"So... how exactly do we get into Hearst High to prove their web of corruption? We can't just stroll on in anymore, not without Hearst IDs." said Jess
"Oh, you'll need more than that. Hearst has upgraded their security system. In addition to student IDs, they've also got reinforced locks on all the doors and a crack team of security guards working around the clock!" said Sakura
"They can afford that but didn't have the budget for my robotics club?" said Nishan
"Team, focus. I've got a plan to get us into Hearst. To start, we'll need to get some Hearst student IDs. The cheerleading team are at a cheer retreat this weekend perfect chance to swipe their ID." said Wes
"What? Why?" Jess asked
"No pockets on cheerleading uniforms! They'll have to leave their IDs in their bags when they run drills!" said Wes
Jess gather funding to cover the cheer retreat. "That should cover it!"
"Now we need cheerleader." said Wes
Jess gather Sierra and Chad
"Woot woot! Cheer retreat!" Chad cheered
"OMG! I'm so excited to go, I could flip! In fact, I'm GONNA flip!" Sierra cheered
"Wes you did tell them that they're not ACTUALLY going to participate in the cheer retreat?" Jess asked
"Not yet, gather round cheerleaders I'll fill you in." said Wes
"Wait, what?" Chad asked in confusion
A little while later, Sierra, and Channing arrive at the cheer retreat.
"All right, you two. You've got to move fast and sneaky. If Kara and her crew see you two, your done." Wes ordered
Kara is berating one of her cheerleaders. "You call that a hand spring?! That was sloppier than your makeup and Homecoming! No wonder Jerome cheated on you with that girl from Athena Academy! I bet she didn't flop around like a beached whale!"
"Is it just me, or is Kara getting meaner?" Chad asked
For one moment, Mia looks frightened... Then she steels herself with a deep breath.
Kara's team starts to assemble into a pyramid. The cheerleaders move nimbly across the floor, making sure to stay hidden from Kara's angry glare! They get right up to the bags, just as one of Kara's cheerleaders hits the ground with a crash, distracting Kara. The cheerleaders unzip the bags, grab the IDs, and run outside!
They run over to Wes and hand him the IDs. "I can't believe it! You guys pulled it off! Great work in there!"
"Well, we've got the IDs. What's next?" Jess asked
"We've got to mod them, of course, unless you were planning to get a makeover to look just like Kara." said Wes
"So is this technically making fake IDs? Because I don't know if I'm comfortable with that." said Jess
"It's for a good cause, Jess. We'll just use them once to get in and out of Hearst so we can find evidence of the corruption. After that, you can get rid of them however you want." said Wes
"Right. So do you have, like, a guy who does this sort of thing for you? Or do you do it yourself?"
"Actually... I was hoping you might know some folks who could help."
Jess gather the nerds and artist to modify their ID
"Oh, these are some real beauties. Really, top-notch work. Your friends could be professional forgers. Actually, that gives me an idea." said Wes
"Wes, you are NOT allowed to run a counterfeiting operation out of our school... and I can't believe that's something I had to say out loud." Jess pointed
"Aw, you're no fun." Wes groaned
"This ID say a fake name." Payton pointed
"All part of a plan to sneak in were no longer student at Hearst." said Wes
"Any chance you'll share the plan with us?" Jess asked
"All in good time... all in good time." said Wes
"We've got IDs. What next?" Jess asked
"This is where things get tricky. We'll need a key that can open a classroom door at Hearst High." said Wes
"And where are we going to get that?" Jess asked
"I happen to know Max has one on his keychain. His dad let him have it so he could work out in the gym after hours. He's hanging with some of his crew down at McGraw's Grill. We just need an actor to go in as a waiter and get close to him."
Jess and Carlos head down to McGraw's Grill, a diner on the Hearst side of town.
