About an hour after dropping Natasha off, one of the SSHQ jets arrived at Moscow International airport to take the group back to Megatropolis. Narnia was impressed by the interior of it. Most of the large SSHQ jets were of the luxury variety.

"Now this is what I call traveling first class!" she shouted, sitting down on a long couch and reclining. "Can I take some photos?"

"What for?" Big D asked.

"So I can show Head Honcho once I get back to AVA's office," Narnia said. "See, that was another reason why we had to fly commercial. My boss doesn't pay for travel arrangements. Those come out of our own pockets."

"And the Impossi-Jet most likely wouldn't accommodate all of us for the flight back," Fluey said. "It's the fastest jet I've seen, but it's a little cramped."

Multi and Coiley had to agree on that one. At least the agency jets had plenty of leg room as opposed to commercial flights.

Throughout most of the flight, the Impossibles slept. Panther was curled up next to Fluey, and the dark-haired Impossible had fallen asleep while stroking the feline. Panther was purring like an outboard motor. Narnia just looked at them and shook her head.

"Sometimes I don't get that cat," she said. "He has never gotten along with someone so fast before."

"I never particularly understood them, myself," Big D replied. "I'm not much of a cat person."

Narnia nodded. She stood up, walked over to her cat, and stroked his ears and his face. Panther woke up, and looked up at her. It looked like he was smiling.

"Good kitty," Narnia said, giving her cat a final stroke, and then she walked back over to her seat.

"I can't wait to get back to the states," she said, stretching. "I need a good vacation."

"I can't argue with you there," Big D admitted. "The boys are certainly due for one."

"Aren't you gonna take some time off after this?"

"No, I need to get back to work immediately."

"All work and no play makes chiefy a dull boy."

"Very funny."

"Anyway, I think I'm gonna miss that semi-retirement. There was one good thing about it."

"What was that?"

"I got to spend some long overdue quality time with Panther. I usually can't take him with me when I'm on an assignment from AVA, so I have to board him in a kennel. Poor baby, he hates that."

"That must get expensive."

"Believe me, it does. But I can't bear to give him up for adoption."

Big D nodded. It was about all he could do. Hours later, the SSHQ jet landed on the landing pad at the HQ building. Mike, Phyllis, Shawn, FG, Danalleah, and Skittles were waiting for them inside. The minute she saw her boys, Skittles barked excitedly, and raced toward them at her super speed. She slammed into Multi's chest, knocking him off his feet, and began smothering him in puppy kisses.

"Okay, Skittles, okay!" he shouted. "I missed you, too! Easy, girl!"

"Fluey, I'm so glad you're all right!" Danalleah shouted, practically jumping on Fluey. "I was so worried about you!"

"Boy, are you ever a sight for sore eyes, Dani!" Fluey shouted, holding his girlfriend close. "I didn't think I was gonna see you again!"

"What happened, anyway?" FG asked. "You guys had been gone for who knows how long!"

"Yeah, and then we all fell asleep for who even knows how long as well," Shawn said.

"It's kind of a long story," Fluey said. "We'll tell you girls about it later."

"Yeah, right now, we just want to relax a little," Coiley said.

Nobody could blame the boys one bit for that. As the group walked down the hall, they heard a beeping noise.

"What's that?" Phyllis asked.

"My pager," Narnia said, as she handed Panther to Fluey. "Hold him a minute, would you, kid?"

"Sure," Fluey said, scratching Panther behind his ears.

"Darn it," Narnia said, looking at her pager. "It's my boss. Got a phone I can use, chief?"

"You can use the one in my outer office," Big D said. "Follow me."

Once the group reached the office, Narnia immediately grabbed the phone and dialed.

"Hello, Head Honcho?" she said. "This is Condor. You rang? I'm calling from the Secret Security Headquarters building. Yeah, I just got back to the states. She's still in Russia. Well, if you want to know the truth, she's in jail. Kidnapping and attempted murder. You heard me, attempted murder! Look, I'll explain everything once I get over there. Just give me a day or two to relax, unwind, and . . . . . what? Another assignment? Can't you put Hush-Puppy on it? Look, HH, I just got back to the states, and . . . . but I just got back from there! I see. All right. See you later then."

