“I’ll explain later,” said Zoey hurriedly.
The Alphas were closing in fast.
“We don’t have time. Let’s get out of here. Hurry! Get out your DSMs.”
Zoey flipped hers open. Her hands were sweaty, and she nearly dropped it. Tristan held on to the unconscious Agent Franken. She steadied her hands, and Simon and Tristan’s bodies shimmered. The ground shook under her sneakers, and she could feel the oncoming army; they were so close that she could touch them—then Zoey and her team disappeared.
Chapter 8
Utron Energy Capsule
“We’re all doomed!” said an agent with his head wrapped in bloody bandages.
“Our forces couldn’t even make it to the portal. How are we supposed to save our world if we can’t even reach it!” asked another agent on crutches.
“We’re all going to die!”
“Sucked in by a giant black hole!”
“The Big Bang is upon us!”
Zoey slouched in her chair. She tried to hide from the glares she was getting from the injured and recovering agents in the medical bay. She sat on a small metal chair next to Agent Franken’s bed with his carry-on on her lap. The medical bay was just as she had remembered: white walls and metal beds with white linens. The only difference was this time the room was overcrowded with patients. Agents and their science officers lay in beds, wailing. Some had missing limbs, some just cried, and some had a white sheet over them. The doctors had said that Agent Franken’s injuries weren’t life-threatening. He hadn’t woken yet, and his dangerously pale skin made him look dead. If it weren’t for the constant rise and fall of his chest, he’d look like a corpse in the morgue.
He had suffered a concussion and needed plenty of rest, and he wasn’t to be disturbed. But Zoey couldn’t leave his side. She felt partly responsible for him. They were supposed to protect their science officer. His hand lay limply by his side and more than once Zoey was tempted to reach out and touch it—but she couldn’t, so she just twirled the handle of his carry-on bag instead.
“So . . . are you ever going to tell us what you meant by calling me a genius?” whispered Simon as he and Tristan shared curious looks. “Not that I mind, I mean, I really love that you—uh—not that I actually love you, love you. Know what I mean?”
“Yes. I know, Simon,” said Zoey absently.
She scanned the room and focused on a rear window. Dust and debris blew against the window outside, and the skies were angry and blood red. It was almost as though it was a warning—there would be a blood bath. The group of agitated agents had lost their interest in Zoey and argued loudly among themselves.
“Good,” continued Simon as he leaned on Agent Franken’s bed, “’cause I just meant that I really like being called a genius.”
His blue eyes sparkled with self-satisfaction. “I’ve always thought of myself as a genius, but I never say it, you know. Don’t want agents to think I’m getting above myself and stuff.”
Tristan let out a sigh. “You never cease to amaze me, bubblehead.”
“I’m not a bubblehead,” said Simon. “Haven’t you heard? Your girlfriend thinks I’m a genius.”
It happened so fast that Zoey wasn’t sure it had happened at all. Simon hadn’t just called her Tristan’s girlfriend . . . had he?
Neither of them had ever spoken the words girlfriend or boyfriend before, so it came as a shock when Simon did, like somehow he made it real. She didn’t know where to look, so she just kept looking straight at the wall like a crazy person. She thought for sure the entire room had been listening to them. Only when she realized that she had stopped breathing did she allow herself a shaky breath.
Ever since Zoey had kissed Tristan to thank him for bailing out her and Simon, things between them had gotten a little more complicated—but a good complicated. Even though they had never actually discussed how they felt for one another, they both knew what was there. It was undeniable, like the silent understanding that went between them—it was just there.
She had never had a boyfriend before, so she had absolutely no idea what to do with him. Did agents date? Where they even allowed to date?
Zoey cleared her throat. “The thing is—if we could be invisible, if we could be concealed somehow, we could just walk right through the portal, and they’d never see us.”
Simon looked doubtful. “Okay, I get your point. But . . . we’re not invisible. You do know that, don’t you?”
