"Headed for the Future" by Belle Book Part Three London, Year 2605, at 3:00 GMT Carmen Sandiego looked at the coordinates on her time machine. The year was apparently 2605, and the place was London. She used her computer inside her time machine to access records and find out if Great Britain was still a monarchy or had become a republic like the US. In a minute, the computer revealed that Great Britain was still a monarchy, and that the current monarch was one Elizabeth III, who had begun her reign ten years ago. She was a very talented monarch, who ruled her people with intelligence and wisdom. In fact, a gift was being made in her honor, but the com- puter was currently unable to find out what the gift was. That was okay, as far as Carmen was concerned, since she didn't think the gift had anything to do with why Sara had arrived in London. But she had to get going. Her computer told her that a time machine was heading to London as well, and she could guess who was coming to London. She had to find out what Sara was up to. If it was some- thing Carmen felt she couldn't handle on her own, she might have to consider a truce with the detectives on her trail. But Globie would be dead set against it, and neither Ivy nor Zack would be entirely in favor of it, either. Only Jaci might be an ally, as she was a diplomat as well as an agent. So, Carmen got out of her time machine, which she left under a tree. Within a few feet, she found a couple finishing a picnic lunch. They were native Londoners, so she asked them where the local police force was. Once she found out, she went. ____________________________________________________________ Near Carmen's time machine, three minutes later A hole opened, depositing six rather nervous detectives. Globie looked around. They appeared to be in a park, but it was clearly not a park from their own time period. People dressed in strange clothes were passing them. "Where are we?" asked Globie. Zack looked at the Chronoskimmer and gasped. "We appear to be in London, in the year 2605! Our location in London appears to be Hyde's Park." That's when Jaci called out. "Look what I've found!" The other five raced over to a grassy area not too far from where they had landed. There was a tree there, and under it was a machine they knew only too well. "Carmen's time machine!" cried Ivy. "That is luck! How did you find it, Jaci?" "I decided to do some looking around, in case Carmen had been in the area nearby," said Jaci. "And I found the time machine. However, it appears that it is empty. Carmen's most likely gone into London." "And it'll be hard to track her in London in the year 2605," said Polly. "It's even hard to track her in London in 1999." So they all knew how hard it would be to track one person in the year 2605 in London. "Wait!" said Globie. "Let's see if Scotland Yard is still in London. We can ask them if they have seen Carmen Sandiego." "First," said Renee Santz, "let's find someone who can tell us where to go. Since none of us are from London, I suggest we pretend we are tourists who have lost our way and don't know where we should go." "I think that's a good idea," said Jaci. "I don't think that saying we're from the past will do us much good right now." A couple of minutes later, a boy and a girl stepped off the path. Both were dressed in futuristic clothes which appeared to be jumpsuits. The jumpsuits appeared to have belts with buttons on them. The boy was about twelve years old, and the girl, ten years old. "Hello," the boy said in a British accent. "Hello," said Ivy. "We're tourists in London, England. We're students of Criminal Justice who were looking forward to seeing New Scotland Yard. However, we lost our map and don't know where to go from here. Could you please help us?" "Sure," said the boy. "Our father is part of the Metropolitan Police Force. He's taken me there a couple of times, so I could give you directions." "Thanks," said Ivy. "You're currently in Hyde Park, near Kensington Road, so you'd go down Kensington Road until you reach the outskirts of Green park, then you can go through Green Park in a southeasterly direction, pass Buckingham Palace, then go south for two blocks till you reach Victoria Street. Once you reach it, then you walk for about one block. New Scotland Yard is to your left." "Thanks," said Globie. He turned to the others and whispered, "It appears Scotland Yard still exists in the year 2605." "What's your names?" Ivy asked. "My name is Ed Baker, and this is my sister Tina," said the boy. "Well, thanks again for all your help, Ed," said Ivy. "We must go now. Bye." "Goodbye," said the two. Then the detectives themselves headed over to New Scotland Yard. They hoped the police could help them find Carmen. ________________________________________________________________ New Scotland Yard Carmen stepped inside and went to the nearest desk. Behind it was a man. "Sir, I'd like to see the Chief of Scotland Yard," Carmen said. "I'm a detective from the US here to locate a criminal who might be up to something in