(Jenny's POV)
"Come on! Come on!" I mutter, willing my Jetpack Backpack to fly me over to MI9 HQ as fast as it can.
At first I thought it was all a joke. I got a call from Livi, who was on a night out with friends, telling me how she witnessed a building fly up into the air. It wasn't until I turned on the news that this was no joke. A nightclub at the BT Tower has been launched into space – and it contains my friends and my fiancée! I immediately sprang into action – I changed into my spy suit (luckily my parents are visiting Aunt Hermione and Uncle Richie and I had the house to myself) and I raced out of the house and flew over to Thames House.
When I get to HQ, I land on the roof and head for the door. Down the stairs I go and straight for the lift to take me down to the floor where Director Fairchild's office is.
The second the doors open, I jump out of the lift and sprint through the corridors. I don't stop until I reach the office and without knocking, I burst through the door and standing in the room is Director Fairchild, Stark and Professor Rossington. They are standing by the TV monitor, watching the club enter into orbit around Earth.
"I… I'm sorry for… barging in like that, Ma'am," I pant. "But I… I had to see for myself that… this was someone's idea of… of a joke."
"Well, as you can see, it isn't," Stark interjects. "Now why don't you run along back home and let the grown-ups take care of this. It doesn't concern you."
"Like hell it does!" I say, marching up to him. "Not when my fiancée and friends are in that club."
"Frank is up there?" Director Fairchild asks, shocked.
I nod. "Along with Zeke, Oscar, his foster parent Percy and a couple of friends of mine." I turn to Stark. "So don't you dare try and say that this doesn't concern me – because it does. And, by the way, if you ever try to undermine me like that again, I will have your arse kicked so hard that you'll find yourself floating up in space like a blob in a lava lamp."
My implied death threat and even deadly glare has seemed to taken Stark down a peg or two. "OK," he timidly says, and shirks himself away from me.
"Anyway…" I turn back to Director Fairchild. "Do we have any idea who's behind the club's launch?"
Before the director can answer, the Grandmaster appears on the screen.
"Greetings, MI9," he says.
This prompts me to quip, "Well, surprise bloody surprise."
"Grandmaster," says Director Fairchild. "Of course you'll be the one responsible concocting another ridiculous scheme. Would I be hopelessly naïve to ask for the club to be returned to Earth?"
"No, not naïve," the Grandmaster replies. "Merely stupid. Here's how it'll go down: you have exactly thirty minutes to give Professor Rossington to SKUL or I will activate the explosives on the club."
My eyes are wide with horror.
"You time… starts… now." The Grandmaster switches off.
"Director, what are you going to do?" Professor Rossington asks.
"Well, I'll tell you what she's not going to do – give in to SKUL." I walk over to the director. "We can't give up the professor, Ma'am. You've always said that MI9 doesn't negotiate with terrorist and maniacs – and we're not going to start now."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Agent Brownstone," says Stark. (That's a first!) "There has to be another way."
"Hm." Director Fairchild is in deep thought. "I suppose I could make a call to the UK Space Agency – see if they can send a rescue ship."
She picks up the phone and starts dialling. While she's doing that, I collapse on the chair and let out a deep sigh. Part of me is worried and scared about what's happening with Frank and everybody else in the club. But another part of me knows that Frank and the others will think of some way of returning to Earth.
I wonder how they're coping.
(Frank's POV)
"We're all gonna die!" a man freaks out over the panicked screaming and crying in the nightclub.
The only calm and sane people in the room are me, Zeke, Oscar, Percy, Kenzie and Hay-Hay. I can see that Zeke is trying to think of a plan – but it's hard to hear yourself think over the pandemonium.
"Oh, it's useless!" he exclaims. "How can I think of anything with all this noise?"
"Don't worry, Zeke. I've got this," says Hay-Hay, and he swims his way over to the DJ station where a microphone is floating above the decks. Hay-Hay grabs the mic and calls out to everyone.
"Guys, you need to stay calm. You need to… Guys? Guys?"
