Blood and Water
Chapter 12
By Lisa Leonard

Nights seem to over come the abandon battlefield with haste, after MASK's retreat, or so Roxanne thought. She lost all track of time, since her last encounter with her father. Roxanne drove around in circles most the night, for the first time she actually felt scared to return to camp. The more time she wasted, the harder it became to go back. She stopped Chameleon right next to the upside-down Firecracker still laying in the freshly dug crater. She threw her mask off and looked up at the stars in the sky, "Mom this would be the best time as any to give me advice."

Roxanne pulled out the CD from her pocket and starred at it, "This one little thing could changed everything, but how can I believe it's the truth. He's probably planting more lies. Then again I could be giving myself the same fate my mother faced." Roxanne eyes stayed focus on the CD, "I've never had a father before, and Mayhem has been the closes thing to one. Then why am I so scared to go back?"

For a moment she thought about destroying it, the fear of what knowledge it behold was far too great, but she choose not too. She sighs, "Just get it over with girl, makeup your mind after you see what's on it." She picks up her mask, and rides Chameleon towards the temporary base camp.

Roxanne drove Chameleon towards a brightly lit campfire. The camp was small considering it only accommodated a couple agents, and Mayhem tent was set up in the center of camp. When Chameleon came to a complete halt, all eyes were upon her. Vanessa walked out of Mayhem tent, when she heard the commotion outside. She walked straight towards Roxanne, and her movements suggested she wasn't in a good mood. Roxanne removed her mask and set it on the bike. Vanessa stopped right in front of her and slapped her hard in the face.

"Ouch!" Roxanne rubbed her cheek hoping it would ease the sting sensation. Vanessa looked at her furious,

"What the hell were you thinking? Is this how I taught you to handle yourself."

Roxanne tried to come up with a good explanation, "I...I."

Vanessa continues, "After hearing the entire story from Rax and Bruno, I'd say you're lucky you didn't get killed."

Roxanne sighs not wishing to hear how close she might of came to death, "Yeah well I'm still alive and standing here. So I say the experience was well worth it."

Vanessa grabs her by the ear and drags her towards Mayhem's tent. Roxanne shouts, "Cut that out I'm not a child!" Vanessa adds, "Have you looked in the mirror lately? You look like one to everyone here. If you even expect Mayhem to allow you to drive Chameleon, your going to have to grow up."

Roxanne pleaded, "Can you take is easy. I'm not exactly resisting."

This was the first time she's ever seen Vanessa this angry with her, she was almost afraid to speak her piece. This entire situation felt awkward to Roxanne, she was the closes to Vanessa and never imagined her being this aggressive on her. Vanessa pushed her through door of the tent. Roxanne stumbled over her own two feet and fell to her knees, "Hey you don't have to be that ruff!" She stands up dusting her knees off and looks up.

Mayhem, Brad, and Nash were discussing about Boulder Hill security on a map in the center of the tent. Mayhem stopped talking as she stumbled in. Roxanne didn't look at him or anyone else in the room. Her gaze caught the complete attention of the floor. Mayhem says walking around her, "What am I going to do with you girl? I went through all that trouble to make you a vehicle and mask, and this is how you repay me?" He says in an angry voice, "Look at me when I'm talking to you, or I'll beat some discipline into you." His hand went under her chin forcefully and raised her head to meet his angry gaze.

She gulps, "I'm sorry sir. It won't happen again."

Mayhem removes his hand, "Of course is won't. You'll be sitting on the sidelines, until you are given the proper training. Fighting with your emotions and not your brains makes you do stupid things on the battle field."

She says in a quite voice, "You want me to take Chameleon back to base?"

Mayhem walks back over to the map of Boulder Hill, "No I still have a use for my new bike. Turner, " He asked, "You seem to know how to ride a motorcycle."

Brad raised a brow and insist, "Yeah but I wouldn't know how to drive that..." Mayhem continued not wanting to hear any excuses, "Then it's settled, you'll be brief on how to work it, so you can use it during your mission."

Nash says smiling, "Finally nothing will get in my way this time." Mayhem glairs at Nash, "Nash if you miss again I'll be using your ass for target practice."

Roxanne asks wanting to leave, "Is that all sir?"

Mayhem shoos his hand at her gesturing for her to leave. She walks out of the tent as fast as she could. As soon as she exited, she let out a huge breath of air. She could hardly breath with Mayhem breathing down her throat. She walked away trying to keep her cool, as though nothing had happen. The military discipline from Mayhem was sometimes hard for Roxanne to take. The very idea of him even punishing her was frightening enough. Rax told her horrifying stories about times when Mayhem went berserk on some Contraworld soldiers who screwed up his plans. Of course, Rax was drunk most those nights and tends to tell a lot of strange stories. Just about everybody had an eye on her, as though they were expecting her to break down in tears.

That was the last thing she wanted to give them a show. She rubs her chin, "What's next a face lift from Cliff Dagger?" The light humor kept her mind going as she started to focus on more pressing matters. She walks over to Outlaw and pulls out a lab top from its glove compartment, "I know Nash is going to mind, but it's not like that nerd could ever understand." She grab the computer and dashes off to a clearing several feet from camp, where she knew she could have some privacy.

