by Zac Harrison
“I was wearing thick padding beneath my robes,” said Aristil, “as Ray-ool knew.” She patted the actor on the shoulder.
“The scholars acted brilliantly, too,” said Kaal. “You all completely convinced me.”
Mordant snorted in scorn. “Really?” he said. “I knew all along that the test was a set-up. I didn’t like to say anything because the scholars had gone to so much trouble, but it was obvious.”
Around the table, students giggled. John, Emmie, and Kaal looked at each other, grinning. Each of them knew exactly what the others were thinking:
Yeah, right.
Chapter 15
John’s second bowl of comfort food had tasted like lasagne in his mouth, the third an ice cream sundae. By the time Aristil announced that it was time for the students to return to Hyperspace High, he couldn’t have eaten another thing.
Goodbyes took a while. Ray-ool Kalaam returned to his ship after making every student promise, at least three times, to watch Nebula Zone Twelve and presenting each them each with an autographed poster. Thushlar reappeared and pressed several data chips on maths from his own collection into John’s hands. Emmie and Aristil chatted and hugged several times, while Kaal and Deem talked about the latest advances in technology and Derrilian sports results.
Even Mordant Talliver found it difficult to get away from Ulara Forshart. The tiny scholar with huge spectacles seemed to have developed a fondness for the half-Gargon boy. “And how is your dear mother? I remember her very well,” John heard her say. Looking embarrassed, Mordant quickly changed the subject.
Across the room, Silva and Raytanna were still swapping notes. “Once you have finished your studies on Hyperspace High, you would be welcome here as Kerallin’s youngest-ever scholar,” the metal-faced scholar said.
“Leave her alone, Silva,” Aristil told him. “Raytanna will be welcome here in a few hundred years but I’m sure she will have more interesting things to do with her life than spend it with a lot of old fogies.”
“You might be an old fogey, Aristil—” Silva began, his face breaking into a wide grin.
“Please, scholars,” interrupted Socrat. “The day has been long. We must get the students on their way and there is a stop to make first.”
“Where are we going now?” John asked Emmie and Kaal, as they fell in together outside the canteen building.
They both shrugged.
“It seems as if we are returning to the library,” said Raytanna after a while.
Lishtig groaned. “I bet the scholars want us to clear up the mess we made in there before they let us go.”
“I’d forgotten about that,” John replied, feeling guilty. The incredible Library of Kerallin had been completely devastated. “So many globes got broken. All that knowledge lost...”
The sentence went unfinished, as the class stepped into the library.
“Does this answer your question, John Riley?” asked Socrat, sweeping an arm out and raising several of his many eyebrows.
Droids, similar to those from Ogun’s army, were hard at work – busy repairing the library. Some were restoring the fire-damaged shelves, while others were taking the globes out of their packing trays and putting them back on the shelves. Half of the library was already back to normal, with a globe glimmering in every compartment.
“All the information the globes carry is collected by a giant server deep underground,” Socrat told him. “The globes themselves are easily replaced.”
“In fact, we have made copies of your home worlds for each of you to take back to Hyperspace High,” Aristil said. “A souvenir of your time on Kerallin and a gift from the scholars, given with our very best wishes.”
John hardly knew what to say as Socrat pressed a tiny Earth globe into his hands. “This is amazing... just awesome,” he babbled.
“Be careful how you use it,” Socrat told him, seriously. “The gift is a sign of the scholars’ trust in you. The globe can show you things about your planet that are hidden to most. You must choose to use that knowledge – or not use it – with wisdom.”
“I–I’ll do my best,” said John.
“We know you will,” said Aristil. “Now, it is time for you to leave. Please follow us to the hoverbus.”
