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

by Robert Iannone

  *****

  They cleaned up the mess, put away the champagne and got down to business.

  “Alright, will one of you two geniuses tell us about the Tree’s riddle?

  “Go ahead, you thought of it first,” deferred Serenity.

  “Thank you. When I’za mentioned the computer system, I realized the tree . . . is that how I refer to him?”

  “Yes.”

  “Okay. When the tree said bits and bytes . . . he wasn’t referring to more than one bite as in a mouthful. He was referring to the two smallest units of information used in computer programming. There are eight bits in every byte.”

  “That’s impressive”. She turned to Serenity and asked, “How come she thought of it first?” Any chance to tease Sparky was one that should never be passed up.

  “Egg,” the girl said, and then paused.

  “Yes?”

  “Bite me.”

  Egg’s mouth, like Sylvia’s, dropped open at the girl’s use of that earth phrase. “Good save.” To everyone else she said, “she just returned the insult.”

  I’za sat there drinking in the conversation and antics of these strange aliens. To her surprise, she could definitely see herself as a Hameggattic Sister. In fact, she found herself wishing that Egg would invite her. Forcing her mind back to the present, she said, “So if I understand your inference, if we can reprogram the Klat computer, we can eliminate the threat of the PhoG.”

  “That’s what it sounds like,” agreed Egg. “Of course, they probably won’t invite us into their habitat and let us do it. So, we need to figure out how.”

  “Egg.”

  “Yeah, Tee?”

  “I can do it.”

  “Do what?”

  “I can go inside their computer.”

  Egg scrunched her face with a complete lack of comprehension as to how the usually befuddled girl could do that. “I don’t understand.”

  “Tee, let me,” said Serenity. “Don’t forget our girl was once a software program. She knows her way around a computer core.”

  “She has a body now . . . before she was just a holographic projection.”

  “No worries. If I can remotely connect to their system, I can give Tee’s brain a means to transfer over.”

  “I don’t like the sound of that. If something happens, she might not be able to get back. Then what?”

  Serenity’s shrug spoke volumes.

  “Egg, I want to do this.”

  “Tee, the risk is too great. I could never live with myself if we lost you.”

  “Egg.”

  “Yeah Tee?”

  “Isn’t that what Hameggattic Sisters do? Don’t we risk our lives to save other people?”

  The room went very, very quiet.

  “It is Tee.”

  “Then I want to do it.”

  “I’m not agreeing yet. I want Sparky, Jax’x, Syl . . . heck, all of you to exhaust every other possibility. Understand?”

  They did.

  Egg exhaled loudly to release the tension in her stomach. “Let’s talk about the other thing the Tree said. ‘Someone who is nowhere cannot be somewhere’. Anybody?”

  Each girl looked at the others hoping someone had something to offer. However, no one did.

  *****

  Hours Later

  “Why is it that we can detect her but she can’t detect us?” asked I’za.

  “Because I’m smarter than she is.”

  “Geez, Sparky, at least try for some humility.”

  “Jax’x, if you ever manage to reach my lofty – and mostly unobtainable - pinnacle of intellectual superiority, you’ll understand.”

  “Now it’s my turn. BARF”.

  “Come on guys, you promised.”

  “Sorry, Princess,” teased the girl in the chair.

  “Serenity,” interrupted Jax’x, “check out the side-scan radar.”

  The girl did as she was asked. “Ah, I was wondering what form your luck would take. And there it is.”

  “I’m sorry,” apologized I’za, “but alien talk is so very confusing to someone from a civilized society.”

  They all turned to look at the girl . . . who shrugged with a grin.

  “I like her,” announced Sparky to the room at-large. “She has a real sense of humor unlike the simplistic glib cattiness of the cat lady.”

  Jax’x, who was standing behind her, flicked her ear with a finger. “Be nice or I’ll name my first child after you. Serenity if it’s a girl or Sparky if it’s a boy.”

  “Kill me now.”

  “Don’t beg.”

