Past Lives Could Never Come Between Us

58

"Taylor's here." Luigi tells Mario. "With 5 other people. Going through a lot of paperwork."

"Can you see what the case is for?" Mario prompts.

Luigi leans in closer, "Name just says Mr. Smith, but there's a code name: Operation Toadstool."

" Isn't that Princess Peach's last name? " Pauline says in their earpieces.

" Yeah, that's the name they gave her when she was a baby. " Spike agrees. " Looks like the NSA is doing some sort of diplomatic negotiation, but using the name Mr. Smith on the official documents. "

"There's someone else." Luigi says.

" Captain! " someone calls as she walks into the room.

"Woman in a suit. Long dark hair." Luigi describes. "Looks like she could kill you with her bare hands."

"Agent Baptiste." Clark says flatly.

" Just wanted to say thank you to Taylor for that insight. " Baptiste says, prompting the others to look at them.

" You'll all get there. " Baptiste assures them. " When someone actually steps up to the plate. Nice work, Taylor. "

"Looks like Baptiste was playing favorites with Taylor." Luigi says. "And the others didn't care for it too much."

Then suddenly, Taylor stands up. "Um, boss? I found something. It looks like evidence of espionage." They hand Baptiste a piece of paper. "But they're still going through with the negotiations. This could raise concerns about the trustworthiness about--."

"About reaching a beneficial agreement." Baptiste finishes for them. "Nice one. This could've sunk us."

" Baptiste, we have to come forward about this. " Taylor insists. " We can't negotiate with espionage looming over our heads. "

" We're not here to tell them what they're doing wrong. " Baptiste says. " We're here to reach an agreement both representatives can agree on. "

"Time to go." Mario says after he finishes watching, leading Luigi through the dreamscape until it changes.

" Taylor. " Baptiste walks in on them by themselves. " Can I see that paper proving espionage? I want to look into it. "

" I gave it to you. " Taylor reminds her, right as Baptiste picks it up under some other papers.

" I swear I didn't put that there. " Taylor promises.

" It happens. " Baptiste assures them, but upon seeing a man behind her, Taylor steps up.

" Mr. Smith, there's evidence of espionage. " They say.

" And what proof do you have of this, rookie? " Mr. Smith sneers.

"Taylor made the representative mad." Luigi says.

"I apologize, Mr. Smith." Baptiste jumps in. " Taylor's a bit of an overachiever. "

" I don't want them as part of the negotiations. " Mr. Smith says flatly.

" Too bad. " Baptiste says, shocking both Taylor and Mr. Smith. " We wouldn't even be negotiating right now if it wasn't for them. "

Luigi watches Mr. Smith leave without a word, but give Taylor the stink eye as he goes, when Luigi hears,

Now do you believe us?

Luigi turns his head, right as he sees Baby Mario playing with the fluffy cloud bunny again.

" Mario, the anomaly's back. " Pauline says.

I got your fake rose with the note. Luigi projects. Why are you doing this to me?

There's something important you need to know.

"Lu, tell me what you're seeing right now. " Mario demands when he sees Luigi's gone stock still.

" Luigi's running out of time. " Pauline warns.

" Mm, yes, get to the moment of petrification, quickly. " Snoozemore orders.

Mario grabs Luigi and pulls him away, ignoring Luigi's protests, "What're you doing? I was in the middle of something back there!"

"Not anymore." Mario keeps pulling him away until the dreamscape changes. "Start looking."

Luigi freezes up as he watches Taylor do the same. "Taylor's being—"

"Petrified. I'm waking you up." Mario decides, then jumps through the dream portal.

"As Taylor was being petrified, they were panicking and their body parts were locking up one by one." Luigi tells the team. "Taylor found something proving some kind of espionage was afoot. Even told the representative about it, and Mr. Smith wasn't happy, demanding Taylor be taken off the case. But Baptiste stood up for them."

"Maybe they were being stubborn." Mario says pointedly, but Luigi just nods in agreement, not taking the bait.