by Dan Kelly
“Prince Pulsar, for quite some time now an Emperor Eclipse of the planet Erebus has been engaged in all sorts of shenanigans and skullduggeries aimed at creating havoc on the planet Proton with his ultimate goal being to conquer our world. He is constantly telling lies about our conduct to the members of the Inter-Galactic Treaty Organization to discredit us in the eyes of all in the Inter-Galactic community and, lately, has been threatening inter-planetary war. The Emperor is very envious of the wealth, achievements and happiness of the planet Proton and is always scheming to accomplish his goal.
“Our Global Bureau of Clandestine Investigations attributes the recent spate of space piracies to the Emperor’s attempts to discourage inter-galactic travel to and from Proton with the hope of seriously affecting our revenue from tourism and universal trade. The Emperor has been relentless in his attempts to undermine the rule of Queen Quasar in order to pave the way for his
own rise to the throne. The Queen has had enough! Proton has an extremely powerful military, is one of the most wealthy and advanced civilizations in the known universe and her subjects are extremely loyal. The Queen now plans to use all the resources at her disposal to defeat Emperor Eclipse once and for all time.
“She has been reluctant to accelerate the tension between Erebus and Proton, believing that his repeated failure to get what he wants would ultimately discourage him from continuing with his assaults. This strategy has apparently been ineffective as the nefarious activities of the Emperor have become not only more frequent, but more devious and more violent.”
“Excuse me for interrupting, Headmaster Herby, but I’m a little confused. Why are you telling me all this? Obviously, this Emperor guy is a real lowlife of the sub-zero kind and I don’t like what he has in store for my aunt or the planet Proton, but I’m just a kid. What can I do about it?”
Before the headmaster can respond, the Queen interjects with “You know that surprise I said I had for you? Well, here it comes!”
“Pulsar, I know all about the special ability you have to generate at will huge amounts of electrical energy, including lightning, and that you have been sworn to secrecy about it by your parents and Queen Quasar.” Pulsar can’t believe his ears and turns to his aunt for confirmation.
“It’s alright, Pulsar, listen carefully to what else Headmaster Herby has to say.”
The headmaster continues. “Pulsar, you have been instructed to never use your ability in front of anyone but your parents or the Queen because of their fear that you and your ability could be exploited and used by unscrupulous people for very bad purposes. I’m sure you have been seriously tempted to disobey for some very good reasons, but, in spite of your desire to do the contrary, you have strictly obeyed your instruction and should be strongly commended for doing so.
“This strength of character coupled with your astonishing special talent is what caused your aunt to bring you here today. You see, Pulsar, as the name of this school implies, all of the students here are very special in that they all are of exemplary character and possess extraordinary abilities. This school was founded by Queen Quasar about nine years ago when she learned about a freakish accident that had occurred on the planet Rinter in the outer regions of our galaxy.
“Rinter is well known for its yantillia, an herb that miraculously cures a wide variety of otherwise lethal diseases and will grow nowhere else in the known universe. Yantillia is very difficult to cultivate and harvest because of the unstable elements and weather on the planet, so a Protonese company sent a team of scientists to Rinter to look for ways to more effectively cultivate and harvest the herb. During one of their experiments which required an unusual mixture of elements, energies and organic matter, there was an explosion. This explosion released a variety of new gaseous compounds that no one had ever seen before. Of the thirty
member team sent to Rinter, only thirteen scientists participated in this experiment and were exposed to these gases, one man and twelve women. They found out later that these gases affected the genetic codes of the twelve women and the metabolic processes of the man, but there were no immediate signs of any changes in their physical or mental states.
“About ten days after the explosion, the man who was the leader of the scientific expedition noticed that after he ate a big meal he began rapidly sprouting leafy twigs all over his body, soon becoming a good sized bush with lots of foliage. At first, as you can well imagine, he was quite alarmed, but after studying the situation for a while he discovered that if he focused on the twigs he could control their rate of growth and also make all the branches fall off whenever he wanted. He found that he could even prevent the leafy twigs from erupting if he concentrated real hard and there didn’t seem to be any ill effects from the changes that were taking place in his body.
“As for the twelve women, there were no signs of anything being amiss until they became pregnant and gave birth to their children. As these babies approached one year of age, they began to exhibit some extraordinary abilities with each possessing a unique power of its own. Again, these little ones showed no ill effects from these powers on either their physical or mental well- being.
“Pulsar, I am the man who led that scientific expedition to Rinter and you are one of those children.”
Pulsar was so shocked at this revelation that, had he not been sitting down, he would have fallen over. “Aunt Cue, why didn’t anyone ever tell me how I got my power?”