About two hours later Brad exited Mayhem tent disappointed. Since the day he joined VENOM, he always knew this day would come. Brad's job was to infiltrate MASK headquarters with Chameleon to lower their shield and other defenses. Brad wasn't crazy about the idea of back stabbing his friends, and he defiantly wasn't crazy about Mayhem's plan either. With Chameleon, he now had a better chance at succeeding in his mission. Still pulling off the raid at Boulder Hill was going to be tricky. He stretched his back out and yawned, "So much to do in so little time."

Cliff Dagger shouted to Brad from the campfire, " Hey singer get Roxy, the stew ready!" Brad grumbled, "Oh great don't tell me he cooked again. Not another night of road kill stew." Brad attempted to cover his displeasure and nodded. Brad asked around, yet nobody seemed to know where she went.

As he pasted by Nash, he over heard him cursing about Roxanne under his breath, "Great that brat took my computer again, how am I suppose to play Diablo 2."

Brad stepped over to him offering a solution, "Tell me where she could of taken it, and I'll get it back." Nash points over towards some trees, "Beyond there is a clearing. She was seen hanging around there yesterday." Brad nodded to Nash, "Ok I'll be back in a few minutes."

The clearing was lit up by the bright moonlight. An active lab top rested on the ground next to an old log flashing a familiar image. Roxanne sat there on the log and starred off into oblivion as she watched it. Brad made his way through the forest and shouted as he saw her, "Hey kid-o you going to eat?" She says with a crack in her voice, "Go away! I'm not hungry!"

Brad lift his head up surprise, he didn't expect her to sound so depress. He moves closer, "Hey cheer up. It's not that bad, once you get use to the taste."

She shakes her head and says with anger, "I said leave me be."

Brad became serious and rubbed the back of his neck, "Ok it's not the food. I knew that. Roxanne did I do something wrong? If it's about Chameleon believe me if I could, I'd give you the bike back. But Mayhem right what you did out there was insane. Sometimes things have to be taken away in order for someone to learn a lesson."

Roxanne moved her hands over her head and started to cry, "It's not the stupid bike. Why can't you just shut your mouth for once Brad? Leave me alone!"

Brad walked up to her and placed a hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry." Roxanne face was red and her eyes blood shot from crying. Her hands where shaking as though she was in shock. The last time he saw her in tears she was acting, but this time she was really distraught. Brad kneels down in front of her and grabs her hands and holds them in his, "Tell me what's troubling you."

She stutters slightly, "I...I can't tell anyone."

Brad stands up, "Then I'll get Vanessa, this is obviously a woman issue that I can't handle."

Her face turned ugly and she reached out grabbing his shirt, from where she sat, "Don't you dare!"

Brad pulled her hand off his clothing, "Dear I'm not going to leave you here in the dark to cry your eyes out. Either you tell me what's wrong or I'll get Vanessa. And I'm pretty sure she'll do a much better job, at getting whatever it is that is upsetting you out in the open." Brad began to walk back to camp.

Roxanne knew she couldn't trust Vanessa with her secret, because she was Mayhem second in command. She says in a sad tone, "Wait I'll tell you. Please don't get Vanessa or anyone else."

Brad stops, he knew something big had to be up if she wouldn't talk to Vanessa. Those two always act like sisters around one another. Roxanne pointed down at the lab top resting on the ground. Brad picked it up off the ground and looked at the screen. Brad thought, "Rebecca's FBI file, Matt must of slipped it to her." Brad pulls out the disk and closes the lab top. He already knew what was on her file, so he didn't waste anytime reading it.

Roxanne looks at him worried, "Your going to turn that in?"

Brad smiled slightly, "No I wouldn't do that, but lets get rid of the evidence first, before we talk."

Brad rips the cover off the disk and looks for a nice rock to bury the remains under. Brad then sat next to her on the log, "Now no one else will know." S

he ask hoping, "Tell me it's not true. Matt Trakker is a liar, he's just playing games with me."

Brad put an arm around her, "Hun that looked pretty real to me."

She says trying to convince herself otherwise, "He is the leader of MASK, my enemy, he's suppose to deceive me." Brad looked around for the words to say, apparently she knew far more then he expected.

Brad says, "He was never your enemy to begin with, you only think that because you're angry with him."

She covers her face, "It don't matter anymore, I...I have to."

Brad gently lifts her face to look at him, "You have to go home."

She looks at him with disbelief, "And let Mayhem get away for his crime? He's gone on long enough gloating over her death. Somebody has to do something."

He motions her to keep her voice down, "What are you going to do? Kill him! Of course silly me, you've been hanging around him for so long your starting to think like him. Is that what you want?"

She looks down and says disappointed, "No, but I can't go home. I have no home to go home to."

Brad replies, "You have both your father and your brother to go home to." She stands up looking at him with sad eyes, "They don't want me. I've brought them nothing but misery. I shot Scott, and I tried to kill my father. Plus joining up with VENOM really hasn't improved our relationship."

Brad grabs her and forces her to sit back down, "Believe me when I say, Matt would want nothing else in the world but to see you back home safe and sound."

She says not convince, "How would you know that?"

Brad says knowing there was no one else around, "Because he told me."

She looks at him, "Then you really are with..." He places a finger up to her lips stopping her from talking,

"Yes I am. Roxanne when he saw you he couldn't believe his eyes. You reminded him so much of Rebecca, that he couldn't afford to lose you. From the looks of it, he's taking the last stand by giving you that disk. If you refuse to acknowledge what you now know, you'll lose your last chance of having a real father. Even though I told Matt you'd never give in, he's too stubborn to give up, as you're too stubborn to believe the truth. He'd welcome you with open arms the minute you walk back to him"

She stops her sobbing and looks up towards the moon, "But I can't leave yet, I have unfinished business."

