by Felice Arena
She was quickly tapping away at the Turbo Dashboard.
‘It should appear in a window on your palm screen, right about…now! You might be able to use it as a distraction – the rest is up to you. And if this fails, get away from there as fast as you can. You can’t risk being caught.’
Andy looked at her, impressed. But he could tell from her voice that he was in a world of trouble if he did make it home alive. For the first time he was looking forward to being grounded.
‘Be careful, sweetheart.’ His mother said softly and disappeared from the screen.
Andy nodded and swung into action. He moved away from his hiding spot and jumped quietly into the trees.
‘Nine!’ cried Zloy, choking Judd with his arm. ‘I’m serious. Your friend will die.’
‘Shoot me! Not the boy!’ pleaded the General.
Suddenly, Andy appeared, just behind them.
Zloy swung round to see Andy standing only a few metres away in the dim dawn light.
The General dropped his head, gutted. Judd gave a half-hearted smile, but he, too, looked devastated.
‘Don’t try anything stupid now,’ said Zloy, dragging Judd over towards the General and cuffing him to the tree as well.
‘Stay where you are… That’s it…’ Zloy ordered, pointing the gun at Andy, who remained motionless.
As Zloy slowly edged closer, he slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a mobile phone. With his gun still aimed at Andy he made a call.
The thick scars on his face and the snake tattoo on his neck twitched as he smiled grimly at Andy. His grey teeth looked horribly out of place next to the single gold tooth gleaming in his mouth.
‘It’s me,’ he said. ‘Get the team here. Now!’ Zloy shoved his phone back into his pocket. ‘Right,’ he said. ‘Move slowly over to your friends…and, remember, no funny business.’
Andy didn’t move an inch.
‘I said, move!’ Zloy shouted, stepping forward.
But Andy stood where he was, still and silent.
‘Andy, do as he says,’ begged the General.
‘Move right now or I will shoot you!’ shouted Zloy. His face flushed bright red and the veins popped out of his forehead. ‘I know you’re not invincible. And you’re just as useful to us dead! One…two…’
‘ANDY! ARE YOU CRAZY? MOVE!’ Judd shouted.
‘THREE!’ Zloy hesitated a moment and then slowly pulled the trigger.
The silencer on Zloy’s gun muffled the sound of the shots. The bullets whizzed through the air.
‘NOOOOOOOOO!’ cried Judd and the General together.
‘Huh?’ croaked Zloy, as Andy remained standing, completely uninjured.
From high in the trees the real Andy laughed quietly, and watched the holographic version of himself on the ground vanish into thin air.
Before Zloy could figure out what was happening, Andy launched himself at him.
Fast as lightning, Andy flew through the branches.
His feet made contact with Zloy’s back and neck, and the gun spun out of Zloy’s grasp and into the forest.
Knocked off his feet, Zloy hit the ground with a massive thud. He went limp and his eyes rolled back – he was out cold.
Andy turned towards Judd and the General and grinned.
‘W-What?’ stammered Judd. ‘You were just standing over there a second ago, and then you were shot, but you didn’t die and…’
‘Unbelievable!’ gasped the General, as Andy snapped their metal handcuffs with his bare hands.
Judd raced over to his grandfather and the two hugged each other tightly.
‘What were you thinking?’ said the General. ‘Risking your life like that!’
‘I couldn’t let them take you, Pa!’ Judd said.
Andy was buzzing. He had never felt so exhilarated and scared and excited at the same time.
‘I can’t believe that worked,’ he said, grinning from ear to ear. ‘It’s called “projected holographic imaging”. A pinhole lens in the base of my palm can project a 3D image of me. So that’s what I did – from up in the trees.’
‘Whoa! And I thought the night vision was cool.’ Judd laughed. ‘Well, dude, for a moment there we totally thought you were –’
Andy spun around. ‘Look out!’ he cried. ‘He’s got a gun.’
Zloy had come to, and had pulled a pistol from inside his boot. His finger was on the trigger. It felt like everything was happening in slow motion.
With barely a second to spare, Andy pushed Judd and the General to the ground. He felt the rush of the bullet as it shot past his ear.
But Zloy was up on one elbow and had them in his sights again. He was already pulling the trigger. There was no time to stop him.
Then Andy caught sight of a figure bolting out from the forest.
