While this was going on, the Captain watched in pure amazement. Seeing Egg turn into her legendary persona sent shivers down his spine. He couldn’t wait to tell his daughters. However, he needed to ask, “Lady, what is that thing?”
“This is Ziz, a dragonetta. She belongs to my sister Jax’x.”
“Ah, the one from Spell ‘Bound.”
Egg smiled. “That’s her. Anyway, Ziz is going to project an image of me that your crew will be able to pick up on their sensors.”
“To what end?”
“I will send her back towards my other six ships . . . as if the Lady Eloise was trying to make an escape.”
“How very ingenious. I presume I will follow in pursuit while you and your ship head to the planet?”
“Exactly.”
The man looked embarrassed, took a deep breath then said, “Forgive me for asking, but what are your intentions on Peekaboo Prime? I cannot, in good conscious, allow you to capture or injure any of the heads of state. My duty in that respect is very clear.”
“Would my word suffice?”
“If it were just me, the word of Lady Eloise would be more than enough assurance. As Captain in the Solaxis navy, simply your promise to do no harm is insufficient. I apologize.”
“No need to apologize, Captain. Any suggestions to resolve this impasse would be welcomed.”
“With your permission,” asked Kreed.
“Go ahead, Captain.”
“Perhaps Captain Vayder will accept me as a hostage as a show of good faith?”
“I can’t ask you to do that, Kreed.”
“With respect, Ma’am, you can ask me to do anything and I would oblige.”
Egg smiled at her friend. “If you ever get into trouble with Sylvia, I’ll put in a good word for you.”
“Are you referring to your Feminion?” asked Vayder.
“Yes, my best friend.”
“She is almost as famous as you, Lady. Your friendship has been well documented.”
“Then you may be interested to learn that Captain Ax’gard here is very, very close to my sister. In fact, as soon as he finds his courage, he might ask her to marry him.” That got her a smile from Kreed.
“In that case, I accept the Captain’s offer. I will take both your word and him as prisoner in exchange for allowing you to proceed to Peekaboo Prime.”
She turned to her friend. “Kreed, are you sure?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Okay, we have a deal. But there’s one problem. Ziz can fly in the atmosphere; however, she can’t propel herself in the void of space.”
“If I may, attach the thing . . . “
“Her name is Ziz.”
“My apologies. Attach Ziz to a torpedo and fire it in the direction of your fleet.”
Egg turned to Kreed. “Is that possible?”
“It would take only a few minutes to arrange.”
“Perfect. Ziz go with Lieutenant Amato. You understand what we’re trying to do?”
“Affirmative” answered the mechanical doohickey and the lieutenant simultaneously.
“Okay you two, hurry along.” To Captain Vayder she said, “As soon as we launch the torpedo, I will transport Captain Ax’gard to your ship. When you pursue Ziz, you may fire your weapons at her though it will do no good as she is protected with shields. However, when you are able, I would take it as a personal kindness if you would beam her aboard your ship and return her to me when we meet to reclaim Captain Ax’gard.”
“Will I be able to present Ziz to you in person?” He couldn’t help but smile at the thought.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way. Oh, one last thing. If you proceed to rendezvous with your fleet, my ships will hit you with the disruptor beam. That should convince your boss that you did the best you could.”
“Your Majesty” came Amato’s voice over the intercom. “We’re ready.”
“Wait till I give the word. Captain Vayder, it’s been a pleasure. I look forward to meeting your daughters. Oh, and tell them if they get your permission, Flying Girl will take them flying.”
The man broke into an ear-to-ear grin. “That would assure my place as the greatest father in the universe. Good luck, Lady Eloise. I will now return to the bridge and demand your unconditional surrender.”
“You men are all alike,” she teased.
*****
“Lady, Ziz . . . I don’t have Ziz” cried the panic-stricken General.