He says in a serious tone, "You don't need to worry about VENOM, I have it taken care of."

She looks at him smirking, "Really? And you did such a wonderful job sabotaging last time."

Brad says trying to come up with a lame excuse, "Hey it's not easy finding time alone with that laser. Besides I'm going to break the professor out, he can give me a hand this time."

She says shaking her head, "That's your brilliant plan? By the time you do that you'll be caught. Let me handle the laser, you worry about what ever it is your planning to do."

Brad disagrees, "What makes you think you'll do a better job?" She says in a sad tone, "I'm the one who gave them the instructions and the key. So therefore, I know how to shut it down permanently. This is all my fault and I'm the only one who can fix it."

Brad says, "You don't have to be the only one. I'm here to help you every step of the way. We're moving out towards a new position tomorrow; tonight would be the perfect time for you to sneak away. I'll just tell everybody you went for a walk in the woods."

She says refusing his request, "I'm not going. Brad you need my help, without it MASK will surely lose the next battle."

Brad ask not wanting to negotiate, "How are you going to escape, I'm going to have Chameleon."

She says convincing him, "I have other means of escaping. After all we Trakkers are pretty smart, aren't we?"

Brad smiles, "I'm not going to be the one to admit that. All right, but we go by my plan. And you have to promise me you'll stay far away from Mayhem."

She nods, "Believe me that won't be a problem." Brad says, "Ok I'll give ya my plan tomorrow when camp breaks." She asks, "Why not tell me now, while we don't have to worry about anybody listening in." He says smiling, "I would, but I haven't made the plan yet." She crosses her arms and says sarcastically, "What a great plan to follow." He stands up, "How about we go get some of that stuff they call food, and give Nashy his computer back before he loses his mind." She agrees feeling much better, "Alright, but for you information he lost his mind a along time ago."

Hondo watch from a nearby cliff with binoculars the parade of VENOM vehicles. Hondo remained hidden from the enemy with the help of his desert storm camouflage. He pulls out his radio, "It looks like the whole gang here. Unlike last time he's got the entire team." Every MASK agent was present and accounted for at Boulder Hill. They sat around the big round table listening on the details of VENOM's approach. Gloria says, "Looks like Mayhem through with the games. He's finally got the courage to face us on our home turf."

Matt says, "Then we'll make him regret he even tried."

Inaya a.k.a Ivy Green looked at him not convinced, "How can you say that Matt? I don't mean to be the party pooper around here, but he has more firepower then we do. Alex has been running some simulations through his computer regarding how much heat our defenses can take. From what he tells me, 3 hits from that laser and we're in serious trouble. Heck one hit will kill us if we go out in our vehicles."

Alex corrected her, "My dear that is merely a simulation, and everyone in this room is well aware of the risk." Everyone at the table nodded as they all sat there in silence.

Matt says, "Hondo how far are they stationed?" Hondo guessed off the top of his head, "I'm guessing about 5 miles south of Boulder Hill. So that gives us a good 15 minutes to be ready when they attack. There actually setting up camp right now, so the real battle probably not going to happen until tomorrow. My guest is mostly likely daybreak, but I'll continue to keep a watch full eye out. Hondo out."

Matt says, "Thanks Hondo. Ok Buddy what's the situation on the vehicles."

Buddy says, "Ace Riker retrieved Condor and Firecracker from the battlefield a couple hours ago. Condor is going to take most the night to fix. Firecracker has undertaken too much damage to be repaired in time. Hurricane should prove useful in its place. I've checked every vehicle and their ready for battle and loaded with ammo."

Matt smiled with approval with his report, "Ok I'm ordering everyone to stay within Boulder Hill. So we'll finally put to use those sleeping quarters we never use. We're going to need all our strengths for this fight, and I suggest you all get some rest. I'll inform you if Hondo has any further updates. Dismissed." Most the agents went off to relax, call family members, or handle preparations for the battle.

Inaya approached him, "Don't you think we should ready the shields, incase of a surprise attack."

Matt says walking over to a computer panel marking Venom location on the radar, "I prefer the element of surprise myself Ivy."

She crosses her arms, "How nice of you to ignore me." She places some papers on the panel next to him, "You might want to know. By noon tomorrow, you're relieved of your command. I'll be taking over."

He ignores the papers and focuses on the radar, "You got those fast. How many strings did you pull for that?" She narrows her eyes at him, as if it was none of his business.

He says in a clam voice," Well then I guess this means I'm in charged, until that goes into effect. So I'm ordering you to rest as I told everyone else. Worrying about whether I can hand this job should be the last thing on your mind. Tomorrow could be the last day for all of us."

Inaya turned around and walked away. Matt looked over to Bruce, "Will you take over? I'm going to spend sometime with Scott." Bruce said understanding, "Sure thing Matt."

It was just after sundown when VENOM camp became settled into its new surroundings. Everybody was gearing up for the big fight, meanwhile Roxanne was roaming around the camp bored out of her mind. She had absolutely nothing to do; everybody was too busy with planning to notice her. Roxanne was unhappy to learn that Mayhem wasn't kidding about her staying on the sidelines; she had orders to stay at Nash's side to assist him during the battle. Of course, that meant she'd probably be running coffee errands for the dweeb. Yet she had a gut feeling that it wasn't going to be the safest place on the battlefield, after she tampers with the laser.

