[January 8] [Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?] The Case of the Doubled Informant

[rose-of-pollux.livejournal.com]

Title: The Case of the Doubled Informant
Day/Theme: January 8; Ghost in the morning moon
Series: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?
Character: The Dying Informant
Rating: PG13

Will be cross-posted to 10_hurt_comfort, platonicism, and the V.I.L.E Headquarters fanfic forum.


Author’s note: This oneshot story is a continuation of my timeline, taking place before my currently in-progress mystery fic, but taking place after the holiday fic. It was drawn from an RP idea that I enacted with Lucky Ladybug, and most of the actions and dialogues of the Messenger and the Techie, along with some of those of the doppelganger, are her idea, as is the “Brothers” stone and the dialogue surrounding it. And, as always, the characters aren’t mine, but the story is!

*******************************

Word had spread throughout ACME Crimenet fairly quickly about V.I.L.E.’s latest plan. Patty Larceny had stolen a pair of Colonial-era lanterns—the very same lanterns that had hung in the North Church Tower as a beacon for Paul Revere to begin his Midnight Ride, and had last been seen in Charlestown, Massachusetts. And ACME’s best agents had been assigned to retrieve the lanterns and bring Patty to justice. But these agents were worried, because one of their number had been in love with Patty for a short while… and the feelings still remained.

The Informant’s mind was in a muddle as they arrived in Charlestown, heading for their rental car; he, too, was afraid that there was every chance in the world that he'd fall for Patty all over again...

He shook the thought from his mind. No... how could he even consider such a thing!? The Messenger had nearly frozen in the Pennsylvania coal mines because of Patty... and she had even tried to convince the Informant to leave him and save himself. He hadn't, of course, and it was through a miracle that the messenger pulled through. And the Informant hadn't spoken to Patty since. But the fact that it had happened still remained.

And that was why the Informant was trying his hardest not to meet the Messenger’s gaze. The Informant wasn't sure that he trusted his heart to not fall for Patty again. But if it did happen, the Messenger would be devastated.

The Inspector, in the meantime, was sensing the tension.

“Alright, both of you...” he said. “If you're going to be acting like this throughout the mission, it isn't going to go well at all.

The Informant finally looked the Messenger in the eyes.

“So...” he said. “We're just tailing Patty, as in… just a simple, little mission? Shouldn't be too difficult, right?”

“It shouldn’t,” agreed the Messenger, trying to smile. But, he, too, was wondering about what would happen. It was true that the Informant hadn’t even seen or corresponded with Patty since the coal mine incident, but what would happen if they came face to face after all this time? He sighed. No… he thought. I’ve got to have more faith in him than that…

“I wonder why Patty is such a Revolutionary War history buff...” the Inspector said, trying to change the subject. “She often takes things related to that era… like the time she took Washington’s teeth…”

“The replica of Washington's teeth,” the Informant reminded him. “She once told me that she was enthralled after hearing ‘The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere’ when she was a child, and that's how it started...” He trailed off. “If only she could’ve used her history knowledge for good instead of evil...”

“No kidding...” said the Inspector, glancing at the Messenger. Although he, the Inspector, was concerned about Patty leading the Informant astray, the Messenger was the one who had been the most affected by the prospect. How much would they have to worry about him?

“But she didn’t,” the Messenger reminded him. He was slightly upset, and he quickened his pace towards their rental car before the others could notice. But the Informant had already noticed, and he was feeling guilty.

The Techie sighed, forcing himself to remain silent. He sighed again as the younger agent ran after his older colleague. Hopefully, they’d work this out. He firmly believed that the Informant would never abandon them for Patty, but he did worry about the hurt that the Informant would feel upon seeing Patty again, especially of some trace of his feelings did remain.

“You know, in basic training, they teach you a lot,” said the Inspector to the Techie. “You reckon they've taught you everything. And then something like this comes up that you never saw coming.”

It was expected that ACME agents learned to wall off their feelings when they worked. But that wasn't humanly possible. And the Inspector knew that he would rather deal with the Informant’s troubles than see him act emotionless and apathetic, which had almost happened when he had tried to self-hypnotize himself to no longer feel for anyone, Patty included.

The Techie nodded in reply, confident that his friends would be able to work everything out. He, personally, was furious with Patty for all of the hurt she had ever inflicted on the Informant—both from the poison lipstick incident, as well as the emotional pain.

The Informant, in the meantime, had caught up with the Messenger.

“Bro…” he said. “Listen... You know that the last thing I'd ever do is run out on you or the others. You guys are my best friends—there’s no way I'd let myself lose you. Bro, come on—I’m serious here!” He seized the older man's arm. “I don't know how much you heard me say to Patty back in the mines, but I told her that I would rather freeze than leave you there like she wanted me to. And I meant it. I know my place, and it's with you guys.”

The Messenger did stop and turn back.

“I believe in you, Infy,” he said. “But I don’t believe in Patty. Sometimes, it seems that you still have feelings for her. I don’t want to see her manipulating you and turning you against me or the others again.”

He had a point, the Informant realized. There was every chance in the world that Patty might try to start a relationship with him again.

“Well...” he said at last. “I know you won't let her manipulate me. I can always count on you and the others. That's half the reason why I chose to stay with you guys!” He managed a smile. “Come on, we've got a mission to do!”

