I found Simone in the Galley, sitting, quietly stirring her coffee.
“Hey.” I greeted happily- the way we always did whenever we met.
My friend simply sighed deeply, but otherwise remained silent.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked gently as I came closer- my apprehension from earlier making me paranoid.
Again she sighed deeply and remained mute. My self-guilt surged.
“I-I understand if you want out, Simon, it was wrong of me to force you into this.” I continued while motioning down her body. “I…I needed people I could trust…people that trusted me. I don’t have a lot of friends on this tub, you know?”
“What?” She asked as she finally looked up at me. “You…you think I want out? Of the Corps?”
“Well, you never seemed too enthusiastic about it when we started fighting the Hoblins, or on our last mission.”
“That’s not it…not it at all, Chance.” She said looking back to her cup.
“Then what’s bothering you, Simone?”
“I think I like it. Is that so wrong of me?” She said, looking back up at me.
“Huh? What do you like? All the killing?” I gawked in surprise.
“God, I hope that isn’t the case. I’d like to think I’m a better judge of character than that. I didn’t see a tendency toward murder in you at all.”
Simone looked back up at me in confused surprise.
“What? Murder? Are you crazy?”
“Then what? What do you think you like, Simone?”
“This… Her… Simone.”
I silently waited for her to continue. It finally dawned on me what she meant.
“You mean you like being Simone and not Simon?” I asked just to clarify.
She nodded.
“I don’t think that’s wrong, Simone.”
“I didn’t think you would, Chance, after all, you have to like who you are now. You’re stuck; you have no choice like I do.”
For the second time today, I got kicked in the gut, and it hurt…alot!
“You’re right, Simone. I can’t return to my former self…ever. I’ll just leave you be. I’ll be down in the Broom Closet overseeing the dismounting of our Brooms from Pegasus.” I said sadly as I turned to go on my way. That was probably finished by now too. It was very hard not to cry.
“Chance? Chance, wait! I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have said that. What happened to you…I know you had nothing to do with it…and…and I volunteered to help if you remember? I’m…I’m just not sure what…who I am anymore. Please forgive me for being such a bitch a moment ago?”
I sniffed back my tears, turned around, and motioned for her permission to sit down next to her.
“Please.”
“Care to tell me what brought this all about? And just so you know, I don’t think it’s so wrong to want to be who you are comfortable with.”
“So you’ve noticed?”
“You haven’t changed back in over three weeks, Simone. I think it’s obvious you find this form more to your liking. There is nothing wrong with that and none of our friends will think badly of you either.”
“Thanks, that helps, Chance, but I have to prove to myself it’s the right decision.”
“Have you listed the pros and cons yet? I’d start with that and see which column is longer.”
“I’ve already done that, Chance. This form won, hands down.”
“Okay? So, where’s the problem?”
“Aunt Cora or my parents. How do I choose? From what Mom has told me she and grandmother never got along real well.”
“And?”
“And…Aunt Cora is grandmother’s sister. Chances are that Mom and Aunt Cora don’t get along either.”
“I don’t get it. How does the relationship between your mother and your aunt affect your decision to remain as you are now?”
“What happens if one dislikes the other? Will I lose one, the other, or both? I don’t want to be the cause of a family upheaval.”
“I don’t think it would ever come to that, though we could find out if you’d like. How about I put in a call to Aunt Cora and have her meet us on Kane?”
“You think that’s wise, Chance?”
“We’re Witch Corps, girl! If anything, it will be interesting.” I smiled.
“Well, I have been dying to fly Clean-up.”
“I wonder if Mom and Charli would want to test flight their Brooms too?” I thought out loud.
“Isn’t Savanna too young to travel, Chance?”
“I’m sure her car seat will fit in my second seat, why?”
“I didn’t think you’d want her in a Broom this soon.”
I smiled.
“Lady Chance, Ladies Hope, Charli, and Simone. Meeting in the Briefing room in one hour.” I said on comms.
“Copy, Lady Chance.” Simone replied from both in front of me and over the comm.
“Roger that, Chance.” Charli responded.
“Well, so much for a quick nap.” Mom groused.
Simone and I waited for her to finish the coffee I had just freshened before we headed for our briefing room.
 
 
“…So we’ll meet you at those coordinates tomorrow morning?” I asked.
“That shouldn’t be a problem, Sugar Plum. I’ve been dying to get back in Pinup’s saddle again. Unfortunately, Rodyard won’t be able to come along. He was just placed into his proper educational level two days ago. Learning is more important than meeting the ‘Rel’s’. This should be fun. See you all then, Chance. Porno out.”
“See? That wasn’t that bad, was it?” I asked as I observed Simone’s condition. She had been reluctant to give reason for our little journey to her naturalized home planet and was just now gaining back color to her face.
“She was giggling at me! She seemed to have no problem with my decision. How will my parents respond? Chance? How will my parents react?”
“We’ll find out tomorrow morning.”
 
 
“You two are up early. Couldn’t sleep, honey?” Mom asked as she and Charli entered the Broom Closet and walked down the steps.
All four of our Brooms were lined up on the flight line and glistening in the overhead lighting.
“Simone is really nervous about meeting her parents.” I told them.
“Oh, honey! I wouldn’t worry too much about what your parents will think of you. I’d worry more about what your mother will do when she sees Cora.”
“Lady Hope?!” Simone instantly turned from her inspection of Clean-up and stared in fear.
“For whatever reason, Janet always seemed to have a bug up her ass when it came to her lineage. Apparently, knowing she was Antarran royalty left some kind of bad taste in her mouth and she decided Cora and Jules were the cause.” Mom explained.
“I felt she was just a prude.” Charli snarked. “Or maybe she was just jealous. Either way, there’s something wrong with that girl.”
“So, is Grunfuller going to watch Savanna while we’re gone?” Charli changed the subject.
“No, she’s already strapped into Hope and a Pair. Grub and I haven’t seen each other since just after we got back to base. He seems to have a lot on his mind and I think he needs time to think.”
Mom looked to Charli a moment. Charli nodded back ever so slightly.
“I see. Well? Charli and I will only be a moment with our visuals. Semper Fi? Status.”
“All systems initiated and online, SIR! Awaiting your orders.”
“Thank you, Semper. I’ll just be a moment to do my visual then we can have some fun.”
“I look forward to it, SIR!”
Mom smiled broadly as she looked back at me, eyes narrowed suspiciously.
“Eight I Smart. Status.” Charli requested.
“Hey! Nice of you to finally show up, honey! I’ve been sittin’ here usin’ valuable Current for like the last half hour! Times awastin’ girl!”
Charli looked over at me, stunned.
“How do you do it? How did you know, Chance?” She questioned.
“I’m a WITCH!” I giggled.
She shook her head in defeat.
“Just gimme a chance ta look you over, girl.”
“Well don’t look too hard you ol’ perv! An’ hurry up, the meter’s runnin!”
Mom snorted loudly and began laughing hysterically!
 
 
“Broom Closet Control. Witch Corps Flight 1 ready for departure.” I reported after checking Savanna’s harnessing one last time.
“Pegasus 1, stand-by. Awaiting conformations from Pegasus 5, 6, and 7.”
“Pegasus 5 ready for departure.” Simone reported.
“Hey, I’m ready. Pegasus 7.” Charli acknowledged.
“Pegasus 6 is getting REALLY impatient and is ready to blow out the freakin’ door if it ain’t opened soon!” Mom warned in an irate voice.
“Witch Corps Flight 1, Capt. Serangetti has been informed of your departure. Beginning hangar depressurization.” Grunfuller’s voice responded.
I was surprised that he even cared, seeing as I had hoped he would see us off and didn’t.
Savanna gurgled a few times.
“I’m not so sure, sweetie. These things take time. Now hold on, a Broom is way different from riding in Pegasus.”
“Tttthwwp!”
“Did you just shoot me a raspberry?” I questioned my daughter’s response to the warning.
“Witch Corps Flight 1 hangar decomp complete. Opening Broom Closet door.”
“Aww, to hell with this! Screw procedure! I’m outta here!” Mom growled as I saw Semper Fi pass overhead, turn sideways, and shoot out the still opening door.
Savanna giggled.
“So you think that’s funny? Breaching protocol is a punishable offence, sweetie. Isn’t it Pegasus 6?”
“THWWWWWWWP!”
Did SHE just shoot me the raspberry, too?
“Let’s go get her, Hope and a Pair.” I said as I advanced my throttle and slammed the stock to the right for a second.
“Broom Closet door…why do I even waste my breath?! Safe journey, Witch Corps Flight 1.” Grunfuller groaned.
I assumed my sisters had repeated Mom’s and my exits.
 
 
Mare De Tempest Bridge:
 
“Skipper? I have four small, unidentified craft that just appeared on sensors off our port side!”
“Estimated dimensions?” I asked.
“Roughly twelve meters. They’re heading away to stern, sir. Man, are they fast!”
Stepping back, I enabled my hidden Witch Corps. comm. and spoke quietly.
“Serangetti, Witch Corps Flight 1. My Lady Chance, please tell me that is you we picked up on sensors?”
“Relax, Kimbou, I’m just clearing Semper Fi’s emitters.”
“Please, My Lady Hope! I thought Witch Corps was to try and remain out of the spotlight?”
“I thought she had grown up, sir. I guess I was misled in that thinking.” Lady Chance replied.
“Skipper? They’re coming about!”
Four, silvery, quick flashes filled the Bridge windows and instantly disappeared.
“Holy shit! Sensors indicated they were barely sub-light before they just vanished, Skipper! Who are they?”
“Those were our saviors, Lieutenant; the brave group of women responsible for repelling the Hoblin invasion from our corridors. I want this incident wiped from all sensor logs and your memories. Understood?”
“Aye, sir. It never happened. But where can I get me one of those?”
“Believe me when I say that you can’t afford it and don’t want to know, Rick.”
“Aye, sir.”
 
 
“Major, did you really have to buzz the bridge?” I asked after we engaged our deep space camo.
“You didn’t have to follow me, Chance.”
“In order to make it appear intentional, we did! Though…I’m not going to deny it was fun…very fun!” I tried to sound disappointed, but couldn’t help giggling.
“She’s been this way since her first XF-58, Chance. Major is incorrigible and a show-off.”
“Cut off the useless chatter, Seeker!” Mom ordered.
“Seeker, ETA to Kane.” I asked to remind Mom who was this flight’s leader.
“Whitecliffe Space Port in three hours at present velocity, Chance.”
“Thank you, Seeker. Pegasus 1, Pegasus 9. Porno, are you out there?”
“Pegasus 9, Pegasus 1. Hey, Sugar Plum! Long time; no see. I have a secured transponder link and I’ll be vectoring into your Flight in two hours and five standard minutes.”
“Welcome aboard, Porno. Good to have you back. See you in a bit. Pegasus 1, out.”
 
 
“Pegasus 9, Witch Corps Flight 1. Just picked your transponders up on short-range sensors. Where would you like me?” Aunt Cora announced.
“Do we really have to answer that, Porno?” Mom deadpanned.
“And I thought Seeker was the Perv! Hey, Major! How they hangin’?”
“Not as heavy as yours, honey!” Mom giggled.
“Come in on Pegasus 5’s three. Laidy-in-Wait is going to need your support.” I recommended.
“Hey, girl! You still fretting about the ‘Rents? Not to worry, Porno’s got your back.” Aunt Cora sympathized as my sensors showed her entering our formation and pulling alongside Simone.
“Witch Corps Flight 1, we’ll drop to sublight about two LY’s out and decloak. S.O.P.”
 
 
“EFMC Witch Corps Flight 1, Whitecliffe Center. Requesting permission to enter your system boundary and proceed to your Spaceport.”
“Witch Corps Flight 1, what is your purpose on Kane?”
“Level 30 stuff. I’m not at liberty to reveal more, sorry.”
“Flight 1, according to the filed flight plan, you request temporary landing permit at Hopewell Field in Vermillion Station?”
“Affirmative, Whitecliffe Center. As I said, we have level 30 stuff there and wish not to attract too much attention to ourselves.”
“Your permit has been approved, Flight 1. Welcome to Kane. Sending your landing coordinates now. And, no matter what your business, enjoy your stay. Whitecliffe Center out.”
“I’ve just received those coordinates, Chance.”
“Thanks Whitecliffe Center, Flight 1 out. Thanks Hope and a Pair. Let’s get in the approach corridor.”
 
 
A small crowd had gathered by the time we’d actually landed. We were professionally directed via old-fashioned taxiway directions and signs to our reserved location- a medium-sized, simple, permacrete-metal hangar off by itself on the south side of the old-style field. Of course, the crowd wouldn’t have been there had Mom and Aunt Cora not circled the small field AND the town of Vermillion Station at low altitude five times!
Oh, and they broke Mach 1 each time, too!
However, I soon realized that there was purpose to their supposed flagrant action. Once parked, the crowd was summarily dispersed and the hangar doors were quickly closed and locked.
“Hope and a Pair, engage ‘security mode: warning’ after we are clear.” I said as I leaned back into my cockpit to unfasten Savanna from my second seat. I carefully hoisted her over then cautiously climbed down Hope and a Pair’s external ladder.
“Security mode in stand-by, Lady Chance.”
“Thank you, Hope and a Pair.”
“As I live and breathe! Hope Summers? Is that you? We’d heard rumor that the damn Hobgoblins finally got you an’ Charli! What’s it been twelve? Fourteen standard years?”
I jumped as the male voice behind me asked a question in greeting.
“Breaking protocol again? As usual?” I asked, deciding to play along while still not turning around.
“And you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you, Hope?”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” I responded.
“Okay. Not in the mood. I get it. I’ll follow protocol then.” The man took a deep breath and sighed.
“Anything I can get for you today? Fuel, engine work, …a date for din…?” He continued, but stopped as I turned around revealing Savanna’s car seat and my sleeping child.
“Wait! You can’t be Hope! Hope’s kid should be around…”
“My age, good sir?”
“Yeah…oh shit…sorry. You must be Chance?”
I smiled. “And you are?”
“Very sorry I said what I did, M’lady. Keaton Yates, EFMC Reserve, by the way.” He gave me a bow.
“Fancy set of wings you girls got. Newly issued, I take it? How can I get me one?”
“I’m sure you know the answer to that question, Mr. Yates.” I replied coyly.
“I’ve been briefed, but I’m not the type to go in for full-blown service, Lady Chance. Does she need refueled?
“Maybe a top-off before we leave, Mr. Yates. And I appreciate the compliment. Just keep your eye on our four Brooms. They are state of the art prototypes with a whole assortment of classified, undocumented systems AND they have a built-in security system that is specifically keyed only to its pilot. Anyone else laying a finger on them will get… ‘ a reminder’, copy?” I smiled deviously.
“Copy that, M’lady. So yer callin’ them ‘Brooms’ these days. Cute. Um, can I ask about the paint on her nose?”
“It’s called ‘Nose Art’ and is a tradition over a thousand year old.”
“No, I know what it’s called, I just can’t figure out what it means.”
I rolled my eyes and sighed quietly.
“It’s a tribute to my parents and a family friend.”
“Oh! I get it now! Hope and a Pair; your mum, Charles, and Miss Denison, and the wheel of chance…that’s you…er your callsign, right?”
I smiled brightly at his insightfulness.
“Absolutely correct, Mr. Yates.”
“Chance? Quit flirting and get over here. They’ll be here in a few minutes.” Mom called to gain my attention.
“By the greater Gods of the Universe! Not one, but two living and breathing Antarrans!” Keaton Yates exclaimed in utter shock. “I thought the one living here the last in the galaxy!”
“If they act like the one on this planet we’re all in trouble.” He added in a barely audible whisper.
Simone and Aunt Cora had just finished the post-flight and were climbing down from their Brooms.
“Keats! I see you’ve met my daughter. Chance, this is Keaton Yates. Best damned mechanic in the galaxy! Keats here can fix anything that flies- even make it fly better if possible.” Mom introduced.
Keaton’s mouth fell open as he looked past us.
“No. Noo! I was at your funeral! You can’t be here! No! Not possible! Hope? What’s going on here?”
“Simone? Can you come over here for a minute, honey?” Mom gestured.
Both blue-haired women approached- one looking very apprehensive.
“Keats, you remember Caroline, right?”
“Your majesty.” He greeted with a bow.
“And this is Jules’ Granddaughter, Simone. Her similarity is uncanny, right?”
“Unbelievable! The likeness is amazing! Wait! I didn’t know Jules had another offspring. I thought Janet was an only?”
“Hey. I’m Simone Gutteson-Redman. Nice to meet you, Mr. Yates.” Simone greeted politely with a tense smile.
“Please, M’lady, ‘Keats’ is fine.” He corrected then paused. He looked between Mom, Charli, and I several times before he whistled loudly.
“Oh! She’s gonna be sooooo pissed!” He chuckled haughtily.
Simone suddenly looked ill.
Keats looked back to me and his expression melted.
“The child; how old is she, Lady Chance?”
“Savanna will be four weeks in a few days.” I answered.
“She looks soo much like you, M’lady. You and Charli must be very proud, Hope.” He praised.
“We’re both proud of our High Priestess and her daughter, Keats. I’d even say that Chance has outperformed any of us by light-years.”
Keats looked at me in horror.
“Forgive me, High Priestess! I was not informed and you did nothing obvious to correct that error.”
“And she won’t likely do that either, Keats. Chance is very modest about her talents.”
The man smirked and an impish grin appeared on his recently unshaven face.
“So she isn’t that similar to you, Hope? That’s refreshing.”
“Bite me, Yates!”
“Not unless you and Charlene want to make it a threesome?”
“I’ll take that action!” Aunt Cora said getting in on the fun.
“That I’d have no doubt of, your majesty.” He waggled both eyebrows.
“Seriously. Nice touch with the nose art, Hope. Still can’t get away from that whole mythical, winged-horse theme though, huh?”
“Chance designed and built each of our brooms, Keats. She even did the paint. I think she did a ‘magical’ job on them, don’t you?”
Again the man’s mouth dropped.
“You did…all this? With just…you know.” He flicked an imaginary wand in his hand.
“Only without the wand, Keats. That’s why we voted her High Priestess.” Mom giggled.
“I’d recognize that huge ass anywhere!” An angry female voice shouted from the suddenly opened man door in the main hangar door.
“Well, if I’d had to guess, that’s the obnoxious, caustic blather of my niece, Janet!” Aunt Cora mocked in calm, royal, annoyance without even looking toward the new voice.
“What are you doing back on MY planet, old woman?!”
“Kiss my royal ass, you prudish snob!” Aunt Cora countered as she turned to face her aggressor. “And I’m back here on family business, you worthless blow hard of a sow!”
“I think this was a bad idea, Chance.” Simone whispered as she fought the urge to run for Clean-up.
“Then state your business cause I’m the only family you have left here! The sooner you do that the sooner you and you’re ‘ladies’ free up valuable real estat…!”
Quiet suddenly filled the hangar. Savanna burped and giggled once.
Mom, Charli, Cora, and Simone- even Keats- turned to stare at me in horror.
Janet Redman stood shouting and pounding on my force shield trying frantically to get free.
I quickly closed the distance to the infuriated woman.
“Hello. My name is Chance Summers”, I said pleasantly. “We are here today to introduce you to someone you might recognize. But, if you do not reign in your hatred and anger toward my Antarran sisters I may be forced to demonstrate what I really am capable of.”
Simone’s mother began shouting at me through the restricting shield.
“Now…are you going to remain civil and allow us to make introductions?” I asked the raging woman, knowing that she could hear me. Just to show my commitment, I decreased the area inside my field.
“I assure you, it can get smaller…much smaller. Now, do we have an accord, Mrs. Janet Redman?
The redfaced, blue-haired woman glared intensely at me.
“Wow! If looks could kill…” Mom commented as she walked up beside me. “This half of the planet would be a crater! Is it any wonder why we tried, but failed to enlist her?”
I remained quiet and appraised the blue-haired hellion contained within my force shield.
“Hey, Jan-Jan, remember me? Hope Summers? Well, I’d like to introduce my daughter, Chance. She’s a VERY powerful witch and my advice to you is: don’t piss her off. You wouldn’t like her when she gets angry. Now, just shit-can the attitude, little girl, so we can talk!”
“High Priestess? Chance? Please let her down. This is not the meeting I had envisioned.” Simone pleaded as she approached. Janet Redman’s eyes bulged. She began shaking her head in denial to who she was seeing. She appeared to be mouthing ‘No’ and ‘it can’t be’ over and over again.
I lowered her and dropped my force shield. Janet crumbled to the floor a sobbing mess.
“It can’t be! I watched you lowered into the ground in a box! How can you be here, mother?” She cried.
The woman then glared at me.
“What kind of a curse did you place on my mother, you evil witch?!” She demanded angrily.
“I placed nothing of the sort on this woman, nor would I ever do anything so heinous!” I replied calmly.
“Mother? I am not Grandmama. I just seem to be her double.” Simone tried to explain.
“Liar! What has she done to you? Mother, please tell me how I can help you! How I can rescue you from these Satanic whores!”
Simone’s hand instantly flew forward and slapped her mother across the face!
“That is enough, Mother!” Simone shouted angrily. “Chance, Hope, Charli, and especially Aunt Cora are my Coven sisters! Now shut your face and listen up! I have something to tell you and I can’t do that while you are hysterically calling obscenities to my friends!”
“If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she really was Juliene, Hope!” Aunt Cora quietly pointed out to mom.
“But mother…”
“Fine! If you can only think of me as Grandmama, then I’ll act like her!” Simone threatened.
“Janet! Sit your ass down and pay attention! I will have no more interruptions or my wand will contact your ass and leave marks for several weeks! Do I make myself clear?” Simone shouted in a strong, unyielding voice.
“It is you! Mother, how did you survive?”
“I said sit down and shut that ignorant mouth of yours! I will only tell you this once and I want no interruptions! I. Am. Not. Juliene Gutteson! I! AM! Simon! Redman! Get that through that thick skull of yours, mother!”
“Simon? You can’t be Simon! My Simon would never act or treat me like that! What have you done with him? What have you whores done with him!?”
Simone’s wand was suddenly in her hand and pointed to his mother’s forehead at point-blank range. She was also in uniform.
I heard Keats gasp behind us.
“By the Gods of Olympus! Will you shut that obscene trap of yours?! I swear I’ll shut it for you and you won’t like how I do it, mother!” Simone hissed.
I noticed a small blue arc quickly jump between her mother and her wand. Something was not right about this woman!
I blinked on my Current Sight. That explained some things.
To my and everyone’s surprise, Janet Redman actually sat down and closed her mouth!
“You know? I had fears of how this little reunion would play out, but I assumed there would be awkward blocks of silence, pleading for me to reconsider, questioning about my reasons and sanity… things like that. I never once dreamed that you would make such a fool of yourself! You have embarrassed not only me, father, and the whole Redman family, but especially the royal family AND Aunt Cora! So…anything sane and constructive to say…mother? Speak recklessly and I WILL remedy that vengeful mouth.”
“Why do you look just like her, Simon? How is this possible?”
“Because that’s the way my genes rearranged themselves when I activated, Mother. I had nothing to do with how I now look. It was pure chance.” Simone answered, wand still threatening.
Janet glared toward me, but Simone cut her off before she could become hysterical again.
“No, mother. Not that Chance. I’m talking luck of the draw type chance and not one of my best friends.” She looked at her mother with an intensity I had never before seen in her.
“I chose to volunteer and help Chance and the Coven fight the Hoblins, mother. Those vile creatures that killed so many- including Aunt Hilde? They attacked Mare De Tempest, the ship I am currently stationed on. We lost half the crew, but we beat them and retook possession. We, mother. The Coven! We were the only unit able to fight those things…to secure the ship. Normal weapons had no affect on them. Only our wands had the power to repel them. I…we had the power to fight them.”
“You should be very proud of your daughter, Janet.” Charli said as she stepped in next to mom. “She is a valued member of the Corps and has upheld its values admirably.”
“I think everyone except Simone should step back and give them privacy.” I suggested as I began to retreat.
About two meters away, mom turned to me.
“Chance? Honey, why did you pull back? I thought we were here to support Simone in this ordeal?”
“Current Sight. Tell me what you see.” I hinted.
Three gasps filled my ears over Simone’s heated voice.
“M’ladies?” Keats inquired in confusion.
“Just how did that happen?” Aunt Cora asked in shock as she continued to stare at her niece.
“That explains why she’s so much crazier now than last time.” Charli added.
“What have you found, M’ladies? What is wrong with Lady Janet?” Keats demanded quietly.
Savanna burped again and giggled.
“Here, I suggest you give her this medal, Aunt Cora. Act like it’s still in your ship.” I said covertly passing what was now in my hand.
“What would the medal be for, High Priestess?”
“I think the daughter of the woman who helped save the galaxy should receive her mother’s ‘Medal of Honor’ don’t you?” I winked.
Mom and Charli stared at me a moment.
“I also included a purifier circuit. Make sure she understands she is never to take it off.”
Aunt Cora nodded.
“Lady Simone, may I approach?” She called to get our sister’s attention.
“Of course, Aunt Cora. Mother shall hold her tongue…won’t you, mother?” Simone responded; her wand never wavered from its potential target.
“I will listen, but I’ll never bow to you, Auntie!” Janet replied hatefully.
“That will suffice. The ‘family business I spoke of? Allow me to fetch it from my ship.” She answered as she walked away.
After a few tense minutes Aunt Cora returned holding a small, ornate box.
“Lady Hope? As the former High Priestess of Witch Corps, could you assist me?”
“Of course, Queen Norge.” Mom replied as she was handed the box.
“It has recently been brought to my attention that proper respect has not been given for one of our own’s service in the line of duty. I admit the lapse is solely my own due to the remorse I still feel within my heart for my sister Juliene. Therefore, and without further delay, I wish to present to you, Janet Caroline Gutteson- Redman, your mother, Juliene Norge-Gutteson’s, ‘Exceptional Service Medal’ or ‘Medal of Honor’ as the Earth Force Marine Corps calls it. Will you accept this in place of the Medal’s true recipient, M’lady?”
I noticed another quick spark fly between forehead and wand. This time I think Simone noticed also as she momentarily focused on her wand in confusion.
“I’ll accept your stupid medal, majesty.” Janet grumbled, “but not to satisfy your guilt over what you did to mom!”
Aunt Cora nodded and removed the small locket and chain from the ceremonial box and opened the chain wide.
“By royal proclamation and overwhelming gratitude of the EFMC Witch Corps, I present to you, Janet Caroline Gutteson-Redman, your mother’s Medal of Honor. It is only a small conciliation for the grief we all share of her loss and for her service in freeing the galaxy from oppression. My sincere condolences, Lady Janet.” Aunt Cora said as she moved to place the medal around the woman’s head.
“Lady Simone, the restrictive aid is no longer needed.”
Once Simone pulled back her wand, Cora quickly placed the medal around her niece’s neck and fastened it. A serene look washed across the angry woman’s features and she seemed confused for a moment.
“What did you just do to me?” She questioned, though it was nowhere near as venomous.
She seemed to relax as she suddenly stood to look Simone and Cora eye to eye.
“It really is you…Simon?” She asked as she carefully appraised my friend.
“Yes, mum, it’s really me. Welcome back to the sane side of life.”
“What did you do to me? The hate…the rage you cursed me with…its almost gone.” Janet asked as she looked to her aunt.
“I suggest you forward that question to our High Priestess, Sugar Plum.”
“What did you do to me?” She readdressed her question to me.
“In layman’s terms I grounded you, Lady Janet. The long explanation is this. While in heated conversation…”
“You’re insane ranting, Sugar Plum.” Cora interrupted.
“While you were conversing, and after your daughter pulled her wand, I noticed a small blue arc pass between your forehead and Simone’s wand. Immediately after, you seemed to become more compliant and less hysterical. Referencing my Current Sight, I instantly saw the problem.”
“I…I didn’t know I had a problem. I don’t have…a problem.” She insisted.
“But you do, M’lady. You have inherited your mother’s natural acuity to Current, though in your case, you have greedily trapped your latent Current and allowed your hatred and anger to influence it, twisting it. The Medal you now wear will ‘filter’ your Current, purifying it to prevent your possible transfiguration into a Hoblin.”
“That is crazy! I’m not one of those…monsters! I’ll never become one of those ‘things’. She argued.
“My guess is that something near you…something or someone you are in contact with provides a limited purifying effect…in essence, limiting your Current’s twist. Tell me…how long has your husband been gone?”
“He’s been away on business for several months…” Janet Redman suddenly stopped, her mouth dropped open. “But he should be back tomorrow.”
“I take it this is the longest he’s been gone in quite some time?”
She nodded silently as she stared at me in horror.
Little Savanna gurgled several times and waved her chubby little right arm.
“No. I didn’t recognize the symptoms at first. But I remedied it despite that, didn’t I?” I said to her.
My daughter giggled a few times.
“Oh, you thought all this was entertaining? Trust me, it was not.”
Savanna’s face grew crimson and she ‘grunted’.
“What? Oh. If you ladies will excuse me a moment, the princess has officially added her … ‘comment’ on the latest proceedings.
 
 
“So, how’s the reunion going, High Priestess?” Keats asked as Savanna and I entered the hangar from the guest living area in the rear of the building.
“Simone thinks very well. Janet’s ‘limiter’ is functioning as designed and she seems able to hold a civil tongue.” I answered.
“So, what was said yesterday…about the Hobgoblins trying to take over the Mare…”
“I have a theory about that. I think the big three were after the heir to the Summers’ legacy. You know of the attack on Gaia Four; I think their aim was to finally eradicate Witch Corps. They didn’t count on helping me reach my threshold.”
“So its true!?” Keats inhaled sharply. “You are a changeling like Hope.”
I nodded.
“Wait. Something just doesn’t make sense. I heard the Mare incident occurred almost four weeks ago. You claim the Hobgoblins helped you achieve your threshold?”
I nodded again.
“If I may…how can you have a three week old baby if…”
“I agree wholeheartedly, sir. How can I have given birth to this child if I hadn’t even reached threshold at the time of her conception? I didn’t. Savanna was just one of several hundred unborn children the Hoblins uncaringly conscripted. After clearing the Mare of all the adult conscripts, we set to clear the Daycare Center after sensors indicated a high concentration of tainted Current in that area.”
“While restoring the conscripted children I found there I also found the yet to be born and made an effort to save them by storing as many as I could. I vowed to somehow give them the chance to live they never got. I thought I had gotten them all.”
“I decided to stage a ‘Grand Coming Out’ event before we initiated the humanitarian task of relocating all the children who lost their families in the attack. As we debuted the Coven, Capt. Serangetti’s daughter, Lyra, approached me and requested she come along. With the Galactic Council’s blessing both she and Cmdr. Serangetti prepared to leave with us.”
“When boarding Pegasus, the sensors detected a trace amount of tainted Current still on Lyra. When I examined her, I attempted to remove it. That’s when Lyra screamed at me to quote, ‘let her alone’ and ‘she just wants to live’. Turns out the brave kitten had saved one that I had missed. Adding some of my own Current to the taint, I was able to purify it and with Lyra’s approval, brought little Savanna here into being. Manifested her right into the kitten’s arms, Keats! It was beautiful! She…was so beautiful!” I related as I wiped my face.
“Lyra claimed that her name was Savanna and that she wanted her mother. I was devastated! Her parents were KIA. Lyra then dropped a bombshell. Savanna wanted me as her mother! Given a request like that, how could I refuse?”
“So this little cutie chose you as her mother. Smart girl! You couldn’t have picked a better mommy, little one.” Keats said looking down at Savanna in the car seat I was holding.
She giggled and gave the man a hand wave.
“Yes, I like him too, sweetie.”
“You understand her. Amazing. Everything about you, Chance Summers, is absolutely amazing.”
I felt myself blush.
“So. While I have you here…is that an actual Trans-Dimensional Propulsion System WITH Afterboost, I see on these Starfight…Brooms?”
I nodded and smiled brightly. “Simon Redman designed these units about fifteen years ago. It was his masters’ thesis. A thesis that got him laughed right out of the science ministry for being complete fantasy and absurd.”
“Huh. I remember telling him then that the damn thing was too advanced, that the experts wouldn’t recognize it as valid tech. So it really works, huh?”
“Forty-five LY’s a second without afterboost.” I giggled.
“Hooly Sh…” He choked out.
“My child’s ears, Keats!” I warned.
Savanna giggled a few more times.
“You’ll hear enough of that around your grandparents and Aunt Chantell, sweetie, but I’ll do my best to limit the obscenities while I can.”
Keaton Yates laughed while shaking his head.
“Absolutely amazing. Anyway, that type of system must use up a helluva lot of Current!”
“Come back here a moment.” I invited as we walked around back to the main emitter. “Hope and a Pair? Temporarily disable your security while I show Reservist Yates something.”
“Security disabled, Chance. Please alert me when finished.”
“Will do, and thank you. Now, look riiiiight back there…just to the left of the main Current circulator.” I said pointing into the narrow gap in the cowling beside the thrust emitter and the starboard control-quad emitters.
After looking in once, Keats turned and stared back at me in shock for a full minute then looked back in a second time.
“Is that what I think it is, M’lady? A Current…Economizer?”
“My friend Dell designed it as a means of passing the time on Mare’s previous tour. Hope and a Pair? Fuel reserve status and distance of this trip, please?”
“Fuel reserve stands at 98.5%. Four hundred eighty-six thousand LY’s. Mare De Tempest to Kane, Chance.”
That made the man still examining my ship’s engine compartment choke! He bumped his head as he quickly turned to me.
“That’s impossible! I mean…I heard rumors…Can you imagine the implications to galactic travel?”
“Yes. It would mean the Hobgoblins would be able to get around the galaxy just as fast as we do. Possibly even terrorize neighboring galaxies as well.” I deadpanned. “That’s why the technology will remain highly classified, Mr. Yates. There have only been fifteen units produced.”
“By the way…each unit has a very specific ‘Patent’ spell just as a precaution. If, for any reason, the units are removed without the proper incantation to nullify the spell, they will simply disintegrate and leave an indelible tracking spell on the violator.”
Keats regarded me for some time, his eyes sometimes staring at me then staring off into the hangar eaves.
“”I understand fully, High Priestess. This really is some high tech stuff! Any chance I could beg a ride?”
“How about tomorrow morning? I’ll get Lady Charli to file a flight plan and we’ll give you the fifty-cent tour of the system. Deal?”
“You bet! See you in the AM.”
“Hope and a Pair? We’re done, sweetie.”
“Security reactivated, Chance.”
 
 

 
 
“Are you sure you’re up to this, Simone?” I asked as we, Aunt Cora, Mom, Charli, Savanna, and I, arrived at the Redman residence in the early afternoon.
“It couldn’t be any worse than yesterday, back at the hangar, right?” She answered nervously.
As the door started to open, Simone swallowed hard and bit her lower lip.
“Welcome home, Samuel. I trust you knew about our visit today?” Mom greeted confidently.
“Hey, Hope. Hello girls. Janet said you ladies were back in town. Please, come in.” Samuel Redman welcomed us warmly, though I sensed trepidation and awkwardness.
“Janet? They’re here.” He called to his wife as we filed in. “I’d really like to thank you for helping Janet, Ladies. This is the first time in I don’t know how…hello your majesty, in how many…years…Juliene? How?”
“Samuel. Meet my great niece, Simone.” Cora smiled deviously.
“Hello, Simone. I guess you already know you look exactly…your ‘GREAT’ niece?”
Simone shied away from her father and stared intently at the floor.
“Simon?” He stated in shock, as he looked her up and down several times. “What happened?”
“I…I joined the Corps, pop.” Simone almost whispered.
“Corps? What Corps?”
“Come now, Samuel. You know what Corps.” Aunt Cora replied. “Don’t insult us.”
“I volunteered to be activated, Pop.”
“Um…so why does she look like her grandmother? Cora? Hope? Anybody?”
“Genetics are funny that way, Samuel.” Mom answered with a nervous giggle.
“I’m not laughing. How could you let them do this to you, son?”
“After…after Aunt Hilde was …killed…I promised myself I’d get those bastards if I ever had the chance. Well, the opportunity finally presented itself, Pop. I helped liberate the Mare, sir.” Simone answered proudly. Her confidence seemed to be coming back.
“But…”
“Look, Pop, I was offered the chance and I took it. I’ve fully accepted the ramifications of my decision.”
“But you can return to normal, right?”
“If I wanted to, sure, but I’ve made another decision.”
Samuel Redman gulped and blinked his eyes. “Why?”
“Hello, Cora. Make yourselves at home.” Janet Redman greeted civilly as she appeared from the back of the house.
“Janet? Did you know about this?” Samuel Redman asked, pointing to Simone.
“Hello, Simone. Could you come back into the kitchen? I’d like to talk to you in private?”
“Sure, mum.” Simone smiled tensely and followed her mother back through the house.
 