Roxanne thought long and hard about whom she was the daughter of billionaire Matt Trakker or a reneged VENOM agent. The night before changed her entire image. She was no longer goofy and looking to have fun with the guys, or starting fights, but more serious and determine on getting revenge. She promised Brad she would stay away from Mayhem, yet all she had to do was pick up a nearby gun and end his hole existence. But Brad was right, what would make her any different then Mayhem. Over this entire year she had given her life in devotion to VENOM, and now she had to undo everything.

She thinks, "The only way to make Mayhem truly suffer would be to ruin his plan and his dream." As she walked through the dark, somebody came up behind her and placed a hand over her mouth. Only a muffle could be heard from her mouth, and she squirmed to get away.

The voice said in a soft whisper, "It's me. Take it easy."

She stops squirming and he removes his hand. She turns and scolds him, "What's the big idea trying to scare me like that?"

Brad said, "Didn't know how else to approach you." She narrows her eye on him, "A tap on the shoulder works, unless you intend on kidnapping me."

Brad apologized again, but got to the point, "I got my plan all worked out. I need you to get the professor away from Cliff Dagger and over towards those rocks in the distance." She looks over in the distance, "I'm suppose to be able to see the rocks in the darkness?" He says reassuring her, "Trust me their there. When I leave for my mission in 6 hours with Chameleon I'll stop right by there and pick the both of you up."

She smiles, "Not a bad plan. Getting the professor out is going to be a piece of cake. The only problem is Chameleon is a 2 seater and if you add a 3rd person you're not going to be able to use stealth capabilities."

Brad says, "Then we have a problem."

She looks to him, "I told you I'm not ready to leave. Besides I'm not going to be able to disarm the laser until tomorrow. Nash was running a checkup on it all day. He's scared of another malfunction like last time." He says not agreeing, "I'm not leaving you behind. Your father will defiantly kill me."

She smiles, "Have faith in me, Brad. I have to disarm that thing or else somebody going to die. You have nothing to worry about I already worked out my escape plan. So no matter how hard you try, you're not going to get me to come with you." She starts to walk away, "See ya later."

Roxanne kept walking and didn't bother to look back. She says to herself, "I want nothing more then to leave right now. I hate that I'm a good liar."

She walks up towards Cliff Dagger who was leaning up against Outlaw. The professor was handcuff to the side of the rig. The old man looked tired, was in a desperate need of a shave, and lost a lot of weight. Roxanne skipped up to Cliff Dagger smiling, "Hey Dagger, what's up?" He smiles adjusting his eye patch, "Ah nothing much they stuck me on guard duty. Like who'd want to save this loser?"

She leaned up against Outlaw next to him pretending to laugh, "No one."

The professor grunted in his distraught state, as he attempted to rest his head and fall asleep. Cliff Dagger says, "I know I'm not suppose to tell you this, but what you did yesterday took guts. Mayhem wants us keeping a lid on the gossip, so we don't encourage ya. I'll give ya some advice."

She smiles thinking, "Oh this will be useful, not." Cliff Dagger lowers his voice, "You keep doing stunts like that and you're guaranteed to get promoted." She continues to smile, "Ah well I'll be sure to put my life on the line more often for VENOM, after all I have 9 lives."

Cliff Dagger looked at her shocked, "Really care to tell me how I can get 9 lives as well?"

She suggest, "Try looking on the Internet. Anyways don't you have something more important to do then guard duty?" Cliff Dagger widen his eye, "Yeah I need to ready Jack Hammer, but I'm suck here." Roxanne suggests, "

You know I'm not doing anything Cliff Dagger. I can watch him. After all who's going to save him?" Cliff Dagger smiled, "Good point! Mayhem must be silly to think that anyone would even bother trying. Jack Hammer is more important then this guy. Thanks Roxy I owe ya one."

She smiles, "Anytime, Cliff Dagger, anytime." Cliff Dagger beings to walk way, yet Roxanne stops him, "Wait Dagger, are you forgetting something?" He scratches his head, "What?" She reaches her hand out to him, "The key? How can I guard him if I don't have the key? Somebody might come along and ask to move him elsewhere." Cliff searches his pockets, "Silly me I forgot." He hands her the key to the cuffs, "Ok give me a holler if you have any problems."

 She waves to him as he walks away, "Ok." She turns her back and rolls her eyes. She sat on the ground next to Outlaw, "Ok, you can do this. You've done stupider more crazier things before." She turns and looks at Professor Michael. He really was a sad sight to look at. The poor man was worked to death by Mayhem and was only given what he needed to stay alive. Through her entire stay at VENOM base, Roxanne had never seen much of the professor. Mostly because she forgotten he was even there, even when she heard his cries echo through the hallways. She looked down regretting that she didn't attempt to do something. She walks over to him cautiously, "Professor wakeup." The old man continues to drift into deep sleep. She looks around and kicks Outlaw right next to him to alert him.

He looks up dazed and huddles to protect himself, "Who? What?"

She says trying to calm him," Shhh, I'm getting you out of here."

He looks at the young girl confused, "You, but your Mayhem's daughter why would you?"

