Code Red

by H. I. Larry

  CODE RED

  BY H. I. LARRY

  ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANDY HOOK

  Code Red

  published in 2008 by

  Hardie Grant Egmont

  85 High Street

  Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia

  www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.

  A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia

  Text, illustration and design copyright © 2008 Hardie Grant Egmont

  Cover and illustrations by Andy Hook

  Typeset by Pauline Haas

  Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group

  1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  MISSION UPDATE

  CLASSIFIED

  In BASE CAMP, Zac found out

  that a mystery BIG agent was

  going to destroy all of

  GIB's gadgets and vehicles.

  Zac was sent to the

  Black Jungle to investigate.

  In the jungle, he discovered a

  hologram of his long-lost grandpa,

  Agent High Pants.

  Zac also learnt that the

  mystery BIG agent was his

  exact double. . .another Zac Power.

  CURRENT TIME:

  THURSDAY 10:03 AM

  CHAPTER

  ONE

  TSEEEWWW!

  Zac Power’s eyes flashed open. He’d been dozing, but a strange noise had woken him up.

  It took him a second to remember that he was in the rescue chopper. There were two other choppers flying alongside his.

  Zac was on the way back to GIB Headquarters with the agents he had rescued from the Black Jungle.

  He stretched his arms out and yawned. I just need five more minutes to sleep…

  TSEEEWWW!

  There was another blast. Their helicopters were under attack!

  OK, I’m definitely awake now, Zac thought, trying to peer out the window. He caught a glimpse of the BIG agent’s jet behind them.

  ‘The BIG Agent!’ cried Agent Cougar, as their helicopter dodged left. ‘He’s behind us in his jet!’

  ‘You think?’ said Zac, rolling his eyes.

  TSEEEWWW!

  Their helicopter rattled. Another blast from the BIG agent’s electromagnetic cannon lit up the morning sky, but it just missed them.

  TSEEEWWW!

  The BIG jet scored a direct hit on the helicopter to Zac’s right. The chopper shuddered and started to fall out of the sky, all of its systems fried.

  Zac watched it tumble down towards the ocean.

  Three spots appeared in the sky, just beyond the falling chopper. Parachutes.

  Zac breathed a sigh of relief. They got out in time, he thought. They’ll be OK.

  He looked out the rear window. The BIG jet was gaining on them.

  TSEEEWWW!

  Their pilot tried to pull away again, but this time the jet was too close. The blast of blue energy slid along Zac’s side of the helicopter. It wasn’t a direct hit, but it was enough to send them spinning off course.

  ‘Hang on to your hats, boys!’ called the pilot. ‘This could get a little bumpy.’

  Zac could see the pilot wrestling with the steering controls.The helicopter rattled and shook as the pilot struggled to bring it down safely.

  Up ahead, Zac could see a car park that was completely empty, except for one abandoned caravan. He’d seen this particular caravan before. It was actually a decoy hologram which disguised the secret entrance to GIB HQ.

  But as Zac watched, the helicopter zoomed right over the car park.

  ‘Hey,’ Zac said to the pilot. ‘You missed the entrance!’

  The pilot chuckled. ‘Don’t think Agent Big Boss would be too happy if I flew a chopper this big in through the front door!’ he said. ‘Just sit tight. We’ll take the heavy vehicle entrance.’

  The helicopter gave another lurch.

  ‘Assuming we make it that far,’ the pilot added.

  Zac looked around, trying to catch sight of the BIG agent’s jet. It seemed to have disappeared, and so had the third GIB chopper.

  Zac’s helicopter swung around to the left, and a little clump of trees came into view.The pilot brought them to a stop high above the trees. He hit a button and the helicopter started dropping downwards.

  Zac held on tight as they jerked towards the ground. At the last second, the trees disappeared, revealing a wide, open tunnel.

  More holograms, Zac thought.

  Normally, the tunnel would have easily been big enough for a helicopter to fly through. But their helicopter was acting more like a bull at a rodeo than a finely tuned GIB vehicle.

  Bucking and shaking, the chopper crashed down through the tunnel. It scraped against the steel walls, sending sparks flying.

