Kurt flipped on the light, and turned towards the living room, mind processing what might be nearby that he could use as a weapon. Then he saw who was there.

“What are you doing here?!” Kurt yelled seeing Noah Puckerman slouched into one of his chairs, legs swung over one of the arms, and munching on some of Kurt's food.

“Here to see you of course.” Puck replied. “You're late. Having trouble keeping up with the routine?”

Kurt shook his head. “You can't come here. It isn't safe. Are you trying to break my cover?”

“Are you?” Puck asked

“What is that supposed to mean Noah?”

“You think we don't know about the little Principle City guy you've been hanging out with? Is that why you were late? Getting it on with a WG lemming?”

Kurt balled his fist in anger “I was not 'getting it on'.” Kurt said evenly. “And he isn't a lemming. Aren't you the one who convinced me these people are worth saving?”

“Hey, hey” Puck said lifting up a hand in surrender. “Don't get your panties in a bunch. I just don't want to see you compromising the mission.”

Kurt deflated. “How did you know about him anyway?”

“You really think you are the only agent The Resistance has in Principle City? Come on.” Puck answered, stuffing another bite of food in his mouth.

“You can't just eat my food Noah.” Kurt said rolling his eyes. “I'm only assigned a certain amount. And why are you even here again?”

Puck finished off the food, and licked his fingers, “I was sent to bring you back to headquarters.”

“What?!” Kurt exclaimed as his stomach dropped. “I'm being taken off the case?” He knew he was behind, but he was getting there. He just needed more time. He wasn't ready to give up, and if he was honest with himself, he wasn't ready to leave Blaine.

“No no. Nothing like that. It's just that the boss wants to talk to you.”

Kurt felt relieved, but still cautious. “About what?”

“Man, I'm just the messenger.” Puck said hoping up from the chair. “Coming?”

“Right now?”

“No Hummel. I thought we'd have a slumber party first. Yes right now.” Puck swept pass him and then stopped at the door shrugging off the long black coat he was wearing to reveal more black clothes underneath. “Better put this on. We don't want to be seen.”

Kurt grabbed the coat, and put it on, before following Puck out of the building. They kept to the shadows until they got to another gray building down the street. This one wasn't for apartments though, it was mainly for storage. Extra furniture to furnish WG apartments, and parts for replacements and repairs.

Puck rattled the back door, before it finally opened, and they slipped inside. They moved to the corner of a big store room and Puck leaned his shoulder against a large wooden crate. He pushed against it, and it slid out of the way, much easier than it looked like it would.

Underneath was a round manhole cover. Puck lifted it and motioned to the dark hole it revealed. “Ladies first.” He said. Kurt crossed his arms and looked at Puck sternly.

“Fine.” Puck said as he flipped on a small square light attached to his belt loop. He then turned around and started climbing down the metal ladder attached to a wall. Kurt followed him, sliding the manhole cover back in place. He could hear the crate rolling back over them, as it was on a timer, so someone entering the store room wouldn't know anything was amiss.

Once they finally got to the end of the ladder Puck tossed Kurt another light pack. He clipped it to his belt as he followed Puck down the long dark corridor that twisted around underneath Principle City.

After walking a while the got to a rusty metal door that looked like it hadn’t been opened in years. “You want to do the honors?” Puck asked.

Kurt walked up to the door and slid a little panel over to the left revealing a keypad. He pressed a sequence of numbers, before he heard a low buzz overhead. “Password?” a voice came out of nowhere.

“Tina?” Puck said. “You know us. Let us in.”

“Password?” Tina's voice rang out again.

Puck rolled his eyes as Kurt smirked. He wouldn't let them in without the password either. “Pavarotti.” Kurt said. At that the old rusted door slowly slid open.

As soon as Kurt walked through, someone jumped out of the control room nearby, and wrapped their arms tightly around him.

Kurt hugged her back. “Good to see you too Tina.” He laughed.

Tina released him and gave him a bright smile. “I've missed you!” She said. “How's Principle City? Well... you know... the above ground version of Principle City?”

“Dull and monotonous.” Kurt replied with a laugh.

“Mmmhmmm. That's not what I've heard Romeo.” Tina winked.

“Does everyone know my business?” Kurt groaned.

“Yeah, when it's Resistance business too, we do.” Puck said.

“Even when it's not, we do. You know we are all a little too close.” Tina added.

Kurt smiled. “Yeah I guess that's true. We are like a really big annoying family.”