As they sped towards the purple pyramid for the last time, the students chattered and joked as they checked out each others’ home worlds. John finally got a chance to see Emmie’s parents. Peering at her globe, he saw that her mother had the same silvery hair as her daughter, cascading down her back in an ornate style. But whereas Emmie’s eyes were deep navy-blue, her mother’s were golden. “Wow, she’s almost as beautiful as you, Emmie,” he blurted, without thinking what he was saying. Feeling his face burning, he mumbled, “Ugh, I mean... that is...”
“Thanks, John,” Emmie said, giggling. “This is my dad.”
Grateful for the change in subject, John looked at a tall, slender Silarian with silver hair tinged slightly blue. He was standing at a podium before a roomful of beings.
“Whoa, he looks important.”
“He’s on the Galactic Council,” Emmie said. “I wish he wasn’t. It means he spends most of his time away from home.”
“This is my mum,” Kaal interrupted. “Look, she’s feeding my little sister her first flavworms.”
John peered at Kaal’s globe just in time to see a baby Derrilian throwing worms into the air, her small, leathery wings beating in excitement. Kaal’s mother was trying to catch them all before they hit the floor.
“Your mum looks a bit... umm... annoyed,” said Emmie.
“Yeah, my little sister is a handful,” replied Kaal. “Last time I was home she tried to eat my ThinScreen.”
“And here we are,” Socrat’s voice broke into the conversation.
John looked up to see the shining purple pyramid before them, the sun sinking behind it. The hoverbus slowed to a stop. As the class climbed down onto the grass, John took a last look around, wondering if he would ever again set foot on Kerallin.
“You’re gawping again,” Kaal told him with a nudge that almost sent John sprawling.
“How many times do I have to tell you not to do that,” John replied, rubbing his shoulder.
“Your knees will be pleased to hear that there is no need to pilot the pyramid all the way back to Hyperspace High, John Riley,” Socrat chuckled, as he led the students inside the ship and began touching the wall. Lights and panels lit up where his fingers passed. Within a few seconds, the whole pyramid was blazing with complicated star charts and flickering numbers.
“Coordinates laid in,” said the ship’s computer. “Teleport in sixty seconds.”
“The whole ship is going to teleport us all the way back to Hyperspace High?” Kaal gasped. “But it must be over a thousand light years away. Teleport technology isn’t that advanced.”
“Oh dear,” said Socrat, looking over his shoulder at Aristil. “We forgot to announce our latest teleportation research.”
“Yes, we must get around to that,” Aristil said, shrugging. “In the meantime, students, please take your seats and strap yourselves in.”
Thanking the two scholars, the class ran to the MorphSeats and obeyed the command.
“Goodbye, and good luck with your studies,” said Socrat with a friendly wave. “The headmaster will have your final report within the hour.”
“Send Lorem our regards,” Aristil added. “Tell him we are looking forward to the day he joins us on Kerallin.”
With that, the two scholars walked out into the last of the Kerallin sunshine. Behind them the pyramid wall rippled and became perfectly clear.
“Teleportation in five, four, three, two, one.”
The ship seemed to spin around John. For a moment he felt as though his body had split into a million different pieces and was zipping down a long tunnel of whirling light.
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br /> The sensation lasted for less than a heartbeat.
John blinked. The pyramid was floating in space. In the distance, shining among the stars, was the elegant white shape of Hyperspace High. As always, John felt a shiver of pride run through him when he saw the great spaceship.
“Welcome back,” Sergeant Jegger’s voice echoed around the ship. “We’ll bring you in with the force fields. Sit tight, this will take a few moments.”
Lorem was at the dock to greet the returning students as they emerged from the pyramid, an Examiner floating at his side. Chattering loudly and clutching their globes, the class thronged around him.
“We passed,” Emmie told him, grinning. “I made a mess of the questions, but we passed. I’ve never been so relieved in my life.”
“We didn’t just pass, we totally kicked butt. There was this warlord, headmaster, only he wasn’t really a warlord, he was this actor guy, and—” Lishtig babbled.
Lorem raised a finger to his lips. “You must not speak of your adventures on Kerallin,” he said. “Only say that you have been examined by the scholars and passed their tests.”
