The professor spun around. When he saw Romeo, his eyes lit up. ‘My goodness, you’re stealthier than I imagined. How did you get here without anyone seeing?’

  Romeo shook his head. ‘I have my methods,’ he said, trying to sound mysterious.

  The professor cracked his knuckles. ‘So, you’re here to give yourself up? I can’t wait to start examining you.’

  ‘Yes, but only if you promise to recall all the chick-oats and return New York to normal,’ Romeo replied.

  He heard the whirring of an overhead security camera as the lens focused on him and the professor. Romeo assumed it was Ham and Beth watching at the other end and was glad they couldn’t hear the conversation. Both would have been shocked that he’d agreed to give himself up to save the city. That hadn’t been the plan, after all.

  Weird-Warp sniffed. ‘That’s what I promised.’

  Romeo’s eyes narrowed. He wasn’t sure he believed the professor and now Weird-Warp was standing right in front of him, he couldn’t help his curiosity getting the better of him. ‘Why did you release the chick-oats anyway?’ he asked.

  Weird-Warp looked surprised. ‘Why, for the most obvious reason ever, revenge.’ Weird-Warp began pacing the lawn. ‘This is payback! You beat me before, but you won’t beat me again. This time, my plan to use mutants to take over the city is far too good. You can’t thwart me. New York City will be mine! I will own this city. And when New York is mine, I’ll take over the world. My mutants are the future. They’re my specialty. When I find the best mutant, that’s when I’ll create an army of them to help me rule all others. In the end, there will only be hybrids. No humans. No lesser animals. Just my mutant army.’

  Romeo was shocked. Weird-Warp wanted to get rid of all animals and humans? ‘What about you?’ he said, ‘You’re a human.’

  Weird-Warp sighed. ‘Believe me, I feel the failure of my simplistic genetic structure every day. I am slow and weak. I’ll never be enough. But when I have the perfect mutant combination, I’ll be able to clone myself and create a new, improved version of me.’ Weird-Warp turned to face Romeo with a piercing gaze. ‘You see, Mr Fortez, I have a problem.’

  Romeo rolled his eyes. ‘I’ll say you do.’

  Weird-Warp frowned. ‘Not the one you’re thinking. I have an obsession. To be the best. And to want the best for our planet. Humans have had their chance. So have animals. It’s time to evolve. Science is the next frontier, the next and only hope for Earth.’

  ‘You know you’re entirely mad,’ Romeo said.

  Weird-Warp threw his head back and laughed maniacally, seeming to prove Romeo’s point. ‘Ah, but

  I’ve never felt saner.’

  ‘Yet, by your own confession, you want to take over New York,’ Romeo said. ‘Which means you won’t recall the chick-oats even if I give myself up.’

  Professor Weird-Warp grinned. ‘Oopsies! I guess you’re right. But don’t you worry about that. Now give yourself to me, you perfect little sloth. You’re the missing piece of the puzzle I’ve been looking for, I just know it.’

  Romeo knew there was no way he could give himself up if Weird-Warp was still going to take over the city. He had to fight, he had to stop the professor.

  I have to at least give it a shot, Romeo thought. What was it that Tulip said we should do? That’s right! Attack!

  Romeo attacked the only way he knew how.

  He activated his super cute factor, gazing at the professor and beaming a super-charged shot of sloth sweetness and irresistibility right at him. Weird-Warp fought against Romeo’s power and before the cute factor had a chance to work, he clicked his fingers and a crowd of chick-oats appeared, whirring, bleating, and chirping. Weird-Warp lifted his arm high in the air then brought it down as he pointed at Romeo. ‘Destroy!’ he cried.

  ‘Berk-berk-baa!’ The chick-oats whipped themselves into a tornado and spun towards Romeo. The tiny sloth worked quickly to throw mutant creature after mutant creature off him, his arms whirling at super-fast speed. But every time he threw one chick-oat off, two others replaced it so that he was soon buried beneath a pile of cheeping, baaing mutants.

  While Weird-Warp laughed maniacally, Hector Hardwallop ran in with a pair of magnetic, weighted handcuffs and snapped them on Romeo’s wrists. No matter how hard Romeo tried, he couldn’t break free.

  Well, this didn’t go as planned, he thought to himself.

  Weird-Warp clapped his hands gleefully. ‘Magnificent! Time to have some fun with the little sloth.’ The professor pointed the gyrocopter. ‘To the lab with him!’

