by Jess Keating
To all my amazing readers:
Not only are you brave and brilliant, but you’ve got wonderful taste in books.
(But seriously, it’s a joy to write for you all. Thanks for coming along for the ride!)
Title Page
Dedication
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Epilogue
Author’s Note
Teaser
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Also by Jess Keating
Copyright
Ahh, vacation.
I stretched my arms above my head, letting the movement and airflow cool some of the clammy sweat from my body.
Know what my favorite part of vacation was? Besides the little capuchin monkeys chattering in the trees above me?
There were no disasters.
No evil villains trying to take over the world.
No ridiculously impossible odds to face, and no world-saving missions to complete.
It was only me, my family, and the huge orchid balanced above my ear. Relaxing in the teeming jungle with chirping birds and insects all around us. Though to be honest, the fact that the orchid wouldn’t stay in place was already getting on my nerves. I was ready to throw it into the ocean.
“Can’t I hold onto the flowers instead of being decorated in them? I’m not a flowerpot,” I whined. Pickles, my ferret, seemed to agree, swiping the wispy tendril of flower as she shifted from her perch on my shoulder.
“No way, kiddo.” Mom’s mouth turned up into a satisfied smirk.
If you’d ever seen my mom before today, you probably wouldn’t have recognized her. She usually had what I like to call Momface—a combination of weary and paranoid, probably because she spent most of her time worried about whether or not one of my latest inventions was going to blow up the house.
Understandable, considering it was known to happen on occasion.
But ever since my dad had come out of hiding from the police (and us!) after being framed for attempted murder seven years ago? Mom was a breezy, smiling, walking ray of sunshine.
“We only get to do this once, so everything’s going to be special. And if you insist on Pickles riding on your shoulder during the ceremony, she’s going to have to get used to the flowers …” She handed me a cluster of messy wildflowers as a placeholder bouquet. “Both in your hands and your hair!”
I rolled my eyes. “Technically you’re not doing this once,” I reminded her. “This is your second time walking down the aisle. To the same guy, even. What’s the point of getting married again? You never got divorced or anything. He just disappeared.”
“The point, my dear child,” she said, “is a new start. We’ve gone seven years without your dad, and we want to make his return special. Plus, this time, you’ll be there with us. It’s the start of a new chapter in the book of our lives!” She lifted her hands dramatically.
“The book of our lives needs another lemonade, not a wedding!” I licked my parched lips, trying to remember where I’d left my water bottle.
I should probably explain the past few months, in case you haven’t been keeping track in my official government records. Actually, you know what? Explaining would take too long. Let me sum it up:
I’m a genius. I got shipped off to a boarding school that turned out to be a secret government-run place called Genius Academy helmed by a tough, no-nonsense lady called Martha. The students’ job, to put it bluntly, is to save the world. We use quick thinking, prodigious expertise, and a good dose of luck to protect Earth and its inhabitants from threats. I’ll admit it: It’s totally fun.
But don’t let the fact that we’re geniuses make you think we’re all the same.
Nope, Genius Academy is an equal-opportunity agency, representing different kinds of brilliant minds. Some of us excel at inventing and building dangerous weapons (that’s me!), while others are experts at stuff like music, physics, chemistry, leadership, or reading people. Or, if you’re like my friend-and-possibly-boyfriend, Leo da Vinci, you’re good at everything. (Which is completely unfair, if you ask me.)
Anyway. So, before I joined the Academy—seven years ago, as I already mentioned—my dad was all over the news for blowing up his lab. The police found plans for a bomb that he was developing to use to hurt a bunch of people. But guess what? He was framed! By an evil dude who wanted to sell one of Dad’s cool inventions for boatloads of cash.
I know! How rude, right?
To make this long story short, he disappeared to keep me and my mom safe, but my friends from Genius Academy helped me clear his name, so he’s back in the picture now.
That’s great because it means I finally have my family together again, and we can let go of some pretty awful stuff from the past.
But it’s not so great because it means I’ve had to endure my parents basically making out all the time, “reconnecting” after so many years apart. Barf!
Don’t ask me why they couldn’t reconnect by going out to a fancy, candlelit dinner like regular long-lost soul mates. Nope, they wanted to get away from it all. And I guess “it all” means air-conditioning and flat-screen televisions. As you can probably tell from the vines and monkeys surrounding me, I’m not at the Academy anymore.
Welcome to the Monteverde Cloud Forest! Home to over four hundred species of birds, one hundred species of mammals, and one nerdy genius with a sunburn. Oh, and my parents, who are now rehearsing for their upcoming (second) wedding, where they’re going to renew their vows and profess their love in holy matrimony.
My job today was to practice walking down the aisle alongside my mom at the right tempo. You’d think that being a genius would mean I’d be good at this, but the truth is, I could hardly balance on the tiny heels Mom had bought me to go with my bridesmaid dress. I’ve seen some people wear heels that are three inches tall without breaking their necks—how do they do it?!
