Chapter One: Holidays!

“Master! Master! Wake up! It's holidays!” shouted Snowball, who was Paul's robotic dog. Paul woke with a jump.
“Be quiet Snowball! It's only 6:30!” said Paul sleepily. Paul Anderson was 12. He loved robotics and building. When he could, Paul and his friends, the Gadget Gizmos, got together and designed, built and programmed mini devices that would help them or other people. Just then, Danion woke up. He stretched and bounded up to Paul to say good morning. Danion was a lovely golden Cocker Spaniel that Paul shared with his sister.
“Good morning boy,” said Paul patting him. After that Danion raced off into the next room to wake Lily up. Paul Got dressed and tidied his room. Suddenly a noise came from the wardrobe. The door opened and his sister came out.
“Good morning.”
“Good morning. That wardrobe is fun isn't it?” she said. Paul nodded.
 “Hey, it's holidays today isn't it?” she asked. Paul nodded again.
“YES!” said Lily running out his room.
“Master, what's for breakfast?” asked Snowball trying to make a sound like his tummy rumbling.
“How about dog biscuits?” suggested Paul.
“No! You always give me them.”
“But they're good for you.”
“I hate them!”
“How about pancakes then?”
“OH YES!” said Snowball rushing out the door as well. “I'll light the stove!”
“Snowball!” Paul shouted after him. “You will not light the stove! Remember last time you did your tail caught fire!”

After breakfast Paul and Lily took Danion for a walk.
“A Walk! A Walk! A Walk!” shouted Snowball running around the room.
“Snowball! If you aren’t good today, you’ll get dog biscuits tomorrow,” said Paul sternly. They walked down to the river. Danion leapt straight in, while Paul and Lily hopped across some stepping stones. After that they walked to the park.

When they got home Paul asked his mother if he could invite some of his friends over.
    “We can have a few friends over this afternoon, Mum's going shopping,” said Paul.     
“Snowball, can you ask our cousins, Jazz, Jodi, and...um...Cell if they can come? Say around, 1:30.”
“Yes, Master,” replied Snowball.

Chapter Two: A Fun Afternoon and a Nasty Shock.

 At 1:25 Comet and Kodi arrived, Paul saw them walk up the garden path and sent Snowball to let them in. When everyone had eventually arrived, they went upstairs to the lounge room. Snowball sat in his basket next to Paul, while Danion lay down on Paul's lap. Lily brought in some cake and biscuits which Kodi had brought. She had just put them on the lounge table when something caught her eye out the window. She looked up in surprise.
“What’s that?!”
“What?” Lily pointed out the window. Everyone looked. A HUGE column of black smoke was rising up from somewhere from a few streets away! Orange glowing bits could be seen in the cloud. The column kept on growing higher before suddenly spreading outwards. Then the cloud of smoke surrounded the house, no one could see anything out the window. When it cleared, everyone could see bits of glass and metal on the lawn and even on the road!
“Master! Master! Did you see that?!” said Snowball running out from behind the couch.
“WHAT was that?!?” said Jodi peering down on the lawn.
“Paul continued to stare out the window. Then he realised what had just happened.
“THE POWER STATION!” he yelled sprinting out the door. Everyone else followed. They ran to the hover park and jumped on their sand speeders.
Soon they were all standing on top of a hill which ran down to the power station. There was not much to see. There was a giant black patch surrounded by piles and piles of rubble. Fire speeders were just leaving and police speeders were parked here and there. There was some cleaning machines were there as well.
“Only a dome blew up,” said Kodi.
“Only a dome! ” said Copper “It's more than just a dome, it's a massive structure designed to hold a massive amount of power.”
“Ok! Ok,  it's just I thought the whole station had blown up by the size of that eruption.
“Yes, you nearly scared me off the couch when you yelled in my ear, Paul,” said Jazz.
“There's not much left of it,” said Cell.
“I wonder how it exploded?” said Kodi. One of the Policemen called out to them from down below.
“Is that you Master Paul?”
“Oh, Hi inspector!” replied Paul jogging down to see him. Paul shook hands and called the others down. The chief knew them all, and he admired their ability to create nearly any robot. He really liked the robot animals. They inspector came up the hill and sat on a park bench next to them.
“How's everyone?” he asked.
“A bit shaken.”
“Really?”
“Yes, that explosion hit our house.
“Really?!? They told me it was huge, but to hit your house! That would be scary.”
“You don't know how it happened do you?” asked Paul.
“No, there's no clues, or anything. It just went BOOM.”
“Ok, well we must be off now, bye.”
“Wait, I just want to get a pic,” said Cell, who loved photographing things. He got his MC (Mini Camera) out of his pocket and snapped a picture. The inspector grinned.
“Useful little thing that. Well, see you, bye.” They went back home.
“It's a bit of a Mystery,” said Comet. “But maybe it was just an accident.”
“Why aren't any lights or things on?” asked Kodi as they entered the house.
“There's been a blackout,” said Copper.
“A What? ”
“A Blackout. It called that when there's no power.”
“Why do they happen?” asked Kodi. “They don't normally happen.”
“Of course not. The Power Station normally supplies its power.
“Paul, why did it blow up?” Kodi asked. Paul didn't reply.
“I don't think he knows,” Snowball whispered to Kodi.
“I heard that! No I don't know but I'll try to find out,” said Paul.
“Paul, the police don't even know, how can you find out?”
“I don't know but still, I'll try.” he said going up the stairs.
“Where are you going?” asked Copper.
“To start up the generator,” Paul replied, and went out the room. Copper looked at the others.
“Come on, I've seen him do this before, it's cool!”

Chapter Three: Down in the Secret Passage

One by one they went down the corridor next to the lounge and stopped at the end.
“Where does this lead?” asked Kodi.
“To the generator,” said Snowball before anyone else could get a word in. “Isn't that what you said Master?”
“Yes.”
“See,” said Snowball. Paul opened a cupboard and slid back a hatch in the roof of it. He pressed some buttons and did something with a lever. There was a click and the back slid sideways.
“I can't see a thing!” said Kodi, straining her eyes and trying to see something in the blackness. Paul got out his Power pole and switched it to the glow function. Everyone else did the same. Copper who was excellent in gymnastics wanted to see what it would be like to walk on his hands in the dark. He put the glowing handle in between his feet and flipped onto his hands. Then he whispered something to his robotic mouse.
“Claw, can you climb onto my feet and hold my glow stick for me?” The mouse obeyed him and climbed out of Copper's pocket, and onto his feet. He had seen Copper fighting and tried to do some of the moves he did. But something didn't seem right. Something had been sticking out of the handle when his master was fighting. Something green. Then he remembered there were buttons on the handle. He played around with them for a bit. Mean while Copper had come to a few stairs and had to go slower down them. Suddenly a green blade of a power pole appeared in the air. It gave the little mouse such a scare that it dropped it and fell off Copper's feet! As for poor Copper he got such a fright that he lost his balance and fell down the rest of the stairway!
“Claw!” shouted Copper rubbing his leg.
“Nearly there,” said Paul. Snowball ran in front and told everyone to follow him.
“I know the way better than anyone else, don't I Master, Master?” He looked back and found no one there. Then he realized he had taken a wrong tunnel and caught up to the others.
    “Here we are,” said Paul, entering a room. Immediately a light flickered on.     
    “The roof looks like tiles,” said Cell.
     “They're paving stones.”
    “You mean we're under the pergola?” asked Kodi.
    “Yup, you can see the water shooting up the column over there, if you look closely you can see where it comes out the fountain.”  Everyone stopped staring at the clear column and looked over to where Paul was. He was standing in front of a wall which was curved inwards and had white tiles all along it. Where one tile should have been there was an ETS (Electronic Touch Screen), and below it there were six or seven buttons. A few tiles across from the ETS there was a sheet of glass, no one could see beyond the glass because it was pitch black. Paul pressed one of the black buttons and a light came on in the dark room behind the glass. Everyone had a look.
“What is it?” asked Cell. “It looks like a ball of wires.”
“It's th...”
    “Look!” shouted Kodi “I can see a power crystal!” Paul typed the code to start up the generator.
“Master.”
“Yes Snowball?”
“Can I push the activate button?” Paul rolled his eyes.
“Yes Snowball,” said Paul. Snowball put his paws up on the wall and pushed the button with his nose.
“Generator activating,” said a computer voice. Everyone peered through the glass, a white light could be seen through the gaps between the wires. A quiet hum had begun and had been growing louder every second.
Everyone saw a small spark strike the power crystal. Then, almost too fast for the eye to see, violent flashes of light lit up the whole room! Red, blue, green, yellow, and orange light continuously ran around behind the glass panel. It was a whole ten seconds before anyone said anything. They were all staring and the immense brightness of the light.
“Has anyone got anything better to do than stare?” asked Snowball.
“No,” said Kodi as a green wave of light lit up the room.
“Well then, I'll just go check out the pantry. Come on Danion, beat you!”
“NO! Snowball! Stop!” shouted Paul and ran after him.

Chapter Four: In the Club House.

He caught Snowball round the corner.
“All right! All right! Master, it was just a joke. Seriously, you humans can do something boring for ages.”
“Paul, can we go soon? Claw is getting tired of being in here.”
“Yes, we can go now. Let’s take a back way out.” Paul took them past the generator and around a corner.
“It's a dead end,” said Kodi.
“Watch and learn Kodi,” said Paul walking to a panel on the wall. He opened a hatch and stuck his arm right down a hand shaped hole. He put his hand on a screen at the end of the hole, suddenly everyone jumped as a loud BEEP! Entered the air and the 'dead end' as Kodi called it disappeared.
“Cool a holographic image!” said Copper, continuing down the tunnel. Suddenly the tunnel forked into two and Paul took the left one. Then the tunnel ended all of a sudden, in the wall in front of them was the beginning of a slide and a screen higher up. It lit up when Paul turned it on and showed a green tick. Paul told them that there was a small drop at the bottom onto a mat. If you went down too soon, you might land on the person that had just gone down. So you had to wait till the screen showed a green tick. First Lily and Kodi went down then Cell then Paul. Snowball suddenly realized that Paul wasn't there.
“Where's Master?” Snowball asked.
“He’s just gone down the slide,” said Comet.
“MASTER! Wait for me!” Snowball shouted down the slide.
“Snowball! Paul told us to wait! You might land on him!”
“That warning was for you humans. I won't land on Paul, I'll be extra careful.” And before the four remaining boys could do anything Snowball had dived headlong down the slide. Unfortunately he landed plop right on Paul's head as he was getting off the mat. And the four boys up the slide heard a shout...
“Oww! Snowball!” Copper rolled his eyes. Soon everyone but Jazz was down.
“Here I come!” he called and shot out faster than anyone else. “Whoa! Who greased the slide?!”
“Probably Paul,” said Snowball watching Danion chase his tail. Comet walked over to the edge of the room which looked down to the games room below. He saw that there was a mat directly in line with where he was standing. With the help of the safety rail he did a somersault and landed on his tummy on the mat below.
“Hup-Ooof! Paul can't you make your mats a bit softer?” he asked rubbing his tummy.
“Can we have a few more gymnastic lessons soon, Paul?” asked Kodi.
“We might be able to have one this week,” said Paul sitting down desk with a built in computer. Kodi daydreamed, or more like day acted some tricks and moves she had learnt. She ran up, flipped onto her hands and vaulted herself on to the safety railing. Kodi was one of the masters at balancing. Paul's mother used to be a gymnast. She agreed to let them store her gym equipment in a room in the clubhouse. Paul's mother had taught him and Lily gymnastics, Paul was very good. Lily could do some of the things Paul and the others couldn't do. Such as the splits. Paul's cousin Copper was good at gymnastics too. They taught everyone else except for Lily, until everyone was quite good.
“Hey everyone listen! I've found out why the power went out!” Everyone looked at Paul.
“Really?” said Comet poking his head over the safety rail.
“Yes, when it...the dome, blew up the power in it was directed to the other two domes. They both had too much to carry and it overloaded!”
“An overload! That has only happened once before!” said Copper. “Last year wasn't it?” Snowball nodded.
“How?” asked Jodi.
“Something went wrong with the main power cycle. Power goes through the crystal and gets multiplied by three. Then it goes through the power splitter. It's a machine that gives two thirds of the power to the city and one third to go back through the crystal. Anyway, something went wrong with it and it suddenly directed all the power to the crystal. The power got...Owww! Scuffle! You landed on my foot!”
“Sorry, Master Copper.”
“Let's go out now,” said Paul before Copper could start teaching history again. There were two rooms in the clubhouse. There was a games room and a control room. They let Cell choose one of the many exits. After a few seconds of thinking chose the one that led to the tree house. Everyone slid down the ladder from the control room, down to the games room below. Then they went to a vent in the wall. Paul slid it sideways and pulled a handle sticking out. A small door opened, and one by one they climbed through. They were in a small room with a shaft going up inside the roof.  When Jodi (who was first) came to the top, he opened a hatch in the roof. Climbing out of the hole, stood up, and found himself in Paul's tree house! He grabbed a handle hanging from a wire rope in front of him, took a step forward and the ground fell out beneath him!  He shot along the wire hanging on to the handles. He shot along the wire, whizzing over bushes. Suddenly he shot straight into the middle of a bush. Jodi let go of the handles and stood up. The bush he was in was hollow! In front of him was a sign saying PUSH with an arrow pointing to the wall of the bush. He pushed the leaves aside and crawled through the hole. He stood up, and found he was standing on the lawn just outside Paul's house! He turned around and  saw Comet crawling out the hole in the bush. Then Kodi and Lily came. Then Jazz, then Cell, and Paul and Copper came last.
    “Fresh air at last!” said Kodi stretching. Just then Paul's mum came out of the house.
    “Paul, does Snowball have to tear in and out of the house at a hundred kilometres an hour?” Snowball appeared and nodded his head.
    “Yes I do!” said the dog prancing around.
    “Snowball...um...Mum, can we go to the park?”
    “Yes. But be back by 4:30.”

Chapter Five: Inside an explosion!!!

