Enemy Invasion (44 page)
Authors: A. G. Taylor
“Rachel, it’s okay,” Sarah interrupted. “There’ll always be another fight – Commander Craig taught me that. I’m not afraid. And neither are my
friends.”
“Then you’ll stay?”
Sarah glanced at the house up ahead. “I’ll want a say in how things are run.”
“You’ve got it.”
“And we don’t get involved in anything we don’t like. No taking on people over oil wells or a border on a map.”
“Fine.”
“And no more weekly meetings with counsellors.”
Rachel smiled. “So you’re in?”
Sarah looked at Daniel, who held up his hands. “It’s your decision, Sarah. How could I presume to tell the
saviour of the known universe
what to do?”
She rolled her eyes and looked back at Rachel. “Let me take a look at the place first.”
The interior of the house was exactly as you’d imagine based on the outside: wood-panelled walls, an elaborate staircase in the hall, plush carpets all round. Sarah
expected to hear her friends running around, arguing and generally tearing the place up as she entered – but the building was silent.
Searching with her mind, she sensed they were together and close by – although almost thirty metres below her feet.
It didn’t take long to find the concealed panel on the wall and the lift doors behind it.
HIDRA must have a deal with a bunch of underground builders,
she thought as she looked over
the sub-level names:
Private Suites
Swimming Pool and Gym
IMAX Cinema
Games and Recreation
Training Zone
She smiled to herself and pressed the button for
Training Zone
. The lift descended smoothly and a few seconds later the doors opened onto a massive, circular chamber. It seemed that the
others had been drawn there first as well, because they were scattered around the floor, engaged in various activities.
Wei was throwing fireballs at targets on a range…
Louise was levitating various different-sized blocks and interlocking pieces and arranging them into shapes in the air…
Hack was tinkering with the remains of their battlesuits, which were laid out in a lab area…
Octavio and Nestor were looking over a row of motorbikes, arguing over who got to ride what first…
And Alex was just standing in the middle of the area with a big, stupid grin on his face. Sensing her enter, he looked round and his grin only widened.
“So what do you think of this?” he said.
“It’s okay,” she replied, playing it cool.
Seeing that she’d arrived, the others temporarily left whatever they were doing and walked over. They all looked at her expectantly. She sensed they had made up their minds, but were
waiting for her cue.
You’re their leader,
she reminded herself.
“Okay, it’s better than all right,” she admitted, then turned and started walking back to the lift.
“Hey!” Robert called after her. “Where are you going?”
She turned to face their concerned faces as she stepped into the lift.
“Well, if we’re staying, I thought I’d better grab the biggest bedroom.”
The others exchanged glances and then scrambled madly for the doors as they closed… Sarah laughed and then closed her eyes in relief as the lift rose…
Looks like we’re home,
she thought.
A meteorite has struck earth without warning, unleashing a deadly alien virus. Thousands fall victim…but not Sarah and Robert.
Instead they develop strange side effects – psychic abilities. And that makes them a target for HIDRA, a rogue international agency determined to turn them into lab rats,
just like the other kids they’ve already captured – kids who can control fire, create storms and tear steel with their minds.
If they work together, these kids might just stand a chance against HIDRA…
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WATERSTONE’S CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE
“A heart-racing, breath-stopping thriller.”
The Bookseller
A freak virus released by a meteorite storm has given Sarah, Robert and their friends amazing superpowers. But such powers are both a blessing and a
curse...
Deadly meteorites are heading to earth, but mysterious Russian billionaire Nikolai Makarov seems gleeful. What is his secret and can the group of friends thwart his master
plan?
“Takes the reader on a nerve-wracking ride filled with…more moments of nail-biting tension than you will find in many a Hollywood action
film…”
“Brilliantly stunning sci-fi from beginning to end... A definite must-read.”
Teen Titles
About the Author
A.G. TAYLOR was born in New Zealand and grew up in East Anglia. He studied English Literature at Sheffield University and teaching at Cambridge. For the last ten years he has
worked as a teacher in England, South Korea, Poland and Australia. He currently lives in Melbourne with his partner, her whippet, his Italian greyhound and numerous computer games consoles.
