Under a starlit sky, chill morning air whipped across Jimmy Neutron's face. Once his target came into view, he killed the thrusters and settled into a smooth descent. With practiced ease, he glided to a stop directly in front of the Candy Bar's double doors. He smoothed the wrinkles on his shirt, threw on a smile, and pushed open the doors.

The restaurant was as dead as the rest of the town before sunrise. He glanced at his watch and showed the numbers tick over to 5:07 a.m.

Sam stood behind the bar with his back to Neutron. He spun around, glowered at the boy, and growled, "You kept him waiting, yeah."

Jimmy's face fell. "But seven minutes late is practically early." When Sam stayed quiet, Jimmy asked, "So he just left?"

"No, yeah."

"Huh?"

The bathroom door swung open and Nick Dean strolled out. He brought a comb towards his hair and halted at the last millimeter. "Hey, Neutron."

Jimmy nervously said, "Sorry I'm late. I've just never gotten up this early before."

"I don't think anyone has." The boys shared a smile. "It's no problem. After all, drinks are on you."

Jimmy rolled his eyes as they walked towards the bar stools. He set his backpack on the floor and took a seat. "They are?"

"We don't all have invention money. So I took the liberty of opening a tab for ya."

Sam slid them both a chocolate malt and disappeared into the kitchen after blasting the genius with one last glare.

Jimmy watched him leave, then grabbed his drink. "Does that mean I get to give the toast?"

"Dang," Nick snapped his fingers. "I didn't think this through."

Jimmy held up his glass. "I believe it was the great wordsmith Paul Dickson who proclaimed that toasts can convey a wide bevy of emotions, from love to -"

"Whelp, this has been fun," Nick said while rising from his chair.

Jimmy urged, "Wait, I'll skip the introduction." He cleared his throat as Nick skeptically sat back down. "This is to us. A year ago I never would have imagined we'd end up here."

Nick smiled. "And ever since then I'd hoped we would come back." The boys clinked their glasses and sipped their malts. "Though I hadn't expected to fight off bats on the way here."

Jimmy retreated into his shoulders. "Sorry about that."

Nick waved him off. "It's fine. I can handle getting up early two more times. Once we get to high school, we can go back to the real tradition of cutting first period."

Jimmy cautiously sipped his drink. "You think we'll keep doing this once we get to R.H.S.?"

Nick didn't hesitate. "Yeah, Neutron. I do."

Jimmy smiled, and both boys settled in for a morning they'd always cherish.

Ethan Brown's fingers anxiously darted over the backpack resting on his lap. He glanced at the watch on his wrist, stared out at the motionless traffic, and then looked back at his timepiece. "Can't you drive any faster? I'm gonna be late."

Ethan's stepmother explained, "The light's red, honey."

"What if we drove on the sidewalk?"

"That's frowned upon. Why are you in such a rush?"

Ethan let out a dramatic sigh. "If we don't get to school in the next ten minutes I won't have time to organize my locker for next year."

The light turned green and Mrs. Shaan began the final push towards Retroville Middle School. "That absolutely has to be done before school starts?"

"Well, normally I would do it in homeroom, but I'm going to be busy all day preparing for the audit."

"Ethan, you're going to summer camp in two days and we're going on a family hike tomorrow. This is your last chance for a while to spend time with all those friends you're always talking about. So maybe prepping a locker can wait?"

"You're saying I should leave it dirty until fall? What if it gets all moldy?"

"I highly doubt you have enough detritus for that, my dear."

"That is true."

"I'm just saying-"

"I keep it impeccable, Mom."

Mrs. Shaan smiled as she pulled up to R.M.S.'s curb. "Honey, I thought I might be the luckiest woman in the world when I met your father. But I knew that was true when I got to know his son."

Ethan blushed as his stepmother wrapped him in an embrace. "You're a great kid, Ethan. So just enjoy the day. That perfectly in place locker can wait."

Ethan hugged her back and agreed, "Fine. I'll trust you."

"How incredibly wise." Mrs. Shaan kissed Ethan on the forehead. "I'll see you at two o'clock. Now go have fun."

"I will. Bye!" Ethan said while hopping out of the car. He waved as she pulled away, then strolled into R.M.S.'s foyer. A frazzled bureaucrat rose from his seat as Ethan walked past.

"Morning, Ethan! That new inventory management software you helped us code is working great."

