"Sophie, this plan only has a 10% chance of success," Digi remarked, scrutinizing Sophie's laptop screen.
"At least there is still a chance," Sophie responded, her fingers navigating the keyboard. "Are you all in position?" she inquired, adjusting her headset.
"Yup, we're ready to start the first step of unlocking the window," Milo acknowledged from the headphones. Sophie monitored their movements because he wore a camera and speaker collar tags.
"Alright, Luna, are you set?"
Milo ensured as the red bird attempted to maneuver through the vent.
"Almost there… Got it!" She squeezed through the opening, navigated the narrow passage, and emerged from the air vent in the computer lab.
The school's website possessed a structure that streamlined the navigation process. "Excellent work, Luna. Go to the window, then pull the blue lever spot downward. It should open," Sophie explained. Although Digi remained apprehensive about the outcome, she placed her trust in Sophie's intuition.
"Understood," Luna chirped as the window swung open.
"Fantastic job, Luna," Sophie congratulated her. "But we're not finished yet."
"We are entering," Ozai notified as Milo climbed through the window, with Benny riding behind him, followed by Ozais. "We're in," Milo confirmed.
"Good. Now navigate up the aisle and position yourselves in row four," Sophie instructed. Milo and Benny hopped and crawled toward the designated spot as Ozai and Luna flew overhead.
"Now locate the desktop at number three," Sophie directed.
"Do you mean that black box?" Milo reported.
"Yes Milo," Sophie responded.
At that moment, Digi, intrigued, called for, "Umm, Sophie? What's the next step?"
"Now it's Ozai's turn," Sophie responded.
An owl will retrieve information using the computer?" Digi asked, still puzzled.
"Yes, as the saying goes, owls are wise," Sophie suggested. "But Sophie, that's a saying," Digi urged, concerned about Sophie's judgment. Sophie's gaze lingered on the screen; then, "Then we'll make it a reality," she declared.
"Alright, now…" Sophie guided the animal companions on how to operate the computer and extract the information. They heard footsteps approaching.
"press the off button and hide!" Sophie warned.
They complied and concealed themselves beside the desks. The school night guard entered, inspecting the area, but fortunately, they remained undetected and the guard departed. Once the coast was clear, they resumed their tasks and heeled Sophie's instructions, well retrieving the IP address of the hacked email profile and saving it to the USB affixed to the rabbit's collar. As the data transfer progressed, they once again heard the guard's footsteps.
"Oh no, he's coming back," Luna implied anxiously.
"You can't turn it off; you'll end the process and lock out the user," Sophie admonished.
"What should we do?" Digi inquired, alarmed.
"I'll create a diversion; you all finish it and escape," Milo said decisively, moving toward the door. As it swung open, he leaped toward the guard and clung to him. The guard struggled to dislodge him as he galloped away. Meanwhile, the others desperately worked to ensure the green bar reached 100.
As it approached 98, they heard the guard sprinting back toward their location. With only a minute and a half remaining, just as the progress bar reached 100, they quickly seized the USB and logged off per Sophie's instructions. They then clambered out the window as the guard hurled Milo away from the entrance.
"Get out, you filthy vermin!" the guard bellowed at the cat as it scampered away. The guard turned to find the window opened. "It must have entered from here; these students and the janitor have one task," he grumbled as he closed the window from inside.
From a distance, the triumphant animals watched the irritated human in the expansive building. "Excellent work, everyone. Are you all alright?" Sophie inquired.
"We're fine," Milo replied. They returned, and Sophie retrieved the USB. The animals returned and gave the USB to Sophie.
"Thank you all so much," Sophie expressed gratefully, feeling a deep sense of appreciation for the animals' support. Ozias remarked, as he gracefully landed on a nearby branch, "I will fully appreciate your gratitude once you've fulfilled your part of the agreement." "Absolutely," Sophie responded with a nod.
"Hopefully, this will help resolve your issue, Sophie," Luna chimed cheerfully. "That's the hope," Sophie replied, a slight smile gracing her lips, through her eyes betrayed a lingering concern. The animals then took their leave, leaving Sophie alone with the USB. Sophie plugged the USB into her laptop, retrieving the IP address she needed. Now the rest was up to Miles.
