Ark - Box Set #6, Part 1 of Ever After [an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel]

by Robert Iannone

  *****

  Earth

  They materialized in the parking lot of the hospital. Egg decided to risk it since it was after dark. She took Benny’s hand and walked into the lobby and up to the receptionist. I’za was right behind them – invisible.

  “Can you tell me what room Ezra Hightower is in please?”

  “Certainly,” and the young woman tapped at her computer. “Oh dear. He’s been taken to Intensive Care. Take that hallway to your right.”

  “Thanks,” and she hurried off dragging the Prince with her.

  “What is intensive care?” he asked.

  “That’s where they take patients who are in critical condition.”

  They reached the ward in short order and asked another receptionist to let them in.

  “Are you family?” she asked.

  “He’s my grandfather and this guy is my fiancé.”

  The woman nodded then buzzed them in. Benny dallied a moment to be sure that I’za made it through the doors before they closed.

  “Room C,” called the receptionist and pointed.

  “Thanks,” and they virtually ran.

  They found the room and entered without knocking. Ezra was on the bed hooked up to an obscene number of tubes and wires and monitors. Grammy and a doctor were on either side.

  It took a moment for Egg to understand what she was witnessing.

  The heart monitor had flat lined and was beeping insistently.

  Blood pressure showed zero.

  There was no sign of respiration.

  Grammy was holding her face in her hands.

  And the doctor was straightening up after having check Ezra’s heart. “We’ve lost him. I’m so sorry but he’s gone.” He reached for the sheet covering his patient and started to lift it over Ezra’s face.

  Chapter 4 – Never Say Never

  Somewhere in the depths of Space

  One of the thirty or so habitats that had survived the journey fired its rockets and slowed. They had arrived in the neighboring galaxy almost precisely where the self-aware computer had predicted. And there was much to celebrate.

  The plan to destroy the Ark had been executed as expected. Aware of the other’s nefarious strategy to end imprisonment, the AI implemented its own counter-plan and had this module ejected without damage. Fortunately, a handful of other habitats had also been expelled intact. They might survive. The rest remained attached to the now ‘dead’ Ark and were doomed since the host ship was careening out of control. A devastating collision with a planet or star would be unavoidable.

  Most exciting was the discovery that this part of space held hundreds of inhabited planets . . . worlds just ripe to be conquered by the Klat if the need arose. Their superior strength, augmented by this Artificial Intelligence, represented a force of nature that could not be stopped. They would have their own planet – even if they must fight to obtain it.

  The Klat’s assumed superiority was not always the case . . . evidenced by their inclusion on the Ark of Forever. But that was before the AI became sentient.

  And now it had created the Phantoms of Grey.

  Let their enemies beware. Surrender or die.

  Either choice was acceptable.

  *****

  Earth

  Egg pushed her way to the bed and ripped the sheet out of the man’s hand. “Benny, show the doctor out.”

  “What? Who are you?”

  “I’m his granddaughter. Please, leave now. It’s a . . . um . . . a religious thing.”

  “Oh. Of course. Mrs. Hightower, I’m sorry for you loss. Take all the time you need.”

  Benny took the doctor by the elbow and practically dragged the bewildered man out into the corridor. He thanked him for his efforts then stood guard so no one could enter.

  Inside, Egg didn’t need to say anything to her companion. I’za materialized and put her hands on to Ezra’s temples and went into her trance like state.

  “Egg?” said Grammy in bewilderment – her grief temporarily forgotten.

  “Grammy, this is I’za. She has certain . . . powers. She once saved my life and she thinks she can do the same for Ezra.”

  “Egg, he’s dead.” That dreaded word caused her tears to begin to flow freely down her cheeks once again.

  “How long?”

  “Just . . . just as you came in. You’re too late. He’s gone.”

  Egg turned to I’za. “Is it too late?”

  No answer. A moment later there was a flash of energy from the alien’s fingertips that arced into Ezra’s head.

  Grammy gasped.

