Mission 2: Supersonic

by Jonny Zucker

  Instinctively he pawed at the air. He tried to paddle himself back to the ground. But after a few seconds, he relaxed a bit. He let himself get used to the feeling of zero gravity.

  A minute later, Max was having the time of his life. He was flipping his body over. He shimmied from side to side. He hurled himself in every direction.

  This is wicked! We have to get one for the school gym!

  After five minutes, the whooshing sound began to fade. Max felt himself slowly falling back down onto the mat. He made it to the bottom. Max exited through the glass door. There, Hunter was waiting for him.

  “Now I need to give you a crucial chip,” said Hunter. He retrieved a tiny chip from one of his jumpsuit pockets. “This is a receiver/transmitter for your Speech Pulse Translator, or SPT, attachment. It’ll ensure that you understand any creature you come across. They will understand you in return. I’m just going to place it in your right ear. You won’t feel anything.”

  The chip was painlessly placed within seconds.

  “Now I need ten minutes to show you the flight simulator.”

  They sat down together in an exact copy of a spaceship’s cockpit. “Your craft has just been serviced,” said Hunter. “Malfunctions—although they do happen—are very, very rare.”

  Well that’s reassuring! thought Max.

  Hunter started explaining the huge array of buttons, switches, and levers in front of him. Max’s brain was soon reeling. There was no letting up. Max thought he had understood the functions of the control panel. He was allowed to “fly” the craft alone. Then Hunter produced an interstellar map. He began to guide Max around the Hedra galaxy.

  Finally, he paused.

  “Have you got all that?” he asked, looking concerned.

  “Er … kind of,” Max replied.

  “Good,” said Hunter. “Now it’s time for your gadgets.”

  Max’s eyes lit up.

  Gadgets! Bring them on!

  Hunter reached into his jumpsuit. He pulled out three items. He placed them on a white table to Max’s left. Hunter picked up the first one. It looked exactly like a small roll of tape.

  “This is what we call a Direct Passage Pulverizer. Pull out a short length of tape, stick it to the surface of a wall, and hold the rest of the roll in your hand. Immediately, you and the section of wall you stuck the tape on will be propelled forward at astonishing speed. Your momentum will smash through any type of obstacle. It will keep going for fifteen seconds. It’s quite a white-knuckle ride.”

  Max nodded. He placed the tape in one of the pockets of his spacesuit.

  “Next is a Zing-Board,” said Hunter. He handed Max a tiny silver skateboard. It was no bigger than the one Max had in his version of Monopoly.

  “I don’t think this will get me very far,” Max said doubtfully.

  “There’s a tiny blue button underneath this Zing-Board,” replied Hunter. “If you press it, the Board extends to full size. It will travel on any surface at the speed of sound.”

  “Brilliant!” said Max. He turned the Board over in his hands. “Can I keep it when I’m back on Earth?”

  “You know the rules, Max,” Hunter said with a stern look. “Each gadget can only be used once.”

  Max grimaced. His friends would go crazy over that Board.

  “Your third gadget is called a Net Can.”

  Hunter picked up an ordinary-looking drink can.

  “Peel back the top,” he explained, “and whoever is standing directly in front of you will be instantly wrapped up and sealed in a tight net made of the highest quality, cut-resistant rope.”

  Max took the can and pocketed it carefully.

  “And don’t forget,” warned Hunter, “you may only use these gadgets when absolutely necessary or when your life is in danger.”

  “Zavonne drilled that into me on my first mission,” replied Max.

  Hunter nodded and checked his watch. “OK,” he said. “We’re right on schedule.” He pulled out what looked like a very slim cell phone. He punched in a sequence of numbers. A large circle of the floor slid open. A space shuttle rose up from below. At the same time, an identical circle opened in the roof of the hangar.

  Max felt his nerves jangle with tension and excitement.

  If someone had told him a few months ago that he’d be going into space, he’d have laughed at them.