  The tunnel opened out into a massive vehicle storage area, filled with row after row of high-tech jets, cars and bikes.

  The chopper hit the ground, bounced once, twice, and then crushed a row of Lightning Strike Ultra-Bikes. Finally it skidded to a stop.

  Zac turned to the pilot. ‘No offence,’ he said, ‘but next time I think I’ll just take the bus.’

  CHAPTER

  TWO

  Zac and Agent Cougar climbed out of the helicopter into the storage hangar.

  The whole place was buzzing with activity, and there were agents running in every direction.

  A nervous-looking boy about Zac’s age came racing up to them. ‘Agent Cougar?’ he asked. ‘Agent Big Boss wants to see you immediately.’

  Cougar nodded and the boy led him away.

  A second later, a group of agents in green uniforms dashed past, almost bowling Zac over. They hopped onto a row of identical motorbikes and zoomed away up the entry tunnel.

  ‘Medical team,’ a voice behind him explained. ‘They’re heading over to get the people from the other two choppers.’

  Zac looked around. It was his older brother, Leon.

  ‘Don’t worry, they’re all fine,’ Leon added. ‘Just a few little bumps and bruises.’

  ‘Good,’ said Zac, relaxing slightly.

  ‘So, who is he?’ Leon asked. ‘Who’s this mystery BIG agent who’s going to wipe out all our gadgets?’

  Zac still hadn’t figured out how to answer this question. ‘He’s…I don’t know who he is. But he looks exactly like me, like an identical twin or something.’

  ‘Someone in disguise, then,’ said Leon thoughtfully.

  ‘No,’ said Zac firmly. ‘It was too perfect to be a disguise. It was like looking into a mirror.’

  ‘So there’s another Zac Power out there,’ Leon said slowly, ‘and he’s working for BIG. Is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘I don’t know what I’m saying,’ Zac sighed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the little black device he’d found in the BIG agent’s jet in the jungle.

  ‘What’s that?’ Leon asked.

  ‘A holo-projector,’ said Zac. ‘It’s got something to do with Grandpa, but –’

  ‘Grandpa?’ said Leon excitedly. ‘What is it? What does it say?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ said Zac. ‘The data’s locked. It played for about 20 seconds and then it just cut out. But it sounds like BIG might know where Grandpa is.’

  Leon’s jaw dropped. ‘How?�
�� he said. ‘Grandpa’s been missing for years! No-one knows where he is!’

  Zac just shrugged.

  ‘You’ve got to show the holo-projector to Agent Big Boss!’ said Leon. ‘If we can unlock this thing, maybe we can finally find out what happened to Grandpa!’

  But at that moment the nervous boy reappeared. ‘Agent Rock Star, Agent Big Boss wants to see you,’ he said.

  ‘Right.’ Zac nodded, turning to leave.

  ‘Hang on,’ said Leon. ‘What’s that around your neck?’

  ‘Huh? Oh, this thing. I don’t know. It belonged to the BIG agent.’

  Zac handed Leon the little computer chip that the BIG agent had dropped.

  ‘I’d better go see Big Boss,’ Zac said. ‘See you at home.’

  ‘Bye,’ said Leon, examining the chip.

  Zac took the lift down to Agent Big Boss’s floor.

  As soon as the lift doors opened, a swarm of security agents surrounded Zac, pressing him back against a cold steel wall. For two full minutes, he was poked, prodded and scanned from every angle.

  ‘Sorry about that,’ said Agent Big Boss as the guards finally let him pass. ‘We needed to be absolutely sure that you were the real Agent Rock Star, and not the BIG look-alike.’

  ‘It’s OK,’ said Zac.

  ‘And congratulations on rescuing our captured agents,’ Big Boss added.

  ‘Thanks,’ said Zac, ‘but I was only able to rescue five of them. Their team leader was kidnapped. We’re going to send out a search team, right?’

  ‘I’m afraid we’ve got no time to chase after missing agents right now,’ said Agent Big Boss, suddenly sounding grumpy.

  Zac was surprised. But wasn’t that what my mission was for? he thought to himself.

