The referenced album title of Part 25 was The Incident by Porcupine Tree.
[s2_18.1: Part 26.1] Stoica's Great Reward
<22120623>
Tuesday, June 23rd, 2212
Angelus R&D HQ, Perth, Australia
"Hi! Sorry to just drop in on you guys!" Catherine had entered Angelus' HQ to see the team, and speak with her new best friend.
"It's fine, how are you doing?" Brandon spoke.
"I'm alright. You guys know the next race is at-"
"Nilokeras Fossa, Syncline's home course. Doesn't seem like anything we can't handle."
"Great! I'll see you there then!... Ah! Is Alex here? I also wanted to catch up with her some more."
"Uhh, yes... but... well, you see..."
At that point, Alex walked past.
"Alex! Hi!" Catherine said in her usual energetic tone.
Alex just stared at her, blushing profusely and her mouth opening slightly. "Huh? Wh-who are you?"
"Haha, very funny. How're you doing?"
"I... No, really... who are you?"
Catherine's face turned to shock, she looked back at Brandon.
"There has been a little... incident, shall we say. The Alex you have been interacting with was not really Alex."
"What? Th... This.... This is just some horrible, cruel joke, isn't it? I know how you feel about the AGRC!"
"I would not joke with a kind hearted person such as yourself. Please, allow me to explain."
Brandon sat her down and explained everything to do with the spy. Naturally, Alex sat with her.
"...wow. That... really happened?" Catherine asked.
"Yes. I... truly am sorry for what happened." Alex said, looking away from her.
The shock that remained on Catherine's face soon turned into a large smile.
"It's fine! We can start again!"
"You can, I'm starting for the first time." Alex laughed.
Seeing that they were getting along well, Brandon left them to catch up, walking to his office. As he entered, he found a small package that one of the guards told him about, after scanning it for anomalous and hazardous materials. He opened it up, pulling out a holo-bar and a key fob. Holding the key in his right hand, he opened the holo-bar with his left.
"Brandon Smith.
"This past time I spent with you was a lie. I doubt anyone would know your true colours. So that day, I fled. I fled because for the first time as a professional spy, I was scared... and I usually have complete control of my emotions.
"In any case, I shall not be returning, not even to pick up my belongings... that's where the key comes into play."
At that point, Brandon stared at the key in his hand, then back at the letter.
"All the things I left at Angelus is now yours. My knife, my gun, and my old car are yours to keep. Do whatever you want with them; keep them, destroy them, whatever. They're yours now. The 4th floor of the parking garage should be where the car is.
"Speaking of cars... I'm treating the Tsunami well. I made changes to your design for a reason: I loved the initial design, and I wanted it. You just gave me the perfect time to steal it.
"In any case, I leave you with this final piece of information:
4F 45 45 4C 54
56 4C 20 4C 49
45 20 53 20 56
52 41 54 41 45
54 52 49 43 2E
"-Snežana Stoica"
Brandon scratched his head at the last part, then thought 'Screw it, I'll figure it out later. First order of business is the car.'
He made his way to the parking garage, going up to the 4th floor like the letter advised. There, he found the car 'Alex' drove, a 2210 Aston Martin. Brandon pressed a button on the key fob and the car responded to it. He opened the door and looked in it, then looked in the boot and engine bay. Satisfied there wasn't any anomalies attached to the car, he walked back to the main building, finding Alex.
"Alex, c-... wait, where's Catherine? I expected her to still be here talking with you."
"Ehh, we spoke for a while, but she had to return to work."
"Alright. Anyway, could you come with me for a moment."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"I have something to give to you."
"Uhhhh, okay."
She got up and walked with Brandon, who escorted her to the 4th level of the building's multistory carpark.
Brandon dangled the key fob by placing the keyring around his finger. "I have this key. Can you guess which car it belongs to?"
Alex looked around, then her eyes snapped wide open in shock.
"I... I recognise that car... I've seen it before. It's that... devil woman's car." She said, pointing at the Aston Martin.
Brandon pressed two buttons on the key fob. Once again, the car responded, unlocking and opening the doors.
"Get in, I've wanted to experience these cars."
"Uh... you sure?"
"Relax, I checked it out earlier. It's clean."
"Right, but why do you want me to ride with you?"
"I'll explain later, just get in."
With a sigh, Alex sat in the passenger's seat of the car, as Brandon got in the driver's seat. He plugged the key in the slot and started the car, driving off to Omega Harbour for a test run.