  “If you two don’t stop, I’m going to send you to your rooms without dinner.”

  “She started it,” said Jax’x through her smile.

  “Syl, I’m promoting you to Sergeant at Arms. Your job is to maintain discipline.”

  “I’m definitely not man enough for that suicidal assignment. No, thanks.”

  “Anyone else?”

  There were no volunteers.

  “If I may interrupt, I’d like Serenity to explain her earlier comment,” pleaded Bree.

  “My pleasure. We’re about to enter a debris field. Xara is already in it. Regardless of what sensors she’s using, we’ll be just one more blip on her screen.”

  “And, of course, we owe this bit of fortuitous good luck to Princess Egg. I get it now.”

  Syl was polite enough to turn to I’za and explain. “Egg is the luckiest individual in this galaxy. Next time you go to a casino, be sure to take her.” The first part was helpful; not so much the second.

  *****

  “What’s the plan?”

  Egg didn’t answer Syl – mostly because she didn’t have one. Instead she looked at I’za. “Is there any way to know if the PhoG is following her . . . or if it’s taken over Xara?”

  “If it has entered this woman, her heart beat will drop to almost nothing. The PhoG maintains a person’s metabolism.”

  “Yuk on that,” stated Sylvia who shivered involuntarily.

  “How about if that thing is just in the vicinity?”

  “There will be a slight disturbance in the force.”

  Egg looked at Serenity who shrugged. To the alien she asked, “Sorry, what force?”

  “The force that binds the fabric of the universe together.” She was a bit surprised that they didn’t know about something so fundamental.

  Again turning to Serenity, Egg asked, “Got any ideas?”

  “No, but I sure as heck want to learn about this force. I’za, are you conversant on the subject?”

  “Like everyone, I know of its existence. I don’t believe its nature has been truly understood.”

  “Any idea how to detect a disturbance?”

  “The technology is on my ship. Sorry, I just know how to operate it.”

  “I’za.”

  “Yes, Sylvia?”

  “If the PhoG was following, when and how would it attack Xara?”

  “The ship would need to slow, and then the PhoG can breach the hull.”

  “It would make a hole in the ship?”

  “No. It would alter the density of the ship’s hull then slip through. The resultant structural variation is of sufficient magnitude to be detectable.”

  “I’m going to bite her,” declared an incredibly confused dragon.

  “No need,” said Jax’x soothingly. “What she means is that where the PhoG enters, the metal will be . . . weaker than the rest of the ship.” She glanced at I’za and shook her head no as in ‘ignore the simplistic explanation’. The other girl smiled back in understanding.

  “She could have just said that.”

  “I apologize. I would never willingly provoke a dragon into snacking on my probably bitter tasting body. That would be unconscionable.”

  “Is she teasing me?”

  I’za put her hand over her mouth to hide her smile so Bree answered, “She was being excessively polite.”

  “I may still bite her.”

 
To I’za, Bree said, “I’m pretty sure that she’s teasing.”

  “Enough. Sparky, scan Xara and her ship.”

  “Already done while you children were playing. Her heartbeat is normal and there is no sign of a hull breach. How about if I just shoot her out of the sky?”

  Since they had no weapons, there was no need to respond.

  “Okay, here’s what’s going to happen. Flying Girl is going to board her ship through a cargo airlock. Since that’s going to set off any number of alarms, we need to distract her. Any ideas – just keep in mind she’s got lots of nasty things that go snap, crackle and pop.”

  “I shall go with you, Egg. I can use my stored energy to disrupt all of her systems.”

  “And I’m going too,” declared Sylvia. When the others turned to look at her, she explained “I need to do this.”

  “Egg, I’m picking up something out there. It’s massive and man-made.” A moment later, she added “I think it’s one of those habitats from the Ark. Getting thousands of life signs.”

  “She must have been following it,” suggested Bree.

  “Why?” asked Bl’azzz.

  “Great. Goosebumps.”