I mean that literally: I’ve done the calculations, and the physics of walking on heels doesn’t add up.
“So when you hear the second bar of the music, that’s when we go.” Mom gripped my elbow tightly, but her face was all smiling sunshine. Seeing Mom so happy after so many years of sadness was pretty great … even if it was hard on my feet.
Just then, Pickles chattered sharply in my ear and scurried down my arm, using her sharp claws to push off me as she catapulted to the ground. A flash of chocolate-brown and white, she bolted off in the direction of our hotel.
“Ouch!” I yelped, stumbling on my heels.
Mom held me steady and stared after Pickles. “What’s up with her?”
I chewed my lip. “I’m not sure.” I squinted against the dappled sun streaming through the jungle leaves as a last flick of her tail disappeared around the curving trail. A low buzz of anxiety started to quiver inside my stomach.
“Mind if I go see what’s up?” I asked Mom, trying to keep the edge of nervousness from my voice. “She’s not usually like this. Not unless …”
The chatter of the jungle got louder in my ears. Pickles didn’t race off like that unl
ess she was motivated by something—or someone.
Mom took the bouquet from my hands. “Maybe the hotel staff has been sneaking her treats! Go ahead, sweetie. We’ve got a week until the wedding. Tons of time to practice.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Be right back!”
Kicking off my uncomfortable shoes, I darted after Pickles, my bare feet skidding on the path as I arrived at the cute little hotel my family was staying at for the next week.
“Pickles!” I yelled through the vivid green trees. “Where’d you go?” I clicked my tongue and clapped my hands, trying to get her attention. Usually, if I made noises like this, she’d think I had food and race back to me.
But this time … nothing.
Continuing through the hotel doors, I hoped someone at the front desk had seen her. Would they kick us out of here if she caused trouble? I plastered on a fake smile in hopes of endearing myself to the staff.
“Excuse me,” I said, ducking under the ornamental tree by the door to reach the receptionist. “I’m looking for—Oh!”
The receptionist wasn’t there. Instead, Pickles sat perched atop the shoulder of someone else.
Someone who should have been thousands of miles away …
“Hi, Nikki!” Charlie Darwin lifted her arms and danced in place. Then five other faces popped up from behind the counter, like they were celebrating a surprise birthday party.
Only it definitely wasn’t my birthday.
“What are you guys doing here?!” I reached over to give Charlie a hug, then made my way down the rest of the line to greet Mary Shelley, Grace O’Malley, Adam “Mo” Mozart, Bert Einstein, and, of course, Leo. My six genius buddies were a long way from Genius Academy. That could only mean one thing.
Trouble.
“Thought you could get rid of us that easy, huh?” Leo’s eyes twinkled, sending my stomach into a flutter. He had this ridiculous way of setting off butterflies inside me. Ever since he’d kissed me on the rooftop of our last mission, I had to work extra hard not to giggle or blush when he looked at me. “It’s going to take more than a vacation in the Cloud Forest to hide from us!” he said cheerfully.
“It’s great to see you all,” I said. A rush of adrenaline warmed my chest. I’d never been surprised by friends like this before. Then again, I’d never really had friends before. I’d been at the Academy for less than a year, but already my classmates felt like family. But that didn’t explain why they’d shown up behind the hotel’s front desk.
“We know you’re supposed to be enjoying a vacation,” Grace said. “We all are, I will point out.”
Bert huffed with annoyance. “I was perfecting my spectral cloak,” he said. “It’s going to be the most advanced camouflage technology ever. And then, boom—there’s Grace at my door!” He narrowed his eyes at her, pouting.
Grace ignored him. “I had no choice,” she said. “Martha sent me. Something’s come up, and she asked me to round up the team to help. Sorry, Nikki, but you need to come with us.” Grace blinked at me, no trace of amusement on her face. “Like, now.”
“What?!” I glanced behind me, hoping my mother hadn’t followed me in. My parents understood what went on at Genius Academy, but there was no way that they’d be okay with me taking off in the middle of their wedding rehearsal.
“I can’t randomly disappear,” I said. I ducked my chin down, keeping my voice low. “We’ve got a fancy dinner tonight, and the wedding is in less than a week. I’m supposed to be practicing my walk right now.”
“Is walking really that hard for you?” Mo questioned, tilting his head.
Mary shot him a look. “You try it in heels.”
“Sorry, Tesla.” Grace gave me a half-hearted shrug, but I didn’t miss the glint of amusement as her gaze flicked above my ear. I’d forgotten about the orchid stuck there. I pawed it out of my hair and twisted it in my fingers awkwardly.
“We’ve been given strict orders. Martha promised to make it up to your parents and explain everything.” Grace checked her watch. “But right now? We’ve got exactly three minutes to get you in the car out back. Or else.”
I lifted my hands to my hips. I’d already decided. There was no way I was leaving my parents. “Or else what?”
Grace cracked her knuckles while Mo fiddled with the tiny bell on the countertop. A muted, tinny chime sounded in the air. “Or else we kidnap you,” she said.
