by Lisa McMann
“No,” he said. “But Dr. Sharma grabbed the one that Victor knocked down the stairwell, and she got the ones off Braun and Morph. Sabbith brought the rest, along with the remaining formula.” He rubbed his injured jaw thoughtfully. “So it’ll take a while to change everyone back—but I’m so glad we have this solution.”
“Yeah, thanks to Dr. Jakande for figuring it out,” said Charlie. “Without her, we’d be looking at a lot more trouble right now.” She gazed perplexed as the police began rounding up all the chimeras. Some of them refused to comply, but most went willingly once they realized the police were trying to help. “Let’s start changing them back so they can see it’s possible,” said Mr. Wilde.
“And before they realize what kind of power they have,” said Charlie. “Things could get ugly really quickly.”
“Dr. Sharma is talking to our government officials, trying to get permission to start,” said Mr. Wilde. “I think we’ll be okay.” He hesitated, thinking about it, then added, “Most people are decent when you get right down to it. Just because they’re infected with the chimera virus doesn’t mean they’ll do wrong with the new abilities. Maybe some of them would do what you and your friends did. Make things better. Use power for good. You know?”
Charlie nodded. She believed that—it was like what they’d talked about with Maria. The alligator in her didn’t make her turn into something awful. She made her own choices.
And even though Charlie had seen more people being evil than good with their abilities, there were also those like Dr. Jakande and Kelly, who’d tried that and turned back to doing the right thing. And Miko and Prowl, too. Charlie would have never expected them to help save the day, especially Prowl. She rubbed her shoulder where her most recent Prowl stabbing had been. The wounds were healed.
She looked around for the two of them, but didn’t see their familiar hybrid outlines in the crowd. “Where are Prowl and Miko?” she asked, feeling immediately suspicious.
“Dr. Jakande used the reversal devices on them once everyone made it out of the statue. And they, uh, got away before the police could get to them.”
Charlie thought that seemed kind of sneaky, but she was glad after what they’d done to help put an end to Dr. Gray. Charlie hoped those two could get back to whatever they missed about their former lives. But she still had questions. “How did they escape from Ms. Sabbith? Didn’t you keep them in the restraints I made?”
“We did. But Nubia was in touch with Erica several times, and they overheard Dr. Gray’s confession, where he basically condemned Prowl and Miko for not being loyal and suggested he’d terminate them. That didn’t go over well.”
“That was smart for Dr. J. to keep her mike on during that.”
“You bet it was. When we called for all hands on deck to fight, Prowl and Miko, who’d been totally cooperative since their capture, convinced Erica to let them help.” He paused in thought. “I’m not sure what they said to her, because Erica is a tough, savvy person and she’s great at telling when people are lying. But whatever it was, Erica let them go. She must have known they had really had a change of heart.”
“Wow,” said Charlie. She was quiet for a moment, thinking over the events of the day, and recalled the water fight. “Don’t forget Mega is still in the lake somewhere,” she said.
Her father nodded. “We’ll make sure everyone involved is accounted for. Miko said that Mega would be more than willing to have her animal powers reversed. She hadn’t expected to be stuck in water for the rest of her life.”
“I don’t blame her,” said Charlie.
Charlie went back to her friends to give them the scoop. She found the three of them leaning up against one another, looking like exhaustion had set in. Maria was still nursing her wounds. Thankfully she’d healed a lot before they’d lost the Mark Five in the explosion.
Ms. Sabbith finished her conversation with the officials. She turned around abruptly and waved her hand in the air, then whistled sharply to call for silence. “Okay, scientists, we’re clear to get started treating the accidental chimeras. We’ll create a triage area here, and the police will oversee the line. Does anyone know where Gray’s remaining formula is?”
“It got blown up with everything else,” said Mac.
“We’ll make sure the officials use hazmat suits when they go back in,” said Ms. Sabbith. “And destroy any trace of it.”
“Do you think they’ll ever find our devices?” Maria asked. “I kinda miss having mine.”
“Well,” said Mac, “they were made of titanium, so they might have survived.”
Kelly frowned. “I think I’m good without mine, but thanks.”
“We’ll make sure we get those back, too, if they survived the explosion,” said Dr. Sharma, joining them. With her was a woman in uniform. The kids stood up, and Dr. Sharma introduced Captain Brenda Zimmerman, the one who’d been in charge of Project Chimera. The one who’d seen the footage of Charlie, Mac, and Maria, and who’d decided to act because of it. “I’m afraid we’ll have to turn all of the devices over to the captain,” Dr. Sharma said. “They are government property, after all.” She glanced at Charlie.
Charlie looked down at the Mark Six feeling a twinge of sadness. “Can I at least finish healing first?” she asked.
“I think we can allow that,” said Captain Zimmerman with a smile. She turned to the group. “I want to thank you all for your work, especially you children. I’ve never had to say this before in my career, but I’m thrilled to be able to say it today: You literally saved the human race. We are extremely grateful for your service.”
