Chapter Five
ANGEL SINCLAIR
Mom took it better than I expected. She asked me all the same questions that Gwen did, plus a lot more. She scoured over every inch of the forms and brochure and made me look up the academy online. It had the same photos and information from the brochure and nothing more.
“I don’t understand why they want you to start right away.” Mom pushed her fingers through her hair, which was as red as Gwen’s and mine. “You’re already a month into your senior year of high school. There could be academic repercussions for pulling you out like this.”
“Mom, I love you, but we both know I won’t be missing out on anything at Excalibur. It’s too easy for me and you know it. Slash told me the curriculum at the academy is quite advanced. It’s like a first year at college. It’s just what I need to challenge me academically.”
“But you’re not even sixteen yet.”
“I will be in a couple of weeks. This isn’t about my age, Mom. I know I can do this, and Slash thinks so, too. I’m excited to check it out. Please let me give it a try. If it doesn’t work out, I’m back here in a snap. But if I don’t try, I know I’ll regret it.”
Mom looked over at Gwen for support, but to my surprise, Gwen said, “If she wants to try, let her do it. We both know she can handle it academically. Slash nominated her, so he must believe she has what it takes to do well there. Besides, Angel may be just sixteen, but she’s got more common sense than most people I know my age. She’ll also have friends there to keep her in line. Even better, she won’t be far away. We can check up on her as often as needed.”
“Hey,” I protested, but Gwen just grinned.
My mom blew out a breath and stood from the table. “I’m sorry, but I have to think about this. It’s quite unexpected.”
It was the best I was going to get for now, so I didn’t push it. Instead I rose from the table, following her toward the kitchen. “Mom, can I go to Wally’s after dinner?”
Wally had texted Frankie and me, telling us we had to come over after dinner to discuss “it.” We both knew what “it” he was talking about.
Mom turned on the stove and pulled a casserole out of the refrigerator. “Sure. I’ll have Gwen drop you off on her way home. You can call me when you’re ready to come home.”
I returned to my room and quickly texted Wally and Frankie I could come. Frankie responded with a half-dozen brain explosion emojis, said she’d also gotten a visit from “you know who,” and she was coming, too.
Mom, Gwen, and I talked about everything at dinner except for the academy, although that’s all I could think about. When we finished, I offered to do the dishes so I could get to Wally’s as soon as possible.
When I finally arrived at Wally’s, Frankie was already there, chatting with Wally’s mom and dad. Wally took us to his room and closed the door behind him. For a moment I just stood there.
“What’s that?” I said pointing at the middle of his room, where a huge battlefield was set up with dozens of soldier figures, tanks, and airplanes.
Wally looked pleased that I’d asked. “That? Oh, that’s Operation Barbarossa from World War II. It took place from June to July 1941. Hitler’s attack on the USSR was the bloodiest of the war, and as a battle it covered the largest area. It didn’t cause the USSR to collapse, but his victory destroyed the Red Army in western Russia. The Soviets had to retreat and spend years rebuilding their army.”
I circled around the table, intrigued. “I didn’t know you liked this stuff.”
“Oh, he does,” Frankie said. “He’s a military buff. He can recreate hundreds of the great battles of history right from his head.”
Wally’s cheeks reddened slightly. “Yeah, obviously I have a lot of free time on my hands, so I store a lot of random facts up here.” He tapped his head.
“That’s totally cool, Wally.” I meant it. Sometimes, he was like a walking encyclopedia. “What else is stored in that head of yours?”
He shrugged, the color in his face fading as he stood a little straighter. “Tons of stuff. The constellations, the periodic table of elements, all the bones and muscles in the body, and a lot of geographic facts like longest rivers, largest deserts, etc. Some of it’s useless trivia, but I’m hoping to try out for Jeopardy! someday. I’ll make myself a nice little nest egg and start investing in cryptocurrency.”
“Perfect.” Reluctantly, I tore my gaze from the battlefield and got right to the point of why we were here. “Okay, White Knights, let’s get real. Who’s going for UTOP?”
“You mean the academy,” Frankie corrected me.
“No, I mean UTOP. The academy is what we use in mixed company, meaning nonclassified. We’re alone here, so we can say we’re trying out for UTOP. Operative status. If we don’t make it, we’re back at Excalibur within four weeks.”
“Well, I’ve got mixed feelings about UTOP,” Wally admitted, sitting on the corner of his bed. “Slash said there would be some physical challenges. That would sink me before I even got started.”
“He also told me it wasn’t going to be boot camp,” I countered. “According to Slash, no one fails because they can’t do a push-up.”
“Oh, thank God,” Frankie said with feeling.
“Seriously, it’s not a military academy.” I wondered if I were trying too hard to convince myself of that. “They’re looking for other stuff.”
“What other stuff?” Frankie asked.
“Skills. Mine and Wally’s in cybersecurity, and your mad graphic abilities on the keyboard.”
“Does that make us good spy material?” Frankie wondered.
“Maybe. It was enough to get us nominated. I guess we’ll find out. Are you guys going for it?”
Frankie nodded, excitement flashing in her eyes. “I’m going for it. My dad is in the military, so that should let you know how much money there is in the bank for me to go to a four-year university without taking on crippling debt.” She leaned against Wally’s dresser. “This is my shot at a free education and a solid job as soon as I graduate. It’s worth it, even if I need to figure out how to do a push-up.”
I didn’t think it would be as simple as a push-up, but I looked at Wally anyway. “In or out?”
“Well, if I’m not going to wash out because of the physical challenges, then heck yes, I’m in. Are you kidding me? Harris. Wally Harris—spy. Girls would totally be into me.”
“You’re going to try out for UTOP because you think it will get you girls?”
“Heck yes, I’m doing it for the girls. And for national security, of course. I assure you, both are great motivators.”
I rolled my eyes. “Well, we don’t get a lot of time to prove our worth.”
“Four weeks doesn’t seem like a long time,” Frankie mused. “Are your parents okay with it, Wally?”
“Why wouldn’t they be?” He shrugged. “They’re rightfully seduced by the possibility of a free, four-year university education. In fact, I think they stopped listening after I said the word free. Plus, if I wanted to try it, I don’t think they could think of a good reason I shouldn’t.”
“I think my dad suspects it’s something other than a training academy,” Frankie said. “He knows it’s connected to us bringing down that Iraqi hacker. But he’s been quiet about it. What about you, Angel? Is your mom cool with it?”
“I wouldn’t exactly say she’s cool, but I think she’s going to agree. Personally, I’m intrigued by the challenge. But more importantly, I’m glad you guys want to give it a go. I don’t want to break up the White Knights.” Embarrassed by my unexpected and emotional declaration, I looked at the floor, my cheeks heating.
“Awww, that is so sweet, Angel,” Frankie said. “All for one, and one for all?”
She held out her hand, palm down. After a moment, Wally put his on top of hers. They both looked at me. Feeling kind of stupid, I put my hand on top of Wally’s.
“Let’s do it,” Frankie said with a grin. “White Knights forever.”