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Forbidden Power . . . The Secret of the Lost Crystal

by Henry Norris

135 pages; ; catalogue #01-0049; ISBN 1-55212-648-X; US$9.00, C$10.00, EUR7.50, £5.00

When the tourist planet of Plasivica finds itself under the rule of a cruel new governor only a brave group of kids can stop him from destroying Palsivica in his search for Forbidden Power.

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about the book      about the author      sample excerpt      catalogue info

About the Book Never underestimate the power of Kids . . . In the beginning of the book, Palsivica is a peaceful and beautiful place. It's a tourist planet, with _ of its population at any given time made up of tourists. Then, all of a sudden, danger strikes. Armored patrols and walkers are patrolling the cities, shooting anyone who dares oppose them. Follow the adventures of Sammel, Nakkar, Bryan, Sharon and Shawn as they struggle against forces far greater than them. The question is, even with all their futuristic devices, will they be able to save their planet from destruction. What is the motive behind this sudden takeover? Find out in Forbidden Power... The Secret of the Lost Crystal.

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About the Author Forbidden Power is the author's first novel. Its creator, Henry Norris, is twelve years old and is a grade seven student in Victoria, B.C. He can often be found holding a book, his lacrosse stick, a soccer ball (he's a goalkeeper), or his pet rabbit, Feb. In addition to writing, Henry's many other interests include making pottery, beating his own scores on computer games, playing cribbage, acting in school plays, and watching episodes of Star Trek TNG. Of his future, Henry says, "I think I'd like to be a lawyer. I love debate!" If you have any comments or questions for any of the people in this book contact Henry at: sammelmandel@hotmail.com or through Hillside Printing in Victoria.

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Chapter One

Sammel Mandel was cruising along on his hoverboard, clouds floating past beneath him, when the green status light on his control panel turned yellow and then red. It began to flash and beep crazily until the hoverboard's anti-gravity field cut out, and he was falling... falling...

Before hitting the clouds, he caught a glimpse of a girl hovering a short distance away. In her hands was a small, prism-like, antennaed device. And she was laughing! As he reached the simulclouds, the holographic field projecting the images in the practice gym flickered wildly and went out. Sammel hit the safety net and bounced twice before stopping. He scrambled angrily to his feet, then, regaining some of his composure, carefully dusted himself off. The girl, a wide impish grin still crossing her face, came hovering down.

Sammel slowly shook his wolf-like head. "Vruth Kammar!" he growled, the tip of his long, whip-like tail waving slowly back and forth, revealing his agitation. Sharon Thompson couldn't help but giggle.

"What's so funny?" demanded Sammel, frowning.

Sharon smiled again. "Nothing, really," she said. "It's just that, whenever you come up with one of those strange Vonalt curses, I can't help wondering what it is that you're saying."

"There are no translations for our 'curses', as you call them, so there'd be no point in my trying to explain," he muttered. "Just make sure you're not around if I extend my claws at the same time!"

Sharon laughed again. She knew he was kidding, of course. Sammel really was a nice guy underneath that layer of gruffness, but still she couldn't suppress the shudder that tingled down her spine.

"Well," she joked, "You just short-circuited my new power regulator, so I won't be pulling that trick again until I build another one!"

Bryan Alton, Shawn Glysmore, and Nakkar Vanders all cheered quietly behind her back. They knew that, at least for now, they wouldn't fall victim to Sharon's gizmo. And Max, Sharon's pet computer, also experienced considerable satisfaction because the power regulator's presence had caused static throughout his system, making him feel a little dizzy, as well as slightly unstable.

For the next hour, the five close friends continued their practice. Sammel, happy now that Sharon's power regulator wouldn't once more send him tumbling, returned to his flight. Graceful, athletic, and extremely strong by human standards, he swooped contentedly around the practice area, his powerful jaws set in the strange, almost menacing grin of his species.

Bryan began to encounter some difficulty with his hoverboard, and he wondered if the effect of Sharon's trick on Sammel had spilled over to his control system. But, with her assistance, the problem was identified and repaired. His 'board now supercharged and on maximum power, Bryan began to roar around the gym at astonishing speed, laughing and whooping with exhilaration. The hovergym's control computer, however, was not impressed. Calculating Bryan's speed as violating safety regulations, it immediately and without comment took control of his board, and shut it down. Bryan was equally unimpressed but, unlike the control computer, he made his feelings about the situation quite clear to everyone in the place.