    Half an hour later everyone was playing at Cynor Park.
“AAHH!” screamed Lily as Cell (Who was 'it' in that game of chasy ) ran out from behind a bush. He ran down the hill wildly chasing whoever was closest.
“PHEW!” said Paul rubbing his forehead. “I'm hot!”
“Naturally Master, it's 32 degrees and you've been running around!”
    “I'll go get some Fruit blocks,” said Paul jumping up. “Snowball, make a list of what everyone wants then come with me.” Paul set off down the hill. Soon he saw a fork in the path and he noticed a sign saying TO THE POWER STATION.
    Just then he heard Snowball running up behind him and barking. But it wasn't Snowball's usual mood, he looked angry and he was growling. He raced right past Paul and ran down the path to the power station!
“GGGGRRRR! RUFF! RUPP! RUPP! RUPP! RUPP! GGGGRRRR! Paul broke off into a sprint and tore after Him.
“Snowball! Here boy! What's the matter!” Suddenly Snowball stopped for a second looking puzzled. Then he yelped and tore twice as fast in the opposite direction.
“SNOWBALL! STOP!”
“NO! YOU RUN!!!”
“WHY?!?”
“I'VE LOCATED A MAGNETIC ELECTRODE BOMB WITHIN 100m AND IT'S GOING TO GO OF IN 10 SECONDS!!!”
Ten seconds! Paul sprinted back up the path as fast as he could, he put his fingers to his mouth and gave an ear piercing whistle. He only gave this whistle when there was great danger. It could be heard a km away. And so of course the others heard it. Paul could see the park gate when a gigantic roar sounded behind him! And then a massive shock wave shot out from the bottom of the dome. Just before the shock wave reached him the rest of the dome exploded. With one mighty BOOM glass, metal and steel flew across the sky. Paul saw the shock wave approaching him. It was whipping up trees and bushes. He put his fingers to his mouth and made a curious noise like a horn though as loud as the whistle before. This meant that HE was in great danger. Then he was picked up by the heat wave and became unconscious. Jodi was playing on the mega play ground at the bottom of the hill when he heard both noises. He leapt to a pole which went straight down to the ground. He was just about to slide down it when the ground beneath him was covered with a gigantic heat wave mixed with clouds of dust. Terrified he grabbed the top off the pole and clung to it with all his might. The others who were on top of the hill were just as scared, the heat wave surrounded the hill and began coming up it. Fortunately it didn't come all the way up and it soon went down again. Then Danion remembered Paul was down there somewhere down in those clouds. He tore off down the hill. Everyone else followed shouting...
“PAUL! WHERE ARE YOU!?! PAUL!” Danion was the first to find Paul. He was lying on the remains of a path under a few planks and lots of dirt.
“UUUURRRR” he howled licking Paul.

When Paul woke up he was lying on the grass with Danion and Snowball licking him and Copper kneeling beside him.
“What happened?” he asked.
“I'll tell you when you're able to get up,” replied Copper. Soon Paul managed to get up, he went over and sat on a park bench.
“What exploded?” asked Paul.
“It was another of the power domes. Look, see for yourself.” Everybody looked down the hill and saw rubble everywhere. Amongst all the rubble they saw the remains of a glass circle jutting up from the ground.
“I think I got part of it on my MC,” said Cell. Everyone crowded around and looked at Cell's camera.
“Wow! We've got something to show at next show'n'tell,” said Kodi.
“Has anyone seen Danion?” asked Snowball walking up the hill. “I saw him run off and he hasn't come back.”
“He'll find his way back,” said Lily. They waited a few minutes. No Danion came. Lily began to get worried.
“He might have hurt himself on some glass or something,” she said anxiously.  
“Don't worry, I'm sure Paul knows how to find him.” Everyone looked a Paul.
“I put a locater in his collar last year,” he said.
“I've already checked that and there isn't any signal anywhere in the surrounding 90km,” said Snowball.
“I'm going to look for him myself.”
     “Oh, look! There he is!”
“Comet! Don't tease her!”
“I'm NOT teasing her! LOOK!”
Everyone looked down the hill, amongst the dust they saw Danion, running up towards them.
“DANION!” shouted everyone.
    “Where have you been boy?” asked Paul. Danion went right up to Paul and dropped something into his lap.
    “What's that?” asked Kodi.
    “A key,” replied Paul.
    “I can see that. What is...where is it...who is it from?”
    “I don't know. But I could put it through my, or actually, our elementroscope and try and find something.” Soon they all went home.
    “Paul, what happened to the locater in Danion's collar?” asked Lily as they were walking home.
    “I'm not sure. I'll check when we get home.”

    When they got home Lily wrote what had happened that afternoon in her CD and Paul checked Danion's collar and found it had just got a wire loose. Cell also sent them a copy of the movie off his MC. When Paul's father got home that night Paul told his parents about the explosion. They were very worried. They asked if he was hurt, but apart from a few scrapes and bruises he was ok. After tea Paul and Lily let Danion (Snowball had already started his 'sleep' time) into their laboratory. There they tested the key that Danion had found for clues.
    “I can't find anything here,” said Paul, looking through the elementroscope.
    “RUPP, RUPP, RUPP!” Danion was barking. He put his paws up on a poster.
    “What's up boy? Stop barking it's just a poster.” But Danion wouldn't stop barking. Paul came over to the poster. It was a poster with pictures of a hover car race. Three years ago a company called Celix Corporation had secretly stolen the plans for a supersonic racing hover car called the 'RACER-X'.

Chapter Six: A mysterious find.

     Danion gave up on trying to use the poster to explain to Paul where the key came from. Instead he waited till Paul wasn't looking, then he snuck the key off the bench and hid it in his basket. Paul wouldn't mind, he thought, after all, it was his clue. Paul was trying to set his elementroscope when Danion took the key. When he had set it he reached for the key, but he couldn't feel it. He took his eyes of the lens and looked around puzzled.
    “Have you seen the key, Lil?”
    “No, you said you would look after it.”
    “I put it just here on the bench.” Paul spent the next ten minutes looking for the key. Then from behind the door he heard his mother call.  
    “Children! Time for bed!”
    “I forgot our bedtime was so soon,” said Paul disappointed.

    Next morning Danion acted as if he still wanted to show Paul something. He kept on barking, and then running out the door, then turning back to see if Paul was coming. He pushed a chair up to where his lead was hanging and finally succeeded in pushing his lead of its hook. He brought it to Paul.
    “Danion it's too early for a walk, and for the five hundredth time, STOP barking!”
    Danion suddenly had an idea. He had seen Paul use a key for his hover bike; he brought the key to Paul.
    “LIL! Danion's found the key!” Danion suddenly raced off to the garage. Paul ran after him.  Danion was jumping up at the key hole. Then Paul realized that Danion wanted to show him where the key came from! He ran back to the dining room, snatched up the lead and called to Danion.
    “Danion! Walk time!”
    As soon as the lead was around Danion's neck. He tore out the door and down the path pulling Paul with him.
    “Slow down Danion!” said Paul panting. When they got to the Cynor's park gate Danion ran straight thought it and finally slowed down to go carefully through the remaining glass and metal of the fried power dome. Danion took Paul to the Power Station's Hover park. He pulled the lead out of Paul's hand and jumped straight into a cream coloured hover car.
    “Danion! Hop out, that's not our car!” said Paul. Danion managed to push a button with his nose before jumping out.
    “Danion!” Paul ran up to his dog and picked him up. But when he turned to look at the car he got a great shock. The cream colour disappeared to reveal a brightly shining racer-x!
     “Wow! Who does this belong to?”
    “RUPP, RUFF!” barked Danion. Paul knelt down and found two words written on it. It said Celix Corporation. The Celix Corporation! Why where they here? They were the bad corporation who stole the plans for the first Racer-X. Paul stood up and stared at the car. Suddenly Danion started to growl.
    “HEY! You! Stop!” said a voice from behind him. Paul swung around and found three men behind him.
    “Come with us,” ordered the tallest man. Paul was made to walk across the hover park towards the building. One of the men tripped on a stone and stumbled behind a bit revealing a gap between two of the men. Paul's saw his chance and sprinted out of the middle. The tallest man held out his hand trying to catch Paul, but Danion took a flying leap and bit the man's wrist.
    “Ooww! Stop!” Paul crouched behind a big pile of stones and whipped out his communicator. A few seconds later Copper's face appeared on the screen and another second later the screen split into three and Comet and Cell's faces appeared.
    “Hi, listen carefully. I'm in Power Station’s hover park. Danion pulled me here to show me where that key came from. I found a disguised Racer-X with Celix Corporation written on the side. But...” He heard a terrifying noise. Like a mix between the sound of electricity and the sound of a stick whipping through the air.
    “DANION!” shouted Paul. “Oops.” Paul pulled a sheet of metal over the pile of rubble that he was hiding behind, and hoped that the men would go straight past him.    
“Paul?”
    “Sorry, Three men appeared from no somewhere and are trying to capture me, I don’t know why.”
    “You want us to come and help you, right? ”
    “That would be nice.”
    “Ok we’ll come straight away. See you soon.”
    “Aha! Here he is!” One man grabbed Paul's hands and held them behind his back.
    “You won't get away that easily again.” The tallest man signalled to the other two, and they pulled out two shock guns. Paul was led inside an office in the power station.
    “Are you from the Celix Corporation?” asked Paul.
    “Enough! I'll ask the questions!” snapped the man.
    “What where you doing to that car?” he asked.
    “Nothing, my dog led me there,” said Paul truthfully.
    “Don't make up tales like that!”
    “I'm not!” said Paul angrily. “Let me go!”
    “No not until I know the truth.
    “What is your name?”
    “Paul Anderson.”
    “Thank you, I’ll take note.”
    “Don’t see why you have to.”
    “Quiet! Tell me what you were doing or be Quiet!”
    “I’m not telling you anything, and I won’t be quiet!” The man signalled to the other two men.
    “Lock him up. I figure he knows something and may cause some damage if we let him go.”
    No matter how much Paul kicked and squirmed he could not get free of the two men's grip. They tied him up in a room with only a desk and a book shelf with a few books on it.
    “YOU CAN'T KEEP ME LOCKED IN HERE!” Paul shouted at the men as they went out the room. “Hey! Beasts! Leave me a light!” He couldn't even see his power pole.
                                                                   
CRASH!!!

 The window outside in the corridor shattered. Paul heard a voice and barking!
    “Have you any idea where he is?”
    “WOOF, WOOF, RUFF.” he could heard something scratching on the door on the other side.
    “COPPER! CELL! COMET! I'M HERE!” Paul shouted at the top of his voice. A few seconds later a big bit of the door was cut out and forced inside by a powerful foot.
    “Paul! Are you in there?”
    “Yes, I'm here. Quickly!”
    Danion came running in followed by the three boys.
    “Danion, bite through these ropes.” Soon Paul was free.
    “Thanks guys.” They went out the narrow opening in the door. But it was quite the wrong time to come out for a group of about 15 armed security droids were walking towards them. Comet spotted Celix Corporation written in small letters on the right arm of each droid.
    “Oh, Oh, this is not good,” said Copper activating his Power Pole.

Chapter Seven: A small battle and a possible solution.

    The security droids surrounded the four boys. One picked Paul up, but he reached back, grabbed its head and flung the droid at another. Then the droids grabbed their shock guns and aimed at them. The children had to defend themselves or they would be hit by the shock bullets and be stunned. Copper could be fierce when he had to be. He used every muscle in his body and was quite fascinating to watch. Especially when robots were involved. Paul was fast, he would do a weird move with his weapon and usually disarm or destroy his opponent before it noticed. Cell, who loved fighting, invented his own tricks at home and some of them came in quite handy. Such as the circular shield or the side strike. Comet did a lot of sports and was quite good at them. Swimming and soccer had built up the muscles in his legs so strong he could send an object flying with hardly any effort at all. Paul knocked a sparking droid over with his shoulder and then turned to see how the others were doing. Copper and Comet were just stopping, and Cell was fighting the last one. He was just doing the circular shield trick. The others watched in amazement as his power pole spun too fast for the eye to see. The blade spun so fast it acted like a circular shield. The droid aimed his shock gun at him and fired. But the blade absorbed it as it touched the circle. Cell then ducked and gave the droid a side strike, knocking the robot over and destroying it instantly.
    “Phew! I'm exhausted,” said Copper.
    “Then I suggest we get out of here before someone raises the alarm.”
    “Good idea,” muttered Comet. Paul explained what had happened to the others as they walked home.
    “I was a bit puzzled when you called me, Paul,” said Copper.
    “I didn't believe you at first when you said something about a shock gun,” said Comet.
    “I've been thinking, you know, about the explosion.” said Cell, “When it blew up Snowball shouted out that he detected a Magnetic electrode bomb. That is a very rare and powerful bomb you know. And they can be very tiny. I know that because my dad and I once did a project about bombs and since my dad does engineering he tried to build one. The substance that explodes is called Magnota, which can only be found on the planet Celix. My dad bought some...” The other three boys stopped. “What?”
    “The Celix Corporation is on the Planet Celix, isn't it?” Copper nodded. “They must be building bombs and blowing up the domes,” said Paul.
    “I suppose they might be.” said Copper.
    “Well we know that they are definitely here. I mean the Racer X and the G droids all had Celix Corporation written on them.”
    “They must want something that exists on Kosiuskan,” said Cell. Paul stopped again.
    “Of course they do,” he said after a moment. “They want power crystals.”
    “Oh yes! Why didn’t I think of that,” said Copper. “But why on earth blow up power domes?”
    “Well, they’ve got the biggest crystals we know, hasn’t it?” said Comet. They arrived at Paul's house greeted by an over-excited Snowball.
    “Let's meet tomorrow at your house, Copper, if that's alright with your mum of course.” Copper nodded.
    “Yes, that will probably be ok.”
    “Alright then see you tomorrow.” The other boys went home. And Paul told Lily about the afternoon.
    “You might have let me come,” she said, annoyed to have missed out on all the excitement.
    “Lily, it wasn't necessary. There dangerous droids that were trying to capture us! Really, it was dangerous!”  

    The next morning at 10:30, the eight children, Danion, and the robot animals all met at Copper's house. The robots were playing 'I Spy' in the corner of the room. It was Snowball's turn.
    “I spy with my robotic eye, something that starts with S,” he said.
    “Let me guess,” said Claw. “Snowball? And let me guess the next one, Snowball?” Snowball's mouth dropped open.
    “Wow, you're smart.”
    “My turn!” said Claw. “I spy with my eye two words that start with S and P.”
    “Snowball and Paul?” said Scuffle.
    “Sizzling Pork-chops?”said Snowball dreamily.
    “Scratch and Pull?” said Shadow.
    “Slide and Poison?” said Slither.
    “Cell’s Photos?” said Shadow.
    “Cell begins with C not S,” said Creeper.
    “It's a body part,” explained Claw.
    “Slither's Poison?” said Arrow.
    “Um....”
    “Give up?” said Claw.
    “Yes,” said everyone.
    “Snowball's Paw!” said the mouse.
    “You win,” said everybody.
    “I do,” said Claw. Meanwhile the children were discussing what to do. In the end everyone decided to go to Copper's Dome. It was more than any ordinary programming dome. Each panel that made up the dome was actually a big screen. When he was programming he could type, and as he did more lines, the text went up the screen he was typing on, and on to the one above it and so on. If he did enough text it would go right up to the roof and come down, upside down, on the screen opposite the one he was typing on. Copper also had the coolest 3-D model of Coyote City. It showed everything that was going on in it. They played around a bit with it and Copper eventually succeeded in getting the model to play what had happened two days ago when the dome blew up. Then they played Cell's movie on a screen. On the second time that they played it, Lily's sharp eyes caught sight of something flying out the screen.
    “Hey! What's that?” she asked.
    “What's what?” said Copper.
    “Play it again slowly.” Copper did.
    “This time everyone saw something fly off, out of the screen. Copper went back a few duple-frames.
    “What is it?” asked Kodi. Copper and Paul glanced at each other. They both knew what it was.
    “What is it?” repeated Kodi.
    “Don't you know its shape?” asked Copper.
    “No.”
    “Is it...um...” said Jazz trying to make out the shape. “Is it... no I mean, it's the crystal, isn't it? The power crystal.”
    “Yes, that's it.”
    “Really?” asked Cell. Paul nodded.
    “Where did it land?” asked Jodi.
    “That's good question.”
    “Let's hunt for it!” said Kodi.
    “Well...we'll at least have to get an idea where-abouts it is,” said Paul.
    “Well it is probably in the desert somewhere,” said Copper. “At least.”
    “Let's play the 3-D model again,” said Comet. “To see if we can find a brief direction.” They did and found an object fly out of the dome in a north east east direction.
    “Maybe Arrow could come in handy,” said Cell. Paul nodded.
    “Yes, I think he would.”
    “I'll go get him,” said Cell. Copper opened the dome door and Cell whistled. Arrow came swooping through the door way and perched on Cell's arm.
    “Arrow, listen carefully.” Cell told him what to do. The other robots came in to the dome to see why Arrow was taking so long. They too were told what was happening.
    “I see,” said Snowball. After a few minutes of doing things on a screen, Copper made two eye shaped holes appeared in the middle of blackness. Kodi looked over Copper’s shoulder.
    “I can see myself,” she said.
    “Yes, you’re looking from Arrow’s eyes,” said Copper. “Alright you can send Arrow now.” Copper had set his radar to track where Arrow was.
    “Alright, go Arrow, go!” said Cell. Arrow flew out the door.

