The Trade (10 page)

‘Th-thank you,' she whimpered.

The Agent nodded. ‘All part of the service, ma'am.'

Far overhead, Van Kleiss wobbled unsteadily across the sky, away from the city and on towards the world beyond.

THWIP!

A look of surprise flashed across the face of an Evo rabbit as a tranquiliser dart buried itself in the animal's neck. It stood perfectly still for a moment, before toppling sideways onto the ground. Thirty metres away, Dr Holiday lowered the rifle.

‘Nice shooting, Doc,' said Bobo, nodding his approval.

‘You sure I can't interest you in working as a field
agent?' Six asked. ‘We could use someone who can actually hit what they're aiming at once in a while.'

‘No thanks,' said Holiday. ‘I wouldn't suit the uniform.'

‘Come on, Doc,' said Bobo, looking her up and down. ‘We all know that ain't true.'

Dr Holiday didn't reply. Instead, she lead Bobo and Agent Six across to the fallen rabbit. Rex hung limply over Six's shoulder. His faint groans were the only sign that he was still alive.

Bobo stood guard with his laser pistols while Holiday and Six propped Rex up next to the sleeping bunny. It was as large as a Great Dane dog, with metrelong ears and teeth like razors.

‘Rex, can you hear me?' asked Holiday, leaning down so her face was next to him. A low moan escaped Rex's lips, but otherwise he showed no sign of having heard. ‘Rex, you need to wake up!'

Six took hold of Rex's hands and placed them on the rabbit. ‘Up and at 'em, soldier,' he barked. ‘Or you're going to have
me
to answer to.'

One of Rex's eyes twitched. A breath hissed out from within him.

‘Maybe this ain't gonna work, after all,' Bobo admitted.

‘Wait!' whispered Holiday. ‘Something's happening. Look!'

On the mud-slicked floor of the Petting Zoo, the bunny had started to shrink. Its coarse, wiry fur was becoming softer and fluffier. Its ears were getting smaller by the second, and its teeth looked nowhere near as deadly as they did just a moment ago.

It was working – Rex was absorbing the animal's nanites!

‘That's my boy!' Bobo smirked, seeing the colour slowly return to Rex's cheeks. ‘I knew it'd work. Am I a genius or what?'

With a sudden gasp, Rex woke up. His eyed darted left and right and his nose twitched, like a rabbit sniffing for danger. Finally, he focused on Holiday. ‘Ah … what's up, Doc?' he asked, hoarsely.

Holiday hugged him. ‘Welcome back, Rex,' she said. Rex lay there, enjoying the hug, but Agent Six quickly ruined the mood.

‘You look like death, kid,' he said. ‘We'd better get you some more nanites.'

‘Where from?' Rex asked.

Six gestured around at the Petting Zoo, and at the many shapes lurking in the trees and bushes. ‘Take your pick.'

The Boogie Pack's twin engines finally gave up, and Van Kleiss bounced hard against the desert floor. He had just absorbed the nanites of a three-headed bat-like Evo, and his body now resembled a balloon filled with runny custard. It made a nasty squelching sound as he rolled down a sand dune.

‘N-need m-more nanites,' he hissed as he tried to raise himself up on his bulging legs. He concentrated, trying to summon the Punk Busters, but the mechanical legs wouldn't appear. The vast amount of new nanites he'd absorbed were interfering with his control over those he'd stolen from Rex.

Through sheer force of will, he was finally able to stand. But standing was all he could do. His legs were too heavy to lift. His feet became uncomfortably hot and he realised his immense weight was making him sink down into the sand. All of a sudden, he
found himself regretting those last hundred thousand nanites.

A vast shadow passed across him. Van Kleiss craned his blubbery neck to find the Keep hovering in the sky directly above him.

On board, a Providence lieutenant barked orders. ‘Lower a hook. Winch him up.' He peered down at the blob, slowly sinking into the desert floor below. ‘On second thoughts,' he said, ‘make that
two
hooks.'

