{"id":1233,"date":"2022-05-16T19:59:02","date_gmt":"2022-05-17T00:59:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/?page_id=1233"},"modified":"2022-05-16T19:59:16","modified_gmt":"2022-05-17T00:59:16","slug":"part6","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/dreamers-sanctuary.com\/00carter\/episodes\/episode14\/part6\/","title":{"rendered":"Part 6"},"content":{"rendered":"

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye<\/em><\/strong><\/h3>\n

Part 6<\/strong><\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

The awkwardness set in as Pearl walked alongside Nick to her lab, still trying to process the news that she had been brainwashed by the Wink app. Without getting into specifics, all Nick had told her was that it caused \u201cstrange behavior.\u201d Only now did it occur to her that he\u2019d been talking about the earlier incident in his dormitory. She suddenly remembered breaking into his bedroom\u2026 ripping open his shirt\u2026 reaching into his pants\u2026 taking off her clothes\u2026 kissing him\u2026<\/p>\n

Her cheeks burned with shame as she relived the events of that evening. Even though K and Jay had interrupted their little tryst before it went any further, Pearl felt like a teenage girl who had been pressured into giving up her virginity. Except Nick had never pressured her. If anything, she was the one who had forced herself upon him, freaking him out to the point that he had actually called out for help. How far would she and the others have gone if K and Jay hadn\u2019t heard his cries and come to the rescue?<\/p>\n

I would have gone all the way,<\/em> she admitted to herself, which only made her feel worse. Pearl had always prided herself on the fact that, unlike his other so-called \u201cCarter Girls,\u201d she and Nick were just friends, nothing more. Maybe she had secretly fantasized about \u201csomething more\u201d on occasion, but she had too much self-respect to sleep with a man who flirted and fornicated with so many other women. Deep down, she knew Nick had respected her for that, too, even if he didn\u2019t always like it.<\/p>\n

She gave him a sidelong glance, wondering how he could stand to walk next to her after the way she had acted that night. When he turned his head toward her, she quickly lowered her gaze to the floor, wishing she could melt through it. She didn\u2019t see how she would ever be able to look him in the eye again without feeling embarrassed.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, they had reached the door to her lab, where she could get back down to business and hopefully begin to feel like herself again. But when she opened the door and went in, Pearl\u2019s humiliation flew right out the window, replaced by the raw fury of finding out her private sanctuary had been breached.<\/p>\n

A kid with curly brown hair sat in her<\/em> chair in front of her<\/em> desk, working on her<\/em> computer. He glanced up from her<\/em> monitor when she and Nick walked in, raising one hand off her<\/em> keyboard in an awkward wave. \u201cHey.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl\u2019s jaw dropped. \u201cWho are you, and what are you doing in my lab?\u201d she demanded.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh — you must be Professor Pearl! I mean, Ms. Pearl. I mean, Ms. Professor\u2026 or, actually, what should<\/em> I call you?\u201d Before she could answer, the kid added quickly, \u201cI\u2019m Seth, by the way. Seth Cooper. Your new assistant?\u201d He rose out of his — no, her<\/em> — seat and offered an apologetic shrug. \u201cSorry\u2026 I thought Mr. K told you I was coming.\u201d<\/p>\n

For a few seconds, Pearl just stared at him. Finally, she said, \u201cHe did. I just wasn\u2019t expecting you to be here right now.\u201d She glanced at Nick, silently asking, Did you know about this?<\/em> The shit-eating grin he gave her in return answered her question. He had known full well Seth would be waiting here for her and hadn\u2019t bothered to warn her. Oh well\u2026 payback\u2019s a bitch,<\/em> she thought, shaking her head at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cI should have told you earlier, Seth,\u201d Nick spoke up. \u201cShe actually prefers to be called \u2018Her Royal Highness, Princess<\/em> Professor Pearl.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShut up, Blondie,\u201d Pearl snapped, smacking him in the ribs. She no longer regretted her earlier actions, deciding Nick had deserved what he got. \u201cJust plain Pearl is fine,\u201d she told Seth through gritted teeth.<\/p>\n

\u201cCool. You can call me Seth — at least until I get a nifty code name like the rest of you. 00Cooper, perhaps? It has a certain ring, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, it doesn\u2019t,\u201d Nick replied quickly. \u201cIt actually sounds really dumb.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I thought you said your<\/em> code name was–\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick cut him off. \u201cYou can\u2019t be 00Cooper! You\u2019re not even an agent, let alone a Double-0!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFair enough,\u201d said Seth with a humble tip of his head. \u201cThen might I suggest The Ironist as a better alternative?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Ironist?\u201d Nick repeated, wrinkling his nose.<\/p>\n

