“So what does that mean?”
“That’s all I’ve got, sorry.”
“I have a suggestion.” Everyone turned to look at Spirit. “Maybe she’s like Jynxie . . . a shape shifter.”
“That would mean Sera’Fina could come back. I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Why do you say that, Egg?” someone asked
“Just a feeling. Besides, Mysteria said she was gone . . . and I think that was the truth. Wherever Sera’Fina went, or however she did it, I didn’t get goose bumps. Hopefully, she’s okay. Anyway, Sera’Fina is not the problem; her masked friend is.”
“So all we know,” said Bl’azzz, “is that this girl wears a mask, is nasty as Mobius and has at least one nifty gizmo. How does that help us?”
“Don’t forget she’s pretty conceited,” added BreeZee. “She thinks she can beat all seven of us.”
“Do you think that’s because she’s got more wickedly wacky weapons up her sleeve?”
“Probably, Soo,” responded Sylvia.
“Listen; let’s not forget this is about her getting even with me.”
“And?”
“And maybe I should face her by myself.”
That brought an explosion of six very angry replies from the avatar girls. It was totally in character with the real sisters but, more importantly, Serenity needed the others to participate for her plan to work.
“You listen here,” demanded Sylvia. “No way, no how, and not going to happen. We are a sisterhood in case you forgot.”
“Besides,” added Spirit, “that girl has my Jynxie. I will help.”
“Don’t forget you made Jynx an honorary sister,” Syl reminded her friend. “That means we all have an obligation to help get her back.”
“Not only that, I like Tee’ka as much as you do, Egg,” added Bl’azzz. “She’s going to make a great sister if big bird can figure out a way to get her off this planet. I want to help. Correction . . . I’m going to help.”
“I agree with fire breath. Tee’ka is wonderful. Like I said before, I promise to do everything possible to find a way to get her off this world,” replied Aeri’elle with great (though simulated) sincerity.
“Thanks you guys. I guess there really isn’t anything to do but wait for Mysteria to tell us what she has in mind. It’s going to be hard to sleep. Even worse, I’m hungrier than our former slithering sick of silly (obviously referring to the overweight K’ssss who could never get enough eel to eat). What are we going to do about food?”
The other girls were avatars and didn’t get hungry but they couldn’t very well say that. “Guess will just have to eat a big breakfast. Come on, let’s turn in. Tomorrow morning will go looking for a restaurant or whatever they have on this nutty world,” suggested Sylvia.
“I guess. Goodnight, guys.”
“Goodnight, Egg.”
Chapter 2 – The Challenge
Egg woke up with a start. “I won,” she said to herself as she jumped out of bed, into the living room, past five of her six sisters (Sylvia, true to the real girl, was still sleeping) and out onto the balcony. She looked down and involuntarily shuddered. They were a long way up . . .
. . . which meant it was a long way down.
What to do? Hmmmm.
She recalled the entry from Dazzle’s diary. She turned around and yelled into the room, “Hey, Bl’azzz, get over here,” then she remembered and added, “Please.”
“What’s up?” said the F’yre Dragon.
“I won the race so my suit should be working again. But just in case, I want you to fly alongside me . . . like Kl’air did for Dazzle . . . and save me if the big cheese isn’t playing fair. Okay?”
“Sure. Let’s do it. But I’ll go first so I’ll be in position to catch you.” She leapt off the balcony and hovered there – flapping her wings just enough to keep herself aloft. “Your turn.”
“Here goes . . .” and Egg bounded off the edge and . . . became Flying Girl. “EPIC” she screamed to no one and to everyone. She did a few loop-d-loops, dove down, climbed high then landed. She was a little flush . . . not from flying but from the love of flying.
Bl’azzz landed next to her. “Welcome back to the friendly skies.”
“Gosh, I could never give that up.” The girl’s face looked angelic with the glow of happiness and satisfaction.
“What’s going on?”
“Morning Syl. I remembered that since I won the race, I should be able to fly again. Bl’azzz came along just in case the big cheese wasn’t going to pay off on her bet. But, she was true to her word.”
