Operation Tenley

  Both Dan and Pennie shook their heads. Pennie climbed into the log first and buckled her seatbelt. Dan climbed in after her.

  The logs jerked to a start. The loudspeaker rattled off: “The Log Ride will now begin. Please make sure your seatbelt is buckled. Keep hands and feet in at all times. Splashing may occur.”

  Holden, in the log directly in front of them, turned around. He looked miserable next to Tenley. Their log began climbing the backside of the steep waterfall.

  Pennie checked her watch. 00:02:00.

  Dan stared straight ahead, until a high-pitched screech made everyone look.

  It was the little girl in the log ahead of Holden and Tenley. She was out of her seatbelt. “My bunny!” she cried, climbing on top of her seat. Her father reached around to grab the back of her pants while balancing the squirming toddler on his lap. “Emmie, sit down!” he yelled.

  “Hey!” Holden screamed down to the attendant. “A little girl dropped her bunny. Turn off the ride!”

  The attendant was nowhere to be seen.

  “Someone stop the ride!” the father yelled. He twisted around desperately to keep hold of his daughter.

  Holden undid his seatbelt and stood on unbalanced legs. He waved his arms down to the empty attendant stand. “Hey! Someone. Anyone! Turn off the ride!”

  “Be careful, Holden,” Pennie yelled up to him. Dan stayed quiet.

  Pennie could see the stuffed bunny floating in the water. It was caught in the downward current heading for Tenley’s side of the log. Holden saw it too.

  “Tenley, grab it when it comes by.”

  “I’m not touching this water, gross!”

  The little girl shrieked louder the farther up their log chugged away from her bunny.

  “Come on!” Holden frowned at Tenley. “You’ll be doing something inspiring.”

  “Omigod, you’re right,” she realized.

  “Lean over and grab it,” Holden coached her.

  “Okay. Video it for me!” She handed him her phone.

  When the bunny reached their log, Tenley leaned over, pinched one of the ears, and lifted it out of the water.

  Before she sat back again, she hiked the bunny up over her shoulder. “Here, kid.”

  “No!” Holden yelled.

  But it was too late. Tenley had thrown the bunny upstream.

  The bunny sailed over the rushing falls and hit the little girl on the shoulder before bouncing off and falling into the water all over again.

  The little girl went into hysterics. Her log chugged up higher.

  “What’s the matter with you? Why’d you do that?” Holden groaned. He handed her back her phone. Then he leaned over her, to get ready to swoop up the bunny again.

  “Watch the sash,” Tenley said. “That was a perfect throw.”

  Holden extended his reach. “I think I got it,” he said just before tumbling into the water.

  It was only a few feet deep but the current was hard to stand against. “I’m okay,” Holden said, splashing to keep upright. But he didn’t look like it.

  Pennie turned to Dan. “Dan, can you pull him in?”

  Dan shook his head.

  There were bigger problems ahead now and Tenley was the only one to notice. The little girl had broken free from her father’s grip and before he could get hold of her again, she toppled out.

  “Help!” the father shouted, standing with the toddler. “Please, someone grab her!”

  Twisting and churning, the little girl cried but her screams were muffled by the sounds of the rushing water.

  “Swim, little thing!” Tenley called up to her, but the little girl was starting to sink. Holden was too far back in the water to reach her now. “Someone help her!” Tenley yelled.

  The father and his toddler were looking like they might fall over themselves.

  “I can’t swim. Can you?” Pennie asked Dan.

  “No.”

  Pennie’s alarm went off.

  00:00:30.

  Dan had no reaction.

  “Tenley. You have to get her,” Holden shouted. “Grab her and pull her inside.”

  “My Brazilian blow-out can’t get wet!”

  Holden coughed out water. He was starting to submerge “You’ll be on TV! There are security cameras everywhere. Go!”

  Tenley considered this. “You think?”

  “You’ll get so many votes tonight!”

  That was all Tenley needed to hear. She threw one leg over the side of the log, flipped back her hair, rearranged her short shorts, plugged her nose, and jumped in.