Meanwhile, Nakkar was tearing around in all directions and, with skill and precision, executing the most intricate (and dangerous!) moves imaginable. Though his goal in life was to be an architect, he was an avid hoverboarder, and he pursued the sport with a passion.

Nakkar, whose ancestors were from the planet Obira, was tall and slender. He looked almost fragile, but his body was in fact deceptively sturdy. His bat-like head, perched atop his long neck, was thrust slightly forward. Nakkar's translucent grey wings, also like those of a bat, were in sharp contrast to the rest of his body, which was covered from head to toe in jet-black fur. Although his wings were not yet fully developed, and were therefore incapable of permitting flight, they did aid him greatly in the control of his hoverboard.

However, in no time, his grabs, twists, flips, and 1080's were identified by the computer as unauthorized use of the facilities, and his 'board was also taken out of action. Nakkar was just as miffed as Bryan had been, but he simply skulked off to a computer terminal and filed a complaint about the main computer's lack of flexibility to situations.

Highly intelligent and uncommonly inventive, Sharon was not, by nature, as reckless as Bryan and Nakkar. She was far too sensible to risk injury (or worse!) in what was, to her, the unnecessary pursuit of mere excitement. So she cautiously worked on a few simple jumps, and made the occasional tentative stab at something a little more daring. She always kept her shoulder-length blonde hair swept back in a ponytail where it wouldn't be in the way, and her tanned complexion indicated she spent much of her time outdoors. Sharon was one of those fortunate individuals who seem to have everything. In addition to her considerable intellectual abilities, she was blessed with not only an attractive personality, but charm and beauty as well.

And then there was Shawn. In all the years that Sharon, Nakkar, Sammel, and Bryan had been his friend, each still would have found it difficult, had they been required, to describe his personality. Shawn was simply not one whom you could classify. It would be unfair to say that he was weird, but he was most definitely not ordinary. Yet Shawn had many exceptional talents, and he was considered a very important member of the group.

Finally, Nakkar's pre-programmed Glactia watch announced, "Your practice period is up. It is time to leave. Repeat; it is time to leave."

"Computer, dim lights and open door," commanded Sammel.

"Affirmative," responded the computer in a pleasant voice. "Thank you for using the Plaxi Hoverboard Gym. It was a pleasure serving you."

The group stepped out of the building and into the warm bright sunlight. It was still fairly early in the day, and the kids were primed for more action.

"Let's go next door to the laser soccer arena!" suggested Bryan. "It's Two Chalm Tuesday today!"

"Well, I don't know," said Nakkar, hesitating. "I'm clean out of cash."

"Aw, don't be a spoilsport," groaned Sharon. "It's a great deal and besides, your family's got bags of money!"

"Oh, all right!" grumbled Nakkar. "I can forward the bill to my parents and pay them back with my next allowance."

Walking through the door to the Laser Soccer Palace was like stepping into another world. The walls were decorated with bizarre shapes of all kinds. Some seemed little more than lines and squiggles, but others were extremely intricate designs and patterns, all of which reflected the artistic styles and preferences of members of the vast number of different races that visited the planet.

Palsivica was a world dedicated to tourism. Its sparkling clean oceans, lush forests that varied in colour as the day progressed, spectacular Kimingdan mountains, and numerous other unusual places of interest made the planet the tourist destination for all beings within 100 light years.

Still full of energy, everyone burst into the lobby of the soccer palace. Sammel briskly strode up to the desk and announced, "My friends and I would like to participate in a Level 5 game, if you please!"

Nakkar pulled a face. "Sammel's a great guy," he whispered to the others, "but he does sound a bit stuffy sometimes." His friends nodded in agreement.

The android behind the desk turned around to face the group. "You will have to wait approximately 25 minutes for the next game," it said in a voice totally lacking in emotion. Sammel snarled menacingly at the android, which paid absolutely no attention to him or his response, and returned to the group. Every short, stone-grey hair on his muscular body was standing on end.

"Stupid android!" Sammel muttered sourly. "Needs replacing with one that has a more pleasant personality!" Sharon and Nakkar exchanged knowing glances.

"And you needn't give each other those looks, either," snapped Sammel. "You have obviously forgotten that my acute sense of hearing allowed me to hear every word you spoke to each other a few moments ago. Stuffy, indeed!"

After 25 minutes of trying every single game in the place's poorly equipped arcade, the group was more than happy to hear the announcement that their turn to play soccer had arrived. They rushed to the counter to accept laser pistols and team vests, and to join the two other players.

