“I know, Max.”
“As far as I’m concerned, it’s the best part of the whole adventure,” Max said. “The ‘before’ and the ‘after’ are sometimes a little dull, but the chase is always exciting.”
“I feel that way about it, too, Max. I always look forward to the chase.”
“I think we’re coming to the part where we duck into a room and elude our pursuers,” Max said.
“You’re right, Max! Look! There’s a door right up ahead!”
“Quick, 99! Inside!”
Max whipped open the door and he and 99 charged into the room.
“Ah! Safe!” Max breathed.
“Not yet, Max. You forgot to close the door.”
“Oh… yes,” Max said, closing the door.
They heard running outside in the corridor, and cries of “Halt! Stop!” Then the sounds passed.
“Well, it was fun while it lasted,” Max said, a little disappointed.
“Max, what do we do now?” 99 asked.
“Well, first we plant the explosive. Then we slip out of the hospital unnoticed. Then we board the helicopter. Then we return to Headquarters and receive our medals. Or, at the very least, we receive a ‘job well done’ from the Chief. But this time, 99, I’m hoping for a medal.”
“Where will we plant the explosive, Max?”
Max looked around the room. “Very clever,” he said. “This room is outfitted like a real hospital room. Anyone making an inspection would think that that’s exactly what it was.”
“What’s so clever about that, Max?”
“It’s clever because this isn’t really a hospital. It’s a place where KAOS conducts secret medical experiments. It’s what I would call
… well, a… a, uh… well, sort of a hospital. Come to think of it, I guess it isn’t so clever after all.”
“Max, hadn’t we better hurry? Those KAOS agents will realize soon that they lost us, and they’ll come back, looking for us.”
“Good thinking, 99. Now, let’s see where can we plant the explosive pellet?”
“In a drawer in that metal bedside table, Max?”
“No. People are always opening drawers. Especially drawers that don’t belong to them.”
“Under the mattress, Max?”
“No. People are always looking under mattresses. They think that’s where other people hide their money.”
“In that vase of flowers, Max?”
“No. The nurses are always throwing all the flowers out.”
“Then, Max, I don’t-”
“99! I have it. We’ll plant the pellet in that water decanter!”
“But, Max-”
“It’s the perfect place,” Max insisted, going to the table that held the water bottle. “In a hospital, no one ever pays any attention to the water decanters. Except the patients, who are always trying to get water out of them. And, in this hospital, there are no patients.”
“Maybe you’re right, Max.”
“Of course I am,” Max said, opening the black satchel. “Now, I’ll just get a pellet, and-99… where is the packet of pellets?”
“Isn’t it in the bag, Max?”
“If it were in the bag, 99, would I be asking?”
“Oh, Max! You mean-”
“99, the packet is gone!”
“Oh, Max, then we’ve failed!”
Max sighed heavily. “Yes, 99, I’m afraid-” He suddenly brightened. “As a matter of fact, no,” he smiled. “We haven’t failed, 99. Our mission is completed.”
“Max, what do you mean?”
“Remember the operation, 99? Remember when I was taking parts out of the human robot, and you were handing me other parts to put back in? Well, I noticed that one of the parts you handed me looked a lot like a packet of green peas. I said to myself at the time, ‘I wonder why 99 is handing me this packet of green peas?’ But, there was so much confusion, I didn’t have the opportunity to ask you about it.”
“Max, then-”
“Exactly, 99! Those pellets have been planted in the human robot!”
“Then our mission is completed, Max!”
“I think that’s what I said, 99.” He picked up the black satchel and he headed for the door. “Let’s get out of here. I can almost feel that medal pinned on my chest already. It stings. I think the Chief pinned it right onto my skin.”
“Max-wait!”
“Well, what is it, 99?” Max asked, halting.
“Our mission isn’t completed, Max. Not while that human robot still exists. Max, we have a duty to the world. We have to destroy that robot.”
“I don’t see why, 99,” Max frowned. “The Chief didn’t say anything about that when he sent us out on this mission.”
“But he didn’t know about the human robot, Max. If he had, I’m sure he would have told us to destroy it. Max, think! The fate of the whole world depends on our destroying not only the human robot, but the Super Boom, too.”
Max smiled. “Oh, is that what you were getting at? You’re worried about the Super Boom, is that it? I thought you just had it in for that robot. 99, there’s no problem. The Super Boom is no longer a factor.”
“But, Max, it’s implanted inside the robot!”
“Of course it is. But our pellets are implanted inside the robot, too. Don’t you see? 99, when we get back to Headquarters, the Chief will punch that button that’s on his desk-remember? And the button will detonate the pellets. When the pellets explode, the KAOS installations will be blasted to bits. And, one of the KAOS installations is this hospital. Consequently, the Super Boom, which is planted inside the robot, which will be blasted to bits, will be destroyed in the explosion. Now, do you see?”
“I lost you, Max, back where the Chief punched the button.”
“Then will you take my word for it, 99?”
“I guess I’ll have to, Max. I’m sure I’d never be able to understand your explanation.”
“All right, now, let’s run for it, 99.”
Max opened the door a crack and peeked out. “All clear,” he whispered.
They slipped out of the room and moved cautiously down the corrider.
“Which way is the way out, Max?” 99 asked. “I can’t remember.”
“Just follow me,” Max replied. “I have an unerring instinct for this sort of thing.” He pointed. “See that door there? That’s the way out.”
“Are you sure, Max?”
“99, will you please trust my instinct,” Max said, quietly opening the door. “It has never failed me-”
Max and 99 suddenly found themselves face to face with their pursuers, who were on the other side of the door, in consultation, trying to figure out which way Max and 99 had gone.
“Stop!” Dr. Medulla cried.
Max slammed the door. “Run, 99!”
Max and 99 raced down the corridor.
Behind them they heard running. Voices shouted. “Stop! Halt!”
“I think your instinct needs adjusting, Max,” 99 said.
“Don’t be a needler, 99,” Max grumbled. “Nobody likes a needler.”
