Ice Strike

by Steve Skidmore

  If you wish to fight back, go to 13.

  23

  You nod and put the creature out of its suffering.

  You have to decide whether the frost bear was telling the truth. Is Arktos really in his northern palace or the one in the south? You consider what it said and make your choice.

  If you wish to head towards Arktos’s northern palace, go to 33.

  If you wish to head to Arktos’s southern palace, go to 41.

  24

  The NAV system guides you to Arktos’s palace.

  Soon you see it ahead of you. It is a huge ice palace set in the middle of a glacier. Its crystal towers reach high into the sky.

  The suit scans the area. “Main entrance guarded by glacier giants,” it reports.

  You realise that time is running out on your mission, how should you get into the palace?

  To head to the main entrance, go to 8.

  If you wish to try to find another way into the palace, go to 39.

  25

  You shake your head. “I don’t think so! Show me something that isn’t going to kill me!”

  “Very well.” QTee puts the ray gun back and points at some small plate-shaped devices. “Chemical-thermo mines. Set them off and they create an incredible heat. They will melt most surfaces.”

  “That’s more like it,” you say.

  “You will have the usual weapons and you can create streams of fire with the crystal from Vulkana’s Staff of Power. And remember if you capture the crystal that powers Arktos’s staff, you will also have control over the element of ice: that could be crucial in our battle against Tyranno.”

  “But you’ll have to survive your trip to Iceworld first,” says Agent Lee.

  QTee continues. “I have set the co-ordinates for the snowy wasteland of Iceworld. You will need to make your way to the palace where Arktos is.”

  QTee arms the DART suit with your weapons.

  “Let’s go, before it gets too cold!” You step into the suit. “Teleport,” you order. A bright light flashes as you are teleported through the dimensions of space to Iceworld and your battle with Arktos.

  Go to 4.

  26

  You take aim and send streams of fire at the frost bears. Their armour and fur bursts into flames and they drop down, howling.

  More of the creatures target you with their ice-beam guns. You dive down and send ripples of flame at the frost bears and they catch light. In their panic to escape, the creatures blast each other — putting out the flames, but freezing them solid. You continue your attack and soon your enemies are lying on the icy ground below.

  You fly down to check if any of them are alive. “Locate survivors,” you tell the computer.

  It replies. “One life form, fifty metres ahead.”

  You head over to the creature. It lies groaning, with its armour melting.

  If you wish to kill the frost bear, go to 17.

  If you wish to try to communicate with it, go to 10.

  27

  You turn to fly away, but the giant raises his ice trident and thrusts down. The weapon pierces your suit.

  Again the giant attacks, breaking through the armour once more. Time after time he pierces the suit’s defences. You cry out as the deadly ice weapon tears through your flesh.

  You have paid the ultimate price. If you wish to begin again, go to 1.

  28

  “Activate fire system,” you order.

  In an instant the suit heats up and the ice turns into harmless droplets of water.

  “All systems restored,” says the computer.

  You are still being battered by the icy gale and visibility is minimal. You know that you have to get back to Area 61.

  If you wish to use the DART’s NAV system, go to 16.

  If you trust your own skill, go to 35.

  29

  You begin your attack by sending streams of energy blasts at the two snakes.

  They writhe and twist to try to avoid your deadly assault. They spit back huge ice missiles, which explode around you.

  However, you take evasive action and reply with a volley of missiles. The cloud of smoke from the explosions covers the pass. Blinded by the smoke, the snakes crash into each other, plunging their teeth into each other’s heads and locking themselves together.

  You send a sheet of flame at the struggling creature’s heads and they melt together. You fly by them and out of the pass, leaving the creatures locked in their death grip. The way to Arktos’s palace is open!

  Go to 24.

  30

  “Super speed,” you order.

  The suit responds, but the frost bears shoot ice beams that block your path. You crash into the ice and spin down into a snowdrift. Before you can get to your feet, you are trampled on. A frost bear’s iron jaw rips through your DART suit’s defensive armour.

