The Medusa Project: Hit Squad Read online

  Award-winning books from Sophie McKenzie

  GIRL, MISSING

  Winner Richard and Judy Best Kids’ Books 2007 12+

  Winner of the Red House Children’s Book Award 2007 12+

  Winner of the Manchester Children’s Book Award 2008

  Winner of the Bolton Children’s Book Award 2007

  Winner of the Grampian Children’s Book Award 2008

  Winner of the John Lewis Solihull Book Award 2008

  Winner of the Lewisham Children’s Book Award 2009

  Winner of the 2008 Sakura Medal

  SIX STEPS TO A GIRL

  Winner of the Manchester Children’s Book Award 2009

  BLOOD TIES

  Overall winner of the Red House Children’s Book Award 2009

  Winner of the North East Teenage Book Award 2010

  Winner of the Leeds Book Award 2009 age 11-14 category

  Winner of the Spellbinding Award 2009

  Winner of the Lancashire Children’s Book Award 2009

  Winner of the Portsmouth Book Award 2009 (Longer Novel section)

  Winner of the Staffordshire Children’s Book Award 2009

  Winner of the Southern Schools Book Award 2010

  Winner of the RED Book Award 2010

  Winner of the Warwickshire Secondary Book Award 2010

  Winner of the Grampian Children’s Book Award 2010

  Winner of the North East Teenage Book Award 2010

  THE MEDUSA PROJECT: THE SET-UP

  Winner of the North-East Book Award 2010

  Winner of the Portsmouth Book Award 2010

  Winner of the Yorkshire Coast Book Award 2010

  First published in Great Britain in 2012 by Simon and Schuster UK Ltd

  A CBS COMPANY

  Copyright © 2012 Sophie McKenzie

  This book is copyright under the Berne Convention.

  No reproduction without permission.

  All rights reserved.

  The right of Sophie McKenzie to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Design and Patents Act, 1988.

  Simon & Schuster UK Ltd

  1st Floor, 222 Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1X 8HB

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  A CIP catalogue record for this book

  is available from the British Library.

  PB ISBN: 978-0-85707-071-5

  E-BOOK ISBN: 978-0-85707-072-2

  Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

  www.simonandschuster.co.uk

  www.sophiemckenziebooks.com

  For Lou Kuenzler

  Fourteen years ago, scientist William Fox implanted four babies with the Medusa gene – a gene for psychic abilities. Fox’s experiment left a legacy: four teenagers – Nico, Ketty, Ed and Fox’s own daughter, Dylan – who have each developed their own distinct and special skill.

  Initially, the four worked together as the Medusa Project – a secret, government-funded, crime-fighting force. However, after learning that their mentor had betrayed them, the Medusa teens fled the country. On the run, they discovered the existence of two other young people with the Medusa gene: Cal – Nico’s half-brother – who can fly, and Amy – Ed’s sister – a shapeshifter.

  Temporarily based in Australia, various factions are now battling for control of the teenagers’ lives. Their parents, who want to separate them and hide them away with new lives and identities, face opposition from the government, which is keen to make fresh use of their psychic skills.

  However, Nico, Ketty, Ed and Dylan are determined to investigate claims that a drug conveying the same abilities as the Medusa gene has been developed – and are making plans of their own . . .

  Contents

  KETTY

  1: The Getaway

  2: The Arrival

  3: The Patrol

  4: The Trap

  5: The Green Door

  6: The Recruit

  7: An Old Acquaintance

  8: The Lake

  ED

  9: Demonstration

  10: The Train

  11: The Crash

  12: Escape

  13: The Return

  14: The Duel

  15: A Lesson

  16: The Lab

  DYLAN

  17: Buried

  18: An Old Friend

  19: A New Hit

  20: Mission Impossible

  21: Punishment

  22: The Sacrifice

  23: Plan of Attack

  24: Getting In

  NICO

  25: Checkpoint

  26: Finding Amy

  27: Breathe and Focus

  28: Timing is Everything

  29: Out of Time

  30: Walk Through Fire

  31: The Way Out

  32: StopMed

  KETTY

  1: The Getaway

  The night sky over the ranch was full of stars, but I wasn’t looking up. I was leading the way to our meeting place with the others. I stopped at the end of the porch and took a couple of steadying breaths. I was desperate to see into the next few minutes. That’s my particular Medusa ability . . . visions of the future.