  “As Zavonne mentioned, we can get you to Zockra incredibly fast in this craft. The flight panel inside looks exactly the same as the simulator you tried out. Remember, you will be flying on autopilot. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  “Right,” said Max. He swallowed nervously.

  Hunter stuck out his right hand. They shook. “Good luck, Max,” he said. “I’ll see you on your return.”

  Max walked over to the flight of stairs that led up to the cockpit. He climbed to the top. Max took a quick look around. Hunter was at a large console. He flicked a whole series of flashing switches.

  The door of the craft swung open. Max stepped inside. The cabin was circular. As Hunter had told him, the flight panel was an exact replica of the simulator. Max sat down on the low, black chair. Two steel seat belts eased out from the wall. They dropped over his shoulders and clicked tightly into place.

  Hundreds of yellow and blue dials flashed on the flight panel in front of him. The noise of rumbling engines flooded the cabin a few seconds later.

  Max felt his pulse racing.

  I cannot believe what is about to happen. I’m going into space!

  He saw a digital display appear on the flight panel with the number 5. He quickly flipped on his helmet. As the cabin started to rock, Max closed his eyes and began to count.

  5, 4, 3, 2, 1, liftoff!

  The cabin suddenly shot upwards. Max’s stomach flipped. His whole body shook from the sheer speed of the craft.

  This is insane!

  After a few minutes, the shuddering disappeared. It suddenly felt like the shuttle had stopped. Max realized that he must be outside Earth’s atmosphere.

  After half an hour had passed, the shuttle slowed down. A hissing noise filled the air outside. The craft went slower and slower. It finally juddered to a halt.

  Have I arrived at Zockra already? thought Max, amazed. The seat belts retracted. The door shot open. Muggy air drifted inside the cabin.

  Max took a very deep breath and stood up. He flipped off the helmet of his spacesuit. He walked through the cabin door.

  He immediately regretted this move.

  The most bizarre thing he’d ever seen was coming toward him. It had a long, thin body and an oversized head. Max’s jaw dropped as he saw its four eyes and a mouth that looked like a half-circle of green jelly. It had ten extra-long fingers on each hand. It was wearing a tiny peaked cap on its head. It wore a pink suit that was at least five sizes too small.

  “Hey dude, don’t freak out!” cried the creature, seeing the look of horror on Max’s face. “I’m the welcoming party!”

  The welcoming party was an alien called Arcan who worked for the Inter-Planetary Rail Company. He drove a vehicle called a Planet Hopper. It looked a bit like a hi-tech underground train, but with just two carriages. One carriage for him and one for the passengers. He’d invited Max to sit up front with him. They were already speeding past dazzling planets, giant star formations, and weird multicolored moons. Max was glad that the Speech Pulse Translator was working. Without it, he and Arcan would be feeling very confused.

  “The Zockrans sent me to pick you up,” Arcan explained. “You touched down on a Hedra Docking Station. Your shuttle will be fine there. I’m taking you to Zockra.”

  Arcan’s green jelly mouth suddenly turned up with pride. “I’ve had most types of creature in my Hopper. I’ve never had an Earthling. This is far out!”

  “Yeah,” nodded Max nervously, “this is DEFINITELY far out.”

  “The Zockrans are in a bad way, my friend,” said Arcan, suddenly looking very serious. “I heard about the kidnapping of
that Earth crew. Bad news, dude, very bad news. The Zockrans are still alive. They desperately need some of that Aura Energy. I guess you’ve come to fizz them up a bit?”

  “That’s right,” said Max. “I’m going to do an energy transfer. But I need to get there fast.”

  “No problemo, kid!”

  Arcan kicked the accelerator pedal. The Hopper scorched forward. Max noticed a thin black cord above his head. He grabbed it to steady himself.

  After a few minutes of high-speed flying, Arcan hit the brakes on the Hopper. He hovered down towards a yellow planet that was covered with tiny lakes.

  “This is Zockra, amigo,” said Arcan, “and that building over there is the Command Center.”

