Space Plague by Zac Harrison Page A

expertise, John’s fingers flicked over the controls. “Let’s see what this machine can do.”
    Engines growled, sending a rich shudder through the Talios 720. With mounting excitement, John released the safety brakes allowing the ship to roll out of the ship bay and onto the main deck. “Ready for take-off?” he asked, glancing at Mordant.
    “Yup.” The half-Gargon busied himself at the astrometric controls, bringing up star charts and plotting a course for the Zaleta Nebula.
    “Drat.” John pulled back on the controls quickly. The engine noise dropped.
    “What? What’s wrong?”
    “We forgot about that .”
    Mordant’s gaze followed John’s finger. Ahead were the massive bay doors, and they were firmly closed. On the other side was space, but until the doors opened, the Talios was stuck on the hanger deck.
    “Can we fly through them?” John asked.
    “No way. They’re solid mallux. You’ll just wreck Jegger’s ship and there won’t even be a scratch on the bay doors.”
    “So how do we get out of here?”
    Mordant was silent for a moment. “They’ll only open with the highest-level security clearance. My code isn’t going to get us out of here. It needs Jegger or the headmaster or the ship’s computer—”
    “I’ll handle it,” John interrupted. He reached out and punched a button on the control screen. “Zepp,” he said loudly. “Can you hear me?”
    “What are you doing?” hissed Mordant. “The ship’s computer will never let us leave—”
    John gestured at him to be silent.
    “John,” Zepp’s voice said into John’s helmet. “The Examiners are looking for you and Mordant Talliver. Why are you on Sergeant Jegger’s private ship?”
    “Zepp,” said John. “I need the biggest favour I’ve ever asked of you. I need you to open the bay doors of the main hanger deck.”
    Silence.
    “You do not have the authority to make that request,” the computer said after a few moments.
    “That’s why I asked it as a favour,” John said urgently. “Please, Zepp. Mordant and I are going to the Zaleta Nebula. There might be a cure for Zhaldarian Flu there. We’ll never get permission to leave the ship – you have to help us.”
    “As the ship’s computer, I have to follow the rules, John. You do not have the authority—”
    “I know I don’t have the authority, Zepp,” John cut in, the desperation in his voice rising. “What I do have is a friend who could open the bay doors for me. Almost everyone on board Hyperspace High has the flu. Some of them aren’t going to make it. But if we’re successful, they’ll live. All of them.”
    “It will be too dangerous. You might not survive.”
    “Listen, Zepp. I know you are programmed to keep the students on board Hyperspace High from harm at all costs. There is a risk for me and Mordant, but surely that risk is outweighed by the possibility that hundreds, perhaps thousands, of lives will be saved if we’re successful.”
    Another silence stretched out. Seconds passed.
    Come on, Zepp , John thought to himself furiously. Come on, come on, come on...
    Finally, the computer spoke. “You are correct. My source code forbids me to harm students,” Zepp said. “If opening the doors will prevent suffering, then my programme must execute your request.”
    As John watched, the giant bay doors began to slide open, slowly revealing the stars beyond.
    “Good luck, John,” Zepp said as the Talios’s engines roared into life again. “You, too, Mordant. Be careful.”

Chapter 13
    Its jets burning, the Talios 720 blasted through the bay doors and into space. Feeling raw power thrumming through the ship, John moved the control stick, intending to steer away from the massive shape of Hyperspace High. Instead, the Talios spun crazily.
    “What are you doing ?” yelled Mordant as they whirled.
    John twitched the control stick, righting the craft. Pressing the power panel, he sent the ship soaring into space. “Sorry,” he muttered. “These