by Erin Downing
“I’m so sorry,” Luna said, wrapping her arm tenderly around Hera’s shoulders. Hera dropped her head onto Luna’s shoulder.
The other three girls moved in around them, holding Hera up as she broke down and wept—for her home, her planet, and her people. “It’s all gone,” she sobbed. “The flowers, my animal shrubs, the fairy gardens, the birds … everything. It’s gone!”
There was nothing the others could say to make it better. The reality was, Geela had destroyed everything Hera held dear. The evil empress had taken Hera’s parents prisoner, destroyed a beautiful planet, and delivered fear and terror to the people of Heralda. While the other princesses of the Pentangle tried to comfort Hera, they couldn’t stop themselves from wondering if other planets had succumbed to a similar fate. Had Geela destroyed the entire galaxy? And for what? To exert her power?
“I spent my whole life nurturing and growing the gardens at the back of the castle,” Hera said quietly.
“Don’t worry, Hera,” Athena said. “Someday, we will rebuild our palaces, our planets, and our lives.”
Hera took a deep breath and announced, “You’re right. Geela may have started this fight … but we’re going to end it. That evil beast has no idea who she’s dealing with.”
* * *
“One … two … one two three four!” Juno screamed into her microphone, kicking off the last song of the SPACEPOP set a few hours later. The band had been rocking out on a spinning stage in the center of a small island on Heralda for nearly forty-five minutes. They were far enough from Hera’s family castle and the capital that Geela hadn’t yet had a chance to destroy the festival grounds. Fluffy trees and fairy gardens surrounded the stage, and the air smelled like cinnamon and clover. Now that they had seen how beautiful Heralda was, the other girls could truly understand the extent of the devastation near Hera’s home.
SPACEPOP was one of several bands that had been given a slot to perform during a weekend art festival. The crowd was small—and no one was really there for the music—but those who had stopped to listen to them play were energetic and seemed to be totally engrossed in SPACEPOP’s sound. A few of them even sang along, which thrilled Luna beyond measure.
At one point during their set, Rhea leaned in to asked Hera, “How do they know our lyrics?”
“No clue,” Hera shrugged. “But I love it!”
After witnessing Geela’s brutal destruction on Heralda that afternoon, the band had managed to channel their anger into a powerful performance. The lyrics of “We ’Bout to Start Something Big” felt more important than ever. Their mission was more urgent, and that intensity was reflected in their set.
As they wrapped up their final song, Luna looked at her bandmates and sang out, “Why be just an average girl?… You can go and change the world!”
Hera and the others chimed in, “Right here, right now! Can’t stop, won’t stop!”
When they wrapped their set, SPACEPOP took a bow and grinned at one another. “That was amazing! I rocked!” Luna gushed. “I mean … we rocked.”
An eager fan rushed the stage and cried, “You did rock! Luna, I love you!”
For a moment, Luna looked taken aback. In her life as a princess, she wasn’t accustomed to being approached by fans and commoners. Every interaction with the public was carefully scripted and arranged to ensure that she wouldn’t ever come into contact with germs or smelly people. But in the next moment, Luna seemed to remember she was a budding rock star, and instead of stepping back, she splashed a charming smile across her face and said, “Oh, wow. Thanks so much!”
“Can I have your autograph?” the fan begged. “I’ll pay you for it!” The girl rustled around in her bag, holding up a wrinkled note. “This is all I have—is it enough?”
Luna waved her hand in the air. “Don’t be silly. Of course I’ll give you an autograph. No need to pay.”
“Oh my Grock,” the young girl said, fanning herself. “Bradbury said you were nice. But I didn’t realize you would be this nice!”
“Bradbury?” Athena asked as Luna scrawled her loopy signature on the back of their newest fan’s shirt.
“You know … your biggest fan,” the girl said. “You met him on Lunaria? He’s been talking about you nonstop since your Air Bar show.”
“Really?” Rhea said, lifting an eyebrow.
