Chapter 11: The Mechanics Spy Mission

Ray sat doodling in her notebook, waiting for her coffee at the counter. She didn't notice the woman who glanced over her shoulder to see what she was doing. "Wow, you're pretty good," said the woman. Ray jumped, startled by the sudden voice. "Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," said the woman. Despite her English accent, Ray was sure she was Russian, and she remembered that Eddie had mentioned their waitress at the coffee shop earlier. So if she's the bartender, what is her connection to Cornelius? What was her purpose for being here?

Ray stepped aside and took a seat on the other side of the counter. She was expecting Cornelius or his wife, so why was this woman here?

"Anyway, I'm Ashly Signs, but you can just call me Ashly," said the woman. "I heard you wanted to join the fundraiser." All she got in response from Ray was a confused look. "Oh, I'm the director of the fundraiser, and I handle all applications," Ashly explained. "Really, you can consider me HR. Cornelius just tosses ideas and cash around everywhere. Luckily, he's not in charge of spending, otherwise, we'd be broke." She chuckled.

"Actually, our volunteer work goes into helping as much of the community as possible, including this coffee shop. From time to time, we do charge, but only when necessary. Tell me though, how did you hear about us?" Ashley asked.

Ray replied, "I was searching online for charities to join so I can rack up some college points. While I'm doing okay, I'm not the most book-smart person around and I'm afraid that if I don't do some extra credit, I could fail. I'm only in college to get my engineering education so that I can become a pilot. This just seems like a good way to stay on track." Ray smiled politely, but inside she was cautious of the woman in front of her.

Just then, the door opened and revealed Cornelius himself. One of these two must have been the one who attacked Eddie. But why, and which one was another question entirely? Ray knew she would have to stay vigilant if she was ever going to learn anything about either of them.

"Sup, rookie?" Cornelius said with a smile.

Ray was taken aback by the unusual greeting but replied politely anyway.

"Hey Cornelius, we were actually just about to wrap up here," Ashly said.

"What? So I'm in?" Ray asked, surprised.

"Yeah, all we need you to do now is some work," Ashly nodded.

"Well, in that case, you can follow me; I'm about to go pick up trash in the city," Cornelius chuckled.

Ray shrugged and followed him anyway. Leaving Ashly behind, who quickly pulled out her phone and texted Jaime about the new member. Who texted back to keep an eye on her.

...

Once he was done texting, Jaime set down his phone and turned back to his boss, who was fiddling with his blueberry-flavored whiskey. "We've got a new recruit, boss," Jaime informed him.

"Is it one of those two from the other day?" his boss asked, pouring a shot into a flask.

"No, sir," Jaime replied. "Her name is Raychal Maverick, but I still told Ashley to keep an eye on her."

"Good," his boss said, a dark laugh escaping his lips. "With the tournament only so far away, we'll need to start preparing anyway. New recruits could come in handy, especially with these mutant incidents."

"If that's all, I need you to go meet up with Carol at the docks. Take my car as well. I want the FBI off my trail tonight."

"Yes, sir," Jaime replied. "By the way, your appointment is at seven o'clock, sir."

"Appointment, today?" his boss cocked his head to one side. "What is it? I normally don't schedule things on weekdays."

"Sir, you have a study session with Miss Oak, I arranged it down at the coffee shop for you," Jaime's assistant reminded him.

"Miss Oak," his boss shook his head and scoffed. "I just said that to get her to leave. If it weren't for you and Cornelius, I'd never have agreed to this."

I mean sir, she just asked to help with her homework.”

“You and I both know that I have many other things to do than to just tutor some chick.”

“Sir she's an employee, we always help out employees.”

“Employ-” he scoffed again. “She sings for a hundred once a week, while a bunch of drunks Google over her. She is as much of an employee as Mr Crush is. She is not a member OF MY GANG!”

“Since when does she need to be a member for us to help her,” Jaime argued back with a tilt of his head.

“Then you help her, or better yet Cornelius since it was his bright idea!” He spat.

“So that's a no then?” He asked his boss once again, but this time with a look that said are you really not going to. At the sight, he finally gave in to his assistants' constant poking. With a half sigh half annoyed huff he said,

Stolen novel; please report.

"Shall I cancel then?" Jaime asked.

"No, no don't cancel it," his boss finally relented. "I'll go. Next time remind me to put a cork in Cornelius's mouth."

"Sure thing, boss," Jaime replied with a warm smile.

Despite his boss's tough exterior, Jaime knew that he had a heart of gold. It just needed some prodding to see it.

Happy with his boss's decision, Jaime decided not to annoy him again and left to meet his request. As he did so, he walked right past a lady on the street, never even giving her more than a passing glance as he headed to his boss's car.

The lady, however, was none other than Shadow. She let him get away before hopping into her van and following him, never letting him get too far.

...

As the sun began to set, Ray finally made it back to the apartment. Tired and hungry, she didn't hesitate to grab a slice of pizza from the table. Maroo and Sarah were sitting at the table, and Maroo was taking another bite of pizza.

