by Tina Chan
She pressed her thumb onto the scanner to unlock the front doors, but it rejected the thumbprint. Frowning, she tried again. Same results.
What the heck?! Is the scanner malfunctioning?
Kristi resorted to old-fashion pounding on the door. She waited for someone to let her into the house, but nobody responded to her knocking.
“Jaiden!” she shouted. “Maria, Don! Can someone unlock the door for me?”
No reply.
Kristi stepped down from the front door. Something small and white peeked out from the corner of a sculpture of a frog. She squatted and tipped the ceramic statue over to retrieve the object. It was a note written on a piece of paper. That was strange; who’d use paper when they could just leave an electro-note or send an instafication? Paper kills trees and therefore, the Earth.
Kristi had to squint to read the barely legible handwriting scrawled across the index card:
Find Jaiden and locate the others.
—M & D
She reread the note once, and then twice, making sure she didn’t misread it. “Find Jaiden and locate the others.”
“Ha-ha. Real funny joke Jaiden. Stop messing around with me.” Kristi stood up, brushing the dirt from her jeans. “That was a really lame prank. What did you want me to do? Run around screaming?” She waited, hoping to lure Jaiden out from wherever he was hiding.
A branch above her shook and a plump, black-capped chickadee angled its head at Kristi. “Chicka-dee-dee-dee,” the bird whistled. On the last “dee” it flapped away.
“Jaiden, this isn’t funny anymore! I admit you scared me, okay? Are you happy now? Please let me into the house.” Her voice sounded painfully small.
A silence settled over the area; no Jaiden, Don or Maria appeared. Kristi’s mind began jumping to conclusions. Wilson’s gang wouldn’t dare harm my family, would he?
“The stables,” she said. “Why didn’t I think of that?” But Kristi did know why she hadn’t thought to check the stables for her family; Maria and Don never rode droid-horses and Jaiden should be assisting Professor Smetana at this time of the day.
Kristi dashed to the barn, praying that the horses were still in their stalls and unharmed. She briefly crossed her fingers then unlatched the barn door.
The droid-horses were gone. She was the only person in the building. Or so she thought. Two shadows loomed over her. Kristi tensed her muscles, ready to sprint in an instant if it was Wilson’s gang.
“Are you ready to go?”
She relaxed, recognizing Chelsa’s voice. Ghost padded to Kristi’s right shoulder and nuzzled her. She squirmed, the droid-cat’s inch-long fang grazing her earlobes.
“You followed me?”
Chelsa nodded. “I’m too curious for my own good. I guess something bad happened from the looks of it.” She handed Kristi the paper note she had dropped.
“Thanks.” Kristi crumpled the paper and shoved it deep inside her pocket. “I think that— ”
Chelsa cut her off, “No, I highly doubt Wilson’s crew kidnapped your family. This doesn’t seem like gang work. Trust me, if it was Wilson’s crew that caused this mess, they would’ve already sent you a message asking for a ransom.”
Kristi didn’t bother to ask Chelsa how she knew this. “What do you think happened? I can’t think of any other reason why my family would suddenly disappear.”
Chelsa thought for a minute, then said, “Why don’t we try locating your brother—er, Jaiden? I think he might have an idea of what is going on, judging from the note.”
“I suppose you’re right.” Kristi stood up and left the empty stable. Chelsa seemed to be a very smart and logical person—exactly the type of girl she needed to be around right now. “Let’s go check the learning center. Jaiden might be there.”
Kristi had Chelsa and Ghost wait outside while she went inside the learning center in search of Jaiden. What she hadn’t thought through with her plan was that she didn’t have her electro-slate anymore. Without the electro-slate, she didn’t have her electronic ID card. The actual, physical ID card was locked inside her bedroom.
“Can’t I just give you my name and have you can look up my ID?” Kristi asked the receptionist.