  “Systems failing!” warns the computer.

  “Teleport back to Earth,” you cry, but nothing happens.

  Mercifully the freezing cold numbs your body as the frost bears feast on your flesh.

  Begin your adventure again. Go to 1.

  31

  “I’ll take it,” you say.

  “Very well.” QTee mounts the laser gun onto the DART suit.

  “You will have your usual weapons, and of course you can now create streams of fire with the crystal from Vulkana’s Staff of Power. And remember, if you capture the crystal that powers Arktos’s staff, you will also have control over the element of ice: that could be crucial in our battle against Tyranno.”

  “But you’ll have to survive your trip to Iceworld first,” says Agent Lee.

  QTee continues. “I have set the co-ordinates for the snowy wasteland of Iceworld. You will need to make your way to the palace where Arktos is.”

  “Let’s go, before it gets too cold!” You step into the suit. “Teleport,” you order. A bright light flashes as you are teleported through the dimensions of space to Iceworld and your battle with Arktos.

  Go to 4.

  32

  You arm the chemical-thermo mines and begin your flight towards Arktos. However, you are quickly spotted. Ice demons take to the air and begin hurling ice bombs at you. They explode and send you spinning through the air.

  You return fire and drop some of the mines. They detonate and begin to melt the glacier. Some of Arktos’s forces fall through the melting ice.

  You continue to drop the mines, but there are too many enemies to deal with.

  You head towards Arktos, but are cut off by more of Arktos’s army. You fight bravely, but it is hopeless. You are hit by a burst of ice missiles.

  “Systems badly damaged,” warns the DART suit. You crash to the frozen ground, where you lie, unable to respond.

  A group of ice demons are quickly upon you and spray you with a liquid that instantly turns into a net of ice. You are trapped!

  The demons take you to Arktos.

  Go to 36.

  33

  “Set co-ordinates for Arktos’s northern palace,” you order the suit.

  It responds and soon you are flying across the frozen landscape.

  Soon it begins to get dark. You can just see the outline of a huge range of icy mountains ahead of you. They reach high into dark black snow clouds and you cannot see their peaks.

  If you wish to try to fly over the mountains, go to 6.

  If you wish to look for a mountain pass through the peaks, go to 37.

  34

  You blast at the mountain of ice with your eGun.

  To your amazement, the energy blasts hit the wall and are reflected straight back at you! The DART suit takes a massive hit. The electrical systems burn out and all power is lost!

  You begin to plunge through the air.

  “Teleport!” you order, but nothing happens. Eventually you hit with a sickening crash.

  Go to 49.

  35

  You switch the DART suit to manual control to fight your way through the storm.

&
nbsp; However, the cloud of snow is so thick that you cannot see anything. You realise that you have made a big mistake! Before you can take evasive action, you smash full speed into the side of the mountain.

  Go to 49.

  36

  Arktos stands above you holding his Staff of Power.

  “You fool,” he growls. “To think that you could stand up to the might of Arktos. You and your puny Earth are doomed.”

  You plead for your life.

  He laughs. “Did you not know that I am cold hearted?”

  He raises his Staff of Power and with a cry of victory plunges it into your heart.

  You have failed! Earth is at the mercy of Arktos.

  If you wish to begin again, go to 1.

  37

  You begin to search for a pass through the mountains. You eventually see an opening in the side of the mountain range. Two huge ice columns guard the way into the pass. You stare ahead and see more tall columns lining the steep walls of the pass.

  As you walk between the columns, they suddenly move and the sound of ice cracking fills the air. The columns are alive!

  “ICE SNAKES!” warns the computer.

  They begin to attack! They whip their tails round and you are sent spinning through the air. You smash into another snake’s rock-hard icy body and crash to the ground. You leap up and dodge as they spit streams of razor-sharp icicles at you. Quickly, you reply with a blast of swirling fire that melts the deadly missiles before they hit you.

