H.I. Larry - Zac Power Extreme Mission #2: Dark Tower

CONTENTS

THUMP-THUMP!

Zac Power was bouncing up and down on the back of a camel. He closed his eyes, squinting against the sand and the wind.

His grandpa was sitting in front of him, holding the reins. They were thundering over the desert, racing to get back to their invisible jet. They had to get to the next piece of IRIS, which was hidden deep in a forest called the Misty Ruins.

Theyd been riding in silence for hours. Zacs mind was racing so fast that he couldnt even open his mouth.

Hed always believed that Grandpa was GIBs best and most loyal spy. But then Grandpa had revealed a terrible secret from his past.

Years ago, Blackwood, the head of the evil BIG spy agency, had created a supergadget that was powerful enough to put whole cities into a deep sleep.

And Grandpa had helped her build it.

When Grandpa told him this, Zac was shocked into silence. Now he stared into the distance, watching the sun setting behind the dunes.

Finally, the silence got too much for him. I dont understand, he said to his grandpa. Blackwood is the most evil woman in the whole world! Shes the Commander of BIG! Why would you ever help her build something like IRIS?

That all happened a long time ago, said Grandpa. Before GIB or BIG ever existed. Things were different back then.

But

Look, kiddo, Grandpa cut in gently. Youre going to have to trust me. We have to focus on finding the rest of IRIS before Caz and Blackwood do.

Zac was so angry that he felt like exploding.But we already have one piece! They cant put IRIS back together now!

Grandpa shook his head. If Blackwood had even one piece, she could figure out how to make a new IRIS. Thats too big a risk to take. We have to get all four pieces.

Zac took a deep breath. OK.

Trust me, kiddo, said Grandpa. Were still on the same side.

Zac didnt answer. He had a thousand more questions buzzing around in his head.

But even though Zac was annoyed and wished that Grandpa would tell him the whole story, he knew deep down that he could trust Grandpa. Even if I hate being kept in the dark, he told himself.

Eventually they came to the little village where they had parked Grandpas invisible jet. Zac held on tight as the camel slowed down jerkily to a trot.

When they got there, Zac saw the tyre marks on the sand where the invisible jet was parked. And sitting next to it was another vehicle.

This new vehicle looked halfway between a helicopter and a submarine. It had twin propellers at the top and two giant floodlights on the front. It was clunky and rusty and looked about 50 years old.

CRRREEEAAAK!

Zac jumped back as a rusty door swung open and a man with a beard stepped out. Zac recognised him as Agent Cougar, one of Grandpas team from the Invisibles Department.

You found her! Grandpa grinned, staring up at the vehicle.

Yes, sir, said Agent Cougar.Pulled her out of storage just like you asked. Topped up her fuel and water, too.

This is the Searcher, said Grandpa to Zac. The first spy vehicle I ever built, back when I worked for GADGET.

Zac looked at the Searcher, wondering if it could even fly anymore.

Grandpa turned back to Agent Cougar. Thanks, he said, shaking his hand. Would you mind taking the invisible jet back to base with you?

Of course, sir, said Agent Cougar.

Zac and Grandpa climbed aboard the Searcher. It looked even older on the inside. The floor creaked under their feet. Metal pipes stuck out everywhere, and Zac had to duck to avoid hitting his head on the roof.

There was a tiny cockpit at the front of the Searcher. It had two rickety seats in front of the steering controls. Zac and Grandpa sat down and strapped themselves in.

Zac looked at the controls. No offence, he said, but why are we taking this old thing to the Misty Ruins? Wouldnt your invisible jet be better?

They dont call them the Misty Ruins for nothing, Grandpa explained. The whole forest is covered in a thick white fog. Well need the Searchers fog lights to find our way through it all.

Grandpa heaved at a huge lever on the floor between them. I know it looks old, he added loudly as the Searcher powered up, but believe me it has some very special features.

CRRREEEAAAK!

WHOOMF-WHOOMF!

The Searcher shuddered and shook and slowly lifted off the ground.

Zac gripped the controls a bit tighter than he usually would have. He wasnt completely sure that this thing was safe.

But at least were leaving the desert, he thought, trying to relax. Misty Ruins, here we come!

For several hours, the Searcher zoomed over the ocean at full speed. It turned out that the old chopper was faster than Zac had expected, even though it creaked and rattled all the way.

WHOOMF-WHOOMF!

and then, Zac told Grandpa, finishing the story hed been telling, the Turbo Boots blasted me up out of the volcano, about two seconds before the whole thing exploded!

Sounds like that was a close one! said Grandpa from the co-pilots seat. You really are becoming an amazing spy.

Just like my grandpa, Zac smiled.

He shifted in his seat. The Searcher might have been fast, but he and Grandpa had still been at the controls for ages. And even swapping stories about their missions couldnt keep them entertained forever.

Grandpa had chosen hiding places for the IRIS pieces that were as far apart as possible. That meant a lot of travel time. Four days all up, and he was only one and a half days into his most extreme mission ever.

Soon, Zac saw snow-capped mountains rising up in the distance.

The Misty Ruins are down in the valley between those mountains, said Grandpa from the co-pilots seat.

Zac looked down at the Proximity Scanning Device on his wrist, checking to see how far they were from the second piece of IRIS.

A few minutes later, Zac steered the Searcher down between two mountains. A valley stretched out below them, covered in a blanket of white mist.

Our next target is IRISs power core, Grandpa explained. Its hidden down there in an old, broken-down castle.

Zac looked out the window for some sign of Leon. Grandpa had asked Zacs brother to meet them on the way here. But there wasnt any sign of Leons flying MicroLab.

Zac guided the Searcher slowly downwards. They hit the mist and suddenly everything went white.

Grandpa flicked on the fog lights.

WHIRRRRRR!

Two enormous fans buzzed to life, blowing the mist out of the choppers path.

CLUNK!

Twin beams of bright light shot out in front of them, lighting up the Searchers way. Zac saw that they were hovering just above an enormous pine forest.

The old Searcher really is cool, thought Zac, impressed at how well he could see now.

He flew over the treetops, dodging any trees tall enough to block their path. Then Zac saw another vehicle up ahead.