by Lisa McMann
Charlie’s expression softened slightly. “He’s fine. We were able to—” She stopped herself, not quite ready to give Kelly any information she could use against them, just in case. “He’s fine.” She hesitated. “Thanks for asking.”
Kelly nodded.
“So,” said Maria after an awkward silence, “what else can you tell us?”
Kelly took a deep breath and let it out. “A lot, actually.” She looked up, catching Dr. Jakande’s eye, and beckoned the adults to come. The scientists, who’d given the kids some privacy to talk through their personal issues, gathered around.
Kelly told them everything she could think of about what they’d been doing since she’d seen them last. She talked them through the new DNA that Cyke and Braun had received—the Komodo dragon for Cyke, which gave him more strength and a venomous bite, and the porcupine for Braun.
“Are porcupine quills poisonous?” asked Maria warily.
“No,” said Kelly. “But they’ll stick in your skin and they hurt like crazy.” She told them Cyke’s Komodo dragon venom was sure to be very dangerous, as it could kill prey in a short amount of time. “His fangs are pretty far back in his mouth, between his teeth. He looks different now too. You’ll see.”
Charlie, Mac, and Maria listened carefully. Charlie took everything Kelly said with a bit of skepticism—she’d learned her lesson with Kelly too many times. Occasionally, as the boat took them farther and farther from the mainland, Charlie felt a tinge of worry. Was Kelly tricking them all right now into a trap on this island? Or was she luring them away from the real action? Charlie didn’t think so. Kelly seemed sincere in a different way this time—it was hard to explain. But Charlie kept her guard up.
Kelly went on to tell them what to expect on the island—how they’d need to get to the statue at the top of the hill, which she believed was where Dr. Gray intended to disperse the formula into the air.
“So he’s definitely introducing an aerosol,” murmured Dr. Sharma. “Starting with a test group—the inhabitants and visitors of the island.” She glanced at it looming before them. “I wonder how many people live here? Looking at the houses, I’d guess a couple hundred.” She scratched her head, then turned sharply toward Charlie’s mom. “Diana, do you have any face masks in your medical kit?”
Mrs. Wilde searched through her kit and triumphantly pulled out a sealed package. “You never know when you’re going to run across an infectious disease,” she said with an anxious laugh. “There are only three masks in this pack, though.”
“We’ll have to make do for the rest of us,” said Dr. Sharma. “We can use strips of cloth or whatever we can find to keep ourselves from breathing it in.”
As the ferry neared the dock, Mrs. Wilde did a quick check of Charlie’s and Maria’s wounds. “Are you sure you two are up to this?”
The girls nodded. The starfish powers were healing them. Maria took off the Mark Five and handed it to Charlie’s dad. “I’m good now,” she said. “Thanks.” She got her Mark Two from Mac and put it back on her wrist.
The ferry workers tied up the boat. The team filed off. They took three taxis to the center of the island, where the statue entrance was. As they drove up to the attraction, Charlie stared out the window. Dozens of people were milling around, waiting to go up to the top of the statue.
“That’s odd,” said Kelly, peering past her from the middle seat. “What are they waiting for? The other day we went right up.”
At the base of the stairway, something caught Charlie’s eye. “Look,” she said quietly. “Bottom of the steps. It’s Morph.”
“And Braun is in front of the elevator. Next to the stairs,” said Kelly, pointing him out. She shuddered, feeling suddenly sick. What would they do to her when they found out she was with Charlie again?
“Maybe they’re stopping people from going up,” said Mr. Wilde, who was with them. Kelly looked closer. “People are taking pictures of them like they’re part of the attraction!”
It was true. Neither soldier wore a mask, and Braun’s porcupine quills served as his shirt.
Dr. Wilde muttered something under his breath.
“We need to get up there now,” said Charlie, pressing her face against the window and craning to see the top of the statue. But it was a long way up. She glanced at her father, remembering his fear of heights. Mr. Wilde’s face was ashen.
“You okay, Dad?”
He waved off her concern and tried to smile.