  ‘Let’s move on,’ Agent Big Boss grumbled. ‘There’s a meeting in my office this afternoon to discuss the next phase of your mission. I want you there at 3:30pm sharp.’

  ‘I’ll be there,’ said Zac. At least I get to miss out on two days of school, he thought.

  There was an awkward silence. Agent Big Boss stared down at him.

  ‘Is there something else, Agent Rock Star?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Zac, pulling the holo-projector from his pocket. ‘I found this inside the BIG agent’s jet.’

  For a second, Agent Big Boss’s eyes went wide, but he quickly recovered.

  ‘I’d like you to give that to me, Power.’

  ‘But sir,’ Zac began, ‘this is –’

  ‘I know exactly what it is,’ Agent Big Boss interrupted. ‘Please hand it to me.’

  ‘Sir, I was hoping Leon could have a look at it.’

  ‘No,’ said Agent Big Boss.

  ‘But –’

  ‘No, Rock Star. You’ve got more than enough to worry about. Please give it to me.’

  Zac dropped the holo-projector into Agent Big Boss’s outstretched hand.

  ‘But someone’s going to look at it, right?’ Zac said.

  Agent Big Boss held up a hand to silence Zac. ‘Agent Rock Star,’ he said very slowly, ‘I am ordering you to forget that you ever saw this holo-projector. As far as you are concerned, it never existed. Is that clear?’

  ‘Sir!’ Zac said, a little too loudly. ‘You can’t – ’

  ‘I am the head of this spy agency, Rock Star!’ Agent Big Boss boomed. ‘Do not tell me what I can’t do! One more outburst like that and I’ll pull you off this mission altogether! Is that what you want?’

  Zac glared up at Agent Big Boss. ‘No, sir.’

  ‘Good,’ said Big Boss. ‘Now, go home and get some rest. I’ll see you back here this afternoon. I hope by then you will have remembered how to behave like a GIB agent.’

  CHAPTER

  THREE

  Zac Power stormed up the path to his house. How dare Agent Big Boss treat me like that? I’m his best agent!

  Leon flung open the door.‘The computer chip!’ he shouted at Zac. ‘I know what it’s for! Quick, where’s the holo-projector?’

  ‘Big Boss took it,’ said Zac bitterly.

  ‘Well, let’s get it back!’ said Leon.

  ‘We can’t.’

  Zac walked inside and slammed the door behind him. He stomped into the lounge room and threw himself down onto the couch. He was furious.

  ‘But Zac,’ said Leon, ‘the chip you gave me unlocks that holo-projector!’

  ‘Great,’ said Zac sarcastically. ‘Too bad that Big Boss told me to forget about it.’

  Leon stared at him. ‘Why?’

  ‘He wouldn’t say,’ Zac grumbled. ‘And he got really angry when I started asking questions.’

  Leon gaped. ‘But Grandpa was GIB’s best agent! Surely Big Boss wants to find him almost as much as we do.’ Then his eyes went wide. ‘Unless…no, that’s impossible. There’s no way…’ ‘Leon!’ Zac said, annoyed.

  Leon took a deep breath. ‘Unless the reason GIB aren’t investigating the holo-projector is because they already know where Grandpa is.’

  ‘But Grandpa’s been missing for years!’ Zac protested.

  ‘What if he hasn’t been missing?’ said Leon. ‘What if GIB knew where Grandpa was all along, but they just didn’t want us to know?’

  ‘That’s crazy,’ said Zac, shaking his head.

  ‘Why else wouldn’t Big Boss want you to have the holo-projector?’ Leon argued.

  Zac fell silent. Leon had a point.

  Then suddenly, Zac had a brainwave. ‘The agent who was kidnapped from the Black Jungle!’ he shouted, jumping up from the couch.

  ‘Huh?’ said Leon.

  ‘I didn’t rescue all the GIB agents from the jungle,’ Zac explained. ‘One of them was kidnapped. I told Agent Big Boss, but he didn’t seem to care.’

  ‘You think that agent was Grandpa?’ said Leon, raising an eyebrow.‘Now who’s crazy?’