Chapter Eight: Hunt for the crystal.

Every one watched Copper's screen as the buildings flew past in the eye shaped holes. On the screen above a map showed a red cross slowly move out of Coyote City and on to the vast desert. After five minutes Cell's little message receiver crackled and Arrow's voice said.
    “Master, I've spotted a light green coloured thing in the distance. I'll fly closer.” Everyone looked closer at the screen below the map. Through the left one everyone saw a green shape gradually getting closer. When Arrow got close enough he circled it.
    “Is this what you’re looking for, Master?”
    “Yes, I suppose it is, good job Arrow,” said Cell.
    “Thank you Master, I’ll guard it for you.”  The eagle swooped down and perched on it, looking all around.
    “What should we do now?” asked Cell.
    “I guess we had better go and see it,” said Paul.
    “Hurry up, Master.”  said Arrow. “I’m getting hot!”  Everyone Packed a snack and plenty of water. Then they set off. They went on the Mega Road and then took an off ramp and turned into the desert. Soon they saw Arrow circling in the distance.
They zoomed up to him and saw the crystal which was almost as big as a exercise ball!
    “Master! I thought you'd  never get here!” said Arrow.
    “Very funny,” muttered Cell.
    “Wow! It’s bigger than I expected!” said Jodi. All the robotic animals jumped out of the storage compartments in the sand speeders and inquired excitedly about the crystal.
    “Is it heavy?” asked Jazz.
    “I don’t know,” said Comet. “It looks heavy though.” Paul and Copper tried to lift it. They managed together to pick it up.
    “It is  heavy!” said Paul. “Certainly too heavy for one person to lift.” Just then they heard a noise somewhere in the distance. Everyone saw a cloud of dust on the horizon.
    “Speeders,” muttered Claw. Everyone stared at the cloud and realised what was happening.
    “I should have known that they would come here, to collect this bulk of a crystal.” said Paul getting his power pole out of his pocket.
    “Who?” asked Kodi.
    “Who do you think,” said Comet. Just then bullets rained out of the cloud. Everyone ducked. The robots ran in front to protect the children.
    “Listen! We have to form a group! Cell, Jazz and Copper get on my left. Jodi and Comet get on my right. Girls get behind us and try and move the crystal. Claw, take Arrow, Scuffle and Slither and go and attack! Snowball, you, Creeper, and Shadow stay in front of us and defend! Several exciting things happened then. Slither did something he had never done before. He dove into the sand and shot along underneath creating a faint ripple on the surface. When he got near a speeder he...kind of...erupted out of the sand and wrapped round the air intake cylinders and crushed them easily, before diving back into the sand. Leaving the damaged speeder to get too hot and explode. Claw was busy shooting sand and sticky shreds of paper into the air intakes. The fans sucking in air would get clogged up and have not enough air to lift the speeder, which would come crashing to the ground. The children heard several crashes as Arrow dropped big heavy metal balls on the speeders. As for Scuffle...well...he just dismantled the engines of the speeders he managed to get on. The robots defending the children tried to shoot little bombs that clamp onto metal and explode. And the girls were trying to roll the crystal towards their speeders. They heard all the excitement and the firing and tried hard to push the crystal over a big dune. Kodi suddenly slipped a little way down the dune as a bullet fired. Lily tried to stop it rolling down and clutched it with all her strength. But the bullet shot over the boys heads and hit the crystal. The crystal absorbed the energy bullet and multiplied it by three. The boys heard a scream and saw Lily and the crystal rolling down the dune towards them. Jazz and Jodi tried to stop it but Paul and Copper ran to see what the matter was. They saw Kodi getting up. Paul saw Lily at the bottom curled up. He ran down to see her. She was clutching her arms and wincing.
    “What happened?” Paul asked trying to lift her up.
    “I don't know.” she said trying to stand.
    “Copper! Come here!” he called. Copper ran down.
    “Wow! Your arms are red!” he said “What happened?”
    “I think an energy bullet went through the crystal and shocked her.” said Paul helping  his sister stand.
    “Hey Paul, Copper! Come and help us!” called the other boys, who were struggling to defend the crystal.
    “We're coming! Hey Kodi! Please take Lily home. Now!” he called and ran down to the others, followed by Copper.

Chapter Nine: Chase!

    The droids were stronger than the ones at the power station. Even with Paul and Copper it was hard to stay put in front of the crystal. The shock bullets were not very fast though and the children could quite easily absorb it with the power pole blade. Soon, most of the droids were down and only a small group remained. But then a skilled Master-Bot appeared from amongst the other droids. They had shock sticks and were very talented. He met the boys and shoved them over. Before they were able to get up again, the master bot had picked up the crystal, run back to his speeder, and had put the shiny object into a compartment in the back. He then jumped in the cockpit and shot away. The boys got up and looked at each other. Comet grinned.
    “Chase time!” he said. They ran to their sand speeders, hopped on, and shot after the robots. When they caught up to the others, there were a few very dangerous moments then. With about twenty speeders flying very close together and bombs, (shock) bullets, and sand all flying around.
The robot animals did most of the attacking while the children drove. Everyone shot along dodging, swerving, twisting and ducking, Copper gave Claw his IRPD and told him to go and confuse or overwrite the hover programs.
    “ALRIGHT MASTER!” shouted Claw over the roar of the engines. The chase soon ended up racing through the city streets dodging lots of other vehicles and people. CRASH! SLAM! SCREEEECH! An enemy speeder lost its program and came crashing down onto the road, slamming into the safety rail. Scuffle distracted another driver, so that the vehicle went zigzagging from lane to lane and finally went over the outer rail!
    Soon only two enemy speeders were left. One was the one driven by the master-bot and the other was just one that had been inside the group. The master-bot's speeder had armoured plating on it. He swerved widely trying to hit the children’s’ speeders.
    “Look out Copper!” shouted Cell as the two enemy speeders tried to crush Copper in between them. Copper braked suddenly, letting the other two speeders smash together. One was sent straight into a directory post. And the other...well...nothing really happened to it. Suddenly the master-bot’s speeder swerved off to a road coming off the one they were on.
    “It’s okay!” shouted Copper to the others. “These roads meet up again in a minute!” Sure enough the two roads met up again further on. The enemy speeder tried to dodge the group of children as they crossed the intersection. But the back of Jodi’s speeder caught the front of the master-bot’s speeder sending it flipping onto its side. The front end touched the road making the speeder cart wheeling along. Just as the group of speeders went past Copper’s house the out of control speeder hit the rail and was sent hurtling through the garden fence, though the garden and broke through a wall of Copper’s inventing shed.
    “It’s landed in my inventing shed!” shouted Copper stopping on some lawn.
    “Hurry up!” said Comet. Everyone jumped of their speeders and ran to the shed.
    “I hope the crystal is in one piece,” said Jazz. They opened the shed door and looked in.
    “What a mess!” said Cell. “I’ll have to get a picture of this!”
    “There’s the speeder! Or what’s left of it.” Comet looked through the cracked wind shield. “Here’s the Master-Bot! He’s missing an arm and his head!” Paul went around the back and opened the dented hatch which covered the compartment.
    “Hooray! It’s whole!” said Copper, peering in beside Paul.
    “Naturally, Master Copper. Power Crystals are quite strong,” said Snowball walking in.
    “I do actually know that, Snowball,” said Copper.
    “What do we do now?” asked Kodi.
    “Take it to the police, of course.”
    “Just what I was about to say,” said Scuffle scavenging good parts off the speeder. Just then, sirens were heard outside.
    “I wonder what’s up?” said Cell going out the door. Several Police speeders were parked outside the front gate.
    “Paul! Copper! Comet! Everyone! Come out here!”
    “What’s up, Cell?......Oh,” said Paul coming out. “There’s the inspector. Hi, Inspector!”
    “Master Paul! Is that you? What are you and your friends doing speeding through the city!?!” he said walking up to the children.
    “I...er...actually I do have a good excuse, this time, inspector,” said Paul going inside the shed.
    “I hope this is a good enough excuse to race through the city, inspector.” Paul came out rolling the huge crystal. The inspector’s mouth dropped open.
    “Where did you find that ?!?”
    “In the desert,” said Arrow swooping down.
    “I mean, how did it get there?”
    “It was blown there from the explosion of the Power Station,” replied Paul. The inspector turned and said something to one of the other policemen. Then he turned back to the children.
    “Let’s go inside and hear the story,” he said.

Chapter Ten: Gymnastics training.

    The inspector and Copper’s mum sat down and heard the extraordinary story.
    “What happened to the crystal in the first dome that blew up?” he asked.
    “Probably got broken,” said Snowball who was trying to walk backwards.
    “Snowball! I heard you say they were very strong!” said Copper.
    “Yes but under extreme pressure they can break,” said the dog. “The first explosion was much bigger than the second one, if you didn’t notice. The first one was bigger because lots of pressure built up inside the safety shield, therefore shattering the crystal.”
    “I knew that,” said Copper.
    “It didn’t seem any smaller, Snowball. Just remember, I was in it,” said Paul. The inspector fell off the couch.
    “Master, what’s wrong with him?” whispered Snowball.
    “He's...over...surprised,” replied Paul.
    “Yes, it's all a bit too much for me,” said the policeman climbing up again. Soon the Inspector prepared to leave.
    “Goodbye,” said everyone.
    “Hey! Wait a minute,” called Paul. “Can we have a look around the third Dome?”
“Well...it's heavily guarded...and...well, you probably won't find anything. But you could I guess. Thirty eyes are better than two eyes. Goodbye.”
    “Thanks, goodbye inspector.”
    “Who wants lunch?” asked Copper's mum. “That story was a bit over the top, don't you think?”
    “Well...it was unusual.”
    “Do you want any help preparing? Auntie Alice,” asked Lily.
    “Well, it would be helpful.”
    “Alright then, come on Kodi.”
    “Why can't the boys help?” complained Kodi.
    “Because they're boys. Now come on, if you want any lunch that is.”

    Soon lunch was started and finished.
    “What are you going to do now?” asked Copper's mum.
    “Well we might go to see the third Dome,” suggested Paul.
    “It's too hot for that. I vote we go for a swim,” said Comet.
    “We have to go at 4:30, so please can we go somewhere that won’t take up exactly three hours.” said Jazz.
    “Yes, I want to stay round home a bit too,” said Paul.
    “Hey! Can we do some gymnastic lessons? I’ve been wanting to do them for ages.” said Kodi.
    Paul looked at the others.
    “What do you think?”
    “Ok,” said Copper, Cell and Jodi together.
    “I guess,” said Jazz.
    “I want to go for a swim,” said Comet.
    “Comet, it’s seven against one.”
    “Ruff!”
    “Sorry Danion, it’s actually eight against one and...”
    “Oh stop trying to convince him Paul! He’ll get left behind if he doesn’t come,” said Lily.
    “I think he just doesn’t want to admit that he’s worse than anybody else,” said Kodi.
    “Kodi! Who lands on her tummy after a star twirl off the horse I wonder? I’ll come along!”

    Soon everyone was at Paul’s house and going down a hollow tree trunk to the underground club room below.
        “You know Snowball, you’re getting quite fat. You need to do more exercise,” said Paul.
    “Too many pancakes,” said Lily.
    “Very funny, Master,” muttered Snowball.
    “Alright stretches everybody! On the mat!” Kodi and Lily ran up to the mat, jumped and landed doing the splits. Snowball tried and...well...landed on his tail.
    “OUCH! Master, how do you do the splits?” asked Snowball trying to get his tail to wag.
    “You stretch your legs flat, outwards.”
    “It hurts though.”
    “Well don’t do it then.” Everyone, including Comet, had a great time. Paul and Copper took everyone around the room on all the equipment. The mini and mega tramps, the horse, the bars, the beam, the flip swing, the sky drop, and the launcher. Danion joined in too. He was a very talented dog when it came to a trampoline. On the mega tramp, he could do flips and dives.
    “I’m exhausted!” said Jodi flopping down onto a mat. “What’s the time Jazz?”
    “Troublesome Tractors!!! It’s 4:40! Jodi, we have to go NOW! By everyone! Let’s meet up tomorrow at 8:00 at our farm!”
    “I can’t!” said Cell. “I have to go to a party!”
    “At 9:00 then! Bye!” Jazz and Jodi left.
    “I suppose we had better be getting back as well,” said Comet. “Come on Kodi. See you tomorrow everyone.”

Chapter Eleven: A picnic at Ravor Farm.

    Paul and Lily woke up early again (because of Snowball) and got their chores finished early.
    “Say, Paul, wouldn’t it be lovely to have a picnic this afternoon,” said Lily.
    “Oh yes! That’s a good idea. But we’ll probably be out with everyone then.”
    “We could make an extra big one and share it with everyone.”
    “Yes, I suppose we could. Let’s go ask mum!” They found their mum in the kitchen making muffins.
    “They smell wonderful mother! What kind are you making?”
    “Blue berry muffins. Would you like to help?”
    “Yes please!” said Snowball bounding into the kitchen.
    “Snowball, get your paw out of the mixture! You are not allowed in the kitchen!” Snowball’s tail went down.
    “I bet I could cook better than anyone,” he muttered.
    “Snowball, get down from the bench. If you go wait quietly outside the kitchen, I might give you some of my muffin,” said Paul Snowball tail shot up again and he raced out the kitchen and sat as quietly as he could.
    “Paul, I never knew that Snowball actually ate food.”
    “Oh he doesn’t, mother.” He only eats scraps of metal which he thinks is food.”
    “I had pancakes this morning,” said Snowball poking his head in.
    “See.”
    “Mother, can we have a picnic this afternoon? To share with everyone.”
    “Of course. But bring the basket back this time.”
    “Oh yes mother. We only forgot it last time because a naughty dog hid it.”
    “Was it Danion?” asked Snowball.
    “No. It was you.”
    “Oh, oh yes now I remember. I hid under a bush and tore it to pieces.”
    “You really are a monkey, Snowball.”
    “No I'm not! I’m a dog!”
    “What's the date today, Paul?”
    “It's...the second of September.”
    “Yay! I'll be eight in two days!”
    “Really! Your birthday is that soon?!? I'd better hurry up and get ready,” said Paul.
    “Master what time did you have to be there?” asked Snowball.
 “At nine.” He looked at his watch. “Lily it’s half past eight! We’ve got to hurry if we’re going to make this picnic!”
    