“The scholars were really cool,” said John. “I don’t know what I was so nervous about.”
“You rose to the challenge, John Riley, as I knew you all would.” Looking around, the headmaster smiled. “I see that the scholars have sent you back with gifts and that tells me everything I need to know for the moment. Well done, I am proud of you all.”
“Rule 274C: all students must remain in their dormitories after lights out,” the Examiner droned. “Punishment for transgressions: double detention. Return to your rooms immediately.”
“The Examiner is right,” said Lorem with another smile. “All of you have had a long day and need rest. Plus, the scholars’ report will be arriving soon, and I must admit I want to get back to my study to read it.”
Still talking excitedly, the students made their way to their dormitories. After saying good night to Emmie, Kaal and John slipped into their own room.
“Good evening,” said Zepp’s voice, as they sank into the squashy sofas. “Can I offer you hot drinks?”
“That would be great, Zepp,” sighed John. “Hot chocolate for me, please.”
“Liquidized blindbeetles for me, thanks,” said Kaal.
The two of them looked at each other, and then at the virtual reality helmets on the low table between them, and then back at each other again.
“Boxogle?” asked Kaal, with a grin.
“Hmmm,” said John, yawning and glancing longingly at his bed pod. “It’s tempting, but I think I’ve done enough fighting for one day.”
“Ha, you’re only saying that because you saw my new move on Kerallin. I am going to crush you.”
“You think so, do you?”
Steaming mugs appeared in the drinks dispenser hatch. “The headmaster has just announced that there will be a special assembly at oh-seven-hundred-hours,” said Zepp. “I strongly suggest that you sleep. In fact, if you even look at Boxogle, I will fry every circuit in the games console.”
“You can’t do that,” gasped Kaal, shocked.
“Hello – I’m the ship’s computer,” said Zepp, sounding surprisingly smug for a computer. “I can do pretty much anything I like on Hyperspace High.”
“Well, that settles it,” said John, yawning. “I’m going to bed.”
Chapter 16
Early the next morning, John stood on the grass in the middle of the Centre, Emmie and Kaal on either side of him. Stars glittered beyond the great dome above. Behind him, the whole school had gathered. Dressed in the red and silver uniform of Hyperspace High, thousands of students from all over the universe lined up, waiting for the headmaster to appear on a dais that had been set up overnight. John half-turned to take a look over his shoulder. As always, he remained astonished by the variety of students who attended the school.
At the back were the largest: including the biggest student in the school, a female Manorus called Faysha who looked a little like a two-legged tiger, if a tiger had been the size of an elephant. Next to her was a shapeshifter being who resembled a half-empty balloon in his natural state. Elsewhere in the crowd were half-droids, creatures with two heads, some with wings, and others with body parts that John couldn’t begin to guess the function of.
“The headmaster’s coming.” Kaal nudged him, adding, “oh, sorry, I forgot,” as John stumbled to one side.
John rolled his eyes and turned back to the stage, as Lorem materialized in a blaze of light.
“A very good morning to all of you,” the headmaster said.
The entire school answered, “Good morning, sir,” as one.
“I have some excellent news,” Lorem continued. “The scholars of Kerallin have assessed a class of our first-year students for the first time in a century.” Pausing, he looked along the rows of students before him. With a trace of a smile, he went on, “The scholars’ tests can be extemely difficult, so it is with great pleasure that I tell you that our class of first years achieved an outstanding result.”
Applause and cheers rippled through the crowd.
“And that is not all,” said the headmaster. “The scholars have decided to make a special award to one student in particular. A student who showed a truly remarkable ability to apply their academic knowledge under pressure.”
A hush descended. Further along the line, John heard Mordant whisper, “That will be me.”
“Undoubtedly, Master Talliver, sir. The scholars of Kerallin are famous for their wisdom. They will have seen your genius,” droned G-Vez, now reunited with its master.
