I've Got the Strangest Feeling This Isn't Our First Time Around

50

" Don't forget-the guard's name is Willow. " Spike says in Luigi's earbud.

Luigi walks right into Nastasia's research lab confidently, only nodding and saying, "Hey, Willow.", before walking right past her, and holding up Danny's ID to the scanner.

After the scanner flashes green, Luigi says, "And we're in."

"He's in!" Pauline exclaims from inside the van parked outside.

"We all have ears." Spike quips.

Luigi eventually finds Nastasia's office door, and tries using Danny's ID again.

Unfortunately the second time isn't the charm, as the scanner flashes red.

"I'm locked out of Nastasia's office." Luigi tells the gang. "I'm gonna try Danny's."

Thankfully it's just 2 doors down, so Luigi slides it into the reader.

"In we go."

But before they can hear anything else, the gang hears sirens, prompting Spike to say.

"Shit. It's the fuzz."

Mario checks the camera feed, and winces, "Perfect.", before moving to the driver's seat and rolling the window down.

"Bro, bro!" Mario covers right as he sees someone approach. "Calm down, okay? I just got pulled over."

Then he pulls his earpiece out, looking to the Toad with his arms crossed.

"H-hello? You need something?"

"Matter of fact, I do. I need you to move this van out of this no parking zone." The Toad points.

"What?" Mario looks, and sure enough, the curb is red, indicating the no parking status. "Sorry, my brother's wife went into labor, and I stopped to try and calm him down." He lies.

"Who knew: Mario Mario, scared of the fuzz." Spike snorts, prompting Pauline to smack him to shut him up.

"Just let me call him back so he knows I'm okay, and I'll get outta here. Sound good?" Mario asks.

"I'll do you one better: park your car somewhere else, and then you can call whoever you want. Immediately."

"Yessir, right away sir." Mario says nervously, then starts the engine, knowing he doesn't have a choice, and pulls away from the curb.

Luigi turns on his mini flashlight and starts walking around the dark office.

Upon bumping into the desk, Luigi rubs his sore thigh before saying, "Looks like they removed Danny's computer."

Then he turns on a desk lamp, and grabs the first envelope he sees, pulling out some papers.

Business License

Health Department Permit

Location Permit

Luigi closes his eyes, sorting through Danny's dreams.

Danny's talking to that same guy again, but now Luigi can see a nametag.

Health Inspector

"What in the Underwhere are you doing here?"

Luigi startles at the voice, turning to see a furious Georgia in the doorway.

"I'm calling security." She threatens.

"Nastasia petrified Danny." Luigi says in a rush, praying he's making the right call.

Apparently he did, because Georgia stops cold, "What did you just say?", and drops the phone. "The train Danny was on had a freak accident."

"No it didn't." Luigi says apologetically. "Nastasia petrified her to shut him up about her phony research."

"Not possible." Georgia insists. "Nastasia wouldn't hurt anyone. And two, I was there when she got those results. Every subject said exactly what she said they did. And last I checked, you were one of them!"

Luigi sighs in resignation, "I made it all up, okay? I'm sorry, but it was the only way to get close enough to see what was going on."

Georgia shakes her head in disbelief, "I'm in complete shock.", then looks right at Luigi. "And you're absolutely sure? Do you have proof?"

"I'd need to look on Danny's computer, but I can't do anything remotely." Luigi tells her.

Georgia seems to contemplate that, then pulls out a set of keys. "Leave that to me. We'll go together."

Luigi's eyes widen at that, but as Georgia opens the door, he quickly nods and follows her lead.

When the gang finally parks the van again, Mario rejoins them in the back and forcefully shoves his earpiece back in his ear.

"Weeg?" Mario says frantically. "Pauline, I got nothing but white noise."

"I think we lost him while we were driving around." Pauline says with a wince.

"Get him back, now!" Mario snaps.

"Danny was paranoid about his computer, refused to use the same network as anyone else." Georgia explains as they go into another office. "No one could get to it but her."

"Smart." Luigi notes as he follows Georgia to a desk.

"No kidding." Georgia agrees, typing away on the keyboard. "Lemme just log you in here."

"And Danny never said one word about it?" Luigi can't buy that.

"Not to me. I just saw him acting a lot more uptight." Georgia replies, then steps back. "You're in. Have at it."

"Thank you." Luigi says, taking a seat.

"Wait a sec. How do you know the train was an attack?" Georgia demands.

"Only way a train car detaches like that is manually." Luigi says without taking his eyes off the computer. "Nastasia convinced them to derail it."

And everything promptly goes back.

"We lost the signal." Spike says.

"Where the heck did he go?" Pauline asks.

"I don't know. We need to break in there." Spike decides.

"In where? He never said where exactly he was going!" Pauline reminds them.

"Wait." Mario suddenly gets an idea, pointing, "That thing down there. You said it can find anyone with a phone in a 10 mile radius?"

Pauline lights up, "Right, of course!", and quickly kicks the button with her foot.

In seconds, it lights up.