“More than that; I’ve seen proof of it.”
“WHAT?”
“On Spell ‘Bound where we just finished turning the world upside down.”
“Oh my . . .”
“Doc,” interrupted Egg. “That’s a discussion for another time. I already promised Soar’elle that Serenity and Jax’x – who is from Spell ‘Bound – will visit the university. I’m sure you will have a chance to discuss this with her then.”
“That is wonderful. I can’t tell you how excited I am.”
“That’s great. Meanwhile, let’s talk about ghosts.”
“Of course,” replied the doctor with obvious disappointment.
“What form did this harassment take? Did you sustain any injuries?”
“The injuries were minor and not as a result of a direct attack by the entity. A crewman broke an arm when a rope he was using gave way. It had been cut. One of my colleagues suffered a burn when a piece of equipment overheated. Someone had shorted out a wire. However, I never had the feeling that any of us were being targeted. It obviously was just trying to keep us away from the craft.”
“Any theories?”
“Not really.”
“I have one.”
“Doc, this is Jax’x, the girl from Spell ‘Bound and the newest member of the Hameggattic Sisterhood.”
“I am honored to meet any Sister. Please, what is your theory?”
“It’s not a ghost. It’s actually a survivor of that crashed ship. This entity is trying to protect what may be its only means of survival.”
“But that crash site looks to be very old,” countered the Doctor.
Everyone was silent as each tried to think of a counterargument.
It came from a surprising source. “Xara.”
Egg smiled. “Tee, Xara isn’t here.”
“No, silly. Xara was put to sleep for three hundred years.”
“I’m sorry; I don’t understand,” responded Hoo.
“My very clever sister Tee’ka was reminding us that an individual we encountered on Spell ‘Bound had been put in suspended animation for three centuries. Perhaps the same thing is true for this entity.”
“Tee’ka, that was a very insightful suggestion.” The girl smiled at the compliment.
“Anyone else have something to offer?” asked Egg.
“I do,” replied Serenity. “This individual may also be trying to keep its technology out of your hands.”
“Why would it do that?” asked Egg.
“Because it’s not sure if we are advanced enough to use it. Or peaceful enough.”
Doctor Hoo clapped her hands. “I am just so impressed with you ladies. My understanding of the Sisterhood was that it was a collection of brave and noble women. But you are so much more . . . highly intelligent, imaginative, sophisticated and articulate.”
“But we’re terrible cooks,” joked Egg. “Anyway, unless you tell me otherwise, we’re going to find that crash site and see if we can communicate with the . . . um, ghost. If we do, we’ll try to convince her to meet with your group, Doc.”
“What if she says no?”
“She’s stranded on a desolate little planet. I’m sure she’ll want to leave. Maybe we can help fix the ship. If we can’t, then we’ll try to convince her to go to your University to learn about our part of the galaxy and to give her time to formulate a plan for herself.”
“Why do you refer to the entity as she?”
“Intuition.”
“Really? Can you explain that?’
“We need a seventh sister. For some reason the universe always provides us a new one.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“I am sure . . . I don’t understand.”
*****
“How long to that planetoid?” asked Egg.
“It’s really out in the middle of nowhere . . . about a week at our present speed.”
“Serenity, how fast can this ship go?” asked Jax’x who was obviously new to the field of space flight.
“We can do about point 1 ‘C’.”
“Let me guess. “C” is some universal constant.”
“Clever cat. It represents the speed of light . . . nothing in the known universe can travel faster.”
“Why?”
“No, no, no,” pleaded Egg. “That’s one of those questions you can ask her after the rest of us go to bed.”
“That boring?”
“You don’t know the half of it.”
“Now you know why I’m glad you joined us,” said Serenity. “Living with dolts is very trying.”
Egg stuck out her tongue. “Here’s a quarter. Go play outside,” she teased.
The other two looked at her without comprehension.
The earth girl moaned in frustration. “I was being incredibly clever but it’s wasted on the likes of you. Oh my gosh, how I miss Sylvia.”
Getting serious for a moment, Bree asked, “Has the data they sent been analyzed?”
“Yes. Other than the coordinates of the crash site, nothing remotely of interest to us. Mostly gobbledygook about plants, rocks and bugs.”
“There you go Jax’x. If she bores you with her talk of math and physics, you can get even by discussing grass, granite and grubs.”
The girl looked to Serenity for advice. “Should I laugh?”
“Absolutely. At her – not at what she says.”
“I hate you both,” declared Egg without a hint of sincerity.
“Egg, can I ask you a personal question?”
“Jax’x, if it’s about Benny – absolutely . . . . . . . NOT.”
“Actually it’s about your modesty.”
“What about it?”
“It is such a basic part of your nature. Any idea how it came to be?”
“Don’t tell me it’s not in the history books?”
“It’s not,” answered Bl’azzz. “And I’ve known you as long as anyone.”
Egg exhaled . . . not in frustration but to gather her thoughts. “It was the cat in the hat.”
“Oh”. A moment later, “What?”