“That’s great. I just hated to think of you without the ability to fly. Like you said; it’s who you are.” (Serenity was laying it on a little thick, don’t you think?’)
“Yeah. Thanks. Anyway, if we’re all ready, I guess we should go down to the . . . um . . . um, the aerodrome. Why don’t they just call it an airport like normal people? Mysteria really didn’t say where we were supposed to meet her but that’s as good a place as any.”
“What about breakfast? It’s going to be a long day, I’m guessing.”
Egg started to agree with an “Oh, yeah” but instead changed it to “Oh my gosh” as all seven sisters were teleported from their room only to rematerialized on top of a mountain. Standing there to greet them was, of course, Mysteria.
This time she had some sort of weapon-like device in one hand and the gizmo that contained Tee’ka in the other. “So this is the infamous Hameggattic Sisterhood. Two puny dragons, three skinny humanoids, one butterfly and a sea worm . . . I was expecting something more impressive.” Her tone was condescending and dismissive.
“Hey, I’m no sea worm, you irritatingly, immature . . .,” but Soo couldn’t finish. Her mind had gone blank and she turned to Bl’azzz for help with the last ‘I’ word.
“Um . . . iguana?”
“Iguana, don’t be an imbecile, you belching bag of . . . oh. Imbecile, that’ll work. Thanks.”
“Just being a good sister.”
“Would you two shut up?” demanded Mysteria.
Soo whispered to her friend “I don’t think she likes my rapier-like wit.”
“Takes getting used to.”
“Okay, you guys. Let’s get serious.” Egg turned to Mysteria and asked, “How are Tee’ka and Jynx?” Then she added as harshly as she could, “And you better say they’re fine.”
“Don’t threaten me, Gracie, or I’ll turn you into a toad.”
“Who’s Gracie?” Bree asked Spirit.
“No idea. What’s a toad?”
“No idea.”
“Answer my question,” Egg demanded.
“Or what?” replied the masked girl haughtily. She knew she held all the cards, so to speak.
Egg was about to go ballistic so Sylvia put her hand on her friend’s shoulder to stop her. “Let me.” She stepped in front of the red-faced girl and said, “I’m Sylvia. As you requested, we’re here to participate in your challenge. In return, and in the name of common decency, please tell us how our two friends are.”
“No.”
Sylvia’s eyes grew wide and she started toward Mysteria. But it was Aeri’elle, using her sister’s distraction as an element of surprise, who leapt at the masked girl. Since this was part of Serenity’s plan, Mysteria had been expecting it. She casually looked up, tapped the gizmo in her hand and the dragon vanished into thin air.
Serenity had reasoned that Egg would be less reluctant to sacrifice the dragon since she had retired from the Sisterhood. After all, wasn’t that an act of betrayal? The poor girl, genius though she was, just didn’t have a clue about friendship in general nor the incredible bond between Egg and her sisters.
“HEY,” screamed Egg. “Stop doing that.”
“Bring her back,” hissed Soo.
“So help me, if you harmed one feather on her wings, I’m going to burp and burn you into a crispy critter,” eeked Bl’azzz.
“Would you all just sh
ut up?” commanded Mysteria. “She’s fine. Tee’ka’s fine. Weird animal is fine. Happy?”
“No, we’re not happy,” came Egg’s reply.
Sylvia, always the diplomat, said, “Thank you for telling us.”
Mysteria made a face . . . though it was under her mask so no one saw it. “I can see why you two are best friends. You’re both sickeningly sweet.”
“How very gracious of you to say so,” came Syl’s sarcastic response.
“Just shut up,” was the rude reply.
“I’m getting bored with all this. So, let’s get this stupid competition going. What do we have to do?”
“For shame. Much too impatient. Willing and eager to put your sisters at risk just to have the chance to beat me. What a truly lousy leader you are.”
Egg ignored the insult . . . but continued to stare defiantly at her adversary.