 
Redman Kitchen:
 
“Have a seat, dear. Care for something to drink?” Mum offered.
I took my usual seat at the table. “Coffee if you have it, thanks.”
“So…about my behavior yesterday…I’m…” She began as she started the water processor. I interrupted.
“Look mum, I understand and I’m sorry you had to see my temper, but you were getting out of hand. It took a few minutes for me to notice, but I could just barely feel my locket filtering your Current of its taint. That actually explains a lot of what I witnessed growing up. Please promise me you’ll keep the medal on? It means a lot, you honoring Grandmama in this way. Means a lot to me too.”
“My Current? You could feel MY Current? I didn’t even know I had Current.”
“Most people never realize it, mum, but all life has Current. Some of us just are more sensitive to its presence. Some of us can actually ask it to do things for us.”
“And I take it Chance Summers…she’s just as talented as her mother?” Mum asked.
“Chance is absolutely amazing, mum!” I bubbled. “The things she can do…the things she’s taught us…”
“She seems dangerous to me, Simone. She could have easily crushed me in that shield thing of hers.”
“Chance would never have gone that far, mum! She’s held her cool in way more stressful situations. You should’ve seen her on Eden Three. We were outnumbered four or five thousand to eleven. Chance remained calm, even as the rebellion’s leader confronted her for possession of Pegasus- our spacecraft.”
Mum’s face drained as she stared down at me.
“Five thousand? Were they armed?”
“Oh yeah. They even had about a dozen particle drill machines used for mining pointed at us. We all did our part. Lokust- Our Executive, Lokust Grunfuller- transported several hundred dissidents to the opposite side of the planet! Lady Charli hacked the drills to render them unusable.”
“Lady Lyra…God, she is sooo precious! She changed the clothes of an attacking brigade into cute, blue Teddy Bear costumes. They were so embarrassed they turned and ran…well, they did more stumbling…” I giggled happily reminiscing about that lopsided confrontation.
“Ladies Hope and Chantell acted like ancient frontier law men and placed bets on how many criminals they could take out with a single bullet from their Corps issued revolvers. Ladies Kitty and Charli spent most of the time deciding what they should turn the attackers into. Lady Sandra wanted to change them into snails on the premise we were out of Escargot in the galley!”
“Aunt Cora and I just pulled our wands’ to defend Pegasus and our sisters, but most of those pigs kept their eyes glued to our boobs.” I giggled, thinking about the hungry looks those guys gave us. Now, as then, I felt a special thrill inside me.
“Most impressive though was Chance. After piecing the puzzle pieces together, she realized the rebelling convicts were demanding conjugal attentions. As their leader put it, they wanted to ‘use the women and abuse the children’.”
Mum gasped loudly and leaned heavily against the kitchen counter.
“Get this! Chance made about five or six hundred of the remaining men pregnant! Can you believe that? She later told us that she had been safely holding several hundred unborn children that she had rescued from the Mare in her Current reserve. She transfigured the men and inseminated the children into the new women. Her reasoning was if they wanted to use women and abuse children, they might as well learn, first hand, what it was like for the women and give them experience birthing and raising children. Even before we left Eden, the new government had voted in drastic changes and penalties for abusing women and children!”
I realized mum was still silently staring at me. I stopped talking and just looked back at her, wondering what she was thinking.
The drink processor chimed and broke her trance.
Mum silently got and placed two full cups on the table at our places. She took a sip from hers and winced as the steaming liquid hit her lips.
“She just waved her wand and changed five hundred men into pregnant women…?”
“I’m thinking it was closer to six, mum. Isn’t that fantastic?” I asked.
“And the babies? They were all rescued from the Hoblins when they attacked your ship.”
Yep! The Hoblins conscripted just about everyone onboard. We, the Coven, have the power to return those conscripted back to their original forms. Unfortunately, that original form degrades over time. We weren’t able to recover everyone.”
I thought about all those unborn kids…they wouldn’t have gotten a chance to live if not for Chance Summers.
“Simone? Baby, why are you crying?” Mum asked in concern.
“I was just thinking about all those kids she rescued, mum. She gave all those kids a chance to live. She even adapted Savanna.”
“I smelled fresh coffee. Mind if I grab a cup, Jan?” Aunt Cora appeared in the doorway.
“The cups haven’t moved.” Mum replied.
“So, you telling her about Eden Three?” My aunt inquired. “I haven’t had that much fun in years.”
“Facing off against thousands of armed and dangerous men? You call that fun?” Mum gasped.
“Weeeell, not as much fun as watching Simone here make my Defense Commander and his Controller shit their pantaloons when she destroyed eighteen defensive practice arrays on Antarra’s outer barrier! I even brought along the raw footage from the Defense Department and Charli gave me a copy of Pegasus’ bridge record. I took the liberty of having my new ward, Rodyard, splice it all together. The child is really talented when it comes to ‘creating’ media events. I thought we’d watch it later?”
“Eighteen arrays?” Mum repeated, stunned.
“Each roughly a hundred thousand kilometers apart, with one cannon, AND from three LY’s distant! Wish I had a ship like Pegasus in the Antarran armada!”
Mum unconsciously sipped her steaming coffee, burning her lips again.
“All I did was give the order, Mum. Pegasus did the rest.” I begged off my actions. I saw Pop silently enter, open the cold stores chest, grab a six-count of his favorite beverage, and headed back into the front lounge. I noted it was the same recreational drink we had on the Mare.
“I disagree, Sugar Plum. From what I saw, you put that old nog herder in his place. Didn’t you say something like: ‘what if I say ‘PISS OFF’? Then command the Royal Antarran Defense Commander to ‘kiss my perfectly smooth, delectable ass?’ Did I get that right, Sugar Plum?”
I felt my cheeks burning as I looked to the tabletop and began stirring my coffee.
“You actually did that, baby? To the Major General?” Mum gasped.
“I did, mum. I’m not proud of it, but Lady Hope recommended I act like Grandmama. I’m not sure where it all came from. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you and Aunt Cora.”
Mum began to giggle! Something I hadn’t heard in almost eighteen years.
“Norges be praised! Janet Gutteson is actually laughing!” Aunt Cora said grabbing at her heart, though it looked rather risqué as she grabbed more breast than heart.
“I always thought that old stuffed shirt needed knocked down a few clicks! Good for you, baby!”
I was flabbergasted! With that brief statement, mum reminded me of Grandmama.
I felt another tear run down my left cheek.
Aunt Cora looked to me, giving me a slight smile.
“You saw it too?” She asked gently.
I nodded almost imperceptibly.
“Now what did I do, Baby?” Mum asked guiltily.
 
 
Redman front lounge:
 
“Ladies, please have a seat.” Samuel Redman offered.
“How old?” He asked looking toward Savanna then me.
“Almost four weeks, Mr. Redman.”
“Samuel, this is my daughter, Chance, and her daughter, Savanna.” Mom introduced as we all found a place to sit.
“Nice to meet you. Cute kid.”
“Thank you, Mr. Redman.” I responded.
“We’re not real formal in this household as you can imagine, Chance.” Redman glanced toward the kitchen. “Sam or Samuel is good.”
I smiled, blinking once to activate my Current Sight.
This man was full of the purest Current I had ever seen! That explained how he was able to stabilize Janet.
“Something catch your eye, Chance?” He asked as I blinked back to my normal sight.
“You must be a very forgiving man, Samuel- very pure of heart.”
He chuckled.
“I’m joined to Janet. I kinda hafta be, don’t I? From what I heard from Keats, she gave you a really hard time. I’m sorry I couldn’t get back before you arrived. She seems to settle down each time I return from one of my business trips.”
Savanna gurgled and giggled once.
“Indeed, sweetie. He is a very special man and Mrs. Redman is lucky to have him.” I said looking down at her.
Redman was staring at me when I looked back up.
“Our Chance is very special in her own way, Samuel.” Mom smiled. “She’s the most talented of all of us.”
“Speaking of talented, I think I hear Simone telling tales out there. I’ll be back in a few.” Aunt Cora interrupted as she stood and headed for the back of the house.
Samuel waited a minute.
“So…Keats was telling me that there’s four beauties in the EFMC hangar that are yours?”
“Chance calls them our Brooms, Samuel.” Mom answered.
“Marvelous feats of engineering; or so he gushes. Any specs you can talk about?”
“Rumors we’ve heard indicate over a light year per second, but those are only what the rumors claim.” I gave him a Cheshire grin.
Samuel’s expression remained neutral for an extended period of time.
“I need a beverage; anyone else?” He got up and walked casually out to the kitchen.
A moment later he reappeared with a six-pack and sat back down. He quickly opened and downed the first one all at once.
“Better. Now…what were you saying about rumors?”
“We’d be happy to offer a demonstration ride, Samuel.” I giggled.
“That’s what I thought.” He said as he opened another and downed it quickly.
“I’d enjoy that very much. When could we schedule it?” He replied wiping the froth from his upper lip.
“I offered to take Keats up in the morning. Soon enough?”
“I’ll look for my inertia suit tonight then. I hope it still fits.”
“Honey, you won’t need that old thing. Our Brooms are tops!” Mom informed him with a giggle.
“I think I’m going to need more of these. Sure you guys don’t want any?” Samuel Redman admitted as he downed another beverage in an instant. He then looked at us for a moment.
“Yep, I’m gonna need A LOT more of these!”
“Did I hear we’re offering Broom demos in the morning?” Aunt Cora asked as she came back in the room.
“Charli was just about to file a system tour out to the outer boundary and back for tomorrow morning.” I revealed.
“Would 8AM be too early?’ Charli asked everyone in the room.
Samuel Redman downed another.
“Oh, and Simone is officially here to stay, everybody. You have a very courageous daughter there, Sam. One that I am proud is of Norge pedigree.” Aunt Cora announced.
“I need another six-count.”

 
 
“How’s that hangover, Sam? The ladies said you had a little too much last night.” Keats chuckled in amusement as the Redman family entered the hangar.
Setting his eyes upon our Brooms, Samuel Redman whistled in appreciation and immediately grabbed his head in pain.
“Wasn’t near enough, guy! Not near enough!”
“Pop? Are you gonna be okay for this? I really don’t need you to yak all over my cockpit. Maybe you should stay here.” Simone worried.
“Wouldn’t miss this for the world! Relax, I’ll try not to spew in your office, kid.” Samuel Redman said reassuringly as he began to walk closer to our Brooms.
“Gee, Caroline! Which one’s yours?” He asked sarcastically, stopping and shaking his head at Pin-Up.
“Charles, Chantell, and I thought her call sign appropriate.” Mom laughed. “Chance thought up the name and nose art.”
Aunt Cora’s Broom, Pin-Up, sported an early twentieth century female model with blue hair, wearing a black, strapless ‘cocktail’ dress, black open-stitched stockings, and matching, era specific, black spiked, high heels. She was lounging provocatively with both hands resting on one bent knee. She looked to be winking with a provocative smile.
“Clean-up, please disable your security.” Simone requested as she neared her Broom.
“Security disabled. Welcome back, Laidy-in-Wait.” Clean-up replied as her canopy opened.
“Laidy-in-Wait?” Janet Redman questioned as she looked up to the ship’s canopy.
“Oh.” She deadpanned. “I can guess who chose your call sign.”
“You’d be completely wrong, Jan. Chance picked Simone’s call sign, the name, AND nose art.” Aunt Cora corrected. “Climb on up, dear niece.”
“What? You want me to climb up there?” Janet pointed to Clean-up’s cockpit in alarm.
“It’s the only way you’re going to get a ride, Sugar Plum.”
“But I didn’t…”
“I could still let Hope take you instead. Your choice.” Aunt Cora threatened.
“Please, Aunt Cora. Relax, mum, and don’t panic.” Simone took her mother’s hand and both began to rise off the floor. Within seconds Simone was helping her mother get seated and harnessed in.
Samuel Redman had stopped dead in his tracks and stood, staring, as his newly affirmed daughter did the seemingly impossible.
“You’re with me, Sam.” Aunt Cora told him as she took his forearm and began to lead the dumbfounded man to Pin-Up’s external ladder.
“Sorry, I’m not as talented as my sister’s grandkid, Sam. You’ll have to climb. You remember how to get into one of these, right?” She said just before stopping him just out of arm’s distance.
“Pin-Up, disable security.”
“Off on another conquest, My Queen?” The A.I. questioned.
“Naw. Just another joyride, girl.”
“Security disabled, Puddin’ Plum.”
Aunt Cora gave me a ‘look’. “I meant to ask you about her personality back on Eden, Chance. We’ll talk later.”
“Don’t waste your breath, sister. She gave each one of our Brooms different, but appropriate personalities. She won’t say how or why, though. Check this.”
“Semper Fi disable security.”
“SIR! Yes, Sir! Security disabled, SIR!”
Even Keats shook his head and laughed.
“Don’t laugh yet, Keats. You’re my weapons’ officer this trip.” Mom grinned maniacally as she motioned to her fighter’s ladder.
“What did I ever do to you, M’lady?” Keats looked at me in terror.
“Nobody ever wants to ride with me.” Charli moped as she shuffled despondently back to Eight I Smart.
“Hope and a Pair, please disable security.”
“Security disabled, Chance.”
“Thank you.”
 
 
“Hopewell Field and Whitecliffe Center. Witch Corps Flight 1 is ready to taxi to flight line.” I announced after all our preflight’s were completed.
“Copy, Witch Corps Flight 1. Taxi to three-two left and hold short for one incoming.”
“Copy. Three-two left and hold.”
Chance, Major. You’re going to behave this time, right?” I asked over our private comm as we taxied out to the old-style runway.
“No promises, Chance. They better make this quick!”
“Let’s make this look good, ladies. Go a quarter of the runway then punch it, okay?”
“Just so you know? I’m not payin’ for anymore windows, Chance.” Porno declared.
An older private shuttle came in slowly and decelerated almost to a stop before turning off onto a taxiway.
“Witch Corps Flight 1, you are cleared for takeoff.”
“Copy Hopewell. Whitecliffe Center, Witch Corps Flight 1, priority alpha corridor.”
“Whitecliffe Center. You are cleared for a priority alpha corridor. Have a good flight.”
I advanced my throttle agonizingly slow to simulate an older spacecraft picking up speed then bumped it to quarter throttle.
We were in space. I quickly decreased my thrust power.
As expected, Savanna giggled a few times then gurgled and coo’d.
“I know I didn’t run out to the quarter point. Thank you for pointing that out to me.”
“Hey, Chance? That wasn’t even a tenth of the runway.” Seeker noted.
“I had to keep Major off of my emitter, Seeker. Any closer and I would’ve required her to use protection! How’s everybody doing?”
“Mum’s imitating a fish at the moment, but I think she likes it.” Laidy in Wait responded.
“Wrench wants to do that again. Chance.” Mom reported with a giggle.
“Pops was starting to hyperventilate, but now he’s good to go, Chance.” Porno replied.
“An’ nobody still wanted to ride with me.” Seeker stated in a distraught singsong voice.
“Oh boo-hoo, Seeker! You should’ve converted Eight I Smart back to a two seater before we left base!” Major chastised harshly.
A tone on my instrument panel indicated we had reached the system border.
“System border, everyone. Time to turn around.” I announced, imagining the shocked faces in my sisters’ Brooms.
“Pegasus, Witch Corps Flight 1. Do you copy?” Lokust’s voice activated my comm.
“Pegasus 1, Pegasus. What’s going on, Lokust?”
“Chance, late last night we received an urgent communication from Magellan. They claimed to be under attack by some strange, unseen force and that people were disappearing left and right.”
“Sounds like our friend has made his move. Unfortunately we’re giving some friends a sightseeing tour of the Kane system at the moment.”
“We are enroute now, Chance. How fast can you do a turn around and rendezvous with Pegasus?”
“Stand by, Pegasus. Chance, Laidy in Wait. How’s mum doing?”
“She wants to know what we’re going to do…if it’ll be dangerous.”
“Chance, Witch Corps Flight 1. Would anyone be opposed to taking a tour of Pegasus while we go get the bad guys?”
“Wrench here, Chance. I’m game.”
“Pops, here. How long we talkin’? I got another business trip comin in a month.”
“No where near that long, pops.” I answered.
“Pops is in.”
“Mum says, where pops goes she’ll go.” Simone acknowledged.
I smiled.
“Witch Corps Flight 1, Whitecliffe Center. Hey, we just got an emergency recall and are officially postponing our return flight plan to a later date. Sorry about this. Priority: Alpha Alpha. Flight 1 out.” I reported to Kane then changed back to our secured comms.
“Pegasus 1, Pegasus. We’re on our way. Do you have a crew roster for Pegasus?’
“Sending it and rendezvous coordinates now, Chance.”
“Hope and a Pair could you drive while I review Pegasus’ roster.
“Taking control now, Chance. Shall I hold this course?”
“Copy the transmitted coordinates to the rest of the Flight and set an intercept course to Pegasus, please.”
“Coordinates received, forwarded and setting course, Chance.”
“Full power, Hope and a Pair.”
“Estimated rendezvous with Pegasus in four hours, twenty-one minutes, Chance.”
“Thank you, Hope and a Pair.” I said as I looked to see which of our sisters boarded Pegasus. Lokust, Kitty, Artie, Chantell, and…Lyra was on board? How had Capt. Serangetti allowed that, I wondered?
“Pegasus 1, Pegasus. Coordinates received. Enter Chance, Laidy in Wait, Major, Porno, Seeker, Wrench, Mum, and Pops to your roster. Porno and Wrench will each require single quarters and Mum and Pops will take a single for themselves. ETA, four and twenty.”
“Copy, Chance. Pegasus A.I. has been informed and is initiating remodel. See you in four and twenty. Pegasus out.”
 
 
“Pegasus 1, call the ball.” Lokust’s voice called over my comm.
“Pegasus 1 on approach to 1-8, Pegasus. Let’s go in, Hope and a Pair.”
“Initiating automated docking sequence, Chance.”
Minutes later I felt the slight ‘bump’ that indicated we were docked to Pegasus.
“Docking complete. All moorings and umbilical’s are secured, Chance.”
“Pegasus welcomes you aboard and I thank you for flying me.”
“Again, you did great, Hope and a Pair.”
“Thank you, Chance. Hope and a Pair, signing off until needed.”
My canopy and the docking ring hatch opened and I floated up a little, turned, and unbuckled Savanna’s car seat then floated both of us into the docking ring towards the passageway door.
Mom and Keaton Yates were just exiting Ring 2’s door. Keats looked a little shaky and immediately reached for the nearest wall to steady himself.
“He’ll be fine in a few minutes, honey. Just needs to find his ole sea legs.” Mom assured as she attended him.
“I put Simone’s parents back in Port 3, High Priestess. Pegasus reports all quarters are ready for occupancy.” Lokust reported standing to attention just behind me.
“Hi Munchkin, you miss me?” she asked Savanna.
My daughter coo’d several times.
“Of course I missed you! Did you have any doubt?” Lokust answered her to my surprise.
“We good, Exec?” I asked cautiously, quietly.
“I missed you too, Chance Summers.” She told me before drawing me into a comfortable embrace. She surprised me further by kissing my lips tenderly.
I felt my insides melt instantly!
 
“Buddy? You okay? You kind of zoned out there for a few minutes.” Lokust asked to catch my attention. She had Savanna’s car seat in hand and was looking worriedly at me.
“I just felt flush there for a moment. Were you saying something, Lokust?”
“I think you need to take a break, Buddy.” She suggested as she led us into my quarters
Correction…our quarters.
“I thought that we could share your quarters to take turns with Savanna at night. That okay with you?” She revealed as she led me to the huge king-sized bed and motioned for me to sit down.
“Look,” She started with a serious expression, “I’m not guaranteeing anything, but I’m willing to try…providing you and Savanna don’t push too hard. I admit that I’ve missed you the last three days, Chance. Now, I’m thinking you felt the butterflies just now when I kissed you…so did I. I’d like to take it light and slow at first. You follow?”
I nodded silently while I stared at her with a silly smirk on my face.
“Now that we have some rules established…” She started to continue, but I cut her off.
“How did Serangetti allow Lyra to board? Does he even know she’s here?”
“Oh, he knows, buddy! Trust me…he knows!”
“Huh? How can you be so sure, Buddy?” I asked, stymied by her certainty.
“Because I authorized it, High Priestess Chance Summers!” An unfamiliar female Lynxin voice growled from our doorway.
“MY kitten will be directly under MY watchful gaze this whole mission. Is that understood, My Lady?” This woman continued, arrogantly setting her terms.
I blinked on my Current Sight, assessed her latent Current then blinked it off.
“I accept those conditions, but will Lady Lyra, Serangetti Sonja, mate of Kimbou and secondary heir to the throne of FeLane?”
“Very astute, and an impressive trick, Lady Chance! Lyra will abide by my wishes, I guarantee you that.”
“You do know she is a natural Current Mage and possesses a mind of her own, right?” I informed her.
“She will comply with her senior. Of that I am sure.” She growled fiercely.
Lokust giggled in spite of the tense situation.
“Yeah, this’ll be entertaining.” My Exec stage whispered to me.
I had to agree with that assessment.
“So…how is it you managed to board Pegasus, Lady Sonja?” I asked eyeing her appraisingly. “Your name did not appear on the ship’s crew or passenger manifest.”
“Galactic Council suggested I attend on a diplomatic Visa…”
“So…you told them that come hell or high water, you were coming along to protect Lyra?”
Sonja smiled a big, tooth-filled grin that displayed her large canines prominently.
“She arrived on Mare just after Flight 1 went to warp, buddy.” Lokust apprised.
“And when the distress call came in, Lyra naturally wanted to help.” I surmised.
“Something like that, Buddy. With Diplomatic dispensation, I couldn’t say no.”
Sonja had been patiently silent while Lokust and I conversed. Dressed in a worn khaki outfit of trousers, blouse, and abused work boots, she looked like any other archeologist that would be found exploring the galactic rim. It was the way she carried herself that indicated she was more than that.
“Well, diplomat or not, I will not have anyone dressing like that on MY ship! We have strict standards here on Pegasus that must be upheld for morale!
Sonja Serangetti was suddenly dressed in a Witch Corps uniform!
Savanna let out a tiny burp- one that caused Lokust to stare at me questioningly.
“Whaaaa?! How did you do that and why?”
“Don’t worry, Lady Sonja, I didn’t activate you. I simply brought you into compliance with our dress code. Plus, the uniform will protect you better than that sad Archeologist disguise.”
“High Priestess to the Bridge.” Kitty’s voice called from overhead.
“Please excuse me, M’lady.” I said as I picked up Savanna and pushed past Sonya- noting as I passed that her restored tail worked just fine.
I wondered how long it would take for her to notice.
A loud, shrill, feline scream from behind me answered that question.
 
 

 
 
“ETA to Magellan is four hours, thirty-one minutes, High Priestess. Good to have you back, Chance.” Artemis reported as Savanna and I entered the Bridge.
“Thank you, but we were only gone for two and a half days, Artie.” I replied as I saw her attention shift to someone behind me.
“I see you applied standard Corps dress code to our…guest?”
I nodded. “She is part of the Corps extended family, Artie…through Lyra.”
“Understood, High Priestess.”
I got the feeling Sonja had not endeared herself to any of the Coven.
“Lady Lyra, what brings you on this mission?”
“You and Ladies Simone, Hope, and Charli were away, and Lady Sandra was otherwise engaged with her Daycare duties, High Priestess. Though just a junior member, I felt I should help- if only to monitor a console. Mommy!”
Upon noticing her mother in uniform, Lyra jumped from her seat and flew across the Bridge to Sonja- literally flew! Sonja was flabbergasted!
“You do the uniform proud, Mommy! And I see Lady Chance restored your tail! It looks beautiful, Mommy! Why did you shorten it in the first place?”
“Do you not have a function to perform here on Pegasus, Lyra?”
“Yeees?”
“Then I suggest you return to it. I have things to talk about with Lady Chance as soon as she is available.”
“Yep, we know who wears the pants in that family!” Chantell carped from her console.
“High Priestess, an automated distress call has replaced any live feeds from Magellan. Just thought you ought to know.” Dell reported.
“So he’s taken over the planetary Comm links. Anything on long range sensors?”
“Long range is picking up several hundred ships orbiting Magellan, High Priestess.” Our A.I. reported.
“Pegasus 8, call the ball.” Chantell advised from her console.
“Pegasus 8 on approach to 2-7.” Charli acknowledged.
“Get ‘Porno’ and ‘Laidy in Wait’ onboard as soon as possible, I’ll be up in observation with Lady Sonja. Lady Lokust, you have the Bridge.”
“As you wish, High Priestess.”
“Lady Sonja, this way please.” I motioned to the Bridge door then quickly to the elevator door as we exited.
 
 
“Pegasus, isolate this compartment to everything other than priority communications.” I said after we exited and the elevator door closed. Sonja’s attention immediately shifted to the streaks of starlight overhead.
“Observation Lounge is isolated. Only Bridge communications will pass.”
“Thank you, Pegasus.” I replied and set my eyes to Sonja Serangetti.
“So why are you really here?” I verbally attacked, catching her completely off guard.
“Why…why would you think that, My Lady?” She questioned as she stared at my eyes.
Closing her eyes quickly she shook her head then appraised me again.
“The Galactic Council…”
“Has absolutely no jurisdiction over Witch Corps, M’lady! EFMC Witch Corps was established as a self-governing, highly classified, covert unit to address the Hobgoblin threat to the galaxy! We are self sustaining, self-policing, and funded through over a thousand years of financially secure investments.” I interjected heatedly.
Again she stared at my eyes in rapt amazement before again shaking her head.
“You would question the wishes of the Galactic Council?”
“I would question any government entity, as any could and would be corruptible, M’lady. When defending against the Hobgoblins, any variance or deviation in policies might indicate infiltration.” I informed her calmly before giving her an example.
“Did you know that your own mate had been copied before being conscripted on the Mare? If not for Lady Kitty’s instincts and her professional affiliation, Capt. Serangetti’s doppelganger could have destroyed the ship. Her quick action prevented that and saved thousands of lives.” I said as I gauged her reaction.
As expected, her neutral expression wavered; she hadn’t gotten that information.
“No one is immune from the Hobgoblin conscription process, M’lady. Kitty, Artemis, and Simone were unfortunately conscripted before Lokust and I could rescue and restore them. The same was true with Kimbou and Lyra.”
“It is for those reasons EFMC Witch Corps must be completely autonomous.” I concluded.
“Now, what does the Galactic Council wish of us?” I inquired.
“I was asked to appraise and report on the Coven, High Priestess. It seems the Council is unfamiliar with your rather…obvious…techniques and decided some oversight should be applied.”
“Well, if wishes were horses, beggars’ would ride, M’lady. You may observe all you like, but just stay out of the way when the shit hits the fan in a few hours!”
“So you expect heavy resistance?”
“I expect a full-on, knock-down, drag out, M’lady! Nothing but our magic seems to faze these things. Standard weapons have no effect whatsoever.”
“You know this as fact with just one campaign as a reference, High Priestess?”
“I know this because my entire planet was wiped of life by those bastards, Sonja Serangetti!” I shouted in anger.
This time she jerked back from me in fear as Savanna began to fuss.
“I’m sorry little one. I didn’t mean to upset you. Mommy’s done making her point to Lyra’s mommy. I think she ‘sees’ Mommy’s resolve in our cause.”
Savanna actually coughed several times then added a ‘gurgle’.
“You don’t think she’s convinced? Even after what she’s been told?”
My daughter gurgled some more and coo’d once.
“I agree. She doesn’t hide her true purpose very well. But you still feel she has potential?” I questioned.
She gurgled once more then giggled.
“We’ll see, though I’m leery of having three activated Lynxins in the Corps, Sweetie.”
“You’re talking to her? You understand her?”
“Can’t every mother understand their child at this age, Sonja?” I countered with a bright smile.
“High Priestess, sorry for this interruption, but long range sensors have picked up several detonations in orbit around Magellan.” Charli’s voice informed with a tense tone.
“Have Porno and Laidy-in-Wait docked yet?”
“Docking clamps on 1-4 and 2-8 just engaged and umbilicals are connected.”
“Lady Lokust. Full Afterboost! Fuel and initialize all Brooms for the new mission. Enable all weapons to extract, purify, and place in stasis any recoverable subspecies. Set targeting for tainted Current.” I ordered.
The streaks of starlight above our heads quickly began to blur then the whole ceiling became a solid, light pastel blue glow, and a slight vibration could be felt within the ship.
“Recalculated ETA is now twenty-five minutes, High Priestess. Velocity is…HOLY SHIT! Velocity is now seventy-three LY’s per second! Damn, she’s got the balls!” Lokust reported excitedly.
Sonja Serangetti stared at me completely dumbfounded.
“How…how can such speed…how is it possible?”
“Science.” I replied neutrally as I picked up Savanna and headed for the elevator.
“Pegasus, discontinue isolation. We’re done here. By the way, yours and Lyra’s quarters are back there.” I pointed aft. “Lyra knows how to access the lock system.”
 
 
“Chance? It’s happening again, isn’t it?” Simone asked in anguish as she and her parents entered the bridge.
As expected both gawked around the compartment like tourists.
“There’s a few seats left in the back, take them.” I ordered. I turned to answer Simone.
“Just like Gaia Four? I hope not.”
“High Priestess. Sensors can detect no deployment of Bio-Desolve to Magellan, although I am detecting massive pockets of Current taint on the surface and in orbit to a lesser degree.” Lokust reported.
“Chance? What are we gonna do?” Simone asked morosely.
“We do our jobs. Purify as many orbiting ships as possible while half of us purify and recover as many on the planet as we can before decay sets in. Charli, I’m leaving it up to you to stabilize and land those orbiters after purification.”
“Make sure to check for breathable atmosphere on each before giving us target confirmation though.”
“You got it, Chance.”
“Keats? I’m taking you off reserve. Engineering console. Samuel? You fly?”
“I fly, M’lady.”
“Good, you have five minutes to study the helm then it’s all yours. Janet, now’s your chance to see what Jules did for a living when not bedding viable young bachelors. Shan you take weapons. Lyra, transfer weapons’ lockout control to the main weapons console. I’m reassigning you to guard duty. I want you to watch Savanna while I’m gone, alright?”
“With pleasure, High Priestess!” She giggled excitedly.
“One more thing.” I said as I turned to Simone’s mum. “I’m really sorry about doing this, but we need you, Lady Janet.”
A bright blue flash illuminated the compartment. When it faded, Janet Redman sat dressed in our uniform- complete with her very own pointed hat set to 4 o’clock.
“Think you can handle the pressure this time, Lady Janet?” I asked as she frantically examined herself.
“W-what do I do? I haven’t done this in twenty-eight years- and not very well at that time, High Priestess!”
“First thing I’d do is conjure my wand to make sure I can still do it then I’d very nicely ask to relieve Lady Charli in sensors and Astronavigation. You’ll be on target assessment. Lokust, disable Afterboost and ensure Deep Space Camo now then drop to sublight after all Brooms are launched, Pops. Janet, try not to be overwhelmed in there.” I pointed to Charli’s cylindrical, translucent station. “Just go with it and don’t fight the feeling. You’ll have full sensors and astronomical systems at your command. You can do this, M’lady.”
“Pegasus is secured from AfterBoost, buddy.” Lokust announced as I felt the vibration subside.
Charli exited her station and nodded to a tensely smiling Janet Redman. In her hand, her wand, which she quickly dispatched to the ether again.
I kissed Savanna goodbye as I placed her seat by Lyra.
“Lock and load, Ladies! It’s Hoblin Season!” I announced in too serious a tone. “Lady Sonya, you have MY Bridge. Take care of my ship, she’s still brand new. Shan, you have launch control and weapons. Good luck.”
“Good Hunting, M’ladies!” Chantell replied as we filed out and headed for the docking rings.

 
 
“Pegasus 1, 2, 3, and 5 you are cleared for departure.” Chantell’s voice echoed around my cockpit as Hope and a Pair released her moorings and I advanced my throttle.
“Pegasus 4, 6, 7, and 8 you are cleared for departure.” Chantell announced five seconds later.
“Pegasus 9 Cleared for departure.” She announced five seconds after that.
“Form-up then break off as our targets are called out, Ladies. Mum, are you ready on your end?”
“Affirmative, Chance. It took me a moment to familiarize myself. Sending individual, high contamination target coordinates first. Secondaries to follow shortly.”
“Chance, I’ve just received targeting coordinates. Displaying now.”
“Thanks Hope and a Pair. You feeling up to this, girl?”
“Try and stop me, High Priestess!”
“Let’s go!” I shouted as I nudged my control stock to port. “Pegasus 1 peeling off and on the prowl.
 
 
“Chance, Lioness. How’s it goin’?” I asked as I neared my first objective.
“Mum found a Magellan Bark with a ‘very bad stain’, Chance. Four clicks til we engage.”
“Acknowledged. Good luck.” I said as I sighted the first shuttle.
“Hope and a Pair, engage wand mode on all weapons and bring the storage reserve online.”
“Ready on all requests, Chance. Safeties are off. All weapons are hot.”
“Thaaank YOU!”
“Huntress and Laidy-in-Wait, I’m sensing a Current surge indicative of a breach in your respective objectives, suggest you pull back.” Mum reported
“Huntress pulling back.”
“I got this, Mum.”
A huge blue flash lit the far horizon.
“BABY!” Echoed across my Comm.
I tried desperately to keep my mind from wandering to Simone as I depressed my own trigger. A brilliant blue beam shot from Hope and a Pair, scoring a direct hit on the shuttle. My display went green indicating I had successfully purified my first orbiter. A quick glance at my storage reserve level indicated 1%.
“Laidy-in-Wait here. Chalk me up for one clean transport. Moving on.” Simone reported excitedly. I breathed a sigh of relief.
A fast moving craft crossed my bow several hundred meters ahead of me.
“YEEEEHAW! Got me a runner!” Mom shouted as she streaked past, over my canopy, and perpendicular to my course. A small burst of blue light in the direction she had gone signified her ‘kill’.
“Huntress, Pegasus. I need more targets. Maybe something a little more challenging would be nice?” Artie reported in her same, no nonsense tone.
A warning tone alerted me to something big coming up from the planet. According to my sensors it was loaded with taint.
“Chance, I just picked up a massive taint coming…”
“Already on it, Mum. Thanks.”
Again I pulled the trigger and I was rewarded by an intensely bright blue flash!
“Seeker, Lokust, Porno, and Kitty are on the deck. Chance, we have a mass exodus going on down here. Starting our rituals.” Charli reported.
“HOLY SHIT!” Lokust screamed. “They just launched an Inter-Planetary Ballistic! Just missed my six! What should I do, Chance?”
“Try to shoot it down if it hasn’t been armed yet, otherwise, tractor it out of orbit and send it toward the star, I guess.” I suggested.
“Or you could put the wammy on it and save fuel, girlfriend.” Chantell added.
“Good Idea, Fairy Godmother. I’ll try that since it just went live.”
“Who’s brilliant idea was it to send a full blown destroyer express escort to Magellan? I should purify him instead of the ship!” Major groused as she disappeared over the planetary horizon.
“Chance, I have six more bogies obtaining orbit near you.” Mum alerted.
“Got them in sight, thanks, Mum.” I acknowledged as I pulled the trigger five times at almost five-second intervals. Number six, an outdated, planetary fighter was trying to break orbit.
Hope and a Pair came about quickly with no complaint and I squeezed the trigger once more.
Then I felt…him!
“Everyone, I think we flushed the big, bad, wolf out of his hidey-hole. Mum, can you sense any taint in the shuttle craft seven hundred kilometers to my three?”
“I’m not picking anything up from that shuttle, Chance.”
“But, I can feel him on it!” I argued in frustration.
‘It’s a ploy. Just keep it in orbit.’ I heard in my head though it wasn’t my Current sense.
Could it be the ‘Lightning Earrings’ that Artemis gave me, maybe?
“Hope and a Pair, give me one normal round and I’ll target the shuttle’s main propulsion emitter.” I ordered.
“Ready.”
I pulled the trigger and a flash erupted from the back of the shuttle. It slowed down drastically.
Despite the strong feeling that I had, I moved onto my next target.
“Hey Chance? You got a minute? I got a big one on the line and I could use some help reelin’ it in.” Major requested.
“On my way, Major.” I responded, advancing my throttle and executing a tight half loop and twist.
“Re-engage wand mode on all weapons, Hope and a Pair.”
“You got it, Chance!”
 
 
“What is that thing, Major?” I asked as I laid eyes on the strangest spacecraft I’d ever seen! It was almost round in shape and had an old-style ‘dish antenna’ indentation in its southern hemisphere.
And it was HUGE!
“If I’d had to guess… It’s a Death Star, Chance. Someone’s a real Lucas groupie!”
“You found a WHAT?” Chantell shouted over our Comms.
“You know, hulking huge, round thing…looks like a white basketball on steroids?” Major replied. “First seen in Chapter Four: A New Hope… That thing, Fairy Godmother.”
“Preparing Pegasus 8 for launch! Talk to you soon, Fairy Godmother out!”
Should I stop her from joining us?
I doubted she’d listen anyway.
“Lioness, you play with the toys.” I ordered. “Major, any ideas on how to defeat a moon?” I asked, still in awe of its sheer size.
“I would think he remedied the fatal flaw the original had, so I guess we use the ‘’force’. Ooorrr, we could always dump mass amounts of used nuclear material on its surface and hope it all goes critical to blow the thing safely out of orbit.”
“Hope and a Pair, Dynamic Camo and scan for this thing’s propulsion system while I circumnavigate it. Major, I’d recommend you do the same. It has to have a weakness to exploit.”
Random weapons fire erupted as I got closer, so I nudged my throttle forward. I wanted to see how fast the automated defense systems actually were.
 
“Lioness, Chance and Major. According to Galactic Records, Magellan has one moon. Smaller than most at six thousand kilometers in diameter, Elcano still serves as a defensive outpost and has hundreds of weapons emplacements over its surface. Be careful, ladies. Lioness out.”
 
