The car pulled up the long driveway. Lucas sat in the seat next to the driver, his eyes taking in the view. On the outskirts of town, Ellison Boys’ High lay. Its campus was made up of several buildings surrounded by neatly trimmed hedges and green grass. Even though he had never been here, Lucas knew the layout as he had studied it the night before. Sports fields made up one area while the boys’ dorm lay on the other side with classrooms, a gym, and the nurses office in between. Right next to the school, with a wall separating the two, was Bel High, a girls’ school.

As they pulled up to the school gates, Lucas shot a glance at the driver next to him. It was Zack, the member of ECHO picked to play the part of Lucas’ ‘uncle’ for this job. In other words, Lucas’ backup.

Leaning back, Lucas recalled the briefing the day before at ECHO headquarters.

Stanly sat across from Lucas. His hands were folded and a file lay before him. Lucas sat upright in his own chair, his expression blank.

“I will begin to explain,” Stanly said. “ECHO was contacted directly by a client who wants us to retrieve a certain object of his. Unfortunately, it seems to be kept in a place not easily accessible without raising suspicion…”

“A high school?” Lucas asked.

Stanly nodded to Conner, who stood to the side, wanting him to continue.

“Ellison High,” Conner began as he brought up a picture of a large building on the TV screen in the room. “A prestigious boarding school for boys from all over the world. Money is one factor that decides who attends, but talent also plays a role as half the students attending are on scholarship of some sort.” The picture changed and another building came into sight. “Bel High, a girls school, and sister school to Ellison high, is just next door.”

Lucas looked at the screen. “It’s illogical. Why have a boys’ and a girls’ school right next to each other? You could just combine them.”

Stanly cleared his throat.

“That’s not important,” Conner told Lucas.

Lucas shrugged. “Alright. So this object I’m supposed to retrieve, it’s meant to be in the boys’ school?”

Conner and Stanly exchanged glances.

“In one of the two,” Conner said.

“Huh?” Lucas asked.

“We have intelligence that suggests it’s somewhere in the boys,” Stanly explained. “However, we cannot be certain. The fact is, as the semester has already started, we cannot send in two operatives to cover both schools without raising suspicion. Therefore, we have to start with one.” He turned to Lucas. “You’re mission is to pose as a student while finding out where this object is. Once you find it, you will retrieve it and return to ECHO.”

“Obstacles?” Lucas asked.

“We have information that if the object is indeed there, there will be government stationed agents throughout the school. They could be students or staff. As usual, treat everyone as a suspect.”

Lucas suddenly looked a lot more interested. “Government?” he asked. “I thought we were avoiding those jobs after the New York incident.”

Conner looked surprised. “How do you know about the New York…?”

Stanly cleared his throat again.

“Ask no more than what you need to know,” Connor told Lucas.

Lucas leaned back. “How long do I have?”

“The end of the semester is your limit.”

“What’s my story?”

Stanly pushed the file that lay before him, over to Lucas. Lucas opened it and began to pour over the information.

“You were originally enrolled in Ellison High last semester. However, due to injuries sustained from a fatal family accident, you were not able to make it,” Conner began as Lucas read over the exact details. “You have finally been declared healthy and so are now coming to attend. Since you lost your close family members in the accident, your uncle who lives nearby takes care of you.”

Lucas looked up. “Do I know him?”

Stanly shook his head. “I believe you haven’t worked with him before. However, you may very well have heard of him. He’s known as M18.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow. “The Moscow M18?”

Conner nodded.

“He’ll be there to provide you with anything you need during the operation,” Stanly continued.

“My name?”

“Lucas Johnson.”

Lucas looked up.

“You’ve not been compromised, your first name can remain,” Stanly told him. “It’ll make one thing less to adjust too.” He smiled as though he thought he were doing Lucas a big favor.

“So...pose as a student, find out where this object is and retrieve it?” Lucas asked as he snapped the file shut. “I guess it’ll be a nice rest after the last two jobs.”

“Gretchen will give you a more detailed briefing. She’s in room B8.” Stanly watched as Lucas nodded and got up. The boy stretched before walking to the door.

“Lucas…” Conner made Lucas pause. “Whatever happens…you mustn’t blow you cover. So try act like a normal teenager.”

“Got it covered,” Lucas replied.

“That means no blowing someone’s head off it they tick you off,” Conner added.

“I’ll be fine.”

“No weapons.”

“Consider the job done.” Lucas paused at the door and turned around “I have one question.” He met Stanly’s eyes. “Sir, just what is this object I’m meant to retrieve?”

