Explorer Academy Book 3: The Double Helix

Explorer Academy Book 3: The Double Helix — page 1 — SCIENCE AND EVERYDAY LIFE CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT BE SEPARATED Rosalind Franklin 1920 1958 30 3285 N 35 4444 E

Explorer Academy Book 3: The Double Helix — page 2 — Europe OFF THE COAST OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ICELAND ATLANTIC OCEAN 1 Barcelona SPAIN AFRICA RUBBING THE SLEEP from his eyes Cruz glanced at the screen of his paper-thin gold wristband 5 51 Shoot Security off Lights on low hissed Cruz so he wouldn’t wake his roommate Flinging off his comforter he scurried to his dresser pulling pulling off his pajama top as he went Blinded Cruz stubbed his toe on the corner of a chair He stifled a yelp as he wrestled free of his top Cruz tugged open his top dresser drawer and grabbed a pair of socks One drawer below that he whipped out some jeans and his favorite faded orange Surf’s Up tee He was hopping around the cabin one leg in his jeans when Emmett Lu lifted his head from the pillow What’s going on Emmett glanced at his own wrist We’re not late for class No but I’m late for Aunt Marisol Cruz fell backward on his bed so he could wriggle his other leg into his pants The helicopter’s coming at six I thought you said goodbye to her last night I did But wide awake at 2 a m Cruz had changed his mind His dad was missing Nobody had seen or heard from him in days Aunt Marisol was flying to Kauai to help in the search for him That was all that mattered That was where Cruz belonged not here on board Orion studying and traveling with the rest of the freshman class of 5

Explorer Academy Book 3: The Double Helix — page 3 — Explorer Academy But now I want to go with her said Cruz He fully expected Emmett to disagree Emmett would start listing all the reasons why Cruz should stay He’d get in trouble for leaving the ship he’d fall behind in his classes he’d miss out on their next mission he’d be letting down Team Cousteau and on and on Okay croaked Emmett Buttoning his jeans Cruz froze That was it Emmett’s emoto-glasses were on his nightstand Without the shape-shifting frames to reflect Emmett’s feelings in color and form Cruz wasn’t sure what his roommate roommate was thinking Did he mean okay as in Go get em I support you a hundred percent Or okay as in Go ahead but I’m telling you it’s a bad idea Cruz watched a groggy Emmett slide on his emoto-glasses In seconds the frames morphed from flat lime ovals to dark purple circles with pulsing pink streaks Yes It was the first one Emmett yawned You packed Nope Cruz swung to sit upright and unrolled his socks I was going to do it when I got up but my alarm didn’t go off The alarm on your OS band It didn’t go off Is that even possible Their Organic Synchronization bands aka Open Sesame bands measured vital signs general health physical activity brain waves and growth patterns The bands security features gave each student access to every place explorers were allowed to go on the ship How could a simple alarm not have activated on such a technological masterpiece Answer operator error It is when you forget to set it admitted Cruz Throwing his navy-and-white-pinstriped comforter aside Emmett jumped out of bed Scurrying to the closet he flung open the doors grabbed Cruz’s duffel bag from the top shelf and started filling it with clothes from Cruz’s drawers He yanked Cruz’s uniform jacket off its hanger and tossed it to him Call her I’ll get your toothbrush Pulling on his left sock with one hand Cruz tapped the comm pin attached to his jacket with the other Cruz to Marisol Coronado Marisol here 6

Explorer Academy Book 3: The Double Helix — page 4 — He heard an engine in the background No Aunt Marisol are you still on board Orion I am but The rest of her sentence was drowned out by the whoosh-whoosh-whoosh of helicopter blades Wait Aunt Marisol wait for me There was no time for the right sock Dropping to his knees Cruz grabbed a shoe half sticking out from under the bed The other shoe was next to the box that contained his mother’s things He pushed the box farther under his bed then stood cramming his feet into his sneakers Taryn’s gonna kill you Emmett zipped up Cruz’s duffel bag Explorers were not supposed to leave the ship without permission Cruz had broken that rule once already during their stop in Iceland Taryn Secliff had warned him not to do it again and disobeying his dorm adviser was never a good idea I know Cruz shoved his arms into his jacket He grabbed Mell his honeybee drone tucking her into an outer pocket I’ll handle it You know Taryn Hard outer shell marshmallow center Emmett slung the strap of the bag over Cruz’s shoulder Zù n ı h aoyùn he said It meant good luck in Chinese which Cruz was going to need if he hoped to make it to the top deck of the ship in four minutes Emmett opened the door his glasses streaked turquoise and yellow Thanks Emmett I’d have had to leave without my stuff if you hadn’t Just go Cruz rushed past his roommate and down the empty passage He had almost made it to the elevator at the other end when he heard Emmett call his name What Cruz shouted not glancing back I forgot to pack underwear Snorting Cruz nearly hit the wall He caught the corner and swung around it launching himself into the two-deck atrium Cruz charged up the starboard side of the curved grand staircases to the empty 7

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