But everyone is too busy panicking to listen.
"Right then." Hay-Hay inhales a massive breath.
"Uh-oh," says Kenzie. "Guys, cover your eyes. Don't ask – just do it."
We comply – and just in time as Hay-Hay yells, "QUIET!" to everyone, which shocks the whole club into silence.
"Ahem. Thank you," he says. "Look, guys, I know you're all scared – but right now you must remain calm. I'm pretty sure that people back in London are doing everything they can to rescue us. I mean this isn't something you see every day – nightclubs getting launched into space. But trust, help is on the way. In the meantime, I urge you all to grab onto something that's bolted to floor to prevent any of you from floating around. And thirdly… enjoy the view! I mean, hello! Like that dressing-gown loony told us, we're on a trip of a lifetime. Something us mere mortals would have never ever even dream about witnessing. So we shouldn't be panicking – we should be marvelling at Planet Earth in all its natural beauty."
And he's right – I am in awe. It suddenly strikes me that that planet, pretty and blue, is the Earth. No words can describe it. Beautiful. It's absolutely beautiful.
Everyone else seems to think so too. By looking at their expression, I can tell that even they are impressed. I can hear comments like, "Amazing!", "Awesome!" and "I can't believe it!"
"Wow," Oscar breathes, awe-struck. "I never thought I'd lay eyes on a sight like this again…"
"Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar D. Mitchell had this to say about viewing the Earth from the Moon," Percy says, marvelling at the blue planet. "You develop an instant global consciousness, a people orientation, an intense dissatisfaction with the state of the world, and a compulsion to do something about it. From out there on the moon, politics look so petty. You want to grab a politician by the scruff of the neck and drag him a quarter of a million miles out and say, 'Look at that, you son of a bitch'."
"It is the most awe-inspiring sight I have ever seen. Giver of life, mother of us all," says Kenzie.
"As Louis Armstrong said: 'What a wonderful world'," says Zeke with all of us humming in agreement. A second later he claps his hands together to grab our attention. "Anyway, guys, we've got to focus. We need to find a way of getting back to Earth."
"And how do you suggest we do that?" Percy asks. "There's nothing up here to help us and we have no way to contact anyone because our phones don't work."
"I wouldn't say that, Percy," I say, holding up my Spy Watch.
Zeke gasps. "Frank London, you are an absolute genius! I could kiss you."
"Don't thank me. Jen told me to wear it in case anything happens to me. Who would have thought she'd be right?"
"I know. And now that we have a source of communication with us, we can contact Earth."
"We need some privacy – we can't do it out here," says Oscar.
"Head for the men's room," Kenzie suggests. "I'll guard the door and make sure no-one enters."
So that's just what we do. Luckily there's no-one in the room when we enter – but we lock the door behind us just as a precaution. I make the call to MI9 – I hope it works…
"Hello? Can anybody hear me? This is Agent Frank London. Do you read me?"
I wait a few seconds, and then I hear the reply. "Hello, Frank. It's Director Fairchild."
"Yes! It worked!" Zeke cheers.
"Are you all right up there?" the director asks.
"We're fine, Ma'am," I reply. "I'm here with Oscar, Percy and Zeke. Do you have any idea why a nightclub has launched us into space?"
"It's the Grandmaster. He's the one responsible. He demands that we hand over Professor Rossington to him or he'll detonate the explosives on the club."
"Explosives?!" we scream.
"But don't worry. I've made a few calls to the UK Space Agency to send a rescue ship to the club. It should be there within the next hour. In the mean… tight and keep…"
"Ma'am? Ma'am, I didn't catch that," I say. "Hello? Hello?"
The line goes dead.
"Well, that's just great," Percy retorts. "So what, we just twiddle our thumbs and wait for help to arrive?"
"I don't think we have a choice, Percy," says Oscar. "We just have to hope that help does come."
I hope so too – otherwise it'll be curtains for us.
