Update! Read it... Too lazy to do anything else...

Chapter 6

Flying Blind

"K! J!" Zed's voice carried over the din of the extraterrestrial airport, bringing the busy area to a silence. The two MIB agents turned to their superior and straightened their posture slightly. "Why did it take my two best men TWO hours to track down a couple of unstable civilians?!"

"We hit some traffic 40,000 feet up in the air." J quipped, flashing his boss a grin. K was a little more respectful… but by just a smidge.

"A warm welcome, old friend." He responded. Zed gated up to them, a frown covering his usually smart-aleck face. "What went wrong?"

Zed glowered at the two men.

"An entire village of nearly fifty individuals was squeezed!" THAT shut K and J up. "And all our probes picked up were about five seconds of video before they were taken out too."

"Wait. You sent the Archillian drones?" K blinked. "They are our best surveillance! What happened?"

The head of the MIB gave him a look that was as fearful and unsure as it was steely.

"The perps knocked them out before they could get sufficient information." Zed responded. "We are not messing with some sloppy alien nutcases, boys. And they're making their way through that jungle taking out villages systematically. TELL me you have some good news, K."

K sighed, his emotions channeled more toward the grave situation.

"We've found Woods and Schaefer and they are willing to help us." The MIB agent panned back towards the elevator. Zed and J's eyes followed too.

But to their surprise, they saw Woods pressing a button and the elevator's doors closing over her and Schaefer.

"Shucks!" K spat out darting to the elevator, J right behind him. "Woods! Schaefer!"

Then the doors closed. K barked out a curse and yelled at the nearest MIB technician to stop that elevator.

In the elevator, Alexa Woods held her hand to her mouth, holding in a dry sob instead of a cough. Schaefer stood beside here, face as straight as ever, sucking in the last of his cigar. That was too much for her; Alexa was at her breaking point. She had it in her mind to run; like she had been doing for the past five years. Then the elevator squealed to a halt. Looking up, Alexa saw Schaefer's hand on the emergency kill button. She glared at him, her mouth flapping open with an unuttered growl.

"You are doing a find job of blowing this opportunity out of your butt, lady." Schaefer grunted, taking a last swig of his cigar before dropping it on the floor and grinding it out with the tip of his combat boot.

"Shut up! You have no clue!" Alexa hissed, lunging at his hand to tear it away from the elevator console. But her wrist was caught and yanked down faster than she could get near enough to touch a button.

"I do know, Woods." Schaefer returned, his teeth suddenly clenched as he looked at her. "This is a second chance to set matters right. Turn your back now and all those that died, did so in vain."

Alexa knew that he was right; she knew it with every fiber of her body. Faces flashed across her mind; Miller, De Rosa, Weyland and even the face of Scar, her warrior alien friend. All who died by the claws and beaks of those serpents, would have perished uselessly. The mark on her face, christened to her by Scar, served as a reminder of the needless slaughter of her friends. Would she let that happen again?

"Push that fear to the back of your mind." Schaefer dropped her hand. "It's why you survived in the first place."

Biting her quivering bottom lip, Alexa swallowed and looked away from the man's mirrored sunglasses.

"Good girl." The ex-major congratulated before taking his hand off of the kill switch. The elevator churned before moving again.

K felt Zed's eyes heating up his back as they watched the elevator. The senior agent had a gut feeling about the MIB's two newest helpers. Schaefer wasn't going to leave without his revenge and neither was he going to let Woods slow him down. At least the world could count on the ex-major's heard headedness. Woods while jumpy and scarred, had a determination and a lot of fight still left in her. But they still had yet to face down the demons from their past.

"The planet is looking more and more screwed as we speak." Zed stroked his goatee. J laughed a little.

"Y'all should have that on a plaque hanging above the Observation." The younger agent pointed at the tall oval screen that displayed alien activity. "Because with every approaching demise, our cute little mud ball looks royally hosed."

Zed's shoulders bounced in a sarcastic laugh.

"Both of you worry too much." K turned back to his superior and partner. "Try to think positive… like…- what cells we're gonna use lock those Yautja in."

J shrugged and nodded.

"That's a happy thought, there. Mine is when the good Major gets to go home. The dude don't like me." He stated.

"We all don't like you, junior." Zed remarked, just to annoy the younger agent. J sniffed and ran his middle finger through his very short black hair.

Finally the elevator's doors opened. Schaefer stepped out with Woods at his side. The platform lowered them to the lobby level and once again they were looking K and J in the eye.

"You two nearly had me worried." K said. Then he looked at Alexa. "Nearly."

Then K tipped his head toward Zed.

"This is Chief Zed. Head honcho of the MIB agency." The man, maybe five years older than K, gave a warm nearly creepy grin.

"Welcome to our humble MIB headquarters." Zed nodded. "On behalf of all in this facility and all those wearing the monkey-suits…- I'd like to say thank you for helping us in our time of need."

