"Are you out of your mind?!" Fennec shouted. "We can't just waltz in there saying hey neighbor wanna share cupcakes saying 'kill me' in icing?!"

      "We sneak in, steal some info, leave unharmed & smarter." Dale said matter-of-factly.

      "He's literally searching the world for us! Imagine we're deer during hunting season. They don't just walk up to the hunter." Rose argued. 

       "Why? Are you... scared?" Dale smirked & raised an eyebrow.

      "I'm not scared but I'm not stupid either. You probably can't even think straight because you're sleep deprived." Rose rolled her eyes.

"You can't stop me. I don't care if you want to hide under the covers all day but I'm going to steal some information that could actually turn the tide-with or without you." Dale narrowed his eyes & turned to walk out the door. Fennec caught the back of Dale's shirt before he could leave.

"Sleep first. Then we'll go."
"Yes!"
"Only to make sure you don't get yourself killed."

                                       &&

Calla and Reed hugged Dale.
"Be careful son." Calla put her hand on Dale's cheek. He sheepishly pushed it down, but Calla came back with a hug.

"I'm only going to sneak in & out, I'm not gonna get hurt." Dale tried to break out of the embarrassing gesture. Rose & Fennec stood by the door, chuckling to each other at the scene before them.

      "Let's get going Dale." Rose gestured her hand for him to follow. By the time Dale was finally set free from his parents, Fennec had already started the gray pickup truck. The seats were an unflattering shade of brown, but the three were grateful they at least had a ride. Rose got in next to him, & Dale sat in the back. Calla & Reed watched the three drive off, waving until they couldn't see them anymore. Dale rolled his eyes when he saw Rose smile.
"It's like they think I'm going off to fight in a war." Dale sighed.

"They're just worried about you Dale. I mean we're like superheroes. We don't necessarily have the easiest lives." Rose replied, hinting back to her own past troubles.
"Yeah but they treat me like a baby, like I can't take care of myself."

"Sometimes you act like it..." Fennec murmured, loud enough for Dale to hear. Dale lightly punched Fennec in the shoulder to which he replied, "I'm driving!" That ended the argument. All Rose did was roll her eyes again & look out the window.

"I can't believe I'm finally gonna see North City! It's the biggest city in the world, & I've dreamed of going ever since I was little." Rose beamed when she saw the unique skyline of North City.

"Remember guys, we're supposed to be hiding. Any one of these people could be spies." Fennec said. Rose clearly wasn't listening, her face plastered to the window.

"I guess I understand why my parents kept me at the house when I was a kid." Dale gulped. Rose turned around in her seat.
"Are you, Dale Trevor Watson, nervous?" She almost laughed.

"No! It's just, the big city is kind of unsettling." Dale chose not to look out the car window anymore. Fennec noticed people watching the gray pickup truck driving down the road, so he pulled Rose towards the center of the car, just as he turned down an empty road.

"What gives, Foxxly?" Rose asked before realizing where they were. Ruins lined the empty streets, & there was debris & litter everywhere. "You know, I kinda see what you mean Dale." She stared in horror at the abandoned part of the city. A giant bomb went off about a year before, & no one decided to go back. No wonder this is where the lair was.

Fennec parked the old truck on the side of the road. All dressed in black, the three got out of the car.

"To avoid being spotted, we'll have to walk the rest of the way." Rose whispered. The three heroes nodded & slowly walked down the road. After about 15 minutes of creeping around, Dale pointed to an old factory.

"There it is!"