“Don’t be silly, of course I do,” dismissed Zoey.
“So how do you suppose we become invisible then?” asked Tristan.
Zoey looked quickly at him and blushed. He was smiling at her. He wasn’t making this easier. In fact, he looked like he was enjoying seeing her squirm.
She tried to ignore his smile and said. “By magic, by a spell or something.”
“Sorry to disappoint you, Zoey,” interrupted Simon as he inspected Agent Franken’s fingers. “But the last I checked, agents didn’t carry magic wands or pull bunnies out of their hats—”
“Those are magicians, stupid,” corrected Tristan.
Simon shrugged. “Whatever, the point is, agents don’t do magic or spells. We’re not wizards—”
“I’m not talking about agents,” said Zoey.
She noticed that some agents were slowing inching closer to them so she lowered her voice. “I’m talking about someone else. I think I know someone who can make us invisible.”
Tristan leaned forward. “Zoey, what are you talking about?”
Zoey looked at her friends and then whispered, “Remember the story I told you about the creature that brought the recording of my mother?”
Tristan frowned. “The Minitian?”
“Yes. She’s a sorceress, right?” said Zoey excitedly. “And if anyone can magic us invisible, I’m sure she can.”
Tristan and Simon both stared at Zoey like she had just told them something that made no sense.
And then Simon whistled. “Okay, now you’re talking like a crazy woman.”
“I’m not crazy,” warned Zoey. “Why are you guys staring at me like that?” she said with a slight frown. “This is our best shot to get across. I know it’ll work. Don’t you want to save our world from total annihilation?”
Simon looked confused and scratched his head. “Yes . . . but—”
“It’s our best shot to get across the portal,” said Zoey desperately. It was also her best shot to save her mother, but she didn’t share that with them. She knew they could sense the panic in her voice. But it didn’t matter. What mattered was to get there.
“But Zoey,” began Tristan. “What if she won’t help us? You forget that Minitians are shy creatures. They don’t like agents meddling in their affairs. They spend their lives in seclusion, studying their arts and doing whatever else Minitians do. I know that Minitian your mother knew—”
“Muttab,” corrected Zoey.
“Right, Muttab. I know she was your mother’s friend, but she might not want to help us.”
“He’s right you know,” said Simon, who was now inspecting Agent Franken’s toes like he was about to decide if he needed a pedicure or not.
“She will,” argued Zoey. “I know she will. Call it a hunch, but I know Muttab will help us.”
She couldn’t explain to her friends how she knew this, but she did. Muttab would help them; she was sure of it. More than a gut feeling, it was a certainty.
She leaned back in her chair conclusively, and a clink came from inside Agent Franken bag. It sounded like two soda cans hitting one another. What was in that bag anyway?
“Okay, so like a leap of faith then?” said Simon, but he lost his smile when he met Zoey’s glare.
“But it’s the best darn plan we’ve got. Isn’t it, Tristan? Tristan, a little help here?”
Zoey couldn’t read Tristan’s expression. That bothered her.
“Okay,” said Simon. He sprawled over the side of Agent Franken’s bed and raised himself on his elbo
ws. “Let’s say your plan works. Let’s say we get some invisible witch potion—we make it through—” he paused, his eyes widening, “How do you propose we shut the portals downs?”
“He’s right,” said Tristan. “You saw what happened when Agent Ferguson tried. Blood of the Originals didn’t work—”
Zoey started to feel that her brilliant plan had too many holes in it.
“You’ll need a UEC to do that,” said a hoarse voice.
Zoey, Simon, and Tristan froze. Agent Franken’s eyes were open and observing them.
Simon broke the silence.
“It’s alive!” he bellowed overdramatically and jumped off the bed. All the agents in the room turned around.
Zoey glared at him, and he clamped his mouth shut.
She leaned carefully towards Agent Franken, and her face broke into a smile. “We’re so happy you’re all right. I was scared we’d lost you after the werewolf attacks.”
