Chapter 2

Stickler awoke the next morning, a saturday, to an odd sort of beeping noise coming from the box he'd discovered the day before. Jumping up, he ran to it, tossing it out of the window. First things first, beeping equals potential bomb, in the case of a potential bomb, one must distance oneself from said object (unless of course they are trained to disarm such). He peered out the window staring at the box 2 stories below, unharmed. He started as the lid of the box slid itself back and fell off, then the sides of the box collapsed back leaving just the bottom. A loud click and a white rectangle appeared, elevating over the board. Just as suddenly, it fell, and the beeping (which could barely be heard) ceased. Stickler opened the window back up leaning out as far as he dared. When he deemed it safe to approach he ran downstairs and outside.

The closer he got to the former box, the more he could decifer from the white object. It was a thin box, which was clearly cut along the middle to open up. He slowed his steps as he noticed a light blue light flashing from inside the box. He paused and crouched down, examining it from all angles to determine how dangerous it might be. Satisfied, he picked it up. As he went to open it, he felt yet another prick, in his thumb this time, and it drew blood. A feminine voice spoke from the box: "Blood Recognition Test: STICKLER. Acess Granted." and the top of the box opened up.

A blue hologram appeared, someone Stickler did not recognize. An older man in a traditional black Japanese Kimono, though clearly American. He bowed an relayed his message:

"Agent 001. I am part of the CIA Japan Top Secret Branch. My name and title is classified under any and all circumstances. An infiltration attempt has been detected. A Russian non-government organization has recently attempted a break in the White House security system. They were, however momentarily, successful, though our back up security systems stopped them before any damage could be done. We need you, in disguise, to infiltrate the orgnaization's headquarters and bring them to justice. You will recieve more information in the White House Security Room at 1000 hours. As per protocol, this message will not be accessable again."

Stickler started as the machine started vibrating and the hologram turned to static. A small popping noise, and the light was gone, screens and projectors black. Stickler was sure that he really ought to call his father, but with him being a top secret spy, getting in touch was never easy, not even for his own son. Sighing, Stickler pocketed the box, deciding to head to the White House and let them deal with getting in touch with his father. As he headed back up stairs to get dressed, as he hadn't changed out of his pajamas, he heard his name shouted.

He turned around and saw Newton Livingston running up his long driveway, limo pulling off from the gates. "Stickler, dude! What're you still doing in your pjs?"

"Newt? What on earth are you doing at my house?"

"You said you'd tutor me in math if I let you come to the movies with us tonight..."

Stickler rolled his eyes, having forgotten about that little deal...but Meena would be there, and just being with her would make tutoring anyone worth it.

"Right. First, I need to deliever a very important Top Secret CIA message to the White House, though."

"Dude! Can I come with?"

Stickler sighed. What part of "Top Secret CIA" did this rocker not get? "Fine, but you have to wait outside."

"Sweet!"

****

Forty-five mintues later, after Stickler had showered and dressed while Newt busied himself playing on Stickler's rather elaborate gaming console, they arrived at the White House via helicopter.

"Ok, Newt, I'm going to deliever this highly important Top Secret CIA message. You can go play with Cory or something."

And with that, Stickler turned and headed up the stairs through the maze of passages his father had taught him as a young child and easily managed his way to the Security Room.

He knocked on the door and awaited entrance. Of course, being the Top Security Room of the White House, entrance was not so eassily admitted. A box came out of the wall with several mechanical tests for identity on it. A female mechanical voice spoke out of it, "Please place right thumb on the green pad."

Stickler did as he was told and felt yet another sharp prick. He was getting quite sick of his fingers being pricked.

"Blood Match Processing." The voice said followed by a low humming as the machine went through the archives of blood records.

"Match found. Jason Stickler, son of Elroy Stickler, Agent 001. State reason for desired entrance."

"Um... I have a mission for my father, but he's out of--"

He was cut off with a yelp by the floor dropping open beneath him.