Seth nodded. \u201cIt was my superhero alter ego in a comic book I created in my youth.\u201d He deepened his voice. \u201cThe Ironist, with the power of irony, able to disarm his adversaries with his quick wit!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick raised his eyebrows. \u201cDude\u2026 you like drawing and comic books, too?\u201d A smile spread across his face. \u201cDid we just become best friends?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh god,\u201d Pearl groaned. \u201cDon\u2019t tell me there are two of you now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t hate,\u201d said Nick, grinning at her. \u201cHe\u2019s a huge nerd just like you, too. You guys are gonna get along great — if you don\u2019t kill him first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI make no promises,\u201d muttered Pearl, slipping past Seth to reclaim her computer chair before he could sit back down. She heaved a sigh as she settled into the cushy leather seat. It felt lower to the ground than she remembered. Had this guy really had the gall to adjust the height of a chair that wasn\u2019t even his? Grumbling, she reached for the lever under the seat and fiddled with it until she had readjusted it to the right setting. Then she turned to her computer. \u201cOkay. Time to tackle this damn app,\u201d she said, cracking her knuckles before resting her hands lightly on her keyboard. \u201cTell me everything you know about Wink.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick and Seth filled her in on what they had found out. As they talked, Pearl felt herself start to relax. She was back in her element. This new mission would be the perfect distraction to help her forget all about that night.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Nick\u2019s eyes glazed as he watched Pearl and Seth at work. The pair of geeks sat side by side, hunched over Pearl\u2019s computer with their heads so close together that they almost touched, occasionally muttering words Nick didn\u2019t understand to each other as their fingers clacked across the keyboard. Just as he had suspected, Pearl seemed to have forgotten to be annoyed with her new assistant once she\u2019d found out what he was capable of.<\/p>\n

Seth had started by showing her how he had hacked into the Wink app to isolate the strange symbols and frequency that had lowered its users\u2019 inhibitions. Then he and Pearl began trying to track down the app\u2019s creator by tracing back one of the videos he had posted.<\/p>\n

None of it really made sense to Nick, who enjoyed using technology, not analyzing it. He was just there to make sure neither of them fell prey to the app\u2019s powers of persuasion again. But he had gotten bored of hanging out in the background, spinning on one of Pearl\u2019s swivel chairs and wondering where his cellphone was. Maybe it was a good thing it had gone missing that morning; otherwise, he would have gotten sucked right into Wink, too. The realization brought him some relief, but he still wanted his phone back.<\/p>\n

What kind of crazy stuff would I have done if Wink had brainwashed me?<\/em> Nick wondered as he looked around the lab. Maybe nothing. I mean, what would I want to do that I wouldn\u2019t normally just do anyway?<\/em> He wasn\u2019t known for his self-control in the first place, which was probably why he ended up in so many embarrassing situations without the influence of a mind-altering app. The machine gun bra incident came to mind as his eyes swept across the line of bullet holes embellishing one wall. Maybe Pearl would finally be able to let that go now that he had something on her. If he reminded her of the rape rhombus the next time she brought it up, she would probably never mention the machine gun bra again.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d he heard Seth gasp suddenly. \u201cWhat\u2019s this?\u201d Turning back toward Pearl\u2019s computer, Nick saw a video pop up on the screen. He stood up to watch over their shoulders. Seth\u2019s hand moved automatically to the mouse, hovering the cursor over the big play button in the center of the blank black background.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, wait,\u201d he said before Seth could click on it. \u201cMaybe we shouldn\u2019t all watch it at the same time. What if it\u2019s embedded with another subliminal message? We\u2019d all be affected.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood point, Blondie,\u201d said Pearl, glancing back at him. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you be our guinea pig? Seth and I will put on noise-canceling headphones and close our eyes while you watch. Then we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick swallowed hard, wishing he hadn\u2019t said anything. \u201cWait\u2026 why do I<\/em> have to be the guinea pig?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause Seth and I are too busy trying to hack this app to be brainwashed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSeth and I?\u201d he repeated, raising his eyebrows. \u201cSo you\u2019re saying having an assistant is actually\u2026 helpful?\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl rolled her eyes. \u201cI did not<\/em> say that. But since you\u2019re<\/em> not doing anything except hanging out down here, you might as well make yourself useful, right?\u201d she replied, shooting him an impish grin.<\/p>\n

Nick groaned. \u201cYou know, you might not even be able to tell if I\u2019m brainwashed,\u201d he said, remembering his earlier line of thought. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I have many inhibitions to begin with.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we won\u2019t know until we try,\u201d said Pearl with a shrug, handing Seth a large pair of headphones. \u201cYou can sit here.\u201d She stood up, offering Nick her chair as she secured another pair of headphones over her own ears. \u201cTap my shoulder when it\u2019s over. You\u2019ll need to tell us exactly what you saw and heard, so pay attention!\u201d<\/p>\n

With a sigh, Nick slumped into her seat in front of the computer. Once both Pearl and Seth had closed their eyes, he clicked play and sat back to watch.<\/p>\n

The video began with static on a black background. Then a white ring appeared, flickering in the center of the screen for a few seconds before a pair of eyelids closed over it. It was a winking eye, Nick realized.<\/p>\n

The eye faded into the static. A series of seemingly random images followed, each lasting less than five seconds. A tentacle rising out of rushing water. The needle of a syringe. Cells dividing under a microscope. A microphone stand on an empty stage. A palm tree covered with snow. A pale, skinny man wearing nothing but a pair of white briefs trembling in a doorway. A severed hand twitching inside a wooden box. A pointy metal hook piercing the pad of a fingertip.<\/p>\n

Nick winced as he watched a drop of blood fall into a bathtub full of water, his brain struggling to process the rapidly changing video clips.<\/p>\n

