As I woke up, I saw a large sign pasted all over the room that read “Never Blow Your Cover” continuously to the point where I rolled out of my bed and ripped all of the signs off the walls, doors, clothes, water bottles, plates, and even the TV! Now the only show I could watch was Commander Peak repeatedly saying, “Never Blow Your Cover.” So I decided to go outside to get some fresh air and found the whole wall covered with Commander Peak’s statement: “Never Blow Your Cover”. I decided to call a friend I knew to spray-paint the whole building black and remodel my room. A few hours later, Commander Peak walked into the room and asked, “Stacy! Did you paint the whole building black under my nose?”
“Yes. Yes, I did only because you kept on pasting ‘Never Blow Your Cover’ all over the building and it was getting annoying so I decided to do something about it,” I said.
“Yes. That is what a good spy needs to think about when they’re on a mission: how to do some things without someone realizing that they need to be done,” he said.
“Wait, so you’re not mad at me?”
“Why would I, I mean you are my favorite, and that’s why you’re going on the mission alone,” he said.
“What! You can’t do that. Harper is my best friend. We always do things together and that’s why I’m not going on the mission until you say Harper can go with me.”
He raised an eyebrow, clearly proud and suspicious of my determination. “Stacy, this isn’t up for debate. A true spy needs to be able to work alone and to think independently. This mission is critical, and I need you to handle it.”
I shook my head, unwilling to back down. “Harper and I are a team. We’ve trained together, fought together and we’re stronger together. I won’t and can’t do it without her!”
Commander Peak looked at me for a long time, his smile slowly fading. “You’re right about one thing, Stacy, you two are stronger together. But sometimes, strength comes from knowing when you must stand on your own.”
He sighed as if he was making a difficult decision. “Fine. Harper can go with you. But remember this: there will be a time when you’ll need to face challenges by yourself. Don’t let your reliance on others, or especially Harper, become your weakness.”
I nodded, relieved but still on edge. “Understood, Commander. But know this—I’ll always have Harper’s back, just like she has mine.”
“Good,” he replied, turning to leave. “Then get ready. Your mission starts at dawn.”
I went back to the room, grabbed my Stanley and Touchland and my Kendra Scott necklace, and went to sleep waiting for dawn to arise.
As I woke up, I saw a giant van waiting for me but I saw no Harper. Then I felt a presence behind me and it pushed me into the van and I fell unconscious.
