* * *
Johnny hated detention.
He didn’t have it yet, but sitting in the office waiting to speak to the principal, he knew he was going to get it. Technically he did have it, because Ms. Sniders had already given it to him, but he knew that students could get these things overturned if they said the right things to the principal.
Nancy opened the door from the principal’s office and came and sat down beside him.
At least he was finally going to get a chance to talk to her.
“Can you believe it? We got blamed for starting the fight!” Johnny started complaining instantly.
“We have more important things to worry about,” Nancy said. “Like getting the Super Chip back.”
“We never even had it in the first place,” Johnny said.
“You know what I mean,” she returned hotly.
In the short time Johnny had known her, he got the distinct impression that Nancy liked to lecture him on things. Maybe it made her feel like she was better than he was? Or maybe she felt because she knew some things better she knew everything better?
“Relax, we’ll get it,” Johnny replied casually, trying to be a bit condescending to get back at her for lecturing him.
It didn’t work.
“Do you know what the Super Chip does?” Nancy said in her most perfectly annoying lecturing voice.
“Of course I do, everyone does,” Johnny replied, trying to deflect her question.
It didn’t work.
“What does it do?” she asked him point blank, the look on her face clearly suggesting that she didn’t believe he knew.
“It does the same thing a regular Chip does and more,” Johnny replied vaguely.
“Wow,” Nancy replied, pretending to be impressed. “You really are a super spy.”
Johnny threw up his hands in resignation.
“Fine, I don’t really know what it does. So tell me already, again, for the second or third time, because you know you want to and there’s nothing I can do to stop you.”
“I’m glad to see you’re finally learning,” she said.
Johnny tried to think of something to say, but then just waved the thought away.
“Go on,” he said. “Just try to be less annoying than usual.”
“The Super Chip is faster than any other processor in existence. It’s actually ten times faster, and has built in power for circumventing other computer bottlenecks. It can run circles around other computers, it can steal passwords, break encryptions, discover hidden security backups. With this Chip, there is no defense against computer hacking. They could steal money from bank accounts, break into important military installations, and hold the world for ransom.”
Nancy took a deep breath, waiting to get a reaction from Johnny.
She didn’t get one.
“That’s pretty much exactly what you said the first time,” he told her.
“But it doesn’t seem to be sinking in. You don’t seem to fully realize the danger.”
“I get it, Super Chip plus bad guys equals super bad guys,” he tried to assure her.
Nancy looked like she was going to hit him.
“You’re very sure of yourself, aren’t you?” she asked.
Johnny leaned over, looking around the office as the people around them went about their work, oblivious to the importance of what the two of them were talking about.
“I think it’s time to introduce you to the rest of the team. From there we can formulate where the United Order is most likely to meet to try and use the Super Chip.”
“You have a team behind you?” Nancy asked.
Johnny shrugged, “Yeah, sure. How else would I have learned my skills? Or got a hold of the really cool gadgets I’ve got.”
For the first time since Johnny started talking to her, he could tell that Nancy was really impressed and at a loss for words.
“Don’t you have a team?” he had to ask.
Nancy looked away, studied the floor a bit.
“You don’t, do you?” Johnny pressed.
“Sure I’ve got one, an organization anyway,” she answered flippantly. But Johnny wasn’t fooled.
“But then who trained you? Or gave you those gadgets?” Johnny asked.
Nancy thought he was getting really irritating, and was beginning to question whether working with him was such a good idea. Who needed a team? Nancy had her handler, field operative, and trainer all in one person. And as far as Nancy was concerned, that was the only person she needed. Johnny simply wasn’t as good a spy, in her mind, if he needed an entire team to help him.
The principal stuck her head out of her office, “Johnny Clunker, I will see you now.”
Before Johnny could respond she had disappeared back into her office.
“It’s your turn,” Nancy pointed out, even though it was obvious.
“Don’t think you’re getting away from answering the question that easily,” Johnny smirked. He could be so irritating sometimes!
“You can ask me as much as you like, but I’m not going to tell you,” Nancy replied.
“Why not?”
“Because, it’s secret,” Nancy said defensively.
“Of course it’s secret, we’re super spies. But I’m trusting you, you can trust me a little too,” Johnny said.
“Mr. Clunker, are you coming or not?” the principal asked again with an irritated voice as she stuck her head back out.
“It’s your turn, Mr. Clunker,” Nancy said, putting the emphasis on his last name, which she knew he hated.
“Fine,” Johnny huffed, getting to his feet and preparing to enter the principal’s office. “Just let me know one thing before I go in there; how much detention did you end up getting for the cafeteria incident?”
“None,” Nancy replied.
“None?” Johnny couldn’t believe it.
“Not a single day,” Nancy replied smugly.
Johnny brightened up a little. Maybe this wasn’t going to be so bad. The principal probably knew that this wasn’t their fault, and that the Fourth Wall ended up starting everything, like they usually do.
“Were you asked anything?” Johnny inquired.
“She asked me what happened, I told her,” Nancy replied.
So it was going to be that easy, Johnny thought to himself as he turned to head into the principal’s office. Still, from Johnny’s experience he knew that nothing usually went that smoothly. He looked back at Nancy before he went in.
“What, exactly, did you tell her?” he asked.
“I told her it was all your fault,” Nancy answered.