Con Quest!

She turned a corner, slammed through a set of double doors at breakneck speed, and skidded to a stop near an alcove. Alex almost ran straight into her back.

“Watch it!” she whispered, dragging Alex back into the shadows.

Cat took stock of where they’d ended up. Instead of running into the main hall, she’d taken them backstage into the brightly lit corridors and service tunnels that served the convention center, the ones the very stars themselves used to get around during con weekends without being mobbed.

Totally on purpose, Cat thought. Completely planned out. Yup.

While Alex put his hands on his knees and tried to regain his breath, Cat attempted

to figure out how far they’d run.

“This was a terrible idea,” heaved Alex.

Ignoring him, Cat counted the doors behind her—one, two, three … wait.

Wait.

“This way,” Cat insisted. Passing a wall of catering dishes, a cageful of golf carts, and what looked like a weird open garage, they came to a halt in front of another door identical to the one from which they’d escaped.

“Don’t. Say. A word,” Cat whispered to her brother.

“You’re the one who can’t stop talking,” Alex whispered back as Cat slowly pushed the door open.

Slipping through, Alex just a step after her, Cat silently closed the door behind them. They were in a dark room behind another set of curtains, next to a giant stage. There was no one on this side of the backstage area, but through the semi-sheer curtains Cat could see a crowd of hundreds seated in uncomfortable chairs, staring toward the stage.

“Holy Danica McKellar, Cat,” Alex breathed. “We did it.”

Slowly, Cat turned. There, projected up on the screen onstage: the Igor!!! on Skates opening credits.

They’d made it.

Trying to stay chill and quiet and failing miserably, Cat hopped around in joy and got Alex to join in, too. They had barely missed a second of the episode! And they’d lost Fi in the process! It was a GeekiCon miracle.

Cat and Alex sat on the carpeted floor behind the stage with a prime view of the whole new episode from the sidelines. Cat’s love for this show was so deep. Igor had these amazing roller-skating dancing moves and a cute boyfriend! There was nothing better in life.

Cat was so caught up in the episode that she almost forgot the other reason they’d had to make a break for it: the Quest. Hurriedly, she whipped out her phone and uploaded the video she’d taken of herself asking an actually good question at her parents’ panel to the app. Another one down.

“Hey!” a sharp voice whispered from behind them. “What are you doing back here?”

Cat turned sharply and scrambled up off the floor. A guy wearing a suit jacket over a nerdy T-shirt and holding a mic loomed over her, his arms crossed over his chest. He was a middle-aged white dude, and his bright CON STAFF badge told Cat his name was JAMES M. His eyes locked on to Cat’s phone.

“We’re just—”

“Are you one of those Questers?” James M. demanded, pointing at Cat’s phone. “There are no scavenger hunts permitted on con premises and anyone caught participating will be immediately removed from the convention!”

Oh, yeah, Cat remembered. The Quest was definitely not endorsed by GeekiCon. Alex was frozen solid, of course, and would be no help here, naturally.

“We’re with the panelists.” Cat tucked her phone behind her back and pulled out the excuse she always used backstage at her parents’ events. “What are you doing back here?” she countered, a lot more boldly than she felt.

“I’m moderating the next panel. What kind of pass is that?” the guy asked, reaching out to grab the credentials around her neck—the ones that absolutely did not qualify her to be backstage at the Igor!!! on Skates panel.

“Uh, see, here’s the thing—” Alex began.

It was a big deal for Alex to speak up, and Cat tried to think up her next lie quickly. She opened her mouth—but was cut off by a sudden commotion in the crowd.

“It’s a Mewblue!” Cat heard someone shriek. Through the sheers, she could see a woman stand up with her phone held aloft, an AR game active on the screen, the one where you captured tiny animalesque creatures for fun. “Mewblue onstage! Right now!”

James M.’s head spun, distracted momentarily by the crowd, and Cat knew this was another make-or-break moment.