Inside Retroville Middle School's boiler room, eight dark-robed figures stood in a circle. Water tanks rumbled and steam hissed as the cultists began to incant a series of low Gregorian chants.

In the middle of the ring knelt Bennett Stone and Yen Ito. Their hands were tightly bound behind their backs. With a hand on each of their shoulders, a guard kept them pinned to the ground. Yen glowered at her best friend. "Don't worry, Yen," she mocked in a stoic and enunciating timbre. "We can take on the whole Dark Brotherhood ourselves."

Bennet quietly protested, "I don't sound like that."

The acolyte standing guard over them whispered, "Yes. Sound exactly like that."

Yen said, "See?"

"Silence," the guard warned.

As the chanting grew louder, Bennett whispered, "The rest of the hall monitors had their hands full. We couldn't do nothing."

Yen rolled her eyes and looked at her guard. "What's going to happen to us?"

"Silence," the demon repeated.

Yen asked, "How come he got to talk?"

"Silence!"

"But-"

"Yen," Bennett bristled. Yen snapped him a death glare until he nodded towards a nearby boiler tank. "Look."

Yen followed his gaze and watched a figure leap off of the vat. His black cloak rippled in the air and swallowed him in darkness as he landed with one palm on the ground.

His blue eyes snapped up and locked onto Yen's. She said, "You're not the one that Cindy and Nick fought."

"He was defeated. Abandoned our ways. Now I lead." He faced his cantillating flock. "The prophecy is fulfilled. School is falling. Finally, we usurp it."

The chanting reached a deafening crescendo, then fell silent.

One teenager steepled their fingers and rested her forehead against them. "Only fire forges steel."

Another acolyte crossed their arms in an X over their chest. "Only ashes enrich soil."

A final disciple fell to their knees and stared at the ground. Joyful tears rained onto the cement. "Only blood nourishes life."

Yen leaned towards Bennett and whispered, "I'm not loving the blood part."

The lead brother ordered, "Begin the ceremony. Bring the blade."

Yen shook her head in disappointment. "Actually, this whole thing sucks."

A barrel of petroleum in the corner of the room burst open. From its ebony contents arose liquid death that coalesced into the shape of a tiny boy. The oil-slicked child gasped for breath, tried to climb out of his barrel, and collapsed onto the floor. He fell into a coughing fit and hacked black liquid onto the ground.

Yen raised an eyebrow.

"Silence," her guard warned.

The eyebrow descended.

The boy continued coughing for an uncomfortable stretch, then finally clambered to his feet. Feet sliding, he awkwardly made his way towards the chieftain. The group's newest acolyte fell to his knees and reached into his cossack.

Yen and Bennett shared a concerned look as the boy rested a grease-covered knife across his palms. He proffered the relic and said, "For the sacred bloodletting."

Yen and Bennett clenched their jaws and swallowed their fear. The chieftain flashed a menacing smile and grabbed the offering. "Now, we shall…" his voice trailed off as he studied the weapon. He used his cloak to wipe away the oil, then glowered at the acolyte. "This is plastic."

The greasy child cocked his head at the flimsy utensil. "But…it's a knife. You said bring knife."

The demon growled, "Obviously I meant-"

The boiler room's occupants flinched in shock as the door flew open with an earsplitting-bang.

A mop handle shot through the air like a crossbow bolt, slammed into the chieftain's sternum, and sent him flying to the ground.

In perfect synchrony Bennett and Yen craned their necks towards their savior, then cocked their heads at the sight.

The five-foot tall warrior was clad in the most bizarre armor they had ever seen. A steel bascinet helmet and rounded visor shrouded their identity. Each limb was encased in gray PVC piping. Their chest was shielded by a nigh impenetrable Australian Buloke wooden cuirass. Strapped to the soldier's back was a large container filled with a dozen mop handles. A series of wires and gears linked the quiver to a crossbow welded to the left arm. The contraption shooshed and clunked as another pole was loaded into the arbalest.

The knight raised the ironwood clipeus integrated into their right arm. They rested the crossbow atop the circular shield, aimed at the nearest acolyte, and loosed a bolt dead center.

With another child down and eight left, the Dark Brothers charged their attacker. Only the hall monitor's guard stayed behind and pushed harder on their shoulders.