She looks at him with an ugly expression on her face, "First off I'm not his daughter. If you don't want my help, then I'll gladly leave you here die."

He says, "I...I didn't know I only assumed. You just act so much like him when I see you around him. I assumed."

She says unlocking his cuffs, "Well you assumed wrong! Just can it!" His words pierced her heart with the pain of the truth.

The man stands up stretching his back, and rubs his red wrist, "It feels good to get those finally off."

She says not wishing to stay any longer, "We have to get moving. Do you think you can move with out making too much noise?" He says in a tired voice, "I'll try." She pulls him into the shadows of Outlaw, "Were going to have to move around the entire outside of the camp to make sure we make it over to that group of rocks on the opposite side, without being seen."

The professor looks, "My eye sight must be bad, I don't see anything." She says agreeing, "Believe me it's not your eyes." He raises a brow, "You don't know?" She says softly, "I have faith that the information given me is correct."

Both of them moved carefully through the night. Both of them tripped up a couple times, but nobody seems to notice. After an hour of dodging agents and finding awkward hiding places for the professor to catch his breath, they finally arrived at the rocks. They both sat behind the rocks and tried to catch their breaths.

Roxanne attempts to smile, "Well that was fun. Next time we'll have to break our record." The professor looked at her exhausted, "My dear I hope they'll never be a next time. I was sure you were going to ditch me out there."

She says, "It's the least I could do. Don't worry you'll be home in no time." He looks to her, "So what's next?" She lays back and look at her watch, "We wait for somebody to pick you up." He looks to her, "Won't they go looking for us?"

She shakes her head, "No, everybody busy. Cliff Dagger is too stupid to come back and check up on me."

Brad was dressed in Black from head to toe. He grabs his bag out of Manta and turns to find Vanessa standing there. He smiles, "Well here to give me a kiss for good luck?" She smirks, "I think you should of learned your lesson, after the first kiss I gave you. No, I want to know what you're planning?"

He looks at her innocently, "Planning? After all this time we spent together you still don't trust me." She reminds him, "The only reason you're here is for my amusement and that you're a friend of mine. Even if we are enemies."

He smiles as he realizes, "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. So this whole time you were trying to figure me out."

She walks over to him, "Oh I already have you figured out. You're not planning to come back, afterwards."

He nods, "Of course, I have no escape once I get in. The place going to be swarming with MASK agents, so what choice do I have? " She disagrees, "Ah but you do, after all you are a double agent." Brad knew there was no fooling Vanessa, "So you going to turn me in." She shakes her head, "Doing so would get me in serious trouble as well." She reaches her hand out to shake his," Still good luck Turner, may the best team win."

Brad grabs her hand and shakes it smiling, "Hope to see ya soon." She says behind his back," I'll probably be the first to shoot ya down." Brad puts his bag on his back and hops on Chameleon. It was now 1am, and he was running a bit behind schedule. Brad hit the switch on Chameleon and activated its defenses and invisibility. This way nobody would notice his little stop. Brad's first stop was the spot he promised to meet Roxy.

When he got there both Roxanne and the professor were sleeping soundly. He removed the stealth and walked up to the two sleeping like sound babies. He kicks the side of Roxy leg, "Wake up!" She yawns and rubs her eyes, "Sorry we got kind of tired waiting for ya." She glances at her watch, "Your late." He says, "Had to go over a few things before leaving."

Roxanne wakes the professor. Professor Michael instantly recognize Brad, "You...You traitor." Brad tried to calm him down, "Relax I'm going to get you out of here." He looks at him angry, "Now? After all this time, I though it was your job to protect me. Instead you let me stay in that hell hole." Brad says not wanting to waste anymore time, "Listen we have to move out now. If I stay here any longer, they'll suspect something. I'm heading to MASK headquarters. You can file a complaint there." He forcefully pulls the professor off the ground, "Now get on the bike."

The Professor Michael got on the bike, he was too confused and angry to go on fighting. Brad looks at Roxanne and ruffles her hair, "Take care kid. I expect to see ya alive next week. Promise me you'll be careful, because I'm regretting letting you doing this."

She nods, "I promise. Now go. They're tracking you. Every second you waste, is going to lead to Mayhem sending somebody over here to investigate. Brad looked at her worried, still wondering if he was doing the right thing leaving her behind. Brad says, "Professor stay close to me, the shield going up." Within a matter of second Brad was gone from her sight." Roxanne sat back down on the ground. Now she was alone, and the weight of everything was on her shoulders. She says to herself, "Please don't let me screw this up."

Brad drove Chameleon up the road towards Boulder Hill gas station. As he suspected nobody was around, yet inside the mountain would be a different story. He stops the bike just inside the garage.

He says to the professor, "Wait over there," he pointed to a small waiting room, designed for guest waiting for automobile repairs.

He demands, "I want to come with you to talk to your superiors."

Brad drags him in the room and locks the door behind him, "I don't want to hear it." Brad moves into the room in the back of the auto shop, which was Buddy office. He walks towards a door, which had a number keypad next to it. He enters his password and waits for it to comply. The keypad then asks for a figure print. Brad placed his thumb on the pad, and waited for the door to open. He silently thanked Matt, "Thanks for not deleting me out of the system."

