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key. She was hoping the bracelet was part of her kit, but could not see how it was going to be.
    A1 must have been reading her mind, again!
    â€˜Yes, it’s yours EJ, but this is no ordinary bracelet. We have been trying to develop a way for our agents to carry their tools without attracting attention, and we think we may have succeeded with this little item. Each charm is actually a piece of equipment—you twist it to activate its special properties. The key is a standard SHINE skeleton key. Twist it and it will extend to fit any lock. There’s no time now to go through them all, but they may prove useful.’
    Suddenly EJ spied a metallic aqua touch-screen phone on the bench next to her clothes. ‘Um, is that for this mission as well?’ she asked hopefully, pointing at the phone.
    â€˜Well spotted, EJ. I nearly forgot,’ replied A1. ‘Your phone needs an upgrade. You need a model that has satellite reception—there’s no mobile phone reception where you’re heading. This one also works as a games console in case you need to disguise the phone. There are lots of other applications, or apps, that may come in handy, and I think we got the colour right as well, didn’t we?’
    â€˜Yes, thanks A1,’ smiled EJ, handing over her old phone and pocketing the new one.
    â€˜Okay then,’ finished A1. ‘Now we need to make that payment deadline. Agent X1 is waiting for you at SHINE docks with Microlight. She will take you out to the icebreaker where you will receive your full mission briefing. Good luck EJ12, and smooth sailing—or should that be smooth speeding.’

    Speeding was definitely the better word. Microlight was one of SHINE’ s supersonic speedboats. Whileit was small—just big enough for two people—its special engine made it super fast, which was just as well because they were speeding towards the polar ice cap, a journey that would normally take days. It also made it super fun—EJ had to admit there were definite advantages to being a SHINE agent.
    As the little boat jumped wave after wave, the wind raced through EJ’s hair and salt spray sprinkled her face. After a while, EJ noticed that little chunks of ice were starting to appear in the water.
    â€˜Not long now,’ shouted X1 as she jumped the boat into another wave. ‘In fact, look over there to your left!’
    As EJ turned, she saw an enormous shape appear on the horizon. As Microlight sped closer, she could see huge letters on the side—SHINING LIGHT. It was SHINE’ s polar research ship, an icebreaker that could cut through the polar ice and travel deep into Antarctica. It was also a floating laboratory with SHINE scientists living on board and conducting important environmental research. Shining Light was the perfect front for SHINE’ s Antarctic surveillance work—agents could monitor activity in the area without drawing attention to themselves and SHINE was helping to protect the environment. It was the SHINE scientists on board Shining Light who had detected the disturbing changes in polar temperatures and intercepted the message EJ had decoded.
    As Microlight came up alongside the icebreaker, like a little fish swimming next to a giant whale, a rope ladder was thrown over the side. A woman’s voice boomed out through a loudspeaker on the ship’s bridge.
    â€˜Welcome Microlight and EJ12! We can take things from here. Hold on tight EJ12, and climb on up.’
    â€˜Thanks for the ride,’ EJ told X1 as she grabbed the rope ladder. Agent X1 smiled and spun Microlight around—in next to no time, she would be back at SHINE docks and sipping on a hot chocolate.



‘Welcome aboard Shining Light, EJ12,’ said the captain, a strong looking woman with steely blue eyes. ‘I’m Captain C2C. We’ll be able to get you pretty deep into the polar cap on this icebreaker, but once we hit heavy pack ice, we won’t be