by Lisa McMann
Kelly, occasionally coughing up some water and looking bedraggled, limped over to the group.
“Are you okay?” asked Braun.
“Did you get the DNA?” asked Dr. Gray.
Prowl looked at the man with disdain. He took the shark sample out of his pocket, and grabbed the wolf one from Kelly, then handed them both to Dr. Gray, who took them greedily. “Good, good,” he murmured. “Now we’re onto something. Too bad these two bozos bungled the jellyfish.”
“We caught one,” said Braun. “A really small one, like you said.”
“It’s not the right kind,” said Dr. Gray impatiently.
“They all look alike,” muttered Mega.
Kelly and Miko exchanged an uneasy glance. It was clear that Dr. Gray didn’t care about whether Kelly was okay or not.
“Kelly’s a champ,” Miko said. “She’s fine now,” she added to Braun, answering his question from earlier. “She got a good chunk from that shark.”
“What kind of shark?” asked Mega. “Great white?” She tried and failed to look nonchalant.
“Uh, no,” said Kelly. “A great white? Are you kidding me? I got you a bull shark.”
“What?” said Mega. “What’s that? I’ve never heard of it.”
“It can survive in fresh-or salt water,” growled Prowl menacingly. “And it’s got lots of sharp teeth,” He pointed to the blood trickling down Kelly’s ankle. “Good enough?”
Mega snorted, her rhino nostrils flaring visibly through her tight face mask. “You don’t scare me,” she warned.
“Soldiers, that’s enough,” said Dr. Gray, packing the DNA lovingly into his suitcase. “We need to hurry. We have a bus to catch.”
Everyone turned in surprise to look at him. “A bus?” said Miko. “What are you talking about?”
“You mean a bus back to the US?” asked Kelly. “Isn’t that really far from here?”
Dr. Gray pressed his lips together. “Not exactly,” he said, picking up his luggage and gesturing for the others to do the same. “We’ve … had a change of plans. We’re staying in Mexico. For the foreseeable future. We’ll just have to save the world from here.” He paused, then added, “That’s the great thing about the world, though. You can save it from anywhere.”
The scientist began marching through the grass to the parking lot while the others stared at the back of him. Save the world? He was definitely off his rocker.
“What happened?” said Prowl, catching up to him. “Why do we have to stay?”
Kelly stared, her stomach churning. We have to stay here. The others followed Dr. Gray at a brisk pace, heading toward some unknown bus stop. Kelly stumbled after them.
Dr. Gray cleared his throat. “My, erm, my contacts in Guadalajara were, unfortunately, arrested this morning for, erm, committing some crimes. Which is why we had that little mix-up at the airport.”
“Mix-up!” cried Miko, but Prowl elbowed her into silence.
Dr. Gray went on as if he hadn’t heard her. “And now according to breaking news reports, we’re highly, ah, wanted. Airport security, local police, and border patrol is on the lookout for us. So … we’re not going home. We’re staying here.”
“Is—is that guy going to be okay?” Kelly asked, feeling nauseous.
Dr. Gray didn’t look at her. “He is in a coma,” he said quietly.
There was a moment of stunned silence. Kelly’s face turned gray.
“It can’t possibly be safe to stay here,” said Prowl. “Soon there will be pictures—they know our names from the passports!”
“Well, we won’t stay here here. We’re going into hiding. Outside of Guadalajara. Before word spreads about us.”
Despite her weakness, Kelly grew alarmed. “So now we’re fugitives?” She whispered the last word, as if saying it aloud would cause the police to swoop in and arrest them right there.
“I wouldn’t say that,” said Dr. Gray mildly, a strange look in his eyes. “They might not realize it yet, but we’re actually gracing Mexico with our presence and giving them a huge gift. They’ll be the first people we save with our scientific breakthrough.”
“Dr. Gray,” said Miko, “you keep saying things like that. What are you talking about? Since the beginning, you’ve told us that this was a secret government program. That they wanted to see if they could enhance human soldiers with animal abilities and features—see if it made us stronger than regular humans. You said that maybe someday we could return to the armed forces. But that’s … that’s not what this sounds like anymore.”
