"And so, the time has come for me to tell you everything." Kurai said to Danny and Tucker in front of Casper High. "My true mission is—"
Lancer rushed over. "You three! Get in to the auditorium right away!"
In the auditorium, Mr. Lancer was on stage at a podium, Jazz and Irving were sitting in chairs on either side of him.
"Your future is not carved in stone, people, but it may be carved with a No. 2 pencil!" Lancer held one up.
Out in the auditorium, Danny and Tucker were sitting next to each other, Kurai right behind them with her crossed arms propped on the back of their seats. Danny was sitting up and listening intently, whereas Tucker looked bored out of his mind. Kurai looked worried and preoccupied with her necklace.
"Oh please." Tucker said.
"Quiet, this is important!" Danny said.
Tucker stared at him, nonplussed, then exchanged a look with Kurai, who shrugged.
"As most of you have probably forgotten, you will be taking the Career Aptitude Test" Lancer said as the letters C.A.T. and the words spelled out on the projector screen behind him as he spoke. "on Saturday." Lancer spoke Brightly. "Do well, like Ms. Fenton here..." Lancer gestured to Jazz. "who got -"
"- the highest score in the history of the C.A.T. -" Danny said dully.
An image of two obnoxiously rich people flinging money around clicked onto the screen, followed by a fancy car, a mansion strongly resembling Vlad's, and a yacht.
"Fail, like" Lancer gestured to Irving, who was sleeping with his mouth open and drooling. "Irving "Third Degree" Burns here, who..." Irving woke up with a start. "got the "lowest" score in the history of the C.A.T., and you will be doomed to a career at the Nasty Burger."
An image of the burger joint displayed on the projector.
Irving stood angrily. "Hey! Working at Nasty Burger takes brains, you know! If those 42 Nasty Secret Herbs and Spices in our Nasty Sauce are overheated," Irving Advanced to the edge of the stage. "it could cause and explosion that could take out a whole city block!"
Crickets chirped as the students stared at him, unimpressed.
"Oh, who am I kidding." Irving Slumped off the stage. "My life is over."
Lancer held up the answer booklet. "These aren't just the answers to the test. They're the answers to your future. So study." He held up a briefcase and put the booklet inside, then closed it and handcuffed it to his wrist. "Remember, it's your future. Do you want fries with it?"
Lancer marched offstage, briefcase in hand.
"Dude, you ok? Danny?" Tucker said.
Danny was staring ahead, looking like someone just kicked his puppy.
xxx
Danny was on Clockwork's viewscreen, adult!Clockwork looking at it. He turned away as the Observants addressed him.
"What are you waiting for? It's the perfect chance to take him out!" Observant said.
"That's the problem with you Observants." Clockwork switched to child form. "All you do is observe."
"You know our oath. To watch -" Observant said.
Clockwork got up close to the Observant. "-and never act. Which is why" He switched to his old form. "you bring me in to do your dirty work." He raised his staff and it flashed, the viewscreen turning to Danny studying at his kitchen table. Clockwork was again in his adult form. "He turns evil because he's under pressure" He switched to child form. "for some test? Fine. Then perhaps it's time for a test of my own."