Jericho Take Over

An EQUITAS Novel J.E.Ragg

Chapter One: How The Majority of Reasons Of

How We Got Into This Mess In The First Place Were Not At All My Fault.
In order to understand what Im about to tell you, youre going to have to appreciate two things. My sister Kate is crazy. Not in a we-locked-her-away-because-shehears-voices kind of way, but in an everything-has-to-be-perfectotherwise-the-entire-world-will-literally-fall-of-its axis kind of way. And to be honest, I think Id prefer the first kind. The second thing you have to understand is that my younger brother Topaz has an ego about the size of the Australasian Continent. As for me, I am beginning to look like the more normal one out of the three of us, which is really saying something. Anyway, Ive forgotten my manners again, and gotten talking without telling you who I am. My name is Geoffrey, though Im fairly sure the only time my full name is used is if Im filling in Legal Documents or talking to my grandmother. Everyone generally calls me by my last name, Gaf. So now youve probably guessed exactly who I am. I mean, not that Im complaining but sometimes I find being part of one of the most well known families in the entire world exhausting. Everyone expects you to be punctual, wear clean t-shirts and do your homework. Yes you guessed it, Im the oldest brother in the Gaf Family, youve probably seen us on the news at some stage - Kate considers it a moral failing if she doesnt make it in the six oclock headlines. Almost a century ago, my grand grandfather founded this organization named EQUITAS, some Latin word I think. EQUITAS is all about giving young people the opportunity to do their bit to make the world a better place. Were based on the Canary Islands, which are just about three hours west of Canada and the United States. The Canary Islands are two land masses, collectively about the size of a small city, which are generally dominated by brilliant weather and numerous opportunities to go to the beach. Sorry, Im getting off topic, anyway, back to my great grandfather. So he starts this organization, which soon grows to be a pretty decent size. Pretty soon the entire island is being excavated and our Head Quarters were constructed below the surface, five floors, including a massive library where my sister Kate practically lives, complete with an air base. So fast forward to today where the current Gaf Family, myself, my younger sister Kate and even younger brother Topaz all work in EQUITAS.
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These days we are known as one of the most indispensible World Justice Organizations. Until recently EQUITAS was headed up by my completely useless cousin Leon, all he did was sit around and ask me to get him doughnuts from the second floor kitchen. Then, near the start of this year, Kate was made Head Girl. Head Girl or Head Boy, in case youre wondering, (which Im sure you were) are the titles that we give to the current, Big Cheese, Number One In Charge person in EQUITAS. Heres the deal with Kate. Shes got red hair, and Im not saying that like its a bad thing, or a disease, or anything, but all Im going to say is I believe its a contributing factor to this story. She only comes up to my shoulders, shes small enough to hide behind various medium sized furniture pieces and spy on me if I dont put my dishes away or take a sip of her soda when I think shes not looking. Shes about a year and a half younger than me, but for some reason takes it on herself to act like mum and tell me to do my homework. So I guess I should tell you about Topaz now. Hes thirteen, which, lets be honest, is that annoying age where they start to think they know everything. When Topaz was eleven, he was accepted in EQUITAS as the youngest ever student, not that he, the news networks, and my grandmother-who-calls-me-Geoffrey will ever let me forget it. I like him though, he never tells me to do anything, and we usually team up against Kate and play some pretty impressive practical jokes on her. Because of this I would say Topaz and I are probably a lot more similar than Kate and I. Topaz and I even look the same. Were both dark haired, with the same blue eyes my Dad has, and therefore actually look like siblings, while Im pretty sure Kates adopted, but more on that later. So now that youre all caught up, I should probably get on with the story of how Jericho invaded the EQUITAS Head Quarters and Topaz had to save everyone while taking it upon himself to annoy Rikara Rhemsaise as often as possible in the process. I guess the story starts that morning when the new recruits arrived. So every year, we hold open applications worldwide to fill three spaces at EQUITAS. Many of our students come from overseas, so often we just billet them out to various families who live on the Canary Islands. We hold these interviews and generally hundreds of young people all apply, and cross their fingers desperate that they get accepted. The new recruits are usually decided by the EQUITAS Leadership Team, which I somehow ended up on. Once the three spaces are filled, they are