  “I hate when you say that.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Egg, we really should take care of Xara before she gets closer to those people. If that PhoG is following, it might infect those people.”

  Before Egg could respond to Bl’azzz’s comment, I’za asked, “Serenity, can you get a visual on that habitat?”

  “I can send out a probe. It’ll take a few minutes.” She looked at Egg for approval.

  Before the girl could decide, she needed to know, “How will that help us, I’za?”

  “It might be the Klat. It’s possible that I can identify their habitat.”

  “Well, that would explain my goosebumps. Okay, Sparky. Send the probe.”

  While they waited impatiently to receive the telemetry, Jax’x called out, “Xara’s ship is slowing down.”

  “That’s just great. Monitor her life signs and the hull integrity. We can’t wait any longer. I’za and Syl, go get into your spacesuits. Tee, show them where they’re at and then help them dress, please.”

  “Okay. This way guys,” and she walked off.

  Egg called after them, “I’za, if we get a visual, Serenity will relay it to your helmet.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Bl’azzz, keep monitoring the habitat and learn what you can. Jax’x, keep your eyes glued on Xara and her ship. Sparky, you and Bree monitor our away team. Any sign of trouble and beam us out of there.”

  “Good luck.”

  “My turn. I hate when you say that.”

  “Why?”

  “Sooner or later the scales have to balance out.”

  *****

  Egg met the other two at the airlock. “Are you sure you want to go with us, Syl?”

  “Yup. As much as I’m super eager to get back to my studies, I’ve missed this. I’ve missed being at your side.”

  Egg gave her best friend a quick hug. “Put your helmets on and make sure they’re locked in place.” It took a minute and a little help from one another. “Okay, let’s go kick some butt.”

  Syl threw a switch and the room hissed as the air was sucked out. Then the door slid open. Flying Girl gave each girl one of her hands to hold and the trio flew out into the black nothingness of space.

  *****

  “Serenity, incoming message,” called Jax’x.

  “Take it, I’m busy”.

  Jax’x hit a button and her personal view screen came alive. “Yikes” was the girl’s involuntary response to the image.

  “Hi,” said the serpent.

  “Hi?” responded the former Librarian who was totally stunned by the exotic creature she was facing.

  “You must be Jax’x. I’m K’ssss.”

  “OH. I’m so sorry I should have recognized you. I can’t tell you how thrilling it is to meet a sea serpent.”

  “Why?” teased the sea serpent.

  “Um . . .” but the girl was at a loss for words until she decided K’ssss, like all the sisters, must have a sense of humor and was playing with her. “Well, for starters, Serenity assured me that your species was the least attractive members of the Sisterhood. She said that you all look like sea cucumbers but in truth I have no idea what that is.”

  “H’ssss. I like you.”

  “Can I call you Sister?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “When I get to meet you in person, can I hug you?”

  “You better.”

  “Will you show me an ocean?”

  It took the super smart sea serpent a second to understand the question. “I was told there is no surface water on Spell ‘Bound. I would love to show you an ocean . . . especially what’s under the surface. It’s quite breathtaking . . . especially if you don’t have gills.”

  Now it was Jax’x’s turn to laugh. “And that’s why they called you a slithering sack of silly, I’m guessing?”

  “Truthfully, it wasn’t because I had a sense of humor. It was because I had no sense at all. But that’s a story for another time. I just called to tell Egg I might have figured out what the Tree meant by ‘Someone who is nowhere cannot be somewhere’”.

  Sparky heard that and wheeled herself over. “Hey, cucumber, how are you?”

  “K’ssss, her new nickname is Sparky,” blurted Jax’x. Serenity actually growled in response.

  “Sparky, I love it. I can’t wait to tell the others.”

  “Listen, K’ssss, I’d love to chat like girlie girls but Egg, Syl and I’za – the alien from the Ark – are on their way to Xara’s ship. What have you got?”

  “Wish them well. Anyway, what the Tree said – he could have meant the transporter.”

  When a super smart person talks to another super smart person, a lot of explanation isn’t necessary. “That’s brilliant. Thanks.”

