H. Badger - The Gas Giant

The Gas Giant
published in 2011 by
Hardie Grant Egmont
Ground Floor, Building 1, 658 Church Street
Richmond, Victoria 3121, 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 2011 H. Badger
Illustration and design copyright 2011 Hardie Grant Egmont

EISBN 9781742737133

Cover illustration by D. Mackie
Illustrated by D. Greulich
Series design by S. Swingler
Typeset by Ektavo

Contents

Kip Kirby was standing in total darkness. He held his breath and watched as the door across the room slowly creaked open.

Then

SURPRISE! Kip shouted as the lights came on. Twelve other kids shouted with him, leaping out from hiding places all over the room.

Kips best friend Jett jumped in surprise. Then, recovering, he looked around the room and grinned at his friends.

It was Jetts 12th birthday. His parents were throwing a surprise party in their familys apartment, high on the 1,987th floor of the building.

Happy birthday! Kip said, walking over to Jett and handing him a present.

Thanks! Jett took the present and the wrapping paper automatically dissolved.

Intergalactic holographic walkie-talkies! yelled Jett.

Now we can still chat when Im out on missions, said Kip.

He knew it was a pretty cool present. Holographic walkie-talkies could be used anywhere in the entire universe. They beamed a 3D hologram of the person at the other end, so you could see and hear them.

Jetts other friends crowded around with their presents. After Jett had opened everything, his mum brought out his birthday cake. It was shaped like an Enforcerbot, a law enforcement robot. Jett was really into robots the more high-tech, the better.

Once everyone had sung happy birthday, Jett cut the cake. White fog drifted out from inside it.

Awesome, Kip said to Jett. I love VapaCream!

VapaCream was a creamy filling that turned to gas when it was released from inside a cake. Kip, Jett and all their friends chased the delicious gas around the room, trying to catch it in their mouths.

This party is awesome! Kip thought. Wish I got to hang out like this more often.

Kip was busier than most kids. On top of school, he had an important job as a Space Scout. He and 49 other Space Scouts searched the Universe for a new Earth.

It was the year 2354, and Earths population was huge. In fact, it was so huge that the planet was running out of vital supplies like water.

The Space Scouts job was to find another Earth, quickly. The future of all humans depended on it.

Kip let the last of the VapaCream drift into his mouth. Just then, the SpaceCuff on his wrist started vibrating. SpaceCuffs were powerful mini-computers that received messages, translated alien languages and played the latest games. Space Scouts depended on them during their missions.

Kips stomach lurched. Space scouting had always been an important job. Now it sounded like it was critical.

Want some Supernova? Jett asked, coming over.

Supernova was Kips all-time favourite drink. It was just like a normal fizzy drink except the bubbles were bigger than marbles, making it extra gassy.

Thanks, said Kip, gulping it down. But then I gotta go. New mission!

Do your party trick before you go! Jett begged.

Kip really wasnt in the mood, but it was his best friends birthday.

Kip let out an almighty belch. Jett cracked up laughing.

At that exact second, Jetts mum walked by with a bowl of Jupiter Juice-flavoured lollies, and accidentally bumped Kips elbow. Supernova sloshed out of the bottle and onto Kips SpaceCuff. It seeped into every cranny and dried in a sticky blotch all over the screen.

Uh-oh! Kip thought. Thats gotta be bad for the circuitry.

Oops, said Jetts mum. Sorry, Kip!

Kip told her it was OK, but inside he was worried. There wasnt time for repairs. He had to get to the Intergalactic Hoverport. But there was an emergency SpaceCuff repair kit onboard MoNa, so maybe hed be able to fix it on the way to his mission.

Gotta go, Kip said to Jett. Thanks for the awesome party.

Kip knew his best friend was disappointed, but Jett just smiled and waved goodbye. He knew how important Kips job was.

Bring me back a souvenir! he said.

Kip kept his mission gear with him at all times. He grabbed his new spaceboots from his backpack. They were electric-yellow Plan-It Suckers with retractable suction caps on the soles.

Next, Kip threw on his spacesuit over his shorts and slid his new helmet onto his head. The helmet had been delivered the day before from WorldCorp. Kip had heard a rumour from the other Space Scouts that the new helmets werent very strong.

Seems fine though, Kip shrugged, tapping the helmet. Anyway, it would just have to do. Kip had a planet to save!

Kip blasted off from the roof of Jetts building in a Universal Taxi (or UniTaxi for short). These self-piloting personal spacecraft were the perfect way to travel quickly within Earths atmosphere.

Soon Kip reached the Intergalactic Hoverport, ten kilometres above Earth. All flights beyond Earths atmosphere departed from the Hoverport. Kips starship, MoNa 4000, was docked there between missions.

MoNa was massive, and specially designed for extreme deep-space travel. She was shiny black with curved thrusters and a pointed nose, and was decked out with all the latest technology. The problem was, MoNa was also super bossy. She loved to remind Kip that he was way younger than the other Space Scouts.

Sensing Kips UniTaxi approaching, MoNas landing-bay door slid open. As the UniTaxi flew towards the starship, MoNas colour seemed to flicker.

Did I just see that? Kip said to himself, shaking his head. It looked like MoNa had turned from black to pink then back again!

The UniTaxi touched down inside MoNas landing bay. Kip jumped out and headed straight for MoNas main cabin. The air was breathable there, so Kip took off his helmet.

Kip! I am so glad youre here, said Finbar, rushing over.

Finbar was Kips second-in-command (or 2iC for short). Half-human and half-wolf, he lived aboard MoNa when he and Kip werent on missions.

MoNas been impossible since she was selected for the Flying Space Ninjas, Finbar continued in a whisper. MoNa could hear everything he and Kip said.

MoNas a Ninja? Kip asked. As if!

That would explain why MoNa had changed colour earlier, though. Ninjas had a special coat of Chameleon Paint, which had colour-change particles. Their tricks looked extra spectacular when they changed colour in mid-air.