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

by Robert Iannone

“None.”

  “Wonder why.”

  “They’re probably piloting it remotely.”

  “Bl’azzz, how would you like to be a dragon?”

  “It’s been a dream of mine since childhood.”

  Egg smiled. “Cute. I’m putting you in an escape pod. We’ll have it land as close to the Ephemeral as we can without putting you in immediate danger. Then I want you to find that shuttle and force it to crash.”

  “Is that possible?” asked I’za.

  “She’s got really big feet.”

  “Hey, I heard that,” complained the dragon.

  “Just kidding. If you sneak up on it from high above, maybe throw a little flame their way, you can force it into the ground. I want the craft destroyed.”

  “Oooh, how fun.”

  “Once that thing is smashed, get the heck out of there. Go back to your landing spot until I call.”

  “Can do.”

  “I’za, are you sure they can’t detect you when you’re invisible?”

  “They won’t be looking for a Gek’a. I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay. Go find the hostages and call us when you do.”

  “I will.”

  “I’za,” called Serenity. “Catch” and she threw the girl a disc the size of a silver dollar.

  “A parting gift? Thank you, that’s sweet,” teased the alien.

  “Yeah, yeah, very funny. If you place the shiny side against someone’s neck and squeeze, it will stimulate the sleep center of the brain. Your victim will go nighty-night within seconds.”

  “What would you have me do with it?”

  “We don’t normally carry weapons since our fearless leader hates violence. Thought this might come in handy – especially since you can sneak up on a person without being seen. Maybe you can use it in an emergency to make an escape.”

  “Thank you. It is very thoughtful of you.”

  “Don’t get sentimental or I’ll take it back,” groused the grump.

  “I’za,” said Sylvia, “there’s an earth saying. ‘Serenity is all bark and no bite.”

  The girl in the chair growled and the rest laughed.

  “Back to the matter at hand. I’za, try to protect the hostages if possible but only if you can do it without calling attention to yourself. Got it? We don’t need another prisoner of war.”

  “As you command.”

  “Please don’t say that.”

  “Sorry, it’s a common phrase where I come from. Correction – where I came from.”

  “She much prefers ‘aye-aye captain,” called Jax’x.

  Egg shrugged. “Well, I don’t dislike it.”

  “Then aye-aye, captain,” and she actually saluted.

  “Just go, you goofy girl Gek’a. Someone beam her down but not too close to the habitat.”

  “And when will I play my part?” demanded an irritated Waldo who was impatient for some action.

  “You’re the only one that’s not affected by their mind games.” Then she realized that might not be true . . . he wasn’t actually a Klat. “Am I right?”

  “I am an artificial life form. I will not be affected.”

  “Great. You’ll get your chance to impress Tee’ka.”

  “As you command.”

  They all turned towards the big man.

  “Jesting?” asked Egg.

  “Indeed.”

  *****

  An hour later, the first images from Ziz were coming back.

  “As we suspected, the habitat looks to be intact,” observed Jax’x. “Too soon for them to have made any great progress on their new construction.”

  “We absolutely have to make sure that doesn’t change,” replied Egg. “As long as that habitat exists, there’s a chance to rid our galaxy of these people.”

  “What next?” asked Syl.

  “Sparky, how fast can you teleport the crews off those captured ships?”

  “I can do maybe six at a time. A teleport cycle takes about a half minute.”

  “And how many of our people on each one?”

  “Checking. Looks like thirty per”.

  “Too many. How many Ephemeral are there?”

  “Checking. What a coincidence . . . six per.”

  Syl looked at Egg and they both smiled. “Coincidence? Some might call it lucky.”

  “Weird how relieved that makes me feel.”

  Serenity asked, “What do want to do, Oh Captain Mine?”

  “Ready the transporter of course.”

  Chapter 10 – Follow the Leader

  “Where are you going to transport them to?” asked Syl referring to the Ephemeral on the ships.