The girl nodded earnestly. “Really. He told all of us to come today. He was super sad he had to work and miss it. He said you’re the next big thing.”
The girls exchanged a baffled look. “So, this Bradbury has a … following?” Athena asked finally.
“You don’t know about Bradbury?” the girl said, her single eye widening. “He is, like, the king of fan vlogs. He started one about you right after your show at Air Bar. I hope this doesn’t get him in trouble, but he even posted all the lyrics to “We ’Bout to Start Something Big” in his first vlog. My friends and I totally worship you! We’ve been dying to see you live. We all absolutely love your message.” The girl suddenly gasped and said, “Please please please please can I interview you for my blog? I only have sixty-four followers, but they’re really good followers!”
“Um,” Rhea said. “Sure?”
“Yay!” the girl cheered. Then she dug around in her bag again, searching for something. “Oh my Grock, this is so embarrassing. So, I don’t have my stuff with me right now, but if I’m at your next gig, can I interview you then?”
“Of course,” Hera said, leaning in to give her a hug.
“I love you, SPACEPOP!” the girl said, backing away. “Love! You!”
“Well,” Athena said, as soon as she was gone. “That went well.”
“We should really buy that Bradbury guy some chocolates or something,” Rhea said. “It seems like it might not be a bad idea to stay on his good side.”
As they made their way out of the festival, heading back to the tour bus to meet up with Chamberlin (who had returned to the bus to make a few necessary repairs while the girls signed autographs), the girls came upon a courtyard plastered with Geela propaganda posters. The so-called empress’s cold face stared back at them from every available surface. Posters were hanging from lanterns and shrubs and potted plants, and they littered the mosaic-tiled ground.
“This courtyard used to be filled with flowers and community yoga mats,” Hera said, looking around sadly. “It was a gathering place for the people of Heralda to recharge and relax.”
“It’s not very relaxing now,” Athena said.
“It’s downright creepy with Geela staring at us,” Hera shivered. “It feels like she’s here, watching our every move.”
Juno stepped up to one of the posters and sneered at Geela’s picture. “You can’t defeat us!” she hissed. “We will fight back. Just watch what SPACEPOP is going to do.”
On the other side of the courtyard, Rhea suddenly began to giggle. “What do you girls think? Doesn’t she look better this way?” she whispered. She stepped back, revealing the mustache and glasses she had drawn on the poster of Geela.
“Rhea!” Luna gasped, glancing around nervously. They were totally alone, but Hera was right: it felt like they were being watched. “You can’t do that!”
“I can,” Rhea said. “And I will.” She took a marker and began decorating another poster—drawing little spikes and a goatee on the empress’s face. After only a moment’s hesitation, Hera and Juno joined her. They laughed and scribbled, filling the posters with graffiti.
Athena and Luna exchanged nervous looks. “This is very childish,” Athena said.
“And we’re going to get in so much trouble if someone catches us!” Luna pointed out.
“Have some fun,” Rhea urged, making dots all over Geela’s face on another poster. “Trust me when I say it feels really good.” She handed Athena a marker and pushed her toward one of the posters. “Live a little.” Then she grinned at Luna and said, “You know you want to.”
Athena sighed. Timidly, she drew a huge, clownish frown on one of the
posters—then began to laugh. In no time, every single one of the posters had been defaced, and all five of the girls felt a lot better. It was a tiny victory, a silly thing, but the act of making Geela look like a fool had helped to make the girls feel like they had gotten a little bit of revenge for what she’d done to Hera’s and Luna’s homes.
The princesses of POP high-fived each other, then raced away from the courtyard. But as they ran down a long tree-lined pathway to their tour bus, a dark figure stepped out of the shadows. “I saw what you just did,” the figure said in a low, growling voice. “And now I think the five of you need to come with me.”
PART THREE: BAND TOGETHER
CHAPTER 8
Juno put up her fists and prepared to fight. “Run!” she told the other girls. “Get to the bus—tell Chamberlin we need to hit the space road now!”