The teeth of an afro pick combing through tight, blond curls. A cup of milk with a straw sitting on a table next to a small plate of graham crackers. A ferret scurrying across the floor. A penguin sliding backward out of frame. A close-up shot of an electric red eye staring straight at the camera.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat a minute\u2026\u201d Nick muttered, his eyes narrowing. That evil eye looked familiar. So did the curly hair — not to mention the moonwalking penguin and the ferret.<\/p>\n

The images continued to flash across the computer screen. Five more rings that interlocked to resemble the Olympic emblem. A female figure skater spinning on ice. A folded step stool toppling to the ground.<\/p>\n

By the time the trippy video finally focused on a man straightening his long, black hair in a mirror, Nick was not surprised to find that he recognized him. \u201cDamn it,\u201d he sighed when Dr. Rough turned to face the camera, winking as he ran the flatiron over his hair. \u201cOf course you\u2019re the one behind this.\u201d<\/p>\n

The video went on and on, repeating some of the same imagery before it finally cut to a shot of a stone chimney in front of a wintery forest of barren trees. Nick watched, mesmerized, as a pair of white hands reached over the chimney top. Dr. Rough\u2019s head rose slowly out of the chimney, followed by the rest of his body. He climbed awkwardly over the ledge like some creepy Santa Claus, although his velvet tailcoat was purple rather than red. Beneath an absurdly large top hat, his long black hair hung in his face as he staggered toward the camera, walking with an ungainly limp.<\/p>\n

Nick stared, almost afraid to take his eyes off the screen in case Dr. Rough suddenly climbed out of it and tried to kill him.<\/p>\n

But when Dr. Rough reached the foreground, he suddenly stopped right in front of the camera. He stood still for a second or two, then toppled forward. Just when Nick thought he was going to fall flat on his face, Dr. Rough tucked and rolled, performing a perfect somersault before springing triumphantly to his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cWelcome, my followers,\u201d he said, winking at the camera. \u201cWelcome to my Wink app.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWink\u2026\u201d Nick shook his head, feeling disappointed in himself for not figuring it out sooner. \u201cWe should have known this was the work of that twitchy asshole again.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as the video shifted to a shot of Dr. Rough\u2019s face in front of a spiraling purple and green background filled with the alien symbols Seth had shown him earlier. Nick closed his eyes in case this was the part that was supposed to hypnotize him, but he kept listening as Dr. Rough began to sing a soft, strangely soothing ballad.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome with me, and you\u2019ll be<\/em>
\nin a world of pure imagination.<\/em>
\nTake a look, and you\u2019ll see<\/em>
\ninto your imagination\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the fuck?\u201d Nick fought the urge to roll his eyes beneath their lids. \u201cIs this guy for real?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll begin with a spin,<\/em>
\nTraveling in the world of my creation.<\/em>
\nWhat we\u2019ll see will defy<\/em>
\nexplanation\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHow extra can you get?\u201d Nick muttered as Dr. Rough continued his song. He didn\u2019t have a bad voice, but everything he did was so over the top that it was impossible for Nick to take him seriously.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want to view paradise,<\/em>
\nsimply look around and view it.<\/em>
\nAnything you want to, do it.<\/em>
\nWant to change the world?<\/em>
\nThere\u2019s nothing to it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Despite the cheesy performance, Nick felt compelled to download the Wink app and start browsing. He did want to view paradise\u2026 and do whatever he wanted\u2026 and change the world in the process\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no life I know<\/em>
\nto compare to pure imagination<\/em>
\nLiving there, you\u2019ll be free<\/em>
\nIf you truly wish to be.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cNo!\u201d Nick hissed, hitting himself on the head. Dr. Rough could try to hoodwink him into getting sucked into Wink as well, but it wouldn\u2019t work. \u201cI am in control of my mind, and it’s stronger than alien technology,\u201d he whispered, repeating the mantra Seth had hidden inside the videos he\u2019d sent to his colleagues.<\/p>\n

It seemed to help. After saying it a few times, Nick no longer felt like looking at the app. He opened his eyes into narrow slits as Dr. Rough finished his song.<\/p>\n

The diminutive supervillain now sat in a high-backed purple armchair on a platform in the center of a large, industrial-looking room. Men in purple shirts and white overalls bustled around him, pouring molten lead into molds to make bullets, putting metal parts together to build guns, and assembling bombs. \u201cOompa loompa doompety doo,\u201d<\/em> the minions sang as they worked. \u201cI\u2019ve got a perfect puzzle for you. Oompa loompa doompety dee. If you are wise, you\u2019ll listen to me.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cHow long is this fucking video, anyway?\u201d Nick asked, looking back at Pearl and Seth. Both had blank faces, their eyes firmly closed, headphones still in place. He sighed, refocusing his attention on Dr. Rough\u2019s dumb musical.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you get when you play by the rules?\u201d<\/em> one of the minions crooned in a high-pitched countertenor.<\/p>\n

\u201cBreaking the law like a felon is cool,\u201d<\/em> added another in a deep bass.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is the point of holding yourself back?\u201d<\/em> the baritone voice of a third minion rang out before the first one joined him in harmony. \u201cWhat do you think will come\u2026 of\u2026 that?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cThat does not sound very fun,\u201d<\/em> a fourth minion\u2019s voice descended, leading back into the chorus of their little ditty. \u201cOompa loompa doompety da\u2026 If you act freely, you will go far. You will live in happiness, too\u2026 like the Oompa Loompa doompety doo!\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI am in control of my mind, and it’s stronger than alien technology,\u201d Nick chanted to himself as the song ended. \u201cI am in control of my mind, and it’s stronger than alien technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