Yen whispered to Bennett, "Get to work?"

The knight elbowed a button on their hip. Steam shot out of both the warrior's sabatons. Pneumatic cannons launched a bola from each shoe and sent two of the cultists crashing to the floor.

"Wait," Bennett cautioned. He watched a trio of assassins pelt the knight with punches and kicks at her joints. The piping absorbed each strike. The paladin brutally bashed their shield against one girl. The cloaked pubescent flew backwards and into the hall monitors' guard.

"Now!" Bennett roared while leaping to his feet. He hip-hip checked the off-balance guard, dodged the unsteady girl's haymaker, and headbutted her square in the nose.

Yen spotted the chieftain struggling to rise ten feet away. "My turn," Yen beamed while tucking into a forward roll. She ceased her charge an inch before the stunned monster and rocketed straight up. A jumping leg kick sent him to one knee. A roundhouse to the face finished the job.

Yen dropped to her back and landed on top of the chieftain's fallen knife. She grabbed the weapon, spotted Bennet dodging a Dark Brother's blows, and rolled towards him. Another mop handle slammed into the assassin's calf and sent him stumbling headfirst into a boiler tank.

"I'm back," Yen told Bennett. "Ready to be cut free?"

"Hurry," Bennett groaned as a bola-entangled child crawled towards him. He angled his bound hands towards Yen while stomping on the monster's wrists. After four kicks the demon stopped moving. Bennett craned his neck and asked, "What's taking so long?"

"It's plastic, remember?" Yen sawed faster only to watch the blade snap in half. "Okay, this was a bad idea."

"Rahr!" the knight roared while ripping a mop handle out of its crossbow. They snapped the pole against their knee to form two jagged spears. The paladin whipped one beam into a charging child's face while tossing the other at Yen's feet.

"Thank you scary knight!" Yen shouted while crouching down. She awkwardly grabbed the spear, aimed the rough edges at Bennett's bindings, and managed to cut him free. He immediately snatched the tool from her grasp and angled it against her ropes. He was about to start slicing when he abruptly shoved Yen away.

Yen cried in shock and then relief as she spotted an acolyte flying towards her in a dropkick. Bennett leaped backwards and arced his staff into the boy's cheek. After the bloody cultist slammed into the floor, Bennett freed his friend.

"You're the best," Yen assured Bennett while rubbing her sore wrists. The hall monitors searched for targets, but the knight took out their final attacker by swinging their clipeus into the demon's throat.

As the child desperately gurgled for breath, the paladin looked around the room. They found only the hall monitors and shakily approached them. Harsh wheezes escaped the visor's holes as a woman breathily moaned, "Principal…Clarke…needs…"

The knight collapsed to her knees. Bennett and Yen rushed towards their savior and removed her visor. Bennett cocked his head at the woman's baggy amber eyes. "Assistant Principal Gonzalez?"

Maria moaned, "Apollyon."

Bennett's eyes widened in terror. "What are you talking about?"

Gonzalez slowly reached behind her back and unsheathed a mop handle. She used the staff to help her stand. "H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S…the president…they've been trying to reach you."

Yen stared at the dead walkie-talkie on her kit belt. "We went radio silent before infiltrating the Dark Brotherhood."

Bennett asked, "Threat level Apollyon. You're sure?"

Gonzalez assured him, "That's why I'm here."

Yen watched the administrator's arms quiver while supporting her weight. "Ma'am, can you walk?"

"Yes," she groaned. "But the halls are dangerous. I may not be able to fight."

"We'll handle that," Bennett assured her. He tossee Yen his spear, then grabbed a stray bolt off the floor. He wielded the mop handle like a longsword and ordered his friend, "Guard her six. I'll take point."

Yen nodded and said, "Let's do it."

The air inside of Principal Clarke's crowded office was tense and muggy. Jimmy Neutron and the principal stood behind her desk, studying a blueprint of the school.

Cindy paced a tight line beside them, anxiously coiling a strand of her waterfall braid.

Courtney sat on the floor with her back against the side of the principal's armoire. Meagan was sprawled out with her head in her bestie's lap; both were peacefully napping.

Angie and Carl sat on the other side of the dresser playing a game of checkers.

Sheen sat atop the armoire, practicing his juggling.