And he led the way to the car, the Messenger hoping that it would, indeed, be the case. He had a deep dislike for Patty ever since he had found out that she had been trying to lead his surrogate brother astray.

*************************

“You know the story of Bunker Hill, right?” asked the Informant, as they headed for the monument. “The Colonial forces were able to hold the legion of Redcoats at bay. They probably would've won the battle if they hadn't run out of resources.”

The Inspector nodded. He knew that the younger agent was deliberately trying to avoid talking about Patty.

“Rumor has it that a spy told the Redcoats about how the sources were dwindling,” added the youth. “I wonder who he was...”

“I doubt we’ll find out now if they weren’t able to find out 200 years ago…” said the Techie. “But we probably will find Patty… if we hurry.”

“I’m driving as fast as I can while staying under the speed limit,” the Messenger declared, though he nudged the accelerator with his toe a little bit anyway. The Bunker Hill monument was in sight.

Patty Larceny, in the meantime, was already there, the lanterns in hand. Carmen had told her to come back to V.I.L.E. right away, but she had to stay and look around some more; it was all so interesting…

At least it was until she saw she saw the ACME car pull up. She gasped-- were they on to her already!?

She crept back, hiding in some shadows as the agents got out... the Inspector... the Techie... the Messenger... and...

She gasped again. The Informant was there! But he was with that Messenger… Patty frowned. Oh, how she hated that Messenger! He was the reason why the Informant had to end his relationship with her.

He poisoned his mind against me... she thought, upset.

The Informant, in the meantime, was unaware that Patty was watching him. He merely gave a low whistle.

“So this is Bunker Hill...” he mused. “Hmm... I wonder if spirits wander around here like they do in Gettysburg...”

“If they do, don't spend too much time with them,” the Inspector warned.

“Yeah, I know...” the young agent said. “I have no desire to go ghostal again!”

“Glad to hear it.”

The Techie, in the meantime, had been aware of another presence close by. He slowly edged towards the general area, pretending to be interested in the monument.

The Messenger, in the meantime, was feeling a bit of guilt himself at the mention of Gettysburg. Because of him, they had nearly lost the Informant, and he was worried that they might lose him again.

Patty, in the meantime, silently picked up a rock from the ground. Perhaps, if she threw it, the brunet would be distracted by the sound, allowing her to slip away. But she never had a chance to throw it.

“What’s up, Techie?” asked the Informant, walking over to where his friend was waiting.

Patty stifled a gasp. Now what was she supposed to do!?

The Informant paused as a familiar scent reached his nostrils—lavender perfume. It was the perfume that Patty always wore. She must’ve been the presence that the techie had sensed.

What do I do? he asked himself. Do I point her out to the others?

“You alright?” asked the Inspector, noticing his expression. “Or is something wrong?”

But the Techie and the Messenger were already realizing why the Informant was acting so strangely, and it didn’t take long for the Inspector to realize the reason, too. They began to approach the spot where Patty was hiding from different directions.

“We know you're there, Miss Larceny,” the Inspector said. “You may as well turn yourself in.”

Patty decided to flee. She slipped past the other three, banking on the fact that she'd be able to get past the Informant.

By reflex, he seized her arm, and she turned back to glance at him with her wide eyes. She attempted to pull away, but the Informant didn’t let go. The others wouldn't have been worried, had it not been for the look in the young agent's eyes.

But as this was happening, a cold, thick mist was enveloping the area, and the Informant felt something large and heavy crash into him. He and Patty both yelled out, but the collision had caused him to lose his grip on Parry’s arm. She fled.

“No!” the Informant yelled. He knew exactly what was going to happen-- the others would blame him for Patty’s escape, saying that he let her go on purpose.

“Infy!?” called the Messenger. “Infy, what's wrong!?”

The Informant tried to run, trying to chase after Patty, but ended up crashing into the Messenger.

“Bro!” he cried, devastated. “She got away from me... I was holding on to her, I swear! Something crashed into me, and made me let go. Bro, you have to believe me!”

It was the lamest excuse, he realized. But it was what had happened.

“It’s alright,” the Messenger assured him. The younger agent seemed genuinely upset at what had happened. “Something crashed into you? It was probably whoever is responsible for this mist. Patty must have another V.I.L.E. agent around here. Let's spread out and look!”

“And which V.I.L.E. agent could pull off something like that?” asked the Inspector, as they all headed in four different directions. “I don't think that summoning a fog is in even Kneemoi’s power. And she would never try something as underhanded as to attack us when we couldn't see her,” he added.

“And Top Grunge brings dust clouds with him, not fog--” the Informant was cut off as he fell flat on his face into a puddle of rainwater. Spitting out a mouthful of water, he glanced down, seeing his reflection.

His eyes widened as he saw that the reflection in the water, although resembling him, was not wearing the same trenchcoat that he was. And it was wearing a cruel smirk on its face.

The youth tried to back away, but the reflection raised its arm, which emerged from the water, clamping its hand on his mouth. And then it began to pull him into the water.

The Informant let out a muffled cry as all went dark. And then a new entity emerged from the water, resembling the Informant in nearly every way.

The young man smirked at his new disguise. How ironic that he had come across this present-day mortal who resembled him so much! He had taken immediate action, of course; he had stripped the youth of his memories and then assumed his form, teleporting the amnesiac boy to a nearby town-- right at his grave.