One was a boy called Greg who, although he was a year older than they, shared their common dislike for Simon Morr, the local bully and his crony Aaron. The other, a girl named Lynn, wasn't known by anyone except Sharon, who knew her through their dads' tourist businesses.

Sharon, Lynn and Nakkar agreed to be the Red team and to face Sammel, Greg and Bryan. Shawn wasn't feeling much like playing so he bought some snacks and went to the observation room to await the start of the game.

"Attention!" stated the android. "I will now tell you how to play. You will each be in your own bubble attached to the wall. Mount your laser gun into the hole in your bubble. Be sure that the number and colour of your weapon matches with those marked above the hole. Inside the field of play, there is a floating ball that moves at random around the arena. Since you have chosen to play at Level 5, the ball will be in rapid motion. You must hit the ball with your laser fire to propel it in the desired direction. Blast the ball into your opponents' net to score. Do I make myself clear?"

Enthusiastically, both teams shouted, "Yes!"

"Good! Then you may proceed with play!"

Everyone rushed noisily across the synthigrass floor to their bubbles and strapped themselves in, just as their guns announced, "Armed and ready! Let the game begin!" . . .

. . . At the sound of the buzzer, everyone climbed slowly out of the bubbles. Although they hadn't felt it during the game, everyone except Sammel was stiff and cramped from being in such confined spaces for half an hour.

"Wow, that was a great game!" yelled Nakkar.

After paying their two chalms each, the friends left the Laser Soccer Palace. High above the ground, they strolled along a reinforced Duratonium walkway that ran from building to building, allowing shoppers to gaze through store windows at various goods on display. The members of the group excitedly exchanged comments, compliments, and teases about the game they had just completed.

"That was the best round of laser soccer I've ever played!" was Bryan's input on the matter.

"That was the best game of laser soccer anyone's ever played!" stated Sammel.

"Correction!" quoted Max. "The contest widely regarded as best game of laser soccer in the history of the sport took place on the planet Juur on the second day of the fourth month of the Interplanetary Standard Year 3123."

"Oh, be quiet, Max!" snapped Sammel. "You always have to ruin my opinion with reality!"

As they passed a newsstand, Bryan disappeared through the doorway, held a brief conversation with the android behind the counter, and returned a moment later looking a little sheepish and holding a vidmagazine chip.

"Sorry, but I had to buy it," he said. "You guys all know that I have to own every "Mechanics Monthly" chip that comes out!"

While everyone was still shaking their heads at Bryan's antics, Nakkar slipped into a nearby holoflik shop and emerged with a video on modern architecture. As the group continued chatting and joking, Sammel purchased an automatic claw sharpener from an exotic pet shop.

"Excuse me for a while," said Sharon. "I want to buy a set of second-hand hoverlifts at PARTS-4-U. Everything there is half-price this week!"

"Don't you people have any willpower?" exclaimed Shawn. "No wonder you use up your allowances so fast!" But five minutes later, he himself broke down and bought everyone an Aquamarine jil - a sweet, delicious drink made from the Minktro Darsh.

This unusual cross between plant and animal thrived deep beneath the surface of Palsivica's warm ocean waters. It was carnivorous - often deadly, in fact - being able to inflict severe damage on any living thing unwary enough to venture within its grasp. The Darsh's range of motion was limited by the length of its stem (which was planted firmly in the ocean floor), but it had a surprising ability to lash out in any direction, grasping its prey with long, sharp, dagger-like fangs.

Early inhabitants of the planet had discovered that the Darsh could be harvested by dropping sedative-laced bait within its range, then cutting it off at the base of its stem. Although fairly expensive, mainly because of the costs and danger involved in collecting the chief ingredient, the Aquamarine jil was the most popular beverage on Palsivica, especially with off-world visitors.

After finishing their jils, the friends mounted their hoverboards and started to head for home but on the way, someone spotted Simon Morr's house. Simon, who was one year their senior and thoroughly despised by all members of the group, was always pulling mean tricks and publicly embarrassing them.

"There's Simon in that 'special' tree-house of his," commented Nakkar, making a face as he spoke. "Would I ever like to repay him for what he did to me last week."

"Well, why don't you make a start now, Nakkar?" challenged Sammel. "Bet you a Super-size Aquamarine jil you can't do a double backflip off Simon's roof! At least that will get his attention."