Aashna lay upside down on Principal Clarke's chair. Cheeks red, she tried to find out how long she could hold her breath.

Butch and Ike sat in the corner across from Courtney, testing their reflexes with a game of red hands.

Nick and Ethan waited in the chairs in front of the principal's desk. Libby sat on Nick's armrest as all three anxiously discussed the state of the school.

Jimmy turned to Cindy and said, "We have to get started."

Cindy stopped pacing and shook her head. "Not without Bennett and Yen."

Jimmy asked, "What if they don't make it?"

"They'll make it," Cindy promised.

Everyone turned towards the door as it was kicked open.

A sweaty Bennett glanced at the room's occupants and lowered his staff in relief. "Clear," he gasped.

Yen and Gonzalez squeezed into the room. Gonzalez fell to one knee before her principal. "They are safe, ma'am."

Sheen crossed his arms and let his juggling balls fall to the floor. "Took you long enough. I didn't even know how to do this when you left!"

Bennett ignored the teenager and stared at Gonzalez. "Thanks for escorting us here, ma'am. Are you rested enough to rendezvous with the hall monitors? They could use the help."

Gonzalez turned to Clarke, who nodded. The assistant principal held a fist across her chest and swore, "It shall be done."

Nick watched his battered assistant principal leave and Yen close the door behind her. He raised his hand, clucked his tongue, and pointed two fingers at Cindy, "I have some questions."

"Later," Cindy snapped. She clapped her hands twice and drew everyone's attention. "Let's not waste another second. You all saw that hacker's-"

"Grade Snatcher," Courtney mumbled while stirring awake.

Cindy spun on the girl and asked, "What?"

"Let's call them the Grade Snatcher."

Nick chimed in, "Just agree. Trust me, she won't let it go."

"Fine, but no more interruptions," Cindy warned. "We all know the school's grades are missing and time is short. It's now," she pointed a finger at Jimmy, who glanced at the watch on his wrist.

"8:15 a.m.," Jimmy answered.

Cindy clenched her jaw and took a calming breath. "The auditors will arrive at noon. We have to find the missing grades before then."

With Ike distracted, Butch finally slapped his hands. The former bully asked, "Or what? What can those eggheads really do if we fail the audit?"

Angie nodded while jumping Carl's last piece. "Yeah, I never really got the danger. How can they shut R.M.S. down if we have to go to class?"

Ms. Clarke explained, "You all do need to go to school. But it doesn't have to be this one. If the inquisitors deem that R.M.S. isn't up to the superintendent's standards, they will do four things. Fire all administrators and most of the staff, shutter this building, make you all attend summer school to make up for a subpar year, and send you to new facilities in the fall."

Angie asked, "Facilities? As in more than one?"

Ms. Clarke answered, "Retroville covers a large area. The students who live in the eastern part of town will go to Metroville Middle School. Those on the western end will have to go to Comtempoville."

Ethan protested, "I've never heard of Comtempoville. It doesn't even sound real."

Ms. Clarke assured him, "It very much is."

Nick put an elbow on his free armrest and leaned forward. "So you're saying we won't just go to a new school together. We'll all get split up?" When Principal Clarke nodded, Nick swore, "Not gonna happen."

The group voiced their agreement. Libby asked, "So we just have to catch the Grade Snatcher and get them to give us the grades back?"

Carl asked, "What if they deleted the grades?"

Cindy stiffened in shock. She turned to Clarke and said, "I hadn't thought of that."

Jimmy shook his head. "They won't be deleted. This hacker has to know that if they're caught, offering the grades is their only way to negotiate for clemency." He faced the group and explained, "Catching the Grade Snatcher is only one part of the plan. Remember that the audit is about more than our scholastic merit. Even if get the grades back, we'll still fail if the school is in shambles when the inquisitors arrive."

Cindy went on, "That's why we needed all of you. This mission is too big for just the hall monitors or H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. We need to split into teams. One group will go after the Grade Snatcher. The others will get the school back in working order."

Yen warned, "How? People are rioting all over."

Cindy nodded. "It's true, this won't be easy. It's probably going to be the hardest thing any of us have ever done. But look around."

Everyone stared up at the ceiling or down at the floor.

"No, guys, come on. At each other."

As everyone locked eyes, Cindy slammed a fist into her palm. "You are all the best people I know. If we band together, nothing can stop us."