"Glad to hear it. The Neutronauts really helped me fine-tune it. Do we have everything we need for today?"

"Well, turns out we actually had negative one hundred reams of paper."

Ethan's face fell. "How-"

"But I ordered a thousand cases for overnight delivery, so we're peachy keen thanks to you. As long as the dock worker's club unloads them quick, we'll be in tip top shape."

"Glad to hear it. I'll make sure Antoni and his guys get it done," Ethan said before heading towards his locker near the gym. Once he'd finished his journey he stroked the dial and said, "Hello, old friend. Ready for one last spin?"

After several twists and one final click, he yanked on the door.

"BOO!" Aashna screamed while bursting her face out of the locker.

"ERMYGOSHAASHNA!" Ethan screamed while stumbling backwards. He tripped over his feet and collapsed to the floor.

"I'mma lick ya!" Aashna pounced on her fallen brother and frantically tried to lick his hand.

"Get off," Ethan shoved the girl aside while struggling to catch his breath.

"That was awesome," Alex Volkov beamed while stepping out of a nearby classroom. He offered his fallen friend a hand.

Ethan panted and glowered at the boy. "Why…how…" he gulped while Alex hoisted him up. Facing Aashna, he said, "I saw Mom drop you off at Earhart. How the heck did you get here before me?"

Aashna smiled wide enough to show off a newly lost baby tooth. "Alex was waiting for me. He had to pedal like the wind to get us here."

"Legs of steel, dude," Alex said with a nod.

"Look at those things!" Aashna beamed and waved her hands in front of his muscular calves.

"Alright, that's enough," Ethan bristled. "I seriously regret suggesting you two be friends."

"Whoa, liar alert," Aashna laughed. "This duo was purely our doing."

"Yeah, not cool, Ethan," Alex chided. "Don't take credit for our hard work."

Ethan sighed and said, "Well either way, you had your fun." He glared at Aashna and ordered, "Now get back to your school before you get expelled. It's not an I.O.P. day."

Aashna waved him off. "Pssh, it's the last day of school. No one cares what we do. I've seen plenty of kids from all over the district. Even Bennett's here and he would never do anything that could get him in trouble."

"Bennett is not on probation. Get back to Earhart."

Aashna turned to Alex, who crossed his arms. "Come on, man. She's already here, and you know that H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. could use the extra help today. Just let her stay."

Ethan frowned and swiveled his gaze to Aashna, who splayed her arms and offered a cherubic smile. Ethan closed his eyes and said, "Fine. But you're going to be working with me all day."

To his surprise, Aashna didn't argue. She simply shrugged and said, "Fine by me. I can handle a few extra hours with you before you head off to camp."

Ethan turned to Alex. "What are you going to do?"

"I gotta meet the Alliance Club in the cafeteria. We've got a lot of prep work before the last lunch of the year." He nodded at the siblings and began the trek towards the cafeteria. "No snacking before then!" he warned.

Aashna watched him disappear around the corridor and asked her brother, "So, what do we do now?"

Ethan started heading towards H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. headquarters. "We meet with the others and make sure this school is normal for six hours."

"Doesn't seem possible, but I'm game to try. After me!" Aashna triumphantly shouted before skipping ahead of Ethan.

Betty Quinlan opened the door to the nurse's office and found Nurse Holt double-checking their inventory. The middle-aged woman stared at Betty and cocked her head in surprise. "Betty," she warmly greeted her protégé. "I wasn't sure you'd be coming this morning."

"I know it's not an I.O.P. day, but I really don't think anyone will mind. Besides, I figured with the audit you could use some help."

"I certainly could. And I'm glad you showed up; you saved me the trouble of finding you at lunch."

Betty crossed the lobby and joined Nurse Holt in the treatment area. "What do you mean?"

Before she could answer, the door burst open behind her. "We need some help!" Sheen Estevez shrieked as he helped Carl hobble inside.

Nurse Holt glared at the boys. "School hasn't even started yet, boys."

Sheen explained, "We know, but Carl's even more messed up than usual."

Carl moaned, "Sheen and I were in the middle of our morning hug when I got all hot and itchy. Maybe it's because he was covered in honey and I'm allergic?"

Sheen released Carl and slammed a hand into his fist. As his friend crashed to the floor, Sheen shouted, "Dang that morning detour through the Retroville Apiary!"

