Andy Roid and the Sinister Showdown Read online

  When I was a kid I was invincible – or so I imagined. My brother and I would combine all the powers of our favourite comic and TV superheroes and have the most epic battles in our backyard. We would zap at each other with our awesome laser fingers, run faster than a cheetah riding a Ducati (now that’s fast!), and jump over buildings (more like the swing set) in a single bound.

  With Andy Roid, I’ve been able to let my imagination play like never before. It’s been so much fun to create this series and I hope you enjoy it as much as I loved writing it!

  Felice Arena is the bestselling author and creator of many popular and award-winning children’s books including the Specky Magee series. For more information about Felice and his books visit his website at:

  felicearena.com

  Contents

  PREVIOUSLY…

  1. BURGERS WITH FRIES

  2. ARM WRESTLE!

  3. ZAPPED!

  4. THE AGENCY

  5. FLY!

  6. SCARLET CORAL BUTTERFLY

  7. THE BASE

  8. SHOWDOWN

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  …WHEN YOU’RE HALF BOY, HALF MACHINE,

  IT’S HARD NOT TO BE A HERO…

  Andy’s not a regular kid – his parents are government scientists, specialising in robotics. After a terrible accident, they rebuilt him using their latest, untested research, giving him superhuman powers.

  His parents nicknamed him Andy Roid, but it’s more than just a nickname: it’s his government code name. And he’s being hunted by a dangerous enemy – the Triple S and its leader Dr Baffi, an old colleague of Andy’s parents.

  At his old school Andy used his powers to save his friend Molly’s life, and Andy and his family had to go on the run. After Baffi’s men tracked them down, Andy’s parents were sent to safe houses in separate parts of the country, and Andy was told to lay low at Renfrew High. He was living with his friend Judd – actually a teen agent employed to protect him – and ‘Agent Granny’, his decoy guardian.

  But now Molly has been kidnapped, his father is missing and Andy is suffering from technical glitches…Why are his powers failing him just when he needs them the most? Will he be captured and used as a lab rat? Or can Andy, Judd and their friend Reggie take out Sylvester Baffi once and for all?

  ‘I think we lost ‘em!’ said Judd, switching off the roaring engine of the Ducati 1199. ‘For now…’

  Reggie climbed off the bike and leaned against the wall of the roadside diner, looking shell-shocked.

  ‘We’ve gotta keep going, Judd,’ said Andy, still sitting on the Ducati. ‘My dad’s missing and Molly’s life is in danger.’

  For a moment, Andy thought about leaving his friends and going it alone. But he didn’t know where to start looking for Baffi or where the new safe house was.

  ‘Dude,’ snapped Judd as he walked towards the diner. ‘I need to wait for directions from the General. Plus, we need to eat and drink something. It’ll just be a pit stop. Reggie, you coming?’

  Andy turned to see his friend still standing by the bike. ‘Reggie? You okay?’

  Andy’s pet rat, Brad, had climbed out of Reggie’s pocket and was cleaning his whiskers, sitting on Reggie’s shoulder.

  ‘It just hit me how much danger we’re in,’ Reggie said shakily. ‘Those guys at Judd’s house, do you think they’ll find us again?’ He looked really freaked out.

  Andy sighed. He feared the worst. ‘I’m sorry, I don’t know,’ he said.

  Judd checked his phone as he scoffed down his cheeseburger and fries and waved for the waitress to bring the bill.

  ‘All the major university journals have said we’re close to this kind of technology,’ said Reggie, occasionally sneaking pieces of bread to Brad in his pocket. ‘The forums are filled with speculation about what will be possible in ten years. No wonder Dr Baffi wants to get you, Andy. You’re living proof that it’s here now.’

  Andy was glad that Reggie was starting to sound more like his usual geeky self.

  ‘But there’s one thing I don’t understand…’ Reggie said. ‘Why did this Dr Sylvester Baffi guy turn against your parents, when they all used to work together and create these amazing devices?’

  ‘Money, dude!’ Judd snapped, pushing his dark sunshades up and scowling. ‘It’s all got to do with friggin’ money! Greed came knocking at Baffi’s door and now he’s working for faceless bad guys who are all cashed up and want to rule the world. Simple as that!’