flown to the Canary Islands, and as tradition dictates, are welcomed by the existing Gaf Family. At least, usually they are, but this time, things were different. It was just Kate and I. She had that look in her eyes, that look she gets when she considers expelling Topaz from EQUITAS, but then realizes she cant because hes actually quite good and shes his sister. Now I have become what I would call a master at appeasing Kates fury, and quickly saw this as my moment to shine. There we were, standing in the Air Base, the third level of the Head Quarters, watching through the cliff top runway entrance, for the jet to arrive. Kates tapping her foot, and had this look of blind manic fury in her eyes, and Im talking about the weather. Meanwhile Topaz was lying in bed. Now hes slept through a lot of important events. Kates Shakespearian Monologue at the School Talent Night, lengthily EQUITAS Health and Safety Lectures, even a small earthquake, but even a seismic shift has nothing on Kate in a bad mood. To be fair the duvet cover was covering his head, and its pretty thick, so would have at least muffled the sound of his alarm clock, nevertheless he was shaken out of bed by our mother at about a quarter past nine. Youre going to be late, she told him shaking his shoulder, and then vanishing out the door down the hall, and stairs, to the living room. I like to, playfully refer to my brother as the Family Hurricane, and this particular moment seems to embody just why I do so. The tight grip of panic grasped around his chest, as he realized a number of things. 1) He was late 2) He was late to something that Kate had organized And most importantly, 3) He was late to something that Kate had organized so he was as good as dead. Throwing himself out of bed, he grabbed the nearest pieces of clothing he could find, and pulled them on, while stumbling towards the bathroom. Once there in his right hand he grasped his toothbrush, shoving it into his mouth, while with his left fumbling for a comb, running it through his hair as he made a mad bolt downstairs. Rather thankfully, and possibly for such occurrences, an elevator has been installed beneath our staircase, which links directly to EQUITAS. Jabbing the heel of his hand several times over on the red button, he waited, scrubbing at his molars as he went. Seconds later, toothbrush still in hand, Topaz exploded out into the Air Base,