“Your parents and I thought it best to wait until you were a little older and better able to grasp the significance of the ability you have and the enormous responsibility it puts on your shoulders. It was only earlier this week that the other eleven children found out about the origin of their powers. They’re all here. Would you like to meet them?”
“Boy, would I!”
“Ok then, Headmaster. Would you do the honors?”
“I would be delighted.” says the Headmaster and he enthusiastically leads them to the student dormitory.
Chapter 3
The students were told to stick around the dorm so they could be introduced to another kid that was considering enrollment in the school, so when the Headmaster, Queen Quasar and Prince Pulsar arrive the introductions are made without a hitch. Everyone is present and cordial. Pulsar has only a few minutes to talk with some of the other kids and to ask them what the school is all about, but they are almost as much in the dark as he is. This is getting curiouser and curiouser. Before he can ask another question, he and Queen Quasar are ushered outside by the Headmaster for a tour of the rest of the compound.
After the tour is over, they all return to the Headmaster’s office and the Headmaster resumes his dialogue. “As I mentioned to you earlier, Pulsar, the Queen founded this school about nine years ago and she did so for the sole purpose of teaching and training especially gifted students for service to the Queen and the people of Proton. It is a clandestine operation; the only folks that know about it are the Queen, a select few of her trusted advisors the students and their families and, of course, the faculty here at the school. There is no other school like this anywhere.
“Not all of the students here have special abilities like yours. Others are here because they are extremely brilliant in one capacity or another, they have exceptional athletic prowess and/or they have special skills.
“We are highly secretive because the graduates of this school will be using the knowledge and expertise they have gained here to battle the forces of evil anywhere on Proton and in a manner that will absolutely confuse and frustrate the enemy because they will not know who to blame and defend against.
“Pulsar, we would very much like you to join our student body. We believe you have great potential to be an exceptional leader someday. Your parents have discussed this matter with the Queen at great length and are leaving the decision up to you. You do not have to enroll if you don’t want to, but we’re hoping that you will. What do you say?”
Pulsar is astonished by what he has just heard. “Wow, do a
ny of the kids I just met know what you just told me. From my brief conversations with some of them, I got the idea that they really don’t know why they are here.”
The Queen stood up, walked over to Pulsar, put her hand on his shoulder and said, “The only thing they have been told is that they are being considered for acceptance into a special curriculum at a very special school. They don’t even know that the other kids have special abilities. You have been given all the facts because you are a prince and someday will be the Ruler of Proton as your older brother will someday become Monarch of Cygnus and I have no children of my own. This fact alone entitles you to be the first to know, but we also plan to train
you to be their leader. Hopefully, all of you will be serving together for the rest of your lives. All of this, however, hinges on whether or not all of you decide to enroll.”
The Prince is completely dumbfounded and bewildered. “What the Headmaster has said sure does appeal to my sense of adventure and I sure like the idea of being able to hang out with other kids just like myself, but I’m not sure if I’ll ever be as good as they seem to think I’ll be. I am to trouble what food is to flies and I don’t want to wind up disappointing Aunt Cue with my inevitable screw ups.”
As he’s trying to make up his mind, the face of one of the girls he was just introduced to, Shannon Starlight, popped into his head. She was the same girl he saw at the restaurant earlier today. Suddenly, the decision was a no brainer. “Ok, I’ll enroll.” Color slowly returns to the faces of the Queen and Headmaster as they have been holding their breath waiting for the Prince to answer and were beginning to turn blue. With a whoosh of released air, the Headmaster’s face breaks out in a big smile and the Queen gives Pulsar a big hug. They are ecstatic over the Prince’s decision. Pulsar, however, is already beginning to have doubts about whether he has done the right thing or not.
“Your Highness, accommodations have been arranged for you and the Prince as well as your guards to stay here overnight and you can be on your way in the morning to Castle Capella. The new semester doesn’t start for another two weeks, so Pulsar will have a chance to visit with you and your staff before becoming engrossed in the programs here at Stellar. Pulsar, you are about to embark on a fascinating intellectual and physical adventure that no one has ever experienced before. Serious, vigorous, arduous, all are words that describe what lies before you in terms of the kinds of effort that will be required of you, yet you will also find the learning process providing you with a great deal of enjoyment as well. When you graduate, your studies and training will have prepared you for whatever challenges and journeys lie ahead. You will be the leader of a very unique group of individuals whose mission will be to do everything within their powers to protect the citizens of Proton and their way of life. Welcome aboard.”
“Enough already! I said I’ll enroll.” thinks Pulsar, but the more he ponders the more he doubts he will be able to pull this off. “Oh well. What’s done is done. There’s no backing out now. I can’t let Aunt Cue down.”
Bright and early the next morning, the Queen and her small convoy resume their trip to Castle Capella.