Egg looked around to see where the dragonetta had gone off to – then realized she had sent her on the proverbial ‘wild goose chase’ into space dressed like Flying Girl. “Oh yeah. Zwam, calm down. I’ll stay by your side the whole time. In fact, we’ll double team them.”
“I do not know what that means.”
“It means we’ll both talk. You say something and I’ll add to it. I’ll say something then you’ll add your thoughts. It’ll be like one brain in two bodies.” She smiled to herself as she remembered that was what she had always said to Grammy.
“Is that a technique you use often?”
“Depends on whom I’m with. Syl and I, or my grandmother and I could do it.”
“I will do my best not to let you down.”
“You’re going to be great. Are you ready?”
The General lifted her chin and extended her long body to its full height. “I am.”
Egg and Zwam had materialized in the hall just behind the speaker’s balcony. This is where anyone could address the heads of state in attendance seated in the chairs below. It was also where the President sat as the theoretically neutral arbiter of all matters of the Federation.
He was at the podium addressing the dignitaries. Egg and Zwam remained in the shadows to listen to the pompous fool. He had just been asked a question.
“No, we have not heard from the fleet in more than two hours. However, please do not be alarmed. There is no way that those creatures from the Outer Reaches could do any harm to our ships with their pathetically outdated fleet. After all, it was we that sold them those buckets of scrap at a handsome profit, I might add.”
“What of Lady Eloise?” someone asked. “She is a formidable foe.”
“Nonsense. She is but a young woman too full of her own self-importance - dabbling in affairs that she knows nothing about.”
“Did Aerianna condemn her actions or are they joining in her crusade?” asked another.
The President cleared his throat nervously. “It is disappointing but the Queen-Regent has notified my office that she and the Hameggattic Sisterhood stand fully behind Lady Eloise. Apparently Zynn-Zaz’zia and Splendora – though not members of the Federation – are also supporting her actions. However, bear in mind that whatever fleet they send will take more than a week to reach us. By then, Lady Eloise will be our prisoner and this ridiculous nonsense will be over and done with. At that point, it will be within our rights to seek reparations from those three planets. We will all be well compensated for this foolishness.”
As his last words died out, there was a collective gasp from those seated below. The President felt, rather than saw, Egg approach. He spun around, turned white then backed away – putting the lectern between him and this woman.
Egg walked up to the podium – taking her time as if she was on a casual stroll without a care in the world.
What she didn’t know was that this anniversary meeting was being transmitted to all one hundred worlds of the Federation. In effect, she was on TV.
She stared out at the kings and queens and presidents of the Federation – scanning left then right. Intuitively she knew that the longer the silence the more the tension would build . . . and she milked the moment for all it was worth. But sooner or later, you have to say something.
“My name is Eloise Grace Graystone, formerly of Earth and now resident of Aerianna. My friends call me Egg. For those of you who aren’t particularly clever, those are my initials.
I am also the leader of the Hameggattic Sisterhood. It is c
onceivable that some of you may feel that you owe my sisters and me a debt of gratitude since we deposed the Empress Violetta and freed every one of your worlds from her tyrannical rule. However, as most of you probably know – and more than likely cannot possibly understand – we did not do it for the adulation nor for wealth. We did it because many people were suffering and we had the ability to help.
My mentor and your first President, Rose’Alynnia, codified that concept into your constitution. Section nineteen, paragraph four states unequivocally that any world that requests humanitarian, cultural, commercial or scientific help can expect it from their fellow members of the Federation. After all, why form this union if it is not to help one another?
That leads me to the first order of business. As the representative of Aerianna I move that the current President be stripped of his duties . . . immediately for cause. I have his words recorded as he summarily dismissed the need to offer assistance to the worlds of the Outer Reaches.”
The man of which she was speaking began to yell, “I object. This woman has no right . . .” but the rest of his words were drowned out by his own screams.
