The Tablet of Truth: Episode 1

​Episode 1: Five Days to Chaos

"Human girl, age thirteen," Agent 111 muttered, her pointy, purple fingers dancing over the Transformation Station's control panel. "Hair color? Hmm."

She paused and flipped through her favorite Earth book, Fashions of Great Britain: A History, stopping at a chapter about 18th century wigs. "Ohhh, I adore that poufy white stuff! Hair color—white," she announced as she typed. "Eyes…scarlet!"

"I don't think humans have scarlet eyes, Princess," Agent 26 said, engaging the ship's autopilot mode and joining her. "Perhaps another hue might blend better?"


"Ugh," she groaned, "you're right. Delete, delete, do over! Eyes, green. Clothing…" Agent 111 held up a book page to the system's scanner and waggled her three eyebrows at Agent 26. "Like the Earth kids say, these fly threads are gonna be a whole groovy mood, broski!"

Agent 26 glanced at Agent 111's other favorite Earth book, Slang from Every Earth Era Ever! "I don't think they actually say—"

But the Transformation Station interrupted him. "Transformation data complete—enter chamber now." The Total Transformer's door slid open, and Agent 111 squealed and stepped inside.

"Eek! My first undercover assignment…wish me luck!"

"Much luck, Princess," Agent 26 said solemnly. "We're both going to need it," he mumbled as the door closed.

"Agent 26!" a voice boomed, making the elder spy jump. Agent 26 bowed as a hologram of the King of Planet Secreton's face assembled in mid-air—nose, eye, mouth, eye, eye. "Am I all together yet? Does this hologram make me look old?"

"Yes, sir, and not at all, sir," Agent 26 replied.

"Good, good. You're looking well yourself. Not a day over a thousand years, give or take—but enough pleasantries. Status report, please!"

"The princess is transforming now, and we should arrive just in time for…" Agent 26 paused, scanning a monitor, "science class at Pleasantville Middle School."

"Excellent—and thank you for accompanying my daughter. I know it's unusual to send a rookie agent on a mission of this importance, but since Agent 88 went rogue and disappeared from Secreton with Earth's Tablet of Truth yesterday, I trust no one else." The hologram blinked, then disappeared before reappearing with just one eye and half a nose.

"Dad! You look utterly terrifying," Agent 111 scolded him as she exited the Transformation Station. "Put the rest of your face on, puh-lease." She fluffed the powder-white curls that were now piled high on her head before twirling around her father's floating half-face. Agent 26 scampered out of the way to avoid the wide sweep of her elaborate gown. "How do I look now that I'm human-ified?"

"Lovely, dear. Are you sure that's—well, never mind, I trust you've done your research. Human communication?"

"Check!" Agent 111 held up the slang book.

"Human eating habits?"

"Check!" She flashed another book.

"Stuff Your Face Like a Boss?" her father read, shaking his head. "That seems undignified, but you must do anything necessary to fit in with the students." His eyes took turns disappearing and reappearing as he continued, "The tablet's last signal came from somewhere inside the school, but unfortunately, we've lost contact with Agent 88's ship. We can't get its Transformation Station's data, so we don't know the traitor's current physical form. Agent 88 could be disguised as anyone—and simply cannot discover your identity before you find the tablet."

"That won't happen, Dad. I've got this!" said Agent 111, chopping the air with her arms and hopping from side to side. "I've got all the spy moves, see? I can take that crooked, covert secret stealer—and Earth's mysteries will be safe again in no time."

Agent 26 looked doubtful. The king cleared his throat. "Speaking of time, you don't have much. The tablets we safeguard for the universe can only be unlocked by a creature of royal blood like you or I, but their security systems weaken the longer they're away from Secreton. You have five days, Princess."

"Landing on Earth in three minutes," the navigation system announced.

"Check in with me later, and remember, chaos is certain if you fail," the king said gravely. "Oh, and have a great first day at human school!"

Agent 111 curtsied as her father's face disappeared. "Agent 26, you should disguise yourself as an animal. Humans call them pets and apparently take them everywhere, so it's the perfect cover."

Agent 26 sighed. "As you wish. I've always wanted wings, and I love the humans' vampire movies. Especially that classic film…Sunset? Dusk? Twilight?" Agent 26 mused as he typed.

"Transformation data complete—enter chamber now." Agent 26 stepped inside and, exactly 47 seconds later, a grunting creature scuttled out.

"I programmed one bat, not a wombat!" Agent 26 squeaked. "Please fix me, Princess—I can't reach the keypad!"

"No way—you're so cute! Now, we need good Earth names, and quick." Agent 111 flipped through Fashions of Great Britain: A History, scanning it for ideas. "You can be Egbert," she nodded as Agent 26 shook his furry head. "Oh, come on, that's a king's name!"

Agent 26 rolled on his back and flung his little arms out. "Fine, I'm Egbert—and you are?"

 "I'll be Britain. Because humans think Britain," she pointed to the book cover, "is great!"