"Maroo, do you have any friends your own age?" Sarah asked, a bit concerned.

"Sure, there's Pete and Johnny," Maroo replied. "But they're not as cool as you guys."

"How was your day, Ray?" Sarah asked.

Ray took a moment to swallow her bite before answering. "They literally had me picking up trash all day from the side of the road. Most of it from the last mutant attack."

"Didn't learn anything then huh?" Sarah deadpanned.

"Well, there's something about a tournament, some fighting thing they use as a big fundraiser, that's gonna be their next big project according to that Cornelius guy," Ray said. She then looked around, wondering where Sky was.

" She found herself a tutor, remember? Tonight she's studying," Sarah said.

"Oh great, that's two nights she'll be gone," Sarah added with a sigh.

"Breaking news!" the television in the background cried out. "Another dangerous mutant is raging across the town, will these events ever come to an end? If you're near Dallas Street, get to safety and evacuate if possible."

"Oh come on, I just got home," Ray complained.

"Suit up, Ray," Sarah chuckled.

"Alright, some action!" Shouted Maroo with glee.

"Maroo, on our way there, contact Eddie and stay on the sidelines, you hear me?" Ray said sternly.

Maroo rolled his eyes. "Yes, yes I get it. I'll just be communications."

"Hey, you're our guy in the chair squirt," Ray said as she put on her mask.

"How do you even know that phrase?" Maroo asked.

"I hang around you and Eddie too much," Ray replied with a smile. "That's how." She ruffled Maroo's hair before taking off to finish her costume.

...

Eddie sat staring at his computer, opening a file labeled "Time Machine Drafts" and giving them a look over before deciding to check on his companion. He saw Charlie, going over files on his own computer, while his sister, Wendy, sat tightening a screw on the old Eddie mobil.

"Hey, how's searching for your old man going?" Eddie called out to Charlie.

Charlie made little movement, only raising his eyes to greet Eddie. "Same as you asked me the last time, an hour ago," he ground out before lowering his sight back to his computer.

Overhearing her brother's annoyed tone, Wendy chimed in, "It's not like we have a lot to go on."

"Well, have you tried getting a blood test at least?" Eddie shrugged.

before the phone eddies phone rang.

“Eddie, ignored it, as he tried to peek over charlies computers. He closed it, with a lower of his brow.

"Eddie ignored it, trying to peek over Charlie's computer. He closed it with a lower of his brow.

"Yeash, I thought you were the nice one," Eddie joked with a grin.

Charlie ignored his sarcasm and stood up, about to say something, but Wendy interrupted. "Don't mind him, he always gets like that if you go near his computer," she told him in a monotone voice, as she finished tightening a screw. "Will you answer that yet?" she snapped at the annoying ring tone.

“Hay marroo, whats going-”

"We've got another mutant attack, Eddie!" Maroo demanded.

"Alright, on the way," Eddie replied quickly and ran over to the back of the garage, grabbing his suit that was hanging on a rack in the corner.

"You two want in on this?" he asked as he put on his sword belt.

"No thanks, we'll be fine here," Charlie chirped sarcastically.

"But you're part of the team; I made you suits," Eddie stammered as he put on his helmet.

"We're good; besides no offense but..." Wendy's face scrunched up at the bright blue-colored suit he was wearing.

"Yeah, I'm with her; you look ummm," Charlie shrugged his left shoulder.

"Terrible," Wendy bluntly said.

"I was going to say dorky," her brother muttered.

Eddie groaned but grabbed his sword and took off without another word.

Wendy waited until she was certain he was gone before turning to her brother. "Okay, what did you really find out?"

"Not much," Charlie replied. "But I think it's time we change our target."

"Change our target?" Wendy replied with a higher pitch.

"Yeah, I mean come on; it's clear following our aunt isn't going to lead us to him," her brother grinned.

“Were not even supposed to have contact with any of them, especially her,’ she squinted her eyes. “Is there a way we can just go after the mayor?

“Sure if you want to get caught, there's no way we can go toe to toe with him. Charlie scuffed. “Dad is the only one who can stop what Drake is planning. He said opening his laptop again. “And besides, if we didn't get close to at least Eddie, i wouldnt of had access to these fbi files. He told her clicking on a file before giving her the laptop.

She gave them a quick scan before replying back, didn't aunty already have access to these files before, their nothing new here.

“Thats my point, grinned her brother.

Without moving her head, she glanced up at him. “So our trail-”

“It will run as cold as our aunts at this rate,’ he nodded. “besides “ he leaned back in the chair, “it was so nice to finally sleep in a bed again.

She scoffed at that, “we're not supposed to have contact with any of them.”

“Hay if we don't take risk now well never change history.”

At her brother's words, she tossed the computer back at him. “Hay, watch it, if this thing breaks-”

Come on! She yelled at him storming away to her bike. “And you better be right about this.”

“ With a sly smoke he leaned back in his chair. One of us needs to stay here, otherwise our new friends might get suspicious. With a nod he muttered, i volunteer.

“With a slow blink and a twitch of her mouth into a scowl, Wendy drove off leaving her brother in the garage.