Stanly and Conner exchanged glances.

“Here we are,” Zack broke onto Lucas’ thoughts as they pulled to a stop.

Lucas looked out to see they had pulled up in front of a large building.

“I’m just dropping you off, being a busy uncle and all,” Zack grinned. His blue eyes twinkled in a way Lucas would have never thought someone known as M18 would. “You sure you got this?”

Lucas opened the door. “Give me a week at the most. I’ll have this job done in no time.” He pulled out his duffle bag as Zack got out of the other side. “Besides, it’s just high school. What could be so hard about it?”

Zack watched him as he leaned on the car. “When was the last time you were in school?” he asked.

Lucas didn’t reply as he pulled out a backpack and slung it over a shoulder.

“Of course,” Zack murmured. “They take you in young, don’t they?” He looked at the building. “Who knows, this mission may actually do you some good.”

“What does that mean?” Lucas asked as he picked up his duffle bag.

Zack smiled. “Just try and relax, act like a normal teenager.”

“Everyone keeps saying that,” Lucas muttered. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been through countless…”

“This isn’t the same as jumping off buildings or robbing a bank…it’s high school.”

Lucas narrowed his eyes. “What are you saying?”

“Try not to blow your cover, K13. Because if that happens…you know how it works in ECHO.” Zack’s head disappeared within the car. He came back out and tossed a football at Lucas.

Dropping the duffle bag, Lucas caught it.

“You’re going to need that,” Zack told him. Before Lucas could ask ‘why’, Zack had got back in the car and slammed the door shut. “Good luck. Give your uncle a call if you need anything!” he yelled before he accelerated and the car screeched off.

Call him Zack. His real name’s irrelevant. He’ll be playing your carefree uncle, Gretchen’s voice echoed in Lucas’ mind. You’ll report to him every week. He’ll also supply you with anything you need to get the job done…don’t count on him being on campus though. Once you go in, you’re pretty much on your own. Letting out a grunt, Lucas tucked the football under one arm and once again picked up his duffle bag with the other. Turning, he headed into the building before him.

He found the reception right inside. Lucas approached a lady sitting at a desk who was currently talking on a phone. Her lips were a bright red and makeup caked her face. Her finger nails were perfectly manicured and her hair suggested she went to a hairdresser that morning.

“I know,” she was saying. She shot Lucas a smile and mouthed ‘just a minute’.

Lucas put his duffle bag and the ball down. He opened his backpack and pulled out the papers he needed.

“Oh, he’s such a tease,” the lady gushed, “You would never think he’s ever serious.”

Lucas placed the papers on the desk and glanced around. It was a spacious room he was standing in. Behind the receptionist was another room where a man was sitting poring over papers. Other than that, the room was filled with pricy looking paintings and statues. Lucas took in every detail as he glanced around.

Two emergency exits, he noted. Four windows out of which one could escape… he glanced up, a vent…

“Just tell him fine. If he wants it to be over you’ll find a better man...look honey, I have to go,” the receptionist looked regretful as she said it. “I’ll call you back as soon as I can.” She hung up. “Can I help you?” she asked as she turned to look at Lucas, a smile plastered on her face.

About late thirties, Lucas’ eyes darted to her finger. No ring so most likely single…and by the looks of it still on the prowl for someone, Lucas thought. “I’m a new student.” He nodded to the papers.

“Oh?” the lady raised an eyebrow. She picked up the paper and looked over it before back at Lucas. “A bit late, aren’t we?”

Lucas smiled. “Medical reasons.”

“Ah,” the lady turned to her computer. Her fingers flew rapidly across the keyboard. “I see, yes. It does say so.” She glanced up at Lucas. “I guess it is to be expected with what happened…”

Has one or more cats, Lucas noted as he noticed the cat hair on the shoulder of her white blouse.

“Let me just register you as being here,” the lady said as she once again typed away.

Lucas narrowed his eyes. Possibility of being a threat…

The lady pressed a button and the printer behind her began to hum.

Inconclusive, Lucas decided.

Swirling in her chair, the lady picked up a paper from the printer. “Alright, all done.” She turned back to Lucas and her smile widened. “Now. This here is your schedule.” She handed Lucas the paper. “Classes are almost over for the day but I could have someone escort you there and have your things brought to your room. Or you could go right to your room and settle in.” Her smile widened. “Do you have a preference?”

Choices:

a) Classes may almost be over, but Lucas should go anyway. Maybe he can meet some people that way and look around.

b) Why bother? If class is almost over he might as well go settle in. Unpacking while he still has the room to himself might not be a bad idea.