by Gini Koch
Hugged her back tightly and enjoyed the moment. “Me too.”
“Paul,” Jeff said, as Lizzie and I stopped hugging, “what do you think we should do with the parasite?”
Gower shook his head. “I understand why Kitty’s asking SuperStar for counsel. In this case, I honestly can only think that we destroy the parasite. I’m not sure that’s the right answer, though.”
“Serene, is there a way to lock this trap so the Anti-Mother can’t get out? Kind of like they did in Ghostbusters only without the easy release that can be orchestrated by an insufferable busybody at the worst possible time?”
“You’re so lucky Raj made all of us watch every movie you like,” Serene said with a laugh. “I have an idea.” She zipped off and was right back, with several other traps. She triggered one and had it encircle the trap I was holding, then she locked it. She did the same with the rest of the traps.
Was left holding a larger whiffle ball. “Um, this is sort of like Russian nesting dolls. It doesn’t take much to open these—one turbulent patch and we have a seriously pissed off parasite on the loose inside the ship.”
“Oh, I know,” Serene said calmly. “I can put more traps on, but they could all be opened. However, this is a good stopgap for now. Once we decide what we’re doing with the parasite, I’ll put this into something that can’t be easily opened. Or you’ll put it into a vat of grain alcohol.”
That decision has to be yours, SuperStar said. The Anti-Mother is evil, yes, but without her, this system would never have been saved. Because Yoko Ono was dying, but as SuperStar, we will live for a very long time.
“So, from evil comes good,” White said. “It’s fitting.”
“What happens now?” Kreaving asked, before any of my family or friends could say anything else.
Now, SuperStar said, we’re moving.
“Um, excuse me?”
I’m taking this system to Spehidon and Cradus. We will become a binary system and Spehidon will have people.
“You can do that?”
Yes. Solar systems move all the time. Some move more than others. Some are drawn into other systems. This happens with galaxies, too. We’re powerful enough to move of our own accord and we know where we’re going—part of Cradus and Spehidon resides inside of us now. We belong together.
“But the native people live on top of planets. They aren’t the kind that can live within a gas giant.”
Right now, no, they aren’t. But they are evolving. What was taken to be feathers is the beginning of their transition into more ethereal forms. They will become beautiful birdlike creatures who will need what Spehidon can offer them, because as they evolve they are draining their planets and, once fully evolved, will have no planets left.
Lilith showed me the atomic makeup of the natives. They were definitely changing and, since she was inside of me, could tell that they were evolving in a way that would indeed make them more like the Vrierst than like any of us. “Won’t that take a long time, though?”
Maybe. But time is different for suns, planets, and moons. Spehidon and Cradus are overjoyed that we are coming to join them.
“You’ve talked to them?”
Yes. For my mind now they are not all that far away. And, as I said, they are a part of us.
“Wow. Um, can we head off before you move the entire neighborhood? We have that other stop we need to make, if you remember.”
I remember. We will wait until you leave. And, as Cradus and Spehidon told you, you will always have a home with us, if you choose it or need it.
Sniffled. “My little bunny’s all grown up.”
SuperStar laughed. Yes, I suppose I am. Or just born. It depends on your perspective.
“Everything does.” Heaved a sigh. “I’m going to miss snuggling you.”
That’s why you have Peter. We’ll always have Nazez and Yoko Ono.
“We will, won’t we?” Blinked my eyes a lot. Probably they were just watering because they’d gotten dry from being inside the sun.
CHAPTER 86
THE POSITIVES OF SUPERSTAR having given everyone the knowledge of what happened was that Wruck and I didn’t need to spend time with explanations and, more importantly, arguments. The fact that we had to make a fast getaway now didn’t hurt, either.
The decision was made to get the crew of the Eknara home first, then figure out where the hell Ixtha was. Decided I had things to do that required privacy, so bowed out of the discussion and the determination of where Ignotforsta was in comparison to where we were.
Went to our rooms. Thankfully, no one was there. Looked just like we’d left it what was really only a short time ago, though it felt like weeks. “You want out now?” I asked Lilith.
It’s probably wise. Will the others try to use a trap on me?
“I won’t allow it. They saw you help, I think we’re good.”
You should sit or lie down.
“Don’t worry, I remember.” Lay down on the bed. “Are you zooming off the moment you’re out or are you sticking around?”
That depends.
“Just in case you take off, then, first off, can you tell us where Ignotforsta is and/or the fastest path to get there? And secondly, when you first entered me and I saw everything, I thought I saw a solar system that was floating outside of the galaxy, all by itself.”
I can and you did.
“Will you help us get the right coordinates for Ignotforsta? And what’s up with that system?”
I will remain and tell you about it when you wake up.
“Promise?”
Yes.
“Holding you to it.” Then I relaxed and closed my eyes.
Felt Lilith leaving me, filtering herself out of my mind and body. It felt like a loss but also exhilarating at the same time. It was a lot to take, though, and I was lying down because the normal reaction to birthing a superconsciousness or a demigod was to do what I did—pass out.
