by H. Badger
SCOUTING THE UNIVERSE FOR A NEW EARTH
THE ALIEN BRAINWASH
BY H. BADGER
ILLUSTRATED BY C. BENNETT
The Alien Brainwash
published in 2010 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
85 High Street
Prahran, Victoria 3181, Australia
www.hardiegrantegmont.com.au
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means
without the prior permission of the publishers and copyright owner.
A CiP record for this title is available from the National Library of Australia.
Text copyright © 2010 H. Badger
Illustration and design copyright © 2010 Hardie Grant Egmont
Cover illustration by C. Stamation
Illustrated by C. Bennett
Series design by S. Swingler
Typeset by Ektavo
Printed in Australia by McPherson’s Printing Group
1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
CHAPTER 2
CHAPTER 3
CHAPTER 4
CHAPTER 5
CHAPTER 6
CHAPTER 7
CHAPTER 8
CHAPTER 9
CHAPTER 10
CHAPTER 1
Kip Kirby couldn’t believe it. His parents were kissing. In public! How embarrassing.
Gross! I wish I’d skipped this family outing, Kip thought to himself.
The Kirbys were visiting the Inner Eight Zoo. The zoo had native animals from all of the Milky Way’s eight planets – Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Except for when his parents were being disgusting, Kip loved the zoo. He was really into unusual animals. At home, Kip had a pet minisaur called Duke, a mini brontosaurus bred from fossil DNA. Dogs and cats hadn’t been popular since 2200.
Kip didn’t get much time to muck around with Duke. Firstly, he had school. Then there was Kip’s job as a Space Scout.
Space Scouts explored deep space for another planet like Earth. The first Earth was running out of room, and so another one was needed quickly. The Milky Way’s other planets were too hot, too cold or too gassy for humans.
Inner Eight Zoo
Kip followed his parents through the Inner Eight Zoo. The zoo was massive – it took up 400 floors of a building called the Titanium Tower. Instead of cages, the animals were inside huge, climate-controlled bubbles. Each had an atmosphere exactly like the animals’ home planet.
‘Oh, how gorgeous!’ Kip’s mum squealed. ‘A little milk-weasel!’
Gorgeous? Try gross! Kip thought.
He wanted to go and check out the awesome fire panthers from Mercury. Six-legged fire panthers were hairless, with skin the colour of burnt sausages.
‘The ring runners are on the 304th floor,’ Kip’s dad said, checking his holo-graphic zoo guide. ‘Let’s have a look.’
Ring runners lived on Saturn’s icy rings. They had tiny round bodies and long legs with four pairs of knees. Their top speed was over 250 kilometres per hour.
A ring runner’s legs would be useful on Space Scout missions, Kip thought.
‘How about we go and see the Insects On Uranus display first?’ said Kip’s mum.
‘Sure,’ Kip’s dad replied cheerfully. ‘There’s a section about Killer Bug Flu, isn’t there?’
Kip groaned silently. The insects from Uranus were great, but why did his parents have to make everything like school?
Kip’s Teacherbot had been teaching his class about the Killer Bug Flu. Heaps of insect species in the outer galaxies had been wiped out, especially the bigger insects. Plants were at risk too. They needed insects to feed them and spread their seeds around.
Kip and his parents made their way through the crowded zoo. But just as they neared the insect display, Kip felt something on his wrist.
His SpaceCuff was buzzing!
The SpaceCuff was a thick silver band. It was an essential piece of scouting equipment. During missions, Kip used his SpaceCuff to communicate with his starship, MoNa 4000. When Kip got a message on Earth, it usually meant he had a new mission!
He grinned and checked his SpaceCuff.
CLASSIFIED
SPACE SCOUT
KIP KIRBY
MISSION BRIEF
URGENT: RESCUE MISSION RECEIVED
Four days ago, Space Scout Zara Zadora went through a wormhole to a planet called Botanicus-1. All contact was suddenly lost when Zara entered Botanicus-1’s orbit, and she hasn’t been heard from since.