    At quarter to nine, Paul and Lily and the two dogs were heading to Ravor Farm. They were greeted by Jack, the farm dog. Danion was overjoyed at seeing his old friend again. He acted as if he hadn't seen the sheepdog for years!
    “You’re a little early!” said Jodi running out to meet them.
    “Yes, sorry. We’ve brought a picnic to share,” said Paul.
    “Smashing! Jazz! Come here and help.”
    “Oh, hi. What’s this? A picnic! It’s massive! Lily, come see, we’ve got a new foal this morning. His name is Caramel,” said Jazz coming out the door. Soon everyone had arrived, including all the robotic animals. Cell was a bit late because the party had run overtime. Just before Cell arrived, when everyone was looking at Caramel, Snowball tried to sneak some food. He had his nose in the basket and was pulling out a blueberry muffin when Lily looked around.
    “Kodi, lets heat up the muffi...SNOWBALL! Paul, Snowball has a muffin! Drop it Snowball!”
    Paul swung around and saw Snowball with the muffin hanging out his mouth.
    “Leave him alone Lily. He's just going to have dog biscuits tomorrow, plus he doesn't get any of my muffins.” Snowball's tail shot down and he put the rest of the muffin back in the basket.
    “Sorry Master, I didn't mea...”
    “Hallo everyone. Oh great! You've got a new foal! What's she called?” said Cell walking up.
    “It's a he. His name is Caramel,” said Jodi.
    “Awesome. Can I take a picture?” Jazz shrugged.
    “I guess.”
    “Look at Snowball, he's looking at the basket mischievously,” said Claw who had kept an eye on the dog ever since he had tried to sneak a muffin. Everyone did.
    “Can he be ridden?” asked Kodi turning back to Jodi.
    “No I'm not suitable to be ridden!” said Snowball retreating behind a bush.
    “Can Caramel  be ridden?” repeated Kodi.
    “Not yet. Let's go inside.”

    Everyone said hello to Jazz and Jodi’s mum.
    “Hello Mrs Quartz. What are you making?”
    “Strawberry tart. I’ve already made a meat pie. The tart is for you, for desert.”
    “I can almost already taste that pastry......Scuffle! Get your paw out of the strawberries!” Scuffle hastily removed his paw from the bowl and jumped on to the stove, accidentally putting one foot in a pot of boiling water, and the other on a hot plate that was on – HOT!
 “YEOW!!! Help! Master I’ve burnt my feet off! Yeow!”
    “Don’t be silly Scuffle. Your feet are a little bit black. Now come out of the kitchen. If you stay out of kitchens, things like that won’t happen!” Soon everyone was In a field, eating lunch. There were cows, horses and sheep grazing here and there. After everyone had finished the picnic, Jazz and Jodi's mum brought out desert. There were hundreds of remarks about the tart.
    “This is simply glorious!” said Cell taking a monstrous mouthful.
    “Yes! I simply just can’t imagine how you cook things like this!” said Lily.
    “What should we do this afternoon?” asked Paul enjoying his piece of tart very much. “I think we should go see the power station. The damaged domes are going to be under repair after tomorrow and unexplorable. I would like to see if we can find anything.”
    “Me too,” said Claw.
    “Master, where are the muffins?” whispered Snowball into Paul’s ear.
    “I don’t know. Lil, are we having muffins as well?”
    “Oh! I forgot about them! Should we eat them as well?”
    “I think we should have them for afternoon tea,” said Copper. Snowball's tail went down again as he remembered that he was missing out.
    “I’m full, stuffed and overloaded!” exclaimed Cell lying down on the grass. He sat up instantly after getting a big lick over his face from a cow.
    “Yuck!!!” he said wiping the slobber off his face.
    “What?” asked Jodi.
    “Cows are horrible!” he remarked.
    “No they’re not. Their meat and milk is lovely,” said Jazz.
    “Their slobber is horrible at least!”
    “Did you get some on you?” asked Kodi.
    “No I didn’t get some on me. I got heaps on me! My face was covered with it!” Snowball burst out laughing.
    “Did you see his face!?!” He managed to say between his laughter. “He...” Snowball stopped. A cow had just soaked his tail with its tongue.
    “Master! That rude cow nearly licked my tail off!” This time everyone burst into laughter.
    “That’s nothing to laugh about,” he muttered. “A wet face is one thing. A wet tail is another.” When everyone calmed down they decided to go and have a look at the domes. Let’s go help your mother wash up, Jazz,” said Lily.
    “It would be nice if you helped her, but we  have some chores to do.
    “Feeding the hens, collecting the eggs, milking the cows, fixing Jack's kennel, oiling the barn door hinges, and cleaning out the stables.” groaned Jodi.
    “It's not  that bad,” said Jazz. “Oh, and Dad wants us to help him fix the thresher. Something has happened with it. It has stopped working.”
    “I can probably help with that,” said Cell. “I know a fair bit about electronics and engineering.”
    “Yes, we'll all help you,” said Paul.
    “You don't have to,” said Jodi. “Some of them aren't very pleasant.”
    “That's alright. Snowball can do all the...unwanted chores.”
    “But...but...but master! Why do robots do all the work?!? Why can't you help!?! Why can't...”
    “Snowball, did you really think I would make you do chore after chore after chore for years and years?” Snowball nodded his head. Then he tilted his head and thought for a bit.
    “If you were angry you might. But if you were normal or calm you probably wouldn't. Are you angry now?!?”
    “Might be.”
    “Master! Please be happy! Please! I'd rather live on dog biscuits!”
    “Would you really?”
    “Yes! I really would! And I would never be naughty!”
    “That would be a change,” observed Lily. Snowball tilted his head and looked imploringly and Paul.
    “Don't make me do all the chores! I'm a dog! A robot dog!”
    “Come on! Hurry up!”

Chapter Twelve: A few clues.

    Half an hour later everyone was finished and ready. It took a while for the robots to decide on which speeder they would ride on. But at last it was settled and they left the farm, heading for the power station. They turned down the road to the power station. As they got to the entrance, they saw a check point. Two policemen were controlling some TP Gates, and two more were checking every vehicle as they let it through. Soon the line of cleaning vehicles grew shorter until the eight children were up to the gates. Paul spoke to the policeman who was checking their speeders.
    “Um...we're friends of the inspector and...um...he said we can look around,” said Paul.
    “This is no place for children. Sorry, but I can't let you through.”
    “The inspector said we could, so...” began Paul. Copper whispered into Paul's ear.
    “Tell him your name.”
    “Ok, by the way my name is Paul Anderson. And I am kind of the head of the Gadget Gizmos Club.” The policeman swallowed once or twice and then said:
    “Can I see your identity card?” he said.
    “Ok, wait a moment - where is it – Oh bother! Sorry I think I left it at home. But I can show you my Power Pole.” Paul reached in his pocket and took out his weapon. He swung it in a circular motion and activated it, startling the policeman.
    “Can we go through now?”
    “I think I'll just call the inspector now and ask him if what you said is true. Checkpoint 0073 to head quarters – checkpoint 0073 to head quarters, come in.” said the policeman into his headphones.
    “Head quarters to checkpoint 0073 what's up?”
    “Can you put me through to the inspector?”
    “Ok, wait a...”
    “Hello – hello... Sorry kids, the line has gone dead. “I can only let you through if I see your identity card.” Snowball bounded up from somewhere behind the policeman and then started to prance round his legs.
    “Why are we stopping here?” he asked “We were going to inspect the domes, weren't we?”
    “Apparently, we can't go through unless the bloke over there, Mr policeman, sees Paul's identity card. For security reasons I believe,” said Claw who had been listening very closely. Snowball suddenly stopped prancing.
    “And why won't 'the bloke' see Master's card?”
    “Paul thinks he left it at home.”
    “I have it. I saw it drop out of one of your pockets while you were at the farm. Here it is.” Snowball opened a hatch in his back and a top of the card popped out of a slot. Paul handed it to the policeman. After a moment he gave it back to Paul and gave them permission to go through.
    “Sorry for the delay.”
    “That's ok.” The children were let through. Snowball rode on Paul's speeder along with Creeper who had already ridden on Paul's speeder. As Paul was dismounting from his speeder Snowball whispered into his ear.
    “I know why 'the bloke' couldn't call the inspector, Master. Do you know why?”
    “No I do not know why.”
    “I chewed through his headphone cable.” he said and almost fell of the speeder with laughter.
    “Your just full of mischief, Snowball.”
    “I am?” asked Snowball not even sure how he could be full of mischief. Snowball went over to Claw.
    “I am just FULL of mischief,” he boasted.
    “You ATE  some mischief?!?”
    “No, of course not! But Master said I was full.”
    “But...but why are you full ?!? Why can't you be just three quarters? Or half way? Or...”
    “Claw,” said Snowball impatiently.
    “But why? Why not...”
    “Claw! I don't know. Ask Master if you really want to know. But I wouldn't if I were you.”
    “Why?!?” asked Claw, his eyes wide.
    “He's become quite vicious,” replied Snowball.
    “How do you know? Does he bite?!?” The little mouse's eyes were nearly popping out their metal sockets.
    “Nearly. He threatens to give me dog biscuits.” Claw's eyes went normal again.
    “How bad can that be? You're a dog, you’re supposed to like dog biscuits.”
    “I'll tell you how bad it is to taste those biscuits. You'll never forget the first time you taste them. They taste so horrible your tongue turns green. And if you eat to many of them, your tongue can turn blue and you roll over, dead!” Snowball said. The mouse nearly did roll over.
    “I don't think I'll go and ask your master now,” said Claw, quite sick.
    “Snowball! Claw! Come on! Stop chatting, we could use a little help over here!” Snowball and Claw came bounding over.
    “What is it?” they asked together.
    “Danion has found something.” Snowball came over and saw a green powder on the ground. Snowball ate some of it said after a moment:
    “It's magnota. An explosive element.”
    “Magnota?!? Magnota is a rock, not a powder. And it's is too hard to grind to powder.”
    “Yes but the explosion of a Magnetic Electrode Bomb is fine enough to blast particles apart.”
    “But this is powder, not particles.”
    “This bomb hasn't blown the particles apart. It's only blown it into powder.”
    “I think I'll take some home and test it at the lab. It's not every day you see a green powder...hang on. What's this?” Paul picked up something out of the powder.
    “What is it?” asked Kodi peering over his shoulder.
    “It's an orange badge or a name tag. It says...James Hawk. Something is written below it.”  Paul managed to make out C.corp.

Chapter Thirteen: A suspect and some talking.

    “There's only two corporations that spell their names like that,” said Snowball. “The Cover Corporation and the Celix Corporation.”
    “The Cover Corporation is a company that makes little pedal boats for kids. I know that, but what does the Celix Corp do?” asked Jodi.
    “Dirty work,” said Comet.
    “I did some dirty work today,” said Snowball. “I cleaned out the hen house.”
    “You didn't! You only helped. And besides, that's not real  dirty work.”
    “So you mean to tell me that I just pretended  to clean out the hen house? The all of us just pretended  to clean out the hen house? I don't think so,” said Snowball.
    “Maybe that man, what's his name again?” asked Copper.
    “James Hawk,” replied Paul.
    “Maybe he works for the Celix Corporation. He might have been sent here by it to steal the power crystal!”
    “Who supervises the power station's workers? Snowball?”
    “Um...I'm not sure,” replied Snowball looking guilty.
    “I know,” said Jazz. “He's one of my dad's old school friends. His name is Richard Seeto.”
    “Where is he?”
    “He's probably in the main office.”
    “And where is that?” Nobody said anything for a moment.
    “We could ask 'the bloke'  couldn't we?” said Snowball.
    “You know, Snowball, it's not very nice to call someone that.”
    “What should I call him? Huh? What?”
    “Just call him...call him...”
    “Call him what!?!”
    “Call him...something nice!” said Paul.
    “Ok, let's go ask 'Something Nice' then,” said Snowball. Paul groaned.
    “I seriously don't  know what to do with you. Snowball.”
    “You could deactivate him,” suggested Cell. Snowball yelped and then bounded over to Paul.
    “Don't deactivate me! Please! I've got a much better idea!” said Snowball. Paul raised an eye brow.
    “What?”
    “You could put me in the pantry.”
    “That's actually a good idea.”
    “Really?!? You'll do it?”
    “Maybe. Maybe  you could have your own personnel one...FULL of dog biscuits!” Everyone laughed, and Snowball's smile disappeared.
    “I suppose that's the end of my idea?”
    “Yes, and soon it will be the end of our time here! Have you realised? It's five past three!” said Paul looking at his watch.
    “I guess we'd better be getting on then,” muttered Snowball.

    Everyone headed back towards the checkpoint. Before they got there, a speeder pulled up and a man jumped off.
    “I don't really fancy having to chat with that blo...policemen again. Let's go ask that man over there,” said Paul. Everyone walked towards the man. Snowball beat everyone and pranced round the man's legs.
    “Snowball! Come back! People don't like it!” said Paul running up.
    “It's ok,” said the man. “I like dogs.”
    “See, Master, he likes me,” Snowball said. Then man was startled.
    “He talks?!?” Paul looked at him apologetically.
    “He's robotic,” he said.
    “Nice. Who made him?”
    “I did. Well...we did.”
    “Who's we?”
    “Me and my friends.”
    “You must be pretty smart.”
    “Well we're...an inventive club...”
    “Called the Gadget Gizmos,” said Snowball.
    “Really? I've heard quite a lot about it before. Isn't the boy who runs it called Paul Anderson?”
    “Yes.”
    “He helped solve the power problem,” added Snowball.
    “Was it that  Paul Anderson?” asked the surprised man.
    “Yes, and that Paul Anderson is me.”
    “Really? You're him? Well, you've certainly been busy,” he said eyeing all the other robotic animals.
    “Um...we're looking for the main office. Do you know where it is?”
    “Why do you want to go there?!?” asked the man, puzzled.
    “Well...we want to see a man called...Richard Seeto.”
    “That's me, what do you want?”
    “I...could we go inside?”
    “We might need a computer's help, and well...someone might be listening.”
    “I'm listening,” said Snowball.
    “Ok,” the man said at last. “Let's go to my office.” Everyone went towards the central building. The station looked like a giant hexagon with three hallways coming off every second face. The domes were attached to the end of each hallway. Two of the hallways ended about half way, where the explosions had been. Everyone soon came to a door in one face of the hexagon. Immediately a robotic voice said:
    “Please name your identity.”
    “Richard Seeto,” said the manager. Richard had to scan his finger print and his identity card as well.
    “Proceed,” said the voice. A camera turned and saw the children.
    “Please name your identity.” repeated the voice.
    “Paul Anderson,” said Paul calmly.

Chapter Fourteen: Snowball is a help.