“We’re not leaving you,” Athena told her. “We’re in this together. We will all take responsibility for what we’ve done.”
The dark figure chuckled. “Well, well, that certainly is a noble statement,” he said. The man—who was green-skinned with multi-colored hair shaved into a Mohawk across the top of his head—stepped out of the shadows, smiling broadly at them. “I’m not here to punish you. I’m here with a proposition.”
Four of the princesses eyed him suspiciously. Luna, however, swooned. The young alien was incredibly cute, and she was obviously very distracted by his good looks. Like every good hero, this guy was wearing a beret, he was clearly very strong and muscular, and the stubble on his chin? Totally flirty. Luna was hooked. And judging by the way she was ogling him, the man probably could have told them he was taking them to a dark prison and she would have willingly joined him.
“Do you know who I am?” the man asked.
“No,” Juno said defiantly. “Are you one of Geela’s ugly henchmen?”
“Ugly?” Luna said, giggling nervously. “That’s so mean, Juno!”
The man chuckled again. “I … am Captain Hansome.” He said this with a flourish, as though his name should have inspired worship and cheers.
“What do you want from us?” Athena asked.
“Are we in some kind of trouble?” Hera said nervously.
“We cannot discuss it here,” Captain Hansome said, retreating into the shadows again. “I need you to come with me. There is much for us to discuss, but it is dangerous to be meeting like this out in the open. Walk with me.”
“You want us to walk with you?” Rhea scoffed. “You seriously want five girls to follow some guy they just met to some unknown location? Do you think we’re stupid?”
Hansome sighed. “I see your point.” He seemed to consider his options for a moment, then slipped under the drooping branches of a nearby willow tree. “Pssst,” he hissed. “In here!”
The five princesses exchanged wary looks. Rhea shook her head. “This guy is classic,” she said. “I have to admit, I’m a little curious.”
“What could he possibly want from us?” Athena wondered.
“Only one way to find out,” Juno said, then slipped between the tree’s hanging branches.
Once they were all gathered under the tree’s canopy, Captain Hansome smiled broadly. “Ah, yes, welcome. And thank you all for meeting with me tonight.”
Rhea snorted. “Can you just get to the point? Why did you stop us?”
“I have heard your music,” Hansome said solemnly.
“Oh!” Luna said brightly. “Are you a fan?”
“No,” Hansome said. “I am not.”
“Oh,” Luna said, sniffing. “Well, why not?”
Hansome took a deep, serious breath and said, “Let me ask you this: Have you heard … of the Resistance?”
“Is that a band or something?” Hera wondered.
“No, I am not speaking of a band,” Hansome said, obviously offended. “I am talking about … the Resistance!”
“Do you have to say it like that?” Rhea asked, giggling. “With that dramatic pause before you say … ‘the Resistance’?”
“Do you want to join, or not?” Hansome asked impatiently.
“Join what?” Luna asked in a moony voice. “If there’s something you want me to join, I totally will!”
“Luna!” Athena scolded. “You can’t agree to join something when you don’t even know what you’re joining!”
“What is … the Resistance?” Juno asked, imitating Hansome’s ridiculous tone.
“We are a group of freedom fighters,” Captain Hansome said, puffing out his chest. “A secret group of rebels, working against Geela. We call ourselves … the Resistance.”
“Yeah,” Rhea snickered. “We got that.”
“We have heard some of your songs—and I saw what you did to Geela’s posters back there in the courtyard,” Hansome said. “I think you would be a good addition to our team. No one would expect a bunch of singers to be part of a larger mission to overthrow Geela.”
“Oh, pal,” Rhea said under her breath. “You have no idea.”
“So what do you say?” Hansome asked seriously. “Are you in … or are you out?”
“Hold on,” Athena said. The princess of Athenia had been raised to be cautious. She wasn’t about to agree to some sort of rebel mission without being sure of whom she was dealing with. “How do we know we can trust you? How do we know you’re not actually working for Geela? Maybe she’s sent you off on a mission to hunt down all the citizens of the Pentangle who don’t like her, and this is some kind of trap.”