WorldCorp believes Zara’s starship might have broken down. Even worse, foul play could be involved.
Your mission:
Go immediately to Botanicus-1 and find Zara.
A WorldCorp HandlerBot is waiting for you on the roof of the Zoo.
According to gossip, Zara was one of the top Space Scouts. It was an honour to be sent to rescue her. After all, Kip was only 12 years old – the youngest ever scout. He’d been chosen after scoring super high on tests of bravery, intelligence and physical strength.
Kip felt proud, but he was also a little disappointed. This time my mission isn’t exploring a planet, he thought. My ranking on the Planetary Points Leader Board will slip. And I could miss my shot at the Shield of Honour!
Space Scouts earned one Planetary Point for exploring a planet. A promising discovery earned them two points. The scout who discovered the next Earth would win the ultimate prize – the Shield of Honour. The winner got the glory, plus a mansion on the new Earth with a rocket-skiing trip to Pluto thrown in.
Winning the shield would be awesome, Kip thought. But rescuing Zara’s a big deal, and it’s a chance to prove myself to the other scouts.
Kip looked around to say goodbye to his parents, but they had disappeared into the crowd. He messaged them instead.
They were used to Kip leaving suddenly on missions, so they wouldn’t mind.
Kip wanted to get into space as soon as possible. No matter how many missions he went on, space travel was always exciting!
CHAPTER 2
Just outside the insect display was a lift.
The ride to the roof took 0.1 seconds. Kip watched a MicroAd for his favourite snack on the lift’s 3D TV.
Kip usually started missions by getting himself to the Intergalactic Hoverport. His starship MoNa was docked there. But this time, he had a ride.
When the lift doors opened, a squat, shiny green WorldCorp robot was waiting for Kip on the roof. It had red flashing eyes with buttons arranged in a smile. Beside the robot, Kip saw what looked like a giant two-metre-high spring.
‘Greetings, Kip Kirby!’ the robot chirped. It circled Kip’s feet, herding him toward the spring. ‘This will be FUN!’
Kip raised one eyebrow. The robot was obviously set to XTreme Positive mode. How annoying!
A section in the top of the robot’s head flipped open. It took out a brand-new green spacesuit, helmet and spaceboots from inside, and then handed them to Kip.
WorldCorp Handlerbot: XTreme Positive mode
Kip didn’t have his own space gear with him. He wasn’t expecting to leave on a mission today!
As he suited up, Kip had a closer look at the giant spring. There were straps inside for each of Kip’s wrists and ankles.
‘Climb in and buckle up!’ bleeped the robot.
Kip climbed into the spring and stretched out his arms and legs. The straps closed around his ankles and wrists. In a second, Kip was strapped inside the spring in a star-jump position.
‘This is WorldCorp’s all-new Space-Bounder,’ the robot explained, its lights
flashing excitedly. ‘It’s the latest innovation in environmentally friendly travel, and the fastest way to get to the Hoverport. Specially designed for urgent missions!’
Kip spotted a metal plaque screwed inside the spring.
WorldCorp SpaceBounder
1. SpaceBounder will be activated by your WorldCorp Handlerbot.
2. SpaceBounder will launch over the edge of the Inner Eight Zoo building.
3. SpaceBounder will hit Impact Zone on the ground below.
4. SpaceBounder will spring upwards into space.
Kip’s eyes narrowed. His Space Scout training had taught him to question everything. Especially jumping off tall buildings!
The Impact Zone was a target painted on the ground. What if Kip missed and landed somewhere else? Someone could be seriously hurt. It sounded more dangerous than the mission itself!
It was a very long way down from the top of the building. Kip decided to ask the easiest question first. ‘Er, how exactly will the SpaceBounder know when I’ve arrived at the Hoverport?’
‘Relax!’ chirped the robot. ‘This Space-Bounder is designed so that someone your weight will spring up to the exact height of the Hoverport. The straps will automatically release when you arrive.’
