Leader Board would have been updated.
With his report filed and the mission complete, Kip had earned one Planetary Point. He hadnât found Earth 2 yet. He just hoped no other Space Scout had either. Otherwise, his chance at the Shield of Honour would be gone.
âYouâre not a slave to your job, Kip,â Finbar said to him, as though he knew what Kip was thinking. âMaybe itâs time to relax?â
Kip grinned. âLetâs take Duke to the Virtu-Park,â he said.
Dukeâs ears pricked up.
Kip, Finbar and Duke headed for MoNaâs Virtu-Park, which was near the bridge.
The Virtu-Park was a bit like the Air-Parks on Earth, except that it was in a sealed chamber on MoNa. Inside, the air was climate-controlled so the temperature was always a perfect 27 degrees.
A UV-free artificial sun shone down from the ceiling. Grass made of shredded silk carpeted the floor. There was even a soundtrack of birds tweeting piped through hidden surround-sound speakers.
Kip dug around in his spacesuit pocket. He found a slightly mangled DinoTreat.
âJump, boy!â called Kip. He threw the DinoTreat into the air. It spun in mid-air, never dropping to the ground. The Virtu-Park had a zero-gravity atmosphere. Duke rushed over. But he didnât jump up and grab the DinoTreat. Instead, he jumped into Finbarâs arms and licked his face.
âDonât you ever do what youâre told?â Finbar laughed.
Kip couldnât help smiling. Duke was definitely the naughtiest minisaur in space.
But that was fine by Kip. It was better that Duke was free to do things his own way. It was exactly how Kip liked things, too.
THE END