Jeremy, Conor and Sarra stand in the center of the garage while Marcus rifles through a supply crate. “Here,” he says at last and thrusts a nunchaku into Jeremy’s hands. Jeremy glances at it doubtfully and slides the weapon onto the bench behind him without Marcus noticing.
“You need to stop freakin’ out, Marcus,” says Sarra. “We’ll be fine,”
“Statistically that’s somewhat unlikely,” says Conor. “Given the lack of any veteran units on the squad, I’d say it’s highly likely that something will go wrong.”
“Don’t worry,” says Jeremy. “I single-handedly took down a troll.” And it’s only the fifteen-hundredth time he’s reminded them.
“And caused half of the city to blackout,” says Sarra, poking out her tongue.
“This time I don’t care if you black out half of the Territory,” Chatravati’s voice bears down on them from above. He is standing up on the podium beside Helena. “You need to infiltrate the Sanctum, discover what is powering the Enforcer program and destroy it.”
“Sounds exciting,” says Sarra.
“We’ll be in constant communication,” says Helena. She strides down the narrow staircase that leads to the podium in what appear to be impossibly high heels. She holds up an earpiece. “You won’t be alone out there,”
“We’re taking every… possible… precaution…” says Marcus as he hefts a rocket launcher out of the munitions crate. Conor shakes his head and Marcus puts it back.
“So, what do we know?” asks Sarra and it’s the first time that Jeremy has ever seen her really paying attention. This is their big chance, he realises. Their big chance to prove themselves as fully-fledged members of Westcrest.
“The Sanctum are capturing zombies,” says Chatravati. “And are turning them into super-soldiers.”
“We know that the Sanctum have to be using advanced technology in order to imprint the Tel-Ur brain-training onto the Enforcers,” says Conor.
“Tel-Ur brain-training?” says Jeremy. Even after living at the mansion for months it sometimes still feels like they’re speaking another language.
“He means that the Enforcers are like me,” says Marcus.
“So you’re sending the three of us…” Sarra begins, indicating Conor and Jeremy standing on either side of her. “Into a place where everyone has guns and fights like Marcus. Does anyone else see a problem here?”
“Told you,” says Conor. “Anyway… whatever they’re using to power the Enforcer program won’t be… from ‘around here’ if you know what I mean.”
“So you shouldn’t have any trouble recognising it,” says Chatravati. “But just in case… this might help you to find what you’re looking for,”
Chatravati thrusts a silver pocket watch into Jeremy’s hands. “You’ll need to calibrate it,” he says. “Sarra can show you how.”
“Wait-“ Sarra begins, but Chatravati ends the question before it really begins by stating simply: “It’s mine.”
“Press this button,” Sarra instructs Jeremy, pointing to a large silver button at the top of the pocket watch. “Then put your other finger here…”
“Ouch!” says Jeremy as something like a pin pricks the end of his finger.
“All done,” says Sarra.
“What just happened?”
“The watch will now recognise you as its owner,” says Chatravati. “It can return you home, if things become too dangerous.”
“But that’s not its main purpose,” says Helena. “The watches were created to indicate the location of the nearest anachronism. That is: the closest thing to the watch that’s not of its time.”
Sarra flicks the lid of the watch open and Jeremy watches the red needle swinging around.
“They go kind of funky here,” Sarra says, but together they watch as the red needle eventually stops spinning. It is pointing to the nearest wall of the garage—or more accurately, to the conveyance with the glowing blue engine.
“Future technology,” says Jeremy, glancing between the watch and the motorbike. “I understand.”
“You will be in full disguise,” says Helena opening one of the lockers in the garage. It contains three small-sized Genoa City police uniforms. “You’ll be carrying a portable distortion field that makes things… uncomfortable for those around you. That should help you get inside at least.”
“It won’t make us sick as well?” Jeremy asks.
“We have a pill for that,” says Helena.
“Plus we have these,” Conor holds up a metal ring from which hangs every conceivable variation of keycard and security swipe that might be required inside the Sanctum. “And just in case we come up against a door I haven’t prepared for…”
Conor lifts something from the bench that looks halfway between a clamp and a handheld computer.
“Universal opener,” Sarra explains before Jeremy opens his mouth.
“The latest plans we have of the Sanctum show that several new offices were constructed within the past twelve months,” says Helena. As she speaks a multitude of maps appear on the computer monitors that are arranged haphazardly across the garage. “Our maps haven’t been updated since then, but we’re guessing that whatever’s powering the Enforcer program is probably being kept in one of these new areas.”
“So all we need to do is find the power source…” says Jeremy.
“And destroy it,” says Marcus. “By whatever means necessary.”
“Bet you’re really mad to be missing out on this one,” Sarra says.
Marcus only growls.
Next week we head into the final story arc for this season of Westcrest in “The Sanctum, Part I”. Will Jeremy, Sarra and Conor manage to succesfully disable the Enforcer program? Find out the answer to this and more NEXT TUESDAY as the Westcrest juniors attempt to infilitrate the headquarters of Genoa City’s finest.