gestured around at the Petting Zoo, and at the many shapes lurking in the trees and bushes. âTake your pick.â
The Boogie Packâs 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.
âN-need m-more nanites,â 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 wouldnât appear. The vast amount of new nanites heâd absorbed were interfering with his control over those heâd 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. âLower a hook. Winch him up.â He peered down at the blob, slowly sinking into the desert floor below. âOn second thoughts,â he said, âmake that
two
hooks.â
CHAPTER 19
âH OW YOU FEELING, KID ?â 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 heâd absorbed, the weakness that had been crippling him had faded.
âIâm feeling great,â Rex said. He flexed Van Kleissâ golden claw. âAlthough this still feels kinda weird.â
âThatâs only to be expected,â Agent Six said.
âAnd I have an overwhelming urge to lick my own butt,â Rex added.
Six blinked. âOK. That one I didnât expect.â
âAh, itâs just the animal nanites,â Bobo shrugged. âHappens to me all the time. I say go for it, kid.â
Agent Six shuddered. âI say
donât
. Ever. In fact, thatâs an order.â
Rex fired off a mock-salute, and almost knocked himself out in the process. He glared at his metallichand. âMan, I have
got
to get rid of this thing.â
âDr Holidayâs gone back to the lab to work on it,â Six said. He paused, listening to a voice in his ear. âIn fact, I believe sheâs making progress right now.â
The door to Holidayâs lab slid open. Rex scampered in and leapt up onto the desk. Six and Bobo entered the room just behind him.
âDown off the furniture, Rex,â Six told him.
With a jump, Rex landed on the floor beside him.
âGood boy,â Six said. He tossed a biscuit into the air. Rex caught it in his mouth.
Dr Holiday watched them with growing amusement. âThe animal nanites?â she asked.
âTrust me,â said Six. âYou do
not
want to know.â
Holiday nodded. âWell, thanks for coming so quickly. Thereâs something I want to show you. Or rather, some
one
.â
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.
âWhoa!â cried Rex. âWho ate all the nanites?â
âLaugh all you like, Rex,â Van Kleiss hissed. âI still have your nanites, and youâre still stuck with mine. Away from Abysus, the powers you have now are useless.â A grin spread across his puffed-up face. âFace it, Rex, Iâve won!â
âThe only thing you look like you could win is a pie-eating contest,â Rex said. He gave the villainâs leg a prod. It wobbled like jelly. âUgh.