Part 18 (1/2)
”Think about what I said!” I hollered. The blimp began to rise now that it was minus the weight of one Multiplier. Looking ahead, I saw we were once again on course for Lava Park.
Meanwhile, the discussion was continuing between the Amazing Indestructo and Professor Brain-Drain.
”If you expect me to renew our deal,” the Professor insisted, ”I demand a minimum guarantee, as well as my own advertising jingle.”
”Please! You'll have to speak with the Tyc.o.o.n.” AI turned his head n.o.bly away.
”Don't just stand there negotiating,” my dad exploded. ”Haul him off to jail!”
”I can't, I'm afraid,” AI admitted with a resigned sigh. ”Our agreement prohibits me from arresting him.”
”What kind of a hero are you?!” I shouted in disbelief. ”Besides, he's already broken your contract!”
”He may have, but I'm a hero. A hero always honors his agreements.” AI held his nose up as if he had something to be proud of. may have, but I'm a hero. A hero always honors his agreements.” AI held his nose up as if he had something to be proud of.
”A hero doesn't make deals with his archenemy to begin with,” I pointed out with disgust. As good as it felt to say, though, I really wished I hadn't.
”That's true,” AI admitted as his eyes began to blink rapidly and his lower lip started to quiver. When his shoulders slumped, he loosened his grip on the Professor.
”Don't let go of Brain-Drain!” I cried out.
But it was too late. The Professor was free and running toward the back of the blimp. So I did the only thing I could think of-I stuck out my foot and tripped him. As he skidded onto the floor, the colander on his head went flying, and Dad charged him.
”Dad,” I hollered, ”take care of Brain-Drain!”
My father was obviously a lot stronger than creaky old Professor Brain-Drain, but only as long as he could keep the Professor from touching his head and draining away his intelligence. The two were soon tangled in a struggle.
”Don't let him touch your head,” I shouted. ”Keep his hands away from you until I can get AI to help.”
It was just like AI to leave the dangerous work to my dad, while he wasted time sobbing and berating himself. It really bothered me to think about how misguided my hero wors.h.i.+p had been. But I saw we were almost to Lava Park, and the Professor would be desperate to release the two million cards stashed in the hold. So I [image]
swallowed my pride and did what I had to do.
”Aren't you the Amazing Indestructo?” I said with as much awe as I could stomach.
I stepped over to him and placed my hand on his shoulder.
”I am,” he answered a little bit hesitantly.
”All this time, Superopolis's greatest hero has been right in front of my eyes,” I said, but I was no longer looking at AI. Instead, I spoke directly to my father. ”And I only just realized it.”
Dad understood me and a proud smile spread across his face.
”It's such an honor,” I said turning back to an oblivious AI. And then I poured it on. ”It must be hard to be so perfect.”
”Well, it isn't easy,” he admitted.
”If there's anyone who can rescue me and my dad from that evil Professor Brain-Drain, I know it's you.” I gave him my wide-eyed, innocent look, topped off with my best worried pout.
It worked.
The Amazing Indestructo got to his feet and started toward the two struggling figures. With a surprising amount of force for a skinny old man, Professor BrainDrain unleashed a solid kick right against my father's s.h.i.+n. My dad let out a howl and dropped the Professor, who ran toward the cargo door lever. Dad fell to the floor, his hands. .h.i.tting the rug to catch his fall. Still in pain, the heat in his hands soared and the rug erupted in flames.
”Quick, AI,” I hollered, ”get rid of the rug before it causes any damage!”
”But it's on fire,” he said, looking at me like I was nuts.
”You're indestructible!!” I yelled back at him.
”Okay, okay,” he said, ”there's no need to get huffy.” Then, as the fire spread across the entire rug, the Amazing Indestructo grabbed hold of it by a corner and did possibly the stupidest thing he could have done. Instead of pus.h.i.+ng it out the open door, he dragged it over to the hold. With one kick, he sent it tumbling into the midst of two million Professor Brain-Drain cards.
”So much for those contract violations,” he said proudly. The cards, of course, caught fire instantly. It was only a matter of seconds before the flames whipped up into the gondola.
”We have to get out of here,” I shouted to AI, who seemed surprised that millions of bits of cardboard would react to fire that way. ”You'll have to carry both of us.”
Dad was just getting to his feet, but I could tell he was still in pain.
”Get up on my shoulders,” AI instructed me, and I wasted no time in following his directions.
Then, once again, the Amazing Indestructo got behind my father and slipped his elbows beneath his arms. AI fired his rocket and we shot out of the flaming blimp. I looked back and saw that it was headed straight for Mount Reliable in the center of Lava Park. As it drifted over the volcano's mouth, lava erupted into the air, engulfing what remained of the blimp. It was precisely five o'clock.
[image]
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE.
After Math
I showed up at school the next morning with a note from Mom and Dad for Miss Marble. It said:
Dear Miss Marble,
Please excuse Ordinary Boy for having missed cla.s.s on Wednesday afternoon. His help was needed in saving Superopolis from complete and utter destruction.
Signed, Snowflake & Thermo
Stench, Plasma Girl, and Tadpole were already there. They had brought notes from their parents as well. In addition, Plasma Girl had brought along that morning's edition of The Superopolis Times The Superopolis Times. I read the headline aloud.