“It was the very first good deed that Flying Girl performed . . . “
“I was not quite nine. My grandmother had just given me the suit and jewelry. I was flying over my home town when I spotted a commotion down below. I landed and found that a cat was stuck on a roof and they couldn’t get it down. So I flew up and he came to me. I gave it to its owner, blew her a kiss and flew off.”
“That’s sweet but that doesn’t tell me why you’re so modest.”
“On earth, anyone who saw me in the flying suit would forget after an hour. The report in the paper the next day never mentioned that some Flying Girl rescued the cat. My grandmother asked me how I felt about that - about not getting the credit. I can’t explain it but I felt great. Doing the good deed was all the reward I needed. I didn’t want anyone else’s approval.” She shrugged. “It just became natural to do what I could do and never expect anyone to remember that it was me.”
Everyone went quiet while they digested that tale. In all honesty, had they been asked, none of the others could say they would have reacted the same way. It was pretty universal – expecting, then getting, praised for your accomplishments.
As the silence stretched on, Egg became embarrassed. She began to change the subject. “So, anyone have any ideas how we can become friends with a ghost?”
Bl’azzz interrupted her . . .
. . . “Jax’x, can you now begin to understand why we would follow this girl to our deaths?”
“Selfless, modest, brilliant tactician, loving, witty in her strange earthlike way and fiercely loyal to her sisters . . . I think I’m beginning to understand.”
Egg felt if she demurred, it would seem like she was putting on airs. Instead she feigned being insulted. “Hang on just a dang minute, missy.” The other girl stared in surprise at her tone. “You never mentioned my superior intelligence. I’m deeply hurt.”
Seren
ity felt obliged to defend her new friend from the faux attack. “I don’t think the term ‘superior intelligence’ means what you think it does.”
Jax’x caught on immediately. “Not everyone can be as intelligent as . . . oh, let’s say Kr’eep. But that’s okay Egg . . . you’re a very pleasant person and all of us like you very, very much.” She said the words slowly as if she was talking to an imbecile.
“Oh. Well, in that case . . . you do the dishes tonight,” and her tongue darted out from between her lips.
*****
Three days later Benny called. His handsome blue face filled the view screen. At the time Tee’ka was on duty. “Good evening, Tee’ka.”
“Hi, booby.” She forgot the blue-footed part as well as her manners.
The Prince smiled. “And how is your injured head?”
“I think I broke something in my mind.”
Benny tried not to react with an eye-scrunch and almost succeeded. “I am terribly sorry to hear that. How does this injury manifest itself, if I may ask?”
“You just did.”
“Sorry – did what?”
“Ask. You just did.”
“Of course. How very forgetful of me. As to my question?”
“Yes?”
He couldn’t help himself and he smiled. “Your broken mind . . . what exactly are the symptoms?”
“It’s been three days and I haven’t dreamed about boys.”
“That does sound serious. Perhaps I can help.”
“Really? How?”
“After I talk with Egg, I will have Lieutenant Kad’worthy talk to you. You do remember him – the young man that gave you the tour of the ship?”
Tee’s eyes got very wide. “He was cute.”
“So I have been told. Do you think an intimate, but within the bounds of decorum, conversation would help you overcome your injury?”
“Can we skip the decorum part and just do the intimate?”
“I will leave that up to the two of you. However, I do need to talk to Egg. Is she available?”
*****
“Hi,” she said with a bigger smile than she had planned.
“Hi, yourself. I have been told that you are off on another adventure.”
“I’m fine, thanks for asking. How about you?” she asked teasingly.
He was worried about her going looking for ghosts but had the good sense not to show it. “Actually, I am in a state of total despair and depression.”
“Sounds awful. I hope there’s a cure?”
“Indeed. I have been researching the symptoms and I am pleased to inform you that an antidote is available.”
“What would the nature of that remedy be?” she asked playing along.
“I am told that a very cold shower will do wonders. I did as prescribed this morning.”
“And?”
“Relief was temporary, I must sadly report.”
She giggled like a schoolgirl. “You say the sweetest things.”
“A lesson from my father. Boy, he said to me, when you become a man there will be times you must use your words as if your life depended on it. I assume this was one of those times.”
“I think he was referring to diplomacy on some far off, hostile world.”
“No. I am almost certain he was discussing a lovelorn Prince who was separated by millions of mile from the woman he loves.”
She stared at the image before her, her face becoming more serious. “I’m scared.”
“Of ghosts?”
“No, you big ninny. I’m scared of our love.”
“Why?”
“For one, thinking of you is consuming my every waking moment. It could get me killed. Worse, it could endanger my sisters.”
“What is number two?”
“I don’t want this relationship to burst into flames then burn out. If I give in to my feelings, it will. So a few million miles between us is a good thing. A very good thing.”
“Have you taken a cold shower?”
“None of your business. Now, before I hang up on you for being so impertinent, tell me why you called.”
“Did I need a reason?”
“I’m going to count to three. One . . .”
“Strong women – they will be my downfall. So be it. I called to tell you there is news of Xara.”
“Already? What did she do?”
“She stripped her ship, or should I say Serenity’s ship, and sold the rest for scrap.”
