“I think he’s making a mistake.” Tristan watched Agent Ferguson shake hands with his new admirers.
“If he is a true Original, don’t you think Mrs. Dupont and the Alphas would have drained his blood by now? I don’t buy his performance. I think he likes the attention. I think he’s full of bull.”
“Maybe she didn’t know about him?” offered Zoey. “Maybe she’d been so obsessed with my mother and I that she never really paid any attention to the others.”
Tristan watched the man indifferently and then shook his head. “No, man, this guy is really stupid, and he’s going to get himself and his team killed.”
After Agent Ferguson had acquired enough new admirers and handshakes; he stepped up to the mirror and beamed at Agent Ward with his nine team members behind him.
Agent Ward typed something on the computer panel beside the mirror. There was a loud buzzing, and a green light above the mirror lit up with a click.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” said Agent Ward as she stepped back. “I think you’re being foolish.”
With a hop in his step, and ignoring Agent Ward’s warning, Agent Ferguson stepped into the mirror and vanished. Zoey watched the rest of his team disappear through the mirror.
She followed Simon and Tristan to the long table and stood in line with the rest of the volunteers. The looks of surprise on the faces of the other agent volunteers stung her a little, but she forced herself to look away and pretended to read her contract thoroughly.
Before she knew it, Zoey and her friends stood before the directors. Director Martin reached out and took her contract.
“What’s this?” he said as he inspected her contract.
“After everything you’ve done, you expect us to just . . . let you go? You’re even more arrogant and senseless than I thought.”
His accusation hit Zoey hard. She felt like she’d just been shot. She couldn’t speak. She knew she had taken a chance volunteering, that the Agency might not let her go, but still she hoped.
“She’s volunteering like us,” said Tristan. He stepped in beside Zoey and tossed his contract in Director Martin’s face. “Let’s face it, the Agencies need as many volunteers as they can get, and Zoey’s volunteering, just like us.”
“Yeah,” agreed Simon. “What he said.” He slid his own contract on the table and then hid behind Tristan.
Director Martin glared at Zoey like she was a piece of gum stuck on the bottom of his shoe.
“You shouldn’t even be here; you should have been expelled from the program—from our society. If I had my way, you’d be locked up in a high security cell forever—”
“Well it’s not up to you, is it?” interrupted Tristan. His skin shimmered, and he leaned dangerously close to the director. For a horrible moment, Zoey thought he was going to punch the director. Zoey smiled; that would be awesome to see.
“You think this is funny?” Director Campbell’s face was twisted in disgust.
She leaned over and grabbed Zoey’s contract. “You think this little piece of paper will make us forget what you did?”
She hesitated for a moment, lifted the contract for everyone to see, and then ripped it in half.
Zoey found her voice. “Hey! What are you doing?”
Directors Martin and Campbell shared a winning look, and then Director Campbell said triumphantly, “You’re not going anywhere.”
“That’s not fair!” shouted Simon, still hiding behind Tristan. “I demand a recount!”
“WHAT’S GOING ON HERE?”
Director Hicks pushed his chair back and joined them. His face was flushed.
“What’s all this racket? What’s going on? What are you kids all doing here?”
Zoey couldn’t answer. It was as though she believed Directors Martin and Campbell were right. Perhaps this had just been a dream. Perhaps she wasn’t supposed to go. She’d never win back the respect of the Agency and the Sevenths.
Simon answered for her. “These two bozos tore up her contract—ouch!” Tristan kicked him.
Director Hicks picked up the torn pieces of paper. He turned towards Directors Martin and Campbell. “And why would you do such a thing?”
Director Martin’s face was severe and when he spoke spit flew from his mouth, “She shouldn’t be allowed to go—”
“Every able agent is allowed to volunteer. That includes any OSC individuals who are willing to go,” corrected Director Hicks. “It is up to them. Not us. Anyone can volunteer for a special mission. Anyone.”
