Free The Trade by Barry Hutchison

gestured around at the Petting Zoo, and at the many shapes lurking in the trees and bushes. ‘Take your pick.’

    The Boogie Pack’s twin engines finally gave up, and Van Kleiss bounced hard against the desert floor. He had just absorbed the nanites of a three-headed bat-like Evo, and his body now resembled a balloon filled with runny custard. It made a nasty squelching sound as he rolled down a sand dune.
    â€˜N-need m-more nanites,’ he hissed as he tried to raise himself up on his bulging legs. He concentrated, trying to summon the Punk Busters, but the mechanical legs wouldn’t appear. The vast amount of new nanites he’d absorbed were interfering with his control over those he’d stolen from Rex.
    Through sheer force of will, he was finally able to stand. But standing was all he could do. His legs were too heavy to lift. His feet became uncomfortably hot and he realised his immense weight was making him sink down into the sand. All of a sudden, hefound himself regretting those last hundred thousand nanites.
    A vast shadow passed across him. Van Kleiss craned his blubbery neck to find the Keep hovering in the sky directly above him.
    On board, a Providence lieutenant barked orders. ‘Lower a hook. Winch him up.’ He peered down at the blob, slowly sinking into the desert floor below. ‘On second thoughts,’ he said, ‘make that
two
hooks.’

CHAPTER 19
    â€˜H OW YOU FEELING, KID ?’ asked Bobo. It was obvious, though, that Rex was feeling
much
better than he had for a long time.
    He was standing up for one thing, and smiling for another. He had cured eight different Evo animals now, and with each nanite he’d absorbed, the weakness that had been crippling him had faded.
    â€˜I’m feeling great,’ Rex said. He flexed Van Kleiss’ golden claw. ‘Although this still feels kinda weird.’
    â€˜That’s only to be expected,’ Agent Six said.
    â€˜And I have an overwhelming urge to lick my own butt,’ Rex added.
    Six blinked. ‘OK. That one I didn’t expect.’
    â€˜Ah, it’s just the animal nanites,’ Bobo shrugged. ‘Happens to me all the time. I say go for it, kid.’
    Agent Six shuddered. ‘I say
don’t
. Ever. In fact, that’s an order.’
    Rex fired off a mock-salute, and almost knocked himself out in the process. He glared at his metallichand. ‘Man, I have
got
to get rid of this thing.’
    â€˜Dr Holiday’s gone back to the lab to work on it,’ Six said. He paused, listening to a voice in his ear. ‘In fact, I believe she’s making progress right now.’

    The door to Holiday’s lab slid open. Rex scampered in and leapt up onto the desk. Six and Bobo entered the room just behind him.
    â€˜Down off the furniture, Rex,’ Six told him.
    With a jump, Rex landed on the floor beside him.
    â€˜Good boy,’ Six said. He tossed a biscuit into the air. Rex caught it in his mouth.
    Dr Holiday watched them with growing amusement. ‘The animal nanites?’ she asked.
    â€˜Trust me,’ said Six. ‘You do
not
want to know.’
    Holiday nodded. ‘Well, thanks for coming so quickly. There’s something I want to show you. Or rather, some
one
.’
    She pulled away a folding screen, revealing the bulging frame of Van Kleiss. He was lying on two beds, pushed close together. His blubbery skin hung down over the sides in huge folds.
    â€˜Whoa!’ cried Rex. ‘Who ate all the nanites?’
    â€˜Laugh all you like, Rex,’ Van Kleiss hissed. ‘I still have your nanites, and you’re still stuck with mine. Away from Abysus, the powers you have now are useless.’ A grin spread across his puffed-up face. ‘Face it, Rex, I’ve won!’
    â€˜The only thing you look like you could win is a pie-eating contest,’ Rex said. He gave the villain’s leg a prod. It wobbled like jelly. ‘Ugh.