The Big Freeze Read online

  SPACE™

  SCOUT

  SCOUTING THE UNIVERSE FOR A NEW EARTH

  SPACE™

  SCOUT

  THE BIG FREEZE

  BY H. BADGER

  ILLUSTRATED BY C. BENNETT AND A. MACKIE

  The Big Freeze

  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

  Series, illustration and design copyright © 2010 Hardie Grant Egmont

  Cover illustration by D. Mackie

  Illustrated by C.Bennett and A. Mackie

  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

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  CHAPTER 1

  It was the year 2354, and Kip Kirby was busy packing for a trip to space.

  ‘Got your portable meteorite detector?’ his dad asked.

  ‘Check,’ said Kip, patting his backpack.

  ‘Powdered broccoli?’

  ‘Packed it, Mum,’ Kip replied, trying not to gag.

  Kip wished his parents would relax, but that wasn’t going to happen. Not when Kip was starting work as a WorldCorp Space Scout today.

  WorldCorp was the only corporation left on Earth. It was all-powerful. WorldCorp to search for a planet hired Space Scouts to search for a planet that could become Earth 2.

  They needed a new planet because there were over a trillion people on Earth – they were running out of room!

  There were 49 Space Scouts already searching the galaxies. Every Space Scout wanted to find the perfect planet first.

  ‘I’m so proud WorldCorp picked you,’ sniffled Kip’s mum. ‘The youngest ever Space Scout!’ She took a SnotSucker from her pocket. SnotSuckers automatically sucked the snot from your nose without you needing to blow.

  Kip tried not to roll his eyes. Instead, he glanced at his pet minisaur Duke, who lay basking in the sun on the carpet. Minisaurs were knee-high brontosauruses. They were bred as pets from fossil DNA.

  WorldCorp Minisaur: Duke

  Being cold-blooded, Duke basked as often as he could. It was how he got energy.

  Scratching Duke’s scaly head, Kip gazed out of his bedroom window on the 2,342nd floor of his building.

  Earth was so crowded that apartment buildings were thousands of storeys high. There was no room for back yards or swimming pools.

  Suddenly, there was a loud beep. It was the alarm on Kip’s SpaceCuff, telling him it was time to leave.

  The SpaceCuff was an essential piece of Space Scout gear. It was a thick silver wristband, and had an in-built computer for communicating. There was even a laser pocket-knife function.

  WorldCorp SpaceCuff

  ‘I’d better go,’ Kip said to his parents, his excitement rising. After three months of Space Scout training, Kip couldn’t wait to leave Earth for his first mission.

  A nervous look crossed his mum’s face.

  FACT FILE

  NAME: KIP KIRBY

  AGE: 12 years and 3 months. This is 8 years younger than any other Space Scout. WorldCorp has made an exception because of Kirby’s impressive skills and love of risk-taking

  LOOKS: Brown hair, hazel eyes – innocent look will not threaten aliens

  INTELLIGENCE: High, but has not reached dangerous nerd level

  STRENGTH: Good genes from athletic parents

  ICE-CREAM FLAVOUR: Choc-Cicada Crunch – suggests adventurous personality

  PETS: Minisaur called Duke

  SCHOOL: 23 choir rehearsals missed – excuses show creativity and pluck

  Made with 100% biodegradable resinPAGE

  ‘I’ll be fine, Mum. I’ve got the skills I need,’ said Kip. ‘Otherwise WorldCorp wouldn’t have picked me.’

  Kip grabbed his helmet and smoothed his green spacesuit. The gleaming heat-proof suit fit him perfectly.

  Kip and his parents stepped into the lift in their apartment. The lift shot 1,158 floors to the roof of the building in 0.2 seconds. It was just enough time to see one of WorldCorp’s super-fast MicroAds on the lift’s 3D TV.

  The circular lift doors opened. A WorldCorp UniTaxi sat on a launch pad in the middle of the roof. Shaped like a jellybean, the UniTaxi was green with a clear roof. As Kip walked towards the taxi, its door automatically slid open. He hugged his parents goodbye and quickly got into the taxi before his mum got teary.