“But—” Director Campbell’s face screwed up in fury. Her voice rose. “This is all her fault! She did this! The world’s dying because of her!”
Director Hicks took Zoey’s hand in his. He pressed the stamp down on the top of her hand and branded her with a red-colored V.
Zoey did her best not to look too pleased and waited patiently as Director Hicks stamped Tristan and Simon in turn. She did her best to avoid looking at Directors Martin and Campbell, although she could feel them glaring at her.
The only director who seemed indifferent to Zoey was Director Johnson. He seemed more interested in fighting with his computer than in a redheaded girl on her way to a suicide mission.
Director Hicks smiled at them encouragingly and said, “The Agency appreciates and values your commitment to help. Look out for one another and keep each other safe. Good luck to you all.”
“Thank you, director.” Zoey answered awkwardly and moved away from the table before he changed his mind.
Simon raised his hand and admired his new mark. He was practically drooling over it. “V for Valiant . . . V for Victorious . . . V for Very Awesome—”
“V for victim,” said Tristan as he smacked Simon on the back of the head. But he had the tiniest of smiles on his face and looked a little smug. He wore his mark proudly, too.
They walked back towards the mirrors and faced Agent Ward when Zoey realized that they had forgotten something important.
“Uh . . . guys—”
“Where’s your science officer?” barked Agent Ward as though she had read her mind. “No science officer, no mission.”
“Argh!” Simon smacked his forehead. “I knew we forgot something.”
Zoey’s moment of triumph dissipated like a deflated balloon. She saw her mother’s terrified face flash in her mind’s eye. Was she even still alive? Every minute wasted was another minute her mother was tortured.
“But you let that guy go without a science officer,” argued Tristan. “Why can’t we go? We’re better skilled than the last group, and you know it.”
Agent Ward shook her head stubbornly. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Agent Ferguson had special permission—he knows what he’s doing—”
“I seriously doubt that.” Simon had lost his smile. He looked angrier than when Stuart King had stolen his OSC badge and flushed it down in one of the boys’ bathroom toilets.
“Man, this sucks. I can’t believe you won’t let us go! We’re OSC . . . and besides . . . you need volunteers! The Agency said so. You need everyone that’s willing to help. That’s us baby!”
“I know you kids mean well,” said Agent Ward “But I just can’t let you go without a science officer. I’d never forgive myself if I did. I’m sorry, kids but it’s a no.”
“Don’t blame us when the world ends,” said Simon crossly, “you’ll know who to thank for that—”
“Simon Brown!” growled Agent Ward dangerously. “You’re stepping dangerously close to a night locked in one of the basement cells.”
Simon raised his hands in surrender. “Ooohh, I’m so scared.”
Zoey grabbed Simon by the arm and whirled him around. “Simon, don’t. We’ll figure out a way—”
“How?” Simon’s face flushed. “If the Agency wasn’t so stupid, they’d let us go.”
He raised his voice and made sure everyone in the great hall could hear him. “We’re the ones who helped find the cure for the black oil—the three of us! You have no id
ea what we can do. We’re a team. We’re like the three musketeers—only better. You need us.”
Another group of agent volunteers had already taken their place at the table. Among them was a skinny woman who clasped a portable computer nervously to her chest, like a newborn child. Zoey knew she was that group’s science officer. She looked terrified.
But Zoey wasn’t terrified. She wanted to go. She needed to go.
Zoey pushed her way back through the volunteers towards Agent Ward. “Please Agent Ward. I know I can help.”
A flash of sadness appeared on Agent Ward’s face. “I know how difficult this must be for you, Zoey. But without a science officer, I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can do—”
“I’m their science officer!” said a voice.
Zoey turned around. Agent Franken shuffled through the crowd in his usual silver full body HAZMAT suit, but without the hood and visor. He had two large metal tanks on his back and had rubber tubes wrapped tightly around his waist. He held a gray carry-on bag and looked like he was ready to explore the sea in in an antique diving suit. He moved slowly, and with some difficulty; finally he reached Agent Ward.
