I Will Take This Secret With Me to the Grave
Chapter 2: It's Been a Long Day Living With This

Don had made a point to leave out that his friend, Adam, was local. Don knew Leo wasn't stupid, but he hoped that Leo overlooked the fact that the majority of people posting on a 'strange sightings around New York' meant those people were likely native city dwellers. He would be remiss to say he wasn't curious about the man on the other side of the keyboard.

A buzz went off on Don's phone, indicating a message. He pulled the device out; it could only be one of two people. Don reconsidered, though he expected April or Adam, he entertained the idea that it could be Mikey asking some inane or random question from two rooms down in the same abode.

Did you figure out the problem in your design? If not, I think I did! Boo-YAH! I emailed the schematic. Thoughts?

Don smiled. There was some measure of warmness that he had a friend at all. More than that, the fact that Leo hadn't demanded that he abandon the person he figured did actually understand him. Furthermore, Adam's zeal in areas that interested Don made their connection, electronically, that much more comfortable.

He quickly typed back:

Oh yeah? I haven't check my email yet. When did you find time for that? I thought you were studying for a test?

Nearly Instantly, without even enough time for the backscreen to go dark, a response flashed on his screen. Negative. I'm GRADING undergrad tests. Rocks for Jocks, that is – Geology for non Science majors. A pause. Oh, by the way, I'm not into mechanics despite my big talk. I'm not sure my additions will actually make sense on your design. But it might help jar your mind. Good luck!

Don just chuckled and shook his head. Despite text being their only method of communication, black and white words on some screen, Don was sure he could hear Adam's excitement.

Moseying back to the lab, he casually sat behind his desk and opened up the email discussed via text. He figured a second set of eyes on the 'all terrain patrol buggy with detachable side cars' couldn't hurt. Anything to make them more functional would be a bonus. The attachment was simply titled SCHEMATIC. Don clicked it, but never could have anticipated what opened.

His eyes bugged and his hands smacked his desk when his body jumped to attention from the chair, before he even knew he'd moved. Don's mouth fell open. "Where's the go-kart…" Don's voice trailed off and then he grumbled at himself for reflexively, though he would never admit it, resorting to the name everyone else called his invention. "No…it can't be…"

Don's hands clasped the sides of the monitor as he assessed the actual schematic on his screen. There was no doubt, it was a Kraang device, far from what he had given Adam to work on. "Possibly one of the cloaking ships," Don mumbled, squinting at the small, detailed parts of the picture. He shook his head, the shock wearing off and a multitude of questions flooding his mind.

He lifted his phone, not sure whether to be terrified, confused, offended, or angry.

Uhhh, Adam? What did you send me?

He opted for playing dumb rather than instant anger. After all, if this was a trap of some sort, he didn't want to be caught in the middle of it or give himself away. There was no chance, he was sure of it, that Adam could know who he really was if his 'friend' did truly work with or for the Kraang. What if Adam was Kraang? Don snorted and immediately dismissed that sentiment, Adam used too many exclamation points and lacked the necessary continually repeat declaratives.

Some stuff about how to better connect the four separate units, and a way to boost power. Possibly how to add turbo. I know my writing is bad but you couldn't figure that out from the pictures? Really, Donnie?

Don stared at his phone, befuddled.

I think you sent me the wrong thing.

Don looked back at the computer. A chill raced the inner linking of his shell. There was an eeriness about the fact that, whether he knew it or not, Adam was in possession of something very dangerous and possibly very useful.

A new email arrived almost instantly with an attachment tiled 'Don's Project'. The body merely said:

Don,

OOOOOOOPS! Please disregard that last thing. I believe these are the droids you're looking for. :)

-A

Being cautious Don texted his response. I got your updated email. What was that last one?

Again, the response was immediate, though Leo's words were playing over and over again in his mind 'And Don, do not make me regret this.'

Something I'm working on for Dr. Sweet's kid. Rather, something I'm looking at for her. She thinks it would be a fit for the site. I haven't looked at it yet. But she's POSITIVE it's alien or something. I'm not so sure.

Only Adam, and Don himself, texted in full sentences. Don smiled briefly at that thought, relieved, and the fact that Adam wasn't part of the Kraang; at least it didn't seem that way. However, this was something that Don knew he had to curb. This schematic could not be made available to the public, those that were part of the new conspiracy site and forum would be in danger if it went live on a webpage. Don was sure the Kraang didn't miss things like this. More importantly, where did Adam's advising professor's child get a copy of this particular thing?

Discretion. That had been Don's defense. That meant he had to follow through with that.

Let me know what you figure out. Or I could look at it for you? For her?

Don held his breath.

That's awesome of you, but she'd kill me if I didn't. It's not a big deal. I just haven't had a chance yet.

Don groaned. He had to let it settle for awhile. Pressing would only raise suspicion.

Alright. Let me know if you change your mind.

"Hey Don."

The feminine voice drew his attention and jarred him. He turned to see April dropping her book bag in the corner. "What's wrong? Looks like you've seen a ghost. Remember, we were going to look over my Chem homework? You forgot," her lips instantly puckered in accusing disappointment.

"What? No…I just, that was today?" Don faltered. "Hey April," ideas fluttered through his distracted mind so fast he didn't know which to settle on. In a snap it came into focus and he lit up. "Can you help me out with something, it's really important?"


April honestly had no idea how she got talked into these things. Some she volunteered for, but it usually involved playing undercover something to get information for her friends. Never had she played April O'Neil, student in need of tutoring. She shifted uncomfortably. Don better be grateful, that was the only thing she could think.

"April, right?"

She turned at the sound of her name. "Yep, that would be me. Yellow shirt, red hair, just like I said. Thanks for doing this for me."

"You bet! I mean, after all you started ConspirawebNYC. Oh, it's Adam. Nice to meet you in the real."