“Nope,” she said. The receptionist’s long, sleek hair was pulled into a flawless French twist. Diamond studs glittered in her ear and an expensive ring adorned each of her fingers. She was Glenn’s girlfriend and was taking great pleasure in aggravating Kristi.
“I really need entry into the learning center. Is there any way I could get in? Please, this is very urgent.”
“Can’t do. Go buy a new slate I’m sure the retailer could give a discount to someone like you.”
“I don’t have time to do that.”
The girl giggled, like Kristi had just said something hilarious. “No time? Why would you have no time? It’s not like—Glenn!” She abruptly broke off.
“Veronica, I got you the rest of the day off. Let’s go have lunch somewhere more pleasant than this dump.” Glenn strolled over to the two of them. “I got Michel to take your shift.”
“What’d you do, Glenn? Bribe him?” Kristi said.
“No, more like blackmailed him,” Glenn shot back, knowing she couldn’t do anything about it.
Kristi restrained herself from slapping his oh-so-perfect face. He’ll look better with a bruise on his cheek, she thought. One that I am more than happy to give.
Glenn turned his attention back to Veronica. “Let’s go. I’m going to have my father promote you to somewhere where you don’t have to encounter it.” He threw Kristi a pointed look. Veronica tittered and Glenn sauntered off with Veronica sashaying next to him.
Chelsa poked her head into the reception room shortly after the couple left. “Is Jaiden here?”
“I don’t know. Veronica wouldn’t let me in since I don’t have my ID.”
“Excuse me, could you move out of the way,” said Michel.
Chelsa stepped to the right, allowing a tall, curly haired boy to pass through. He took his place behind the desk and peered at the two girls.
“Are you entering the learning center?” he asked.
“Yes,” said Kristi. “The problem is, I don’t have my electro-slate or my ID card with me.”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to present some form of ID in order for you to pass through. It’s not your fault that you forgot your electro-slate or ID card though.”
Kristi sighed. Michel was starting one of his endless conversations.
“The fact is the human brain will sometimes forget things, such as bringing an electro-slate with oneself when visiting a public place. Of course, with science, the brain’s memory skills can be boosted with a few DNA tweaks. But since you don’t have any changes done to your heredities, your memory is naturally going to be more forgetful. There are so many things for the brain to remember it has to prioritize information. From the looks of it, tutoring at the learning center isn’t very important to you as you didn’t bring your ID.”
Kristi turned around to Chelsa and mouthed, “Help.”
“Ah-hem. Are you listening to me?” An annoyed expression crossed Michel’s face.
Chelsa causally strolled up to Michel. “I would love it if you would tell me more about the wonders of genetic science. I find the topic extremely interesting and you seem to be very intelligent. ”
She offered him a coy smile and fluttered her lashes for a good measure. Then she whispered something into Michel’s ear, provoking a self-satisfied smile onto his face.
“Why, of course I would be more than happy to inform such a smart person like you,” Michel said. “Some people appreciate an innovative chat.”
Kristi had to give credit to Chelsa for being a good actress; she truly looked interested in Michel’s conversation. In fact, she even got Michel to show her some pictures of a zygote being formed on his electro-slate. While Michel was busy finding the pictures on his slate, Kristi snuck around the reception desk and into the learning center
.
It was time to find Jaiden.
She instinctively checked the library first; ninety percent of the time Jaiden could be found in the library if he was in the learning center. Kristi barely peeked into the library before she left. It was obvious the room wasn’t occupied; it was too quiet.
Next stop was the classrooms. Kristi flung each door open and peeked inside each room. However, thirty-six classrooms later, Jaiden was yet to be found. She was steadily growing concerned about the whereabouts of Jaiden. Aside from the learning center, the only other place where Jaiden might be was the lab.
Feet dragging against the tiled floor, she went back to the reception room of the learning center. Michel was still explaining the miracles of science to Chelsa, using words too big for Kristi to even bother to pretend to understand.
“Hey, I thought I said you couldn’t enter without a valid ID!” Michel exclaimed. His curly head shot up when Kristi walked by.