“And we shouldn't keep 'dad' waiting.” Puck said, nodding down the dark hallway.

“I'm on door duty tonight.” Tina said. “So, I'll see you again before you go.”

Kurt followed Puck down the dark hallway until they got to another door. Puck pushed it open, and everything changed. Lights hung on the brick walls, illuminating them, and the brightly colored paintings that adorned them. The Resistance had settled into the Principle City headquarters by painting murals on the walls. Colorful swirls and patterns growing brighter and more lively as you reached the heart of the underground command post.

The hallway split three ways. To the right was most of the living quarters, straight ahead was the main hall, where Kurt could hear commotion emanating from, even at this late hour, and to the left was command central…Where he knew he was expected. Puck stopped and let Kurt go first.

The paintings on the wall didn't stop when you went this direction, but they did grow more somber. Depictions of Principle City by night. Imitations of The Authorities paroling. All still done in bright colors that the WG would hate.

They arrived at a long room. Computer screens lining the walls, and a long table in the center, with a 3D hologram of Principle City spread out across it. Several people were discussing something when Kurt and Puck walked in, but they stopped and looked up when they realized someone was there.

“Kurt!” A man exclaimed, walking away from the others. “Glad you could join us, even if it was later than expected.”

Adam was young. He was tall and handsome, with light hair, and a thick accent. Most people were surprised when they met him. He didn't look like the older battle-worn leader they expected, but Adam was smart, brilliant even. And he led this branch of Resistance with energy and perseverance. He was a good leader, even if he did get on Kurt's nerves a little bit.

Most everyone left the room as Adam greeted Kurt.

“Sorry about that.” Kurt said dryly. “It is hard to be on time for a meeting you didn't know you were coming too.”

Adam laughed. “I know. I know. It was somewhat impromptu, but we need to talk.”

Adam walked over to the table, and pressed a few buttons so the hologram of the city disappeared, and a 3D layout of the World Government Central building appeared. “How are things going with implanting the virus?” Adam asked.

Kurt sighed, “Slower than expected. I feel like I'm being watched all the time…and their firewalls are better than I thought.”

“You're in Principle City. Of course you're being watched all the time. Do you think the Authorities are giving you extra attention? If so... why do you think that might be?”

This was one of the reason's Adam annoyed Kurt. Why couldn't he just come out and say it instead of fishing for it like that?

“I don't think they are watching me anymore that anyone else.” Kurt said not playing Adam's game.

“Kurt. Don't be so stubborn. We know about Blaine.” Adam said.

“That's fine.” Kurt said crossing his arms. “It isn't a secret, and it isn't affecting my mission.”

Adam ignored Kurt's attitude. “Kurt this is a big deal. Do you think you can trust him? Really think about your answer.”

Kurt sighed and uncrossed his arms. He thought about Blaine. The way he effortlessly helped people. The way he hummed under his breath, probably not even realizing he was doing it. The way he saw and heard beauty in things, even when he was surrounded by the mundane. The way he had started questioning his way of life. His bright smile and kind eyes. Kurt caught himself as he began to smile. He cleared his throat. “Yes. I trust him.”

Adam raised his eyebrows, and gave Kurt a knowing smirk. ”Good. That's good, because I think we've run into a little trouble with your mission.” Adam motioned for Kurt to come closer as he leaned over the table.

Kurt walked over and peered down at the miniature WG Central.

“Artie?” Adam said.

Artie was a computer systems expert. He probably would have been sent to Principle City in Kurt's place, if he wasn't in a wheelchair, after all the WG didn't like people with “imperfections”.

“I know you've been running into some unexpected delays.”

“The firewalls.”

“Yes. And you've been doing a good job with those, but it is taking too long.”

“I don't know how to work any faster.”

“I know.” Artie sighed. “We have to have this done by Founder's Day or the whole mission is over. I've been analyzing the data you've been sending back to us and well... I think I've found a way to get to the heart of their system.”

“How?” Kurt asked.

Artie pointed to a place on the World Government Central floor-plans. “This is the motherboard for the whole system. We've been trying to get to it from the outside, but it isn't working. You need to get to it, in person.”

Kurt studied the floor-plan, and then glanced up to Artie and Adam. “I can't. I don't have clearance to go to that part of the building.”

“We know.” Adam said.

“Can you get me clearance?” Kurt asked Artie.

“Sure. I could get you clearance, if I could hack into the motherboard.” Artie replied.