“Huh,” Hansome said. “That is also a good point. But! How do I know I can trust you? We are in a similar predicament, you see. You are strangers to me, I am a stranger to you.”
“Let’s not be strangers,” Luna said, her voice soft and flirty.
“Ugh,” Juno said, nudging her. “Say we do decide to trust you, Hansome. What happens next? Do we just say, ‘yeah, sure, we’ll join … the Resistance, and all is well? Or do you want us to actually do something for you to prove ourselves?”
“Prove yourselves,” Hansome said, running a hand across his chin. “Yes, yes that is an excellent plan. I have a small mission for you. A test, if you will. If you are successful, there will be more. So what do you say? Are you willing to be a part of … the Resistance?”
“Absolutely!” Luna said, nodding. She looked at the other girls in the tree-covered shadows. “Right, girls? We’re in, aren’t we?”
“What is it you have in mind?” Athena asked reasonably.
Hansome leaned in closer to the five girls and said in a hushed whisper, “In the remote Ice Desert on Heralda, we have received reports that Geela is building a new weapon. I need a team to scout and report what kind of weapon she is building.” He paused for dramatic emphasis. “With this information, we will be able to determine the best way to destroy it.”
“That’s the mission?” Juno asked. “You just want us to find it and tell you what we’ve found? We don’t actually get to destroy it ourselves?”
“Absolutely not!” Hansome said, laughing. “Leave that to the experts. You are merely trainees. If you impress me, you may have the opportunity to do something bigger. But for now, don’t do anything dangerous. The Resistance doesn’t want to be responsible for any unplanned casualties.”
“We’re on it,” Rhea said. “And if we like the mission, maybe we’ll be willing to do more for … the Resistance.” She smiled. “Let’s just consider this a test run on both sides, shall we?”
“Indeed,” Hansome replied. “I will send a supply pod with a few things that might be of use to you on the mission, as well as general directions to the Ice Desert.”
“What if we have questions?” Luna said, batting her eyelashes. “Should I call you?”
Hansome shook his head firmly. “I will be in contact with you. All messages and communications will be encrypted and protected with security measures. In order to unlock and listen to our correspondence, you’ll all need to be present. My team collected your fingerprints from your equ
ipment earlier today—”
Rhea cut him off. “They did what now?”
“They lifted your prints from the microphones…” Hansome said casually. “And from your drumsticks, Juno. It’s very easy to do.”
“How dare you take our prints without permission!” Athena growled.
“Geela has done far worse without anyone’s permission,” Hansome reminded them. “Now. As I was saying, each of you will need to be present in order to receive my communications. Five sets of prints. Understood?” He scanned their faces, and each girl nodded her agreement.
Suddenly, Athena thought of Chamberlin and how he would react to their new assignment. She had a feeling he would probably insist that he join them, in order to fulfill his orders to protect the princesses at all costs. “What about our … manager?” she asked. “Chamberlin. He will, of course, be joining us on these missions.”
“Seriously?” Captain Hansome muttered.
“Yes,” Rhea agreed. “He’s very involved. Hands-on and all that.”
“Fine,” Hansome groaned. “Honestly, you rock stars and your babysitters. It’s ridiculous.” He took a deep breath and added, “Wait for my orders. Be ready.” He waved his hand in the air, then slipped between two branches and disappeared.
As soon as he was gone, Juno grumbled, “I don’t like the way that guy underestimates us. You know what I think? I think we need to show Captain Hansome what five angry teenage girls are capable of. Because the five of us … we are not your average princesses.”
CHAPTER 9
“You did what?” Chamberlin screeched. “You met with whom?”
“Captain Hansome,” Athena explained, for the sixth time. “He intercepted us as we returned to the transport tonight. He’s asked us to help with”—she lowered her voice—“the Resistance.”
Chamberlin paced back and forth in the living room of their tour bus, obviously agitated. “How could you, Athena?”