Cindy smiled at Butch and Ike. "You're tough as nails and never let fear stop you from doing what has to be done."

She faced Libby, Courtney, and Meagan. "You fight like hell to accomplish your dreams, even when it seems impossible."

Cindy stared up at Sheen and offered an approving nod. "You've shown that when the going gets tough, you are more capable than any of us give you credit for."

She turned to Carl. "You-"

Jimmy awkwardly said, "I don't think we have time to go through everyone."

Carl moaned, "But-"

"Fair enough," Cindy admitted. "The point is, if we work together there's no way we can fail."

Ike offered a steely nod. "You know we're in. What do we have to do?"

Jimmy turned to Bennett. "What exactly do the hall monitors need to secure the school?"

Bennett glared at Jimmy, sighed, and plucked a pen from his khaki's pockets. "Most of my officers have stayed loyal and are patrolling the halls for random dissent. It's dicey out there, but I think they can manage with the Dark Brotherhood out of play and Gonzalez's help."

Yen added, "Captain Juarez radioed us on the way here, though. There are three crises they don't have the manpower to handle."

Bennett approached the blueprint and tapped his pen on the cafeteria. "There's a huge protest in the lunchroom that's getting out of hand."

Ethan rose from his chair and approached the desk. "What's going on? Are the Alliance kids okay?"

"We don't have any monitors that can get over there. We just heard that it's bad."

Ethan told Cindy. "I have to check on them."

"Fine," Cindy agreed. She rubbed her chin and stared up at Sheen. "You and Meagan started a riot there once. Think you could shut one down instead?"

Sheen hopped off the armoire and said, "Sure. Stopping riots is way easier than starting them."

Jimmy protested, "I really don't think that's true."

"Have you ever done it?"

Cindy shut the boy's discussion down. "Sheen knows chaos. Just trust him. Meagan, are you in?" She faced the blonde who was still snoring on the floor. Cindy turned to the others and asked, "What is wrong with her?"

Libby anxiously shifted in her seat and mumbled, "No one knows." She pulled a syringe out of her pocket and tossed it to Sheen. "But can you stab her with this?"

"You got it!" Sheen beamed while burying the needle deep in Meagan's thigh.

Principal Clarke's jaw dropped as Meagan leapt awake. "Aaaggh!" she gasped while clutching her heart. She stared around the room and triumphantly shouted, "I did it!"

Ike asked, "Do I want to know?"

Meagan leapt to her feet as the syringe wobbled in her leg. "I knew that I couldn't be trusted to stop being awesome for the audit. So Libby, Courtney, and I came up with the idea to drug me."

Principal Clarke begged, "Please stop talking."

Meagan waved the woman's concerns away. "Don't worry, it's all above board. Turns out that Nurse Holt is actually a nurse practitioner."

"I obviously knew that," Clarke answered.

"So she prescribed me a month's worth of Xanax and I took all of it at once." She grinned at the group and asked, "So is it over? Did we win the contest?"

Angie said, "The audit's not a contest. It's-"

"We're moving on," Cindy tried to refocus the group.

Ms. Clarke stared at Libby. "You need to tell me what was in that syringe."

Libby shrugged. "I don't know."

Courtney offered, "Flu…maze…ilin? Nurse Holt gave it to us for emergencies."

Jimmy said, "They must mean flumazenil. It's just a reversal agent. It quickly removes benzodiazepines such as Xanax from one's system."

Principal Clarke stayed silent and weighed her life choices.

Cindy pointed at Meagan. "You're helping Sheen and Ethan stop a lunchroom riot."

"Got it," Meagan assured her.

"I'll go too," Nick offered. "Something tells me Ethan might need help keeping those two in line."

"Hey!" Meagan protested.

Cindy offered Nick a grateful smile. "That's good for the first team. What's the second disaster?"

Bennett moved his pen to the basement's east wing. "There have been multiple reports of violent wedgies all across the lower level, but the largest cluster is near the science classrooms."

Everyone faced the upside down Aashna. She finally exhaled and asked, "What? It wasn't me."

Ethan offered, "She's right. I've been with her all morning."

Yen joined Bennett at the desk. "We heard whoever's behind this has left a calling card at each crime scene. They're calling themselves the Maroon Molecule."

