Star League 8 by H.J. Harper Page B

it’s taking me forever. I reach up with one hand and I realise I’ve finally arrived at the top. I groan as I drag myself over, hoping that now I can just relax for a while.
    But before I can, something barrels into me.
    â€˜YARRR! GOT YOU!’
    I panic and aim a ninja chop at whatever is attacking me, but there’s no power behind my blow. Ever since Jay’s parents took my powers away from me I’ve felt as weak as a baby. I still remember all my training, but my strength has completely deserted me. So instead I duck and roll under the legs of my attacker.
    â€˜Hey, where’d you go?’ asks a voice I’d know anywhere.
    â€˜Connor?’ I ask. ‘Is that you?’
    There’s a moment of silence. ‘Asuka? Oh, am I glad to see you! Well, not really see, I guess. It’s too dark in here.’
    I squint. ‘I can see a little. My night vision was always good. Of course, it’s not as good as it normally is since …’ I trail off, thinking about my stolen powers. It hurts as much as a real wound.
    I can just make out Connor nodding in the dark. ‘They took my powers, too. I feel so useless. What if we get trapped down here forever?’
    Up until now I’d been thinking exactly the same thing. But hearing Connor say it makes me realise we can’t give up yet. ‘We shouldn’t talk like that. We’re going to get out of here and get our powers back. Then we’ll make Professor Pestilence … I mean Jay’s parents … well, whoever they are, we’ll make them pay!’
    â€˜You’re right, Asuka,’ says Connor, rubbing his forehead. ‘We have to work on getting out of here, and that means finding the others.’
    We follow the path as it climbs higher and the darkness starts to lift. Soon it’s light enough for me to see Connor, and he looks as scared as I feel. I just keep hoping we don’t bump into anything nasty on this path because without our powers, we’re toast!
    Suddenly Connor comes to a stop.
    â€˜What’s wrong?’ I ask, but Connor just puts his finger to his lips.
    I stand still and listen, and sure enough I hear footsteps echoing around the cave.
    â€˜Is it one of the others?’ I whisper, but Connor shakes his head.
    â€˜I don’t think so. I heard footsteps when I was first teleported here. I think there’s someone else in these caves with us.’
    We follow the sound of the footsteps but wedon’t see anyone. Eventually the path leads through a doorway into a dimly lit room. Flickering torches line the walls of what appears to be a huge circular stadium. We walk to the centre and look around.
    â€˜I’ve got a bad feeling about this,’ mutters Connor.
    I nod. I can feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, which is a sure sign something is wrong. Right on cue the doors slam shut behind us, locking us in.
    â€˜Uh oh,’ mutters Connor. ‘What is THAT?’
    I spin around and find myself face to face with a monster. It looks like a huge, ferocious dog, and when it opens its mouth I can see three rows of razor sharp teeth. It screeches and a long, thin tongue whips out towards us.
    I gulp. ‘Something tells me that’s not a good dog!’

I watch as the enormous dog-like monster stalks towards Asuka and Connor below. I try to judge the distance between the balcony I’m standing on and the ground. Normally it wouldn’t be a problem – my processors would kick in and I’d be able to not only judge the distance, but figure out the best angle of impact to take out that dog monster. But the seventh shard knocked out my data processors and I can’t figure out even the simplest of quadratic equations.
    Connor and Asuka need my help now. There’s no time for calculations. I close my eyes and jump.
    Even though it looked like a long jump from the balcony, it’s over in a second. I land right on top of the dog