I cackled. “Sure, that sounds reasonable.”
Bert grinned eagerly while Leo stared at his feet. Nobody was laughing with me.
“Wait, for real?” I choked. “Martha told you to kidnap me if I didn’t cooperate?”
Grace shrugged again.
“I’m afraid so,” Mo said. Rounding the corner of the front desk, he scooped me up and tossed me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The others giggled and stepped out of his way as he moved easily toward the door, despite my arguments.
“HEY!” I yelped. “Put me down! You can’t go around picking up people! I’ll come with you, okay?!”
Mo grinned, setting me down with a thud. “Sorry,” he said, pointing to the others. “They made me do it.”
I wrung my hands in frustration and smoothed out my clothes, dusting off the indignation. “Can I at least tell my parents? Or grab my suitcase? Or shoes? Where exactly are we going?”
Grace barely acknowledged me as she breezed past the group and out the door, holding it open for us to follow. “We’ve already packed your stuff. You can thank Charlie for that.”
Charlie lifted her hand in a mock salute. “Hotel door locks are delightfully easy to pick,” she said. “I knew you’d want your notebook and stuff.” She reached down by her feet and tossed me a backpack.
I debated making a run for it so I could at least tell my parents we’d gotten a new mission. Genius Academy hadn’t exactly been the safest place in the world lately, and I was certain Mom would instantly assume the worst if I disappeared.
Grace must have noticed my hesitation. “Seriously, Nikki. I promise that Martha will explain everything to them. They’ll understand once they find out why we had to leave.”
“I hope that will make three of us, then,” I muttered.
I held Pickles tightly in my arms as I got into the brown van that waited for us. As soon as we had all piled inside and the door slid shut, the driver hit the gas, sending a trail of dust flailing behind us.
My stomach lurched as I dug through the backpack and pulled out the sneakers that Charlie had packed for me, slipping them onto my feet. Letting the breeze from the open window wash over my face, two unshakable facts rose to the surface of my mind.
One: I should have known that disappearing into the Costa Rican jungle wouldn’t be enough to keep Martha away. When you’re responsible for saving the world, you don’t ever really get a day off.
And two: My parents were going to absolutely lose their minds. With only a week until their wedding, I’d be lucky if they ever forgave me.
But I forced myself to ignore the bumpy dirt road disappearing behind me. If my friends had their heads in the game, I would, too.
“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s hear it.”
A familiar voice came from the driver’s seat, sending the zip of a chill through me. “I’m afraid your vacation is over, Ms. Tesla.”
I blinked in surprise. “Martha?! Since when do you make house calls? Shouldn’t you be at the Academy, organizing our next move?”
Glancing at Leo, a new layer of sweat began to prickle on my skin. If the others knew what was wrong, they weren’t letting on. With Martha here in person, whatever was going on had to be big.
“What’s the mission?” I demanded.
Martha’s eyes appeared in the rearview mirror, staring me down.
“I’m sorry for gathering all of you on such short notice,” she said. “You know I wouldn’t do this unless it was entirely necessary.”
“Martha, you said once we got everyone assembled, you’d tell us what’s going on.�
�� The muscles in Grace’s neck were tight as she spoke. “Whatever it is, we can handle it.”
Martha pressed her foot heavy on the gas, sending us jerking back in our seats as the van tore through the jungle.
“It,” Martha said softly, “is the worst we’ve ever seen.”
“The worst what you’ve ever seen?” Leo pressed.
Martha’s brown eyes appeared in the rearview mirror once more, the bright Costa Rican sunlight revealing dark circles beneath them.
“Biological warfare,” she said. “The end of humanity as we know it.”
Usually, when Martha gives us a new assignment, she starts with a little backstory about the global disaster at hand. She uses the fancy computer in her office, with lots of flashy pictures and evidence, to tell us something’s been stolen, someone’s up to no good, the world’s in unimaginable danger. That sort of thing.
But this time, she pulled over at a small thatched-roof house about seventy miles away to give us the lowdown. It was just the eight of us in a musty, sweaty jungle cabin on a washed-out trail in the Costa Rican rain forest.
Once we were all safely tucked away, she passed out bottles of water and carefully weighed what she wanted to tell us.
“I wouldn’t pull you away from your families unless it was entirely necessary,” Martha finally said, her face grim. “But there have been casualties.”
Mary gasped. “Casualties?” Her mouth tipped into a frown. “Who died?”
“Several of our undercover agents. You see, for the past four years, we’ve been investigating suspects who specialize in biological experimentation. In particular, tracking someone who goes by V. We believe his name to be Victor. The few bits of rogue intelligence we dug up on him tell us he’s operating on his own and experimenting with some highly dangerous materials. Last year for the first time we were able to hack into his computer. But that’s when things went … awry.”
“Awry … meaning people died?” Leo clarified.
Martha paused again. “Yes. Victor learned we were investigating him. He somehow accessed our agents’ false identities and their real names and addresses. We believe he used that information to target the agents who were investigating him.”