Lightning-fast, the figure struck Zloy from behind and spun him around.
With a swift, killer combination of an elbow strike to the head and knee jab to the lower back, Zloy was knocked to the turf again.
This time he was definitely out for the count, thought Andy. There was no way anyone could get up from a hit like that.
The figure was bent over Zloy’s body, checking that he was unconscious and unarmed. Finally, she turned.
Andy couldn’t believe who had just saved them. It was Miss Taylor!
She was dressed from head to toe in a navy-blue SWAT uniform. She pulled the clip from her hair and shook out her straight brown hair, like some model in a commercial.
‘Whoa,’ Andy said, knowing that if his jaw hung any lower it’d touch the ground. ‘She’s awesome.’
Andy was gobsmacked that the most timid teacher at his new school had just taken out a murderous thug.
‘Grab him, boys!’ she called out, and two men dressed in SWAT uniforms ran out of the woods. They handcuffed Zloy and dragged him away.
Miss Taylor dusted herself off. ‘General, are you okay?’
‘Yes, thank you, Agent Magistra,’ said the General, standing up. ‘Good thing you got here when you did.’
‘Agent?’ repeated Andy. ‘Not you as well!’
‘Hi, Andy.’ Miss Taylor smiled, brushing her hair away from her face. ‘Hi, Agent Buddy.’
‘Hey!’ said Judd. ‘Nice strike! Couldn’t have done it better myself.’
‘No,’ said Miss Taylor, smirking. ‘You couldn’t!’
‘Whoa! Wait up!’ Andy interrupted. ‘Who else is spying on me? Next you’ll be telling me that even Reggie’s an agent.’
Judd laughed. ‘No, Reggie’s not an agent. He’s just your friend. Although he’s pretty PO’d at you right now.’ Judd pulled out Reggie’s mobile phone.
‘Seriously? You’re the one who stole it?’ said Andy.
‘I had to. Reggie filmed you stopping a jeep. He knows you’ve got powers. He’s upset that you don’t trust him enough to tell him, which is kind of funny because we’ve checked him out and he’s the one guy you probably can trust.’
‘It’s Agent Buddy’s job to erase any compromising evidence,’ said Miss Taylor. ‘That’s why he took the phone. But he got the news about the General before he could put it back.’
The General put his hand on Judd’s shoulder and looked at Andy, frowning slightly. Andy couldn’t tell if he was about to be blasted for disobeying orders.
Finally the General spoke. ‘Andy, I think you know that you shouldn’t have come here. It was very risky. This rescue could have gone terribly wrong…but thank you, all the same. You saved me, and Judd as well. Your parents will be very proud of you. I know I am.’ The General shook Andy’s hand.
For the first time since becoming Andy Roid, Andy felt a sense of real worth – and it felt good.
‘The game plan has now definitely shifted, sir,’ said Miss Taylor to the General. ‘We need to move and we need to move fast.’
‘Within an hour these woods will be swarming with Baffi’s men,’ agreed the General.
‘Are we heading back to camp?’ asked
Andy.
‘You, Judd and Miss Taylor will,’ said the General. ‘No one can know that you were out all night.’
‘Um, question?’ Judd stepped forward. ‘We don’t have to swim back across the river, do we? Come to think of it… Agent Magistra, why aren’t you soaking wet?’
‘I thank a little thing called a canoe, Judd.’ Miss Taylor grinned. ‘Surely you saw them lined up on the bank upstream?’
Judd pulled a face at Andy. ‘Ah, yeah, well, we were sort of distracted by a pack of vicious dogs.’
‘Yeah, dog-gone it!’ added Andy, trying to lighten the mood.
‘Dude!’ Judd cringed, shaking his head. ‘Stick to being a hero.’
‘I knew these boys could not be trusted,’ said Mr Presticott. ‘Good work, Miss Taylor! Leave them for me to punish.’
Judd and Andy were standing beside Miss Taylor in the centre of camp. They had snuck back into their bunks without being seen, but Miss Taylor had told Mr Presticott about the boys leaving the track in the hiking activity the previous day. She needed a believable excuse to take them home to safety.
Mr Presticott, Renfew High’s most arrogant teacher, appeared happy to see the boys in trouble. His voice echoed loudly across the campsite.
