On the Drive to Las Vegas
“Just amazing”.
“What?”
“Hearst Castle and Universal Studios.”
“Which was your favorite?” Mr. Graystone asked his wife.
“They were so different and so wonderful . . . they’re both my favorite”.
“I can buy that. So what was the best part of the castle?”
“Where to begin. First, the sheer size of the property and buildings was much more extensive than I had thought . . .
. . . one hundred and sixty five rooms is a big house. Wonder how many people it took to keep it clean?”
“We can look it up on line later. It sits on over a hundred and twenty-five acres. The outside staff had to be just as big.”
“And what about that indoor swimming pool? Have you ever seen anything so gorgeous? He used real gold to decorate it.”
“Mind boggling. I, on the other hand, loved Hearst’s study. That was a manly room. “
“Yeah it was. How come you’re not as rich as William Hearst was?”
“I may not be rich in dollars, but my personality is priceless.”
“I’d rather have the money.”
“Ouch.”
“Anyway, Universal was pretty awesome. I think Egg would love it there. So many thrilling rides.”
“Maybe too thrilling. I don’t think she likes to be in scary situations.”
“Maybe. But the back lot where they shoot the movies was amazing. I loved the shark from Jaws.”
“He was scarier in the movie. Up close he looked like an oversized toy.”
They went quiet as they each recalled the last twenty-four hours in their own minds.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Graystone asked her husband, “Do you really want to go to Las Vegas?”
“I do if you do.”
“We’ll come back some other time. Let’s just head home. I’m anxious to surprise my mother and daughter.”
“I agree. Too much fun can be addictive.”
“How long will it take?”
“If you take a turn driving, we can be there in two days.”
“Deal.”
*****
Berkeley, California
“Hello?”
“Hi, Ashley . . . this is Aaron.”
“Aaron? I’m sorry I think you have the wrong number.”
“I don’t think so. Are you the Ashley that came to the Fed Ex store this morning?”
“Yes”. Then it dawned on her . . . the handsome young clerk. She never even thought to get his name. Apparently, it was Aaron. “I’m sorry. Silly me, I forgot to ask your name.”
“I thought you saw my ID tag, otherwise I would have said something.”
“Not important. I’m glad you called. I didn’t think you would. And I certainly didn’t think you’d call this soon.”
“If I had to sleep on it . . . I would have lost my courage.”
“Am I that scary?”
“No . . . you’re that pretty.”
Ashley smiled over the phone . . .
“Are all Fed Ex employees so smooth with the ladies?” she teased.
“I’m only part time so I can’t answer that.”
“What do you do the rest of the time?”
“I go to Berkeley. I’m a sophomore.”
“Really? I’m a freshman. Well, I will be in a few days.”
And the conversation continued . . . and continued . . . and before they knew it, an hour and a half had passed.
Before they hung up, they agreed to meet at the top of the Campanile (the three hundred foot tall campus clock tower) the following evening . . . to watch the sunset over San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge.
As she turned in for the night, her thoughts were still of her new friend.
And for some reason she couldn’t explain, she got goose bumps.
*****
Up in the Mountains
They had finished their breakfast . . . at first awkwardly, but that quickly passed. After washing their dishes, they decided to take a long hike to see one of the local wonders . . . a particularly spectacular waterfall. Grammy packed a lunch, Ezra put it all in a backpack and they set off.
“It is beautiful.”
“Have you been here before?”
“Once . . . a few years ago.” It was the summer when Egg had gone off to fight Mobius leaving Grammy alone for more than a week.
They sat down on a blanket and Ezra dug out two bottles of water and handed one to his companion. He then turned to Max and told his furry friend, “Go drink from the stream, boy.”
The incredibly intelligent dog barked a thank you and trotted off.
“I do love that dog,” said Grammy. The word ‘love’ seemed to float off amongst the trees refusing to completely go away. Eloise took a deep breath and looked at her companion. “I seem to be in love with his master also.”
“You make it sound like a bad thing.”
“No, I didn’t mean to. It’s just that at my age . . . our age . . . I would never have imagined such a thing was still possible.”
“You’re not saying that love . . . ,” but she cut him off.
“I’m sorry; I only meant that with our life experiences, I would have thought it would take longer to fall in love.”
“I think you have it backwards. It’s because of our life experiences that it can happen so quickly. We know ourselves pretty well after all these years. The young you and the young me didn’t know who we were or what our lives would be like. Now we do. We’re both alone . . . and I’m not counting your grandchildren or daughter . . . and like all human beings, we need companionship. Max helps, but he’s a really lousy cook.”
“Oh, that’s what you’re after, is it? A cook and housecleaner.” She smiled as she said it.
“I don’t want to burst your bubble, girl . . . but I’m a gourmet chef. It’s my hobby.”
“Now you’re just hoodwinking me into thinking you’re a great catch.”
“Somehow I can’t imagine you being hoodwinked.”
“So, my dear Ezra . . . what now?”
“I think we need to spend more time together, exchange our deep, dark secrets and see what tomorrow will bring.”
“Not all our secrets, I hope.”
