"That's the situation Nightshade," said the tall, dark-haired man as he spoke into the phone, to Ned who was sitting on the toilet in a stall of the boys bathroom at James K. Polk Middle school listening to the micro-communicator on his watch, "We need you see if you an track down these kidnappers and rescue the ambassadors daughter before it's too late."

"How did this happen, Orion," asked Ned, "didn't the department have an agent assigned to protect Lady Katherine?"

"Yeah," Replied Orion, "Code-breaker."

"CODE-BREAKER," Thundered Ned, "you're not talking about Wilbur Flynn, That Code-Breaker!"

"The same," Replied Orion

"That guy is a desk jockey not a field agent!" snapped Ned, "What in the name of Samuel Hill was Chief Bridger thinking!"

"I guess the thought that Flynn could handle it."

"Horse hockey," snapped Ned, "You and I both know what Flynn getting an assignment like that means. It means that big-shot uncle of his has been pulling strings again and now the state department needs me to go and clean up the mess that he made. Well I have a good mind to tell those yoyos that they can clean up their ownmess for a change."

"Nightshade," said Orion in a calm voice, "Please, a girls life is at stake."

"Alright," said Ned, "Have the surveillance video punched up and ready to go, and get me excused from school for the rest of the day and I'll go save the state department's butt again."

Ned hadn't anymore that stepped out into the hallway when the principal came over the P.A.

"Ned Bigby you are dismissed from school for the day to take of your personal matter." Ned turned and walked in the direction of the door but as he round the corner he ran head on into Moze.

"Oh hi M-Moze," he sputtered in surprise.

"Hey," said Moze, "I heard the announcement hope it's nothing serious."

"Nah," said Ned "Should be taken care of in no time flat."

"Ned giving evasive answers, something is definitely wrong," thought Moze out loud she said,

"Are we still getting a pizza later like we planned?" Ned mentally slapped his forehead he had forgotten that he and Moze had made plans to meet and study over a pizza later that day.

"Can I get a rain check on that," said Ned the imploring way that always got to Moze.

"Alright," she said.

"Great," said Ned, "I'll see you later." Before either of them realized what Ned was going to do he leaned up and kissed her cheek like a husband going to the office. Moze' hand flew to her cheek as Ned, whose cheeks were red, raced out the door and down the steps.

A few minutes later Ned arrived at a small stand of trees that stood behind his house. There was a natural clearing at the center of the stand of trees. At the center of this clearing was a large rock about the size of a large desk. Ned raised the micro communicator and spoke.

"Open." he said instantly the rock divided into two sections right down the middle and the sections slid back to reveal a sleek black Katana motorbike. When Ned mounted the bikeand fired it up the bike a ripple of energy the color of a black light washed across him and when it had cleared he was dressed in black leather with silver manacles on his forearms and a silver belt with the circle, triangle symbol from study hall. Ned was off like a shot shooting along the side streets until he came to a dead end street on the west side of town. He turned down the street and started toward the brick wall at the end of it without even attempting use his brakes.

At the last second before impact a door concealed in the middle of the wall opened up and closed as Ned was inside. He rode down the ramp to his parking place in an underground complex that looked like something out of Star Wars. He dismounted and walked toward the main corridor were he knew Orion had his office. A few seconds later he stepped into Orion's office and found him sitting there talking with another gentleman he looked up when Ned entered.

"Welcome Nightshade," said Orion, "We've been expecting you."

Moze sat in her room trying to concentrate on her homework, and failing. She could get Ned off her mind.

Why was he acting so strange today? Why did he act like he was trying to hide something and why did it just so happened that he got to leave early before I could find anything out. and why did he kiss my cheek he's never do that before?