City of Liberty                                                                                                                                                                                               Now

"So what you're saying is," Said Jackson, looking at Spyke with an amused expression, "You! The guy who ratted me out to the police minutes ago, want our help in killing some extinct species?"

"Look." Spyke said, examining the police car they were locked in. "It looks like you little criminals are being let free. For now."

"Uh, for your information, doush-bag, I'm not little, I'm sixteen. And the cops guarding us are gone. We can just waltz out of here anytime we want."

"And for your information, kid, you are locked unarmed in a police car in a city under siege." Chloe butted in. "And I am armed. Try my patience any further and you just might be forced to respawn."

"And we should listen to you why?" Jackson forced a laugh. "The explosions are probably just the rest of the cops looking for us, not Octo-"

"I have the athourity to shoot you where you sit! I WORK FOR THE NSA!"

"The assassination stalker group?" Jackson said with heavy sarcasm. 

"'Ey, 'ey 'EY!" Spyke had to grab Chloe's arm to prevent her from shooting Jackson. "Like ah told Chloe, it looks like we are on da same side." He shot Jackson a stern look. "... Even if we 'ave been enemies'n da past."

"As in five minutes ago?" Jackson forced a smirk, ignoring Spyke's stern look as if it meant nothing. "And I still consider us enemies. You ratted me out to the police. And Rin too, probably! I don't even know how the cops found her!"

"Stealth copter." Rin muttered. "I didn't see Mr. Urchin, though."

"So how about you let us out, and we don't swear a bloody vengeance on you." Jackson said, ignoring Rin. He shot Spyke a double thumbs up with a cheesy smile. "C'est bon?"

"Ya talk perty big fer someone behind bars." Spyke said, smirking.

"And you talk pretty big for an unarmed snitch."

"Wait." Chloe looked at Spyke, puzzled. "You said there were three. I see only two."

"We didn't agree to no shit yet!" Jackson called from the car.

"Uh," Spyke started, ignoring Jackson, "First of all, ah never said dere were three, ah said ah have some suggestions. An' second... ah actually 'ave no idea where da third is." Spyke looked at Rin. "Where's yer little servant?"

"Servant?" Chloe didn't look any less puzzled. "What kind? What possible use do you require a servant for?"

"Uh, now might nay-"

"Who, CARMAN?" Rin looked shocked. "He isn't going with some talent-less Urchin, an ugly Shrimp and a cowardly assassin. No way, no going to happen." She glared at Spyke. "And he's dead, thanks to you. Do you know how long he takes to charge?"

"Wait... wait." Chloe looked at Spyke. "I'm confused, are you meaning to tell me you 'third person' is an advanced robot?"

"Advanced?" Spyke shifted his weight uncomfortably. "Ya might say 'at." Jackson rolled his eyes at this.

"CARMAN is only useful for navigation and little else." Rin said, "but he can be helpful with other-"

"A navigation unit." Chloe seemed stunned. "Your big, important third suggestion is a navigation unit? Really?"

"Well, maybe-"

"Well maybe," The Shrimp interrupted, "If you tell us what your big damn 'plan' is, actually, then maybe we can find some volunteers for it."

"I swear, I'm going to kill-"

"Chloe!" Spyke exclaimed. "No killin' anyone." He looked at Jackson. "Unless we 'ave ta." He whispered, directing the remark to Jackson.

"Why?" She spat, glaring. "The criminals aren't coming. The don't want to, and can't be convinced."

"Damn straight!" Jackson exclaimed, shushed by Rin who elbowed him in the ribs.

"And, as you pointed out already, they are criminals! Responsible for deaths! They don't deserve to live!"

"Gee, thanks sunshine."Jackson mumbled.

"Chloe." Spyke said in a 'Let's all be reasonable' voice, "Ah think it would be best, fer everyone, if ya told us what yer plan is up front."

"Yeah!" Jackson and the Shrimp said at the same time, then exchanged annoyed confused glances.

"Agreed." Rin spoke softly, but obviously interested.

Chloe shot a 'really?' look at Spyke, then sucked in a deep breath. "Fine. But I want verbal confirmation, from you two specifically," She glared at Jackson and Rin. "That you will agree to my plan, and follow my orders."

"You're not in a position to make demands." Jackson said in a tired voice.

"Are you serious?" She looked like someone just asked her if Inklings existed. She sputtered, twitched and curled her hands into fists. She let out a cry of frustration before she retreated behind Spyke. She shoved him in the direction of the car. "Mr. Spyke, would you please kindly tell these... these... these people to help me in my plan? Thanks!" She said before Spyke could respond. 

Spyke looked back over his shoulder at Chloe expectantly, but she had her arms crossed and was giving him a pleading look. He sighed, and walked up to Rin and Jackson. "Now, look 'ere-"

"No, you look here, ugly!" Jackson said. "You can't just take as away. I know that. I know I need a trial or some shit. I know my rights!"

"No, ya don't."

"Okay, but I know I have rights, and that's basically the same thing. You need our respect to get any assist from us. In anything."

"Okay... 'ow do ah get tha'?"

"You need to do something for us." Rin said. "Something that I would respect you for."