“Every last one.”
“Oh my. Oh my gosh.”
*****
Berkeley, California
“OH MY GOSH. OH MY GOSH.”
“Huh. What?”
“His last name. It’s Mobius.”
“Okay then,” and Mac turned over, put the pillow over her head and went back to sleep.
Ashley put her hands over her mouth in embarrassment. She had awakened from a dead sleep when her mind finally remembered that something she couldn’t quite place when she left the Fed Ex store. His name badge . . . it said Aaron Mobius.
That was too much of a co-inky-dink. Egg’s archenemy had the same name as her new friend.
The guy she was meeting tomorrow.
At night.
Up in the Campanile.
Three hundred feet above the ground.
With no one around to witness whatever he had planned.
She laid back down . . . but she was now wide awake.
Her mind was going a mile a minute . . . down some very dark paths that left her dizzy with fear.
Chapter 6 – Plans within Plans
Serenity’s Spaceship
“Are you threatening Egg’s life?” asked her horrified best friend.
Serenity smiled . . . not at the question but at the anticipated reaction of the girls. “Not in the way you think.”
“Where I come from, the phrase ‘lives or dies’ is pretty clear-cut.”
“I was speaking metaphorically. I would never injure someone. What do you take me for . . . a monster?”
“Honestly, I have no idea what you are or what you’re capable of doing. So far, all signs point to you being seriously crazy.”
&nb
sp; “Superior intelligence must be intimidating to those that are intellectually challenged. I assure you, I’m not mentally unbalanced.” Syl was about to say something nasty but Serenity held up her hand to stop her. “When I said she would die, I meant that I would destroy her reputation. By the time I finished, the person known as Flying Girl would be unwelcome wherever she went in this galaxy. The heroine – not the person – would be dead.”
“How could you possibly do that?”
“I would replace her with an exact duplicate . . . an avatar that I would grow here in this ship. I would then program it with a personality of my design. The new Flying Girl would be the opposite of the sweet, self-deprecating heroine she is now. She would be selfish, immodest, unfriendly, condescending, greedy . . . well, you get the idea.”
As if by some unspoken agreement, all six girls went dead silent.
Serenity waited patiently for someone to say something . . . but no one did. After fifteen or twenty seconds, it became a game of chicken . . . the first to speak — loses.
“Syl . . . if you can hear me, tap a finger”.
It took all of her will power not to look at the Thought Weaver, but Sylvia did as she was asked and tapped a finger.
“Until she lets us go, we can communicate this way. Tap once for yes and twice for no.”
One tap.
“Should I tell the others?”
One tap.
Without moving her head, which was the only thing besides her fingers that was free of restraint, Sylvia watched from the corner of her eye as each sister in turn acknowledged Spirit. The dragons had to tap a talon while Soo, somewhat comically, slapped her nose with her tongue. But all of them showed the same remarkable self-control as Sylvia and didn’t look at the Thought Weaver.
All of that happened during the first minute or two of silence.
The tension mounted . . . but more for Serenity than the girls who were somewhat used to being in potentially dangerous situations.
“Feminion, as spokesperson for the Sisterhood, I need an answer. Do I have your continued commitment in return for Egg’s life?”
Since Spirit was the only one who could talk to the girls, while all they could do was signal yes or no, Sylvia made a quick calculation and a quicker decision. “I refuse to discuss anything with the person holding us hostage and threatening our sister.” To make it as dramatic as possible, she slowly turned to the other girls . . . looking from one to another as if trying to reach a decision. “Spirit, would you please accept the responsibility of communicating with this person on our behalf?”
Understanding what her brilliant sister was doing, Spirit paused as she pretended to consider the task. (Bree gave Sylvia a tiny smile to acknowledge what she was doing, while Aeri’elle gave her a small nod. Bl’azzz, on the other hand, looked at Soo with puzzlement causing the serpent to roll her eyes). “I will . . . but reluctantly.”
“Thank you.” Sylvia looked back at Serenity, glared then turned away.
Turning to Serenity, Spirit said, “We will do anything that is required to save our sister.” Of course, that statement could be interpreted in different ways. As the saying goes, ‘a person hears what she wants to hear.’
“Excellent. I intend to prove to you is that Egg is the wrong person to lead the Hameggattic Sisterhood. You can do great things . . . greater things . . . but you need someone of my intellect to lead you.”
She stopped to see how the girls reacted.
They just stared.
Unfazed, Serenity continued, “I have replaced the six of you with replicas. Unlike the one of you, Spirit, these are avatars. I actually grow living tissue and assemble it to look like whomever I choose. Though their bodies contain living matter, they are not . . . real. They are machines with no intelligence except for what I program into them. That is where you come in. I want each of you to monitor your avatar, and if the programming is inadequate, correct it.”
“If you are such a superior intellect, why do you need us?”
“I didn’t think I did. But somehow, Egg saw through my avatars in less than a minute. Luckily she did not fully understand what was happening and I was able to distract her.”
To her five sisters, Spirit said, “This is our chance to sabotage her deception. Play along with what I tell her. Tap only if you disagree otherwise she might detect the communications we’ve established.”
