Down to the Wire (7 page)

That evening I stood
in Wirenut’s electronics room, idly watching him prepare.

I tried not to be bummed that David would be leaving. I tried to focus on the mission and my part of things. But it just wasn’t fair. Other teenagers didn’t have to deal with this. They could do what they wanted. They could date and get to know each other without “save the world” pressure. They could go out and have fun. Hang out. Laugh. Just exist. Heck, they could lie around all day and watch TV if they wanted.

“All right,” Wirenut interrupted my pouting. “I’ve turned my room into David’s training grounds.” He checked his watch. “It’s already eight o’clock, and we’ve got a lot to do. So let’s get started.” He motioned to the equipment he’d set up in the open area. “TL and I spent the last few hours putting all this together. It’s a replica of the Rayver System, complete with lasers and a vault.”

David nodded. “Tell me what to do.”

Taking a seat in the corner out of their way, I pulled a notepad and pencil from my back pocket. TL told me to take
notes. He wanted me aware of all aspects of this mission. I wasn’t sure why. After all, I’d be operating from home base, decoding the messages. But I figured TL had his reasons.

“Everything I do is based on degrees. Anybody can jury-rig something, but if done at a different angle, a different degree, you get a completely different result. I’ll teach you the Rayver System first, then we’ll go over all the possible scenarios you may encounter other than the Rayver System.” Wirenut handed David a pair of goggles and tossed a pair to me. “These are fiberlit. Put ’em on.”

All three of us did. Red lasers became visible, zigzagging the area in front of the guys. Cool.

Wirenut nodded toward the lasers. “These will be yellow, not red. But yellow fries your skin. Figured you’d want to train on the nonfrying color.”

David chuckled. “Gee, thanks.”

Wirenut pulled David over. “Always begin in line with the object you’re after. In this case, the vault. Now lean to the left at a seventy-degree angle. Do you see an opening tunnel in the lasers?”

Seventy-degree angle? There’s no way I could guess that and get it exactly right.

David leaned. “No.”

Wirenut studied David’s form. “Your body’s twisted. Move your right shoulder back.”

David did. “Still don’t see it.”

Wirenut got in position behind David. “I can see the tunnel
just fine. Your feet are closer together. Slide your left foot to the left seven inches.”

“Seven inches?” David glanced over his shoulder at Wirenut. “Do you have a ruler? How do you know this?”

Wirenut shrugged. “I just know.”

David slid his foot over. “Okay. I see it.”

Wirenut gave David a remote control. “This is the expander. Extend your left arm down the tunnel. Don’t touch the lasers.”

DingDingDingDingDing.

“That’d be the alarm.” Wirenut slapped David on the back. “Let’s try again.”

Wirenut gave David
the remote control. “Now extend your left arm down the tunnel, pointing the expander.”

I held my breath. They’d been at this more than two hours. Please let him get it right this time.

David inserted his arm into the tunnel surrounded by lasers.

Quiet.

Peace and quiet.

No alarm.

I nearly cried with excitement.

“Keep it steady,” Wirenut whispered. “On the expander there is a blue button. When you press it, a metal wire will snake out. The wire cannot touch the lasers. Your destination is that tiny hole below the vault’s lock. Do you think you’re ready?”

David barely nodded.

“Press the expanding button now.”

David pressed the button. The wire snaked out, becoming firm and straight as it left the remote control. One inch. Two. Three. Four. My heart banged with each inch interval. Steady, David, steady.

His hand shook ever so slightly.

DingDingDingDingDing.

Wirenut ran his hand down his goatee. “Let’s do it again.”

With a huge sigh, David cracked his neck. “Give me a sec.” He walked to the other side of the room and stood with his back to us, staring at the wall. I heard him sigh again.

I felt bad for him. He was trying so hard and barely succeeding at anything.

David turned back around. “Okay, let’s do this thing.”

“Got drinks and sandwiches.
Anyone interested?”

David whipped around. “I didn’t even hear you leave.”

I carried the tray over. The guys had taken only one break since beginning ten hours ago. Both of them looked as exhausted as I felt. And I was just observing and taking notes.

They each grabbed a bologna and cheese sandwich.

“Nothing like bologna for breakfast.” David took a huge bite of his. “So, who taught you all this stuff?”

Wirenut popped open a soda. “Nobody. Taught myself. It’s my
life. Security, electronics. All I’ve ever done is study it, tinker with it. It fascinates me.” He smiled a little. “And I’m good at it.”