"You sure you can do this?" Jess asked
"Play the role? I've played kings and killers, conquerors and kittens. I think I can handle being a diner waiter." said Carlos
"Sounds good! Wait, when did you play a kitten?" Jess asked
"My kindergarten musical production, of course!" said Carlos
"Oh, you guys put on Cats?" Jess asked
"No! We put on The Great Catsby. I was magnificent." said Carlos
"Well, what you need to do now is go in there, get close to Max, and then spill something on him." said Wes
"The Clumsy Waiter! A classic trope!" said Carlos
"Right. Then, when you go to clean him up, nab his keys off his keychain." said Wes
"I've got this." Carlos walks over to Max's table, where he's laughing with a bunch of his friends. "Well, hi there, buddy! Can I take your order?"
"Uh, for starters, I am NOT your buddy. The name's Max Warren, and I'm a pretty big deal. Go Hearst!" Max's bros laugh and cheer, giving him high-fives and fist-bumps!
"Oh. Well, what can I get you?" Carlos asked
"See, it's funny. I thought that the nice thing about being a regular at a restaurant is that you don't have to order. They just know what you want. So why don't you go back there and tell Mr. McGraw you're doing a terrible job serving his number one customer? See what he has to say about that." said Max
"Right. Wow. Okay. I'll just... do that. But first, may I recommend the soup?" Carlos grabs a bowl of soup off the serving counter, spins around, and 'accidentally' dumps it all over Max!
"Ahhhhhh! What is wrong with you?!" Max yelled
"Oh my! I'm so clumsy! What a real butterfingers!" said Carlos
Max lunges up. Carlos bumps into him, fumbling for his keychain... But Max shoves past him before he can grab it! "Get out of my way, you clumsy loser!' Max storms off to the bathroom. A busboy stops him, trying to clean him off, but Max pushes the busboy out of the way. "Grr... I was so close!"
Just then, the busboy turns around, takes off his hat... and grins. "Oh, I think you did just fine." Wes holds up his hand and waves, jangling Max's stolen keychain! "Rule number one... always have a backup plan."
Later, Jess and Wes regroup back on your campus. "Well, we've got the IDs, and we've got the key. What's the plan from here?" Jess asked
"I'm almost ready to start the heist. I just need to get myself into the zone. I'm going to study at the library." Wes went to study at library preparing himself to pull off the biggest heist
Jess gathers the group at the Slacker Hangout, Payton turns off her phone
"We stand now on the brink of a great chasm. I'm not going to lie to you. What comes next is risky... dangerous... uncertain. If you join me and this heist goes wrong, you might get in trouble. Serious trouble. I can't promise you'll come out of this okay. But what I can promise is that if this heist goes right, if we take Hearst down, then everything changes. Since our school has existed, Hearst has been trying to destroy it. That'll all end. No more pranks. No more sabotage. And for the students still there, the ones who can't leave, no more being victims of corruption. So I ask you, right now, are you in?" Wes announced
"You got our back bro." Jordan raised his hand
"What are friends for." John raised his hand
"I'm in too. Selling good grades to rich kids is just wrong. Grade should be earned not brought" said Nishan
"Yeah, count me in. It for our own good." said Julian
"And I'm in. Because school should be a place where you feel welcomed, not judged." said Jess
"You said it!" Payton nodded
"I'm in too!" Sakura nodded
"So what exactly are we doing?" Jess asked
"I need you all to listen to me very carefully it might be good to take down note." Wes goes over the plan the group took note down seriously. "Mr. Georgette, the history teacher at Hearst High, has proof of the corruption on his computer. To get it, we'll need to break into three teams. The first is Team Eagle. That's me and Jordan. We'll keep track of everything from my van. The next group is Team Strikeforce. They're going to physically break into Hearst High and get to the computer lab. Team Srikeforce is Nishan, Sakura, and Jess. They'll need a good distraction though. That's where Team Pom-Poms comes in. That'll be Payton, Sarah and Julian."
"Heh, Pom-Poms. Wait... WHAT?!" Julian exclaimed
Wes and Julian sit in a van, surrounded by dozens of monitors showing live feeds from cameras all over Hearst High. Wes talks into a walkie-talkie. "All right, it's go-time. Team Pom-Poms, you're up first. Your mission is to impersonate the Hearst cheerleading team and distract the security guards. Roll out!"
Just outside the Hearst campus, Payton and Sarah hop into Julian car Julian drive towards the gate.
