28 The Big X

28 The Big X So Mr Markmaker has been taken to the Spire?' said Peanut. ' Yes, my dear. Anyone who disagrees with Mr White can expect a lengthy stay. There are more than a thousand cells, most of which are occupied. Are you sure that's where he is?' 'Yes. That's what our intelligence is telling us.' She looked across at the empty armchair next to her own and her eyes filled with tears. ' Sometimes I wonder if I will ever see him again. Peanut took Mrs M's hand in hers. Her skin felt like paper. 'What can we do to help?' Peanut asked gently. Suddenly Little-Bit leaped on to the table, put her fists

on her hips and assumed her best superhero stance. 'DON'T WORRY, MRS M! OUR MISSION IS CLEAR: FIRST, WE SHALL RESCUE MR M! SECOND, WE SHALL DESTROY MR WHITE!' Ooh, do be careful up there, little one,' smiled Mrs M. 'I don't want you to take a nasty tumble.' Peanut lifted Little-Bit off the table. 'The question is, what use could three kids be in the face of a megalomaniac and his army of terrifying robots?' 'Er, did I mention the Big X?' said Mrs M, sounding a tiny bit too casual. ' His most powerful weapon? You'd have to face that too.' 'Th-the Big X. Now, that doesn't sound good,' said Rockwell nervously. ' No. It's not good,' said Mrs M. 'Not good at all. 'What is the Big X?' asked Peanut. ' Well, imagine the biggest tank that you've ever seen...'

'OK.' 'Now quadruple its size...' 'OK.' 'Now add a huge set of the sharpest, fastest rotating blades the world has ever known at the front. 'OK.' And a huge vent that spits out whatever has been chomped by the blades in the form of greyish, black dust at the back. 'OK.' 'Well, that's the Big X.' 'Oh.' 'Mr White wants to use the Big X to mono the whole of Chroma. 'Mono?' 'Yes. Eat up its colour and spit it out. It's his latest initiative. He's already tested it on an entire district. 'Where did he test it?' Peanut had a nasty feeling that she already knew the answer to her question. Right here. In the North Draw. That's why it's so bleak. Mrs M sighed. 'I wish you could see how it used to be. Full of colour. Full of life...' She closed her eyes and smiled. 'It's now barely a sketch of what it used to be. Doodle wandered over and jumped up on to Mrs M's lap. She gave him a rub behind his ears. 'Poor old Doodle here was almost caught by the Big X as it ploughed its way through

the district. It terrified him. He didn't want to go outside for weeks afterwards and there are still certain areas of the North Draw that he won't set foot in. Rockwell stood up, looking very nervous. Peanut realised that he'd been unusually quiet for a long time. ' Er, I th-think it's time we headed back home, actually. I've got triple maths this morning and I've just remembered that I need to brush up on my differentiation before class. It was lovely to meet you, Mrs M. You too, Doodle. But, er, we'd best be off. 'Sit down, Rockwell,' commanded Little-Bit. He sat down. 'So, how can we help?' asked Peanut. ' The thing is, the RAZERs are on to us. As I said, they are tracking every resident of Chroma. You and your friends have a huge advantage. They don't know about you. And they certainly don't know about all of that,' said Mrs M, glancing at the art materials in Peanut's bandolier. 'With that creative firepower, we'd have a fighting chance. She leaned forwards on her elbows. 'But first, why don't you tell me exactly how you got here?'