By the time the taxi came to a stop Charlie had unbuckled her seat belt and opened the door. She ran out, dodging to stay hidden behind tourists so Braun and Morph wouldn’t see her. Kelly and Dr. Wilde ran after her. Maria and Mac and Dr. Jakande followed from the next taxi. The other adults brought up the rear.
Moments later they convened under the covered roof near the entrance, behind a large column so the soldiers wouldn’t be able to see them.
“We think they’re stopping people from going up,” Charlie told the others. “So we’ll have to overpower them without causing all of these tourists to freak out.”
“We’re taking the elevator, right?” asked Mac, peeking around the column.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” said Kelly. “It opens up in plain sight of the balcony. We could be caught the second the door opens. It’ll take longer, but I’ll bet they won’t be watching the stairs.”
While the team discussed options for overtaking the soldiers, Mrs. Wilde doled out the surgical masks and some cloth bandage wraps from her kit so everyone could cover their noses and mouths in case Dr. Gray unleashed his formula into the air.
Kelly refused to take anything. “I won’t be able to use my camouflage with something like that on.” She pointed to her waist bag. “I can hold this to my face in a pinch—it works like the suit.”
Mrs. Wilde nodded.
Kelly glanced at the soldiers. “They’re still in the same places. Do you want me to try to hypnotize them to let us through? People might think I’m weird but it shouldn’t cause alarm.” She seemed anxious to do something else that would prove she could be trusted. Charlie thought that was a good sign.
“Don’t they already know about that ability?” asked Maria. “Won’t they just look away like Charlie and I did? Seems like it works better when people don’t expect it.”
“Yeah, good point,” said Kelly, frowning. “They don’t know I’m with you now, though. I’m sure I can convince them that Dr. Gray is expecting me. They’ll let me through.”
“But there are two more soldiers somewhere—and Dr. Gray,” said Charlie, trying to be patient, but feeling her suspicions rise up yet again. “You can’t stop them alone. Besides … why weren’t you in on this plan? Why weren’t you here with them already?”
Kelly looked away. “I’m not sure,” she admitted. “Dr. Gray suspected Miko, Prowl, and I weren’t quite buying into it anymore. I mean, he tricked us. His real plan was completely different from what he’d told them all these years.”
“Wait,” said Dr. Jakande. “Those two are suspicious of Gray too?” She gave Kelly a hard look. “That’s important to know.”
“Yeah, we three are against all of this,” said Kelly. “I tried to tell Charlie earlier. We don’t think it’s right. Maybe one of the others overheard us grumbling about it and told Dr. Gray.” She thought back to the conversation in the kitchen, when Braun had come in. That was probably it.
Dr. Jakande turned abruptly and whispered to Ms. Sabbith on her communication device, letting her know what they’d just found out about the two prisoners. “Question them,” she said. “Maybe they can help us.”
Dr. Sharma regarded Kelly thoughtfully. “And maybe Gray is feeling so confident that he didn’t think he needed you for this. It wouldn’t be hard to just walk up and start the mist going without anybody noticing.” She hesitated, then said sharply, “Does Gray have any idea we’re in the area?”
“I don’t think so,” said Kelly. “None of us had a clue. I still
have no idea how you found us when the police haven’t. Yet.”
“Anyway,” said Charlie, impatient to make a move, “we’re going to have to get messy here, I think, and worry about the tourists’ feelings later. Hopefully we can scare some of them back to the mainland where they’ll be safer.” She paused, then looked at the team. “Here’s what I think we should do: Kelly, you’ll go over there first and distract the guards. Dr. Jakande, Maria, and my dad can all climb up this post and get inside the statue through a second-floor window. Once they’re up, Mac and I will join Kelly and take out Braun and Morph.” She narrowed her eyes at Kelly. “And you’d better not mess this up on purpose, or all bets are off on us helping you get out of here.”
Kelly nodded. “I know,” she said quietly.
Charlie continued. “Mom, you and Dr. Sharma stay down here and try to get the people to clear the area. Keep them from coming upstairs.” She looked around. “Does that sound okay with everybody?”
They all nodded. Dr. Jakande put her hand up to her earpiece and listened. Then she slid around the column and started taking photos of the soldiers.
“What are you doing?” asked Charlie.