  Then Ezra did the same.

  *****

  Two Days Later

  “Permission to come aboard.”

  “Granted.”

  A moment later, Sylvia Hampton, Feminion to Egg of Earth, materialized in the control room of the Gracie. “Hi, guys”.

  “Love your hair.”

  “Thanks Bree.”

  “It would be prettier if it was curly.”

  “Tee, I would never steal your look. Besides, it only works on you.”

  “True dat,” she replied.

  “Now you sound like Egg.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Hi, Sylvia. I’m Jax’x.”

  Syl walked up to the newest sister and gave her hug. “Great to finally meet you.”

  “Likewise. I have so many questions I’d like to ask you. Maybe when we get some time later?”

  “I’d like that. Needless to say, I probably have as many as you do. So much about you I don’t know. For instance, you also have red hair. Maybe we should make that the official color of the sisterhood,” and she laughed at her own silliness.

  “Enough jibber-jabber. Get your farm fresh face over here and give me a hug,” demanded Bl’azzz.

  “Never argue with a prehistoric monster, I always say,” and Syl did as she was asked. She then gave one to the others. When she got to Serenity, she started to say something but the girl cut her off.

  “You say the word Sparky and I’ll turn your hair white.”

  “Ahhh, it’s such a cute nickname.”

  “No, no. You people can’t fool me. I looked it up. Sparky was the name of the dog in some dumb movie called Frankenweenie. Frankenweenie! . . . if that’s not meant as an insult, then go ahead and call me it.”

  “Thanks, Sparky.”

  “Grrrrrrr.”

  “Add the burp and you’d sound like Jynxie,” teased Bree.

  “Did you hear she found a mate? Sometime next year we get to be grandparents.”

  “We heard,” said Serenity trying to pop Syl’s endless reserve of good-naturedness.

  “Oh.”

  “Any word from Egg?”

  “Yeah, Bree. I thought they would have told you. They got there just as Ezra died.”

  “I’m so sorry. Poor Grammy.”

  “No, no. It’s all good. I’za zapped him somehow and literally pulverized the clot and then restarted his heart.”

  “He’s alive?”

  “He’ll need a fairly lengthy time to recover as well as therapy to learn to talk again . . . the after-effects of the clot. But, given some hard work and loving support, he should be almost as good as new.”

  “We need to find a way to send our love to Grammy and Ezra,” said the ever-thoughtful Bree.

  “Does anyone find it beyond weird that we met the only person that could save Egg and her grandfather?” asked Bl’azzz.

  “No,” respond Sparky. “We all know that the luckiest person in the known universe is our beloved leader. Finding an alien from a distant galaxy with just the right super powers is exactly what you would expect.”

  “I don’t know,” said Syl. “If she was so lucky, she wouldn’t need saving in the first place.”

  “She’s a drama queen,” replied Serenity not unkindly. “If it doesn’t involve life and death, she gets bored.”

  “She does live on the edge,” agreed her closest friend.

  “M
ore like teeters on the brink.”

  After a few moments of silent comradery, Jax’x asked, “What now? Syl is here to help us find Xara. Where do we start looking?”

  Everyone shrugged except the girl in the chair. “Come on Librarian, figure it out.”

  “What did you do?”

  “I’ll say it again, figure it out.”

  “What’s with these two?” asked Syl of Bree, sensing some kind of competition.

  “They think they’re the two smartest people within a million miles. They try to one up each other.”

  “Really?” To Serenity she asked, “Can anyone play this game?”

  “Ha. Just because you’re smarter than Egg doesn’t make you a genius like me or a pretend genius like her.” It was said in jest.

  “If I get it right, what then?”

  “I’ll give you the same wager I give Jax’x. If you win, I’ll wear a smile for a week,” and her mouth formed a . . . um . . . sneer-ish looking smirk. Like before, it was a disturbing sight.

  Syl groaned and threw her hands in front of her eyes. “Stop, I beg you,” she teased. “You’re going to give me nightmares,” and everyone laughed except Sparky.

