Act 3

As they walked back Danny gave a short whistle "So this is it, the Pear 2007 never seen it up close before."

Now that there no gas spewing out, they could finally look at the computers without fear of fainting. It looked impressive, even with the White knight picture still on the screen. Fillmore whistled as he moved his hands over its smooth white surface. "Imagine having these at the computer labs.."

"Yea, I know that the computer club's being going nuts wanting to try these." Said Danny as he admired the Pear 2007

"Well you're gonna have to wait Danny, knowing Vallejo he'll have us take them apart first" Karen said as she pushed the door to the safety patrol HQ and glee club annex open followed by Ingrid. Leaving the 4 boys who are looking aghast that someone would even consider such a thing "Hey come on you guys! Briefing's starting." Snapping out of it, they rushed in to the briefing room.

It looks like briefing had just started; most of the safety patrollers were in attendance already, with Vallejo upfront trying to get everyone to settle down into their seats. "All right people settle down" turning at the sound of the opening door he saw the newly arrived patrollers. "Finally now we can get this started, all right people settle down. Everyone moved to take a seat in the room, except Karen because she had to give a report. She moved upfront and joined several other patrollers up front.

Vallejo did a quick scan of the room to ensure everyone's here "Seeing everyone is now here we can finally get the ball rolling, O'Farrell lights. All right people first of all good job today, really even if we prepared for days on end that couldn't have gone better you did me proud"

"We're proud of you too chief!" someone shouted in the back row which prompted a ripple of chuckles to break out and a small smile from Vallejo. While they like to torment him, it's quite clear that the safety patrollers are very proud of their commissioner.

"Ok now, back to business, as you know this a pretty big thing we have thrown at us. Let me remind you people that all this happened in front of LIFE television, there are reporters and camera crews everywhere. If we don't figure out what's going on Pear may very well renege on the giveaway. Now this," he said pointing at the 3 computers in the front of the room "Are as you know the new Pear 2007's brand new top of the line. This whole thing was supposed to come together without a hitch, unfortunately it didn't. Folsom hasn't been here yet, but don't worry she will and I'd like to have something to tell her by the time she's here.

"Might not have enough time chief, 25 more minutes until the bell rings" Nicky said

"Well can't blame me for trying now can't you. Tehama?"

Tehama moved to the front of the room "Right, we're not sure yet at the moment of how the stink bomb got into the computers. They had 2 guards around them at all times ever since they been to the school and they've just arrived this morning. Now the thing that's pretty worrying is how someone managed to get the "white knight" virus in, so far as I can see there are only two options. One they've been tampered at the plant which means its technically not our business, and two is that they've been wirelessly infected. The Pear's feature a state of the art wireless system apparently it is capable of linking to the school network on its own.

Fillmore was deep in thought when it hit him "Were they connected to the school network?"

The asian girl nodded "Apparently yes, part of the demonstration was to show off the wireless. It was connected 3 hours before the start of the ceremony. So who ever hacked into it only had 3 hours, normally for Macrosoft computers it's plenty of time but the Pear's are a different story and these 2007's are brand new.The first option of them being tampered at the plant sounded good, except for the virus."

Around the room safety patrollers traded knowing glances, Fillmore noticing Ingrid's look filled her in. "The white knight virus is really famous, think of it as the Flava Sava of viruses."

"Yea its real big last year before you came in" Nicky added leaning in to join the whispered conversation "Out of nowhere nearly all of the computer rooms in the school were infected, and as you would imagine all were out of commission drove the computer club nuts. I heard one even went into shock when they found out all the computers are knocked out."

"But did you catch the guy who spread the virus?"

"That's the thing, we didn't just when we thought we were getting close, the trail vanished and the computers suddenly went on again. The case went on for another few weeks but then they dropped it." Fillmore continued as he leaned back in his chair, "Now whoever this guy is, decided from an encore."

"All right thanks Tehama, people?" Vallejo asked as he took over

"I agree with the 2nd option, most likely it was pulled off at school" Jade a member of Lorraine's team spoke out. She was an Asian girl, a tomboy with black hair.

"Yeah, if someone from the plant did it, it wouldn't be the white knight" added Anza.

Glancing around the room it was clear that most thought of it that way. "Allright people listen up" Vallejo leaned forward on the front desk looking as serious as can be. "Who ever this guy is I want him caught and in detention before the holidays. The last thing I need is knowing that Folsom's going to pound on me first thing in January. All right, Fillmore, Anza your teams work together, this is big one people two teams will get us a better success rate."

This prompted a high five between Nicky and Danny

"Lorraine, can we count on your team to look for cyber traces?"

"As good as done chief"

"What about the stink bomb Tehama? How in blazes did they get it in there??" Vallejo asked

".We might have to take them apart chief if we want to get a closer look"

"Do it"

As expected nearly everyone who knew what the Pear 2007's can do looked as if

"Everyone else, keep a sharp eye out people find anything make sure we know"

BLAM! The door to the briefing room flew open, Folsom, and Radcliff strode in.

"All right people first of all, nice job during the assembly. I can't stress this enough people, If we don't find whoever is creating this whole shebang, the Pear company might just renege. I've been talking to Mr. Rowland he assures me that they won't renege but the thing that concerns him is the bad publicity that will come from a middle school kid managing to hack into the Pear 2007's " She said quickly before turning on Vallejo "What have you got?"

"Umm we have…."

"I don't want to hear your plans I want answers!" a little louder than intended, she got herself under control and spoke with a surprisingly level voice and one scary smile. "Look this is the Christmas season and I'm going with the flow this year so I want this term to end on a good note, Capiche??" It was a statement not a request, she started to walk out of the room "You guys pull this off, I'll give you extra funding come January. If you don't better get used to writing with type writers" and with that she and Radcliff left leaving a room full of stunned safety patrollers and a dazed Vallejo. No sooner than she left the bell rang knocking them out of the daze. The patrollers packed up to leave

"All right people sleep on this one, tomorrow I want the investigation on first thing in the morning." Vallejo said moving towards the door. "Lets wrap this up quick people; I want the year to end on a good note"

"Come on guys lets go" Nicky said as he grabbed his bag and headed for the door followed by Fillmore and Ingrid" Any ideas where to start?"

"Not sure" Fillmore answered "Could be any body and the thing is the perps are often the ones you least suspect"

"Yeah tell me about it, later guys" he looking over his shoulder waving to the other patrollers.

"Cya, if you get any ideas remember them ok? And not just you Ingrid!" Anza answered back waving.

"Will do see ya"