Toy Terror: Batteries Included Read online

  You rub your eyes and blink hard. Should you run after it?

  Or should you run home and get your dad’s camera?

  If you run after the doll, turn to PAGE 98.

  If you go for the camera, turn to PAGE 7.

  “We toys are on a mission,” Nasty Kathy explains. “A mission to stamp out toy abuse!”

  “Huh?” You stare at her. “You mean you’re not going to take over the world?”

  Nasty Kathy snorts. “Don’t be dumb! What would we do that for? No, we just want to make the world a little better for toys. To stop kids from ripping the eyes off their teddy bears, pulling off their dolls’ heads, stuff like that. That’s why we’re making all the police dolls. Someone has to control these kids!”

  “Oh …” you murmur, and trail off.

  You feel kind of let down. You were expecting to hear something more exciting. Something more adventurous.

  But you promised to help out. “Count me in,” you declare. “What do you want me to do?”

  Nasty Kathy grins, showing her pointed teeth.

  You shiver. Even though you’re on her side now, she’s still kind of scary.

  “You’re going to be our demonstration doll!” she announces.

  Start your new job on PAGE 5.

  You and Benny dash across the runway toward the plane. You hide behind a luggage cart. While Bobaloo talks to the pilot, you slink up the stairs. Then you hide behind some seats in the back of the small plane.

  Finally Bobaloo and two other men get on board. The pilot radios to the tower, taxis down the runway, and … you’re flying!

  “Where to?” you hear one of the men say.

  “First stop — Walt Disney World,” Bobaloo replies.

  “Cool!” Benny blurts out.

  “Hey — who’s back there?” a man with a gruff voice asks.

  He stomps to the back of the plane. You see his big feet through the metal chair legs. Is he a huge toy? you wonder.

  You try to crouch lower, but he can see you easily.

  “Looky what we got,” the man calls to Bobaloo. “Stowaways!”

  Bobaloo hurries back.

  “This must be my lucky day,” he says, staring at you coldly.

  Find out what Bobaloo’s idea of a lucky day is on PAGE 120.

  “Aaahhhhhh!” you scream as the monsters fly at you.

  All six Zorgs latch on to your legs and claw their way up your body toward your face!

  You thrash wildly and manage to shake two of them loose. They land with a plop near your feet.

  But the ones that hang on grip tighter.

  RIIIIIPPPPPP! Their razor claws slice through your jeans as they climb. You feel the sting of the ooze from their tongues as it drools into the scratches in your flesh.

  “HEELLLLP!” you scream. They’re spitting slime!

  You grab at them with your hands, but they’re strong. Hard to shake off. You gaze down and shudder. Their filthy blue-green fur ripples. Their slimy tongues waggle. Their ugly sucking feet grip your legs.

  Two more monsters leap again. Harder. Higher. Their claws sink into your T-shirt. You grab one and hurl it across the room.

  Then you feel a claw scrape along your chin….

  Go on to PAGE 67.

  Your plan is to try to trick the Annihilator. It’s the only way you can control it.

  At least, that is your plan — until you follow the robot into your dad’s office.

  Its eyes light up when it sees your dad’s new laptop computer. It holds out a hand again.

  You gulp and shake your head. The Annihilator is scary.

  But so is your dad when he’s miffed!

  “No way,” you say. “You can’t have the computer. My dad is already going to kill me about the baseball cards!”

  The Annihilator spins toward you and raises its arm.

  ZZTT! A laser beam shoots out.

  “Ouch!” you cry, jerking your hand away from the shock.

  The Annihilator whirls back toward the computer and flashes its lights again. The message is clear. It wants the computer.

  Forget controlling the robot. You have to disable it for good! You scan the office frantically for some kind of weapon.

  Then your eyes light on your dad’s golf clubs. His new metal driver twinkles in the light.

  Should you try to tee off on the robot’s head?

  If you give the robot the computer, turn to PAGE 110.

