Free The Enemy's Lair by Max Chase Page B

into his wrist, where he wore a band with a bright orange button. The Xion’s eyes widened. He grew blurry at the edges, fizzled, then winked out of existence.
    Peri realised he must have hit the guard’s teleportation device.
    ‘Diesel!’ he shouted. ‘Hit their teleport buttons! On the wrist!’
    All the remaining guards were on their feet now. They still looked groggy, but they meant business. Some advanced on Peri and Diesel while others pounced on Otto’s lifeless body.
    Diesel struck at the nearest guard’s wrist. The guard fizzled and then vanished.
    Another guard thrust his mace at Peri, who dodged out of the way. The crackling mace flashed past his helmet. While the guard was still off balance, Peri knocked his wristband with the butt of the duster. The guard disappeared.
    That was three less to deal with. But it was still Peri and Diesel against eight Xion guards. Peri wished Otto would snap out of it and help them. Their only chance was to hit the guards before they’d fully recovered.
    Peri’s arms tingled and his legs throbbed. He felt his muscles expanding inside his suit. His bionic abilities were kicking in. Moving at super-speed, he slid under the flailing mace of one guard and hit the teleportation device. Then he did the same to another, and another, in quick succession. Diesel, meanwhile, had managed to teleport one. There were now only four guards left.
    ‘Nice work, Diesel!’ Peri shouted. ‘Let’s just mop these last ones up.’
    He ducked under the sweep of another guard’s mace and teleported him too. But at the same moment, the biggest and fiercest-looking Xion guard gave Otto one swift kick and then leapt up. He jabbed his electric mace at Peri, piercing his Expedition Wear.
    Peri’s stomach felt as if it had been scorched with a flame-thrower. He shouted a wordless cry. The duster fell from his nerveless hand. He dropped to his knees.
    ‘Peri!’ Diesel called and levelled his duster at the Xion who had injured his friend.
     

     
    Peri saw the towering guard ram his electric mace into Diesel’s duster and thrust forward, catching him on the arm. Diesel collapsed.
    ‘So fall all enemies of the mighty Xion!’ boomed the guard.
    The electric mace had done something serious to Peri. He could feel it – not just the pain but a surge through his veins and wires in equal measure. The electric shock’s messed up my circuitry , he thought. There was a downside to being half-bionic and half-boy. Not only could you feel pain, but you could get short-circuited too.
    ‘Where is Prince Onix?’ shouted the biggest, fiercest guard. He wore a purple star on his chest, which indicated he was the general.
    Peri could hardly turn his head but he slowly scanned the Bridge. Diesel was huddled on the floor next to him, but Otto was nowhere to be seen.
    Typical Otto! He was only out for himself. Peri and Diesel had saved him from the guards and in return he’d left them in the lurch. Peri wished Otto had been the one to get hit with an electric mace.
    ‘You dare to defy me, General Dachkor, Xion warrior.’ He picked up Peri’s duster. ‘What is this? A duster? These are good. Oh, yes, you can do a lot with a duster.’ He pointed it at Peri. ‘If I press the trigger now, your head will crumble to dust. Tell me where the prince is and you shall live.’
    But the anger in the general’s face, the way his finger twitched on the trigger, told a different story. As soon as the general knew where the prince was, he’d kill them. Peri was sure of it.
    Another guard picked up the other fallen duster and pointed it at Diesel.
    Peri saw that the strip of hair on top of Diesel’s head had turned a dull grey and was lying flat.
    Peri managed to mutter to Otto: ‘Donut tell.’ His mouth wasn’t working properly. His tongue felt thick and clumsy.
    ‘I’ve got a good idea,’ said the general. He pushed the duster closer to Peri’s face. ‘I will get rid of you, and then your friend can tell