#preoder announcement

Lance looked at her over the file. "You want us to work the Naxzela case?"

"Precisely," she confirmed. "Naxzela has been the hub of multiple crime rings. I'm sure you both remember the Galra Drug ring. It seems that another individual has taken residence there within the past few years and has set up shop. I want the two of you to find out what it is, find my missing agents, and take down this ringleader. Without killing each other."

He snapped the case file closed and stood up. "Well, if that was everything, I guess it's time to go then. C'mon, lackey," he said, heading for the door, not really caring if the other agent was following him or not.

Keith watched him leave the room before whirling around to glare at Allura. "You cannot be serious about this."

The FBI Director raised an immaculate eyebrow. "What are you going to do if I say that I am? Remember Keith, you're still on thin ice with me and the rest of the Bureau, tread carefully. Dismissed."

Growling, he stood up from his chair and clomped out the door and past Coran's desk. This was going to put him through hell and back, he knew it.

Agent Diaz was waiting at the elevator, tapping his fingers in an uneven staccato rhythm on the case file. Keith stepped up next to him and waited.

"Okay, I'm going to make this as painless as possible for both of us, so listen up, don't ask questions, and everything will be peachy, capisce?"

Keith curbed the urge to snap back. That was behind him, he wouldn't let his temper get the best of him. "Capisce."

"Good. You leave the point to me, and you can do—" Lance looked him over again before turning back to the elevator, "—whatever it is you do. Find some cyber trail or something."

The other agent huffed and shook his head, keeping his temper at bay for the moment. "Right then. Can I read the case?"

The elevator doors opened, and Lance stepped in, turning to face Kogane.

"No." And he pushed the button to close the doors while Kogane gaped at him, shocked and outraged.

"Diaz, you—!"

The doors shut and began its trek downward to the parking garage underneath the building.

Keith seethed at the door, clenching and unclenching his fists as he vibrated with a rage he didn't think he was capable of anymore. "That fucker," he hissed as he jammed his thumb on the button for the elevator again, just as his phone went off.

Pulling it out, there was a message waiting to be read.

UNKNOWN NUMBER: this is diaz. meet at this address tomorrow at 0800 UNKNOWN NUMBER: 5784 Rebel Drive, Naxzela 61958

Keith clenched his phone so hard that the plastic casing he had on it creaked. Mother fu—