“Yeah,” said Braun. “You’re making it seem like you have something different in mind.”
“Victor,” said Prowl, eyes narrowed, “what’s going on?”
Kelly clutched her stomach. Maybe it felt queasy from the water she’d swallowed, but more likely from this conversation. They were stuck here, unable to go back home. They’d hurt innocent people. And Dr. Gray was acting strange. All the soldiers seemed to think so—not just Kelly. It made her want to call it quits on this whole thing—go back to her parents and try to un-hypnotize them, and return to school and be normal again. Who cared about fame now, when everything had been turned upside down? Kelly would gladly give the stupid bracelet back if she had to. If it meant she could get out of this nightmare.
Dr. Gray gazed thoughtfully at his soldiers and Kelly. “That was the plan at first, Miko. But I’ve changed my mind. The government … well, it gave up on us,” he admitted. “A while ago. But it was clear to me that this experiment was invaluable, so I kept going. And just look at you all! You’re superhuman!”
The soldiers stared.
Dr. Gray continued walking. “It’s wrong to keep these amazing developments to ourselves. Mankind is hurtling toward extinction with pollution, climate change, and natural disasters. This is a way to save all of humanity by granting this amazing gift to all people. Don’t you see? Once I’ve finished my formula, we’re going to change everyone in the world into chimeras. And you are all a part of it.”
“What the—?” sputtered Prowl. “What are you talking about?” Miko echoed him. Mega looked confusedly at Braun, and Kelly felt her stomach roiling again. As she stumbled along, half listening, half trying not to vomit, she could hardly believe what Dr. Gray was saying. It was like she was in a bad dream and she couldn’t wake up.
A moment later, when they reached the bus stop, Kelly grabbed the corner of a bench. She bent over and threw up all over the grass. Before she could spit out the last of the bile, a bus pulled up to the stop. Miko, still stunned, managed to come to Kelly’s aid and helped her onto the vehicle. Soon the team was on their way to some remote location that nobody knew anything about, with a scientist who had certainly gone mad.
Wanted as criminals, they couldn’t do anything to stop it.
CHAPTER 22
Inching Closer
Now that all three of the new animals had been decided by Charlie and her friends, the scientists had their work cut out for them. Her dad was already finishing up the high-tech graphics in the Mark Six while he waited for Ms. Sabbith to return from Chicago. She’d be bringing the viper DNA so he could add the heat sensor ability to it, and alligator DNA for Maria’s device. Dr. Goldstein, who used technology rather than biology to replicate animal features in the Mark Two, was already hard at work designing Mac’s basilisk lizard feature. Which was a good thing, because his would probably take the longest to complete.
Dr. Sharma, who’d been working on the Mark Five, wasn’t having quite as much luck. While she’d managed to smooth out the glitches that had plagued Charlie in the past, she wasn’t able to add an additional ability to that device without destabilizing the other features. It would have to be sufficient as it was.
“That’s not a problem,” Dr. Wilde told Dr. Sharma before the scientists left for the day. Charlie hung out in the lab helping to tidy up. “Those five abilities are already incredible enough, as we’ve seen. And the last thing we want to do is overwhelm the person
wearing it—the technology is ten years old, after all. And I don’t think we have time to start from scratch.”
“Agreed,” said Dr. Sharma. “Besides, I have other things I’d like to fix in that device. And, of course, this frees up some of my time to work with Jack and Nubia on the Mark Two and Three, if they need help.”
“Hey, why not build a device with, like, twenty abilities?” asked Charlie. “If you had the time, would you do it?”
Mr. Wilde pursed his lips. “I don’t know. You’d have all those different kinds of DNA coursing through your body. It would be tricky to find the right balance and if too many activated at once.”
“Yeah, it’d probably also get confusing,” said Charlie. “It would be hard to remember what all the options are. Spend an extra half second deciding which one to activate and you could be a goner.”
“Wise words,” said Dr. Sharma with a laugh.
Andy was back home again, and the four Wildes were all together for dinner with no guests for once. It seemed so quiet. The kids filled in their mom on what she had missed that day.