“I’m their science officer,” repeated Agent Franken a little out of breath. “They’re with me.”
Slowly, he brushed a strand of stringy white hair from his forehead. And when he looked at Zoey, his thick glasses magnified his eyes to the size of grapefruits. He smiled.
“Sorry I’m late. I needed to make sure we had all the necessary supplies for this mission. Can’t be too careful, especially with where we are going.”
He adjusted his glasses, and Zoey could see a freshly stamped V marked the top of his right hand.
Zoey wanted to throw her arms around the little old man and hug him, but she was afraid she might crush him.
“Not a problem, Agent Franken,” she answered. “Just glad you finally made it.”
She smiled at him, and when she looked at Tristan and Simon, their grins were the size of the great hall.
“Move over!” Simon pushed the other group of volunteers back. “We were here first. Very important science officer as our teammate! Coming through, coming through! Thank you, but we’ll sign autographs later.”
Zoey couldn’t have asked for a better team. Agent Franken was the cleverest scientist in all of the Agencies. Tristan was a brave and strong Mysterian. And the ever-resourceful Simon Brown was always an asset. It was a team made in heaven.
Simon leaned forward and whispered to Agent Franken. “So, what’s the master plan?”
Agent Franken blinked his oversized eyes and said, “Just get me across to the portal alive and keep me alive while I work on the Nexus portal on the other side. I’ll need maybe twenty minutes at the most . . . if everything goes according to plan.”
“That’s a pretty good plan,” said Simon, still beaming. “Did I ever tell you how awesome you are?”
Agent Franken stared at Simon without blinking.
“Are you ready?” commanded Agent Ward. She tapped her foot impatiently. “You’re not the only team to leave today.”
“Time to go, team.” Zoey turned and looked at Agent Ward. She wasn’t sure, but she thought that she smiled for a second. When she looked again, it was gone.
“Well now, I see that everything is in order,” said Agent Ward. She typed something on the small computerized panel. “Well, then off you go and best of luck.”
The green light lit up and the surface of the mirror churned and wavered like liquid water.
Zoey could hardly restrain herself from jumping to the front of the line, but she waited to let Agent Franken step through first. After all, he was a senior agent, the science officer, and he was much older than they were. It was only fair that he should go in first. She would go in after.
Agent Franken stepped forward, and with a flash of white light he disappeared.
With a last glance over at Tristan and Simon, Zoey walked through.
Beams of green and blue flashed behind her eyes as she was stretched and pulled like gum. As the sick feeling started, she thought of her mother to stop the sensation. Then she smelled the ocean and wet leaves, and her feet touched solid ground.
She grabbed her boomerang instinctively as she opened her eyes.
The early morning sun shone in a clearing surrounded by trees as tall as skyscrapers. To her right was the great stone wall outside the Alpha city. And outside the wall, at the edge of the forest loomed an enormous blue hole about two hundred feet wide. It was just as she remembered. The blue inside of the hole stirred and wavered like water, alien and imposing in the forest.
Outside the portal, the agents and science officers who had gone through the mirror before her were under attack.
Chapter 7
Attack of the Bearded Babies
At first, Zoey thought she was hallucinating. But as her eyes focused and adjusted to the dim light around her, she knew she wasn’t.
Hundreds of Alphas and monster hybrids stabbed, shot, whipped, crushed, and pulled apart any agents trying to get near the great portal like they were nothing more than mere insects. Her chest tightened as she watched a familiar science officer with puffy yellow hair make a run for the portal. He didn’t make it. An Alpha woman with the legs of a lion and a lizard tail plunged a spear through him and then picked him up like he weighed no more than a child. Her distorted face gleamed as she stuck the other end of the spear into the ground and admired the dying man like a prize. Zoey wanted to throw up. It was too horrific to watch, but she couldn’t look away. All around the portal, agents shrieked in a chaotic fog of panic and blood.