"What was the agreement?'' Digi asked. "Well-they asked if in return I can do something for the animals in the neighbourhood and well, I can try asking for animal shelter in the park that is around the corner of the neighbourhood. I can talk to the local rangers for their guidance.'' Sophie said as she sat on her bed and grabbed her laptop.
"Wow, that's thoughtful," Digi said, following her.
Sophie then plugged the USB with her laptop and got the IP address and now the rest will be up to Miles.
"Now, the first thing tomorrow is to send this to Miles." Sophie said as she wrote the appearing numbers on her screen.
"And how will you explain it to him, how you got it?" Digi asked, armed crossed.
"Leave that to me," Sophie said, her voice steady as she flashed Digi a reassuring smile, feeling the familiar thrill of the challenge ahead. The next morning, she wasted no time grabbing her phone to call Miles.
"Sophie? How did you—?" Miles's voice shot up an octave, disbelief tinging his words.
"Remember that file you left open on my laptop?" Sophie replied, her tone casual, as if discussing the weather. "I dove into some videos and found a few alternative ways to track the hacker's IP address." She tweaked the truth just enough, keeping her proper method under wraps.
"Wait, you hacked it?" Miles's voice dropped, becoming a low rumble filled with urgency.
"No, no! God, no…" she rushed to clarify, lifting the USB for emphasis. "I just linked it, using what was already there. Just followed the breadcrumbs." A smile crossed her lips at the thought of how the little animals had helped her navigate through the maze of data.
Silence stretched on the line as Miles weighed his next words, the tension crackling like static electricity. Was he going to be impressed or angry? Finally, an exhale sounded, and she could almost picture his begrudging admiration. "You're something else, you know that?"
"Thanks!" she replied, a hint of mischief in her tone. "Now I believe you can take it from here."
"Absolutely," Miles said, his voice regaining its confidence. "I'm on it right now. Soon, we'll get to the bottom of this." The determination in his tone informed her, and she hung up, anticipation buzzing in her veins as she waited for the truth to be revealed.
Miles squinted at the IP address Sophie had texted him, the glow of his laptop screen illuminating the focused lines of his face. He began typing steadily, the rhythmic clicking of the keys punctuating the silence of the room. Time slipped away as he immersed himself in the task, the intensity of his concentration palpable. After half an hour, the screen flickered, and the name tied to the IP address appeared, pulling him out of his trance.
Leaning back in his chair, he rubbed his chin thoughtfully, brow furrowed in confusion. "What does he have to do with this?" he muttered to himself, the words barely escaping his lips.
He didn't waste another moment; he grabbed his phone that felt cooled in his palm and hot Nick contact.
"Hello?" Nick's voice crackled through the line, infused with sleep but sharp enough to cut through the haze of uncertainty.
"Miles, what's up?" Nick sounded alert now, sensing the urgency.
"Nick, add Phil and Brian to the call." Miles' voice was steady, driven by a sense of urgency. "I've got a lead."
The time had come and all competitors, one by one, gave their melodies with many instruments and voices, actually bringing out the Love it, Sing it the theme of the event. All groups went on; now was the turn of The Chanters, with Brenda showing off her entrance making the crowd cheer. The group members took their position with Brenda in the spotlight and smug confidence.
"Are you ready?" She asked her member with glam in her eyes, and they all responded except for the drummer, Travis.
In the second they were about to play the first chord, a voice exclaimed through the mic, "WAIT!"
They turn around to see Travis with a distressed look on his face. He moved to Brenda's mic.
"What-are you doing?" Her voice sounded annoyed enough for Travis to hear but not heard on the mic.
The audience murmured in confusion, the judges also leaning in, intrigued.
"I can't do this," Travis finally broke the silence as he declared to Brenda and faced the mic, "Someone built this performance on a deceit." Brenda made me and paid me to sabotage Sophie."
Gasps echoed across the auditorium. Brenda's eyes widened in horror.