Easily able to outrun the defensive systems of this behemoth for the moment, Major and I scanned as much as we could.
“Chance and Major, I may have found a small vent that may lead to the Current Reservoir…” Hope and a Pair announced.
“Yer shittin’ me! It has to be a ploy! No one from my original era is THAT stupid!” Major shouted in disbelief.
“Fairy Godmother, Major. Coming in on your eight. Dynamic Camo and Weapons JESUS H.CHRIST!”
“Hope and a Pair enable Comms between the three of us and copy our data to Holy Shit, please.”
“Is this for real, Chance? It’s emitters are set up as gravity generators?” Fairy Godmother squeaked.
“Lucas never revealed how it moved, Girlfriend.” Major explained. “For all we know, this could have been how he envisioned it. Explains the exhaust ports though.”
“So…how we light this ball up?” Chantell asked.
“Chance, Lokust. What’d you guys do with that IPBM?”
“Remember what I did on Eden?”
“Yeah?”
“Yep!”
“Girlfriends, I’m going to fetch something. I’ll be right back.” I said as I broke right and hit the throttle.
I found my quarry halfway to the Magellan star, slowed to sublight, and wasted no time asking my Current to do something it hadn’t done, but Lokust had.
“Hope and a Pair, do we have an interior architecture for that thing?” I asked as I again advanced my throttle and came about.
“Displaying now, Chance.”
“Great! Thanks, girlfriend!” I smiled deviously as I scanned over the wireframe representation on my screen.
“Hope and a Pair. Could you transmit a ‘skull and crossbones’ to that thing on my mark?”
“A ‘skull and crossbones’, Chance?”
“Yes, and could you animate it to laugh maniacally?”
“If that’s what you want, High Priestess.” My ship’s AI answered, sounding a little concerned for me.
“I do, sweetie.”
“How does she keep doing that, Major?” Chantell questioned. I almost forgot we had open communications between the three of us.
“Still not sure, but I like the intent and the irony.” Mom answered.
I slowed back to sublight. “Hey, girlfriends! Miss me?”
“What. In the thirty seconds you were gone?” Major groaned.
“Cover me. Red Six starting my attack run. Hold it together, Hope and a Pair.” I warned as I vectored off for the small moon.
“May the force be with you, Chance.” Fairy Godmother bid in an amused tone. I could almost picture her shaking her head in amazement. “We’ll keep the Imperial forces busy.”
“On my mark, we hightail it out of here like our heads was on fire an’ our asses was a’catchin’” I ordered.
“Now that’s disturbing, Chance!” Major commented.
“Not to mention waaay before our time!” Fairy Godmother added.
Lining up perpendicular to the behemoth’s surface, I prepared to release my payload, aka, the IPBM as close as I could get to it.
Warning alerts began to sound as I drew closer.
“Chance? You might want to pull up before I’m forced to take emergency action.” Hope and a Pair warned.
“Just a little bit farther.” I said just before releasing and hopefully rematerializing the IPBM inside this thing’s belly.
“Bomb’s away! Everyone get the hell out of here!” I screamed as I pulled up harshly and punched the throttle.
The anticipated result was less than satisfying. The moon- made defensive platform- appeared to be flatulent instead of the big, flashy explosion I expected as columns of smoke rushed from the numerous vents dotting its surface.
“Myth…busted!” Chantell sighed in disappointment.
“Well, thank goodness for CGI.” Mom added in a disappointed, but upbeat tone.
“Ladies? Hate to break it to you, but it’s still moving. Now what?” I said in disbelief as I did a second take at my display.
“I didn’t think he’d be that stupid. It was one big decoy.”
“Ya think?” I asked incensed.
“Chance, I’m picking up a huge Current build-up in the southern hemisphere. I think it might be a weapon.” Hope and a Pair alerted.
I blinked on my Current Sight.
“I see the main concentration of taint in that area. I’m going in.”
What I saw was a growing bubble of deeply tainted Current. From my perception, it seemed subterranean in origin.
I also saw Major, Fairy Godmother, Huntress, and Laidy in Wait form up on either side of me.
“Hey! Heard there was a party on this side of the planet! Why weren’t we invited, Chance?”Artie questioned in a rare- while hunting- show of humor.
“Yeah. Thought you could use a hand, Chance.” Simone added. “I still have two nacelles waiting to be satisfied…wait…that didn’t come out right…”
“Sounded right to me, Sugar Plum!” Porno commented with a bit of a strain to her voice. She probably shouldn’t have said anything and paid attention to what she was doing on the planet’s surface.
“No…those two aren’t related at all.” Major groaned.
“Mum, Chance. I might have something for you. That big Current build-up seems to be highly unstable- like they’re having trouble controlling it. Sensors also indicate that, with the axial spin and forward momentum, it’s probably aiming for Magellan, herself. And let’s keep the Comms professional, ladies!” Janet reported in a judgmental tone.
“Mum, could it be that some of the Current really doesn’t want to fire on the planet?” I asked.
“I’m not sure I understand the question, Chance. How could Current want or not want to do something?”
“We won’t go into that right now, Mum.” I told her.
“Let’s purify that build-up and see.” Major suggested as we neared Elcano and its southern hemisphere.
“Laidy-in-Wait. Think you can hit it from out here?” I asked.
“Clean Up is dying to try, Chance.” Simone replied. “Just give me a clear shot.”
“Make a hole, sisters!” I commanded as I pulled up, rolled a few times to starboard, and reformed on the other side of Clean Up.
“Impressive.” Major complimented in a low smooth voice.
My sisters made similar maneuvers and formed up around Simone.
“And…pulling…the…trigger.”
A brilliant blue beam shot out from my Coven sister’s ship and impacted precisely on the most intense portion of the Current build-up.
“Chance? My nacelles are filling rapidly. Can I divert some of it to you and the others.”
“Laidy-in-Wait, didn’t your momma teach you to use protect…OH no you don’t you cowardly piece of Hobg…”
“Well. Now that she’s actually got something to do besides flapping that mouth… Laidy-in-Wait, I’m going to merge my weapon stream into yours.” Major alerted.
“But I thought it was bad to merge the streams, Egon.” Fairy Godmother protested.
Mom fired directly on Simone’s beam. I joined in as did Huntress, and Fairy Godmother a fraction of a second later.
“Chance, Current reservoir is almost full. We need to break off.”
“Divert Current to me, Hope and a Pair.”
“Is that wise, Chance? I’m responsible for your well being, you know.”
“I can take it, girl.”
“If I start to detect physiological fluctuations in you, I’m pulling the plug, Chance!”
“Acknowledged, Hope and a Pair.”
I immediately felt the inrush of Current and ‘felt’ thousands of unfortunate conscripts wailing in torment.
“Hope and a Pair, I’m going to start feeding back on the weapon stream. Let’s see how they like that.”
“Chance? What are you doing?” Major asked in astonishment.
“The build-up is filled with conscripts, Major. I’m putting them into stasis pods and returning them to their base for later recovery. I suggest you all do the same or we’ll lose thousands in this campaign.”
“You heard her, Ladies! Let’s do the impossible…yet again.”
“Its imagination time!” Fairy Godmother exclaimed in a low, gravelly voice.
“Too far of a reach on that one, girlfriend.” Major commented.
“Mum, Chance. Whatever you girls are doing out there seems to be working. I’m detecting a notable decrease in the build-up. Sensors now indicate it’s starting to destabilize and dissipate. It just collapsed.”
I nodded silently in relief.
“Hope and a Pair, scan the area. Is there any breathable atmosphere down there?”
“I’m picking up a viable atmosphere and have also found an operational hangar bay. I believe it connected to the weapon’s control base.”
“On display.”
As I studied my display, I couldn’t help feeling it was a trap.
“It’s a trap!” Chantell managed to get out in some kind of strange mush-mouth imitation before laughing.
“Yep. It is.” I agreed as I changed course. “Hope and a Pair, access their hangar controls and prepare it for us, please.”
 
 
“Hope and a Pair, disable your Current absorption. I want you completely isolated from this place. Constantly monitor your Current reserve for even the slightest change. I’m taking your key with me also.” I told my ship as she hovered ten feet above me. I had floated out of her cockpit and gently landed on the deck
“A valid set of security protocols given the circumstances, High Priestess. May I suggest a further refinement?”
“Already taken care of, girl.” I replied as I finished my protective spell. Hope and a Pair became engulfed in a bluish sphere and both disappeared.
“What did you just do, Chance? What I felt was very complex and very, very powerful.” Mom asked as she walked over from her hovering Semper Fi.
“Same thing I’m going to do to all our Brooms, Mom. Do you have her key?”
“Yes, but how did…never mind.” She said as I enchanted her ship with the same spell, only modifying it slightly for her.
I repeated my enchantment for my other sisters’ hovering ships.
“You sure Clean Up will be okay, Chance?” Simone asked in concern.
“We’ll be fine, M’lady.” Her Broom responded in a positive tone.
“Let’s look around, Ladies.” I said as I blinked on my Current Sight.
The whole deck was littered with blue stasis pods!
 
 
The personnel we recovered were a wide cross section of the species. I counted over seventy different sub-species in just the hangar area. I anticipated the distribution to be the same all through this portion of the base.
The native Magellans were distinct in that they shared two specific traits: that being height- no more than five feet tall- and girth- relatively rotund at three in diameter. All seemed to have the same shade of brown hair, too. Still, their other features varied wid…
“Who are you? What sub-species are you?” One woman that recovered very quickly demanded from behind me. I had just turned to continue recovering more of her crewmates.
“Lady Chance Summers, EFMC Witch Corps, ma’am. We’re here to help.” I said as I turned back to her, my wand at the ready.
“The ‘Witch Corps’ is a fable!” Declared the brunette that was slightly shorter than me. “Who are you really?! Station destruct! Courtney, seven-seven-seven-enable!”
“Station destruct activated, please proceed to any and all escape craft available. You have twenty minutes.”
“That was a bad move, ma’am. Most of the escape craft have been launched, immobilized, or destroyed.”
“Why would you do that? Have you no morality?” She screeched, appalled.
“Hey, Lady!” Mom shouted from nearby. The woman’s attention turned toward her. “We just got here! Ask the big ‘Uglies’ that are still prowling this place why they did it.”
“You are not in league with the monsters?” She asked, turning back to me in surprise.
“Hit the deck!” I shouted as a larger Hoblin appeared several yards behind her.
I immediately stepped to the side and blasted the thing. Only one conscript was left behind, minus her feet.
Running over to the prone, groaning woman, I concentrated and restored what was missing.
“That should do it. She’ll be good as new.” I said as I stood and turned around.
The woman, Courtney, I guess was her name, shook in absolute terror.
“Hhhhhow?”
“I already told you, Witch Corps, ma’am. Now, could you cancel that damn self destruct?”
“I-I-I-I can’t.” She stuttered shyly.
“Then I’ll just have to do it myself!” I declared angrily.
“Cinematically, you have to wait until there is no more than five seconds remaining in the countdown, Lady Chance.” Mom glibbed. “You’ll want to stop the count at two seconds though- more dramatic.”
Noticing more people regaining consciousness, I decided to humor mother- ‘cinematically’. I immediately began to hover then started to spin slowly while I concentrated on the base’s self-destruct system. The base’s purified Current was more than happy to comply with my request.
“Self-destruct sequence has been aborted.” I heard as I stopped spinning, and landed gently on the deck.
“How? That’s impossible! That routine was foolproof! I wrote it myself!”
“Only a fool would try to blow up her rescuers, M’lady!” I groused as I stared intensely at her.
“But I didn’t…”
“You didn’t listen as I made introduction! As a result you almost killed thousands of people for nothing! What is wrong with you people?” I interrupted angrily.
She quickly stepped back from me in fright, her eyes never left mine.
“I’ve nev-never met your…your subspecies…before. W-what subspecies are you?”
“She’s a very pissed off member of the species, honey! I’d suggest limiting your questions to ‘what do you need’ and ‘how can I help’. Comprende, Seniorita?”
“Huh?” The woman asked mom, perplexed.
“She asked if you understand.” I translated.
The woman, ‘Courtney’, nodded.
Several high-pitched whistles instantly passed my head as ‘Courtney’s’ eyes widened considerably.
Artie had scored five more kills, but no conscripts.
“Nice shot, sister.” I praised.
Artie nodded and continued to look around.
“The place is teeming with Hoblins, High Priestess.” She offered.
“Pull everyone back to the center of the hangar deck, sisters. Keep them away from the conduits.”
I quickly enabled my Current Sight again and began to scan the walls, ceiling, and deck.
Something interesting filled my vision as I scanned past ‘self-destruct Courtney’ standing, facing me, just off to my left.
“So, how long you been stationed out here?” I asked, making small talk as I continued to look around.
“About three and a half weeks, ma’am, why.”
“No reason. Just curious. So, where’s home?” I smiled, but kept scanning for ‘popup’ Hoblins.
“Gaia Four.”
“Really?! I happen to know a few people from there. They live in Galitzen about four clicks from the Spaceport.”
“Really? I’m from Blue Knob that’s very close…about seventeen miles north.”
“I’ve heard of it. Been back recently?” I asked as my left hand brushed down my skirt.
“About a year ago, ma’am.”
“Oh, so you were just assigned and arrived here three and a half weeks ago.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
I began laughing.
“Ma’am?”
“Gaia Four has been dead for ten years!” I growled as I pulled both wands and called upon a force shield to hold her in place.
“What? What are you doing?” She screeched in horror.
“So,” I began as I appraised her. “I’ll ask you the same questions you asked me. Who are you? Really.”
“Chance! Look out!” Simone shouted as she produced her hand-held cannon, pulling the trigger instantly.
A lock of my hair sizzled as the blue beam passed extremely close to my still twisting shoulder.
Twenty onrushing Hoblins were gone after the blue plasma ball faded. Simone was shining like a space beacon!
“High Priestess, I need to relieve myself. See any secure return conduits?”
I nodded to my left. After blinking her Current Sight on, she nodded.
“Okay, I see it, thanks. I’ll be a few minutes.”
I turned my attention back to my highly tainted, mysterious prisoner.
“Sooo…who are you really?”
“I’m not going to answer any of your questions.” She arrogantly resisted.
“Okay.” I responded as I purified a little of her taint.
She cried out in extreme pain.
“Sooo…who are you really?” I asked again.
“I’ll never answer you!” She rebelled in a stressed voice.
I purified a little more of her taint.
Again she screamed out in agony.
“What is your purpose?”
“Ha! AAAAAAARRRGGH!” She shreiked.
“What is your purpose?”
“I don’t know. AAAAAARRRGGH!”
“Sure you do. What are you really?”
“I. Don’t. Kno…”
I purified quite a bit of her Current this time. The shrieking was almost unbearable!”
Mom and my sisters looked on with horrified faces as I continued my interrogation. I decided to pause a moment. Maybe this…thing …would think better about answering my questions.
“What are you really?” I asked as soon as it had recovered enough- in my opinion.
“I…I…Don’t…” She stuttered.
“Please. We are way beyond the ‘I don’t know’ phase of this. Is ‘Courtney’ your real designation?”
“How…how did you know? I never said…anything.” She continued to stare into my eyes in terror.
“It was part of your arming code. By the way? Using your name or birthday or anything relatable to you for a ‘secret’ code is very stupid.” I admitted. As I did, I reanalyzed her taint. Though still tainted, her Current was showing signs of improvement.
“What ‘arming code’?” She asked.
“Amnesia cases are very hard to prove, dear. Especially with that much taint in your body.” Chantell advised sagely.
“Taint? What’s that?” She looked like she had absolutely no clue.
“Where are you from?” I asked bluntly.
“I’m from Gaia Four.”
I nodded. “Did you or did you not hear me say that Gaia Four died over ten years ago. A Bio-Desolve attack decimated the planet! Everything is gone! Nothing…NOTHING survived! I should know! I’M FROM GAIA FOUR!” I shouted the last. “I was away on active duty when it happened.” I glared angrily with my eyes closed.
“But I just left Gaia Four three and a half weeks ago! I swear!” She argued. “I swear! I swear. I swear…”
She fell to her knees and began to cry, face in her hands.
Mom tapped my shoulder and I yielded.
“Tell me, honey, you remember the year when you left Gaia Four?” Mom asked in a gentle tone.
Through my force shield, I had continued to ‘trickle’ Current from her and purify it before returning it in like fashion.
“3265.”
“That was ten and a half years ago.” Mom informed her.
She stared at us in disbelief!
“No. I left three and a half weeks ago!” she argued.
“This is 3276, honey! Semper Fi? What year is it?” Mom countered.
“SIR! 3276, Sir!” Echoed in the hangar from the hidden craft.
“See?” Mom gloated.
“But that can’t be! Where have I been for ten years? Why can’t I remember?”
The woman’s taint simply wouldn’t clear for some reason, and I motioned that fact to mom in the old sign language gestures she had taught me years ago.
“Courtney, I want you to stay calm. We are trying to help you, but I have a feeling something in you is fighting. Lady Chance is going to try something. Again…please remain calm.” Mom said then nodded to me.
I increased my purification.
The woman began screaming in agony!
“I don’t get it.” I said as I reduced my purification to the previous level.
“Doppleganger?” Mom offered.
“If that’s true then can she even be restored?” I wondered out loud.
“Courtney? Sorry about that. Something inside you keeps fighting us. Can I ask you a few personal questions? Maybe our Galactic files can help us find the problem.” Mom said as she conjured a DataTab.
“State your full name, please.” Mom started.
“Courtney Rodgers.”
“Age?”
“Twenty-three.”
“Thank you. Place of birth?” Mom said as she typed the information into the device.
“Blue Knob, Eastern Territory, Gaia Four. 3243.”
“Thank you. This will take a moment to relay through our ship.” Mom told her while showing me the device’s display.
According to the Galactic Archives, Courtney Angela Rodgers actually was a real person that had disappeared shortly after her first posting on Magellan’s Elcano defense base. She and her file image didn’t match though.
Slowly moving my foot to the right several inches, I connected to a viable return conduit and asked the pure Current to find this girl’s pattern. Mom was good enough to keep her talking as it took several minutes for me to have the Current search for any of her. I was somewhat disappointed. Her conscription must have happened elsewhere. Maybe on the planet?
That meant I would have to improvise.
Modify! That’s it! I thought as my Current Sense revealed the problem.
“Excuse me, Courtney. If you could change anything about yourself, would you?” I inquired to mom’s confusion.
“Huh? What kind of question is that?” She protested.
“Sometimes, when fighting these inner demon things, I need to really get to know the person. Please answer the question.” I explained.
The woman thought several moments before answering sheepishly.
“Well…I’ve…I’ve always thought being taller than five-one would be nice. At least then I could reach the top shelves of the storage lockers. While I’m at it, I wouldn’t mind getting rid of this red hair…”
“Thanks, I think I see the problem. Please hold still. This shouldn’t hurt at all, Courtney.” I said as I gently took Mom and turned us around to talk privately.
“Chance? What’s going on? What she just told you is the way she looks now. And that is nowhere near what she looks like on file.”
“I think, somehow, she’s made a deal with him…the Hoblins, I mean. Though that might not be the case at all. I’d like to try something.”
At mom’s confused silence, I continued.
“Somehow she got them to make her ‘look’ exactly as she sees her ideal self. I think it’s time to get dramatic, mom.”
“Dramatic? As in over the top. Chance?”
“Follow my lead, mom, but hold off using any magic. Okay? No magic.” I instructed.
Mom nodded and we turned to face our subject- still captured in my force shield.
“Let the exorcism commence.” I said in as serious and dramatic a voice as I could. I ‘wobbled’ my primary wand at her menacingly. Mom, for her part, followed my lead.
“Wha-what’s an exorcism?” Courtney asked in fright.
“The only way to get the Hoblin out of you so that we can save you. I must warn you though, you may look different when we succeed. That is why I asked the question. It gives us something to work for and it will be how you look from here on.” I informed her confidently.
“Time is of the essence, High Priestess. The thing should be kept off-balance. Shall we begin?” Mom said- more like urged.
“Are you ready, Courtney? This may sting a little. And you may feel light-headed.” I said as I began to incant my ‘exorcism spell’. She closed her eyes tightly and tensed visibly.

I nudged mom. “Bring it home, My Lady.”
“A whop-bam-a-lamb-a. A whop-boom-bang!” Mom sang loudly.
Rolling my eyes once, I pulsed the holding field around the woman then disabled it entirely.
“There. That should do it. How do you feel?” I asked as I blinked on my Current Sight.
She sparkled in pure, orange Current. That could only mean one thing…
“I feel…I need a mirror!”
One appeared in her hand and she appeared completely oblivious to what she had just done as she examined herself carefully.
“How-how did you do this? This is how I’ve always imagined myself! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She cried and embraced mom and I excitedly!
Chantell walked over to us and stopped, purposely facing away from the vain woman who quickly went back to staring at herself in her self-conjured mirror.
“Why does it smell like ‘Grade A’ bullshit over here?” She whispered with a devious smile.
“Sometimes you don’t need magic to do magic, Fairy Godmother.” I whispered back.
“She’s a ‘Natural’, Shan.” Mom explained. “First one I’ve met in two hundred years. Not counting us or Lyra, that is.”
Chantell nodded.
“Good work, girlfriend. Let’s get back to the mission?” She whispered before walking back to her original location.
“So, Courtney? What was your assignment here on Elcano?” I asked the very engrossed woman.
“I’m a-I’m a culinary specialist.” She answered without taking her attention away from her precious looking glass. “People of Blue Knob said I worked miracles in the kitch…”
Her mirror disappeared as her head and expression turned.
“They’re all dead, aren’t they? There’s no one left back home…”
“You survived though, Courtney. You and I and Ladies Hope and Charlene all survived. Gaia Four lives on through us.” I said gently taking her hand in mine.
“They…they need to be stopped! They need to pay for what they did to my parents and friends…my planet!”
“And they will, Honey! That’s what Witch Corps is all about. We’ll make them pay for every planet…every society they’ve destroyed.” Mom assured. “We’ll get’em.”
“CHANCE! Behind you!” Chantell shouted.
Before I could do anything, Courtney’s hand raised with her palm out at our attacker.
“GO TO HELL YOU MONSTER!” She shouted just before the Hoblin that had appeared thirty feet from us exploded into small pieces.
It was even gorier than some of the partials I’d had to put down!
Both mom and I looked in awe at the girl.
“D-d-d-did I…just do that?” She asked, shaken.
“Damn girl! You got the skills!” Chantell complimented as she and Artie stopped at our side. “A bit raw, but effective.”
Courtney promptly bent over and vomited.
 
 

 
 
“I take it you didn’t know about your talent, Honey?” Mom asked as she held the girl steady.
“What,” she wiped her mouth, “what did you do to me?”
“We did absolutely nothing to you. That was all you, Courtney.” I told her.
“You’re what we call a ‘Natural’, honey.” Mom told her. “A ‘Natural’ can use the Current within to do amazing things- like you just did to that Hoblin.”
“But I didn’t want to…to kill it! I just wanted it to leave me alone.”
“That isn’t the intent I heard, girlfriend.” Chantell argued. “You wanted that thing GONE!”
“But I didn’t!” She cried. “I’ve never killed anything in my life!”
“So what do we do with her, M’lady?” Artie asked.
“See if she can manifest one of these, I guess.” I replied indifferently.
“See if you can conjure one of these in your dominant hand, Courtney.” I said holding up my wand to show her.
“Why? Why would I want to ‘conjure’ anything?” She asked skeptically.
“Do you know what a ‘Current Mage’ is? Ever heard the term before?”
“I’m not stupid! Of course I’ve heard of Current Mages! They’re as fictional as the Witc…” Courtney sniped but stopped and gulped loudly as it sunk in.
“I-I-I’m a Current Mage?” She gasped.
Mom, Artie, Chantell, and I nodded.
“Feel up to helping us clear Elcano of Hoblins?” I asked with a grin.
“Do I have to kill…them…I…I don’t want to kill anything…again.” She shyly asked.
“As you have already seen, the Hoblins are Tainted Current. We simply purify that Current and recover anyone conscripted by them, provided it hasn’t been too long. In that case, the Purified Current is returned to the local reservoir as it should normally be.” Artie informed her.
“Purified?”
“We can remove the taint from the conscripted individuals and if their image is still intact, recover them back to this reality. Lady Chance has even recovered individuals thought to have degraded well beyond recovery.” Artie answered as she pointed to me.
“All these people around us have been recovered from their Hoblin conscription, Courtney. You as well.” Mom added.
“And you would like me to help?”
“Only if you want. Not everyone is confident enough to do what we do, Courtney. There would be times when helping a severely degraded conscript to the next life is required. We’ve all done our share of that, I’m afraid.” I said as I nodded over to the remains on the floor and nearby equipment.
“Was it recoverable?”
“Unknown now, but there is flesh left behind. Normally the Hoblins just disappear into blue plasma balls. Nothing remains.” I tried to be honest.
“Then I just killed someone!” She asserted gravely.
“You are untrained and lack a Purifier, Courtney. You couldn’t have done anything more without those two resources.”
“Then train me not to kill! Train me to recover them as you do.” She pleaded.
I motioned for Mom, Chantell, and Artie.
“What do you think, sisters? Should we take the chance and allow her membership?”
“Not gonna lie, Chance. We can use all the wands we can get.” Mom recommended.
“I agree. Trial basis only. Teach her the basics.” Artie agreed.
“You see what she did to that thing?” Chantell hissed excitedly. “She could whoop our asses if she had the chance! I think you should watch her, High Priestess. Teach her how to harness that raw talent for good and not revenge.”
“Then we’re agreed?” I asked and received three nods.
“Courtney, we’ve decided to give you a chance. Consider this an audition of sorts. Now, let’s see what you look like in the uniform.”
“You…you want to see what I look like in that getu…?” She complained but stopped abruptly as she felt her clothing change.
“How?”
“Here, put this on. It’s a purifier. The clasp will disappear as soon as you latch it so don’t be alarmed.” I said as I handed her the locket I’d just manifested.
“She’s a nine o’clock, Chance.” Mom pointed out.
I nodded. “Now can you manifest a wand?” I asked.
Holding out her left hand it appeared immediately!
Some of the runes or symbols on it looked familiar somehow.
Courtney stood, staring with bulging eyes and wide-open mouth at what she had just conjured!
“Now, the first lesson: You must always respect your latent Current. That is what we call the energy within you and what powers you’re magic. The Hoblins came about because their creators demanded of their Current- commanded it instead of befriending it. Courtney, the Current within you…within everything in existence…is alive- as sentient as you or I- maybe more so. Treat it as a best friend or close relative, never a slave or subordinate. Understand?”
She didn’t reply, only continued to stare at me in fright.
“Do you understand, Ms. Rodgers?” I asked to confirm and to snap her out of wherever she was right now.
“What? Yes…so I really am possessed?”
“Not anymore, no. Current is in every living thing in the universe. Treat it as just another species. Respect the Current as you would any other subspecies. Got it?”
“I think so? So Current is alive and living in me…in you…in everything?” She asked in doubt to confirm.
“Everything. Now, lesson two: I’d like you to ask your Current to help you see it. We call this our Current Sight. It’ll help track and corner the tainted ones in the conduits. It can be activated or deactivated simply by thinking about it and blinking. Like this.” I instructed and blinked on my Current Sight.
What I saw was the purest, most brilliant orange I’d only ever seen in Lyra and myself until now.
“Now you try it, but look to the hangar walls and not me for your first time.” I didn’t want her blinded or scared since my Coven sisters complained my Current ‘aura’ was much too bright.
My new pupil blinked and began looking around the walls, ceiling and floor as if seeing them for the first time. She looked at each of my sisters and even the recovered people still unconscious on the deck.
Then she looked at me and quickly covered her eyes and just as quickly looked away then blinked.
“Why are you so much brighter than anything…anyone else here? Gaia herself never shined that bright!” She gasped as she faced and stared at me.
“Lady Chance is our High Priestess for a reason, Lady Courtney. She is the most powerful of us all. She is also my daughter.” Mom explained. “She is the product of two Current Mages and many, many requests to our Latent Currents for a child.”
“She’s also the only witch to ever threshold three times.” Chantell added with a proud smile.
“Threshold?” She questioned.
“Think of each threshold as a higher tier of our…of our evolution…our species evolution. Lady Chance, while helping-or championing for lack of a better word- the species recover from the Hoblin scourge, advanced or evolved twice more than we have. She is two levels above us and as such is the most advanced human in this galaxy…”
“Stop it, mom! I’m no more advanced than anyone else!” I protested. “I just did the things I had to do to save the species.”
“Chance? On your seven at forty yards.” Chantell quickly whispered.
“Lesson three: When confronted by a Hoblin, ask your Current to purify AND recover any conscripted individual or multiple individuals. The bigger ones are made up of many merged conscripts. Now, let’s see what you’ve learned.” I said as I stepped aside.
Courtney’s eyes bulged open as she saw the large creature lumbering toward us. I estimated maybe four conscripts had merged.
“Don’t forget your lessons. Point your wand and access your Current, Courtney. Stay calm and think things through, just as I have instructed. If not too degraded, you’ll have saved about four lives.” I coached.
A bright blue beam shot from her wand and an instant later five conscripts had been recovered and lay unconscious on the deck.
Turning, I blinked on my Current Sight and examined my pupil.
“Oh God! I killed them anyway!” She cried out.
“Normally they are just unconscious, M’lady.” I comforted as Chantell hurried over and checked for life signs. She nodded with a smile.
“See? They aren’t dead, just unconscious. They’ll awake with what equates to a hangover and severe fatigue. You did a wonderful job, M’lady.” I cheered.
“But I still killed that one.” She said as she blinked once and stared intently at what used to be a Hoblin.
“I still see taint. That is the red stuff and not the orange?” She asked. “I should try to recover it. Is it possible to do that?”
“You won’t know unless you try, M’lady.” I advised.
Courtney Rodgers placed her wand into her right hand and began to ‘reach out’ with her left toward the splattered, organic debris.
I wasn’t surprised when the pieces began to collect and glow blue. A bright blue plasma ball snapped into existence and quickly dispersed.
An unconscious male Magellan lay on the deck along with half of someone…something else.
I quickly blinked and searched for the missing pieces. Courtney began to cry and shake her head in despair.
Another blue plasma ball developed as I brought the unclaimed pieces back together with the partial.
Two Magellans- one male, one female- now lay on the deck.
Our newest sister turned to me and wrapped her arms around me in excitement.
“Not bad for a first-timer, honey!” Mom congratulated, placing a hand on her forearm. “Just remember to find all the pieces?”
 
 
Courtney proved to be a valuable addition to the Corps as we made our way from compartment to compartment clearing taint and Hoblins from the moon base. Though sometimes, her magic could be ‘quirky’. Several of the conscripts she recovered as we proceeded through the base got ‘mixed up’ and required me to sort and reassemble them properly.

 
 
“Lokust, Chance. The dance is over, beginning to mop up here. How’re things on your end?” Lokust broke over my Comm.
“Still picking out the bad ones.” I reported. “We added ‘Mixie” to the roster at nine o’clock. A little green, but competent.”
“Copy. Can’t wait for the ‘Em and Gee’. Just letting you know we’re locking up. Let you know when we get to next Hostile.”
“Call after you unpack.” I giggled, thinking Lokust was really starting to get into the ‘covert’ messages. Then again, maybe she was just trying to confuse Sonya Serangetti.
Yeah, that seemed more plausible.
“Pegasus, Chance.”
Speak of the devil!
“Chance here.”
“Lioness, My Lady, with a situational report. Pegasus has completed sanitizing all remaining orbital craft and requests a status report.”
“It’s a full moon on the Bayou and we’re still huntin’ gators.” I reported in a lilting, accented voice.
“Excuse me?” Sonya exclaimed as I heard several people start laughing hysterically in the background.
Several minutes passed before she replied.
“Keep up the good work, Chance. Pegasus out.”
I could imagine Keats first laughing then informing Lyra’s mom of the meaning of my report. Apparently, Sam and Janet Redman understood my cryptic reference too.
“Seriously. We have to have a talk about how you do that, Honey.” Mom deadpanned with a quirky smile. “I mean…I can understand adapting The Moody Blue’s ‘Nights in White Satin’ to a fake exorcism spell, but that…that was just so out there! And just to be clear, there’s absolutely no Cajun in the Summers’ family line.”
“I can see why she did it, M’lady.” Artie admitted while giggling. “Lady Sonya needs to depart from her staunch, regimented beliefs, and understand how we do things- that nothing we do is ‘by the book’ and she needs to be less ‘administrative’.”
“Pegasus, Chance. Your comm line is still open. Suggest you release the channel.” Sonya’s voice advised before we all started laughing. There was absolutely no humor in her voice.
Chantell smiled deviously and gave me a ‘thumbs up’.
“Hey, girls? A little help over here?” Simone summoned as we turned to see at least fifty huge Hoblins advancing from our rear.
“I’ll get them.” Courtney, or ‘Mixie’ as we had dubbed her, volunteered. Pointing her wand, the brilliant blue beam shot out at our adversaries, engulfed them, and quickly dispersed.
Fifty ‘doll-sized’ Hoblins bobbled around in their place like ancient wind-up toys.
“Oops. I fouled up again! Why do things like this always happen to me?” She groaned playfully.
“Try again, honey, only this time think about restoring them and not ‘toying’ with them.” Mom suggested as she giggled.
Again her bright blue plasma engulfed the miniatures and she was rewarded with almost a hundred people lying on the deck.
“That’s better, Mixie. Just try to keep your head on straight.” Mom complimented with a wry smile.
“But it just happens! Fighting these monsters is just sooo easy. It’s like I AM toying with them!” She confessed.
“That’ll change when they start shootin’ back, kid.” Chantell warned.
“Wait…they…they shoot back? Why didn’t anyone tell me before now?”
“Because…strangely they haven’t yet.” Mom answered. “I wonder why that is?” She pondered aloud.
“Maybe because all their weapons were combined to make that.” I pointed out through a large compartment hatch that I had just opened.
Gathering at the opening, we could see a vast compartment. It’s cavernous size and the fact there was something very big buzzing and popping in its center meant this was going to be dangerous.
Blinking on my Current Sight, I observed concentric rings of Current in varying degrees of taint orbiting the strange, HUGE, centadecahedril device that made this compartment look cramped.
“By Merlin’s beard…” Chantell gasped, but didn’t finish.
“Anyone else have a clue?” I asked of my Coven sisters. “I’m thinking that IPBM only compounded our problem.” I added as I noticed and pointed out the battered, scorched payload cone laying off to the right some distance away.
“We could try blasting it.” Simone suggested as she manifested her weapon and took aim.
“Wait, Simone. Let’s look at this logically first.” I countered, holding my hand up to stop her.
“Logically? I think logic flew out the window on this one, Honey.” Mom protested. “I’ve never seen anything like this before…ever!”
“That’s exactly my point. We’ve never seen anything like this. It’s absurd! Completely over the top in the grand scheme! Logically, it shouldn’t even exist.” I said while failing to take my eyes off of the thing.
“Well it does exist, Honey.” Mom confirmed. “So what are we going to do about it?”
I thought about that question for several minutes. A whimsical idea popped into my head.
“It’s just so absurd.” I repeated. “So very over the top.”
“You said that already, Chance.” Simone reminded.
I couldn’t help smiling as a plan manifested.
“Chance? I’ve seen that devious look before. When you were little.” Mom accused. “It usually means you’re up to something suspicious. Care to share?”
“This thing is crazy absurd, right?” I asked.
“We’ve already established that, girlfriend.” Chantell said impartially.
“I think we should use something equally absurd to destroy it.” I said as I manifested a small, four-inch long, red and yellow plaid paper tube with a stiff, three-inch string hanging out one end.
“I think this should do it.” I added as I appraised my work.
“A tampon?” Simone asked innocently before turning bright red and looking around in embarrassment.
I rolled my eyes at her.
“A firecracker.” Mom said flatly and in disbelief as she momentarily stared at our blue-haired Coven sister. “You think a single ‘Lady Finger’ will take THAT out? Really?”
“Yes, but we need to get closer.” I smiled.
“Well I should hope so!” Mom scoffed then thought a moment.
“Why not throw a match at it instead?” She added sarcastically.
“That’s plan ‘B’.” I replied dryly.
“So this is just a dream. I’m actually stoned and lying somewhere on the floor in the hangar back on Kane, right?” She vamped.
“Weeeelllll…no.” I teased.
“Marvelous!” Mom responded as she raised her hands to the heavens in surrender.
“I’ll be right back.” I said as I manifested my very own straw broom and mounting it, flew off toward the massive…thing…to plant my diminutive ‘explosive’ charge.
Using my Current Sight, I carefully flew through and around the orbiting Tainted Current and looked for a place to set the ancient, tiny gunpowder ordinance. On my second lap around I found a miniscule hole through which I could see orange light escaping.
“Perfect!” I smiled evilly, slowing to hover in front of the point of light. I also informed the imprisoned Current what I intended to do.
Carefully, I inserted the firecracker and made sure it was wedged in securely.
Focusing on the tip of my wand, I caused it to start glowing and finally to burst into flame.
I quickly lit the fuse and hurried back to where my Coven sisters stood watching. I didn’t bother to turn off my Current Sight.
From here we could see the tiny flicker of the fuse burning down until finally it made a less than entertaining ‘pop’.
“And that’s why I always preferred ‘bigger’ pyrotechnics- something in the multi-kiloton variety usually.” Mom deadpanned.
“Yeah, your Fourth of July displays were always a real hoot, Hopewell.” Chantell replied halfheartedly.
After a minute, orange light began to show more and more from the widening hole.
Suddenly the whole thing began to shiver then shatter- pure Current flowing out of the ever widening cracks.
The multifaceted device crumbled into a pile of rubble with a ‘crackling’ sound and the liberated Current simply drained off below the decking somewhere. All activity, buzzing or otherwise stopped. The huge compartment was eerily silent and still.
Equipment began shutting down all around us.
“I think that’s our cue to leave.” I suggested before turning to see I was the last one to figure that out.
Stepping through the hatch, I quickly closed and secured it behind me then ran to catch up with my retreating Coven sisters.
During our race back to the hangar, equipment of all kinds continued to shut down behind us- as if chasing us.
“So what’s next Chance? A huge boulder rolls out of nowhere and tries to flatten us?” Mom griped as we turned down another passageway.
“We’ll make it. Just as long as there’s no snakes. I hate snakes.” I responded.
Chantell then Mom stopped suddenly and stared at me.
“Seriously, girlfriend, we need to talk once we get to safety!” My aunt strongly suggested.
“Less talk, more run.” I advised as I passed them, continuing my sprint for the hangar.
“And what do we do when we get there, Honey? What will all those we recovered do?” Mom inquired as she and Chantell tried to catch up.
“The hangar should be safe. I asked the Current to ‘clean up’ the base. It was pretty upset about being imprisoned in that…that containment vessel. I’m thinking the Hoblins were trying to force it to devolve into ‘Super Taint’.”
“Super Taint?” Mom gasped in disbelief. “Man, this mission just keeps getting better.”
“Not better, stranger, Lady Hope.” I corrected just as we arrived back in the hangar.
Hundreds of people had been recovered and a sizable portion was either awake or starting to awaken.
The automated door just made it closed when it’s control panel went dark. Until the systems started to reboot, there was only one way out.
And that way out lacked an atmosphere.
“Now what, M’lady?” Artie asked, as she looked about the hangar deck- at all the people we’d recovered.
 
