Super Soldier Read online

  Skin directed Napoleon’s eyes to a crowd gathered beneath an olive tree. A tall man with a long beard and flowing white cloak was reaching up to the tree.

  Napoleon suddenly saw why. The Battle Book was caught in a low branch and the man was reaching for it. Also caught in the tree was the desk that had been sucked from the Tome Tower, and one of the chairs.

  ‘He is a High Priest of the Delphic Oracle,’ Skin explained. ‘And unless we hurry, he—’

  Napoleon was already on his feet. He sprinted across the clearing. ‘Give me a Boot Boost Jump, Skin,’ he yelled, and he threw himself at the tree.

  The boost was exactly what Napoleon needed. He dived past the High Priest and grabbed the casket just as Epsilon Phase ended and passed into Kappa Phase.

  Surrounded by noise and action, Napoleon barrel-rolled across the ground and leaped to his feet, clutching the casket.

  ‘I’ve got the book, Prof!’ he shouted into his Battle Watch. ‘Emergency ended. Activate the Exit Beam and get us out of here ASAP.’

  ‘Not possible, BB005.’ The professors voice at last came through loud and clear. ‘There’s a much bigger emergency looming. Much bigger!’

  ‘One emergency at a time, Prof,’ said Napoleon. ‘I need to get out of here – NOW!’

  The High Priest was pointing and soldiers were running towards him.

  ‘Listen to me, BB005!’ the professor cried. ‘TEX has entered the Battle Book. He went in to save you. My guess is he’s heading your way right now.’

  ‘Oh no!’ Napoleon muttered.

  ‘I concur that TEX constitutes a bigger emergency,’ said Skin.

  ‘Watch out for him, BB005,’ said Professor Perdu. ‘You know how important he is to me.’

  ‘Sure, Prof,’ Napoleon said. ‘But I’ve got my own trouble to sort out first’

  Napoleon was surrounded by Spartan soldiers, their swords and spears trained on him. The High Priest stepped from among them.

  ‘That,’ he said, pointing at the Battle Book. ‘Give it to me.’

  ‘What? This old thing?’ scoffed Napoleon.

  ‘It is an offering from the gods’

  ‘No, it’s not. It’s just a tin box, no use to anyone.’ Napoleon pointed at the desk and chair. ‘Now those are what you want. They are definitely from the gods. Not in top condition, I admit, but I’ve seen worse. They’d look great in your temple.’

  The High Priest lunged at the Battle Book. ‘Give it to me at once,’ he demanded. ‘We need it to win victory.’

  ‘You’ve got it all wrong, believe me,’ Napoleon said, clutching the book. ‘It won’t do you any good in your fight against the Persians. I know.’

  Two soldiers grabbed Napoleon and held him tight while the priest drew a long dagger.

  ‘As you wish,’ he snarled, coming straight at Napoleon with the dagger. ‘Prepare to die.’

  But the priest had only taken a few steps when several soldiers pointed at the sky. ‘Look!’ they shouted. ‘A messenger from the gods’

  TEX was flying above the trees. As soon as he saw Napoleon, he waved.

  ‘Help is on the way, BB005,’ shouted TEX.

  ‘He’s going way too fast,’ Napoleon cried. ‘If he hits the ground at that speed he’ll—’

  ‘Reduce anxiety levels, BB,’ said Skin.

  ‘His bones are hyper-strengthened with nano-carbon tubes, and he has anti-bruise plates under his skin. He is virtually unbreakable. And, according to my calculations, he will not hit the ground at that speed. He will hit the trees’

  TEX hurtled into the trees, clipping the top of the olive trees and falling between them. ‘Super Soldier to the rescue,’ he shouted. ‘Ouch! Ooo! Ooo!’ Tex grunted as he tumbled … from one branch…

  By the time TEX reached the last branch, his speed had definitely slowed down, but he was still travelling fast. He bounced off that tree and skated across the grass.

  ‘He’s heading straight for us,’ Napoleon said.

  ‘Affirmative,’ Skin replied. ‘My calculations did not allow for that last deflection.’

  TEX ploughed into the Spartan soldiers, scattering them like skittles. He slammed into the guards who were holding Napoleon and bowled them over. Napoleon was sent flying, too. He tried to hang onto the Battle Book, but it was knocked from his hands and flew high into the air.

