Adam Brodie and the monster from the dark planet

Chapter Fifty Nine

Chapter Fifty Nine

"But before we do that," said Adam. "Let's go to the workshop. Brigitte and the Bug were making weapons for us."

"I still can't see what's better than a bow and arrow," said Malcolm.

"Yeah well times have changed since you left Sherwood."

"I don't know what Brigitte can make that will stand against the Dominator," said George in a matter of fact tone.

"George, has anyone ever told you that you are really annoying?"

"Everyone I ever met. Why?"

The three children rapidly made their way to the work shop. Brigitte was inside wearing welding goggles and a leather apron and welding gauntlets. Using an oxy acetylene torch she was working on something with the help of the Bug.

She shut off the torch and pushed up her goggles as Adam, George and Malcolm sped inside.

"We're in deep doodah," said Adam. "The Dominator has taken out all the cosmic champions. Captain Trinity is at this world's core and Matron is floating around in what looks like a steel cage."

"It doesn't snow but it's a blizzard," agreed Brigitte.

She removed the goggles and gauntlets.

"Now pay attention everyone," she said.

She handed Malcolm a batch of arrows.

"The arrows are tipped with weapons I modified from the Bug's arsenal. Half the arrows have a glass case tip armed with a percussion cap. These hold the Bug's tickle dust. The big arrow heads are bombs which will tear anything apart. To be used only on inanimate objects if you please."

She gave three metal tubes with red caps to Adam. "These are smoke grenades. Take the caps off and throw them. You only got three so use them carefully."

"What else?" said Adam.

"There's an atomic bazooka underneath the bench. You greedy pig! You're lucky to have to have those grenades." She shook her head, exasperated. "I don't know."

"There they are!" said Clifford Watt.

Clifford was at the main door to the workshop with Whitesnake's daughter and Caliban. With them were turncoat students who, seeing the writing on the wall, had decided to throw their lot in with the bad guys. They were a motely lot, some intelligent lizards, other creatures were half machine and half organic, bizarre giant amoebic entities, and strange energy beings who normally exist only in hyperspace.

Malcolm whirled around and loosed off an arrow. It sailed across the room and struck the floor near the entrance. The percussion disc on the glass head exploded and sprayed the doorway with tickle dust.

"Get back!" warned Clifford.

Clifford leapt back in time. Whitesnake and Caliban weren't so lucky and within seconds they were rolling around on the floor holding their sides, helpless with laughter. Caliban laughed like a dog might if it were capable of laughing, a mix of growls and barks and whinnies.

Malcolm loosed another arrow and it exploded near the door and a cloud of tickle dust sprang up, each tickle particle orientated itself in the air to the nearest patch of skin and sped after it, so the entire cloud chased Clifford and a number of his followers away. The amoebic and energy entities, who were in no way ticklish, stood around, a bit lost.

Malcolm shot two arrows at the steel wall several feet away. These were explosive heads and they ripped a hole in the wall. There was only one entrance in the workshop, so making a second was necessary. The children squeezed through the small hole.

Brigitte tapped Malcolm on the shoulder. "Go easy with those arrows. You don't have a lot left."

Adam removed a red cap from a grenade and threw it in the hole. Hopefully it would fill that area with smoke and create confusion.

They got out of the building holding the workshop and Adam looked around. Normally the Nexus was electric with activity with vehicles and students swarming about its wide piazza's and vehicles swooping around and about the high towers.

Now there was nothing. The Nexus looked deserted and dead.

"What do we do now?" said Brigitte.

"Now we see the principal. We're off to see the principal, the wonderful principal of the Nexus, because of the wonderful things he does. I hope!"

"He may be a she," said Brigitte. "What if she or he or it is not in?"

"Trust me, he or she or it will be at the Nexus. He or she or it will not be missing while a disaster like this is happening."

"So where do we find the principal?"

"Where we find the vice principal? Lung's chamber."

"Great," said Brigitte. "How do we get there? That chamber is at the other side of the Nexus and there are no buggies. It'll take us hours to get to it."

"You lot are blinded by science." said Adam. "Follow me."

They went to the stables.

"Have you lost your mind Adam?" said Brigitte. "You really mean to ride to the chamber on dinosaurs with the Dominator after us? That's like using wood go carts with pram wheels while sports cars are in pursuit."

"I must say the prospect defies logic," said George.

"Shut up both of you," said Adam. "Anyone who can ride, saddle up. Now would be a good time."

"No sooner said than done," said Malcolm.

Brigitte hesitated. "I can't go. I'm out of Matron's tummy pills. I'll be throwing up if I go on any of these animals."

"Not at all," said George. "You may not be aware of this but all cartoon characters are capable of super hypnosis. I can hypnotize you into not suffering from travel sickness."

"I don't believe you," said Brigitte.

"Brigitte, let him do his voodoo," said Adam.

"No voodoo," said George. "Brigitte, look at me. Look at my eyes."

Brigitte did so and Adam saw red rings appear in George's eyes moving from the outermost part of the eyes and sweeping into the pupils, one after the other in rapid succession. Brigitte stood in a trance.

The rings in George's eyes vanished and Brigitte blinked.

"Go on then," she said.

"I've done it," said George. "You will never suffer from travel sickness again."

"This I got to see," said Brigitte.

She saddled and bridled a dinosaur. Adam sought out Apache and put a saddle and bridal on her. The Bug found his mount. George was not capable of mounting any animal in this three dimensional world.

"Should we put on helmets?" said Brigitte. "And protective gear?"

Clifford appeared at one of the entrances. He jabbed a gloved finger at them.

"They're here!"

"No," cried Adam. "We ride!"

They all set their mounts in motion and galloped out of the stables.