    “Please wait, checking employee list,” it said... “Access denied.”
    “S-D-N-E-I-R-F-8,” said Richard suddenly. For a moment the voice said nothing.
    “Compiling code,” it finally said. “Proceed..” Soon everyone was in the main office. The main office was in a tower sticking out the top of the middle of the hexagon. Richard stood looking out his window behind his desk. He turned around and pressed a button on his desk eight times. Immediately eight chairs came out of the ground and unfolded on the floor.
    “Sit down, please.” said Richard.
    “First of all,” said Paul, letting Danion get up on his knee. “What are we to call you?”
    “Just call me Mr Seeto,” said the man, sitting down in a chair behind his desk.
    “Well Richard, it's like this...” began Snowball.
    “Snowball! You’re doing that on purpose, aren't you!?!”
    “Yup,” said Snowball, looking very pleased with himself.
    “Just remember that big packet of dog biscuits Snowball. You be good or I'll force you to eat them all!” Snowball yelped and ran behind a set of draws.
    “Sorry,” said Paul turning to Mr Seeto again.
    “That's alright, but what can be so bad about dog biscuits?” the manager asked.
    “He thinks they're poisonous,” explained Paul.
    “They are!” said Snowball from behind the draws.
    “What does he eat then?”
    “Pancakes,” came Snowball's voice. “And donuts, and pies, and chocolate, and...”
    “Really?!?” asked the manager.
    “According to him, that's what he thinks dog biscuits are.
    “What's for tea Master? Is it...” began the dog.
    “That's enough, Snowball,” said Paul with a sigh. “We came here to discuss a serious matter. Not what's for tea.”
    “It's a long story,” said Copper. Paul plunged into the last few days, with the others adding bits in here and there. Snowball eventually crept out from his hiding place and sat down to listen.
    “We found a green powder which, according to Snowball, is Magnota dust,” said Cell putting a little pile on the desk.
    “Magnota, the element Magnota, is that the one you' re talking about?”
    “Well I don't know any other substance called that,” said Cell.
    “Hmmmmm...well I think this is where the computer comes in.” Mr Seeto said pushing a button on his desk. Snowball looked at the door for a while, expecting a computer to walk in at any moment. Claw who had been lying silently on the desk ever since they arrived, gave a 'squeak!!!' as a panel slid out from underneath him, allowing him to fall onto a flat touch screen.
    “Ouch! Oww! Master who did that?” No one answered. They were all crowded around the manager.
    “Please, sit down! Sorry, you will be able to see the screen from your side.” He pressed another button on his desk, and the screen went vertical. The back of the computer suddenly flickered and blinked on.
    “A double screened touch screen!” said Paul and Copper together. “The T.S.4000!” The manager went on BIN and researched about Magnota.
    “Apparently, it cannot be...broken down...any smaller than when mined out of Rock. So therefore that cannot be Magnota,” he said Pointing to the powder.
    “It's is! It is! I proved it!” said Snowball prancing up and down.
    “You proved it?” asked Mr Seeto disbelievingly.
    “Yes! I...well...actually...Cell proved it.”
    “Who's Cell?” Snowball pointed a paw in Cell's direction.
    “My name is Cellulone. Cell for short. My Dad does engineering and all that kind of stuff. A few months ago we tried to build a Magnetic electrode bomb. We...”
    “A Magnetic Electrode Bomb!?! They're really dangerous things you know.”
    “We tested it and...blew up our garage in the process. Anyway, we looked around in the wreckage and found...very fine green powder. We took it to Paul's house and put it through his elementroscope. It stated that the powder was Magnota.”
    “But doing it once is not proving it,” said Mr Seeto frowning and looking at his touch screen.
    “We got some scientists to test a few more and the next day it was put in the Daily News.”
    “Ok,” said Mr Seeto eventually. “I give in. What else have you got to show me?”
    “Only this,” said Paul and pulled out the badge. Mr Seeto studied the badge carefully and then said.
    “James Hawk is a man who works here. He was only recently employed.”
    “Can we find more about him?” asked Jodi.
    “I'll see what the computer says,” said the manager. “Ah, yes. James Gander Hawk. He was employed roughly a month ago. Is that enough information?”
    “Well it would help if we could find out where he grew up and if he has worked anywhere else,” said Paul receiving the badge back.
    “Well it says that he grew up on Celix. It doesn't name any other jobs that he has been.”
    “Ok...well that's probably enough. Thank  you for your time Mr Seeto. See you lat...Snowball, get down from the desk...you really want those dog biscuits, don't you Snowball.”
    “Not really, hey Master. Take a look over here,” said Snowball squinting at the screen. “I'm getting quite different results from what I heard. Firstly his middle name is not Gander. It is Gender.”
    “Really!?!” said the manager bending closer to the screen. “Sorry. I probably didn't read it properly.”
    “Secondly, he was employed roughly a year ago not a month. And thirdly, he grew up on Tyrestico.”
    “Now don't be silly,” said the manager. “I might miss a letter, or even a word. But I can't miss a whole sen...It really does say that doesn't it. What did you do?”
    “I only pressed shift R,E,F, really quickly.”
    “What does that do?”
    “I think it refreshes the page,” said Copper.
    “Really?” said Mr Seeto frowning. “I never knew it did that.”
    “I'll show you,” said Snowball, and proceeded to do a very quick movement with his paws. “There. Look some more writing has appeared.” Now it was Paul's turn to be surprised.
    “Maybe you need to be reprogrammed, Snowball.”
    “No. I don't think he does,” said the manager. That bit of information wasn't there both times I looked.” Paul frowned and thought hard.
    “Do any of your employees have access to a computer?”
    “Only a few do. And they don't use them very much.”
    “Well, do they have access to BIN or any other programs?” asked Paul still thinking.
    “Not without an access card or special permission, and none of the people here have that.”
    “Well could we see yours?” said Paul. “It might be a clue.” Mr Seeto shook his head. “Sorry, but mine disappeared the other day. I had to get permission from the authorities.”
    “Disappeared?” asked Kodi. “Has it been stolen?”
    “Yes, or most likely. I have a place where I store my cards and it just wasn't there where I looked last.”
    “Ask him if James Hawk has an office,” whispered Snowball into Paul's ear.
    “Snowball wants me to ask you if James Hawk has an office,” said Paul.
    “Well...yes...I did let him have an office, why?”
    “Why, Snowball?” asked Paul.
    “Well, I've been thinking, if you had a program called CUSP, you could probably make things a bit clearer.”
    “Really? How?”
    “I said you'd need CUSP. A program that allows you to see which computers are being used at the moment.”
    “Really? I think I do have CUSP...I'll just see...” Mr Seeto dived into one of his draws. “It's here some where...Ah, here it is. CUSP. Is this it?” he said holding it out to Snowball. Snowball tilted his head and looked at the card carefully.
    “Yes,” he said eventually. “Do hurry, our suspect might move.” Mr Seeto fed the card into a slot in the side of the touch screen.
    “Welcome to CUSP, Computer, Usage, Spying, Program,” said the computer.
    “Spying?!? We shouldn't spy on anyone,” said the manager.
    “It’s not true spying. You’re only seeing who is using a computer and what program he is using. NOT what he is doing on it,” said Snowball.
    “Ok. What do I look for?”
    “What floor and section is his office in?” asked the dog leaping onto the desk again.
    “He is on the...second floor, in section C4.”
    “Well, type F2SC4 in the search box and click ‘spy’.” Mr Seeto did.
    “Yes James Hawk is currently at his computer and...HEY! He is using BIN!”
    “Really?” asked Jazz.
    “Yes and another program for editing BIN pages with.”
    “Do you see now?” asked Snowball.
    “No, apart from the fact that I know he stole the card, I’m more puzzled than ever.” Snowball's tail went down.
    “I’ll explain then. Yes, there’s a...98% chance that he has stolen the card, and why would he be using BIN? Because there’s information on there that he doesn’t want other people to know. So he is putting false information on there instead. We kept on refreshing it, and the information he was putting on was appearing as he typed it. He name is not Gender. It is Gander. That was one of his tricks. He was not employed roughly a year ago, only a month. And lastly, I’m pretty sure he did not grow up on Tyrestico,” said Snowball.
    “Where did he grow up then?” asked the manager.
    “Most likely on Celix, as you said.”
    “Why there?” asked Lily.
    “Well, why is he wanting to hid his identity? Because he has a bad reputation or something, and who do we know is bad? The Celix Corporation. Am I right?”
    “Well...nothing proves he worked for the Celix.” said Cell.
    “You act as if you act as if he was your best friend! The way you try to clear him! Well there’s the badge for starters. That was probably the badge that he wore when he was working on Celix. He probably dropped it on the ground. Where we found it.” No one said anything for a while.
    “Don’t I get some approval, Master?” asked Snowball.
    “Be quiet Snowball, we’re trying to think,” said Paul frowning. Snowball's tail went down.
    “Yes. I think you are actually right! Good job Snowball,” said Paul. Snowball’s tail went up again.
    “Well, goodbye Mr Seeto, and thank you!”
    “Goodbye, I’ll try and get in contact with the police, though I probably won’t be able to do anything till tomorrow.”

Chapter Fifteen: Snowball makes a present.

    That night Lily came into Paul’s bedroom again through the wardrobe. Snowball was feeling very happy again. Especially after having pizza for tea.
    “I say, this mystery was puzzling me very much until Snowball explained it,” said Lily.
    “The same for me. How’s your arm?”
    “It’s getting better, but it still quivers every now and then. Goodnight. See you in the morning.”
    “Goodnight.”

    The next morning Paul and Lily slept in, because Snowball actually got up quietly and went out to make something for Lily’s birthday which was the next day.
    “Now then. What shall I do?” Snowball asked himself. “Dig up my biggest bone? No. She doesn’t like bones. Um...breakfast in bed? No. I spilt milk all over her last time I did that. Um...think me, think! Ah I’ve got it! He raced into the school room and grabbed a big sheet of paper. He put that on the floor inside Paul’s inventing room. Then he grabbed a pack of pencils, and took them to where the paper lay. He spent the next half an hour drawing a picture. When Snowball had finished he put the pencil he was holding down and sat down to look at his picture. It showed Lily’s little vegie garden with a tomato bigger than her. There was also a giant stalk and a bone plant. Under the dirt of where the plants lay was about another twenty bones. And next to where Lily stood was Snowball digging, trying to get down to his bones, but digging up all the plants. Half the veggies were in her arms, and the other half was in the air, being dug up.
    “There!” he said triumphantly. Then he heard a yawn up above. Snowball yelped and quickly gathered up all the pencils in his mouth. He put them on Paul’s desk and then ran back to the workroom. Then he managed to roll up the picture and take it to his hiding place upstairs near his basket in the lounge. Then he ran into Paul’s bedroom shouting.
    “Master! Master! Wake up sleepy head! I’ve been up for hours! Wake up! It’s Friday!” said Snowball.
    “Be quiet Snowball! It’s only - 8:30! I can’t believe I’ve slept in so long! Lil! Lily! Wake up! It’s half past eight!”
    “Come on Master! I’ve got something to show you! Hurry up!” In five minutes Paul was dressed and ready.
    “Come ON Master!” said Snowball. Paul came over to Snowball’s basket. Snowball got out his picture, unrolled it, and showed it to Paul.
    “Look Master! Look! Look what I’ve done this morning.” Paul looked at the picture.
    “It’s great Snowball. Who’s it for?”
    “Lily.” Paul gasped.
    “I forgot her birthday was tomorrow! Oh well I’ll try to get her out the house today.”
    “I’ll get her out the house if you want Master.”
    “No I would rather you didn’t. I’ll do it in a nicer way then growling at her and threatening to bite her if she doesn't get out.”
    “Ok,” said Snowball going into a sulk.
    “If who doesn't get out?” said Lily walking into the room.
    “Um...er...doesn't matter. Um, do you know how hot it will be today?” said Paul hurriedly changing the subject.
    “Um yes, dad stuck his head through the door and told me. I think it was 65º or was it 45º.” said Lily. Snowball was puzzled.
    “How could  your dad stick his head through a door?”
    “Snowball, it just means that he peeped in, that's all,” said Lily.
    “Most probably 45º. I've never known it to get any  hotter than 49º on any planet,” said Paul.
    “I've been hotter than 49º,” said Snowball.
    “That was only when I welded your tail back on. Anyway, are you excited Lily? About tomorrow?”
    “Oh yes! But Mum said not to get too excited about it.”
    “Yes. That's a good idea.”

    After Paul had finished his breakfast he left for  his invention room, leaving Snowball to finish his bacon, and Lily to finish her toast. He shut the door behind him and pulled his MGS out of his pocket and switched it on to com mode.
    “DMS08” he whispered into the microphone. Kodi answered.
    “Hello, who's this?” she asked. The she saw the caller's code. “Oh, hi Paul. What's happened?”
    “Nothing much, apart from the fact that Lil's birthday is tomorrow and I haven't got anything ready.”
    “Oh dear,” said Kodi. “Sorry, I really can't come over to help. It's too hot.”
    “That's ok. But I was wondering if you could take her to a pool. Maybe the new super splash pool.”
    “Oh, I would love to, but the entry tickets are so expensive.”
    “I can pay for the cost if you want,” said Paul. “But I really need her out of the house.”
    “Who out the house?” asked Snowball coming in. Paul nearly dropped the MGS in surprise.
    “What's wrong, Paul?” asked Kodi.
    “Sorry, Snowball just came into room then. I thought it might be Lily.”
    “Well I'll just check with Mum,” she said. A moment later she returned. “Yes that's fine, but Mum said Comet must come too.”
    “That's fine. I can pay for him too, if he wants. I'll drop Lily at your house. That will save you the trip here.”
    “Thanks Paul. See you soon.”
    “Bye.” Paul rung off.
    “Master. Could I go swimming too?” asked Snowball who had overheard part of the conversation.
    “No.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you might sink with all that bacon inside you.”
    “Oh. I see,” he said frowning. “But why can Lily go? She might sink with all that breakfast inside her.
    “Doesn't matter, Snowball,” sighed Paul. “I've got a perfectly marvellous idea for her present.”
    “What is it Master? What is it?”
    “What is what?” asked Lily coming in.
    “Oh...um...I was telling Snowball that he could get donuts with green icing on them if he was good today.”
    “No you weren't. You...werrrrrrrrr...really?!? You really mean it?!?”
    “If your good today. I've got something to tell you, Lily. I arranged with Kodi to take you out to the new Super Splash pool today.”
    “What? Really? You really are a kind brother!” she said running up and giving him a hug. “What time?”
    “I'll take you there now if you like.”
    “Really? Thanks. I'll go get ready.

Chapter Sixteen: Preparing for Lily's birthday.