“Alright. The first thing is . . . I want your flying suit.”
“What? NO.”
“It actually wasn’t a question . . . more like a statement of fact.” The girl took the long staff-like thingamajig and pointed it at Egg. “How about something casual?” Five girls gasped as a beam of light flashed out and engulfed their sister. A moment later, it cleared and there was Flying Girl – in jeans.
Egg looked down at herself then up at Mysteria. “That’s my suit. Give it back.”
“It seems to me you look a lot cuter in jeans. Well, less ugly at any rate. Don’t you think, girls?”
“Give it back.”
“Yeah. No. Not going to happen. But wasn’t it nice of me to give you one of the green scarves. When this is over and the rest of the sisterhood votes you out, I’m sure they’ll make you an honorary member . . . for old times’ sake.”
Egg huffed in disgust . . . not about the scarf thing, which was just dumb, but from losing her suit. “Let me guess. If I win, you’ll return the suit. I think I heard this song before.”
“What song?” asked Bl’azzz. “I don’t hear a song.”
“Must be one of those fandango songs she’s always talking about,” responded Soo helpfully.
“I still don’t hear it.”
“Maybe you have to be human.”
“Oh. That makes sense.”
Egg tried her best to ignore the dragon and serpent . . . but, at this moment, their silly banter was really annoying. “Would you guys please be quiet?”
“Sorry.”
“Me, too.”
Mysteria told Egg, “I should really keep it for myself. But . . . that would be stealing and I’m betting your Queen would raise quite a stink with the Empress. So, yeah . . . if you win, you get it back.”
“And if I lose?”
“As I said, I can’t keep it without a bunch of Royals going crazy. However, there’s something you should know about the Empress. She loves technology . . . the more advanced, the better. If I gave her this suit, she’d be one happy hobgoblin.”
“Hobgoblin?”
“Yeah. Don’t tell her I said that. She’s pretty weird to look at. Humanoid but just barely. Anyway, she would eventually return it to your Queen . . . but not until she could duplicate it.”
“That could take forever.”
“Maybe longer. So, best not to lose.”
It was no use arguing anymore . . . nothing they could say would make Mysteria change her mind.
Egg let out a discouraged sigh. “Tell us about the challenge.”
“Simple. You already did a nostalgic event and a surreal dream. Now you get to experience the last attraction . . . a high adventure. I’m going to leave your flying suit on an island down there in the lake in that valley,” and she pointed at a strip of blue in the far distance. “Just go get it.”
“That’s it? That’s your big challenge?”
“Don’t get your hopes up little girl. It may not be as easy as you think. There are a couple of details that might make it a tad more interesting. First, no flying. That’s one of the reasons for taking your suit. But it also applies to the dragon and butterfly. I’ll be following you the whole way. If I catch any of you up there,” and she pointed skyward, “I’m going to zap you with this thing,” and she shook the staff.
“What else?”
“Your friends are here to help you . . . but you, Egg of Earth, have to actually retrieve the suit.”
“Why?”
“My rules. Live with it. The last thing is that I’ve programmed this little adventure. You should be prepared for the unexpected. Just saying.”
“And just how do we prepare for the unexpected?”
“You can’t, obviously. I was just making small talk. Oh, that reminds me. On these adventures, guests can set the level of safety they want to experience. I thought that with the Sisterhood’s famous escapades and daring-do, you would want the protocols turned off. Unfortunately, they don’t allow it. But, they are set to extreme minimum. You can’t actually die or get too seriously injured, but anything else goes. [Serenity had decided to modify her plans to make it more believable to Egg]. However, if that’s what should happen, then I’ll intervene.”
“Meaning what?”
“It means that if one of you should have been seriously injured but the central computer stopped it from happening, I point this long stick at them, squeeze the trigger and hit them with a beam of coherent, super charged particles. The result is that they will be . . . how should I put this. They will be removed from the playing field . . . I believe that’s the appropriate earth term.”
“Like you did to Aeri’elle and the others?”
