Perifidy

Chapter Four: Date Night

Six and Kade stood across from each other in her office, Ash standing closer to the door.

"Quite the daring escape, Professor." Six remarked, looking over his report. Kade chuckled, lighting his Marlboro cigarette. He once again offered one to her, she waved it away. He offered it to Ash. She also refused.

"What do you think is on the flash drive you secured?" she asked, putting the manila folder full of neatly typed documents to the outer corner of her desk.

"Hard to say, the files I was downloading were encrypted, I'll have to borrow a decryption program from Grace in order to sift through them all." Kade said. Dokkaebi was often the go to authority when it came to anything computers, IQ and Twitch also getting consulted often on gadgets and a myriad of technical problems.

"Other than Dokkaebi, do you require any other operator's assistance in sorting through these files?" Six asked. Kade thought for a moment.

"No, I shouldn't. Though, if any interesting IP addresses pop up or hidden firewalls and encryption programs appear, I'll be sure to enlist the help of the geek squad." he said. Ash laughed at this, but, quickly composed herself when Six raised her eyebrow/

"I would appreciate you not to refer to our technical experts as the 'geek squad', professor." she said, a faint smile on her lips. Kade grinned and saluted,

"You know I jest, I respect their intellect is far above my own in such matters.". Six smiled, gesturing to the door.

"Good, take your leave operators, Professor, keep me updated on your progress." she said. Ash and Kade saluted, leaving the office. It was after they passed the threshold of the main compound that Ash burst out laughing,

"Geek squad?!" she guffawed, holding her sides. Kade took a drag from his cigarette,

"Does it surprise you that I can make a good joke every now and again?" he said. Ash wiped a tear from her eye,

"Yeah, kinda. I guess you have 'em saved up, try not to use them all in one place." she teased, walking ahead of him towards the training facility. Kade sighed, throwing his cigarette on the ground and snubbing it out. Today was going to be a long day of work.

Ela was fidgety. She had been all morning. The previous night was a blur, a drunken celebration of a mission almost gone wrong gone right. She could only remember reveling in the fact that Kade had somehow come out of the ordeal alive. Ash had just come back from their report to Six and was telling IQ, Twitch, and Dokkaebi Kade's new pet name for the trio. Twitch couldn't help but chuckle, while IQ looked over at Ela,

"Oh, I'll show him geek squad." she said, giving Ela a sensuous wink. Ela threw her plastic fork at IQ. Dokkaebi seemed confused,

"We are, technically, the geek squad though, yes?" she said. Valkyrie spit out her water, laughing hysterically. Ash was doubled over, almost on the floor. Thermite, Bandit, and Lion approached them, setting down their plates of food next to their friends.

"So, something good must have happened at ze briefing, spill." Bandit said. Ash, through fits of laughter, explained Kade's joke. Thermite and Lion roared with laughter, while Bandit quietly chuckled,

"Zhat is a good joke, fits Monica perfectly." he said, making eyes at her. She rolled her eyes,

"You and ze boys come back from a mission, Dom?" she asked. Bandit nodded wearily,

"Yes, simple breach and clear, but ze white mask vere very, ah, persistent." he said dryly. She laid her hand on his,

"Vell, enjoy your time off for now." she said comfortingly. Blitz took a seat down next to them,