Nakkar couldn't let such a juicy challenge pass him by. After all, he had his reputation as a champion hoverboarder to defend. So, as they approached Simon's house, everyone except Nakkar dropped back. He flew higher in order to hit the roof with the greatest possible speed, and then plummeted toward the roof, glancing off it to execute a perfect double backflip. Laughing so hard that he could barely steer, he rejoined the group. Through tears of laughter he exclaimed, "You should have seen Simon's eyes! They were so big that you couldn't have covered them with dinner plates!"

From there, everyone went directly to Sharon's house to watch the Galactic Hoverboarding Competition, which was being broadcast directly from the swamplands of Uleru. During the program, Max entered the family room, carrying a large tray of snacks. After he had presented the tray to everyone and each had taken something, Sharon's mind drifted back to the day that Max has entered her life. She could still remember clearly the front door swishing open....

Mr. Thompson's cheery voice rang out. "Anyone home?" Sharon, up in her room, rushed down the stairs and threw herself into her father's outstretched arms. "Oh, Daddy! I missed you so much!" she cried.

"I missed you, too," he said. " I dislike these long business trips just as much as you do, but I don't have any more for quite a while, so we can catch up on all the things we enjoy doing together. By the way, Honey, I brought you something. He can be a bit annoying, but I think you'll like him."

"He?" questioned Sharon. "I have a baby brother?" She knew that her parents had always wanted a larger family but, shortly after Sharon was born, her mother had been seriously ill and, as a result, couldn't give birth to any more children. Sharon had been secretly hoping for a long time that they would adopt a child so that she could enjoy the company of a sibling.

"Not quite!" chuckled her father. "Sharon, I'd like to present to you Max, your very own personal mobile computer. Max, say hello to Sharon."

"Hello, Mistress Sharon," said a strange, almost hollow-sounding electronic voice. It was coming from a gleaming, light green oval on wheels that rolled out from behind Mr. Thompson.

"Cool!" exclaimed Sharon. "So your name is Max."

"Yes, I am called Max," said the oval.

"Well, welcome to the family, Max," stated Sharon with mock formality. "I'm sure that you'll be very happy here."

"No doubt I shall," stated Max. But he was quite serious....

About half-way through the competition, Mrs. Thompson asked everyone to stay for dinner. All of them holophoned their parents for permission but all except Shawn and Sammel politely declined, explaining that they were expected at their own homes. So it happened that Shawn and Sammel stayed at Sharon's for dinner, each having a delicious garaa steak, followed by qeeul plant salad, and finishing with enormous tasty desserts for everyone.

It was 7:41 am. Shawn was snoring softly when suddenly he was removed from his bed - gently but firmly - by a robotic arm. He was promptly and unceremoniously dumped down a softly padded vacuum tunnel, being undressed, then dressed by various mechanical devices before he hit the landing pad in the hallway near the kitchen.

Shawn dragged himself, still half asleep, to the kitchen table for a bite of breakfast. But before he was even half way through his glass of garaa milk, or had started the bowl of Druds, his favourite sugar-covered cereal, he was again hauled off - this time to the study by yet another robotic contraption - for an early lesson with his tutoring android.

In his foggy, semi-conscious mental state, he vaguely recalled that he had some sort of upcoming test to take; a test on... what was it, now? Oh, yes. The planet's history. What could be so darn important about Palsivica's past? he thought sourly. The present is all that really matters. All that he could remember so early in the morning was that, in the Standard Year 2917, the beautiful world now named Palsivica was discovered by space explorers from Earth and, fifty years later, was settled by a group of colonists.

The planet was originally thought to have never been inhabited, since no signs of any kind of pre-existing society were evident. Seeing the vast potential of this world, the first humans to arrive had set about planning to make Palsivica a place of retreat and relaxation. This, they knew, was desperately needed in a universe that was now littered with timeworn and used-up planets and systems which had been virtually stripped of all natural appeal.

Not long after, there was found another race of beings living in the system. They existed on a planet covered with vast expanses of desert and putrid pools of Klifdlor slime. And since the Palsivican colonists were extremely short of equipment and workers, an agreement was formed with the Prokla, as the newly discovered race was called. They provided the labour and the settlers obtained the machinery, and together the two races began the transformation of Palsivica into what it was today.

As time went by, more species came to inhabit the planet, all bringing with them special skills, as well as their rich and varied cultural backgrounds. It became a major tourist world in Standard Year 3132. The population had grown to... Oh, what was it? 5.8 billion? Yes, that was it!