  If you smack it with a golf club instead, go to PAGE 23.

  Fifty fake humans. Living in your town. They look so real — you could never tell.

  Then you remember the ninja popping batteries into Officer Murphy’s foot. Hey! That’s the way to tell if someone is really a toy! By looking at his feet!

  Officer Murphy starts walking toward the squad car. You and Benny creep toward your bikes. You’ve got to tell someone about this plan — once you know who you can trust.

  Just then you accidentally kick a rusty can lying in the grass. It rattles onto the road. Noisily.

  “Who’s there?” Murphy shouts.

  You start to run. Murphy sprints after you like lightning. He grabs you by the shirt and hoists you up in the air.

  “Let go!” Benny shouts. In a flash, your friend leaps on the officer and somehow pries his hand loose!

  The plastic policeman quickly turns and grabs Benny, instead.

  “Run!” Benny shouts at you. “Go on — run!”

  “What about you?” you cry as the officer drags Benny away.

  “I’ll be okay!” Benny shouts. “Just run!”

  Poor Benny, you think. He’s history! And he saved your life.

  But you do run. Like crazy.

  Run to PAGE 119.

  You make a break for it — running to the right.

  Right past the Annihilator …

  Oops!

  Tripped already, did you?

  Whoa! And hit your head on the way down, too.

  Well — you said you were clumsy!

  “Ahhhh!” you cry. Your arms flail as you reach for something to break your fall.

  Uh-oh. You shouldn’t have grabbed that.

  Find out what you grabbed on PAGE 99.

  You stare at the phone the clown is pointing to. It’s a blue plastic toy phone at the back of the shelf. A baby toy.

  Hey, you think. All the toys are alive. So maybe — just maybe …

  You lift the blue plastic receiver to your ear.

  HUMMMMM. A dial tone! Yes!

  Your heart beats a little faster as you push 911.

  “What is your emergency?” a woman’s voice answers.

  Yes! You’re going to make it out of here after all.

  “It sounds crazy,” you say, swallowing hard, “but I’m trapped in the Hasley Toy Factory. The toys have come to life! They’re using the machinery to make human beings or something!”

  You clear your throat, waiting for the police-woman to laugh or hang up. But she doesn’t.

  “Okay,” she replies quickly. “Don’t worry. We’ll get someone over there on the double.”

  “Thanks.” You hang up and start to thank the clown.

  But the door behind you slams open. Before you can turn around, someone taps you on the leg.

  “Don’t move,” a deep voice orders. “You’re under arrest!”

  See who’s behind you on PAGE 92.

  You zoom around the corner and head into Aisle Three.

  It’s crowded with toys, open boxes, and assorted junk.

  With the dim emergency lights barely glowing overhead, you can’t really see what’s going on.

  You squint. It looks as if the toys have set up a barricade.

  What is that large lump at the end of the aisle? That thing lying on the floor, near the glass wall….

  Oh, man. You’ve just figured it out.

  “Benny!” you shout.

  Benny is tied up with about a dozen jump ropes. He looks like a giant lying on his back, with dozens of ti
ny soldiers standing on his chest.

  “Help me!” he shouts. “Hurry! They’re crawling all over me!”

  You run toward Benny.

  Then you hear the sound you’ve been expecting … and dreading!

  SQUISH. FLAP. SQUISH. FLAP.

  Rush to PAGE 91.

  One by one, six other people step out from various hiding places in the factory.

  One man has a movie camera resting on his shoulder. A woman carries lights and a microphone on long poles.

  It’s a movie crew! you realize.

  Bobaloo hurries to the glass door and lets you out.

  “All right, all right,” he says. “Don’t bawl. We weren’t going to leave you in there all night or anything!”

  He signals to the rest of the crew.

  “Never mind,” he says over the megaphone. “This one didn’t work out. Let’s wrap it up. We’ll try again next weekend.”