Many of Andy’s classmates had ventured out of their cabins in their pyjamas to see what was happening.
Hunter Wilson, the class bully, sniggered. He didn’t step forward and tell Mr Presticott that leaving the track was his fault – he seemed happy for Andy and Judd to take the rap.
Reggie just stared at them curiously – his arms crossed defensively and his brow furrowed.
‘I think they need to be suspended,’ said Miss Taylor. ‘In fact, I believe they should be sent home right now. It was very dangerous and irresponsible behaviour.’
‘Well, I like your attitude, Miss Taylor, but I think that might be going a little too far. I’ll get them to do a thousand push-ups this morning instead of having breakfast.’
Miss Taylor looked a bit desperate. ‘Are you sure?’ she said. ‘Because I also caught them trying to start a fire!’
‘What?’ said Judd and Andy.
‘They did. It’s true. And that’s attempted arson. And attempted arson in a state forest definitely calls for suspension.’
Everyone looked shocked. Andy knew what Miss Taylor was trying to do, but he felt a bit guilty anyway.
‘Well, that’s a different story then,’ growled Mr Presticott. ‘You two boys are definitely expelled. Later today, I’ll be sending you back home. In the meantime you can spend the morning cleaning the staff cabins – starting with mine.’
‘But, Mr Presticott, I can drive them back now in Ranger Peters’ jeep…’ Miss Taylor’s voice was beginning to crack. Things were definitely not going according to plan.
‘No need for that. We’ll call for the boys’ parents to come and collect them.’
Andy looked over at Judd. He wondered who would come to pick him up – who did he live with?
‘I’m sure they won’t be pleased to hear how badly their sons have behaved,’ Mr Presticott continued. ‘Right! Everyone move it. That’s an order! Masters and Shoemaker, you’re coming with me.’
Everyone headed to breakfast.
Miss Taylor leaned over to Judd. ‘Code Alcatraz!’ she whispered. ‘Ranger Peters’ cabin.’
Judd nodded.
‘Man I could crash out any second. How are you doing?’ Andy said as he swept the floor of Mr Presticott’s cabin. ‘Judd?’
Andy leaned the broom against the wall and looked in the bathroom.
‘What are you doing?’
Judd was going through Mr Presticott’s toiletries bag.
‘Just looking for something that’s going to make him flip out,’ he said, not looking up.
‘Why?’
‘Andy! Seriously, don’t you get it?’ Judd said. ‘We have to get out of here to a safe place before Baffi’s goons reach the area. We need to find something that we can embarrass Presticott with – make him send us home now. Forget cleaning – go look through his suitcase!’
‘So this is what Miss Taylor meant by Code Alcatraz?’ Andy asked as he tossed out pieces of Mr Presticott’s clothing.
‘Yep!’ said Judd, sticking his head around the bathroom door. ‘It’s a breakout. And FYI – when agents start talking in code, you know it’s serious… A-ha! Look what’s in your hand! Totally sick!’
Andy was holding a pair of Mr Presticott’s jocks. They had cute little rabbits printed all over them.
Andy dropped them, then started laughing.
Judd couldn’t wipe the grin off his face. ‘Can you believe this? A big tough dude who wears fluffy rabbit jocks! This is golden!’
Before Andy could ask his friend what he was intending to do with them, Judd had bolted out the front door of the cabin with Mr Presticott’s underwear in hand. Andy chased after him.
In the middle of the campsite Andy watched Judd boldly take down the camp flag and replace it with Mr Presticott’s bunny jocks. He hoisted the underwear up the flagpole.
Soon a crowd had gathered.
‘How dare you!’ Mr Presticott yelled, storming out of the main cabin. ‘TAKE THEM DOWN! NOW!’
Everyone cracked up at the sight of his underwear flapping in the wind.
‘You boys are going home immediately,’ he growled, fumbling with the flagpole ropes. ‘You’ll regret this! Miss Taylor will take you back to town. NO MORE CAMP FOR YOU TROUBLEMAKERS!’
Trying hard not to look pleased, Judd and Andy almost ran towards Miss Taylor’s cabin.
‘Hey!’ Reggie called out, chasing them. He looked really angry. ‘What are you two up to? I can’t believe you’re both in on this – whatever it is.’