  Andy watched Judd suck up the last bit of his chocolate milkshake. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he was in a foul mood. Suddenly Andy remembered that Judd’s job as a secret agent might be on the line.

  As Judd and Reggie talked, Andy glanced under the table at his palm screen, and tapped on an icon. For the first time since his parents had been sent into hiding, he tried to call them. There was no response. He wasn’t surprised. His mum was in extreme lockdown, and his dad was missing.

  Andy especially wished he could talk to his mum. She always knew what to do. And he needed her help now more than ever. He was permanently switched on, but he’d lost the use of his laser and his apps and powers were suffering from weird glitches – and he had no idea why.

  Andy’s mind turned to his friend Molly. Andy had called her twice, even though he’d been told not to contact her. Had he led Baffi’s men right to her? A wave of guilt washed over him.

  ‘Scientists improve the world,’ Reggie was saying to Judd. ‘They don’t become scientists in the first place for the money.’

  Andy wasn’t surprised by what Reggie said – he knew his parents weren’t in it for the cash. He wondered what the conflict between them and Dr Baffi was about, since Baffi and his parents had once been friends who respected each other’s work.

  Did Mum and Dad do something to upset Baffi? wondered Andy. He remembered how lonely he used to feel when his parents were focused on their work. They don’t always notice how other people are feeling, he thought. He remembered his dad saying that Baffi had become jealous.

  ‘Dude, money changes people,’ said Judd. ‘Baffi knows he’ll get a gazillion bucks for making the ultimate soldier. And the only way he can do that is by capturing Andy’s parents, putting a gun to their heads, and making them work for him…Or by trapping Andy and pulling him apart.’ Judd winced, realising what he’d said. ‘Sorry, Andy,’ he said. ‘I didn’t mean…’

  ‘It’s okay,’ said Andy. ‘Can we just get going?’

  ‘Yeah, yeah,’ Judd said, glancing at a message on his phone. ‘We’re good. Where is that waitress?’

  The boys turned to see a couple of burly truck drivers joking and laughing with the waitress at the counter. They were trying to get her to predict which one of the two would win an arm-wrestling contest.

  ‘Shoot!’ Judd said, patting his pockets and looking worried. ‘I’ve lost my wallet. You guys will have to pay.’

  ‘I don’t have any money,’ said Reggie.

  ‘Me neither,’ said Andy. ‘I didn’t get a chance to take anything when we ran. What about your secret-agent ID card? If it gives you a free pass with the police, you ought to be able to get a free meal.’

  ‘It’s in my wallet,’ Judd said. ‘Besides, it doesn’t work like that. What if we use your rat as a diversion? We’ll put Brad on the floor, cry dirty rodent and complain how disgusted we are. We’re sure to get a free meal out of it.’

  ‘But what will happen to Brad?’ Reggie asked. Brad popped his head out of his pocket and squeaked as if he could understand what the boys were saying and he didn’t approve. ‘They might try to flatten him with a broom.’

  ‘They could try,’ said Andy. ‘But with his bionic streng
th I’m not sure what he’d do if he felt threatened.’

  ‘How did you get a biomechanical rat?’ Reggie asked.

  ‘Brad was my parents’ lab rat – he’s a prototype,’ Andy said. ‘But he’s a bit unpredictable…’

  ‘Awesome!’ Reggie gushed.

  ‘Okay, then,’ said Judd, looking back at the truckers. ‘Forget the rat. I think I have another idea.’

  ‘Excuse me,’ said Judd politely to the truckies. ‘My friend here was wondering if he could get in on the contest.’

  ‘Get lost, kid,’ grumbled one of the men.

  ‘Yeah, you boys get back on your skate-boards or whatever,’ said the other, who had a scruffy red beard.

  ‘We should think of something else,’ Andy whispered.

  ‘No way!’ Judd hissed. ‘You can lift a jeep with one finger. You should get this over and done with in two seconds. Just make sure not to crush his arm.’

  ‘We said get lost,’ snapped the truckie. He slowly pushed back his chair and stood up.

  ‘This is seriously nuts,’ Reggie said, taking a few steps back.

  ‘Ah…’ said Judd. ‘I see that you’re too gutless to take on my friend. What wimps!’