  But, as so often when I’m feeling stressed, I couldn’t see anything.

  ‘What is it, Ketty?’ Ed whispered behind me.

  I shook my head, glad that he wasn’t attempting to read my mind. ‘Nothing.’

  I hoped it didn’t matter that I couldn’t see if there were any obstacles to our escape. We were on the trail of a drug – Medusix – that mimicked our genetically-given psychic skills and it was important we got away from here tonight. In the morning our parents, in an effort to prevent the UK government from taking charge of us again, were planning to separate us from each other and send us on different flights all over the world.

  ‘Er . . . come on, Ketty, the others will be waiting,’ Ed whispered. He ran his hand anxiously through his sandy, tufty hair. ‘Ketty?’

  I peered round the corner of the porch. It was nearly 3 a.m. and the ranch house was dark and silent. The night air was still and cool. Apart from the moon and stars above, the only light came from the lanterns that illuminated the exit – across the field to our right. We were heading in the opposite direction.

  ‘Okay, let’s go.’ With a final glance back at the ranch I raced across the field on our left, Ed by my side. We were due to meet the others at 3 a.m. in the paddock. As we neared the paddock fence I could just make out Dylan’s profile. She was leaning against the gate stroking one of the horses in the field. Nico stood beside her. He caught sight of me and beckoned us over. I could see the tension on his face as we ran up. He turned to Ed.

  ‘Where’s your sister?’ he demanded. ‘Where’s Amy?’

  ‘Er . . .’ Ed stammered.

  ‘We didn’t bring her,’ I said quickly. Confessing that Amy wasn’t with us was what I’d been nervous about, much more than running away from the ranch. Ed and I had decided to leave her behind . . . that she’d be safer staying with the adults.

  ‘What?’ Nico’s mouth fell open. ‘But we agreed.’

  ‘No we didn’t.’ I stood my ground. ‘You were the only person who wanted Amy along. You ordered Ed to tell her where to meet but Ed never actually said he would do it.’

  When the four of us had discussed ways of leaving the house, neither Cal nor Amy had been present. Nico had talked to Cal later about his role in our escape but he’d told Ed to tell Amy about our plans.

>   Neither Ed nor I had spoken up against this at the time, though it was obvious from the look on Ed’s face that he disliked Nico’s order as much as I did.

  ‘Amy’s too young,’ Ed protested, finding his voice at last. ‘She’s three years younger than we are.’

  Nico turned his gaze to me. ‘Ketts? What’s going on?’

  I looked away. Things had been awkward between Nico and me for a couple of weeks now and Amy – or rather her ability to change her appearance at will – was at the heart of the problem. Basically, a few weeks ago, she’d been forced to look like me to manipulate Nico. After the danger we’d been facing had passed, Amy hadn’t changed back to herself straight away. She’d waited a few minutes . . . letting Nico kiss her while he still thought she was me. I didn’t really blame Amy for that. She was young and my boyfriend is gorgeous – all dark eyes, silky hair and charming smile.

  No, I blamed Nico for encouraging her to have a huge crush on him. He’d flirted with her like mad for ages. Not because he particularly liked her – but just because he could. It was typical Nico behaviour . . . egotistical and thoughtless . . . and I was fed up with it.

  ‘Excuse me,’ drawled Dylan. She moved away from the horse she was stroking and stood between us. The moonlight picked out the tiny white-gold stud in her nose. She’d only had the piercing done last week and it kind of suited her hard-faced prettiness. ‘This is no time for a tiff. If you wanna know what I think, we’re totally better off without Princess Ten-Faces, but the important thing is that we get out of here.’ She peered towards the ranch. ‘Where is Cal anyway? He should be here by now.’