  Weird-Warp marched towards the gyrocopter while Hector dragged Romeo along the ground, not caring that he was scraped or scratched or that his moth ecosystem was disturbed. ‘Sorry, little guys,’ Romeo apologised to the insects. ‘Don’t worry, we’ll get out of this.’

  ‘Not likely,’ Hector muttered.

  Romeo caught a blur of motion. ‘Tulip!’ he gasped as she lunged at Hector.

  The aye-aye squealed in fear but refused to let go of his precious cargo. Instead, he made his eyes even bigger than normal (if that was possible), bared his rodent-like teeth, and hissed at her.

  Unperturbed, Tulip hissed back at Hector. ‘I’ll take that!’ she said, swiping Romeo from Hector’s grasp and holding him high out of the aye-aye’s reach. When Hector ran at Tulip, she used her free paw to pin him to the ground. ‘Down, boy!’

  While she had Hector pinned, Tulip searched him for his keys. She soon found them and undid Romeo’s handcuffs. He jumped to his feet and smoothed out his suit. ‘Some superhero I am,’ he mumbled, feeling embarrassed.

  ‘Never mind,’ Tulip soothed. ‘Even Superman has his kryptonite. Your weakness is you take too much on yourself.’

  Professor Weird-Warp shrieked from the gyrocopter, ‘What’s causing the delay?’ Catching sight of Hector on the ground and Tulip and Romeo together, he shrieked, ‘No! Stop! Nooooooo!’

  Romeo turned to Tulip. ‘Shall we go?’

  She nodded. ‘We shall.’

  The two set off, racing side-by-side to the submarine. When they arrived, they found a group of chick-oats were using it as a trampoline, taking turns bouncing on it. The glass dome was smashed in, the rest of the vehicle covered in dints.

  Romeo gasped. ‘What do we do now?’

  ‘You come with me, that’s what,’ Weird-Warp’s voice sounded behind them. ‘Both of you.’ The professor pointed a dangerous-looking laser gun directly at them. ‘One shot from this and you’ll be frozen solid,’ he warned.

  ‘How do we know you’re not bluffing?’ Romeo said.

  Weird-Warp swung the gun to his left and fired it at an unsuspecting chick-oat.

  Zap!

  For a millisecond, the chick-oat seemed normal. Then it went, ‘Berk-berk-baa?’ and turned to ice.

  Romeo gulped. ‘Okay, you’re not bluffing.’ He glanced behind him at the river and saw a green boat speeding towards the island, rock music pumping loudly. ‘Is that …’ He squinted. ‘Your mum?’ he asked Tulip.

  Tulip glanced behind her. ‘It is!’ Romeo heard the disbelief in her voice and saw the joy on her face. ‘What’s she doing here?’

  The speedboat pulled up just offshore and Rose shouted something at them.

  ‘I can’t hear you!’ Tulip shouted back. ‘Turn the music down.’

  Rose turned the music off. ‘Swim for your life!’ she screamed.

  Romeo and Tulip frantically zig-zagged over the rocks then dived into the water. Freezing laser bolts rained down around them, but luckily none found their mark.

  Romeo made it to the boat first and clambered aboard then reached out to help Tulip on. Weird-Warp shrieked at them from the shoreline, but Rose floored the accelerator and the boat sped away. Romeo and Tulip hugged each other with relief as they watched Weird-Warp jumping up and down in frustration.

  ‘How did you find us?’ Tulip asked her mum.

  Rose clicked her tongue. ‘Bit hard to miss, don’t you think?’ She pointed at the drones and helicopters above.

  ‘Where are you taking us?’ Tulip said.

  ‘Somewhere no one would think of looking for you,’ Rose replied. ‘Trust me, I have the perfect hiding place.’

  Romeo glanced sideways at Tulip. He thought he saw her nose twitch ever so slightly, but when Tulip nodded and said, ‘Sure,’ he knew that if Tulip trusted Rose then he could too.

  Rose turned the loud music on again and steered the jet-powered boat back towards Manhattan. Water splashed along the sides of the craft as it bumped and rocked across the harbour at full speed. None of the police boats or helicopters could keep up with it and they were soon left behind. When they docked at the pier, Romeo suggested they contact Beth and Ham to tell them where they were.

  ‘No time for that,’ Rose replied. ‘Like I said, we have to get you to a safe place.’