The day after Miles got the IP address, he, Nick, Brian, and Phil made their way to the boys' locker room, the air thick with the familiar scent of sweat and metal. They found Travis hunched over his gym bag, his fingers fumbling nervously among the contents.
"Wow, Travis! Didn't know you were pursuing as a tech expert," Brian quipped, a smirk curling at the corners of his mouth. His eyes glinted with mischief, clearly enjoying the opportunity to tease.
"What?" Travis's voice was a mix of confusion and apprehension, his brow furrowing deeper as he shot a wary glance up at them.
"Oh, come on. You know, maybe hacking some shady computer project using Sophie's email, et cetera, et cetera," Phil chimed in, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He leaned against a row of lockers, arms crossed, the gleam in his eye revealing just how much he relished this moment.
Travis swallowed hard, his grip tightening uncomfortably around the straps of his gym bag. "I…I don't know what you're talking about," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as he tried to avert his gaze.
Nick stepped forward, his eyes narrowing to slits as he fixed Travis with a glare that could freeze fire. The tension in the room thickened, and it felt like the temperature dropped several degrees. "Cut the act, Travis. We have proof that you hacked Sophie's email. You can either come clean, or I promise you, the school won't take it lightly," he said, his voice low and menacing, a hint of steel in each word.
Miles approached as well, pulling out his phone and displaying the damning evidence. His own expression was a blend of cold resolve and simmering anger, a storm brewing beneath his calm exterior. "We know what you did. You need to tell us everything," he pressed, gaze unwavering, making Travis's heart race.
"It was Brenda! I swear! She paid me to do this; I thought it was just to slow her down!" Travis blurted out, panic seeping into his voice. "I didn't think it would go this far," he admitted, his eyes now wide with fear, darting between the boys as if looking for an escape.
"We figured that out since you are in her band," Brian interjected firmly, unimpressed by Travis's half-hearted defense.
"I swear I'm sorry! I didn't mean to—she convinced me it was harmless!" Travis pleaded, desperation creeping into his tone, the fight draining from his posture as he slumped against the lockers.
Miles stepped closer, his intensity unwavering. "If you want to make this right, you need to confront this head-on. You will first meet with Miss Edna and the principal," he instructed, the authority in his voice leaving no room for argument. "And then we'll reveal everything when she's the most vulnerable."
Travis nodded slowly, the weight of his actions pressing down on him like an anchor as he realized he had no choice but to comply.
Back to the competition, "YOU LIAR, HE IS LYING!!" Brenda shouted, her voice trembling with fury as she lunged forward, her fists clenched at her sides. Her eyes gave a piercing glare at Travis. The principal raised her hand, cutting through the tension. "Enough," she said firmly, her voice steady, echoing through the crowded auditorium.
Brenda's breathing was rapid, and her heart pounded in her chest as she replied, "But, he—"
"Brenda, come with us," the principal interjected smoothly, her tone brooking no argument. She gestured for Miss Edna, with a knack for nurturing, always with a warm smile, and the secretary, who held a stack of papers and a look of concern, to join her as they led Brenda and Travis backstage.
As they moved through the bustling backstage area, the competition hung in the air like a thick fog, suspended in time. The noise of the audience faded behind them, replaced by the hushed whispers of the adults as they prepared to investigate the matter further, each aware of the stakes lying heavily on the young contestants' shoulders. Sophie was just hoping that everything should now be in place.
It felt like an eternity, but in reality, only twenty minutes had passed since the confusion erupted. They all emerged back from the back room, the principal's brow furrowed with visible anger as she walked. Miss Edna followed her, and together they returned to the stage.
Later, Brenda and the secretary, Miss Williams, appeared. Miss Williams's expression was gone as she glared at the furious Brenda.
"You were lucky that I could intervene to prevent your expulsion and give you only three weeks of detention," Miss Williams said. "If there's a next time, it won't end well." She then walked to the stage as well.