I am so sorry, really, Kate, I am so sorry, he cried, though, Im not sure if she understood him because he spoke through a mouthful of minty foam. Late! Kate screeched, again! I knew you would be, and do you know why Topaz? this is the point where I tuned out a little, because really, there are only so many lectures from Kate one person can handle. I think Topaz did the same thing because when shed finished her lengthy telling-off, she waited, and there was this long, awkward pause, then she went very red in the face and started yelling, WELL? Topaz (who has a level of aptitude dealing with these situations that even I admire) gave her that smile he stores up to use when he wants to get himself out of trouble, and shrugged. But I am here now, Kate, and thats what matters, right? Here, she took this long, deep breath, as if she was about to say something really cataclysmic, but not in uniform. There was this stunned silence between both myself and Topaz and we looked at one another as if to say something along the lines of What the heck is she talking about? or Yup. She has finally lost her mind. Kate, Topaz finally said, with diligent sensitivity, we dont have a uniform. Your badge, Topaz, your badge! she began to rant again, you come down here to welcome the new recruits and youre not wearing your standard uniform EQUITAS Badge! she jarred a finger towards his chest where she alleged there ought to have been a little golden ring with an E dead centre. Kate Topaz tries to say, hearing the not too distant engines of the new recruits plane, What are they going to think, Topaz, Kate cried, that they can wander around this place without their badges? Kate. Topaz spoke louder this time, no one wears their badges. Kate glared at him, but seemed to decide that the jet, taxiing down the runway was more important. At least - for now. Here we go. Topaz muttered, rolling his eyes, If you so much as say a word out of line Kate began to threaten, as the jet sidled up alongside us, zooming to a wheezy stop, before the side doors began to rattle, So help me I will I will keep my mouth shut, that I promise you. Topaz replied, stoutly, and with that self importance I was telling you about earlier. For the purpose of understanding this story you now need to know about our new recruits. There were three of them, all the same age, thirteen, from different places all around the world. Firstly, there was Robin Marshall, he was from Spain, and sounded pretty impressive, (and Im not even talking about his accent.)
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Next, Kathleen Brown, who listed her preferred name as Kitty. She was from England, an orphan, apparently, so prior to her acceptance she had been shifted from various foster homes across the country. Finally, and this was what so bothered my precocious younger brother, was Rikara Rhemsaise. Again, Im sure youve heard of her, shes the daughter of the British Ambassador to Japan. Topaz is convinced that Kate only gave her the place because of who her parents are and that shell end up being an empty headed doorstop around the EQUITAS offices. Though between you and me, I think its because on her rsum she sounded as good, perhaps better at everything from sports to science, than Topaz. Again, I digress, my brother, up until this point was used to being the best in his year level, (and often beyond) at everything. Rikara Rhemsaise represented that reign coming to a rather abrupt end. Anyway, where was I? Oh, yeah, so we stood waiting for the new recruits to emerge, all bright eyed and bushy tailed from the jet. The door rattled open and out marched the pilot. Immediately, my sister Kate went all soft and squishy and started blushing for no reason, I resisted all urges to embarrass her further. The pilots name was John Cummings, otherwise known as Napoleon. Napoleon is my age and we have a few classes together in school, hes also head of the Air Base in EQUITAS, because hes probably the most impressive pilot we have in our ranks. Admittedly, a little better than I am. I read in Kates diary that he has and I quote the most gorgeous brown eyes and perfect hair but to me he just looks like a regular guy, though, yes, he probably wears clean t-shirts, as opposed to recycling them off the floor like I do. Behind Napoleon came these three nervous looking recruits, all wide eyed and looking about the place in nervous excitement. Hi! Kate began, My names Kate Gaf, though, of course you know me, these are my brothers, Gaf, and Topaz, she motioned to us, but left both Topaz and I very little time to talk. Which was fine, because I was too busy thinking about what I was having for lunch and Topaz had his arms folded and was trying his hardest to look unimpressed. The following half an hour was spent dragging the new recruits around the EQUITAS offices, allowing myself and Topaz a good look at them. Robin, was most definitely Spanish, he had rather olive skin and brown hair and eyes, while Kitty was small and mousy looking. Rikara Rhemsaise who insisted that we call her Rika - with her long almost white blonde hair and these haughty blue eyes.

She seemed nice enough to me, but everything she said seemed to anger my brother. Be it, Oh yes Ive heard your library is extensive, to I hope my office is on the fourth floor. Office on the Fourth Floor, Topaz hissed to me as I walked past, who does she think she is? A field agent? I replied, at least I think thats what Kate said and all field agent offices are on the Fourth Floor. Topaz didnt hear me, at least, I dont think he wanted to hear me. By the time they had been escorted around all five floors of the offices, we ended up in what is affectionately termed The Playroom, and my stomach was rumbling, probably because I missed my second breakfast. The Playroom, in case youre wondering, is a lounge like space specifically for our recruits ages fifteen and under. It was busy, as it always is on a Saturday morning; we had come to get hot chocolates from the machine, and to sit in the super comfy sofas. So how do you like the place? Kate asked, knowing their answer already, but never one to turn down an opportunity to hear how awesome something that she was associated with was. Its awesome. Robin said enthusiastically, Yeah, brilliant, Kitty echoed, taking a gulp of her hot chocolate, I am really impressed, Rika concluded, with, I swear to you, genuine keenness. Then Topaz gave this skeptical sigh, like a Pfft, which drew a furious glare from Kate, and a startled look from Rika. Im sorry, Rika said carefully, did I say something wrong? No its just Topaz gave her this wiry looking smile, nothing. No, Rika shook her head, her fuse appeared to have been lit, what is it? Nothing, well, Topaz took a deep breath, its just, well, so lovely that youd grace us with your approval, your highness. In about three quarters of a second, Rikas expression turned to thunder, she leaned forwards from her seat between Kitty and Robin, her eyes never leaving Topazs. He sat across from her between Kate and I, and both of us were not too willing to get caught in the crossfire. I dont quite understand what youre saying. Well, I suppose we should take your complement, seeing as youre so important, shouldnt, we? Topaz tossed a shoulder, a little too casually, after all, impressing you is what its all about isnt it Kate? I mean its not like you earned your place here, we all know you got into EQUITAS because of who your parents were. And that, in case you are wondering, was how Topaz and Rika became sworn lifelong enemies.

