You only hesitate for a second. Perhaps Kevin was no more than a casual acquaintance when you were just children but in a very short time he has become so much more.
You meet Megabyte's eyes and nod.
"He's in trouble because of me. If I can do anything to help then that's what I want to do!" You say simply. You can feel the approval of the other Tomorrow People and Megabyte grins. It's an infectious grin that lights up his face and soon has you returning it. The red head nods
"I think you'll do just fine." He tells you. Then his attention shifts and he looks at Adam. "I'll get my Dad to check this number against the database and see if we can get an address. You guys dry off and get your breath back. I'll call you as soon as I have an address."
"I'll come with you." Jade calls suddenly and the two of them vanish in the flash-crackle of light that accompanies teleportation.
You're happy enough to let them go for the moment and smile a thank you to Ami as she hands you a towel and a hot drink. This isn't the time for questions. You feel the anxiety for Kevin that both of the others share. Oddly, though, you sense something else: a sense of familiarity with the situation in both of the others.
"Does this happen often?" You hear yourself asking. Adam and Ami exchange rueful looks.
"More often than we'd like." Adam admits quietly. "We seem to attract adventures." He shrugs. "It used to be exciting but now it's just scary."
Ami rolls her eyes.
"It's always been scary." She corrects. She turns to you. "Kevin was missing the first time I met these guys. I knew I had to help but I spent most of that week in mortal danger and scared stiff. You just have to keep going through that. My mother actually found it harder to deal with than I did."
You nod, thinking for the first time about your parents and what they're going to say about this. You put the thought aside. As Ami said, you just have to keep going through all that. It does lead to another question though.
"What does Megabyte's dad do that he can track down a number plate just like that?"
"General Damon used to be in Intelligence." Adam explains. "Now he works in private security - a company called WorldEx."
Any other questions you might ask (and there are so many!) have to wait now as Megabyte and Jade teleport back into the room. Both faces are determined, focused. All smiles have gone now.
"We've got the address." Megabyte says shortly. He sounds angry. "It's a government lab of all places! I thought that after everything Dad went through we wouldn't have to deal with this again."
Adam's on his feet and he looks angry too.
"Where?" He says.
Megabyte tells you and then looks worried.
"Adam, I had to tell Dad some of what's happened in order to get the address. He wants to send in some kind of commando team."
Jade nods.
"If we hadn't teleported out, I don't think the General would have let us come back here. Adam, we need to get Kevin out of there before General Damon gets him killed."
Adam nods and looks around at all of you.
"Ami, Jade, I think you'd better stay here. We'll probably need back up" He looks at you. "Jay, are you sure you want to come with us?"
You nod. You've already made this decision and you know you cant change it now. Adam takes a deep breath.
"Then let's go!"
The building is a squat concrete complex squatting on the edge of what appears to be a university campus of some kind. To your left a sunken courtyard is surrounded on all four sides by concrete steps while on your right a tall office building towers ten or twelve storeys above you. The place is empty and silent with the quiet of a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon. If you could choose a place to be you wouldn't stay in this concrete monstrosity either. You and the others are in the shadows of a sick looking tree planted in a space between paving stones. The grey edifice of what Megabyte assures you is a government research center is a hundred meters ahead of you and apparently unprotected.
[Megabyte, are you sure about this?] Adam speaks telepathically, as aware as you that any sound is going to echo off the concrete walls of this place.
[They use the university as a cover.] Megabyte assures you. [It's one of those 1960's uni's that are full of strange little research institutes. This one just happens to work for the secret service.]
[I recognise this university.] You realise that it's true as you say it. [I've never been here but if we're where I think we are then it's only about five miles from where I live.]
The other two exchange looks.
[There's got to be something here that stopped you from breaking out properly then.] Adam surmises.
[We'd better get a move on.] Megabyte urges. [Dad will be here soon with WorldEx]
[Should we go in the front or the back?] Adam asks, trying to see if there are any guards hidden behind the smoked glass of the building's front.
[Perhaps we ought to split up?] Megabyte suggests. [Jay can come with one of us. He's still not quite up to speed with being a TP.]
[I don't know.] Adam says uncertainly. [What do you think, Jay?]
Do you:
a) Decide to split up and go with Megabyte?
b) Stay together?
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