[MORNING – SATO RESIDENCE]
Noah was eating leftover birthday cake for breakfast.
Ding-Dong.
"I'll get it!" Noah yelled, mouth full of frosting.
He opened the door.
Standing on the porch were a man and a woman. They were dressed in expensive business suits. They were smiling too widely.
"Hello, Noah," the woman said, her voice smooth like honey. "It's been so long."
Noah blinked.
"Mom? Dad?"
The man stepped forward. "Yes, son. We're home from... work."
Noah's eyes lit up.
"You're back! Nana didn't tell me you were coming!"
"It's a surprise," the woman said quickly. "May we come in?"
"Of course! Come in! Do you want cake?"
[THE INTERROGATION]
Lilly was in the kitchen. She froze when she saw the strangers.
Target Analysis:
Male: 6'1". Concealed weapon under jacket.
Female: 5'7". Nervous tic in left eye.
Conclusion: Hostiles.
"Lilly!" Noah cheered. "These are my parents!"
Lilly stared at them.
"Your parents?" Lilly asked slowly. "The ones who are overseas?"
"Yes," the man said. "We finished our... project early."
He looked around the kitchen.
"So, Noah. Where is Nana?"
"She went to the market," Noah said, pouring tea. "She'll be back soon."
The woman's smile faltered.
"Soon? How soon?"
"Maybe an hour. She likes to haggle over fish."
The man relaxed.
"Good. We have time to... catch up."
They sat at the table.
"Tell us, Noah," the woman said, leaning in. "Does Nana keep any... special documents in the house?"
Noah thought.
"Documents? Like... recipes?"
"Yes. Or perhaps... maps? Blueprints?"
"Oh! She has a map of the forest!" Noah said. "She marked all the good mushroom spots."
The spies exchanged glances.
Mushroom spots = Missile Silos.
Forest Map = Tactical Grid.
"Show us," the man commanded. "We would love to see where she... gathers."
[THE MISTAKE]
Noah ran upstairs to get the map.
Lilly stood alone with the spies.
"Who are you really?" Lilly hissed.
The woman laughed. "We're his parents, dear. Don't be rude."
"Noah's father has a scar on his hand," Lilly lied.
The man looked at his hand. It was smooth.
"Plastic surgery," he improvised poorly. "Work accident."
Lilly reached for a knife on the counter.
The front door slammed open.
BOOM.
The temperature in the kitchen dropped twenty degrees.
A shadow filled the hallway.
"I smell rats," a voice rumbled.
[NANA RETURNS]
Nana walked into the kitchen. She was holding a live fish by the tail. It was still flopping.
She looked at the "parents."
Her eyes went cold. Dead cold.
"Well," Nana said. "Look what the cat dragged in."
The spies stood up. They were sweating.
"Nana!" the woman said brightly. "We just wanted to see our—"
"Sit down," Nana ordered.
The spies sat. The chairs creaked under the pressure of her aura.
Nana walked to the counter. She slammed the fish down. Whack.
"You have five seconds," Nana said, picking up a cleaver. "To explain why you are in my kitchen."
"We... we represent the Overseas Client," the man stammered. "We heard the boy has... potential."
"Potential?" Nana raised the cleaver.
"We just wanted to recruit him!" the woman cried. "He unified the Syndicates! He defeated Unit Zero! He's a legend!"
Noah came back downstairs, holding a crinkled map.
"Here it is!" Noah beamed. "Look, the best mushrooms are near the old bunker!"
He stopped.
The kitchen was tense. Nana was holding a cleaver. The guests were shaking.
"Is everything okay?" Noah asked.
"Fine," Nana said. "Your 'parents' were just leaving."
"Already?" Noah looked sad. "But you just got here."
The man stood up so fast he knocked his chair over.
"Yes! Emergency meeting! Very important!"
"Bye, son!" the woman shrieked. "Love you!"
They ran out the door. They didn't look back.
[THE AFTERMATH]
Noah watched them run down the street.
"They seem really busy," Noah sighed. "I hope they visit again."
Nana put down the cleaver. She walked over and hugged Noah.
"Don't worry," Nana whispered. "I'm not going anywhere."
Lilly watched them.
"Nana," Lilly said quietly. "Those weren't his parents, were they?"
Nana looked at the door.
"No," she said. "His parents would never run from me."
(Because they know better).
[CONTROL ROOM]
"Report," the Commander said.
"Two unidentified agents entered the Sato residence," the analyst said. "They claimed to be family."
"And?"
"Nana extracted them. Verbally. They are currently swimming across the ocean to escape."
The President laughed.
"Family reunions are always messy," the President said. "But at least Noah got to show off his map."