Ah, so that thief girl once put a rift between this fool and his friends? he thought. Then let's widen that rift, shall we?

He went of in search of Patty.

Meanwhile, in the nearby town, the real Informant, terribly weakened and dazed, opened his eyes. The moonlight shown all around him, and he was startled to see himself surrounded by gravestones. The one nearest to him was dated back to the 1700s.

“Where... where am I?” the youth asked aloud, trembling. “How did I get here...? Who am I...!?”

He received no answers—all he could hear was the howling wind as it made the tree branches sway like arms around him.

He stumbled his way out of the cemetery. He couldn't walk straight; his head was dizzy... and empty. He couldn't remember a thing about who he was, or how he had gotten here.

He was still swaying as he walked, drawing offended glances from passersby, glaring at him as they saw him.

“Please...” he said to one of them. “Can you help me? I think I'm lost...”

He was roughly shoved aside. Wincing, he placed a hand on his bruised ribs as he stumbled onward.

He walked and walked... he hadn’t seemed to have gone far, but his entire body ached as though he had run a marathon. Now, he couldn't walk without support from a tree branch.

“Wait...” he murmured aloud. “Is that... is that a park ahead...?”

He hobbled towards it. Where there was a park, there was a bench to rest his weary self. Or so he hoped...

********************************

Oblivious to what had happened, the Messenger was still listing off possible suspects; he was just saying that RoboCrook could have equipped himself with a dry ice machine to create the mist when he finally noticed that his surrogate brother was missing.

“Infy…? Infy!?” he asked, searching in vain for him.

“I guess having Patty slip away from him was too much for him... he must've run off to tack her down,” the Inspector said, as the search for the Informant led to the nearest town. He frowned, as he added, “I just hope he doesn't fall for her again...”

“He won’t!” the Messenger said. “At least… I hope he won’t…” Patty would certainly try to turn him against them…

“There!” the Techie exclaimed, seeing the Informant cross the street, unaware that he wasn’t the real Informant.

“Infy!” the Messenger called.

The doppelganger heard them. He did not turn, but if he had, the smirk would have been visible on his face. Those mortals were playing right into his hands.

Ever so slightly, he quickened his pace. Entering a park in the town, he caught sight of the blonde woman he had seen near the monument not too long ago.

“Infy!” the Messenger called again. “Infy, wait up!”

“I'm afraid Infy has taken a permanent leave of absence...” the doppelganger mused, walking on as if he hadn't heard a thing.

The others stared as they realized that he was heading to where Patty was standing.

“I’m so sorry, Patty,” he said, loudly so that the others could hear. “I had to let your escape look convincing, you know. I tried to lose them, but I think they’ve found us. But I don’t care… It’s been so long since I’ve seen you…”

“Infy!” cried the Messenger, horrified. “What do you think you’re doing!?”

Patty’s eyes widened. It seemed too good to be true. Perhaps seeing her after all those months had finally made him realize that they belonged together.

“But... your friends...” Patty, said, still cautious. Something didn't seem right, but perhaps that was his new personality showing up.

“What friends?” he asked. “It's been a year, hasn't it? And all I've been able to think about...” He trailed off. Gently, he lifted Patty's chin up, and then he kissed her

The Techie and the Inspector froze, horrified at what they were seeing.

“Infy!” the Messenger cried again. What was this—a living nightmare!? He stepped forward trying to reach out to his friend, but the doppelganger coldly shoved his hand aside.

“I think Patty and I want to be alone for a while,” he said. “Come on; let’s find somewhere where these creeps can’t bother us.”

“Creeps…!?” the Inspector repeated, stunned.

The Techie suddenly fumed. It was Patty’s fault—she must’ve done something to him! That was the only explanation! He ran at them, seizing Patty by the shoulders.

“What did you do to him!?” he demanded.

The double struck the Techie—hard. He watched, coldly, as the Techie hit the ground.

“I would’ve thought you’d know how to treat a lady,” he said. “Guess you spend so much time with your stupid computers, you don’t know.”

The Inspector and the Messenger was helping the Techie to his feet, still convinced that they were in some sort of surreal nightmare.

The doppelganger, in the meantime, smirked, as he led Patty away. Everything was going according to plan...

...At least, it was until he caught a glimpse of his ill-looking counterpart on the park bench. Patty’s eyes widened, though she was careful not to divulge that she had seen the real Informant.

“Patty, listen...” began the doppelganger, unaware that she had seen the real one, too; he was too busy trying to steer her away from the other ACME agents.

But it made some sort of terrible sense to her... On the other hand, if this spirit succeeded in driving a wedge between the real Informant and his friends... it might prove useful for Patty to eventually get together with the real Informant.

“Go on...” said Patty, as they ran off. She was already figuring out a way to flee from the impostor when the time arrived.

“I want to get away from these guys,” the doppelganger said as he led Patty away. “I'm just tired of how they've always tried to keep us apart. Why don't we get out of here—you, me, and the lanterns?”

Patty knew that she was speaking to an impostor, but she couldn't resist leading him on.

“Why this sudden change? You were willing to put yourself at risk to help that Messenger... I just can't stand him. He kept us apart—it's his fault entirely! What made you realize that he was a total creep?”