  The red-bearded truckie looked at his friend for a moment and then laughed. ‘Okay, then, step up, boy – let’s do this! I’ll teach you lads a lesson.’

  Judd pushed Andy forward. ‘If my friend wins, you pay for our meals, deal?’

  ‘And if you lose,’ said the waitress from behind the counter. ‘You pay for everyone in this restaurant.’

  The other diners, most of them tough tattooed bikers, gathered around to watch.

  Andy and the truckie anchored their elbows on the counter and gripped each other’s hands. Andy’s arm was tiny compared with the man’s massive forearm.

  ‘Are you ready?’ asked the waitress. ‘GO!’

  The truckie was the first to apply pressure. But Andy’s arm didn’t move an inch. The man grimaced and strained, and everyone acted as if he was joking, but they soon realised he wasn’t. He struggled with all his might to beat Andy, who remained cool, calm, and totally composed.

  ‘Okay, Andy,’ whispered Judd. ‘Finish him off, and let’s get out of here.’

  But as Andy prepared to slap the truckie’s arm down onto the counter, he suddenly felt something very strange. Short electrical jolts surged up and down his spine and sparks crackled deep in his ears. But worst of all, his arms and hands started to feel very weak. He shot a distressed look back at Judd and Reggie.

  And now it was Andy’s turn to struggle against the truck driver’s brute strength.

  Why is this happening? he thought as he gritted his teeth and strained to resist the force of the truckie’s solid forearm.

  ‘It’s over, kid,’ the man snorted, before slamming Andy’s hand on to the counter with a thud.

  Everyone cheered, except for Judd and Reggie.

  ‘Pay up, kid,’ sneered the waitress and handed Judd a bill for nearly 400 dollars.

  ‘What are we going to do now?’ whispered Reggie, hiding behind Andy and Judd.

  ‘I’m really sorry,’ said Andy. ‘What if my powers never come back?’

  ‘We don’t have time to worry about that now,’ whispered Judd, quietly passing him the keys to the Ducati. ‘You two just get to the bike and I’ll take care of this.’

  ‘Hey!’ the truckie called out, as his mate stood up and walked behind Reggie and Andy. ‘Where do you think you’re going?’

  ‘Um, um,’ Reggie stuttered. ‘Nowhere. We were just, um, you know, stretching…’

  ‘Pay the lady, now,’ snapped the man.

  ‘Hang on,’ said Judd, putting his hand in his jacket. ‘Just getting my wallet. It should be here…’

  Andy held his breath. He hoped that Judd had a plan.

  ‘It could be in my other pocket…’ Judd said, stalling badly.

  It was now obvious to everyone that he didn’t have any money. The truckie grabbed him by his collar.

  ‘Looks like you’re in big trouble, kid,’ he sneered, pulling Judd up to his face.

  ‘I’ll pay,’ Judd said. ‘Just put me down.’

  Andy wanted desperately to jump in and help Judd. But without his powers there was nothing he could do. He felt completely useless. Then he noticed his rat, stealthily crawling out of Reggie’s pocket. What’s he doing? Andy wondered.

  Brad jumped to the floor, and before anyone knew what was happening, he scampered across the diner floor and leapt for the truckie.

  Brad squealed angrily as he soared upwards and dug his claws into the man’s face.

  ‘ARRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!’ the man yelled, releasing his grip on Judd. Stumbling backwards, he hit the counter behind him.

  Dishes were knocked everywhere. The waitress screamed, and charged for Brad with her tray. As she swung, Brad jumped off the truckie’s face just in the nick of time.

  The metal tray hit the man hard across the face.

  ‘ARRRGGHHHHH,’ he groaned.

  Andy, Judd and Reggie watched in awe as Brad leapt around the restaurant, jumping on heads and nipping at the other diners – causing complete havoc and mayhem.

  ‘Quick! Let’s get out of here,’ Judd said. They rushed for the door, but standing in their way was the truckie’s burly mate.

  ‘You’re not getting past me,’ he barked.

  ‘That’s what you think,’ said Judd, and he let loose a powerful windmill kick to the man’s neck and a crushing double knee jab to his groin.