 

 
 
“I think it’s time we end this quaint little simulation.” I said as I took a few steps forward then turned back abruptly to my sisters. “Wouldn’t you agree, ‘Courtney’?”
Silence and bewilderment found my Coven sisters as they all set their attention to ‘the new girl’.
“How long have you known, Chance?” Mixie asked as she dropped her ruse, her expression stiffening somewhat, and a playful smile appeared.
“Since I tried purifying you.” I admitted flatly.
“That long, eh. Oh well…it was fun while it lasted. What confirmed it? If I might ask.”
“Blue Knob is called ‘Blue Summit’ by us locals. Blue Knob only appeared on travel brochures put out by the Galactic Tourism Agency. They wanted a ‘country’ sounding small town to draw tourists to the mountainous recreational region without actually referring to a mountainous region.”
She tensed her lips and nodded a couple times. “Should have done more research…”
“Girlfriend? Could we possibly trouble you for some clarification?” Chantell interrupted. “I heard the word ‘simulation’ so naturally I’d like to know just WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!”
‘Courtney’ and I just stared at each other for a while- daring the other to speak first.
“Fine!” Mixie broke first raising her hands in surrender. “Yes, it was a simulation! A test to see which side you girls were on- if any side at all. I had to know where your loyalties lay, or if you were just callous mercenaries in it for the spoils.”
“So, who do you represent? What’s your affiliation?” Mom asked.
“I have no official affiliation, Hope Summers. I am independent...for the moment.” Mixie replied.
“For the moment? I take it we were being interviewed for that ‘official affiliation’?”
“In a way, Charlene Armstrong. I had heard rumor that Witch Corps had reemerged and liberated Mare De Tempest successfully, and with less collateral casualties than forecasted. Then data started trickling in about your recent humanitarian mission. Ten systems in three weeks! Very impressive! You even had time to squelch a planetary coup. I’m still waiting to receive intelligence from Eden Three.”
“I’m sure you’ll find that things there have changed; balanced out, one might say.” I commented.
“So how much of this is real and how much is simulation,” Simone demanded? “The people around us, are they real or projection?”
“They are as real as the Hoblin monster that conscripted them,” she blushed, “me, Simone Gutteman.” She answered then faced me again.
“I must commend you on your resourcefulness, Chance. Using a Magellanese IPBM to take out the base’s tainted power core was brilliant thinking. I had to try doubly hard to provide both clean atmosphere and appropriate setting for our concluding encounter. You certainly are one of the strongest Current Mages I’ve come up against in a long while. Not since I met yo-”
“So did we pass?” Artie interrupted in an annoyed, but calm tone.
‘Courtney’ smiled at our Huntress.
“I prefer to work alone, Artemis of Olympus. Though, I now view Witch Corps as a viable ally and more so, a morally sound organization that I would be honored to work with again should our paths again cross.”
“Nice to know. I don’t suppose you have a ship capable of evacuating all these people to the planet’s surface?” Mom glibbed.
“Sorry, Hope, but my craft is far from spacious. Emergency power should maintain the atmosphere until one of you conjures a new power core. So now it is time for me to move on.” She apologized then closed her eyes and began to concentrate.
After a few moments, her eyes opened back up and she stared intensely at me.
“What did you do?” She demanded in a flat voice. “How did you do it and how did you know?”
“How did I do or know what?” I asked innocently.
The woman regarded me for a moment then started to concentrate again; this time her face became flush with effort.
“Apparently my information was not as complete as I’d assumed.” She whispered to herself, but glared at me in outrage.
“You should never assume anything. If you do, you only end up making an ‘ass’ out of ‘you’ and ‘me’.” I advised and started giggling.
“We really need to have that talk with her, Hope!” Chantell stage whispered to my mother.
“You’ve made your point, Lady Chance. Please. Could you remove you’re…” She gulped as her face turned beet red. “The very formidable security spell you placed around my craft?”
A small, maybe ninety foot long, bulbous-nosed ship materialized in the far corner of the hangar. It looked very old and battered, and its hull appeared heavily carbonized. The ship’s landing struts were rusty and had definitely seen better days.
Courtney glared at me with a look that conveyed no cheerful intentions.
“Your steed, Lady Morgana.” I gestured to the rusty old hulk with an impish smile. “And you may keep the uniform and pendant for such time as when we next meet.”
She regarded me again, smiled tensely, and shook her head in defeat.
“Oh, I took the liberty of doing some repair work to her. Hope you don’t mind.”
“Did some repair work?” She repeated and looked back at her ship curiously.
“My thanks. Until we meet again, Lady Chance?” She offered a pleasant smile.
“Pleasant journeys, Lady Morgana.” I returned politely before she turned and walked away in the direction of her ship.
My sisters and I remained silent until the hatch closed on the ancient spacecraft.
“Chance? Honey, that wasn’t THE Morgana was it? I mean…that would make her…”
“That would make her way older than you three, Mom.” I laughed.
“Ah-oh! Either there’s something wrong with your repair or she forgot something important,” Simone announced as she pointed to the decrepit ship’s reopened hatch. “Either way, she’s coming in hot!”
We waited quietly while the woman, Morgana, stomped her way back to us- her heels clacking heavily on the deck.
“Why?”
Her question was short and accusing as she scanned me critically for the answer.
“Because.” I answered in kind.
“After what I did…after that ridiculous test…?”
“Yep!”
“But…?”
“Nope!”
“Thank you. Thank you, a thousand fold!” Morgana sniffed as she embraced me quickly, turned, and hurried back to her craft.
“So… what did you ‘repair’, sweetie?” Mom giggled.
“I just made a few engine mods. Nothing exotic though.” I paused with a smile.
“I may have also replaced her faulty, antiquated water reclamation system and installed a higher capacity hot water unit; upgraded her gravity generator; modernized her galley; topped off her fuel reserve… And, just a few more things that really needed attention.” I added.
“Chance to Mixie. Allow us time to clear the survivors from the hangar deck. Indulge yourself in the mean time.” I suggested as I nodded to my Coven sisters.
“Thank you again, Chance! Mother Earth’s blessing upon you and your sisters!”
“You’re quite welcome, M’lady.” I replied.
 
 
“Chance to Mixie. You are cleared for departure. Pleasant journeys.” I said clearing Morgana’s craft to depart the depressurized hangar. The Elcano base staff was recovering, but not enough to return to duty.
“And to you also, M’lady.”
The eons-old craft- Vita Mirlini- slowly exited. Once clear, Charli closed the doors and pressurized the hangar.
“Think we’ll ever see her again, Chance?” Artie asked.
“I doubt it. She’s the type that likes her privacy. Maybe in another fourteen or fifteen hundred years.” Chantell speculated.
“Who are you kidding? Chance bested her. Not a snowball’s chance in hell she’ll show her face anywhere near us again, Shan!” Mom added cynically.
“Hmmmm. I wonder if she’s found that Witch Corp tracking beacon I stowed aboard that old rust bucket yet?” I wondered out loud.
“Oh, girlfriend! That’s outrageous!” Chantell shrieked out in laughter.
 
 
“Elcano Base. Witch Corp Flight One you are cleared for departure.”
“Copy, Elcano. Good luck with the mop up.” I confirmed. “Let’s go, Hope and a Pair.” I continued as I hit the throttle and performed a perfect corkscrew out of the hangar.
“It must run in the blood.” Huntress lampooned.
“Chance, Lokust. How’s the rodeo?” I asked.
“Still chasing the critters around, Chance. We’re into the finals though.”
“Need the second string?” I laughed under my breath.
“Nah. Them little doogies is almost corralled, Chance. You all head fer the barn.”
“Copy that, Lokust. See you back at the stable. Chance, out. Witch Corp Flight One, Pegasus; requesting approach vector.”
“Pegasus Control. Witch Corps Flight One, please identify using transponder ident.” Keats voice sounded stressed and mechanical.
“Pegasus, you do know that this is a private, heavily encrypted channel, right?” I questioned.
“Pegasus Control. Witch Corps Flight One, please identify using transponder ident.” He repeated sounding more tense.
“Pegasus, have it your way.” I grumbled, toggling my transponder quickly.
“Pegasus Control. Witch Corps Flight One, please confirm identity using transponder ident.”
“Pegasus. Stow the bullshit. I’m coming aboard with or without you.”
“Pegasus Control. Witch Corps Flight One, sending coordinates now.” Keats sounded very stressed as Hope and a Pair finally received the data.
“Copy. Coordinates received, Pegasus Control. Alert Lioness we need to talk as soon as I’m aboard.” I said calmly.
“Lioness has a full schedule, Chance. Tomorrow afternoon is the earliest open appointment she has.”
“Check again, Pegasus Control.” I suggested again as I smiled devilishly.
“My mistake, Chance. It seems you’re scheduled for the rest of the next ten days with Lioness.” Keats responded humorously as in the background, Sonya Serangetti demanded to know how I corrupted her appointment book. I could also hear Samuel Redman laughing hysterically!
“Pegasus A.I has granted you docking priority, Pegasus 1. Call the ball at your convenience.”
 
 
 
 
(Author's note: The answer to the unrecognizable, completely screwed-up quote used by Chantell Denison in Chapter 7 is from Hanna-Barbarra's 1967 Classic Cartoon Series: The Fantastic Four. Ben Grimm's go to 'It's Clobberin' Time!')

 
 
“So…where’s the ‘L-Iron Maiden’?” I asked in an infuriated tone as I entered the bridge.
Keats sprayed spittle all over his console while Samuel Redman remained deafeningly silent. I could tell that Sam had been reprimanded by the way he was positioned over the pilot’s console. Janet was quiet as a church mouse in Charli’s interface tube.
“The ‘Lion Maiden’ is right here.” Sonya Serangetti replied as she stood from my console and approached. “Lady Chance Summers. By order of the Galactic Council I hereby place you and Witch Corp on suspen…”
Snapping my fingers, we were momentarily surrounded by orange light. When it cleared we were on the Observation Lounge.
…sion. And as duly ordered, officially take full command of…” Sonya’s mouth dropped open as she realized where we were.
“As I’ve said before, Sonya, you and the Galactic Council have no jurisdiction over the Corp. And don’t attempt to strong-arm me!” I growled as I came in close.
“Is this a threat, Chance Summers?” She growled back.
“Take it any way you like, sugar! You can’t have my ship! EVER!” I challenged. Pausing a moment, I continued.
“Just to let you know? I’m through being challenged, poked, or… or tested! The ancient Current Mage, Morgana, I can stomach, but you…you, I have a problem with! What’s your deal, Sonya? Some sort of Power play? Revenge? Too much testosterone? Jealousy? Permanent Pre-menstration? What?” I questioned.
The defiant Lynxin went silent and stared, arrogantly, at me.
“Chance, Lady Janet? Travel time from here to the nearest sector of the Galactic Rim.”
“Hold on a moment, Chance. I’m computing a course now. Uhmm, forty-eight hours to the closest Rim Outpost at full speed, High Priestess.” She replied.
“And at full AfterBoost?” I inquired.
“Twenty-eight point four, M’lady. Shall I forward the coarse to our pilot?”
“Not yet, M’lady, thank you. Chance, Keats. Top off Hope and a Pair’s fuel reserve, please. Sonya and I may have to take a quick trip out to the Galactic Rim…or beyond. Chance out.” I ordered as I gave Serangetti a defiant, ‘try me’ stare.
“You have no authority…”
“About as much as you have over me, Princess! Want to see which one of us wins this little pissing contest?” I challenged.
“You cannot talk to me in that tone…” She began but I held out both hands and materialized seven small devices in them.
“Can’t I? What would you do? Trigger these little babies and disable my ship and crew so that the Council can board and dissect her for her technology? How dare you insult my intelligence and our hospitality!”
The devices I held in my hands popped apart into smaller pieces and I examined them closely with my Current Sight.
“Since when did the Galactic Council start using tainted Current in any of its deterrent devices, Princess?” I asked as I purified and transferred the newly cleaned Current into one of Pegasus’ return conduits. The remaining parts fell to dust in my hands then disappeared entirely.
“Tainted Current?” Sonya gasped as she stared at my hands. “I didn’t know anything about tainted Curre…”
“Don’t shovel it so deep, Princess! What is your real objective? Obviously you’re a much better liar than I gave you credit for.”
“I didn’t know anything about the Tainted Current, My Lady! Truthfully!” She objected adamantly.
Is she telling the truth, I asked myself, hoping my earrings might add insight?
“She is telling the truth. Somewhat.” I heard in my mind.
“So, you were informed of what the devices would do, but not of their construction?” The Lynxin’s mouth dropped open slightly. “Why? Why take my ship?!”
“The Galactic Council assigned me to gather technical information for use in new emergency response craft. I was told that if you resisted, I had authority to remove you. Their interest was stirred after my mate’s situational report crossed the defense committee chairman’s DataTab.”
“Pegasus? Contact Witch Corps Base and recall all local Witch Corps members and their families. Defensive Posture: Alpha-Intruder; Repulsion Protocol: Omega-Disintegrate. Confirm defensive status after roll call is complete.”
“Command confirmed, High Priestess. Membership security recall has been activated. Defensive protocols have been enabled on all viable perimeters of Witch Corps Base.”
“What did you just do?” Serangetti demanded angrily.
“I just made it impossible for anyone other than active Coven members and their families to gain access to our Base. Anyone that tries will be reduced to atoms. The base A.I. has on file, all valid genetic, facial, retinal, and voice profiles, Princess. I’m sorry, but any operatives you may have trying to gain access to our base have just forfeited their lives.”
“NO! You can’t do that! Those people are only carrying out the orders of the Galactic Council! Stop this madness immediately! Rrrrrwwwwl! What was that?” Serangetti demanded as she grabbed my arm, but recoiled back in pain.
“Did you think I wouldn’t defend myself?” I asked as a bluish sphere popped into existence around the mutinous Lynxin.
“This will hold you until we can decide what to do with you.” I told her as I considered her fate.
“Keats, Chance. All members of Witch Corp Flight One have docked.”
 
 
I scanned my captive once more. Another small device appeared in my hand, became powder then vanished.
“Sorry, but we can’t have you doing anything stupid, now can we, Princess?” I smiled evilly and headed for the elevator. “You stay riiiight there. Okay?”
 
 
“Status on Witch Corps Flight Two.”
“Lokust reports all the bad guys have been dealt with, M’lady.” Janet Redman reported from the overheads.
“High Priestess? Is momma…Lady Sonya going to be okay? Is there something wrong with her? Is she sick or something?” Lyra asked bashfully.
I looked at our junior member and began to think about how I wanted to handle this. Glancing to my daughter, I saw that Lyra had found my emergency supply of bottles and had been feeding Savanna.
“We’ve been playing, High Priestess. I hope you don’t mind.” She said noticing my gaze.
I smiled brightly at the kitten.
Savanna gurgled a few times and waved her tiny hands back and forth three times.
Lyra turned her head and nodded to her. “That’s right. We did.
“Oh, you did? I’m glad you two get along so well, honey.”
“Excuse me, High Priestess?” Mom asked as she, and the rest of my flight entered the Bridge. “Why is Lady Sonya confined to a bluish sphere up in the Observation Lounge? I saw it during Semper Fi’s docking maneuvers.”
“Momma wants to take Pegasus away from Lady Chance, Lady Hope.” Lyra blurted out innocently.
Mom, Chantell, Artie, and Simone rushed out of the compartment.
 
 
I found my Coven sisters surrounding Sonya Serangetti with wands drawn.
“For the last time, ‘kitten’, who ordered this?” Mom demanded, scowling angrily.
“I told you! The Galactic Council ordered…”
“Wrong answer, Bucko!” Chantell declared as she gave her wand a menacing flourish.
“The Defense Committee…”
“Try again, Traitor!” Simone accused as she too repositioned her wand.
Artie surprised everyone as she conjured a large combat knife, flipped it once in her free hand and held it and her wand at the ready. “I grow impatient, Lynxin.” She warned ominously.
“My ladies. No harm can befall her while in my containment shield, however…” I said before snapping my fingers. “The field is now deactivated.”
With that said, I turned and took a seat on one of the lounge’s comfortable chairs.
“You choose to watch their torture of me?”
“The definition of torture depends on you, Lady Sonya. Be forthcoming with the requested information and ‘torture’ shall remain simply conversation. Lie, and…well, the definition will change.”
“But you cannot do that to me! I am protected by the FeLane Diplomatic Accords!”
“And Witch Corp was sponsored AND sanctioned by Queen Libra herself, Princess!” Mom shouted as she pulled her revolver with her free hand and took aim. “And I helped her write those accords!”
Serangetti was flabergasted! “You knew the great queen? My greatest aunt?”
“Wouldn’t shit ya, bitch.” Chantell shot back as she cocked the hammer of her revolver with her thumb.
“You cannot be that old!”
“Born, May 18th, 2075, Quantico, Virginia, United States of America, Earth, Princess! Yes, I’m that old.” Mom declared.
“November 21st, 2077, Dearborn, Michigan, United States of America, Earth, Kiddo.” Chantell added.
“Huh. I always thought you were older than mom.” I shrugged.
“You can be a real wise-ass, girlfriend!” Chantell responded.
“At least I’m not a traitor hell-bent on stealing advanced proprietary technology.” I countered.
“I told you that the Chairman saw the opportunity to advance our emergency response craft. If those entities could respond to disasters faster…”
“Other ‘entities’ could overrun the galaxy faster and the legitimate agencies wouldn’t be able to stop them, Sonya! Can’t you see the logic in that?”
“Chance is right! Why would the Defense Committee chairman have ANY influence over emergency responders or relief agencies? Other than defensive security?” Dell agreed. Her knife was still held at the ready.
“Dell’s got a valid point. The only reason the Defense Chair would be interested is for defensive purposes…or offensive campaigns.” Simone added. “With our tech, the Galactic Service would be unstoppable.”
“High Priestess, Defensive Posture: Alpha-Intruder; Repulsion Protocol: Omega-Disintegrate has enabled. Confirmation has been received with Coven roll call completed. Witch Corps Base is secure and completely isolated pending your voice ident. All security measures stand charged at one hundred percent.” Pegasus’ A.I. reported to the stunned gasps of my Coven sisters.
“Enact Protocols, Pegasus. Cmdr. Summers, Chance. High Priestess, EFMC Witch Corps. Enable.”
“Command confirmed.”
“Chance?” Simone asked in confusion.
“Alpha-Intruder locks Witch Corps Headquarters away from any and all aggressors. Effectively our base is completely isolated from the rest of Mare. Nothing in and nothing out.” I explained. “Repulsion Protocol: Omega-Disintegration means that the perimeter of the Base; the walls, doors, umbilicals, everything, is charged in a similar fashion to Pegasus’ hull defenses. Anything that so much as touches an exterior perimeter surface will be obliterated.”
“Fuuuuuu”, Chantell goggled in shock.
“Our families, the Corp, and our tech are of the highest priorities, M’ladies.” I said flatly.
“You put family and the Corps above everything else?”Serangetti questioned. “Above Galactic Security?”
“Especially above ‘Galactic Security’, Princess! Wouldn’t you?” I countered. “Our tech being compromised matters almost as much as the Corps or our families’ safety, Sonya! Without those three important commodities, Witch Corp loses efficiency and effectiveness. Can’t you see that simple concept? Has the Galactic Council brainwashed you so thoroughly?”
“I have pledged my allegiance to uphold the values of the Galactic Alli…”
“So you would throw us, Kimbou, and Lyra under the bus for the betterment of the Galactic Alliance? What? Did your brains and common sense leak out when they bobbed yer tail, honey?” Mom demanded confrontationally.
Sonya stared at my mother in confusion for some time.
“High Priestess, I have Witch Corps Flight Two requesting docking permissions.” Keats interrupted.
“Go ahead, Keats, but authorize Pegasus 4 for immediate approach and docking. I want her up in Observation ASAP. Chance, out.”
 
 

 
 
“You requested my presence, High Priestess?” Kitty asked noticing her cousin under heavy guard. She didn’t seem all that surprised.
“Have a seat. We have something to discuss. Something I feel the reigning Princess of FeLane should be included in.” I said motioning for her to take a seat.
“Chance? May I remind you that I have no right to the crown as father disowned, disfigured, and banished me from court AND my home planet.” Sinae responded calmly.
“All Regent decrees and rulings became null and void upon his conviction, Kitty Sinae. I believe that makes you the reigning sovereign?” Mom told my Coven sister.
“It does…technically, but…”
“Sonya is claiming exclusion from any prosecution accorded by the Witch Corps Code of Conduct.” I informed.
“Any and all exclusions via the long-standing FeLane Diplomatic Accords only apply to FeLane sponsored activitities such as peace talks, weapons reduction negotiations, and relief efforts to embroiled systems.” Sinae recited from memory. “Because of the sponsorship and sanctioned objectives of EFMC Witch Corps, some dispensation is permissible. What are the charges, High Priestess?”
“The Galactic Council wants to take and dissect Pegasus for her tech. Sonya here claims she has orders and legal right to relieve me of command and take over.” I answered.
“Galactic Council has no legal jurisdiction over EFMC Witch Corps, whatsoever, Serangetti Sonya.” Sinae began as she conjured her DataTab. She began reading from it. “By deliberate order of her majesty, Libra Delain Sinae, Queen of all FeLane, her possessions, and her legal territories; and in conjunction with the United Earth Defense Organization dated and ratified: January 15th, Earth year 2128, no form, version, or variation of mutiny shall be excused or rendered exempt by any diplomatic proclamation or accord including, but not limited to, the FeLane Diplomatic Accord of FeLane calendar date 2845:03:26. Provable and evidenced mutiny or highjacking is regarded as high treason and punishable by death or lifetime incarceration. Whichever is sanctioned by the vessel’s Commander and ship’s registry.”
Sonya stared at her cousin in complete fascination. Completely taken by her knowledge of Lynxin Law and her swift parsing of the legal document.
As were we all!
“What’s it going to be, Sonya?” I asked as Sinae dismissed her DataTab.
We waited.
“Is it really worth losing Kimbou and Lyra, honey?” Mom asked. “For once, think about your family and not your damn career!”
We waited while Sonya debated her options and made up her mind.
Serangetti sighed deeply. “The order came from Chairman Englert.”
“Who-freakin’-ray!” Chantell voiced our combined relief.
“How well do you know Chairman Englert, Sonya?” I asked as I motioned her to a close couch with a pleasant smile. “Have a seat, M’lady.”
“I know that he has been in charge of the Defense Committee for a number of years. His character is faultless and his orders are usually clear and logical.”
“Except this time?” I asked.
When she nodded, I called Charli Anderson to the Observation Lounge.
“You wanted to see me, High Priestess?” Dad asked as she exited the elevator. She stopped when she saw all the ‘happy’ faces.
“Lady Charli. We need an in-depth briefing on Defense Committee Chairman Englert, please. There is reason to believe the Defense Committee- particularly Chairman Englert- has been compromised.” I explained, motioning her to a lounge chair.
“It’ll take me a minute or two, High Priestess.”
Sonya Serangetti looked stunned.
“How can she do that? Those files are classified and highly encrypted!”
“Here it is. Jameson Quincy Englert III, Home planet: Tasco; Current Chairman, Galactic Alliance Defense Committee. Graduated Magna Cum Luade, Calbri Military Academy, Calbri System…”
Again, Sonya was stunned as Charli went on and on- in great detail- about the man.
After twenty minutes, we were still no closer to narrowing down what his intentions were.
“Thank you, M’lady. As usual you have exceeded yourself.” I commended.
“Thank you. I hope I’ve helped, High Priestess.” Charli responded with a smile, but paused and tilted her head slightly to the left.
“If I may, High Priestess?”
I motioned for her to continue.
“It seems Chairman Englert’s personnel files do not reveal anything questionable. With your permission, I would like to access the Defense Committee chamber’s multimedia security archives and his private DataTab history. Maybe there we will find a discrepancy. I might also suggest accessing his schedule.”
“Do it.” I smiled.
“It will take possibly an hour to review the files, High Priestess. I will contact you when ready.” Charli said as she laid back and closed her eyes.
“Chance, Bridge. Lay in a course for Galactic Alliance Headquarters. Enable Deep Space Camo; Passive sensors only. Communications set to receive only. Full Stealth mode.”
“As you wish, High Priestess.” Lokust acknowledged.
“What are you planning to do?” Sonya demanded as she stared at me.
“I plan on saving the damn Alliance! Are you with me or against, Sonya?” I answered.
“As I said, I have pledged my allegiance to the Alliance, High Priestess.” The Lynxin nodded to me.
“Good! Then you’ll need to be activated,” I said as she jumped in shock, “Welcome to the Corps, Serangetti Sonya, Princess of FeLane.”
“Girlfriend? Is that really a wise move- giving the detainee the same powers as us?” Chantell questioned.
“When the safety of the Galactic Alliance is involved, we’re on the same side,” I said as I turned to our new sister. “And if you don’t do everything I say, when I say it…if you even- once- question any of my orders, you might end up buried in this uniform. Crystal?”
“I understand, High Priestess.”
“Good! Now I want you to conjure your wand, Princess.” I gave my first order.
“Conjure my…?” She protested, but stopped herself and concentrated.
“Ask your Current and don’t demand of it, Sonya.” I strongly advised.
A minute of intense concentration was all it took before she held a slender, silvery wand with a pale blue crystal embedded in an artistically embossed, silver star at its end.
“Great. A cat girl in a witches costume holding a sailor girl scepter!” Chantell groaned. “This doesn’t remind anybody of an old Japanese anime?”
Lady Sonya examined her new wand with a puzzled expression. “Why did you assign such a thing to me, High Priestess? I assure you, I am embarrassed as it is.”
“The user picks the wand, Princess!” Mom decried. “Not the other way around- as J.K. Rowling would have it.”
“Who?” Four of us chorused.
“Never mind.” Mom replied in a flat, reticent tone.
“Bridge, Chance. Course has been entered and we will arrive at Alliance Headquarters in five hours. Permission to break orbit, High Priestess?”
“Make it so, M’lady. Engage.” I ordered then turned back to Serangetti.
“Don’t ever threaten me again, Princess! You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry. I’ll be attending Princess Savanna if anyone needs me.”
Orange filled my vision before the Bridge appeared around me.
Lokust shrieked in surprise, as did Cora when I asked for a status report.
“Damn, buddy! You almost gave me a coronary! How did you even do that?”
“Current travel. I’m not sure anyone but me can do it though. How’s my little princess, Lyra?”
“Okay? You didn’t hurt momma, did you, High Priestess?” Our junior Lynxin sister asked.
“Your momma is fine, Lady Lyra, though, she can be very stubborn and difficult.” I answered.
“Oh. Poppy says that all the time.” The kitten replied then went into an impression of her father.
“”Kitten?” She said in as deep a voice as she could manage, “It’s a wonder that your momma isn’t royalty. She certainly demonstrates the royal stubbornness on a daily basis!”
Lyra began to giggle hysterically.
The bridge door activated and Sonya Serangetti entered then stopped and stood to attention.
“High Priestess. Permission to resume my previously assigned station?” She asked stiffly.
“MOMMA!” Lyra squealed as she jumped up, out of her seat and flew toward the back of the bridge.
Sonya remained at attention and Lyra sadly landed before her and blinked her eyes once then again. The adolescent Kitten turned to me suddenly.
“You got momma to join the Corps?!” Lyra screeched in glee while she clapped her hands excitedly. Just as quickly she turned back to her mother.
“I wanna see your wand, momma! Does it look like mine? Show me! Show me!” She demanded animatedly.
Sonya stayed silent and remained focused on me.
“Permission to resume your station, Lady Sonya, but after you show Lady Lyra your wand.” I ordered.
“Lady Lyra should resume her station and not create a disturbance on the bridge.” Sonya responded.
“Seniority-wise, Lady Lyra out-ranks you, Lady Sonya. Just show her your wand, Princess.” I sighed in annoyance.
Sonya glared at me, produced her wand, and promptly caused uproarious laughter to fill the command deck!
“I think its soooo cute!” Lyra finally said as the laughter died down. She approached her mother and hugged her waist warmly. Sonya seemed to melt momentarily before gently extracting herself from her daughter’s embrace.
“Never, in my three hundred and twenty-five years, have I ever seen a wand quite so unique.” Aunt Cora offered as she looked upon Sonya’s still present wand.
“Unique is what I’d call it, too, M’lady.” Lokust smiled whimsically. “Buddy? Listen. I’m still pumped from the festivities, so I’ll take this watch. You and the rest of the Coven get some rest.”
 
 

 
 
“Chance? Hey, buddy? Sorry to disturb you, but we’re thirty minutes out from Alliance Headquarters.” Lokust gently called as she held Savanna to her shoulder, patting her back softly. “Savanna started to fuss so I materialized one of your emergency bottles for her. Good idea, by the way. Gives you a chance to rest and regroup.”
I smiled at my friend and Coven sister.
“Thanks, I appreciate it. Who’s on duty?”
“Sam wanted some more helm time and Keats actually growled when Simone tried to relieve him at engineering. Dell relieved Cora at Comms about an hour and a half ago. Janet’s still in Navigation. Lyra is watching Sonya like a hawk at weapons- as is Kitty from the extra seats.”
Lokust passed Savanna to me, but remained quiet for a minute.
“Buddy? You really think Alliance Headquarters has been hacked? I mean, how could the big bad guy get in without being detected?”
“Don’t forget that their equipment isn’t as sensitive as ours, buddy. Sinae had a hard time detecting Cmdr. Serangetti’s double, too. These things seem to be very good at infiltration.”
“So how do we find it? If Kitty’s nose has a hard time, what can we use to augment that?”
“Need I remind you we have three activated Lynxin onboard? I’m sure between the three of them, one will detect something. My credits are on Lyra, she’s younger, has a more sensitive sense of smell, and is a natural Current Mage.”
“Chance, I really don’t like the idea of putting Lyra anywhere near that thing! She’s too young!”
Savanna gurgled and made fists of both hands.
“Definitely not, squirt! That isn’t going to happen even if your mother and I were coupled!” Lokust proclaimed.
Savanna suggested we pose as a family- she, Lyra, Grunfuller, and me- to covertly enter Alliance Headquarters to hunt our quarry.
“So,” I smiled, “you decided to listen with your heart.”
“It wasn’t that hard once I figured out the basics, Buddy. You know…she’s really smart for her age. Insightful, too.” Lokust giggled shaking her head.
“Artemis…Dell’s greatest gram…she hinted that Savanna was one of us…one of them…you know, an Olympian?”
“How’d I miss that?”
“When Artemis first appeared….”
“Oh, got it. Okay.”
We were quiet and stood looking at each other for several moments.
“Okay…well…we should be coming up on Alliance Headquarters soon so I’ll get back to the bridge. See you there, Buddy.”
“Wait… About Savanna’s suggestion, Lokust. It does have merit, but maybe it should be refined somewhat. If I can do that, we may just have our in.” I hurried to voice my thoughts before she left our room.
“We still need to hear from Charli on her investigation, Buddy, but I’m not one hundred percent against it. See you on the Bridge.” She said as our door closed.
Savanna fussed for a moment.
“Will you stop that? I keep telling you its complicated! Grunfuller asked to proceed slowly, remember?”
My daughter fussed a little bit more as she waved her little right hand.
“Oh don’t hand me that, young lady! Things like this take time; and your memory is almost brand new.”
I gazed upon her cherubic face for a moment before turning toward the passageway.
“We should be getting to the Bridge.”
 
 
“High Priestess, we are approaching Galahad. Should we alert them of our arrival?” Lokust asked as I entered.
“Negative. Maintain Comm silence. Camo mode to dynamic.”
“Why the deceit? They will know someone has entered orbit and will take defensive action.” Sonya questioned.
“Trust her, Cousin. Pegasus won’t be detected.” Sinae assured.
“How can you say that? You don’t know how advanced their sensors are? This is reckless and criminal, and will put Pegasus and this unit in unnecessary danger. It is arrogant and childish to endanger this unit in such a way!” Sonya complained as she stood from her station and stomped her foot in anger.
“Who’s being childish?” Dell commented with a giggle.
A crazy idea suddenly overtook me.
“What is it, Buddy? You come up with your ‘refinement’?” Lokust narrowed her eyes at me and smiled tensely. “I’m not going to like it, am I?”
“Lady Sonya,” I began as I looked to our furious, newly activated Coven sister. “I have an idea that should get us into Headquarters, but I need your skills. Can I count on you?”
“Do I have a choice, High Priestess?” Sonya asked as Lyra looked on curiously.
“You don’t. It has been suggested that a family unit would have greater autonomy on Galahad than the diplomatic division of Witch Corps. If you agree, I propose we masquerade as that family unit.”
“Define ‘we’, High Priestess.” Sonya narrowed her eyes as she dared me to go on.
“We being Grunfuller and Chance Lokust and their three children: Savanna, and her adopted older siblings, Lara and Sonya.” I answered.
Savanna gurgled and waved both hands a few times.
“Oh, you like that, do you?” I smiled.
Sonya stared at me in confusion.
“I don’t think I follow.”
“Lady Chance? Momma is too old to play an adopted kitten…isn’t she?” Lyra pointed out in confusion.
“Adulescens de transform in octo.” I recited after quickly producing my wand and pointing it at Sonya. Savanna burped.
After the blue sphere faded, an adolescent Lynxin kitten of eight years stood where Sonya had just seconds before. Her clothing matched Lyra’s.
“High Priestess! Where did momma go? What did you do with Momma.” Lyra cried in horror.
“I am right…I am right here, child.” The newly arrived kitten rubbed her delicate throat while turning to look up at me. “What have you done with my voice, High Priestess?”
The kitten seemed to freeze as she again looked to Lyra.
“How can I be looking almost eye to eye with my kitten?”
“By the Norges, Chance! She’s so precious!” Aunt Cora doted.
“Hard to imagine someone that cute could grow up to be such a pain in the ass.” Chantell observed in a subdued tone.
Lyra continued to stare, her mouth open and her eyes wide.
“What have you done to me! I demand to know what you have done to me!” The little Lyxin demanded as she stamped her foot.
“Now that response fits an eight year old perfectly.” Charli laughed.
Sonya’s unique wand appeared in her hand.
Just as quickly eight more wands appeared- only these were pointed back at the new kitten.
“Now that is about as cute as they come!” Simone gushed. “You’ll have to show me how you did that, Chance. It might come in handy sometime.”
“And the wand just adds to the effect, I’m afraid.” Keats snickered
Savanna brought her hands together as she tried to clap several times.
“No, I don’t think she’s in any mood to play right now, sweetie.” I replied.
“Are you saying this is momma, High Priestess?” Lyra questioned.
Sinae stood from her seat and gracefully walked the few steps to stand before her Lynxin brethren. She regarded the kittens for a moment.
“No. I believe this is your older sister, Sonya, Lady Lara Lokust.” Sinae leaned over and glared menacingly at her cousin. “Say hello to your younger sister, Sonya Lokust.”
Sonya glared eye to eye with Sinae for a few minutes before shying away with a look of defeat.
“Hello sister. I am happy to see you again, but I am not in the mood to play right now, thank you.”
“Lady Kitty? Are you sure this is my older sister? This girl is rude and seems a little snobbish to me. Not what I would expect MY sister to act like at all.”
Sonya glared at Lyra.
Savanna laughed a few times.
“She’ll get the hang of it, sweetie. Don’t you worry,” I told her with a smile.
“Well, I guess I best get ready too.” Lokust said as she changed forms.
Sonya stopped suddenly and stared up at Grunfuller as if seeing a Hoblin appear for the first time!
Apparently this was the first time she had seen my second do that.
“What are you?!” She gasped in fright.
“I’m your adopted father, Sonya Lokust. And I demand you pay me the proper respect or I shall turn you over my knee. Is that clear, young lady?”
A round of applause filled the compartment!
“Charli, We’ll need the appropriate credentials. Keats, ready Pegasus 1 and Pegasus 2.” I said after the noise died down.
“As you wish, High Priestess.” Both acknowledged.
I nodded my appreciation.
“I’ll go get the girls dressed for a trip into the big city. See to it that we assume a ‘geo-sync’ orbit and remain cloaked. Sonya and Lyra, please follow me.” I commanded as I motioned the two kittens from the Bridge and to my quarters.
Placing Savanna down in her crib, I looked at ‘my’ other two daughters.
“Okay, so…Lyra, I’m going to leave it up to you to change into something nice for the city. Maybe a nice pastel jumper? Because we haven’t had time to show Sonya how to manifest different clothing, I’m going to pay her more attention, understand?” I asked our junior witch.
In reply, Lyra’s clothing changed from her ‘junior’ uniform into a light yellow jumper with matching athletic shoes and white micro-socks.
Sonya’s eyes popped wide.
“That looks nice, sweetie…”
Can I try it on momm…I mean Sonya, High…mommy?” Lyra asked as she stumbled over the proper forms of address.
“Of course you can. I’ll be the first to admit that I have very little experience with what girls your age wear these days, sweetie.”
Sonya was suddenly dressed in a blue, pleated, short skirt and a white blouse with a blue sweater and light blue synthetic low-heeled slippers.
Sonya looked down at herself then stared in confusion at her younger sister.
“Marvelous, Lyra!” I praised. “Just think what you’ll achieve when you get older.”
Sonya turned to me with her mouth hanging open.
“Well. Now that you two are ready, I should get Savanna dressed.” I said as a new, cute little one-piece romper appeared on her.
Savanna clapped a few times with a cute little smile on her face.
My own clothing changed next- my uniform becoming a stylish knee-length red skirt, maroon, buttoned, silk blouse, red medium-heeled shoes, and gold jewelry.
Holding out my hand, I conjured my personal DataTab on a long strap, placed it over my head and adjusted it so it would lay flat and low on my hip.
“There. All set for a day in the big city.” I said as I picked up and held Savanna to my shoulder.
Sonya was still staring.
“Would you like me to show you how to change clothes like we can, big sister?” Lyra asked as we exited my quarters.
I didn’t hear any answer.
Re-entering the Bridge, Grunfuller stood and apprised the four of us.
“Well? Are my girls ready to go? We’ve got a long way to travel today.”
“High Priestess. Pegasus is now parked in synchronous orbit over Alliance City. No defensive actions have been detected.” Kitty reported, as she made an ‘I told you so’ face at Sonya.
“Time to get the girls buckled in, dear. You take Sonya and I’ll take Lara and Savanna.” I announced.
“Geez! What’d I ever do to deserve…sorry. As you wish, sweetheart. This way, sweetie.” Grunfuller choked.
 