No one tapped.
To Serenity, she said, “Your whole premise is absurd. But since we obviously have no choice, we must agree to your terms.”
“Excellent. Let me show you what to do.”
*****
Back on Laff’Alott
Tee’ka woke them at seven because Egg forgot to tell her she had only been teasing Sylvia with the early wake-up call. The six avatars bounced up and prepared for the day. They didn’t really need sleep since they were machines . . . but they were programmed to act like the living sisters they imitated.
Egg, on the other hand, was all too real . . . and all too tired. And all too grumpy to be deprived of her rest. “Go away” she mumbled at their hostess.
Tee’ka did as she was asked and rejoined the others who were now in the common room.
“Where is our beloved leader?” asked Aeri’elle.
“She did not wish to be disturbed.”
The dragon turned to Sylvia. “You are her best friend. How should we proceed?”
“I suggest . . .,” but she stopped and her head jerked back ever so slightly as she received new instructions. This time, however, they came from the real Sylvia. “I suggest that Tee’ka change Egg’s pajamas from plain pink to pink with ducks. She loves ducks (no she didn’t). Then, we should all go in there and sing a Fandango Sally song as loudly as we can. That will motivate her.”
So they went into the girl’s room. Tee’ka waved her wand and Egg’s pj’s miraculously sprouted childishly-cute waterfowl. Sylvia smiled and said to the other, “Ready?” and they all nodded. “On the count of three . . . and remember, very loudly. One . . . two . . . three”.
“LEFT TURN, RIGHT TURN, U-TURN, MY TURN . . .”
Poor Egg literally levitated out of the bed, going from a dreamy sleep to jarring wakefulness. “WHAT. WHAT HAPPENED? IS IT MOBIUS?” she screamed . . . her mind completely disoriented.
The other girls laughed at their friend’s confusion.
“No, silly . . . it is just your adoring sisters,” answered her best friend.
Egg took another half-minute to gather her wits. “Why did you do that?”
“You would not get up. We came to motivate you. By the way, I love the ducks on your pajamas.”
“Ducks? What are you talking . . .,” but she didn’t finish as she looked down and was horrified by what she saw. “Where’d they come from?”
“Sylvia thought you would be pleased, so I added them,” explained Tee’ka.
“Are you crazy . . . I hate ducks.”
“You most certainly do not. Why, you even complimented me on the ones I have.”
Egg was about to argue with that ridiculous statement, but she didn’t have the energy. “Just get out so I can change.”
*****
“Sylvia, why did you add ducks – whatever they might be – to her sleep outfit? She found them offensive.”
“I know my best friend better than anyone in the universe. She was just being argumentative – not enough sleep makes her grumpy. She secretly loves ducks but is too embarrassed to admit it.”
Serenity stared at the girl trying to determine if she was being truthful. Since no harm was done, she had no choice but to trust her. However, she would monitor her activities a little more closely.
“That was a lie, wasn’t it” the Thought Weaver asked her sister.
One tap.
To all of the girls, she said, “Follow Sylvia’s lead . . . but don’t make it so obvious as to arouse Serenity’s suspicions. And, don’t everyone try at the same time. If you see one of the others saying o
r doing something out of character, let it play out before you attempt your own tricks.”
*****
Egg finally joined her sisters but her mood was still sour from the lack of sleep and the rude wake-up call. “Hey” she mumbled to the girls.
“Look who got up on the wrong side of the bed,” teased Sylvia’s avatar.
“Shut up.”
“What you need is a good breakfast. Tee’ka, would you get my dear friend a fried egg on a bagel. Oh, and a steaming mug . . . of coffee.”
“Coffee? What’s wrong with you? I don’t drink that stuff. Tee, make it hot chocolate, please.”
“As you wish,” and the breakfast materialized.
“Thanks”.
As she munched and drank the proffered food, Soo asked her, “Any chance you could finish the story about you and the Queen between mouthfuls, you . . . um . . . you sighing, crying . . . um . . . flying . . . um girl.”
“What?”
“Hey, that’s the best I could do on such short notice.”
“What are you talking about?”
Soo looked to Spirit then Sylvia for help. It was Egg’s Feminion who came to her rescue. “Ignore her. She is just tired of using alliterations so she thought she would try rhyming.”
“A liter of what?”
“Alliterations. That is what you call using words that begin with the same letter. You know, like slithering sack of salt.”
“Salt? You mean silly.”
“I do?”
“She’s only used that phrase like a billion times. Slithering sack of silly. Geez.”
“Of course. I apologize.”
Egg shook her head in bewilderment. She then turned to Soo and said, “Don’t do rhyming . . . that was awful.”
“I just need practice.”
“You just need not to do it.”
“You are just a lump of grump . . . um . . . sitting on your rump.”
“Shoot me now.”
“Tee’ka, I need a gun please.”
Egg’s eyes went wide. “What are you doing?”
“You said to shoot you. Tee, where is that gun?”
Box Set #3: The Serenity Deception: [The 4 book 3rd Adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 27