  “Hold on, small child,” she yelled, waist deep in water. “Tenley Tylwyth is coming.”

  But the little girl was gone.

  Pennie couldn’t sit by any longer. She started climbing out until Dan pushed her back to sitting. “I wouldn’t do that.”

  A shiver went up Pennie’s spine. Something was wrong with Dan.

  “Where’d you go, little thing?” Tenley searched the water. “Ow. Hey. It’s you.” She pulled the little girl up by the waist.

  “Emmie!” The father waved. His log was only a few meters from the crest of the waterfall now.

  Emmie choked and cried.

  “Don’t worry, I got her!” Tenley shouted to her father. Except she was beginning to lose her footing against the current as well.

  Holden started fighting his way up to them. “Just hang on, Tenley. I’ll take her.” But his next step landed him underwater again.

  “Listen—thing,” Tenley pleaded. “Please—stop—squirming—can’t—”

  Tenley turned her face upwards and looked at the sky. Pennie noticed. She knew that look.

  “No, Tenley! You signed the form—”

  Pennie’s alarm went off. 00:00:10

  Tenley threw the little girl up as high as she could and blew out a quick breath. The gust of wind caught little Emmie and suspended her midair until Tenley blew out another breath, this one slightly more controlled. The little girl began blowing upward across the waterfall headed directly for her father’s log, which was just cresting the other side now.

  And in what could only be seen as a miracle, milliseconds before his log disappeared, Emmie’s father caught her.

  Holden started to cheer but the force with which Tenley had thrown the little girl was strong enough to keep pulling Tenley over the side of the waterfall.

  “Tenley!” Holden screamed, lunging his hand out for her foot.

  Just as he caught it, a huge roar, not unlike the sound of marbles getting stuck in a vacuum cleaner, covered everything like a blanket.

  34

  00:00:07

  Adventures, Inc.

  “Good day, Commander.”

  “Your Fairship.” Dan saluted the figure hovering above him.

  “I apologize for being a little early. This group was very eager to get here.”

  Dan stepped out of the log and directly onto the water, which was frozen in jagged splashes. Pennie squeezed her eyes, then opened them again. Dan Ringer? Why was he talking to Fair Force?

  Pennie wiggled her fingers and touched her face. Everything around her was frozen. And everyone. Holden’s frozen body stretched across the hardened waterfall with one hand grabbing Tenley’s ankle. Tenley’s body was halfway over the side, her long blond hair fanning out behind her and a look of sheer terror on her face. They were at least twenty meters off the ground.

  “Just another day at the human zoo, I see,” a snarky voice said.

  Pennie recognized it.

  Lady Fairship slipped off her hood and sneered down at the frozen scene of weary parents and screaming children littering the grounds of the theme park.

  “Ah, there you are, Fair One penn 1. Commander,” she turned to Dan, “why don’t you tell me what’s going on here?”

  “There was an incident. Ten seconds before your arrival, your Fairship. I believe the client used her element again.”


  “It was only to help a little girl!” Pennie shouted up to her.

  “Silence, Fair One!” Lady Fairship ordered. “Still with the interrupting, I see.”

  Pennie shut her mouth. Arguing with Lady Fairship could only end badly.

  “So am I to understand that we travelled all this way to complete the deletion process, only to discover that ten seconds ago the client broke the contract and once again used her element?”

  “Yes, your Fairship. I will contact Headquarters to inform them that we will be transporting the client back with us for a complete erase now instead.” Dan revealed his tool belt under his dark-blue hoodie.

  “What? No!” Pennie yelled. “You don’t understand!”

  Lady Fairship dropped lower to address her. “I’m not sure what you think we don’t understand. Commander dnrgr has been monitoring the attempt on your client’s Right to Delete, which was about to be found successful. Your client would have remained here on Earth as a non-elemented human.”

  “But I told you—” Pennie stepped forward, tripping on a jagged splash of frozen water.