  Space Scout #50: Kip Kirby

  Time to grow up…or at least act that way, Kip thought.

  Kip was a Space Scout now. He couldn’t have his parents freaking out just because this was his first solo trip into space.

  Kip settled into the taxi, his backpack at his feet. He put on his helmet. Underneath him, the UniTaxi’s algae-powered engine purred.

  Kip checked the Intergalactic Positioning System on the UniTaxi’s trip computer.

  DESTINATION:

  Intergalactic Hoverport

  ASSIGNED TRANSPORT:

  Starship MoNa 4000

  Kip couldn’t believe he was about to take off on his first Space Scout mission. It would have been a perfect moment, except for one thing. Since Kip was younger than the other Space Scouts, WorldCorp had decided he needed a second-in-command on his missions, or a 2iC for short.

  A calm, wise and knowledgeable individual. That’s how WorldCorp had described his 2iC back in Space Scout training.

  Yuck, Kip thought. Sounds like one of my Teacherbots from school!

  CHAPTER 2

  The UniTaxi shot into the air, slamming Kip back into his seat. It was on auto-pilot, and was programmed to fly Kip to the Intergalactic Hoverport.

  The Hoverport hovered high in the sky, 10 kilometres into Earth’s atmosphere. All space-craft travelling long distances left from the Hoverport.

  All kinds of ships were docked there, mostly for short trips to Mars and Venus.

  As the UniTaxi sped away from Earth, Kip turned around to check out the view.

  He thought about the first time he’d been to space. He’d gone on a family holiday to Venus. Bit of a dud holiday, he remembered. It was too hot to take off our heat-proof spacesuits.

  All the solar system’s planets were too hot, too cold or too gassy to replace Earth. Finding another planet for humans meant searching way beyond the Milky Way galaxy. And only Space Scouts were allowed to travel that far.

  Kip turned back and looked through the UniTaxi’s windscreen. He couldn’t see them yet, but there were zillions of planets to explore out there.

  It’s a big job, Kip thought. But I’ll show WorldCorp I can do it. And I’ll prove I don’t need a 2iC!

  The UniTaxi whizzed into the Hover-port, which looked like a gigantic floating carpark.

  Kip spotted his ship, MoNa 4000. It was designed especially for high-speed, long-distance space travel.

  MoNa was glossy black and had curved thrusters. Two narrow windows glowed like eyes over her nose cone.

  Kip’s UniTaxi flew towards MoNa. A hatch slid open underneath the ship’s nose. Inside, Kip saw a landing bay.

 
Suddenly, a bossy voice sounded from Kip’s SpaceCuff.

  ‘MoNa to Kip Kirby,’ said the voice. ‘Technical issues with my landing beacon. I can’t guide your UniTaxi in to land automatically.’

  ‘That’s OK,’ said Kip, his hands shaking just a bit. ‘I’ll land it myself.’

  Stay cool, Kip told himself. Look it up in your MindFiles!

  Kip sorted through his MindFiles. These computer programs had been installed directly into his brain during Space Scout training. The files contained vital information to use on missions.

  The UniTaxi sped closer and closer to MoNa. If Kip didn’t find the right MindFile, he was going to crash!

  Essentials of Landing High-Powered Space-Craft… that sounded right.

  Kip secured his safety harness. He looked on the UniTaxi’s holographic dashboard for the Auto-Pilot Override button, pressing the first button he found.

  The space junk wipers switched on.

  Oops, wrong button, Kip thought.

  ‘Sure you’re up to this?’ asked MoNa.

  ‘One hundred per cent sure,’ Kip said, quickly pressing another button.

  This time, the screen flashed and the taxi wheels lowered.

  WorldCorp UniTaxi

  AUTO-PILOT OVERRIDE

  Now I steer towards the landing bay, he thought. Easy!

  But the UniTaxi’s steering was so heavy! Kip could hardly control it.

  The UniTaxi dipped lower.

  Crouching on his seat, Kip used all his body weight to pull the joystick up.

