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
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
third-deck lounge then up another flight to the fourth deck He thought he heard someone following him probably one of the security guards trying to get him to slow down Nice try By the time Cruz hit the set of stairs leading to the bridge deck he was panting but he had one more deck to go He took the last flight two steps at a time The oval observation roost on the weather deck of Orion was cozy yet still had room for a few nubby olive green chairs and a big rug with a fall leaf pattern Portholes looked out over the helipad a flat landing zone that was labeled EA in letters so big Cruz was sure they could be spotted from space Hitting the top step Cruz squinted against bright floodlights that lit up the deck He could make out a chopper with Explorer Academy painted on the side He heard a noise behind him I’m sorry I ran but Cruz spun to face his accuser Hubbard Woof replied the West Highland white terrier bouncing in his yellow life vest Winded Cruz put his hands on his hips How did you get out of Taryn’s cabin Hubbard cocked an ear as if to answer Beats me Great Cruz was going to be in even bigger trouble when his adviser awoke to find her dog missing Hubbard go home He tried to sound stern The little white dog lowered his head Right now Cruz pointed to the stairs Go Hubbard Hubbard let out a whimper It melted Cruz’s heart The helicopter’s engine was revving Out the window Cruz could see a gap between the landing skids and the deck They were taking off Forget that last order he said to the Westie Stay Hubbard Stay 8
Spinning Cruz punched through the door and raced across the pad Once Cruz was on board the chopper he’d call Emmett to come for the dog Wait he yelled at the rising yellow bird waving both arms A blast of wind slapped him Hard Suddenly Cruz was staring into darkness and struggling to breathe He was flat on his back the zipper of his duffel digging into his shoulder blade It felt as if every last ounce of air had been pushed from his lungs A minute later still gasping he saw a face hovering over him Aunt Marisol’s long dark hair swirled around her chessboard-print raincoat You okay she shouted above the whirring engine Cruz tried to answer but couldn’t get any sound to come out He’d never been kicked in the chest by a bull before but he had a feeling this was probably what it felt like Slowly he pushed himself up Taking his duffel his aunt helped him to his feet and motioned to the door of the roost Cruz understood She held up a finger to the pilot to signal she would return As they made their way inside they heard the chopper’s engine powering down What do you think you’re doing demanded Aunt Marisol the second second the door closed behind them I You We rasped Cruz His aunt glanced down at his bag before tossing it into a chair I guess it’s pretty obvious isn’t it You were coming with me Hubbard trotted over to them Aunt Marisol’s jaw dropped You were going to bring Hubbard too No I ran up here turned around there he was I’m not surprised Her lips turned up at the corners but only briefly Taryn’s going to kill you you know I know She now had two good reasons for it Aunt Marisol’s grin faded Cruz I’m sorry but you can’t come Why not He was still hoarse She glanced around before hissing You know why Aunt Marisol meant he needed to keep looking for his mother’s cipher Cruz had uncovered two of the eight pieces engraved with the formula for the 9
