Grovecityfan: Hello, PSI Cadets! Sorry for the delay, but I've been busy. Homework, sports, and a nasty cold. Plus I've been playing Psychonauts and I just got to the Point of No Return. Darn! Anyway, I'll go on with the story, since it's past overdue.
Chapter Four:
The Spies at the Bonfire
Sal walked out of the GPC area slowly and made his way to the Bonfire area. The fire was already being lit by Ford via Pyrokenisis.
"Check it out, man!" Said Dave enthusiastically.
"Late night bonfire!" Cried Kitty. "Rad!"
"Hey Doug, you okay?" Asked Sal.
"Yeah, I'm fine." Replied Doug. "Just a little…shaken from the Strongarm Censors in Sasha's mind. They sure are big, huh?" Sal nodded in agreement.
Cabin 4 made its way to the Bonfire and sat down. Ford Cruller had lit the fire, and was whispering hurriedly with Sasha and Mila. No one heard what they were whispering about, except Sal. His family had a knack for good hearing.
"Nein, I know." Whispered Ford. "The chances of danger at Whispering Rock are a million to one. But there is still a possibility."
"Ford, we've gone over this." Said Nein. "I don't think we need to get paranoid over this. This is a special night for the children, we don't want to ruin it."
"Now, Sasha," Mila butted in. "Ford isn't telling us to be paranoid. Just to stay alert. We don't want anything to happen to the kids, right?" Sasha sighed. He was outnumbered.
"Fine. I'll stay on the lookout."
Eventually, everyone was seated and Ford was speaking.
"Now, kids, you've been very hardworking these past few days, so we've decided to reward you with a late night Bonfire-Party. We'll soon be serving hot chocolate, cookies, candy, brownies, snacks, and our secret but special Psitanium chocolate bars." Everyone yelled "Yess!" in unison. "Now," Continued Ford. "Let the Party begin!"
Sal looked at the vibrant fire blazing in front of him. His moment was interrupted by Greg sitting next to him.
"Y'know, Sal," Said Greg. "I used to be homesick here. But ever since the little pillowfight, I feel right at home. I don't know why, but I guess I have moved on. I don't need my parents around me all day. I'm perfectly self-sufficient on my own. I guess I just…adjusted." Sal truthfully had no idea why Greg was telling him this, but he found the logic in it.
I can't just sit around and wait for Monica to come talk to me. He thought. I've got to make the first move. Back home I wasn't like this, I was never nervous… Having thought of this, Sal made a very bold move for his age and took a seat next to Monica.
"Hi Monica." Said Sal casually.
"Oh, hi Sal!" Replied Monica. "What's up?"
"Listen, I heard Ford, Mila, and Sasha whispering."
"You heard what they were saying? How?"
"Let's just say that my family has…good hearing."
"So, what did they say?"
"They said that there was possibility of danger at Whispering Rock and to 'Stay Alert' just in case the kids were put in danger."
"Wow, sounds cool! Like super secret Psychonaut work!"
"I know! And right in front of our noses! This could be awesome!"
Pretty soon the snacks and hot chocolate were being served, and the kids dug in, occasionally fighting over the last chocolate chip. At about twelve, all of the kids were pretty tired so the counselors sent them to bed. Sal and Monica shared moonlit smiles after they departed to their separate cabins.
"'Night, Jake."
"Later, Dave."
"Seeya tomorrow Greg. And thanks for the advice."
"Any time, Sal."
"G'night Doug."
"Night, Jake."
The five boys turned out the flashlights, tired from the maze, the Bonfire, and the strangely addictive Psitanium candy bars.
Meanwhile, in the underground catacombs of Lake Oblongata…
"Nein, Vodello." Stated the brother of Ford Cruller.
"Yes, Cruller?" Responded the Psychonaut's counterparts.
"How did the stakeout at the Bonfire go?"
"Perfect, Cruller. The children are sound asleep, and the counselors are getting drowsy."
"Good, very good. I'm going to need you to get back into the field tonight. That Oliander is our first target."
"Yes, sir."