 
“How is your tail, Lady Lyra?” I asked as we slid into the front chair of Hope and a Pair. I had just finished securing Savanna- in her carseat- into the rear chair.
“This is exactly like my bed, High Priestess!” She replied in excitement.
“This one actually works, sweetie, so I need you to behave and allow me to pilot us down to the planet, okay?”
“Okay, mommy.” She replied.
“Good girl. Hope and a Pair? Status.” I asked my ship.
“All propulsion, navigation, and environmental systems are online and functioning.”
I could feel the little Lynxin brimming with excitement, but she managed to hold it in.
“Pegasus 1. All systems online. Awaiting departure vector and clearance.” I announced.
“Copy Pegasus 1. Sending vector now. Departure is at your call.” Chantell responded.
“Let’s go, Hope and a Pair. Enable dynamic Camo.” I said before I disengaged our docking clamps and nudged the throttle and control stock. There was a quiet ‘clunk’ and Pegasus began dropping away.
“Dynamic Camo enable…”
“WOOOOHOOO!!!!!!” Lyra screamed and clapped animatedly being unable to contain her excitement any longer.
“Contact you when we’re on the floor, Pegasus.” I said as I rolled Hope and a Pair one hundred and eighty degrees. We were now looking up through the canopy at the blue, green, and white planet.
“Copy, Chance. Keep Princess and…”, there was a pause in the communication, “Kitten…safe down there.”
“Who’s Kitten, mommy?” Lyra asked.
“You are. Lady Chantell realized you didn’t have a call sign, so she gave you one- Kitten. If you don’t like it we can always think of a new one when we have more time.”
“That’s okay, mommy. I like it.”
Savanna giggled.
“I’m glad you like it too, Princess.” Lyra said as she strained to look behind us.
Savanna giggled again.
“I thought you would like your call sign too, sweetie.” I said as I shook my head and smiled.
 
 
“Pegasus 1, on the deck.” I alerted before I told Hope and a Pair to disable her transmitters. She was to remain silent until we returned…or until Pegasus made emergency contact.
“Let’s go girls.” I said as I opened the canopy.
We had landed in a secluded area of the outer city that was wooded and showed little pedestrian traffic.
Lyra immediately hovered out of my lap the minute I released our harness. I followed her a moment later, but turned around and unharnessed Savanna’s carseat. With that in hand, I hovered away and lowered us to the warm green grass. What sun that shone through the trees felt wonderful on my face.
Nearby, Grunfuller suddenly appeared as he helped Sonya down out of his cockpit. Both looked a little harried.
“Rough flight, dear?” I asked as we got closer.
“I’m just not used to landing in such close quarters.” Grunfuller said, but glanced at our ‘oldest daughter’.
“Looks good to me. Shall we go?”
“Sooner than later, Buddy…I mean, sweetheart.”
With a smile to him, I reached for my DataTab and brought up Charli’s map of the city. To anyone looking, It appeared to be a tourism display, but to those of us with Current sight it gave every nook and crannie- every hidey-hole- one could need if being followed or chased.
Or hiding.
“According to the map, we go this way into Percival to catch the nearest transport to Alliance City Central.” I informed ‘my’ family as I pointed down a winding dirt path.
Placing Savanna and her car seat down it became a typical, nondescript three-wheeled stroller. I quickly checked the pouch under the push handle and counted eight clean diapers and two emergency bottles of my milk.
 
 
It had taken us a mere ten minutes to get to the transport station and another ten before it hovered to a stop at the loading platform. We were on our way in another five after entering and taking some seats.
What should normally have been a very quiet ride turned into a question and answer marathon about us- the girls, and the reasoning behind adopting two Lynxin siblings. Not one person seemed to pick up on the fact that they both had long, royal tails. This thrilled me to no end as I had cast a concealment spell on both to hide the trait in order to avoid attracting undue attention.
“Mom?” Sonya asked in a sugar-sweet voice. “When will we get there?”
“In about fifteen minutes, sweetie.” Grunfuller answered instead. “Be patient for a little while longer, Sonya.”
 
 
“Daddy? When will we get there?” Sonya asked again three minutes later. This time she had a barely visible grin on her face. I had a feeling I knew where this was going.
“Why? Do you need to go potty, Sweetie?” I asked, at normal volume.
Sonya turned red in embarrassment and glared at me a moment.
Only a moment, though.
I grinned to myself in triumph.
 
 
The arrival announcement for Gallactic Alliance Headquarters drew my attention and within a minute we had arrived and hurried to offload both us and our baggage from the transport coach.
“Oh my goodness! Aren’t you the perfect looking family!” A woman of maybe forty decried.
“How old are they?” She asked inquisitively.
“Sonya is eight, Lara is six, and Savanna is a month.” I bragged politely.
“Only a month? You look amazing, dear! How did you lose it so fast?”
“Thank you! I found this ‘magical’ workout routine; tried it, and it just melted away. I feel like I never went through a pregnancy in my life.” I chirped happily.
“Well good for you, dear! But why adopt before you had one of your own?” She pressed.
“Their parents were good friends of ours, Ma’am”. I told her as I looked down sadly.
“But they’re in a much better place now, mommy. Isn’t that right, Sonya?” Lyra or Lara on this mission, asked her sister innocently.
Sonya glared at her then the woman, and looked away.
“I’m terribly sorry to have been so nosey. I’ll be on my way. Good bye now.” She apologized politely then hurried on her way.
“Well played, sweetie. The sullen look was perfect.” I praised while I think Grunfuller fought to keep a straight face.
 
 
“Hi. We were here taking in the sights when my boss sent me this cryptic message that he had to see me right away?” Grunfuller greeted the receptionist as we entered the building housing the Defense Committee chambers and offices.
“Daddy? Can we see where you work? Can we? Can we? Can we?” ‘Lara’ cried in unbridled enthusiasm.
Grunfuller smiled. ‘Can’t disappoint the kids now, can we. Hopefully, whatever it is won’t take too long. I promised them we’d go up in the Alliance Center building to the lookout deck today.” He continued as he passed his DataTab under the sensor.
It beeped and a green indicator turned on.
“Everything seems to be in order, Mr. Lokust. Your party will need to display these permission pins at all times in the building. I saw Chairman Englert enter earlier this morning. He didn’t seem to be in such a good mood.” The man informed us.
Grunfuller and I exchanged a dour look.
“Just a friendly warning.” He smiled nervously. “Something big must be going on. I’ve never seen him this upset…ever.”
“Wonderful. Thanks. I go on vacation for three weeks and this happens in the last few days…”
“Honey? Maybe the children and I should stay here.” I suggested worriedly. “I don’t want to make a bad situation any worse.”
“Nonsense! I’m sure whatever it is, Englert will be all smiles when he sees these three.” Grunfuller motioned to ‘our children’.
The receptionist smiled politely and waved at Sonya and Lara.
“See you later girls.” He said as he shook his head in amusement.
“Please step through the scanners one at a time.” A security guard instructed as we approached. Sonya stopped dead in her tracks!
“First time through one of these ay?” The guard asked as Grunfuller tried- in vain- to get her to advance.
“They don’t come into the city all that much. I on the other hand, am here entirely too much!” My ‘mate’ told him.
“I understand that, brother! How I wish I could wing it out in the wilds!” He replied wryly.
“Suburbia isn’t getting any better, dude.” Grub empathized.
“I’ll go through, sissy!” Lara announced as she marched straight through valiantly. The scanner remained quiet.
“See? I didn’t melt, big sister!” Lara teased.
“Just walk through like Lara did, sweetie. It can’t hurt you.” I reassured her and gave her a wink for encouragement.
Cautiously, Sonya began walking to and through the device, eyes closed tightly and wincing with each step.
“There, that wasn’t so bad now, was it?” The guard chuckled in amusement.
Sonya’s eyes flew open and she looked around and back at the- in her mind- deadly scanner.
Savanna and I went through next followed by Grunfuller.
“That wasn’t so bad, was it, sweetie?” Grub smiled while he patted Sonya lovingly on the head.
“Resist the grind, guy.” Grunfuller waved back to the guard as we moved to the elevators.
“Now do you need the potty, sweetie?” I asked deviously. Unfolding my right hand to show her what I had, her eyes popped wide open in surprise.
“I’ll bet you were worried about this, weren’t you?” I asked as the small capsule in my hand fell to dust then disappeared completely.
“Oops! No more security-tracking device. Sorry I broke it, sweetie.” I teased evilly.
“I’m really starting to dislike you…mommy!” Sonya snarled. “They could have shot me if detected!”
“Well then it’s a good thing I found and deactivated it before I left Pegasus, isn’t it?” I smiled wickedly. “For Elcano.” I added with a snort.
“Fifty-eight.” Grunfuller specified as the elevator doors closed. We began our ascent to the fifty-eighth floor.
 
“This is floor…fifty-eight.” The ancient elevator announced just before the doors rattled open.
I quickly pointed to the corner of the car and planted one of my taint sensors next to where I knew the multimedia sensor was hidden. It was programmed to stop the lift between floors, alert us, and prevent anyone from escaping should it detect tainted Current.
Glancing to his DataTab, Grunfuller nodded over his shoulder. “This way, ladies.”
 
 
“Chairman Englert? Grunfuller Lokust. I received a message that you wanted to see me, sir?” We had just walked straight through his unattended outer office and now Grub had opened his unlocked door slightly and knocked to announce himself.
“Enter.” A deep, male voice commanded.
“Excuse me, Chairman, but why did you summon me? I’m still on my holiday and here in the city with my family. What’s this all about? If I may be so bold.” Grub inquired.
“I made no such request, young man. Now tell me who you are and you’re purpose here today.” I heard the baritone voice counter.
“It smells like something died in here.” Lyra…Lara whispered. Sonya began sniffing the air, too. I tried but couldn’t detect anything out of the ordinary.
“That’s what your cousin described that afternoon on Mare’s Bridge, sweetie.” I told my young Lynxin.
“I’m picking it up, too. It’s way too light to get a direction, though.” Sonya corroborated.
“I’ll find it.” Lara said as she ran into the main office.
“Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Is this the guy you work for? Is he? Is he? Is he?”
I had to hand it to the girl! She seemed fearless and willing to do just about anything.
“Lara? Sweetie, I asked you to stay out there with your mother.”
I took that as my cue.
“I’m sorry, dear! I took my eyes off her for a few seconds to fix Sonya’s hair and she took off. I pleaded as I walked into the large, tastefully decorated office with Sonya in one hand while pushing Savanna’s stroller.
“Forgive me sir. I’ll just take her back out in the hall. Come on, Lara. Daddy needs to speak privately with his boss.”
The Chairman- a tall, well-groomed, middle-aged man was silent for a moment before he smiled.
“Now, now. The child was only curious about the mean old monster her daddy works for…though, for the life of me, I can’t remember where or what you do for me, Mr. Lokust.” He said politely.
“Mom? I need to go.” Sonya tugged on my skirt to get my attention.
“Not now, Sonya. Don’t be rude around daddy’s boss.” I scolded.
“But Mooooom! I need to go!” Sonya insisted.
“Are you sure, Sweetie?”
She nodded adamantly several times.
I rolled my eyes. “I’m sorry Lara interrupted you, sir. I think I need to take this seriously. Please excuse us.” I said as I led my three girls out.
Once in the hall, I stopped and looked for the nearest restroom.
“Over here, mom.” Sonya said as she took my hand and led me down the hall. She held the door open for me to get the stroller through then pushed the door closed and leaned against it.
“Thank Queen Libra it’s not him.” Sonya sighed in relief.
“Big sis is right, mommy. I couldn’t smell it as much in his office or on him.” Lyra confirmed. “It was definitely stronger in that outer office.”
“Seeker, Chance.” My comm. activated.
“Chance here.”
“Sorry to get this to you so late, but I just finished the movie and the main character didn’t do it.”
“Yeah, we just came to the same conclusion down here. Do you have anything on the supporting lead? Kitten and Lioness smelled stale popcorn in the lobby.”
“I’ll check the credits and get back to you. Seeker, out.”
“Alright. I’m thoroughly confused. What did he just tell you?” Sonya groaned as she held her hands to her hips.
Lyra giggled. “Lady Charli just told mommy that Chairman Englert is not a Hoblin double, but because we smelled death in the outer office, he’s going to check out the Chairman’s assistant. Big sister? Why couldn’t you figure that out by yourself?”
“Okaay. Are we done here girls?” I asked before my two Lynxins got into a sisterly (maybe not so much) scrap.
Savanna coughed once and waved her hand once.
I looked down at her.
“Well? Might as well do it now. We’ll wait. I’ll just fold down the changing table and prep for surgery.”
“Um…Lady Chance?” Sonya asked shyly.
“What is it, sweetie?”
“I…I really need to go…for real.”
I motioned to the stalls and rolled my eyes then waited for two of my girls to finish their business.
 
 
“I’ve checked my DataTab logs and I can find no communication sent from me to you, Grunfuller. I have, however, discovered where I’ve seen you before.” I heard just as we arrived back in the chairman’s outer office.
“Probably on the Devlin Four relief campaign, I’d imagine. That was eight years ago, sir.”
We heard something smack the desk.
“Why, of course! That’s it! You were the tech that almost caused the complete failure of the mission!” The baritone voice shouted out humorously.
I could picture Grub blushing profusely right now.
“I think you’re still the only soldier to ever be confined to quarters by planetary decree.” The Chairman teased gregariously.
“You really didn’t have to remember all that, sir. Really.” Grunfuller requested, sounding embarrassed.
“That was the most fun I’d had on a cruise! You were also the inspiration for what not to do on diplomatic ventures to other syste…” Englert continued mercilessly.
“That is enough! Grunfuller has moved on from that one incident! I would appreciate it if you ceased teasing the man I love, Chairman Englert!” I shouted as I hurried into the room. I had heard enough and I was not going to stand for this!
Both Grunfuller and Englert stood silent and stared at me in surprise.
Shit!
Englert broke the silence first.
“Are those new on the market?” He asked me.
“Huh?” I answered intelligently.
“Those ocular implants, I’ve never seen ones that glow orange before. Interesting option.”
Englert slapped Grunfuller on the back.
“Fine woman you have there, Grunfuller! I imagine it’s hard to find one with enough guts to stick up for someone with such a rep. Also, I envy your fortitude for adopting two Lynxin kittens. You two must be gluttons for punishment.” Englert chuckled openly. “Either that or saints!”
“So,” he continued after a few seconds of awkward silence, “mind telling me what you’re actually doing here?”
“Sir?” Grunfuller asked.
“Come now, Mr. Lokust. I may be a politician, but I’m a politician that actually reads the reports sent to him.” Englert looked directly at me and smiled pleasantly.
“And it is truly an honor to meet you in person, High Priestess. I trust this is not a social call, but a covert investigation? I do carry a level twenty-eight security clearance, Lady Chance Summers.”
“So what gave us away?” I asked in curiosity.
“Several things actually. I must admit; I was completely unaware until… those eyes… never in all the worlds I’ve visited have I seen eyes like yours, High Priestess. They are, to put it mildly…quite unique.” He shook his head and chuckled again.
“And, not to spoil a good disguise, but, I HAVE met Commander Serangetti’s kitten once or twice. Nice to see you again, Serangetti Lyra.”
Lyra waved and smiled nervously.
“Lastly, I just adore and am fascinated by your scepter, my dear kitten.” He smiled brightly at Sonya.
“It was supposed to be a wand.” She hissed in embarrassment through tightly clinched teeth.
Englert burst out in laughter!
“And a wonderfully original wand it is, too!” He managed between laughing spasms as he began to settle down.
“Though, I would wager it is just as deadly as any other Witch Corps wand. Am I correct, High Priestess?”
“Batting a thousand, sir.” I admitted.
“So. Getting back on topic. What brings Witch Corps to Galahad? My last intelligence briefing had you responding to the Hoblin epidemic in the Magellan system.
Lyra gasped in surprise.
“Calm, little one. I’m on the distribution list for all defense forces- covert, black, or otherwise.” He told her.
“So why send Serangetti Sonya to take our ship from us, Chairman Englert?” Grunfuller accused in anger.
Englert looked stunned!
“As you undoubtedly already know, the Alliance has no jurisdiction over Witch Corps, Mr. Lokust. Nor does any government or military organization! I definitely can say- without doubt- that order did not come from this office or me!”
“But it did, sir.” Sonya said as she angrily flourished her hand to manifest a DataTab.
“Good! You’re finally learning, sweetie.” I praised.
“This is her DataTab, sir. Here is the order! It clearly states this office as its origin and is signed and approved by you.” Sonya accused.
“My. You certainly are training them young these days, M’lady.” Englert boomed.
“Why was this order given?!” Sonya pushed. “As you can see it specifies acquiring the Pegasus and all her technology for implementation in all Galactic Alliance Rapid Response craft! Who sent this order if not you?!”
“First things first, my young, impatient kitten! An eight-year old child should mind her manners and speak only when spoken to! Second. You will address me with the respect due me in my current position, Serangetti Sonya!” Chairman Englert growled as he glared down at her.
“Yes, I know it’s you Sonya. I’d recognize that attitude and temper anywhere!”
The Chairman turned to me.
“May I assume this is punishment for her erroneous and failed attempt to commandeer Pegasus, High Priestess?”
“Actually, she volunteered for this mission, sir.” I admitted.
Englert scoffed.
“I hardly believe that for a second, M’lady, though I understand you’re wanting to protect such an asset as Serangetti Sonya. She could be quite useful to the Corps.”
“She already has been, sir. Very useful.” I told him. “She proved herself on our mission to Magellan…that is… before she tried to take over my ship!”
“Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t high-jacking and mutiny punishable by death in the Corps. High Priestess?”
“We, the Coven, have discussed that with her at length, sir. We consider it ‘handled’.”
“Seeker, Chance.”
“Go ahead, Seeker.”
“Chance, Pegasus’ sensors show that you’re in Chairman Englert’s office. Is he safe?”
“Quite safe, Seeker.” Englert responded.
“Good to hear, sir. Chance, I’ve traced the Chairman’s assistant, Trudeau de Sallenger, through the last fifty days of his schedule.”
“Let me guess, he visited the Magellan system in that period of time?”
“Got it in one, M’lady. I’m currently scanning Galahad for his location, but so far I’ve come up empty.”
“Understood. Oh. Could you send Porno down? I think we have a guest eager to help in the search.”
“So. Is the home invasion all cleared up?”
“Also related to the crime wave, Seeker. Have Porno contact us when she’s ready. We’ll supply coordinates for pickup.”
“Copy. Seeker out.”
“According to our intel, you have a hangar just big enough for one of our Brooms on floors sixty through sixty-three. Would it be possible to clear it of all personnel so we can provide transportation to Pegasus for you, sir?”
“Wouldn’t that be breaching protocol, High Priestess?” Englert questioned, eyeing me carefully.
“In as much as Serangetti Sonya was a breach of protocol, yes, but the Coven will understand.”
Chairman Englert enabled his DataTab to make the necessary call.
“Porno, Chance. I’m ready for those coordinates.”
“Give us a few minutes. We’re arranging an LZ now, Porno.”
“That’s right, Lt. Harkman. I want everyone below clearance level twenty-seven out right now. We have a level thirty guest arriving and they value their privacy.” Englert said, not thinking it loud enough for us to hear.
“Yes there is a level thirty, now clear out. They will be here any moment. No, they will not be staying. Yes…in and out and your group didn’t see or hear a thing, got it?”
“Good. I’ll contact you when they leave and I’ll be leaving shortly after. Good day, Lieutenant. Thank you.”
The Chairman turned to me.
“Here are the coordinates, High Priestess.”
“Thank you, sir.” I said as I glance at his DataTab and relayed the data to my aunt.
“Coordinates received, Chance. I’m on my way. ETA ten minutes.”
“Maintain Stealth mode, Porno.”
“Copy, Chance. See you in ten. Porno out.”
“Anything you need to grab before you get called to a classified emergency security meeting, sir?” I asked before we headed up a few floors.
“Let me just grab my ‘Go’ bag out of my des…” He said as I held my hand up to stop him.
Blinking, I scanned his desk as I motioned him to slowly open the drawer. I motioned ‘stop’ to him when the drawer opened about an inch. Motioning for him to remain quiet and back away, I appraised the tainted device in the desk. It was small, but bizarrely shaped. The taint though, carried the same intensity as Sonya’s detention devices I had disabled and destroyed on Pegasus.
Producing my wand, I disarmed this device and levitated it out of its hiding place.
Englert’s eyes widened! “Is that a…”
“Yes it is.” I answered as the device fell apart, turned to dust, and vanished.
“Lady Chance! I smell Hoblin.” Lyra announced excitedly.
My Current Sight searched the room.
The monster wasn’t very big- probably a scout. I had no difficulty dispatching it just after it materialized opposite us across the large oaken desk.
Both Sonya and Englert gulped as they stared at me.
How did you move so fast? I’ve never seen anything like it…” He began.
“On any world I’ve ever travelled to.” Lokust and I chorused, and began laughing.
“I’m starting to understand just how unique the illustrious Witch Corps is, High Priestess. He said as he shifted his attention to my second who had changed form.
“M’lady. Why did you activate? I had this one.” I asked Lokust.
“I thought you said the children came first, Buddy.” Lokust explained as Grunfuller quickly reappeared.
“Incredible! Simply incredible!”
“What was so incredible, Chairman Englert? I didn’t see anything. Did you, girls?”
“No, Mom(my)”, my two Lynxins chorused. Lyra began giggling.
Englert lifted his bag from the desk and shook his head.
“So starts the adventure of my life.” He said to himself, but looked to us.
“It’s sort of a tradition. I say that every time I leave on a ‘business’ trip.”
 
 
“Where is this… ‘Porno’, High Priestess? It’s been over fifteen minutes.”
“Oh, she’s here and waiting, sir.” I assured.
“Where?”
“Chance, Porno. You can decloak now.” I giggled.
“About time! I’m starting to get bored!” Aunt Cora complained as Pin-Up appeared in front of us.
Englert wobbled slightly in shock as he studied the sleek, chrome-skinned craft.
His mouth dropped wide open though when the canopy opened and Aunt Cora climbed out!
“Chairman Jameson Quincy Englert III, Lady Caroline Norge. Aunt Cora, Galactic Alliance Defense Committee Chairman Jameson Englert.” I introduced the two.
“You’re Antaran?” He gasped. “Caroline Norge…Norge…Norge?” The man’s voice raised and he immediately bowed.
“Your majesty! Jameson Englert at your service. Welcome to Galahad.” He greeted formally.
“I might just take you up on that if I feel the need, Chairman Englert.” Aunt Cora flirted.
“Ready to go? I’m double parked.” She continued.
“But I don’t have a flight suit.”
“Don’t worry, Sugar Plum. My girl here is as smooth as Weaver silk! Even naked she’s a sensuous ride!”
“Lady Cora, please. The children?” I pleaded.
“Oh come on! At least one of them knows exactly what I mean, Chance.”
Sonya was grimacing. It looked so cute how her face scrunched and contorted.
Aunt Cora smiled then turned toward her new passenger.
“Up the ladder, Sugar Plum. Back chair. Stow your bag behind it. Get fastened in. I’ll be right there.”
“We’ll be about fifty-five minutes behind you. We’re out on the outskirts in a regional park. Kitty is to provide security.”
“He should be safe on Pegasus, Chance. Why the security?”
“For us. I said as I leaned down to kiss her forehead.
“See you in a bit.”
Aunt Cora returned my gesture and before her hands touched the ladder, she was hovering up to her cockpit.
“Show off!” she declared as I settled her gently into her seat.
Grunfuller and I motioned for our family to move back as Cora started her checklist, translated Pin-Up and re-engaged her stealth camo mode.
The ‘Lokust Family’ entered the elevator and descended to the lobby after again stopping on fifty-eight.
We waved to the security guard at the screening checkpoint and continued on toward the doors.
“Everything go okay, with the Chairman, Mr. Lokust?” The receptionist asked as we passed him.
“Yes, but our meeting was cut short when he got Tabbed. He grabbed a bag and headed for the elevator. It took a while for it to come back down.”
“Daddy? I wanna go home.” Lyra moaned tiredly.
“We’re starting for home now, Lara. Think you can last a little longer?” Grunfuller asked her.
“I wanted to see Alliance tower!” Sonya grumbled.
“Well, so much for our trip to the big city.” Grunfuller raised his arms in defeat to the Receptionist.
“Later.” He said and waved back as we activated the doors to the street.

Lyra tries to 're-acclimate' Sonya with 'sisterly' therapy. Will Sonya finally prove herself worthy of the Corps?

 
 
“Welcome home, girls.” I said as the docking clamps engaged and Hope and a Pair opened her canopy.
“Can we do that again, Lady Chance?” Lyra asked excitedly as I released our harness and she floated up and back to help release Savanna’s carseat. My little one had fallen asleep before Hope and a Pair even had our checklist completed.
“That depends on Lady Sonya, sweetie.”
“Lady Chance?” Lyra asked shyly after a few seconds.
“Lady Lyra?”
“My Lady, It was nice to have an older sister, though momma could have been a little nicer to us.”
“She could have, sweetie, but I think she felt pressured into her disguise.”
“But bein’ a kid is great! Why didn’t she like it?”
“Maybe her first childhood wasn’t so great, sweetie. FeLane was a very stressful place when your momma was growing up. Your uncle…Kitty’s dad…he wasn’t a very nice man. From what I heard, lots of people were frightened of him. I wasn’t there so I can only repeat what I’ve been told.”
“That’s sad. Maybe I can help momma. Could you keep her little for a little longer?”
“Sure, sweetie. How long?” I asked with a bright smile.
“Ummm…til we get back to poppy’s big ship?”
“Okay.” I agreed.
Lyra smiled devilishly as she and a still sleeping Savanna floated toward the ring hatch.
 
 
“Chairman Englert is waiting for you up in the Observation Lounge, Chance.” Aunt Cora informed me as we met in the main passageway. “I’ll watch our little Sugar Plum for you.”
“Thanks”, I said. “She slept the entire way back. She’ll probably be hungry when she wakes up, Aunt Cora.”
“Lokust showed me where you keep your expressed milk supply. Consider it handled.”
Thanking my aunt again, I headed up to Observation.
 
 
“Enjoying the view, sir?” I asked as I exited the elevator. Englert was busy staring out at Galahad.
“It’s one of the reasons I joined the Galactic Service you know. I don’t think I’ll ever callus to it.”
“It gets better, sir. Care for a tour?”
The man’s smile almost eclipsed his face.
 
 
“And in here is our multipurpose compartment. Briefing room, galley, exercise room, practice room all rolled into one.” I told our guest as I opened the compartment’s door.
High pitched shrieking assaulted our ears and a tiny blue plasma blast hit the wall not far from me.
“It would seem it is in use.” I retorted.
Lyra and the only other Lynxin kitten onboard presently, chased each other around the far end of the compartment. Both sounded like they were having fun.
I quickly motioned ahead of us and put up a concealment shield then held my finger to my lips telling my guest to remain silent.
Lyra stopped, sniffed the air, and began looking around the room.
Another tiny plasma burst hit her square in the back. It was a good thing both kittens were wearing their uniforms!
“That’s not fair!” Lyra cried as she turned and crossed her arms tightly across her chest. “I wasn’t ready.”
“Why? We’re supposed to be training.” Sonya asked as she stopped beside her daughter.
“I smell someon... Lady Chance is hiding from us!” Lyra clapped excitedly. “Maybe she wants to play too?”
Sonya animatedly sniffed the air around her and stiffened.
“She and the Chairman are here somewhere.”
Her eyes narrowed, but her face blushed in embarrassment.
“I think we have had enough training for the time being, Lady Lyra. Thank you for taking the time to show me some of your techniques. I will be in our quarters cleaning up.” Sonya continued- her adult persona looking humorously adorable in her current form.
“Wait, Sooonya! Don’t you wanna play some more?” Lyra called as Sonya stomped past us and out the compartment’s door.
“I thought I was making some headway with her too!” Our junior Coven sister frumped.
“Sometimes it takes more, My Lady. We didn’t mean to interrupt your therapy session. I’m sorry.” I said as I dropped my concealment spell.
“Hello again, Mr. Chairman, sir.”
“My profound apologies for disturbing your training session, Lady Lyra.” Englert placed his left fist to his chest and bowed politely.
“It’s okay. So how was your ride with Lady Cora?” The Lynxin kitten forged on innocently.
Englert blushed.
“Very…um…thrilling, My Lady. We conversed of your Coven’s missions over the recent past.” He answered ‘diplomatically’
“Oh. I thought Lady Cora would try to seduce you.” Lyra replied. “Oh well, I think I should maybe help Sonya clean up. Bye.”
As soon as the door closed behind Lyra, Englert burst out in laughter!
“My apologies, sir. Lyra is only six standard years…”
“Yet she speaks with many years more experience, Lady Chance. I find it…refreshing!” He shook his head.
“It also tickles me who is the more ‘grown-up’ of the two.”
That brought a smile to my face as I couldn’t agree more with his assessment.
 
 
“Chairman on deck!” Keats announced as Englert and I entered the Bridge. My Coven sisters and brothers stood and snapped to attention.
“Please. At ease ladies and gentlemen. I’m officially at an emergency security meeting off world at the moment, so…I’m officially…not here.” Our guest advised with noticeable appreciation.
“Lady Charli, any developments in finding Assistant de Sallenger?” I asked.
“I find no evidence he is on Galahad, High Priestess. Sensors are still examining the local systems for his signature or activity.”
“Thank you. Stay on it. Keats? How you holding up? Ready to let Simone relieve you yet?”” I asked our reservist.
“Not yet,” he responded with a whimsical grin, “I’m not done stealing her secrets, High Priestess.”
“Pegasus is so advanced I haven’t been able to digest even a tenth of her tech! All you ladies are undeniable geniuses- Lady Simone in particular. I had never seen her completed thesis on trans-dimensional propulsion.” He praised as Chairman Englert’s eyes popped from his head.
“Tra-trans-dimensional,” He gulped, wet his lips then continued. “Trans-dimensional propulsion?” He paused to compose himself.
“Is that even possible?”
“You bet yer ass, buddy!” Keats boasted proudly.
“Chance? I found him!”
“Where, Charli?” I asked excitedly.
“I’ve located his signature on a commercial transport just leaving this system.”
“Are we sure the sensors are right, Lady Charli? Back above Magellan I sensed the big bad guy’s presence, but it turned out to be a decoy.”
“It’s him, High Priestess- or what used to be him.” Charli assured.
“Time to intercept?”
“Two minutes.”
“Helm, set an intercept course and engage.”
“Move, flyboy. I’ll take it from here.” Mom said as she forcefully turned Sam in his seat.
Simone’s father willingly evacuated the pilot’s chair and took a seat back next to his wife.
“We’re on our way, High Priestess. Two minutes to intercept.” Mom reported professionally.
“I take it my assistant hasn’t gotten far?” Englert asked.
“Right now the transport is almost sixteen light years from Galahad. We’ll intercept between systems.” Charli informed our guest.
“Wow! Pegasus is really fast! Sixteen LY’s in two minutes…”
“Main emitter’s are rock steady at point one percent of full power, High Priestess.” Keats announced, making it a point to gloat about Pegasus’ full potential.
“Point…point one percent? My God, how fast can this ship go?” Englert gasped.
“A lot faster and leave it at that, sir. Level thirty stuff.” I told him.
“Chance, I’m picking up an awful lot of taint on that ship. It's more than just one person.”
Enable the forward weapons for wand mode, Lady Kitty.” I ordered. We want to purify, not destroy.”
Weapons enabled, both purifier and Current storage reserve are online, and I have a lock on the transport, High Priestess. In range now.”
“Fire.” I said calmly as a shrill whistling noise filled the Bridge. This was the first time I had heard any weapons other than the cannons fire.
“Purifying is complete. Reserve at eighty-nine percent capacity, High Priestess.”
“Thank you, Lady Kitty. Well done. Life signs in the transport?”
“Sensors indicate forty life signs, High Priestess. All match species signatures.” Charli reported.
“De Sallenger?” I asked.
“That specific signature has disappeared, M’lady.”
Just as the Captain’s double did on Mare, High Priestess.” Kitty added.
Are we compatible with their docking hatch, High Priestess?” Mom asked without looking over at me. “Never mind. Slowing to match velocity, M’lady.”
“Kitty, Artie, Simone, and Locust. You’re with me.” I said as I stood. “Lady Cora, I need you and Savanna on the command deck.”
 
 

 
 
“Docking passage has been extended and is secured to transport docking hatch, Chance. Pressurizing now.” Keats reported.
“High Priestess, why was I not considered for this mission?” Sonya Serangetti demanded while we waited for pressurization to complete.
“I have performed many forced boardings and am quite confident in such actions.” She stated forcefully.
“Ummmm…you’re a child right now, kid,” Lokust replied. “Plus, from what I’ve heard, your wand skills need work.”
“Why not let the ‘Magical Cat Girl go with you guys.” Chantell suggested. “She could use the practice- I mean, really use the practice!”
“Hey! I’m learning!” Sonya defended as her civilian clothing changed to her Corps uniform.
“It’s about time!” Artie growled.
“Come along then, but behave.” I caved.
“Docking Passage is ready. Docking hatches are now unlocked.” Charli advised this time.
With Kitty taking point, we made our way single file between ships through the flexible, narrow transfer tube.
“Wow! It smells terrible in here!” Sonya complained as she entered the transport’s open airlock.
“It’s the smell of Hoblins, sweetie. Don’t ever get used to it.” I replied. “Wands at the ready.”
Kitty’s shurikens took flight and began orbiting just inches away from her hat’s brim; Artie’s bow and full quiver appeared; Lokust, Simone, Sonya and I produced our wands. Chantell pulled her revolver.
I stopped and looked at my aunt in confusion. I hadn’t asked her along.
“Hey, someone has to watch the little Ewok in case her ‘wand’ misfires.” She reasoned.
I turned around without comment and we began our search for recovered crew and passengers.
 
 
“Chance, Pegasus. We’ve recovered forty people over here, but de Sallenger isn’t among them.”
“Chance, I’m picking up a small bit of taint in the aft storage compartment. It’s not indicating large enough for a full-sized Hoblin though.” Charli reported her newest findings.
“Sonya and I will go aft and investigate. I want every corner and crevice re-examined.” I said as I took the kitten’s hand and started back through the transport.
Some of the crew and passengers were starting to regain consciousness.
“My little sister forgot to go before we left our ship.” Was my excuse when we passed several females that were leaning against the passageway walls.
Of course, Sonya looked mortified.
“I wish you would stop that, Lady Chance. I’m not a little child!”
I stopped quickly and conjured a full-length mirror directly in front of her.
“Really?! I see a very spoiled eight-year-old kitten with a huge chip on her shoulder and a very bad attitude. Now let’s go!” I growled as the mirror disappeared.
 