  “That’s the common consensus,” said Jax’x. “It’s the only reason I lose these bets . . . to save my dear sisters from that horror.”

  “And now you know why I always make the same bet. Took you long enough to figure it out.”

  “Syl put these two in their place. Tell Sparky the answer,” begged Bl’azzz.

  “Quite simple, actually. She recorded the energy signature from Xara’s engines. With our instrumentation, we can follow it for maybe a week before it dissipates. And, by its strength, we can tell how close we’re getting well before we get into sensor range. That would be hers as well as ours.”

  Everyone turned toward Serenity.

  “Beginners luck.”

  *****

  Earth – the last two days

  Egg went to the door and told Benny to call the doctor. The man in the white lab coat arrived and entered the room. He was about to ask how he could help when he noticed the heart monitor – the red warning light and the beeping had stopped. The readings were almost normal.

  A quick glance at the other instrumentation told the same story. The patient, clinically dead a few minutes ago – had miraculously recovered.

  “My goodness. I have never . . .” but he didn’t finish. He bent over the still unconscious form of Ezra and checked his heart with a stethoscope. “Well, I’m dumbfounded. His vital signs are all back to within a fraction of normal.”

  He looked up and was surprised to see that the others weren’t. “Did you do this?” he asked Egg.

  “Must have been the power of our prayers.”

  “I see. Well, I’m going to have him taken to radiology for another CAT scan. It’s possible the clot has passed out of harm’s way. Excuse me for a moment,” and he left to get a nurse and to order the test.

  Grammy still had her hand over her mouth, stunned at the turn of events. The tears were still flowing but now it was just an emotional release. She looked very unsteady as she stood staring at her husband.

  “Come on, Gram. Sit down.” Egg led the woman to the only chair in the room

  “Oh, dearest. Will she come back so I can thank her?” referring to I’za of course.

  “Grammy, she hasn’t left.” She turned and faced an empty space and said to thin air, “Just for a quick second.”

  I’za reappeared. “You are most welcome,” and a moment later she was gone.

  “I don’t understand,” mumbled Grammy, her eyes wide from witnessing the apparition.

  “We’ll talk later.”

  A nurse and an aide came in, detached some of the tubes and wires, and then wheeled Ezra out of the room. A half hour later the doctor found the family in the waiting room. “I am pleased to tell you that there is no trace of the clot. I wish I could explain it but I can’t. Your husband is out of danger and I expect a full recovery. But, I must warn you that his speech will be impaired from the damage caused by the clot. However, I can recommend a wonderful therapist that can help him regain most of what he has lost. You and he need to be patient because these things take time. Now, Mr. Hightower is resting comfortably and it’s past visiting hours. I strongly suggest that you all go home and get a good night’s sleep. It’s been a very trying time for everyone.”

  Egg answered for her grandmother. “Thanks, Doc. We will.”

  “Miss?”

  “I’m called Egg.”

  The man couldn’t help but smile at that. “Of course you are. Anyway, perhaps when there’s time, you can teach me that prayer.” He was mostly serious.

  “Sorry, Doc. It only works for true believers.” She took one of Grammy’s arms while Benny took the other and they walked out.

  *****

  Still on Earth

  They went to Egg’s childhood home where her parents were waiting for them. Egg had used her grandmother’s cell phone when they were still at the hospital to relay the good news – but didn’t mention how it came about.

  Mrs. Graystone opened the door and grabbed her mother. “Mom, I’m so happy for you . . . and for Ezra, of course. What a miracle.” She led the older woman into the living room and made her comfortable.

  Mr. Graystone greeted his daughter and the Prince – one with a hug and the other with a handshake (which Benny was now prepared for). Upon shaking the young man’s hand, it finally dawned on him that he was the wrong color (at least, a different one). “No offense, Ben, but what happened to your blue skin?”