  Nico’s jaw tightened. ‘I’m going back for Amy,’ he said. ‘It’s not fair to leave her out – and we need her Medusa skill. It’s just as valuable as any of ours.’ He paused. ‘And more reliable than some.’

  I winced. This was, I was sure, a dig at my own flaky ability to see into the future. Beside me, Ed’s face reddened. He hates it when we all argue.

  Dylan grabbed Nico’s arm. ‘You can’t go back. Cal will be here any second. And if we’re caught trying to leave they’ll watch over us till morning and then we’ll never get away.’

  ‘Remember what we need to do,’ I insisted. ‘We have to find out if Medusix really exists . . . if anyone’s used it yet. It’s going to be a really dangerous mission.’

  ‘Ketty’s right,’ Ed added. ‘It’s too risky for Amy.’

  I could see Nico wavering. Like the rest of us he had been shocked at our recent discovery that Geri Paterson – the government agent who brought us together as the Medusa Project – was a murderer who had tried to kill us. Two weeks ago, in a terrible showdown at the ranch, Geri had herself been killed in front of us. The images were still seared onto my mind and I knew they’d affected Nico deeply as well. The situation we were heading into could easily be just as dangerous.

  ‘I still think Amy could be useful,’ Nico said stubbornly.

  Something snapped inside me. ‘Useful as a boost to your massive ego, you mean?’ I said.

  ‘Oooh, someone’s jealous.’ Dylan suppressed a giggle.

  An awkward silence fell. I looked away.

  ‘Look!’ At the sound of Ed’s voice I spun round. He was pointing towards the ranch house. A light had been switched on inside and a slight figure in jeans was racing towards us across the field. It was Cal, Nico’s half-brother.

  ‘At last,’ Dylan muttered.

  As Cal drew closer, another light came on in the house.

  ‘Man, those lights are coming from our bedrooms.’ Nico turned on me and Ed, furious. ‘How much noise did you make leaving?’

  ‘None,’ Ed protested.

  ‘Stop picking on us, Nico,’ I said.

  He glared at me as Cal raced up. He was slightly out of breath from running, his white-blond hair and pale face contrasting dramatically with his dark clothes.

  ‘Come on,’ he gasped, his Australian accent strong in his voice. ‘We have to hurry. They know we’re gone. They’ll be out here any sec.’

  ‘We still need to fetch Amy,’ Nico said. ‘I can get in and out fast and—’

  ‘No way,’ Cal interrupted. ‘It was Amy who sounded the alarm. She woke up and saw everyone was gone. She assumed someone had kidnapped us.’

  Nico swore. Dylan’s eyes widened.

  ‘Didn’t you think to leave a note for your sister, Chino Boy?’ she asked Ed.

  ‘I did,’ Ed blustered. ‘She obviously hasn’t seen it yet in the dark and—’

  ‘Will you all shut up,’ Cal hissed. ‘We need to go. Right now.’ He extended his arms. I took hold of one hand, Dylan the other.

  Nico took a step back. ‘I’m telling you this is a mistake,’ he said.

  ‘Come on, Nico, please.’ I held out my other hand to him.

  For a second, Nico looked at me. His eyes, even in the darkness, were full of emotion: part frustration, part anger . . . part disappointment. He didn’t speak but I could read his thoughts as powerfully as if I were Ed.

  You’ve let me down, Ketty.

  I was still holding out my hand, waiting for him to take it. When Cal was using his Medusa gift with the four of us, we always travelled in the same formation: me and Nico on one side; Dylan and Ed on the other.

  Shouts were now audible from the house. There was Fergus, Dylan’s uncle, shouting all our names . . . and Amy, calling for Ed . . . and Nico.

  ‘Come on, mate,’ Cal urged.

  With a growl, Nico gave in. My hand was still outstretched, but he pointedly walked away from me, to Cal’s other side, and took Dylan’s hand.

  It felt like a punch in the guts.

  The atmosphere tensed further.

  ‘Ed, mate, get in line,’ Cal snapped.

