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Just as soon as she thought her work was done, there was an even bigger threat to everyone. She thought she'd get at least 5 years for herself but universe had other plans for her. With the help of Player and Shadowsan, she had discovered some stuff that were way worse than an organisation of thieves.

"Carmen are you sure you wanna get into this ALONE? you should have some company with you just like before." Player said to the Brunette, she could see the worry in his eyes on the screen of the computer.

He continued: "I could barely hack their systems and I'm the best hacker I know!" then he smacked his forehead on his table Carmen chuckled softly; he was right about it but she was thinking that now she had help. so she said: "I see that you're worried but it's fine I can get into it. although it might take way more time than we imagine. We have more help now."

she stretched her arms as someone knocked on the door. "come in mom." Carlotta came in with a smile and said: "hey cariño! are you still there Player?" as she leaned on to the wall after coming in Carmen's room. "hey Ms. Valdez I'm still here!" she went and sat next to Carmen on her bed and waved to him on the screen.

They talked for a bit as Carmen was deep in her thoughts, zoned out as Carlotta and Player spoke for a while. not even two years after getting rid of those so-called villains she found a whole company full of them, first it was and island but that building kept more evil in it than the first place. She wasn't even sure who they were. all she knew was that they were something above the world's governors. Player might haven't been right about everything; but he was right about Carmen needing more help than just a teenage hacker in her ear. People that were so hard to hack for him, probably were too hard to get rid of and not more than only a few ordinary people knew about them. "I have to call Argent."

Reagan had been walking back and fourth in the same line for the past 40 minutes in the war room.

"for the love of whatever you call god, sit the fuck down." Andre said loudly although he was high as hell. Everyone in the room were annoyed, even Brett but he was telling her to calm down in a better way. He said: "Reagan... my dear bbff... please sit down and let's just talk about it." she stopped and looked at him with absolutely filled with rage eyes. "How can I sit down and pretend everything is fine? it's been only ONE day since Rand took over Cognito and boom."

she went to the table as Glenn and Gigi looked at her in horror. she retied her hair after opening a laptop's screen and then picked it up, shoving the screen in Brett's face; "A FUCKING 15 YEAR OLD HACKS OUR SYSTEMS." Brett took the laptop that was showing the face of the said 15 year old from her cause she was close to crashing it to the ground, specially after that shout. Gigi turned on her chair to where Reagan and Brett were standing and said: "Look the world might be going to shit but you ain't responsible for that. so why are you so pressed over it?"

Reagan messaged the temples of her head as she took a deep breath. "because, my friend, if the world goes to shit we will all go down to shit with it. We've committed countless crimes, we've made thousands of dangerous inventions, we've discovered millions of elements that wouldn't fit in the Periodic table. so..." and wore a forced, sarcastic smile on her lips towards Gigi, as she looked in the void.

"well it was nice knowing y'all. I'll head back to Hollow Earth when that shit happens." said MYC. then all of them at the table looked at each other and then started talking loudly, discussing how all of them will go to Hollow Earth with him. Reagan groaned loudly and walked out of the room as Brett followed her. He said: "Reagan wait... are we going to do something to the child?"

Reagan who was walking fast furiously and Brett didn't seem to be able to catch up with her looked back at him with a raised brow then turned her face away again. "you're worried about the child aren't you? and for now... I don't think so. it would be really suspesious even to erase his memory." she took her phone out and clicked a bunch of times, Brett let out a relieved breath cause he thought she was calmer now; also probably cause he didn't have to kill a child. she was calmer but she still wanted to storm into her father's office and slaughter him with the robotic arms she had designed.

Then she showed the young boy's picture to Brett and said: "this is him. he's homeschooled and as I have found out he spends most of his time in front of monitors in his room." she slowed down and then grabbed a clipboard from another worker and flipped some pages. "and he mostly talks to a mysterious woman who calls herself Carmen Sandiego. there was no ID found with this name." she flipped more pages; then turned to Brett who was too much focused on the clipboard with a donut in his mouth that Reagan didn't know when he got it. Then she found some pictures of the woman, wearing a red fedora and said: "I think I've seen her before... on TV."

"oh let me see." Brett said as he snatched the papers from her hand and carefully looked at the photo as he munched his donut. then said: "luckily for you my friend, I have a good graphic memory. she was in TV two years ago for... exposing a big group of thieves... like a company of them named VILE. I haven't heard from her ever since." Reagan hummed under her breath as she nodded.

She took the clipboard from him and looked at her; her face wasn't visible in any of the pictures that they had. she came to conclusion that the lady worked with the boy. "Brett I hope you don't mind getting some information from the little boy for me." Brett didn't look happy by what Reagan said but Reagan was pleased now that she knew who she was looking for. Brett said: "fine... woah great you don't have the I want to kill everyone in this building face anymore." She rolled her eyes at him and turned back to where she came from. "my I want to kill everyone in this building is my normal, daily expression, Brett." "now that's concerning..." Brett said and followed her after.

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Carmen couldn't sleep. she talked to Player about talking to Zack and Ivy but he told her that she also needed to talk to 'her'. that was way too much "talking" for her.

she was happy about talking to the twins but not to her; but this was important so she needed to put somethings behind her so she finally gave up and texted Ivy.

after a few words of greeting stuff she finally brought up the main subject.

"so should I talk to Argent about it?"

the mention of her name made her angry but she knew she had to talk to her eventually cause of what's been happening. So she typed: "yes." and nothing more. a few minutes after her phone rang and she answered;

"Ive?" "CARMMMMMMMM!" Ivy shouted so loud that Carmen had to keep the phone away from her ear; she laughed and said: "I missed you too Ivy. why'd you decide to call?" Ivy murmured a bit.