"Enough!" Betty snapped. "Carl, I'll take your vitals. Sheen, get the heck out of here."

"Wait," Nurse Holt said before ducking into her office. She reappeared in a flash with a gift-wrapped box. "You may want to use this."

Betty smiled in disbelief. "A present? For me?"

Sheen warned, "Oh boy, he's getting puffier."

Nurse holt nodded at Betty. "I've taught many students over the years, Betty. None have the dedication, natural skills, or kind soul that I've seen in you."

Betty's words failed her as she stared in awe at her mentor.

"He's turning rubicund!"

Betty swallowed hard and asked, "You really mean that?"

"Of course," Nurse Holt assured you. "You work here every chance you get. I've seen you spend hours before and after school studying in the library. And you've never turned your back on a student in need."

"Please help us!"

Nurse Holt motioned at the package. "I think you should open it."

Betty did as she was told. She tore apart the wrapping and uncovered a sleek black box bearing the word Littmann. "No way," she beamed. "My own stethoscope?"

Nurse Holt nodded and said, "Check the engraving."

Betty examined the white letters along the silver bell. "Betty Quinlan - future doctor." She wiped her eyes and hugged her mentor. "Thank you, ma'am."

While the two embraced, the fallen Carl weakly pointed a puffy finger at his swollen throat. "Can't…br…ugh…breathe."

"My gosh," Sheen moaned. "He needs a tracheal transplant. Ultralord steady my nerves and grant me the skills I do not have. Scalpel!" he roared while turning towards a nearby instrument tray. He grabbed a frightfully available blade, spun around, and advanced on his terror-stricken friend.

"Sheen, enough," Betty warned while walking up to Carl. She opened a nearby drawer and grabbed an EpiPen. In an instant the device was uncapped and buried in Carl's leg.

"Erghh…ahhh," Carl sighed in relief as his throat slowly opened. He croaked. "Thank you."

While Sheen struggled to shake the scalpel loose from his honey-covered hand, Betty smiled and plugged her new stethoscope into her ears. "No problem. Now let's get those vitals."

Inside the woodshop's saloon, Ike Burke leaned both elbows across the bar and listened to his two patrons with rapt interest.

Ms. Wolf slugged the rest of her chai blossom before saying, "So that's when I said, 'It doesn't matter if I brought the bedbugs in. The lease says that you've got to pay the exterminator.'" She swiped an arm over her lips and proudly leaned back. "Who would have guessed that Goody Two Shoes's paperwork would save my hide?"

Cindy sipped her pomegranate spritzer and smiled. "I could have. Cement Fest never would have had that hot air balloon if Ethan hadn't figured out all the permits."

Ike took a drag from his magic apple and said, "Plus, he did organize the petition that convinced Clarke to legalize this place."

"Whatever," Ms. Wolf said while motioning for another drink. While Ike got to mixing, she went on, "Point is, all of my old students were snot-nosed brats. I figured this year's bunch would be the same, but you kids surprised me. Especially you," Ms. Wolf jabbed a finger towards Cindy. "Tomorrow makes a year since I read my upcoming class's roster. Whoo, you should have heard the curses I shouted when I saw your and Soft Serve's names."

Ike asked, "You'd heard of them?"

"Of course, they were the boogeymen that every teacher in the district dreaded." Ms. Wolf started ticking off her fingers. "We all knew how you shrunk your teacher, then made her super tall, sent some staff to another dimension, always cut class, nearly killed a room full of kids with unstable molecules, launched an asteroid at your school-"

"Okay, I get it," Cindy cut in. "And for the record, most of those were not my fault."

"Yes they were," Ike chimed in. He slid another chai blossom across the bar which Veronica greedily snatched. "Remember when you sabotaged that box from his magic show? Or ruined that play by making a tornado?"

Ms. Wolf jabbed her drink towards the girl. "Like I said, you sounded disgusting."

Cindy narrowed her eyes and sucked down her drink.

Ms. Wolf went on, "I went on a three-day bender after I found out I was going to be your teacher."

Cindy bristled, "Something tells me I'm not to blame for that one."

Ms. Wolf warned, "Watch it, Blondie. The point is, I was wrong about you." She swirled her glass and stared into golden liquid. With a shrug, she admitted, "And maybe I was wrong about all the ones who came before you."

