Rocky Road by Susannah McFarlane

has been sent out in Pink Shadows songs.’
    â€˜But surely our virus software would have picked it up,’ said A1.
    â€˜No, that is where SHADOW has been really clever. It only becomes a virus once the final code has been uploaded and that was going to be given to SHADOW agents in the last song at the concert tonight. The song had been re-written to include the upload code. Once the SHADOW agents received it through their crazy hair and headsets, they would upload it to the internet, activating False Note, causing computer chaos everywhere. But not anymore,’ said EJ feeling rather pleased with herself.
    â€˜Well done EJ12! You have done a fabulous job,’ said A1. ‘But there is just one more thing we need to do to bring the curtain down on SHADOW.’
    â€˜What’s that A1?’ asked EJ, worried that she had forgotten something.
    â€˜Well, I was just thinking, shouldn’t that final song be playing now?’ asked A1.
    â€˜Well it should be, but it won’t because I have Shady Lady locked in her own practice room. She will not be singing any more songs. She won’t be going anywhere.’
    â€˜Good work EJ,’ said A1 ‘but...’
    â€˜Yes A1?’ asked EJ. Have I forgotten something else? she wondered to herself.
    â€˜Don’t worry EJ, you haven’t forgotten anything but we still have a problem. If Shady Lady doesn’t go back on stage for her encore, the SHADOW agents will become suspicious. We don’t want that.’ A1 was silent for a moment ‘No, EJ, I have an idea. The show must go on. The show will go on. The final song must be sung but not with the message the SHADOW agents are expecting.’
    â€˜Great idea!’ cried EJ, who seemed to know what A1 was thinking. ‘We can send them a new message, something that will make them come right to us. We will be able to arrest all those SHADOW agents.’
    â€˜Exactly,’ said AI. ‘Great minds think alike, EJ12.’
    â€˜That’s brilliant, A1 but who will sing the new message?’ asked EJ12. She couldn’t think who SHINE would be able to send.
    â€˜Oh, I would have thought that was obvious, EJ12. You, of course.’
    That was not obvious and it was no longer a great idea. A1 had to be kidding.
    But EJ knew she wasn’t. A1 didn’t kid on missions.



A1’s plan made perfect sense. EJ would change the words of the song to set a trap for the SHADOW agents. Rather than give them the upload code, a new message would direct them all backstage, where SHINE would be waiting for them.
    As Shady Lady changed her clothes and makeup several times during a concert, no one would notice if she wasn’t wearing the same outfit when she returned for the encore. EJ could simply change into one of her costumes and create a mask with make-up so the audience wouldn’t be able to tellthat it wasn’t Shady Lady on stage. EJ could then use her guitar charm to be able to ‘play’ Shady Lady’s guitar. It all made perfect sense—right up until the part where it was EJ singing the song.
    EJ took a deep breath. ‘A1, I don’t think I can do the last bit. Why don’t I just change the code and someone else can come and sing the song? I don’t know, perhaps someone who has performed in a concert stadium before?’ She wanted to add, ‘perhaps someone who didn’t ruin a Kinder concert,’ but didn’t.
    â€˜There’s no time for that, EJ. Shady Lady should be on stage right now and you are the only agent we have there. Just stay calm, EJ, and take one step at a time. Change the song code, then change into your costume and then pop on stage and sing the song. Good luck, EJ12. SHINE out.’
    â€˜Pop on stage and sing the song,’ mumbled EJ a bit crossly. ‘That’s easy for you to say. But okay, one step at a time, let’s look at the song. I need to change the first five lines to make a