YOU COME TO THE END.

WHERE THIS GETS TRICKY

IS WHEN YOU USE YOUR KEY

CODE CIPHER CIRCLES. ADDING

THE TWO CODES TOGETHER

MAKES THIS MAD DIFFICULT.

I’VE WRITTEN A SPECIAL

MESSAGE JUST FOR YOU,

PAL. THE KEY LETTER IS

“H”—GOOD LUCK.

L M F S S L

L J H D V T

A B P R U Z

A Y L M V Y

Y F Z V H W

I FEEL LIKE I’M BEATING

A DEAD HORSE HERE.

That night, Duncan and his family camped out on the floor of his Aunt Marcella’s home. Aiah and Avery shared an inflatable mattress. The Creature took the couch, and Duncan slept uneasily on a reclining chair. He was fairly certain that without her ray gun, Ms. Nesbitt could do them no harm, but he had no idea if Albert had built a second one, or a third, or a dozen. Who knew if he, or Simon, or the goon was on his way for a second attempt at killing them all. Much of the night Duncan was awake, keeping a close eye on the people he loved the most.

His cousin Winston lent Duncan some clothes to wear to school the next day, but Winston was nearly half a foot taller than he was. Winston was also a huge fan of hip-hop, so most of his clothing ran XXL. Duncan took a look at himself in the mirror and realized he was dressed much like the cool kids at his school for once. His father lent him his belt to keep his pants from falling to his ankles, and he headed off to school.

He was certain his new clothes would bring him a lot of unwanted attention. There was nothing worse than a nerd trying to fit in, but much to his surprise few people even noticed. In fact, most of the kids acted as if they didn’t recognize him at all. Even Principal Dehaven, who took great joy in abusing him, walked right past him in the hallway.

Flinch did a double take when he sat down next to him in class. “Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” he asked.

“Listen, I have to see Agent Brand, right away.”

“We heard all about the attack,” Ruby whispered as she leaned over to join the conversation. “I’ve ordered agents to watch your family. They’ve been instructed to steer clear of computer technology.”

“I want to talk to Brand. I know my dad yanked me off the team, but I have to do something about Simon and his gang. I can’t just sit and watch you guys fight my battles.”

Jackson shook his head. “He’s busy prepping for our next mission.”

“Mission? How come no one told me?” Duncan asked.

“Duncan, you aren’t on the team anymore,” Matilda replied. “I’m sorry.” She smiled sadly at him. “It’s not the same without you.”

Suddenly, the foursome let out an enormous sneeze. Duncan, however, was fine.

“They turned off my nasal alert?” he cried.

“Just the alarm,” Jackson whispered. “Benjamin hasn’t gotten around to turning the comlink off yet.”

Matilda walked over to the window. “You won’t believe this! There’s a man outside juggling chainsaws!”

As usual, the entire class leaped to their feet, as did Mr. Pfeiffer.

“Sorry,” Flinch said as he ran to the door. A moment later he and the rest of the team had vanished.

This wasn’t fair. Duncan had to see Brand right away. He leaped up from his chair and rushed out into the hallway.

“Mr. Dewey! Where do you think you’re going?” Mr. Pfeiffer shouted, but Duncan ignored him. He raced down the hallway, where he found Mr. Brand in his janitor disguise mopping the floor.

“Is the mission about Simon?” Duncan demanded.

Brand scowled and ushered the boy into a broom closet, then closed the door tight.

“Have you forgotten that missions and spies are not for the general public’s ears?”

Duncan ignored the scolding. “Yesterday Albert’s mother attacked my family with the ray gun. We were lucky to survive. I can’t just sit in Mr. Pfeiffer’s class while Simon and his gang are running free. You have to let me help!”

Agent Brand looked taken aback by the boy’s forcefulness. He eyed him closely but shook his head. Then he went to work moving aside a stack of toilet paper rolls and window cleaner. Behind them was a bright red button mounted on the wall. He pushed it hard and Duncan heard the door lock behind him. A panel on the wall slid open and Benjamin popped out and hovered before Brand’s face like a mechanical bumblebee.

“Good afternoon, Agent Brand,” Benjamin said. “Former agent Gluestick.”

“Just a second, Benjamin,” Brand replied, turning his attention back to the boy. “Listen, Duncan. I’ve read your file. You told the last director you couldn’t keep such a big part of your life from your parents. He made the foolish mistake of allowing them to know, and now look where we are. They want you out so you’re out. And to be honest, son, I’m not sure you have what I need these days.”

“Huh? I’m your best agent!”

“Sure, you are. No arguments. But you’re a little lazy.”

“What?”

“Duncan, secret agents have lots of gadgets and technology at their disposal, but the good ones don’t rely on them. When your upgrades were destroyed, you were practically helpless. You second-guessed yourself and me. I need spies who can get the job done with their brains when all the fancy toys are broken.”

The spy unzipped his uniform and stepped out of it, revealing a sharp black tuxedo beneath. He pulled the mop from his bucket and slammed the head on the floor. Duncan watched as it morphed into a white cane. Brand leaned on it as he walked over to the wall and pressed another red button. From the floor, two metal bars rose up. Brand leaned on them.

“But this is personal,” Duncan argued.

Brand shook his head. “Son, saving the world is always personal. But for you, it is also over. Go back to class.” He grasped the bars, the floor fell, and the entire platform sank at an astonishing rate. A moment later, he was gone.

Duncan rushed out of the closet. “Flinch, can you still hear me?” Duncan called. He muttered to himself, “C’mon. The intercom is still supposed to work!”

“Gaaarrahgghgh!” sounded in his ear. There was a pause and then, “What’s up, buddy?”

“I should be going on this mission. You have to help.”

There was a long pause. Duncan worried the boy would say no, but then he heard, “Go to the gym and hide behind the bleachers. I’ll get you on the ship somehow, but if Brand starts shouting, I had nothing to do with it, cool?”

“Cool. I owe you, Flinch. Oh, find out what’s in the mission pack and make one for me.” Duncan rushed to the gym, only to see Ms. Holiday locking the double doors at the other end of the room. Sprinting as fast as possible, he raced toward the bleachers, fell to his knees, and slid on the waxed floor until he was safely out of sight. He lay very still, hoping he had not been seen, and when he heard the ceiling retracting he knew it had been his lucky day.

While the School Bus rose up from below, Duncan watched and waited for the secret passage to open. He wasn’t disappointed. Soon a team of mechanics in orange and scientists in white rushed through the tunnel and quickly went to work refueling the rocket and running diagnostic tests on its engine and landing gear.