  The UniTaxi’s nose lifted up just in time. Kip was going to make it! The tyres skidded across the landing bay.

  Not perfect, Kip admitted. But at least my 2iC didn’t see…

  Kip’s mouth dropped open. He stared through the windscreen, goggle-eyed.

  Standing in the landing bay was a giant, walking furball.

  The creature was two metres tall with shaggy white fur, ice-blue eyes and pointed fangs.

  Cautiously, Kip stepped out of the taxi.

  ‘Welcome, Kip,’ said the creature, wagging its tail. ‘I’m Finbar, your second-in-command.’

  Kip shook Finbar’s paw.

  ‘Take off your helmet if you like,’ said Finbar. ‘MoNa’s air is safe to breathe.’

  Kip pulled his helmet off and tucked it under his arm.

  ‘I’ll show you around,’ Finbar said. ‘On the top floor, there’s the zero-gravity games room. We sleep in harnesses mounted to the wall, and –’

  ‘This is a Space Scout mission, not a holiday camp,’ snapped MoNa, her voice echoing around them.

  ‘She hears everything we say,’ Finbar whispered.

  That’s just great, Kip thought. On top of saving Earth, I’ve got a giant wolf and a nosy starship to deal with as well!

  CHAPTER 3

  ‘Your mission brief is ready,’ said MoNa. ‘Report immediately to the bridge.’

  As on all starships, MoNa’s control centre was called the bridge.

  Hang on, thought Kip, aren’t I captain of this ship?

  But Kip didn’t want to annoy MoNa so early in the mission. Even though he hated being bossed around, he followed Finbar out of the landing bay.

  Kip and Finbar walked down a glowing blue corridor. Hundreds of round portholes were set into the walls, floor and ceiling. Through them, Kip could see the black sky flecked with stars.

  MoNa had already left the Hoverport and auto-piloted out of Earth’s atmosphere. They were now in outer space.

  ‘So, why the emergency landing?’ asked Finbar as they walked. ‘MoNa’s landing beacon isn’t broken.’

  MoNa was testing me! thought Kip.

  Every door Kip and Finbar came to slid open automatically. Behind each door were more corridors heading in every direction.

  ‘How do you find your way around?’ asked Kip.

  ‘It’s easy because I’m an Animaul,’ said Finbar. ‘Part-human, part-wolf.’

  Kip stopped in his tracks. He’d heard of Animauls, of course. He’d just never been sure they really existed.

  Animauls were another WorldCorp invention. They were humans crossed with vicious animals such as wolves, pythons and crocodiles.

  The kids at school said they were created to protect Earth in case of alien invasion.

  ‘Don’t be scared,’ snorted MoNa. ‘Finbar failed Animaul basic training. He’s too friendly!’

  Finbar looked as sheepish as a giant wolf-man could. ‘I was reassigned here when you started as a Space Scout,’ he explained to Kip.

  ‘When they decided I need a 2iC,’ Kip said, scowling.

  ‘Not that WorldCorp thought you couldn’t do the job,’ Finbar said quickly. ‘They thought you’d find my wolfish sense of direction and loyalty helpful. Plus, I guard MoNa when she’s docked at the Hoverport.’

  All Space Scout starships had guards because of the expensive technology on board. Kip didn’t think a failed Animaul would make the best guard, though.

  ANIMAUL FILE

  Name: Finbar

  Species: Part-human , part-arctic wolf

  Age: 20 years (140 dog years)

  Skills: Highly developed sense of direction and smell. Vision outstanding. Great with languages

  Strengths: Calm, wise and caring

  Weaknesses: Too kind for his own good

  At least he’s not a Teacherbot, Kip decided. Anyway, Finbar was proving himself useful already. He had led them straight to the bridge.

  Finbar leant in close to the door leading to the bridge. A blue laser shot out and scanned his eye. Then the door slid open.

  The front wall of the bridge was sloping, with huge windows looking out into space. The floor was a map of the known universe that lit up when Kip stepped on it. In the middle of the room were two chairs.