Ike asked, "You never hung out with any of your old students like this?" When Ms. Wolf shook her head, he asked, "Why?"

Veronica answered, "Like I said, I thought they were just snot-nosed kids. Who would want to waste their time with them?"

Cindy and Ike shared a quick glance. She asked, "Then why did you want to become a teacher?"

Ms. Wolf let out a hollow laugh. "I didn't want to. I had to." She took another measured sip and explained, "I was halfway to getting my PhD when I had a bad night. I'd spent the whole week in the lab crunching data and needed a night off. So I had too much to drink and said some things to my jerk of a doctoral advisor that I couldn't take back."

Ike asked, "What did you say?"

Ms. Wolf narrowed her eyes. "Nothing you kids are old enough to hear. Anyway, I tried to apologize once I'd sobered up, but it was too late."

Cindy eagerly leaned forward. "You almost got a PhD? In what?"

"Quantum physics," Ms. Wolf answered. "My main focus was expanding on the double-slit experiment to prove the existence of a multiverse."

Ike asked, "What?"

Ms. Wolf shook her head. "Doesn't matter. Once I was kicked out of grad school I ended up back home…back here. My mom…when she was still around…was friends with a school board member. She was the one who got me this job."

Ms. Wolf gripped her glass tighter. "It was the damnedest thing. The first time I stepped inside my classroom, I felt like I'd been there before. I'd never had such deja vu." Veronica shook her head and said, "But that doesn't matter. Now it's five years later, and here I still am."

Ike asked, "Do you like it?"

Ms. Wolf shrugged. "I like science. What I teach is a pitifully facile version of it, but it's something."

Cindy said, "For what it's worth, we can tell you love it. That's why us kids like you."

Ms. Wolf cast Cindy a confused look. "The hell you talking about?"

Ike clarified, "She's being a bit generous. Half the kids are terrified of you."

"Only half?"

Ike went on, "But the rest can tell you really care about what you teach. And that makes it fun to listen to you."

Ms. Wolf stared into Ike's aviators and then down into her drink. "Really?"

"Really," Cindy assured her. "And it doesn't hurt that you gave someone an A when their grandma is in the hospital."

Ike said, "Or left a pack of nicotine gum in their desk right before Christmas break."

Cindy quietly added, "Or covered them with a blanket when they were at their lowest."

Ms. Wolf swallowed hard, then stared at her students. "Next year's class is going to suck a lot more without you brats in it."

Ike smiled and said, "Luckily Ms. Peck's room is just down the hall."

Cindy added, "And we still have the Spitoon."

"Alright ladies," Oleander boomed from behind his camera. He held out five fingers and began ticking down. "We're live in five, four…"

Seated at her curved cherry wood desk, Libby let out a long sigh. She closed her eyes, allowed herself a brief second of serenity, and opened them just in time to watch Oleander's final digit disappear. She tucked the braids out of her vision, flashed a wide smile, and stared at the camera.

"Good morning, everyone. And welcome to the last day of school. I'm Libby Folfax."

Seated beside her, Courtney organized her papers. "And I'm Courtney Tyler."

While Courtney straightened her pineapple afro, Libby said, "We all know know that this morning there's only one story anyone cares about. After a year of foam wars, supervillains, and constant chaos, Retroville Middle School is on thin ice with the school board."

Courtney nodded and went on, "The superintendent has demanded an audit. Right now, three inquisitors are on their way to assess every aspect of our school."

Across town, clouds filled the sky and obscured any hint of the sun. Three identical balding bureaucrats in crisply tailored three-piece suits marched down the sidewalk. They reached an intersection but paid the WAIT signal no mind. The trio moved as one across the street while a speeding semi-trailer barreled towards them.

Skidding brakes and a thundering horn did nothing to stop the inevitable.

In perfect unison, the bureaucrats swiveled their permanent scowls towards the vehicle.

The driver barely had time to leap from his truck before the semi barreled into a nearby lake and exploded.

As the driver rolled across the pavement, the bureaucrats fixed their stares back on the horizon and silently marched away from the flames.

Libby anxiously swallowed and said, "They will show no mercy, so we must offer perfection. Principal Clarke has assured us that thanks to Jimmy Neutron and the Neutronauts' tutoring, we've exceeded the school board's academic requirements. But that is only one part of the audit."

