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+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Carmen and Ivy were almost out of breath when they rounded a corner and saw Zack waving his 
arms franticly at them. 

"We're here! We're here all ready!" Ivy told him, forcing his arms to his sides.

"Yeah, well the Chief isn't anymore!" Zack told them

"What?" Carmen said

"He and the girl left all ready, they went that-a -way!" Zack explained, pointing down a 
crowded street.

"Gah! Why is Paris so damn busy?" Ivy yelled

"Ivy, less crabbing, more weaving. Let's get into that mess and find them!" Carmen said 
taking off at Top speed.


+++++++++++++++++++++++++

<<"What kind of flowers are these?">> Chief asked Marie, stopping at a nearby street vendor.

<<"I can't say exactly,">> Marie admitted, bending down to smell the sweet small blue 
flowers, <<"But I do recognize them from my aunts home in Toulouse. The field close to 
her house is blanketed with them during the spring and summer months.">>

The Chief leaned in to better get the scent as well but when he pulled back to talk to 
Marie again he was hit by some unseen force.

<< "Oh no! Sir? Are you all right?">> Marie squealed

<< "Boy, those things sure do have a kick to them…">> He commented before rolling over 
on his back and seeing Marie, Ivy Zack and Carmen standing over him. "What the heck?" 
he said in English.

"Zack! You didn't have to hit him that hard!" Ivy said, ask she manhandled her brother 
to his feet.

"Well sooorrry! Ow!" Zack yelped as he was 'helped' up.

<< "Do you know these people?">> Marie asked suspiciously as Carmen helped the Chief up.

<< "We know him from work.">> Carmen tried to explain, as the Chief got his balance back. 
Marie grabbed his arm, nearly knocking him off balance again.

<< "Oh no you don't! For the rest of his vacation he is going to be having fun with me!">> 
Maire pouted. Carmen frowned.

<< "It won't take that long, I assure you. And if he doesn't take care of it now, he could
 very well loose his life!">> Carmen patently explained, quietly emphasizing the words 
that were more than one syllable. 

"Loose my life?" Chief asked, quite concerned, in English.

It was at that moment that Zack tried to give Ivy a good hard push. Unfortunately, Zack 
was still a little off balance, so the push he gave her toppled him instead throwing him 
right into the flower-seller's baskets. As Carmen turned to see the source of the 
commotion, Marie pulled the Chief onto a waiting cable car that left shortly after.


+++++++++++++++++++++++

"Zack! Do you have to do this everywhere we go?" Ivy whined. Carmen paid the vendor a 
ludicrous sum and a mumbled apology about them being <<"Stupid Americans">>.

"Ivy, where did the Chief go?" she asked the teen

"What?" Ivy asked

"The Chief! Your boss! Big badda boom! He was just here!" Carmen said

"Oh no… Zack! Did you see where they went?" Ivy asked her brother.

Zack peeked up from the pavement. "Of course not!"

"Eh!" a voice crept up from behind them. The trio turned to see the vendor. "They hopped 
on the cable car. It just left. You just missed them." She said in a thick accent.

"Woah, she speaks English!" Zack said in wonder. Ivy smacked him upside the head.

"They said something about skipping the Louvre and heading for the sky." Carmen told the 
woman, "Would that mean anything?"

The woman thought for a moment. "That car, that car only goes to the Louvre and the Eiffel 
tower. Then it ends. Your friends must be headed to the tower." She said, counting the 
money Carmen had given her.

"Thank you! Thank you very much ma'am!" Carmen smiled at the old woman, "And sorry again 
about your wares!" She and the teens took off in the general direction the woman had pointed,
 "Ivy can you activate the C5 car?"

"I can and I all ready am." Ivy said, fooling with her communicator.

++++++++++++++++++++++

"Marie! What did you just do?" Chief asked as the cable car pulled away.

"Why, get you out of sticky situation monsieur." Marie told him confidently, grabbing hold 
to one of the rails as the car lurched around a corner.

"But they were trying to warn me of an attempt on my life, that's usually important!" Chief 
tried to explain. The other passengers seemed to be alarmed.