  “You’re my Feminion, you tell me.”

  “I will. Jax’x, scan the surface. I need a lake with at least one island.”

  “How far from the habitat?”

  “Far enough so it will take someone a day or so to hike back.”

  “Searching.” A minute later, “Got one. It’s about thirty kilometers away. The island is not very big. Some vegetation and no obvious wildlife.”

  “Thank you. Give the coordinates to Serenity please.”

  “Done.”

  “See how easy that was?” teased the girl.

  Egg made a face at her friend. “I was just trying to make you feel useful.”

  “Eternally grateful. Thanks.”

  “Next up is Bl’azzz. Hot Lips can you hear me?”

  “Egg-o, isn’t that a dumb question? If I didn’t hear you, I wouldn’t say anything, would I?”

  “Shut up. Go find that maintenance ship and do your thing. But, be careful – no stupid risks.”

  “Let’s see – I’m going to attack a spaceship with my talons and hot breath and make it crash. Nope, I don’t see anything risky about that.”

  “Forget the talons. Just set it afire. But watch from a safe distance to make sure it either crashes or explodes.”

  “Okay. Here goes nothing.”

  While they waited, Waldo commented “your tactics lack logic. I cannot discern its pattern.”

  “We have only one chance at surprise. I want that shuttle out of commission so there can be no more construction. It will also serve notice to the Ephemeral that they are under attack. They will send the three other ships to locate us and assess the threat. Meanwhile, I’za will use this diversion to slip into the habitat and find the prisoners.”

  “And the three armed ships – do they not pose a threat to our survival?”

  “Well, maybe . . . maybe not. Let’s just see what happens, shall we?”

  “Jest?”

  Egg laughed. “No, no jest. I’m dead serious.”

  “Your phrasing leaves much to be desired.”

  *****

  “Found it. Going in for the kill.”

  “Be careful, be careful, be careful,” whispered Egg.

  “Egg, Ziz spotted something,” called Jax’x.

  “On screen.”

  “What the heck is that?”

  “That’s an android - a robot of sorts. Now the Ephemeral have some brawn to go along with their brains,” replied Jax’x.

  “What’s it doing?”

  “It’s in the vicinity of the maintenance shuttle. The two are probably working in tandem as the construction detail.”

  “GOOSE BUMPS,” screamed Egg – both from the surprise that she got them and from what that probably portended.

  “Geez, don’t yell,” grumbled Sparky.

  “Why did that android set you off?” asked Syl.

  “That android is probably controlling the shuttle. If it sees Bl’azzz attacking, who knows what it’s capable of doing.”

  “The dragon must destroy the artificial construct first,” semi-commanded Waldo.

  “Should I tell her?” asked Jax’x.

  Egg said nothing as she stared at the image on the screen.

  “Egg?” called Jax’x.

  “No. Sparky, beam that thing onboard. Put it in a cargo compartment under full shiel
d restraint. Now.”

  The girl did as she was told. “Done.”

  “Bl’azzz, status?”

  Static.

  “Bl’azzz?”

  Static.

  Serenity called out, “Explosion on the surface. Shuttle is gone.”

  “Bl’azzz can you hear me?” and Egg willed her sister to answer.

  “That’s still a stupid question. Mission accomplished. Heading back to the drop off point.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “I am dragon,” she bragged.

  “Yeah, you are. Listen; circle around for a bit while I check something out.”

  “Can do.”

  “Jax’x, has Ziz seen any more of these mechanical men?”

  “No. Nothing within ten klicks.”

  “How about the stick men?”

  “No sign.”

  “Great. Bl’azzz . . . .”

  “Yo, Egg-o.”

  “Go stand in front of the entrance to the habitat. Every minute or so, roar as loudly as you can and throw some fire against it. I don’t want any mechanical men or the Ephemeral for that matter coming out.”

  “Can do.”

  “Two more things – if you see either, don’t hurt them. Scare them back inside.”