London." "Hmm, let's check," said the receptionist. "You won't find me on any official file. I'm a spy, and nobody is supposed to know of my existence except for my superiors," said Carmen. "And they know better than to tell people I'm here." "What is your name?" asked the receptionist. "I'm known only as Carmen," said Carmen. "And what's the name of the criminal?" asked the receptionist. "Well, her real name is unknown. She uses a bunch of aliases," said Carmen. "But I have some reason to believe that she's planning something big in London. She has wild black hair streaked with white, and is dressed like a professor. She is obsessed with power, and I be- lieve what she wants is here in London." "Well, I'll have to have someone escort you to the Chief," said the receptionist. He turned to a policeman who had just entered. He looked to be in his thirties. "Sgt. Baker," said the receptionist. "This young woman wants to see the Chief." "OK, Mr. Jonson," said Sgt. Baker. He turned to Carmen. "Right this way, Ms --" "Carmen," said Carmen. _______________________________________________________________ Two minutes later, inside the Chief of Scotland Yard's office "A criminal obsessed with power has come to London to steal something which will give her power?" asked the Chief of Scotland Yard. "Yes, sir," said Carmen. "And I do not yet know what this something is, but I'm certain that it's in London. Do you know what could be in London that would be worth the attention of a criminal obsessed with power?" The Chief frowned for a minute. Then a look of what appeared to be horror came onto his face. He turned on a computer and said, "Computer, access the top-secret files on the gift for Queen Elizabeth III." The computer spoke in a soft female voice. "Files accessed. Two Acme detectives from London made this gift in honor of Queen Elizabeth III's reign. It is a very powerful magnet called "The Star of London", because it is made like a star. It is top-secret because whoever owns this magnet is capable of ruling with an iron fist. The magnet is currently located in the new Reichmann Tower II, near the Tower of London." "Thank you, sir," said Carmen. "I will be heading for the Reichmann Tower II right now. I must find out if the criminal is nearby looking at it." "Good luck, Ms. Carmen," said the Chief as Carmen left. She hoped she could find Sara and stop whatever that maniac had in mind before disaster struck. ______________________________________________________________ Outside the New Scotland Yard Building "What do we do now?" Renee whispered to the other detectives. They were outside the New Scotland Yard Building, trying to figure out what their next step was. "Well, maybe we should tell them we are detectives from the past trying to locate a notable criminal from the past whom we suspect has come here," said Zack. "Not a bad idea, except that I doubt the Chief of Scotland Yard will believe us," said Jaci. "Any ideas in case that one fails?" At that moment, they saw Carmen come out of the New Scotland Yard Building! "What luck!" whispered Ivy. "We'd better follow her." Carmen hailed a taxi. The taxi looked sleeker and more futuristic than a taxi from the present, and it had no wheels. Jaci snuck up to Carmen, remembering how Chase had taught her to do so, and heard Carmen say, "Take me to the Reichmann Tower II." As the cab went away, Jaci looked around and saw another taxi heading their way. She yelled, "Taxi!" The taxi stopped, and Jaci turned to the others, saying, "Come on! We've got a taxi! Do you have any money with you?" "I do," said Polly. "Fortunately, I have twenty pounds." "Where to?" asked the taxi driver. "To the Reichmann Tower II!" Jaci said. "How much?" "Ten pounds," said the taxi driver. Polly gave the driver ten pounds and he said, "OK, come right inside." So the six got into a taxi that was bigger than the last taxi, and took off for the Reichmann Tower II. ________________________________________________________________ Reichmann Tower II Carmen looked around. The Reichmann Tower II was really high-tech. Sara Bellum would need something just as high-tech to steal something inside it. She'd learned a lot about the Reichmann Tower II from the taxi driver. It had the toughest security of any building in London, and possibly the toughest security of any building anywhere. That was why the most top-secret stuff was going to be kept there -- including that gift in honor of the Queen. Unfortunately, there was a pretty big crowd when Carmen reached the Tower. How would Carmen find Sara in this crowd? Carmen then noticed someone with a laptop com- puter, looking at it. It looked like a woman, and she was not too far from where Carmen stood. Even though her back was turned to Carmen, she could see the woman had on a labcoat, and had wild black hair streaked with white! It was probably Sara Bellum. And when the woman turned sideways, Carmen saw that it indeed was Sara Bellum. She snuck up to Sara, who fortunately was so ab- sorbed in her project that she didn't hear Carmen. When