  ‘We already have a safe place,’ Tulip said. ‘A hideout.’

  ‘Really?’ Rose’s nose twitched. ‘Where?’

  Romeo nudged Tulip. ‘It won’t be a secret hideout if we tell you where it is,’ he said.

  Rose snorted. ‘Very true!’ She laughed, low and rumbly. ‘Never mind. It doesn’t matter. What matters is me getting you to safety. Let’s go.’

  Rose escorted them to a white van with the words ‘CENTRAL PARK ZOO’ printed on it. ‘Jump in the back,’ she said.

  Romeo and Tulip bounded into the van and the door was slammed shut.

  ‘Are you sure about trusting your mum?’ Romeo whispered to Tulip as the van took off through the city streets.

  Tulip gave her tail two flicks before responding. ‘Mum said we could trust her, and I believe her. I know she walked out on me when I was a cub, but she wouldn’t intentionally put me in danger.’

  Romeo nodded. ‘All right. If you think this is the right thing to do, I’ll run with it. But what about Ham and Beth?’

  ‘We’ll check in with them once we’re safe,’ Tulip said.

  Moments later, the van screeched to a halt. Rose turned the engine off and ran around to open the sliding door. ‘Okay, cubs. Out you get.’

  Rose ushered them into a cool, dimly lit room. Romeo realised they were standing in a movie theatre set up for 4D viewing with special sensory effects.

  ‘This way.’ Rose motioned to a set of doors at the back of the room. She opened them to reveal a corridor extending into the distance.

  ‘I never realised any of this was here,’ Tulip said.

  ‘The general public doesn’t,’ Rose said, ‘but these are our offices and our … other rooms. Just a bit further along here.’

  They hurried down the corridor where Rose opened two purple doors. ‘Here we are.’

  The doors swung open. Rose shoved Romeo and Tulip into the dark room then slammed the doors behind them. Romeo felt along the wall for a light switch, but Tulip found it first and flicked it on.

  The room lit up.

  Tulip gasped. ‘What in the name of all felines is this?’

  The place stank of disinfectant. Metal tables lined one side of the room while cages lined the other. The floor was covered in pale blue tiles like a swimming pool, and the overhead lights were hot and bright. Medical instruments and chairs resembling those you might see at the dentist were dotted about the room.

  ‘Welcome!’ a familiar voice echoed through the cavernous room.

  ‘Professor Weird-Warp!’ Romeo gasped.

  ‘Mum!’ Tulip spun around and pounded on the doors. ‘Open up!’

  ‘Your mother is on my payroll.’ A smile oozed across the professor’s face as he strode towards Romeo and Tulip while Hector sat on his shoulder, sniggering. ‘It’s been a brilliant partnership and I must say, didn’t we trick you two! You’ve ended up right where we wanted you.’ He held his hands wide to indicate the laboratory.

  ‘My mother would never work for someone like you,’ Tulip seethed.

  ‘Where do you think I get the animals for my experiments?’ Weird-Warp said. ‘Every species of creature from across the world wants to work in New York. Everyone wants to be famous! “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere” and all that.’ The professor chuckled. ‘I’ve gotten my best test subjects from this zoo.’

  ‘I want to see my mother right now,’ Tulip said.

  A door behind the professor opened and Rose appeared. ‘I’m here, Tulip. Stop making trouble now.’

  ‘Trouble?’ Tulip said. ‘Are you kidding? You dirty double-crossing cheetah! How could you? I thought I could finally rely on you.’

  ‘Well, that was a mistake,’ Rose said. ‘The professor has paid me well, but now it’s time to move on.’

  ‘Just like always.’ Tulip shook her head. ‘You never stay anywhere long. Where are you going this time?’

  Rose laughed. ‘That’s for me to know and you never to find out.’ She held her paw up and waved. ‘Later, cub!’

  Tulip growled angrily as Rose slunk out the door and slammed it shut behind her. Romeo held her back, trying to comfort her. ‘It’s okay. Everything will be all right.’

  Tulip trembled in his grasp. Somehow the tough street cheetah held it together. She nodded sadly. ‘I only wish I’d let you tell Ham and Beth where we are. That was stupid of me.’

  ‘Very stupid indeed,’ Weird-Warp sneered. ‘Now I’ve got you all to myself!’ He clicked his fingers. Hector Hardwallop leapt down from his shoulder and opened the door Rose had gone out of.