(Jenny's POV)
You have no need how happy I am hearing Frank's voice. Tears are spilling down my cheeks as he talks to Director Fairchild. I wish I could talk to him – but I made a promise not to get in contact with him until the wedding. I'm so glad that he took the Spy Watch with him – but I never thought it'll be used to communicate from over a million miles above the Earth's atmosphere. I hope he and the others get back to Earth safely.
Director Fairchild is telling the guys that help is on the way and they should sit tight and keep calm – but the transmission is cut off. And to make matters worse, the Grandmaster's face appears on the TV screen once more.
"Your thirty minutes are nearly up, Director Fairchild," he states. "And unless Professor Rossington surrenders to SKUL, the club will be destroyed in five… four… three… two…"
"I surrender!" the professor exclaims at the last second.
"What?!" I say, turning to him. "Professor, you can't do that!"
"Professor, please, you must reconsider," Director Fairchild pleads.
"Director, you've got to remember that it's not just your agents who are held captive but dozens of innocent civilians," Professor Rossington states.
Stark shakes his head. "No. You're not going anywhere, professor," he says. He turns to the screen. "MI9 does not give into demands, Grandmaster!"
"Oh? Brave talk for a man standing on the ground," he calmly replies. "Anyway, I'm talking to the organ grinder, not the monkey."
Stark splutters at the insult. If we weren't having a crisis, I'd be laughing right now.
"A helicopter will be arriving at your headquarters in twenty minutes to pick up the professor," the Grandmaster continues. "And no funny business – otherwise I'll make good on my promise and I'll have the club blown up."
And with that, the screen goes black.
Professor Rossington lets out a sigh. "I must apologize. I shouldn't have given myself up to SKUL so easily," he says.
I place a hand on his shoulder. "We understand, professor," I say. "But you shouldn't worry for long – we'll stage a rescue long before you reach whatever rock the Grandmaster is hiding under."
"Ugh, I feel like gagging when I say this again, but Agent Brownstone is right," says Stark. (That's something short of miracle.) "And right about now, UKSA should be ready to launch their space shuttle."
The phone rings.
"Hello?" Director Fairchild answers. "What?! When did this happen. OK. I understand." She hangs up and lets out an exasperated sigh.
"Director? Is everything all right?" Professor Rossington asks.
"That was UKSA," she says. "Five minutes ago, the rescue shuttle was attacked by black fighter jets with picture of a skull on its underbelly. You don't need three guesses to work out who was behind the attacks. So now we have no way of getting to the club."
"Well, isn't that just super-duper?" I remark sarcastically while scowling at Stark for jinxing it.
You are a tit, Stark. An absolute tit.
(Frank's POV)
It's been ten minutes since my contact with MI9 was cut off. I've been mindlessly floating around the club with Oscar, Percy and Kenzie waiting for the rescue shuttle to arrive while everyone else is enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime view, and taking pictures. Zeke on the other hand is using my Spy Watch to run an architectural scan of the club to locate the explosives.
"Hey, guys?" says Kenzie. "I really don't want to come across as a worrywart, but what happens if this Grandmaster guy gets what he wants? Do you really think he'll let us go? Because I don't think that's his style."
For a few minutes no-one says anything – mainly because we don't have the answer. And even if we did, I don't think anyone wants to say it in case it does happen.
"Sorry," Kenzie says. "I didn't mean to be a downer."
"No, Kenzie, don't apologize. It's not your fault," I tell him. "It's just… we don't know what the Grandmaster is going to do. The only thing we can do is to wait for help to come and not to think about… the other thing. OK?"
He nods. "OK."
A few seconds later, Zeke swims over to us.
"OK, gang, I've made some calculations and it looks like that there is enough air available for twenty-four hours inside the club," he informs us. "Also there are four explosives located outside the club at the base in a cardinal direction, like a compass: north, south, east, and west. And judging by how the bombs look, they should be easy to deactivate. I can use the Spy Watch to change into a space suit, step out of the club and remove the charges."
"Sounds like a plan, Zeke," says Oscar. "We should probably get it green-lighted before we go ahead with it."
