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| She walked up to the front desk and handed her card to the receptionist. Cary shook his head; and, having lost interest, wandered off in search of a new victim. "You'll be in Conference Room A," said the receptionist, handing Mika an entrance card to the room. Mika nodded and left, hoping to escape Cary before he realized there was no one else to terrorize. Mika briskly walked down the polished, wooden hallway towards the door of Conference Room A. I wonder what kind of low-life mission they have for me this time, thought Mika to herself. She slid her card through the lock besdie the door, and then held her eyes up to the computer nearby for a retinal scan. Although Misty's Cottage was just a small country cottage on the outside, it was a very high-tech web underneath. The metal doors opened, and she stepped inside to where three peole waited for her. In the room was a long conference table. At the head of the table sat the new Neblina President, Raven Revenge. On one side of him sat the Head of the Dunst Council, Joe Bloome, and on the other side sat the Chief of the Military, George Harleit. Behind Raven were two bodyguards, hiddne in the few shadows of the room. "What did you guys want? I'm in a little hurry to buy some food poison," Mika said, glaring at Raven and then her boss, Joe. "As you can see, we've called you to this meeting because we have something particular we want to talk to you about," said Cheif Harleit. "No, I thought you were going to give me a balloon, pat me on the head, and send me on my merry way." "You can look at it like that if you want, Mika," said Joe calmly, since he was used to Mika's sarcastic ways. Raven's eeys narrowed in irritation at her response. "We have a position to offer you," Chief Harleit went on, slightly taken aback by Mika's response. "Damn, I was hoping it was an oyster." "Be serious for a moment Mika, these people aren't use to your...'wit'," said Joe, smiling to himself. "Look, they think that you're the best perosn to make captain of our new flag ship," snapped Raven. "Yeah right, and what do the President and my father think?" replied MIka, returning Raven's continuous glare. "I didn't consult your father, being as he would probably have said 'no'," Raven said, adding, "After all, you are his wittle sweetie daughter." Mika jumped up, lunging at Raven. She had always hated how people tormented her because of her father's high position. In a flash the bodyguards pulled her back into her chair, and removed the dagger that she bared in her hand. "Mika, we think that you would be best for this position because we watched how well you mastered taking and controlling that Armada ship in your last spy-job...Even though we never expressly asked you to take over the ship," Joe put in, ignoring Mika's usual short temperament. "What can I say, they needed a new captain. Besides, I got to blow up some nearby ships," she muttered. "Can't you people find someone more qualified? It's not like Soren would let you guys go through with this." "We don't have any new captains that would be leaving the academy and have the qualifications. All the other captains are posted on their own ships. So we think that you qualify enough. We also plan that your First in Command will assume responsibility of the ship when you have a mission for the Dunst," replied Joe. "And Soren's not going to know," added Chief Harleit. "Just how do you plan to keep him in the dark?" "We're not planning on telling him who the new captain is." "It's not like you can just put someone in charge of the flagship and no one will know," said Mika, watching all three of them closely. "We've designed the crew so that two-thirds are from the Prankster Branch. The Bug has assured us that his people will be trustworthy. We figure that Soren will find out all in good time," smiled Joe, as Mika glared back at him. "You trusted that fool? The Pranksters are here for one purpose, to trick everyone and play evil jokes on them. You honestly think The Bug will tell the truth?" Mika snapped at them. Of all the stupid things, she thought to herself, don't those idiots know the Pranksters will just play jokes on a ship. "That's precisely why we want you to be the captain," said Chief Harleit, "We know that you and The Bug have quite a history." "Fine, I'll think about the job of the ship. But I'm warning you, if you continue ruling like this, then you are going to loose control over the Neblina by practically handing it to the Armada, or any other rival who wants it. "No one asked for your opinion, we were just offering you a job," snapped Raven, he was beginning to get tired of everyone saying he'd be the fall of the Neblina. "No one asked for your opinion either, they just offered you a job," Mika stood and grabbed her dagger from the bodyguard, before he could hold it from her. She left the room as swiftly as she had entered. Raven's eyes blazed, icy blue after her. |