  In traipsed a team of fierce looking baboons.

  ‘I suggest you do as I say,’ Weird-Warp said. ‘My friends here have orders to bite you if you don’t.’

  The baboons bared their sharp teeth menacingly at Romeo and Tulip.

  ‘Get in there,’ Weird-Warp told Tulip as he pointed to a large metal cage nearby.

  ‘I won’t,’ Tulip replied defiantly.

  Weird-Warp lifted an eyebrow at Hector.

  ‘Get her!’ Hector ordered the baboons. Two of the hideous, pink-bottomed creatures rushed forward and grabbed Tulip. Before Romeo could do anything, they had tossed her into the cage, which Hector promptly locked.

  ‘Let me out!’ Tulip raged.

  Hector and the baboons laughed, which only made Tulip angrier.

  ‘Now, little sloth,’ Weird-Warp told Romeo. ‘Hop in that examination chair over there. It’s time to start your testing.’

  Romeo noticed a tray of sharp instruments beside the chair, including several long needles. ‘Can we talk about this?’ he said. ‘I might be able to help you.’

  ‘You are helping,’ Weird-Warp said. ‘ With my experiments.’

  ‘I meant maybe we can talk,’ Romeo said. ‘Sometimes it helps to talk about your … issues. Like finding out why you need to dominate the world.’

  The professor glared at Romeo. ‘I’ve never had help, never asked for help, never needed help. My father taught me that from an early age. Conquering the world will show him that I’m capable of standing on my own two feet. That I’m powerful. That’s all anyone ever needs to know.’

  ‘See, I think talking about this is helping,’ Romeo said. ‘Keep going.’

  ‘Enough!’ Weird-Warp snapped. ‘Strap him in the chair!’

  Once again, Hector commanded the baboons to grab Romeo, but he was too fast for them. He darted about the room, evading capture and throwing baboons left, right, and centre for several minutes until Weird-Warp pulled out his laser freezing gun and pointed it at Tulip. ‘I do enjoy seeing you exert your powers, but it’s time this game ended. In the chair or the cheetah gets it.’

  Romeo hung his head in defeat. He couldn’t have Tulip turned to ice.

  After the merry chase he’d led them earlier, the baboons took great delight in throwing Romeo into the chair. Metal cords sprung out from each armrest, looping across his arms, legs, and body to secure him tightly.

  ‘Just so you know, those special metal-magna ties will smother your Super Sloth powers,’ Weird-Warp said, his hand hovering over the tray of instruments. ‘What shall we do first, Hector?’

  ‘Why not the eyeball puncture?’ Hector said.

  ‘That is indeed an interesting option.’ Weird-Warp nodded thoughtfully. ‘But I think I’ll start with the bone marrow extractor instead.’

  Hector sniggered. ‘Yes, yes, that’s perfect! I’ll get the drill!’

  The drill was so loud Romeo felt the sound alone might pierce his skull. He wriggled and fought in his seat, desperately trying to use his powers to break free, but the metal-magna ties prevented him from doing so.

  ‘Hold still,’ Weird-Warp said. ‘This won’t hurt a bit.’

  At that moment, the doors burst open, swinging violently on their hinges, and making a loud BANG against the walls.

  ‘Step away from that sloth!’

  Weird-Warp stopped the drill and his head whipped around. Romeo craned his neck to see Beth and Ham standing there. ‘How did you find us?’ he gasped.

  ‘I put a tracker in Tulip’s breast-plate,’ Ham said. ‘Just in case.’

  ‘Great idea!’ Romeo said. ‘I’m so glad you did.’

  ‘Ham thinks of everything,’ Beth said.

  ‘Tee-hee! I bet he didn’t think of a plan for these baboons,’ Hector said, as he ordered the monkey goons to attack.

  The baboons rushed at Beth and Ham, who bravely stood their ground. Beth reached into her backpack and took out some bananas which she tossed into the hallway. The mad monkeys barged out the purple doors and began fighting over the bounty. At the same time, Ham released Tulip from her cage. When the ferocious cheetah ran straight for Hector, he bolted out of the room and down the hallway, screeching all the way. Beth slammed the doors shut behind him.

  ‘Bananas?’ The professor shouted. ‘You outwitted them with bananas?’

  Beth shrugged. ‘Next time you might want to feed your lackeys.’

  ‘This is not happening!’ Weird-Warp shrieked at Romeo. ‘I will not let you go!’