Andy gestured to Judd to hang back. He remembered how angry he’d felt when he realised that Judd was an agent. He knew he shouldn’t tell Reggie about his secret, but it didn’t seem fair to keep it from him anymore.
‘Reggie,’ he said. ‘I’m so sorry. I promise I will tell you what’s happening, as soon as I can. Just not now. We’re in serious danger and you’re one of my best mates, so I really need you on my side right now. Can you do that for me?’
Reggie sighed deeply and for a moment he just stared at Andy. ‘Yes.’ He nodded. ‘I can do that. But I’m going to want details. The footage I’ve got of you stopping that car…well, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen…’
‘Oh, you’ve reminded me,’ Andy said, turning to Judd and getting him to toss Reggie’s phone to him. ‘Here, this belongs to you – sorry, it’s kinda filled with water. I’ll explain that later as well, but now we’ve gotta run.’
‘We’ve got a problem!’ Miss Taylor said, standing by a jeep. ‘We’re having trouble starting it – flat battery. Ranger Peters has gone to phone another ranger to come and fix it. But we don’t have time. All it needs is a good jumpstart. We’ve got to get it rolling. So, Andy, can you help us out? I’ll steer. Judd – jump in the front.’
Andy knew exactly what Miss Taylor was asking of him.
He slapped the back of his neck. A jolt of electricity shot up and down his spine, and his palms glowed blue for several seconds.
He nodded and moved behind the jeep. Slowly he started pushing the vehicle. It was as easy as pushing a shopping trolley. Andy increased his speed to a brisk jog. When they reached the road, just outside the camp grounds, he broke into a full sprint.
The engine roared to life.
‘WOO-HOOOO! WAY TO GO, ANDY!’ Judd cheered. ‘We’re doing seventy k an hour. Who needs an engine?’
‘Wow!’ gasped Miss Taylor, as she slowed the jeep and Andy hopped inside. ‘I’ve never seen anything so amazing. You really are a human revolution, Andy.’
‘Um, thanks, I think,’ Andy said, not feeling entirely comfortable with being referred to as a revolution. ‘I could’ve pushed us all the way home.’
‘I’m sure you could’ve,’ said Miss Taylor, laughing. ‘But that would have d
rawn a little too much attention. And we can’t afford to be seen. I’ve got word that Baffi’s men are closer than we thought. But don’t worry, we’ve made sure that they know we have Zloy and that we’ve left the area – so we hope they won’t search the forest and put the camp staff or your classmates in any danger.’
‘That’s good,’ said Judd. ‘If any of them lay a hand on Gabriella, then –’
‘Trust me they won’t,’ said Miss Taylor. ‘And just in case they’re watching the roads…’
Judd suddenly looked excited. ‘Is this a Code Leonardo?’ he asked. ‘Cool!’
‘You definitely have your grandfather’s smarts, Agent.’ Miss Taylor grinned. ‘You’re spot on. It is a Code Leonardo. The General is waiting for us there now.’
Andy was just about to ask, ‘What’s a Code Leonardo?’ when a car appeared on the horizon.
‘Boys, I think you should lay low, just in case,’ ordered Miss Taylor.
Andy and Judd dropped their heads as a long black Cadillac cruised past them.
‘Oh boy,’ muttered Miss Taylor.
‘What’s wrong?’ asked Judd, popping his head back up.
‘Maybe I was the one who should’ve laid low,’ she said. ‘I think I was just recognised – and I certainly recognised them. They’re Sylvester Baffi’s men. Damn it!’
‘You sure? Maybe you’re just "EB03BodyTextIndented"noid,’ said Judd.
‘Let’s hope so,’ sighed Miss Taylor, looking into her rear-view mirror. ‘It does seem that they haven’t noticed…’
‘Miss Taylor?’ said Andy, seeing her face drop.
Andy looked behind them.
The Cadillac screeched to a halt and swiftly did a massive rubber-burning U-turn. Within seconds, it was chasing them.
‘Hold on!’ Miss Taylor cried.
She slammed her foot hard on the accelerator and sped off down the road like a Formula One driver. ‘Tighten your seatbelts, boys!’ she yelled.
Andy couldn’t believe it. For the third time in twenty-four hours his life was in grave danger. Wild dogs, a murderous hitman, and now this!