  The ice snakes continue their attack.

  To try to fly away, go to 44.

  To fight the creatures, go to 15.

  38

  “Super speed,” you order.

  The DART suit fails to respond. You repeat your order, but nothing happens. Freezing cold ice is now forming inside the suit.

  Arktos is upon you. Another salvo of ice bombs hits you. The explosion is the last thing you see.

  You have failed. To start again, go to 1.

  39

  You spend some time flying around the palace trying to find a way in. Suddenly a great noise breaks out across the glacier. You quickly head towards the front of palace to see what is happening and give a cry of horror.

  The gates of the palace are open and thousands of creatures of all shapes and sizes are marching out. Frost bears, ice demons, glacier giants and other creatures you could not have imagined in your worst nightmares.

  Then the noise stops and Arktos emerges from the palace, riding a battle mammoth. He is holding his Staff of Power!

  He holds it up and his voice booms out across the icy waste. “The attack begins!” His army roars in approval.

  Arktos’s forces are getting ready to invade Earth! You know that if you can capture Arktos’s Staff of Power, his army will not be able to invade.

  You have to react immediately!.

  If you have the gamma-ray laser, go to 18.

  If you don’t, go to 32.

  40

  “So what’s the best way to turn up the heat on Arktos?” you ask.

  QTee looks grim. “Arktos is very powerful. He is using his Staff of Power to break through the dimensions and create a world of ice here on Earth. Then he can unleash his forces of the cold: ice snakes, frost bears and snow demons are just some of the creatures you will have to defeat.”

  “Where will I find him?”

  Agent Lee looks grim. “We’re not sure. Our intel says that he has two ice palaces. One in the north of the planet, one in the south. We don’t know which one he is based in.”

  “It doesn’t sound as though it’s going to be a fun day out!”

  Agent Roberts nods. “You are going to have to take some very powerful weapons with you.”

  QTee smiles. “And I’ve invented something very special for you!”

  Go to 12.

  41

  You set the NAV system with the co-ordinates to Arktos’s southern palace.

  You set off, but the journey takes many hours.

  Finally, you arrive at the palace. It is completely deserted! You know you have made the wrong choice.

  At that moment, you receive a message from QTee back on Earth.

  “Arktos has begun his invasion of Earth — you have failed! There is no point coming back home because Earth will…”

  The transmission is cut off. You know that Earth is doomed and you can do nothing about it.

  You have failed. Begin your adventure again by going back to 1.

  42

  You fly towards Arktos to get as close as possible.

  The enemy forces open fire at you. Ice demons launch grenades at you which explode, firing diamond-hard iceflakes. You dodge them and launch missiles and fire your eGun — taking some enemies out. Arktos is now only fifty metres away!

  “Target lock. Fire!” you order the suit.

  The deadly laser beam shoots out, hitting Arktos in the chest. There is a moment’s pause, then the whole glacier erupts as everything around you is vaporised. Arktos is dead!

  Your joy quickly turns to despair. Too late, you remember what QTee told you. The radiation blast from the gamma-ray gun hits you. The DART suit is ripped open and your body is atomised.

  You have beaten Arktos, but lost your life. If you wish to begin again, go to 1.

  43

  “We didn’t come here to make friends,” you say. “Launch missiles!”

  The deadly missiles streak away into the air. The frost bears speed up and charge straight towards you.

  Some frost bears are hit by the missiles, but as the others get closer they open their great jaws. Huge razor-sharp teeth glisten in the light. They howl as they move in for the attack.

  You aim your eGun and take out the first creature with a volley of well-aimed shots.

  You take down another frost bear, but the others keep coming — as they charge you realise that you are badly outnumbered.

  If you wish to try to escape, go to 19.

  To stand your ground and continue the fight, go to 9.