“That was a lovely discussion we just had. Thank you so much,” Chelsa said.
“Why don’t you stay for a bit and we can talk some more? Let me just deal with Kristi.”
“I would love to stay, but I really must go.” Chelsa grabbed Kristi’s arm and pulled her out the front doors.
Michel called out, “Wait, let me give you my instafication number. It’s—”
Chelsa allowed the heavy glass door to slam shut behind her, drowning his voice. “Conceited little idiot.” Chelsa sent Kristi a mischievous smile. “Michel really thought I was interested in him, didn’t he?” She didn’t wait for a reply and kept on talking. “He wouldn’t stop rattling on about how science has improved human genetics and that Perfects were the apex of the human race. He must’ve thought I was getting bored of listening to him talk science nonsense because then he was all like ‘I love the color of your eyes; did your parents customize them to be green?’ and I’m thinking to myself ‘I’m a freaking Accident. Of course my parents didn’t choose for me to have green eyes’.”
Chelsa dragged Kristi down the streets, scanning the buildings lining the pavements. Kristi pointed to the direction of Professor Smetana’s lab and Chelsa readjusted their course. Chelsa continued talking and Kristi continued bobbing her head and making noncommittal sounds at the right places.
“Hey, um, Kristi, is that your mom and dad?” Chelsa pointed to the public screen broadcasting NRN (North Region News). Kristi looked up. A picture of Don and Maria’s faces scrolled by and reporter appeared on screen to announce:
“This is NRN. Breaking News: Two spies of the South Union were caught this morning at 7:32 a.m. The spies lived on 37 Bridge Street. Police have declared the property to be under investigation and have installed surveillance cameras around the perimeters. Maria and Don Shea have been brought into a top security prison while their son, Jaiden Shea, is being held in the local jail until the court has decided the appropriate actions to take. As of right now, Kristi Shea is on the Wanted List. Evidence suggests she was involved in this network of spies for the South Union. Keep an eye out for Kristi Shea and help the North Region stay united and safe. Have a good day, fellow citizens!”
“You’re a spy?” Chelsa’s eyes bugged out.
“No! I didn’t even know my parents were spies,” Kristi said, her mind reeling with disbelief. “Things just got a lot more complicated.”
“You think?”
“At least we know where Jaiden is now.”
“We better find Jaiden quickly before this news spreads,” said Chelsa.
“How do you suggest we break into the jail?”
Chelsa let out a laugh. “I’ve broken out of jail plenty of time, but I can honestly say, I have never tried to break into jail. Breaking in shouldn’t be any harder than breaking out though.”
“What should we do first? Visit the jail so we know what the security is like?”
“Exactly what I was thinking.”
chapter eight
[ Troop ]
Troop’s mom arrived home later than usual; it was well past dinner and Troop was putting the dishes into the wash when his mom entered the kitchen.
“There’s leftover chicken salad.” He jerked his head to fridge humming beside the stove.
“Thanks, T.” His mom used a nickname Troop’s dad had come up with.
It had been a while since Troop talked to his dad; his parents divorced fourteen years ago.
“Hard day at work?” he asked.
“Yeah. I’ve been assigned a new project which I don’t have enough time to do.”
“We can always move again, to a place further away from the…”
“No.” Her voice was firm. “We are not moving again unless we absolutely have to. Not unless something like that happens again.”
Troop swallowed down a lump of guilt. If they hadn’t moved from Marbleton to the city, then his mom wouldn’t be so overburdened with work. However, that had happened and the company Troop’s mom worked for offered them to start a new life here in the city. The catch was his mom had to increase her workload by a third. She had begun working for the Company a few months after her divorce.
His mom was proud Troop had transitioned to his new school without any difficulties—but that was because she didn’t know the extremes Troop went to ensure he would no longer face any problems from anyone or anything at Ludus High. She didn’t know he was a thorn in disguise as a rose.