  “Wrap what up?” you ask. “What’s going on?”

  “We’re shooting a commercial here,” Bobaloo explains. “You know — catch the excitement of a kid locked in a toy factory. Your friend Benny, here, has the right spirit. But you didn’t act excited. You acted terrified. So you’re out — and he’s in. Thanks for coming.” He ushers you to the door.

  “Wait!” you cry. “What about the doll I saw come to life? And how did you get my name, anyway?”

  But it’s too late for those kinds of questions. Bobaloo kicks you out of the factory and slams the door.

  Turn to PAGE 6.

  You hold the disc tightly in your fist. Which aisle were the learning toys in? You close your eyes and try to picture the big overhead sign.

  Uh-oh. Big mistake. You never should have closed your eyes.

  By the time you open them again, you’re surrounded!

  There are Zorgs on the floor at your feet. And beside you, they’re hanging from the shelves — reaching for you. Flexing their claws. Licking their lips.

  “No!” you cry out.

  Half a dozen of them leap onto you in a flurry of foul-smelling fur.

  You swing your arms like windmills, flinging two monsters off your shirt. Then you start to run toward the glass wall.

  But, marching in formation down the doll aisle, blocking your way, is a squad of big wooden soldiers.

  How are you going to get out of this one?

  Turn to PAGE 22.

  The phone slips from your hand. It hits the floor with a clunk.

  The Annihilator watches you.

  Motionless.

  Waiting for you to make the next move.

  Your gaze darts frantically around the kitchen. Then, out of the corner of your eye, you spot a folded piece of paper….

  Maybe it’s the instruction sheet! The one that came in the box with the Annihilator!

  Suddenly you’re dying to read those instructions. They could tell you how to turn the crazy robot off.

  WHHHIRR …

  The Annihilator takes a step toward you. Then stands motionless again.

  Are you going to reach for the instructions?

  Or should you make a run for it? Maybe the phone in the living room is still working….

  If you reach for the instructions, turn to PAGE 41.

  If you try to dash to another phone, turn to PAGE 75.

  “NOOO!” you cry. You kick and punch at the monsters. Finally all six of them drop to the floor.

  Then you turn and run. But you have to dodge some remote-control cars that are zooming in wild patterns at your feet.

  The cars are trying to trip you!

  A plastic tea set hurls itself off a high shelf. Cups and saucers clatter down on your head.

  All the toys are out to get me! you realize.

  You hop over a slithering rubber snake. On the wall ahead, you see a sign listing all the toys: CARS & TRUCKS. LEARNING TOYS. ACTION FIGURES. STUFFED ANIMALS. PRESCHOOL TOYS. Under it is a map of the aisles.

  Which way is it safe to go?

  You bend down and peer between the empty shelves….

  Hey. Is that a glowing red light in the back corner of the warehouse? The kind they use on exit signs?

  You start to crawl toward the red light.

  Then you hear Benny’s voice. Far away. Desperate.

  “Help,” Benny cries. “Help! They’ve got me!”

  If you follow the sound of Benny’s voice, turn to PAGE 33.

  If you go toward the red exit light, turn to PAGE 50.

  You decide to listen to your friend.

  He sounds so certain. And so desperate!

  You hurry to the aisle where Benny is tied up.

  “Untie me,” he shouts. “Just do as I say.”

  You untie the jump ropes that hold him down. As soon as he’s free, he jumps to his feet.

  “What’s going on?” you ask. “How did you know —”

  “No time for that now. Just listen to me.”

  Benny seems so different. So in control.

  He continues, “Run to Aisle One and get IT’S TIM. Bring it with you — no matter what. Then we’ve got to grab some more good stuff. I’ll get the computer games, a Laser Blaster, the hockey game, and a remote-control car. You get whatever toys you want. Then run for your life and meet me at the front door.”

  Your eyes widen. “What if I run into Nasty Kathy?”

  “Just go!” Benny answers.

