Box Set #5: Nemesis: [The 4 book 5th adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood]

by Robert Iannone

  “I think I need to get back to work. Thank you for breakfast and our little chat.”

  Jagged Peak was disappointed, but not surprised, that the girl would need time to consider his offer. “You’re welcome. May we continue this conversation over dinner?”

  “I think I’ll skip dinner tonight. Perhaps you could prepare me eggs in the morning. They were delicious.”

  “Eggs it is. Sorry I can’t leave you alone but I will sit over there and try not to bother you anymore. I know you have a lot to think about.”

  “I appreciate that,” and she did. She would have been more suspicious if he had pushed her for an immediate answer.

  Later that Evening

  “Hi, Jax’x.”

  “Evening, Po. Hope you’re well.”

  “I am, thank you,” and she walked over and gave her friend a hug. As they separated she slipped a note into the inner pocket of the Librarian’s cape. “Have you found anything interesting in the books today?’

  “Actually, I found a story about . . .” and she retold a tale of lovers from hundreds of years ago. She had purposely read the saga so she could retell it to her friend. They had to maintain the appearance that all was normal. With their every word being recorded, this was the only thing she could think of to pass the time. And to pass a message that wouldn’t be read.

  “Then what happened?” Po was clever enough to understand what her friend was doing.

  “He needed a way to fool the person pursuing his love. Since this person was very powerful it had to be totally convincing. So, he pretended to die using some potion. When his lover found him, she thought he was dead and killed herself from grief. When the poor man awoke, he found the love of his life draped over his legs . . . cold and lifeless. He took the knife from her hand and . . . well, you can guess the rest.”

  “How extraordinarily tragic.”

  “I know. It made me cry. On the other hand, I think it was a bit unrealistic.”

  “How so?”

  “Keeping secrets is so hard. What one side knows, the other is bound to find out.”

  Po scrunched her face trying to figure out what message her friend was trying to give her. “So, you’re saying that in the real world, the girl would have found out what her lover was up to?”

  “Exactly. Given enough time and taking into account all the people that had to be involved in this . . . tragedy . . . word was bound to leak out.”

  “Interesting. Well, I’m hoping you’re just overthinking this. Taking the story on its own merits would be best.”

  “I’m not so sure. Not when the consequences are so enormous.”

  “Well, on that sad note, I’m going back to my room and weep for all the star-crossed lovers in the world.” Realizing that Jax’x was one of them, she hastily added, “Sorry, that was incredibly stupid of me.”

  “It’s okay. Go, enjoy your evening. Will I see you tomorrow?”

  “Of course,” and they hugged once more.

  Chapter 10 – Gone Girl

  The Crypt, Later that Night

  Office of Grassy Knoll

  “No discussion of their conspiracy”.

  “Obviously, they know that we know. What did you make of that ridiculous story?”

  Lightning Flash gave it some thought. “I don’t believe that there was any message in the story itself. But the Librarian’s analysis was obviously an attempt to convey information to her friend.”

  Grassy Knoll nodded her agreement. “Replay that part.”

  “Keeping secrets is so hard. What one side knows, it would be inevitable that the other would find out.”

  “So, you’re saying that in the real world, the girl would have found out what her lover was up to?”

  “Exactly. Given enough time and taking into account all the people that had to be involved in this . . . tragedy . . . word was bound to leak out.”

  “By the Holy Hex . . .” fumed the furious Absolute.

  “Mistress?”

  “She knows. That witch knows.”

  “Forest Green?”

  “Do you know any other witch?” stormed the woman . . . taking out her anger on her own trusted assistant.

  Instead of responding, Lightning Flash replayed the conversation. With the help of her boss’s insight, the message now seemed perfectly clear. “How is that possible?”

  Grassy Knoll turned her vengeful face at the other. “Someone is not loyal to me.”

  Lightning turned white at the implied accusation. “Mistress, I hope you don’t think I would betray you?”

  “You have one day to find out who did. By this time tomorrow someone will pay for such a heinous act of disloyalty.” The message was crystal clear – find the person or Grassy Knoll would assume it was Lightning Flash. “In the meantime, put a recording device in the bedroom of the Librarian.

  *****

  The Library, About the Same Time

  Jax’x’s Bedroom

  “Ready?”

  “Yes. I have everything I need for the time being on the bed with me.”

  “Great. Here we go . . .”

  And Jax’x, her bed and everything on it faded away.

  A moment later the whole enchilada reappeared in the Gracie. Jax’x jumped up and ran to Egg for her now customary hug. When they separated, Egg told the Sisters, “Clear the bed, quickly. It has to go back.

  They did as they were told. Then Serenity entered followed by Jax’x . . . the avatar.

  “Hey Jax’x . . . meet the Librarian.”

  “Is that what I look like? My hair . . . it’s hideous.”

  “Hey, I like our hair.”

  “Serenity, send her down. The longer we wait, the greater the chance of being discovered.”

  “Ok, you heard our fearless leader. Get on the bed.”

  The avatar obeyed.

  “Ready?” asked Egg.

  “Wait. Um . . . what do I call you?”