“I assume she bought another one.”
“Yes. We are still researching the details. I have taken possession of the Astral and will have her towed back to Aerianna for a refit. It is the least we can do for your sister.”
“That’s terrific, thank you.”
“When do you arrive on your ghost world?” he asked nonchalantly.
“Smooth,” she replied since she wasn’t fooled. “A couple of days.”
“You will be careful, I assume?”
“Silly, what could go wrong? A ghost, Xara on the loose with a new ship, aliens from another galaxy or universe . . . easy-peasy.”
“I swear on the head of my grandfather King M’earth – if you receive so much as a scratch, I will . . .”
“Stop. You are not my keeper. What I do with the Sisterhood is actually none of your business. Unless I specifically ask for it, you will never try to interfere in any way with one of my missions. Do you understand?”
“I understand but I cannot possibly agree . . .”
“Again, stop. There is no discussion on this topic. It’s who I am – take it or leave it.”
“If I were to lose you to some nefarious . . .”
“You would move on with your life,” she said finishing his thought. “I can’t have you worrying about me every time I go off among the stars. And, I can’t live with the knowledge that your future will be permanently ruined if I was gone.”
“But . . .”
“Benny, no buts. This is non-negotiable. I say this with love – stay out of my business. No one stops the Hameggattic Sisters from doing their job. No one.”
He noisily expelled a chest-full of air. “Perhaps I need to rethink our relationship.”
Egg felt like a spear just went through her stomach. “Whatever,” and she slammed her hand down on the control and severed the connection.
Chapter 7 – Who You Going to Call?
She screamed bloody murder.
If there had been something close at hand, she would have thrown it.
Ever since she was nine, she had been fighting the good fight. No one, on Earth or on Aerianna, ever dared to interfere save maybe Grammy.
How dare he?
Who the heck did he think he was?
The nerve of some people.
Was she out of her mind falling in love with a jerk like that?
If this is what people in love did, then she certainly didn’t want the grief.
Let him have all the time he needed to rethink things . . . she already had. No more Benny.
. . . no more perfect lips.
. . . adios sexy sultry eyes.
“Egg.”
The sound of her name snapped her back to the present. “Yeah Tee?” she said into the comm system.
“Booby wants to talk to you again.”
Egg had to smile. “It’s blue footed booby.”
“How would I know?”
“Know what?”
“What color his feet are.”
If anyone in the galaxy could distract Flying Girl from her troubles, it would be Tee’ka. And the girl wasn’t even trying. “I meant that his nickname is blue footed booby. But that’s between us girls; you shouldn’t call him that.”
“Okay. Egg?”
“Yes?”
“If his feet are blue, does that mean his butt is too?”
“TEE’KA” she cried. “You can’t ask questions like that.”
“But you started it with his feet.”
She was about to explain the diff
erence but decided she didn’t have the energy. “Do me a favor - after you patch him through to me; go talk to Bree about this blue stuff.” She almost felt badly about doing that to her winged sister.
“Okay. Here he is,” and his face appeared on her screen.
“What?” She wanted to be more upset than she felt but the conversation with her sister killed her bad mood. Now she had to pretend.
“I am sorry.”
“I’ll give you one minute to grovel then I’ll probably hang up.”
“More than generous of you,” he replied. The corner of his lips curved up slightly and gave away his true feelings. “I expressed myself from emotions that were childish or at least selfish. You are Eloise Graystone, Flying Girl, Egg of Earth, the Heroine of Aerianna and the Leader of the Hameggattic Sisterhood. I have no right to tell you what you can and cannot do. Not now and, I swear, never in the future regardless of where our relationship leads.”
“Keep going.”
“Likewise, what you cannot do is to dictate how I feel. If I choose to worry or to grieve . . . that is my privilege. I expect you to respect my rights on this matter as I will respect your right to do as your conscious dictates.”
“I’m still listening.”
He looked like he was trying to find the right words. A moment later he said, “I am Prince Ben’Edikk of the House of M’earth. I command the Royal Fleet of Aerianna and I am First Diplomat for my Queen and sister. I love you unconditionally. However, whatever our relationship is or will be, it must be as equals. If you do not see me as such then the time for us to continue our lives separately is now.”
That was the first time Egg had ever heard the young man assert himself so forcefully. And she realized she needed to hear it from his lips . . . those perfect blue lips. She could never marry Benny just because he was handsome, witty and intelligent. He needed to have a worthy purpose in life. Hosting State dinners or overseeing parties for other Nobles didn’t make it. If that’s how he saw himself then that’s how she would too.
“Have you nothing to say?”
“I do.”
“Yes?” he asked with great trepidation.
“Good save.”
He obviously didn’t understand the phrase. “Could you elaborate?” He hated to ask, yet again, what that actually meant.
“It means that I accept your apology. Everything you said was as much as I could hope for. So, I have reconsidered my reconsideration. I love you. Well, I’m assuming that I do, but it all gets clouded by my physical desires. However, I’ll give us the benefit of the doubt.”
Ark - Box Set #6, Part 1 of Ever After [an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel] Page 6
