[15] International Super Spies

                                    

                                          

                            

                                
                            
                              
                                  
                              
                              
                                
                                  
                                  
                                
                              
                             
                            
                            
                          
                          
  The four spent the entire day trying to decipher Dustin's message. Robin and Steve would trade shifts as the other grew bored so they could still keep their jobs. After the shop was closed for the night though, the four found themselves all crammed around the table trying to decipher the last part of the message.
  "I got it!" Claire screamed slamming the dictionary shut, making the other three jump at the sudden outburst. "The week is long. The silver cat feeds when blue meets yellow in the west" she read looking up to see if any of them knew what it could possibly mean.
  "That... makes absolutely no sense babe. None. Did you translate it wrong? Does labor make your brain turn to mush?" He asked, his eyes going wide as he stood back from the counter "you're not in labor are you? I still haven't put in the car seats!" He panicked.
  "Steve! Shut up!" Dustin sighed, the girls laughing at the older boy. "She translated it right! Why would they just speak on public radio about a super secret Russian plan without using code? Don't be an idiot"
  Steve glared at the boy "well what the hell are we gonna do now? All we have is a stupid code"
***
  They decided to call it a night and think about what the cod could possibly mean until they all met again the next morning. Claire tossed and turned all night dreams of Russian soldiers out to kill her.  She was on edge with all that was happening right before the babies were going to be born. She didn't want to repeat the incidents of when the fought the demodogs last fall.
  In the morning the couple made it to scoops bright and early at 8 am, much to Steve's displeasure as his shift didn't start until 10. Dustin and Robin were already there pacing anxiously. Their heads shot you as they saw the pair walk in hand in hand. Robin dashed toward them jumping excitedly. "I cracked it! I cracked the code!" 
  "Holy shit already?" Claire asked with wide eyes Robin nodded enthusiastically, pulling the girl by the arm to the break room table. On it was a blueprint map of what she assumed was the mall. Claire sat down looking toward Dustin for an explanation.
  "See I was stumped until I remembered Steve mention the music in the background" Robin started "then I realized I recognized it too! It was the horse downstairs in the mall! After that I connected the dots between the Chinese restaurant and the shoe store! Dustin's the one who had the idea for the blueprints of the ventilation system! Maybe if we can get through the vents we can can into their storage room and check their deliveries!"
  Claire and Steve looked thoroughly impressed. "Okay, well how are we going to get through the vents? We'd have to be a small child to even fit!" Steve pointed. "Or someone without collar bones!" Dustin beamed, Robin looked between the three confused. "He's got cleidocranial dysplasia, right Dust?" Claire explained to Robin, Dustin nodding vigorously. 
  Robin nodded as they all turned to watch Dustin. The boy pushed a chair up against the wall beneath the vent. He jumped about halfway into the vent and go stuck "Steve! Give me a push" the older boy shrugged before lazily shoving him into the vent. "No dammit! Push my ass!" At that Steve threw his arms up in the air. "Okay nope! We aren't doing this"
  "What do you suggest then?" Claire asked Steve, arching her brow. "We can't just go out in the open in the middle of the day"
  Steve paced the room trying to think just as someone began rapidly smacking the service bell up front. Steve got an evil glint to his eye "Erika"
***
  It took a lot of persuading but Erika agreed to be their man on the inside, at the expense of free ice cream for life of course. So, that evening once the store closed the five executed their plan. Steve, Claire, Robin, and Dustin would be waiting on rooftop too keep an eye on Erika to alert her when the armed guard left his station so she could enter the room through the vents and let the others in.
  However there was one problem. The guard wasn't moving. That's when an idea popped into Claire's head. "What if I distract him?" She whispered pulling the other three into a team huddled "No! Absolutely not! You're pregnant! He has a fucking machine gun!" Steve whisper yelled. "That's exactly it though! I'm pregnant! I'll just distract him and tell him I'm in labor or something!" She shot back. Dustin and Robin nodded vigorously. "No it's not happening dammit" Steve growled. "We'll it's three against one Steve so you don't have a choice!" Dustin pointed. "Plus we really don't have a better plan"
  "Nobody ever listens to me!" Steve huffed, looking to Claire desperately. "Are you sure you can do this? I'll be right here if anything goes wrong" he said softly
  "I've got this I promise" She nodded giving him a light kiss. She took in a deep breath and then quickly snuck down the stairs to the best of her ability. When she turned around the corner facing the guard she let out a desperate scream. Steve jumped up about to bolt, Robin grabbed him quickly covering his mouth. "Shhh it's all part of the plan!" Dustin insisted through his binoculars.
  Claire held onto her stomach as she let out another cry coming toward the guard "help me! Please! Oh god!" The guard lowered his weapon approaching the girl. "What's wrong?" The guard asked her worriedly. "My babies! I think I'm in labor!" She cried dramatically leaning over. Dustin laughed silently "oh she's good!"
  As Claire leaned over faking a sob the guard placed his hands on the blondes shoulder, to which she shot up punching the guard in the face knocking him out cold. The three on the roof looked down at her mouths wide open. She cheered waving for them to come down, Dustin giving Erika the signal to proceed with phase two.
  "Oh my god Claire that was so badass!" Dustin cheered running up to her. Steve breathed a sigh of relief kissing her forehead worriedly. "Don't ever do that again" 
  The group jumped at the sound of the heavy metal doors slowly opening. Steve grabbed Claire's hand, protectively pushing her behind him. They all relaxed seeing a smirking Erika Sinclair. "Free ice cream for life" she reminded, Robin rolling her eyes as they all walked into the room.
  "So now what? We just search every box?" Claire asked. "Incorrect. Im going to check the boxes. You guys are gonna stay back" Steve instructed making Robin roll her eyes.
  They allowed him though, Steve pulling out a heavy metal canister. The group gasped before popping the canister open. A glowing green tube rolled out onto Steve's hand. Suddenly the doors closed making them all jump, Steve almost dropping the strange serum. 
  "Oh fuck" Steve cursed "I think we're stuck here"