  “It is still there, sir. I had one of my technicians ‘paint’ me white so that I could accompany your daughter to see her grandmother. She has tried to explain that skin color is a concern to the citizens of Earth but I do not believe I have a full understanding.”

  “I’ll make it simple. Prejudice coupled with ignorance. We can talk about it later if you’d like. Come in and make yourself comfortable in our humble abode.” The two walked in but Benny stopped and held the door open.

  “Pop, I’d like you to meet a friend of mine.”

  Mr. Graystone smiled and looked past Benny to see who else was coming in. There was no one. “Egg?”

  “Look behind you.”

  The man turned just as I’za ‘rematerialized’. “Whoa”.

  “I’za, this is my father. Dad, this is I’za, late of the Ark of Forever and a visitor to our galaxy. She also is the reason Ezra is still alive.”

  “Greetings,” said the alien not sure of the proper form of introducing oneself to an earthman.

  His response could be excused. “How did you do that?”

  “Dad, she’s like a human chameleon”. Any other explanation would be a waste of time. “Just say hello and thank you.”

  “I’za, sorry for my lack of manners. Welcome to my home and thank you for helping Ezra.” A second later he added, “Exactly how did you help Ezra?”

  “Let’s go into the living room so Mom and Grammy can hear this conversation,” and they did. An hour later I’za was shown to Ashley’s old room while Benny was made comfortable on the fold-out couch. Grammy, against her will, was to share a bed with her daughter. And Mr. Graystone found his old army cot and pulled it into the living room.

  *****

  The Next Morning

  “Dad, can I borrow the car?”

  Mr. Graystone laughed. “Never thought I’d hear those words again. Keys are in the bowl in the hallway. Take your time, we’ll use Mom’s car to take Grammy to the hospital.”

  “Thanks. Come on Benny. You, too, I’za.”

  “Would you two not prefer to be alone?”

  “He would, but I wouldn’t. Best if you fade away before we go.”

  I’za did as asked and the three made their way to the garage. Benny stopped to marvel at the mechanical contraption. Mr. Graystone had just purchased a new midnight blue convertible. It held four – but only two comfortably.
“It is magnificent,” and he ran his hand lovingly over the hood.

  “I’za, just so you know, every male on this planet reacts the same way. Don’t ask me why.”

  “Like the Prince, I have never encountered such a conveyance as this. It is quite marvelous.”

  “You won’t be so infatuated when you try to make yourself comfortable in the back.”

  Everyone got in and engaged their seat belts. “Where are we going?”

  “Thought you might like to see the town where I grew up. We’ll even go by Syl’s home. I’za, Syl and I first started the Hameggattic Sisterhood in the attic of her house.”

  I’za gave that some thought. “Would I be correct to assume that attic in Hameggattic refers to that place?”

  “You would.”

  “Of course, Egg refers to you. What does Ham refer to?”

  “That’s the first three letters of Sylvia’s last name – Hampton.”

  “And you were very close?”

  “Was and still are.”

  “Did you bond when you first met?”

  Egg laughed. “Actually, I really, really disliked her.”

  “How odd. What changed?”

  “I became Flying Girl.”

  *****

  They drove for hours . . . Benny refusing to go home until he saw everything.

  “Listen, now that you’re able to disguise yourself, we’ll come back after we take care of the Ark stuff and we can do a tour of the whole country. Heck, the whole planet. What you’re seeing now is really an insignificant piece.”

  “Is there actually much more to see?” The Prince was not overly impressed considering he lived on a city that floated.

  “Yeah. We earthlings have accomplished some pretty interesting things. Plus, this planet is incredibly beautiful. My home town is quaint and it was a wonderful place to grow up. But, there’s a lot more to see.”

  “You sound very proud of your world,” commented I’za.

  “I guess I am. Even though we aren’t nearly as interesting as some of the places I’ve been to out there,” and she pointed up to the heavens. “It does have a lot to offer.”

  “Is this where you wish to honeymoon when we marry?” teased the Prince with a goofy grin.

  “What is a honeyed moon?” asked the alien girl.