  Ed, who’d been watching the scene between Nico and me with gaping mouth, stepped over and took my hand. As the five of us stood in a row, ready to take off, Ed squeezed my fingers. I gave his hand a squeeze back to acknowledge his kindness, but inside it made no difference. Inside I was devastated.

  ‘Ready?’ Cal glanced up and down the line.

  We all nodded. No one spoke. The yells from the ranch house were louder now. Out of the corner of my eye, I could just make out Fergus racing across the field in our direction.

  ‘No!’ he yelled. ‘Stop!’

  With a sudden jerk, Cal yanked on my hand. My feet left the ground and a moment later we soared into the night sky.

  2: The Arrival

  We didn’t speak as we flew. Cal and Ed, on either side of me, weren’t ignoring me or being unkind, but Ed hates being up in the air, so he spent the entire journey with his eyes tight shut, and Cal kept quiet because he has to concentrate when he’s flying. He has an amazing ability – personally I think it’s the coolest Medusa skill, not that I’d ever say so to the others. I mean, mine is frustrating and unpredictable and I know Ed often hates being able to read minds. But Dylan and Nico love what they can do.

  As we soared over the rough, rugged Australian landscape, I realised that Cal’s ability to fly was special because he could extend it to others. This was true of Dylan’s protective force, of course. She’d recently learned how to protect others as well as herself. And Cal helped other people have fun. In contrast, Nico’s telekinesis was kind of a selfish ability. Sure he could move objects to fight off external threats, and he’d saved all our lives on more than one occasion, but that was in rare and extreme situations. Most of the time he only used his telekinesis to show off.

  For the first time it struck me that maybe the showing off was part of a deeper problem . . . that maybe Nico was just fundamentally very selfish. Not merely a bit self-centred, like most people probably are, but truly egotistical through and through.

  I looked down at the desert landscape over which we were flying. The sun was rising now and the sky was a blazing fire of red and orange. We were high up and I could see for miles. A small town nestled at the base of a hill to the east. A range of mountains ran along the horizon to
the west. Normally this would have thrilled me. I’d always loved being up in the skies before, the wind rushing through my hair.

  But today I felt empty and sad. I wanted to be on this mission, for sure, not packed off to Singapore to live with Mum and Dad and my brother Lex. But I hated how things were with Nico.

  I felt a tug on my hand and looked round. Cal was indicating the ground. We’d been flying for several hours and I knew he would be getting tired. I nodded, and he shifted the angle of his body so that we began our descent. A couple of minutes later we landed in a deserted field. It was greener than most of the landscape we’d flown over and the grass felt damp around my ankles. Ed came to ground with a groan. He staggered a few paces, then slumped onto the wet grass, his head in his hands.

  Letting go of Cal’s hand, I walked over. ‘You okay, Ed?’

  He nodded, but his face was at the grey end of pale.

  ‘Why have we stopped?’ Nico said behind me, an imperious tone to his voice.

  Wasn’t it obvious?

  ‘Because Cal needs a break and Ed feels sick,’ I snapped, turning round.

  Nico glared at me. With the dawn sun lighting his face, he looked absolutely beautiful. And yet his dark eyes were cold.

  ‘Right.’ He sounded like he was sneering. ‘Well, we can’t stop for long.’

  Exasperated, I walked over to Cal. He was standing to one side, his face tipped up to the sun. ‘How are you doing?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m fine.’ He smiled at me, a lovely warm grin. ‘Thanks, Ketty.’ He slicked his hands through his blond hair. Cal was pretty good-looking himself. Not, maybe, in the same league as Nico, but definitely fit. And he liked me, I was sure he did.

  I looked round. Dylan was gazing at me, eyebrows raised. I wondered what she was thinking. There was no point asking, of course. Dylan was as prickly as a rose bush. And, usually, just as glamorous, though right now – with her tousled hair and dark shadows under her pale green eyes – she did not look her best.

  For a second, I thought she was going to say something about me and Cal or me and Nico, but instead she made a face and held out her long red ponytail.

  ‘I love flying but it’s real bad for my hair,’ she drawled.