“He's such an idiot,” the doppelganger said. “I just had enough of his wild and crazy ways. And the Techie… he thinks he’s such a know-it-all, but he doesn’t even know how to treat a sweet girl like you! And the Inspector ... he hardly ever says anything! It's so frustrating trying to talk to him!”

“I quite agree,” said Patty, wishing that the real Informant would say such things, too. “How about I meet you at dawn; we'll leave together then?”

“Morning is too long to wait,” he said. “How about midnight?”

Patty checked her watch.

“Alright... Midnight... that's two hours,” she said. “Where do I meet you?”

The doppelganger smiled. “How about the actual site of the Battle of Bunker Hill?” he suggested. “Breed's Hill.”

“Alright,” said Patty. “Breed's Hill. And I'll be counting the minutes.”

She kissed him and left, making it seem as though she was exiting the park. But the second she received the chance, she was going to go back and find the real Informant.

**************************

The Messenger, the Inspector, and the Techie were all searching for the Informant when they noticed him, looking weary and weak, on a nearby bench.

The real Informant, in the meantime, was aware of three voices shouting as they seemed to be running closer. He massaged his forehead-- the noise was making his head throb. Glancing at the source of the sound, it seemed to be coming mainly from a slightly older man.

“Infy!?” he was saying. “How did you get away from Patty that fast?” He peered at him. “And you don't look so well. What did she do, sock you?”

“Owww...” the youth moaned, massaging his head. “Not so loud—I think I have a migraine...” he glanced at the speaker. “Who is this Patty, anyway? And how come you're talking like you know me? I've never seen you before in my life—who are you!?”

The Messenger glanced at him, stunned.

“Infy…”

“You don't remember us at all?” asked the Inspector, concerned

“Patty did this—I know it!” the Techie fumed. He sat down beside his friend. “Can you remember anything at all?”

The Informant placed a hand on his head.

“No; I never met you before. I... I can't remember anything..." he said. "All I remember is waking up on top of a grave...”

“On a grave!?” the Techie yelled. Were there really two Informants running around…? V.I.L.E. could have injured the real Informant and be using an impostor to try to drive a wedge between him and the others. But would they have intended for the real Informant to end up here? Or ... what if the other one was the real Informant, under a mind control drug? The Techie still pondered, trying to use whatever logic he could to figure out which Informant was the real one.

“And I walked here, and that's all. It's like I never existed up until today...” The Informant went on. He shook his head, a suspicious frown crossing his features. “But why do you guys act like you know me? Am I supposed to know you? Who are you, anyway!? And what do you want from me!?” He glared at the one who had spoken to him first. “And why are you calling me ‘Infy’?!”

The Messenger was hurt.

“We ... we’re your friends, Infy,” he said. “‘Infy’ ... that's what I call you....” He swallowed. “Someone hurt you so that now you don't remember us....”

“‘Friends’?” he repeated, incredulously. “Maybe you have me mixed up with somebody else... No one would care about someone... someone like me...”

“Well, we do,” said the Inspector. “Now think… What is the last thing you remember before waking up?”

“I...” The Informant paled, recalling vaguely what he had seen. “A face... in the water... my face...”

“You saw your reflection,” said the Inspector.

“It... he...” He trailed off, trembling, as his hand clamped down on his mouth, as the reflection had done.

“But it wasn't your reflection, was it?” asked the Techie, horrified at the story. “It was someone else, someone who looked just like you?” He laid a hand on the Informant’s shoulder, concerned at his expression and trembling. What had been done to him?!

“Someone else…?” the Messenger repeated.

“That’s the only explanation as to why he’d act the way he did,” said the Techie.

“So you think that the guy we saw was a double?” asked the Inspector. “Or is this the double, and that’s the real one under mind control? That other one did have all of the memories... but this one... I don't know, but something about this one is familiar... I don't get the cold feeling that I got from the other one with this one.”

“Maybe he just needs a little help remembering…” said the Messenger. “Hey, Infy… You remember our very first case, don’t you?”

The Informant shook his head.

“Come on; just try to remember…” he said. “We were in the tunnels beneath Paris, looking for Eartha Brute. You were a little annoyed with me… Well, OK, you were really annoyed with me, but you saved my life, anyway.”

“And then there was the time you saved all of us at Gettysburg that one Halloween,” added the Techie. “We nearly lost you because you were so selfless, trying to save us while neglecting yourself.”

“There was also the case of that English moor we went to investigate,” added the Inspector. “You saved us all again there with that quick thinking with the cat statue and the quicksand.”

“How about home—can you remember ACME?” offered the Messenger, wondering whether ACME in general would bring back any memories. He hoped it would; it hurt to see him suffer like this. “The alley… the lounge… the rec room… the offices… Mrs. Pumpkinclanger yelling at us for being too loud…? What about that time we forgot to pay the color bill—do you remember that?”

The Informant clutched at his head, unable to recall anything.

“I can't remember anything!” he howled, miserably. “Maybe... maybe I am a fake... Maybe I just showed up now... I... I'm a nobody...”

He staggered to his feet, trying to hobble off.

“Where are you going?” asked the Inspector.

“Wherever nobodies go...” the poor youth replied.

The Messenger hurried up to stop him.

“Wait!” he cried. “You're not a nobody—you’re our friend! You'll get your memories back, Infy. And we’ll help you!”

