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This ebook edition published in 2012
Franklin Watts
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH
Franklin Watts Australia
Level 17/207 Kent Street
Sydney, NSW 2000
The authors and illustrator have asserted their rights in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN: 978 1 4451 1346 3
Franklin Watts is a division of Hachette Children’s Books,
an Hachette UK company.
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www.franklinwatts.co.uk
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How to be a hero
This book is not like others you may have read. You are the hero of this adventure. It is up to you to make decisions that will affect how the adventure unfolds.
Each section of this book is numbered. At the end of most sections, you will have to make a choice. The choice you make will take you to a different section of the book.
Some of your choices will help you to complete the adventure successfully. But choose carefully, some of your decisions could be fatal!
If you fail, then start the adventure again and learn from your mistake.
If you choose correctly you will succeed in your mission.
Don’t be a zero, be a hero!
The story so far…
You are a member of a Special Forces military unit. You have been involved in many dangerous missions and have won many medals for your bravery. You are skilled in all forms of combat and weaponry. You have been recruited by Earth Defence to undertake a highly dangerous mission.
Earth Defence is an ultra-secret unit whose job is to defend Earth from the attacks by hostile alien races. Their HQ is based inside a mountain called Area 61.
You have been given an amazing piece of technology to help you with your mission. It is a Defence and Armed-Response Teleportation suit — or DART for short. Not only does the suit have an incredible weapons system, but it also allows you to travel to distant planets and different dimensions.
Its inventor is an alien member of Earth Defence, called QTee. He is the technical genius behind all of their weapons and equipment.
The first to attack was Hurrikano, ruler of Airworld. He used his power over air to unleash an attack of hurricanes, tornadoes and storms to batter planet Earth.
You have already travelled to Airworld, defeated Hurrikano and ended his invasion plans, but you know that this is only the first of several attacks.
Dangerous days lie ahead for Earth and for you…
Go to 1.
1
You are relaxing inside Area 61, talking to Agents Roberts and Lee, when a voice breaks over the COMS system. It is QTee. “Please come to the OPS room. We have a situation.”
“Looks like you’ve got another mission,” says Agent Lee.
You all hurry over to the OPS room.
QTee points at a large display screen. “These volcanoes have all just erupted at the same time!”
“Are we under attack again?” you ask.
QTee nods. “Another of Tyranno’s followers has taken up from where Hurrikano left off. Our intel has told us that the attack is being led by Vulkana. She rules the planet of Fireworld, in the Altus dimension. Her Staff of Power gives her control over the element of fire. She has used it to activate hundreds of volcanoes that exist on Earth. We’ve got reports of clouds of ash and lava streams causing devastation and destruction across the planet.”
If you wish to get on with the mission, go to 26.
If you want more information about your mission, go to 49.
2
You react immediately, sending dozens of foam missiles at the cavern’s entrance. The foam swells up and sets solid, sealing off the entrance.
You turn to Vulkana. “Just you and me on our own,” you say.
Vulkana laughs. “You puny Earthling. You cannot compete against my power!” She holds up her Staff of Power. The lava pool bubbles up as if it were alive, creating a giant wave of molten lava that reaches up to the cavern roof, before crashing down towards you.
At the same time, Vulkana cracks her fire whip, which sends hundreds of mini fireballs towards you.
To teleport back to Earth, go to 43.
If you decide to attack Vulkana, go to 31.
3
The dragonmanders head towards you, spitting their deadly fireballs. You spin away from their attack and begin to shoot at the creatures with your eGun.
The energy bolts hit their targets, but merely bounce off the creatures’ thick skins.
Your attack enrages them and they increase the intensity of their assault. The air is filled with exploding fireballs and jets of deadly redhot flame.
If you wish to attack with your foam missiles, go to 23.
If you wish to try and out-fly the dragonmanders, go to 47.
4
You fly into the entrance and make your way through the fire-lit tunnels. The floors bubble with lava and the air is filled with thick yellow smoke, making it difficult to see.
You push on slowly through this hell-hole. Ahead of you, the tunnel opens out. You can just make out a huge cavern beyond the entrance.
If you wish to head into the cavern, go to 24.
If you want to scan the area for enemies, go to 36.
5
You know that the bomb is activated and will explode if you don’t launch it! You have no time to take aim. “Deploy bomb,” you command.
The bomb launches and heads off course. It embeds itself into the side of the volcano and explodes, sending waves of red-hot lava shooting into the air. The molten rock rains down on you and your enemies.
You feel the lava burning into your suit. Ahead of you, the creatures of Fireworld burst into flames. For a moment you think you have destroyed them, but you are wrong. Instead of destroying the trolls, the lava adds to their power as they bathe in the hot liquid. They stride towards you.
You shoot a couple of the trolls with your eGun, but the lava is beginning to burn into your visor — you can hardly see your enemies to fight them!
If you wish to open your visor, go to 44.
If you wish to fly away, go to 42.