"Argent... she's a really close worker of mine sadly. So I just wanted to-" Carmen snapped, "SHE WHAT?... I mean... didn't you tell chief you didn't want her close? cause you might make her lose her precious job." she yelled so loud that she felt the whole building shake. Ivy took a deep breath in and said: "me and Zack both did it but it wasn't possible at the time. it's fine now that you need her help... she hasn't been a bad person to us though. " Carmen was too angry specially knowing that her help was needed. "why do you need our help anyway? Is this about VILE???" that wasn't a proper time to ask that question cause it was 1:45 am but Carmen was ready to talk about it even if it took her hours. Ivy had to knew so maybe Carmen could use more of her help.

"ugh christ..."

the sunlight was shining directly into her eyes as she woke up. Reagan looked around; this time she didn't fall asleep in her lab; too busy thinking about ways to find a solution through the crimson situation the world was going into.

she got up and closed the curtains; then her eyes widened cause it was probably not morning when sun was in the middle of the sky. she looked at her phone as expected it was 12:40 in the afternoon. she shouted loudly then said: "THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT RAND RIDLEY!" right after saying that she tripped over her own shoe and almost fell. "this is your fault too." the woman said as she left the room, then she realised that she fell asleep in her dad's room who luckily didn't come home.

Rand's room was so messy that made her a bit more angrier at him, although she was the one who messed the room up last night. Reagan hoped he never comes back; even his dead lifeless body. she went to the kitchen and drank some left over coffee and said: "probably shit tastes like this but I have to bare with it." then she went to her own room that was hers; looked at herself in the mirror and thought to herself woah you look terrifying.

after 20 minutes of brushing her hair which she hadn't brushed in days, her phone rang.

"hi Brett I know I'm late but I don't give a shit if Rand is mad at me." "no no Reagan this is about the lady in red or whatever her name is. you should get here quickly." she hung up the phone and put it in her lab coat's pocket and stormed out of the house. she arrived in 15 minutes more or less as Brett was waiting for at the entering of the building.

He took her by her shoulders and said: "Reagan you told me I should go to his house at 9 am and you arrived in here at... WHAT SHOULD I DO?" Reagan messaged her eyes; she was still tired and now realising that they had to do something made it worse.

"We'll go today." as she pushed Brett away and walked in the building. Brett froze where he was standing and then ran after her; shouting: "Reagan wait," she sighed, turned to him and frowned.

"what if your dad finds out-" "told you I don't care. he can't do anything to me OR you... my best business friend forever." she wanted to make Brett happy and it worked a little too well; he hugged her and she punched him in the face.

"Mom please don't worry I survived 22 years without someone constantly telling me to be careful out there."

Carlotta wouldn't let her leave without some protections of her own. she wanted to hand her guns and tasers and said: "Carmen honey; this is for your own good. you survived that long cause you had some of what those... thieves had taught you or given you."

it was still hard for her to accept the fact that a bunch of criminals took care of her daughter for years; although Carlotta had met Shadowsan and he had explained everyone to her, somethings were still hard for her to deal with. Carmen smiled at her; "Mom... I was a thief as well but look at me. also I still have my stuff."

then the doorbell rang. Carlotta sighed and gave her daughter a smile back; then went to open the door to see a pair of teenager looking adults behind the door. "Hi ms. Valdez!" Ivy said as she hugged Carlotta.

Zack stepped closer and said: "heyaaaa... that's the worst way I've ever said hi to anyone. Anyway hi Ms. Valdez... I'm Zack Ivy's twin. we've never got to ta-"

Carlotta took his hand and hugged both of them. "We face chatted last year didn't we Ivy?" Carlotta said as she let both of them go. Carmen cleared her voice to get their attentions; she missed them more than she thought she would. They couldn't talk much unless it was a free day or it was midnight.

The twins looked at her and she said: "Did you two miss me or..." "CARMENNNNNNNN!" they both shouted in sync while crying as they ran to her and hugged her while Carlotta looked at them delightfully.

Carmen hasn't felt that happy in a while so it was a good change; meeting up with old friends.
"guys. it's been 15 minutes. I missed you too but I'm crushing in your arms." they let go of Carmen and wiped their tears away.

she looked at their uniforms and said: "I don't get it. why have you two been working so fucking hard when all the stuff with VILE is over?" as she leaned to a wall. she's asked that question everytime her and Ivy or Zack had the time to talk to her but she never got an answer or all they said was we can't talk about it over phone or something like that. Zack sighed and looked at the door. "she'll tell you the reason." someone knocked and Carlotta opened the door; that familiar face made Carmen angrier than she could imagine.

"you don't want another old friend to visit you, La femme rouge?"

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"always have a way of ruining everything now, don't you Argent?" Carmen said as the woman with short hair and glasses walked in.

Carmen's mother was confused and the twins looked like they were witnessing the world crumble before their eyes. Julia stepped closer and said: "Carmen listen. I know you're still mad at me and it's completely justified. but now is not the time to talk about our emotional baggage, ok?"

If she was still brainwashed, yet still was aware of what had happened between them she would've murdered her in the middle of her sentence; Carmen thought to herself.

"fine. why have you been over working Zack and Ivy bitc-" "we're working on the same thing as you." Carmen turned to the twins as one of her eyes twitched. Ivy awkwardly smiled and Zack just looked around; avoiding any eye contact with Carmen. Julia coughed to get her attention and continued: "We told them to not let you know. but we knew that sooner or later you were going to find out on your own. also we're the only group in ACME who knows about this. so don't worry." Carmen was still angry but she could see the reasoning behind it now. "ok... let's just go shall we?"

Brett was driving after Reagan yelled at him how she's fine and cool and definitely has a driving licence for half of the way. Reagan was staring out of the window; Brett sighed and said: "Reagan we're almost there. what's your plan?" she stuck her hand out of the window and turned to him, still visibly angry with him.

"nothing. we should wait at least an hour in the car cause he might've talked to his red friend; also she might come after him." He let out a breath and kept on driving. after 20-30 more minutes they stopped by an apartment.