‘H
OW YOU FEELING, KID
?' asked Bobo. It was obvious, though, that Rex was feeling
much
better than he had for a long time.

He was standing up for one thing, and smiling for another. He had cured eight different Evo animals now, and with each nanite he'd absorbed, the weakness that had been crippling him had faded.

‘I'm feeling great,' Rex said. He flexed Van Kleiss' golden claw. ‘Although this still feels kinda weird.'

‘That's only to be expected,' Agent Six said.

‘And I have an overwhelming urge to lick my own butt,' Rex added.

Six blinked. ‘OK. That one I didn't expect.'

‘Ah, it's just the animal nanites,' Bobo shrugged. ‘Happens to me all the time. I say go for it, kid.'

Agent Six shuddered. ‘I say
don't
. Ever. In fact, that's an order.'

Rex fired off a mock-salute, and almost knocked himself out in the process. He glared at his metallic
hand. ‘Man, I have
got
to get rid of this thing.'

‘Dr Holiday's gone back to the lab to work on it,' Six said. He paused, listening to a voice in his ear. ‘In fact, I believe she's making progress right now.'

The door to Holiday's lab slid open. Rex scampered in and leapt up onto the desk. Six and Bobo entered the room just behind him.

‘Down off the furniture, Rex,' Six told him.

With a jump, Rex landed on the floor beside him.

‘Good boy,' Six said. He tossed a biscuit into the air. Rex caught it in his mouth.

Dr Holiday watched them with growing amusement. ‘The animal nanites?' she asked.

‘Trust me,' said Six. ‘You do
not
want to know.'

Holiday nodded. ‘Well, thanks for coming so quickly. There's something I want to show you. Or rather, some
one
.'

She pulled away a folding screen, revealing the bulging frame of Van Kleiss. He was lying on two beds, pushed close together. His blubbery skin hung down over the sides in huge folds.

‘Whoa!' cried Rex. ‘Who ate all the nanites?'

‘Laugh all you like, Rex,' Van Kleiss hissed. ‘I still have your nanites, and you're still stuck with mine. Away from Abysus, the powers you have now are useless.' A grin spread across his puffed-up face. ‘Face it, Rex, I've won!'

‘The only thing you look like you could win is a pie-eating contest,' Rex said. He gave the villain's leg a prod. It wobbled like jelly. ‘Ugh. Seriously, Van Kleiss, you've
really
let yourself go.'

Van Kleiss turned to Dr Holiday. ‘You will take me to Purgatory and offload the nanites,' he told her. ‘You will restore me to my normal size.'

‘Oh?' said Dr Holiday. ‘And why would I go and do a thing like that?'

Van Kleiss' eyes went wide with horror. ‘You can't just leave me like this! It is Providence's duty to help Evos wherever it can. You
will
help me!'

‘No,' said Holiday.

‘
No
?'

‘That's what the lady said,' Rex grinned.

‘But … but you
can't
!'

Dr Holiday smiled. ‘Tell you what. Give Rex his
nanites back, and I'll think about helping you.'

Van Kleiss' eyes narrowed. ‘Never! You will help me because it is your duty to help me. What would White Knight say if he knew you were blackmailing a poor, helpless Evo like this?'

‘Let's ask him,' said Six, as a familiar face appeared on the lab's video screen.

‘Someone called?' asked White Knight, gruffly.

‘White Knight,' began Van Kleiss. ‘Your subordinates are refusing to help me. Dr Holiday is shirking her responsibilities and going against everything Providence stands for.'

‘Really?' asked White Knight. ‘Dr Holiday,' he said, sharply.

‘Yes, sir?'

White Knight gave her a curt nod. ‘Keep up the good work.'

The screen went dark. All eyes in the room turned to Van Kleiss.

‘Now then,' Holiday said. ‘About that transfer?'

Van Kleiss glared at them all in turn. Hatred burned behind his eyes. At last, though, he gave a sigh. ‘Fine,' he muttered. ‘Someone pass me the phone.'