 
“Lady Chance, Lady Charli. Are we getting warm yet?” I asked as we entered the storage compartment located just forward of the engine room.
“About four feet ahead and two to the left.” Charli directed.
“Okay, you should see it right in front of you.”
I blinked on my Current sight and scanned the area.
“Lady Charli, I can’t see a thing. Are you sure about this?”
“According to my 3D imaging, its right at eye level with Sonya. Directly in front of her about two feet away."
“Have you found your Current Sight yet, sweetie?” I asked my Lynxin little sister.
“Ummmm…sort of?”
I rolled my eyes. “Just ask your Current to help you see it. It’s not that difficult, Lady Sonya.”
The kitten blinked her eyes and stared in surprise at the storage bin in front of her.
“The red stuff is the bad stuff, right?”
“Yep. What have you got, sweetie.” I asked.
“I’m not sure but it just changed color.”
“Oh?”
“Yes, from orange-red to a shade darker.”
I knelt down to get a better look at it and gasped in shock!
“Get out! Now!” I shouted as I stared at the Current delay bomb in horror. I quickly began to slowly drain the Current out of it.
“What is it, Lady Chance?”
A Current bomb! Get out of here, Sonya!” I shouted again with more intensity as I removed the device and held it in both hands.
“Did I hear you right, buddy? You found a Current bomb?” Lokust asked for conformation.
“Litte thing. Big badda boom! Yes, a bomb! Sonya! Get out of here! Now!”
“I can disarm it, Chance!” Sonya argued.
“It’s building up to detonation! Get out! I’m trying to drain the Current, but I have to do it slowly so it doesn’t trigger prematurely.” I reported.
“Let me look at it, High Priestess.” Sonya said calmly as she touched my arm. She blinked and I guess looked at it through her Current sight.
“There!” she pointed at a spot on the cylindrical device’s side facing her. It’s the small black spot. That’s the timer/detonator. That will defuse it.”
Quickly, she took her scepter, traced small circles in the air over the device and made the small spot vanish.
The device stopped darkening in color.
“Good job, sweetie.” I praised after releasing my breath then set about asking my Current to search the device for conscripted life forms.
There was one, but it was so degraded my Current was having trouble identifying it. All it gave me was the fragment: ‘alle…ger’.
I continued to drain and purify the bomb’s Current until all trace was gone from the device. As with the other devices Sonya had planted on Pegasus, this one fell to pieces then to dust and finally disappeared.
“All clear. Sonya found the detonator and took care of it all by herself.” I announced proudly.
“Surprise of surprises, Buddy! I’m going to go out on a limb and ask if it was de Sallenger.”
“What was left of him, I guess? I could only get a partial name: ‘alle’ and ‘ger’…”
Just before I flew across the compartment and hit the wall hard.
Shaking my head to clear it, I looked up in time to see Sonya grab something and hold it tightly to her stomach with one hand while twirling her scepter rapidly over her hat.
A blue sphere enveloped her small form followed quickly by a brilliant and sharp flash of blue!
“Sonya! I cried out as I realized what she had just done.
Immediately, the sphere burst and Current flooded the compartment several feet deep!
“Chance?” Lokust sounded frantic.
“Sonya found and cradled another charge! She threw me away and manifested a spherical shield around herself before it detonated!” I cried hysterically.
I had to help her! But first, I started absorbing the Current so I could reach her.
Sonya was glowing like an overdriven Space Beacon as the dropping Current level exposed her!
“Safe to come in, Buddy?” Lokust asked as I felt for a pulse.
“The Current’s cleaned up, but I don’t feel a pulse!” I said trying not to panic.
My Coven sisters were suddenly all around me.
She’s in overload. I have to drain some of her Current.” I said to myself and nobody else.
Four hands and one of my own reached for the unconscious, courageous Lynxin. We all began to drain off Current from her. As we did so, her illumination decreased and finally stopped.
Sonya began coughing and her eyes opened slightly.
“Aaarrrrwwwwwwwl!” She growled in pain. “That hurt more than I expected it would.”
“Holy shit! She’s actually alive!” Chantell swore in shocked amazement.
“Sonya? Can you hear me?” I asked as I removed her hat and cradled her head to me.
“I’ll live. Unless, of course, this is hell and you all are my penance.” She slowly glanced around with squinting eyes. “By Libra, I hope I’m still alive!”
“What is wrong with you, girl!” Chantell demanded. “Didn’t they ever teach you to run from things that go BOOM?!”
“There was no time, My Lady. The High Priestess was in optimum range.” Sonya replied.
Something didn’t quite seem right about her though. Since I was in contact with her, I decided to ask her Current what happened.
And scowled.
“Chance?” Artie had noticed my expression. Chantell, Lokust, and Simone also looked up at me.
“You shouldn’t have done that, Lady Sonya. It was stupid and irresponsible.” I said to cover the real reason.
“And it was also the right thing to do!” She argued.
“I thank you, with all my heart, My Lady.” I said with a reverent nod.
“I guess she really is a member of the Coven after all, huh?” Simone asked in awe of the Linxin’s actions.
“Status on the crew? Are they fit to continue?” I requested, nodding to my Antarran sister then looked to Lokust.
“This transport has a ship’s mistress, Chance. She was one of the first to regain consciousness, so yes. We advised her she should be making preparations to get underway, but has been told to await our order to actually depart.” Lokust answered.
“Serangetti Sonya, are you capable of moving?” I asked.
The Kitten pushed free of me and stood with no problem.
“I said I’ll live. Can we go back to Pegasus now, High Priestess?”
I nodded to Lokust as I got to my feet.
“Lokust, Pegasus. You see any other bad stuff over here?” She asked.
“Looks clean from this end, Lokust.” Charli answered.
“We’ll be heading back over then. Lokust out. Let’s get off this tub, Ladies.”
 
 
 
Author's notes: Pegasus 9 'Pin Up'- piloted by Caroline 'Porno' Norge- Queen of Antarra.

 
 
“High Priestess. The transport has resumed its course. Her captain sends her thanks.” Artie relayed as we watched the ship slowly pull away.
“So what now, High Priestess?” Chairman Englert inquired.
“Now we get you back…”
“Chance! I’m getting an emergency transmission from Kane! They’re reporting an unidentified spacecraft entering orbit with no communication or permissions!” Dell announced excitedly.
Could this be another decoy? Something else to draw us off Bovidovich’s trail? I thought to myself.
“This is real, Keke.” I heard in my head.
“Set course for Kane.” I ordered.
“Aye! Course transferred to helm. ETA seven standard hours.” Charli reported.
“Got it.” Mom announced.
“Engage. Hope you don’t mind going on a longer demo ride, Chairman?”
“How far is Kane from ‘here’?”
“Eleven hundred, thirty-four thousand LY’s, Chairman.” Charli answered.
Englert gasped in shock.
“Please follow me, sir.” I asked as I motioned to the door and the passageway.
“Excuse me. High Priestess?” Serangetti Sonya interrupted. “My Lady, might I request a return to my original form?”
“Lady Sonya.” I turned to see the eight-year old on my heels. “There has been a request from one of our more senior members for you to remain in your current form until this mission concludes.”
Sonya immediately glared at several of our sisters, daring them to come forward!
“No, Lady Sonya. I requested of our High Priestess to keep you in this form.” Lyra jumped from her seat and quickly approached her flabbergasted ‘sibling/mother’.
Sonya’s face fell.
“Why? Why would you want me in this form any longer than necessary, Lyra?”
Lyra shied away a moment before taking a deep breath and looking back- her resolve now cemented. She hovered a few inches off the deck to look eye to eye with her mother’s eight-year old form.
“Because I like having an older sister, Lady Sonya!” Lyra said as she looked intently into her mother’s eyes. “There have been so many times in our past that I’ve wanted…needed to have you with me…near me,” she took another deep breath, “Poppy and I both miss you in our lives, momma!” Lyra glanced to the deck for just a second.
“Earlier, when we were…um…practicing…down stairs…I felt…um…,” she took yet another stratifying breath, “I felt amazing! It felt like we were really sisters.”
“Plus, I thought you were having fun too, momma. You are always so serious and never seem to have time for me and Poppy…” Lyra added as tears began matting her facial fur.
“I just wanted you to forget about your commitments for a while and have some fun.”
“Damn! So which one of them is the adult again?” Chantell stage whispered to Simone.
I shifted my attention to my two adult Coven sisters momentarily then looked back down at the two kittens. Sonya had wrapped her arms around her daughter/sister and both were sniffing and shivering against each other.
“Have them both come up to observation when they’re ready.” I told Simone. She nodded and I proceeded to show Chairman Englert our observation Lounge.
As with any of our guests, he was immediately taken by the blue-shifted streaks of light overhead.
“Unfathomable!” He finally whispered. “I never thought it possible to travel this fast!”
I got right down to business.
“So… what’s actually going on above Kane, sir?”
“High Priestess?” He asked, looking at me in surprise.
“I was just on Kane three days ago and we detected no unidentified craft in the vicinity. What do you know that I don’t?” I inquired in a staunch tone.
“I am as much in the dark as you, M’lady.” He replied innocently.
“Bovidovich only wants the Current, sir. There is no reasoning with it on that. It is a deal made with the devil and can only go one way.” I remarked as I sat down on one of the comfortable chaises. “Furthermore, you would be sealing the fate of the entire galaxy…maybe even the entire Universe.”
Englert regarded me for a minute or more.
“Suppose I had made a deal with this ‘Devil’ as you call it…theoretically, of course?”
“The Hobgoblin formerly known as ‘Bovidovich’ has existed for over a thousand years, sir. That has left more than enough time for it to plan and scheme.” I paused to let that sink in.
“Theoretically…the worlds in any agreed upon compromise would be left devoid of life and all ‘lifeforce’ existing on them consumed by it- Bovidovich- for its own greed and hunger for power. The species can only lose in any compromise or deal, Chairman Englert. I hope you understand the full ramifications any ‘theoretical compromise’ could have on our freedoms.”
I observed the man for several seconds, noting his change in facial expressions, behavior of his eyes, and changes in his breathing. I also observed his Current.
“Have you ever met one, sir?” I asked. “Really met one of them…as they really look, I mean.” I shivered at the thought of my first encounter. “Have you ever been conscripted by them?”
“I’ve only dealt with de Sallenger, and no, I haven’t been…conscripted, High Priestess. Are you somehow insinuating that I am not who I claim to be?” He asked, taking offence immediately.
“Not at all, sir. I guarantee you are the real McCoy, sir, but I WAS inferring that you have no idea what you are dealing with! Except for the big three- two of which have been dealt with- Hobgoblins are mindless drones that are incapable of resisting or fighting against their Master. Most are mere pawns in Bovidovich’s ‘grand scheme’ to control ALL the Current in this and all the other galaxies! With every planet it consumes, it grows bigger and more powerful. Soon, not even Witch Corps may be able to stop it!”
“You speak as if this species is an infection, virus, or plague, High Priestess. Does it not deserve…”
It IS a plague, sir! The Hobgoblins are no ‘sub-species’, but came into existence because of wanton greed- nothing more! One Terran corrupting two of his comrades into a scheme to horde and enslave Current, sell it to the highest bidder, and achieve both financial AND political power!”
“Financial and political pow…?”
“All important and viable ‘physical’ pursuits on early twenty-second century Earth, Chairman Englert. Oh sure, there have been others in the farther past and certainly this won’t be the last. The concept known to us as ‘evil’ must always be balanced out by good, you understand. Witch Corps has been trying to keep the balance since just after the Hobgoblins came into being. We are the ‘light’ to its ‘dark’. Do you understand, sir?” I explained.
“You speak as though you were there, High Priestess.” He countered.
“No, but I was, Jameson Englert!” Mom said as she stepped closer from the elevator. “Uri Chekov Bovidovich was a member of my crew.”
Englert turned to her voice and I noticed his mouth drop open.
“It was June 3rd, 2107. The crew of Orion-Explorer 34- Pegasus, NASA’s first manned probe to the outer reaches of the Sol system- my crew- strapped ourselves into the Earth’s newest ‘Deep Space’ Capsule. It utilized the world’s first Ion Propulsion Emitter system, an entirely new and untested ‘concept’ unit that almost didn’t happen because of a fatality early on in development. It was theorized to get us out and back from just past the Keiper Belt in one Earth year.”
“Six Astronauts: Denison, Guan, Evans, Bovidovich, Anderson, and Summers rocketed into the heavens at 0735 EDST. Our first stop was the aging ISS- International Space Station, due to be decommissioned and scrapped for any usable parts the next year. We celebrated a picture perfect launch with the current ISS rotating crew, and topped off our fuel cells for the start of our mission the next day.”
“Engaging the new propulsion system exactly one hour after we departed the ISS, we set course for the Keiper Belt. Our first indication as to the superior performance of the new system came hours later as I needed to make several critical course changes as Pegasus navigated the asteroid belt between Earth and her outer planets. We entered that minefield twice as fast as had been anticipated.”
“We missed the planned slingshot off Jupiter’s gravity well because Pegasus had picked up too much velocity! Our conventional directional quads were becoming ineffective.”
“The planned six-month journey out to the outer reaches of our solar system ended up taking only three months. I vividly remember Charlie Anderson excitedly reporting our velocity after calculating our current position and speed. Point seven-five of Light Speed…what we now simply abbreviate as LY. Such speed was completely unheard of in those early days!”
“Before we knew it, we were well past our system’s Ort Cloud and found ourselves in the deep darkness between systems. I made a command decision to disengage our new propulsion system and began- in vain- to slow our momentum.”
“It took a month and a half to slow Pegasus down to where our maneuvering quads could again be effective. By then we had penetrated almost to the inner planets of our closest neighboring system.”
You can imagine our surprise at being completely surrounded by alien spacecraft as I finally brought Pegasus to a halt three million miles from what we found out was the Lynxin’s home planet; FeLane.”
“You!? You made first contact!? With the Lynxin!?” Englert choked!
Mom nodded.
“We were taken aboard their flagship, searched, decontaminated, searched again, and questioned- though it took several months for us to be able to understand each other.”
“After three months Queen Libra finally understood English well enough to understand our predicament and our unintentional trespass into their system. She offered to modify Pegasus’ retro-thrusters in exchange for our ion drive system so that we could get home. During that refit time we got to know her and her society and became very good friends.”
“It was on FeLane that we first learned of ‘Fer’luc-gi’ or ‘Current’ as we call it today. Libra offered to teach us about what she touted as ‘a great source of renewable, sentient energy’. It was then that the six of us began seeing ‘things’.”
“Now, by ‘things’ I mean wisps…luminous phantoms of orange, usually moving in fixed lines under, over, around, to, and from their machines. Libra was astounded and asked if we might participate in some basic experiments. She believed that we ‘Terrans’ were more sensitive and therefore could ‘see’ the Fer’luc-gi. It was believed that Terrans were of the rare Fer’luc-ma’gi class of Lynxin- what were at one time called Shaman on Earth.”
“Unbenounced to Queen Libra, Chantell, Charlie, and I had noticed strange occurrences happening around us- occurrences that coincided with gestures, verbal suggestions, or even strong thoughts. Wishing not to unravel our new friendship, I revealed the mysterious occurrences to our hostess. She was far from surprised and even more confident we were Fer’luc-ma’gi.”
“Lifeblood or Lifeforce magicians if my ‘Lynxin’ is correct.” Englert inserted.
“User of Forceblood in the old FeLane Courtesan language, but your translation is correct for modern Lynxin.” Mom corrected then continued.
“After a series of ancient ‘tests’ it was confirmed that the six of us all fell into the Fer’luc-ma’gi class, but in varying degrees. Evans, Denison, and Guan showed the least ability while Anderson and Bovidovich showed moderate talent. I was the standout though. After only a few hours of instruction I was able to levitate small items, conjure of all things, a wand, and I could see and feel the Fer’luc-gi more than any of us.”
“Upon our return to Earth, we first debriefed then presented Queen Libra’s official proclamation of welcome to the NASA Brass. We were proclaimed heroes and ‘courageous explorers’ for not only being the first to leave our solar system, but the first explorers to make contact with another race. Once the parades, speaking engagements and talkshow appearances were over, that’s when things started to change for Evans, Guan, and Bovidovich.”
“Somehow, Bovidovich began entertaining the idea that, since he could use and somewhat absorb Current, he might be able to create a market to trade it like the Stock Markets of Earth at the time bought and sold commodities and shares of stock. He convinced Evans and Guan that there was financial gain to be had and easily talked them into collecting and storing as much current as they could hold. I don’t have to tell you what happens when you constantly add to a container of finite volume. Only in this case, subtle changes first began to appear in their personalities.”
Our three fellow astronauts became studious, withdrawn, and easily enraged. They began to ‘horde’ any and all Current they could find. They eventually began to fight and argue amongst themselves, and even steal Current from one another.”
Mom took a moment to look to the deck, wiped her eyes dry and stared straight at our guest.
“About three months later we had gathered for a one year anniversary gala to commemorate our historic mission. An argument ensued that escalated into Bovidovich, Evans, and Guan attacking several international dignitaries. Further, Bovidovich and Guan began beating mercilessly on Evans- their animalistic shrieks and growls resembling nothing human. That’s when the unspeakable happened!”
Mom stared up at the blue-shifted star streaks a moment, wiped her eyes again then glared at Englert.
“Before our very eyes my three comrades began to give off a bluish glow. As the seconds ticked by the glow became even more brilliant until we could no longer look at them! The blinding blue light ceased instantly and what it revealed could only be described as hideous! Oval bodied monsters covered in sickly, scaly, dead, grey skin; long, spindly limbs that defied their apparent strength; grotesquely distorted faces not even remotely recognizable, they resembled nothing ever seen on Earth prior. Though they looked for all accounts, disoriented, the party devolved quickly into panic and chaos by those thinking it was a full-blown terrorist attack.”
“Chantell, Charlie, and I hurried over, but before we could get close enough to assess the situation Bovidovich, Guan, and what appeared to be a dead Evans vanished! Denison, Anderson, and I were immediately and unceremoniously ordered into isolation and sat there for six long months under observation. I won’t say that we didn’t continue practicing and broadening our Current talents, or that we could have easily escaped if we wanted to. We did though; experience every conceivable test the so-called experts could think up as the doctors tried to explain the horrific transformation witnessed by over three hundred high-level guests. Having the most ‘special abilities’ of us three, I received even more specialized ‘tests’ after Charlie and Chantell were released.”
“Almost a year to that day, I finally gained my freedom, but the embarrassment and ridicule had yet to begin in earnest. Everywhere I went I suffered attack, persecution, and discrimination! I was treated like an alien on my own planet…in my own country…by the very people I pledged to protect when I enlisted in the Marines! I became the planet’s biggest pariah. Thank goodness that was when the Lynxin finally arrived.”
Technologically superior to anything existing on Earth at the time, Libra dared land her royal shuttle on the White House’s South Lawn. The Secret Service, Army, Navy, Marines, not even the Air Force could do anything about it either! I even heard rumor they called in the Coast Guard! Adding insult to injury, Libra ordered two more patrol ships to land on the mall to either side of the Washington Monument!”
Mom giggled.
“Her only demand? To meet and talk exclusively with Hope Summers! I never felt so vindicated in my life! Suddenly here was an alien queen demanding private talks with the world’s most notorious pariah!”
“I heard the President pissed herself when she looked out the window of the West Wing and saw a spacecraft the size of a football field on her lawn!” Mom smiled brightly at that memory.
“In the ensuing talks that Libra insisted be conducted in English, she explained my transformation and took complete responsibility for it, again referencing her apology letter we had brought back originally. Negotiations took several months and in the end an alliance had been forged between FeLane and Earth. One caveat of that alliance though created, formed, and funded a new Spec Ops unit tasked to address the newest threat to the fledgling alliance- Hobgoblins.”
“Though believed to be unique to Earth, Libra thought it necessary and crucial that an EFMC Spec-Ops unit be formed. Initially designated Earth/FeLane Marshall’s Corps, Libra redesignated us the Earth Force Marine Corps. It was actually her idea to dub us ‘Witch Corps’ after viewing several campy ‘B’ grade horror movies while still on Earth.”
“Chantell, Charlie, and I left a month after the Alliance ratification for FeLane to begin cooperative training. There we developed our abilities and found newer, interesting facets to them.”
Mom observed Englert for a few seconds.
“So ends the ancient history lesson, Jameson. Any questions?”
“So you are over twelve hundred years old?” He looked in awe of her then shifted his eyes to me.
“Chance is only twenty-seven, but she harbors more power in her little finger tip than any of us as a whole to date, Jameson. Crossing her…or any one of us would not be recommended.”
“A threat, Lady Hope?” He asked with a serious glower.
“An ‘experienced suggestion’, sir. Never underestimate what my daughter is capable of.” Mom smiled confidently.
“Now, getting back to my original question. What awaits us high above Kane, sir?” I asked as I gazed into his eyes once more.
“I made a concession, as you have deduced.” He said sadly. “Kane for de Sallenger to leave the rest of the Galactic Alliance alone.”
“And pray-tell, did you consult the residents of Kane before making this ‘concession?” Mom asked sarcastically.
Englert shook his head sadly. “Collateral.”
“You stupid, stupid man!” Mom shouted. “You gave him exactly what his master wanted! You FRELLING MORON!”
“Chance to Bridge! Full AfterBoost NOW! Stand on it, Sam!” I ordered and the ceiling above us blurred and became a light pastel blue; Pegasus began to vibrate as it had the last time I pushed her to her limit.
“Recalculated ETA to Kane is two hours, High Priestess.” Charli reported.
“I want Simone and Keats to watch those engines like expectant Viperhawks!” I continued as I stood and headed for the elevator. “Englert! My Bridge, Now! No other options!”
 
 
“Status on the engines!” I shouted angrily as Mom, Englert and I hurried onto the Bridge.
“All emitters are at one hundred percent AfterBoost, M’lady. Emitter temperatures are still within designed limits, but barely. Fuel economy has dropped to eighty-four percent. At this velocity we will have fifty-three-point-eight percent fuel reserve when we arrive.” Simone reported
“Tap and divert Current storage nacelles on Clean-up to Pegasus. Run all current through our purifiers prior to storing in Pegasus’ main reserve.”
“Aye, Ma’am! Bringing purifiers online now.” Keats acknowledged professionally.
“Lady Sonya! You’re to guard Chairman Englert. He is to be seated and remain seated. If he moves…I’ll leave the consequences up to your discretion.”
“High Priestess? What did he do, My Lady?” The eight-year old kitten asked in shock.
“He threw Kane under the bus, Miss Serangetti!” I snarled as my Coven all turned to stare at the man in question.
Sonya looked flabbergasted at her boss and failed to move as fast as I wanted.
“Lady Sonya!” I shouted to get her attention. “While you wear that uniform you take orders from me, young lady! Is that understood!?”
Aye, High Priestess!” Sonya snapped to attention.
“Good, now do what you were told. If he moves, shoot to kill!”
“High Priestess?”
“Those are my orders, M’lady!”
“Chance? Isn’t that a bit extreme?” Lokust asked as she stood and approached me.
“Two billion people are about to die because this man made a deal with the Hoblin devil, buddy! How else should I handle that type of arrogant, reprehensible action?” I posited.
“Did he really understand what he was getting into, Chance?” She asked, stopping directly in front of me.
“Does it really matter? He just condemned those people…the whole planet to the ultimate pain and torment until that ‘thing’ consumes them!”
“What if he had the power to help stop it?” Lokust proposed.
I thought about that suggestion. Something about it made sense and I realized it was completely feasible.
“His taint is very slight, Buddy. Easily purified by any of us. The High Priestess just needs to complete her.” Lokust winked slyly.
“Chairman Englert.” I called out as I spun around. “It has been suggested that, in order to repent for your crime, you might be able to help prevent it. Would that be acceptable or would you rather spend the time in our holding cell?”
“We have a holding cell?” Keats asked in shock.
“Small storage closet right next to the solid waste recycler.” Simone informed our reservist.
“Oh. Shit.”
“Yeah, exactly.” Simone giggled.
Of course their conversation was loud enough to be heard throughout the compartment.
“How can I be of assistance, High Priestess?” Englert inquired uncomfortably.
“Lady Sonya. If you would step back beside your little sister, please.”
Sonya’s eyes went wide as she suddenly began to comprehend what I planned to do.
“High Priestess? Is it wise to do this?” Lyra asked maturely. “What if he decides to abuse the privilege?”
“A pact should be made, I take it, My Lady?” I asked for clarification.
“For the Coven’s protection and the protection of the Kanen people.” Lyra verified with a nod.
“Acceptable. Why don’t you make the pact with our guest, Lady Lyra?”
The kitten smiled brightly at me and she extended her hand to Englert.
“Please, Mr. Chairman, sir. Take my hand so we can seal the pact.”
Englert smiled and gently took the junior witch’s hand.
“Do you, sir, promise to help our Coven and the people of Kane or any other world dispatch or dispel the evil-doers and bad men that would do the innocent harm?”
Englert seemed surprised that the young Lynxin could speak so fluently.
“I certainly do promise, Lady Lyra. I promise to help the Coven protect our freedoms from any wrongdoing within my power and capabilities.” He answered solemnly.
“And do you promise to abide by and execute any and all orders and commands our High Priestess may give? Accept assignments and complete them to the best of your ability?”
Englert looked curiously at the kitten.
“I do so promise, M’lady.”
“And if you don’t or won’t follow the Coven’s rules and practices, will you submit to any and all applicable punishments or prosecution?” Lyra continued.
Englert’s eyes narrowed as he continued to examine our young Lynxin carefully.
“I-I do, My Lady.”
Lyra produced her wand and began waving it over their joined hands.
“The pact has been set forth and agreed upon. So shall it be sealed in good faith,” she finished as a bluish glow flowed through their handshake.
“Okay, High Priestess. He’s all yours.” Lyra giggled as she stepped back and took Sonya’s hand. Englert stared, dumbfounded, at his hand.
“Please stand, Mr. Englert.” I asked, offering my hands to him.
“What will happen now?” He asked nervously.
“Something wonderful.” I said flatly.
“Wow! That never ceases to amaze me!” Lokust exclaimed as I now looked down into our newest recruit’s hazel eyes. I had taken the liberty of dressing the new five and a half foot girl in one of our uniforms. The girl’s pixie style haircut looked adorable under her wide-brimmed pointed hat.
“A six o’clock. Interesting.” Mom commented.
“What’s a six o’clock and why am I look…” the new brunette’s eyes bulged and she began to lose palor.
“What did you do to me?” She squeaked as she began to wobble, but at the same time felt herself up and down.
“Welcome to the Corps, Chairman.” I giggled.
“We don’t have to keep calling her that do we, Chance?” Artie wondered.
“That’s her callsign, so until she can come up with a viable name, we can call her that.” I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.
“Well she certainly looks comfortable in the uniform, Chance.” Chantell complimented.
“I assure you, M’lady, I’m anything but comfortable at the moment.” Chairman groaned.
“So how does it feel, Jameson? Not laughing now are you?” Sonya questioned in a catty tone. “Or should we call you Jamie Quincy, now?”
“That’s as good as any, Chance.” Kitty observed as she eyed our new girl ominously.
“Charli, enter Lt. Jamie Quincy into the roster. Specialties to follow at a later date.” I requested.
“Done, High Priestess.”
“Now we give you a crash course on being a Current Mage.” I told her as I began instructing her in the conjuring of her wand and address of her latent Current.
 
 

 
 
“Kane in four LY’s, High Priestess.” Mom announced.
“Take us to sublight and keep dynamic camo active. Charli? See anything unusual?”
“One intersystem transit overflowing with tainted Current, Chance. Parking Orbit directly over WhiteCliffe.”
“Weapons. Bring wand mode online, enable the purifier, and target that transport.” I ordered.
“You’re just going to destroy it? I thought we were here to help these people?” Our new girl, Jamie, questioned excitedly.
“Wand mode purifies the conscripted Hoblins and safely recovers them if applicable.” Kitty explained.
“If applicable?”
“Conscripts begin to degrade the longer they remain transfigured.” Kitty answered.
“Chance? I’m picking up a small trace amount of tainted Current on the planet.” Charli paused a moment. “It’s coming from Hopewell Field!”
“”Bring Pegasus’ 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 AI’s online and ready for immediate departure. Keats you’re back on the engineering console; Sonya and Lyra, weapons; Sam, helm. Aunt Cora, you and Savanna get up here. You have the Bridge.” I ordered.
“Beggin’ your pardon, Chance, but I’d like to go too. I’m the ‘expert’ when it comes to the hangar.” Keats spoke up.
“The only way you would be going on this mission is if you were activated, and you seem to have some very strong aversion to that. Sorry, Keats.” I told him sadly. He immediately glared at Mom.
“Listen, Keats! I haven’t said a thing to her about that little tryst between you and that Ventralian Slave Handler. She figured it all out on her own…I guess!?” Mom admitted heatedly.
“Yeah, Hope…thanks for letting everyone here know now.” He scowled in a flat tone.
“Sonya and Lyra, wand mode on all weapons unless absolutely necessary. Major, you, Fairy Godmother, and Seeker go with Kitty, Huntress, and Lokust. Chairman is with me.” I continued with my orders to get back on track.
“Yer brooms are initialized, Ma’am. Ready when you are.” Keats reported in an irritable, but somewhat professional tone just as Aunt Cora and Savanna entered.
“Keats? How many reservists do we have at Hopewell Field?” I asked as I thought of something.
“Just let me think a minute now…hmmm, that would be me, but if I’m not goin’ then the place should be empty, Chance. Why?” Keats answered sarcastically.
“I take it you enabled security before we left?”
“Corps S.O.P, ma’am.” He growled.
“Good. Janet, please relieve Charli. I want us notified of even the tiniest bit of taint anywhere on, below, or above the planet!”
“You got it, High Priestess.” Simone’s mom said just before she entered Dad’s vacated station tube.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can, Sweetie.” I said as I leaned down to kiss my daughter’s forehead. She gurgled and frowned a few times in response.
“Of course I’ll be careful. You keep Auntie Cora intent on her job, alright?” I answered.
Savanna giggled.
“Don’t have too much fun, now.” I smiled at her then at Cora before I turned to leave.
“Good hunting, Ma’am.” Keats said flatly.
A blue light filled the Command deck.
A shriek from the engineering console almost pierced my eardrums!
“Fine! You’re with Simone!” I said to the redhead now sitting at that station. She was still checking herself out and probably wasn’t paying any attention to anything other than her modest boobs!
 
 
“Pegasus 1, you are cleared for departure.” Porno alerted.
A near inaudible ‘clunk’ signaled our docking clamp’s release.
“Dynamic Camo mode, Hope and a Pair. Let’s go get the bad guys.”
“I’m with you, Chance.”
We began our descent to Kane.
“High Priestess? Back on the Bridge…you were talking to your child as if you understood her.” Jamie asked nervously.
“I do understand her. She’s a very intelligent girl.” I answered as I enabled Hope and a Pair’s heat shield and began piercing Kane’s outermost atmosphere.
“How?”
“I don’t expect you to understand so soon after activation, but you just have to listen. Listen with your heart and not your ears, Jamie.” I advised.
My passenger remained quiet the rest of our trip.
 
 
Just after my canopy opened, I released my harness and hovered up and out of Hope and a Pair.
“You going to push the envelope or just get out the old-fashioned way, Chairman?” I asked as my feet touched the old-style tarmac. We had landed just outside EFMC’s hangar. If we had been watched, the observer would have seen me suddenly appear out of thin air.
“Remember to ask and not demand of your Current.” I reminded.
Chairman hit the ground quite hard, but she had succeeded in flying herself out of my broom’s second seat nonetheless.
“Very good! I hope you’re getting a feel for this.”
“I’m starting to understand, yes, Lady Chance. Where are all the people? I thought a municipal port like this would at least have support personnel on the ground.”
“EFMC Witch Corps protocol: Always bait and set the trap.” I explained. “Once the trap is sprung, warnings go out to keep away.”
“Wand at the ready, Lady Jamie.” I recommended as I materialized mine.
“Lokust, Chance. We’re in position, Buddy. Wrench acknowledged that the system’s been tripped and we have one on ice.”
“Copy. Work the exits then close the circle. There may be more. On my mark. Go.”
With my Current sight enabled, Jamie and I entered the large building and began clearing the main hangar space.
“You might want to enable your Current sight, Jamie.” I suggested in a whisper.
“My what? Current sight? You mean to tell me that you can actually see Current?” She responded in kind.
“You can too. Just kindly ask your Current to help you see Current. You blink it on and off when you want it, but…” I paused for only a second, “you might not want to look at me when you have it engaged. Our sisters have complained that I shine too brightly when first using that talent.”
I knew she had figured it out when she began looking about the building- her mouth open, and a look of sheer wonder on her face.
“This…ttttthis is incredible, M’lady! Who would have thought such beauty existed…” She began to say before looking to me and instantly covering her eyes.
“Why are you so blindingly bright?” She asked as she quickly looked away.
“Haven’t figured that out yet. I’ve been this way since I reached my threshold.” I giggled as I motioned for us to continue our search.
“Seeker, Chance. The taint seems to be confined to a small storage area back by the kitchen. Huntress, Wrench, Simone, and Kitty are watching it carefully. Major and I will continue to clear the other areas.”
“We’re clean out here so far, Seeker.” I answered.
“Threshold, M’lady? I don’t understand.” Jamie looked confused.
“Let’s just say that when I had gathered and stored enough Current, something in me triggered and I went through a big change. Lady Hope calls it my threshold. As far as I know, the two of us are the only Coven sisters that have done that; maybe one other now that I think about it… It…it wasn’t a change I was expecting.”
“And it was far from pleasant.” I added. “All three times for me.”
“So…I have not reached my threshold then?”
“No. I’ve only ‘activated’ you so you can know and use your latent Current. Typically, those Lady Hope or I activate don’t seem to reach a ‘threshold’…more like they seem to bypass it.”
“Pegasus, Chance. I’ve detected another small bit of taint. It’s moving toward you and Chairman.” Mum alerted. There was a concerned edge to her voice.
I shouldn’t have worried though as a second later Jamie let loose a shrill, blood-curdling scream.
“We found it, Mum. Chance, out.”
“What is that hideous thing!?” She demanded as it lumbered closer. It was at least three conscripts in size.
“That is a Hoblin, Lady Jamie. It probably has three conscripts in it.” I told her.
“It ate three people?”
“No. It’s made up of three conscripted individuals. Our job is to recover them from the horror they are enduring in that form. Now; point your wand at it and ask your Current to help you purify and recover the conscripts as completely as possible.”
“I can do that?” She asked in an unsure and shaking voice. “Oh, God! What is that smell?”
I nodded to the creature.
“That. You want to take care of that before it gets close or do you like the smell of death?”
“I…I don’t know if I can do it. I’ve never killed before.” She lamented.
“Neither had I until I witnessed my friends getting conscripted.
A blast from a weapon it suddenly had in its disfigured hand stuck Jamie dead center in the belly and she flew back several feet hitting the floor hard. Surprisingly she quickly stood back up and pointed her wand menacingly.
“Why am I not dead from that, High Priestess? I should have been dead.”
“The uniform you wear is highly tolerant of their weapons and strikes, though not entirely impregnable.”
“Oh.” She nodded and took aim with her wand. “Take that, you monster!”
As her blue beam faded, several large pieces of ‘flesh’ were all that remained of the Hoblin. I had seen more disgusting results.
Apparently she hadn’t.
Jamie dropped to the floor and wretched repeatedly while choking and crying hysterically.
“The first one is always the hardest, M’lady. Unfortunately, they do get easier to stomach.” I confided.
“How do you stand it? Does it ever bother you? How-how can you be so callous? These were…” she started to choke again but was able to repress her nausea. “These were people!”
“Actually, they were the people that you declared ‘collateral’ just a few hours ago, Chairman, remember?” I corrected, glaring at her. “You sacrificed them when YOU gave permission to exchange their lives and planet for peace in the Galaxy.”
“Not much left of that one, was there, Buddy.” Lokust said as she and Mom approached. “Is she going to be okay?”
“Chairman just had an epiphany, M’lady.” I stated.
“Is that what we’re calling it now?” Mom asked with a cock-eyed grin. “Hmm. I’ve had quite a few ‘epiphanies’ in my long life- saloons and bars notwithstanding.”
Lokust and I glared at ‘Lady Hope’.
“Come here, honey. This will help some.” Lokust said in a gentle tone as she pulled the girl to her shoulder and began rubbing her back slowly. “They don’t all turn out that bad. Most of the time you recover a whole person or the Hoblin gets completely absorbed. This was a worst case scenario. Well…almost.”
Jamie leaned back and looked up to my second in confusion.
“There is another sister that was just learning. Blood and little bits flew everywhere. I mean it was ALL over!”
Jamie dropped to the floor again and wretched a few more times.
I glared at Lokust with contempt. She was just as bad as mother!
 
 
“Seeker, Chance. The building is secure. You want to come back and greet our guest?”
“We’ll be right back. Chairman had an issue on her first go-around.” I answered.
“I thought we decided to call it an ‘epiphany’, Chance?” Mom smiled impishly.
“I hope she’s okay, Chance. We’ll be waiting for you. Seeker, out.”
 