Reagan looked up at the apartment and said: "3rd floor second house from the left. that's it." "Reagan if we're seriously going to stay here for an hour can I please get out? it's too hot in this hour specially in Cali!" Reagan rolled her eyes and then gestured him to get out of the car; and he did it swiftly. Reagan said out of the cars window: "don't get yourself killed although this is the safest neighborhood in all of the state." them she got the clipboard out of the car's dashboard. she looked for the young boy's actual name. "Jonathan Edward Hudson... jesus christ he has every right to use his gamer tag for everything. his parents named him after almost every white American politician." then she laughed a bit.

A whole flight with two of your old friends and your ex from South of America to North of it wasn't probably the brightest idea, but sometimes you had to do some stuff you didn't really like so it might end up being the highlight of your life; or something else Carlotta would've probably tell her.

Carmen had to tell the pilot where they wanted to go; and she had the call player to ask him which state he lived in which was embarrassing to ask from someone that you've been friends with for years.

"Carmen how many times should we apologise?" said Zack. She was sitting on a seat after theirs so she wouldn't have to speak to them; she said: "none but I'm still mad." the twins groaned in union. "We'll be there in 15 minutes." Julia came out of the Pilot's cabin as she said that. then she sat in front of her.

Carmen didn't say anything, but the other woman said: "if you wanna talk about it let's just talk about it." "alright." Carmen didn't even do anything but the twins went and sat at the farthest side of the plane from Julia and Carmen. "now let's hear how you excuse choosing your job over... anything." she wanted to say 'me' but changed her mind middle sentence.

Julia fixed her glasses and said: "I hope you know that I loved you as much as you did---" "but you loved your job more. I know that as well." and Carmen finally looked at her in the eyes. she didn't care that it was rude to interrupt someone she had the right to be mad as Julia stated so she did what she wanted. as Carmen looke at her, she could tell she was the same old Julia but the difference was even if they could make things right again; Carmen couldn't love her anymore ever again.

"Carmen... I... I'm sorry. I couldn't make a choice... I didn't deserve you." Julia's voice broke but she smiled to avoid tears; she continued: "it was hard for me as much as it was hard for you... I hope you can forgive me, if not now then... someday." the whole apology didn't seem what Carmen had in mind to happen and it didn't seem or feel real to her. she didn't even tell her the reason that she chose her job over her which was all she needed to know.

Carmen felt bad for making her sad and felt like a bitch about almost making her cry. "it's ok Julia. past is the past." she didn't even call her Jules anymore; cause that would sound fake as well. maybe they could be friends but even that seemed kinda too far from reality. she smiled at her and Julia smiled back.

The plane landed after a few minutes and as the three of them were getting out of it, Julia asked: "what are we doing in... California?" "this is where Player lives and those people have enough information to show up at his doorstep. but if we show up sooner than them," Carmen said and pointed to Ivy; then continued: "we'd be one step ahead."

it was almost 4 PM and Reagan was burning alive in the car. she called Brett and he picked up; he seemed to be in somewhere way too far away from where Reagan was cause there was music playing. "Brett. did you ditch me to go to get bubble tea while I'm melting in this damn car?" "YOU LET ME LEAVE YOURSELF!" Brett said loudly but not angrily, then he continued: "also why don't you just get out of the car?"

Reagan chuckled at how well she had guessed where he was and what he was doing. Suddenly she went silent. then said: "you think I didn't think of that? get one of those for me and come back I'm dehydrated as fuck." she in fact did not think of that. Reagan hung up and decided never to tell anyone that she didn't know that the car keys were in the car and she had stayed in the car cause she thought he had took them with him.

she got out of the car and went back to sit in the driver's sit as she said: "suck my dick Brett." but she didn't turn the car on; just grabbed the car keys and got out again. "Hey Reagan!" Brett came back after a few and handed her a bubble tea and she finished it so quickly. He said: "yeesh you should've called me sooner... did anything happen?" Reagan shook her head as she threw the cup right into a bin.

"we should get back to the car don't you think?" Brett asked and Reagan shook her head again ans said: "that'd be suspicious..." she felt like a detective, she laughed at the thought then turned to the sound of the wheels screeching far from them on the street. "I think that's them." as she pointed at a car that was being driven by the speed of 120 km/h, at the very least.

Chapter Text

"IVY SLOW DOWN WE'RE THERE."

Carmen shouted and Ivy hit the breaks. Julia and Carmen were in the back sits and the twins were in the front. when the car stopped Julia said: "that was the worst car ride of my entire life. even Devenaux didn't drive this fast."

"your welcome. if my sister wasn't driving we wouldn't have been here in 10 minutes."

all of them got out of the car and Carmen looked around to find Player's house. "number 45... third floor second one from the left. that's it." as she pointed at the building. Then she called player and told him they're there and after a few moments he came out. first thing he did was hugging Carmen and the the rest of the after her.

Julia said: "we gotta ask you some questions so can we come in or not?" "yea sure come in!" as they all walked in, Carmen looked around for a bit and then went in.

"oh shit I think she saw us."

said Brett as him and Reagan were still out but he was trying to hide. Reagan took a look at the so called, infamous Carmen Sandiego as she went into the apartment and said: "just as I expected. she's here." "who's sh--" said Brett and then he realised and gasped. "Carmen's here? how'd you know? her face wasn't in any of the picture we had of her." then she went in the car and Brett followed her, she said: "I'm also a scientist and you're just a white guy ok... don't worry I'm sure it's her." as they both waited in the car for them to leave the apartment.

She actually realised it was her cause she was wearing the clothes in her signature color, red. Her hair was also the other thing that gave her away.

They all were sitting and waiting for Player and Julia to get out of the room. Carmen kept on tapping her leg on the floor and said: "I'm gonna unlock the door and get in." but the twins didn't let her and stood in her way. "Carm no we're already way out of the ACME protocol we can't let you get in." said Zack.

Carmen could've easily went through them but she refused, she probably needed that help. also she probably needed to tell them what she saw when they were still out of the building.

she said: "fine but I have to tell you guys something... I think I saw one of those people in the street when I stepped in here." and explained what she saw. then after a few, Julia and Player came out of the room.