The robot probably knows what it’s doing, Kip told himself. Doesn’t it?
‘In testing, this prototype worked over 99 per cent of the time!’ chirped the robot. ‘Come on, hurry up!’
‘Prototype?’ Kip repeated. ‘You mean, this thing isn’t even –’
AAAHHHHH!
The SpaceBounder automatically launched Kip over the edge. Suddenly, he was plunging through mid-air!
The world rushed past Kip in a blur. His stomach flopped wildly and sweat poured down his forehead.
Kip caught a glimpse of people inside the zoo rushing to the windows. It wasn’t every day that a Space Scout plummeted to the ground in a gigantic spring.
Kip had a highly trained eye for navigation. As he sped toward the ground, he saw at once that the SpaceBounder was off course.
I’ve gotta do something or else I’ll miss the Impact Zone! he told himself.
There was no time for complicated calculations. Kip had to trust his gut. Heart hammering, he leant hard to the left. The SpaceBounder tipped sideways and rolled completely over eight times in a row.
Yes! It was just enough to line up perfectly with the Impact Zone.
SPROOOOINNGG!
The SpaceBounder hit the ground just inside the Impact Zone. Lucky!
Kip’s bones rattled inside him as the SpaceBounder bounced upwards.
Next stop, the Hoverport, Kip thought, as the SpaceBounder hurtled past the Titanium Tower and into the sky.
Then on to Botanicus-1 to rescue Zara!
CHAPTER 3
Kip whistled toward space inside the giant spring. The Hoverport loomed up above of him. It looked like a giant car park floating in the air. But instead of old-fashioned cars, starships of all shapes and sizes were docked there.
Kip’s starship, MoNa, was docked in her usual spot. MoNa was a black multi- level starship with curved thrusters and a pointed nose cone.
The SpaceBounder is meant to automatically release me at the Hoverport, Kip remembered. But he still had to call MoNa and ask her to open her landing bay door to let him in.
My hands are strapped in, Kip thought. So I can’t reach my SpaceCuff to call!
Kip hurtled closer and closer to MoNa. The harness began to release him. He was slipping out the bottom of the spring. At any moment, he could be free-falling through space – or worse, go SPLAT against the side of his starship!
Just as he was about to slip out, Kip grabbed the bottom coil of the spring and clung on fiercely. ‘MoNa!’ he screamed, dangling in thin air.
As if MoNa had heard him, the landing bay door suddenly slid open. Kip felt the SpaceBounder being sucked toward his starship.
With MoNa’s landing bay door just below him, Kip let go of the SpaceBounder and pin-dropped through it. He landed on the floor of the landing bay with a thud.
She must’ve used her MagnaSweep to pull in the spring! Kip thought, relieved.
The MagnaSweep was MoNa’s high-powered magnet. It scanned the sky for dangerous metal debris. Or, in this case, for Space Scouts trapped inside giant springs!
MoNa 4000: MagnaSweep
‘Thanks,’ Kip said shakily.
‘I really haven’t got time for rescues,’ came MoNa’s cranky, computerised voice. ‘I’m preparing to fly into deep space.’
Kip decided to change the subject. Sometimes MoNa got carried away thinking she was more important than him.
‘Where’s Finbar?’ he asked.
Part-human and part-arctic wolf, Finbar was an Animaul, created in case of alien invasion. But Finbar had failed Animaul training for being too gentle. He’d been made Kip’s second-in-command instead.
‘Try his sleep chamber,’ MoNa said.
Puzzled, Kip left the landing bay.
I know Finbar likes daytime naps, Kip thought, barely noticing the dull rumble as MoNa left the Hoverport. He IS part-wolf, and they’re a kind of dog. But we’re about to leave on a rescue mission!
The door to Finbar’s sleep chamber slid open and Kip poked his head inside.
Finbar was strapped into his wall-mounted vertical space bed. A dial on the pillow adjusted height and softness.
WorldCorp Vertical Space Bed
Speakers on the sides played a selection of soothing music. Still, Finbar wasn’t asleep. He looked miserable.