As he began his protest, Egg said her magic words “Ring, tend to my suit” and out of the grey fog stepped Flying Girl. The audience gasped again for none had ever seen the transformation. Many even doubted that it was possible – probably just propaganda to impress the masses. Egg stepped forward and grabbed the arm of the President whose back was to her and leapt skyward. She flew over the heads of the heads of state – making sure they all had a good view. To her passenger she said, “You have two choices. Resign immediately or I will drop you so you can resume your duties. I should warn you that at this height, you may not survive without some serious injuries.”
“You can’t.”
She let go for a split second then caught him again. As his stomach ‘fell’, the man vomited – an unfortunate occurrence for those directly underneath. “Last chance, what’s your choice?”
“I . . . I . . . I will resign.” It wasn’t a difficult decision since he was probably going to lose the no confidence vote for a number of reasons.
She brought him back to the balcony. “Make it convincing,” she warned.
He took a moment to gather himself while the audience sat transfixed. “Lady . . . that is Lady Eloise is correct. I did violate my oath of office and the constitution on this matter. For that I sincerely apologize. Also, my decision to send the fleet into battle was ill conceived. I ask that you accept my immediate resignation.”
“Good job.” To the people below, she said, “I vote that we accept the gentleman’s resignation. All in favor?”
Into the silence, there was a scattering of voices that yelled “Aye.”
“All those opposed?”
No one spoke up.
“Well, I do believe the ayes have it. Mr. President, you are relieved of duty and you have our permission to leave . . . not only this hall but Peekaboo Prime as well.”
Without another word, the man turned and ran off.
“Next order of business . . .” but she didn’t finish because someone yelled a question.
“What of our ships?”
“My friend will answer that question. May I present General Zwam, leader of the rebel forces of the Outer Reaches.”
Hearing her cue, the blue lady walked as regally as she could to stand at the podium. Some in the audience were making derisive sounds so Egg said “Ring tend to my suit” and she returned to her beautiful red gown. That was enough to get everyone’s attention. “If anyone dares to interrupt the General, or fails to pay close attention to her every word, I will take personal offense. I strongly suggest you refrain from discovering how I react to such insults. General, the floor is yours.”
She nodded to her friend then began. “I am Zwam, a trans-evolutionary life form that you hold in much contempt. My fleet of ragtag ships manned by untrained personnel has captured every one of your vessels. The ships are now mine. The crews are my prisoners. And if I so chose, everyone one of them is subject to whatever punishment I choose to administer.”
The crowd noise rose to a cacophony – fear, anger and confusion being expressed simultaneously.
“QUIET” demanded Zwam and they reluctantly obeyed. “I am sure some of you are good and decent people. To you, I beg your indulgence. As for the rest, I am out of patience. You dare to look down your noses at me and my kind. You, with an abundance of riches, sophisticated societies and pretense of morality and goodness . . . you should be ashamed. The tortured lives of millions – and some of their deaths – stain your pretty clothes like blood.”
Chapter 10 – Comes Around
“We had hoped that if we defeated you in battle, we would win your respect. And with that respect, you would begin to honor the constitution that binds this Federation. Personally, I fervently wished we could appeal to your better nature – without the need for galactic law or violence – to have you reach out and help those less fortunate. How naïve I was.
You have taken advantage of us at every opportunity. You have turned your backs on us in our hour of need. You laugh at us to our faces. And in the end, you sent your fleet to destroy us.
And you have failed. Consider this - our failures come from the evolutionary forces beyond our control. Yours came from arrogance. Who should be judged more harshly?
My new friends (and she looked at Egg) have told me you cannot legislate away prejudice and bigotry. Sadly, they were right. One either loves thy neighbor for whom she is, or one does not. No law can change what is in your heart.
Having said all this, I have had a change of heart. On behalf of the planets of the Outer Reaches, we hereby withdraw from the Federation.”
That took Egg by surprise . . . only because it was exactly what she would have done.
Some truly arrogant fool yelled “What of our ships?”
Zwam stared at the man . . . she too let the silence linger. “How telling. He does not ask about his people that are held captive. The men and women that put their lives at risk for his safety. All he wants to know is if he will get back his expensive toy. I will return the ships . . .”