"well he said what he had said to Carmen." Said Julia as she saw that Zack, Ivy and Carmen had been really deep in their thoughts. she asked: "what happened here?" "she says she thinks that one of their people in here. she's seen a lady in a lab coat." Player sat on a sofa after walking through the crowd of 4 grown people and said: "that's normal if you ask me. lotta nurses and doctors live here. one example for that in my own parents." as he put his legs on the table to rest them.

The twins seemed reasoned with but Julia and Carmen had their doubts. "she didn't look like a person who works in a hospital... her hair was so damn messy like one of those crazy scientists in cartoons." "also she's been out in a car. I doubt she's from around here." Julia said as she was looking through a window. everyone in the room, including Player ran to the same window and looked.

That would probably give them away if the people outside had the suspension of that place being Player's house, Carmen thought; yet no one seemed to be thinking the same so she just looked out the window with them.

Julia stepped back and sat on a sofa then said: "you think we should talk to them or..." "probably. but I'll do it. you guys can leave." Carmen said in a serious tone that Julia didn't seem to like.

"this is the most boring mission ever Reagan!"

she turned to him and looked him dead in the eyes; then said: "do you really think I want to be here? our lives depend on that kid and his 'friend'." those three people came out of the building but the scarlet clothed woman wasn't with them. they left without even taking a look at the car they were in which left Reagan surprised.

they got on their car and left; way too slower than the speed they had arrived with. Reagan smacked her head on the horn and then got up angrily. "it seems the nosy bitch isn't gonna come out." Brett got out of the car and went next to Reagan's window, leaned closer to it and said: "I'm gonna get something to eat... this is more boring than I had imagined. you want anything?" "buy two of anything you're gonna buy. I'll pay for it later." he nodded and left.

Reagan continued on having a staring contest with the door of the apartment; waiting for something to happen. Her eyes were growing tired. she fell asleep and woke up again 3 times. "I'll rest my eyes a bit... I'll hear it when the door opens."

she slept for near 20 minute then woke up to the sound of door opening, thanks to her good hearing. she almost shouted 'FUCK YOU I WON'T WAKE UP AT 7 AM' until she remembered she was in a car, waiting for that woman to get out and she finally saw her leaving, holding the kid's hand.

Carmen had her jacket's hat on as she smiled to Player to make him sure nothing would happen to him. "excuse me ma'am!" Player and her stopped walking as they both turned to her; just she as she had expected.

it was the woman in the white coat who looked... a little insane. she looked like she hadn't slept in days. Carmen said: "yes? can I help you?" she smiled, but Carmen knew it was not out of happiness. "I'm Reagan Ridley... and I think you're Carmen Sandiego."

Carmen raised her brow and said: "how are you so sure?" she walked closer to Carmen and whispered in her ear: "I gotta ask the boy some questions. and if you resist I won't give you a warranty on you being able to see him again." "woah so violent. alright. You can take him."

as she tapped on Player's hand,  then let him go. He walked over to Reagan then Carmen whispered to him: "run." as she attacked Reagan, and Reagan attacked back, as if she had expected this to happen.

Player knew she'd be fine but he still made sure he could contact her like the old times as he went into the house. "now this isn't a nice way of meeting, is it Ridley? you don't look like the type who would tell their name on the first meeting." Reagan took a deep breath and said: "well you aren't wearing that lame fedora like you're in an 80s show so this is better than I expected, and you're right about the name. I just wanted you to remember the name of who you won't be getting rid of so easily."

Carmen attacked harder this time but the other woman caught her hands mid air. "Sandiego. I'm not sending you warning a second time the world shouldn't know the things we know." Carmen stepped on her leg which made her let her hands go.

The streets were so ridiculously empty.

on those moment it was only those two women there and they weren't beating the shit out of each other but rather trying to do so.

Reagan's had enough of Carmen and the lack of sleep was slowly kicking in but unfortunately her movements were right to the point and she didn't seem to be tired at all, she regretted having a shitty sleep schedule.

"I'm good Player don't worry." she heard Carmen say quietly. Then she said: "what does he have to do with you anyway?" Carmen rolled her eyes and then kicked her in the knee. "less talking more moving Frankenstein."

Reagan struck a nerve and stepped back, she couldn't deny that the hit hurt her. Then she saw that Brett was back. Carmen laughed and said: "you've had enough of me or is your friend gonna help you here?" "I DON'T NEED A MAN TO GO DOWN ON YOU BITCH!"

there was a second of awkward silence then both Carmen and Brett busted out laughing. "see you later... Ridley." Carmen said as she ran away.

Brett was still laughing as Reagan went back to the car, skipping with one of her legs. As they were both sat in the car Reagan shouted: "WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? WHY DIDN'T YOU CHASE AFTER HER?" once he stopped laughing, he looked at Reagan and laughed again until she punched his shoulder it almost made a crack sound.

"Ow ok... well my friend; going down on someone doesn't mean taking them down it means having... oral sex with them." Brett said and tried to laugh again but he was out of breathe.

Reagan laughed menacingly as he looked at him with worry in his face. she said: "just wait MYC... I'm gonna blow you to smithereens for this when this work is done." as Brett turned on the car, she turned to him and said: "I still don't know why didn't you chase after her."

"woah woah woah. I'm not getting on a fight if it's you or her. you're both good at that fighting stuff so... I would've been dead by now if I had followed her. YOU got hurt by her and you expect me to go after her? no damn way."

Reagan sighed and looked at her knee; it wasn't probably broken but it still hurt so much. some parts of her arms were injured as well but they weren't that painful to her. "if get my hands on you you're gonna have more than just some bruises."

after a few minutes that Carmen was sure they were gone, she told player to come out. she was just as bruised as the other woman but she had been through worse so it wasn't that much for her. "Red? where are you?" Carmen came out of the small alley and waved to him as she walked towards him.