"We could – if we had some form of communication, since our transmission was cut off," I say.
"Already solved that problem," says Zeke. "I reconfigured the wiring of the watch so the transmission won't be disrupted again."
We stare at him in amazement.
"No need to thank me, gents – I'm just a gadgeteer genius. Now let's contact Earth."
We head back to the men's room. Again, Kenzie guards the door while the rest of us get in touch to MI9.
Zeke explains his plan to Director Fairchild. "…so by the time I'm done deactivating the explosives, the rescue shuttle would be here," he finishes.
"Hmmmm," she says with a grim expression.
"What's wrong, Ma'am?" Zeke asks. "Don't you like the plan?"
She clears her throat. "No, no. My apologizes, Zeke," she says. "No, I like the plan. It's just… well…"
"Ma'am?" I say.
"Agents, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but… I received a call from UKSA. Ten minutes ago, the rescue shuttle was attacked."
I gasp while everyone groans.
"Damn SKUL!" Percy says with a snap. "They must have intercepted the director's phone conversation. Now what are we going to do?"
"I suggest you go ahead with the plan," Director Fairchild replies. "Meanwhile the rest of us down here will put our heads together to try and think of a way to get the club back to Earth. Over and out."
The director switches off. For a moment, no-one says anything. If we don't find a way of returning to Earth, we'll either suffocate or get blown to smithereens.
Suddenly, Zeke claps his hands together. "OK, guys – snap out of it," he says. "We've been given a task and it's time to execute it. I know – poor choice of words. Let's get to work."
Zeke uses the Spy Watch to change into a futuristic spacesuit, complete with boots, space helmet and jet pack so he can propel in space. We leave the toilets and head for the staircase as it's acting like an airlock.
"We'll be able to communicate with each other with the radio that's installed in my helmet," Zeke tells us. "Wish me luck."
"Good luck," we respond.
"Be careful, mate," Kenzie adds.
And like that, Zeke enters the airlock.
"He'll be OK," I assure the others. "To him it'll be a piece of cake."
The others nod in agreement. However they are in doubt about being rescued. And as much as I want to agree with that, I've still got to believe that Director Fairchild and the rest of MI9 will think of a way to bring us back home.
(Jenny's POV)
I'm standing on the roof of MI9 with Director Fairchild, Stark and Professor Rossington waiting for the SKUL helicopter to arrive. I still can't believe we're doing the one thing I never thought MI9 would ever do: give in to SKUL. And without a plan to rescue the professor or the people trapped in the club that's in outer space, we're left with no other options.
We watch as the helicopter flies over the roof.
"I never thought I'd see the day we let SKUL come over here unchallenged," I say, with Director Fairchild and Stark concurring.
The helicopter lands on the helipad. The door slides open, and a SKUL henchman steps out.
"Right then – here I go," says Professor Rossington.
"Professor, please won't you reconsider?" Director Fairchild pleadingly asks.
"I'm sorry, Director. But I am committed to my decision."
We watch helplessly as Professor Rossington walks over to the helicopter and climbs aboard. The SKUL henchman climbs inside and slides the door shut. As we watch the helicopter take off, a frustrated Stark kicks the ground.
I can't believe it's finally happened. SKUL has won.
(Frank's POV)
Ten minutes has passed since Zeke ventured out into space to remove the explosives. I hope he manages to deactivate them all before the Grandmaster has a chance to detonate them.
"Oh, what's keeping him?" says Kenzie, agitated. "I'd thought he'd be finished by now. He's been gone for far too long."
"Kenzie, you've got to be patient," Oscar tells him. "Zeke is a smart guy – he knows what he's doing. Just give him a few more minutes, OK?"
He nods. "Yeah, no, you're right. OK. Sorry about that."
As Oscar pats Kenzie on the shoulder, Hay-Hay makes his way over to us.