"Why do you have respect him? Doesn't my opinion matter here?" Jackson asked.

"No, because your favor would be something immature, like asking this lady here if her body could be yours for a night."

"Your point?"

Chloe looked disgusted. "Wait, are you- Kid, that is disgusting!" She turned red. "How old ARE you?"

"Hey, shut up lady! Anyway, I wouldn't say that... usually."

"Hey, you're not even of AGE to do that!"

"Uh, yes I am?" Jackson raised his eyebrow. "Sixteen, remember?"

"NOT. OF. AGE."

"Uh, yes?" Jackson smirked. "Fourteen is sex, sixteen is driving, eighteen is porn and twenty-one is drugs and alcohol!" Chloe winced at the words 'sex' and 'porn'.

"Hey kid? A word of advice? Don't argue with a government official about the legal age to-"

"Uh, hello?" Chloe had forgotten about Rin. "Can we just stop arguing for a MOMENT and listen to my favor suggestion?"

"Why, what do you want?"  Chloe snapped at Rin. "A way to escape? Free coupons to arowana mall, in the capital of the world? Ooh, I know! How about a bed alone with Spyke? Or Johnny pink here? Or maybe your pretend boyfriend?" 

"Hey!" Exclaimed Spyke, the Shrimp, Jackson and Rin in unison, then exchanged confused glances.

"No... uh, no." Rin said, embarrassed. "That not what I meant. What I mean is, on of our friends fell in battle because of my immature traveling companion here," She gestured to Jackson with her eyes, as he sighed, "And I need your help to bring him back."

"Kid," Chloe started, "I can't restore life to another living-"

"He's not living!" Rin blurted out. Chloe looked confused. "I mean Carman. Can you, quickly please, charge him?"

A wave of understanding visibly changed Chloe's expression. "Oh. Your little GPS thing?" Rin nodded sadly, looking at her shoes. "Yeah, kid, I always carry a spare charge. I use it as a taser, usually, but-"

"Great!" Rin's face lit up instantly. "Can you..."

"Yes." Chloe looked around her. "But... Where is he?"

"Front of the car."

"Ah." Chloe walked up to the door, and walked back with the flat-screened GPS. "This him?"

"YES!" Rin looked like she wanted to hug everyone in the world. "You charge him through the outlet, usually." When Chloe shot her a confused glance, Rin added: "On the back?"

Seeing the little outlet, Chloe pulled out a small piece of copper-colored metal from her belt. She stuck it into the outlet, and sparks flew while a deafening scream pierced through the air.

Nothing happened at first. Rin's eyes were starting to tear, and everyone else held their breath. Then...

"Thanks doc." CARMAN's face lit up, eyes halfway closed. "Will I ever play the oboe again?" 

"CARMAN!" Rin rejoiced, and a massive smile spread across her face. Jackson just rolled his eyes. Rin reached for the GPS through the bars.

"Just a moment." Chloe said. She held up her hand separating the device from Rin's confused face. "We had a deal, remember?" She looked at Rin expectantly. "Agree to my plan."

"Why the hell should I- or, we," Jackson said, annoyed. "Should we agree to a plan we don't even know is yet?" He pulled Rin close to his chest, which she sobbed into.

"Because," Chloe started, with gritted teeth. "I'm an NSA agent, and just saved your friend's life." She scowled at Jackson. "Wasn't that the agreement? Or do you still want to bang me?"

"Hey!" Jackson said, defensively, raising his arms for emphasis. "I don't wanna go and 'bang' you. Who would want to do that?"

"Hey, hey, hey." Rin said, and wiped tears from her eyes. "...You're right, miss. I did agree to that. But please, don't argue anymore, please! It's enough trying to put up with Jackson each day."

"Hey!"

"But we'll agree to your plan." When she saw Jackson shaking his head, she quietly slugged him on the shoulder. "Even if the most immature of us don't want to." Jackson rolled his eyes.

"OK." Chloe seemed satisfied, but then surveyed Jackson. "What about you, little boy blue?"

"NOT. LITTLE!" Jackson protested, and crossed his arms.

"I need a verbal 'yes' that you'll agree." Chloe looked extremely smug.

"But I don't wanna-" Rin slugged him again. He shot her a puzzled look, but she just motioned him to agree. He sighed, realizing his options were limited. He looked at Chloe with a look of hatred strong as acid, and she managed to look even more smug. "... All right, lady. I'll dance your dance." He gripped his hands on the bars, tightly clenching them. "But a song can't go on forever, now can it? The DJ has to switch beats at one point." He changed his expression, looking slightly happier. "And when that happens, we'll be dancing to a different tune."

"Sounds good to me." Chloe said, ignoring him. "Mr. Spyke?"

"Ahm onnit!" Spyke exclaimed. He opened the door with the bars, from the outside latch. Rin and Jackson hopped out, and Rin had to grab Jackson's hand to prevent him from attacking Chloe.

"Ready to hear it?" Chloe asked.

"Yes." Everyone said in unison, except for Jackson who said "No."

"Great!" Chloe said, ignoring Jackson again. "Huddle up." When they were in a huddle, Chloe started with a small whisper: "Okay, so here's how we'll save our fellow citizens..."