Russkies

As the Independence Day celebrations loomed on the horizon, three 12-year-old military brats - Danny, Adam, and Jason (the dynamic trio) - gathered in a cozy Key West bedroom, immersed in their favorite comic book, Sgt. Slammer. Meanwhile, a Soviet warship lay anchored just off the coast, its presence eerily reminiscent of the looming threat that would soon unfold. Intelligence officer Sulock, driven by a sense of duty, ignored his captain's warnings and conspired with Mischa Pushkin and Boris to accept a prototype surveillance device from a U.S. turncoat, despite the risks. The ensuing chaos saw their raft capsizing, leaving Mischa washed ashore, forever changed.

The next morning, Danny, Adam, and Jason set out on their trusty motorboat, bound for their secret hideout. Along the way, they stumbled upon a mysterious Russian-language codebook and the wreckage of a capsized raft emblazoned with Cyrillic lettering. As tensions mounted, Adam and Jason abandoned their mission to return to the city, leaving Danny to secure their bunker. Little did they know, however, that their trusted friend Mischa had secretly infiltrated the bunker, his presence masked by the shadows.

The boys' discovery of Mischa's clandestine infiltration sent shockwaves through their small community. As the stakes grew higher, the trio found themselves at a crossroads, forced to weigh their options and decide whether to trust their instincts or risk everything for the sake of international diplomacy. Amidst this treacherous landscape, Adam's sister Diane, a nursing student with a keen mind, played a crucial role in deciphering the codes and unraveling the mystery.

As tensions continued to simmer, the group found themselves at odds over how to proceed. Danny, driven by a sense of justice, was adamant about turning Mischa over to the authorities, while Adam's diplomatic inclinations led him to favor a more measured approach. Meanwhile, Jason's loyalty to his friends wavered, caught between the desire for adventure and the weight of responsibility.

As the day wore on, the group's dynamics continued to shift like the sands of time. Mischa, ever the pragmatist, sought solace in the thrill of the unknown, while Adam's nursing-student sister Diane worked tirelessly behind the scenes to unravel the tangled threads of their predicament. The boys' fates remained entwined as they navigated this precarious landscape, with the threat of war looming large on the horizon.

As night began to fall, Danny devised a daring plan to borrow a pleasure craft from the local marina and deliver Mischa to Cuba, where he might find his way back home. With Diane's expert guidance, the boys set out to execute their plan, but not before learning that their parents had stumbled upon their secret hideout, forever changing the course of their lives.

As Raimy intercepts Mischa and his cohorts on their way to commandeer a vessel, the encounter inadvertently prolongs their journey just enough for the ship's owner to depart with their prized boat. Faced with a seemingly insurmountable setback, Mischa's group is unexpectedly greeted by Sulock and Boris, who convey the ominous news that a Soviet submarine is en route to collect them after midnight. With Adam and Jason departing to procure an alternative vessel for the rendezvous, Sulock takes the opportunity to arm himself and order Danny to be restrained at gunpoint, intending to have Mischa and Boris forcibly eject him from the boathouse as he plots to infiltrate the nearby army base and pilfer a surveillance device. In a desperate bid to dissuade Sulok from his perilous plan, Mischa begs for mercy, only for Sulok to respond by shoving him and Boris out of the boathouse, precipitating a series of events that ultimately sets off a chain reaction.

As the Russians make their escape, they are confronted by Danny's parents, who unwittingly bring the situation to a head when Diane inadvertently reveals everything through her recognition of Mischa. Sulok then orders everyone onto the boat, but not before Mischa manages to secretly untie Danny and implore him to find help. In a desperate attempt to alert the authorities, Danny stumbles upon a local performer's van, where he commandeers a jetpack and takes to the skies above the ocean.

Meanwhile, Danny's parents arrive at the pre-arranged meeting point, only to be met with the shocking sight of their son flying overhead in his newly acquired jetpack. Raimy responds by opening fire on the aircraft, striking Mischa as he dives into the water to rescue Danny. As all three struggle to stay afloat, Danny's father and mother bravely shield Mischa from harm, prepared to take a bullet for him if necessary.

In the end, the standoff is resolved peacefully, with Raimy and Sulok subsequently being apprehended by their respective militaries. The following morning brings a poignant reunion between Danny's father and Mischa, as they share heartfelt gratitude for having saved each other from harm. With Mischa the last Russian to board the submarine, he bids farewell to his young friends, fervently hoping that their paths will cross again in the future.

The film concludes with Danny cozied up in his bedroom, reading aloud from Mischa's beloved book, War and Peace, to Adam and Jason, now dressed in civilian attire, thereby signifying their rejection of their former military personas.