  44

  Before you can get airbourne, one of the snakes wraps its body around you, pinning your arms against your body. You try to escape, but the creature’s grip is too strong. You are trapped in the coils!

  The creature smashes you against the wall of ice, practically knocking you out. You feel blood running down your face. The other snake moves in for the kill, with its mouth wide open and its fangs ready to strike.

  If you wish to teleport back to Earth, go to 14.

  If you wish to try to fight your way out of the situation, go to 3.

  45

  “Activate super speed,” you order.

  You fly faster through the freezing gale, but ice continues to cover the DART suit, weighing it down.

  The computer’s voice sounds weak. “S-y-s-te-m-s failing…”

  You have to act immediately!

  If you want to try to fly out of the cloud, go to 7.

  If you decide to activate the suit’s fire system, go to 28.

  46

  You shake your head. “I don’t think I will waste any more energy on you.”

  You turn, but as you do, the creature leaps up at you and its great jaws bite into your suit, ripping open a gaping hole.

  You shoot the creature and it drops dead, but you are in trouble! You feel your body beginning to freeze with the cold.

  “Systems failing,” warns the DART suit.

  “Teleport to Earth,” you order.

  “Teleport malfunction…”

  You try to fly away, but the suit doesn’t respond.

  The cold has destroyed the computer’s systems and is eating at your body. You sink to the ground and curse at the fact that you didn’t keep your word…

  Go to 49.

  47

  To give you time to mend the suit you know that you have to get away from Arktos.

  “Super speed,” you order.

  But before the suit can respond, you are hit by another ice bomb.


  “Systems failing,” warns the suit.

  You are helpless. Arktos sends more ice bombs towards you. They explode, sending you to oblivion.

  If you wish to begin again, go to 1.

  48

  Before the glacier giant can attack, you send a sheet of flame into his body.

  He cries out in pain, and staggers away. You leap up and send a volley of energy blasts at your enemy. The giant has no defence against such an attack and he falls to the floor, dead.

  You realise that more giants are in your way — you cannot head straight to the main entrance, you will have to find another way in.

  Go to 39.

  49

  You lie helpless on the frozen ground. Your suit is broken open and you feel the icy cold creeping through your veins, chilling your blood.

  You try to get up, but it is hopeless. You know that you are going to freeze to death. You lie waiting for the end.

  You have paid the ultimate price. If you wish to begin again, go to 1.

  50

  There is a flash of light, a roaring sound and then you are back in the OPS room in Area 61, with QTee and the agents.

  You hand over the power crystal from Arktos’s staff. This will now give you power over the elements of snow and ice.

  You give an account of your adventures to QTee and agents Lee and Roberts.

  “I wonder what Arktos meant about just being a diversion?” says Agent Roberts.

  You shrug. “I’m sure that we will find out soon enough.”

  QTee nods grimly. “You’re right. We still have to deal with Tyranno. The war is not yet won…”

  You succeeded! You are a hero!

  Thanks to you, Earth is safe…

  …for the time being…

  About the 2Steves

  “The 2Steves” are Britain’s most popular writing double act for young people, specialising in comedy and adventure. They perform regularly in schools and libraries, and at festivals, taking the power of words and story to audiences of all ages.

  Together they have written many books, including the Crime Team and iHorror series.

  About the illustrator: Jack Lawrence

  Jack Lawrence is a successful freelance comics illustrator, working on titles such as A.T.O.M., Cartoon Network, Doctor Who Adventures, 2000 AD, Gogos Mega Metropolis and Spider-Man Tower of Power. He also works as a freelance toy designer.

  Lawrence lives in Maidstone in Kent with his partner and two cats.

  As Tyranno prepares to unleash his alien armies on Earth, only one person standsin his way – YOU! Your quest is to save the planet by defeating Tyranno. But the evil Starlord is strong and powerful. It will take all your skill and strength to free the universe from the grip of Tyranno. All you need to do is make the right choices…