The camera zoomed in, centering on Dr. Rough\u2019s face. \u201cCongratulations,\u201d he said, smirking into the lens. \u201cIf you\u2019ve managed to make it this far into the Wink app without succumbing to my attempts at alien mind control, you must have the strength of mind I admire. Maybe you\u2019ll consider joining my organization, FANS. Lord knows I could use more intelligent min–\u201d Dr. Rough suddenly coughed, then cleared his throat. \u201cPardon me. What I meant to say was more intelligent agents. Perhaps you\u2019d like to become one of them?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever,\u201d growled Nick, glaring at the computer monitor. \u201cI\u2019ll never go to the dark side like Drums did.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ll be among some of the best and brightest\u2026 who weren\u2019t accepted into other secret agencies,\u201d Dr. Rough added, saying the last part so fast that Nick could hardly comprehend it. \u201cAs you\u2019ve seen, my agents are multitalented and have many connections we can exploit. Why, I couldn\u2019t have made this cinematic masterpiece without the help of a contact in Hollywood who\u2019s related to one of my Rough Riders.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCinematic masterpiece?\u201d Nick snorted. \u201cYou literally just ripped off The Ring<\/em> and Willy Wonka<\/em>, but alright. At least now we know someone in Hollywood is working for FANS.\u201d He made a note of this on the pad of paper next to Pearl\u2019s keyboard to share with K later.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf all goes according to plan,\u201d Dr. Rough continued, \u201cthe world will fall into disarray once my Wink app goes viral, causing chaos and pandemonium across the globe as people let go of their inhibitions and engage in lawless acts. Cities will crumble, governments will collapse, and anarchy will reign. Those left out of the loop will look for a new leader, someone to right a world turned upside down. And I will be that leader.\u201d His dark eyes gleamed with ambition, the left one twitching maniacally. \u201cSoon the whole world will bow down to Dr. Rough, and I will finally have the respect I deserve!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick had seen enough. \u201cFuck this shit,\u201d he said, pausing the video on a frame of Dr. Rough in mid-wink. He laughed at the derpy look on the villain\u2019s droopy-eyed face, then tapped Pearl on the shoulder until she took off her headphones. \u201cIt\u2019s okay. You can open your eyes now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl\u2019s eyes flew open, widening further when they focused on the familiar face frozen on her computer monitor. \u201cDr. Rough!\u201d she cried. \u201cThis is his<\/em> doing?!\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick nodded. \u201cWe should have known, right? I mean, c\u2019mon\u2026 he called his damn app \u2018Wink.\u2019 It even has a purple logo!\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl smacked herself in the forehead. \u201cDuh! Why didn\u2019t any of us make the connection?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he was controlling your minds?\u201d<\/p>\n

She shook her head, looking furious with herself. \u201cThat twitchy midget\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHey, how do you like his new \u2018do?\u201d Nick asked, smirking as he traced his fingertips over Dr. Rough\u2019s long, silky hair.<\/p>\n

Pearl snorted. \u201cThe Jesus look isn\u2019t doing him any favors.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick snickered. \u201cI know, right? What a douche.\u201d He started telling Pearl every detail he could remember from the video. Halfway through his explanation, he realized Seth was still wearing his headphones, rocking back and forth with his eyes closed as he clutched his toy moose tightly in his hands. \u201cHey, are you gonna tell your assistant it\u2019s safe to come out of his sensory deprivation chamber?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh\u2026 yeah, I guess I should probably do that, huh?\u201d Pearl replied with a guilty grin. She got Seth\u2019s attention so he could join the conversation as Nick continued filling them in on what he\u2019d watched.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo his goal is to make this thing go viral until the entire world descends into chaos,\u201d Nick finished.<\/p>\n

\u201cKaos\u2026 like your old code name, right?\u201d Seth grinned. Nick rolled his eyes and ignored him, reminding himself to get back at Grasshopper later for sharing that information with new recruits.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, it almost worked on HimTak,\u201d Pearl said with a sigh. \u201cSo what are we gonna do about it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI say we go with the same solution that helped here: Post Nick\u2019s dance video with a generic subliminal message that will bring anyone watching back into their right mind and make that shit go viral!\u201d Seth suggested. \u201cThen, once everyone\u2019s been unbrainwashed, we have K contact the Federal Trade Commission about banning the app.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick shook his head. \u201cSeems too simple.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNot every mission has to be as convoluted as you tend to make \u2018em, 00Carter,\u201d said Pearl, smiling at him. \u201cAnd I know you hate working with government agencies, but we have to accept help from them sometimes. I think Seth\u2019s plan will work\u2026 for a while, anyway. We both know Dr. Rough is probably already plotting his next big scheme to take over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick raked a hand through his hair as he stared at the FANS leader\u2019s face in frustration. \u201cYeah, Pearly\u2026 you\u2019re probably right about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

