Dreadnought

Chapter One: The Abduction

The laboratory was dark, only illuminated by the glow of active computer screens and the glow of a bench light over the solitary workstation. A middle-aged man stood over the bench examining with gratification the devices laid out on the table before him. A grim smile crossed his features. Finally after all these years my day of vengeance approaches, he though with gratification. Soon he would have his vengeance on N'Tek for they way they'd treated him and his genius. But first he needed someone whom his invention could use as a host. It had to be someone young and physically fit otherwise they would have no chance of getting past N'Tek's agents or security systems.

And he knew just the place to get a host, but first he had a call to make.

*****

Del Oro Bay

Next Evening

Pete Costas left the ice ring still feeling a little sick. That was the last time he was going to let Josh and Laura talk him into going ice-skating with them. He'd ended up taking a series of nasty tumbles, which left him feeling a little sick and wobbly on his feet. So he'd decided to leave. Josh had offered to drive him home but Pete could tell that both Josh and Laura wanted to stay and skate for awhile longer so he'd refused Josh's offer of a lift and said he'd walk home, which would clear his head. His home was not far from the ice ring that formed a part of the huge facility that was the Del Oro Sports Pavilion. A facility that included a fully equipped gym - that was very popular with the local bodybuilding crowd, a climbing centre, swimming pools, two stadiums one for baseball the other for football, bike track and dozens of other facilities that catered for all sorts of people regardless of their sporting abilities or fitness level. And at any rate crime was low in Del Oro - unlike in most metropolitan cities – he was very unlikely to get mugged or anything like that.

As he walked along the streets Pete could already feel his head clear and the sickness to abate thanks to the cool fresh air being blown in from the pacific by a light wind that carried it lightly down the wide streets and boulevards of Del Oro.

Pete stepped out of the side street that led to the Sports Pavilion into one of the wide tree lined boulevards that ran the entire length of the city. Turning westwards her started down the road ignoring the uninterrupted view of the bay from which the city took its name and the distant red height marker beacons at the top of the central tower of the N'Tek Headquarters complex out in the bay itself. He had seen the view enough times - having been born and bred here to have become almost immune to it.

After awhile he turned off the boulevard and started down the road that took him right into the heart of his own neighbourhood. As was normal at this time of night the street was quiet with the only sign of life being the lights glowing in some people's windows.

Abruptly powerful arms grabbed him from behind. Before he could react a damp cloth smelling of chloroform was placed over his mouth and nose. Pete tried not to inhale but he was too late, his eyes rolled backwards and he collapsed back unconscious, only the powerful grip of his attacker preventing him from collapsing into an unconscious heap on the floor.

Calmly the attacker dropped the chloroform soaked hanky into his pocket and hoisted the unconscious teenager over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. Then he carried him without effort back to the black van that had brought him here. Phase one was completed. Dr Ironstone and Mr Vostok were going to be very pleased.

*****

Josh McGrath and Laura Chen got back to Josh's beach side home a few hours later. As soon as they got inside Laura dropped her skating shoes on the floor and threw her arms around her boyfriend's neck.

"Hmm that was fun," she said looking deep into his hazel-brown eyes. "We should do it more often."

"Yes it was. And yes we should," Josh agreed picking Laura up and spinning her around. Laura laughed delightedly. Josh lowered her to the ground and they kissed deeply. As they pulled away Laura abruptly thought of Pete.

"We should call Pete see if he's okay," she said. Josh nodded agreement.

"Yeah we should he did take some nasty falls. He should have let me drive him home." Laura nodded agreement.

"Yeah but you know Pete. Sometimes he's to stubborn for his own good." Josh laughed as he moved over to the phone. Picking up the handset he dialled in the familiar number and waited a moment while the phone rang.

"Hello," a female voice said over the handset. Josh recognised her as Amanda Costas, Pete's mother.

"Amanda it's Josh can I speak to Pete please?"

"I thought he was skating with you?" Amanda replied. Josh frowned in surprise and concern.

"He was but he wasn't feeling well he left to come home hours ago."

"Well he never got here," Amanda replied starting to sound concerned. "Can you go out looking for him Josh? Jacob isn't back for Chicago yet."

"Of course I'll go look for him," Josh replied in mounting concern. Laura came over concern on her own face.

"Thanks Josh."

"Not a problem I'll call you as soon as I get back. Try not to worry too much. He's probably just fallen somewhere, or gone and got himself lost."

"I'll try." With that Amanda put the phone down. Josh put down his own handset and turned to look at Laura to find her looking back at him in equal concern. She'd heard what Amanda had said to Josh. It was always a mystery to Josh how she could hear so well - she didn't have his nanotech-enhanced hearing - but it was surprising what she could hear if she was in reasonably close proximity.

"Maybe we should have insisted you drive him home," Laura said worriedly.

"Maybe. Let's get going see what trouble he's got himself into this time. Though I doubt it could be as bad as last time."

"Why what happened last time?" Laura asked as she followed Josh over to the door. Josh picked his keys up from where he'd put them down on the hallway table.

"Pete stowed away on the Hawk," Josh explained. "He'd overheard me talking to Berto and knew I was going on a mission. So he decided to tag along. He knew I would never allow him to so he stowed away."

"Figures," Laura said shaking her head while simultaneously enjoying the fact that Josh now talked openly with her about his double life as a secret agent. Only a few months ago it would have been impossible for him to discuss it with her because then she hadn't known about his double identity or his awesome nanotech powers hadn't known that Josh McGrath and Max Steel were one and the same. With a look of concern on her face Laura followed Josh out of the beach house and they went in search of Pete.