“And that student is... Emmie Tarz!” Lorem announced.
Emmie gasped, as the school broke into applause again.
“There must be some mista—,” Mordant Talliver began.
The rest of his sentence was quickly drowned out by cheers, as Emmie’s classmates crowded around her, clapping her on the back.
“Brilliant, Emmie!” shouted John. “I said you were brilliant.”
“Nice work, Tarz!” yelled Lishtig. “You totally deserve it.”
Kaal threw his arms around her, almost crushing her slender body in a huge Derrilian hug.
“Emmie will receive an extra hundred points towards her marks for the year,” said the headmaster, trying to make himself heard above the noise. “And the scholars of Kerallin have also asked me to grant the whole school a day off in recognition of her achievement.”
This time, the cheers were deafening. “Emmie, Emmie, EMMIE!” chanted thousands of voices.
“So, what are you hanging around here for?” Lorem asked, laughing. “Go and enjoy yourselves!”
As the headmaster flashed away, Emmie was swamped. It seemed that everyone in the school wanted to congratulate her, though John noticed Mordant stalking away, shouting at G-Vez. Eventually, however, the crowd broke up as students went off to enjoy their unexpected day off.
Grinning, John gave his flustered friend another hug.
“So, what are we going to do with the day?” Kaal asked. “As you earned it, Emmie, you get to choose – so long as you choose Boxogle.”
“No, Kaal,” said John, shaking his head. “Now Emmie’s an academic superstar, she’ll want to spend the day studying in the library.”
Emmie punched him on the arm. “Idiot human,” she giggled. “No library, no Boxogle. With all that water yesterday, I just remembered how long it’s been since I visited the SwimBubble.”
“What’s a SwimBubble?” John asked.
Emmie and Kaal stopped and looked at each other in a way that John had come to recognize – pity mixed with wonder.
“He’s never been in a SwimBubble, Kaal,” said Emmie in hushed tones.
Kaal shook his head sadly. “Sometimes I wonder if they have any fun at all on Earth, Emmie,” he said.
“Yes, but what’s a SwimBubble?” John repeated, exasperated.
Both of his friends ignored him. “Hey, Lishtig!” Kaal shouted. “The Earthling’s never seen a SwimBubble!”
“What are we waiting for, then?” Lishtig called back. “I’ll round everyone up.”
Half an hour later, wearing red and silver trunks that Zepp had provided, John stepped out of the changing rooms with Emmie and Kaal on either side of him.
“This is a SwimBubble,” said Emmie.
John goggled, his jaw hanging open. Really freaky space stuff, he thought, not for the first time.
Before him was a vast room with a ceiling that looked out onto space. John hardly noticed the view, his eyes fixed on what the huge space contained. Its surface rippling gently, what looked like a globe made completely of water hung in zero-gravity. Reflected light shimmered on the white walls.
“B-but that’s im-impossible,” he stuttered, gazing up at the vast blue ball.
“Not impossible, just beyond your planet’s technology,” said Kaal.
“Stop standing about gawping!” shouted Lishtig, pushing past. “Last one in’s a loser.” Kicking off as he entered the zero-gravity room, the purple-haired boy dived up into the water, making waves that spread out across the surface of the globe.
“Off you go, then,” said Kaal. From behind, John felt the Derrilian give him a powerful push, sending him flying upward. He splashed into the giant water ball in a tangle of arms and legs.
“Dive bomb!” shrieked Kaal.
John almost choked with water and laughter as the Derrilian plunged in beside him. One after another, his classmates followed, their shrieks and laughs echoing off the walls. Gulping a breath, John dived under, following his classmate, Queelin, as she darted gracefully through the SwimBubble. He came out near the top, looking up in amazement at the stars speeding past outside Hyperspace High as he trod water.
Kaal surfaced next to him; Emmie’s head appeared a second later. “So what do you think, Earthling?” she asked, pushing wet hair out of her eyes.