He ran to her and hugged her saying: "are you ok? I know some first aid stuff I can help--" "I'm fine I'm fine I've been worse than this a million times let's go upstairs." as she chuckled at the thought of what Reagan said yet again.

It was almost 11 PM and Carmen and Player had talked and laughed so much about their old memories. they were sitting in silence for a while and they were eating some stuff until Player said: "if you don't mind me asking... what happened between you and Jules?"

She laid on the ground and stared at the ceiling. "she just said her job isn't a place for this stuff and rejected me so I stopped even being friends with her cause I also didn't have time for people who choose their job over me. like she could've just rejected me normally! stop making up dumb reasons." as she put some chips in her mouth.

Player seemed too stunned by what he heard. no one could believe that Julia had done that to her; even when she first told in to Shadow San he was surprised and he was never phased by anything.

Player said: "that was... unexpected." "I know. imagine how i felt back then." Carmen sat right up and drank some water this time. "this crazy Ridley woman seems to be so funny." Player said and Carmen turned to him and asked: "she is but how did you find out?" "I heard what she said over the thingy in your ear. Oh Carm you still treat me like I'm in highschool!" then they both looked at each other and busted out laughing. "Hey you're still a child to me you shouldn't know what that means!" then they both laughed again at that being said.

"I want to use her face as a punching bag." "Reagan it's almost midnight why aren't you leaving?" said MYC; who she also wanted to use as a punching bag but now wasn't a good time for that. She couldn't give them a reason to annoy her if she talked about it. she said: "I've spent nights in here so stfu." as she put her head back on the table.

"I still don't know what's happened... but are you ok honey?" Gigi said as she sat next to her. Glenn said from the other side of the table: "she's being... what do they call it... emo."

if Reagan wasn't that angry she would've laughed at that but on that second she wanted to kill everyone in that room and then herself. She looked up from the table; "when will the suffering stop!" as she put her head back on there again, she sounded miserable which was almost funny. it was so frustrating that someone so young could destroy the whole world by causing the third world war.

no one knew how much information he had so it made it even more difficult. Reagan was already having a terrible night and then her dad came into the room to make it worse. Rand said: "Hey people." it was heartwarming to Reagan how everyone hated her dad as much as she did in there so no one cared and they all kept on doing whatever they were doing.

"get the fuck out." Reagan shouted as she got up; her leg still hurt but she could walk normally. Rand clapped and said sarcastically: "thanks to everyone for welcoming me in here. specially my dear daughter." "what. do you want." she had a glass bottle in her hand behind her ready to smash it on Rand's head until Brett stood next to her and said: "sir what do you want here?" He took the bottle from her cause he knew she was gonna be in trouble if she did what she was planning on doing.

"listen you two. if you're gonna get rid of the problem; you should erase it if you can't find a solution." he said quietly to them and then left the room. Reagan took the bottle from him and smashed it on the ground. then she said: "I will bury him alive with my bare fucking hands." 

"Reagan don't be a fucking drama queen for fucks sake. you know your dad had a habit of doing shit like this." said MYC. Reagan sighed and went back to her seat.

it couldn't get worse than this. it just can't.

Chapter Text

"Are you sure I can stay here?" Carmen asked. Player said: "yeah totally! Even if my parents come back at midnight, I told them you're here. they're OK with it, don't worry." then Carmen agreed to stay. Player hugged her one last time and after saying goodnight went to his room; probably not sleeping. When she was sure he was gone; she got up on her bed (actually Player's parents' bed) and sat straight. "shit it's too dark." She got up and turned the lights on and she felt like she went fully blind. she whispered to herself: "alright why am I up... oh yeah I gotta check my phone to see if it's hacked." She knew that there was no ID or any proof that she was a living person but she might've put something on her phone to get it ruined or worse; track her wherever she is, whenever it is.

Reagan was staring into her laptop screen in the empty war room where only her and Brett were standing. "Reagan for the love of god stop this." Said Brett with a mug of coffee in his hand, also another one for Reagan that he put on the table. Reagan chugged the entire glass and said: "can you believe that this bitch is still at that house? and we can't do ANYTHING about it?" Brett sat down next to her and sipped his coffee. "we aren't doing what your dad said we should do... right?" Reagan looked at him who was smiling in a stressful way. She chuckled and said: "nah we're not. we might use some other way though..." and then looked back at the laptop.

She had left a tiny, almost microscopic camera with a tracker in Carmen's jacket when they were fighting. then she turned the sound on. "well I guess my phone is safe..." Carmen said in the laptop as Reagan smiled devilishly. she said: "you dumbass. I'm too smart for you." then Carmen got up and stepped to where her jacket was and shook it fiercely a bunch of times but the camera didn't fall or anything which made Reagan pleased. "Ridley if you're hearing this just know; I'm right here and I ain't afraid of you." Carmen said as if she could see her through the camera. Reagan shivered a bit and then flipped off to the screen of the laptop and said: "fuck you too Sandiego, with your corny superhero dialogue."

The next day came and Carmen was gonna leave and again Player didn't let her. "Red, I've finally met you after years and I'm not gonna let you leave anytime sooner!" She really didn't want to leave either but she was afraid she was gonna get him in more danger. But also she was afraid if he was alone Reagan and her male sidekick were gonna come for him, so she stayed. some hours passed and she felt like she was being watched in the bedroom she had slept in. she said loudly: "damn you Ridley I know you're watching me." and her phone rang, it was her mother. "hi mom how are youuuuuu?" she said in a sweet tone in the phone as she was spinning around the room with her middle finger up, hoping Reagan was seeing it. Carlotta said: "hi love I'm fine... why are you running Carmen?" she stopped right when she heard her mother. "No I'm not, I'm at Player's house... how are you?" and for 15 minutes straight she told Carmen to take care of herself; although she only thought Carmen and the others were on a vacation. Carmen couldn't imagine what would've happened if she found out she was on an even more dangerous mission than the last one.

