“That’s not exactly fair,” Duncan said.

“Fine. I’ll prove it to you,” Heathcliff said. “Hey, Braceface! Who’s your favorite Star Trek captain?”

“Uh, Han Solo?”

“See, he’s hopeless.”

“OK, that’s enough bickering,” Ms. Holiday said. “Munoz is still alive and we got the schematics.”

Jackson shook his head. “No, they caught on fire in the attack.”

Ruby leaped to her feet. “See, Choppers is right. Braceface has shown the public his upgrades for the third time. He’s not ready to be out there, and I don’t trust his judgment. If you send him out again, I’m going to resign.”

The room grew quiet.

“You really mean that, Pufferfish?” Brand said.

Ruby nodded.

Jackson couldn’t be sure if Ruby was sincere or trying to push him out, but the worry on the team’s faces when she threatened to quit spoke volumes. Pufferfish was much more important to the NERDS than some trainee who kept screwing up.

“Then clean out your locker, agent,” Agent Brand said.

“No! She’s not quitting. I am,” Jackson said.

“No one is quitting,” Ms. Holiday said.

“I’m not wanted here,” Jackson argued. “You don’t trust me, and you probably never will. Even if I did a good job, you guys would never accept me. Maybe I deserve it. I know I was a jerk before, but I’m not anymore. I wish you’d give me a chance … but you won’t. So I give up.”

He threw the words out there, wondering if anyone would argue. In his head he decided that if one person came to his defense, he would stay, but the room was quiet.

He looked at Duncan, but the boy wouldn’t return his gaze.

“Take the braces and the computer chip out. I’m not one of you,” he said at last.

Ms. Holiday looked at Agent Brand. The former spy was leaning on his cane and rubbing his face with his free hand. He looked disgusted and disappointed. He shot Ruby an angry look, then nodded his approval. “Do it.”

Ms. Holiday bit her lower lip and gestured for Jackson to follow her. She led him into the room with the upgrade chair and strapped him to the table. She started to tear up and wiped the corners of her eyes with her cardigan sweater.

“I’m truly sorry, Jackson. I don’t think it’s fair. You’re doing as well, if not better, in the training than anyone on the team. Your time avoiding Duncan’s tetherball is a record.”

“Really? They never told me.” Jackson said.

“Oh, and that man!” the librarian raged. “He told me he’d try to be more understanding. I told him, ‘They’re kids, Alexander. You have to talk to them like they’re kids,’ but he’s as hardheaded as Ruby.”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done, Ms. Holiday,” Jackson said.

The librarian nodded, then pushed a number of buttons on the podium. A second later, Jackson was scooped into the chair. Ms. Holiday held his hand while the machine went about removing the nanotechnology from his mouth. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as it had when it was implanted, with the exception of taking out his nose bug. The lunch lady had to use a long pair of pliers to yank it out.

When all of the technology was removed, Ms. Holiday escorted him through the Playground to the tubes that led to the secret lockers. Agent Brand was waiting for him by the exit with an outstretched hand.

“I’m sorry this didn’t work out, son,” he said.

Jackson nodded. He turned and looked at the Playground for what he assumed would be the very last time. Duncan, Flinch, and Matilda stood nearby looking on. When they realized he had seen them, they tumbled over themselves to hide.

“A few of them will miss you,” Ms. Holiday said. “Even if they won’t say it to your face. I’ll miss you too.”

“This is for the best,” Jackson said as he pushed a button on the wall. The tube opened and he stepped inside. Jackson shot up and tumbled into the halls of the school, just as Brett and a group of his former friends walked past.

“Hey, loser,” they said.

Jackson didn’t argue. For once, Brett Bealer was right.

Sadly, losing his role in the team did not make Jackson’s life any easier. He found it impossible to slip back into the routine of school. Nathan Hale Elementary was now far too distracting. It was brimming with secrets, and Jackson couldn’t help but look for them. Every fire drill or pep assembly meant that something exciting was happening, and Jackson was no longer a part of it. The team treated him like he was invisible. Even the lunch lady turned a cold shoulder to Jackson. It was difficult to have such exciting memories and no one to share them with.

One afternoon Jackson stepped into Mr. Pfeiffer’s class and noticed that the NERDS were missing. Jackson didn’t think much about it at first, assuming the team was on a mission. But the next day they didn’t come to school, either. On the third day he wondered if everything was all right, but Mr. Brand and Ms. Holiday weren’t around to ask. He was about to march right into the Playground for answers when he was confronted by Mr. Dehaven.

“Mr. Jones, just the man I was looking for,” the stocky little man said. He clamped his hand down on Jackson’s arm and dragged him down the hallway to his office. There Jackson found his father.

“Jackson, I am so disappointed,” his father said.

“What’s wrong?”

“Mr. Jones, do you recall a certain test you had to take in Mr. Pfeiffer’s classroom last week?”

Jackson’s heart sank. He had completely forgotten about the test.

“Today I got the results of that test. It appears you failed. In fact, not only did you fail, but you got a zero. Do you recall how much of a percentage this test was worth for your final grade?”

“Fifty percent,” Jackson mumbled.

“And you got a zero.” He turned to Jackson’s father. “Mr. Jones, I’ve seen a million children like your son, and I have to say I’m concerned for his future. He lacks a certain level of dedication and ambition. Sad, because I’m told you were a first-class athlete and well liked when you were a student here.”

“Grades were never my thing,” Jackson’s father mumbled as if it were his fault Jackson was failing.

Dehaven ignored the comment. “Luckily, there’s a remedy for this behavior. Your son is going to repeat the fifth grade.”

“He flunked?” Mr. Jones exclaimed. “It’s only October!”

“Yes, I’m afraid he has,” Dehaven replied. “There’s nothing he can do to get back on track now.”

“Jackson, what is going on with you?” his father asked.

“Nothing.”

“Don’t lie to me. I’m your father. Tell me what’s going on,” he demanded.

“Fine!” Jackson jumped out of his seat. “I was part of a secret agency that operates out of this school called the National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society, and it’s made up of nerds. Each of us has enhanced abilities, and we tried to save the world from a lunatic. I was drafted right after I got my braces, and I was training to become a full member, but I stunk, the other team members hated me, and I quit.”

Jackson’s father and Mr. Dehaven were speechless.

“That’s what I’ve been doing,” Jackson asked.

“If you only used that kind of creativity in your classes, you wouldn’t be flunking!” his father shouted.

“Hey,” Chaz said when Jackson got home after school. His older brother was wearing his gear and clutching a football in his hand. “Heard you flunked. What a dork!”

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Jackson said.

“Good, I don’t want to hear it,” Chaz said as he pushed his way past him. “Out of my way. I’m late for practice.”

“Where’s Dad?” Jackson said, before his brother was out of earshot.

“He’s upstairs on the computer. He’s looking up military schools to send you to,” Chaz called back as he disappeared down the street.

On his way into the kitchen, Jackson noticed that his brother had left his helmet on the counter. He grabbed it and rushed to the door, but his brother was nearly at the end of the block. Chaz’s coach would chew him out if he showed up without a helmet. Jackson raced down the street after him.