  Do what Benny says on PAGE 107.

  You have to have the Annihilator.

  It looks so cool on TV. It’s as tall as you. It’s black and purple. With eyes that light up and lasers in its hands. It walks. It runs. The TV commercials say the Annihilator is “totally bent on destruction.”

  It even comes with a set of little spacemen — which it can destroy. Then you can put the spacemen back together.

  Best of all, you can program the Annihilator to do just about anything. “Anything except your homework!” the ad says.

  “I’ll take the Annihilator 3000,” you answer quickly.

  “Great!” the man replies. “It’s too late to get it to you tomorrow. But we’ll deliver it on Monday. Got that?”

  “Sure!” you declare. “Thanks!”

  “My pleasure,” the man answers with a strange chuckle. “Good-bye … and good luck.”

  “Wait!” you exclaim. “How did you know my name? How did I win this prize, anyway?”

  But the telephone line has gone dead.

  Turn to PAGE 77.

  They put you under arrest for impersonating a human.

  It’s a serious crime. But because it’s your first offense, the judge lets you off easy. Instead of going to jail, you just have to do community service.

  Your sentence? Two months as the guest star on the Dudley the Purple Dragon TV show.

  It’s pretty embarrassing to be on the Dudley show. You even have to sing the stupid Dudley song. But after your two months are up, you stay on to make a little money. You’re saving up so you can afford the expensive surgery to have your plastic doll shell removed.

  Hey. They don’t call them “plastic” surgeons for nothing, you know!

  THE END

  You’ve been spotted! You’re so terrified, you can’t move.

  Nasty Kathy’s head swivels in your direction. Then she grins. She has two rows of small, sharp teeth.

  “I’ll deal with them,” Nasty Kathy tells the officer. “You go out there and do your job.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Officer Murphy says, striding off.

  Nasty Kathy walks over to you. Without saying a word, she reaches up and pulls the string on her own back.

  “I don’t like you!” a tinny voice shrieks.

  Nasty Kathy giggles. This time her mouth moves. “You shouldn’t be here. Humans can’t know about our plan. Now you’re going to pay,” she says.

  “No, we’re not!” Benny yells. “This tour was supposed to be free!”

  He jumps up and dashes through the glass door into the factory. Tearing past a group of knee-
high ninjas, he races toward the front door. Then he vanishes behind a big machine.

  You start to follow him. But then you realize … that’s the door the police officer doll used.

  What if it’s still out there?

  Take your chances with the police doll on PAGE 93.

  If you’d rather find a different way out, race to PAGE 123.

  You lean over the robot’s shoulder — and gasp when you see what’s on the computer screen.

  It’s hooked up to the Internet! It’s sending e-mail!

  The message it’s writing is addressed to Jim Whittle, chief toy designer at the Hasley Toy Company. It says:

  Whittle,

  I have arrived and taken control. Fire, terror, destruction. Only one person at home — a child. Don’t worry — I will not allow it to leave the house. I await further instructions.

  Annihilator 3000

  Almost instantly, a reply flashes across the screen:

  Annihilator,

  Stay there and do nothing. I am only a few blocks away. I will arrive shortly.

  Whittle

  You race to the living room and peer out the window. The sky is still gray-black and stormy. Wind howls in the trees. Thunder and lightning pierce the blackness every few seconds.

  But the storm is nothing compared to the jolt you feel when you see what’s in front of your house.

  Find out what’s coming on PAGE 130.

  Find Nasty Kathy’s trunk! is all you can think. If you can only find that key, you can save Benny and yourself.

  You trot down the aisle, scanning the shelves. Dolls are everywhere! Sitting on the shelves, chatting to each other, drinking from baby bottles. Two fashion dolls are lounging on recliners.

  “Chip is coming over in his new sports car,” you hear one say.

  Finally you spot a navy blue and silver doll’s trunk. NASTY KATHY is painted on the front.