  “Our name is Jax’x . . . remember?” but the avatar smiled as she said it.

  “Wow, she’s as insufferable as I am. Anyway, when you get back, be sure to change out of your Robes. I don’t usually sleep in them.”

  “Let me write that down so I don’t forget.”

  Jax’x dropped her jaw and stared. Six other girls giggled.

  “Serenity, do it,” and the avatar disappeared along with the bed.

  “That is freaky.”

  “Don’t get too hung up on it,” replied Serenity. “The avatar isn’t alive in the same way as you and I. And, she’s not really sentient. You can’t think of her as a living duplicate of you. She’s a biological machine.”

  “So what you’re saying is that she’s expendable.”

  “It sounds harsh . . . but yes. I built her and I promise you I’m not a god. I can’t create life.”

  “But what about Tee’ka. Sorry, if this is being insensitive.”

  The former computer program replied, “I don’t mind. Gosh knows I’ve had this conversation with myself a million times.”

  “Now isn’t the time to discuss it at length. The short answer is that our sister was a self-aware program otherwise known as Artificial Intelligence. The body I grew for her out of living matter.”

  “I’m not seeing the difference.”

  “Stop,” demanded Egg. “Like Serenity said, now’s not the time. Did Po give you a time and place where we can beam her up for a couple of hours?”

  “Yes. But, first I have to tell you what happened,” and she retold the encounter with Jagged Peak. When she finished, she added, “But the two Absolutes hate each other. I can’t imagine that they would share information.”

  “So they found out on their own . . . that’s not good,” observed Bree.

  “Ummm . . .”

  Everyone turned to Egg. “What are you thinking?” asked Bl’azzz.

  “That maybe if they both know, they also know the other one knows but didn’t tell them. Maybe, if we’re lucky . . . which is most of the time . . .
they’ll fight amongst themselves and not pay as much attention to us.”

  Jax’x, for one, was impressed. “You’re very devious, aren’t you? I mean that in a good way.”

  “Naturally, what other way is there?”

  “Egg,” said Serenity “let’s get Po up here before we worry about that. As long as she’s down there, she’s fair game to get into trouble.”

  “Agreed. Jax’x, where and when do we get her?”

  “She said that two hours before she’s due to report for work, she’ll go to the Temple of Three Obelisks. TOTO is a shrine that the Divine Ones often go to for meditation. No one would be suspicious if she went.”

  “Toto?”

  “The initials of the temple.”

  “Reminds me of a character from a movie. He was Toto, too.”

  “What?”

  “Not important. So when she’s at the shrine, we just beam her up?”

  “Not exactly. Um . . .”

  “Um?”

  “If she’s got a recording device on her, they’ll know what’s going on. Po suggests that the device must be in her cloak since it’s the only thing she always wears. It would be best if one of you would beam down to meet her, put on the robe and wait for her return. I know that’s asking a lot.”

  Egg looked at the others and they shrugged as if to say ‘why not’. “Okay, I’ll go.” As you might expect, that was greeted with a very nice chorus of no’s.

  “Why not send one of the avatars that you used before?”

  “Good idea.”

  “Egg, send me”.

  “Why, Tee?”

  “I feel like I haven’t contributed to this mission.”

  Bl’azzz asked, “Goose bumps?”

  Egg checked her arms. “No, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything. It’s not exactly a full-proof system.”

  “It’s good enough for me,” replied Tee’ka.

  “On one condition. Flying Girl gets to keep an eye on you.”

  “Who or what is Flying Girl?” asked Jax’x.

  “That would be me.”

  “You can fly? Like Bl’azzz and BreeZee? What do you do, flap your arms?” She was actually serious.

  “I only flap my arms when I drink an ‘Icee’ too fast and get a brain freeze.”

  “What?”

  “I’ll show you later. But the answer to your question is that I have a suit made from serpents crystal. It allows me to fly. Watch. Ring, tend to my suit.” Like an old friend, a gray fog enveloped our heroine and out stepped flying girl. “Ta da”.

  Poor Jax’x just stared . . . it seems that just when she thought she had seen it all, the Sisters would find a way to shock her. “That is amazing.”

  “It’s actually how all this got started. My Grammy gave me the suit and some jewelry when I was almost nine. Figuring out what the jewelry did was a test . . . which by pure luck, I solved. My reward was to be invited to Aerianna to find five more sisters – I already had my best friend, Sylvia – to fight a war against the most powerful man in the universe. With the help of a bunch of people and some glue, we won.”

  Jax’x could only shake her head in amazement. “I’m guessing there’s a little more to that story.”

  “Not much. Great sisters, good friends and a gigantic amount of luck . . . that pretty much sums it up.”

  “Liar,” mumbled Bl’azzz.

  Jax’x smiled at the dragon. “Promise to tell me the whole story, Bl’azzz?”

  “I promise. It’ll take hours, so get plenty of rest.”

  “Enough about me. We have about five hours before we get Po. We need to get some sleep, but Jax’x owes me some explaining. You’ve got thirty minutes.”

  “I think we all might want to hear it,” suggested Spirit.

  “Then let’s get comfortable.”

