Popular Clone by M.E. Castle Page B

on the shoulder.
    â€œThat was pretty amazing, Fisher,” he said, beaming. “I got so caught up in closely studying the ducks that I lost sight of the bigger picture! And the trick with the duck suit was pretty inspired.”
    â€œAnything to save a baby duck,” Two said, not taking his eyes off Amanda, in a voice so syrupy sweet it made Fisher choke.
    â€œWow, Fisher.” Amanda beamed at him. “I always knew you were smart. But I never knew you had such a big heart, too.”
    Fisher decided he’d seen enough. He had to sneak away soon, anyway, to make sure he got home before his dad and Two did. Luckily, his mom was going to be working until later in the evening.
    Feeling outmatched, unloved, and inches away from disaster, he slunk out of the crowd. He didn’t know why he’d been worried that somebody would notice him. Nobody ever did.
    â€œWhat were you thinking?” Fisher shouted, hours later. That night it had been Two sitting down at the dinner table, and Fisher waiting upstairs for whatever leftovers his clone brought up. Fisher himself had been too upset to do much besides sit on his bed and fume. Even FP seemed nervous about Fisher’s mood.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Two said. “Your dad and Amanda were wrong. Their conclusions were faulty, and they could’ve hurt the animals they were trying to protect. I was helping both sides.”
    â€œAnd what about the heroics with the duck suit?” Fisher said, crossing his arms. Two tried to pet FP, who snipped at his hand.
    â€œI wasn’t just going to let the hawks eat those defenseless ducklings,” Two protested. “They’re endangered as it is.”
    â€œListen,” Fisher said, holding up his hands. “You can’t just run around doing anything you like,” he said. He fought down a twinge of guilt; he knew that he had created Two because that was exactly what he wanted for himself. “If you keep pulling these big flashy stunts, we’re going to get found out. Do you want that to happen?”
    Two shook his head.
    â€œThen we need to keep things more quiet and focus on the mission. All right?”
    â€œRight,” Two said, sighing. “The mission.”
    â€œGood.”
    Fisher hoped that his speech—and his continued lies— had served their purpose. Still, as he got ready for bed, he couldn’t ignore the whirling anxiety in the pit of his stomach. Tomorrow, he decided, he would keep tabs on Two, and make sure the clone followed his instructions.
    It was time for the spy-cam.

CHAPTER 10
    I like precise, clearly defined rules. How else would I be sure I was breaking them?
    â€”Vic Daring (Issue #1)
    It was Tuesday morning, and Fisher held the old fedora his clone had been wearing in his hand. Two watched with a hint of a frown on his face.
    â€œI think I know a way to keep you under con—I mean, to help guide you through the school day so that this operation goes as well as it can.” In Fisher’s other hand was a self-camouflaging camera produced by none other than TechX Enterprises. He affixed it to the front of the hat and then pressed a locking switch. Instantly, it vanished, its active camouflage blending it perfectly into its surroundings.
    A window on Fisher’s computer popped up with the live feed from the camera, and Two’s look of mild annoyance appeared from two angles. “With this, I can see everything you see during the day. And this ,” he went on, slipping a tiny microphone pad under the front of the brim, “will allow me to hear as well. If you need any advice I can provide it with this earbud.” He attached a tiny, ear-fitting speaker to the inside of the hat. “Any objections?”
    Two took a slow, deep breath, exhaled, and shook his head slowly. Fisher could tell that he had at least two or three objections. But Two remained silent.
    â€œGood,” Fisher said, satisfied that the