Brenda remained at the backstage corner, rage surging within her. Her teeth ground together, hands curled into tight fists. The rage then followed with a soft chuckle and her voice in her head rang, "I know it's your doing–you will pay…oh you will pay Sophie." She clenched her jaw and stroked off, seething with rage–and no regret. Because of being honest, Travis also got the same punishment, and he followed up with the principal to the stage.
The principal, along with Miss Edna, returned to the judges and announced. "Sorry for the interference, we will continue but I am afraid, since your lead is no longer continuing, I kindly want you to please leave the stage." Her voice was clear but stale.
With disappointment, the team members left the stage, disappointment hanging heavy in the air. The competition continued with the remaining participants, but the energy had faded. Amidst the commotion, Miss Rose stood behind the teachers' seating area, arms crossed, a playful smirk curling her lips as she observed the unfolding chaos.
Behind the stage, Sophie and her friends huddled together, a wave of relief washing over them like a soothing balm. "You're cleared, Sophie!" Phil exclaimed, his voice breaking the tension with excitement.
"Thank goodness," she sighed, her body relaxing as the stress died down.
"A special thanks to you, Miles. Your part made it all possible." Sophie's eyes sparkled with gratitude.
"It was only possible because of your part, which is still surprising to me," Miles replied, his tone light despite his earlier concerns. Sophie just laughed nervously, a reminder of the pressure they had been under.
"Come on, guys, it doesn't matter now! It worked, didn't it?" Bella chimed in, wrapping an arm around Sophie's shoulder with comfort and warmth.
"Faith, Sophie, you guys are on after this group. Are you ready?" Brian rushed back to their side, his energy infectious.
"Faith, are you ready?" Sophie turned to her friend. "You're coming with me, right?" Faith's voice was barely above a whisper, her smile strained and teetering on the edge of uncertainty.
"Faith, you know I can't…I'm still disqualified. I..." Sophie began, but was cut off by a familiar voice.
"No, you're not." The group of eight turned as Miss Edna approached them, her presence radiating warmth.
"Your suspension is removed. You're officially allowed to perform." Her smile was like a ray of sunshine, lifting Sophie's heart.
"Really? Thank you, Miss Edna!" Sophie exclaimed, her eyes brightening with hope. "I really appreciate it."
"Hope you're ready?" Miss Edna asked with a playful smile before making her way back.
Sophie's excitement quickly morphed into panic. "But — I don't have anything to wear!" The disappointment gnawed at her, prompting Lucy to spring into action. Without hesitation, she dashed to the prop room, her footsteps echoing against the walls, and emerged moments later.
"Worry not! I had a feeling this might happen," Lucy declared dramatically, holding up a stunning garment. "Ta-da! Custom-made just for you!"
In her hands was a shimmery purple dress that glistened softly in the stage lights, perfectly complementing Faith's pastel green outfit.
Sophie gasped, her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the elegant yet simple design. "So that's what you've been busy with!" she marveled, taking the dress from Lucy's eager hands.
"I wanted it to be a surprise, I do dream of becoming a designer afterall." Lucy responded, her face glowing with pride. "Now hurry up and change! You've got five minutes!"
Sophie hastily changed, her heart racing with anticipation. Bella fluffed her hair, weaving it into soft curls that framed her face. Within just a few minutes, Sophie looked radiant, the dress fitting her perfectly. It made her and Faith look like a magnificent duo, ready to take on the stage with the song Faith had penned.
Her friends surrounded them, offering encouraging smiles and warm wishes. With their hearts pounding with excitement and nerves, Sophie and Faith steeled themselves as they made their way to the stage when their names were called, ready to shine.
Faith's footsteps felt heavy while climbing up to the stage; the cheering atmosphere full of clapping made Faith become stuck to the bone. She held the mic, but her hand didn't move. Her face was still as the stage light shone on her, but a familiar hand tapped her shoulder. She looked and saw Sophie with a warm smile, nodding that everything will be fine.
Faith smiled and took a deep breath. The stage crew started playing the soundtrack. Her voice hummed a note, but she didn't look at the crowd. Sang with a phrase that matched the verse of the song tone, Sophie looked happy that her friend started and she followed as she also sang Faith tried following her tone while only looking at Sophie and without noticing, she was singing, she then faced the crowd that was just clapping with interest her heart calmed down and she sang in her angelic voice. Together they both sang beautifully; when their song ended. The crowd erupted in applause.
