FORT WANTED TO DROP TO his knees and punch the floor, he was so frustrated. How could such a simple plan go so wrong? It was all down to Cyrus’s magic not working on the books. He knew they should have been more careful because of that. They should have confirmed that Dr. Opps had them, and—
FORT, IT’S TOO LATE TO SECOND-GUESS, AND THIS ISN’T CYRUS’S FAULT, Rachel said in his mind. WE CAN STILL GET THE BOOKS!
He nodded, hoping she was right. Cyrus, is Colonel Charles alone at least? Fort said in his mind, trying to keep his panic from passing to the others.
HE IS, AND THERE AREN’T ANY CAMERAS IN THERE, Cyrus said. SO IF YOU CAN GET IN THERE AND SURPRISE HIM, YOU CAN STILL GET AWAY WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING.
Right, okay. This was all terrible news, but they could work with it. Fort knew where the colonel’s office was, though only because it was close to the cafeteria, and there was always a bunch of guards nearby, not to mention cameras in the hallways, even if the cameras weren’t in the office itself. That meant they couldn’t just walk out with the books, if they even made it in.
Does anyone have any ideas? Fort shouted, but the others were starting to feel hopeless too.
A hand settled on Fort’s shoulder, and he turned to find a fully awake Dr. Opps staring at him. “I think I might know what to do,” the doctor said, and Fort’s heart stopped dead in his chest.
“Dr. Opps, you’re… I mean…” Fort couldn’t make his brain work correctly, with words deciding to float out of his reach all of a sudden. But just as he was sure he was going to be thrown in jail for the rest of his life, the doctor smiled and slowly poked his finger into Fort’s ear.
“Hey!” Fort shouted, and the doctor laughed.
“You should see your face,” Dr. Opps said. “Do you really not know who this is?”
Fort’s eyes widened. “Sierra?”
“C’mon,” Sierra said in Dr. Opps’s voice, then gave Fort a firm push down the hallway.
“Um, what do I do with the guards?” Jia asked, still standing next to the two soldiers.
“They’re fine!” Sierra said, looking back over Dr. Opps’s shoulder. “Just shove them down some hall and run. You’ve got, like, two minutes until reality clicks back in for them.”
Jia’s eyes widened, and she began pushing the guards toward the next hall as Fort and Sierra/Dr. Opps reached the end of theirs. Fort paused, waiting for the doctor to lead, but Sierra just stared at him. “Do you think I know where to go?” she said. “I’ve never been here, not outside your mind.”
“Oh, right,” Fort said, looking both ways at the intersection, having no better idea where they were than Sierra did. Fortunately, a sign pointed to the elevator, so he grabbed the doctor’s hand and pulled him in that direction. “I think we go this way.”
“You’re not really inspiring a lot of confidence, Forsythe,” Sierra said, mimicking Dr. Opps’s tone. She giggled, which sounded even odder coming out of the doctor’s mouth. “Forsythe. I can’t even say it without laughing.”
“It was my grandfather’s name,” Fort whispered as a guard turned the corner. The soldier gave them an odd look and it took Fort a second to realize he was still pulling someone who looked like the headmaster of the school down the hall by the man’s hand. He immediately dropped it, and Sierra laughed again.
The guard passed them with a few more looks, but didn’t say anything, and Fort pushed the elevator down button so hard he nearly broke it. “Can you please take this seriously?” he hissed at Sierra as the doors finally opened, and they moved inside.
“I’m in the body of a grown man, and all I want to do is make him pick his nose,” Sierra told him, slowly raising a hand toward her face. “So, no, I’m not sure I can.” Seeing Fort’s expression, she put up her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! I get it. I’ll play nice. Lead on, Forsythe.” She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, but Fort just shook his head as the elevator descended.
Two floors down and four guards later, Fort turned a corner toward what he was sure had to be the way to Colonel Charles’s office… and almost collided with the colonel himself, carrying a duffel bag over his shoulder. Colonel Charles looked from Fort to Dr. Opps in surprise, then narrowed his eyes. “Forsythe, why are you out after curfew?” he asked.
Cyrus, Fort hissed in his head. He’s not in his office yet!
DON’T WORRY, Cyrus told him, entirely not helping. I THINK HE’S HEADING THERE NOW.
“Ah, I was just bringing him to see you,” Sierra said, using her Dr. Opps tone again. “We’ve, um, got something to speak to you about, ah… Charles?”
Fort bit his lip hard. You don’t know his first name?!
NO, DO YOU? I’M NOT EVEN SURE HE HAS ONE!
Charles was clearly not the right answer, as the colonel clenched his jaw tightly. “I know you don’t agree with the committee granting me control over the school, Oppenheimer, but I’d appreciate it if you respected my rank.”
“Right, I apologize, Colonel,” Sierra said, then did a little bow. Fort rolled his eyes.
Colonel Charles just stared for a moment before speaking. “Now, what is so urgent?” he asked finally. “If this is about… the matter we just went over, then I have nothing more to say.”
Sierra’s mouth opened, but no words came out, and Fort’s eyes widened as he realized she had no idea what to say. “It’s not that,” he said, then noticed the cameras above. “But it’s sensitive, and it has to be discussed in secret.”
“Yeah,” Sierra said. “We should go to your office so we have some privacy. Can’t have anyone overhearing, Colonel.”
Colonel Charles nodded. “I was heading that way now, to secure the… items. It’s just down the hall.”
“Oh, that’s great news,” Fort said, relieved that the books were in the duffel bag. At Colonel Charles’s odd look, though, he quickly added, “I mean, about your office. Being close. To talk in. For privacy.”
Sierra slapped him on the back of the head, and he closed his mouth.
“And this can’t wait?” Colonel Charles asked, hefting the bag with the books.
“It’s very urgent,” Sierra said. “It involves Sierra, the little genius who wiped your mind. Fort thinks he knows where she is.”
What? Fort said. You want me to tell him where you are?
OF COURSE NOT! she said in his head. WE’RE GOING TO LIE. TELL HIM DAMIAN AND I WERE SPOTTED IN CANADA OR SOMETHING.
“Of course,” Colonel Charles said. “This way, then.”
He walked them back to his office and led them inside. It wasn’t big, but at least it looked like it’d had its technology updated. The decor matched the rest of the facility, though, with two puke-green chairs facing a desk in a small, cramped area. Could this be the best office the facility had for the coheadmaster of the school?
“Sit, please,” the colonel said, waving Fort and Sierra into the two chairs. “Now, tell me what you’ve got for me.”
“She’s in Canada,” Fort said, right as Sierra said, “We’ve tracked her to California.”
They turned to each other, Fort blushing, Sierra glaring. I thought you said “Canada”!
I SAID MAYBE CANADA! I’M STILL IMPROVISING!
Colonel Charles looked between them, frowning, then abruptly opened a drawer and pulled something out in his closed hand. “Oppenheimer, I notice you’re missing your protective amulet,” he said, quickly standing and walking around to stand behind them. “And between that and the fact you called Fitzgerald here ‘Fort,’ I’m going to assume I’m speaking to… Sierra?”