Winning Moves Read online

  ‘Look, Miya,’ Addie said, laughing. ‘All those little legs are handy for lots of things!’

  Miya smiled as she watched her new friends use their hundreds of legs to rub gel into the bodies of the sick creatures. ‘They are a great help,’ she said, ‘but I’m not sure how much more gel I have left.’

  Just then a round dark shape cast a shadow over the girls.

  Addie looked up. ‘Space Surfer is here to take us home,’ she said.

  ‘We’ll have to give the gel to our ancient friend here,’ said Miya. ‘It’s time to go and he knows what to do.’

  The girls handed the gel to the huge aquamanta and then they hit the icon on their watches to start up their flip-jets.

  The old aquamanta closed its mouth over Addie’s wrist. ‘It’s turned my flip-jets off,’ Addie said. ‘It mustn’t want us to leave.’

  Suddenly Addie was on her back resting on hundreds of tiny little feet. ‘Hey, Miya,’ she called. ‘I think they’re going to give me a ride!’

  ‘Me too,’ said Miya as the creature flipped her onto her back. Laughing, the girls floated on their backs and were bumped along as the creatures carried them through the thick yellow sea to Saturn 6.

  Space Surfer was waiting in the launching bay for the cadets when they arrived. He was dressed in a pink suit with yellow daisies and purple love hearts just like they were.

  ‘Good job, cadets,’ he said with a grin. ‘And no smart comments about my suit. It’s the only way I could greet you safely in case I got splashed.’

  Addie and Miya floated in front of Space Surfer and laughed.

  ‘What a great photo opportunity,’ said Addie, taking out her SpaceBerry. Space Surfer quickly grabbed Addie's SpaceBerry from her. ‘Of you two and your new alien friends,’ he said. ‘Big smiles please. From all of you.’

  Addie and Miya floated together with the aquamantas until the camera clicked.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Back at the FlyBy the girls were laughing with the Professor about their suits.

  ‘Yes, one of our scientists creates very useful fabrics,’ he explained. ‘But she also loves bright colours and patterns! As long as they work is all that matters.’

  ‘We’ll miss those creatures,’ said Miya. ‘We had a lot of fun with them while we were waiting for Space Surfer.’

  ‘They were very happy with the way you girls helped them,’ the Professor said.

  ‘SEAS is also very happy with you. You showed good judgment, clever thinking and you worked together well. You will certainly have earned high points.’

  At the mention of points Addie suddenly remembered the spaceball game. ‘Who won the spaceball match, Professor?’ she asked.

  ‘Nebula 3:1,’ the Professor said with a grin. ‘Valentina and Sabrina missed the rest of the game. I haven’t heard how their mission went but they’ll be happy to know we won.’

  ‘Congratulations, Professor,’ said Addie.

  ‘You’ll be a much better player after your experience on Aquare, Star Girl,’ said the Professor. ‘All that floating is a lot like being in the spaceball courts, isn’t it?’

  ‘Yes it is and I think the mission has helped me a lot,’ Addie agreed.

  ‘Well, off you go, girls. Mission points will be sent to your SpaceBerries as usual.’

  Back in the dorm room Miya and Addie were on their laptops.

  ‘Addie, why did you think I wouldn’t want to call the holographic teacher on a mission?’ Miya asked.

  ‘Valentina told me that it’s bad and you lose points,’ answered Addie.

  ‘Everything is about points and winning with Valentina,’ said Miya. ‘I feel a bit sad for her. It must be really hard always needing to be the best.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Addie. ‘I just want to get good enough marks to stay here. I think I’ll do better in Zero Gravity class after the simulation tanks and going to Aquare. I hope so anyway. Hey, my friend back home has just come on SpaceChat. I’m going to write to her.’

  ‘Okay,’ said Miya. ‘I’m going to upload those photos I took on Aquare.’

  Addie keyed in a response to Jess on her laptop.

  STAR GIRL

  Yep, I just went on a mission with Miya. It was so good to go with a friend this time.

  JESS

  That’s awesome. I wish I could see where you go.

  STAR GIRL

  Me too. Hey, I’ll send you some photos of a galaxy that I took today.

  JESS

  Cool.

  STAR GIRL

  I’d better go. I need to study. My grades aren’t very good.

  JESS

  You need a studybuddy like me up there on that space station.

  STAR GIRL

  I do! Miss you, Jess. CYA.

  JESS

  CYA