Brad moved carefully through the hallway, "Just make it to Matt first and everything will turn out just find." Brad was doing his best to avoid the security cameras in the base. Brad walked into the garage and instantly ducked behind Rhino when he saw Buddy. Buddy yawns and stands up, "Well that's it." He talks to Condor," Now just stay in one piece tomorrow and I'll give ya a new coat of paint." Inaya walked into the garage with two cups of coffee, "Here Buddy though you could use some." Buddy takes the cup smiling, "Thanks Ivy, I though you were sleeping?" Inaya a.k.a Ivy Green shook her head, "With all the commotion about tomorrow it's kind of hard to sleep." Buddy nodded, "I know what you mean."

Brad sort of eased drop on the conversation and looked at who buddy was talking too, "I wonder who that is? Probably my replacement, I wonder if she'll go on a date with me when this is all over, as an apology for shooting her down." A small crocked smile appeared on his face.

Inaya ask referring to the bike, "So is she ready?" Buddy pats the bike, "Yeap, well I think I'm going to grab something to eat, care to join me?" Inaya smiled, "Sure I have nothing better to do." Both exited the garage to head towards the mess hall. Brad walks out of his hiding spot and over to Condor. He runs a hand over it, "How I miss this bike so much. I'm never letting anything part us again. Ah well I'll associate with it later, I got more pressing matters to attend to." He moved down the hall slowly towards the center of the base.

Just as he was about to reach the control room, Inaya walked straight into him from around the corner. She shouts trying wipe some of the coffee off her uniform, "Hey watch where you're going!" Brad tried to weasel his way around her," Um sorry." She looks up not recognizing the voice, "I know you. Your Brad Turner."

He stops in front of her and smiles," Really?"

Her face turns ugly, " The traitor who shot me down." She throws her coffee mug at him. Brad ducks, yet some of the hot coffee dribbled over his skin. Brad stands up and begins to run, "Hey I did it to save your life."

She runs after him yelling in hope to catch someone attention, "Intruder in the building." As she was running by she hit a red button on the wall to alert everyone, just then the computer activated the security system. The halls were now lit in red and the sound of a siren filled the air.

Brad thought, " Just what I need." Inaya cornered him in computer room. Brad was tempting to try and run around her, but she looked ready to put up a fight. He says, "This is not what it looks like." She narrows her eyes watching him, "Oh what you're not spying?"

He says hoping she'll believe him, "I'm here to help you guys." He tries to run past her, but she jump kicks him in the stomach. He stumbles back holding his stomach, "Oh great not again."

She rushes towards him and tackles him to the ground. The two of them were rolling over the ground strangling at each other's throats. Matt and everybody else were on full alert. They rushed to the computer room to get the latest on the emergency. Most of them though VENOM started the attack, but they were all surprise to see Brad and Inaya battling it out on the floor.

Buddy and Dusty both jumped in there and pulled Inaya and Brad apart. Alex ended the alert on the computer and everything went back to normal. Matt walked forward towards Brad and Inaya. Matt looked at Inaya whose hair was an absolute wreck, and then he glanced at Brad who didn't look any better. Matt orders both Dusty and Buddy, "Let go of both of them." Brad and Inaya exchanged an angry glance at one another.

Matt says to Brad, "So Brad welcome back. I trust you can fill us in on what brought you back here?" Brad smiled at Matt, "Well yeah I kind of stumbled across Mayhem battle plans for tomorrow. Thought somebody would be mighty interest in them."

Inaya looks at him angry, "Who's going to believe that. He works for VENOM."

The agents in the room sort of talked amongst themselves. Inaya was right, Brad did change sides, how could they ever trust him again. Matt said, "Well then it best that I come forward with the truth, now that the cat out of the bag. Brad was acting as a double agent." Brad said adding, "We thought it best that only me and Matt knew, so we could make it look realistic enough to pull off. Getting in worked like a charm, but I wouldn't say it was a complete success."

Matt walks over to him and asks curiously, "What's wrong?" Brad pulls up a chair, "Every attempt I made to sabotage the laser failed. I got the professor out. He's in gas station might pissed off I'll add. Also Mayhem plans for tomorrow are pretty much a head on attack. He's so assure that the laser going to work this time, he's just figuring out where to put the chest pieces on the board."

Bruce says, "Then we should send some of our forces around him and attack him from the behind. They'll have everything in the front, the laser shouldn't be too hard to get at." Brad says, "Outlaw going to be with it again, of course I'm not going to be able to distract Nash like I did last time. The good news for you all is Chameleon is out of the battle."

Inaya ask, "How do you know that?" He replies, "It's in the garage."

Dusty says, "Well then why don't we use it against VENOM. We can just drive by and drop a grenade on the dang thing."

Brad shakes his head, "If only it was that simple. Mayhem got a tracking device on it. The battle going to begin in 3 hours, and I don't have the faintest idea where the tracking device is located on the bike. Mayhem thinks I'm lowering the shields. Considering I have a lot to tell ya guys, he's probably thinking at this point I'm not coming back." Brad looks down wonder what he should say next, "I know you all want to blow that laser out of proportions, but there something I need to tell ya. Matt, Mayhem station Roxanne in the back with the laser."

All eyes looked to Matt. Matt understood what he meant so he made no attempt to show any emotion. Brad walked over to him and put a hand on his shoulder, "She told me she was going to disarm the laser tomorrow."

Inaya says with disbelief, "When tomorrow? Brad you don't even know if she can do it. On top of that, she's an expert when it comes to lying, she could have been pulling your chain."

