As the team track down a SKUL agent called Suki, Oscar refuses to stick to the agreed plan and jeopardises the operation. When captured, Suki refuses to tell them anything, but a data card she is carrying reveals the existence of a training school for young SKUL agents known as the SKUL Academy.

Back at MI9, Stark is furious with Oscar for ignoring the plan. When they decide that an undercover mission to the SKUL Academy is needed Stark is reluctant to assign it to Oscar, who quickly realises that this has as much to do with his family history as his recent behaviour. When Stark eventually agrees, the team create a new identity for Oscar and manage to get him accepted as a new pupil in the Academy.

Still smarting from MI9's lack of trust, Oscar arrives at the SKUL Academy and immediately impresses imposing headmistress Paloma Duvere with his spying skills. This does not go unnoticed by star pupil Anita, who warns Oscar that she intends to graduate top of the class and be selected for a special mission: Project Z12.

At St Hope's, Carrie interrogates Suki in an attempt to find out more about Project Z12, but she stays silent. Oscar continues to excel at the Academy, outperforming Anita in every task and earning the respect of Paloma. He soon begins to feel at home and admire the SKUL ethic that promotes the individual. By contrast, he feels increasingly compromised by MI9's insistence that he report back to them every hour and becomes snappy with Rose. Eventually he refuses to continue with his reports, and Rose realises that something is very wrong. Show less