Sal was lying on his hard bunk, trying to get into a comfortable position. He was thinking of the counselors' meeting, and was wondering what was going on. Was there really something out there, in Whispering Rock, just ready to bust loose and try to destroy everything in sight, especially people? If so, awesome! Finally, some action!
As soon as Sal got comfortable, he started hearing faint rustling sounds. They got louder and louder and more and more distinct, until they sounded like footsteps. Well, if no one else heard them, he would have to investigate alone. He got dressed and ventured out into the wilderness.
He had to feel around because it was so dark, his goggles weren't nightvision of course. Eventually he bumped into something that yelled out a loud scream.
"Who's there!" He exclaimed.
"Oh, Sal!" Said Monica, relieved. "I thought it was…something else."
"What are you doing here?" Asked Sal.
"No, what are you doing here?" Asked Monica back.
"I…I heard some sounds and decided to investigate."
"What kind of sounds?"
"Like, footsteps and scratching."
"So I'm not going crazy!" Exclaimed Monica, relieved.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I thought I was the only one hearing that stuff."
"Oh. Have you seen anything suspicious yet?"
"No, but I found a PSI Challenge Marker and a Deep Arrowhead." She bent down to pick up a glowing purple arrowhead, and was suddenly flung against a tree by a tall man wearing all black.
"Monica!" Cried Sal. He PSI Blasted the man, but he put up a shield and telekinetically threw Sal against Monica.
"I have a mission to carry out; some suspicion of worthless PSI Cadets is not going to ruin it." Said the man, in a very Sasha-like voice.
"Agent Nein?" Asked Raz quizzically.
"No, his brother." Said the real Agent Nein who had just teleported to the scene. "And a very unorganized one, too. We aren't stupid, Hans. I saw you sneak into the forest hours ago."
"Well, Sasha, maybe it was part of my plan. It makes no difference if you are here. Let me just teleport these kids out of here and…" Hans reached his hand out to the helpless Sal and Monica and, knowing that if he touched the kids, they would be teleported, also, Sasha thought fast and PSI Blasted Hans. This time, it made contact.
"Ahhh!" Yelled Hans, recovering. "You caught me off guard. Not a very honorable thing to do, now is it?"
"Well, Hans," Said Sasha, sending a bolt of concentrated mental lightning at him. "When it comes to the children, I've got to protect them at all costs."
Hans PSI Punched Sasha and gave him a dropkick to the face. "I don't think you are to decide what I do with the "children". Sasha recovered and telekinetically threw a tree at him, which was blocked by a shield.
"Run, cadets. Very fast." Instructed Sasha. Sal and Monica ran back to the camp, leaving the Psychonaut and his brother alone.
"I don't care how strong you think you are Hans, but I am a Psychonaut and could take you on any day." Said Sasha, penetrating Hans's shield and hurling a bluish-gray PSI Ball at him. Hans was knocked back. "You're lucky I'm taking it easy on you."
"You've always been a softy. Ever since we were kids."
"No, you've just been too busy killing birds with Pyrokenisis to be anything other than reckless."
"Ha. I was going to carry out a mission tonight, but since you interfered, I'm afraid it will have to wait. I'll deal with you later." Said Hans, teleporting away.
Sal and Monica had just gotten back to the Kids' Cabins.
"Sal, I just want to say thanks." Said Monica.
"Why?"
"For sticking up for me. You tried your best to help me out. Thanks."
"Oh, hehe, no problem, Monica. That's what friends are for, right?"
"Yeah. You're right."
"Plus now we have an awesome mission ahead of us!"
"I know!"
"We're caught up in the biggest adventure of our lives! This is our chance!"
"Oh my gosh! I love you!"
"Uhhh… Monica?"
"Oh, uh, sorry." Said Monica, blushing madly. "I just got a little carried away, I guess."
"It's okay." Said Sal, also blushing. "I guess I'll… see you tomorrow?"
"Yeah, remember, we've got Invisibility and Levitation class with Mila tomorrow."
"G'night Monica."
"Night, Sal."