6
The white light vanishes and is replaced by a vivid red and yellow glow. You are on the surface of Fireworld! Even though the DART suit is flameproof, you can still feel the heat.
The intensity of the flames and fire begins to affect the DART suit. Your visor begins to steam up and you can hardly see.
“Check the atmosphere,” you tell the DART suit. “How hot is it? Can I breathe the air?”
“Unable to calculate,” replies the suit’s computer. “Overheating is causing sensor malfunction.”
To open your visor and clean it, go to 44.
If you wish to move on slowly, go to 16.
7
You send a bolt of energy at the pyrodog. It hits the creature, knocking it out of the air, stone dead. However, the wave of liquid fire hits you, covering your suit and visor with its sticky, burning flames. The substance begins to melt your suit and you cannot see as your visor blisters and bubbles.
You fly around the cavern, desperately trying to extinguish the burning flames.
At that moment you hear more howling. Another pack of pyrodogs appears from the cavern’s tunnels, baying and spitting more liquid flame at you.
To fly out of the cavern, go to 42.
To try to teleport back to Earth, go to 21.
8
&nbs
p; “Fire at the arms,” you order.
The DART suit responds and launches the foam missiles. They hit the Titan’s flamethrowing arms and instantly set hard, blocking the nozzles.
Pressure builds up and the flame-throwers explode! The titan roars out in pain and drops to the ground.
The flame trolls, seeing that their leader is defeated, run away.
If you wish to make sure the fire titan is dead, go to 46.
If you wish to head into Vulkana’s kingdom, go to 29.
9
You activate your eGun and swoop towards the entrance, blasting the flame trolls. Your attack has taken them by surprise! Several of the creatures drop down dead.
The trolls aim their flame-throwers and send streams of hot flame towards you. You respond by spinning away from the fire and resuming your attack, knocking more down.
There are only a few left, but then you hear a deafening roar from inside the cave. You stare in horror as a monstrous figure emerges.
“ALERT! Fire titan!” your computer barks.
The creature’s whole body blazes. Its arms are powerful flame-throwers and they are pointing at you!
To use your foam missiles, go to 39.
To continue to attack with the eGun, go to 30.
To attack using your bomb, go to 25.
10
The exploding fireballs and streams of lava burn at the DART suit. You try to fly away, but the suit doesn’t respond. The computer’s circuits have been affected by the intense heat and have been fried!
Another volley of fireballs hit you and the suit drops from the air, into the molten lava. You lie helpless, arms outstretched, as the deadly lava burns into the DART suit. Within seconds the suit begins to melt and your body is consumed by the flames.
You have failed. If you wish to begin your mission again, go to 1.
11
“Avoid,” you shout.
The suit obeys and you spin away from the stream of flame. At the same time you send a volley of energy bolts towards the pyrodog. The creature is hit and drops through the air, dead.
You order your NAV system to locate Vulkana. Within seconds the computer has scanned the underground passages and set out a route for you to follow. You take a deep breath and set off for your showdown with the ruler of Fireworld.
Go to 38.
12
“I know that the TD bomb is a total destruction bomb,” you say.
“Correct,” replies QTee. “It is like a mini atom bomb. It is a very powerful weapon, but only to be used as a weapon of last resort as it will cause massive destruction.”
“Then I hope I don’t have to use it,” you reply. “Tell me about the earthquake bomb?”
“It’s a different type of weapon,” says QTee.
“It drives itself deep into the ground and then explodes, creating an earthquake that can bring down buildings and cause the ground to rip open.”
If you want to choose the TD bomb, go to 37.
If you want to choose the earthquake bomb, go to 20.
13
You decide that the risk is too great to head straight into the cavern. You fire your foam missiles at the holes in the walls leading to the cavern. The foam sets and seals off the possibility of anything shooting from out of the walls.
You fly through the tunnel and into the cavern. It is lit up by streams of lava cascading down the walls.
“Enemy to the right,” warns the computer.
You look across and see a pack of a dozen or more of savage-looking creatures, standing on the ledges of the cavern in pools of lava.
Fire burns from their mouths and their eyes change colour from black, to red to yellow as they stare at you, growling. One of the pyrodogs throws back its head and howls. Liquid fire pours from its mouth. You realise that this is the signal for the creatures to attack!
If you decide to attack with foam missiles go to 17.
If you wish to attack with your eGun, go to 45.
14
You employ stealth mode and fly carefully towards the entrance.
The flame trolls don’t seem to be able to see you, but as you are about to pass by them, one of the guards sniffs the air. He shouts a warning and bursts into flames, creating a wall of fire between you and the entrance!
The air turns into a raging firestorm as the trolls point at you and shoot deadly flames from their flame-throwers.
You are engulfed in a whirlwind of fire!
Go to 42.
15
Vulkana staggers and falls towards the lava pool. As she does, she cracks her whip and catches you around the leg. She topples into the pool, dragging you with her.
You hit the molten lava, but you are not affected. You realise that Vulkana’s staff is protecting you from the heat.
