Double Agent

Prologue

"So," stated Camila Brand, glancing around at the crowd gathered in the lab, "Me and my friend, Melanie Nathanson, are the owners of The Robotic Animal Studies Centre and the Genetic Engineering Agency. We have each succeeded to create animals that are faster, stronger, and smarter than their average species. Melanie and I are using dogs for this demonstration, but we thought it to use extra precaution, as we aren't sure ourselves what will happen when they meet."

The crowd muttered nervously. These ladies DIDN'T KNOW what would happen? But the scientists calmed down when the dogs were escorted into the room by no less than a dozen guards each. At first, everything went fine. The dogs appeared to show disinterest, which caused Camila and Melanie to sigh with disappointment. This was their expected outcome, but individually they'd been hoping for something big to happen.

Just as Melanie gestured for the guards to take the dogs away, the animals made eye contact. The robot one, Kaela, made a grinding noise that startled the crowd. "Is that... a growl?" Melanie asked Camila quietly. "Probably not--" Camila said, interrupted by a sudden whine from Horace, the genetically engineered dog.

Melanie heard a creaking noise coming from the single door in the lab. She was about to tell Camila when the door broke into splintering pieces, spraying all over the crowd. The scientists screamed and shouted to each other. Then, simultaneously, they turned to the door.

It was blocked by more robot and genetically engineered animals than anyone could count.

Kaela and Horace attacked each other. Robots and genetically engineered animals started fighting. Some scientists took their opportunity to run, as did the guards, but Camila and Melanie felt glued to the ground.

"Whoa!" Camila yelled at Melanie through the fray. She pointed at a genetically engineered cat with lasers shooting out of its eyes, taking down a robot snake. "You said that each one took a decade to make, but our companies have only existed for, like, FIVE YEARS!" Melanie stared at her feet, but when she looked back at Camila, she seemed furious. "Well, you said the same!" Melanie cried, watching a robot hummingbird with blades as wings. It flew for a genetically engineered squirrel, creating a cut in the wall as it went. That was when the ladies realized that they were alone, no animals in sight.

Camila turned on the TV.

All that the women did was watch. Watch as robots tore down skyscrapers. Watch as they made holes in mountains. Watch as people ran, their expressions wishing that they were anywhere but here. Melanie broke the silence by saying, "Our world is being destroyed by our creations, and there's nothing that we can do to stop it."

Camila lost her temper. It wasn't fair that all of this was happening. "You and your unreliable animals!" she shouted. "It's all your fault. Because of you, the whole mainland is being smashed. You've cost everyone their lives." If Melanie heard any insult that Camila had thrown at her, she did not show it. Instead, she seemed focused on only one of the phrases. "The whole MAINLAND..." She paused, thinking. "I have an idea," she exclaimed.

"Everybody!" Melanie yelled as she ran outside, "if you'd like to stay alive, please follow me." The nearby people DID want to be safe, so they listened. The woman began running, and the crowd fought to keep up. More people joined them, and Melanie kept sprinting until they reached the square. "Join hands," she instructed. Camila, hidden behind the fountain, watched as the people linked arms and closed their eyes.

They started glowing with a golden light, and began floating up towards the clouds. Eventually, they opened their eyes. When they did, Melanie, at one end of the long line of people, spied a close cloud. She stepped onto it, and looked very happy that she didn't sink through. "Come!" she exclaimed. The line split into many smaller lines as the crowd stepped onto different clouds. They were so high up that the flying animals didn't chase them.

Camila was so shocked, she had forgotten what was happening around her. A growling robot tiger rounded the corner, and Camila ran. She thought about going up to the clouds like Melanie had, but scratched that idea. Melanie had clearly wanted nothing more to do with her... but then, where was she to go? Camila then noticed a--finally--regular rabbit burrowing into the ground. A robot pigeon tried to follow, yet wasn't able to dig into the ground.

The pigeon didn't seem all that interested in following the rabbit after several failed attempts, and flew away. Camila looked thoughtfully at the dirt. She grabbed a handful, and was surprised that she'd been able to grab it so easily. The animals that she and Melanie had created must have had a flaw--being unable to get underground, even the ones that were supposed to dig.

Melanie had taken a lot of people with her on the voyage to the clouds, but many more still remained. "Hello?" she said quietly. When no one heard her, she raised her voice. "HELLO, PEOPLE!" The scared people turned towards her, and she decided that joining hands WAS the best idea, even if it was originally Melanie's.

They all grabbed each other, and sank into the ground. When the people finally processed what had just happened to them, they examined their surroundings. They were in some kind of underground cavern. One little boy whispered, "Is this even real?" he held out his hand, and something astonishing happened. He shot out a ray of force that broke through the wall and snaked away, forming a long tunnel. "Whoa!" he cried in delight. Camila half smiled, but she also felt disappointment. Some of the people in the room were scientists from the lab meeting. Mr. Kellsey, one of Melanie's workers, scowled.

Camila would have to show them and prove to them that this had all been Melanie's fault. It wasn't fair that she was being blamed. Also, the idea to even HAVE the lab meeting was Melanie's idea! The people on the clouds and the people underground would soon be enemies. It wasn't what Camila wanted, but there was nothing she could do to stop it.