Faith smiled at Sophie and she smiled back and they returned to their friends, who gave positive feedback. The competition ended, and the winners were announced, they didn't get first but when the third winners were announced, "The Harmonies." they jumped with joy, it was a victory that felt greater than gold.
Second position went to Leo with his amazing guitar play with outstanding song and first position goes to the children's group from the primary section with their harmonising choir of voices and the children playing different instruments was a pure talent.
As Leo walked to receive his prize, he saw his parents in the front row clapping with pride in their faces. He smiled, and a tear fell from his eyes. After receiving his prize, he went to them and they hugged him.
Sophie looked at him talking to his parents and they seemed to be happy about his performance, she smiled that everything worked out for him. All of her friends went in for a hug, as it was a successful event and Sophie's detention has ended.
The next day, as promised, she went to meet the park rangers and put a request about having shelters and food items available for the animals in their neighborhoods.
Mr Filch understood her situation and gave her 1 week to continue and finish her computer project and in the end she wasn't happy because she got a C, but because she passed and that was all she wanted from what had recently happened to her.
After a busy week, she was finally done with all of her due tasks and dropped to her bed after eating dinner. She prayed and was thankful to God for helping her clear all misunderstandings. Digi then visited again.
"Tough week huh?" Digi sighed.
''Understatement of the century '' Sophie muffled into her pillow.
"Suspended, framed, disqualified from the competition…in the end, you still cleared your name, managed to help Faith in the end and also finished your project. That is impressive.'' Digi made a big satisfied smile, her star pupil becoming brighter.
Sophie sat up and sighed loudly, "It didn't feel impressive, Digi. I felt like drawing with my eyes open.''
"But you kept on swimming.'' Digi added.
"I had to Digi, I wasn't gonna let Faith down, she was counting on me and couldn't let whoever did this to have the advantage. Plus, I think if I hadn't gotten this new power, the animals would have helped me.'' Sophie said but went silent. "Actually…Now that I think about it, animals…operate a human machine???'' she added and was surprised by the thought.
Digi understood her concern but giggled and said, "Let's say it is just a part that plays in a Guardian's life. There will be a lot of things like this. And they didn't do it alone; you guided them, didn't you? You were able to use any means to clear your name but without more trouble. You found a way, used it and were successful.''
Sophie just looked at Digi and just smiled as she was trying to get her head around what she said.
"And to be honest, you did more. Even with these issues, you were honest with your parents and friends, stayed loyal and kind to Faith. With friendship, your friends were able to get hold of Travis. And they trusted you because you are their good friend. All these characteristics are what made you worthy of being the Guardian. Bravery isn't just about fighting monsters. Sometimes, it's standing tall when the world thinks you have fallen.'' Digi added with a proud voice as she put her transparent hand on Sophie's shoulder.
Sophie faintly smiled and said, "You always know what to say.''
"I am literally your Spirit Guide; it's my Job.'' Digi giggled. Sophie appreciated Digi for looking after her.
"Now, rest up. You must be exhausted." Digi said. Sophie nodded and climbed to her pillow and within seconds, she started snoring. Digi smiled by looking at Sophie's innocent face as she slept. Digi then popped back into the realm and the night passed.
2 days later, during evening time, Sophie was on her phone when from the corner of her eye, she saw that the side desk drawer was glowing. She sat up and opened the drawer and saw that the stone was glowing that same yellow glow.
Upon holding it, Digi also popped up and said, "Wow, this soon?" Sophie looked at her with confusion, "What do you mean? It is another universe call, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yes, but it's only been a month since your last adventure, so it's kind of soon. But it doesn't matter—are you ready?" Digi asked, smiling.
Sophie looked at the glowing stone, a rush of adrenaline flowed through her, making her grasp on the stone tightened—with a confident smile, she turned her head to Digi and stated with her voice high, "Tonight." On to the next journey of the Guardian.