“Yes and no. The Shamie and the dragon are on my ship (actually, Jynx was on Serenity’s while the Aeri’elle avatar was destroyed since Serenity had no more use for it). And the hologram is in this device,” and she held up her hand. However, from this point forward, any one that I zap will be teleported to another world. They’ll be safe and unharmed . . . but a zillion light years from friends and family, so you should consider them as being permanently retired from the Sisterhood. You won’t be seeing them again. Ever.”
“Where exactly? What planet?” Egg assumed that with Spirit’s ship, the girls could be rescued easily enough. Even if that wouldn’t work for some reason, there was always the space portal.
“Surprise . . . I’m not telling. I know all about her spaceship” and she pointed at the Thought Weaver.
Back on Serenity’s ship
The girl turned to her hostages and asked, “Want to guess what your leader will do if her dear Feminion gets into trouble? Do you think she would let her be injured or teleported across the galaxy never to be seen again? Or, maybe she would sacrifice a sea serpent and a dragon to save her best friend. How about a Wind’dancer or Thought Weaver? How about all four?”
“Is that what this challenge is all about? Whether my best friend would sacrifice her other sisters to save me. That would never happen. Never.”
“Sylvia. Sylvia. How naïve you are. First of all, of course she’ll sacrifice the others to save you. But not out of love for her BFF. If you disappear, she’ll have to reveal who she is to her parents. More importantly to your parents. When that happens, I’m guessing Flying Girl will be grounded . . . as you earthlings like to say. Secondly, she’ll try to protect you . . . but if it comes to you or her flying suit, it will be bye-bye silly Syl...”
“For the sake of argument, let’s just say that some of that might be right. What you’re missing is that Egg will do anything to save Jynxie, Aeri’elle and Tee’ka. She feels responsible for their well-being. And, she knows the rest of us understand the danger we face when we became Hameggattic Sisters. If she has to lose one or more of us to save the other three, she will. And, I for one accept that decision.”
The other five girls all chimed in with their approvals.
“I’ll say it again. You are wrong . . . all of you. The Shamie is just an animal. Tee’ka is a hologram. And Aeri’elle chose her job over her sisters. The three of them mean nothing to your pr
ecious leader.”
“Wow. You may be super smart, but you are also super stupid,” responded Sylva. The others nodded their agreement.
Serenity frowned in frustration. This simply wasn’t going as planned. As far as these six were concerned, Egg could do no wrong . . . whatever the girl decided. She had to come up with something else.
She just couldn’t understand their loyalty. It was totally illogical and made no sense to her. Egg was so . . . so average. How did she do it? How did she lead these girls? What caused their undying, unwavering devotion and trust?
She had no idea.
But what Sylvia said about the three captives and Egg’s desire to help them rang true. So, first things first . . . she would eliminate this problem. She input some instructions into her control panel and sent them to Mysteria.
*****
Mysteria’s head jerked back ever so slightly as she received new instructions. “I’ll tell you what . . . just to be fair, I’ll give you back one of the three that I’m holding captive. This way you’ll have your precious, superstitious seven. Who do you want?”
“Why are you being nice?” Egg asked suspiciously.
“I promise you, nice has nothing to do with it. I told you before when you asked about the animal that you could have seven. Well, I’m just living up to my commitment. I’m actually being selfish . . . it’ll make it more satisfying when I win.”
“What happens to the two we don’t pick?”
“I’ll return them to your rooms. However, they won’t be able to leave.”
Egg was even more suspicious . . . this was way out of character. But, as the saying goes, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. (I’m with you . . . that’s an incredibly stupid saying). “Give us a minute to decide,” and she walked a short distance away followed by her sisters.
“Aeri’elle,” said Bl’azzz immediately.
“No. She is definitely not going to be the one. I won’t let her risk her life on this stupid contest. She has a really important job to do back home (funny how Egg thought of Aerianna as home). In fact, if any of you want out, that’s okay with me.”
Box Set #3: The Serenity Deception: [The 4 book 3rd Adventure of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood] Page 33