She hesitated. “I’m sorry we couldn’t protect you.”
Agent Franken raised his brows. “You did the best you could under dire circumstances. It’ll take more than a few werewolves to get the best of me.”
His voice cracked, and Zoey could see the strain on his face, like every word hurt him to speak.
“The old geezer’s got more in him than we thought,” Simon whispered to Tristan.
Zoey ignored him.
“Agent Franken,” she said carefully, “did you just insinuate that we can close the portal somehow?”
The old man nodded. “Yes.”
“Yes?” said Tristan and Simon in unison.
Agent Franken nodded. “That’s what I said. You can close your mouth now, Simon.”
He looked down at himself and sighed heavily. “I’m afraid these old bones are not fit for battle. I’m in no shape to shut down the portals. I’m sorry, but I cannot be your science officer anymore.” His eyes glinted with mischief, and he added in a low voice, “which is why you three must go on without me.”
“We do?” said Simon and Tristan together.
Zoey tried hard not to smile. Her voice trembled with eagerness. “But Agent Ward will never let us go without you or without another science officer. She was pretty clear on that subject.”
A hint of a smile appeared on Agent Franken’s face. “She never stopped you from leaving the Hive before.”
He smiled at Zoey’s surprise. “Yes—I should think now, more than ever, your special skills are required.”
There was no more controlling it, Zoey’s face broke into a wide grin. She’d always suspected that Agent Franken believed in her. He knew she was capable of taking on this mission. Just the thought that he was on her side made her feel like a real agent, like she truly belonged. She wouldn’t let him down.
Simon beamed, but Tristan wasn’t smiling. He clenched his jaw. His face was drawn, and his eyes darkened with worry. Whatever Tristan was feeling, it was clear he could see the dangers that awaited them. The Nexus was unknown territory, even for the most experienced agent.
But she had no other choice. She had to shut the portals, and she had to save her mother.
Zoey moved to the edge of her seat, “What’s a UEC?”
“A UEC,” informed their science officer, “is a Utron Energy Capsule.”
He paused for a moment, as though he was gathering his thoughts. “It’s a device that was fabricated long ago with one sole purpose—to destroy portals. The UECs were built as a precaution, you might say, against just such a catastrophic event as we are facing now.”
Simon sat back on Agent Franken’s bed again, “You mean the Great Joining—”
“Junction,” corrected Tristan. “The Great Junction. How many times do we have to tell you for it to sink in, genius?”
“Yeah, yeah, that.” said Simon. “So, the agencies knew that it could happen. They knew all along, didn’t they?”
Agent Franken closed his eyes for a moment. “Not everyone believed in the Great Junction, but there were a few who did, and a dozen UECs were made regardless. We’ve made some minor adjustments to them recently, but overall, they are the same.”
“So what exactly are they?” asked Zoey.
Agent Franken took in a breath. “Weapons. Utron is an energy source—a very powerful one. It produces explosive energy.”
“So, in other words, it’s a bomb,” Simon said.
“What!” Zoey stared at Agent Franken’s bag on her lap like it might explode.
Even though she couldn’t see through the bag, she knew the bag had two UECs in it. She thought she might throw up.
Agent Franken saw the distress on Zoey’s face. “Yes, I’d be very careful with that.”
She was afraid that if she moved just an inch, the bombs would go off.
“Don’t worry, my dear,” said Agent Franken gently, “they’re quite safe now. They will not detonate until they are opened. You have my word.”
Zoey swallowed hard. “And how do we open them?”
She tried hard not to visualize her body blown into little red bits as the entire Hive exploded and vanished under a giant mushroom cloud.
“It’s quite simple,” said the scientist. “You simply twist the capsule and lift the lid . . . like opening a bottle.”
It wasn’t that Zoey didn’t believe Agent Franken when he said that the UECs wouldn’t detonate, it was just that she had never been so close to something so unbelievably dangerous.