Chapter 4
The next two weeks just fly by and before he knows it Pulsar is back at the school with Queen Quasar going through the enrollment process and new student orientation. The trip back was much faster, just over an hour, because this time they took the Queen’s supersonic helicopter. When the Queen picked him up at Cape Constellation, he was transported in her slower royal vehicle because she wanted him to be able to enjoy the countryside, see the changes that have occurred since he was last on Proton and eat at Hurkey’s Haven.
Pulsar is now sitting in the school’s auditorium with the other eleven students he met a couple of weeks ago waiting for Headmaster Herby and Queen Quasar to address them. After a brief conversation with the Queen, the Headmaster stands up and begins to speak. “Students, you have all been asked to assemble here this morning because the Queen has something very special to discuss with you. What is said here today is not to be repeated or discussed with anyone other than the people here today or your instructors. I know there will be lots of questions, but please wait until the Queen asks for them. They’re all yours, Queen Quasar”
“Thank you, Headmaster Herby, and good morning everyone. I know you’re all bursting with curiosity, so I’ll get right into what I have to say.
“As the name implies, the Stellar School for Special Students only accepts students who can meet very special, very rigid requirements regarding intelligence, aptitude, personality traits, skills and extraordinary abilities. It is this last category that I wish to discuss in more detail. Although all of you appear to be absolutely normal, each of you knows that this is not the case. Yes, so all of us are on the same page, be aware that each one of you has a very unique ability that no one else in the known cosmos has.”
It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Slowly, everybody begins to turn and look at the other members of the small group. The Queen continues by telling them exactly what has been told to Pulsar a couple of weeks ago. She tells them about the origin of their special powers, Emperor Eclipse, the special training and instruction they will receive at the school, the future plans for the graduates of the school, Pulsar’s future role as the leader of this special group and informs them that the decision to stay and participate in Stellar’s special program is strictly up to them.
“Your parents or anyone at the school will not put any pressure on you to sign up if you don’t want to get involved. Of course, your parents and the school want very much for you to say yes because the future survival of Proton as we know it today is going to depend on special people like you. The other students at the school are very special also and will play a major role in keeping Proton free and safe from evil forces in the future, but you will be a very unique group whose unique special powers will be kept from even the other members of the student body. Are there any questions?”
Headmaster Herby was wrong when he said there would be a lot of questions. There are none and this brings giggles from Gracie Galaxy. Except for Gracie, no one is making a sound. Everyone is deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons of making such a long term commitment. These kids are only twelve years old, but in many ways are a lot more intelligent and mature than adults three times their age. Five minutes go by and no one says anything. Ten minutes go by and still no one says anything. After fifteen minutes go by, Queen Quasar breaks the silence and says, “So, all of you who want to accept this enormous responsibility and secure your place in history for millennia to come, please raise your hand,”
Once again, there is silence, but it only lasts for about thirty seconds and then 12 hands reach for the ceiling and everybody begins to talk at once. Enthusiasm, curiosity and excitement begin to build and spread throughout the group and the Headmaster has to finally intervene before he loses complete control of these very special kids. “Ok, everybody, listen up. Listen up! It’s almost time for your lunch break so I’m going to recess, but I want you to report to the athletic field in one hour to demonstrate your particular special power when called upon to do so. Ok, class dismissed.”
An hour later, all are assembled on the athletic field with the exception of Queen Quasar who has returned to Castle Capella to attend to the many responsibilities of a monarch. Headmaster Herby lines all of them up in single file and alphabetical order and then announces, “Beginning with me and proceeding with Artie Asteroid and moving down the line, all of us will demonstrate the unique power we possess, so that everyone in this class will have a better idea of just how special we all are. Since my ability is most potent right after I eat and we just had lunch, I’ll go first.”
Headmaster Herby demonstrates his ability to rapidly sprout leafy twigs all over his body, soon becoming a good sized bush with lots of foliage. He shows that he can control the rate of growth of the foliage and also make all the branches fall off whenever he wants to appear normal. He also points out
that he can prevent the leafy twigs from erupting after he eats if he concentrates real hard. Then, one by one, each member of the class follows suit.
Artie Asteroid is a stocky, muscular youngster with long dark brown hair down to his shoulders, hazel eyes and a ready smile. Artie exhibits his extraordinary strength by walking over to a four ton crane that is being used in the construction of an aviation tower for the aerial races that will be held at the school beginning next year and lifting it with one hand as easily as if it was a piece of paper. All the other kids gasp in astonishment.
Belinda Black-Hole, a tall, lanky, pretty girl with straight jet black hair falling to the middle of her back, dark brown eyes, loads of energy and an uncontrollable urge to play pranks amazes her fellow students by instantaneously disappearing and then reappearing just as quickly.