"Little fucking bitch-" Reagan shouted and the whole room turned to her. and all of them sighed and said: "what happened this time." it wasn't even meant in a question way when they said it. She frowned and got up, "y'all are invested in what I'm doing now?" "well as we have realized, you're spying on someone which is interesting... on someone aka the person you just called a 'little fucking bitch.'" Gigi said as she made imaginary quotations in the air with her fingers. Reagan sat down again as she covered her own face then said: "yes and I probably need some help. I need to get to her phone." Andre put whatever the hell it was he was smoking away and got up. "I wish you wanted to dissect her. in that case I would've helped." he said. Reagan sighed and said: "no I'm not killing or dissecting anyone. especially when Rand said I should do something such as that."

No one in the room was surprised, "knew it. that was what he whispered to you and Brett wasn't it?" MYC asked and she nodded in response. Reagan was tired of staring at that screen, with Carmen in the room but she still had to be focused. "I'll get someone to do the phone thing." Gigi said. Reagan didn't look up and said: "and you don't want anything in return? woah, that's impressive." Gigi chuckled and walked over to her, "first of all you've been staring at this damn screen all night long... probably." Gigi looked at Brett who was falling asleep while sitting and he nodded. she sighed and continued: "also all of our lives are in danger so... I'll do it. Just give me the address and the job is done. be thankful that we all hate your dad." Reagan smiled weakly at her and then turned to monitor swiftly.

A day passed and in the morning Carlotta called her daughter again and told her to take care like the previous day. Carmen found it really sweet of her and although she knew it was cause of the distance they've had through the years she thought her mother was a little too overprotective. Both her and Player were sitting in the living room as the both sighed in reunion. "this is soooooo boring. I'd rather jump off a cliff than be this much bored." said Player. she said: "what should we do? we aren't safe if we go out. and trust me after those almost 2 years most of my days went like this... although back then we weren't involved in this situation." Player hummed under his breath and then said: "wanna play some games?"

And for almost 4 hours they played on his computer, then switched to Playstation. "I didn't know I'd do this well. how many times did I exactly beat you?" Carmen said to a grumpy, angry Player. He said: "my name is Player for God's sake you could've at least been the bigger person and let me win." as he rolled his eyes at Carmen. and then he busted out laughing as he saw that she was trying to comfort her. "Red I was joking, don't worry." then she heard her phone make a sound. she never got messages and her data wasn't on so that was strange to her a bit.

Carmen went to the bedroom and checked her phone. "AH FUCK." Player came swiftly to her from the living room and said : "WHY WHAT HAPPENED-" "...oh nothing go it's fine I thought I saw a... spider. but it's nothing." as she smiled at him. Player who didn't seem to believe she reacted that way to a spider said: "alright... I'm in my room if you need me Red." as he left. The message was from Reagan; cause her name was on the screen on the top of the chat where she had said: "hi Sandiego... it's who you love most<3" she wanted to throw her phone across the room cause of how furious she was, she didn't even know how the hell they had gotten to her phone when it had been more than 20 hours since they've last met. surely they hadn't gotten into the house Carmen lied to herself, knowing that was most likely the case.

"Thanks Gigi it actually worked." "what'd she say?" Reagan giggled and said to Andre: "nothing but she's seen the message." Andre walked away from where Reagan was sitting; "I still think dissection was an option too. a great, devious one even." he said as he sat next to MYC as always and MYC said: "you know devious isn't a good adjective right?" and then both of them laughed it off. Reagan rolled her eyes and then looked over to Brett. She pushed her chair to him. "Hey Brett, wanna annoy her with me?" his eyes glistened and he said: "yes she deserves it after making us wait in the car for hours." It was the first time Reagan saw him being interested in what they did. "you didn't even thou- never mind."

It had been hours since they decided to annoy Carmen through texts; Brett sent his texts with his name at the end which made Carmen send her first message. "what the hell is that name-" and he has gotten a bit angry at that text. Reagan said: "ok ok what should we do now... should we send threats?" Brett who was frowning and walking around, probably thinking of ways he wanted to kill Carmen answered: "yes do it! I mean I can't fight her but we can send threats to her... don't be rude too much though." He was obviously scared of her and Reagan but he had made Reagan his friend so it was good between them now. Reagan cracked her knuckles and got the phone from the table and typed, "everything aside. As you can see we know where you are. We got into your phone and everything." She felt like the time she used to leak little kid's IPs, she did it a bunch of time until JR told her it wasn't professional to do , as if all the other stuff they did were. 

"So just hand us the kid and this shit show is over. or else both of you will have your brains a little washed." Brett looked at the phone screen and said: "not gonna lie I expected you to be way more harsh but this is better." Reagan looked at the screen again and nodded to him. "yeah me too." a few minutes passed and as she was talking to Brett how much she hated her dad the phone made a sound. "I've been brainwashed before you dumbasses lmao." they read the text and stared at each other with their jaws on the ground, that was definitely not a joke.

Carmen laughed at herself while imagining what their faces should've been like when they read that text. Although the people she was talking to were dangerous, she didn't really care and she was having fun doing that. She decided not to tell Player anything, not cause he'd be scared (spoilers: he wouldn't) but cause he would want to join Carmen in making fun of them and that would've been not a bright idea cause he might've told them a lot of information just cause he thought it would be funny, and beside that he could've been meaner than Carmen and gave them more reasons to well… take him down if some sorts. she did the same but it wasn't dangerous, that would make them not try to brainwash her a second time cause it probably wouldn't work as well as they would think. Player knocked on the door and said: "Redddd I wanna order pizza what do you want?"