“So, you could get me clearance to the mother board… if you were already hacked into the mother board?” Kurt asked.

“That's basically it.” Artie said with a shrug.

“So what? We're through? There's nothing we can do? There has to be something.”

Artie glanced up to Adam. Adam cleared his throat. “We need someone on the inside. Someone who already has clearance. There are a handful of people in that building who could help.” Adam folded his arms, and nodded towards the screen on the wall. It started flashing through photos of people, going too quickly for Kurt to make anyone out.

“So we have to use someone outside of the Resistance?” Kurt asked. “That seems like a huge risk, are you sure we-” Kurt stopped mid-sentence as the pictures on the screen stopped flashing, and landed on one face.

Kurt stared at the screen, his mouth going dry. “No.”

“Kurt. He'd be perfect.” Artie said.

“No.” Kurt answered looking at Blaine's picture. “Absolutely not.”

“Blaine Devon Anderson.” Adam read. “Born and raised in Principle City. A model citizen. A brief time of nonconformity in his young teenage years where he questioned his teachers, he grew out of that though.” Adam scanned the screen with Blaine's information. “He does a remarkable job staying on routine, in the top percentile. He got behind once, a year and a half ago, because he broke routine to help a colleague, Trent William Nixon. Seriously Kurt. He is perfect. The WG probably wish they had more like him, they won't suspect a thing.”

“No.” Kurt said again shaking his head.

“I thought you said you trusted him?”

“I do trust him, but that doesn't mean I'm going to put him in danger!” Kurt said rounding on Adam. “He doesn't know I work for the Resistance. He doesn't know about my past or anything. I've kept him in the dark to keep him safe. I am not going to drag him into this and put him at risk.”

“Kurt.” Adam said sternly. “You've already put him at risk. You draw attention to yourself, and to him when you're together. You convinced him to skip taking his assigned shuttle to... do what Kurt? What was that even about? You have him questioning a way of life he has always known. You think all of that doesn't put him at risk?”

Kurt clenched his jaw, but felt a little sick. He never meant to put Blaine in danger. He knew he was risking himself by doing those things, but he didn't think of what it could mean for Blaine… still… this was different. This was pulling Blaine into the thick of the Resistance. It would be asking him to rebel against the WG. Something punishable by death. Kurt couldn't do that. 

“No.” Kurt said again. “I can't. You can't ask me too.”

“I'm open to other ideas if you have any.” Artie said. “But from where I'm sitting? This is our only chance.”

“Just think about it Kurt.” Adam said putting a hand on Kurt's shoulder. “Don't answer now, just think about it. About how important this mission is. How it could change everything.”

Kurt nodded his head. “Fine.” he answered. “Is there anything else you need from me?”

“No.” Adam sighed. “That is all.”

Kurt spun around and left the room. Puck, who been standing quietly by the door, following him. “Though break dude.” He said when they got back to the hallway.

“Did you know about this?” Kurt snapped. 

“No. I didn't.” Puck answered. “Not that I could have done anything about it. Warn you maybe, but not much else.”

Kurt deflated. “Yeah... I know Noah.”

“You aren't really going to refuse to do this are you?” Puck asked. 

“I don't think that's any of your business.”

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Puck said. “Everything we've been working for hinges on this mission. It has everything to do with me and all the other rebels. Listen Kurt I get that you... have feelings for this guy...”

Kurt shot him a warning glance.

“But you have to think of the greater good.”

Kurt's shoulders slumped, thinking about all the hopes and plans, not to mention lives riding on this. “I know...I know.” He said feeling defeated. 

They walked back in silence. When they got back to Tina, she could tell something was wrong. 

“That meeting must have been great.” She said. “Just look at your smiling faces.”

Kurt closed his eyes and took a deep breath. “Yeah... great.”

“I'm sorry.” Tina said, and then added with a little smile. “You are coming back for the Anit-Founder's day party aren't you? This place will be hopping.”

Kurt smiled at her “Yes, probably.” He said, but then after a moment, quietly replied with “I don't know.”

Tina glanced at Puck but he just shrugged his shoulders. 

“Okay... well. Don't forget about us up there in the land of the living dead.”

Kurt gulped, he wasn't sure he liked that phrasing. “I won't.” Kurt placed a light kiss on her cheek, and then continued home. 

Once He had said good bye to Puck, he flopped down on his bed. His mind was swirling. What in the world was he going to do now?