Marie gently placed her hand on his right solder. "If they want to talk to you so bad, 
they'll come and find you. Now be quiet, you are scaring the others."

 "You can be a real bitch when you want to…" he muttered under his voice.

Marie's smile suddenly had an edge to it. "But of course. For the moment, though let's just 
meet maman"


++++++++++++++

<<"What do you mean we have to wait?">> Carmen asked the Elevator attendant.

<< "The elevator operates on a basic pulley system ma'am. When one set of cars goes up, 
another set is going down. So, if you want an up car, you will have to wait just a few 
minutes, or you can take the stairs.">> The attendant told her, going back to her 
switchboard.

"What did she say?" asked Ivy.

"She said, we're going to have to take the stairs," Carmen told them.

+++++++++++++++


<< "I love this,">> Marie said, leaning over the railing at the top of the tower.

<< "What? The breeze?">> Chief asked, keeping a healthy distance from the edge.

<< "No… The view… the spectacle of Paris! It's breathtaking…">> Marie told him, opening 
her arms as if trying to embrace the sky itself.

 << "Oh.">> Chief said shortly, inching a bit ahead to see.

<< "Oh?">>Marie asked. She smiled, and taking his hands and led him slowly to the edge. 
The Chief took a long look over the sharp colors, the ant-like pedestrians, the hovering 
wisps of clouds and the proud gray city as a whole.

 << "I think I see now. I just… never thought of it that way before." He finally told her.

<<"You don't get out much, do you?">> Marie asked, sarcastically.

<< "Nope. Why don't you explain it all to me?">> The Chief asked her.

<< "What all to you?">> Marie asked.

<<"This. Paris. Views. Loving. Everything.">>

<< "Everything, eh? That covers a lot of ground. Well. Let's start at something easy: 
love. Love… is that fire in your belly that your lover fans. The passion and the heat of 
the beautiful and the tempting.">> Marie told him.

<<"And that feeling can be easily translated into views?">> Chief asked, looking back out 
over Paris.

<< "Not quite… The fire in the belly has different kinds of heat. This,">> She said, her 
arm sweeping over Paris, << "This view invokes, in me at least, the embrace of a good 
friend back after a long trip. While this,">> She said, slipping the Chiefs arms around 
her shoulders, << "This is a different happiness altogether.">>

<< "The happily ever after kind?">> The Chief asked, interested.

<< "Happily… oh my..">> Marie pulled out of the embrace and put her hand over her mouth to 
silence the laughter that was bubbling up. << "You poor boy! Don't you know there's no 
such thing?">>

<< "Why do you say that?">> Chief asked, taking a step back.

<<"It is just an emotion. Not permanent! It is like pity or sorrow, distracting of course, 
but life would not be life without it. Life should be happily enjoyed, of course... but 
Ever after? Oh no, no, no!">> Marie told him, the laughter bubbling up again.

<< "That's a rather cynical approach,">> Chief told her, disturbed. He was far from head 
over heels for this girl, but it was rather disturbing to hear someone you were with 
talking about love in the same breath as pain.

<< "I'm very sorry monsieur,">> She said, clapping her hand to his shoulder in rough 
camaraderie. << "But I lead a very cynical life. I don't think of such things in the light 
you do">>

<< "Well what of your husband?">> Chief had to ask.

Marie gave him a look that could freeze the ocean. << "I don't understand your meaning 
monsieur.">>

<< "Your husband. When you married him I doubt the advancement of his affairs with other 
women was a high topic in your mind. You must have dreamed of 'such things', with him or 
you would have not married at all.">> he pointed out.

<< "Yes. All right, I suppose you are right. I was blinded by my hopes once, yes. But not 
again. Not ever again. The only thing true about true love is the desire for it to be 
real.">> Marie told him.

<<"That desire can't have merit on it's own?">> he asked.

Marie turned back to him and he saw that she was becoming upset, <<"Why do you say these 
things monsieur? If you wish to drive me away there are far easier methods.">> she said.

<< "I..I.. just wanted to see the truth in the matter.">> he got out.

