hello. Ummm... i actually have to run now, so enjoy the story. Can we get 50 reviews please?
Frank stopped outside the base. His instincts told him something was wrong- REALLY wrong. For one, there was no shouting on floor one- the floor that Matthew, Minnie and Rebbecca all worked on. In fact, in Frank's opinion, everything was too quiet.
Fearing for his workmates, Frank ran up the stairs, slowing to a stealthy tiptoe when he knew he'd be in earshot of floor one. He put his ear against the door. There were faint murmurings coming from inside. He decided to take his chances, and walked in.
"Oh, hi Frank," smiled Minnie. "Nice of you to drop in."
"You know, if you fixed the data problem, you could have called ahead," sighed Frank.
Minnie frowned. "What data problem?"
Just then, Frank got a call.
"Hey Frank, we're in the building, but no ones here."
A small beep on his pager told him that there had been a lockdown at the school base. But why?
The realisation hit Frank so hard he staggered back a few steps.
"Frank? You there?"
"Get out of there right now," said Frank, "And call in Special Forces."
Frank listened as Stella called orders over her shoulder.
"Whats happened Frank?"
"Just think about it," said Frank in a low voice, "The one person Keri recognises is the one she didn't kill. Then, when we go there again, I mysteriously get a call that leads me away from him. While Im here, a lockdown happens. Can you see where Im going with this?"
Zoe, Tom and Aneisha watched as utter horror spread over Stella's face.
"Dan," she whispered. "EVERYBODY GET BACK TO BASE!" She turned to face the others. "Listen, Dan isn't safe inside your base. Tom do you think you could hack into the lockdown system and get us in there?"
By now, everyone had pretty much caught on to what was happening. Even people who didn't know Dan were worrying- he was a MINOR, for gods sake!
"I'll get us in, Stella. Miss Haynes, do you think you could help?" he called opening his laptop. She nodded, white faced, and hurried over. They all jumped into the van, and put the police lights on. After all this was official business.
"Keri?" Dan said. "How did you..."
"I'm Keri, Dan," she said, smiling sweetly. "I know how to get in here."
Dans shocked expression turned to one of rage. "You, you stole her memories, her life, just so you could get a few extra years in, you-" He was silenced by a finger on his lips.
"You know, Im sad that you think I've changed," she replied. "Im still me, you know. Your airhead Keri."
Dan laughed mirthlessly. "No. My airhead Keri wouldn't be able to match a code to save her life. Break into a base single-handed? No way. Match a pair of jeans, keep up with the latest fashions. That's what MY Keri would do."
To his surprise, a flash of hurt passed over Keri's face. Then it was smoothly impassive again. "I don't want to hurt you, Dan. Stand aside."
Dan crossed his arms. "No, Keri."
She sighed. "Ever noble Dan, staying true to his friends and his country even when faced with one of the greatest criminal minds of the century."
"Leave, Keri. And don't come back," he snapped.
"Not happening."
"Then why did you come down here?"
She smiled. But it wasn't a Keri smile. It was more twisted, darker. "Just to do this," she whispered. And she grabbed the front of Dan's shirt and kissed him.
Dan was so shocked, that for a moment, he kissed her back. Then he pushed her off, saying, "What do you think your doing, you crazy..." he never finished his sentence. Why is it always me, he thought, as the entire world dropped into nothingness.
Keri watched as her would be boyfriend sank onto the floor. Then she walked over to the lift and let out the 2 minions who were waiting inside. One of them went straight to Dan's computer, while the other grabbed Dan roughly and dragged him into a corner.
"Not so harshly, not so harshly!" squeaked Keri, hurrying over and taking the cuffs from him. "Go and help your mountain friend."
The minions stared at each other, confused, then shrugged and hacked the MI9 defence system. Keri tied Dan up tenderly, giving him a small kiss on his cheek. "Maybe later," she whispered. "Maybe." She stood up. "Have you finished with that yet? Or are you playing Blade Quest?"
They nodded. "Good. Lets go before we're discovered." She smashed a hole in the wall where she knew the old KORPS base was located. All three of them stepped through, before escaping in the hatch, undetected.
"Hello, Keri!" called a voice. OK, so not undetected. Keri quickly shoved her minions down the hatch again, and closed it.
"Mr Flately! What a surprise!" she smiled.
Mr Flately pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. "Ah, yes, well, I was wondering, do you want to run the school fair? Only you've been nominated."
Keri flicked her hair back. "Of course I'll do it," she said graciously. What harm could it do? She wasn't going to be here anyway. No, the next time everyone saw her face, she wouldn't just be running the school fair. She'd be running the world. She smiled to herself at this thought.
Tom, Zoe, Aneisha, Frank and Stella all burst into the school. Keri tried to duck behind Mr Flately-but they had already seen her.
"THERE SHE IS!" screamed Aneisha. "QUICK, GET HER!"
Suddenly Mr Flately saw two speedy black things go past. Keri ran with them.
"MR F!" yelled Frank. "You alright?"
Mr Flately blinked. "Ah, yes, Im fine, Frank. Who's your friend?"
"Girlfriend," corrected Stella. "Im... Emma. Emma... Rosewood. Nice to meet you." She stuck out her hand.
Mr Flately took it. "Very nice to meet you, Emma. But if you're going to be staying, please sign in at the register. And if you see Dan, can you tell him his mother came by, Frank?"
"Er, yes Mr F," said Frank distractedly, looking around Mr Flately. "You haven't seen Dan have you, Mr F?"
"Um, no I haven't. The last time I saw him was when he was heading towards the art corridor. And-oh!" Frank had run past Mr Flately, almost knocking him flat. Stella uttered a hurried apology and followed him. "Really. Everyone seems to be on edge. Whats the worst that could happen?"
Frank practically ripped off the finger scanner in his haste. He let out a groan of frustration and phoned Rosa.
"WHAT-"
"ITS OPEN! GET IN THERE!" At Rosa's words, they both ran in.
Dan groaned and opened his eyes. Where was he? He gave his hands a tug, and realised he was tied up. Everything that had happened came slowly back to him. Seeing Keri. Their talk. The kiss.
Could she still have feelings for me? wondered Dan. Will I be able to reach her? He winced as Frank and Stella burst in.
"Guys..." he moaned. They made their way over to him.
Keri glanced back. The trio that was chasing them was getting closer. She caught sight of the KORPS van a little way on. She jumped in, with her cronies right behind and hissed at the driver, "GO!"
Zoe, Aneisha and Tom slowed down as the van drove away. They caught a glimpse of Keri's red triumphant eyes and suddenly she disappeared. No doubt to yell at someone.
"Great. We lost them." Zoe turned away, and began trudging back to base. She had never felt so down. What had she wanted? Would she ever really meet her sister? Or had she doomed them all? Unsolved problems and old guilt rose to the surface. Had it only been this morning she had come back? It seemed like a million years ago. To her horror, she felt tears in her eyes.
Aneisha wrapped an arm around Zoe. "Its OK," she whispered, and let her best friend cry into her. The truth was, she didn't know if anything was OK-or would be ever again.
Tom was about to follow them when he heard a shout. It was Keri. She had stuck her head out the window, and thrown something at him. He caught it, and instantly felt pleased with himself. An awesome moment. He opened up his hands, and saw a ring. Keri's ring.
"Give it to Dan!" she had yelled. "Tell him I love him!"
Tom stared after the van. He turned around abruptly, pocketing the ring as he went.
Review please! I didn't get many reviews last time, but I promised to update every week, so... here it is! Can I please, please, please get 50?