Nobody said that working for MI High would be easy. The team are pushed to the limit and something's got to give.
Tom strolled into school in the morning as usual. He spotted Aneisha, Zoe and Dan standing in a group separately from the other students. Aneisha and Dan looked tired. Zoe looked her usual perky self. "Hi guys ! Science test this morning," said Tom. "Hope I don't have to miss any more lessons. We've spent nearly every day this week searching for these counter-fitters. I've missed so many lessons, I'm sure Mr. McNab is going to get suspicious."
Dan groaned. "I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to a science test. I'm so tired. I just want to sit down for a few hours," he groaned. "I don't think I've stopped running all week."
"I quite like it. It keeps you fit," said Zoe brightly. Dan looked at her in disbelief. The bell went and they followed the remaining students inside for registration.
The science test lasted for an hour. Tom finished before time was up. He sat back in his chair and looked around. Dan had his head in one hand and was writing with the other. Aneisha seemed to be in slightly better shape and looked like she was concentrating. Zoe had also finished and smiled at him. Mr. McNab called them to stop writing. Their test sheets were collected and the bell rang for break. Just at this point their pencil communicators started to flash. Dan groaned.
The team collected outside the janitor's cupboard and Tom opened the door. They arrived in their base in their MI High uniforms as usual. "Frank turned in his chair to greet them. Ah team. You're getting later and later. What's the problem ?" he asked.
Dan and Aneisha threw themselves into spare chairs. "Frank, we've been chasing criminals all week. We have schoolwork to do as well you know," complained Aneisha.
"Oh," said Frank, sounding surprised. "You've got a free period now haven't you ?" he asked. The team looked at one another and nodded. "Good. We've got another mission for you," said Frank. "We've got another potential lead on these counter-fitters. Gather round !" he instructed. They gathered round the display screen. "This building here is in a housing estate on the outskirts of Glasgow," explained Frank. "We've traced orders of specialist paper normally used for the production of banknotes to this address."
"Frank, we've raided four different addresses this week," said Tom. "Two of them had no equipment in them. What's going on ?" he asked.
"We think we've been disturbing the gang before they can begin production," said Frank.
"Or they're just getting us sent on wild goose chases," said Dan, sceptically.
"I haven't seen any geese," complained Zoe. "When did you see geese ?" she asked Dan.
"It's just an expression Zoe," he explained, half amused, half exasperated. "It means they've been getting us to chase up false leads."
"Oh. Funny thing to say !" complained Zoe.
"Team ! A little focus please ?" requested Frank. "It's not far away. You can be back by the end of lunch break and get back to class, all being well," he said smiling. "You won't be doing the hard work. You've just got a watching brief as backup. The MI9 agents will be doing the bulk of the work," he assured them.
"Oh joy !" said Dan, half rolling out of his chair. Sighing, Aneisha followed suit and they joined Zoe in the lift. Tom strolled over to his workstation and waved goodbye to them cheerily.
Out on a windy housing estate on the outskirts of the city, Dan tapped his headset and spoke to Zoe and Aneisha. "Sometimes I wish I was Tom. I could sit down all day eating biscuits."
"Hey, very funny !" complained Tom's voice. Suddenly he was all business. "OK guys. There's some activity around the doors. I think you're on Aneisha," he said.
Dan and Zoe watched as Aneisha walked up to the doors to the building pulling a shopping trolley full of leaflets. She held out a fist full of leaflets to two men standing at the door. They waved her away, but she persisted. Finally one man reluctantly took a handful of her leaflets and the two men went back inside, closing the door behind them. "Good work Aneisha. We're in," said Tom.
The microphone hidden inside one of the leaflets broadcast the sound of the leaflets being thrown into a bin. Then they could hear machinery running in the background. The men were talking to one another and other people in the building. "This is the last batch isn't it T4 ?" asked one voice.
"Yeah. The team have managed to keep MI9 busy all week chasing red herrings," said another voice, laughing.
Stella's voice came over the headsets. "All right team. Prepare for entry !" she ordered. A black van drew up outside the building and MI9 agents jumped out. One agent ran up to the door and planted some explosive charges. The door was blown open and the agents ran in.
Dan and Zoe watched through binoculars. "Hey, Dan ! What's that ?" asked Zoe. She pointed him to a large drain cover some way down the street from the building they were watching. He focussed his binoculars where she was pointing. The drain cover was moving slightly. He couldn't believe Zoe had managed to spot it. Suddenly the drain cover was thrown back and a group of men started to climb out and begin running.
"Frank, they're escaping through the drains. They're making a run for it," Dan shouted into his headset, getting up and starting running behind Zoe. The MI9 agents were alerted to the escape, but they were a long way behind. It was going to be up to Dan and Zoe to catch the counter-fitters. The men raced into a local park. Zoe and Dan ran directly at the fence, vaulted it and continued running. They were starting to gain on the fleeing criminals. One of the men glanced behind and shouted to the others.
They swerved and started racing towards an underpass running under a cycle path. Zoe ran after them, so Dan ran up the bank, leapt over the fence at the top, ran across the cycle path, down the concrete wall leading down the other side and leapt at the last of the running counter-fitters. He caught the man across the back of his shoulders, knocking him off balance. The man rolled and brought his legs up to kick at Dan. Landing sightly off balance, Dan wasn't quick enough to avoid the kick and his legs were taken from underneath him. The man rolled and would have made it to his feet to run again if Zoe hadn't arrived and hurled him to the ground again. She launched a few offensive kicks and jabs and soon the man was out cold on the ground.
Dan stood beside her, holding his right hand over his ribs. "Nice one Zoe," he panted. As the adrenalin of the chase wore off, he felt a wave of exhaustion washing over him. He'd bashed his ribs when he fell and his right leg was bruised. The other MI9 agents arrived and took the man into custody.
"Good work team," said Stella's voice over the comms system. "We'll clear this up. You can get back to school now."
Dan pulled off his headset and started limping his way back to their transport. "Are you alright Dan ?" asked Zoe, looking concerned.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," said Dan. The drive back to school wasn't long enough for Dan. He fell asleep and slumped across the back seat of the car, with his head on Zoe's shoulder. Aneisha looked at Zoe and Dan and smiled. "If he wasn't so tired, I think he'd be enjoying himself right now," she said, laughing. Zoe looked puzzled.
They arrived at the school and got back into their school uniform. "Oh no, I've just remembered," said Tom when they joined him. "It's PE ! Oh, I hate PE !"
"Oh no. Please tell me it's not true," pleaded Dan.
"I'm afraid so. I think it's gymnastics," said Tom. "Another hour and a half of humiliation," he added gloomily.
"I love gymnastics," said Zoe. "I thought you did too Dan," she said.
"I think Dan's just a bit tired," said Aneisha. "You could ask for a break. They might understand if you tell them how tired you are," suggested Aneisha.
"You've got to be kidding. Not Mr. Newcombe," said Dan, heavily. "He'll just give me extra circuits. Come on. Let's get it over with," he said, heading towards the changing rooms.