"Where do we start?" Schaefer grunted, obviously impatient with the formalisms as he took off his mirrored shades. Zed folded his hands behind his back, effortlessly ignoring the man's icy stare.

"I had a briefing in mind but seeing that too much time has all ready passed, I'm just going to authorize you a flight to the Foja Mountains with a digital briefing along the way." The Chief nodded. J gave a smile.

"Rodger that, sir!" The younger agent saluted. "What transport are we takin'? I sure hope it comes with complimentary toe tags and body bags!"

K slapped his partner upside his head.

"Ow! What? He's droppin' us into that jungle… naked. And I'm not talking about a nice jungle fantasy with a loincloth g-string and hordes of naked women runnin' around." J rattled on getting Zed and K to roll their eyes. "I'm talking naked, blind and up to our necks in homicidal fugly aliens."

Zed looked over the small three man and one woman team.

"Rest assured that the agency prepared you in the best ways we know how; with heavy munitions and a boatload of tech to give you the advantage." He held up his hands. "I'm sorry to send you all off before we get to know each other better but the clock is ticking. Get to western Papua New Guinea and stop those butt-faced aliens before they skin anyone else!"

K stepped up to Zed.

"Before you send us to certain doom, old friend, what-?" The senior agent began. The MIB boss-man cut him off.

"All questions will be answered in mind-flight K." He responded. "Sorry friend but chatting ain't doing any favors for anyone. Now get your grumpy carcass to the hanger and get lost."

K didn't like that answer and his face curved downwards into a scowl. But at risk of wasting time on interrogating and arguing his superior, the senior agent turned to J, Schaefer and a very quiet Woods.

"J? Why are you not leading the way to the hanger?" He growled. His partner rolled his eyes.

"My bad." J responded in a snotty manner. Then he motioned for Woods and Schaefer to follow him. "This way! Follow the funny black man to the hanger."

His obnoxious actions only made Alan's frown deepen as he followed. Alexa jumped when she felt K's hand in the middle of her back.

"Shall we?" K whispered as he walked beside her. She walked with him, taking in a shaky breath. "I'm not going to ask you to say anything, sweetheart…- but I'd really like to know what's going on in that pretty little head of yours."

The woman swallowed as she walked with him in a brisk pace.

"In my trade there's something we call the "P.S.R."; the point of safe return. It's where an aircraft uses up half of their fuel and can't turn back." Alexa returned, pursing her lips for a quick second as she watched some four-legged alien skitter across the lobby floor. "I believe I passed my P.S.R. when I got in that elevator and saw who exactly I was working with."

K sighed, subconsciously thumbing the Neuralyzer in his suit's chest pocket.

"I understand, Woods." The senior agent glanced at J annoying Schaefer with his nearly overbearing personality. "But tell me… if an aircraft can't turn back, what happens then?"

Alexa closed her eyes and tuned out the chaos of the MIB atrium.

"It keeps flying until it reaches its destination." She glanced up at the man. K grinned a little.

"Or guzzle all of its fuel and crashes in a fiery ball of flames." He answered. Woods let a small smirk creep onto her face. "Teamwork is just that simple; and just that hard, Woods. But believe me when I say that I'd rather face down three unhinged aliens with you than crash and burn without you."

Even from knowing K for only a short amount of time, Alexa knew he was a master manipulator. But he was good at it. His small pep talk was enough to bolster her backbone and starved her fears that much more. She allowed herself to smile, even while looking at her feet.

"How good are you at shooting a gun?" The man suddenly voiced. Looking up, she pursed her lips.

"Good enough, I suppose." Alexa returned, quirking a brow. "Why?"

"Just checking." K responded. "Because we're not walking into that jungle without some sort of alien-frying weapon."

Alexa's thoughts traced back to Scar and the shoulder-mounted beam cannon that he possessed. It proved very capable of handling those slimy acid-filled serpents. But then her mind wandered to the weapons she used. The spear, the shield made of a serpent's head and the hydraulic press. Granted she was lucky and very resourceful but would that be enough this time?

J walked into the hangar first. A tall, sterile room with rows and rows of different spacecraft, each carefully organized for quick access and use. The younger agent's mind quickly covered the first row of airships, deciding which one would be best to use.

"'ey K?" He called back to his partner. "Why not we commission the Corilian Skimmer? It's got the speed."

Suddenly K was at his side, looking up at the spacecrafts.

"No dice kid; the thing's not built for four people and gear. We need something bigger and faster." With that the senior agent stalked down the first row, turning and walking down another aisle. J looked back at Woods and Schaefer, who were just stunned by what they were seeing.

"Recognize some of these?" He smirked. "Most of these were confiscated and impounded after their owners pulled a joy ride."