"I still don't understand why I have to be on Team Pom-Poms..." Julian frowned
"Because one of the IDs is for a boy, and no one's going to buy Nishan or Jordan as a cheerleader! Sarah good at acting." said Payton
"We get to pretend that we're all perky and cheerful and spirited! Maybe I should try out for cheerleading for real." Sarah cheered
"I always wanted to try cheerleading." Payton squealed
Wes's voice crackles over a walkie-talkie on the dash. "Enough chatting Team Pom Poms get into character!"
A pair of security guards approaches. Payton rolls down the window...
"Hi there, guys! We just got back from this cheer retreat, and we're soooo tired! Could you help us with our bags? We've got, oh, three dozen." Payton smiled
The guards gruffly gesture for IDs. Payton flashes hers with a radiant, confident smile. The guard turns to Sarah...
"My ID? Of course! I'd love to show you my ID! I love showing all IDs! Give me an I, give me a D, what's that spell? ID! Identification!" Sarah cheered
"Scale it back, sweetie, you're freaking 'em out..." said Payton
The guard checks it out, then turns to Julian. "Uh. Yeah. Okay. Here's my ID." The guard stares at Julian skeptically... "Sigh... Here's my ID, sir! I sure am a cheerleader! I love yelling and flipping and, uh, more yelling! Woo woo, go Hearst High, let's beat the team and make 'em cry! We gotta win cuz we're so great! The other team can't get a date! What a bunch of stupid losers! They suck! Woo!" Julian cheered
The guard considers this... then waves them on through! Payton and Autumn whisper intensely...
"OMG! Julian, that was amazing!" Payton cheered
"Are you going to try out for the cheerleading team? PLEASE try out for the cheerleading team!" Sarah begged
"Not in ten million year. If you guys tell a soul about this, you're dead, you understand? DEAD!" Julian glared
Team Pom-Poms drives onto the Hearst campus with all the guards following them to help unload the bags. Mia and Wes watch from their van...
"Looks like the pigs have swallowed up the cheesecake." said Wes
"Bro you not making any sense." said Jordan
"The guards are distracted by Team Pom-Pom! Team Strikeforce... get ready to move in!" said Wes
Jess, Nishan, and Sakura hide in the shadows at the edge of the Hearst campus...
"Oh man. We're really doing this, aren't we? Actually going through with it. IRL. Not pretend. Fo' realsies." said Nishan
"Nishan, stop saying synonyms and get ready to run!" Wes called
Ahead of you, the guards all round the corner.
"The guards are gone! Move, move, move!" Jess called
Jess, Nishan, and Sakura take off, racing across the parking lot towards the Hearst classrooms! Just then, Jess see a puddle of water right in front of her! Jess leap effortlessly, clearing the puddle!
"Nice jump!" said Nishan
The three of you make it to the Hearst academic building just as the guards finish helping Team Pom-Poms unload! Jess quickly open the door and run in!
"Don't count your points 'til you've beat the level. We still need to get into Mr. Georgette's classroom." said Sakura
"Right... anyone know where that is?" Sakura and Nishan lead Jess to the classroom
"Here it is!" Sakura pointed
"Nice work, Sakura! You know, you've got amazing eyes! I mean, not, like, amazing, beautiful eyes... I mean amazing like they're, you know, exceptionally well-suited for scouting and sorting activities." said Nishan
"Oh. Right. Um. Thanks." Sakura blushed
"Uh, guys? Let's stay on task." said Jess
Using Max's key, the three unlock the door and rush inside! Back in Wes's van, he and Mia keep watching the cameras.
"Yes! The weasels are in the hen house!" said Wes
"Yeah, okay, if you say so. Sidenote, are these two cameras supposed to be showing static? Because they're showing static." said Jordan
"What? No! That's bad. That's very bad! Those are the cameras I set up off-campus to keep track of the school's perimeter! Now I can't see if security's going to come" back! There's probably something going on with the signal. Can you go call some people who know their way around cameras to get them back online?" Wes gather the filmmakers to fix the camera
"Looks like the filmmakers are fixing the cameras and." said Jordan
"Yes! We're online!" said Wes
"The eagles are back in the sky!" said Jordan
"Well, it looks like the security guards are still helping Team Pom-Poms with their bags, so we're doing okay." said Wes
"Huh... then what's that movement? There, in the shadows?" Jordan pointed
"Is that..." Wes zooms in on the footage.