Bennett said, "It seems they're aiming to be a copycat of the Black Atom."

"Whoa, hold up," Aashna said while sliding to the floor and somersaulting to her feet. "You're telling me that someone's stealing my gimmick?"

Bennett answered, "Yes. And from what I've heard, they're even more prolific."

Aashna spun on Ethan. "Definition?"

"It means they're a better wedgier than you."

Aashna's jaw dropped in disbelief before morphing into a hellish scowl. She stared up at Cindy and begged, "Let me destroy this wannabe loser."

Cindy glanced at Ethan, who offered a nod. Cindy told Aashna, "Fine. But not by yourself."

Angie got to her feet. "I'll go with her. I've handled my share of feral elementary schoolers this year."

Aashna hissed at Angie and snarled, "Who are you calling feral?"

Angie shoved Aashna's shoulder at just the right angle to spin her around. Once Aashna's back was to her, Angie clasped the scruff of the girl's neck.

Aashna immediately fell limp and moaned, "Dang, that's cozy."

Courtney asked, "Can I come? I'm always game to catch a supervillain."

Angie nodded, so Cindy asked Bennett, "And the last crisis?"

"Nurse Holt and Betty are completely overwhelmed with injuries. They need able bodies to assist in the nurse's office."

"Oh, oh, I'm a body!" Carl repeatedly thrust a hand in the air.

Sheen added, "And he's mostly able!"

Jimmy suggested, "Carl, your immune system is rather subpar. The nurse's office may not be the best-"

Cindy shook her head. "No time. He's in. Who wants to help Carl?"

Ike flipped up a palm. "I think it's time for another Wheezer and Burke team up."

Libby grinned and volunteered. "I definitely want to see this play out. I'll join."

Jimmy looked at Butch, Bennett, and Yen. "That leaves us to solve the mystery of the missing grades." He faced Cindy and said, "I know you probably need to stay here and coordinate things, but I could use another genius on the team."

Yen elbowed Bennett and whispered, "Did he just insult us?"

Bennett nodded. "That is very on brand for him."

Cindy rolled her eyes. "Flatterer. And no way I'm sitting in my office today. I'm in."

Principal Clarke said, "Excellent. I'll do my best to coordinate with the teachers and hall monitors to keep the rest of this school calm."

Cindy clapped her hands and said, "Okay then. Let's-"

The principal's door violent flew open and smashed into a nearby end table. The lamp atop it fell to the floor and shattered as a seventh-grade boy confidently strode in. He smoothed his slicked back chestnut hair and adjusted his white coat. "Apologies for being tardy. I got here as quickly as I could."

Ms. Clarke turned away to hide her disgust. "Oh, no."

Cindy growled, "This is a private meeting. Who are you?"

Nick rubbed his brow. "Evan White. He's a Retroville Middle School Psychiatrist Live Action Role Player."

Evan confidently strode across the room and brutally clapped Nick's shoulder. "I appreciate the effort, but I can handle my own introductions, Nicolai."

"Not my name, dude."

Sheen shouted, "Yeah, it's Nicodemus!"

While Nick glowered, Evan loudly clapped his hands six times. "You all needn't fear anymore. I have come to lend my expertise in the matters of the mind," he tapped his temple, "and if desired, the heart." Evan placed his hand atop Nick's chest and squeezed in rhythm with the boy's heartbeat.

Nick motionlessly fumed as Evan went on, "I shall create for you all a perfect psychological profile of this hacker. Once you know your enemy, you can wrangle them with ease."

"Please leave," Principal Clarke begged.

Evan chuckled and said, "I'll get to work posthaste, ma'am. But I can't do this on my own. I shall need a state of the art research facility, seven assistants, and complete access to R.M.S.'s medical and guidance counselor records."

"If you go now, I'll let you use the custodian's lounge."

Evan patted a soulless Nick's chest. "You strike a hard bargain, ma'am. Lucky for you I relish a challenge. I'll let you know when the profile is complete."

Evan offered a two-fingered salute and spun around. He marched out the door, slammed it behind him, and the broken lamp exploded.

"Ugh," Cindy moaned. She shook away her distaste and asked, "Can we get started, or do you guys need another speech?"

"We're good," Butch assured her.

Cindy narrowed her eyes and said, "Then let's save this school."