\u201cIn today\u2019s top story, a crime wave appears to be spreading across the country. Over the past few days, police departments in major cities from Boston to San Francisco and all the smaller towns in between have reported a significant increase in unlawful activity and arrests. Homes have been burglarized, cars stolen, businesses broken into, and parks and other public property vandalized. Stories have been pouring in from viewers nation-wide about violent acts including assault, arson, even attempted rape and murder. For more on this shocking story, we go now to our crime correspondent Mackenzie Horkheimer, who\u2019s live with the New York City Police Commissioner\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A sinister smile spread across Dr. Rough\u2019s face as he relaxed against the purple pillows piled high atop his king-sized bed to watch the morning news. \u201cYesss, Dr. Twitches,\u201d he purred, rubbing his palms together. \u201cEverything is going according to plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

His pet ferret appeared equally pleased as he turned in circles on the bed next to him, burrowing into the blankets to build a small nest for his morning nap.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur Wink app has gone viral even faster than FANthrax! An unprecedented success! And the best part is that no one will ever be able to trace this crime wave back to it,\u201d Dr. Rough went on triumphantly as the conversation continued on his television. \u201cIn another week or two, the world will be in shambles\u2026 and we\u2019ll be there to pick up the pieces. Won\u2019t we, Dr. Twitches?\u201d He reached out to stroke the sleek fur on the ferret\u2019s back. \u201cYes, we will! We\u2019ll be the saviors this world needs! Once we stop the carnage with new subliminal messaging on Wink, the people will praise us for taking control! They\u2019ll put us on a pedestal! They\u2019ll practically worship us! We will be like gods!\u201d<\/p>\n

Basking in his glory, he picked up his phone off the bedside table and opened his beloved Wink app. How was it possible that an evil side plot he\u2019d put together in a matter of weeks using the alien technology Drums had stolen from the FBI was working better than schemes he\u2019d spent years developing? It didn\u2019t make sense, but Dr. Rough didn\u2019t mind. The important point to focus on was that it was, in fact, working. Finally! A win for FANS!<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd once we\u2019re in power,\u201d said Dr. Rough as he scrolled through the accounts he followed on his app, \u201cour first act will be to dismantle the meddling agency known as Himitsu Takana.\u201d<\/p>\n

His eyes gleamed as they roamed over the profile pictures of the HimTak agents who had already joined Wink. Of course, none of them had signed up with their real identities, but his informant had found out their usernames for him anyway so he could keep tabs on them. He wasn\u2019t surprised to learn that their leader, Agent K, had not created an account; the man was old-fashioned in many ways and seemed to view technology as merely a tool rather than a form of entertainment. But he had been disappointed to discover that his nemesis, 00Carter, had not yet hopped on the Wink bandwagon either.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnly \u2018cause I stole his phone,\u201d the mole had admitted, laughing during last night\u2019s status report. \u201cPoor bastard\u2019s been looking for it all day, dying to download Wink.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough had joined in his laughter, relieved to hear that Nick was suffering without his cellphone. Judging by the fact that he still couldn\u2019t find a profile for him connected to any of the other agents, he assumed 00Carter had yet to obtain a replacement.<\/p>\n

\u201cAhh, but what do we have here, Dr. Twitches?\u201d he murmured, tapping on Agent Jay\u2019s profile. Unlike K, Jay embraced technology for all purposes, including entertainment. \u201cLooks like HimTak\u2019s second in command went live last night while we were getting our beauty sleep. Let\u2019s see what he had to say.\u201d<\/p>\n

He clicked on the saved video, smiling when he saw his former roommate wearing a full face of makeup and women\u2019s clothing — in his favorite color, of course. His smile only grew as he listened to Jay gossip about his colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you hearing this, Dr. Twitches? Professor Pearl hates having assistants! And 00Carter keeps a one-eyed pink crocodile in his bottom desk drawer!\u201d Dr. Rough crowed. \u201cNow that we know their vulnerabilities, we\u2019ll have an even easier time exploiting them!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYo, dawg, it jus\u2019 a croc missin\u2019 an eye,\u201d said Drums as he entered the room to deliver Dr. Rough\u2019s breakfast on a silver tray. \u201cIt ain\u2019t dat cool. I bet it don\u2019t even have no robot eye like me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough stiffened. \u201cOf course it doesn\u2019t,\u201d he replied brusquely. \u201cI would never dream of making such a sophisticated prosthetic for a mere stuffed animal. Oh, and Drums?\u201d he added as Drums set the tray down on his bedside table and turned to leave. \u201cDon\u2019t eavesdrop. Next time, knock before you enter my chamber, or you may find yourself missing an ear as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight,\u201d Drums muttered, rolling his remaining eye. \u201cSorry, D-Rough. My bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou are forgiven,\u201d Dr. Rough said graciously. \u201cDon\u2019t think I\u2019ve forgotten that the success of my latest great plan is the result of your success in DC. Dr. Rough rewards his faithful followers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drums bowed his head, looking down at the silver hand Dr. Rough had fashioned for him. \u201cI know. Thanks, dawg.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough nodded. \u201cYou are dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

After Drums left, he put down his phone and picked up his breakfast tray. He smiled as he balanced the tray on his lap and took the cover off his plate to find his favorite morning dish: blueberry pancakes with butter, syrup, and a side of bacon. The minion who had made his breakfast had even shaped the pancakes like little ferret faces with blueberries for eyes, a raspberry for the nose, and narrow lines of nutella for the whiskers.<\/p>\n