‘Finbar, what’s wrong?’ Kip asked.
‘I’ve got stinging space fleas,’ Finbar groaned, itching his red tummy.
‘Don’t be embarrassed,’ Kip said, giving him a pat. ‘Animals in every galaxy get them sometimes.’
Finbar shrugged, scratching both ears.
‘Kip and Finbar, report to the bridge,’ chimed MoNa’s crisp voice.
‘She must’ve found a wormhole to Botanicus-1!’ Kip said.
Finbar climbed down from his space bed. Together, Kip and Finbar hurried to the bridge, MoNa’s command centre.
The bridge was in MoNa’s nose cone. It had two giant windows looking out to space. A swirling mass of coloured clouds took up one whole window. The wormhole!
In the exact centre of the bridge were two padded captains’ chairs.
Sitting down, Kip swiped the air above his head. At once a cylinder of blue light shot down from above. MoNa’s dials and controls were projected onto it.
Kip expertly touched a few keys on the holographic console. Immediately, MoNa shot forward into the wormhole.
Kip’s skin prickled as though it was crawling with bugs, and his eyes bulged. Travelling light-years in a few seconds was convenient, but not very comfy.
Luckily, Finbar was too busy scratching a flea under his spacesuit to notice the wormhole. Normally, high-speed space travel made Finbar horribly space-sick.
MoNa popped out the other end of the wormhole. Directly ahead was a shimmering green planet. Excitement fizzed through Kip’s veins. It always did when he saw a new planet for the first time.
Grabbing their helmets, Kip and Finbar raced to the landing bay. There, MoNa’s Scrambler Beams would scramble their particles, beam them through space and rearrange them on Botanicus-1.
Kip jammed on his helmet. After one final nose scratch, Finbar did the same.
A pair of Scramblers shot down from the ceiling. Soon, Kip and Finbar’s particles were shooting toward Botanicus-1.
It was finally time to find Zara!
CHAPTER 4
Kip and Finbar’s particles reassembled themselves on Botanicus-1. Kip’s first move was to check the Air Analyser on his SpaceCuff.
Air-Analyser mode
Pollen count: HIGH
Flying insects: NONE
The air was safe to breathe, so Kip took off his helmet. Flowery perfume filled the air, and he saw straight away why Botanicus-1 looked so green from space.
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The entire planet was covered with rippling fields of flowers. Under Kip’s feet, the soil was wet and silvery-green. A bright blue sun shone down from above.
‘Smells like my granny’s house,’ said Kip, wrinkling his nose. He really wasn’t into flowers.
Still, these flowers were cooler than most. They were taller than Kip, with identical tulip-shaped heads and thick, sticky stems dotted with claw-like retractable spikes.
They each had two leaves on their stems that moved like arms.
‘Any sign of Zara?’ Finbar asked, still scratching his fleas.
Kip shrugged.
The flowers were so tall that anything could be hidden in the field. Zara’s wrecked starship, for example, or Zara herself. Kip could even see what looked like a shimmering, silver building in the distance. Was that a sign of alien life forms?
Suddenly, Kip felt a tap on the shoulder. He spun around, his heart thumping, and came face-to-face with a giant flower!
The flower’s petals snapped open. Inside, a single black eye stared at Kip.
A strange, soft sound drifted from the flower. It sounded like a cross between harp music and ghostly moaning.
‘Is that flower…talking?’ said Finbar.
Kip flicked his SpaceCuff to Translate mode. The translator used well-known alien languages to guess what new ones meant. It wasn’t always reliable, but it could normally pick up a couple of words.
The flower was definitely talking. But just like Kip and Finbar, the Translate mode had never heard a language like this before.
Of course, the SpaceCuff had artificial intelligence. Eventually it would learn to translate the flowers’ language. But Kip didn’t know how long that would take.
‘The other flowers are talking to us too,’ Finbar whispered. ‘They’re saying exactly the same thing at exactly the same time.’