"Oh no..." Jordan and Wes exclaimed seeing the police arrived surrounding the school
"We need to get in touch with Team Strikeforce... NOW!" Wes exclaimed
Jess, Nishan, and Sakura huddle up in Mr. Georgette's classroom. Your walkie-talkie crackles with static.
"Huh? It sounds like Wes is trying to say something, but I can't make it out over the static." said Nishan
"Let's just focus on getting the proof, okay? Nishan, can you log into the computer?" Jess asked
Nishan rushes over to the computer and boots it up. "Uh oh."
"What's 'uh oh?' I don't like the sound of 'uh oh'." Jess frowned
"It looks like Hearst upgraded their security. It's got three more layers of encryption." said Nishan
"Can you still hack it?" Sakura asked
"Yes... Give or take 8 hours." said Nishan
"We don't have that kind of time! We have to get out of here before the security guards find us!" said Jess
"Well, it would help if I had a seed of some kind... a hint as to what Mr. Georgette's password might be." said Nishan
"Quick! Look around and see if you can find anything that might help Nishan figure out what the password is!" said Jess
"A Hidden Object game, huh? I like it." Sakura smiled
"Okay... has anyone found any clues as to Mr. Georgette's password?" Jess asked
"I've got a teacher's log... a framed photo of a supermodel... and a scrunched up piece of paper I found in the trashcan." said Sakura
"No pressure, guys, but we probably ought to hurry. We don't have much time left to guess Mr. Georgette's password." said Nishan
"What do you want to do next?" Sakura asked
"Examine the log. Hmm, let's see here... 'Kara Sinclair... one of the worst students I've ever had. Constantly late, disrespectful, and distracted. Also, she called me 'baldie', which was downright hurtful. Max Warren worst student disrespectful taking advantage of Nishan and Sakura." Jess read the log out loud
"Ooo, ooo, find me!" said Sakura
"'Sakura... bright but odd. Seems mostly focussed on getting the best grades for the least work. Also, oddly fixated on the 'killcount' of every historical warrior.' Nishan brightest hardworking student getting top score." Jess read the log
"That's not surprising we always get top score in class then Kara and Max got us to do there
"Maybe we should just focus on trying to find the password." said Nishan
"Examine the photo. It's a photo of a gorgeous woman in a slinky red dress... I wonder why Mr. Georgette has it." Jess take the picture out of its frame and turn it over. "Look! There's a message here! 'To my loving, wonderful husband, thanks for such an amazing anniversary! Going back to the research lab where we first met was so romantic! Love, Krystal!'"
"Wow, Mr. Georgette did REALLY well for himself." said Sakura
"Mental note: consider becoming a history teacher." said Nishan
Jess put the picture back in its frame and set it down.
"I know the password." said Jess
"You sure you're ready?" Nishan asked
"Yes. I think it's Krystal." said Jess
"Hmmm... let me try that." Nishan types it in. "Jackpot! It worked! Great work, Jess!" Nishan flashes a thumbs up
"Seriously. Not bad at all." said Sakura
"So you have access to the emails?" Jess asked
"Oh yeah. And it's even worse than we thought. I've got an email log between Mr. Georgette and Principal Warren... It looks like Kara and Max blew off all her homework and got an F on every test, but Principal Warren demanded she be given a B+! When Mr. Georgette refused, Principal Warren threatened to fire him!" said Nishan
"That sounds like all the evidence we need!" said Jess
"Mission accomplished!" said Sakura
"Now let's get out of-" Before Nishan can finish his sentence, he's cut off by a blast of noise from your walkie-talkie!
"Team Strikeforce! Get out of there NOW!" Wes exclaimed
"What? Why?" Jess exclaimed
"The cops are surrounding the school! You guys must have tripped an alarm or something! I'm not talking school security, either. I'm talking the police!" said Wes
Just then, sirens blare from outside, and red-and-blue lights shine through the windows!
"Oh no. Oh no!" Nishan panicked
"What do we do?" Sakura panicked