But Egg cut her off and finished her sentence. “. . . crews. However, the ships . . .”
Zwam’s finished the thought since she understood what Egg was doing. “. . . are mine as spoils of war. I give you permission to send someone to the Outer Reaches and we will negotiate the price for their return.”
Back to Egg. “Since the Outer Reaches is now part of a new commonwealth with Aerianna, Zynn-Zaz’zia and Splendora, we will take part in those negotiations.”
Now Zwam . . . “With the revenue from the sale of these ships, the Outer Reaches will no longer require financial assistance from members of the Federation.”
Shifting the subject, Egg called out “who represents the Solaxis Amalgamation?”
“I do” and a gentleman stood. He was obviously not a king but some elected official. “My name is First Citizen Vayder.”
“Is your son Captain Vayder?”
“He is.” Now that should have been a surprise but Egg, over the course of her many adventures, was used to such weird things.
“You should be very proud of him. If it wasn’t for a little misdirection, he would have captured the General and me. As it is, he did take my captain prisoner. Would the exchange of my officer for your ship and crew be fair?”
“More than fair, Lady.”
“Then I will release the ship shortly.”
“You are very kind.”
“Before we depart, I think you might like to know of a business opportunity you may wish to negotiate with the General.”
“Aerianna and the Outer Reaches have a joint venture. They have the technology to tap the power of a black hole. We have the black hole,” explained Zwam.
Egg finished with “it will take about three years to complete the project. When it is done, we will have literally unlimited energy that we can distri
bute to any world in the Federation. Each of your civilizations will be able to make a quantum leap forward in so very many areas.”
The crowd started to buzz, as they all understood the benefits of this technology – and the disadvantage they would experience if they were not able to participate.
First Citizen Vayder stood again and asked the pertinent questions. “Who will be eligible to participate in this program and what will you charge for this power?”
Egg was about to answer but Zwam spoke first. “The price will be a mere three percent higher than our cost to produce and distribute it.” That wasn’t fair – it was a steal.
“As to the first part of my question?” asked Vayder.
“All participant will immediately establish embassies on each of the three worlds of the Outer Reaches.”
“And” continued Egg “it will be staffed by experts in business, medicine, science and education. They will make recommendations on how the Outer Reaches can improve in those areas. If the recommendations are accepted, you will then send as many individuals from your home world as needed to assist in implementing those changes. We expect you to understand on the most intimate level what challenges face a trans-evolutionary species.”
Zwam turned to Egg and smiled her approval.
“Anything else, General?”
“No. I believe we have stated our case.”
“I agree.” To the assembly, Egg said, “I will have an outline of the black hole project distributed to any world that may wish to consider participation. For those who think that they will wait until the venture is complete then use military force to take it for themselves, let me dissuade you. We will have the Klat, the formidable soldiers from the Ark of Forever, protecting it. They will also have the disruptor weapons that we used against your ships. Not only will we defend ourselves, but we will declare war against any who try. The Commonwealth of Aerianna, with the help of the Hameggattic Sisterhood, will take your worlds from you and a caretaker government will be installed.”
The crowd went silent as they considered Egg’s threat. It was finally broken when First Citizen Vayder stood and addressed her. “Lady Eloise, everything you and the General just offered shows a level of sophistication that quite frankly surprises me. Though my world never did anything against the Outer Reaches, neither did we do anything for them. For that General, I apologize. On behalf of the Solaxis Amalgamation, I will commit to the first embassies on your worlds. I cannot say I do this solely on humanitarian grounds. The prospect of inexpensive and inexhaustible energy is too beneficial to my people to turn my back on. But please believe me when I say that had the energy project not been of interest to us, I would still commit to extending my hand in friendship. I would also ask you to reconsider leaving the Federation. We are obviously stronger with you then without.”
The Red Queen [Book 7 of Ever After, an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel] Page 9