“How was school today?” his mom asked, massaging her temples with her index fingers.
“Oh, you know, the usual. Classes, tests, exams, lunch, more exams, etcetera.”
“No troubles with kids?”
“Mom. That’s the past. That part of my life is over. I’m doing just fine at school.”
“Just making sure.”
Troop softened his tone, knowing his mom hadn’t meant to sound overbearing. “Everything’s good. Why don’t you take a shower and I’ll fix up some minestrone soup to go with the chicken salad?”
“You’re an angel. I think I’m going to take you up on that offer.”
If you only knew, Troop thought. I highly doubt you’ll look at me the same.
She kicked off her heels and floated out of the room. Troop heated up a small saucepan. While he waited for the soup to simmer, he flicked through the world studies notes Darrel had sent him. Most of the material he already knew, thanks to private tutoring sessions provided by the Company.
His electro-slate vibrated. The caller ID informed Troop it was Bruno calling him.
“Hello,” said Troop.
“Hey. Listen, you’ve got to hear this. Are you listening?”
“Yeah.”
“Jack’s planning a coordinated hack on the school system tomorrow after school, but he wanted to get an okay from you first.”
“Why doesn’t Jack ask me himself? And anyways, he knows he doesn’t need my permission to hack the school system—he knows the rules we play by.”
“Jack doesn’t have your ID number, so he asked me to call you for approval,” said Bruno.
Troop nodded, even though Bruno couldn’t see him do so. That makes sense. I don’t remember giving Jack my number and even his hacking skills are still one step behind the Company’s. The Company had encrypted all of Troop’s personal information; things could become disastrous if they leaked into the wrong hands.
“He’s planning on breaking the system tomorrow but wanted to make sure you were okay with it ever since, you know, the Harold incident,” said Bruno
“Got it. Do you know what Jack is planning to do after he breaks through the system?”
“Mason offered him three hundred points if Jack raised his grade in Physics.”
“Tell Jack to raise Tompkins’ grade in World Studies while he’s at it.”
“Alright. Are you going to help Jack with the hijack? I know I am. Darrel is too. Jack says he needs enough people to overwhelm the system for tomorrow.”
“Can’t,” said Troop. “Tutor session tomorrow right after schoo
l.”
Troop could almost see Bruno wrinkling his nose when he replied, “Oh, I see. Is it one of those fancy private lessons?”
“I suppose you could say so.”
“Ludus High isn’t good enough for you, is it? Nope—you’ve got to have one-on-one classes even though you already attend the second best high school in the United Regions.” There was a hint of taunting in Bruno’s tone. “Only the best for—”
“Bruno,” Troop said. He kept his voice even.
Bruno immediately realized he was walking on a fine line. “Sorry.” He didn’t sound the least bit apologetic.
Troop let it slide, but decided to keep a close eye on Bruno’s behavior over the next few days. Bruno would be more than happy to stab him in the back given the chance; it was common knowledge at school that Bruno hungered after Troop’s power at Ludus.
chapter nine
[ Kristi ]
“I see five watchtowers. How about you?”
Kristi replied to Chelsa, “Same.”
Her left leg was going numb from crouching behind a bush.
“Stay here and count how many guards there are for each entrance and watchtower. I’ll go check out the patrols, alarms, cameras, trip wires, lasers, heat sensors, droids, pressure pads—”
Kristi interrupted Chelsa, ”I get the point.”
With that, Chelsa was gone in a blink. Kristi hunkered in the bushes, tallying the guards while Ghost drifted around nearby in case she needed help. She tripled checked to make sure she had counted right: two per entrance and three per watchtower. This equaled to nineteen guards in total and two droid German shepherd watchdogs (one per entrance).
Hopefully Chelsa would be back soon. She was eager to start moving and find Jaiden. Both of her legs were seriously going numb now.
“One little stretch won’t hurt anyone,” Kristi said.
She straightened her back. Ghost hissed.
