by Nick\u2019s tardiness, \u201cshe\u2019s in Washington D.C. helping Opal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith what?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c008, even if I knew, I wouldn\u2019t tell you.\u201d K was already irked by a recently-formed bug bite on his arm, which had been bothering him all morning. No matter how much he scratched at it, relief was nowhere to be found.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, okay\u2026 jeez,\u201d Nick replied, caught off-guard by the aggressive edge to K\u2019s tone. Sure, he was no stranger to being on the older man\u2019s nerves, but even he had to admit that it usually took more than two simple questions to bring about this sort of reaction. Still, Nick shook it off and assumed that perhaps K had just woken up on the wrong side of the bed\u2026 or something like that.<\/p>\n

\u201cAlso away are Emerald and Diamond,\u201d K continued. \u201cThey just checked in and have arrived in Iraq ready for their mission. As for the rest of you\u2026 I\u2019m afraid there really isn\u2019t much in the way of assignments. FANS has been quiet.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo\u2026 then why are we here? Are you telling us we\u2019re getting some extra vacation time or something?\u201d Nick asked hopefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cHardly,\u201d said K, scratching at the bothersome patch on his arm again.<\/p>\n

Red Jewel noticed this and frowned but remained silent, making a mental note to speak to K after the meeting to check him out.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re here to discuss possible strategies to take FANS out before they strike again,\u201d he went on.<\/p>\n

\u201cLike going on the offensive?\u201d Jay finally spoke up, turning around to face him.<\/p>\n

\u201cExactly. I was thinking perhaps we could–\u201d K began but was cut off by the sound of static coming from the computers. Every set of eyes in the room fell on the monitors as they all scrambled for a few moments, only to refocus on\u2026 an empty room.<\/p>\n

\u201cJay, did you bust Pearl\u2019s computers?\u201d Nick asked, fighting back a laugh at his mentor\u2019s expense. \u201cBecause she\u2019s gonna kill you if you can\u2019t fix it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou would know, Mr. I-Tried-On-A-Machine-Gun-Bra,\u201d Jay quipped, typing a few commands into the computer but having no luck. \u201cIt\u2019s not a glitch on our part. It looks like\u2026 it\u2019s a transmission.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA transmission from wh-?\u201c K began to ask, though his question was answered as a blur appeared on the screen — almost as though someone had jumped into the frame — and suddenly, none other than Dr. Rough stood before them. Or, rather, the back of Dr. Rough\u2019s head.<\/p>\n

\u201cYOU SET THE TRIPOD TOO HIGH, YOU IDIOT!\u201d the diminutive villain shouted at someone behind him before that someone cleared their throat and pointed behind him at the camera he was supposed to be facing. \u201cOh! Yes! It is I, Dr. Rough!\u201d he proclaimed before abruptly bursting into an evil laugh.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis system is impenetrable!\u201d K exclaimed, mildly stunned by the sight before him but apparently still capable of voicing the same thought that all of the other agents in the room seemed to share as well. Pearl\u2019s firewalls and other cyber-security measures were supposed to be the best in the world, impossible to break through. What made it all seem even more unlikely was how much Dr. Rough seemed to be bumbling around. How was this possible?<\/p>\n

\u201cWas impenetrable,\u201d Dr. Rough corrected, about to continue basking in the glory of his current success until one of the minions in the background of his shot spoke up.<\/p>\n

\u201cI CAN\u2019T ACCESS THE FILES, SIR!\u201d the minion called out to his master as he clicked away at his keyboard, attracting the attention of everyone from Dr. Rough to the agents of HimTak.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough swore under his breath before he turned back to the camera. \u201cNo matter. We\u2019ll still get what we want!\u201d Dr. Rough proclaimed. He searched the screen showing him the room at HimTak until he found Agent K, who was still subconsciously scratching his arm. Dr. Rough\u2019s smile widened when he saw this, knowing that his plan was working perfectly and the news he was about to deliver was going to shock them all. \u201cAgent K, you are currently carrying a bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA bomb?\u201d K scoffed. \u201cI think I would have noticed if I was armed with a bomb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot if it\u2019s been implanted inside of you!\u201d Dr. Rough replied, his grin large as ever. \u201cI see you\u2019ve got an itch you can\u2019t seem to scratch? Don\u2019t bother trying to get it out.\u201d He glanced at Red Jewel, whom he knew to be the resident doctor. \u201cIt\u2019s been wired to detonate upon any attempt to extract it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBullshit.\u201d K strode closer to the monitors and the camera mounted above them, through which he knew Dr. Rough was watching them. \u201cHow do we know this isn\u2019t just some distraction tactic, and I\u2019ve really just been bitten by a mosquito?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCould a mosquito do this<\/em>?\u201d Dr. Rough asked before pushing one of the buttons on the control panel in front of him.<\/p>\n

Immediately, K felt his heart race so quickly that he found himself leaning forward and grasping the back of Jay\u2019s chair for support.<\/p>\n

Red ran to his side instantly to take his pulse. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerously high,\u201d she warned, glancing at Jay worriedly, then up at the camera. \u201cStop it before you give him a heart attack!\u201d<\/p>\n

Satisfied that he\u2019d proven his point and demonstrated his control over their precious Agent K, Dr. Rough pressed the button again and saw K\u2019s body instantly relax. Red continued to monitor his pulse as she helped him to a chair nearby.<\/p>\n