<< "Truth?">> Marie asked bitterly, << "Truth or seeing that your own little hopes can 
become reality?">>

<< "Well now!">> Marguerite's cheerful voice broke in, as she strolled up in her good suit 
with a smile playing on her lips, << "What were you two lovebirds discussing so seriously?">>

<< "The existence of true love.">> Chief told her.

<< "Ah! An appropriate subject indeed!">> Marguerite giggled.

<< "Maman… it was not what you think.">> Marie protested.

<< "Of course not,">> Marguerite said, giving her daughter a condescending little pat on 
the hand. As Marie gapped she grabbed the elbow of Chief's arm and began leading him on a 
walk around the platform, << "So what else did you do today?">> She asked him.

<< "Well, we saw Notre Dame. I particularly liked that. And we walked around a bit…">> he 
said

<< "Really? And what did you like best about our lady?">> she asked. Marie hurried to catch up.

<<"Everything ma'am. It was my first time I've set foot in a church">>

Marguerite's face dropped a bit, <<"It is?">> she asked, a little disappointed.

Marie tried to break into the conversation,<< "Maman, isn't the view today particularly…">>

Marguerite interrupted, <<"You aren't an Atheist are you?">> she asked urgently.

<<"Maman!">> Marie said, horrified, <<"If he is an Atheist, that's his business! You 
shouldn't annoy him!">>

<<"Now wait just a minute..">> the Chief started

Marguerite stopped, and turning she let go of the Chief's arm, <<"Don't you dare talk back 
to me, my little cabbage!">>

<<"Oh don't start maman!">> Marie whined

<<"I gave you life…">> Marguerite started

<<"... Yes, yes 27 hours worth of labor..">> Marie muttered

<<"And I can take it away!">> Marie and her mother said in sync.

Chief started backing away, << "Perhaps I should get going…"> he told them.

<<"Why are you leaving so soon?">> Marguerite asked, getting a good hold on his arm once 
again

<< "Apparently he feels his life is in danger and that we can't protect him!">> Marie 
pouted

<< "Is this true monsieur?">> Marguerite asked

Chief, hoping that she would take this as a viable excuse said << "It appears so ma'am">>

Marguerite just got a better grip on his arm. <<"Well then, the safest placein the world 
is for you to be right here with us!">>

The Chief felt himself pulling back, "I'm not entirely sure of that ma'am">>

<< "Why not ask those two other girls we bumped into to protect you eh?">> Marie asked as 
Marguerite hauled the Chief back.

<<"That's what I was planning on doing.">> Chief told them

<< "Other women?">> Marguerite asked

<< "I know them from work, they were the ones who told me of the attempt on my life.">> 
Chief explained.

<< Oh now... they were probably just trying to get you to come back to work early!">> 
Marguerite rationalized. 

<< "I doubt that ma'am.">> Chief told her.

Marie mumbled something about turning men off before she can get them to commit to 
anything.  Marguerite seemed to get a good deal more of the conversation that the Chief 
and said,

<<"Well maybe if you'd show a little skin…">>

<< "Mother!">> Marie yelped, horrified and exasperated.

<< "Monsieur, don't you think my daughter would look better if she showed a little flesh? 
Just a little?">> Marguerite asked

<< "I.. honestly wouldn't be the best judge of that.">>

<< "And why not?">> Marguerite asked.

<< "Well for one I just met her, and two I'm really an android.">> Chief explained.

Marie and her mother both took a long look at him. 

Finally Marie broke the silence, << "Well that just tears it!">> And another shouting match 
broke out.

All the yelling made the Chief's neck hurt. He ran his hands over the base of his skull, 
trying to think of how best to get away, when he suddenly realized the two women were no 
longer around. He looked behind him to see Marie going down a flight of stairs as fast as 
her heels could carry her with Marguerite close behind. Marguerite turned before going down 
the next level of stairs and came back to where the Chief was standing. 

"Please monsieur, wait here a little while. I shall fetch my daughter shortly." She told 
him before heading down the rickety steps at top speed.

The Chief had to blink. That was rather sudden. He turned back to look over the railing 
again and began wondering if all human families settled their differences with yelling 
and public scenes…

"Chief!" Ivy screamed.