“Ms. Sabbith flies in tomorrow with our DNA,” Charlie told her. “She’s got the goods—a viper for me and an American alligator for Maria.”
“Dr. Goldstein doesn’t need any actual DNA,” Andy added. “He told me all about it. He uses a metallic alloy to replicate the basilisk abilities.”
“Impressive,” Mrs. Wilde said. “That’s a mouthful.”
“That’s right,” said Mr. Wilde. “Jack has a head start but Nubia and I will be working on our formulas as soon as Erica gets here. With any luck,” he said, glancing at Charlie, “we’ll have them all ready before you kids go to Puerto Rico. If not, then soon after,” he promised.
“Really?” said Charlie. “Sweet!” She could always take the Mark Five instead if she had to. But it would be great to have the new device to train with while they were gone.
“And then you’ll make a device for me?” asked Andy with a hopeful grin.
“No way,” said Mrs. Wilde. “Not a chance. You’re sitting this one out.”
“Rats,” said Andy. But he wasn’t too disappointed. After his run-in with the platypus spikes, Andy wasn’t interested in being involved with that sort of fighting again.
Charlie, Mac, and Maria spent the remaining days before their trip trying to help the scientists as much as possible. The doctors also invited them to hang out in the lab and watch what they were doing. They gave them various science lessons as they worked, and let them do some of the more basic measuring and mixing techniques and applications. Dr. Goldstein let Mac work with tiny tools right inside of the device. He helped reprogram the existing code and moved gauges and electronics into place using mechanical instruments and a microscope to help him see everything better.
“This is way better than the insect cameras,” Mac said.
“Hey, now,” warned Ms. Sabbith with a sly smile. “Just remember who was the first to let you handle the goods.” She unpacked a box and shook it, then set it mysteriously on the table.
“Oh, I couldn’t forget that.” Mac looked over at what she was doing. “So, uh, what do you have there?” he asked, turning away from his device.
Dr. Goldstein harrumphed, and Mac quickly refocused on his job. “Scientists mustn’t get distracted,” the man said gruffly.
“Sorry,” said Mac, but he glanced once more at Ms. Sabbith, clearly torn.
Charlie and Maria grinned at each other. Dr. Goldstein often teased the kids now that they all had gotten to know one another better. He was like a grandpa with his goofy jokes. And the kids could tell he and Ms. Sabbith were pretending to compete for Mac’s attention.
“Hey,” said Maria. “What are we? Chopped liver?”
Charlie stared at her. “Chopped liver? What?”
Maria rolled her eyes. “It’s a saying.”
Charlie shrugged. “Anyway, let’s go see what Ms. Sabbith is doing.”
“Yes,” said Ms. Sabbith. Come on over, you two. I’ve got some fun new technology to show you.”
The girls gathered around Ms. Sabbith as she unpacked, explaining things as she took them out of their protective wrappings. “You know we’ve installed a communication system into your devices. Well, this is the control panel.” She took out a piece of equipment around the size of a large computer keyboard, with buttons and toggles and lights on it. “Once I tie your devices to this, the system will be kind of like what Dr. Gray’s soldiers use—you know how they press a button in their suits to talk to home base? Well, now you kids can do that too, only the button will be on your devices. And you’ll be able to hear me through the earpieces that go with it.”
“That’s way better than using cell phones,” said Charlie. “We all remember how well that worked out.” She recalled with chagrin the moment Dr. Gray had captured them outside the vault because he’d taken over her mother’s phone and texted her.
“Definitely more efficient,” agreed Ms. Sabbith, “especially if your phone is stuck inside your suit. Ahem.” She glanced sidelong at Mac.
Mac tittered from his lab table. He often had things stuck in his pockets that he couldn’t access when his pangolin suit was activated. Like his inhaler, for one.
“What else do you have?” asked Charlie.
“All of our old drone friends,” she said, holding up the ladybug.
“Except for the one Prowl ate,” Mac called out.
Dr. Goldstein rapped on the table in front of Mac to get his attention. “I can send you over there if that’s what you really want, but then you must never come back,” he said in a mysterious voice.
“What?” said Mac, staring at him. “Why not?”