\u201cAww\u2026 don\u2019t these look adorable, Dr. Twitches?\u201d he cooed, cutting off a piece of pancake to feed to the ferret. \u201cKudos to today\u2019s chef for putting forth such effort. Seems like someone wants a promotion!\u201d<\/p>\n

Chattering with delight, Dr. Twitches picked up the pancake with his fangs and carried it off to enjoy in a private corner of the room.<\/p>\n

As he dug in, Dr. Rough turned his attention back to the TV, where the news anchor had moved on to other stories gripping the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cMeanwhile, authorities are still searching for a missing Virginia man. It’s been one month since Steven Burns was last seen leaving a Whole Foods Market less than a mile from his home in Arlington, Virginia. His brother reported him missing the next day after neighbors heard his dog barking inside the house. In a recent interview with our local news affiliate, Burns\u2019 brother Joe said it wasn\u2019t like him to leave without notifying anyone of his whereabouts.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The broadcast cut to a video of a young man wearing an orange shirt with a wide stripe of squares across the chest. \u201cSteve is very routine-oriented,\u201d<\/em> he told the reporter tearfully. \u201cHe sets his alarm clock to wake him up at the same time each morning. He has seven sets of the same clothing — a green striped shirt and khaki pants — that he wears every day of the week. He makes breakfast, plays with his puppy Blue, and waits for the mail to arrive. Mail time is the highlight of his day. He\u2026 he just loves getting letters.\u201d<\/em> The man wiped away a stray tear. \u201cAnd Steve would never willingly abandon Blue, not without leaving a note in his handy dandy notebook or some kind of clue for his family and friends to find.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The news anchor reappeared on the screen next to a still photo of Steve\u2019s smiling face. Dr. Rough frowned as he swallowed a mouthful of pancake. \u201cIf you have any information on Burns\u2019 disappearance, contact the Arlington County Police Department at the number displayed on your screen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy, yes, I\u2019ll get right on that,\u201d Dr. Rough said sarcastically, spearing another piece of pancake with his fork. As he raised it to his mouth, he felt his wrist vibrate. He reached for his communicator, sliding back the black wrist cuff’s secret panel to reveal his informant\u2019s face on the video screen.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad news, boss,\u201d the mole began. \u201cHimTak\u2019s onto you. Pearl has a new assistant who hacked into the app late last night and uncovered the alien code.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cCurses!\u201d Dr. Rough hissed, his heart sinking. \u201cBut I heard it on good authority that Pearl hates her assistants!\u201d<\/p>\n

The agent shook his head. \u201cNot this one. Not anymore. He\u2019s proven himself useful. They also found your video, so they know you\u2019re the one behind Wink. They\u2019ve already contacted the FTC, who are currently investigating. It\u2019s only a matter of time before Wink is banned and removed from all major app stores.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNever fear,\u201d Dr. Rough replied, trying to hide his disappointment. \u201cWink was only a pet project of mine, as you well know. I trust our main plot is still on track?\u201d<\/p>\n

The mole nodded. \u201cNo one here knows it\u2019s me. But they\u2019re becoming more suspicious. K and Carter both questioned me about where I was last night.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough drew in a sharp breath. \u201cAnd what did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI blamed it on the app,\u201d his agent replied smoothly. \u201cMade up some bullshit about masturbating to furry fetish porn in my bedroom. They didn\u2019t ask any more questions after that.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d said Dr. Rough, satisfied with his response.<\/p>\n

\u201cI also returned Carter\u2019s phone to his room before they could find it on me — after removing any trace of my fingerprints, of course,\u201d the mole added.<\/p>\n

A frown creased Dr. Rough\u2019s forehead. \u201cHow did you break into his room without being caught?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI guessed the right code to get in: 5-2-6-7. It\u2019s his old code name, Kaos.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Rough\u2019s frown transformed into a smile. \u201cKaos, eh? What a fitting name for our obnoxious nemesis. And how clever of you to figure it out. I knew I could count on you,\u201d he told his informant. \u201cStand by and try not to draw any more negative attention to yourself in the coming days. I\u2019ll need your help to pull off my next great plan to take down HimTak.\u201d<\/p>\n

The mole bowed his head in reverence. \u201cYes, Dr. Rough. I\u2019ll await further instructions.\u201d Then the screen went dark.<\/p>\n

As Dr. Rough returned to his breakfast, he heard the news anchor on TV say, \u201cAnd now we interrupt our broadcast with breaking news. This just in: The Federal Trade Commission is investigating the hot new social media app Wink after reports that it may have contributed to the nationwide outbreak of criminal activity we reported on earlier\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWell, that was quick,\u201d Dr. Rough remarked, rolling his eyes as he raised another bite of pancake to his lips. \u201cBut there\u2019s no reason to worry, Dr. Twitches. This is only a temporary setback. It won\u2019t stop us from destroying Himitsu Takana. With the alien technology we\u2019ve acquired, we\u2019ll be able to attack their minds more directly next time.\u201d<\/p>\n