  “And?”

  “And I want you to sing or hum a Fandango Sally song. Don’t stop until I tell you. Can you do that for a few hours?”

  “Am I auditioning for a part?”

  “Absolutely – Sister of the Month Honors.”

  “Left turn, right turn, U turn, my turn . . .” she began to sing.

  “Turn that off before I go nuts.” Sparky did as requested. “Have the AI monitor her continuously. Let me know if she stops.”

  “What are you doing?” asked Syl.

  “If the Ephemeral take over her mind, she’ll stop singing. That’s when we transport her out of there.”

  “Clever girl.”

  “I have my moments.”

  “They appear to be many,” commented Waldo.

  “Sorry?”

  “Your moments of insight – they occur more frequently than random chance would dictate.”

  “Ah, that’s sweet. Thanks.”

  *****

  “Why did you beam that android onboard?”

  “Jax’x, just a gut feeling. Call it intuition.”

  “I’za is calling,” announced Serenity. “And the three ships are breaking orbit and heading for us.”

  “Put I’za on screen. Monitor the ships.”

  “Egg,” came a whispered voice.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes. I found a room where they are keeping the prisoners. They have them strapped to operating tables. Lots of technology all around,”

  “What’s it for?”

  “There is no activity at the moment so I can’t be certain. But an educated guess is that they’re going to put these people into some type of armored outfit. There’s one hanging by each prisoner.”

  “It’s an exoskeleton. It increases the strength of whoever is wearing it,” explained Serenity.

  “Do you have I’za’s coordinates?”

  “Yes. But Egg, I can’t transport them out of there. Whatever material they’re using to stop the Ephemeral brainwaves also disrupts the transporter beam.”

  “We’ll worry about that later. Good job, I’za. Stay there for now but be careful.”

  *****

  “You have saved the life of one of your own,” complimented Waldo referring to the individual they had beamed aboard. He was obviously one of the captives and had been placed inside the exoskeleton that I’za had seen.

  “Just lucky. But Waldo, it’s a good lesson to learn. Violence has to be the last resort, if it’s used at all. Do you understand?”

  “I am learning.”

  Egg smiled at the big ugly man – and for the first time didn’t shiver. “Tee’ka is a fortunate lady to have found you.”

  “Jest?”

  “Not all. It’s a compliment.”

  “I thank you.”

  “Egg, ships coming on fast.”

  “What formation are they in?”

  “Two abreast, the third one trailing behind.”

  “Shields up.”

  “Oh, please. I put them up as soon as they broke orbit.”

  “Jax’x, I should have asked this before, but do you think your Amber Hearty-ness could project an image into space?”

  “What kind of image? And how big and for how long?”

  “How about a big head? Large enough to hide the ship for about a minute?”

  “Why?” asked Syl.

  “A dose of shock and awe. Might buy us a little time. It will definitely throw off their aim.”

  “Whose head?”

  “Waldo, I’m going to use yours.” To spare his feelings, she lied. “You are so formidable looking that they will know fear.”

  “Acceptable.”

  Jax’x called out, “Let me grab the rest of my Amber Hearts,” and she fetched them from their resting place. “I can give it a try. No promises.”

  “Thanks. Sparky, I want to do a one eighty and fly directly at the two leading ships. Then when Jax’x puts on her space face, fly right past them toward the third ship. Teleport the stick men as soon as you’re in range and put them on that island.”

  “Don’t care what the test said, you are certifiably crazy.”

  “Syl, as soon as she beams those six out of there, the Ephemeral mind link will be gone. You have about twenty seconds to talk our people back to reality.”

  “What do you want them to do?”

  “Head straight towards one of the two remaining ships and have them teleport the bad guys to the planet. Give them the coordinates.”

  “Got it.”

  “Jax’x, on my signal. Serenity, flip us around.”

  *****

  The ship reversed course and headed directly at the oncoming ships.