Courtney explained, "When those jerks arrive, they have to find this place functional. President Vortex, the hall monitors, and H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. have been working all week to get our school in perfect shape."

Libby said, "But they need our help to keep it that way. So, like we all agreed, what are we going to do?" Libby paused and smiled in relief as a chorus of voices reverberated through the school.

"BE NORMAL FOR ONCE."

Courtney added, "And what are we not going to do?"

"ANY SHENANIGANS."

"That's right," Libby nodded. "So sit back, finish any last minute assignments, and settle in for a very boring day."

Courtney went on, "Now to prove that even the wackiest among us can help save this school, it's time for a very special episode of Deep Dish. Take it away, Meagan." She smiled and settled into her seat as theme music played.

Donk-dicka-donk-da-cha, that's spicy!

Oleander swiveled his camera towards the luxurious leather Barcalounger to the right of the news desk. An utterly sedate Meagan Miller was clad in a maroon pantsuit and was enswathed by the recliner. She offered the camera a distrait smile and droned, "Fair morning, all. 'Tis I, Meagan. As you can see, I am normal today. Thanks to my wonderful colleagues," she motioned towards the wall on her left, opposite the news desk, "I am immeasurably serene."

Meagan smiled absent-mindedly into the camera.

Libby and Courtney shared a nervous glance. Courtney whispered to Libby, "Did we put too much Xanax in her drink?" Libby shrugged, so Courtney told Meagan, "Introduce the trailer!"

Meagan became consumed by the unknowable abyss.

Libby shouted, "Meagan!"

Meagan blinked one eye at a time. "Because of my placidity, I am ceding the rest of Deep Dish's time to my bestie for a special show."

Don…diddy…don…that is bland.

Courtney rubbed her hands together in manic glee. "Thanks, Megs. Now as you all know, for the past two months I've been working on a documentary. I'm submitting it to some local film festivals, but I figured you all deserve a sneak peek since it wouldn't be possible without each and every one of you."

Libby cast her friend a proud smile and told the school, "If I were you I'd grab some popcorn. Because once we're back from a word from our sponsors, you're in for a real treat."

Oleander glanced at the large monitor hanging on the wall near Meagan. Once the feed shifted to a commercial for Tom's store, he turned off his camera and flashed the girls a thumbs up. "We're clear." He turned towards the newsroom's door while saying, "You can come in now."

Nick Dean strolled inside. He huffed in amusement as Courtney stared in shock. With an enormous smile, she said, "Nick!" She dashed around the desk and joined him near the doorway. "Shouldn't you be with the rest of H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S.?"

Nick pulled a walkie-talkie out of his leather trench coat's pocket. "Neutron said he'll radio me if anything urgent comes up. I had something more important to do."

"Ooohhh, what is it?" Courtney cocked her head in utter intrigue. "Is there a mystery afoot in the studio?" She dropped her voice while nervously looking behind her. "Is this because we drugged Meagan? How did H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. know?"

Nick scrunched his face. "What? I'm here for you." He peered at the seated blonde and asked, "Wait, is that why Meagan's all empty inside?"

"Yes, but you can't tell H.A.L.L.P.A.S.S. or the government."

Nick rubbed his brow and gently grabbed Courtney's arm. "Look, I just wanted to be here when you premier your trailer."

"But I already showed it to you."

"I know. But I figured showing the whole school probably makes you nervous."

"It definitely does. I haven't slept in three days."

"I bet, and…wait, Courtney that is way too long. Why didn't you tell me that before now?"

"It's okay, I'm going to hibernate after this."

"Courtney," Nick frowned.

"Nick," Courtney smiled.

Nick took a calming breath. "I just came in case you got worried and seeing me would make you feel better."

Courtney wrapped him in a hug. "It always does."

Nick squeezed her tight and said, "Now do your thing and wow the school."

"You really think they'll like it?"

Nick ended the embrace and gently grabbed her arms. "Of course they will."

Courtney smiled wider and lurched forward. She planted a firm peck on his lips, pulled away, then stood on her tip-toes and kissed his nose.

Nick rubbed his tingling skin and began to blush.

Courtney beamed at his embarrassment. "Too much?"

Nick shook his head. "Not enough."

Courtney began to squee and warned, "Shut your stupid handsome face, mister."

"As you wish, m'lady."

"Hey lovebirds," Libby shouted. "We're live in five!"

Courtney kissed Nick one last time then dashed back to her seat.