"Hi, guys!" he says. "Sorry I haven't hung around with you in the last half-hour. I had to act as the level-headed, responsible leader, calming everybody down. I was comforting this crying girl and her friend, making them feel better when suddenly I was earning the affection of several girls in the club; I mean these girls were drawing to me like bears to honey. I was charming the pants off them, flirting with them like there was no tomorrow. I even got off with a couple of them – despite the fact that they have boyfriends! Anyway I managed to get their numbers and scored a few dates with them. How about that!"
"What?" we say.
Hay-Hay grins. "Just call me Jack-the-Lad. Cocky, cheeky and devil-may-care, I'm the type of guy you can't help but like, even as I'm wrapping you around my little finger. Anyway, that's enough about me. Where's Zeke?"
"Er…" we stare at one another, thinking of an answer.
"He's in the men's room?" Percy says.
"The men's room?" Hay-Hay repeats, confused.
"Now I know what you're thinking, Hay-Hay," I say. "But this is Zeke you're looking at. Whatever problem he faces, he finds a solution to it."
"And miraculously, he has found a solution of using the toilet in zero gravity," Oscar adds.
Hay-Hay stares at us. After a few seconds he shrugs his shoulders. "Huh. I suppose you're right."
We all mentally sigh in relief. Just then I feel the vibration of my Spy Watch.
Kenzie notices and leaps into action. "Hey, Hay-Hay – how about telling me about those girls you got off with," he says, taking his friend away.
While he does that, I head for the men's room with Percy and Oscar guarding the door.
"Hello?" I answer.
"Frank – it's Director Fairchild," she says.
"Ma'am!" I say, relieved. "Have you found a way to bring us back?"
"I'm afraid not, Frank – sorry. And I apologize further with more bad news. I've received an anonymous call from what sounds like the Mole from SKUL. He's informed me that the Grandmaster has activated the charges and the explosives will detonate in five minutes."
"Oh crap!" I exclaim. I switch off from the director, and relay the information to Oscar and Percy.
"Better radio Zeke the bad news," Percy tells me.
I swap frequencies from MI9 to Zeke. "Zeke, come in – this is Frank. You have exactly five minutes to deactivate the charges before they go off."
No reply.
I try again. "Zeke – are you there? Zeke? Zeke?"
Silence.
"Something must have happened to him," says Oscar. "But what?"
"I'll know when I get him," I say. I use the Spy Watch to change into a spacesuit. I head for the airlock. "I'll be right back."
I enter the airlock and head up the staircase. I reach the emergency exit door after swimming up three flights of stairs and turn the handle – but the door isn't budging!
"Come on! Open!" I say, applying my shoulder. After a moment, the door obligingly opens, and I step out into space.
"Whoa…" I sigh as I float in space. I feel like I'm floating in water. It's incredible. But that feeling only lasts for a second when I activate the jet-propelled backpack and get to work.
I make my descent towards the base of the club as that's where the explosives are most likely to be – and I'm hoping Zeke.
I make it to the base in no time – and I let out a gasp when I find Zeke lying unconscious on the opposite side.
"Zeke!" I cry, racing over to him. When I catch up to him, my eyes are wide in fear when I see his faceplate is cracked. A passing rock must have hit him in the face and since Zeke is in vacuum, he must have blacked out.
"Don't worry, Zeke – I've got you," I say, carrying him in my arms. I scale up the club and back into the airlock. Down the staircase we go and back into the club, where we're greeted by a horrified Oscar and Percy.
"Zeke!" Oscar cries. "Is he OK? What happened?"
"His faceplate got smashed by a passing space rock," I reply, removing my helmet. "Who knows how long he was out there for?"
I remove Zeke's helmet and check his pulse. It's very weak but it's there, thank God.
"He's OK – for now," I inform the others. "But at least he's removed the explosives."
A groan.
We look down at Zeke who made the noise.
"Zeke?" I say. "Zeke, can you hear me?"
He groans again. "One more…" he croaks.
"Huh? One more? One more what?" Percy asks.
"Come on, Zeke. One more what?" Oscar enquires.
"One more charge…" he rasps.
I gasp. "There's still one more charge left! Don't worry, Zeke – I'll sort it out!" I put on my helmet and move inside the airlock, closing the door behind me and head back into space.
