The Shrinking Race by H. Badger Page B

gossip.
    MoNa jumped in. ‘Everyone’s saying that another Space Scout’s discovered Earth 2.’
    A jealous flush rose on Kip’s cheeks. Someone else was about to win the Shield of Honour?
    WorldCorp ranked Space Scouts on the Planetary Points Leader Board. After each successful mission, Space Scouts earned one Planetary Point. Two were awarded for a promising discovery.
    The Space Scout who discovered Earth 2 would win the ultimate prize – the Shield of Honour.
    Kip wanted to win the shield more than anything. Partly for the glory, but also for the prizes. The successful Space Scout would be given a mansion on the new Earth, with the latest StarFlight Personal Transportation Module in the garage!
    It’s just a rumour, Kip told himself. There’s no way I’m giving up on that shield yet.

CHAPTER 3
    The rumour had shaken Kip. But one of his best Space Scout talents was bouncing back. Now he was extra-determined to get on with his mission.
    In silence, Kip and Finbar strode to the bridge to download their mission brief. The bridge was MoNa’s command centre, located in her nose cone.
    At the door, Kip’s eyeball was scanned with a security laser.
    Inside, the bridge had huge windows looking out over Earth. The entire floor was a lit-up map of the known universe. In the centre were two padded chairs.
    Kip sat down and waved his hand in the air above his head. Instantly, a cylinder of blue light shot down from the roof. The light surrounded Kip and Finbar’s chairs.
    Complicated dials, buttons and screens were projected onto the light. This was Kip’s holographic consol.
    MoNa had a useful auto-pilot mode. But Kip’s piloting skills were vital, too. He was an expert at flying. He had an unbelievable ability to concentrate on heaps of things at once.
    Kip touched a holographic button that said Download Mission Brief. The brief appeared, projected in mid-air.
    CLASSIFIED
    SPACE SCOUT
KIP KIRBY
MISSION BRIEF
    WorldCorp’s telescope has discovered a new galaxy in the universe’s Far West Quarter.
    Scientists calculate a wormhole is opening soon. It leads to a blue planet named Cobalt. Nothing is known about the planet, except that it is nearly the same size as Earth.
    Kip’s stomach flipped. A little while ago, a Space Scout called Candy Montenegro had made a promising discovery in the Far West Quarter. Now Kip had a chance to explore a new planet nearby!
    â€˜Depart Hoverport for wormhole to Cobalt,’ Kip commanded MoNa.
    â€˜Look out the window, genius,’ sniffed MoNa.
    Kip had been busy reading the mission.
    He hadn’t noticed MoNa was on auto-pilot. She’d left the Hoverport and guided them into deep space.
    Focus, Kip , he told himself irritably. This isn’t the way to beat that other Space Scout.
    â€˜There’s the wormhole,’ said Finbar, pointing to a mass of blue cloud up ahead.

    A wormhole was a shortcut from one galaxy to another. Using wormholes, Space Scouts could travel billions of light years in seconds.
    Kip snapped into professional Space Scout mode. Taking MoNa’s controls, Kip steered them to the wormhole. MoNa was sucked inside instantly.
    Kip’s skin prickled. His eyes throbbed in their sockets. Travelling faster than the speed of light was tough.
    â€˜Rogue asteroid heading this way!’ yelled Finbar suddenly.
    A massive craggy rock whizzed towards MoNa’s left window. If it hit the window, the air pressure in the bridge would change radically. MoNa could explode!
    â€˜Engage Anti-Matter Cannon,’ Kip commanded. He was trained to stay cool under pressure. At once, MoNa’s Anti-Matter Cannon rose up from her roof.
    Kip pressed the Fire button. Faster than light speed, the Anti-Matter Cannon shot hot pink plasma at the rock. The plasma stream smashed into the rock and vaporised it. There was nothing left but mist.
    A second later, MoNa popped out the other end of the wormhole. Kip took a