  The priest was there as the casket came down. He caught it and hugged it to his chest.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said to TEX. ‘You truly must be a messenger from the gods, for you have delivered their gift unto us.’

  ‘Happy to be helpful,’ said TEX.

  The High Priest raised the casket above his head like a trophy, and called to his soldiers. ‘Now we have this gift from the gods, victory will be ours. Let the battle begin.’

  The hills echoed with one almighty war cry as the Greeks charged off to battle.

  ‘Phew!’ TEX said after the Greeks had gone. ‘That was a mighty skydive.’ He hauled himself to his feet.

  Napoleon was slumped on the ground, his head in his hands. TEX rushed over to him.

  ‘Are you okay?’ he said, resting his big hand on Napoleons shoulder.

  ‘I was okay,’ Napoleon mumbled into his hands. ‘In fact, I was doing fairly well. But then—’ He raised his head slowly and stared at TEX.

  ‘But then what?’ The super soldier stared back, his face etched with concern.

  TEX looked so worried in fact that Napoleon didn’t have the heart to go on. ‘Nothing,’ he said. ‘It doesn’t matter now.’

  ‘Tell him the truth, BB,’ interrupted Skin. ‘It is the only way he will learn anything.’

  Napoleon looked up at TEX. ‘Yeah, well, you messed things up a bit.’

  ‘Use of understatement inappropriate,’ said Skin.

  ‘So what’s the problem?’ said TEX. ‘Maybe I can help put it right again.’

  ‘It’s the Battle Book,’ said Napoleon.

  ‘You mean that box that got sucked out of the Tome Tower?’

  ‘Yes. The same box you just gave to the High Priest.’

  ‘But he really seemed to want it,’ said TEX, scratching his head. ‘I’ll go and get it back. I’ll say it belongs to you.’

  ‘They won’t give it back,’ said Napoleon. ‘They think it belongs to them.’

  ‘Okay, so we go and take it back then,’ said TEX, flexing his biceps.

  ‘Not so easy, either, TEX. The Greeks have just carried it with them into the Battle of Thermopylae–one of the fiercest fights of ancient history. Finding it in that battle will be hard enough. Getting it back will be tougher still.’

  ‘I am designed to be tougher still,’ said TEX. He tugged Napoleon to his feet. ‘Come on. Let’s get that book.’

  ‘Hold it right there!’ Professor Perdu’s voice came over Napoleons Battle Watch. ‘I don’t think this is a good idea at all. This mission has already had enough glitches. There are too many risks involved in this next phase. I recommend terminating the mission.’

  ‘But the risks are bigger if we don’t get the Battle Book back,’ said Napoleon. ‘It could get damaged and burst open. That’d be a disaster, Prof.’

  ‘You’re right, Battle Boy. But if you go after that book now, I cannot guarantee your safety.’

  Napoleon frowned. ‘Are you worried about my safety, Prof, or about TEX’s?’

  ‘That’s a ridiculous question.’

  ‘Is it? You’ve spent the entire mission worrying about him.’

  ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about, BB005.’

  There was a long silence. Then TEX spoke. ‘We’re wasting time,’ he said. He gave Napoleon a slap on the back. ‘We’ve got a job to do, BB005. Let’s do it!’

  ‘But…’ the professor called after them.

  ‘Yes?’ said Napoleon.

  ‘Just be careful, okay?’ she said. Then after a pause, she added: ‘All of you.’

  TEX and Napoleon climbed a rough track winding through the mountains, direct
ed by Skin.

  ‘This is the same track that the traitor Ephialtes showed to the Persians,’ Skin said. ‘That’s how they were able to sneak around behind the Greeks and surprise them. Without it they would never have beaten the Greeks’

  ‘I call that cheating,’ said TEX. ‘If you’re going to fight, fight fair and square.’

  ‘That is an arguable position,’ said Skin. ‘There are those who claim that all is fair in war.’

  They came out on a ledge above the Pass of Thermopylae.

  ‘What a view,’ said Napoleon, squatting down. ‘We can see the whole battle from up here.’

  ‘And I can see the Battle Book,’ TEX added, training his hawk eyes on the scene below. ‘There!’ he said, pointing.

  Battle Book 20 was set up on an altar, guarded by two soldiers and the High Priest.