Brad looks to Inaya understanding her, "Ivy if it wasn't for Roxanne's help I wouldn't have been able to get the professor out. Believe me I've doubted her as well, but that kid seems to be able to do anything she puts her heart into. I know you all want to talk, but I need to speak to Matt, before we get down to business."

Both Matt and Brad stepped into the infirmary to talk privately. Matt says glad to see Brad again, "I take it was a great learning experience." Brad said smirking, "Yeah well don't ask me do to it again. I got enough bruises to last me a life time." Brad got down to the important stuff, "I'm really worried." Matt nods, "So am I." Brad says, "I have no doubt that she'll find away to disarm it, I just hope she's smart enough to get away when you guys attack. Matt she's trying to make heads and tails of her life, she thinks she has to fix everything. I wish I would of forced her to come with me."

Matt leans up against the wall in deep thought," I'm going to see to it that I lead the attack on the laser. Hopefully if Roxanne does her part, I'll be in one piece and I can pick her upon the way back." Brad says, "Matt you can't have an eyes everywhere. There's no way you can avoid fire and keep watch on Roxanne's whereabouts. I'll come with you."

Matt disagrees, "I can't let ya Brad. You have to stay here; if Mayhem sees you he might change his strategy. I can't give you Condor back either, until I clear all this mess with the PNA. As long as I'm out there, I'll make sure she doesn't get hit. Come on we have to discuss our strategy with the team." Both of them exited the infirmary, but were met by Inaya who was standing right by the door.

Brad looks at her and then to the group, "I think I'll mingle for awhile."

Matt looked at Inaya, "Ok Ivy what is it?" She crosses her arms, "I can't believe you kept this from me?"

Matt smiles," Well it sort of slipped my mind, and I can't believe you charged me with insubordination to demote me. You know if all goes well tomorrow, the PNA going to rip that up when they find out what's really going on here."

She was lost for words, "Let's talk about that later. What are you going to do, your daughter going to be in the line of fire this time. You do realize that even if she is on that laser, it has to be blown up." Matt looks her in the eye, "I know that, that's why I'm going to lead the attack." She looks at him doubtful, "Do you really think you can bring yourself to kill her?"

Matt said in a sad tone, "No I don't, but I'm praying that it won't come to that."

Inaya could see the pain in this eyes, "Ok Matt, for once I believe you." Both of them ended their small discussion and everybody gathered around the table to discuss their battle plan.

It was an hour before daybreak, and Roxanne was riding in Outlaw. Nash drove Outlaw, which was tagging along the laser from the behind, up to a nearby plateau. Roxanne stared out the window quietly planning everything in her mind. Nash looked at her, "What's up with you? You're usually giggling and talking about how you're going to make my life a living hell. Today's suppose to be a major victory for VENOM and your depressed about it."

She turns away from the window, "Yeah I know, just having a bad day. You know kind of depressed that I can't really help out."

Nash says, "That's not true you'll be operating Outlaw." She smirks slightly, "Oh yeah, so much fun following blimps on a radar and shooting them down like space invaders."

Nash says a bit angry, "That's my vehicle you're taking about." Nash stops Outlaw at it's designated position, "Now quit your gripping and give me a hand." Nash and Roxanne hop out of Outlaw. Nash activates the stand on the laser, then unhooks it from Outlaw, "Ok I'm going to give it a test."

She looks at him wonder, "Why? You were practically babysitting the dang thing since the last battle." Nash orders " Just move Outlaw and set it ready in battle mode." Roxanne complied, "Ok."

She hopped in the driver seat of Outlaw and watched Nash testing the system in the rear view mirror. Nash looked for a target, "That boulder will do nicely." Nash quickly powers up the laser and within a matter of minutes a red beam shot straight at the boulder leaving nothing but rubble. Nash jumped up and down with joy, "Yes!" Just then Mayhem answered on the radio, "Nash what the hell are you doing? Your letting the enemy know your position!" Nash says, "Well I needed to..." Mayhem continued as if he hadn't heard him, "Nobody fires until I order. Is that clear?" Nash says not wishing to upset Mayhem, "Yes Mayhem sir."

Mayhem shouts, "Why isn't Outlaw in the correct position?" Nash looks back at Outlaw, wondering what Roxanne was up too, "I'll fix that."

Roxanne took her eyes off the mirror, as she notices Nash walking towards her. Nash opens the driver side door, "What's wrong I though I told you to move Outlaw?" She looks at him confused, "Um Nash don't take this the wrong way, but I kind of forgotten how. All these buttons and I just don't remember which one to hit. I was actually scared I might blow ya up if I hit the wrong one. You know Nash I guess this proves you are a much smarter person then me."

Nash smiles, "Well it's about time you admit it. Ah don't worry about it I'll take care of it, you just watch the laser"

She hops out, "Sure thing boss." Nash was glowing. He liked that she called him boss, made him feel superior inside.

Roxanne walked over to the laser with haste. She knew she had to get her job done fast, or she was done for. She quickly opens the control panel, and yanks out the chip from the switchboard. She then grabs another chip from her pocket that she stole from Nash's computer, which was the same size and placed into the other's spot." She placed the chip in her pocket patting it gently, "This will fry this sucker to high hell."