  “However, after this latest development, we find ourselves right back where we started in Room Thirty-three. Your client is headed to Fair City for an Immediate Erase.” Lady Fairship snapped at the Fair Force above her. “And unfortunately, you, Fair One, are to be banished.”

  Two Fair Force zoomed down and grabbed Pennie’s shoulders.

  “Your Fairship! My client had no choice. The little girl was drowning. She was going to die.”

  “I’m sad to hear it. Arrest her.”

  The Fair Force jerked Pennie’s arms behind her.

  Pennie kicked at one of them, hitting his knee. She kicked the other one in the thigh. Both of them groaned and released their grips.

  Pennie felt herself lift off the ground anyway.

  “Sorry, your Fairship.” It was Dan. “It’s the gravity. Most of the Force aren’t up to speed yet.” But Dan, of course, was plenty acclimated. He kept his hold on Pennie while she remained hovering a few feet off the ground.

  Lady Fairship crossed her arms. “Attacking Fair Force now, Fair One? Are you hoping to get your entire family banished as well?”

  “My family? No, please, Lady Fairship.” The thought of her mother and siblings left to float in space for all eternity made Pennie go weak.

  Lady Fairship enjoyed watching her threat take hold. “It’s one order away.”

  Dan tightened his grip.

  “You two,” Lady Fairship ordered the recovering Fair Force. “Get the client.”

  “Lady Fairship,” Pennie said feebly. “Could my client see her mother one last time?”

  Lady Fairship rolled her eyes. “You’re the most pitiful Fair One in Fair City. You were obviously too emotional for the job anyway.”

  Pennie felt a thud on her head. Fair Force were not allowed to use aggressive force against a Fair One, but that was in Fair City. Who knew what they could do here.

  It wasn’t just Pennie who was getting bombarded, though. Fair Force all around started to duck and take cover. Loud clankings were followed by painful crunching sounds while whatever it was falling through the air began hitting propellers. A few blades crunched down to a momentary halt before throwing off whatever had clogged them.

  Stroons. Raining down from a wind tunnel above them.

  A pair of Fair Force backed into each other with a sickening crunch of their blades. They landed hard on top of the frozen water. Another stroon hit Pennie on the shoulder. Lady Fairship pulled something out of her tool belt. A hologram wand.

  The rest of the Fair Force pulled out the same device. Dan kept a tight hold on Pennie as he reached for his and pointed it at the wind tunnel.

  “Fair Force! On my com—”

  Before he finished, the wind tunnel broke apart into a swirl of white robes with a long red beard and a bald head on top.

  Laraby.

  Fair Force grabbed him quickly. Laraby raised both arms in surrender.

  “Name and rank,” Lady Fairship demanded.

  “Fair One, lara b3, your Fairship,” he stuttered. “I’m sorry about the stroons, they flew out of my robes.”

  “Arrest him.”

  “Rule #567893 under section Z03965 in The Rules and Regulations!”

  Lady Fairship glared at him. “What?”

  “Rule #567893: A client who risks his own life to save another life nullifies any and all elemental infractions up to said point and time.” Laraby spoke so quickly he had to catch his breath. He sneaked a look down at Pennie, glanced back at the two Fair Force holding him, and then returned to Lady Fairship, who still had yet to respond. “Which means,” he continued, “that Fair One penn 1’s client no longer needs to be erased.”

  Lady Fairship narrowed her eyes.

  “In other words,” Laraby said, pointing at the waterfall. “Fair One penn 1’s client saved that little girl’s life. She risked her own life to do so. Which means that using her element again was, in this case, not a crime. The client may continue on with her Right to Delete, and after her powers have been deleted, she may remain on Earth as an un-elemented human. And Fair One PENN 1 no longer needs to be banished.” He paused. “Should I say it again? Or are we all good?”

  Fuming, Lady Fairship propelled herself closer to the waterfall to inspect the frozen Tenley. After a quick look, she summoned Dan, who dropped Pennie back down on top of the frozen water.

  “Are you sure about this, Lar?” Pennie whispered.