Carmen got close to Sara, she overheard her saying, "Now that I know where that power magnet is lo- cated, I'll need to break inside that safe. And the best device to break inside is in Calgary!" She then turned away from Carmen, not seeing her, and began to walk toward the street. Carmen was about to follow her, when she heard an all-too-familiar voice yell, "There she is!" Carmen turned. There were six detectives. Polly Tix, Renee Santz, Zack, Ivy, Jaci -- and Globie, the one who'd called out. Carmen turned to race out of the crowd. She began to suspect that Sara's plans might be too big for Carmen to handle alone. She may have to ask the detectives for help, but first they'd have to get out of that crowd so she could talk freely. ________________________________________________________________ A minute later Jaci broke out of the crowd in time to see Globie and Ivy catching up to Carmen Sandiego. Behind her was Renee Santz, Zack, and Polly Tix. Carmen led them all a block west on Fleet Street to a small cafe, where she stopped. "Now we've got you!" yelled Globie. "Wait!" said Carmen. "I think I may need the help of all of you." "Hah!" said Globie. "You need our help?" "She did need our help that one time with Maelstrom, Globie," said Zack. "She doesn't usually need our help, however." "No, I don't usually need your help," said Carmen. "But this time is different. I know something you don't." "What?" asked Jaci. "I didn't order Sara to steal that time-travelling device," said Carmen. "She did so without my knowledge. And I know what she wants. She still wants to be the most powerful thief ever. She just wants to be so in the future. And I've found out what her plans are." "You're a good talker," Globie began, but Jaci laid a hand on his shoulder. She turned to Carmen. "If this is true, then what are her plans? And how did you find out?" Jaci asked. "I admit it, I pretended to be a secret agent tracking down a criminal in London," said Carmen. "It did get me the information I needed. Sara plans to steal a power magnet called 'The Star of London'. It looks like a star, that's how it got the name. It's located in the Reichmann Tower II, and was created by two Acme detectives from London in honor of Queen Elizabeth III." "Wow, another Queen Elizabeth?" said Globie. He was from Canada, which was a British colony at one time, and while an independent country, did acknowledge the ruler of Great Britain as the ruler of Canada. "Yes, another Queen Elizabeth," said Carmen. "At the Reichmann Tower II, I found Sara. She plans to break into the Tower, steal the magnet, and rule with an iron fist. But she's going to Calgary first. And we have to stop her! That's why I'm asking for a truce. Then, we can work together to stop Sara." "You and us working together? Never!" said Globie. Jaci had become convinced of the danger, however, and said, "I think we'd better consider her proposal. Zack, do you think Carmen could be telling the truth about Sara?" Zack frowned for a minute, then said, "Sara has tried to become the world's best thief. She kidnapped and impersonated Carmen that one time. And I remember her at- tempt to steal files from the FBI Building when Carmen was in Gehenna." "I remember that, too," said Ivy. "In fact, I re- member only too well when Carmen was in Gehenna. It was just part of the challenge we unwittingly threw her." Zack blushed slightly, but said nothing. Instead, he said, "So, I do believe she'd try something like this. Is that what you wanted, Jaci?" "Yes," said Jaci. "Maybe we should call a truce until Sara is captured." Globie was outraged, Ivy seemed doubtful, but Zack, Renee, and Polly all seemed thoughtful. Finally, Polly spoke up. "Are you certain this isn't some kind of trick so you could steal that magnet yourself?" asked Polly. "It's no trick of mine," said Carmen. "I wouldn't be surprised if you don't believe me, but I'm being serious. That kind of power can drive a person over the edge, if the person isn't already over the edge to begin with. Even I could go power-mad with such power. How much more power- mad could Sara go then?" "Good point," said Zack, who knew about Sara. He then said, "I think we should call a truce and work with Carmen." Renee agreed, as did Polly. Ivy still seemed a little uneasy over working with Carmen, but she believed Sara was worse than Carmen, so she agreed. Finally, it was Globie's turn. "Please, Globie, reconsider," said Jaci. "The future of the world may be at stake. For all of Carmen's faults, she'd never try this kind of thing. But Sara would. It's important that we get on her trail right now, before it gets cold." Globie then said, reluctantly, "Okay, I agree." With that, they all shook hands with Carmen and Globie said, "Now what do we do?" "First, let's contact the Chief from Acme," said Zack. "Of course, we'll probably have to convince him we're from the present." "We also have to find out what Sara's after in Calgary," said Jaci. "And for that, we need Acme." "OK, let's contact the Chief," said Ivy. To be continued...