regenerative serum his mom had created while working for the Synthesis Synthesis a secret scientific branch of the Society So far Cruz had managed to stay one step ahead of Nebula the drug company that had killed his mother to stop her from developing the formula and was now bent on destroying all traces of it Cruz you’re the only thing standing between Nebula and your mom’s work said his aunt Cruz rubbed his right thumb against the rose-colored double-helix birthmark on his left wrist the way he always did when he was wrong and someone else was right It was true Petra Coronado had programmed programmed her holo-journal to unlock for one person Cruz Only her son could access the clue to find the next piece of the cipher This was no time to put everything on hold especially with Nebula out there waiting waiting to strike Who knew how much time Cruz had before they did The only thing I care about right now is finding Dad cried Cruz Of course Her voice softened I know how you feel Cruz I’m feeling the same way But you have important things to do Here You can’t ignore your responsibilities And you have my word that I’ll do everything I can to locate your dad He is my brother after all I’d walk through fire for him I know but How could Cruz make her understand His mother’s death seven years ago had been the worst thing that had ever happened happened to Cruz Without his father he didn’t know what he would have done His dad had been there for him through every surfing competition competition where moms lined the beach to cheer on their kids through every nightmare that shook Cruz from sleep through every birthday and holiday and any day when Cruz missed his mom so much he was sure his heart would snap in two Cruz had been there for his dad too They had a strong bond Even now one never let more than a few days go by without without calling or texting the other All of Cruz’s texts and calls to his dad over the past several days had gone unanswered Something he knew was terribly terribly wrong Besides while I’m gone his aunt was saying I was counting on you to assist Dr Luben 10
Dr Luben From the seed vault Cruz liked the English archaeologist archaeologist who had given the explorers a tour of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway Yes he was gracious enough to step in for me on short notice explained his aunt However it’s been years since he’s led students on an expedition An expedition Where pressed Cruz I uh can’t say It’s a secret Not exactly All I can tell you is that you’ll learn more when you reach Barcelona Spain They were going to Spain I wish I could tell you more She bit her lip I wish I could go It looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to do a dig together Anyway I’m sure Dr Luben will do an excellent job but this is your class’s first venture into archaeological fieldwork and I’d sleep better knowing one of my top explorers is here to lend a hand Plus Archer will be kind and tell me what I want to hear teachers have a way of doing that and I want to know how things are really going Her forehead crinkled So will you do this For me Aunt Marisol rarely asked for a favor And since it was clear she wasn’t going to budge on letting him go with her he might as well help her out All right surrendered Cruz But you have to be honest with me too I want to know what’s going on at home even if it’s bad Swallowing hard she nodded Okay It’s a deal No secrets Now I’ve really got to get out of here or I’m going to miss my flight She opened her arms Cruz gave her a hug It’ll be okay she whispered planting a kiss on the top of his head We’ll find him He hoped so Suddenly tears were clouding his vision When she released him Cruz quickly wiped them away 11
Aunt Marisol gathered up her hair and tucked it into the back collar of her coat When are you going to open the holo-journal for the next clue Tomorrow I guess I want to wait for Lani Cruz had made a promise promise to himself that he would never open his mom’s journal for a new clue without Lani They may be 7,000 miles and nine time zones apart but they were still best friends Sailor Emmett and I will video call Lani after the Halloween party said Cruz Tell Lani I’ll see her soon The plan was for Cruz’s best friend from back home Leilani Kealoha and her mom to pick up Aunt Marisol at Lihue Airport in Kauai I’ll call you when I get there Aunt Marisol Her hand on the latch she glanced back Be careful She gave him the smile that always made him feel completely special Completely loved You too Scooping up Hubbard Cruz went to the middle porthole to watch his aunt leave As she hurried across the helipad the wind caught her long black and-white-checkered raincoat billowing it out behind her like the flag at the end of a car race Except this wasn’t the end
Nowhere near it Cruz was scared For her For his dad For himself The three of them had always been a team Together he knew they could face any obstacle and overcome any challenge but apart Well Cruz had never been without at least one of them at arm’s length Until now He wondered if this was how Emmett Sailor Bryndis and the rest of the explorers felt None of them had family on board Aunt Marisol climbed into the chopper and the engine roared to life the rotor blades becoming a blur The helicopter gently lifted off Cradling Hubbard under his left arm Cruz waved with his other hand The deck’s lights were bright He couldn’t see Aunt Marisol through the windshield Wasn’t sure she could see him either Still he kept waving waving even as the chopper turned and headed east toward Ireland Cruz dropped his hand only when the bird’s red tail beacon vanished in the clouds The lights on the weather deck were dimming the black sky turning turning dark blue The smell of bacon tickled his nose It wouldn’t be long before the rest of the explorers would be up Cruz looked down into a pair of chocolate-chip eyes Feeling a heart jump beneath his hand he untwisted a tangled zipper tab on a tiny pocket of the dog’s yellow life vest Guess it’s just you and me now Hub A pink tongue curled up to lick his chin Cruz slung the strap of his duffel onto one shoulder and holding Hubbard close went downstairs to face the day 13