Dr. Goldstein shrugged. “Scientists are sensitive beings,” he said. “Our feelings get hurt.”
“Whatever,” said Mac, laughing. “Okay, I’m staying with you. Happy now?”
Dr. Goldstein nodded, a small smile on his lips. “That’s better. I demand loyalty.”
“You sound like Dr. Gray!” said Maria over her shoulder.
“Oy,” said Dr. Goldstein. “That’s terrible. I take it back. Go wherever you want.”
While Mac and Dr. Goldstein bantered, Ms. Sabbith pointed to a digital map on the control panel. “This is the GPS system so I’ll always know where you are,” she said. “You’ll show up as dots.”
“How will you know which one of us is which?”
“You’ll be color-coded,” said the woman. Then she pointed out a red alarm light on the board. “This will light up if you use the new emergency button on your devices. If I don’t have my earpiece in for some reason, I’ll be alerted that you need help.” She glanced at the girls. “And if I do have my earpiece in, the emergency whistle is annoyingly, piercingly loud. So only use it if you really need it.”
Charlie and Maria exchanged a mischievous glance. “What happens if we press the button by accident?” asked Maria.
“Then … I’ll punish you by forcing you to work with Dr. Goldstein,” said Ms. Sabbith with a grin.
CHAPTER 23
Loud and Clear
The scientists worked long into the evening leading up to the kids’ trip. Finished packing, Charlie stayed up with them, worrying over their lab stations but doing her best to stay out of the way. They were trying to finish the bracelets—at least to the point where the kids could practice a little with the new abilities during their week away.
Dr. Jakande looked harried. “I’m determined to finish this.”
“It would be ideal if the kids could give them a bit of a workout,” said Dr. Wilde. “But don’t stress it, Nubia. They don’t have to be perfect yet.” He peered into a microscope and adjusted something. “They’ll figure out if there are any glitches and let us know what improvements are needed. Plus, that would give them time to get used to the updated graphics. That way we don’t lose this week of training.”
Ms. Sabbith’s voice crackled through an earpiece on the lab table. Dr. Goldstein quic
kly placed the unit in his ear and spoke into Mac’s Mark Two. “Come again? I read you.” He was quiet for a few seconds. Then he smiled and looked up at the others. “It’s working. At least on this unit. She tried the others already—you didn’t hear anything? Quinn? Nubia?”
“Nothing,” said Dr. Sharma. Dr. Jakande shook her head and didn’t look up.
“Nope,” said Dr. Wilde. “Charlie, put the Mark Six earpiece in and let me know if you hear Ms. Sabbith.”
Charlie obeyed. “Nothing happening,” she said. “Where is she, anyway?”
“Back in Chicago,” said Dr. Goldstein.
Charlie’s eyes widened. “I figured she was just in the living room or something.”
A few minutes later, Jack pointed to his earpiece and paused in his work to listen.
Charlie watched his expression change. Finally he said into the device, “That’s promising. Keep us posted.”
Dr. Jakande looked up. “What’s promising?”
“Sabbith is hot on the trail of our old government contact. Remember Captain Zimmerman? Erica thinks she’s got a hot lead. She might be heading to Washington if she can get a meeting with her.”
Dr. Jakande nodded. “I remember her,” she said. “That was such a long time ago.” She paused in her work to wipe her tired eyes, then put her safety glasses on and turned back to it.
Charlie narrowed her eyes. The panther woman wasn’t acting like herself. She seemed stressed out trying to finish Maria’s bracelet. It almost sounded like she didn’t think she’d get done. Maria hadn’t had her Mark Four in weeks. How were they supposed to train if they never had the devices? Or … was that part of Dr. Jakande’s plan? Maybe she didn’t want Maria to train because she wanted Dr. Gray to beat them.
Charlie frowned at herself. Now the stress was getting to her. She was being ridiculous.
The night wore on. Charlie rested her head on the lab table for what felt like a minute and woke an hour later to her father nudging her awake. “Did you finish?” Charlie asked sleepily.
“Not quite. I’m going to keep working. But you should go to bed. You’ve got a long flight ahead.”
