Teen Spy: The Observer

Chapter 20

The light immediately turns on in the small room. A huge flat screen hangs in the farthest wall and three chairs lined in a row in front of it. Sasha blocks Kiara's path and enters next leaving Kiara to follow. Kiara rolls her eyes at her childish behavior.

"Welcome Team C. Please take a seat to begin the debriefing." An automated voice says.

Kiara looks around trying to locate its origins, but she only finds bare walls. Meanwhile her teammates sit down, leaving her the only one standing. When she realizes it, she hurriedly takes her seat and avoids Sasha's pointy look.

Almost instantly, the screen comes to life and a man stares right at them. He looks to be in his late thirties, with olive skin, and dark eyes and hair. The screen only shows his upper half.

"Welcome Agents. I'm Agent Carville and I'll be your team's supervisor and guide." The man says. "You will be Team C of Mission France 507."

So, there are other teams working on this mission... Kiara concludes in a matter of seconds.

"You have been officially activated and will receive further instructions in your headquarters." Agent Carville continues. "You'll be the only ones with access to it. Every meeting, debriefing, strategizing and information exchange will be held there.

"Since you have an itinerary to keep, we'll see each other again at zero hundred hours where you'll be given the missions objectives and details. Until then." The video turns off and a message replaces it.

HQ'S LOCATION: JANITORS CLOSET, LUNCH AREA, LE SPRINGTEMP, FLEUR-DE-LIS RESORT.

ACCESS CODE: 4137

TO ENTER THE ROOM, FINGERPRINTS AND RETINA SCAN MUST BE APPROVED

After 30 seconds the message disappears, and the screen turns off. Sasha and Will get up from their seats and start leaving. Kiara stares at the blank screen perplexed.

"That's all?" Kiara asks still waiting for something else to happen. "We'll have to meet again to start the mission? Couldn't he have summoned us once and be over with it?"

"Yes, yes and no. This is the normal security procedure." Sasha answers arrogantly and with a tone that left clear that she disapproved of Kiara's ignorance.

"This was just a test to see if you could crack the riddle and follow instructions." Will adds mercifully, clearly sensing the tension between Kiara and Sasha.

"Totally unnecessary if we didn't have a rooky in our midst... Too bad you solved it." Sasha mumbles loud enough for Kiara to hear.

Kiara has learned a long time ago to just ignore her comments. However, Will also hears Sasha's comments. His posture turns rigid, and he glances at Sasha in confusion.

"You two know each other." Kiara states as realization dawns.

"We've worked together on a few missions before." Sasha flaunts.

Great, as if I wasn't the odd one already.

"There's bad history between you two" Will says reading Kiara and Sasha's reactions towards each other. Kiara nods although it is unnecessary. "I don't care why. However, you must set it aside while we are on the mission and work as a team. That includes suppressing rude comments. Am I clear?"

He looks at them expectantly.

"Yes" Kiara reassures him.

"Agent McGreevy." Will warns forcefully.

"Crystal clear." Sasha says through gritting teeth.

Will nods to them and leaves the room. Kiara follows him until she catches up and Sasha trails them. They take the passage that Will used before.

"What happens if you don't pass the test?" Kiara asks Will. "Besides being removed from the mission, obviously."

"You get a probationary status, leaving a mark in your file and making it twice as hard to be recruited for another mission." Will states. "At least until we are promoted to the adult division."

"Oh" Kiara says understanding the gravity of Sasha's comment.

They arrive at a dead end with stairs leading to nowhere. Will presses a section in the wall and the sealing shifts left exposing the blue sky.

"After you." He says gallantly and steps to a side.

Sasha pushes Kiara out of the way and starts to climb. Kiara gives Will an apologetic look and follows, reaching the opening and pulling herself out. The stairs lead to the outside of the Palais de Versailles, right between an outer wall and a bush from the gardens.

Once they exit, the secret passage locks down. Because of the hour, they head straight to the entrance hoping they don't miss their classmate's departure.

As Kiara rounds a corner, she sees the different tour groups climbing in the buses as the chaperones call their names. She walks faster to catch up with her group.

Through her periphery view, she sees Will separating from them and merging with his school group. She can also sense Sasha following her. When they arrive, Ms. Lane is just a few names from Sasha's.

Once everyone is inside and the bus is heading to the next site, Zoey, Sydney and Jessy turn expectantly to Kiara.

"What?" Kiara asks them when they just look at her.

"That's the longest bathroom break you have ever taken." Jessy says. "And you almost got an infraction for arriving late."

"Half an hour, give it or take." Ney says. "So, what were you up to?"

"Nothing, I just went to the bathroom and took my time seeing the garden. By the time I arrived at the restaurant you had already moved on." Kiara tries to say as nonchalant as possible.

That seems to appease them, and they change the subject. Jessy gives Kiara a look that says she still has her doubts, but she will play along for now.

They head back to Paris to see the next site. When the time comes, they return to the Resort. The chaperons announce after dinner that tomorrow they will visit a vineyard, much to the student's surprise and delight. Seeing this reaction, Mr. Allen clarifies that none of them would be participating in the tastings.

"What was the school board thinking when they choose a VINEYARD as a school trip destination?!" Kiara catches Ms. Lane's comment to Ms. Nguyen as she exits the cafeteria.

It does seem odd... maybe ISS is involved. Kiara briefly thinks before joining her friends in the nightly activity.