“He’s right!” the Techie said, getting up too. He was really quite sure that this was the real Informant. This Informant’s confusion seemed genuine. He did not act cold and cruel like the other one. “Give us a chance to help!”

The Informant glanced back at the others, the lost look still in his eyes.

“You... you'll help me...?” he asked.

But before he could reply, they were all interrupted by the arrival of the other Informant.

“You!” the doppelganger fumed, feigning fury. “What are you doing with my friends!?” He seized the real Informant by his trenchcoat collar. “Disgusting little impostor...” he fumed, turning to the others. “I saw him! He was with Patty just now, so I taught him a lesson and ran after her. She got away, but... at least this creep didn’t.”

“Patty? Who's Patty?” asked the real Informant. “I... I don't know...”

“Aw, can it, you Carbon-Copy!” snarled the doppelganger. “They saw through your little scheme, didn't they?” He turned to the others. “Guys, you know I'm the real one, right? Come on—I know who you are, I remember everything, and this little twerp...” He gave the real Informant a hard shake. “...Knows nothing. He is a nobody—a product of the spirits trying to turn you against me! It's lucky I made it back in time; there's no telling what this creep would've done to you.”

Tears fell from the real Informant’s eyes as the others stared on, more confused than ever. Something didn’t fit. The other Informant, the one who had just come, had been the one who had acted cold… hadn't he? How could the Informant on the bench have gotten away from Patty so fast? He had looked so pained… and his tears struck a nerve. Would the impostor from earlier, if he had been the impostor, cry like this? The impostor had acted as though he hadn't wanted anything to do with any of them.

The Messenger sighed, deciding to speak.

“He doesn't know anything because he doesn't remember,” he said.

Had he picked the right Informant? What if there was a chance that he hadn't? The real one would see it as a betrayal. And if he could not determine which Informant was which, then maybe it was.

“Of course he can't remember, Bro—he can't remember because he was never there!” He glared at the real Informant. “Aw, halt the waterworks, will you!? You're the most pathetic imitation I've ever seen! Take your act somewhere else!” He shoved the real Informant to the ground, who didn't move, aside from trembling as he stared into space.

The doppelganger turned back to the others.

“Well, if he wants to just lie there and twitch, I say we let him,” he said. “Come on; we have to find Patty and bring her in. And if this guy is still around,” he added, prodding the Informant with his foot. “We can run him in for impersonating an ACME agent.”

“Hold on,” said the Messenger, reaching to help the fallen Informant up, as he did so, he noticed that he had a slight bump on his head. “Even if he is an impostor, it’s no reason to push him around like this…” But is he an impostor? he wondered. That bump might be the cause of his amnesia…

“Well, I get upset when people try to turn my friends against me,” the doppelganger was saying, scowling at the real Informant.

The Techie frowned; it was just like the way he had been shoved not too long ago…

The real Informant leaned onto the Messenger for support. He was convinced that he was the fake one, though. Why else would he have no memories at all? But he was still grateful to the Messenger and the others for their kindness.

At least, until the older agent pressed against a still-tender part of his head.

“Oww!” the youth cried out. He would have fallen over again, but the Messenger had been holding on to him.

But before the Messenger could respond, the Inspector noticed something about the doppelganger as the moonlight caught his face.

“Wait just a second,” he said, frowning. “How did you get that lipstick on your face?”

“I think he has a point,” agreed the Techie, frowning as well. “It looks like the lipstick that Patty wears…”

Before the doppelganger could answer, a new arrival emerged from the bushes. Patty had come for the real Informant, but gasped upon seeing everyone there.

“Uh-oh...” she said, turning to go.

“Hold it!” ordered the Messenger, still holding on to the younger agent. “What did you have your friend over there do to our Infy?”

“I... I didn’t tell him to do anything!” she protested. “He was the one who promised me that we’d run away together... but I saw through him. I knew he was a fake, so I came back here for the real...” She trailed off, realizing that she had said far too much.

“Well,” said the Inspector, his arms folded as he glared at the doppelganger. “We have two stories: yours and Patty’s. And even though she's with V.I.L.E., I'm inclined to believe her. But it still doesn't explain how you have his memories.”

The doppelganger scowled, and then ran at Patty, holding her so that she could not escape.

“You had to come back here and ruin everything!” he hissed in her ear. He then glanced to the others. “Alright, you're on to me. I stole that boy's memories after realizing how useful he'd be. First his memories, and now... his strength.” The man smirked. “I've been drawing in his strength—that’s why he’s so weak. Once I've finished, his identity will be mine completely. And I will be able to live again. I'd say that I should be finished within a couple hours.”

“But… what about me…?” cried the real Informant.

“You?” asked the double. “You won’t feel a thing. With no memories and no strength, you’ll be an empty shell.” He smirked. “You’ll be nothing. But don't worry... I'll see to it that Patty and I have a long and happy life together.”

Patty struggled against him as he suddenly vanished, taking her with him.

The Informant would've sunk to the ground if the Messenger hadn't been holding him.

“I'll be nothing...” he repeated, in a voice so quiet that only the Messenger could hear him.

The Messenger had been glaring daggers at the doppelganger the entire time, but he now glanced at his friend in horror.

“No!” he cried, firmly. “You'll never be nothing. We're not going to let that creep have his way; we’re going to get you back!”