  Though Serenity took evasive maneuvers, the Gracie was being hit by cannon fire a few times a minute. The shields held though the ship vibrated, shook, shuddered and groaned. It was the first time the sisterhood had ever been attacked in such fashion and despite all their bravado, they were appropriately scared.

  Sylvia was the first and only one to admit to her feelings. “I think I wet myself.”

  “Hope you’re wearing those ugly ducklings.”

  “Why?”

  “Duh, because they can swim.”

  The girl giggled – but only because of her nervousness.

  “Okay, Jax’x, show them where’s Waldo.”

  The former Librarian concentrated as hard as she could and produced a giant image of Waldo nee Mobius emerging from the fiery depths of her imagination.

  And the crews of the first two ships, the ones closest to the giant face, did what any rational being would do – they veered off.

  As they approached the trailing ship, the distance between the two vessels narrowed at an alarming rate. “I’m going to have to turn soon to avoid a head on collision,” called Serenity.

  “Hold off until you get into transporter range.”

  “That’s cutting it close.”

  Egg didn’t answer – she couldn’t since she was holding her breath.

  Ten seconds from impact and Serenity’s hands became a blur as they flew over her control panels. She locked on the life signs of the six Ephemeral and started the teleport sequence, then she altered course to avoid a very unhappy ending and finally she sent the bad guys in the transporter beam to the island on the planet’s surface.

  “Done,” she said coolly.

  “Turn around and head for the first two. Syl . . . update.”

  Her best friend was on the communicator link with the ship they had just freed. She was talking fast and furiously trying to get the crew to understand what had happened. It took longer than Egg wanted but not longer than was reasonable.

  “Egg, closing in on those ships,” warned Serenit
y.

  “Take the one on the right. Jax’x, you still have that face in place?”

  “Sorry Egg, I lost it.”

  “You did great. Relax for a minute. Syl – update please.”

  “Yes, yes – that’s right,” she was saying to whoever was in command. “Hang on a second,” she said, turning to Egg. “Which ship should they take?”

  “The one on the left.”

  Syl turned around and repeated the message. “Good luck.” The screen went blank and Sylvia said, “Done. Remind me to tell Benny how professional that guy was.”

  “I just got a glance, but he seemed cute,” teased Egg.

  “Please, I didn’t even notice,” lied her friend.

  *****

  Five minutes later it was all over. Egg had Serenity bring the ship into close proximity of the other three.

  “On screen,” she called. “Who am I talking to, please?”

  “This is Captain Ax’gard (the same one Syl had talked to). Lady Eloise, thank you.”

  “If you want to thank me, the name is Egg.”

  “As you wish.” He hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “Egg, just before the Ephemeral turned us, I saw the flagship explode. Were there any survivors?”

  “We believe everyone survived. Which reminds me, Sparky, would you go get our guest from the hold.”

  “On my way.”

  “One of the men from Benny’s ship is onboard. He, along with the rest of the crew, were taken hostage by the Ephemeral. He was in an exoskeleton working outside the habitat when we rescued him. We’ll transport him over in a few minutes.”

  “Lady, are you telling me the Prince is being held hostage? Do you know where? I will mount an assault immediately.” To say he was agitated was an understatement.

  “Easy, Captain. He stayed on his ship when it exploded. The command center was ejected and we were able to get him back. He was injured and is now on a hospital ship that his father brought. In fact, we’ll give you the coordinates. I want you to rendezvous with his Lordship.”

  “What of the rest of the crew being held hostage?”

  “Leave that to me.”

  “But . . .”

  “Sorry, guy. I’m in charge. Do yourself a favor and go meet up with your fleet.”

  “For the record, I protest your decision.”

  “Duly noted. Syl, can you give the Captain the coordinates.”

  She turned on her viewer. “Hi again, Captain.”

  The ruggedly handsome man smiled. “It was you that I spoke to before. It was all very fuzzy. Thank you.”