On The Ball Read Free

four EJ was sitting on a beanbag at the top of a giant tunnel slide. On the count of five, the wall spun back and a protective shield covered EJ and the bean bag. She had entered the SHINE Mission Tube. EJ then pushed 1 on her phone and WHOOOOOOOOOSH! she sped down what looked like a giant pipe, shiny and brightly lit.
    Normally EJ stopped at the Code Room but this time she sped past it until she came to a stopoutside two large metal doors. Next to the doors was a small keypad. EJ stood up and again keyed in her pin code and waited for the security check. The check changed each time. Sometimes it would be fingerprints, sometimes an eye-scan, once EJ even had to sing a song—that was a little embarrassing. The checks were constantly changing to ensure that no one could break into SHINE HQ. EJ wondered what it would be this time.
    EJ stood still and waited. And waited. Nothing happened. She moved a bit closer to the doors. Perhaps I’m not in the right position, she thought.
    â€˜Please don’t move,’ a digital voice instructed. ‘Head recognition test about to commence.’
    There was a whirring noise coming from above and as EJ looked up, she saw the light in the ceiling slide to one side and what looked like a baseball cap descending towards her. As it came closer she could see that it was a baseball cap, black with the SHINE logo on the front. EJ stood still while the cap lowered onto her head. She felt it tighten as it seemed to grip on to the sides of her head. Therewas a buzzing noise for three seconds before EJ felt the cap loosen and then lift and go back up and into the ceiling.
    â€˜Head scan complete. Agent identity confirmed,’ said the digital voice. ‘Access to headquarters granted, EJ12. Enter briefing room.’
    EJ smiled. Head scan for headquarters access. Good one.
    The silver doors slid open, revealing the SHINE operations room. There were workstations and computer screens everywhere and a back wall filled with monitors flashing images from all over the world. In the middle of it all, as always, stood A1, the head of SHINE.
    â€˜Welcome back, EJ12,’ said A1 smiling broadly. ‘It is good to see you again.’
    Normally A1 wore a black suit and crisp white shirt but this afternoon she was in distinctly more casual clothes—sports shoes, grey tracksuit pants, white T-shirt and, over the top, a grey hoodie with the SHINE logo across the front. It looked a warm, comfy hoodie and EJ wondered whether she wouldget a SHINE hoodie as well. She hoped so.
    â€˜Your SHINE hoodie and the rest of your training gear is waiting for you in change cubicle 1, EJ,’ said A1 who had a disconcerting ability to know what you were thinking. ‘Leave your school clothes there and we will send them home to your mother, washed and ready for school next week.’
    Mum will love SHINE for that, thought EJ. Her mum didn’t like washing. Actually EJ didn’t know anyone who did.
    â€˜Now be as quick as you can please, EJ12, we need to leave soon.’
    EJ went into the first of three changing cubicles at the other end of the room. On the chair inside were some tracksuit pants, a white T-shirt, runners and socks, yellow shorts with an aqua trim and a SHINE hoodie. There was also a SHINE identity card on a cord for EJ to put around her neck and a backpack with a special-issue SHINE water bottle. In next to no time, EJ was out of her school clothes and in her training gear. She came out of the changing rooms and went back to where A1was waiting for her.
    â€˜That was nice and quick, EJ. I think we are ready to go. We will have a full briefing at the camp and our train is ready to leave. We were just waiting on you and one other agent. She is just getting changed as well.’
    EJ looked around and noticed that one of the change cubicle doors was shut.
    â€˜Ah yes, here she is,’ continued A1. ‘And I think you two know each other.’
    EJ turned around as