After a few moments, she breathed a little easier, but she still felt uncomfortable with the bombs resting on her lap.
“I’ve been listening to your conversation,” said Agent Franken.
He hoisted himself higher on his bed and focused on Zoey. “I believe that if there’s a chance you can persuade the Minitians to help you, then you must try—our world depends on it.”
Zoey looked away. She didn’t want to be responsible for the end of the world.
“You know they can make us invisible, don’t you?” said Zoey. “They have the ability to do it. They’ll put a spell on us or something. Am I right?”
Agent Franken nodded feebly.
He whispered almost to himself. “Yes, the Minitians are very powerful sorceresses. They could make an entire city invisible if they choose to. But the key is to persuade them.”
He looked up at Zoey again, his voice stronger.
“It’ll be much harder than you think to convince them. They do not wish to interfere with the Sevenths.”
From the way he was talking, Zoey had a feeling that Agent Franken was holding back some dark secret about the Minitians.
“Muttab will help,” she said confidently, remembering the tall hooded figure with the white face. “I know she will.”
“If you say so.” Agent Franken didn’t look convinced.
“I really do hope you are right, Zoey. And now you must leave an old man to recover. Go. The world will only last about twelve hours if we don’t close the portals. Otherwise there will be nothing left.”
“Twelve hours!” Simon stared at the old man like he had just confiscated his favorite video game. “But that’s like half a day!”
“Very good, boy genius,” said Tristan.
Zoey saw the fear on Agent Franken’s face. “Are you sure that’s all the time we have?”
“I’m afraid it is. The signs are everywhere now. Our world cannot hold on for much longer.”
“Then we better get a move on,” said Simon.
Zoey and Tristan eyed him angrily, and he shrugged. “What? I hate being late for anything. Even the end of the world.”
The end of the world, repeated Zoey in her head. It was just too awful to think about.
Zoey scooped up Agent Franken’s bag gently, like a newborn child. She felt like an idiot.
“You want me to carry the bombs, Zoey?” offered Tristan.
Zoey sighed and shook her head. “Thanks, but no thanks. This is my burden. I should be carrying them.”
She hoisted the bag’s
single strap over her head and fitted it across her shoulder like a small messenger bag.
Tristan leaned towards her. “Don’t start blaming yourself again. You have to stop. This isn’t your fault—”
“Of course it is,” she said stubbornly. “Well, partly.”
She took in a deep breath. “I’m going to fix this, you’ll see.”
She sounded braver than she felt at the moment, and she hoped that her friends and Agent Franken didn’t sense the panic welling inside her. Just as she was about to say goodbye to Agent Franken, she remembered something.
“Um . . . Agent Franken?”
The old man blinked up at her. “Yes?”
“Where can I find the Minitians?” asked Zoey uncomfortably. What good would their help be if she couldn’t find them?
Agent Franken looked puzzled. “And therein lies the first mystery . . . .”
“Excuse me?”
The science officer rubbed his eyes. “No one knows. They live in a white-stone fortress that keeps changing shape and disappearing. It moves from village to village and never stays too long in one place. Only Minitians can see it.”
“So how are we supposed to find them?” Simon’s voice rose. “It’s not like we have time to play the tourist. You told us yourself that we only have twelve hours. And that includes getting their help, and then going to the Nexus and shutting the portals.”
Agent Franken looked at Zoey and smiled.
“Zoey can find them. She’s the only one who can.”
Although Tristan and Simon looked confused, Zoey knew exactly what he meant. She smiled at her friends. For once she knew something they didn’t.
“Good luck,” said their scientist, and then he lost his smile. “You’re going to need it.”
Simon laughed incredulously. “Gee thanks. Nothing like a good pep talk before an end-of-the-world battle.”
Zoey turned to her friends. “Come on, let’s go.”
Agent Franken grabbed her wrist.
“There’s something I forgot to tell you about the UECs,” said Agent Franken urgently. “The bump on my head is making me forget things, but listen carefully.”
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