Lab Rats in Space by Bruno Bouchet

while when Captain Redlock came to tell them he’d spoken to Xanax.
    â€˜We’re going at maximum power to the planet Goran, our first destination. It’s a small planet which has good relations with most other worlds, so they’ll be able to help you find your homes. I just hope we reach there before Xanax catches us.’
    The children looked uncomfortable as they sat on the edge of his bed with their legs crossed in front of them.
    â€˜Thank you!’ said Zed quickly and bent over. Soon they were all pressing their hands at the top of their legs. They couldn’t sit still.
    â€˜What did you feed them?’ Redlock quizzed Rudi.
    Rudi explained that they had never eaten real food before.
    â€˜Have you ever been to the toilet before?’ he asked them. Their puzzled looks told him the answer.
    â€˜OK, ladies first.’ Dee and Emm took turns to go to the toilet. Through the toilet door, Captain Redlock explained what they had to do.
    â€˜Oooh! My tummy’s leaking!’ shouted Emm.
    â€˜It’s OK… that’s normal,’ Captain Redlock shouted back.
    The boys enjoyed the fact that they could go standing up and spray around the bowl. Emm didn’t think that was very nice.
    â€˜Sitting down is more elegant,’ she announced.
    XL didn’t need to use the toilet because he didn’t have a mouth for eating. He just tutted at the childish pleasure they had got from the food. He didn’t admit it, but part of him wished he could join in the fun.
    Dee did try to let him join in. She held him over the toilet bowl so he could pee too.
    Very quickly she realised he didn’t enjoy being dangled over the water.
    As she moved him away from the toilet, they were all bathed in a red light and a horn started. She ran back to Redlock’s cabin where the others were.
    â€˜What’s happening?’ she asked. They looked at each other, knowing the answer but not daring to say the word. Xanax.
    Rudi burst into the room.
    â€˜OK kids, it’s time to move. The Captain has a plan to help you. I just hope it works, I really do.’
    On the command deck, Redlock had ordered the red alert, locked all the docking stations and told the crew to continue at maximum speed to the planet Goran. They had detected one of Xanax’s ships closing in on them. The two ships were hurtling through space in a race to the planet Goran. Slowly but surely, the professor was getting closer.
    Xanax’s huge face appeared in the air again. Wherever anyone moved, his eyes followed them. Each crew member felt like he was talking directly to them, even though he was addressing the captain.
    â€˜Captain,’ Xanax was not smiling. It was all he could do to contain his anger. His head was shinier than ever, and the veins stood out on it. ‘The life forms in the containers you hold are extremely dangerous. If they escape they could cause some horrible diseases. They are very nasty organisms.’
    Redlock clenched his fist. He wanted to punch the holograph. They weren’t germs, they were children. Redlock wanted to say that but he didn’t want to give away the fact that he had found them.
    â€˜All I ask is that you allow us to dock and remove our containers,’ Xanax wiped his hand over his head. The squeak from his black rubber glove made everyone wince. As they stared at his eyes, they felt the temperature drop. His stare was so cold it sucked all the warmth from the room.
    â€˜Once the containers are on my ship, they are the property of their new owners. You have no right to take them back. It’s the intergalactic law.’ Captain Redlock had his argument ready.
    â€˜I don’t care much for intergalactic law,’ Xanax said quietly. ‘Call the space police if you want, see how much it helps you.’
    â€˜You can’t make me hand the containers over,’ replied Redlock.
    Xanax managed a smile for real. He stretched a hand out from his