  The doors of the driver’s carriage sprang open. Max held out his hand for a handshake. One of Arcan’s long fingers shot forward and wrapped itself around Max’s hand. Arcan then held out another finger. This one was holding a tiny strip of silver. “This is a Hopper Hurry Card,” he explained. “Press this side, and I’ll come and pick you up from any place in the Hedra galaxy.”

  Max thanked him. He tucked the silver strip into the pocket of his spacesuit.

  “Thanks for the ride, Arcan. Maybe I’ll see you around.”

  “I’m sure you will,” grinned Arcan.

  Max stepped out of the carriage. Arcan flicked the doors shut. The sticky yellow goo on the ground sucked at the soles of Max’s boots.

  The Hopper flew out of sight. Max studied the Command Center for a few seconds. He was about to head for the door when he heard a strange hissing sound behind him.

  He turned around. Max saw a silver-and-purple spaceship hurtling straight for him.

  Max looked around in panic. There was no time to run. The craft thundered nearer. He spotted a tiny metal slot on the ground. The spaceship was almost upon him. He acted immediately. Forcing his feet off the sticky yellow goo, he threw himself downwards. He just managed to squeeze himself through the narrow bars of the grille. The spaceship crashed forward. It missed Max by millimeters.

  Max held on tightly to the bars. He looked down. He was saw nothing but blackness. The sound of the attacking spaceship faded into the distance. He waited a good five minutes before he threaded himself back out through the bars.

  He saw with relief that the silver-and-purple craft was out of sight. He sprinted over to the door of the Zockran Command Center. Max pushed it open. He found himself in a long room. The room held chairs, desks, computer equipment, and digital screens.

  Among this furniture were about fifty pale, silvery creatures scattered all over the floor. They were cylindrical in shape. There was no separation between their heads and their bodies. Each of them made small moaning sounds. Every time they moaned, their bodies rose a few inches off the ground. They fell to the floor again.

  Max couldn’t help staring.

  These guys have nearly reached their sell-by date.

  One of the creatures was larger than the others. He beckoned Max over to him with a long red finger.

  “Max Flash,” he wheezed. “I am Nineth—Ruler of Zockra. You have arrived just in time to save us. Please climb into one of the Pods. They’re stationed in that room over there.”

  With great effort, Nineth lifted his finger. He pointed to a green door at the far side of the room.

  “We will activate the Pod,” said Nineth weakly. “The Aura Energy you transfer will give us the boost we need long before the machine reaches the Critical Point. You will re-energize us. You will suffer no harm yourself.”

  Max helped Nineth towards the door, and they passed through it. In front of them was a row of Re-Energizing Pods. They looked just like the one Zavonne had shown him. Each one was covered with dozens of tiny, flickering yellow lights.

  “The DFEA has told me that it will not be safe for you to be in there any longer than two minutes,” said Nineth.

  “Do you think that will be long enough to re-energize you all?” Max asked.

  Nineth nodded. “We cannot risk your safety, Max,” he replied. “There is so much else for you to do.”

  Max opened the door of the first Pod. He stepped inside. He watched as Nineth pressed a switch on the outside of the Pod.

  Immediately a low humming sound started up. Max felt as if his whole body was being prodded by gentle fingers. It wasn’t an unpleasant experience. It certainly didn’t hurt. As soon as two minutes were up, Nineth deactivated the Pod. The humming and the strange sensation stopped.

  Max saw that the Pod could only be opened from the outside. He waited for Nineth to let him out.

  Even with this short burst of Aura Energy, Nineth looked much better. Together, they returned to the main room of the Command Center. Everywhere, Zockrans were very slowly getting to their feet. Their features were far more clearly defined. The moaning had stopped, but they still looked very weak.

  “Thank you,” said Nineth. “We badly needed that Aura Energy.”

  “How long do you think it will last?” asked Max.

  “It’s hard to tell. We’re used to ten people re-energizing us at one time. You must hurry and find the DFEA Unit.”

  “I know,” Max said. “Have you got any idea who kidnapped them?”

  Nineth was about to reply. Then he spotted something over Max’s shoulder.