Just then there were taps of nails on the hard floor followed by suggestive language. J sighed. It was Frank and the Worms; cutting work like usual. They had to be pretty desperate to be hiding down here in the hanger. Turning his head, J saw the smart talking pug-like alien walk down the aisle, conversing with four pinkish worm-like aliens that were smoking cigarettes and commenting about various females.

"Frank!" J complained. "What are you doin' down here, dog?"

Both Frank and the Worms jumped. But when they recognized J, they let out jovial, friendly laughs.

"J! Me and the boys were just… checkin' on the goods. Makin' sure no one takes an unauthorized flight." Frank's tone was pleasing if a little forced. J never bought the alien's explanation.

"You mean blowing company time out of your nose by smoking and gossiping?" The MIB agent remarked, shaking his head. By that time Frank sat in front of him, looking up at the man.

"I'd never burn company time, J!" The dog looked insulted. "Besides, the Worms got the goods on the newest agency secretary! Get this… she's right off of Mars and has a beef with the queen!"

The alien dog-like creature gave a husky laugh.

"Forget about her rap-sheet! Did you get a load of her zapwata?" One of the worms wolfishly commented. A chorus of rude laughter followed his remark.

J rolled his eyes, wishing K was nearby so that he could scare some sense into these five slackers. And then Frank spotted Alexa and Alan.

"Whoa. Now… I'm thinkin' these two are not MIB agents." The pug stated, looked surprised. J shrugged a little.

"And you would be correct in assuming that, Frank." The man responded in an aggravated tone. "These two are just here to ask directions."

The Worms made their way over to Schaefer and Woods, whispering and giggling.

"Gee, J. What crawled into your undies and bit your butt all over?" Frank rolled his eyes, giving his ear a scratch. J turned his eyes to the dog-like alien as his frown deepened.

"Flying into a suicide mission with no info will do that to a guy, dog." He growled back. Frank shook and laughed.

"Isn't that your job?" The pug returned. J sighed.

"Yeah but I really like my hobby- chopping off sarcastic dogs' family jewels." The man gave an evil smile. Frank blinked before laughing a little more.

"Easy killer; I'm just sayin' is all." With that the pug walked over to Woods and gave her a smile. "Hey babe."

Alexa just stared at the dog.

"Don't let the cute, furry exterior fool you, good lookin'. I only play a dog but once you get me alone-…" Frank gave a wolfish growl and licked his mouth. The woman took a step back, repulsed.

Then she felt a small hand on her thigh.

"Check it guys!" One of the Worms snaked a skinny arm around Alexa's leg. "Do I get all the girls with the best chawengas or what?"

Giving a yelp of surprise, Alexa kicked her leg and knocked the Worm on his back. His friends and Frank laughed at him.

"Careful, they bite." Frank chortled. Before things could get even more awkward, they heard a commanding bark from up the aisle of aircrafts.

"WHY are there cigarette butts everywhere?!" It was K. Frank and the Worms jumped.

"I just remembered I've got a job to do!" Frank scampered toward the door, the Worms following him.

"Call me!" One of the Worms called to Alexa, raising his hand to his head and gesturing for a phone call. J laughed a little while she looked thoroughly disgusted.

"Even aliens can be perverts." Alexa huffed and pushed past the younger Agent, Schaefer on her heels. The woman followed the sound of K's shout until she came upon him eyeing a long tear-drop shaped craft.

Without a word he dug his hand into his coat pocket and pulled out his communicator.

"Have weapons and supplies loaded into Lot 3 of hanger one." K ordered and snapped his communicator back into his pocket. He must have known the three of them were walking to him. "The Galvanian Skate; like a race car of the alien craft world. Took us nearly one full week to get the owner of this beauty out of the skies."

One would recognize this ship's description from reports of it flying over Arizona's evening skies.

"Oo!" J awed at K's choice, standing beside Alexa. "The Galvanian Skate. If James Bond had a space ship… this be it."

K rolled his eyes as a loud bang from off to the side resounded through the hanger. Schaefer and Woods whipped their heads around but K and J knew that to only be the hangar's doors opening. Seconds later three MIB employees wheeled in three large crates of ammunitions and supplies. One walked up to K and gave the keys of the spacecraft to him. The senior agent passed his eyes to the keys in his palm and frowned.

"I LOVE flying blind." He remarked. It was unsettling even for K to admit, though laced with bitter sarcasm, that he didn't know what to expect.

Schaefer cleared his throat.

"That's basically what happened to me and my team." The ex-major looked down at his boots with a twisted look in his eye. "But picture ten times the chaos of half-dumb guerilla nut- offs unloading clip after clip."

Then J grimaced.

"Anyone get shot?" The younger black man quipped. Schaefer grinned.

"Only the ones we were aiming at." The ex Green Beret looked at J. Schaefer chuckled. "You are lucky I want revenge so bad or I'd walk."

"Keep the mood going, Alan. You'll soon have some alien skulls to shatter." K juggled the keys in his hand.

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