Box Set #3: The Serenity Deception: [The 4 book 3rd Adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood]

by Robert Iannone

  “Speaking of K’ssss,” said Aeri’elle. “What’s disconcerting is hearing her talk like a super genius but still looking like . . . well, still looking like K’ssss, if you get my drift.”

  Everyone giggled because everyone understood what the dragon was referring to.

  “What do you call that stuff Meggy is going to have done to her face?” asked Soo.

  “Plastic surgery,” answered Sylvia.

  “Right. That’s what she needs . . . plastic surgery to get rid of her gargantuan goofy gaze.”

  “Hey, that reminds me. K’ssss gave me a gift. Watch this . . . and Egg stood up and went through the colors of the rainbow.

  The four girls who had not seen it before applauded appreciatively. “Why did she give you that?” asked Bl’azzz. “Not that she needed a reason.”

  “Syl . . . you tell them.”

  “While you guys were away, our brilliant sea sister altered the speed of Aerianna’s solar system.”

  “What?”

  “Why?”

  “How?”

  “She said she was tired of the fact that people on Aerianna aged about six years to every one year elsewhere in the universe. So she figured how to unleash the power in the Crystal Mountain to speed things up . . . and alter the flow of time. Mind boggling, right?”

  “Maybe you can find a replacement for me that combines K’ssss’ new super brain power with Egg’s great abilities,” suggested Aeri’elle teasingly.

  “If we did that, you know what we get?” asked Egg. She didn’t wait for an answer. “We’d get a new leader of the Hameggattic Sisterhood.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous” objected Sylvia. “Besides, if that happened, you guys wouldn’t need me anymore.”

  “I’ll bite,” said Soo who liked this particular earth saying. “Why?”

  “I’m Egg’s Feminion . . . her brain so to speak. If she’s no longer our leader, she won’t need a Feminion.”

  “Would you both stop it,” demand Bl’azzz. “This conversation is stupid and it’s making me uncomfortable. The real question is what did K’ssss’ project have to do with the gift?”

  Egg explained. “Our rings wouldn’t work for the year and half her little experiment was in progress. We were so worried that something terrible had happened. Even the portal didn’t work.”

  “When it was over, she came to Earth . . .,” began Sylvia before she was interrupted.

  “She went to earth?”

  “The portal opened in Grammy’s living room and out popped our loveable leviathan. She only stayed for a few minutes to apologize and tell us what was going on. When we went back to Aerianna, she left the gift for Egg.”

  With that image in their minds, everyone went quiet so they could give a little attention to their food. BreeZee finally broke the silence. “Soo, I heard a rumor about a certain young scientist. Care to share?”

  “No.”

  “Spill it, you slimy sea worm,” growled Bl’azzz. “How dare you keep boy secrets from your best friend?”

  “I’m dating Ven’trrr . . . it’s no big deal.”

  “Have I met him?” asked Spirit.

  “He’s K’ssss’ brother.”

  “Is it serious?” asked Egg.

  “Well, it’s not funny.”

  “What?”

  “The opposite of serious is funny. Hello, anyone in there?”

  “I know one thing. There’s no way I would spend a year and a half trapped in this spaceship with you people. You’d drive me crazy.”

  The other girls looked from one to another. It was Syl who finally said what was on their minds. “How could we tell?”

  *****

  The intercom went off throughout the ship. “Everyone, please come to the bridge.”

  Most of the girls were in their cabins, a couple were in the galley . . . but they all did as they were told.

  “What’s going on, Spirit?” asked Egg. “Is there a problem?”

  “No. But there is Laff’Alott,” and she pointed at the big window.

  The collective response was, “Ohhhhh.”

  “How long till we get there?”

  “I’d say about three more hours. Maybe less.”

  “I’m getting excited,” said BreeZee. “I used to spend my whole life afraid of every shadow. Now I’m gallivanting around the stars, visiting strange worlds and enjoying the company of friends. I could never have imagined this future.”