  “I don’t know exactly who they are. But that is definitely their spaceship!” he hissed.

  Max spun around.

  Out a large window he could see the silver-and-purple craft that had nearly mown him down. It was hovering in space about a hundred meters away.

  “That’s them!” said Nineth angrily. “They are our attackers. They have kidnapped the DFEA Unit!”

  Before Max could say anything, the silver-and-purple craft suddenly boosted its rocket cylinders. It started flying away from Zockra.

  “Where are your spaceships?” asked Max. “I have to go after them!”

  “We haven’t used spaceships for years,” Nineth replied, shaking his head sadly. “Fuel is in very short supply on Zockra. We use the Hoppers or the Splook Tunnel to get around.”

  “The what tunnel?”

  “The Splook Tunnel. It leads you onto the Ballistic Highway. There’s an Entry Port over there.”

  “Great,” said Max, “How do you travel in this tunnel? Do you have some kind of special cars?”

  “Some people do,” said Nineth, “but we Zockrans prefer to walk.”

  “To WALK!” Max exclaimed.

  “Yes. It may take you several thousand years to reach your destination. The Service Stations have excellent and quite reasonably priced menus.”

  Max groaned, but then he remembered the Board he had been given by Hunter.

  Max yelled goodbye to Nineth. He sprinted to the Entry Port. He quickly pressed the button on the underside of the Zing-Board. It exploded into a full-sized board. The engine roared to life. Max dropped it onto the floor. Flames spat out of the exhaust.

  Max took a deep breath. He jumped onto the Board. It whirred ferociously. Its wheels buzzed. The whole Board went a deep, fizzing scarlet color. It then catapulted Max forward at the speed of sound. He went straight onto the madness that was the Ballistic Highway.

  The wind whipped past Max’s face as the Zing-Board zipped forward. He whooped with exhilaration. Normal skateboarding was nothing compared to this! This wasn’t just fast. This was supersonic! He wobbled dangerously. The Board took a sharp corner. He managed to keep his balance.

  What a ride!

  Max was traveling on one of several hundred lit tracks that twisted and curved in every direction.

  Moving along these tracks were giant steel cubes with square wheels. They gave off millions of sparks. There were small, one-wheeled oval craft that looked like old-fashioned bathtubs on wheels. There was what looked like a yellow school bus. Except all of the aliens were traveling on the roof of the carriage. They were playing some sort of game using a crusty sluglike thing as a ball.

  Max became used to the feel
ing of traveling at this ridiculously fast speed. He began to think about his destination, or in this case, his lack of destination. He realized he didn’t have a clue where he was going. He didn’t know if he was traveling in the same direction as the purple-and-silver spaceship.

  I need to get a plan together. And quickly!

  In the next instant, he was faced with a much bigger problem. A massive orange beast with a flat head and ten fiery red eyes came hurtling down the Splook Tunnel in the wrong direction. It was heading straight for Max. This promised to be the collision of the millennium.

  Max tried to twist his Zing-Board onto the path to his right. It wouldn’t budge. He looked up and saw that the orange alien was almost upon him. It would smash him off the track!

  Sparks were flying off the orange creature’s body. As the wind screamed past Max’s ears, he closed his eyes and …

  … felt a light tap on his shoulder.

  Very slowly he opened his eyes.

  The orange alien had managed to veer off Max’s track. It was speeding off to the right. Traveling right beside him now was a creature with a large, fat, bright-green body. It had a long, thin, pink nose and three black eyes. Its circular feet were resting on what looked like a grey surfboard.

  “Can I see your license, please?” it asked.

  “Er, what?”

  “Your Splook Tunnel license,” it replied wearily. “We’ve been catching a lot of unlicensed kids on the Ballistic Highway recently, so we’re doing spot checks.”

  I haven’t got time for this!

  “My license?” said Max desperately. “I haven’t got it on me.”

  The inspector shot Max three very suspicious looks with its eyes. “Not another one!” it exclaimed.

  “After I’ve finished my business,” said Max, “I’ll zip back and get it.”