As before, when I’d transferred ACE from Brian to me and then from me to Gower, saw things. These things were different, though.
Saw the solar system I’d spotted and asked Lilith about. One big sun with what looked like only two viable planets, though there were a lot of moons and dwarf planets present. The two big planets were separated by an impressive asteroid belt. One planet was blue and green and looked a lot like Earth only at least four times bigger. The other was red and orange and resembled Mars, only it looked very much alive.
This system was floating away from the Milky Way, out there in the blackness between galaxies, the No Man’s Land of Space. It looked lost and lonely.
“You did well.”
Looked around. Once again I was sitting next to Mephistopheles.
“Yeah? Thanks. You telling me you had faith in me really mattered. Thank you for that.”
“Of course. And it was and remains true. I was touched that you told my mother we were Best Friends Forever.”
“I’m just hella relieved I managed to scratch that clue out.”
He smiled at me. As usual, creepy and sweet at the same time. “I knew you would.”
“What do we do with her?”
“I find it interesting that all of you are struggling with the decision.”
“Dude, it’s one thing when you’re in the middle of the life-or-death fight. It’s another when you’ve captured your enemy.”
“My mother would counsel killing a captured enemy.”
“Which is why we’re thinking about it. I honestly don’t know what to do. It’s why I’m asking you for your counsel about it.”
“As SuperStar said, that decision remains yours. The humane choice is sometimes hard to determine.”
That definitely felt like a statement preggers with hidden meaning. “Is keeping her in a cage more humane than killing her? I mean, we can’t let her go.
She didn’t come across as redeemable.”
“And yet you just worked with someone you would have said was irredeemable a few years ago.”
“I guess, though ACE told us Lilith was scattered and one with the galaxy, which is different from letting loose a powerful parasite bent on total galactic domination.”
“This is true.”
Groaned. “You’re not helping.”
“You always need less help than you think you do.”
“Yeah? I’m pretty sure that I need more help than you all want to tell me I do.” Was certain, for example, that my Suicide Squad had had a lot of help from a source that liked to pretend he wasn’t getting involved.
“I believe you all have a saying—God helps those who help themselves.”
“Yeah, we do.”
“Then you had to take action or God would not have helped.”
“Is that the story being passed around in Powers That Be Land? Impressive spin.”
“As you like to say, whatever works.”
“We have two more stops that I know of. One to drop Wheatles and his crew off on their home planet, and the other to find Ixtha. Any chance you can give me clues for what we’ll be facing when we get there?”
“A hero’s welcome.”
Sighed. “I meant when we got to Ixtha, not when we dropped off Wheatles and Company.”
Mephs patted the top of my head. “Keep on thinking right. And remember—I will always have faith in you. You have survived the nonsurvivable. Now, you can do anything.” And with that, he was gone.
Opened my eyes. All the colors of the Pantone Matching System were floating around me. “Are you alright?” Lilith asked worriedly. “You were passed out for longer than I’d have expected.”
“Fine, just having my usual weird dream experience.” Considered the dream. “Do you know about the DreamScape?”
“Yes. Were you in that?”
“Unsure. So, if you promise you’re sticking around to tell me about that lost solar system, we should probably help the others get the coordinates for Ignotforsta so that we can get those folks home.”
“I can do that without you. While waiting for you to wake up, Mother confirmed that they no longer see me as a threat. And you should probably rest longer.”
“Okay.” Yawned. “Wow. Yeah, I guess this all took a lot out of me.”
Lilith laughed. “I took myself out of you, and that is tiring for the vessel. You rest, I’ll be back shortly.” She sparkled off.
Tried to go back to sleep. Nada. Probably because I wanted confirmation or denial. Got up and headed for the supply closet. Closed the door tightly behind me. “I know that, despite everything, someone had to be helping us.”
Algar appeared. “Why would you say that? You prepared impressively. And you had a superconsciousness assisting. What else could you have needed?”
“We were inside a freaking sun. I have to figure that we only survived that because someone snapped their fingers and made us invulnerable.”
“Oh, I doubt it. I’m sure it’s possible, but that seems rather far-fetched.”
Considered things. “Or else someone planted a memory of an event that Wruck never actually experienced.”
“That seems possible,” Algar said noncommittally. “Or it was as he said, buried and needing to be nudged out.”
“Someone might have given Lilith the suggestion to match frequencies with Yoko Ono, too. Maybe SuperBun got some tips, as well. Bottom line, I don’t think we went in there without protection.”
“Perhaps you did,” Algar said. “Wouldn’t that be impressive?”
“Impressively unlikely.”
He shrugged. “Star surfers are real. That’s not their real name, at least, not the name they call themselves, but they exist. And they do just as John Wruck said—they go into stars. Sentient stars only, though.”
“How is it there are sentient suns, planets, and moons?”
“It’s a fascinating galaxy. Most of them are.”
