Base Camp by H. I. Larry

CHAPTER
ONE
    â€˜Ha! You’re out, Power!’
    It was lunchtime, and Zac Power was playing handball with his school friends.
    He walked out of the square, pretending to be disappointed. Pretending he hadn’t just got out on purpose.
    If he’d wanted to, Zac could have beaten all his friends with a blindfold on and one hand tied behind his back.
    But none of them were allowed to know that. None of Zac’s friends could ever find out that he was really a highly trained secret agent for the Government Investigation Bureau, or GIB for short.
    So Zac left the court and walked to the end of the line to wait for his next turn. He looked up and saw his teacher, Ms Tran, walking towards them.
    â€˜Zac,’ she said. ‘Mrs De Souza wants to see you in her office.’
    Mrs De Souza was the principal of Zac’s school.
    â€˜It wasn’t me!’ said Zac, without thinking. He hated getting in trouble.
    Ms Tran raised an eyebrow.
    â€˜I mean,’ Zac said quickly, ‘what does she want to see me about?’
    â€˜Your uncle is with her,’ said Ms Tran. ‘He’s picking you up early today. Go and get your things.’
    â€˜Oh, OK,’ said Zac, dashing off to get his bag.
    But there was something a bit odd about all of this. For one thing, Zac didn’t have an uncle.
    Moments later, Zac was outside the principal’s office, wondering what was going on. He knocked.
    â€˜Come in,’ Mrs De Souza said from inside the office.
    Zac pushed open the door and froze.
    Sitting in a chair across from Mrs De Souza was the last person Zac ever expected to see at his school.
    Agent Big Boss. The head of GIB.
    â€˜Sir!’ said Zac. ‘What are you –’
    â€˜Well,’ said Agent Big Boss loudly, cutting Zac short. ‘If it isn’t my favourite nephew!’ He winked at Zac.
    â€˜Oh, uh, yeah!’ said Zac, playing along. ‘Hi, Uncle! What are you doing here?’
    What was Agent Big Boss doing there?
    â€˜Your uncle has come to pick you up early today,’ said Mrs De Souza, not looking very happy. ‘A family matter, is it?’
    Agent Big Boss nodded.
    For a second, Zac was worried.
    â€˜Are Mum and Dad OK?’ he asked.
    Zac’s parents and his brother Leon worked for GIB, too.
    â€˜They’re fine,’ said Agent Big Boss quickly. ‘Leon, too. But I have something to discuss with you.’
    â€˜I hope this is important,’ said Mrs De Souza. ‘We don’t like pulling our students out of school unless it’s absolutely necessary.’
    â€˜Mrs De Souza,’ Agent Big Boss said firmly, ‘this is more important than you could possibly imagine. Come on, Zac, the car’s waiting.’
    And with that, Agent Big Boss stood up and walked out of the principal’s office.
    With an awkward look back at Mrs De Souza, Zac followed him.
    â€˜What is it?’ said Zac as soon as the office door closed behind them. ‘What’s going on?’
    â€˜Not yet,’ said Agent Big Boss in a low voice. ‘Wait until we get into the car.’
    Zac nodded.
    Agent Big Boss stopped at the side of the road and stuck out his hand. A black limousine with tinted windows pulled up from around the corner.
    The door opened automatically and Zac and Agent Big Boss climbed inside.
    Zac was amazed. This limo had everything! A popcorn-maker, a mini-fridge, a stereo system and an enormous flat-screen TV! There was even a metal door in the floor labelled ‘Foot Spa’.

    This is better than my house! thought Zac, getting comfy in the plush leather seat.
    He wished he had time to test it all out. But Agent Big Boss was staring at him with a strange look in his eye.
    Time to focus, Zac told himself. Popcorn can wait.
    â€˜Agent Rock Star, I’ve got a mission for you,’ began Agent Big Boss, putting on his seatbelt. ‘BIG is planning something, and I need you to stop them.’
    BIG was the