C.I.A. Headquarters, Late Morning

[l1ttle_billy]

Billy approached the desk, feeling apprehensive. Last time he was here he'd technically been an apprehended terrorist.



"Hi, uh, William Kessler to see..." shit what was he supposed to call Duke?

"Let's see," the secretary said, looking up his name in the computer. "Ah yes." he said. "Take this pass and head through that security check point over there. They'll help you out."

Okay so he hadn't had to worry about it. Good.

A short while later, Billy was approaching another secretary. "Hi, William Kessler to see, uh, him."

"Just a moment." she pressed a button on her intercomm. "Agent Hauser, William Kessler is here to see you."

"Send him in." Duke said.

"Go right in." she said, pointing towards the door.

Billy took a deep breath and entered the office.

"Billy, c'mon in, have seat." Duke said. His expression was serious.

"What's this about?" Billy demanded as he sat in the seat across from the Agent.

"Two things actually. For one thing, we recieved a message from Destro."

Billy stiffened. "What about?"

"You actually. Believe it or not, he wanted to know how you were doing."

Billy actually had no trouble believing that. He'd been fairly close with Destro and the Baroness once upon a time. "What did you tell him?"

"That I'd relay the message and get back to him. He also wanted you to have this." Duke placed a small box on the desk in front of Billy. "He says Merry Christmas."

Billy looked suspiciously at the package. He made no move to pick it up or open it.

"We've checked it for anything suspicious." Duke assured him. "Whatever else Destro might be, I don't think he'd try to-"

"What's the other thing?" Billy interupted. "You said there were two things."

Duke sighed. "Yes. We've got a lead on Major Bludd."

Billy glowered. "you're going after him and you want me to tell you everything I know about him."

"yes." Duke said levelly.

"Well see the problem with that is that I already did. Everything I know, you know. About Bludd, Cobra, everything. I can't help you Duke. With anything. I'm out. I intend to stay, out." He rose. "We finished?"

"Billy please," Duke said, rising as well. "I know you went through a lot-"

"You said that last time I was in this office. You all kept saying that. You put me in witness protection, and sent me to that school so I could have some kind of life. Let me." He picked up the small box and slipped it into the inside pocket of his coat. "Don't contact me again. Please. Not for something like this. I just want to forget it all happened."

He turned and walked out of Duke's office, his thoughts dark.