“Sabbith just told me to—she wants evidence for Zimmerman in case we need to use the reversal devices before the team arrives.”
“Oh. That’s smart.” Charlie glanced at her father, who looked even queasier than before in the taxi. “Are you going to make it, Dad? It’s just one floor up. You trained for this, right?”
“I didn’t exactly have a lot of time,” he said weakly. “Or desire to use the gecko ability. I’m good with the others, but I’m just not sure about the whole climbing thing.”
“Okay,” Charlie muttered, feeling bad for her father and a little annoyed. “If you’re more comfortable helping us with the goons down here, that’s cool.”
“That feels better,” said Mr. Wilde, his fingers trembling slightly as he turned on his abilities. When he started making a strange chirping sound, Charlie reached over and turned off his night-vision ability. “Take your sunglasses off,” she said, shaking her head in mock disgust.
Dr. Jakande hid a smile and refrained from comment, but she gave Maria a sly side-eye. Maria grinned back. Dr. Wilde put his glasses away.
“Okay,” Charlie said. “Let’s get moving. We don’t have much time. Kelly, you’re up first. Get the guards to turn their backs to us and we’ll be there in a flash. Don’t try anything funny.”
“I won’t,” said Kelly, who was trying not to get irritated. What more could she do to prove herself? “I promise.”
“Dr. Jakande and Maria, once you’re inside, just run up a few more floors—I’ll catch up to you.”
“Got it,” said the two.
“Ready, everyone?” whispered Charlie.
They all nodded.
“Go.”
Kelly turned without a word and slipped through the crowd to the bottom of the stairs, where the soldiers stood. She ran up to them, feigning breathlessness. “Hi, guys,” she said. “Sorry I’m late. Dr. Gray wants me stationed upstairs, I think.” She smiled and pushed past them, going up a few steps.
Morph turned and stopped her. “He didn’t tell us you were coming,” she said suspiciously.
From behind the pillar, Charlie signaled to the climbers. Maria changed into monkey form and Dr. Jakande switched into panther mode, and before the tourists could react to that strange sight, they leaped up and climbed the column. Reaching the overhang, they pulled themselves on top of it.
People began to point and murmur. “Let’s go,” said Charlie.
Mac clicked on his pangolin ability. Charlie charged out with Mac and her father behind her, pushing through the crowd toward Kelly. Both soldiers had their backs to them, talking to Kelly a couple steps above them. Kelly saw them coming.
Charlie crashed into Morph, and the woman’s superclaw shot out in defense. Mac threw himself in the way to protect Charlie, taking the hit and falling to the floor hard but unhurt. Mr. Wilde flew head first into Morph’s stomach, throwing her off balance and pushing her into Braun’s quills. “Yeowch!” cried Morph.
“Hey!” Braun shouted, confused. He grabbed Kelly’s arm, unsure if she was friend or foe. Kelly twisted and slammed her platypus spike into Braun, getting several of his quills stuck in her leg. She stifled a swear and yanked them out. Braun screamed in agony and let go of Kelly, then stumbled and turned his wrath on Mr. Wilde, who dodged. Charlie plowed into Morph again, while Mac got up and pushed Braun away from Kelly and Mr. Wilde. The spiky soldier stumbled and grabbed the railing for support. Mac pinned him there.
Morph slipped into camouflage and tried to slink away. Charlie clicked on her infrared viper sensor and followed. She grabbed Morph’s deadly claw arm and pinned it down. Then Charlie lifted the camouflaged woman over her head. “Duck, Mac!” Charlie cried out, and he did. She spun Morph around and threw her hard at Braun, who couldn’t see her coming. Braun flipped over the stairway railing, and Morph landed on top of him, stuck fast. The woman yelled in pain, her camouflage fading fast. Braun’s quills were buried into her.
Charlie rushed to the railing and looked down at them, cringing. The two would be tied up for a while.
“Dad!” said Charlie, turning to see that he was fine and getting up. “Stay here and keep an eye on them. Tie them up if you can. If anybody else gets away from us and comes down the steps, clobber them!”