\u201cFine, Rough,\u201d Nick said, shooting a glare at one of the many screens still displaying the short villain\u2019s face. \u201cWhat do you want from us?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgent Jay,\u201d Dr. Rough announced, enjoying the agency\u2019s shocked reaction as he focused his gaze on the man whose name he had just spoken. \u201cI want you to turn yourself over.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou want me?\u201d Jay smirked as he tilted his trademark shades down to eye Dr. Rough on the screen. \u201cAwww, I\u2019m flattered.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be,\u201d Dr. Rough replied. \u201cMy reasons for wanting you in the custody of FANS are purely strateg–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre they really, D?\u201d Jay cut him off, reviving a nickname for Dr. Rough that no one had used in years. \u201cYou\u2019re sure about that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, of course I am!\u201d Dr. Rough spoke through slightly gritted teeth. Though he hated showing that Jay had gotten under his skin in any way, his temper seemed to be getting the best of him. Jay\u2019s victorious smirk only annoyed Dr. Rough more.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were always a terrible liar. I can see your eye starting to twitch from here!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEnough!\u201d Dr. Rough exclaimed, hand flying up to try and stop the eye movement that was giving away his true position. \u201cYou WILL meet my demands, or every single one of you will pay the price!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll find a way to beat you, D,\u201d Jay warned, his voice wavering slightly as his own temper seemed to be slowly rising. \u201cWe always do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t forget, there\u2019s a first time for everything!\u201d Dr. Rough taunted, pressing another button on the control panel that was hidden from the camera.<\/p>\n

Instantly, K screamed in pain, hand clutching his chest so tightly that it seemed as though he was trying to pry the bomb right out of his chest. Red and Nick tried to restrain K, but struggled with the task even after Leo hurried over to assist them. Red turned to Jay and gave him a pointed look, which he understood to mean that K couldn\u2019t take much more punishment.<\/p>\n

\u201cCut it the fuck out, D!\u201d Jay hollered directly at the camera. \u201cRight now!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I\u2019m only getting started!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re about to be finished if you don\u2019t stop what you\u2019re doing to him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a threat?!\u201d Dr. Rough asked, a maniacal chuckle escaping him at the idea that Jay was arrogant enough to threaten him. \u201cJay, you\u2019re not in ANY position to be making threats at me! I literally have Agent K\u2019s life in my hands! Whether he lives or dies is up to you. If it were up to me, that bomb would have taken you all out by now!\u201d<\/p>\n

One last check of K\u2019s pulse, and Red had reached her limit. \u201cKeep an eye on his heart rate,\u201d she told Leo, who was standing nearest to her. Then she approached Jay, jaw set in determination, and grabbed his arm to command his attention. \u201cI don\u2019t care what he\u2019s saying,\u201d she whispered harshly. \u201cK is going to die if he doesn\u2019t stop!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re gonna lose your bargaining chip, D!\u201d Jay added, well aware that compassion for K\u2019s life was going to prove ineffective. \u201cStop whatever it is you\u2019re doing to him RIGHT NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, ALRIGHT already,\u201d Dr. Rough said with a roll of his eyes. He pressed the button again, and K\u2019s body seemed to relax once again. Red, who had returned to K\u2019s side, checked him over one more time before turning to Jay and giving him a slight nod. Jay nodded back, satisfied that his mentor would be alright for the time being. \u201cThat was still just a warm-up, Agent Jay! Turn yourself over, or the next time that happens, it will be too late for your precious Agent K before you can even THINK about helping him!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve gotta be fucking kidding!\u201d Jay exclaimed. \u201cThere\u2019s no fucking way I\u2019m doing that! We\u2019re not giving in to you. We can find the bomb and deactivate it ourselves!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh?\u201d Dr. Rough asked with a laugh, amused by Jay\u2019s outburst and his futile determination to avoid giving in to the sole demand. This was one plan that Dr. Rough was confident would not be undone by the likes of 00Carter or anyone else at HimTak. The sooner they accepted that and gave in, the sooner he could revel in the glory of his success. \u201cEven without Dr. Pierson? How is Mr. Carter\u2019s Pearl doing up in D.C., by the way?\u201d he continued, imagining how lost they would be without her. He was truly pleased with the work his mole had done, giving him intelligence on the comings and goings of the top agents and employees of the organization. \u201cYou have ten hours, Jay\u2026 and then, you\u2019ll be running HimTak yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou son of a–\u201d Nick began but was cut off by the rest of Dr. Rough\u2019s instructions.<\/p>\n

\u201cPresent yourself at the Wynn Hotel and Casino in ten hours, Jay, or else. The countdown is on!\u201d Dr. Rough\u2019s evil laugh began just as his transmission ended and the monitors returned to their normal displays.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Part 2<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Episode 12: \u00a0Mr. Body Beautiful Part 1   The agent crept down the long, dark hallway. He had assumed he would be alone at this hour, but the sound of distant voices disrupted this notion. Adjusting his night-vision goggles, he saw two figures approaching him from the opposite end of\u2026<\/p>\n

Read more<\/span><\/i><\/a> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":1005,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/template-onecolumn.php","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1007","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P5xaHX-gf","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1007"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1007\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1008,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1007\/revisions\/1008"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}