  Kip and Finbar sat down. Kip raised his hand and touched the air above him.

  Instantly, Kip and Finbar’s chairs were surrounded by a blue holographic cylinder. MoNa’s controls were projected onto the cylinder.

  Kip activated the holographic controls by touching them. He’d learnt how to use the system in Space Scout training.

  ‘As you know, MoNa can fly herself for ordinary space travel,’ said Finbar. ‘But she needs you for wormholes.’

  SPACE DICTIONARY

  Wormhole: A shortcut between galaxies. Wormholes allow starships to travel billions of light years in seconds. Wormholes are dangerous. Only trained Space Scouts can fly through them safely.

  Using his paw, Finbar scribbled on a holographic writing pad in front of him. Kip read what he had written:

  Watch out! MoNa thinks

  she can do it all herself.

  Kip realised that this was the only way he could talk to Finbar without MoNa hearing. He nodded at his 2iC.

  Just then a message flashed on the holographic consol.

  DOWNLOAD MISSION BRIEF

  Kip touched the air to download the brief. It appeared on the screen.

  CLASSIFIED

  SPACE SCOUT

  KIP KIRBY

  MISSION BRIEF

  A wormhole to the Mega Meteor Galaxy has opened up. There is a planet of interest there called Eden-7.

  Eden-7 has three suns. WorldCorp scientists think the planet will be warm, sunny and good for humans.

  Your mission:

  Travel through the wormhole, confirm Eden-7’s sunny climate, and explore the planet.

  Report your findings to WorldCorp.

  Kip looked at the universe map on the floor. The wormhole was supposed to be close by. But Kip’s stomach was rumbling.

  ‘Before we get going, I might just have a squirt of BurgerMousse,’ he said.

  BurgerMousse was Kip’s favourite canned snack.

  ‘Certainly not,’ MoNa snapped. ‘My system says the wormhole’s only open for a few more minutes.’

  Just then Kip heard a loud rumble. The holographic consol flashed a message:

  auto mega-drive engaged

  MoNa leapt forward.
Light flashed. For a split second, Kip’s brain froze. His skin prickled and his hair stood on end.

  ‘As Space Scout and captain of this starship, I order you to stop,’ Kip yelled above the noise.

  MoNa laughed.

  ‘Take the controls,’ said Finbar urgently. ‘If she flies herself into the wormhole, we’re in serious trouble.’

  But it was too late. MoNa was piloting herself into the wormhole. And she was travelling at ten times the speed of light!

  CHAPTER 4

  The wormhole loomed up in the window. It was a gigantic mass of swirling clouds. Like a powerful vacuum cleaner, the wormhole sucked MoNa inside.

  Kip had the strange sensation of being turned inside out. Green, pink, red and yellow lights exploded all around.

  They were spinning. Falling. Fast!

  The holographic consol swam before Kip’s eyes. The were upside-down, but he could just make out a button that read Auto-Pilot Override.

  He touched it. A holographic steering control panel flashed up on the screen in front of his captain’s chair. He swiped expertly at the controls, swinging MoNa the right way up.

  MoNa popped out the other end of the wormhole, like a baked bean and bacon jaffle from an InstaDine vending machine. That had been waaaaay too close.

  ‘Never do that again, MoNa,’ said Kip sternly.

  Silence.

  ‘You might have more space experience than me,’ Kip said. ‘But I am captain and we’ve got to work together.’

  ‘I suppose you’re right,’ said MoNa.

  ‘And?’ said Kip.

  ‘I’m sorry,’ said MoNa. There was a pause. ‘But I still know more than you!’ she blurted out.

  Kip rolled his eyes. MoNa was impossible! But at least he’d proven she couldn’t walk all over him.

  Kip gazed out the windows in front of him. They were in a whole new galaxy, never before visited by humans.

  ‘Black sky, stars. Just like our galaxy, don’t you think?’ Kip said to Finbar.

  But Finbar’s chair was empty.

  ‘What was that?’ came Finbar’s muffled voice from under his chair.