As you can imagine, Kate immediately demanded to speak to Topaz in private and gave him a good, stiff, talking to. Come on Kate, shes a trophy agent, Topaz groaned, once they were outside in the hallway, you only accepted her because shes important and famous, I was at the meeting, I know. Topaz Ilroman Gaf, Kate replied, in that do-not-mess-with-me tone, and emphasizing it by using his full name, I was at that meeting too and the only reason you were so against her coming was because youre scared shes going to bump you from top in class. Regardless of your precious little ego, she is staying, and she earned her place here. Rika is top in her school year, she plays soccer, is on the track team, a black belt in karate, winner of the city wide science fair and not to mention has earned grade eight in piano. So? Well its obvious, Topaz, seeing as youre top in your school year, you play soccer, are on the track team, are a black belt in karate, winner of the city wide science fair and also, coincidently, have grade eight in piano. Kate gave him that look that suggested she was on to him. Shes an air head. Topaz told Kate. Meanwhile, inside, I was hearing all about how offended Rika was by Topazs comments. I cannot believe how he acted. Rika announced to us all, I mean, I always assumed that Topaz had manners, he seems so lovely on television Yes, I agreed, but he can only manage it for small, short periods of time. I was actually looking forward to meeting him, I wouldnt have, had I known how much of an egocentric jerk he was, He must have been kidding. Kitty said hopefully. In the short time I had known her Kitty had proven that while she seemed small and rather quiet, she was in reality, a real firecracker. Yeah, Kittys right, hes probably joking. Robin added. I didnt want to ruin any of their optimistic hopes, so I said nothing. Well regardless, I hope he apologizes. Rika decided, placing her mug onto the coffee table, He will. I quipped, Kate will make him. True to my predictions, about three minutes later, Kate and Topaz reemerged back into the Playroom and in a monotone, and unemotional expression, Topaz told Rika how sorry he was. She did not believe a shred of it.

Despite this, it appeared to be enough for Kate, so she gave the new recruits this broad smile and told them she had to head back to the Air Base. To see Napoleon. I added to the end of this announcement, which made them all laugh. Kate, red in the face, explained that in about an hour or so we had a special delivery arriving, and she had to ensure the Air Base was ready to receive the jet. Were storing some top secret package, Kate explained, without giving much away, only for a few days, but they would only ever trust us with it, seeing as its so important. So if you excuse me I really must see that everything is ready, come along Gaf, she beckoned me, in a manner extraordinarily like how she does to our Golden Retriever, Gulliver. Topaz, she gave my brother a hard look, you can look after them for the morning. Robin and Kitty seemed pleased about this, while Rika appeared repulsed. Because I wasnt there for some of the parts of this story, I am rely much on what Robin and Kitty have told me about the events, so any inaccuracies are completely their fault. Though I admit, I will likely take creative license in some places. The next hour or so, Robin and Kitty said, was spent watching Topaz and Rika try and outdo one another. Referencing everything from Early Greek Writers, to Pop Culture, they questioned one another, engaging in a strange kind of passive aggressive conflict. Despite this, a strange friendship seemed to be forged. Not between my brother and Rikara Rhemsaise! Oh no, never in a million years! I mean between them both and Robin and Kitty. Both Robin and Kitty liked Topaz, as much as they liked Rika, so then and there they decided, regardless of the later twos dislike for one another, they would all be friends. Sort of. While all this was taking place Kate stalked up to the Air Base and stumbled through a few sentences with Napoleon. The majority of these, being breathless, and blush inducing, and to be honest, even I felt embarrassed for her, which is really saying something. The jets due to arrive in about an hour, are you coming to meet them? Napoleon asked Kate, though she was too busy admiring the way his eyes sparkled while he talked again, a direct quote from her diary to have heard him. Kate? he repeated, as I giggled.