  *****

  The Library

  Jax’x’s bedroom

  Lightning Flash planted a recording device. But all she could see was the Librarian changing out of her Robes of office and getting into bed. A few minutes later, she was gently snoring.

  *****

  The Crypt

  Office of Forest Green

  “Status.”

  “The plan is to disguise one of these Sisters as Pond Ripple as she visits the TOTO. The exchange is to happen two hours before she assumes her duties at her Obelisk.”

  “And you know this how?”

  “I was able to detect Po . . . Pond Ripple . . . slipping a note into the pocket of the Librarian. While they were distracted talking about some nonsense, I duplicated it without either of them knowing.” He showed his Absolute the parchment.

  “Excellent, Jagged Peak. What of your discussions with the girl. Did she admit to anything?”

  “I believe I was very close to winning her confidence. We’re to meet tomorrow over breakfast to continue our chat.”

  “And how will you handle Pond Ripple?”

  “That will not be a problem,” and he told her of his plans.

  *****

  On the Gracie

  “About four hundred years ago, Spell ‘Bound was actually called Unbound.”

  “What was the significance of that name?” asked Spirit.

  “My world was incredibly advanced technologically. There apparently wasn’t anything they couldn’t accomplish. They were free to create whatever they wished . . . unbounded by the laws of the universe.”

  “Wow, kind of full of themselves,” observed Egg.

  “I prefer to think of it as supreme confidence in their abilities,” replied the Spell’ Bounder.

  “That’s sweet,” was the sarcastic reply.

  “Anyway, they were a space faring people. On a mission to some far off planet, they discovered two minerals that they had never encountered before. One was so black that it seemed to suck the light out of the sky. It formed in hexagonal crystals. The other was amber in color and formed in heart shaped crystals. They brought them home so our scientist could study them.”

  “And now we know the origin of the Hearts and Hex.”

  “Yes, Bl’azzz. But that was just the beginning. The story is actually heartbreaking . . . as sad as any love story with a tragic ending.”

  “We’re listening.”

  “The information I found was incomplete but this is what I pieced together so far. It turns out these crystals can amplify brain waves . . . but not for everyone. Some people could use the hex stones, some the amber and some neither. I don’t think they ever found out why. But the amplification was pretty limited. They could levitate objects, teleport short distances and create simple products.

  Then the great minds of the time came up with a plan. I can see how appealing it was . . . unfortunately, it failed to take into account the baser side of human behavior.”

  “Jax’x, I have a feeling this is going to get pretty complicated. Try to keep the science part as simple as possible. My friends have trouble with complex thought,” semi-teased Serenity.

  “Ah, thank you,” replied Bl’azzz not quite realizing she was being insulted.

  “My pleasure”.

  “There actually wasn’t much detail on the technology,” continued Jax’x. “The gist of it was that they decided to build a giant machine that could amplify the thoughts limitlessly. The concept was that the Hearts and Hexes would become a branch of government whose sole purpose was to use their ability to interface with this contraption to help the rest of the citizens. The machine was called the Matter Anti-matter Generator and Energy Kinesthesis . . . otherwise known by its initials - M.A.G.E.K.”

  “Cute,” replied someone.

  “I’m sure they thought so. Anyway, they built towers throughout the planet to connect Hearts and Hexes with the machine. They built the Obelisks for M.A.G.E.K. to create whatever it was that these folks wanted created.”

  “So how did all this get integrated into society?” asked BreeZee.

  “Great question. They introduced a genetic modification into th
e populace so that everyone was born with an X. At puberty, those with a predisposition to use the Hex crystal would see their mark transform into a hex. Same was true with the Amber Hearts. Otherwise, the X would stay an X. Children with the gift were taken to their appropriate sect to become acolytes. Hexes were given rings with the Hex crystal; Amber Hearts were given pendants with theirs.”

  “It sounds kind of amazing,” observed Spirit. “Technology that would help everyone do just about anything.”

  “What went wrong?” asked Egg.

  “Let me read you something I found,” and she dug through a stack of books until she found what she was looking for. “It says . . .

  And the rift between Hearts and Hexes began to grow.

  At first it was a rivalry between brothers.

  Then it was a competition between adversaries.

  Eventually it was war between enemies.

  “Sorry to be such a dragon-brain but what does that mean exactly?” asked Bl’azzz.

  “It seems that everything worked as it should for many years. Then those two groups began to vie with one another to become the dominant sect. As that passage says, it started as a rivalry and ended in a war. The great war.”

  “Since they had equal power,” added Serenity, “it would have been a stalemate. They destroyed virtually everything on the surface except Amber Heart. By the way, the name must mean that your kinds, Jax’x, were initially headquartered in that city. I’m guessing The Crypt was actually built over M.A.G.E.K. and not the other way around. Logically, it would have been programed to protect itself. That meant protecting the entire city from destruction.”

  Jax’x was startled by that revelation “Really? The machine is below The Crypt? How did you find it?”

  “Power readings.”

  “Well that makes sense. Po told me that no one can teleport into or out of The Crypt. They actually have to leave by the front door then teleport.”