  “Speaking of the future . . . Spirit, have you taken a peek to see what’s in store for us?” asked Egg.

  “No I haven’t. I really hate to know what will probably happen unless there is something dangerous that might befall us. But, if you want me to, I guess I could have a look.”

  “No. Don’t. I was only wondering. It’s not important. It’s just that the Myst Tree had one of his riddles for me.”

  “What?” yelled Soo. Poor Jynxie was so startled she ran and hid under a table.

  “What’s wrong?” asked BreeZee.

  “That Tree is always giving Egg helpful hints about what’s to come or what to do. But he likes to put it in the form of a riddle. Sometimes it takes forever to figure out what it meant.”

  “What did he say?” asked Bl’azzz.

  “Something like ‘have a great vacation’ but ‘what is’ may not be. And, ‘she who laughs last, lasts best’. It didn’t sound like anything serious.”

  “No it doesn’t,” agreed Aeri’elle. “It just sounds like we’re in for an interesting time. I, for one, wouldn’t worry about it.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I thought too.”

  “What were you doing visiting the Myst Tree?” asked Spirit.

  “Dazzle wanted me to take Ben’Edikk to see him. That’s her son.”

  “Why? If I can ask?”

  “It’s kind of private . . . but it wasn’t anything important. Sorry to be mysterious.”

  “No need to apologize. If it’s the Queen’s business, it probably isn’t ours . . . or at least not mine.”

  The conversation ended abruptly when they heard a crackling sound as the communications system come alive with a very serious sounding voice . . . “This is Laff’Alott Control to approaching vessel. Please state your intentions.”

  “Who was that?”

  “The planet’s traffic control system is calling us and asking what we want. It’s routine. However, they can’t hear my thoughts from this far out. So . . . I tell the ship’s computer and it relays my message.”

  “This is the Starship 7 with eight souls on board. We would like permission to enter orbit.”

  “Starship 7. Most of Laff’Alott is closed to incoming visitors. Only Fair’Giggle is in operation. And, even they are not at one hundred percent. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

  “This is Starship 7. We are aware of your renovations. Fair’Giggle will meet our needs. Permission to orbit and disembark.”

  “Starship 7. Permission granted. A hostess will join you shortly to escort your party. Enjoy your stay. Laff’Alott Control out.”

  “That was interesting,” observed Egg.

  “As I said, it’s routine. Someday Aerianna will need to have a Traffic Control like this one.”

  “Spirit, what did he mean when he said a hostess would join us shortly?”

  “I’m not exactly sure. I presume it means that they will send a small ship to greet us and guide us into a parking orbit.”

  She was wrong.

  A moment later out of nowhere a shower of sparkles materialized in the control room. They swirled and spun then slowly came together in the form of a . . . person.

  “I am Tee’ka. Welcome to Laff’Alott.”

  Seven girls and a Shamie just stared at the apparition.

  “May I have the names of the guests who will be joining me in Fair’Giggle?”

  Instead of answering, Egg asked, “What are you?”

  “I am Tee’ka. I will be your guide and companion. If you have any needs, you have but to
ask. May I have the names of the guests who will be joining me in Fair’Giggle?”

  “Are you real?” What Egg meant was ‘are you alive?’

  “Yes, I am real. My name is Tee’ka. Welcome to Laff’Alott.”

  “She’s obviously a computer generated image,” said Aeri’elle.

  “Just give her our names,” said Sylvia.

  “I’m Egg, and that’s Sylvia, Bl’azzz, Aeri’elle, Soo, Spirit and BreeZee.”

  ‘Grrrrrrr burp’.

  “Oh yeah. And that’s Jynx.”

  “Welcome to Laff’Alott. Please gather your belongings and we will depart for Fair’Giggle.”

  “What about the ship?”

  The apparition flickered in and out then said, “A telepath. Welcome to Laff’Alott.”