I move quickly – I've got less than a minute to deactivate the last explosive.
I zoom over to the place where I picked up Zeke, hoping that the last explosive is there. And I'm right. The explosive is a timer and a number pad attached to the engine of the club. The question is, how did Zeke do it? How did he activate the other bombs? I've got to work it out – and quickly! There's only thirty seconds left.
Come on, Frank! THINK! The Grandmaster designed this bomb. If he wanted to deactivate it, what code would he use? What will stick in his mind for him to remember…?
Then it hits me. Of course! It has to be it! But I better act now – only ten seconds left.
I punch in the code: 3-5-6-7-7-9. "God, I hope it's right…" I say, and I hit the enter key.
My eyes are shut, waiting for the club's destruction. However, nothing has happened. I open my eyes… and see that the timer has stopped – with only one second left!
"I did it," I whisper. "I bloody did it!"
I cheer in victory. The club hasn't blown up! Thank you, General Flopsy! I used his name as the deactivation code: 3-5-6-7-7-9 – which on a keypad will spell out F-L-O-P-S-Y.
After congratulating myself on a job well done, I head back inside the club. Oscar and Percy are waiting for me – and so is Zeke, who has fully regained consciousness.
"Guys, worry no more. The last explosive has been deactivated," I tell them, removing my helmet. "Now we have to find a way of returning to Earth."
"And I think there might be a way," Zeke reports, still a little weak. "We can use Professor Rossington's formula and use the air inside the club to fuel the rocket."
"Use the professor's formula? But isn't that dangerous?" Oscar asks.
"It's extremely dangerous – and unless the calculations are correct for the rockets, the club could explode."
"You always have to be a half empty glass guy, don't you?" Percy remarks.
"I'm just stating the facts, Perce."
After giving it some thought I say, "All right, let's do it. But first we need to get in touch with MI9…"
"There isn't time for that, Frank. If Director Fairchild says no, who knows how long it'll take for help to arrive before we all suffocate from lack of air. We have to act now!"
My knuckle crack when my hand clenches into a fist. He's right – time is running out.
"Fine – we'll do it your way, Zeke. I better get back out there."
"And I'm coming with you." Before I can protest, Zeke adds, "I managed to figure out how to perfect the formula."
I stare at him. "You what?"
"It came to me while I was floating around, unconscious. I know what the formula is missing – I can provide the solution. Please, Frank – let me come with you."
"Well…" I did say earlier that whatever problem he faced, he'll find the solution. So why not?" OK, Zeke – you can come. Let's do it."
Once again I put my helmet back on while Zeke changes into another spacesuit with a new helmet. We go back into the airlock and back into space. We go underneath the club where the engines are and begin our work to convert them.
When we finish ten minutes later, Zeke and I head back into the club and change back into our normal clothes.
"Everything is ready," says Zeke. "You guys better get yourselves strapped in. I'll inform everyone what's happening."
We do what's said and get our hands on to whatever's bolted to the floor. After Zeke informs the whole club on what's about to happened everyone grabs a hold onto something. Zeke, Kenzie and Hay-Hay swim over to us and get strapped in.
"Is everyone ready?" Zeke asks.
We nod. I hope this works…
"OK – I'll activate the engines in five, four, three, two, one…" Zeke activates the engine via Spy Watch. The club rockets fires up and we begin to head towards Earth.
"It's working!" I yell. "You did it, Zeke!"
"We did it, Frank!" he corrects me. "Science Bros for life!"
"You know, it's all well and good that we're returning to Earth and everything," says Oscar, "but how are we going to stop crashing once we've entered the atmosphere?!"
"Uh-oh! I didn't think that through!"
"Great! So rather than suffocating in space, we're gonna crash into London, killing hundreds of thousands of people!" Kenzie concludes.
"That's about sums it up! Guys – I think now is a very good time to start panicking…!"
And as we scream blue murder, part of me is hoping that something will save us from crash landing into London.