Narnia hung up the phone and groaned. Then she took Panther and started to leave.

"As much as I'd love to stay, I have to go," she said. "Head Honcho just handed me another assignment. Though this should be a bit less strenuous than this past one."

"Where are they sending you?" Big D asked.

"Of all places, back to Russia," Narnia said. "But it's most likely I'll be scouring the entire globe on this one. HH wants me to go after this guy AVA's been tracking for years, and he's a tricky character. I know I'm going to be going from one place to another with no down time in between."

"That's gotta be rough on Panther," Fluey said.

"I don't usually take him with me," Narnia said, stroking Panther, "because of that factor. That, and he hates traveling. I usually put him in a kennel. And he hates it!"

"So does Skittles," Multi said, scratching his puppy behind her ears.

"But I just can't give him up for adoption," Narnia said. "I don't know if he would go to a good home or not."

"That's a drag," Fluey said, scratching Panther's neck. Panther immediately began purring.

"Well, I do have an idea on how to solve this problem," Narnia said. "Provided your grandfather agrees to this."

"What?" Fluey asked.

"Panther really seems to like you, kid," Narnia went on. "And he doesn't warm up to people as quickly as he warmed up to you. How'd you like to keep him?"

"Really?" Fluey asked. "Yeah, I really would like to keep him."

"And just what would you do when you're on tour?" Big D asked. "Or on an out of town assignment?"

"Phyllis could take care of him," Fluey said. "Like she does when we can't take Skittles with us. Come on, chief, please, can I keep him?"

"I don't know," Big D said. "I'm really not too fond of cats."

"Come on, chief," Fluey said. "I'll take care of Panther, and you won't have to do a thing."

"Yeah, chief," Phyllis said. "He is pretty cute, and I'll take care of him for Fluey when the boys are out of town."

"Please, chief?" Fluey asked. "Please, please, please?"

"Meeeooowwww," Panther mewed. He jumped onto Big D's shoulders, and began rubbing up against him, purring like a well-tuned car engine. That did it.

"Oh all right," the chief sighed. "If I don't agree, I'll probably never hear the end of this."

"Thanks, chief!" Fluey shouted. He took Panther off the chief's shoulders, and began stroking the cat. Panther closed his eyes halfway, and began purring even louder.

"I knew that would work out," Narnia said, stroking Panther's ears. Then she leaned closer into the cat's face. "Now, you be a good kitty for your new owner."

"Meow," Panther said, rubbing against Narnia's face.

"I'll probably wind up checking in from time to time when I get a chance," Narnia said. "So I expect you to be taking good care of him, kid."

"No problem," Fluey said, stroking Panther's back.

Narnia nodded, gave her cat a couple of strokes, and then started to leave the office. Before she left, she turned toward Big D.

"I have to admit, Big D, I was wrong about you," she said. "I didn't think you knew what you were doing, but you did."

"That's how I got to where I am today, Ms. Veretennikov," Big D said.

"Yeah, well," Narnia said, shrugging. "Hasta la vista, chiefy."

With that, final thought, Narnia left. Big D just shook his head, and sighed.

"I don't think I'll ever understand that woman," he said.

"Yeah, me neither," Fluey said. "And I don't think I'll understand that sister-in-law of hers, either!"

"That's for sure," Coiley said. "Come on, fellas. Let's head out. Multi and I have a lot of explaining to do to our parents about this!"

"You guys go on ahead," Fluey said. "I'll see you guys later."

Multi and Coiley nodded, and the boys left, along with Skittles. Once they were gone, Fluey flopped down on the couch, with Panther in his lap.

"Man, I'm exhausted," he said.

"I don't blame you," Phyllis said, as she scratched Panther behind the ears. "Come on, if you can manage to drag yourself up. We might as well go to the pet store and get some supplies. We're going to need them."

"Yeah, we sure will," Fluey said, standing up. He started to follow his sister out of the building, but he stopped for a minute, and looked at the black cat.

"Welcome to the team, Panther," he said. Panther meowed, rubbed his head against Fluey's chin, and purred contently.

The End