Virus Attack by Andy Briggs Page B

awoke the next morning still feeling exhausted. His conversation with Chameleon had not lifted his spirits.
    Toby’s mother was shouting at him to get dressed and his eyes shot to the clock: 9:00 a.m. He bolted from bed at an incredible speed. In a split second he was standing at his bedroom door fully dressed as his blankets were still falling from the bed—that assured him he still had superpowers. Then he realized that he wasn’t late for school—it was the scheduled day off.
    He should have phoned Pete last night but instead had gone straight to bed and fallen asleep the moment his head hit the pillow.
    Toby shouted to his mother that he was awake andgetting dressed, then picked up the phone and dialed Lorna’s cell number. Several seconds passed before Pete picked it up, and spoke with a groggy voice.
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œPete, it’s Tobe. How’re you? Everything okay?”
    â€œUh … I … I was asleep.”
    â€œIs Basilisk safe?”
    Toby heard a loud yawn before Pete answered with a flat, unenthusiastic voice. Not the usual Pete. “He’s still in my shed if that’s what you mean.”
    â€œLook, man, I’m sorry I didn’t call last night. I fell asleep. But I talked to Chameleon. They’re coming to pick Basilisk up today. I’ll come over.”
    â€œToday? Uh … “
    Toby frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    There was an unusually long silence broken by a loud snuffling as if Pete had just blown his nose. “My … uh … my parents. They said they’re splitting up. I don’t know what to do. Don’t tell anyone, okay?”
    Toby froze. Pete’s parents constantly argued—it was the usual background noise to life in the Kendall household. But this was a bombshell, and Toby knew Pete would not take it well. Coupled with the fact that a supervillain was held prisoner in his shed and a platoon of Enforcers were coming to retrieve him—well, that was not going to help the situation.
    â€œOkay, I’m coming over. See you in half an hour.”
    He ran downstairs at a more normal speed and started putting on his sneakers. He looked up to see his mother and father staring at him. They seemed overdressed in business suits.
    â€œWhere do you think you’re going?” Sarah Wilkinson asked firmly.
    â€œPete’s. He needs me to—”
    â€œNo you’re not. Today is the first day of your father’s exhibition, remember?”
    Toby rolled his eyes. “Aw, no!”
    John Wilkinson wagged his finger. “We never ask you for much. You can at least come along for my first day and show some support.”
    Sarah nodded. “And since you’re conveniently out of school, you’re going to be there.”
    Toby had completely forgotten the public opening. “Oh, Mom! It’s a day off!”
    â€œYou don’t get something for nothing,” warned his dad. “You’ve got tomorrow all to yourself.”
    â€œI really can’t. I have to see Pete.”
    â€œYou can see him in the afternoon,” snapped Sarah in a voice that indicated the discussion was over. “But right now you can support your father! Lorna has already flitted out this morning leaving a note saying she’s on a date. A
date
! And so early in the morning! I’ll be having words with her tonight. She is going to be grounded for being so inconsiderate!”
    Toby was furious. He wished that he could snap back with the fact that
he
had saved her from the deadly clutches of Doc Tempest in Antarctica, and how
he
had saved his father’s life by ensuring his plane could land. But of course they wouldn’t believe him. He sighed deeply—just when his friend really needed him, he couldn’t be there. He knew Pete would be mad at him—no, scratch that,
furious
—but he had asked Toby not to tell anyone. Toby couldn’t face an argument over the phone. He