Chapter 26

Doc didn't believe him that GMN-1 could turn invisible so he decided to prove it publicly. He had figured the reason for the decrease in room temperature. The cold kept her visible, without it she should be able to turn invisible in front of everyone. He had a plan and it has been set in motion.

"Next mission! "Doc said entering the common room. All eyes turned towards her. The GMNs were scattered all over the common room. GMN-1 was leaning on the wall with a tablet in her hand. For once it wasn't a book but this didn't mean she wasn't reading. GMN-2 sat opposite where GMN-1 was standing with a book. Half his attention was committed to the book, the other half was committed to watching GMN-1. GMN-3 sat on the sofa with GMN-6, they were watching an animal video on the laptop 3 was carrying. GMN-4 on a chair idly watching GMN 2 and 1 with an unreadable expression. GMN-5 stayed at the far end of the room keeping watch on everyone while pretending to read a travel magazine. GMN-7 took his position close to the temperature regulator while 9 as usual was busy with his computer.

This was the position Doc found them in. When she made her announcement, they all looked up at her. They didn't pull closer but just paid attention. From their expression, no one could guess what they were thinking.

"As you know we are behind schedule" She said stacking the files she had on the table. GMN-7 subtly cut a wire and the room temperature began increasing. He turned and focused his attention on GMN-1 and waited. It was hard to find the perfect spot to carry out his plan. Who would have thought that the best place was the most obvious place. Of course he had to facilitate the process. He had laced the contents of the giant refrigerator with a medicine he had obtained from Doc but he had been careful. He was aware that some have way more sensitive and developed sense of smell, so he had added just a drop to them.

He had seen GMN-1 with a glass of lemonade today. She had been sharing a drink with 6, well the more the merrier. He silently moved away from the spot and took a sit next to GMN-5.

"Is it me or is the temperature in this room increasing? " GMN-6 said dabbing at her neck with the back of her hands.

"Go check" GMN-4 said less concerned

GMN-6 stood up and walked to the end of the room close to the door and checked.

"It seems like nothing's wrong" GMN-6 said using her hand to feel around the switch.

"If nothing's wrong then come back" Doc said. She had come well prepared because she knew something was going to happen.

"Wait! Seems like the wire is broken or cut" GMN-6 said the last two words with a disbelieving tone.

"Cut? " Doc sounded surprised "try turning on the back up AC"

GMN-6 did and nothing happened.

"Seems like that wire was the one bringing power to the appliances in the room. I'll call someone to fix it" Doc said

GMN-6 just shrugged and went back to her spot on the sofa.

"Targets are three so you are going to be divided into three groups. 1 and 4 you will take 9. Your target is Williams Sampson or his real name Timothy Johnson. Former secret agent turned investigative journalist. I want every information he has, everything, leave nothing."

"OK" GMN-1 replied

For some reason GMN-2 didn't seem pleased. GMN-1 didn't think too much about it while GMN-4 was very pleased.

"One more thing, you need to bring him back alive " Doc said.

Now this surprised everyone.

"I thought our usual MO was 'off with their heads'?" GMN-6 asked

"Yours is, theirs isn't. 3, 6 and 2, you have two targets which I regard as one. Twins actually. Larry and Harry Clive or Jack and Jill or Mad and Madder which ever you choose to call them... "

"Think I prefer Mad and Madder"GMN-6 said and 3 rolled his eyes

"Noted. They are smart and crafty. They have something that would prove useful to us. A bronze box which they guide very jealously. Bring it to me and do not open" Doc said seriously.

"What's in the box? "GMN-6 asked

"She just said do not open, clearly you are not supposed to know" GMN-3 said

Now it was Doc's turn to be surprised.

"Just curious "GMN-6 replied and GMN-3 rolled his eyes yet again

"7 and 5..."Doc began looking around. "Where are they? " She asked the rest of the GMNs. They all looked around with a puzzled look.

"Right here Doc" GMN 7 and 5 said in unison then turned to look at each other. They screamed and GMN-5 fell down from her chair.

"He was right there"

"She was right here"

GMN 5 and 7 said at the same time. GMN-1 just inclined her head looking at where the voice was coming from.

"Holy...! They're... " GMN-6 was so surprised that she couldn't complete her sentences

"Invisible" GMN-9 completed like someone who was day dreaming

"Not possible" GMN-2 said slowly

"Right before your eyes" GMN-4 said drily

GMN-7 couldn't understand this situation. He had plan to expose GMN-1 in front of everyone but right now he was the one that was invisible. Was this a good thing or a bad thing?

