CHAPTER 1 SMELLS FISHY Hashtag ran to the backyard of the Malto family farm in Witwicky, Pennsylvania, where Bumblebee, Twitch, and Thrash were watching Mo and Robby test their Cyber-Suits and weapons. Robby shouted, "Look out, Hashtag! There''s a robot spider behind you!" Hashtag jumped and looked all around. "An Arachnamech? Where?!" Robby laughed. "Hashtag, you''re so gullible!" Hashtag used her online skills to look up the word "gullible." "Easily deceived or tricked," she muttered. She faced Robby and said, "That was a mean trick." "I was just joking," Robby said. "I''m sorry, Hashtag.
" "Apology accepted," Hashtag said. "Guess what? I won a contest!" "Wow!" Mo said as she deactivated her Cyber-Sword. "What did you win?" "A free ticket to see my absolute favorite band, Purple Love!" Hashtag was so excited, she did a backflip. "They''re playing a concert today in Witwicky." "No way," Robby said. "Purple Love is a super popular band. They only play at big arenas, not in small towns like ours." Hashtag frowned.
"Why are you being a party pooper? You know how much I love music, especially Purple Love songs." "Sorry, Hashtag," Mo said, "but the contest and concert sound fishy." "Fishy?" Hashtag said. "How does anything sound fishy? Do fish even make noises?" Mo laughed. "It''s an expression. When something sounds fishy, it means something sounds suspicious, or not quite right." Bumblebee said, "Hashtag, how did you find out about the contest, and how did you enter it?" Hashtag sighed. "I saw an ad for the contest online.
The ad said, ''No purchase necessary.'' To enter, I just had to provide my email address. An hour later, I got an email telling me I won!" "I don''t mean to disappoint you," Bumblebee said, "but I''m guessing the contest was meant for humans. Is the concert at a place large enough for someone your size?" "No worries about headroom!" Hashtag said. "The concert is at the old Witwicky drive-in movie theater. I can go there in my truck mode and blend in with the ordinary vehicles. I won''t be a distraction to anyone!" Robby said, "The drive-in? I thought that place closed years ago." "Well," Hashtag said, "obviously, someone reopened the place or else there wouldn''t be a concert today! Now, I only have one ticket, but after I change to my truck mode, I''m sure I could sneak in a friend.
Anyone want to see Purple Love with me?" "Count me in," Twitch said, "just to make sure you stay out of trouble!" "Terrific!" Hashtag said. "Let''s go!" She ran to the driveway and rapidly shifted her body parts to form an electric truck. Bumblebee leaned close to Twitch and whispered, "I''m glad you''re going along. This contest thing. it does sound fishy." "I promise we''ll be careful," Twitch said. She climbed into the cabin of Hashtag''s truck, and they took off. Hashtag honked her horn.
"Purple Love, here we come!".