He threw back his head with an evil cackle, which was cut short by a coughing fit caused by his choking on a blueberry. Eyes streaming, Dr. Rough pushed the rest of his breakfast aside for the ferret to finish.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Another meeting. Though, for once, Nick wasn\u2019t terribly bored by it. In fact, besides the fact that he couldn’t quite look Lancy in the face any time soon, he was actually pretty amused by it. All in all, despite Dr. Rough\u2019s best intentions, there hadn\u2019t been too much harm done, which was a nice rarity in their world. Well, by not much damage<\/em>, he supposed that depended on the point of view. But, no one was hurt beyond repair, and that was enough to be thankful for. Things could have gotten worse — a thought Nick didn\u2019t want to repeat in his brain. Because those thoughts would lead back to Opal. And Brian. Neither were too far from his mind these days, but he tried to not focus in on them all the time. Because those thoughts hurt and in the end, life kept going. He yawned lightly. Kevin was up front going over the mechanics of how the Wink app worked, and he\u2019d tuned most of it out. Not that he\u2019d admit that to anyone.<\/p>\n

\u201cWink is completely shut down.\u201d Pearl\u2019s voice caught his attention. She was looking down at her laptop, her cheeks flushing red. Ever since the rape rhombus she’d been blushing practically anytime she talked about Wink. \u201cAfter we contacted the FTC\u2026 I may or may not have sent a virus after it and directed it towards the source of the app. I doubt it reached Rough\u2019s base before it got shut down, but I\u2019m hopeful it might give us a location and–\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick smirked, arching a brow at her. \u201cWhat happened to simple solutions?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat twitchy bastard deserved worse.\u201d Pearl shot him a pointed look that had him struggling not to laugh. She reached back to tighten her ponytail. \u201cAnyway<\/em>\u2026 my–\u201d A pained look crossed her face that made it so he couldn\u2019t hold it back anymore. \u201c–assistant<\/em> did a great job finding the alien source of the brainwashing embedded within the videos and creating a counter video to clear out the effects.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you approve of Seth, then?\u201d K asked as the hints of a smile began to form.<\/p>\n

All he received was a glare in response.<\/p>\n

Red smiled. \u201cArchie\u2019s doing well, by the way, resting comfortably in his room. He\u2019s lucky he didn\u2019t overdose.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m just happy that it looks like Archie won\u2019t be drug dealing anytime soon,\u201d Nick quipped. \u201cOr that we won\u2019t be seeing Jay cross dressing again.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay shrugged, stretching back in his chair. \u201cI enjoyed it. And I look fucking great in pink or purple.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shook his head. \u201cEither way\u2026 that’s good. Lancy keeps apologizing; he brought pizza and comics to my office earlier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Diamond shared a glance with Nick. \u201cLancy brought me flowers.\u201d<\/p>\n

K cleared his throat before going back to the screen in front of them. \u201cI suspect that while FANS caused a lot of havoc doing this–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll say,\u201d Pearl muttered, typing along.<\/p>\n

\u201cAww, Pearly, but I liked–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI was brainwashed<\/em>, Nick. Brain. Washed. That\u2019s it.\u201d Her face got even redder — something he didn\u2019t think was possible.<\/p>\n

He couldn\u2019t help but grin. Nick always loved what he couldn\u2019t have. \u201cYou\u2019re really cute when you blush. You know, we could get some one on one time, now that–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBrainwashed, Nick! Okay? We\u2019re not speaking of it.\u201d She closed her laptop with a sense of finality.<\/p>\n

Diamond spoke before he could. \u201cDo you want to go to the spa with me when things get calmer, Pearl? I think we could both use it\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t usually do spas, but that sounds nice. Red, do you wanna join us?\u201d<\/p>\n

Red\u2019s eyes lit up. \u201cYeah, we could make a day of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The image of his three favorite Carter Girls having a girls\u2019 day out brought back happy memories of the Playboy Bunny mission to Nick\u2019s brain. The downside was that, this time, there wouldn\u2019t be any fun footage to watch. But maybe instead\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAny hopes of letting me crash, ladies?\u201d<\/p>\n

K coughed yet again, and the agents quieted down once more. Nick noticed that K was being more patient than normal, and he was somewhat impressed but figured he wouldn\u2019t push it. Not today, anyway. \u201cWhat I was saying was that I don\u2019t think this was their main objective. It\u2019s on a smaller scale than their typical exploits and too easily foiled. I suspect this was a distraction and nothing more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vitruvian raised a brow at the suggestion. \u201cBut from what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Jay tilted his shades. \u201cFrom finding their mole, most likely. Since we know there is one, they\u2019ve likely tipped off Rough that we\u2019re on to him.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat were you<\/em> up to, by the way? None of us have seen you since the last meeting,\u201d Nick pointed out, realizing that no one had seen the effects of Wink on 009. He\u2019d have to ask Pearl if she could dig up any footage from DiCrapio\u2019s office during the chaos.<\/p>\n

Leo rolled his eyes as if the answer was obvious. \u201cWhat do you think, Carter? I was doing what everyone else was, being brainwashed and committing crimes. I just didn\u2019t get caught at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, isn\u2019t that convenient,\u201d Nick shot back, not impressed in the slightest.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou got something to say, Carter?\u201d<\/p>\n

K sighed, shaking his head. \u201cThat\u2019s enough. On that note, I want everyone in here to continue the team-building activities. This inner bickering isn\u2019t helping anyone and just goes to show how much we all need it. I also want all of you to up your training sessions. FANS isn\u2019t taking a break in their schemes, and neither shall we. For now, you\u2019re dismissed.\u201d<\/p>\n