    Soon Paul and Lily arrived at Comet's and Kodi's house.
    “Hello, we're all ready,” said Comet opening the door.
    “Hello Paul. Hello Lily. I've printed out a map of the pool and it's SO cool from what I can make out,” said Kodi appearing behind Comet.
    “Come on then!” said Lily running in and disappearing with Kodi. Comet shook his  head.
    “She's been very excited ever since you called.”
    “Yes Lily is too. By the way, here’s the money for the tickets. Do you want me to pay for you too?” said Paul.
    “Um...no thanks...or actually could you pay half? I'm using most of my home savings on a present for Lily.”
    “Sure. That's fine.” Soon Paul left on his way home. On his way Paul got a call from his Mother.
    “Hello, Paul dear. Could you pop into the shops and get a few things for me? I'm rather busy with the cake. I need some lollies, some chocolate, some...”
    “Mum.”
    “What?”
    “Just upload the list to Snowball. It'll be much quicker.”
    “Ok.”

    Soon Paul was on the way home with a few items.
    “Hope this is everything Mum wanted.”
    “Master what was this perfectly marvellous idea of yours?” asked Snowball.
    “Oh! I nearly forgot about it! Yes, I must certainly talk with Mum about it.”
    “Why not talk with me about it?”
    “Because it's to be a surprise for you too.”
    “Oh,” said Snowball, going into a sulk.
When they got home, Paul unloaded the shopping for his mother.
    “Mum, I really want to speak to you and dad about something.”
    “Ok, when?” she asked.
    “As soon as you can.”
    “Well I can stop for a bit now. I really need to sit down and have a cup of tea,” she said. “Kneading can be hard work.”
    “I'll go fetch dad,” said Paul running up the staircase.”
    “Don't  run in the house, Paul.”
    “Sorry Mum. Dad! Can you come downstairs for a bit?”
    “In a  minute. Just finishing something.”
    “Ok.”

    Soon Paul's Mother and Father were ready, they came and sat down in the lounge room.
    “It's a surprise for Lily.” Paul explained what he wanted to do, and after a lot of disagreeing and talking. Paul and his parents agreed over a lovely surprise for Lily. Just then the door chime rang and Paul went to answer it.
    “Oh hallo Copper. Do come in, quickly. I've got something to tell you.”
    “Hi, what's the matter? I've brought a new upgrade for Snowball.”
    “Does it need O-P-E-R-A-T-I-N-G?” asked Paul making sure Snowball didn't recognise the word.
    “A little bit, in his paws. What have you got to tell me?”
    “Wait a second. Snowball, go have a rest for an hour. You want to be fully ready for the upgrade.”
    “YES master!” said Snowball who had become over excited ever since Copper had arrived. Snowball disappeared up the staircase.
    “Come on Copper! Listen!” Paul told Copper what he had agreed on with his parents.
    “That's a wonderful idea!” he said when Paul had finished.
    “Yes. Would you love to come with me when I buy it?” asked Paul.
    “Oh yes. Could you drop Snowball at my house after? You can bring it, or her, to my house later.”
    “Ok. Let's go! Snowball will be up soon.” Both boys mounted their SS and headed in the direction of the central city.”
    “How much further?” asked Copper.
    “About 3 minutes,” replied Paul. After a few more minutes the two boys arrived at Jason's pet shop. After a while Paul left Copper looking at some REAL mice and went to the counter.
    “They all look identical to Claw.” Copper to himself. Soon they left for home. Copper sent his speeder to Paul's house on automatic pilot and rode on Paul's Speeder. Paul drove and Copper held the surprise. When they got home, Copper was  greeted uproariously by Snowball. Paul managed to hopped off with the surprise unseen by Snowball.
    “Master Copper! Master Copper! When will you give me the upgrade? I've been waiting for hours! What's the upgrade? What's the upgrade? What? What is it?! What...” Paul cut him off.
    “Snowball! Copper is going to take you to his house to upgrade you! But BEHAVE yourself! Or else you won't get those donuts with green icing on them!” said Paul not turning around once. Snowball didn't realise this funny behaviour. He just yelped for joy and bounded up on to Copper's speeder which had just arrived.
    “See you later Copper.”
    “Bye.” Snowball went to Copper's house and nearly drowned Claw with licks.
    “He's over excited,” said Copper to Claw, who was drying himself off with his Master's mini fan.
    “I can see that.”

    Later Paul came back to Copper's house. He was surprised to see Snowball shooting around the room with Claw, a meter off the ground!
    “Oh, hi Master. Watch this!” he said and proceeded to do a back flip in the air.
    “How  are you doing that?” asked Paul ducking as Snowball zoomed straight over the top of him.
    “Master Copper helped me,” said Snowball, and Claw nodded his head quickly.    “Yes, I'm going to the moon tonight.” he said shooting right through Snowball's paws. Just then Copper walked into the room only to be nearly run over by Snowball.
    “Whoa! Snowball! I told you to be careful! Oh, Hi Paul.”
    “Hi, how is he hovering?”
    “EAPADS.” said Copper.
    “What?!?”
    “EAPADS,” repeated Copper. “Electro Air Pads.”
    “How do they work?” asked Paul.
    “I'll tell you later, where is she?”
    “I put her in the garage. I'd better go before Snowball hears her. Snowball! Come here! We're going!”
    “Oh, Master! Just five more minutes!” said the dog zooming up the staircase.
    “No Snowball, now!” But Snowball was already in the lounge room, not paying any attention to Paul's calling. “Copper, can you help?”
    “Yes, I think I can,” he said, with a grin. “Here, take this remote. Press the orange button, aiming at a pad, and it will turn off. If you press the red one it turns off all of them. You have to point it at them remember.”
    “Really? I don't really want him to break every bone in his body by hitting the floor. But I don't mind...”
    “Hurry up, Paul! It is getting late.”
    “Ok.” Paul aimed the remote at Snowball, who just entered the room at that moment, and pressed the orange button twice. Turning off his front two pads. The dog pawed franticly at the air before turning upside-down and landing with a forward roll on the floor. Paul turned off the other two pads and called to Snowball.
    “Come ON Snowball.”
    “Ohh, but Master!” said Snowball looking at each pad carefully to see what was wrong.
    “Snowball! There might be Sausages at home for tea!” said Paul walking towards the door. Snowball's eyes flashed green and he sat up straight before bounding out the door. “See you early  tomorrow morning, bye.”
    “Bye.”
Paul stayed up late after Lily had gone to bed hanging up decorations and balloons.

Chapter Seventeen: Lily's birthday!

    Paul got up quickly at 6:20 and quietly escaped out the house. He decided to take his hover board. It was quieter than his Sand Speeder and he could bring home the surprise more easily.    He arrived at Copper's house and looked around for him.
    “Where is he?” said Paul to himself. Then Paul heard a squeaking coming from Copper's programming dome. Just then Copper came out.
    “I thought I heard a hover. She's sleeping in my bedroom. I'll go get her.”

    Soon Paul arrived at home and was greeted by a very excited Snowball.
    “Oh Master! Wow! Another...”
    “Snowball!” hissed Paul. “Be quiet! She might be awake!
“No. She's not, I kept on checking on her to make sure she stayed asleep.”
    “Still, be quiet. What's the time?”
    “7:15,” replied Snowball.
    “I must hurry.” Soon Paul was ready and the surprise was wrapped.
    “Ok you can go get her now. Nicely!”
    “Ok. Lily! Lily! Wake up! It's your birthday!” shouted Snowball leaping up onto her bed and then bouncing around on it. Lily sat up with a jump.
    “Snowball!” she sighed. “I was having a good dream then! It's Saturday isn't it. What's the date?”
    “Oh, only the fourth of September.” Lily thought for a minute. Then she squealed.
    “Oh it's my birthday today isn't it! Hooray! Mum! Dad! Wake up!”
    “Lily don't wake them up! There trying to sleep,” said Snowball.
    “Well I was trying to sleep and you woke me up!”
    “Did I?”
    “Yes.”
    “Why?”
    “I don't know.”
    “I thought I heard you murmuring something about chocolate cake,” said Snowball. “Or maybe it was just what I was thinking about.”

    Soon everyone was on his parents' bed. Snowball gave Lily his picture that he had drawn.
    “Thankyou Snowball! It's great!” she gave Snowball a hug. Next her parents gave her a kit for making a bone Pillow.
    “This can be for you Danion. When I make it.” Then Paul gave his present. Lily unwrapped it and then opened the box. The surprise leaped out and started licking Lily.
    “A dog! My very own dog! Oh thankyou Paul! This is a wonderful present! Is she a Cocker Spaniel?” asked Lily hugging it. Paul nodded. Paul and his parents in turn gave her other things needed for it. Like a, sparkly light blue collar, a lead, a few toys, and a giant basket.
    “Why is the basket so big?” she asked.
    “So she and Danion can share it. The same for the bone pillow.”
    “Oh great! She and Danion might mate! And they might have puppies!”
    “What will you call her?”
    “I don't know, yet. I just want it to be an ordinary name. Like Danion.
    “Ok. Is it breakfast time yet, Dad?”
    “Yes.” Lily spent quite some time thinking up a name for her new dog. She sat down in the lounge and let her dog up on her knee. Danion came up and soon became great friends with her.
    “Thought of a name yet?” asked Paul coming into the room.
    “No. I mean, kind of. Yes actually I will call her that.”
    “What?”
    “I like Hannah.”
    “Hannah, that is a nice name. Great.”
    “Thankyou so much Paul. I love her.”
    “That's ok.”
    “Isn't that the tenth time you've said that?” asked Snowball hovering into the room on his EAPADS.
    “I think so, but that's ok. I loved giving it to her.” So Hannah became her name. She loved playing with Danion and made very good friends. That afternoon they went out to Cynor Park again with the rest of the Gizmos.
    “Hi Paul, hi Lily. Happy birthday! What did you get for your...” said Copper.
    “Oh!” squealed Kodi. “You've got another Cocker Spaniel!”
    “Paul gave it to me for my birthday.”
    “What's her name?” asked Copper.
    “She's called Hannah,” said Lily.
    “She's great!” said Kodi kneeling down and cuddling the dog. Hannah licked her cheek.
    “Oh!” she squealed. Lily laughed. Then Hannah went over to everyone else and greeted them.
    “Let's go sit down for a bit. Over there, it's nice and shady,” said Cell.
    “Ok.” Everyone went over to the shade and sat down on Jazz's fold up picnic rug. Danion and Hannah lay down beside each other inbetween Paul and Lily.
    “She's lovely.” said Kodi, staring at the dogs who were now rolling about together.
    “Happy Birthday Lily,” said Cell handing her a present.
    “Thankyou!” She opened it and picked up what was inside. There was three flowery patterned vases.
    “They're beautiful! Thankyou Cell!”
    “They're for your room. I thought it would look nice on you dressing table. The rest of them gave her a present as well. Comet and Kodi gave her a kit for painting light bulbs. Copper gave her a machine that you hang on your roof and it projects light around the room.
    “This is also for your room. It's quite pretty.”
    “Thankyou so much, Copper!”  Jazz and Jodi gave her several seedlings for her garden.
    “There's...fennel, leeks, watermelon, strawberries, appleberries and blueberries.”
    “Great! I've been wanting some berries and watermelon. Thankyou! Thanks everyone. They're lovely.”

Chapter Eighteen: A Narrow Escape.

    “Where's Hannah?” asked Kodi.
    “Just over there playing roly-poly with Danion,” said Paul. Snowball who had been lying quietly ever since they sat down. Suddenly raised his head and growled softly. Paul looked at him in surprise.
    “What's up, Snowball?”
    “I sense danger. I am getting the same readings of when the second dome blew up. It's very faint though.”
    “Hmm, Copper have you had a call from Mr Seeto?”
    “No. Why?”
    “Just wondering.” Suddenly Snowball leapt up and growled, startling Paul.
    “It's very strong now! Yes it definitely is another bomb! And...it's got three minutes till it goes off!” Paul gasped.
    “Come ON Copper! Let's sprint!” said Paul standing up and beckoning for Snowball to come too. Paul sprinted down the hill, followed by Copper and Snowball. As Paul came close to the entrance of the third dome he had a hard time getting in. People came pouring out of the doorway. Eventually he got through and stopped to look around. He spotted a dark blue clock kind of thing fastened to a giant capacitor. Paul ran over to it and was joined by Copper and Snowball a moment later.
    “Can you deactivate it, Copper?”
    “I think so.”
    “Quickly!” Copper opened a hatch in the side of it and began to type on a mini eight button keypad.” The seconds ticked past. 2 minutes left...1 and a half...1 minute...30 seconds...20 seconds...10 seconds...Suddenly Paul pushed Copper aside and quickly cut the bomb from the capacitor with the laser in his power pole. He snatched it up and sprinted through the door. Then gathering all his strength he frisbeed the bomb as high as he could. 3...2...1...BOOOOOM! The bomb exploded in the air. A massive ball of energy and light lit up the whole area around the power station. Though it was high up, it still had enough power to knock Paul down. Bits of the metal rained down smoking and red hot. Copper and Snowball ran out ran out from the dome and Kodi, Comet, Cell, Jazz and Jodi all ran down the hill on the other side.
    “Are you alright?” asked Copper pulling Paul to his feet.
    “Yes. I'm sorry I shoved you but I thought it was the only thing to do.”
    “That's ok I probably wouldn't have finished deactivating it in ten seconds.”
    “Paul!” shouted Cell running up on the other side.
    “Are you ok?” asked Comet arriving as well.
    “That was quite a spectacular explosion,” said Jazz, coming up with Jodi.
    “Yes...Hey! Who's that over there?” asked Jodi. They all looked. A man was standing in the doorway of the dome. He looked at the children and then ran for a cream coloured Hover Car.
    “Hey! Stop! He's one of the men who captured me! He's running for his hovercar! Wait a second...It's the Racer-X! Stop! STOP!” shouted Paul activating his Power Pole and running towards the man. The man jumped in the Hover Car and activated it.
    “Look out Paul!” shouted Lily. The man nearly ran over Paul, but he jumped back just in time.
    “Hey!” Paul reached in his pocket and pulled out a STD. He threw it towards the Hover Car and. It landed and stuck on its boot just before it shot away. There was silence for a bit. Then Lily shouted and ran up to Paul.
    “Paul! Are you ok?”
    “Yes, thanks Lily, I'm fine. I forgot that Racer-X's were Super Sonic.”
    “What did you throw at it?” asked Cell.
    “A STD. Sticky Tracking Device. We should be able to track where it goes.”
    “Arrow is Super Sonic as well. Remember? We could send him as well. Just in case the man finds the STD and takes it off.” Cell reached in his pocketed and pressed a button on a remote. “He'll be here in a mome...”
    “SCREEEEECH!” Arrow arrived and perched on Cells shoulder.
    “Arrow. An enemy has just left in a Racer-X. At Super Sonic Speed. Go after him. Don't destroy his vehicle. Just see where he takes you. Alright go Arrow! Go!”
    “Remember it's a man not a robot!” Paul called after him. There was silence for a while. Snowball broke the silence.
    “Are we watching the sun go down?” He said looking at Paul and then the sky and at Paul again. It took a moment for Paul realise what Snowball had said.
    “You can if you want. And you can watch the moon come up too. See if you can see Claw. He said he was going to the moon last night. Well, come on everyone, meet up at Copper's programming dome.”
    “When?” asked Jazz.
    “As soon as you can.”
    “Ok, see you soon.” Everyone left on their Sand Speeders. It was difficult for Lily to make Hannah sit still on the speeder. In the end Lily had to let Hannah get on her knee.
    “We really need to make something to make Hannah sit still on my Speeder,” Lily told Paul when she got home. “She kept on going near the edge and I was afraid that she would fall off.”
    “I'll see what I can do.”
    Later at 1:45 Paul, Lily and the dogs arrived at Copper's house.
    “Hi, Copper.”
    “Oh, hallo. Comet and Kodi have just arrived.”
    “Have you found anything yet?”
    “No, we were waiting for you and everyone else.”
    “Ok. Here come Jazz and Jodi.”
    “Hello. Are we late?”
    “No. Cell still isn't here.”
    “Oh yes I am.” said Cell gliding in on his Hover Board.
    “Oh, sorry.”
    “Am I last?” asked Cell.
    “Yes, but that doesn't matter. Come into the dome.”

