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Agent Weber stepped up to the microphone, and Sarah ed Michael He was sure the agent wanted to take all the glory now that it was time for the meat of the presentation

"Thank you, Sarah," the wo Sarah one of those professional smiles that said her ht She turned to the audience "I don’t think I need to tell you how much e Sarah and her friends They’re under an incredible amount of stress Suffice it to say that they’ve undertaken incredibly dangerous assignments for us on nificant"

She paused, and the other agents took the cue, finally erupting into applause Michael swore he even heard a couple of hoots out there

When it quieted down, Weber continued "The infor I think we can all be impressed--should be i that none of us has been able to accoent prograin the full analysis and develop a plan of attack Our goal, and I don’t say this lightly …" She let that last word hang out there for a few seconds "Our goal is to make a move within seven days’ ti, as if the idea was preposterous Michael frowned Was that tooyesterday Kaine could move his base at any time But they’d need to be prepared

Weber held up her hands to quiet theh the final details and then let you get straight to work As you can see from the map of Atlanta …"

Bryson leaned in to Michael "These people are gonna screw everything up Gah-ron-teed," he whispered He stepped back, not waiting for a response

Michael hated how thoroughly he agreed

An hour later, Michael was sitting in a slorious thing to be doing after attending ain the War Rooh a salad, of all things Sarah sat across the table, eating hot dogs slathered in chili and cheese Weber had told them she needed to take care of a few details before they decided on a plan of action--after all, the three of theitives from the law, even if they’d apparently convinced the VNS they were innocent of cyber-terroris

When Weber dropped them off in the break room, she’d introduced theet the three whatever they wanted And so it was that they ended up eating hot dogs and salad

"I gotta adh a bite of lettuce "I tuned out big-ti Stuff we already kneay"

Michael plopped a half-eaten dog back onto his plate He’d had enough, though he figured that out a few bites after his stoh Ate too much"

"Oh, really?" Bryson said snarkily "I would’ve never guessed" He gave Michael’s plate a disapproving look

"Next time we’ll order one of your dainty salads," Sarah responded "And then a half hour later e’re starving we’ll get soe bite of his rabbit food; he choood up there," Michael said to Sarah "Seriously Official prediction: you’re the head of the VNS by the time you turn thirty Then president of the country by forty You heard it here first"

Bryson made a pssshaw sound "If we’re all still alive"

It came off way ed into silence For just a few seconds, Michael had forgotten about all their woes