Agent Ferguson appeared through a break in the cluster of attacks. Zoey held her breath as he slipped unseen past the attacking Alphas and scurried over to the portal.
He drew a knife and sliced his right palm, chanting as he did so. He squeezed blood from the wound and flung some of it at the portal. She could see the strain on his face.
Why wasn’t he stepping through to the other side? He needed to close both portals for the Great Junction to shut down.
“Wait!” she cried. “You need to go through to the other side!”
But Agent Ferguson didn’t hear her voice over the roar of the battle.
Agent Ferguson stood back and waited. He looked triumphant. At first nothing happened, but then, like a drop of ink in water, a spot of purple appeared in the portal. He threw his fist in the air in triumph, and then lowered it very slowly. The purple blot dissolved as though it had never existed. His blood didn’t work. The blood of an Original wasn’t enough to close the portal.
As he inched forward again to try again, an Alpha woman with long white hair and milky skin appeared in a flash of red behind him and raised her dagger.
“NO!” cried Zoey.
The Alpha woman stabbed him repeatedly. Agent Ferguson yelped, fell to the ground, and tried to crawl away. But he wasn’t fast enough. The Alpha grabbed his hair, pulled back his head, and slit his throat like she was carving a pumpkin. His eyes rolled to the back of his head, and he fell face first into the dirt, dead.
Without thinking, Zoey rushed forward and crashed into Agent Franken. His thick glasses magnified the terror in his eyes. He turned to her and whispered, “Oh dear, it’s much worse than I anticipated.”
Tristan and Simon appeared at her side.
“I had a feeling it wouldn’t work.” Tristan looked at Zoey. “He died in vain—”
“At least he tried!” Zoey turned angrily to Tristan. “He died trying to save us all!”
“But he also died trying the wrong side of the portal,” added Simon.
He winced at the scowl on Zoey’s face, and then he added quickly. “And now we know that blood alone won’t do the trick.”
“No, simple blood most certainly won’t.” Agent Franken adjusted his glasses with a look of grim determination. “Follow me.”
The little man waddled forward as fast as his ungainly suit would allow him to go.
Zoey looked at Tristan and Simon and then followed Agent Franken. He hid behind a tree and waited. Zoey knelt down beside him. Tristan and Simon came up behind her, and she grasped her boomerang tightly. She hoped Agent Franken had a plan to get them across.
She searched the scene for a safe passage to the portal, but there wasn’t one. Everywhere she looked, agents, science officers, and Alphas were in combat—and the Alphas were winning easily.
Seconds became minutes as they waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, Zoey couldn’t stay quiet any longer.
“Agent Franken,” she whispered, “what exactly are we waiting for?”
He raised his hand but didn’t speak. She could see sweat trickling down the sides of his temples and realized he must be boiling hot in that suit. She hoped that the suit would protect him.
Nobody said anything.
“I need you to help me get across safely,” said Agent Franken finally. “Once we’re through, I’m going to need twenty minutes or so to shut down the portal on the Nexus side—”
“But how will we get back home?”
Simon’s voice rose, and the whites of his eyes showed. “Are you planning a suicide mission? There are things I’d like to get back to, you know . . . like food and video games . . . and maybe even a first date!”
Agent Franken turned slowly towards Simon and looked at him like he had never seen him before.
“This isn’t a suicide mission boy. I’d like to get back to my things as well once this is over.”
He wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “But it’s a very dangerous mission, nonetheless. In theory, once the procedure is done we should have enough time to slip back through the portal before it shuts down completely.”
“Do your theories usually work?” Simon blurted out.
“Usually.”
“Well, that’s comforting—ouch!” Zoey knocked Simon on the head with her boomerang.
Agent Franken turned back to the portal. “Once the Nexus side is closed, I’ll still need your help to keep me breathing while I work on this side of the portal.”
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