 
“She going to be okay, Chance?” Artie asked as we arrived at the small storage closet that served as a holding cell for our unwanted guest.
“It wasn’t a very pretty sight.” I hinted.
“Like Courtney…I mean Morgana?”
“Nearly.” I answered.
“Buck up, kid! They ain’t nearly that bad normally. It’s only on occasion we get a double dipper” Chantell coached. I glared at her to stop.
“Ready to see what kind of rodent we caught?” She added with an evil grin to change the subject.
Everyone pointed her wand at the heavy permacrete door as Wrench entered the disarm sequence.
“And you thought I wouldn’t be useful.” She mumbled.
“I never said that, Lady Kaitlin, nor would I ever consider anyone in the Coven ‘useless’!” I chastised. “And I don’t care what happened on Ventra thirty-five years ago. That’s your business.” I exclaimed as I glared at her in anger.
Keats…Kaitlin gulped as she shied away from me in fear while staring into my eyes.
Blinking on my Current sight, I could see what made this room ‘escape proof’. Not a speck of Current came anywhere within twenty feet of this closet. That made it perfect for trapping Hoblins. I suspected it could also contain most of the species if needed.
As Kitty urged the door open a few inches, I could see the red glow of the constricting room.
Edging my wand in a fraction of an inch, I preceded to drain and purify some of our guest’s taint.
“Who’s out there and what was that?” a man’s voice exclaimed in terror.
Jamie immediately began to lose color.
“De Sallenger?” She gasped quietly as she leaned heavily against the hallway’s opposing wall.
“Decontamination beam.” I answered the unseen voice. “Who are you and why are you in our private hangar?” I asked in return without giving our guest any more information.
“I was walking past when some kind of bright blue light hit this building. I hurried in to investigate and found myself trapped in here. Can you let me out, please?”
“I’m sorry, but you’ll have to wait for the authorities. You set off our alarm system, Mr. de Sallenger.
An inhuman growl escaped the room and I repeated my drainage of our ‘guest’.
“How much ‘decontamination’ must a person endure to satisfy you people?”
“Oh, I’d say several more cycles- if not more, Mr. de Sallenger. Feeling more like yourself yet?”
Another inhuman growl emanated from our holding cell.
Once more I began to drain our prisoner- this time I drained off quite a bit more.
The growl that escaped the cell was more human sounding, but not by much. Something heavy bumped against the door, but Kitty held her ground.
“Let me out of here! I am a member of the Galactic Alliance Defense Committee! I demand you let me out!”
“Well, see that’s the crux of the problem, hun. You’ve trespassed on the only property at this spaceport that doesn’t fall under Alliance jurisdiction. Sucks to be you.” Mom informed him.
“Everything is under my…Alliance control! Now let me out!”
Instead of capitulating, I drained off even more taint from the entity in the holding cell.
A gut-wrenching shriek rang out and echoed though the hallway!
“The Captain’s doppelganger was all tainted Current, M’lady- him and the first officer. I purified both with nothing left to recover.” Kitty informed me. “What is different with this one?”
“There’s an awful lot of taint in this one. Someone wanted it to stay around awhile. Wait…” I answered but my Current was telling me something wasn’t right.
“Mr. de Sallenger? Can you still hear me?” I called to our mysterious prisoner.
“Let me out of here! You cannot hold me in here!” The voice demanded.
“I’m afraid we can. Unless you are powerful enough to jump twenty feet; through three feet of reinforced Permacrete, I think you’ll be staying a while longer.” I informed ‘it’.
Another long, inhuman growl and something heavy hitting the door several times seemed to be the response.
“The door isn’t going to budge, dear!” Mom smiled. “You’re outnumbered and outgunned. Now be a dear and give up the conscript.”
“I will never surrender to you or any of your Coven whores, Hopewell Summers!” The voice declared venomously. It’s pitch going slightly deeper.
Mom, Chantell, and Charli looked to each other in horror then looked to me.
“Welcome back from the dead, Nate. Where have you been these last thousand years?” Mom asked happily as she pulled her revolver and checked her ammunition. Chantel and Charli did the same thing while Kitty’s shurikens floated out of their pouches and began orbiting the brim of her hat.
Again, whatever was behind the door tried to jar it open and escape. However, Kitty didn’t budge an inch.
All eyes turned to Simone as she clicked off the safety on her weapon and took a few steps back then raised and aimed it at the door.
Kaitlin materialized what looked like a huge, old-fashioned, double-barreled shotgun, broke the breech, and produced two shells in her free hand. She placed them smartly into both barrels and closed the breech again then moved into position and took aim.
I thought Jamie was going to pass out!
“You still insist on using that old four gauge?” Mom groaned and rolled her eyes.
“It’s served me well over the years, Hope. Don’t knock it.” Lady Kaitlin smiled.
Once again I used my wand and tried to purify an even larger amount of tainted Current from the thing in the closet.
I laughed to myself as I thought about that.
“Sweetie? I wouldn’t call this a humorous situation.” Charli said quietly.
“I just thought it humorous that Evans- if that really is who it is- just wants to come out of the closet. Is that what you want to do, Mr. Evans?” I called out. “Come out of the closet?” I giggled.
A hideously sickening roar echoed through the hallway!
“You always were a ‘homophobe’, weren’t you, Nate?” Mom said as she too giggled.
“Artie? You want to help siphon off more taint?” Sooner or later he’s got to run out.” I invited.
Both of us stuck our wands back through the crack in the door. We nodded to each other and a blinding blue light escaped enough to project a thin, blue, vertical line ten feet down the hallway.
Again the sickening screams/growling filled our ears.
“About ready to give up, Nathaniel?” I asked. “We can do this all day if you want.”
“Guan didn’t want to play nice either, remember?” Chantell reminded. “Would you like to see her?”
“Like you could do anything, Denison! Let me out of here!”
“Oooooh! I see how it is! The big, Collegiate All-American Quarterback turned NASA’s ‘god’s-gift to women’ wants his way! News flash ‘Tebow’ you weren’t that good…I’d say even worse than your grandfather. What’d he do…last almost one season in that defunct WFL?”
The ‘thing’ banged against the door several more times.
With another nod to Artie we administered another ‘treatment’.
More pain-filled screaming resulted this time. I decided to ask my Current what it could find out.
It remained silent! Quickly, I re-enabled my Current sight…or tried to. It wouldn’t work!
“Something is very wrong”. I whispered. “Huntress? Can you scan me with your Current sight?” I asked Artie.
Her eyes went wide in terror.
“Chance?” She stared in fear. “I can’t get it to work!”
“Mom?” I asked.
“Sure thing, Honey.” Mom said as she blinked and opened her eyes slowly then opened them wide. Her mouth opened wide also.
“Your purifier must have failed, honey. You’re full of taint. The dark red stuff.” She looked at Artemis. “You are too, Artie.”
“So he infected me?” I wondered out loud. “As I…we were purifying him, he was infecting us.”
“Why?” Artie questioned. “How could he do that?”
“Because I wasn’t paying attention when I should have been in close communication with my Current!” I lamented. “We have to find some way to purge it before we…”
A severe, cramping, burning hit my feet and I found myself on the floor- Artie right next to me in a similar situation.
“Quick! Get them outside! Kate, relock that door and follow us.” Mom said as I felt myself levitate then hover a few feet off the floor. I suddenly had a very strong urge to fight her; I tried to fight that urge.
Cruel, deep, inhuman laughter emerged from the cell just before Sinae forced it closed and Kaitlin re-activated the holding system.
“Artemis, honey, you have to let us help you!” Chantell warned.
“Dell, don’t fight them! Fight the taint!” I found my voice more of a growl than my now familiar higher feminine tone. “Do the hexagram, mom…on both of us. Quickly!”
“Simone? Put a force shield around Chance. She’s really starting to fight my levitation spell. Charlene? Any ideas to purify a demigod…two demigods?” Mom said taking charge.
“What’s happening to them?!” I heard Jamie cry out.
“The taint from that thing we think is Evans…it’s starting to transfigure them.” Mom answered.
“NNNOOOO!” Something inhuman growled ahead of me. “Not conscript sssssssecond time!” It cried.
Oh, Gods! Was that Dell?
Apparently it was and I assumed I wasn’t far behind. The cramping and burning that had started in my feet had now progressed to my abdomen and I fought harder against the change the taint was forcing on me. I didn’t know how long I could hold out.
‘Threshold’
What? I thought to myself.
‘Threshold” It said again. My earings?
“Need to threshold.” I growled out slowly. I didn’t know if I could even be understood now.
“Threshold?” Jamie repeated, confused. “What does she mean by threshold, Major.”
Mom seemed to come closer to me- something I was very wary about- she visibly blinked.
“Her earrings. They’re glowing bright orange. Charlene, I need conformation.
Dad came into my now distorted view for a second.
“Confirmed. What do you think it means?” Charli’s voice asked.
“Bring them closer together.”
A hideous looking Hoblin came into my ‘view’. The clothes left on it were ripped and almost shredded beyond recognition.
Dell?
‘Threshold together.’ I heard faintly.
With my sight so distorted, I wasn’t sure, but it looked like we were outside of the building housing our hangar.
“Take her with me to threshold.” I wanted to say, but it sounded more like a growl than words.
“Chance?” Mom asked as tears streamed down her face.
“Bottttttttthtttttthresssssssshold. Get bbbbbbbbback!”
“You sure about this?” She cried in despair.
“Goooooooonowwwww.”
“Everyone get away from them! I think Chance is going to risk a fourth threshold and take Artemis with her. Artie? If you still understand me, Thresholding is not pleasant! To me it was almost unbearable. Good luck girls.” Mom informed my infected sister.
With the terrific pain I was feeling at the moment, I doubted hitting another threshold would even be felt!
Fighting this change with everything I had, I reached out and grabbed what was left of Dell’s hand…or arm. I really didn’t know or see what I had grabbed, I just felt the pain increase- if that were even possible.
I began pleading with my Current to threshold one more time. I needed it to help me fight this! I needed Dell to survive- to be alive- to be Dell again…to be my Coven sister…
‘Call upon Grandfather Zeus.’ My earrings suggested barely above the pain and ringing in my ears.
“Zeus! Help Her!” I shouted.
It came out some shrill inhuman scream!
“What the shit?!” Someone exclaimed, as some kind of light seemed to appear and blind me.
Whatever was said and by whom didn’t really matter anymore to me! I would not let the taint win! I would die before giving up on Dell! I had to fight thi…

 
 
“Chance? Chance? Is that you?” A voice called to me. It was the first thing I noticed after the pain faded.
“Who’s there?” I asked. “Where are you?”
“Chance? It’s Dell. Is that you?” A figure came into focus, but everything was orange.
It felt like I started walking, but I was confused as to where this was. It looked familiar- like I had been here before. The orange of everything around me, it reminded me of…
“Current!” I shouted as I finally remembered where this was.
“What was that, Chance?” Dell asked, as I got closer to the figure I thought was my friend and Coven sister.
“We’re in the Current.” I said as I looked at what I could now see was Dell’s inactivated form. Had it been a month since I had seen her like this?
“Are we actually in the Current? Really? How is that possible? We must be dead. That’s it, we’re dead!”
“I don’t think we’re dead, Dell. But I am sure this is the Current…or at least the upper echelon of it. Here, take my hand. I’ll see if I can fully materialize us in their world.” I said as we joined hands and I began concentrating on what Envoy called their realm. “Out of curiosity, how do I look…I mean, do I look like old Chance or new Chance?”
“You look like ‘Chance’…boobs, long black hair, knockout figure…just like the girlfriend I’ve had for the last month…oh…you want to know if you look ‘conscripted’? No, you don’t.” Dell replied, but finally thought she understood my question.
“That’s good to know, but I was wondering because you look like your ‘pre-activated’ self.”
“I do? How? I thought we were changed into those hideous things…oh, Gods! This is my second time! Chance, I don’t want to end up like Conte!” Dell cried hysterically. I pulled her to me to comfort her.
“I’m going to try to ‘land us properly in the Current realm. Hold on as I concentrate.” I said gently
Once again I was standing on solid ground, but standing beside some sort of highway instead of in the middle of it. I’m glad I remembered that slight, but important detail from my last visit. Now, the orange teardrop shapes appeared as land vehicles of varying styles, shapes, colors, and sizes.
“Unbelievable! Are you sure we’re IN the Current, Chance?” Dell asked unsure if she were really seeing what we were seeing.
“Last time I was here, these things,” I pointed to the vehicles flying by, “were just basic orange colored horizontal teardrops. And the people were just orange colored humanoid figures of various sizes with no discernible features. Apparently, I wasn’t entirely settled in this realm last time. I wonder if we’ve been reported yet?”
“Why would they report us?” Dell asked as she continued to look all around us, bewildered.
“We should wait here. I’m sure an Envoy will be here shortly. News travels fast around here.
“If you’re sure we haven’t died, Chance.” Dell acknowledged apprehensively.
As we watched, an impressive vehicle appeared on the horizon a short time later and began to slow as it got closer to us.
It pulled off the roadway, came to a stop, and a gull-wing type door opened up vertically. A man jumped from the vehicle excitedly. He seemed quite exuberant and giddy.
“After all this time! To think that I am the lucky one! I cannot begin to communicate the excitement I am feeling at this moment! To actually meet you…in person!” He rambled animatedly.
“Who are you?” I asked curiously.
The man suddenly stopped, looked at us, and thought a minute.
“Please forgive me, My Ladies! Never in my many cycles did I ever expect to meet the famous Lady Chance Summers and…um…strange…I don’t seem to have any information on you, My Lady.” He apologized after a brief pause to apparently search his archives.
Dell looked at me in complete confusion before looking back at the handsome, well-built man.
“Artemis Dell. Lady Artemis Dell.” She answered, holding out her hand. “And you are, sir?”
“Oh. OH! Please excuse my forgetfulness! I am Envoy, My Ladies. Um…though I am not the ‘Envoy’ you met when last visiting our realm, Lady Chance Summers. Much time has passed since that much-celebrated event. And sorry to say, but we are very far from that part of our realm.” He told us as his expression saddened. It instantly brightened. “My predecessor’s report was very complete. The information exchange between Lady Chance Summers and Envoy was celebrated as a major turning point in relations between our realms!”
“Well, it’s certainly nice to be back visiting your realm, Envoy, but we aren’t quite sure how we got here. Last we remember, Artie and I had just been infected with taint and were being conscripted. Why we’re here or why we look normal instead of like one of the Tormented Ones is unclear.” I said.
Envoy’s face darkened, but then he began to smile.
“The Tormented Ones? You, My Ladies? That is impossible! To think the Lady Chance Summers, of the race, Coven, could become Tormented…” He laughed heartily. “It is simply absurd! Tell me this is a concept records show you call a ‘joke’, My Lady Chance Summers.”
“It is no joke, Envoy.” I said sadly. “We had captured one of the Tormented in our realm called Evans. While attempting to ‘purify’ its taint, Artie and I somehow became infused with its Torment. We had almost completely transformed into what the Tormented appear as in our realm when we suddenly found ourselves on the outskirts of you realm. I believe I gave Envoy a full description of what we call Hobgoblins on my last visit.”
Envoy’s face again shifted expression. He now looked sickened.
“Well neither of you look anything like those artistic renderings of those hideous creatures! Of that I am certainly pleased, I assure you.”
Envoy suddenly looked around us and frowned.
“Again forgive me for my complete departure from protocol! Please, please, allow me to transport us to a more hospitable location- something more in line with your diplomatic and royal status, My Lady Chance Summers and My Lady Artemis Dell.” Envoy said as he opened and lifted the other door and motioned us to enter- even assisting us into our plush and very comfortable seats.
Entering then closing the door, he shyly sat next to me.
“The Way-Coven Embassy and enable Envoy clearance levels.” He ordered as he looked forward.
The vehicle began moving, carefully merging back onto the roadway smoothly.
“As before, while you are visiting, your unlimited clearance level is enabled. My Lady Artemis Dell, identical clearance has been established for you also. I hope that is acceptable to you both?”
“As always, you surpass yourself, Envoy, but please, I’m sure Envoy reported that, as holders of similar clearances formalities can be dropped. Please, call me Chance.” I looked to Dell. Lady Artemis? Is that acceptable?”
“By all means. Envoy, please call me Artie.”
“Of course. Thank you…Chance and…Artie. It may take several tries for that request to take proper affect. Now, can I offer answer to any inquiries?”
“Is this really the Current? This realm I mean. Are we really in the Current?”
Envoy looked perplexed for a moment.
“Ah! Current is your term for our realm. Yes, you really are in the Current, Lady Ar…Artie. From what we have deduced from your first interaction, this is a different dimension or reality from your realm and you, Lad…Artie should expect the dynamics…physics if you will of our realm to be different, if only slightly, than your realm.”
“Hmmmm.” I thought aloud. “Last time I was here, I didn’t remember entering or leaving Envoy’s vehicle. It seemed I was either in it or outside of it. Is that normal, or was I somehow still disconnected from this realm then?”
Envoy instantly stared at me.
“In Envoy’s report he spoke of and tried to describe the curious way you entered and exited his conveyance. He reported being fascinated by your ‘magical’ mannerisms. His report also lacked clarity in only one topic of his observation. Envoy failed in his theory, understanding, and analysis of your rescue and return of the adolescent Torments. Envoy simply stated that you touched them and they changed state then shot to the upper reaches of the realm to disappear entirely. Can it be assumed that they have all returned successfully to your realm and not met their transposition, Chance?”
“They have, Envoy. I would even consider one of those adolescent’s a hero as she assisted one of the smaller, pre-natal Torments in the return to our realm. I have since given the ‘pre-natal’ my family name and vowed myself her protector and educator.”
Envoy began to chuckle to himself.
“Something strikes you as humorous, Envoy?” I asked, confused.
“Your form of speech…some of the terms you use have been obsolete for some time. You would be called the child’s ‘parent’ in the modern usage.”
“I’ve been gone a very long time, I take it?” I asked.
“A very long time, yes, Chance.” He replied sadly.
“I’m sorry for that, Envoy. The passage of time is very different in our realm. Much, much slower, in fact.
Envoy chuckled again and shook his head to the sides several times while he smiled.
“Apologizing for temporal characteristics completely out of your control, Chance? May I ask why you feel it necessary to apologize for the passage of time? It is simply something that none of us can control.”
Envoy smiled as something caught his attention.
“Ah, we’ve arrived.” He said as the vehicle silently came to a stop in front of what I knew this realm called a living structure. The place was only a few levels tall, but it’s base footprint was huge!
Leaning to the side, Envoy opened then exited the vehicle. Once out, he offered his hand to help each of us out.
There was a flurry of applause all around us as I looked at dozens…hundreds of people gathered around us. They seemed ecstatic for our arrival, and began shouting questions to us.
“Lady Chance! Why the sudden visit after such a long hiatus?”
“Lady Chance! Are you here to once more assist us in dealing with the Torments?”
“Lady Chance! How long will you be staying and what designer will you be wearing while here?”
That question struck me as funny.
“Lady Chance! Can we assume this is your new significant other? How long until we see invitations?
“Lady Chance! Is it true the end of the Realm is at hand and do you know who will be called to the next realm in grace?”
Huh?
“Citizens! Enough questions for now! I’m sure the Ladies are tired from their transit between realms. I am authorized to inquire as to independent interviews of our esteemed guests, but only after they have been offered hospitality. Please, enough inquiry, and good day!” Envoy told everybody as he ushered us into the building.
 
 
“I have to be almost dead, Chance! I mean…This is insane, right? There can’t be this much …civilization in the Current!”
“Tell you the truth, I’m not sure of anything anymore, Dell. I take it you don’t remember anything like this the last time you, Simone, and Sinae were conscripted?”
Dell dropped her eyes.
“All I remember is the intense pain and anguish, Chance.” Dell told me sadly as we looked around the expensive looking suite we had been shown to.
Apparently after my last visit, construction of ‘our’ Embassies had been undertaken. This ‘Way-Coven’ Embassy displayed every creature comfort one could ever imagine! Dell asked the questions I had been thinking about asking myself.
“So how long are we going to be here, Chance? What will happen to me…to us, when…if we find a way back to our reality? And…and can we even GO home, Chance?”
It was my turn to look away from my friend.
“I should have never asked for help in draining that thing. I should have done it myself. Then I’d be the only one paying the price for my arrogance.”
“Arrogance? How do you figure that, girlfriend…sorry, Chantell’s slang is hard to resist, Chance. How do you figure you are to be solely responsible for what happened?” Dell challenged as she bumped my chin up so that I was looking at her face.
“I’m surprised the others didn’t have their wands stuck through that door at the same time. And I have no idea what Simone was thinking with her BFG!” Dell giggled as she thought of what that weapon could have done in such a tight space as the hallway or holding cell.
“Chance, I’m as much to blame about our situation. It’s not all on you by any stretch.”
“I’m our leader- our commanding officer, Dell. That makes me responsible for the whole Coven. That’s the bottom line. I’ll try to find a way for you to return home, but if I can’t get both of us back there, I’ll stay behi…”
“Like Hades you will, Chance Summers!” Dell shouted, startling me.
“We stick together, High Priestess! No negotiations! Clear?” She added angrily as I stared. I nodded silently as tears filled my eyes.
“In case you forgot, Nike, you and Artemis- me- are Olympians! We are the genetic reincarnations of those two Greek Gods. That has to afford us some advantage or option. I mean…I heard my Grandmother telling me to stay strong and seek out your hand as I was being re-conscripted.”
“You heard her voice?” I gasped in surprise.
“That and this really shrill whistling. It sounded like it kept increasing in pit…”
“You heard a turbine spinning up?” I interrupted excitedly.
“I guess? Why? What does that mean, Chance?”
I regarded my friend for several seconds.
“Each time I hit a threshold, I heard what I classified as an antique turbine spinning up…basically a high-pitched whistle that kept increasing in frequency.”
Dell’s eyes grew.
“You mean you think I hit my threshold, Chance? I thought you said that wouldn’t happen once I had activated?”
“Like I said before, I don’t know what to believe anymore, Dell!” I responded, but thought on that supposed fact a moment.
“Last time I was here, I inadvertently produced my wand when I was confronted by the child conscripts. I wonder if I can still do that? Along the same line, I wonder if my Current Sight will also work here. It wouldn’t work after I was infected.”
“Why not try? I don’t think we have anything to lose, right?” Dell said in agreement.
My wand was already in my hand.
“That was fast, Chance! I didn’t see you motion for it or anything.” She said, impressed.
“See if you can produce you’re bo…”
Before I even finished my question, Dell had her bow and quiver.
“This isn’t my bow, Chance! It looks like…” Dell declared before her eyes again grew wide.
“This golden bow…it belongs to…to Grandmother!”
Dell looked between it and me a few times.
“Why do I have this?” She asked in confusion.
A short series of chimes echoed through the suite. A door alert?
I decided to find out.
“Excuse me, Lady Chance Summers. You have a woman seeking audience? A Lady Diana. She claims to be your ‘aunt’?” The man that had escorted us to this set of rooms said with a smile from the hall side of our door.
I was taken aback, but realized Dell’s grandmother had said she wasn’t going to lose her ‘Keke’ again when she had given me the lightning bolt earrings.
They were trackers, too!
“We’ve been expecting Aunt… Lady Diana. Please, show her in.” I accepted.
“See? I told you they would see me!” Artemis, daughter of Zeus said brashly as she confidently pushed past our…doorman, I guess? “Lady Chance! How nice we get to meet again. I was in the area and decided to take you up on your offer to catch-up.”
“Thank you. We’ll take it from here.” I told the man as I politely ushered ‘Diana’ into the suite and closed the door.
“How can you be here? I thought you were a Lady of only two worlds?” I asked as ‘Diana’ made herself at home by claiming the lounge chair in the main room.
Or she tried to. Dell had quickly swept in and frantically wrapped her arms around her ‘Grandmother’ and began crying into her shoulder.
“That was true, Keke,” ‘Diana’ said as she gently rubbed Dell’s back maternally. “until my genetic equivalent reached her threshold. Once that milestone was achieved, the ability cascaded back to me. I must say that, before I met you, I never realized lifeforce contained its own highly advanced, societal structure. Their level of technology is simply amazing.”
Diana nodded nobly to me and smiled.
“I must thank you for the blessing you bestowed my granddaughter, Chance Summers. You may have saved both of us from the fates’ sharp talons. How did you ever deduce that only entering the next evolutionary level could save us?”
I looked at her curiously.
“I heard your voice tell me to threshold. Several times in fact. You said your earrings would guide me…that they would never lie to me.”
“Chance, Those earrings were only meant to help me keep your location.” Diana looked to the side a moment.
“Hephaestus. That old devious…wonderful man!” She smiled. “He always seems to know exactly what his jewelry must do and programs them accordingly.”
“Grandmother? Why, when I called my weapon did your bow and quiver materialize? I am nowhere near worthy to use it!” Dell queried through bloodshot eyes.
“Who better to be able to use my weapon than me, Artemis Dell?”
Dell looked confused.
“Have you not been listening, child? We, you and I, are made up of the very same code sequences- the very same array! With the exception of environment and experience variations, we are one. So what affects you affects me. We share a common strand in the eyes of the Fates, Artemis.”
“I…I didn’t think that was real. The Fates, I mean. They really follow each of us as single threads? One thread, one soul?” Dell asked in awe.
“Metaphorically. Father so liked that metaphor and so promoted the concept to keep the ‘mortals’ in line. It has proven quite effective in maintaining morality with those we chose to mentor.” Diana smiled. “Knowing one’s life can be ‘cut’ short by some cold, arbitrary entity instills paranoia, which in turn causes ‘second thoughts’, resulting in better judgment.”
“So all that talk about the Fates not speculating on my future…?” I began to ask.
“Father Zeus’ attempt to get you to think things through, Chance, though it would seem your moral compass points strictly ‘due north’ and appears unyielding in that steadfastness.” Diana smiled and placed a kiss to my forehead before gently moving Dell aside and claiming her targeted chair. “Your predecessor suffered from the same annoying resoluteness.”
Diana laughed outright.
“I share and have been accused of that very same annoying characteristic, dear Nike. I welcome you both to that very exclusive club.” She shook her head as her smile faded.
“Now…we have much to discuss and prepare for. Shall we proceed?”
“So…I’m you? A Goddess? Daughter of Zeus?” Dell reiterated for clarity.
“Does he know about this?” She gulped and looked around us in fright.
The chimes announcing the door sounded once more.
“Yes?” I asked answering it again.
“Lady Chance Summers, I have a Lord Oden demanding an audience?”
“Also expected, thank you.” I said smiling pleasantly.
“Thank you for seeing me on such unannounced notice, My Lady!” The Lead Greek…Norse God broadcasted as he forced his way to our door. I almost expected him to climb right over our ‘doorman’!
“Thank you. As before, we can handle things from here.” I said pleasantly.
“We’ll be a while. You might want to grab a coffee or two…or something.” Zeus advised confidently as he pulled the door from my hands and closed it without a thought as to whether his escort was clear of it or not.
“Don’t be rude, father!” Diana chastised. “This society has yet to meet our species.”
“They don’t seem to need our assistance, my daughter. They have advanced adequately on their own apparently.” Zeus replied as his eyes snapped to me momentarily. He offered his hands to Dell.
“It has come to my attention that I have received another blessing. Artemis? Come greet your father.”
Dell took two steps to him and he quickly reached out and pulled her into a tight embrace.
“Welcome to the family, young Artemis Dell of Zeus. Though I wish it were under more favorable circumstances.”
“Any advice or hints as to how we can get home from here, All-grandfather?” I asked kindly.
“Definitely more of a smart ass than the original.” Zeus joked as he shook his head in resignation.
“In accordance with Olympian protocols set in place by… huh… me,” Zeus smiled tensely for a moment, “a quest must be undertaken to achieve the desired result or outcome.”
“Of course.” I deadpanned. “What is it with you people and ‘quests’?”
Diana began giggling politely, placing her hand in front of her mouth.
“Okaaaaaay? Where do we start?” I asked, glaring at the God of Old. “You got a guide book or something?”
“It just so happens, I do. Fresh off the presses, My Lady Chance.” He smiled and materialized a small pamphlet as he turned his left palm up.
I carefully took the offered booklet.
“So, you’ve got a Quest? Now what do you do? A guide to successful Olympian Questing for the First Timer.” I read its front cover aloud then shook my head several times.
“There’s a history between you and Mother, isn’t there? Should I even venture to ask, All-grandfather?” I asked looking up to him sternly.
“Several hundred years in the making, I’m afraid, Lady Chance. Maybe it would make for amusing conversation after your quest has been fulfilled. Now I must be going. Unlike my daughters and granddaughter, I cannot remain in a foreign realm for any extended length. Good luck, Nike of Aries.”
“Oh.” I smiled. “You can stay long enough to have some ‘fun’ then leave? How typically male.” I needled.
Diana burst out laughing!
“Good questing.” Zeus growled in annoyance just before vanishing.
“You seem to be able to hold your own with father, Chance. I commend you on that rare talent though recommend discretion when and where you use it. Now, getting to the things I can tell you.” She smiled deviously.
“I can tell you that the abomination formerly known as Evans has succeeded in infecting you and Dell and has attempted to conscript you both. Unsuccessful as that attempt was, you have still left your realm and reappeared here, in the Current realm.”
“Quoting my Aunt Chantell, that’s old news, sister.” I replied.
“What I am not at liberty to reveal is that Evans has made a critical error; he is still operating along mortal constraints, thankfully. In conscripting you both, he has unintentionally provided that which will advance his eventual downfall. He has helped another Fury threshold to the next higher level of ‘existence’.”
“So Dell is like me now?” I asked curiously.
“No, Nike, you are still three levels higher, but…but my younger sister, Artemis Dell, is stronger and even more lethal to the Hobgoblin scourge then your current adversary can fathom. I ask that you only use that new advantage when absolutely necessary, sisters. Artemis Dell, your ‘magic’ is potent- more so than you realize. Heed the temptation to over utilize it, for the consequences can be deadly, not only for you, but also those you love and cherish.”
“Now for the boilerplate disclosure and warning clause.” Diana smiled impishly. “Nike. Please protect my sister as you both journey through your imposed quest. Many pitfalls (Hoblins) and danger (Evans) await you and any one of those can lead to an unexpected outcome (The Way) or Tartarus. Though Goddess’ there is still a place reserved for us there and Persephone may or may not be able to assist your egress. Fair thee well, Nike of Aries and Artemis Dell of Zeus.”
‘Diana’ vanished, but somehow I sensed she was still watching…’they’ were observing…relishing the entertainment value provided by us ‘lesser’ lifeforms.
Some things never change.
 
 
So. According to Grandmother, we can leave anytime we want? Is that what I heard, Chance?” Dell asked after we had remained deathly silent for a while.
“You know… It’s no wonder my predecessor skipped out on these people. I can see how she would first become irritated then frustrated and then angry enough to just chuck this whole Goddess bullshit! Doesn’t being one of them constitute exemption from ‘Quests’?” I asked the ceiling in disappointment. I didn’t really expect an answer though.
None came. Surprise, surprise.
“So what’s the booklet say, Chance?” Dell nodded playfully to the thin pamphlet I was still curving, bending, and absentmindedly spindling.
“You expect it to actually give us some clues on how to leave? Seriously?” I snorted cynically.
“The Greek Gods are your heritage, Dell. As far as I know, the Summers’ religion has always been the Corps- whether I realized it or not.” I retorted, yet I opened to the first page nonetheless.
 
“Step one:”, I began to read. “Pay heed to any and all hints, clues, and bits of information any of the many deities willingly provide.” I paused.
 
“Yep! No epiphany there, huh?” I snorted again. Dell rolled her eyes with a cock-eyed grin.
I turned the page.
 
“Step two: Pay heed to any and all deviously concealed hints and clues any of the many deities covertly provide.”
 
“Really?!” I sniped as I looked to the ceiling again. “What is this? A comedy? Cause I’m not versed in slapstick or vaudeville and I despise ‘ironic plot twists’!” I shouted snidely.
“What an absolute nightmare. We’re just entertainment for the Gods of my ancestors. Hey! You think this could be some sort of ‘hazing’ for us freshman Goddess’?” Dell asked then followed my lead and shouted to the ceiling.
“You do know that hazing was outlawed over nine hundred years ago, right?”
Again there was no response- not even a disembodied snicker!
“What’s it recommend next, Chance?” My Coven sister asked, exasperated.
I turned to the next page with a look of disgust.
 
“Step three: Know that talking to the ceiling only increases the chance of outsiders thinking you are having instabilities concerning your mental faculties and can severely delay the conclusion of your quest.”
 
I closed the booklet and unceremoniously tossed it to my right.
“Are you tired? I think I’m going to try to sleep. Hell, I don’t even know if this realm has something called sleep!” I protested as I stood and sulked off to one of four doors opposite our main entrance.
“Huh. Well, they seem to require sanitary facilities at the very least.” I said looking in on a very well equipped lavatory.
I tried another door.
“Oh yeah! That’s what I’m talking about!” I announced loudly as I took in the gloriously large and very comfortable looking bed and bedroom.
“We now pre-empt your regularly scheduled program forrrr…sleep!” I said to the ceiling, completely ignoring the guide’s recommendations.
I also raised a middle finger to the ceiling for punctuation.
 
 

 
 
“I’ll get it!” I shouted knowing Dell was ‘ocupado’ when the door alert chimed.
“Sorry to interrupt, Lady Chance. We have another reporter that is requesting interviews. Do you wish me to politely require them to make reservations?”
It had been days…maybe weeks since our arrival and the stream of reporters requesting an interview with us or just me, hadn’t quelled! Now I was sure the ‘Gods of Old’ had desired a Tragic Comedy!
“Who do they wish to interview this time, Dorman?”
“Either you or Lady Artemis or both would satisfy their requirements, Lady Chance. I can refer them to Schedule if you are not up to it.” The male voice answered sympathetically.
Dell exited the lavatory and nodded to the door I stood before.
“Either or both of us this time.” I answered.
“That makes fifty so far this week! Will it never stop?” Dell groaned.
“Would it be more humorous to have it end?” I posited.
“I suppose not.” She said before flourishing her hand in a lackadaisical ‘go ahead’ type gesture.
“Set them up in the auditorium, Dorman, but tell Schedule to lock the doors and take the phones off the hook for the rest of the day!”
“As you wish, My Lady Chance Summers.”
“I told you how much I like the formality, haven’t I?” I groaned.
“You have, but, as you claimed fourteen cycles ago, I am your ‘Comic Relief’, My Lady.” Was his reply through the slightly open door.
I groaned again, rolling my eyes in frustration.
“We’ll be down shortly, Dorman.”
“Very good, My Lady.”
 
 
“You know…it was humorous for the first few days”, Dell sighed, “Only the first few days, though."
“Maybe we went about this all wrong, Dell.” I said rubbing my temples. “Maybe we should have conjured disguises- a big bulbous head with very large, glassy, black eyes, no nose, and a small mouth. Couple that with long, thin fingers and light grey skin…they would’ve lost interest in us in no time!”
“Didn’t you just accurately describe the Orions?” She asked flatly.
My right hand palmed my face.
 