  “No need to speak to me telepathically.”

  “Thank you for that information. As to your vessel, it will be placed in orbit for you. Please gather your belongings.”

  The girls did as they were asked and returned to the bridge. “I guess we’re ready.”

  “Excellent,” and Tee’ka waved the wand she was holding.

  The ship disappeared and in a heartbeat, they were standing on a balcony overlooking the city.

  “Welcome to Fair’Giggle. If there is anything I can do to make your visit more enjoyable, do not hesitate to ask. Please enjoy your stay on Laff’Alott.”

  The girls looked around but it was Egg who said it best. “Oh my gosh”.

  Bonus: A Christmas Novella introducing Molly and Jenny

  © Copyright, 2014, by Robert Iannone,

  All Rights Reserved.

  Chapter 1 - Molly

  “Please don’t do that.”

  The little girl ignored her mother and kept scribbling on the wall with chalk.

  She used black, yellow and her most favorite color in the whole world – crimson red. For someone so young, she was quite a good artist. But for several months now, she refused to draw up to her abilities. All she would do is scribble like a two year old.

  “MOLLY”.

  “What?”

  “I said please don’t do that.”

  “You said I could decorate the wall,” complained the girl.

  “I did. But that’s not decorating, that’s just graffiti. Bad graffiti at that.”

  “It’s pretty. See all the red?”

  Ignoring the question, Jenny replied, “Draw some pretty flowers. Or maybe a ferocious dragon. Or a princess.”

  “I don’t want to.”

  “Why not?”

  “’Cause.”

  “’Cause why?” asked her mother patiently.

  “I hate this place,” and the little girl hurled the chalk at the wall apparently to prove she was quite serious. She ran to the cot that they both shared and threw herself on it, burying her face in the thin pillow.

  Jenny sighed. She fought back the tears that were threatening to spill from her eyes and hurried over to her daughter. “We won’t be here for too much longer, I promise.” But it was a promise she didn’t know how to keep.

  “You said that on Thanksgiving. Now it’s almost Christmas.”

  “I know, Sweetheart. But sometimes things don’t happen as fast as we want.” Without thinking, she stroked the girl’s long blond hair.

  “Mommy?”

  “Yes, dear.”

  “There’s no such thing as Santa Claus is there?”

  Jenny stared at her daughter trying to decide how best to answer the question. After a moment, she asked, “Why do you say that?”

  “Because if there really was one, he would bring me a sister to play with and a nice house for us to live in. And . . . and a new dress for both of us.”

  Jenny smiled sadly. “That’s a lot to expect from Santa Claus, don’t you think.”

  “No it isn’t. He could do it if he was real. I just know he could.”

  Jenny lost the battle . . . one tear did manage to fall from her eye. “Oh, Sweetheart, he can’t always bring us everything we want.”

  “Mommy, why are you crying?”

  “I’m not crying. I just got a little piece of dust in my eye.” She wiped away the tear and said, “See, all better.” But it wasn’t.

  *****

  Jenny and Molly had nothing. No home, no money, no friends and worst of all, no family. Technically, however, Jenny was still married. Her husband had a small shop repairing and restoring old cars. But when the economy had gone into a tailspin, the business went bankrupt. He had invested every last dime that the family had in order to try and save it, but to no avail.

  And when he was forced to close the doors, he packed a single suitcase, and disappeared one night into the gray foggy mist that hung over their little apartment. He left without saying goodbye to either his wife or his daughter…too ashamed of his failure to face either one of them.

  That was four years ago and in all that time, Jenny and Molly never heard from him. And in all likelihood, they never would.

  Less than six months after he left, what little savings Jenny had managed to accumulate was completely gone. She and her daughter were thrown out of their apartment and forced to live in a series of homeless shelters.

  The shelters brought bittersweet emotions. She was eternally grateful that they existed and provided her and her daughter a warm bed and hot meals. On the other hand, they were depressing places – filled with dozens of other families just like hers; people without hope living in dreary rooms trying to make it through just one more day.