Chapter Nineteen: Arrow's Second Flight.

 Everyone walked in. Comet and Kodi were already there, looking at a screen showing from Arrow's eyes. Everyone walked Closer. Cell put on his Mini Microphone and connected to Arrow.
    “Can you hear me Arrow?” he asked.
    “Yes Master. I've been flying for roughly an hour. I caught him up pretty easily. I think he dropped back his speed a little bit when he entered GC Mega Hover road.”
    “He's on a Mega Hover Road?!?” asked Cell. “You mean he's not in Coyote City?”
    “Oh no. We left Coyote City about 50 minutes ago. We're nearly at Gigatrone now. Tix, Katemoreon, and Neonite are also quite close. He could be going to any of them.”
    “Really? Hey everyone! They're nearly at Gigatrone! Keep him in sight, Arrow. Good boy.”
    “Is that Gigatrone there?” asked Jodi pointing at the screen. Everyone eventually saw some towers on the horizon on the screen.
    “Yes I think it is,” said Copper. Everyone squinted and saw a silver speck on the road below.
    “That's him.” The minutes went by and no one really said anything. Hannah didn't like the silence. She gave a little whine and put her paw up on Lily's knee.
    “It's ok Hannah, were just waiting for something. That's all.”
    “Master, we're just entering Gigatrone,”  said Arrow.
    “Ok. Follow him until he stops. Can you upload a list of directions of where he went?” Cell asked.
    “Yes, here they are Master.”  A moment later Copper pointed to the screen above. Directions were appearing every now and then. Paul read them out.
    “Off-ramp L5, left on to Pad Street, past intersection, right on to Tondo Street, left on to Beaton Drive...and north along the Main Street.”
    “Master. He's going into the underground Hover park of the Gigatrone Research Station.”
    “Ok, thanks. Keep an eye on him.”
    “Yes Master.” Arrow swooped down and perched in a tree above the entrance.
    “He's good at following,” said Snowball. “Master? Could you make me Super Sonic?”
    “Maybe. What do we do now?” asked Paul.
    “Go to Gigatrone?” suggested Comet. “No. It's too far.”
    “That's not a bad idea, actually.” said Paul.
    “What! That's an hour trip, Paul. And we would probably have to have an adult with us,” said Jodi.
    “Maybe. I've got a grand excuse. My Uncle Nathan lives in Gigatrone. Dad wanted to give him a blueprint of some place. He just hasn't had the time to do it. We could go there and give it to him.”
    “Well. It is a good one, but...our parents wouldn't think it necessary for us all to go there.”
    “We're going to the fair! We're going to the fair!” shouted Snowball bouncing around.
    “What fair?” asked Paul.
    “Didn't you just say we were going to the fair?”
    “Is there a fair on?”
    “Master! Stop pretending you don't know. The robotics fair, at Gigatrone.” Paul just stood there staring at nothing for a moment.
    “I've paralysed him!” said Snowball.
    “What? Oh, yes. Is there really a fair at Gigatrone?”
    “Yes. haven't I told you?”
    “No. That's it! Let's all ask if we can go! Go and ask your Mothers.”
    “I don't have a Mother,” frowned Snowball.
    “See you later.” Everyone went home, and asked their Mothers if they could go to the robotics fair at Gigatrone. Soon it was arranged for everyone to go on Monday.
    
    Later everyone met up again at Paul's house.
    “We can go on Monday,” said Jazz.
    “So can we,” said Comet.
    “I think we all can,” said Paul. “I think it would be nice to enter some of our inventions.”
    “Really? I don't think they would get a prize,” said Cell.
    “That doesn't matter.”
    “What should we enter?” asked Kodi.
    “Well, what contests are there?”
    “I've brought a little information about it,” said Copper. “There are...robot contests, examples are...helping machines, animals and human robots. And...contests for around the house inventions. Um...Enjoyment inventions. The fun and Games Contest. One for...Amazing Inventions. And...vehicles.” he looked up at the others.
    “We could enter our animals,” said Jodi.
    “And my EAPADS,” said Copper.
    “What are they?” asked Comet. Copper explained.
    “Great!” said Paul. “Any other ideas?”
    “Our MCRs,” said Cell.
    “You could enter my bone,” said Snowball. “It's sure to win first prize.”
    “No, Snowball.”

Chapter Twenty: At the Gigatrone fair.

    “Master!?” said Snowball. “Are we nearly there?”
    “Snowball, we've only been travelling for 5 minutes!”
    “And...?”
    “It takes more than an hour to get there!” Snowball nearly fainted. “See if you can see the Big Bone.”
    “What? Is there a Big Bone?!?”
    “Well...if there is the Big Fork and the Big Wheel, why can't ther...”
    “Don't forget the Big Plate of Steak.”
    “Yes that too...anyway it's a Big Plate of Cake, not steak. Well if there's them why can't there be the Big Bone? Or the Big Basket?” Snowball sat up straight and narrowed his eyes. Paul heard him say...
    “I'll see them. And the Big Donut, and the Big Pancake, and  the big Blueberry Muffin.” They travelled for a while and didn't see much except desert and other speeders. Snowball didn't see any of the BIG objects much to his disappointment, but he did see a white rock flash by which he was convinced was a bone. Soon they started passing signs.
    “What do the signs say? Master?” asked Snowball letting the wind whizz through his fur.
    “They say how far it is to Gigatrone.”
    “And...?”
    “And what?”
    “How far is  it to Gigatrone?” Whoosh! Another sign went past.
    “That one said ten more K's left.”
    “What is that in minutes?”
    “A few.”
    “Two? Is that one more L?”
    “L?”
    “If there are K's, why can’t there be L's? Or M's? Or even N's?”
    “Because K's stand for something.”
    “What?”
    “Kilometres.”
    “Oh.”

    Soon the towers of Gigatrone rose up infront of them.
    “Is that Gigatrone?” Paul asked Copper over the radio.
    “Yup. We'll be there in a minute.”
    “What did that sign say?!?” asked Snowball.
    “Welcome.” replied Paul.
    “To what?”
    “What do you think?” Everyone stopped and parked on a roadside park.”
    “That was a long trip,” said Jodi taking a drink.
    “What do we do first?” asked Kodi.
    “I'll go see Arrow,” said Cell.
    “I...I'll go quickly drop the blueprints at my uncle's house,” said Paul.
    “And I'll go to the butchers,” announced Snowball.
    “No you won't. Your coming with me to Uncle Nathan's house.” Snowball went into a sulk.
    “Uncle Nathan said he's having sausages for tea and we can stay if we want,” said Lily.
    “That's convenient,” said Copper.
    “That's kind of him. I love travelling at night,” said Kodi.
    “That's wonderful!” said Snowball. “Tell him I'll have seven.”
    “Seven what?”
    “Seven Sausages!”
    “You will not!”
    “I might.”
    Soon everyone was at the fair entrance. Paul had given the blueprints to his uncle and Cell had checked up on Arrow who was sleeping with his head under his wing in the tree above the entrance of the Research Station. The speeder hadn't left the underground park according to Arrow.
    “Is there a pancakes stand, Master?” asked Snowball.
    “Or a cheese stand?” asked Claw.
    “No. Where should we go first?” asked Paul. Copper looked at his watch.
    “The animal contest is about to be judged. We should hurry and get some of our animals in.”
    “Why only some?” asked Kodi.
    “If we enter them all in, in one contest most of them won't get any prize.”
    “Oh. Ok.”
    “Which few of you animals want to go first?” asked Paul. Snowball immediately jumped up.
    “Oh! Me! Me! Pick me! I'll go first! Me! Me! Oh Master! Please!”
    “There might be dog biscuits.” Snowball cowered back just as fast as he had jumped up.
    “We would please,” said Claw.
    “Who?”
    “Me, and Shadow.”
    “Ok.” Everyone had a good time at the fair. Claw, Arrow, Slither and Creeper got first prize, and Snowball, Scuffle, and Shadow got second prize. Copper's EAPADS won third prize and a trophy for the amazing inventions contest. And the MRC won second in the Fun and Games Contest.
    “That was great fun!” said Cell flopping down on a bench next to the street.
    “Yes. Phew! It's hot today. What's the temperature, Claw?”
    “31ºC,” replied the mouse.
    “Let's go in to that restaurant,” said Paul pointing at a shop on the other side of the road.
    “Ok. I vote we get a nice drink and some lunch.” Everyone walked into the restaurant.
    “What will everyone have?” asked Paul.
    “A nice milk-shake please,” said Kodi. The other nodded their heads. “What about lunch?”
    “I'll have everything,” muttered Snowball who hadn't been in a very good mood since he had won only second prize.
    “Cheer up Snowball. They might have sausages,” said Paul.

Chapter Twenty One: Discoveries at the Research Station.

    Everyone had a good lunch and enjoyed looking at each other's medals.
    “Wow! Your trophy is huge Copper! It's even got...hey wait a minute! It's a model of the EAPADS! How come?”
    “I let them know what we were entering and sent a 3D model of each robot and machine. See look your medal has a flattish picture of Shadow. And my medal has a picture of Claw on it. The same for everyone.”
    “Wow, cool!”
    “Well everybody. We've had a pretty good day at the fair. What shall we do now? We've got the whole afternoon.”
    “From when till when?” asked Jazz.
    “Well...it's quarter past one right now, and we should probably be at our uncle Nathan's house at six or six thirty.”
    “Right....um...”
    “Master what does um mean?” asked Snowball.
    “It means that the person who said it is thinking.”
    “How about we go check up the Research Station?” asked Jodi.
    “Sure.” Everyone mounted their speeders and, guided by Arrow, headed towards the Station.
    “Here we are.” Everyone went in the underground hoverpark and parked in a corner.
    “Let's go to the main desk.” They walked towards the lifts and crowded in.”
    “What floor would you like, children? ” said the lift.
    “Here's a screen showing the floors and...Whoa! It's 300 stories high!”
    “Wow. Which one is the main office?”
    “10.”
    “Ok. Go to floor ten.”
    “Ok.” The lift started rising.
    “Whoa! My stomach is still at the floor below!” said Jodi.
    “I wish the lifts at shopping were as polite as this,” said Comet.
    “Yes. Lifts like this would go very fast and have lots of safety equipment,” said Cell.
    “What kind of equipment?” asked Lily.
    “Oh, rails, and cables and things.”
    “Here we are, floor ten.” Everyone went up to the main desk.
    “Hello, what can I do for you today?” the man asked.
    “We're looking for a man called James Hawk. Is he here?”
    “Let me just check.” Snowball was up on the desk and was trying to peer at the screen.
    “Your dog seems to be interested in the screen.” Snowball nodded.
    “I can't quite see it yet.” said Snowball squinting. The man jumped.
    “Sorry. He's robotic.”
    “That's ok. No...sorry, there is no Hawk here. Is he a friend of yours?” Paul glanced at Copper.
    “Well...not necessarily...we just want to find out something about him.”
    “Well I'm sorry I can't help you. But...”
    “Hi. Are you wanting to see James Hawk?” said a woman appearing behind the man.
    “Yes. Do you know him?”
    “He came in on Saturday wanting to see a man called Andrew Dublon.”
    “What floor did he go to?”
    “Well let's see...he went to the Electricity and Power lab. Which is floor…186.”
    “Ok, thanks.” Everyone walked towards the lift.
    “I'm hot again,” said Cell.
    “I'll go ask if there's any place to get a drink. A moment later he came back.
    “There's a little restaurant on floor 1.”
    “Ok. Let's go.” Everyone hopped back in the lift.
    “Go to floor 1,” Paul told the lift.
    “Ok, going to floor 1.”  Whoosh! The lift shot downwards.
    “Oh!” groaned everyone. It took a while to get down to the bottom floor, but it was fun. Kodi discovered that she could jump really high without much effort. And she only slowly went down again. Jazz was in the air when they reached the bottom floor. He hit the soft spring floor.
    “Ouch!”
    “Poor Jazz,” said Paul.
    “There it is,” said Cell pointing to a shop on the other side of the building.
    “Can you five go in and order some drinks or something? Me, Copper and Comet will quickly go up and find James,” said Paul.
    “Can I come too?” asked Snowball.
    “And me?” asked Claw. Paul nodded.
    “Ok. Come on everyone.” Copper, Comet, and Paul went back in the lift. All the way up to floor 186!” Meanwhile the man at the main desk had given James a call to let him know that some children wanted to see him.
    “What did he look like?”
    “Well he had blond hair and he looked like a boy around age ten or twelve.”
    “What! Ok, thanks.” James rung off. He called for one of the rail-inspector bots.
    “Go and delay the lift! I don't care what you do to it, just don't let it reach here!” The robot obeyed and went to the lift shaft doors. Round the left and right side of the shaft were some doors which opened to the safety ladders which the Lift robots used to inspect the safety rails each morning. The robot opened one of the doors and started climbing down the ladder. When he got about half way down he got out a saw. Suddenly...WHOOOOOSH!...The lift shot past the robot. It didn't seem to notice. The robot cut and bent all four rails, before heading back up the shaft and returning to the Electricity and Power lab. Paul, Comet, and Copper were inquiring about James.
    “He doesn't seem to be here,” said Copper.
    “Or Andrew Dublon,” said Comet.
    “No. Well we'll just go down to the restaurant again. I'm boiling!”
    “Oh! Blow! I believe I've left my MGS on a bench back there. I'll only be a minute. You go on ahead,” said Paul.

Chapter twenty two: A Lift Shaft Accident!