But how…? They didn’t have much time… And they didn’t have much knowledge, other than that this doppelganger was a spirit who just happened to resemble the Informant.

“Hold on…” said the Techie. “If he’s a spirit, then he must have had a mortal form at some point. And I’ll bet the answer lies in that graveyard you found. Can you take us back there?”

The Informant could only take a little bit of comfort in his friends’ words.

“I... I can try taking you there...” he said. “But... it's getting harder to walk...”

He attempted to take a step, but ended up nearly falling.

“I can tell you where it is, and you can go,” he said. “After you leave the park, you go up the street. There's a wrought-iron fence after some time—the cemetery is there. There's a thicket of dead trees near the back, the branches hanging over one of the graves...” He shuddered. “That's the place. I don't think I'll have the strength to go with you, though.”

“We'll carry you if we have to,” said the Inspector.

The Messenger nodded, helping the Informant walk a little bit of the way. But as the younger agent tired even more, The Messenger resorted to carrying him the rest of the way. He was not going to leave him behind.

The Informant’s directions led them to a stone dating from the Revolutionary War; the spirit in question had been struck down during the Battle of Bunker Hill. Three large letters were entrenched deeply into the rock:

SPY

“So he was the spy that you were talking about,” said the Inspector. “The one who cost the Colonial troops the battle…”

“I was talking about a spy…?” asked the Informant.

“Wait a minute!” said the Techie, snapping his fingers. “I’ll bet that’s where we’ll find the spirit—on Breed’s Hill, where the battle was fought!”

“Why isn't it called the Battle of Breed's Hill?” asked the Messenger, perplexed.

“We can worry about that later,” the Techie replied. “What we need to worry about now is how we're going to stop that spirit from doing whatever!”

“Let's figure it out on the way,” the Messenger agreed. “Come on!” He started to hasten for the nearest exit, in the process passing a monument bearing only the inscription “Brothers.”

... Brothers.... That was what all of them were. That was what he considered the Informant to be—his younger brother. And he was not going to lose him, no matter what he had to do.

*************************

The Inspector was also keeping a watchful eye on the Informant as they walked. He seemed to be slipping in and out of consciousness, but that wasn't nearly as unsettling as the knowledge that he was getting paler and paler—just as he had during the Gettysburg case.

“Is he...?” He swallowed hard. “Is he getting lighter? How is he?”

“It's... not as bad now...” said the Informant, slightly airily. “I'm not hurting as much anymore... Maybe... I won't feel anything...”

“Stop it!” ordered the Inspector. “You belong here!”

“He’s right!” agreed the Techie. “You have to fight it! You have to fight with everything you've got!”

The Informant glanced at him, his expression unreadable.

“We won’t be able to help you if you’ve already resigned yourself to whatever fate that creep has in store for you!” said the Messenger. “But I’m not going to accept it, Infy; and if you could just remember you wouldn’t accept it, either!”

The Informant glanced around at the concerned faces around him. He still felt empty, without any memories, but at the same time, the others seemed to be trying their best to make that feeling go away.

“So... you guys... would really miss me...?” he asked. “Even though I can't remember you at all…? Well, I... I guess I want to stay... I do... I really do... But I don't know if I can...”

“There has to be a way, and we’ll find it!” the Messenger vowed, as they approached the hill.

The same chilling mist was descending upon them as they progressed. It was almost as if the ghosts of the battle had come back and were observing them. In his condition, the Informant could see the dim outlines of the figures all around them. It looked as though they had pity in their eyes.

“A victim of that turncoat...” one of them said.

The Informant gasped. Had the others heard that, too?

Well, whether they had or not, there was no mistaking the next sound that filled the area.

It was Patty Larceny's scream.

The Messenger ran ahead, still carrying his friend. Even though he disliked Patty, he knew that he couldn’t let the spirit harm her.

They all quickened their pace, arriving in time to see the doppelganger striking Patty across the face. She collapsed, stunned.

"And you say that Techie didn't know how to treat a lady!?" asked the Informant, suddenly frowning. “You’re one to talk…”

But the Inspector was frowning, too. After all of the support they were giving him, it was his concerns for Patty that were finally convincing him to confront the doppelganger? Or was it just a by-product of his amnesia?

“You...” smirked the doppelganger. “There isn't much more I need to drain from you before you are completely powerless. Look at yourself; you're nothing but a pathetic fragment of your former self—you can't even stand up on your own! I'll be doing everyone a favor after I'm through with you.”

He raised his hand, and, through telekinesis, forced the Informant to rise from the Messenger’s hold. The youth cried out as he was suspended in midair—unable to move in spite of flailing his arms. With a pleading look, he held his arms out to the others.

“Ah-ah-ah!” scolded the doppelganger, causing the Informant to float just out of the others' reach. “They can’t help you now.”

Ribbons of energy emerged from the weakened Informant, being absorbed by the doppelganger's fingertips.

The Informant cried out again. He glanced back at the others—the ones he didn't remember but knew that they were on his side all the same. His voice was gone, but there was no mistaking the word he was trying to say as his lips parted.

“...Help...”

The Messenger was horrified; he had been forced to stand and watch as his friend had been levitated away from him and the others. And now the Informant was fading away; it was Gettysburg all over again. And though the Messenger held some semblance of hurt that Patty had gotten a reaction from the Informant more than he and the others had, he would have to push those feelings aside.