After they were finished, Carmen was pleased that there wasn't a new text from those two on her phone. she smiled. "Player you're right I'd rather jump off a cliff than just lay somewhere and stare at the roof." as they both sighed. Player who was also laying on a sofa and staring at the roof like her said: "you don't have any news from them?" she shook her head. until she saw she'd gotten a new message. Carmen picked her phone up and read the message to herself. "meet me tomorrow at 3 PM." Then she said out loud: "Guess who wants to meet us, Player." it was unexpected, she didn't think they'd leave her alone but instead send her death threats this time. Player sat where he was laid down; "WHO? THEM?" "yes… tomorrow and you are not coming if that's why you sound so excited."

His smile faded as she expected, he said: "you're acting like my mom Carm!" she sat straight and stretched her hands out. "Your mother would say no to you helping a thief aka me but I'm forbidding you from coming with me to see a bunch of... possible serial killers or worse, some sort of politicians… I'm sure they're not politicians but they're still dangerous. Either way, that's different for me." he was frowning at her with his arms crossed to his chest, though he wasn't a high schooler anymore she still saw him as one. He said: "we took down VILE together... why can't we do this one together?" "Well when me and my other friend took them down you were in your house talking to me and we'll do that again." as she showed him the earphone. He rolled his eyes and said: "alright. When do they wanna meet you? if it's around 7 until 3 then don't count on me. I have classes, tomorrow is Monday."

Reagan was mad that she had to go there again but at least she didn't have to wake up early this time. so when she woke up at 12 PM she showered, brushed her hair without the brush getting stuck in her hair and wore her clothes correctly and not messy. She called Brett while she was eating homemade food after ages around 2. "Brett, it's Reagan. you should pick me up in a few minutes. I hope you didn't forget that. see you." he didn't answer so she just left him a voice message. Then she checked her texts and Carmen had told her that she wasn't bringing Player. she didn't care cause the woman was the main problem, cause if the kid was alone they could have done something about it. Some moments passed and Brett knocked on her door. Brett and her got in the car again and he started driving. He looked at Reagan and said: "hmmm... did you do something with your hair?" She looked in the car's mirror and didn't see anything different about it, she was having her normal ponytail. "no Brett I always look like this just brushed it after like... a week." "So you did. Is it because we're meeting Carmen?" Reagan looked at him with the expression of someone who was ready to kill a man. Brett looked at her and looked back at the road as he saw her face and said: "ok I won't joke about it anymore. eyes on the road." "That's better, bestie." as she also looked at the road, she didn't know what she was gonna talk to her about but this was better than stalking her with no point in it.

"I would say I missed you but that would be a lie."

Chapter Text

Reagan rolled her eyes at her and said: "we aren't that thrilled to see you neither but here we are." then she pointed to the back seats. "before I get in, you gotta promise that Player is safe at the house." Reagan groaned and said: "the kid is safe it's just me and Brett. now get in." Carmen got in the car and closed the door so loud that Reagan almost got out of the car to have a fight again but Brett whispered to her: "it's fine the car isn't mine."

"ok ladies get out and go talk or something... Reagan you didn't fill me in what were you gonna do." Carmen got out and didn't hear the rest of their conversation and closed the door harder than before this time. she didn't have anger issues but she held grudges like she was holding to her life. she heard Reagan getting out the car and walking up to her, she said: "behave Sandiego. I don't have the nerve to deal with people." Carmen was waiting for her to say the rest of her sentence but it never came, she hated everyone it seemed. Reagan walked in a cafe and she followed her although she didn't want to.

after the waiter took their orders Carmen finally talked. "why did you bring me here?" they brought their drinks to the table and left. Reagan said as she swirled her espresso: "listen... if you share that secret and if you're looking for more proof so then you can expose the company a lot of lives would be in danger."

Carmen sipped her coffee and looked at her with a raised brow. "didn't you say something like that when I totally ended you?" as she smiled at her angry, furious face. Carmen continued: "and why would so many lives be in danger? aren't you the dangerous ones here who control the world?" Reagan blow on her drink and took a sip; "that's the point. we control the world and if we don't It'll be a disaster." "that's kinda reasonable," Carmen looked outside the cafe's window to find the man with Reagan in the car playing with his phone. she guessed that he was playing cause he was moving it too furiously for it not to be playing with it. she continued: "but does that mean the governments and all are fake cause you control everything?"

"you're asking too much Red." Reagan said as she finished her drink. she wanted to empty her head from what her dad had told her, she wasn't going to kill Carmen or a 15 year old child or anyone else except for Rand himself. That man had to suffer and die in her hands. She was insane but she wasn't a murderer unless she was killing someone who deserved it, also like her dad.

Carmen said: "Ridley I don't know what the point of this meeting is at this point to be honest." as she leaned on her chair, looking up and down to Reagan. "imagine how I feel. my dear shitty dad said I should just 'erase' the problem if I can't find a solution." She tilted her head and raise a brow. Reagan then realised not everyone knew who her dad was or what she said meant. so she said: "my dad... is the new runner of the incorporation. he told me I should just-" she imitated shooting her with her fingers in the head. Carmen let out a deep breath and just stared into the void in silence for a few minutes.

"perhaps we can work on a solution so no one has to die." "don't sweat it I've thought about it and I'm a scientist. absolutely no way out. even if you and your friends promise or keeping an oath on never talking to anyone about this or something, they'll kill you or worse..." she didn't want to bring up the fact that they still didn't know what happened to the former runner of the company. even if he was still the runner, he'd tell Reagan to kill them or he would send others to do so. Reagan had so much in her head that she just smashed her head on the table like she did back in her work. Carmen's eyes widened at that action and she said: "are you ok Ridley?" Reagan thought to herself: 'you're so pathetic that even your nemesis pities you.'

Carmen was actually worried for her when she asked that. "sorry sorry...I just hate my dad... I hate my mother too but the destructions my dad has left in my life are countless."

Carmen scoffed and said: "you did look like someone who'd have mommy and daddy issues... kinda same though." Player finally broke the silence and said: "RED ARE YOU LISTENING TO HER TRUAMA DU-" and Carmen cut his voice off. she knew he could still hear them but she did it anyway. Reagan crossed her arms and put it on table then put her head on he hand while facing the window. "I was about to be the new president of the company but he took it away from me. my all life long work which HE made me think was my dream." Carmen was starting to actually feel bad for her cause it seemed they both have been through hell somehow. then she asked: "if you were the president would you kill us or not?" Reagan looked at her and sat right up.