  ‘I’ll charge straight down and grab it right this minute.’

  ‘No, you will not,’ said Skin. ‘For the moment it is perfectly safe. We have a battle to observe. One of the greatest battles of ancient history.’

  Directly below was the narrow pass, occupied by the Greeks. They were drawn up in the classic phalanx formation, clusters of men protected by a shell of shields from which arrows and long spears shot out like deadly porcupines at anyone who came too near.

  ‘Observe the different Greek forces,’ said Skin. ‘As well as Spartan soldiers, there are Arcadians, Corinthians, Thebans, Tegeans and Mycenaeans, Thespians and others yet to be identified. Also, my initial estimate needs upgrading; there may be as many as eight thousand Greeks’

  ‘But look at the Persians,’ said Napoleon. I’ve never seen such a huge army.’

  The Persian army stretched for as far the eye could see. It was like an enormous snake coiling around the headland, down onto the beach and beyond.

  ‘It is certainly a large force, BB, bigger than my original estimate. And there are more at sea.’

  A vast fleet of ships was anchored in the bay.

  ‘Scanner indicates another three hundred thousand men.’

  All those soldiers,’ said Napoleon, ‘and they can’t even use them.’

  ‘Correct. No matter how hard the Persians push, they cannot break through. This is a fine example of intelligent strategy outwitting strength and numbers’

  ‘It’s a battle to behold,’ TEX added. ‘Those Persians are throwing everything they’ve got at the Greeks, and they’re not getting anywhere.’

  The fighting was fierce and brutal. Wave after wave of Persian soldiers surged forward, almost swamping the Greeks at times, but never quite succeeding. Persian casualties were enormous, while the Greeks hadn’t even lost a single man.

  ‘What we are seeing here,’ said Skin, ‘is the strength of rigid discipline, superior weapons and armour, plus sheer determination. Combined with their phalanx formation, these allow the Greek hoplites to handle overwhelming odds with ease.’

  But no sooner had Skin said this than a cry went up from the Greek soldiers.

  ‘Hold on a minute, Skinny,’ said TEX. ‘Don’t speak too soon. Look what’s happening.’

  Almost without warning, the Greek front line collapsed. The second and third line of defence caved in as well, and in the next moment a large section of the Greek army was retreating at full speed.

  ‘It’s a disaster,’ said Napoleon.

  ‘No,’ said Skin. ‘It is a trick. In fact, it is one of the oldest tricks in the military handbook. I am surprised the Persians have proved so gullible.’

  The Persians had fallen for the trick. As soon as the Greeks retreated, Persian soldiers charged after them with cries of victory. But those cries quickly turned to shouts of shock when the Greeks suddenly spun around and reformed. The Persians were hopelessly trapped as the phalanx pounced on them, bristling with deadly spears and arrows.

  ‘As I explained previously,’ said Skin. ‘Rigid discipline, superior tactics and determination. Nothing short of brilliant. Deadly, but brilliant.’

  Napoleon stared down at the battle. ‘You’re right, Skin. But look. What’s happening now?’

  The Persians had stopped fighting and pulled back. For a while the two armies faced each other in sullen silence, like two beasts catching their breath.

  And then from the Persian side came a gleaming gold chariot. It raced up the road from the bay, soldiers leaping out of its way.

  The chariot screeched to a halt in front of the Greeks, and a tall figure dressed in gold and purple robes stepped from it.

  ‘It is the Persian king, Xerxes I,’ said Skin.

  ‘Men of Greece,’ the king called out. ‘I am Xerxes, son of Darius, King of Kings, Ruler of the World.’

  A Spartan warrior climbed onto a high rock. ‘And I am Leonidas,’ he shouted back. ‘King of Sparta. You do not rule over us.’

  ‘Not now, perhaps,’ Xerxes replied. ‘But I shall by the end of the day. Hear my words!’

  ‘Never!’ Leonidas yelled, and his men echoed him in a roar of defiance. ‘Never!’

  ‘Come, Spartan.’ The Persian king spoke more gently now. ‘Don’t be a fool. You cannot possibly win here. Join forces with me and I’ll make you king of all of Greece.’

  ‘If I did that, I would indeed be a fool,’ said Leonidas. ‘I would rather die for Greece than rule over her for you. Go home, King of Kings. You are not welcome here.’