GMN-5 was so surprised. She didn't know they were able to turn invisible. She was shocked out of her senses. She could see everyone but from the way they were looking around it seems like they couldn't see her and she couldn't see GMN-7.

Doc comported herself. This was a change in process but the outcome was still the same. Not one but two GMNs could turn themselves invisible. This was huge and they were her allies more like puppets. The vote on GMN-1 had not yet been concluded. The reconfiguration may have given her an attitude but it didn't make her stupid. She must have had suspicions that they were trying to get her.

"So I am invisible? " GMN-5 asked standing up.

"Can you guys like see each other? " GMN-6 asked.

GMN-5 stopped in her tracks. If others couldn't see her because she was invisible could someone who was also invisible at the moment see her. She waited and looked around.

"I can't see her" GMN-7 said

"I can't see him either " GMN-5 said

Why are you over there? " GMN-6 asked

GMN-5 ignored her. She was trying to test out her new invisibility and she knew just who to try it out on. Doc knew that GMN-5 was going to be mischievous and her long standing grudge against GMN-1 would make her the most likely person. Doc didn't want their flimsy unfriendly relationship to stand in her way. This invisibility was even a bonus to her.

"GMN 5 and 7, this unplanned development should not disrupt your mission. Your target is Donald Brown. Recently he has been making contacts with our enemies and they have scheduled a meeting for the day after tomorrow..." Doc said

"We know what to do Doc" GMN-7 replied

Doc smiled as if pleased.

GMN-5 made her way close to GMN-1. She was so glad that she had at least one thing GMN-1 didn't have. It was so annoying to have some things that GMN-1 had and find out that it was less appreciated. Take for instance their hair. They were both blondes but while hers was a normal chestnut blonde, GMN-1's was a light blonde whose definite colour was hard to peg. It was soft, long and indecisive much like its owner. It couldn't decide if it wants to be curly or straight amongst other things. Her hair attracted more attention. She then had to pair her hair with green eyes, I mean who does that GMN-5 often thought. Almost every blonde had blue or brown eyes, sometimes grey but she had green. This way she could mess with 1 big time. It was not surprising that this was the first thing she thought about when the reality of invisibility sank in.

Doc began distributing files. She handed one to GMN-9 since he was closer and GMN-4 made no move to collect it, handed the other to GMN-6 and the last she left on the table for either 7 or 5. She was very unwilling to touch them until she knew what she was dealing with. Apparently 7 was right heat may be a factor that triggers invisibility.

"7 and 5 deposit a blood sample at the lab and we'll have a more detailed examination after your mission " Doc said walking out. So far no Deccan.

"So 7 how is it that you are invisible? " GMN-6 asked innocently

"Stroke of luck" GMN-7 replied. Actually what he wanted to ask was why GMN-1 wasn't invisible. He stared at her. She looked unconcerned, normal GMN-1 reaction. He had been careful to avoid eating anything, it was not like they needed food on a daily basis especially since they haven't been physically active for a while. Something had gone wrong somewhere.

GMN-1 watched the silhouette of GMN-7. She couldn't see him clearly but she could see him. He would tilt his head this way and that studying her. He was confused why he turned invisible and she didn't. Well she didn't want to be the first lab rat for this study plus she messed with his plan. She had perceived an unfamiliar scent in the refrigerator. She didn't know what it was, so she alerted the others. GMN-3 had admitted to seeing GMN-7 walk out of Doc's office with something. He had also heard Doc giving him three days. As usual 6 didn't believe 7 was capable of lacing their food with something so she willing volunteered to take something and before anyone could stop her, she did. For a while nothing happened until she began to feel very hot to the point of sweating. It was actually funny but not funny, in a funny sense. All they had to do was wait and GMN-6 began flickering till she turned invisible. Of course extreme cold temperature brought her back to normal. It was now proven that this was a set up. However this provided an avenue to check who could turn invisible and who couldn't. GMN 3 and 4 willing took something but nothing happened. They now had to covertly administer some to the others before the three days Doc gave. It wasn't easy but they found away. Out of the eight of them half were able to turn invisible. Administering it to GMN 7 and 5 was the easiest. 7 had the habit of taking something in the middle of the night and had stacked up things in his room for the three days. He turned invisible in his sleep and it was a chore preventing GMN-6 from laughing out loud. GMN-5 was behaving like an outcast, seeming to be on her own and minding her own business when actually she was spying, scheming and plotting. A nice lunch had her parading around invisible. They had to keep her from going anywhere she would see her reflection and it was easy since she had an ear for gossip. Getting 2 and 9 was the toughest especially 2 but at the end beauty won. GMN-1 only had to pretend to take a sip, pretend she didn't like it and offer him the reminder of the drink. She had to keep him company till she was sure that the effect had worn out. She had also pretended that she was feeling hot to distract him but somehow he knew something was up but trusted in the fact that she wouldn't hurt him, at least not purposely. For GMN-9, GMN-6 had to play video game till her hands were sore.