Charlie, Mac, Maria, and Kelly exchanged grins. It was weird having Kelly back with them, but it was good, too. She seemed like a changed person. Charlie hoped it would last. She also hoped Kelly wouldn’t get into too much trouble.
Captain Zimmerman continued, glancing at Kelly. “And, if there were any issues you might have encountered in your travels while under the direction of Dr. Gray, consider yourself fully cleared of blame.”
Kelly’s eyes widened. “You mean the …”
“Yes, that,” said the captain firmly.
Kelly sank to her haunches with a huge sigh and put a hand over her eyes. Her lip quivered. “Thank you,” she whispered. She blew out a breath and sniffed. When she took her hand away, her eyes were red-rimmed. “That means everything.” She rose again, then looked around self-consciously.
Maria, Mac, and Charlie, exchanged looks, then they tackled Kelly, slinging their arms over her shoulders and patting her on the back. Kelly, still stunned, laughed for the first time in a long time. It felt like her smile might split her face right open.
The scientists began working on the people of the island with the remaining few reversal devices, but Captain Zimmerman lingered with the four young heroes. “We’re thinking about reopening this project,” she said. “Despite what happened, I can see the good in it, and with the right people in place, I believe the outcome could be very different. I’m hoping our team of scientists here will stay on—their expertise is invaluable. And,” she said slyly, “perhaps you four will consider going into the sciences in college so you can help us with it someday.”
Charlie blinked. She hadn’t given any thought to college—that was like a million years away. But she did sometimes picture herself one day working with her dad in a lab somewhere, doing good things together to make the world a better place to live. “Yeah,” she murmured. “I could see that happening.” But she wasn’t so sure about working on more devices like these. They seemed a little bit dangerous after everything they’d just gone through.
Maria tapped her lips thoughtfully. “Maybe after my soccer career is over.” Then she shook her head. “Nah. I’ll probably become a chef. Cooking is kind of like science, though, if you really think about it.”
“It is,” agreed the captain, who seemed delighted with the conversation.
Mac was definitely intrigued. “I love animals,” he said. “So I’ll prob
ably do it.”
“Well,” said Kelly, “you can count me out. I’m going to be pretty busy being famous on Broadway now that my chimera internet fame is a no-go.”
The woman laughed. “Whatever you decide, I hope you have some time to enjoy this beautiful city now that your work is done.”
“I hope so too,” said Charlie. “We’ve worked hard this summer! We need a nice long vacation.”
“Not so fast,” said Mrs. Wilde, picking up on the conversation from a few feet away. “I’m pretty sure we all have somewhere else we need to be.”
Charlie looked confused, and her heart sank. “We do?” she lamented. She was tired of traveling for the first time in her life. “Now where?”
“Home,” said her mother. “Seventh grade starts awfully soon. We need to get your school supplies, a new backpack, and get you some clothes that aren’t riddled with leopard-claw and shark-bite holes.”
Charlie smiled. Home. It sounded so … normal.
CHAPTER 47
Back to … Normal?
Not everything went smoothly.
The team stayed in Mexico a few more days, making sure absolutely everyone who was affected by the virus had been located and treated. The scientists also helped the police and US officials determine if there was anything else dangerous inside the house that Dr. Gray and his soldiers had been living in.
Cyke and Fang never made it out of the giant statue. Braun and Mega and Morph went to jail. Miko and Prowl successfully escaped. Kelly worried about them, but they didn’t hear anything from the duo.
Nubia glanced up. “Charlie can try to reach Miko through the comm system in my suit,” she said.
But Kelly shook her head. “Unless Miko stopped back at the house, she doesn’t have a suit with her. But Prowl might.”
Charlie shuddered. “I’ll leave that up to you, Dr. Jakande, once I give you your suit back.”
They had other things to worry about, too. Like Kelly’s parents not remembering her. That was a conundrum. Without her Mark Four device, there was no way for Kelly to hypnotize her mom and dad into remembering they had an almost-thirteen-year-old daughter again. So Kelly moved in with Charlie’s family temporarily —and all the scientists agreed to stay around until the problem was solved.
Going back home would be bittersweet for Kelly. Not because she loved the idea of living with Charlie, though it turned out not to be too bad—after a while it felt kind of like having a sister and brother. But going home meant she’d get stuck in the middle of her parents’ fighting again. It had been nice to be away from that for a while. Maybe things had calmed down between them by now. The Wildes assured Kelly that she always had a place in their house if she needed it.
The first day of seventh grade went pretty well. Kelly had little trouble—she just told everybody she moved back. The hardest part for Kelly was talking in circles around her whole “fame” incident back in the spring, when she’d used her camouflage on live TV. She began to wish she had her Mark Four back so she could hypnotize everyone to forget it had ever happened.