He ran at the doppelganger, hoping that somehow breaking his concentration would help bring the Informant back. He lunged, grabbing at the doppelganger by his shoulders and knocking him to the ground.

“No!” the Messenger yelled. “You can't have him! You can't become him, because you aren't him! You could never be as good of a person as he is!”

He was uncharacteristically upset and angry; this rage was being channeled from his worry for his surrogate brother. He would not stand idly by and watch as his brother was lost to him.

The doppelganger glared at the Messenger with an intense hatred.

“You will pay for getting in my way,” he vowed. The energy streams stopped for a moment. The cruel man clenched his hand into a fist, and the ground started to shake. Large rocks erupted from the ground, popping up out of nowhere.

The Messenger stared in disbelief as the rocks went flying. “O-kay, that's pretty disturbing,” he said. “You need anger management!” He dove out of the way, dodging rocks.

The Techie and the Inspector, in the meantime, came to help the Informant, who was still floating in midair.

“Just… Just hold on!” the Techie cried, reaching vainly for his friend. “You have to fight back, otherwise we can’t help you! Fight!”

The Informant held his hand out, his fingertips just able to make contact with the Techie’s, but not enough for him to gain a grip.

The Inspector sized up the situation in an instant.

“Need a lift?” he asked. He grabbed the Techie by the shoulders and raised him up. His plan worked; the Informant was able to grab onto the Techie’s wrist. Slowly, the Inspector brought them down, and it worked; the Informant was returning to them, though he was still weakened.

But this effort had not gone unnoticed by the doppelganger. With a roar of fury, he sent a large rock hurtling towards them.

But the Messenger saw it coming. Bracing himself, he deliberately jumped into the rock’s path. He cried out as he got hit, and collapsed, motionless.

The others were unaware of this at first; they only noticed that the Informant seemed to be slowly getting his strength back. At last, the young agent’s feet hit the ground, and he hugged his friends.

Turning, the Informant soon saw what it was that had helped him—the spirit had to use his own powers to move the rocks, meaning that the stolen energy was being taken back by it rightful owner, aided in part by the wills of his friends.

But that was when the Informant saw the motionless figure on the ground. His previously empty mind fell into place, and his memories returned to him as he cried out to his fallen friend.

“BRO!?”

What had happened!? He had been worried about Patty at first, not even pausing to think about his friends. Even if he hadn't had his memory at the time, it was still no excuse!

"No... NO!" The Informant made an attempt to stand on his own, but he still wasn't fully recovered.

The Techie and the Inspector helped him to the Messenger’s side, trying to take in the scene themselves as the doppelganger merely laughed at their plight.

“I could’ve seen that coming,” he said. “I knew he’d do anything to prevent you three from getting hit. Of course he would jump right in to take the blow himself!”

The Techie and the Inspector glared at the doppelganger in fury. But the Informant was devastated.

“He did nothing to you!” yelled the young agent. “Why did you do that to him?! I was the one you wanted!”

“Do you miss him that much?” asked the doppelganger. “I can just as easily bring him back... I just ask for one thing in exchange—your identity. Grant me your memories and your strength, and I’ll bring him back. A fair trade, is it not?”

The Informant froze. Now the doppelganger was playing on his weakest point--his readiness for self-sacrifice in order to save his friends.

“No,” ordered the Inspector, reading the Informant’s mind. “That would be the last thing he would’ve wanted.”

“He’s right; you can’t do this,” said the Techie, placing a hand on the Informant’s shoulder. “The thing we have to do is ensure that this creep doesn’t roam free. That’s what he would’ve wanted.”

“But...” The young agent could only glance at his fallen friend. What was he to do?

Patty, in the meantime, was shaking the cobwebs from her head as she revived. She was astounded to see the real Informant back on his feet, seemingly getting his energy and memories back, and there, on the ground, was the Messenger. And the impostor was offering a chance for the Messenger to return, but at the Informant's expense...!? She glanced at her watch. The subsequent delays in the doppelganger's plans had put him behind schedule. If they could somehow hold out until dawn, perhaps he would go away...

But first she had to stop the real Informant from giving himself up... somehow...

But the doppelganger was already approaching the Informant and the other two. The young agent could barely stand on his own two feet.

“I won't let you win,” vowed the Informant. “I'll stay here and beat you... for my friend… He risked everything for me to get my memory back. And I'm not going to let anything happen to the others... and I'm not going anywhere. But you are—I’ll see to it."

“And just how do you expect to do that? My powers are beyond your comprehension. And you are still weak.”

The doppelganger concentrated; what magic was he going to do now!?

Patty slowly got to her feet. No one noticed... the doppelganger had his back turned, and the other three were watching him.

But the Techie wasn’t going to allow the doppelganger to use any more magic. Grabbing a part of the rock lying nearby, he hurled it at the creep, and then tackled him.

But the Techie wasn't the only one who had made an attempt to distract the doppelganger. Patty had crept up behind him and kicked him in the shins. She knew it wouldn't have done a thing, but it had the desired effect—he turned.

“That was for impersonating the Informant!” she snarled.

The doppelganger smirked, obviously planning to use his power on her next, but that was when the Techie charged into him. He turned around, seizing his wrist.

