Robot Warriors Read Online Free PDF Page A

competition, or there’s going to be trouble.”
    “Whatever,” John said with a shrug, but his stomach was turning cartwheels. When Mordant Talliver made a threat like that, you could be sure he meant it. He had a knack for getting other people into trouble just so he could watch them flounder. And even when Mordant broke school rules himself, he always managed to wriggle out of the punishment.
    To John’s relief, suddenly Master Tronic came clanking over towards them. Mordant retreated with a final warning hiss.
    “How are we getting on, Mr Riley?”
    “Much better now, thanks.”
    Master Tronic scanned the desk-com with glimmering eye-lasers and nodded in approval. “Your design’s coming along well, I see. But you still need to choose your materials.”
    “I haven’t had time yet!” John protested, his anxiety slipping back. “I’ve never done this before, I—”
    Master Tronic held up a robotic hand. “Steady now! Many of your classmates have never built a robot before, either, as first-year students. That’s why I’m here – to help. Can I recommend beronzium for the teeth?”
    John blinked. “Beronzi-what?”
    “It’s a metal used in heavy-duty cutting equipment. There’s an old battle droid in the Junkyard with a beronzium claw. You can recycle that if you like.”
    “Brilliant!” John said, taking notes.
    “And for the homing device, perhaps you could reuse the navigation system core from one of our old deep-space probes...”
    By the time Master Tronic had finished, John had made a lengthy shopping list of materials. He felt inspired − and a million times more confident than before. He was more certain than ever that he could do this project. But there were only four hours left on the clock! He’d just have to hope that it was long enough to turn his design into a fully assembled robot.
    At least the design was complete... except for one thing. John tapped the blank section labelled PROJECT NAME, and entered the words SUPER-ROVER.
    Now for the materials , John thought. He headed over to the Junkyard, taking a deep breath as he looked over the huge stacks and shelves full of electronic components and weird-looking bits of technology from all different planets.
    Fortunately, Master Tronic had told him which bins and drawers to look in, and it wasn’t too long before he was guiding a hover-trolley laden with junk towards his desk.
    “Hi, John!” Emmie called as she came his way. “Check these out!”
    Something was moving beside her, a hovering object like a disc with a flat underside and two stubby vertical tail fins. It blended in with the desks and the floor, as if it were made of translucent glass.
    Also next to Emmie was a figure in a bubble-like helmet, its head uncannily like a dolphin’s. She was a P’Sidion, John remembered – one of the first aliens he’d met. Her robot was hovering in the air beside her, a single long tentacle of steel with tiny sharp teeth and a crackling blue tip to its tail.
    John whistled. “Nice robots!”
    “This is Cammy,” Emmie explained. “Cammy, visible mode!”
    The hovering disc’s skin changed to a dull silver, and now John could see it clearly. “Camouflage, huh?” he said, impressed. “Wait a minute. Cammy looks kind of like a miniature Flitter X5000...”
    “I thought it might be lucky,’ Emmie said, laughing. “And check out Dol’s robot!”
    “This is Electric E!” Dol said proudly. The hovering eel-like robot buzzed and clicked threateningly. “Don’t worry. He’s very well trained.”
    “Glad to hear it,” John said, steering well clear of the sparking tail. “Look, I’d love to chat, but...”
    “Of course, you still have to finish your robot!” Emmie shooed him off towards his desk. “Go on, then! We’ll catch you later!”
    John sat down at his work station and rubbed his hands together. Finally, it was time to build his—
    He stared. The desk-com’s screen was completely blank.
    Frantically, John typed