Read Online Frozen Enemies by Zac Harrison - Free Book Online Page B

cheerful old man. This was the voice of a powerful being whose word was law.
    G-Vez fell silent. Mordant glared at the headmaster, then dropped his eyes. An Omega-bot held out a portable HoloScreen in a metal claw. “Rule thirty-five A,” it droned. “Communication technology is forbidden.”
    Lorem took the HoloScreen. “The Vapourball Championship,” he said, looking down at it with disgust. “I should have known, but I didn’t think that you would be so idiotic—”
    “I was just trying to get the scores,” Mordant interrupted sulkily.
    “Be quiet ,” the headmaster commanded. “So foolish as to break the rules here of all places. Have you any idea of the trouble you are in?”
    Still glaring at the ground, Mordant shook his head.
    “You are lucky I don’t expel you on the spot,” Lorem bellowed. “All communication with other planets is banned on Archivus Major. You were told that a dozen times. It might interfere with the exhibits’ delicate technology and cause a disaster.”
    Mordant said nothing.
    “The Omega-bots will escort you back to your Privateer. I will decide what to do with you when we are back on Hyperspace High. In the meantime, you will stay in your ship until we leave this planet,” Lorem finished.
    “Can I at least have my HoloSc—”
    “ Dismissed !”
    * * *
    “I guess Mordant won’t be seeing much of Archivus Major after all,” said John, as the class and their two teachers settled on a shady hilltop outside the Mars Dust Storm building. Looking into his bag, John pulled out a sandwich and peered at it. “BLT,” he said, whistling. “With plenty of mayonnaise. My favourite. Thanks, Zepp.”
    “At least he’ll have G-Vez to talk to,” Emmie giggled. “Two days will fly by.”
    “How come they let him bring the robo-servant anyway? I thought non-vital technology was banned,” John said, biting off a huge chunk. “Mmmm, and loads of bacon,” he mumbled, mouth full.
    “Non-invasive intrapersonal service technology, certified safe in any environment,” Kaal answered, looking through his own bag. “Oh wow, Flarzworms. Nice one.” He looked up to see John looking at him questioningly. “G-Vez has a containment field,” he explained. “Nothing escapes it. The Omega-bots, too, I’d guess. It makes them as likely to interfere in other technologies as this Flarzworm,” he finished, holding up the wriggling orange worm for John to see.
    Face screwed up in revulsion, John turned his head away, to find a sight just as unexpected. Over the Mars Dust Storm building, a Xi-Class Privateer was rising into the air.
    The sandwich dropped from his hand. “Hey!” he shouted, getting to his feet and pointing. “Is that who I think it is?”

Chapter 8
    As John watched the Privateer leave Archivus Major, he heard Lorem shout, “Mordant!”
    Shielding his purple eyes from the sun, the headmaster glared at the rapidly disappearing spaceship with a face like thunder. “I will expel him for this,” he said, through clenched teeth.
    “It can’t be,” said Ms Vartexia, getting to her feet. “Surely, even Mordant Talliver wouldn’t—”
    “It cannot be anyone else,” said Lorem grimly. “We are the only visitors on Archivus Major at present.”
    By now, the Privateer was a small dot in the sky. The class watched in silent shock as it disappeared into the upper atmosphere. “Why aren’t the Omego-bots doing something to stop him?” asked John.
    The headmaster glanced at him. “Their job is to protect the exhibits,” he said. “Archivus Major’s security systems are designed to stop people from getting in, not from leaving.”
    “Did you not see the possibility of this happening, headmaster?” Ms Vartexia asked, sounding confused.
    “My visions of the future are not always clear,” he replied, suddenly looking weary. “I sensed that a dangerous situation might develop on Archivus Major – that’s why I came – but I must have been mistaken about the threat. I