  The man fell to the ground and the boys bolted out of the restaurant.

  ‘What about Brad?’ cried Reggie, as he climbed on the Ducati.

  The superbike engine growled as Andy turned on the ignition.

  ‘We just have to leave him,’ said Judd as he jumped on.

  ‘NO!’ cried Reggie. ‘You can’t do that!’

  Just as Andy was about to agree with Reggie, Brad crashed through the restaurant window, and sprinted towards them. The waitress, the truck drivers and the bikies chased after him. Brad took a giant leap, and landed on Reggie’s shoulders.

  ‘GO! GO! GO!’ Judd shouted.

  Andy revved the bike, let loose on the throttle, and roared out onto the open road. His heart was racing as fast as the Ducati’s engine.

  All those years of building models with his dad and being a motorcycle nut, and his dream was actually coming true! Andy felt like he’d been riding the Ducati all his life. He revved the engine some more and almost forgot that he seemed to have lost his powers.

  ‘WOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOO!’ he cried. ‘THIS IS AWESOME!’

  ‘That was insane,’ exhaled Reggie as Andy pulled over on an isolated country road and they climbed off the bike. ‘Did you know your rat could do that?’

  Andy shook his head. He was as shocked as they were. He thought the General had just given him a pet rat, but Brad was much more than that.

  Reggie patted Brad who was busy licking his paws and looking proud. ‘He’s awesome!’ Reggie said. ‘But what are we going to do now?’

  ‘The question we should be asking is: What’s the deal with Andy?’ Judd said. He sounded really stressed. ‘You totally had a meltdown back there, man.’

  ‘It’s technical glitches,’ Reggie said. ‘I think it might be a case of –’

  ‘I’m not asking you,’ Judd snapped, and looked back at Andy. ‘Are you like us now?’

  Andy wondered the same thing. There was no denying that a part of him wanted to go back to being normal – the way things were before he and his family went on the run. But losing his powers wouldn’t turn back the clock. He’d never get his old life back.

  ‘Maybe it was a temporary thing,’ he said as he reached to grasp the front fork of the Ducati. ‘Let’s see.’

  Andy took a deep breath and tried to lift the bike. Nothing.

  He walked to a nearby telephone pole. It stood around ten metres high. Andy looked upwards. ‘Here goes,’ he muttered.


  He jumped less than a metre off the ground.

  ‘Whoa, even I could do that,’ said Judd, shaking his head.

  Andy tried again. But again he couldn’t jump higher than an excited cheerleader.

  ‘What’s happening to me?’ Andy began to panic. ‘I’m totally shutting down here! LOOK! My palm screen is powering down – the blue light is fading – it’s turning grey. What does that mean?’

  ‘I have a theory…’ said Reggie.

  ‘What’s the point of theories?’ Judd said, turning to Andy. ‘Do you know where the force-quit button is, dude? Because your powers are definitely not responding.’

  ‘You think that’s funny?’ cried Andy. ‘This is freaking me out, and you’re making jokes? My dad is in trouble, and I’m totally useless – I can’t do anything about it. Do you know what that feels like?’

  There was a long pause. Judd’s expression hardened. ‘Yeah…I do,’ he said softly. ‘I feel useless everyday, knowing that I couldn’t save my parents. So back off.’

  Andy felt terrible. ‘Sorry,’ he said.

  ‘It’s okay…I shouldn’t have joked about it.’

  ‘Maybe I can help…’ Reggie tried again.

  ‘Okay,’ said Andy, before Judd could cut him off. ‘What have you got?’

  ‘I think there’s a troubleshooting protocol in the microscopic sensor chips that link your human organs to your electronic wiring,’ said Reggie, taking Andy’s palm and staring at it in awe. ‘To dumb it down,’ he said, looking at Judd, ‘that means there’s a breakdown between Andy’s machine parts and his body parts.’

  ‘But what can we do about it?’ said Judd.

  ‘A jolt to the system might sort it out,’ said Reggie. ‘The millions of cells in our bodies are like little batteries that talk to each other via electrical signals. The proteins move in them because of an electrical charge…’

  ‘Seriously, Reggie, you’re out-geeking yourself right now,’ said Andy. ‘It’s sort of freaking me out a little.’