As everyone else left the room, Nick glanced between Diamond and Pearl, torn on who to go talk to. He knew both still felt pretty bad about the incident. He needed to clear the air and let them know that he understood. But who to go to first? He watched Diamond, whom he hadn\u2019t had a good chat with since the rhombus. Nick then looked over at Pearl, whom he hadn\u2019t chatted with at all outside of work matters.<\/p>\n

Leo immediately strolled over to Diamond. As annoying as it was, Nick decided to let it go for now. One thing at a time. Pulling out his phone that he\u2019d finally found back in his room, he sent a quick text asking her to stop by his room later. God, he was happy to have his phone back. How it had landed so far underneath his bed and into one of his shoes, he had no idea. But who cared? At least now, he had his phone and no chance of being brainwashed. He hadn’t even had the time to go through his missed messages yet. Last he’d looked, there had been over fifty.<\/p>\n

Shaking away his thoughts, Nick hurried out of the room, picking up his pace behind Pearl as she started to make a beeline back to her lab. \u201cHey, wait up, Pearly.\u201d<\/p>\n

She blinked with surprise, shaking her head. \u201cI already told you, I wasn\u2019t in my right mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, I\u2019m not asking — well, I am, but not like how you think.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl kept walking down to the lab but slowed down so that Nick wasn\u2019t chasing her. \u201cWhat is it, then?\u201d<\/p>\n

He smiled gently at her. \u201cI wanted to make sure you\u2019re okay.\u201d<\/p>\n

She paused at the door, letting the retina scan process before entering. She then waited for him to come inside as well before shutting the door. A good sign. \u201cI\u2019m fine. Embarrassed that I let that twitchy asshole\u2019s app get in my head.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d He leaned against her desk as she sat in her padded gamer chair. \u201cBecause you have this habit of pretending everything\u2019s okay, and you can fool a lot of people with that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her fingers flew across the keyboard, her eyes trained on the screen. \u201cSometimes it\u2019s not pretending, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it is now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNick–\u201d<\/p>\n

He reached over and tilted her chin up so he could meet her eyes. \u201cYou can\u2019t fool me. Come on; we\u2019ve known each other since the beginning here. Back when you thought you\u2019d be an agent before you started picking apart the security system, and K realized you\u2019d be better off as the girl in the chair.\u201d Nick grinned down at her. \u201cI know I\u2019m easily distracted and shit, but you can come find me instead of bottling everything up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI–\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t say you\u2019re fine.\u201d<\/p>\n

She rolled her eyes, reaching for her water bottle. \u201cActually, that time I was planning on saying I know<\/em>.\u201d Her expression softened. \u201cReally, I do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay.\u201d He leaned against the chair beside hers that he assumed must be Seth\u2019s because it was new. It was black, leather, and decidedly smaller than Pearl\u2019s. \u201c\u2018Cause I\u2019m serious. I don\u2019t want you shutting me out. Things aren\u2019t great right now. Not just \u2018cause of Wink, but with Opal and the mole, too. And I want you to know you can still come to me about all this. The way you always used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pearl was quiet for a few moments before sighing softly. \u201cOkay.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nick smiled, pulling out his phone when it chimed to give it a glance before shoving it back in his pocket. \u201cGood. Don\u2019t forget I\u2019m here. That\u2019s all I\u2019m asking.\u201d<\/p>\n

Slowly, she nodded. Pearl stood and hugged him, and he sensed there were a lot of unsaid things going into that hug. That was just the kind of person Nick knew her to be. He tightened his arms around her and gave a gentle squeeze before letting go. She grinned up at him and shook her head. \u201cYou know, you actually sounded pretty mature there for a second, Blondie.\u201d<\/p>\n

He snorted. \u201cHey, I have my moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you, by the way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor what?\u201d Nick asked.<\/p>\n

She laughed, hugging him again. \u201cFor being my friend. For seeing through me the way you always manage to do. For being someone I\u2019ve been able to talk to since I got recruited.\u201d Pearl poked him in the chest playfully. \u201cFor being you. No matter how annoying you can be sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDoes this mean I can finally convince you to have a night out with me?\u201d Nick wiggled his brows teasingly. \u201cWe could go to dinner and then afterwards come back\u2026 have some fun in the car you made for me.\u201d<\/p>\n

She swatted him in the shoulder. \u201cIn your dreams!\u201d<\/p>\n

He held his arm dramatically.\u201cOwww. Okay, fine. But one day!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about some hot cocoa instead?\u201d Pearl smirked as she pulled away and went to log off her computer. \u201cI\u2019ll even tell the waitress at The Little A’Le’Inn to shake it instead of stir it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Was Pearl deciding to take a break? \u201cWe\u2019re still on lockdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll tell K it\u2019s a team-building excursion.\u201d She headed to the doors of the lab.<\/p>\n

Nick snickered, following behind her. No, they didn\u2019t talk about the rhombus incident outright, but Nick didn\u2019t think they needed to. Their friendship was an easy one, natural in the way that they understood each other. It always had been. He knew Pearl was sorry, and she knew that he didn\u2019t hold it against her. She knew that if she needed to talk about it, Nick was there to listen. That was all he wanted. \u201cDeal.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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

Episode 14: \u00a0In the Wink of an Eye Part 6   The awkwardness set in as Pearl walked alongside Nick to her lab, still trying to process the news that she had been brainwashed by the Wink app. Without getting into specifics, all Nick had told her was that it\u2026<\/p>\n

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