But all of that trouble was worth it when she got to audition for Mr. Anderson again. She nailed her performance and Charlie told Kelly afterward that the hope on Mr. Anderson’s face was magical.
After dinner that first day, everyone somehow ended up at the Wildes’ house. Charlie and her friends and the scientists had bonded so much over the summer. They’d had lots of laughs. And they’d been through so many harrowing experiences and special moments together that it just seemed right to share their stories of their first day of school like they were one big family.
When there was a lull in the conversation, something came to Charlie’s mind that she’d been meaning to ask the scientists for days. “That government official,” she began, “Captain Zimmerman. Remember her?”
The scientists laughed and nodded. How could they forget?
“She said something about continuing Project Chimera. Did she ever talk to you about that?”
“She did,” said Dr. Sharma. “She asked us all to stay on the project.”
Charlie looked concerned. “I hope you said no,” she blurted out. The more she’d thought about the situation over the past week, the more she felt like it was a terrible idea.
“Yeah!” agreed Maria and Mac vehemently.
“A big fat no,” said Kelly.
“What?” said Andy, crestfallen. “Before I even get my chance to be a superhero? That wouldn’t be fair.”
Charlie and her friends explained passionately to Andy about why it was such a bad idea.
The scientists seemed amused by the kids’ strong reactions. Mr. Wilde put his hands up. “Everybody, hold on,” he said. “We came up with a good idea.”
The kids stopped talking and looked at the scientists. “What did you tell them?” asked Charlie.
“We convinced them that Project Chimera, as we knew it, should be shut down for all the reasons you’re mentioning,” said Dr. Sharma. She glanced at Mrs. Wilde, who wore a small smile and seemed to be brimming with a secret. “But there was one aspect of the project that we felt was not only redeemable, but could change the world—for the better.”
Charlie looked at her mom, then back at Dr. Sharma, then at her mom again. And she thought she knew the answer.
Maria leaned forward. “What is it?”
“The healing,” said Charlie. “Right?”
Mrs. Wilde nodded. “How did you guess?”
“I remember when I first told you about the healing power,” Charlie said, “and you said how wonderful it would be if emergency rooms everywhere had access to that. It would change the world.”
“That’s right,” said Mrs. Wilde. “It’s been on my mind since then. So we pitched them this idea of a new project to create a device that would not only heal physical wounds like the Mark Five and Six could do, but maybe one day our scientists would come up with a way to cure diseases.” Her eyes shone. “The possibilities are incredible.”
“And we’d be working on our own terms,” Dr. Sharma added. “Doing what we love.”
As Charlie and her friends imagined what that could mean for their lives, their futures, they began to talk about how amazing it could be for the world.
“There’s just one issue,” said Dr. Goldstein, straight-faced.
“What is it?” Charlie asked, narrowing her eyes. Was that a hint of teasing in his voice? She couldn’t tell.
“Talos Global’s lab is in Chicago. You have to move back.”
Charlie felt the blood drain from her face as Mac, Maria, and Kelly erupted into arguments. Then Charlie saw the gleam in Dr. Goldstein’s eye. “Wait, wait, everybody wait. You’re just kidding, right?”
“Yeah,” he said, apologetically. “Sorry—that got a bigger reaction than I envisioned. The truth is Dr. Sharma and I are thinking it would be more fun to move the lab out here and create the southwest branch of Talos Global. Does that sound better?”
Charlie sighed deeply and the others relaxed. “Much better.” She hadn’t realized until this moment just how much she loved living here now. She couldn’t imagine going back. “I want to be with my friends—these friends—forever. As long as I live.”
“Agree!” said Maria, and she echoed, “For as long as we all live!”
“Yeah!” said Mac.
Kelly narrowed her eyes craftily. “Hey, that gives me an idea. Remember that immortal jellyfish?”
The other three and the scientists looked at her in alarm. “NO!” everyone cried in unison, then they all broke down in laughter. Being immortal was quite possibly the worst. Idea. Ever. Sometimes it seemed like animals could be just a little too amazing.
About the Author
Photo credit Ryan Nicholson Photography
LISA MCMANN is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books for kids and teens, including the middle grade dystopian fantasy series The Unwanteds. She lives with her family in Phoenix, Arizona. You can follow Lisa on Twitter and Fa
cebook or visit her at www.lisamcmann.com.
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Copyright
GOING WILD #3: CLASH OF BEASTS. Text copyright © 2018 by HarperCollins Publishers. Illustrations by Brandon Dorman. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art by Brandon Dorman
Lettering by David Curtis
Cover design by Molly Fehr
Series logo by Jacey
Library of Congress Control Number: 2018945996
Digital Edition OCTOBER 2018 ISBN: 978-0-06-233722-1
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-233720-7 (trade bdg.)
1819202122CG/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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