CHAPTER SEVEN:  toy store

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"I need my cell phone," Jack tells them, a hand extended to take back his phone. The polar bear shoved Jack back into his seat, lifting up the fallen chair and putting upright before shoving Max onto it.

"Whoever did this..." Jack paused. "is in Aruba."

"Where in Aruba?" Callum asked.

"I work alone," Jack replied.

The three, Garcia, Zoe, and Callum look at Max, and then back to Jack.

"Well, Max doesn't count." Jack huffed. Because they're were always around each other.

"We work alone," Max says.

"You used to," Callum replied.

"No offense, but I'm not rolling into Aruba undercover with a giant elf," Jake tells him.

"It's E.L.F!"

"Cal!" Zoe moved forward to stop him.

"You can't trust these guys."

"That's why you're holding the leash," Zoe walked around the table, pulling out a tiny remote. "And this..." she pressed in the button.

At the bottom of the table,  two tiny, metal arms came out. Max felt a small stab at his ankle.

"Is how I can find you anywhere on earth," the woman said.  "You're mine until we find him."

Jack began to check under the table, looking both directions.

"I suggest you get going," Zoe says.

Callum walked off.  And Garcia immediately forced Jack out of his seat, shoving him. "Claws!" He warned.

Max had gotten out of the seat, glaring at the bear.
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"Quick question, do you know how to drive?" Max asked Callum, as he practically sped down the street. And took as sudden swerve to park the car at a toy store.

"You've assaulted multiple people, put them into coma's, but, speeding is where you draw the line?" Jack asked, as he smiled at him.

"No. If I'm the one speeding it's okay. If it's anyone else, it's not. Especially when it's someone I don't trust," Max pointed out.

"Hurry up you two," Callum calls out, already in the store. He had to stop, moving back and pulling the door open to yell out to the two.

"I really don't like him," Max says as they enter the store.

Callum had taken a monopoly game board off the shelf, a set of boxing robots, a slinky and a kit of two balls. Then took a toy hammer.

"We doing some last minute chromas shopping?" Jack asked, jokingly.

Callum took a pack of batteries. "Gearing up. Grab a car, something practical." He walked off.

Jack didn't bother to check what type of car he grabbed, and then followed the tallest one.

"The back room?" Max questioned.

"Here," Callum handed all the toys to Jack. Before he took out a set of keys, momentarily searching for a key before entering it into the lock, twisting it before pulling open the door. "Let's go."

"A supply closet?" Max asked.

Callum entered the room, then disappearing, as a hint of blue haze appeared, engulfing him. Jack and Max stood there, momentarily stunned.Before Jack moved forward, looking al round the room, as if Callum would be standing there once he got closer. A hand shot out, pulling Jack through the force, who immediately reached out to grab Max.

The two followed Callum.

"What the hell just happened?" Jack asked, as they now stood outside.

"Toy stores," Callum supplied, as if it explained everything.

"Oh, wow! Why- why what about question! That's explained everything!" Max sarcastically called.

"Toy stores what?" Jack asked.

"The supply closets are portal stations for the North Pole Field Network Transit System," he sighed.

"See? What's that so hard to say the first time?" Max asked.

But, Callum had already walked off. He looked around. "Car." He demanded.

Jack immediately handed over the car. To which the man looked at it as if it offended him. Then at Jack. "I said practical."

"Like what? A minivan? Who wants a practical Hot Wheels? Also, what difference does it make?"

"I gave you a directive."

"A directive?" Jack asked, astonished at the man's attitude. Then laughs. "Is that what you think is going on here?"

"I'm telling you now, you better listen to me because things are about to get real." He handed the toys over.

"Things about about to get real," max mocked.

Callum placed the car onto the street, then moving back, he excited his arm, the device realizing rings of yellow force. The toy car turned into a real one.

"How did-" Jack began.

"I adjusted it to reality," Callum answered.

"And does that-" Max began.

"No, it doesn't work on everything.  No, you can't try it. No, you can't drive. No more questioned. Now, get in. And be carful with those robots."

"You grabbed a two seater?" Max asked Jack.

"Well, was I supposed to know he was going to turn it into a real car?" Jack gestured widely.

"Just get it," Callum interrupted, muttering under his breath about the two.
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