    “Cool,” said Copper who was looking at the screen. “This screen wirelessly knows what floor we're at.”
    “Really? That's....WHOA!” The two boys were flung sideways. They hit one of the lift walls, HARD!
    “OUCH! Help!” The lift was now bouncing about, jolting and swerving wildly! The boys were bounced about inside. All sort of creaking and screeches were coming from the lift.
    “I think...Ouch!...I think the lift has come off its rails!” said Copper. CRACK!  Something broke in the lift's roof.
    “What was that!?!” asked Comet rubbing his head. Suddenly...
KERBOOOM!!!
    Half the lift was blown up, and the boys were once again thrown against a wall.
    “OUCH!” said Copper.
    “Hey! What's that...oh no. It's blown the lift apart!”
    “Watch out!” said Copper ducking as the electricity cable swung down sparking dangerously.
    “Come on!” shouted Comet climbing up the cable.
    “What are you doing?!?” shouted back Copper. “We're no safer up there then we are down here!”
    “We can think of something!” said Comet. “We have to!” Copper and Comet climbed up and looked around.
    “Come on!” Mean while Paul had found his MGS and was heading back for the lift. When he saw the emergency light on the wall flashing violently he ran forwards and tried to get the doors apart. When they wouldn't open he went round the side, busted the lock on the safety ladder door, opened it and jumped in. While he was falling he reached in his pocket and pulled out an invention that they had made a while ago.
    “These Friction Pads had better work,” he said slipping them on his hands and gripping the ladder as he rocketed down the shaft. Snowball found his EAPADS had been reactivated. He turned them on and dived down after Paul. Paul looked down the shaft and saw a bright flash. He was slowly catching up to it. When he got closer he saw Copper and Comet on the roof, half of the lift was gone! It was held on by two of the five safety cables, still jolting and swerving wildly.
    “Copper! Comet! I'm here!” The two boys looked up in surprise to see Paul gradually floating down towards them.
    “Hi Paul!” Paul landed on the lift roof next to the other two boys.
    “What happened?”
    “The lift blew up and came off the rails.”
    “How do we stop?” asked Copper.
    “Um...OUCH!” A big beam had hit Paul on the head. Snowball was pushing it.
    “Hi Master. I thought this might come in useful.” Paul thought for a moment. Then he said...
    “Ok I've got a plan.”
    “Copper can you go below and bring up the screen. I believe it wirelessly shows how many floors we are above the bottom floor.”
    “Ok.”
    “Comet. Can you go gather some of the cables, the loose ones.”
    “Yes.” Paul got out his Power Pole and cut two thin slices of the beam off. Then he bent them into a hook shape with a ring at the other end. He took the cables from Comet and tied one end of both of them to the rings and the other end of both of them to the middle of the beam. Meanwhile Copper was reading the floors out.
    “Floor 10...5...0...-5...-10...-15...-20...-25...” SNAP! One of the last safety cables broke.
    “Here goes,” said Paul. He swung the hooks round and round by the cables and suddenly let them go flying up towards the safety ladders. CLANK! Both hooks bounced off.
    “-90...-95...-100...” SNAP! The last safety cable broke. Now the lift was free falling!
    “Quickly everyone! Get on the beam!” shouted Paul. Comet ran and sat on it. Copper ran and accidentally tripped falling head first down the hole in the lift's roof.
    “COPPER!” screamed Comet and Paul. Copper hit the concrete floor with the lift about ten stories above him. He saw that the lift shaft doors were just closing. He heaved himself through the gap before the doors sealed shut. Up on the lift, Paul sat on the other end of the beam and had one last go at throwing the hooks. Both the hooks caught on the rungs and held the beam in the air, allowing the lift to fall out beneath them.

SMASH! KERBOOM!!!

    The lift crashed into the concrete floor. Copper, who was lying down on the floor just outside the shaft, ducked as the two lift doors were blown off and went sailing over his head. They flew towards the restaurant in which the other Gadget Gizmos were watching in amazement. CRASH! The lift doors shattered the glass window and were sent sailing towards Jazz, Jodi, Cell and the girls. The boys dived on the girls as the lift doors sailed over them and crashed into the restaurant wall. The boys in the restaurant got up and ran out and over to the lift shaft.
    “Copper! Are you ok?!?”
    “I think so. My ankle really hurts though. Ugh!”
    “Jazz! Jodi! Come over here!” Cell was staring up the shaft. Paul and Comet were hanging by two cables, sitting on a beam. Paul sent Snowball down into the wreckage to find a bit of rope of cable. Snowball flew back up a moment later with some cable. Paul tied that on to the middle of the beam as well and let it hang down to the floor below. The two boys slid down.
    “That was amazing, scary, and dangerous!” said Paul rubbing a bruise on his head.
    “Your telling me!” said Comet looking at a bruise on his leg. “And painful!”
    “Um...Cell...could you get someone down here to look at Copper's ankle?”
    “I rather think we  need to get up there.” Everyone crowded into the second lift. Comet was helping Copper, who was trying not to step on his hurting ankle. Soon the Police arrived and inquired about the lift crash. A doctor had a look at Copper's foot.
    “It's just a light sprain,” he told Paul later.
    “That's good. I mean...that's bad...I mean it's good that it's only lightly sprained, and bad that it is sprained at all.” Comet and Copper gave the police a full story of the crash, and Paul gave his side of it. The police inspected the rails, and found the damage. After that, they interviewed the people at the front desk, and the man made a thousand calls to the labs and offices around the building. Then the rail-inspector bots were inspected and here they found the answer. Rail-Inspector bot A9 had memory in its chip of cutting and purposely bending the safety rails. The Gigatrone police inspector told the children to go home and that he would inform the Coyote City police inspector. The Gadget Gizmos proceeded to go to Paul's Uncle Nathan's house. Snowball wrote a note and put it on the kitchen bench saying how many sausages he would have. Unfortunately Paul found it first.

Chapter Twenty Three: Explanations and a catch.

    “That was lovely.” said Kodi leaning back in her chair.
    “Mmmmm...” agreed Snowball, who had actually had chocolate cake instead of sausages. They helped wash up, and then all sat down in the lounge.
    “Now. Time for that surprise.” said Paul's Uncle.
    “What? A surprise?” asked Paul in surprise.
    “Is it for me?” asked Snowball.
    “It's for everyone.”
    “When does a dog ever get its own surprise?” muttered Snowball. Uncle Nathan brought a box out from somewhere behind the lounge.
    “What is it?” asked Kodi, sliding off the lounge for a closer look.
    “It's a kit. For you to build.”
    “Oh! I've seen this kind of series before,” said Copper. “It's a kit for building robotic creepy creatures.”
    “Probably wouldn't scare me.” said Snowball who soon lay down and daydreamed about a bone bigger then Paul's bedroom. He just couldn't manage to get to the juiciest place up high. The children spent about half an hour building the kit. It was a giant spider that walked about when you turned it on. There was a little remote that would control where it went. It could even climb up on the walls and roof, and Kodi discovered another button on the back of the remote that made the spider stick a small transparent plunger on to the roof or wall and then lower itself down on a thin strand of white cable. Lily made it walk over to Snowball and then climb on his head. Snowball woke up from his daydreaming and nearly jumped out of his fur.
    “AHHH! Help! Master! A spider touched me! Help!”
    “It's only robotic Snowball.”
    “Oh well then, that makes it even better. It could of killed me!” Soon Copper looked at his watch.
    “Oh no! It's almost 8:00! I told my mum I would be home at eight thirty or quarter to nine!”
    “Sorry, I lost track of time too,” said Uncle Nathan.
    “Thanks very much for tea, Uncle Nathan. The sausages were great,” said Paul.
    “And the chocolate cake,” said Snowball. Everyone went home and nearly fell asleep in the moonlight.
    In the morning The Gadget Gizmos had to explain a lot. Copper had to explain his sprained ankle. Paul had a small cut across his chin, Comet had a big bruise on his forehead, and Jazz had a cut in his hand from the glass window in the restaurant. Paul also had to explain to his mother why the inspector came over that afternoon. Paul, Lily, the three dogs, and Paul's mum came and sat down in the lounge room while the inspector told them a brief update of what they think had caused the accident.
    “From what we know, a man called um...oh I've forgotten his name.”
    “James Hawk.”
    “Yes, how did you know?”
    “Because he has built a Racer-X with stolen plans, because he tried to blow up the third dome, if not the other's as well, because he practically ran me over. And because he's the one that made us go to Gigatrone.”
    “Well...I think children can find some things out that the police either can't or just don't.” After all the explanations, the Gadget Gizmos took a picnic to their favourite picnic ground...on the shaded hill, just above the power station. They played about and let Danion and Hannah walk over them. Just then the inspector walked up and asked Paul to draw a quick sketch of the bomb. After that the inspector asked Paul to show him which capacitor it was fastened to. Just as they were walking out of the dome, Paul saw a silver object out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look at it, but there was only a blue, red, and cream coloured hover car. Wait a second...a cream coloured Hover Car!
    “That's familiar! Over there! That, I'm very sure, is the Racer-X!” Just then a man ran out the dome and towards the speeder.
    “That's James Hawk! Quickly inspector! Catch him!” James pulled out a shock gun and aimed it at the inspector. Suddenly Snowball, who had been creeping away, launched a spinning metal disc. It sliced the gun in two. James suddenly ran up to the car. It roared to life and began to reverse out the park. Copper tossed Claw his IRPD as the mouse leapt up on to the shiny vehicle. A moment later it crunched down on to the pavement. The inspector ran up and held James in a tight grip. Soon he was taken to the police head-quarters, and questioned. Paul and the Gadget Gizmos went home. The rest of the day went past and everyone met up again the next day at Jazz and Jodi's farm. Everyone was having a milk shake made by Mrs Quartz. The inspector came that afternoon and said that James had admitted there was a group of people on Kosiuskan who were trying to make an army, complete with Racer-Xs and trained robots with Power Poles.
    “Unfortunately they do have the plans for the Power Pole which is a dangerous weapon. The other bad news is that James won't admit where the group is. We'll probably have to track them down.”
    
     The weeks went past and Jodi turned 10 on the 19 of September.

Chapter twenty four: A lovely finish.

    School soon began and they met up with show'n'tell and other outings together.
    One Friday Paul and Lily finished their school work. Lily went into the lounge room for a second to play with Hannah and Danion, but when she saw the basket, she stopped in surprise.
    “OH! Paul! Danion and Hannah have had puppies! Oh Paul do come!” Paul came running up the stairs.
    “Lovely!” Paul and Lily lay down and fondled them.
    “What shall we call them?” asked Lily.
    “Well we don't know whether they're boys or girls yet.”
    “There's two boys and a girl,” said Snowball who knew quite a bit about dogs.
    “Well then...what shall we call them?”
    “Let's call the girl Daisy,” said Lily.
    “Um...Yes. And what about this one? Um...Sparks? Sparkle?”
    “Sparker?” suggested Lily.
    “Yes. That's a good one. What about...um...oh...what shall we call the last one?” Paul looked at the third puppy who was now shooting around the basket. Paul grinned.
    “I think Rocket would suit him.”
    “Really? They're lovely! Daisy, Sparker, and Rocket!”
    “Children have you finished your school wo...oh! What a nice surprise,” said their mother coming into the room.
    “Danion and Hannah have had three puppies, Mother!” said Lily cuddly Daisy.
    “Yes that's great. Have you named them?”
    “Yes Mother. That one is called Rocket, and that one is Sparker, and this one, that I'm holding, is Daisy.”
    “Have you finished your school?”
    “Yes! I have, and Paul said he was just finishing.”
    “Yes I'm finished.”
    “Well remember it's show'n'tell this afternoon.”
    “Oh yes Mother,” said Paul. “Who's house is it at?”
    “I think it's at our house today.”
    “Oh, goody!”
    “What are you going to show?”
    “Well I'm holding one of the things I'm going to show,” said Paul.
    “Me to,” said Lily.
    “Ok, well don't forget to get ready.” Paul and Lily had great fun playing with the puppies. They built a small playground out of boxes and blocks. Rocket tore around non-stop, through the tunnels and over the bridges and platforms. Soon Paul and Lily left them in the basket and went out to the shops to buy a few things.
    “Three new bowls.” said Lily.
    “And leads.” added Paul.
    “And toys,” said Lily.
    “Don't forget bones,” said Snowball.
    “I vote we build a real play ground for them,” said Lily.
    “Well there is a toy section over there.” In the end Paul and Lily bought a blue, yellow, and pink bowl, an orange, blue, and purple lead, and a tunnel, a ramp, a wide circle of foam, and about ten little foam balls.
    “I hope they will like them,” said Lily.
    “I'm sure they will.”

    That afternoon everyone arrived for show'n'tell. They went by alphabetical order. Arrow went first, showing some great pictures of the view in his flights.
    “Cell's turn.” said Claw who was always impatient to have his turn. Cell showed a house plan of his house showing all the electrical cables, all the pipes and water tanks, all the beams and the structure of his house, and some information on his house saying when it was built, how long it took to complete and exact dates in which the materials arrived at the building site. Comet was next. He did a book report on a book that showed when the first Hover Car was made and how many tries it took to get it to work.
    “Master's turn.” said Claw.
    “That's enough Claw.” Copper showed a diagram on how his EAPADS worked. After that is was Claw's turn. Claw shot up to the front and then looked around nervously.
    “I'm going to tell you what I've recently written in Super Mouse and the runaway cheese.” he said in a quiet voice. Creeper had his turn. Then Jazz and Jodi had their turn. Then Kodi. Lily went next. Everyone was extremely surprised when she brought out Daisy. She also showed a picture of a flower she had drawn. Paul went next, and surprised everyone again by bringing out Rocket and Sparker. Paul also showed a model of a boat he had put together. Scuffle had his turn. Then Shadow. Then Slither. And Snowball went last.
    “I was going to show my best bone...but Master wouldn't let me. So I thought I would show you my EAPADS. He turned them on and proceeded to do stunts and flips in the air. At one point he lost control and landed head first on the coffee table.
    “Ouch! Oh very funny!” Snowball showed a picture he had drawn of the robotic spider that 'could of killed him', supposedly.
    “I'm sorry I couldn't show my best bone.”
    “Well...Snowball...you did show it last week, and the week before.”
    “Oh did I? I can't remember doing that.”
    “Is that everybody?” asked Kodi?
    “Yes. May we go and play Mother?”
    “Yes. But mind the puppies. Don't let them go outside by themselves.”
    “Yes Mother! Hands up for chasy! Hands down for Hide and Seek!” Everyone ran out the door.
    Soon everyone got tired and sat down on the grass.
    “I'm puffed! Who is...wait a second. Is that someone calling us?” asked Copper.
    “Yes your mother is, Paul.” Paul got up and came back after a moment.
    “The inspector is here,” he said. “Come on.” Everyone got up and went into the lounge room again.
    “You'll be glad to hear. That we just caught the last band of men here on Kosiuskan from the Celix Corporation. We got them in Tix.” The inspector was surprised when he saw the puppies. After all the talking, the inspector left. Paul's mother called out to them.
    “Here are some biscuits if you want a snack.”
    “Oh thanks mother!” Everyone took a biscuit and sat down on the lawn outside playing with Hannah, Danion, and the three pups.
    “I love being together!” said Kodi.
    “It's been rather exciting these last few months.”
    “It was an adventure,” said Cell.
    “And a mystery,” said Jodi.
    “What shall we call it?” asked Paul.
    “Do we name it?” asked Kodi in surprise.
    “All good adventures must have a name.”
    “Ok, what about...um...”
    “What about...it's hard to think of a name,” said Cell.
    “You could call it...a dog's life,” said Snowball.
    “How about Crystal Trouble?”
    “Well...it really is the crystal that has caused all of this, isn’t it? I think that’s a good name,” said Copper.
    “Yes,” said Jazz, Jodi, and Lily together.
    “Yes,” agreed everyone else.
    “Ruffff!” said Danion.
    “Rufff!” said Hannah.
    “Ruff!” said Rocket, Daisy, and Sparker.

THE END

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