Gave up. “Thanks for making that memory a positive one for John.”
“Well, whoever did it, I’m sure they saw no reason to cause pain.”
“Yeah, about that. What do we do with the Anti-Mother?”
“There are worse things than death.”
“Yeah. She’s in a prison like they want to put you in, isn’t she?”
“Oh no. Hers is far more humane. But it’s still a cage.”
“So we should kill her?”
“That’s up to you.”
“Ugh. Why will no one tell us the right thing to do?”
Algar patted my knee. “Why would we do that, when the person who thinks right is right here?” Then he snapped his fingers and was gone.
“I wasn’t done. Why did you give me, then take away, a large manila envelope?”
No reply, but an envelope appeared where Algar had been sitting. Picked it up. Looked like “the” envelope, seeing as it had the same marks from being inside my purse that the other had.
Heaved a sigh and pulled out the contents.
“Holy crap.”
CHAPTER 87
ONCE AGAIN FREAKING WITH no one to talk to about the information I was sitting on. Well, staring at. Same difference. And I needed help interpreting why I had this information, too, and what, exactly, said info was trying to tell me.
Decided that I needed to get this envelope back into my purse pronto, though. Used hyperspeed to get back to our rooms, which were happily still void of anyone else. Shoved the envelope into my purse, then tried to figure out what to do.
“Kitty,” Mother said, “we are preparing for takeoff.”
“Um, is there any way in the galaxy that you’ll let Jerry handle my position for this part of the trip?”
“Are you still tired from birthing Lilith?” Mother asked solicitously.
Lied like the human I was. “Yes. Really tired. I’m worried about my reflexes. And things.”
“Then, in this case, yes. You will need to recover by the time we’ve identified where Ixtha is, however.”
“Promise I’ll be fine by then.”
“You may have time.” Mother sounded worried. “I still cannot reproduce the coordinates.”
“No worries, I have some ideas.” Did I ever. No clue if those ideas were any good, of course, but hope liked to spring eternal.
“Good. Please strap in, just in case. All beds have the ability to become crash couches.”
“Gotcha and will do. You can sign off in here, by the way, I don’t need monitoring.”
“As you wish.”
“Thanks, I’ll call if I need you.”
The intercom went dead. Hadn’t been paying attention during the trip to see if I could actually tell when the com system was off, so just took it on faith that the reprogramming Hacker International had done was working.
There was no way I was lying down. Not because I wanted to be tossed around the room if things were bad, but because I was only going to have a short time before someone came looking for me.
On the plus side, this was going to give me an opportunity to do what I’d been lax about doing for too long.
Went over to the thing that had been created for me on Cradus—a really amazing standing three-way mirror. Spent some time doing little adjustments while I sat exactly in the middle of the mirrors. Even if it didn’t work, this was the most beautiful three-way mirror in existence, made of silver with gold filigree, pewter trim, copper backing, and mercury mirrors. Had no idea how the mercury was held in place, but it rippled if I touched it.
Finally got the mirrors into place and used the lovely lead locking mechanisms I’d asked for to hold it as I wanted. Just in time—felt the ship beginning takeoff.
Jumped onto the bed and was able to get under the automatic res
traints at the last moment. Good thing, too, since this takeoff was more like the one we’d had leaving Earth and I was definitely being pressed deep into the mattress.
However, because it was a planned takeoff, versus Mother’s Snatch and Grab Special, the pressure didn’t last too long. As soon as I could tell we were in space, I triggered the restraint release and got back to my business. And I had a lot of business to get back to. Of which the contents of the Super-Secret Envelope were a part, but not all, that I had to take care of.
Sat down cross-legged in the middle of the mirrors again and stared at myself. Only, not really. Per how the Jamie in Bizarro World had taught me, if you focused just right, you could see the multiverse out of the corners of your eyes.
Took me a little bit, since I was kind of out of practice, but finally, as Mother did a general “we’re in space but not going to warp” announcement, I saw them.
The multiverse spread out and the worlds started to flash past. Since my time in Bizarro World I’d gotten good at using this system and now knew how to make the Universe Wheel spin faster or slower, and even how to make it stop and hone in on a specific world.
The key was to never turn your head. You turned to look, you lost them all. Find them via peripheral vision, remain unfocused straight ahead, and then you’d “see” the world you were doing a deep dive on in front of you. It stayed as long as you didn’t focus straight ahead, which was a learned skill, but one that I’d managed to master quickly.
My first stop was always Bizarro World. Sometimes I saw Jamie at the mirrors, but, these days, usually not, and today was no exception. Which made me happy. Searched for her and Other Me in this universe. Found them with Chuckie, Charlie, Max, and a little brother whose name I didn’t know. They were at their home in Australia celebrating something, with pretty much all the good people I’d met while I was there. Jamie had Stripes draped around her shoulders and I noted that there were a lot of Poofs in evidence, too. It was a nice scene, and meant I could stop worrying about that universe for a while.