The camera's red light shone on.

Libby squeezed Courtney's hand.

Nick mouthed, Good luck.

Courtney gulped, wrung her hands, and said, "This film is called Foamcoming, and it's all about how the past year changed us for the better." Her eyes glistened as she whispered, "I really hope you like it."

The camera's light faded, and every pair of eyes in the news studio turned towards the monitor.

On the screen, complete darkness slowly brightened to reveal a dimly lit school hallway. Papers, foam darts, and all manner of trash littered the corridor. An open locker door lazily swung in the breeze. As the camera slowly and smoothly glided down the hall, four lines of text faded into view one by one.

Four foam wars

Hundreds of battles

Countless stories

These are but a few

The camera stopped, turned left, and focused on a closed classroom door. It swung open to reveal a bulletproof vest with a lone dart beside it.

The utter silence was breached by the deafening pop of a nerf gun. Ike's furious baritone voice echoed in the distance. "We had a truce!"

Cindy deadpanned, "For the moment. And the moment's up."

The camera spun around and disorientingly lurched back into the hallway. It spun right to reveal another door. It opened and showed an empty fire extinguisher beside a pile of ash. Unseen dogs barked and a distant chainsaw revved.

Rose's frantic voice moaned, "We have to get out of here. This place is dangerous!"

Nick's grave tone assured her, "So are we."

Distant screams faded as the camera glided backwards into the hall. It angled back down the corridor, advanced a few feet, and turned left towards another door.

This one opened to reveal a noose hanging from the ceiling with a stool beneath it.

Cindy's voice quivered with desperation. "There's always a choice."

The noose began to loosen, then cinched tight as Angie swore, "I choose this."

The footage smash cut back to the hallway and one final door. It swung wide, the camera moved through, and the view cut to a park.

Under a gloomy sky rested a playground. Thunder cracked, rain began to pour, and the camera slowly zoomed in on a wooden platform.

A distant voice whispered, "Why'd you do it?"

Lightning flashed, a thunderclap shook the screen, and the whisper begged, "Start from the beginning."

Another bolt of lightning shot from the sky. The screen went white, then faded to reveal Ike Burke sitting on the platform and hugging his knees. "I knew it was coming. But I still wasn't ready."

Suddenly, static filled the screen and an ear-splitting buzzing began to blare.

Libby nudged Courtney and said, "That's a cool effect."

Courtney cocked her head in confusion. "That's not my footage." She faced Oleander and asked, "What's going on?"

Oleander turned to a nearby computer that Yentl was working at. The girl nervously said, "Uh, I'm locked out of all the controls."

Everyone turned back to the monitor as the buzzing disappeared. In its place surged a horrifying gravelly modulated voice.

"Students of Retroville Middle School. You are fools, and your day of reckoning is at hand."

Courtney asked, "What is this?"

Libby gulped and whispered, "I don't know."

The voice spat with venomous hatred, "We have spent this year faffing around, wasting time on follies that have razed this place to the brink of destruction. And as we stand at that precipice, I shall push you over the edge. So enjoy your final hours before the auditors arrive. When they come, they shall find your grades shattered like shards of glass."

Libby and Nick shared a terrified glance.

The voice finished, "Your teachers' files are as empty as your future."

The screen went black, and Oleander pointed the camera at the news desk. He activated the device and desperately motioned at the anchors.

"Umm," Courtney struggled to begin, "that was not my trailer. I mean the beginning was, but...I think we were hacked?"

Libby nodded. "Everyone should stay calm. This is hopefully just a joke or-"

Blood-curdling screams and shouts of terror began to ring in the halls.

All eyes darted to the loudspeaker as it crackled with static. Frenzies shouts pierced the crackling before Mr. Pace's deranged howls usurped the bedlam. "They've taken the grades! We're all going to be fired!"

Nick's walk-talkie chirped to life as the school fell deeper into chaos. Nick moved towards Courtney and thumbed the the transceiver. "This is Agent Dean."

"It's Agent Neutron," Jimmy's calmly answered. "Report to HQ and bring the girls. Threat level Apollyon."

Nick nearly dropped his radio. "Di-did you say-"

"Apollyon," Jimmy's voice finally belayed a hint of terror. "We're gathering everyone, Nick. Please...hurry."

Nick gripped the walkie tight and promised, "I'm on my way."