“Three days ago we sent the team to stop Jigsaw,” Ms. Holiday said. “When we lost contact with them, Alexander—I mean, Agent Brand—and the lunch lady circled for hours. Now we’ve lost contact with them too. The School Bus is programmed to return to the school if it is abandoned. It returned empty, and there’s not much information about what happened. I fear the worst.”
“What are you going to do?” Jackson asked.
“Jigsaw needs a huge amount of energy to power his tractor beam. So far he’s been able to move just one continent, Australia. Benjamin studied the energy output Jigsaw’s satellite dish released to move Australia.”
Benjamin appeared. “I’ve calculated that it will take seven hours for Dr. Badawi’s solar panels to repower Jigsaw’s satellite dish.”
“It gives us a small window of time before Jigsaw can move another continent,” Ms. Holiday said. “I’m going to stop it from happening.”
“How?”
“Follow me,” the librarian said. She led them into the upgrade room, pushed a button on the podium, and brought the chair out of the floor. Then she climbed into it. “I’m going to get the upgrades myself.”
“I’m afraid that can’t be done, Ms. Holiday,” Benjamin said when he appeared in the room.
“Well, why not!”
“The upgrade application is specifically designed to work on children alone. You are much too old for the process.”
“But this is an emergency,” Ms. Holiday said.
“I’m sorry, but it simply can’t be done,” Benjamin said.
“Put me back in the chair,” Jackson said.
Ms. Holiday shook her head. “No, you quit for a reason, and I respect it. I’m not dragging you back into this. I’m going to find a way to stop Dr. Jigsaw with or without nanocomputers. The best thing you can do is take your friend and find someplace safe. If Jigsaw’s plans succeed, the world is going to be a very different place by tomorrow.”
Jackson knew what he had to do. “Well, why don’t you walk us out?”
“What?” the Hyena cried. “You’re giving up just like that?”
“He’s right,” Ms. Holiday said. “It’s best if you leave this to the professionals.”
The children followed her toward the door, but just as they stepped through, Jackson grabbed the Hyena and pulled her back. Then he slammed a button on the wall, and the door slid down from the ceiling, locking the librarian out of the room.
“Jackson, you open this door this instant!” she demanded.
“Sorry, Ms. Holiday, but there’s only one guy who can save the team, and you know it.”
Jackson leaped into the chair. Straps wrapped around his feet as Holiday pounded on the door.
“Are you sure about this, Jackson?” Benjamin asked.
Jackson nodded. “I’m sure.”
“Commence scanning,” Benjamin said.
A moment later lasers swept over Jackson’s body.
“Physical attributes are above normal range. Continuing to scan for weaknesses.”
“What is this thing doing to you?” the Hyena cried.
A blue orb began to spin on the panel in front of Jackson, and a moment later a holographic skeleton was floating before his eyes.
“Benjamin, I hate to be impatient, but can we skip this? Just give me the deal you gave me before.”
“Very well, except there is one thing,” Benjamin said.
“What?”
“Subject’s code name?”
Jackson took a deep breath and let out a sigh. “Call me Braceface.”
Machines dropped from the ceiling and wrapped around his body. Soon his mouth was forced open by rubber hooks.
He turned to the Hyena. “You might want to step back and maybe avert your eyes. This isn’t pretty.”
“Think pleasant thoughts,” Benjamin reminded him.
“Oh, this is so gross,” the Hyena groaned.
WELL, WELL, WELL … LOOK WHO
HAS COME CRAWLING BACK FOR
SECURITY CLEARANCE. YOU HAVE
A LOT OF NERVE, BUSTER. WHY
SHOULD I HELP YOU? WHAT’S
IN IT FOR ME? YOU KNOW,
THIS JOB DOESN’T PAY THAT
WELL AND TIMES ARE TOUGH.
YOU COUGH UP SOME CASH
AND MAYBE WE CAN TALK.
NO, I WOULDN’T CALL IT
BLACKMAIL. I’D CALL IT A
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. YOU GET
LEVEL 9 CLEARANCE AND I GET
A LITTLE COIN IN MY POCKET.
EVERYBODY WINS. YOU THINK
ABOUT IT, AND WHEN YOU’VE
MADE YOUR DECISION, TAPE
SOME MONEY TO THE SENSOR.
THAT’S MORE LIKE IT.
I’M GLAD WE COULD COME
TO AN UNDERSTANDING. NOW,
LET’S GET PAST ALL THAT
UNPLEASANTNESS AND
MOVE ON … OH YEAH,
LEVEL 9.
ACCESS GRANTED!
Ten minutes later Jackson was on his feet and staggering through the door. Ms. Holiday was standing nearby. It was the first time he had ever seen her angry.
“I can do this, Ms. Holiday,” Jackson said.
“I know!” she replied. “But I don’t have to like it.”
“I’ve got it,” a scientist shouted as he rushed into the room. He was carrying a vat of something in one hand and a spoon in the other.
“I don’t have to eat the creamed corn again, do I?” Jackson begged.
Holiday nodded. “You volunteered.”
Jackson opened the lid and looked into the half-empty container. The slick yellow-gray substance swooshed around, releasing a noxious fume. It took all of his courage, but he dipped a spoon into it and shoveled a heaping helping into his mouth.
Jackson tossed the rest of the creamed corn to the floor and snatched the Hyena by the hand. “You ready to save the world?”
The Hyena nodded.
“OK, I have to make one stop.”
Mr. Jones loved his dog Butch, but even he wasn’t stupid enough to give him a bath. After several attempts and a few tetanus shots, he had devised a clever way to clean the dog and stay healthy. He pelted the dog with soap-filled water balloons and sprayed him with a hose from a safe distance. He had Chaz stand by as backup in case Butch got off his chain and wanted revenge.
Tossing the balloons also allowed him to have some fun with Chaz and to relive his glory days on the football field. Before he was injured, Jackson’s dad was on his way to Ohio State University to play quarterback for the Buckeyes.