In the end they were able to carry out their little experiment and plot a way to deal with 7 which was making him and his partner the victim of his own scheme. GMN-1 watched him trying to figure out what went wrong. Like his ever going to find out unless told. Being invisible had it's perks and he had seriously underestimated her.

GMN-3 looked around and asked

"Where is 5?"

5? She was right there, thinking of what to do first. She thought of cutting GMN-1's hair but she needed to do something more defining. She looked around.

GMN-1 didn't pay any attention to her. She didn't want them to notice that she could sense where they are let alone see them. She picked up a seat and moved closer to 4. She looked at their target. Young, too young and good looking. She stared at the picture that was put in the file until GMN-4 flipped over the page, a bit forcefully. From the sparse information they read from the file, Williams Sampson or Timothy Johnson was a big time grudge holder. He didn't have a regular schedule so it was difficult to denote where he would be and when by just sitting down in there.

GMN 4 and 1 stood up, preparing to head out. GMN-9 grudgingly stood up. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, it's just he didn't want to go with them. While GMN-6 would rank the craziest, GMN-4 was the scariest. GMN-1 could easily rank the most dangerous because no one actually knew what she was capable of and they were both unpredictable. These combination didn't bode well for him as the third wheel. He had no option but to grudgingly follow them out.

GMN-5 was still thinking about what to do when she saw the three of them stand, preparing to go out. Why were they always in a hurry? Always making the rest of them appear incapable and inferior. She had an idea.

GMN 1 and 4 stopped in front of the key holder. A tall metallic pole with lots of spikes on which keys were hung. They both scanned the keys and reached for the same one at the same time. GMN-4 acted the gentleman and retracted his hand first allowing GMN-1 to pick it. GMN-1 picked the key slipped it on her finger and twirled it around looking at the uneasy GMN-9. GMN-5 saw an opportunity. She pushed the pole with incredible force so that it would fall faster.

GMN-1 casually side stepped so the thing headed straight for the confused GMN-9 who was too stunned to react. GMN-4 yanked the stupefied 9 out of the way by his collar. He caught the pole with one foot preventing it from crashing to the ground. He kicked it up and with one hand pushed it back. GMN-5 was so angry as she watched. Why did GMN-1 have to be so lucky every darn time? GMN-1 stretched her hand to catch it but side stepped again at the last second. As a result the pole fell the opposite side hitting something hard before she caught it by two of its curved spike, standing it back up. GMN-5 had been so unprepared, lost in her musing that she didn't see the pole in time. It hit her head with a hard thud and she fell to the ground in a faint.

The rest of the GMNs saw the pole fall then GMN-4 catch it and toss it back. Somehow GMN-1 was not able to catch it directly but managed to catch it eventually. They heard a thud and something falling to the ground but since they didn't see anything they didn't think much about it.

GMN-7 who had made his way out to look for a colder temperature walked in and observed the situation. His plan had backfired but that didn't mean nothing good came out of it. He walked to pick up his file wondering where his partner had gone to when he nearly stumbled over something. He didn't bother checking because he knew what it was and judging from the keys still jangling on the key holder, he could roughly guess what happened.

GMN 1, 4 and 9 ignored him and walked out of the room. He walked towards the file left for him and picked it up. GMN 3 and 6 didn't bother him. Although they acted surprised when he became invisible, it was all part of the plan. What they didn't understand was what Doc was hoping to gain from all of this.

Doc stood in her office watching GMN 1, 4 and 9 leave. No matter how this mission went it was going to favour her.

"Get me audio on the car" Doc ordered whoever was behind her.