  ‘Think about it,’ said Zac. ‘Maybe that’s why Big Boss was nervous about sending me to the jungle – because he was afraid I’d run into Grandpa and blow his cover.’

  ‘Well,’ said Leon slowly, ‘if the BIG agent was there to kidnap Grandpa, I guess that would explain why he had the holo-projector in his jet in the first place.’

  ‘But if Grandpa’s been in the jungle all this time,’ said Zac, ‘why hasn’t he ever got in touch with us?’

  Leon thought for a moment. ‘What if he couldn’t?’ he said. ‘What if the Black Jungle project was so top-secret that Grandpa had to fake his own disappearance or something?’

  Zac’s brain was about to explode. ‘We need to get that holo-projector back,’ he said. ‘It’s the only way to find out what’s really going on here.’

  ‘But you said Big Boss wouldn’t give it to you,’ said Leon. ‘Plus you’ve got your mission to deal with. You need to keep that other Zac from setting off the Tech Blaster.’

  ‘This is his holo-projector!’ said Zac. ‘Whatever he’s planning, I bet Grandpa has something to do with it. And we need to find out what.’

  ‘What are you saying?’ Leon asked. ‘That we should break into HQ and steal the holo-projector back from GIB?’

  ‘Yes,’ Zac said firmly. ‘That’s exactly what I’m saying.’

  ‘This is nuts,’ said Leon for about the hundredth time. ‘You do know that, right?’

  It was two hours later and Leon was pacing up and down his lab, looking very nervous.

  ‘If we get caught and they find out what we’re doing…’

  ‘Don’t think about that now,’ said Zac. ‘Just tell me the plan.’

  ‘OK,’ Leon sighed. ‘According to GIB’s security logs, the holo-projector is currently being held in the TSZ.’

  ‘The what?’

  ‘The Top-Secret Zone,’ Leon explained. ‘That’s the floor at HQ where all of GIB’s most important work takes place. Only agents with special TSZ passes are allowed inside.’

  ‘But you can get me in, right?’

  ‘I think so,’ said Leon. ‘Our best chance is during your meeting with Big Boss this aftern
oon. You’ll show up there as planned, but you’ll be wearing this over your nose.’

  Leon held up what looked like an ordinary band-aid.

  ‘What’s that?’ Zac asked.

  ‘Your excuse to slip out of the meeting,’ said Leon. ‘Once they get started, just give the side of your nose a little tap with your finger and be ready to run.’

  ‘Why? What’s going to happen?’

  'BLEED-AID' False Minor Injury Device

  ‘Just a minor injury,’ Leon answered. ‘Fake, of course. It’ll get you out of the meeting room. Once you’re outside, take the lift to Level 53. Head for the bathroom.’

  ‘Do I really have time on this mission for a toilet stop?’ Zac asked.

  Leon rolled his eyes. ‘Head into the third toilet along,’ he continued. ‘You’ll find a disguise and some ID tags in there. You’ll be disguised as Agent Checkmate.’

  ‘Checkmate?’ said Zac. ‘I thought he was a field agent.’

  ‘He got transferred to the TSZ a few weeks ago,’ Leon explained. ‘Right now he’s on holiday, so he’s the perfect disguise. Use his ID to get inside the TSZ and find the holo-projector.’

  ‘Right,’ said Zac. ‘Then what?’

  ‘There are garbage chutes on every level of the TSZ,’ said Leon. ‘They lead down to the bin in the basement. When you find the holo-projector, buzz me on my SpyPad. Then wait exactly two minutes and drop the holo-projector down a chute.’

  ‘Why two minutes?’

  ‘Because that’s when I’ll be casually walking past, ready to grab it on the way down and sneak it out of HQ.’

  ‘Excellent,’ said Zac.

  ‘Meanwhile,’ Leon went on, ‘you’ll take your disguise off and go back to Big Boss. You say sorry for running out of the meeting, and then you pick up your next mission disk like nothing ever happened.’

  Leon stopped pacing around and looked at Zac. ‘What do you think?’

  Zac grinned. ‘I think that’s just crazy enough to work.’

  CHAPTER

  FOUR