However, your relief only lasts a few seconds as you realise that the TD bomb is about to explode!
You fly up and out of the pool, but you are too late! There is a devastating explosion as the TD bomb detonates. You are ripped apart.
You have saved the Earth from invasion, but paid the ultimate price.
If you wish to begin again, go to 1.
16
You are pretty sure that if you open your visor, you will die from the heat and fumes, so you decide to rely on your NAV system.
“Find the entrance to Vulkana’s kingdom,” you order. The route appears on your heads-up display. “Head south,” you say.
You take off and fly through the toxic clouds of Fireworld. Although deadly, the air is cooler than the surface of the planet.
“Sensors now normal,” says the computer. Your visor clears and you see half a dozen creatures flying in the air ahead of you. From the distance they look like small flying lizards.
To scan these creatures, go to 32.
If you wish to carry on towards them, and Vulkana’s kingdom, go to 40.
17
You fly up to the roof of the cavern and target your foam missiles at the creatures. As you do so, all the pyrodogs face you and spit streams of burning liquid fire at you!
You spin out of the way, but they continue their attack, running along the ledges and spitting their deadly fire.
You fire a missile at one of the creatures, covering it in foam. The pyrodog is set solid and it stands like a statue, unable to move. But the others in the pack spread out along the ledges and continue their attack. Their streams of fire shoot out across the cavern.
If you wish to continue to attack with the missiles, go to 34.
If you wish to switch to your eGun, go to 45.
18
You begin to shoot at the trolls and take out three of your enemies. But you have made a fatal mistake! You haven’t launched the bomb — it is still in your launcher, and is armed!
Another sheet of flame blasts into you and your launcher takes a direct hit.
“Extinguish flames,” you order, but the suit doesn’t respond.
“BOMB DETONATION IMMINENT!” warns the computer.
“Launch bo…!” you begin to say. But you are too late. The bomb explodes, ripping your body into millions of atoms.
You have failed! Begin your adventure again by going to 1.
19
“Arm and deploy TD bomb,” you order. “Timed detonation — 30 seconds.”
The suit responds. You aim at the lava pool and fire. The bomb hits the lava pool and is sucked into its depths.
At the same time, you fly at top speed towards Vulkana. She is surprised by your sudden attack. She holds up her Staff of Power, but you aim a volley of energy bolts at the throne. They explode and Vulkana staggers, losing her balance. Seizing the chance, you launch a steel net at the staff. It connects and you use it to wrench it from her grasp. You take hold of the Staff of Power. Vulkana is at your mercy!
If you wish to get out of the cavern, go to 48.
If you wish to see what happens to Vulkana, go to 15.
20
“I’ll take the earthquake bomb as it m
ight help me underground,” you say.
“Okie doke, it’s your neck on the line,” replies QTee as he loads the bomb into the DART suit’s launcher.
He continues. “Because you captured the crystal that powered Hurrikano’s staff, you will have control over the element of air. You will now be able to fly in the suit. And remember, if you capture Vulkana’s crystal, you will also be able to control fire!”
You step into the suit.
QTee speaks to you over the COMS link.
“Because teleportation doesn’t work underground, I will teleport you to the surface of the planet. You’ll have to make your way to Vulkana’s underworld kingdom. I have set co-ordinates for this in the DART suit’s NAV system. Good luck!”
“Teleport,” you order. A bright light envelops the DART suit as you are teleported through the dimensions of space.
Go to 6.
21
“Teleport,” you order.
Nothing happens. “Teleport!” you repeat.
“Unable to teleport whilst underground,” the computer responds.
The pyrodogs continue their deadly attack. You curse as another stream of fire hits you. Flames engulf you and eat into the suit. You try to extinguish the flames, but they are too intense.
The pyrodogs sense victory and spit more streams of fire at you as you fly through the cavern, blazing like a fireball.
Go to 42.
22
The situation is getting too dangerous for you. “Teleport,” you order.
A white light envelops you and you find yourself back in the OPS room.
“Have you destroyed Vulkana?” asks QTee.
“Not yet. It was getting too hot for my liking,” you explain. “Don’t worry, I’ll head back when I’ve rearmed.”
QTee shakes his head. “Vulkana will know we are onto her and be ready for you next time. Earth will be consumed by fire…”
If you are feeling more heroic, go back to 1.
23
You fly towards the dragonmanders, avoiding the streams of flame that head your way. “Launch missiles,” you order. “Aim for their mouths. Lock on multiple targets.”
As you fly through the air, spinning and rolling to avoid the dragonmanders’ fireball attack, your weapons system fixes on.
You give the command. “Fire.”
Missiles shoot through the air, hitting the creatures and tearing into their throats. You hear a series of muffled explosions as the missiles detonate inside the creatures’ bodies. The dragonmanders instantly swell up in size as the foam expands. Before your eyes, they grow bigger and bigger and begin to drop from the sky.
Fire Storm Page 1
