Episode 8: A Penny Saved

Trouble With UFOs

by Toni Walker

EPISODE 8: A Penny Saved

Clarke Jenkins wasn't in a good frame of mind. He'd just discovered that the military was keeping things from him. That fact wasn't surprising, it was the MO of the place. But he needed to know when the advancements in technology started effecting the nanites he was injecting into his subjects. 

His feet pounded down the hallway toward the General's office. Jack Osborne was standing nearby as he passed him.

"You can't go in there," Jack said. "McCabe is not in a forgiving mood."

"He's keeping things from me."

"He's keeping things from everybody. Where have you been? This place works on the theory "the fewest people as possible need to know."

"Those foreign nanos in Taffy's blood. They have to be some kind of experimental thing. And experiments of that kind only happen here, in Area 51." Clarke eyed McCabe's door.

"Even if it's true. Which I'm not saying it is. McCabe is not going to admit to something like that. He's had bigger bullies than you try to pry information out of him." Jack glanced around and pulled Clarke to the side. "Let me do a little digging. See what I can find."

Clarke exhaled, a sure sign he was not ready to confront a 3 star General about something he had no proof on. "All right. But I'm not giving up on this theory."

"I'm not asking you to."

Jack and Clarke went their separate ways. Jack moved toward the military area which was guarded by sentries twenty-four hours a day, while Clarke moved toward the scientific sections walking past Jared Watson. Clarke didn't offer even a glance in his direction. Working conditions at Area 51 weren't friendly. There were many foreign-looking doctors milling around focused on their own projects. He was just one of many. 

Jared pulled an odd shaped device out of his pocket. It was basically a specialized tracker for the nanites Taffy had in her blood. The beacon beeped slowly indicating Taffy was probably asleep. The tracker gave him the most direct route to her room without running into guards. It would be a winding path but well worth it. 

Jared smiled at a young girl who seemed determined to get to Jenkins office but he paid her no mind. That off the cuff decision had been a big mistake because the perky Penny definitely noticed him. 

"Hello, Mister Stranger," Penny said to herself. She had a great memory and she knew she hadn't seen tall, dark and Indian at the facility before. As he walked toward the civilian Concourse, Penny followed silently after him.

"Where are you going?" she whispered to herself. She watched as he moved from the area the scientists gathered to the civilian section. The man seemed to know exactly where he was going. Either that or the device he was carrying was leading him somewhere.

Before she could move forward a hand covered her mouth and pulled her back into a dark corner. She didn't scream because the voice that whispered in her ear belonged to Carter Wayne.

"You had a tango coming up quickly behind you."

"So, you decided to play hero and save me?" Penny said with the frustration of a teenager. "For your information, I was following a man who doesn't belong here."

"Oh, yeah? Who?"

"Indian dude carrying a techno device. He went that a way."

A concerned expression covered Carter's face. "Stay here." He quickly moved in the direction the Indian man had gone.

"I don't think so," Penny said. "Nobody puts Penny in a corner."

***

Carter Wayne knew exactly who Penny had described. That could mean only one thing: they'd sent an operative from Section 57 into the facility.

He didn't have time to explain to Penny how he was familiar with such an outfit. He'd lose her respect for sure. He checked some of the popular civilian areas but eventually found Jared Watson hovering outside Taffy's apartment.

Penny wasn't deterred by Carter ditching her. She'd learned a long time ago to never give up. She came up behind him. He was crouched down trying to stay out of view. Penny came up beside him and mimicked his stance. "What's the plan, kemosabe?

Carter jerked in surprise.

"You shouldn't have followed me. This could be dangerous."

"Yeah, dangerous for Taffy. That man is making quick work of the door and Taffy is out for the count."

"What do you mean?"

"Jenks put a whammie on her. He put a single nano into a drop of her blood and she seized up. Crazy, huh?"

"Yeah, crazy." The wheels in Carter's mind were working at light speed. "That means she can't protect herself."

"Pretty much, which is why I was following the dude to begin with," Penny said with attitude. Then she became quickly animated. "He's getting inside."

Carter and Penny crossed the promenade. Their actions drew the attention of other people on the concourse. Penny always wondered if mixed in with the civilians were undercover military tattle tales. Today would be a good day for them to come out of the shadows.

"What exactly is the plan here?" Penny asked. "Do we go in guns blazing or do you take him off guard with a joke?"

"We don't have guns, but a loud distraction might work."

"What are you expecting here? We don't have explosives."

"We just need a loud noise, any loud noise." As he said that a light came into his eyes, a light of inspiration. "And I know exactly what we can do." Carter slipped into the crowd and disappeared into the Concourse.

"Yeah," Penny said slowly. "Just leave the teenager alone. I can handle it. No problem."

Penny peeked in the door expecting to see the Indian lurking inside. Funny thing was... he was no where to be seen.

"What the heck? No way!"