  And it took the young mother every ounce of will power to keep going. Not for herself . . . but for Molly. She knew that there had to be a way out of this nightmare – though she couldn’t quite see the path.

  But she wasn’t going to give up. Not ever.

  So when Mr. Cromwell asked if she would volunteer to work with some high school girls who were doing a project on the homeless and less fortunate, she agreed. Well, not at first. It sounded offensive…being put under a microscope for the benefit of some spoiled teenage kids.

  However, the fifty dollars she would be paid was much too good to pass up, especially with Christmas so close.

  At least Molly would get her new dress.

  Chapter 2 - Serendipity

  “How’s that for good news, bad news?”

  “Oh my gosh, what do we do now?”

  “I guess she’ll assign us to someone else.”

  Egg wanted to be upset, but just couldn’t. The homeless family they had been following for the past two and a half months had received the most wonderful and unexpected news. A great aunt and uncle with whom they had lost contact years and years ago had been found. Told of the plight of their distant relatives, the elderly couple had instantly agreed to open their hearts and home to their newly, rediscovered family.

  And so Josie Rose and her two young children, Sarah and Drew, had been rescued from the ranks of the destitute and were now happily ensconced in their new home in South Dakota.

  At first, Egg and Sylvia had whooped for joy. After spending so much time with the family as part of their ninth grade Social Studies project, they had become very fond of them. To know that they no longer had to live in a homeless shelter, and that their lives would finally get back to normal made both girls incredibly happy . . . and less self-conscious of their own well-to-do lives.

  Then they realized that without the Roses to follow, they could not finish the rest of the project unless, of course, they were assigned another family. And that thought was more than a little daunting; it had taken a lot of effort to win the trust and respect of Josie and her kids.

  And now they would have to start all over again. Hence, the good news, bad news that Sylvia had mentioned.

  However, their feelings proved that this project was having the desired effect on the students. To talk about the plight of the homeless or anyone living in poverty is a wonderful endeavor and socially responsible. But it was just theory; putting a face on these less fortunate souls is an entir
ely different kettle of fish. To share part of their experience is to truly taste the despair that they feel…and to give thanks that, by the grace of God, it isn’t you.

  *****

  “Okay, you two need to sign another contract.”

  Both Egg and Sylvia disliked the contract. It stated that neither girl could help the family they were following in any way. No money. No gifts. No dinners at their homes. Nothing. The idea was to protect the kids from families that were so desperate that they might try to take advantage of the unsuspecting students. Besides, this was a ‘case study’ meaning that the lives of the families had to play out as if the students were never there. The kids could only observe and ask questions. They couldn’t even give advice. Any violation of the contract would mean they would fail. And this project was worth half of the grade for the year.

  Egg signed her name Eloise G. Graystone (she had spent the whole summer perfecting the signature) then passed the contract to Sylvia who also signed.

  “Great. Here is a short bio on the family,” and Mrs. Santropino handed Sylvia a one-page summary of the people they would be studying.

  The girls read it quickly.

  “Just the two of them, how sad,” exclaimed Sylvia.

  “All of these cases are sad but you must stay objective. You’re social scientists and observers. Remember, try not to get emotionally involved or it will taint your observations and conclusions.” Then she added compassionately, “It is so very hard to stay detached; especially around Christmas time.”

  “Thanks Mrs. S . . . we’ll do our best.”

  “I know you will, Egg. Good luck.”

  Since it was noon-ish, the girls walked to the cafeteria, bought two orders of French Fries and chocolate pudding, an orange juice for Sylvia and lemonade for Egg. They found a table off to the side and sat down.

  “Well, should we go see them after school?”

  “I guess.”

  “You don’t sound very enthusiastic.”

  “I’m not. Syl, you and I have so much and these people have nothing. That just seems so unfair.”