Nash walks over to the laser and sees her over the open panel, "Hey what are you doing?" She looks to him, "Oh some insect crawled into the system. I got rid of him." Nash walks over and looks over the open panel everything appeared to be in place. He closes the panel; meanwhile she kept a straight face about it. He says, "Well Outlaw is all set up for ya, do you remember how to fire the rocket?"

She says sitting on the edge of the platform, "Hit the red button after some other buttons." Nash looked at her frustrated, "Come on girl we'll go over this one more time."

He takes her hand and drags her over to Outlaw to show her how to operate it. This was exactly what she wanted have him to do stay focus on something other then the laser. If he decided to do another test, she would surely be found out. As the sun rose over the horizon, so did VENOM with a massive line of offense.

Roxanne pulled out her binoculars and looked at where the line was headed. She looked puzzled, "A gas station? Were going to raid a gas station? Ok I know the gas prices are kind of ridiculous, but if we needed gas that bad, I'm sure Rax and Bruno could do a good job looting the place without this much fire power."

Of course she went dead silent as she saw the gas station transform. A giant metal wall surrounded the building, and both the pumps and the sign were now weapons. She says to herself, "Wow, who would ever expect that. I wonder how they build such a place."

Nash says over hearing her, "How about we get the plans after we burn it to the ground. Then we'll make up our own little gas station." She gave him an angry glair, "Was I talking to you?"

Nash takes the binoculars away, "Besides you should be watching the sky, not down there."

She smiles, "Your absolutely right Nash, we wouldn't want somebody to sneak up behind us and pulling a fast one."

She looks around nervously wondering if she should just run away now or wait. She looks from distance and she could see a door opening up and several vehicles exiting Boulder Hill. She says to herself, "I have to wait. If I run now Mayhem might as well start shooting at me." She watch as each vehicle left one by one Gator, Condor, Hurricane, Firefly, Rhino, and Volcano. Yet she felt disappointed when she didn't see the red Camaro. She wonders, "Dad where are you? Don't you abandon me too."

Nash says overly excited, "Ok let's fire this baby up." Roxanne kept and eye on Nash, her nerves really began to jump. Nash says, "Initiating power up." Nash hits a button and the laser began to gather its energy.

Roxanne couldn't believe it, "How is it working. It was suppose to deactivate if you remove the circuit." Roxanne got worried she didn't know what to do. The battle on the ground and in the air was heating up. Mayhem and Vanessa were doing an excellent job at keeping MASK far away as possible from their location.

Nash yells at Roxanne, "I thought I told you to keep watch we have somebody on our tail."

Roxanne turns around and to her surprise it was Thunderhawk rising up into view, "Dad?" Nash says, "No matter the laser powered up he'll be my first target." Roxanne felt terror strike her heart, "NO!!!" She runs over towards Nash hoping to knock him off the platform, but it was too late he hit the red button.

Roxanne closed her eyes, but to open them to find that nothing happened. The control panel was going berserk and there was nothing Nash could do to control it. Nash screamed, "No...no...no...no what went wrong!" The laser was going crazy and firing all over the place. She now understood why the chip was so important, such a powerful weapon that can only be control through one complex design chip.

She yells as she stays low, "Nash get out of there!"

Matt was having a hard time steering Thunderhawk clear of the laser's firepower. Matt knew he had no choice, he had only one shot to blow that weapon, or else it will hit him first. He hit the fire button on his rockets, "I'm sorry Roxanne." She grabs Nash and tugs at him to get moving, "We lost control we have to go!" Just as she said that she saw the missiles coming towards them, "Oh shit!" Nash's eyes widen as well. Both of them ran and jumped for cover, as the missiles came in contact with the laser.

Matt flew up high to avoid to impact of the explosion. Debris was everywhere and nothing but a huge cloud of dark smoke could be seen up on the Plateau. The battlefield was silent and seized fire. Mayhem couldn't believe it, "What the blazes just happen!" Nothing could be seen. Rubble left from the explosion rested over

Roxanne. She groans, "Can't breath..." The air around both her and Nash was toxic. The chemical that were previously inside the laser surrounded them. Both their lungs were burning from the inside out. Nash moves over her and helps her up.

Both of them covered their noses in hope that it would help. Nash leads Roxanne towards Outlaw and neither wasted time getting in. Nash and Roxanne couldn't stop coughing and gasp for air. Nash pushed his foot to the accelerator and cleared Outlaw out of the area in a hurry. He tries to speak on the radio, "Fail...Blew...up..."

Mayhem says angry, "Retreat for now!" VENOM pulled their vehicles out of the area. Bruce asks over the radio, "Shall we pursue them?" Matt says finally coming out of the clouds, "No Bruce we have to clean up this mess. We'll get VENOM another day. Most the area is contaminated. Ivy alert the PNA at once!"

Matt looks around at the plateau wondering if any bodies were mixed in the debris. He was still unable to see anything, "Mask heat detector." His mask scans the area picking up only the blaze from the fire, "Looks like she made it."

Matt watched as VENOM retreated. Outlaw looked like it was still in good shape, and Matt was certain Roxanne was still alive. He was gravely disappointed that he had no way to rescue her from her captures, "I won't give up, I promise."

Roxanne despite her constant coughing glanced at the passenger side mirror. She watched Thunderhawk circling the wreckage in the background. Her hand slipped into her pocket and clenches the chip. She didn't know what to do next, but what ever it was she was certain she had to get far away from VENOM as possible. Her life depended on it.