  “I’ll leave you to it. Good luck everyone. And Jax’x, don’t forget you owe me a hug.”

  “K’ssss, I can’t wait. Bye.”

  Chapter 8 – Neme-sissed

  Egg used the debris field to her advantage – flying as close to the tumbling rocks as she could get. Even with this zigging and zagging, it didn’t take long to catch sight of Xara’s ship. She looked at each of her companions in turn and nodded. When they acknowledged the nod with one of their own, Egg smiled reassuringly.

  She took a deep breath and, with a burst of speed, flew directly at the ship. The airlock they wanted was easy to spot and she approached it faster than the proverbial bat out of Helsinki (well, that’s not quite the phrase).

  Braking as hard as she could, Egg managed a near perfect landing – grabbing the external hand-holds to keep from bouncing off. Each girl released Egg’s arm and did the same.

  “Okay, I’za. Do your thing.”

  “You both need to let go of the ship first. Otherwise, you will be rendered unconscious.”

  “Right. Good thinking.” She offered her hand to Syl and pushed gently away from the ship. “Go ahead.”

  I’za eyes went a bit glazy and a shocking amount of energy flashed from the girl’s hands, enveloping the ship in an eerie glow. A few seconds later the spectacle ended and I’za, now drained of every last bit of stored energy, started to drift away as limp as a wet Raggedy Ann doll. Egg was expecting that to happen and she flew over and grabbed the semi-conscious alien.

  “Egg, her systems went dead,” came Serenity’s voice referring to the ship not I’za.

  “We’re going in. First, beam I’za back to the ship. She released so much energy that she’s too weak to be of much help.”

  “Transporting,” and I’za began to fade away. However, she managed to get off a ‘good luck’ before she disappeared.

  “Okay, girlfriend, it’s just me and you.”

  “How are your goosebumps?”

  “They’ve been bigger,” she replied. In reality, they had never bee
n bigger – though maybe as big.

  “Here goes” and Syl unlocked an access panel and pulled a lever. The door in front of them slid silently open.

  They pulled themselves in and Sylvia found another panel with the controls to close the door and re-pressurized the room. A light on the panel turned from red to green which was the all-clear for the girl to remove her helmet. “I’m going to take off the rest of the suit. It’s so bulky I’d just get in my own way.”

  “Okay,” and the girl did.

  “Now what?”

  “Sparky, which way?” Egg asked.

  “Through the hatch for about fifty feet. There’s a ladder leading up to the flight deck three floors above you.”

  “Thanks. Here we go.”

  However, by the time they reached the ladder, Jax’x called. “Egg, we detected a hull breach. It’s on the same level as the command center but on the opposite end of the ship.”

  “Rats.”

  “Jax’x, can you track the creature?”

  “Sorry, Sylvia. We still can’t detect that disturbance in the force that I’za mentioned.”

  Egg reminded the others, “Don’t forget, if that thing gets into Xara, yell.”

  “Of course. By the way, we’ve confirmed that the habitat belongs to the Klat.”

  *****

  Our two heroes made double time climbing the ladder. As they reached the proper level, the door to the control room was only a few feet away. Egg’s first instinct, however, was to look the other way – down the corridor to where the PhoG had entered. Unfortunately it was too dark to see anything.

  “Do they move fast?” asked Syl.

  “The one I encountered didn’t seem to be in any hurry. By the way, they don’t just walk up on you. They slide along the floor like a shadow until they’re ready to strike and then they sort of grow into a vaguely human shape.”

  “Fascinating.”

  “Not really. Mostly horrifying.”

  Xara’s voice interrupted their conversation. Coming from some hidden speaker, lady nemesis said, “Hi, guys. Wish you had called first so I could have prepared something nice for you.”

  “Open the door, Xara.”

  “And if I say no?”

  “It galls me no end to have to say this – but we came to rescue you.”

  “Oh, that’s so sweet,” was the intensely sarcastic reply.