"still no. and also if I were the runner you would've never found out this whole shit existed. I wouldn't let 15 yearold teenagers hack our systems. and yes again this is my dad's fault." then a few seconds passed in silence. Carmen was kinda relieved that she wasn't that much of a horrible person to kill them. Reagan smiled and said: "sorry for all this truama dumping I'm just... really clueless of what might happen." "look Ridley. my life wasn't that easy neither. so I kinda get it. having horrible parent or no parents almost feels the same... although living terrible parents might make your life way worse that you would want them dead." she then started thinking about Graham.

He wasn't an orphan he just ran away from his home at a really young age and he never specified what age.

"shouldn't we be arguing about the ways we want to kill each other?" "well you can go on and name some of the ways... let me guess... you've made a potion that can make my death look like an accident." Reagan laughed and said: "thanks for the idea but no." and they talked for like an hour before realising it's been that long.

They left at 6:10 PM which was way later than neither of them had expected. when they went hack to the car, Brett had fallen asleep. then Reagan slowly opened his door and shouted: "BRETT WAKE UP THE WOMAN HAS ESCAPED AND NOW SHE'S GONNA TELL EVERYONE WHAT WE ARE!"

Brett jumped from his seat and hit his head on the roof of the car. then both of the girls bursted out laughing and then both of them sat in the back seats of the car. "that was not funny Reagan I hope you know that." Brett said and started the car, thence was surprised that Reagan wasn't sat next to him and was in the back seat. Brett turned back to them and tightened his eyes. Carmen was sitting on the left and Reagan on the right, both of them looking angry. he said: "you know you two don't have to sit in the same place right?" "yes I know but I feel more comfortable here and if she wants to she can leave with her legs." as they both looked at each other with hatred. "oooook." as he started driving.

Carmen and Reagan were still trying not to laugh from what Reagan did to him. they arrived in 30 minutes to Player's house. "thanks for dropping me off." Carmen said as she got out of the car. she looked at Reagan with a frown and continued: "although seeing you people is my least favourite thing." and she left. Reagan opened her window; "fuck you too Sandiego." as yet again she showed her middle ginger to Carmen and she did the same to her as she went in the apartment.

"Reagan what was all that?" she looked at him with a confused expression through the mirror and asked: "what do you mean??" He turned and frowned at her, then pointed at the front seat next to his. Reagan groaned and went and sat next to him as he looked at him like she was done with life which she actually was. "what?" "what did you two 'talked' about exactly?" Brett said with a raised brow. Reagan thought for a bit to come up with a good thing to say, but also not lie.

she said: "uh... we didn't really talk about the issues we had with one another." which wasn't a lie. then she though bit more. "what did you talk about then when you couldn't even stand the fact that she was alive until yesterday?" Reagan frowned at him this time and he said: "yeah you never said that but you did hate her!" She then covered his mouth, still frowning. "what do you mean 'did'? that bitch is capable of getting us killed I hate her but if I don't want her to die doesn't mean that I have some kind of secret hidden love for her!" she then let go of him and sat right up on her seat and said: "now let's go to that hell hole." Brett who definitely didn't believe what she said and knew something had happened between her and her 'rival' that day.

Player had been frowning at her for the past hour without talking to her. "Player this is then 10th time I'm apologising to you for cutting your sound off." she said but he was still quiet and angry. Carmen came up with and idea and got up; she said: "well if you're not talking to me I'm gonna lea--" "I listened to your whole conversation."

she knew that he could listen but she shivered for some reason when she heard that. "ok what do you think?" Carmen asked him. Player ran swiftly and sat next to her and said: "why did you talk to her like that why were you truamabonding with your nemesis???" his eyes were glowing and his expression was so curious for knowing what was all that he heard. "I thought maybe we can use her for information..." Player looked her dead in the eyes and the started laughing out loud. Carmen frowned and elbowed him, then said: "what's so funny about that?" "well... you see here Red, you would never and I mean NEVER take advantage of someone for information... although you've been used for the same thing." as he put his head on her shoulder. Carmen put her arm around him and said: "you're right... I don't know why but it was nice talking to her. and now I miss Graham." She thought about him when she talked to Reagan and she remembered they haven't talked since she was released from the hospital.

"well you wouldn't believe who called me today."

Brett was annoying the shit out of Reagan by telling everyone she had a crush on 'someone'. luckily for her he didn't specify who they were. then she slammed her fists on the table and shouted: "BRETT IF YOU DON'T SHUT THE FUCK UP I WILL TEST A FEW INVENTIONS ON YOU THAT ARE GUARANTEED DEADLY." and the whole room went quiet. Brett went to her as she was furiously staring at him. "haha... so you won't kill Sandiego but you would kill me. YOUR BESTIE over someone you know nothing about."

Reagan took a deep breath so she wouldn't punch him in the face for saying that nonsense to her face. then she said: "Brett. my beautiful gorgeous but fucking dumb best friend. there's nothing between me and Sandiego I still want to fuck her up-" "see you just said you want to have sexual intercourse with her." he said as he ran out of the room and Reagan followed her as her eyes were filled with red out of anger. "WHITE MAN I'M GONNA FUCKING END YOUR ASS." she shouted as they both ran out of the building. Brett was out of breath so he stopped and said: "ok alright... no more running I'm sorry." Reagan laughed devilishly as she was gasping for air, then slowly walked over to him and punched him in the elbow.

"now you will turn around and tell them that this was a stupid joke." "but I know that it's true anyway Reagan. you love her." Reagan broke her knuckles as a warning for Brett and he just ran back to the building as he tripped over a rock cause it was dark. Reagan smirked and slowly walked back inside as well.