Huh, sorry, what? Kate jerked back to attention, yes, yes I will be here, ahem, sorry, I have to go and flick through some paperwork, but Ill be back here in an hour. Soon enough Kate and I parted ways and I took the lift back to our house to grab something to eat, seeing as I had skipped second breakfast. Kate, however, marched directly to her office. Kates office was on the fourth floor, the biggest one of the lot, and she, unlike the rest of us, didnt have to share it with anyone else. Her office was about the size of a classroom, if I were her Id have taken advantage of the space, and filled it with more important items such as a pin-ball machine, a slushy maker, sandwich dispenser, and a king sized bed. Instead, Kate filled it with books, a small sitting area, a desk the size of the titanic, and a television which screened news networks, twenty four seven. Now, earlier when I told you about my sister, I mentioned something about her being insane. You know, not the she-hears-voices-crazy, the earth-falling-off-its-axis-crazy. Well, this is important to remember for the next part of the story. Kates craziness invades a number of areas of her life. For example, she only ever paints her nails Perfect Polish Peach, (do not ask me how I know the name it will only depress you.) she always keeps a punch of pink tulips on the right hand side of her desk, and, who could forget, she only ever writes with a Number 2B Pencil. This last one is my favorite to exploit. If you ever want to mess with Kate, there is one simple, and rather effective way. Steal. Her. Pencils. It is that simple. Kate is old fashioned, she likes to handwrite most things, then pass it onto her personal assistant Renee to type up and send on her behalf. A while back, when Kate was eight years old she entered a World Wide History Quiz, the youngest ever to do so until Topaz did likewise at seven. I, in case youre wondering never entered. I was too busy doing normal things when I was a kid. Anyway, so the quiz was a simple, scribble in the circle next to the correct answer kind of quiz, and Kate rocketed through, it confident she would get a perfect score. Then she got to the last question, and, she says, caught up in the (get this) excitement she accidently coloured the wrong circle. Beside herself with shame and grief, Kate could do nothing about this mistake because she had chosen to complete the test in pen.

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Since then, Kate has refused to write with anything but a Number 2B Pencil, in fear of ever making another mistake again. I told you she is weird. Now me being, well me, I take it upon myself to, on the odd occasion, sneak into Kates office, and take every single one of her Number 2B Pencils, and hide them in my sock drawer. Without really having to say so, that day, was one of those days. Where, before the new recruits arrived, I had snuck down to her office, and grabbed her pencils. After flicking through her paperwork she checked her watch and realized that the all important jet was to arrive in five minutes, so she ought to hurry as it took exactly two minutes and thirty four seconds to get back to the Air Base. Pulling open one of the drawers of the HMS Titanic, Kate reached for one of her special, Number 2B Pencils. Yet found none. Exhaling, and realizing immediately what I had done, she was on her feet, storming for the door, and out into the hall, muttering a number of unkind things about me, her eldest and dearest brother, under her breath. Great! Kate cried, Im going to be late! Now I have to go all the way back home to get a pencil Now this is the part which, could potentially, be interpreted as my fault, but of course its not. Kate should have realized in leaving to go and retrieve one of her pencils from her room would have made her late to meet the jet. Kate should have remembered that the second floor stationary cupboard keeps a fresh stock of her pencils, for such occasions. And most importantly, Kate shouldnt be so crazy obsessive compulsive to care about Number 2B Pencils in the first place. So really, as you can see it wasnt my fault at all. It was hers (and potentially, Topazs fault, but more on that later.) That, as you can appreciate, is the reason when Kate was marching up to her bedroom, in search of Number 2B Pencils, she was late for the arrival of the top secret cargo. Had she have been there, shed have been able to do something about the particularly prickly situation that the arrival of the Top Secret Cargo was all a fake, and set up by the feared Terrorist Organization, Jericho. Jericho, who we had foiled many a plan of over the last few years, and had always sworn revenge. Had she been there, she could have done something when below in the Air Base when fifty or so Jericho Agents leapt off the air craft, startling the EQUITAS Agents on duty.

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Had she been there, she could have done something about the fact that the Jericho Commander, Adrian Hawk, marched directly off the jet, and ordered Napoleon, at gun point, to shut the power system down, and set the EQUITAS Head Quarters into lock down. Now as you can see, this whole affair wasnt my fault, at all.

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