Mr. Wilde looked energized now. “Got it!” He ran down the stairs and hopped over a short railing, landing next to the soldiers. Most of the crowd had scattered, but a few remained and were calling the police or getting the scene on video.
Out on the walkway Dr. Sharma and Mrs. Wilde were trying to direct people to the ferries, but they were having trouble controlling the visitors, especially since they didn’t know enough Spanish to explain things.
Charlie didn’t care about the police showing up this time. Or about videos surfacing. She and her team were going to take Dr. Gray down once and for all. If the police showed up, she’d take any help she could get.
“Come on, Mac!” Charlie rushed up the stairs with Mac behind. He transformed into basilisk lizard at the first landing, but there was no keeping up with Charlie. Kelly, free of quills and ignoring the pain they’d caused, sprinted past Mac, but heard his labored breathing. She slowed down and looked back uncertainly, then waited and stuck with him while Charlie went on ahead.
As Charlie ran up a few floors, she realized the statue was a little bit like a mall, only vertical rather than long and sprawling. It had shops on the lower floors and art everywhere and little balconies and lookout spots in between. It would be a fun place to explore … if she weren’t trying to stop the evilest person alive.
She spotted Maria and Dr. Jakande and caught up to them. “Mac and Kelly are right behind. My dad is keeping the soldiers in check downstairs.”
“We might need him later,” said Dr. Jakande. “All right if I tell him to disarm the bad guys with reversal devices and hand them over to the cops so he can join us?”
Charlie frowned. “Do you think just having photos of them is enough, or should we leave them as physical proof for the government people?”
“Erica decided to keep Miko and Prowl in chimera form as evidence,” said Dr. Jakande, “since those two are totally harmless and immobile after your bike rack hack. So we’ve got them as proof. Plus, Erica just told me they’re cooperating.” She caught her breath and added, “If it means anything to you, they told Sabbith that Kelly is legitimately on the right side of this.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” said Charlie. “Unless they’re lying too.”
“Charlie,” said Dr. Jakande, “I know you’ve had lots of doubts. About Kelly … and even about me. And you’ve had good reason to. But I think it’s time to trust her.” She paused, then put her hand on Charlie’s arm. “People change. I’m proof of that. I think … I think she wants to do the right thing, now that she’s figured out what
it is.”
Charlie frowned. “Maybe.”
Dr. Jakande dropped her hand. “Anyway, back to your dad. I’d like to diffuse the situation down there for his sake. If those two recover, they could hurt him pretty badly.”
“You’re right,” Charlie admitted. “I hadn’t thought about that.” She was grateful for Dr. Jakande’s help, and for her words.
“I’ll talk to him.” Dr. Jakande spoke through her device, updating Dr. Wilde on the change of plans.
As she did so, Mac and Kelly rounded the staircase. They paused for breath. Then they all ascended the next few flights together, until it became clear that Mac needed more rest. “Go on without me,” he said. “I’ll catch up.”
“I can … carry you,” said Charlie, cringing.
“Uh, no thanks,” said Mac. “We tried that once, remember? It didn’t go well.”
“I’m staying with Mac,” said Maria. “Charlie, go see what’s happening!”
Charlie looked distressed, but there was no time to waste. “All right. Do your best—you’re doing fine. I’m going on ahead.” She bounded up the next flights at top speed.
Kelly and Dr. Jakande stayed together, tailing Charlie the best they could.
Alone, Charlie neared the top. She stayed low and crept up the last flight. With each step she could see a little more of the vast upper floor. It was like a ballroom with marble floors and extravagant chandeliers. The ornate elevator stood closed on the left wall, and a few hallways branched off beyond it. Across the room Charlie could see a huge balcony outside glass doors. There was no one in sight. Then, on the balcony, Charlie spied Dr. Gray setting up a tripod. Next to him on the deck was the mist machine, a large cylinder of formula, and a small tube containing something similarly colored in it. Beside that were a small generator and a toolbox.
Charlie checked the area for soldiers. Seeing none, she crossed the threshold of the top step and crept to the far side of the room, hoping to get a better look at what Gray was doing. Getting to her feet, she skittered across the open space and darted behind a sculpture near the door.