“Impressive. Really impressive. We’ve been at this for hours, and I can’t get it. And I’m a real quick study. It’s not just about breaking a system. It’s about your body’s position. The angle at which you do things. It really is incredible, Wirenut. I knew you were skilled, but I didn’t understand the scope of it until now.”

Wirenut shoved a hunk of sandwich in his mouth, obviously embarrassed, but loving the admiration. His shy avoidance made me grin.

We finished off our sandwiches and downed the sodas.

David and Wirenut got back into position as I gathered up the garbage and headed out the door, dreading what I knew would come next.

DingDingDingDingDing.

Wirenut and I watched,
holding our breaths, as the wire snaked through the tunnel, across the room, and straight into the tiny hole below the vault’s lock.

The lasers flicked off, and the three of us just stayed in our spots. Them standing, me sitting. Nobody moving. Unable to wrap our tired brains around the fact that David had done it. He’d actually done it. Finally. After sixteen hours.

Slowly, the guys turned and looked at each other.

“Crud!” Wirenut jerked the stopwatch from his pocket and pressed the button. “Go!”

They raced across the floor, reeling in the expandable wire. Wirenut yanked a tool kit from his back pocket and spread it on the ground in front of the vault.

“Nitrox.” He shoved the can at David. “Quick. Got to make up for lost time. Squirt it on the control panel.”

David did. The panel popped off and clanged to the floor.

DingDingDingDingDing.

I dropped my head.

Wirenut sighed. “My bad. You have to catch it
before
it hits the floor. Anything over twenty-five decibels sets off the alarm. I’m so tired I forgot that detail.”

The door opened and TL stepped into the room. “Chapling downloaded intel. Someone tried to release quid pluolium in an office building.”

My stomach tightened. “What? Why?”

“To prove that whoever has the toxin will use it.” TL’s face hardened. “Thirty-three people almost died. Luckily the toxin was found in time. Give me a status on how David’s doing.”

We all exchanged defeated gazes. Thirty-three people almost died. If we didn’t find the quid pluolium, hundreds, thousands, possibly millions could die.

“I said status. Now.”

David took a step forward. “Sir, I haven’t been able to penetrate the Rayver System.”

And according to Wirenut, the Rayver System was only the beginning. There was so much more to go over. All the different scenarios. There was no way to accomplish it with only hours
left of training. Clearly, no one could do this but him.

As if reading my thoughts, Wirenut stepped up beside David. “I’ll do it. I’ll go to Rissala.”

TL nodded, then turned to me. “I asked you to be in here, taking notes, for a reason. You’re going with us.”

What the…?

[4]

Maybe I’d heard TL wrong.
I pushed up from my spot in the corner. “What do you mean I’m going with you all?”

“The data-encrypted messages, the computer code, is on a timer. We’re not sure what kind of timer. Possibly the message disappears? Some sort of chemical reaction to the paper the encryption is on? I’ve asked Beaker to look into that side of things.” TL’s cell phone rang. “We need you onsite to immediately decode the data Wirenut obtains.”

I
had
heard him right.
Crap.
“But—”

“GiGi,” TL checked the caller, but didn’t answer, “you’ll be fine. You work best under pressure. That’s why I waited until now to tell you. You get nervous if you have too much time to think about something.”

But you said I would work from home base
, I wanted to whine. “What about Chapling?”

“He’s working on a couple of other things right now.”

Wait a minute.
That’s why I waited until now to tell you.
So he’d known days ago that I was going?

Immediately, I recalled all the lies that had originally brought me to the Specialists. Lies that had eventually been justified, sure, but still.

I’ve learned there’s a purpose for the things TL does. He wouldn’t keep information private unless he had a good reason.
That’s what I’d told Wirenut a few days ago. Remembering that rational statement deflated my building irritation.

And TL was right. I
did
work well under pressure. If I had known days ago I would’ve been obsessing over the trip instead of focusing on the mission.

TL reached out and cupped Wirenut’s shoulder. He didn’t utter a word as he stared deep into Wirenut’s eyes. “I’m proud of you. You put aside your own needs to help others. Only an honorable man would do that. This will be an emotionally difficult mission for you. I realize that. You have my utmost respect for the decision you just made.”

Wow. What an awesome compliment.

TL squeezed Wirenut’s shoulder and released it. “Get some rest. Our plane for Rissala leaves tomorrow morning.”

With that, TL strode from the electronics room. I turned and looked at Wirenut. He stood there, staring at nothing in particular, probably trying to comprehend the mind-numbing words he’d just heard. It’s exactly how I felt the first time TL said he was proud of me.