"Excellent job today, boys," Dr. Steve gushed. "Just excellent." The boys around me practically glowed. Seth was the only one in a fairly bad mood.

"What happened, Jameson?" I asked, but Seth just glared at me.

Caleb laughed and slapped him on the back. "Aw, shake it off, Seth. I'm sure you'll get over getting beat by a girl," he sang out, emphasizing the "girl."

Seth shoved him. "Shut up, Caleb. That was terrible."

I glanced at him. "What was?"

Seth handed me a folder, and I opened it to see his mission:

NAME: ANNA FETTERMAN

AGE: 15

GRADE: SOPHOMORE

SCHOOL: GALLAGHER ACADEMY FOR EXCEPTIONAL YOUNG WOMEN

PHYSICAL FEATURES:

HEIGHT: 5'4"

HAIR: BLONDE

EYES: BROWN

PERSONALITY: WELL-LIKED; FOLLOWER; QUIET; RECOMMENDED TRACK: RESEARCH…

The list went on, but all I could focus on was her recommended track: research. If Joe had felt it necessary to include that, then it was obvious he was not expecting her to finish her mission. I raised my eyebrows in question at Caleb, who just laughed.

"So, Goode," Seth asked, trying to change the subject. "Was it just me, or did I hear you over the comms unit having a rather controversial conversation with your target?"

I rolled my eyes. "Controversial, Seth? I just talked to her."

Seth licked his lips. "You know, talking to civilian girls during field exercises can be dangerous. You wouldn't want some girl to get in the way of your mission, would you?"

I sucked in my breath. "First off, she wasn't a civilian. She's a highly skilled operative. Secondly, she didn't get in the way of my mission since she was my mission. Besides," I said, "In my case at least, talking to her helped me accomplish my mission."

Seth shook his head. "Just stop, Goode. You always think you're better than the rest of us, don't you?"

"Well, now that you mention it," I quipped, "maybe I am."

"Mr. Goode," Dr. Steve's warning carried from the front of the chopper. "Gentlemen, we are almost back to school. I suggest that, whatever is going on, it ends before we land."

"Yes, sir," I said.

The silence in the chopper was deafening. Finally we landed, and filed out of the chopper. "Okay, gentlemen," Dr. Steve said once we were all safely on the ground. "Pack your bags for about a semester's worth of clothes and meet me down here in half an hour. You eight and seven other classmates of yours are going on a little trip."