  ‘Very well. This is your last chance,’ Xerxes snarled. ‘Give up your weapons now or face your fate.’

  Leonidas laughed and held up a javelin. ‘Here. If it’s our weapons you want, come and take them.’

  The Spartan king hurled the javelin. It whistled through the air and landed right at Xerxes’ feet. The Persian king dived out of the way, then scrambled back into his chariot and shook his fist.

  ‘Destroy them all!’ he shouted, his face purple with fury, and careered off in a cloud of dust.

  The Greeks reformed into a phalanx, while the Persians prepared to charge. Any moment now and the battle would be on again in full force.

  But then something made everyone stop and listen. A strange rumbling sound was coming from the Pass of Thermopylae.

  ‘What’s that weird noise?’ said TEX.

  ‘Oh no!’ groaned Napoleon. He knew exactly what the noise was. ‘It’s Battle Book 20! It’s jumped into Gamma Phase’

  ‘Advanced Gamma Phase, in fact,’ Skin added.

  ‘If only we’d done something earlier!’ said Napoleon.

  The Battle Book was humming and rattling, making the altar shake and shudder. The two guards stepped back, shielding themselves. The High Priest threw up his arms.

  ‘We have been tricked,’ he cried. ‘This casket comes not from the gods at all, but from the demons of the underworld. It is cursing us now. We must rid ourselves of this evil thing.’

  He lunged at the Battle Book. But it hissed loudly and seemed to growl at him. The High Priest cringed in fear and began wailing.

  Napoleon stared in horror. ‘Don’t tell me it’s just leaped into Delta Phase, Skin?’

  ‘Affirmative, BB. Instability Factor 7.5 and rising as we speak.’

  ‘What can we do?’

  The Battle Book was bouncing up and down on the altar, spitting sparks into the air.

  ‘Abandon mission!’ Professor Perdu shouted over Napoleon’s Battle Watch. ‘That’s what you must do. My tests indicate that if one Battle Book explodes inside another, it could lead to the total implosion of BOTH Battle Books’

  ‘And what would that mean?’ Napoleon said.

  ‘You would be trapped inside the Battle Energy Bundle, probably forever. That’s why I’m setting up the Exit Beam this instant. Repeat: abandon mission!’

  The Battle Book began howling with a high-pitched scream.

  ‘Advanced Delta Phase,’ warned Skin. ‘It is becoming hotter by the second.’

  ‘Would it help if we cooled it down?’ shouted TEX.

  ‘Untested, but a definite possibility.’

  ‘Well, S
kinny! Why didn’t you say so?’

  TEX jumped from the ledge and scrambled down into the pass. Shoving hoplites out of the way, he bounded across to the altar and grabbed the Battle Book. It was red hot and spewing fumes, but TEX hung on tight.

  ‘It must be burning his hands like anything,’ Napoleon shouted.

  ‘Clearly his sense of duty is overriding the pain factor,’ Skin explained.

  ‘He really is a super soldier!’ cried Napoleon.

  ‘That is one possible interpretation,’ said Skin

  TEX raced over to the edge of the cliff and without a second thought threw himself off it.

  Everyone gaped in amazement as he dived into the sea.

  ‘What’s going on?’ shouted Professor Perdu.

  ‘It’s your super soldier, Prof,’ said Napoleon. ‘He’s just become a super hero.’

  ‘What’s he done? Nothing too dangerous, I hope.’

  ‘He’s saved the day by leaping into the sea with the Battle Book.’

  ‘But he can’t swim! And the Battle Book is heavy. It will pull him down.’

  ‘A super soldier who can’t swim? You’ve got to be joking, Prof!’

  ‘I had intended to engineer this ability, but these things take time.’

  ‘But he’s got those gills you gave him. He’ll be fine under—’

  ‘They’re completely untested, BB. For all I know they may not even work. He is only a prototype, after all’

  ‘Oh great,’ Napoleon rolled his eyes. ‘Come on, Skin. We’ve got a super hero to save.’

  Napoleon stood on the ledge above the pass.

  ‘What are you like at deep-sea diving, Skin?’ he said.

  ‘Also untested, BB. But I believe I possess the requisite skills.’

  ‘Let’s get on with it then. We’ll need the Hover Vest and Boot Boosters, too.’

  ‘Affirmative. Also energising the ShieldField.’