Chief snapped out of his musings, and turned to see Ivy Zack and Carmen sprinting over 
to him. "Oh hey guys... Listen I… Gah!" he yelped as Ivy pinned his hands behind his 
back and slammed him into the railing, "What's wrong? Cut it out! That hurts!"

"Chief, listen to me," Carmen whispered, "You're going to come with us, and move quickly, 
so we can get to an uninhabited area before the bomb goes off."

"Thank you…" the chief told Ivy as she let go of his arm, "Wait. What bomb?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"All units, prepare for interception," Carmen yelled into the radio over the choppy waves 
the speedboat was cutting through, "ETA 10 minutes. Detonation 25. We're going to have to 
work fast people!"

"It's going to be OK chief!" Ivy yelled over the motor.

Chief turned back to her, his face dead white, knuckles white as they gripped his 
knees, "What?" he yelled back.

Ivy settled for smiling and squeezing his elbow. Zack was prepping a laptop, under Bellum's 
instructions through an ear bud with a radio links. Carmen leaned forward; her hand clamped 
the throttle to full, hoping they would make it in time.

A makeshift raft, swarming with VILE vehicles and personnel, finally came into view. Carmen 
docked roughly and the detectives hurried the Chief out of the boat.

	"Move it everyone, only essential equipment. We've only got 15 minutes left. Sara, 
what's the status?"

	"All systems operational," Bellum said, "Is the laptop primed?"

	"And ready to go," Zack told her, handing it over. Bellum started hooking up cabled 
to the PC. On of the anonymous henchmen started attaching electrodes to the Chief. Zack was 
helping Sara and Ivy was revving the boat with the other henchmen ready to get out of there, 
fast.

	"Carmen?" the Chief asked around the helpful henchman.

	Carmen came over, "What?"

	"I'm sorry for all your trouble. I know you're all in danger and it's all my fault…"

	"It's not your fault Chief. Don't think that it is." She told him as the last 
patch was placed, "Did you enjoy it?"

	"What?" asked the Chief.

	"Being human." Carmen said

	The Chief broke into a grin, despite himself, "Yes. Oh yes. Did I ever."

	"Well then it was worth it." Carmen pointed out.

	"We're ready! Everyone clear!" Bellum yelped.

	Carmen gave him a quick peck on the lips before returning to the boat with Ivy. 
Chief was furiously contemplating that kiss when the pain hit…

+++++++++++++++++++++++

	"Transfer is 90% complete… 4 minutes until detonation." Sara intoned. The motors 
sputtered in the silence that was heavy on the shoulders of the party. Someone dropped a 
lug nut and everyone could hear the peel-bell tone of the metal. "100%! Opening up 
temporary program…" The chief opened up and filled the laptop screen. "Sing a song of 
sixpence?" Sarah asked

	"Pocket… Pocket full of rye."

	"Four and twenty blackbirds?" she asked

	"Baked… in a… in a pie." He answered.

	"We got him! Cut all cables!" Sara said as she leapt into Carmen and the detectives 
boat. A henchman used the glowing blade from the Akula heist to cut the cables and everyone 
maxed out the throttles. The resulting typhoon saturated the raft and the Chief's 
now-metallic body. 2 Minutes to go.

	"We're not going to make it, we're not going to make it!" Zack yelped.

	Carmen hit a button on the console and the armrest between the siblings popped up. 
"Zack, store the Chief and let's get out of here…"

	Zack did as he was told, and was about the place the bag with the comp in the rest 
when an explosion sang through the air around them. "What the…"

	"Zack, store the Chief. Now." Carmen said, her voice wavering.	

	Zack put the bag in the rest, and then unconsciously looked behind them. A 30-foot 
high fireball and an even taller tsunami rose up and came at them fast. Zack was frozen to 
the spot. 

	Ivy rolled her eyes at her brother's incompetence and closed the rest. "Any time 
now!"

	Carmen hit another button and jet engines came out of the back of the boat, 
sending them far from the oncoming apocalypse. Then, with the push of another button, 
the foils to the boat turned into wings and the four joined the rest of VILE in the 
Sunday evening sky.