Shawn realized it would be at least 10:00 before he could meet up with his friends at their clubhouse (which they had named the Sanctuary) on top of a derelict old office building. His memory was momentarily blocked from knowing why there were still run-down buildings on such a thriving world, but then it came back to him. In the rush for new places to visit, when the tourist population swelled rapidly, some of the buildings that couldn't be quickly and properly converted into hotels or tourist centres were abandoned and left to decay. The recently elected new governor had promised that he was going to do something about them, as well as about the soaring crime rate, but no signs of any action had been seen yet.

Maybe something will happen soon! he mused.

Bryan's morning, on the other hand, was quite different from Shawn's. He had been awakened by his mom at eight o'clock, had eaten a leisurely breakfast, and had flown off for the clubhouse around nine. Soon after, his familiar figure was soaring on the hoverboard past his favourite shopping plaza. Looking down, he had an idea. I'll drop down to the bakery and pick up a 15-donut link, Bryan thought.

As he entered the shop and breathed in the delicious smells, he heard an unmistakable voice behind him, making him cringe inside.

"Hey, Bryan!"

It was the last person Bryan wanted to see! Simon Morr was sauntering over to where Bryan stood in line. Slapping him on the back as if he were a long-lost pal, Simon grinned and said loudly, "Good to see you, buddy!"

Bryan was more than a bit suspicious. He paid the deposit for the donut link, took it from the android behind the counter, and turned toward Simon, saying, "And what brings on this sudden change of attitude, Simon?"

"Oh," lied Simon, with a huge, but quite obviously insincere smile. "I thought we could be friends, instead of continually fighting and pulling pranks on each other!"

"Yeah, sure!" muttered Bryan, pushing open the door and jumping onto his hoverboard. "See you around, buddy!"

As Bryan zipped away toward the Sanctuary, Simon strode back to his table and rejoined his friend Aaron. "When that stink bomb you planted on Alton's back goes off," he laughed, "even his own mother won't let him into the house without him going through a speeder wash first!"

When Bryan entered the clubhouse and turned around to talk to Sammel, Sharon turned somewhat pale.

"Am I missing something?" inquired Bryan

"You've got an Olean stink bomb attached to your back!" she stammered.

"Don't move!" commanded Sammel. "I'll get it off!"

In one fluid motion Sammel extended his claws, sliced the offensive device from Bryan's shirt, and tossed it to Shawn, who deftly caught and disarmed it.

"Wow!" exclaimed Bryan, looking in the mirror at the long rips across the back of his shirt. "Thank goodness for self-repairing material! Awesome, Sammel! And not a scratch on me!"

Sharon tucked the stink bomb into her pouch. "Maybe this will come in handy sometime!" she said.

"What have you guys been doing?" asked Shawn, opening the donut link's teleportation chamber and activating the controls. Several donuts popped out of the link, one into each outstretched hand. "Ah, fresh out of the oven!"

As everyone eagerly gobbled down the treats, Nakkar spoke." We've been making a Thazer!"

"A what?" questioned Bryan, intrigued.

"It's a device that sends your opponent flying head over heels!" explained Sharon.

"Well, let's go test it on Simon" said Bryan, obvious thoughts of revenge colouring his voice. "I can't wait to get back at him for that dirty stink bomb trick!"

Immediately, everyone jumped onto their hoverboards and headed at top speed for the plaza, Sharon at the rear and hollering something as loudly as she could. The boys, in their excitement, paid absolutely no attention to her.

They landed outside the shop, quickly dismounted, and raced toward the outside table where Simon and his pal were now sitting. The two troublemakers were clowning around and laughing gleefully. Bryan and the others could hear snatches of the conversation. "Stuck-up brats!" Simon was saying, jealousy dripping from his mouth. "That bomb is really gonna stink up their precious clubhouse!"

"That does it!" snapped Sammel, grabbing the Thazer. "I've had it with Simon and his gang putting us down all the time!"

His words, and anger, immediately attracted Simon's attention, who began laughing and sneering. Sammel increased to maximum the power on the Thazer.

"Sammel!" yelled Sharon, as loudly as she could. "It's not perfected yet! Don't..."

But it was too late. Sammel had pulled the trigger, and before anyone could move, the powerful recoil from the weapon had blasted him off the plaza platform. Everyone scrambled to the edge, fear and horror distorting their faces. They all peered down apprehensively. For the second time in two days, Sammel was falling, falling.... but this time it was for real.

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Catalogue Information

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