“I'm sorry—were you hoping to actually accomplish something?” he sneered. “Don't make me laugh—you just a clumsy klutz, remember?”

He wasn't sneering when the Techie replied with a blow to his jaw. The Inspector slammed into him next, though, but the doppelganger wasn't even looking at them now; the real Informant was approaching him, furious. He was livid at what this spirit had done... so livid that he wasn’t even registering how he and Patty were temporarily on the same side.

“Alright, Guys,” the Informant said. “I’ll take it from here.” He glared at the face that so much resembled him. “I know a few Civil War spirits who would get along great with you,” he said, coldly.

“Well, let me just relieve you of those pesky memories of yours,” the doppelganger hissed. He attempted to concentrate again, but found that he could not. “Why...? Why isn't it working!?” he gasped.

The Informant glanced over his shoulder at the rising solar disc.

“Something tells me that would have something to do with it.”

The doppelganger screamed in fury; now he was the one beginning to fade, and the Informant was getting stronger and stronger as his strength returned. But as soon as he had retrieved all of his own energy, he stopped.

“What are you doing!?” asked the doppelganger. “You don't want my strength, too!?”

“We're not all creeps like you,” the youth replied, coldly.

“Then you're a fool. You haven't seen the last of me,” the spirit vowed. "And so what if you won this time?” The doppelganger smirked. “You've still lost something, haven't you?”

The Informant’s heart twisted as he glanced at his fallen friend again.

“Bring him back!” the young agent ordered. “Bring him back right now--”

But the spirit vanished with the arrival of dawn, his cackle lingering in the air.

The Informant clenched a fist, once again at the side of the Messenger. He was devastated. It was his fault this had happened—he had been ready to succumb to the doppelganger, but the Messenger hadn’t allowed him to do so... he fought back for the Informant when he couldn't fight for himself. And now the Messenger had paid the price.

The others, also, gathered around their comrade. Even Patty knelt beside the Informant (completely unnoticed) as he attempted to revive his friend without success. As much as she hated the Messenger, she did not like seeing the Informant so devastated.

“I'm sorry, Bro...” the young agent said. “This wasn't supposed to happen...”

“What wasn’t supposed to happen?” asked the Messenger, beginning to come around. “Infy…? Hey, you’re you again…!”

All heads turned in his direction.

“You’ve got to stop doing that to us…” said the Techie, slapping his forehead in relief.

“Bro!” the Informant exclaimed, hugging him. “I knew that creep couldn't have taken you out for good!”

“Of course…” the Messenger replied. “Was there ever any doubt that I would be too much for him…?”

“How’re you feeling?” asked the Inspector, trying not to roll his eyes.

“Just great!” he replied, sitting up.

Patty watched as the Informant rejoiced. He wasn't even noticing her sitting right there next to him. All he cared about was the return of his friend.

She glared at the Messenger. Now that he was back, she would never be able to convince the Informant to leave ACME. Silently, she retrieved the two lanterns that she had taken and placed them beside the Informant. Then she got up and walked away.

“Maybe next time...” she said, softly, as she glanced at the Informant. “Maybe then we'll be together.”

The Techie hadn’t seen her leave, but as he glanced to the side, he noticed the lanterns on the grass.

“Hey,” he realized, “these are ...” He looked around. Patty was nowhere in sight.

The Informant blinked, realizing that Patty had gone and that she had left the old but valuable lanterns behind. It dawned on him that he hadn't even spoken to her at all during the entire case. But maybe it was for the best. And besides, he had better things to worry about.

“Come on, Guys,” he said, helping the Messenger to his feet. “Let's go home.”

“I’m all for that,” the Messenger grinned. “But…” He glanced around at the large rocks that the doppelganger had left behind. “I'm thinking this is going to be pretty hard to explain; we should call ACME Haul-Away Net to take care of this mess.”

“Haul-Away Net?” the others asked, in unison, as they walked back into town.

“You haven’t heard of them? They clean up the messes that V.I.L.E. agents leave behind!”

The Techie and the Inspector exchanged baffled glances, but the Informant grinned; banter was a sure sign that the Messenger was back to normal. But he was wondering something now...

“Hey, Bro...?” he asked, folding his arms in suspicion. “That Haul-Away Net... does that really exist...?”

“You doubt my words…?” the Messenger asked, innocently. “Infy, I’m shocked!” He folded his arms. “I've heard rumors that it exists… as a super-secret branch of ACME, of course…”

The Techie glanced at him, amusement evident on his face.

“You made the whole thing up!” he said.

“Well, they have branches for everything else!” the Messenger protested. “So I thought--”

He was cut off by laughter—the Informant’s laughter.

The Inspector glanced at him in amazement. It had been a long time—a very long time since he had heard the younger agent laugh like that. The Techie also glanced at the Informant, amused and relieved. To hear him laugh again was a reassurance. Everything was going to be alright.

“I knew it!” the Informant was exclaiming, giving the Messenger a punch on the arm. “Aw, come on, Bro—you didn't really think you could get me to fall for that!”

“Well, it was worth a try,” said the Messenger, grinning again.

All of them knew what would happen; after the Chief told them off for letting Patty escape and then congratulate them on recovering the loot, the agents would undoubtedly amuse themselves with some of the crazy mayhem that occurred around headquarters.

In other words, business as usual.