  “Completely.” Laraby nodded. Then hesitated. Then nodded again. “I’m completely sure. Oh, and I got your subtle not-so-subtle request for the hologram ad. I brought the Intel.”

  “No talking,” one of the Fair Force warned.

  Dan propelled back over to them. Lady Fairship kept her distance.

  “It seems,” Dan reported. “Fair One lara b3 is correct. Rule #567893 applies. You may release him, Fair Force.”

  Laraby landed with a smack on top of the frozen water. He winced and gathered himself to stand.

  “Thank you, Laraby.” Pennie’s voice shook.

  “It was luck, really.” He tapped on his earpiece. “I just happened to be listening to the audio version of The Manual right before the journey down here, and then I overheard what was going on.”

  “Fair Force, you may prepare the client for permanent deletion of her element upon our return to Fair City,” Dan ordered.

  A Fair Force holding a skullcap with various cords attached to it started toward the frozen Tenley.

  “Wait, Commander!” One of the Fair Force propelled closer to Dan. “We have a problem, sir. There are seven seconds left on the clock.”

  Dan looked confused.

  “We’ll need to let those expire before our systems can begin the return transportation process.”

  “I see,” Dan said.

  Lady Fairship zoomed over. A wide smile crossed her face. “We will allow the seven seconds to pass, then. After which, we will see what we’re left with.”

  Laraby mumbled something.

  Pennie turned to him. “Seven seconds? But—”

  “Exactly,” Laraby agreed. “Excuse me, your Fairship, Commander. As you can see, the client is in a clear and present danger. It’s highly unlikely she will survive the seven seconds.”

  Pennie’s heart sank. If time resumed where it left off, Tenley, and maybe even Holden, would plummet over the waterfall. There would be no need for a permanent deletion. Or an immediate erase. The waterfall was too high.

  “My client, too, is in a dangerous position,” Laraby continued.

  “Yes, I see that. Pity. Commander?” Lady Fairship turned to him. “What are the chances of either client surviving the fall?”

  “Zero.”

  “Your Fairship,” Laraby tried to sound casual. “If we could only turn back a little time to get both clients to safety—”

  “Lovely t
hought. Can’t be done.” Lady Fairship nodded to Dan, who turned away to signal the rest of the troops. “We are not allowed to turn back time on Earth, only freeze it temporarily, as I’m sure you, Fair One lara b3, are very well aware. Rule #1, section 1. You will have seven seconds to save them.”

  Pennie felt her knees buckle.

  “But the problem is how?” Lady Fairship continued. “You don’t have your tools. And we are not authorized to lend you ours. I have an idea though.” She propelled lower to Pennie. “If you were to use a Renegade Weather to help you here, to bring your clients to safety so we can proceed with the transport and deletion, we’ll look the other way this time. In fact, we’ll even help you contact one.”

  She gave Dan a silent order.

  “In exchange, however, you, Fair One penn 1, will be required to stay here on Earth. We can explain to Headquarters that you were simply overcome with despair when your client was deleted of her element. You were so distraught, in fact, that you stole our tools and removed your own ID chip to remain untraceable to Fair Force forevermore. Sound good?”

  “You want me to remove my chip?” Pennie touched the back of her head where the chip had been implanted.

  Lady Fairship hovered higher. “Do I detect some hesitation? How very peculiar. One would have expected you to jump at the chance to avoid Administration and stay here with your beloved client. Now I’m wondering if it was just her element that made you so fond of her. Her personality is rather, shall we say, self-absorbed?”

  Pennie’s head began to swirl. Staying here with Tenley Tylwyth for the rest of her life? Posting nail tutorials? And after Tenley was gone, what then? A Fair One could live for up to two hundred years. Two hundred years on planet Earth with no purpose. No identity. No propellers.

  Laraby cleared his throat. “Excuse me, Lady Fairship, but removing a Fair One’s identity chip is against Manual rules.”

  A flash of rage crossed Lady Fairship’s face. “Fortunately, there are still a few top-secret privileges the Original Eights possess, Fair One.” She turned to Pennie. “We’ll need your answer rather immediately, I’m afraid.”