 
“Sir, madam? They’re ready. Might I recommend asking new questions? Ones that haven’t been answered several magnitudes of times already?”
“We’ll try to keep the questions fresh, Dorman.” We heard a deep voice reply.
“Very well then. Sir and madam, I present to you, Ladies Chance Summers and Artemis Dell of the ‘Way’ realm. Ladies? Reporter Lono and his assistant, Miss Pele.”
“You!” I shouted as we entered the interview area and I recognized the faces presented to us.
“Sorry? Have you four met before?” Dorman queried. “Sir? Have you received an interview before? If so, may I ask you to depart the Embassy peacefully and not consider a return?”
“Lono and Pele, huh? Two of the major deities of Hawaiian mythology?” I challenged. “That’s a new one.”
“Lady Chance, if you wish to discontinue this interview, I can have Security and his assistants extricate this man from the Embassy.” Dorman offered.
“No, we’ll grant them the interview, Dorman. We’ll alert you when we’re done. Thank you.” I responded as I motioned him to the exit.
“Lady Chance, the audience grows bored.” ‘Mr. Lono’ said as soon as our faithful assistant left. Zeus was disguised as a tall, muscular, barrel-chested man with dark hair and Polynesian features. “This challenge has not developed into what was advertised.”
“And what WERE those expected parameters, All-Grandfather?” I countered angrily. “Have we not proven comical enough for your tastes?
“The ratings have dropped drastically, My Lady.”
“Tough shit!” I exclaimed venomously.
‘Lono’ winced in surprise of my outburst.
“I told you there was an above average chance that Nike would not 'play ball', Father.” ‘Pele’ told him with a devious grin. Artemis…Diana…whoever…looked quite exotic with her extremely long, jet-black hair, and soft, Polynesian features.
“I’m not anyone’s entertainment, All-grandfather! Our Realm is in danger. That is the place we should be! Dispatching or rescuing Hoblin conscripts instead of lazing away our pSecs granting redundant interviews, repeatedly!”
Zeus…Lono… merely observed us with a neutral expression.
“That’s it!” I declared! “We’re leaving! Come on Dell, I’m through being an Internet celebrity!” I announced as I produced my wand and took aim on him. Dell had jumped from her seat and had Zeus in front of her nocked arrowhead.
“Chance, wait. Lower your weapons, please.” Artemus…Pele urged. Dell and I complied begrudgingly.
“It seems your little sister has even faster reflexes than you, daughter. I wonder if she has thought out her present actions concisely though?” Zeus…Lono semi-complimented.
“We’re already in Tartarus, Father Zeus. There is no lower place we could fall to.” Dell hissed.
“What she said.” I agreed. “I’m willing to wager that after my last threshold, we could have a proper knockdown, drag out.”
“If that were true, why haven’t you left this realm for your own already?” Zeus grinned mischievously.
“Artemis and I can come and go as we please.” Zeus smiled. “Yet, you haven’t managed even that in three whatever they call months here.”
“I thought the idea of a ‘quest’ was to learn something important or useful from the journey.” I groused. “I…we never tried to leave. That would be rude after the hospitality shown us here.”
Artemis giggled and shook her head.
“As much as I wish to honor your request to continue this ruse, I simply cannot allow you to be injured- maybe even critically, Father.” Diana looked pleadingly to Zeus. “You know as well as I, Nike was always the most powerful of us. She just never lost control of her talents the way some of our other sisters and brothers have…even you. It is no wonder she chose to flee- to disappear into the eons of existence.” She looked to me sadly. I took it as a hint as to the mental health of my predecessor.
“I have no doubt that, given a fair competition; you would win- with her in strict control of her emotions and anger. However, if she were to lose herself to the pain, the anguish…if she completely embraced her pent-up anger?” Artemis flashed me a wink. “The animal brutality…that pure and unfiltered rage she has been storing inside since her first threshold would release the true power she possesses and you would cease to exist within a matter of minutes! Please discontinue this quest, as it would only result in you getting hurt and our sisters lamenting their actions for the rest of their lives. That would only allow the evil to grow and spread throughout the Way Galaxy faster, and with no restraint.”
Zeus smiled as I smiled.
“So. I have to vent all my stored anger to get us home?” I chanced to guess.
“Ahh…so close, yet so far, my beautiful and cunning granddaughter.” Zeus frowned as I remained smiling.
Standing, I rose from my seat and placed a chaste kiss on the God’s forehead then stepped over to Diana and took both her hands in mine.
“Thank you for believing in me, Aunt Artemis. You really are a fully vested member of the Corps. If you should choose to return for some ‘fun’, I have a Broom ready for your pleasure. Return to the place we arrived to in two days. We’ll see then if I have everything puzzled out. Thank you again, My Lady.” I said, leaning in to her ear then placing a kiss to both her cheeks.
I noticed Dorman slowly and cautiously appear in one of the auditorium doors.
“Until then, Pele.” I giggled. “At which time we’ll see who produces the most fire and brimstone.” I winked.
“Mr. Lono. The entertainment you so desperately hoped for will debut two days hence. Your assistant has been given the details and location. May the audience ratings shot through the roof!”
“Dorman, I must thank you for arranging this specific interview. Of all the many conversations, this has been the most refreshing.” I said before pausing.
“Thank you again for your concern and sensitivity. Lady Artemis and I hope to talk to you again soon. Good day. Dorman? We’ll be in our suite if you need us.” I added.
Dell and I walked past Dorman and out the doors.
 
 
So care to ‘enlighten’ me on what is going to happen, Chance?” Dell asked politely, though I could tell there was an edge to her voice.
“We’re going home.” I said enthusiastically.
“How? Zeus said that you weren’t going to get us back there.” She countered.
“I can’t, but you can, Artemis Dell- sister of the great huntress, Artemis, and daughter of Zeus.” I revealed.
“Huh?” Dell gasped. “I can’t get us home! I’m not as powerful as you, Chance!” she argued.
“Hasn’t Artemis said many times over that you and she are the same? That both of you are identical in every way save experience and thought?” I attacked.
“Well…yes, but I thought she was only being dramatic.”
“Has she also appeared here several times during our visit in the Current realm?”
“She has…oh. OH!” Dell’s eyes opened fully as she finally understood.
“Dorman?” I called after opening our door and leaning out.
“Yes, My Lady Chance Summers?” He answered from down the end of the hall. He hurried to me.
“Alert the staff that Lady Artemis Dell and I will be leaving in fifty uSecs. We wish Envoy to accompany us to our initial location. That particular by-way is to be temporarily closed for the public’s safety during our departure.”
“Very good, M’lady. I will contact Envoy with the specifics.”
“Thank you, Dorman, that will be all.” I said then closed the door.
“So how do I do it, Chance? How do I get us home?” Dell asked after I sat back down.
“The same way I change realms, I guess.” I shrugged my shoulders. “I just had to think about entering the Current then concentrating a little harder to get here.”
“So where do you fit into our escape, girlfriend?”
“Right before you take us home, I suspect Artemis and Zeus will try to piss me off royally. I want you to lock me in the holding cell with Evans when we get back. If I’m right in my thinking, I won’t look like myself…still I want you to get everyone out of the building after locking me in with that monster. Use the hexagram to throw a spell around the cell to hopefully save some of the hangar. Still, I want everyone well away before I lose it. Understood?” I asked. Dell carefully gazed at my face evaluating my sincerity.
“You might not make it.” She stated flatly in realization- her expression guarded and unreadable.
My gaze drifted to the floor in answer.
“Chance? Why?” She asked. “Why, when you have me and our sisters to help?”
“Would you do the same thing if it were you, Dell?” I asked, looking back up at her through my tears.
It took a minute for her to debate the question.
“I imagine I’d do exactly the same thing, sister.” She said sadly as she swept me into a tight embrace and added her tears to mine.
 
 
“My Lady Chance Summers? I have a gentleman demanding an interview with you!” Dorman knocked excitedly on our door.
“Tell him its too late! We leave for our departure point in only a few nSecs and wish to finish preparing. Tell him to go away.” I ordered through the door to our suite.
“M’lady! He demands audience! He refuses to leave the premises and has subdued Security and his assistants. He sits in wait in the auditorium and gives you ‘five minutes’(?) to appear or threatens to come here and ‘break down the door’!”
“Father Zeus?” Dell asked trying to supply a plausible answer.
I just shrugged as I rolled my eyes.
“Fine! Tell him I’ll be down in five ‘minutes’!”
“Thank you, M’lady! Violence of his flavor and strength should not exist in this realm. I trust you can subdue his thirst for it?”
“I’ll try, Dorman. I’ll be right down.”
“Thank you, M’lady.”
“So? You think he’s attempting to irritate you, Chance?” Dell asked.
“With a little over an hour til we’re due to depart? Of course it’s him.” I nodded animatedly.
“Please meet Envoy and tell him of my last nSec interview.”
“Will do, High Priestess. See you in the Envoy’s vehicle.” Dell said as she hugged me.
 
 
“Presenting Lady Chance Summers as harshly requested.” Dorman announced resolutely.
“About time you get that fine ass of yours down here! I thought you’d act like a true Summers and run away.” The blond-haired man complained as he stood to greet me. His stature was similar to mine, but his face telegraphed his despicable intentions clearly.
“We need to make this short, Mister…?” I suggested, pausing to await his last name.
“Good! So down on your knees and get to work, bitch!”
“Excuse me?” I gasped in surprise as I stared at him in confusion.
“You know, it took me far longer to find you than I expected. Now that I have…I SAID…get down on your knees and do your job!”
“I think you’re in the wrong place, sir. I have no intention of doing any kind of service to or for you. Not now, not ever! Excuse me, I am late for a previous appointment.” I said as I turned to walk out on this rude, egotistical scum.
A strong, coarse hand grabbed my left forearm harshly. So hard in fact that it spun me around to look into his fierce, arrogant, hungry face!
“Say hi to Mommy, that Fairy, Charley Anderson, and Auntie Chantell for me.” He said sarcastically.
“Look…it won’t work, Zeus. I don’t respond well to the ‘hard sell’. Nice try though.” I said as I tried to break his hold and take a few steps for the door.
“Now see? I never subscribed to all that mumbo-jumbo about superior deities…now if you just kneel down here and start sucking, I can get your conscription back on track.”
“That’s not going to happen!” I declared as I produced my wand and took aim at his skull.
He began to laugh at me!
“Put the peashooter away, bitch! It never proved useful for Mommy or her Coven.” He declared arrogantly. “Now, get down to business before I lose my temper and strip your mind of all its resistance.”
“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” I said as I defiantly pulled my arm away, turned, and began walking away.
“You and the other Olympians have fun with some other developing species. I have better things to do. May you pleasure yourself to insanity and beyond, creep!”
“Don’t you walk out on me, bitch! I own you now!” He shouted.
I flipped him the finger over my shoulder in response.
 
 
“Glad you could make it, Chance. How was the interview?”Dell asked. I noticed that Zeus and Artemis were sitting keeping her company.
I stared at them then glanced back at our Embassy a few times as Goosebumps spread instantly all over my skin!
“What’s wrong?” Dell asked as her face quickly shifted from playful smile to serious concern.
“The guy was a creep!” I stated in unmasked disgust, as the vehicle started moving. “He was only here to demand sexual favors- of all things- from me. He claimed he owned me!”
“I didn’t think that type of morality existed here, Chance?”
“It doesn’t, Lady Artemis Dell.” Envoy offered from the front of the vehicle. “Did this barbaric heathen give his name so that I can have him detained and questioned?”
“He never offered it, Envoy, no.” I replied. “And ‘Doorman’ claimed he had disabled ‘Security’ and his assistants so I would wish you stay far from ‘it’.
“Then maybe a description of this lewd citizen?” He asked.
“Blonde hair; about my height; foul mouthed; disgusting thoughts and ideas…”
“Lady Chance? In case you have been too busy to notice, the people of this realm do not count ‘blonde’ hair one of the native attributes.” Envoy offered politely.
That could only mean one thing!
“Chance? You okay? Your face suddenly paled!” Dell demanded. “And your eyes…!”
“Would it be possible for Evans to journey here? I mean, we can come and go just by thought…” I said, but stopped.
“You think that was that Evans thing?” Dell and Artemis gasped together.
“I would say that it is possible, Chance.” Zeus suggested. “If we can do it, why can’t something else?”
“He has to be stopped! I seethed. “We have to get back to stop it from corrupting Kane!”
“Lady Artemis Dell, have her eyes always glowed like that? I have read reference to a strange glow in Lady Chance’s eyes while expressing certain emotions.” Envoy wondered.
“That reaction is usually linked to anger or frustration, Envoy, and is exactly what we were hoping would happen today. Only, we thought Sir Zeus or Lady Artemis would be inciting those responses.” Dell answered.
“I assumed you were behind the interview, All-Grandfather. Aries, maybe? I heard he has a very bad temper.” I asked.
“Ari? Chance, you’ve met Ari. He wouldn’t hurt a fly! He’s a lover, not a fighter.” Artemis giggled.
“Then who? The last time I was here the Hobgoblins still looked like Hobgoblins in this realm.” I told them.
“Lady Chance is correct. My predecessor wrote of the diabolical monsters she sent off through the outer reaches, never to return.” Envoy corroborated.
“Can’t this thing go any faster, Envoy?” I asked growing ever more angry and agitated.
“We are almost to the location, My Lady.”
 
 
“Ah, so nice to see you made it, now shall we continue as if we were never interrupted?”
That voice said from about fifty yards ahead us just after we exited Envoy’s vehicle and instructed him to get as far away from us as possible.
Two arrows instantly appeared in the blonde man’s chest. He should have been dead on the spot, but simply smiled demonically.
“Such crude methods of inflicting death.” He said as he easily pulled them out and dropped them. Four more arrows found their marks and embedded themselves to the fletching in the man’s flesh. Dell and Artemis looked confused by the fact he was still standing. They both had already notched several more arrows to their bows.
“There are no arrows.” He stated flatly before brushing away the dust that the projectiles had become.
“Well. It seems like the Gods of the Greeks aren’t so much Gods, but normal humans after all.”
“Watch your tongue, monster!” Zeus commanded.
“Or what, exactly?” The haughty man countered. “You’ll smite me with those famous lightning bolts I’ve heard about? Need I tell you that everything here is based on Current, and I control the Current. It answers to me alone and no one else! Go on…try to strike me down! I dare you!”
A bolt of lightning broke through the heavens and struck the blonde guy. The concussive force caused us all to fall to the ground.
“You know? That actually stung a little. That was a pleasant surprise. My turn.”
A similar bolt arced through the sky, but I jumped in the way instantly to take the full strike. Excruciating pain coursed through me and I found myself on the ground again- stars floating merrily in my view.
“My thanks to you, dear granddaughter.” Zeus said as he gave me an appreciative nod.
“That was incredibly stupid, slut! You think taking on Current will give you some advantage over your master?” The monster clucked.
“There are other ways to kill a monster other than the conventional ways.” Artemis warned- her bow and aim never wavering.
“Please, plant a few more shafts in me if it will make you feel better.” ‘It’ taunted.
Artemis instantly made a pin cushion out of his chest, firing eight volleys of six arrows at a time.
“Feel better, now?” It asked.
“Dell, start your warm up and forget about this dweeb!”
“Yes, ‘Little Sister’. Start your preparations to re-enter your new bondage!” It mocked and laughed haughtily. “I can’t wait to taste the nectar of a double transfiguration.
“Leave! Her! Alone! You evil, morally corrupt, abomination!” I growled as I got back on my feet and glared at him.
“Nice trick with the eyes, bitch. Though tricks aren’t very effective on a real God!” He laughed conceitedly again.
“Dell, get moving.” I told her calmly though I noticed my voice echoed ever-so-slightly in the still air.
“Yes Dell, hurry. You’ll both join my harem that much quicker. Then I may do what I want with you.”
“As I said before, Asshole. That will not be happening! I will slice that offensive organ from your body and shove it into that foul opening you call a mouth! See how you enjoy your own blowjob!” I threatened as I began to feel a pressure start to build within me.
“Such defiance! It shall be a pleasure to finally have a Summers bow down before me in submission! Allow the anger you feel to flow through you- corrupt you- conform you to my imagined image!”
“Kiss my ever lovin’ ass, Dweeb! I’ll never submit to you -ever! I would request my Current to disassemble me and reclaim me before I would ever submit to you!” I threatened even louder.
“No matter; there is always that group of misfits you lovingly call a Corps. I shall take great pride in dismantling it soul by soul.”
Motion off to my right set me in motion immediately!
Another strike of powerfully intense lightning struck me and not Zeus before he could even materialize his own.
The pressure I had begun to feel building increased in strength once more.
This time, instead of stumbling back to my feet, I simply floated up and righted myself. I took a few steps toward my arrogant adversary.
“So.” I dared as I took several more steps toward ‘It’. “You think you can control me? You think that I am just some tasty bit of lifeforce that will yield to you just because you think you have the upper hand?”
“That’s exactly what I know to be absolute fact, my delicious slave! Now kneel before me! I tire of this game and consider it foreplay to just delay the inevitable.”
“And I consider you repulsive, crude, and barbaric! Never in my life have I met someone with lesser moral character!”
“Mere sticks and stones.”
“So…if…if you were to win this day, what is your plan for us.” I challenged.
He began laughing again.
“When I win this day…I plan on draining you of all free will, conscious thought, and everything that still tastes of human. You both will join my mindless pawns and languish in your pain and anguish until I need to replenish my energy. Believe me! I will savor each of you until there remains nothing but an empty husk!”
“Got it, Chance.” Dell alerted me.
That pressure I had been feeling? It was bubbling fervently- ferociously. I could feel it forcing its way to the surface. Ready to explode from me in something highly destructive and ominous.
A huge ‘super volcano’ seemed easier to control!
“No.” I said as I fought the surging power inside me. “I haven’t taken my shot with my weapon, yet.” I growled evilly. That seemed to reinforce my internal restraints slightly.
“Chance? You never use a weapon, just your wand.” Dell reminded me.
“You may try anything you wish, but you cannot win against your master, my resistant, thrall.” His arrogance and malevolent laughter only multiplied the unknown force deep within me.
I was suddenly holding a staff of some six feet in my right hand! Looking down, it had a golden, pointed base. Opposite that, an elaborate headpiece of the finest gold ornately held a round, multi-faceted, bluish gem. Looking closer, I could clearly see Mom’s picture somehow set within its center. Her likeness was vividly colored and seemed to have a light all its own. The headpiece reminded me of my locket’s overall shape and design, but on a much grander scale!
I heard my sisters’ gasp in complete surprise behind me, and maybe a little fear as I glared at the heinous creature declaring himself my ‘master’.
“No one will ever declare themselves master of me or anyone under my protection, Nathaniel Evans!” My voice echoed loudly in heated anger. “Nor shall you enslave any more sentient entities in any realm!” I noticed my staff start to glow brighter as the power within me increased logarithmically!
“Sister. Now would be the time to transport you and our High Priestess back to your realm. Do as she has commanded to the letter and do not fear her form there. Also fear not, for you shall be returned to your actual form as if nothing has happened. Do the transport now, Artemis Dell!” Artemis commanded in my peripheral hearing.
 
Pain once again wracked my body and the strange vision I had been enduring before finding ourselves in the Current, returned.
“Quickly! Move the High Priestess back into the building and put her in the holding cell!” Artie ordered excitedly.
“What is she holding? Where was she hiding a staff of that size?” I heard Simone ask as my strange, distorted view of the world began moving.
“Its her weapon! Chance! Remember what he threatened to do to you, me, and the rest of the Coven! We’re almost back to the cell.” Artie shouted to me as she forced my eyes to her face.
“Chance never used a weapon!” I heard mom argue.
“Once locked inside with Evans, Chance wants us to invoke a force field using our hexagram configuration. We are to quickly evacuate the area of all personnel after. We don’t know what will happen or for how far so be on guard! Chance! We’re here! Opening the cell door now! Good luck and deliver him to Uncle Hades with my compliments!” Dell shouted and I was suddenly thrown into a dark chamber. Quickly, I determined that I still had my staff in hand. With the extreme pain making it tremendously difficult to stand, I struck the pointed base of my staff to the ground for support.
Light filled the small confined space and I found that I was face to face with the most hideous Hobgoblin I had ever laid eyes on! Even with my severely distorted vision, and the tremendous agony I harbored, this thing only worsened those symptoms.
“Welcome to my harem, Summers!” It hissed evilly- confidently. “Now bow to my will!”
“Do you even remember our conversation in the Current just now? I told you that I will never submit to you, Nathaniel!” I repeated.
“You will bow before me and you will do what I command, slave! You no longer are Chance Summers- spawn of that arrogant trans-slut, Hopewell! You are now mine! You will do my bidding!”
The force of the unknown power continued to build within me, but despite the duress I was currently experiencing, I succeeded in holding it at bay. I was thankful for that, hoping my sisters could get far enough away from what I expected to be a very large hole.
“YOU WILL OBEY ME, SLAVE!” Evans shouted in my face, disgusting spittle and all!”
“I. WILL NEVER. BE. YOUR’S. NOR. ANYONE’S. SLAVE!” I shouted as the barrier holding back my strange internal power finally burst forth.

 
 
 
 
Author's notes: First off... sorry this is another cliffhanger. Secondly: Chance is referring to Artemis Dell as just 'Dell' because, in the Current, she has her 'pre-activated' form. Lastly, maybe Santa will deliver an early resolution to this cliffhanger.
R.G.

 
 
Lady Jamie stared silently into the nothingness left by the event and moved nary a stitch. It was difficult to confirm if she was even breathing.
“Well. There went my life’s work. Everything I had on this world, gone.” Kaitlyn decried as she stared in awe at the deep, concave, perfectly smooth, crater that used to be Witch Corps’ hangar here at Hopewell Field on the planet, Kane.
“Where do you think it all went?” Lokust pondered absentmindedly. She was just as awestruck as I.
“My guess would be the same place lost socks go after disappearing in the dryer.” Chantell wisecracked.
“My daughter was still in there, Denison!” Major Summers cried in anger.
“You don’t think I know that, Hopewell?! She just saved all our asses! AGAIN!”
I noticed Lady Charli had fallen to her knees and was at this moment sobbing inconsolably, hands to her face. Simone was crying likewise, only tightly clutching a staunch Lady Hope.
Still, tears were streaming down the Major’s face as they had on Chance’s ten years prior, when news came of Gia Four’s demise.
“By the Gods! Savanna!” Lokust suddenly shouted out and she too fell to her knees, and began weeping openly.
“She was the most understanding and evenly biased friend I ever had. A true sister in every form of the definition. Her deeds shall be entered into FeLane’s Directory of the Honored Fallen- forever placed beside the Great Queen, Libra, for all to remember and respect. She was a courageous…caring…” I too succumbed to my emotions and fought the losing battle all those left behind by such heroic deeds eventually feel. Despite our rearing, strength of character, or training, nothing ever prepares us for the loss of a truly valiant friend.
“She can’t be dead!” Dell shouted as she turned to the rest of us in anger. Her voice echoed?
“I refuse to acknowledge that she would go that easily! Chance is a fighter! She, out of all of us, would survive!” Dell’s still echoing voice declared as she took several more strides toward, but stopped as she visibly shielded herself from the heat, radiation, and gravimetric incongruities generated when the brilliant blue singularity dramatically, completely swallowed our hangar.
I walked closer and gently urged her back from the event horizon.
“She knew what would happen, Dell. I have a feeling she knew before you both disappeared the first time. Her gallantry in spite of such knowledge is overwhelming. Such courage of the heart…I have never seen her equal before.”
“Stop talking like she isn’t coming back, Kitty! I know Chance! She won’t quit- not this easily anyway!” She argued, pulling free of my grasp then turned quickly- her arms reaching around me and squeezing.
Had she suddenly gotten stronger?
“Chance wouldn’t leave us like this!” She added declared stalwartly from between my primary mammary pair.
“Maybe she didn’t have a choice, sister. Maybe it was the only viable way?”
“No! I spent the last forty cycles with her and we agreed that no matter what, we’d both keep fighting! She promised me, Kitty! She promised!” My dearest friend cried.
“Is that where you two went? To the Current?” Lady Hope asked, still maintaining her steely façade. She didn’t seem that surprised, though with the way she had her emotions harnessed down, it made sense.
Dell pushed away and nodded.
“We found ourselves on the side of a major byway- strange looking vehicles racing in both directions. After a bit, one of them slowed to a stop and a man calling himself ‘Envoy’ got out and transported us to the ‘Way-Coven’ Embassy. Can you believe we actually have an Embassy there? We were treated like royalty! Chance and I were asked to give something called ‘interviews’ to the various multimedia enterprises throughout their ‘realm’.” Dell paused to wipe her tears away.
“Zeus and Grandmother even came to vist! Father Zeus gave Chance and I a ‘Quest’ that turned out to be just for their entertainment…well, Zeus’ entertainment anyway. Grandmother wasn’t too thrilled with that and gave us hints and suggestions to help us. Then a few uSecs before we decided to leave, Father Zeus and Grandmother again appeared, this time as their ancient Hawaiian equivalents’ and gave us more clues. Then Evans showed up.”
“Evans was able to enter the Current?” Lady Hope gasped.
“Well, duh, Hopewell! Hobgoblins ARE Current? Tainted Current?” Lady Chantell chided animatedly.
“He demanded an ‘interview’. I found out about it only after the fact when Chance joined us in Envoy’s vehicle after she had hastily concluded that meeting. The monster appeared again just after we arrived back at our arrival site to affect departure. It declared us ‘property’ and insinuated a future of sexual and psychological slavery to it for however long it decided to torture us!”
“Even though it looked like a normal blonde-haired Terran man, it smelled of depravity and death! It was a revolting and vile creature, the likes of which nightmares do no justice! Chance seemed to revile the creature a hundred fold though.
“Even when entering the vehicle, I could see the hatred and rage building behind her eyes. As I recall, there was a dull, orange glow present in them even then. Whatever had been discussed in that interview surely tipped her calm and cool demeanor. She appeared distracted- internally conflicted. Chance became restless and fidgeted constantly during our transit to our destination. She seemed…ready to pop, I guess you could say.”
“Then at our destination, Chance became highly aggressive and took the offensive toward the thing- Evans. She was not acting like our High Priestess, but more a rabid, hell-bent, gladiator eager for her next victi…by the Gods! Nike! Why didn’t I see it at the time? The staff! Was it Nike’s staff? The Staff of Victory? Is that what the Olympians inferred?”
“Artie?” Lady Hope asked as she directed her full attention to our sister.
“Grandmother insisted that Chance was the reincarnation of Aries’ daughter, Nike, the Goddess of Victory. In what I have studied about my ancient heritage, Nike was depicted in story and statue holding a sort of Roman legion staff- The Staff of Victory. The existing legends tell of how Nike led the Olympians to victory in some epic battle and that Zeus bestowed upon her his heartfelt thanks and declared Nike worthy of his highest honors. No other Olympian has ever received such high praise- before or after.”
“The legends say that Nike became so overwhelmed by the praise and accolades that, at a celebration in her honor, she fled to parts unknown- never to be heard from again. Another story describes how Artemis vowed to find her niece and bring her back to Olympus. According to the story, the Hun…tress…still…still searches…to this…OH GODS! It’s actually happened!” Dell exclaimed as she looked to the sky.
“I know where she is!” Dell shouted excitedly just before she reached to her right earring and vanished!
 
 

 
 
“So there I was, frolicking through the meadow admiring the pretty flowers and I like, run straight away into this… this… this mortal eye sore? Now I may have to change my hairstyle until the bruise has faded? I don’t know if I can like, survive that long?”
A shrill female voice was complaining through a group of linen clad humanoids when I opened my eyes. Past the crowd, stood the hangar in its entirety!
I instantly knew that I was in the right place!
“Oh please, Demi! You’re lucky the thing didn’t fall on top of you like in that Terran drama about an adolescent female and some terrible environmental event!” A sarcastic male voice boomed.
The crowd laughed and snickered.
“What do you think it was before Medusa plied her gaze?” A male voice closer to me asked quietly.
“Seriously? Have you not read the media reports in the last four thousand years, Dionysus? Medusa is long dust, er…stone.”
“Actually, I resist any reports other than the horticultural forecasts.” The male voice replied.
“You should spend more time among our brethren and less with your precious drink!”
A loud burp echoed about the immediate area causing some of the people around us to frown, cringe, or simply turn away from the crude man.
“Ho! Artemis Dell! I see you have found us. Welcome to Olympus.” A man of about six-eight and brutally muscular, greeted me. He actually startled me since I had assumed no one would know me here.
“You know me?” I asked, shocked.
“Ney, my lady, but I recognize my handiwork.” He motioned to my earrings and bracelets. “Then again there is your uncanny resemblance to your older sister, Artemis.” He smiled warmly.
“Hephaestus, at your service, my lady.” He introduced himself and offered his hand in friendship.
He began to chuckle quietly as he gently took my hand- which disappeared in his.
“Artemis Dell, be at ease. You are among family and we do not bite…well, most of us don’t anyway.”
I immediately liked this huge, gentle soul.
“I take it you have followed yonder anomalous construction? It came from your realm?”
“It has and I think Chance had something to do with it, my Lord.”
“Oh? And what evidence leads you to believe the reincarnation of Nike has had her hand in such transference, my young Olympian?”
“Right before it vanished, Chance conjured a staff.” I informed him.
“A staff? Are you absolutely certain that is what you saw, Artemis Dell? Can you describe it for me?”
“It was maybe two meters high with a golden point at one end and an elaborate, golden headpiece with a dark blue gem in the middle at the other. I had never seen her produce anything like that before.” I told him.
“She ordered us out of the building after having us lock her in a holding cell with one of the more powerful Hoblins. She had also ordered us to conjure a force shield around it using our hexagram formation. Lord Hephaestus, I fear she has given her life to save us, and a planet. I truly hope that is not the case though.”
The huge, bull of a man regarded me a moment before nodding once and standing tall.
“Out of our way! Move, I tell you! There may be casualties inside the structure! Make a hole, brothers and sisters!” He shouted as he began pushing through the crowd.
All conversations stopped!
“Hephie? But what about my bruise? What will I do? How will I survive?” The woman belonging to the shrill voice countered angrily and refused to let Hephaestus pass.
“I’m sure you’ll survive the four hours it takes to heal, Demeter!” Hephaestus assured the perfect, Greek specimen of feminine beauty.
“But what shall I do in the mean ti…?” The vain goddess demanded, but stopped and stared at me. I felt her eyes burning through my very soul! She quickly looked in the direction opposite us. She repeated her movements several times.
“Like…I…I don’t understand this?” She said in confusion. “How can you be here with Hephie AND over there…all at the same time? Have you been holding out on us, Di?”
Demi, please! There may be lives at stake in there. Please let Artemis Dell and I through before all hope is lost.”
“So who do you think is in there?” Lady Demi asked nonchalantly.
“Artemis Dell suspects Lady Chance might be trapped and her thread about to be cut. Now let us pass!” Lord Hephaestus answered hurriedly.
“Nike? Nike’s in danger? We have to do something?” The woman panicked.
So I was right! Chance actually was Nike! A pair of arms instantly wrapped around me and I was caught off guard.
“You came! Sister, I had great hopes you would find it in you to transport here! Welcome to Olympus, Artemis Dell, my dear younger sister!” The real Artemis chirped excitedly.
“Artie, Chance may be inside! We have to hurry.”
“I’ve already scouted the whole building. There seems no way in, Hephus.” Grandmother reported.
“Then we follow Chance’s example and make a way!” I declared stoically.
“I like the way you think, sister!” Grandmother said, producing her bow and quiver.
I already had my arrow nocked and aimed.
Lord Hephaestus stared at me a moment.
“Artemis Dell surpassed you in munitioning, Artie. She bested you by several hundred milliseconds.
“It wasn’t a contest, Hephus!” Grandmother groaned. “Ready, sister?”
I nodded as I set my aim. “On three?”
“Ready.”
“Three!” I said as I released.
A major explosion blinded us and made our ears ring, but once the smoke cleared; no sign of an entry point could be seen.
“Okay? Now what?” Grandmother wondered.
“Maybe violence is not the answer, ladies. Maybe the opposite would work? You stated that Lady Chance ordered you to place not a containment spell…but a ‘force shield’ around the containment cell?” Lord Hephaestus recommended.
“So we should show no aggression and simply ‘walk’ through the barrier?” Grandmother interpreted.
“”The short answer? Yes.”
“I’ll try first, Grandmother. I was one of those to cast the spell.” I said as I carefully approached what I perceived to be the barrier’s perimeter and moved even slower until I could touch the permacrete of the hangar’s outside wall. Turning, I nodded to the others.
“It looks different on this side of the spell’s border.” I observed. “The rear entrance to the building should be right around this corner.” I added as Lord Hephaestus and Grandmother joined me.
We were rewarded by the actual entry door still being there.
 
 
“Let’s follow proper Corps procedure and clear each room as we make our way in.” I suggested as we quietly made our way- single file- through the reinforced door.
A faint thumping echoed quietly from ahead of us somewhere.
“Ewwwww! Sounds like someone’s having a good time in here?!” A shrill, but quiet voice announced from behind us. I know I jumped about half a meter before I acted!
Lady Demi stood frozen just off the points of my and Grandmother’s arrows and gulped nervously.
“Ummm…like, is this a bad time?’
“Demi! What in Uncle’s name are you doing? You could have gotten killed!” Grandmother chastised our uninvited guest.
“I…umm…I thought you needed some like, help?” She answered. “Like, I even got dressed for the occasion?” She motioned to her parity of the Corps’ uniform.
Yes, she had the round, pointed hat, the silky, white blouse, the black with orange trimmed bustier, the black, pleated skirt, and the black, heeled leather boots, but the bustier was cut almost down to her naval- her blouse opened almost that far, too! Her skirt was cut so scandalously high that the very bottoms of her orange panties were on constant display along with her black garters and lacy, orange and white stocking tops. The thigh-high boots she wore had three and a half centimeter platforms and twenty centimeter spike heels and nearly covered her stockings entirely. Her hat went stiffly to a point!
“You look like a Terran prostitute at Halloween!” Grandmother and I said at the exact same time.
Lord Hephaestus began to chuckle.
“You don’t like my alterations?” She pouted.
‘Seriously?’ I thought
“Fine, but stay quiet! We wanted to surprise whatever is making that thumping noise.” Grandmother capitulated.
“Eeewwww! Okay? Like, let’s go?”
Our advancement though the offices at the rear of the hangar was ‘punctuated’ by the quick, staccato of Lady Demi’s heels as she minced unsteadily behind us. “Like, how can you walk in these things?”
Was she actually super smart and just mocking us out of boredom or really that clueless?
As we came upon the kitchen, I noticed that the holding cell door- toward the middle of the hallway- was blasted wide open- completely off its bent and mangled hinges!
“That’s not good, Grandmother! If Evans got out, it could already be conscripting the people outside.”
A hand grasped my shoulder to stop me.
“If you don’t start calling me Artemis, Diana, or Big Sister, my dear little sister, there will be problems. Understand, Artemis Dell? I ceased being your grandmother once our codes realigned at your threshold, capiche?”
“Understood, sister.” I answered shyly.
“Good! Now let’s continue this slapstick tragedy and find Chance!” My ‘sister’ groused as she looked back to Lady Demi angrily.
We cleared the holding cell and exited the hallway into the main hangar area.
 
 
Someone that looked like she might be Chance knelt over a body; rhythmically punching it’s face while tears streamed down her’s. Lying beside her on the floor was the staff she had conjured just before I had succeeded in transporting us home.
Blood was splattered everywhere!
The only motion I detected from the bloodied figure was when struck by my sister’s fists.
“Chance! What are you doing?” I called to her.
As if a cue, she picked up the staff, stood, and began stabbing the corpse repeatedly with it! Each time the staff struck the floor, orange bolts arced out and away from it.
I was appalled by her uncharacteristic behavior and decided to tell my friend about it.
“What in the Gods name are you doing, Chance Summers!” I shouted as I advanced.
The face that suddenly looked my way was none too happy and her eyes blazed with a bright orange light the likes of which, I had never seen!
The staff began floating, vertical to the floor after her hand released it. The deep blue gem began to glow brightly.
“Like, wow, that’s some really cool effects, Lady Chance?” Lady Demi complimented as she walked past me…
And promptly flew back past me hitting the permacrete wall hard enough to knock the wind from her.
“OOOOwwwww. Hey, like, that hurt, Chance! I thought we were BFF’s?” Lady Demi pouted as she shakily stood back up and dusted herself off while my friend resumed the beating and stabbing of what Chantell would call ‘roadkill’.
“Chance?” I asked and got no response.
“High Priestess?” I tried again and still got nothing.
“My Lady!”
Chance paid me just the slightest glance. I was getting closer.
“Allow me, Lady Artemis Dell.” Lord Hephaestus offered.
He boldly walked closer.
“Lady Nike, welcome back to Olympus. I have missed you immensely, sister.” He welcomed. It seemed to be working as Chance turned and regarded the God curiously.
“Hepffffffussssssss.” Chance hissed demonically.
“I am, my lady. Are you able to power down? Or do you need more time with the corpse until it returns to dust?”
“Ffffunny.” Chance hissed again.
“Like, what did I ever do to you, Nike, honey?” Lady Demi carefully asked as she walked closer.
“Laaaffffffffed!”
Lady Demi stopped dead in her tracks and tilted her head slightly.
“Oh. So you remember that, huh? Well, you disappeared before I could say I was sorry! So I’ll say it now. I’m sorry I laughed at you at your banquet! And…and your dress…it fit you perfectly! Despite me being a bitch and saying otherwise! Sometimes I can get caught up in the moment… That’s one of my flaws, honey.”
“Noooooot Cooooorps.” Chance plainly hissed and Lady Demi was now dressed appropriately. “Betterrrrrrrr.”
Lady Demi looked down at herself and gulped in fright.
“Like, I never knew she was that powerful?”
“If any were still in existence, the Titans would surely vouch for that fact, Demeter! Alas, they are not, so I suggest not antagonizing her further- what Lady Chantell or Hope would refer to as ‘pissing her off’.
“Motttttherrr…” Chance said as if asking a question. Her voice sounded almost Terran.
“She is safe, Lady Nike- as is the rest of the Coven.” I chanced to add.
“Kaaaane.”
“Kane has been freed from the Hobgoblin attack by whatever it was that you did after we evacuated this building, M’lady. You saved us all. Thanks be to you, Lady Nike.” I praised as I slowly moved closer to her.
“No! Thankssssss!” She said as she looked up at me with those burning orange eyes. They seemed to flare brighter for a second then dimmed significantly.
“It’s working, Artemis Dell. Her power seems to be ebbing.
“Delllllllll?” Chance said my name and I immediately burst into tears of joy!
“It’s me, M’lady, yes!” I sniffed excitedly while wiping my eyes.
“Huntressssssss?”
“That is both me and my Grandmother, Lady Nike.” I said as Artemis started to protest.
Lord Hephaestus raised his hand to stop her though. “Our sister makes progress; let her continue, Di.”
“Chanssssssss!”
“My Lady?” I asked in confusion. Did she just say her name?
“Chance.” She repeated, this time with almost no ‘guteral rasp’.
“Her eyes!” Lord Hephaestus whispered. “Their intensity has diminished further. Wonderful, Artemis Dell, wonderful!”
“You mean she’s like, finally coming around?” Lady Demi… By the Gods! Why hadn’t I figured this before? Lady Demi is Demeter! Athena! Goddess of Love and…
A ‘thud’ brought my attention back to the present. Lady Demeter lay slumped against the permacrete wall behind us again. Chance’s eyes had gained back some of their intensity.
“By Zeus, when will you learn, Demi!? Lady Chance is most definitely not in the mood for ‘BFF’ banter! Now stay back and let Artemis Dell continue her recovery efforts.” Lord Hephaestus recommended as he and ‘big sister’ nodded to each other.
“Wow! Like, these uniforms really do work? That time didn’t feel half as bad? AAAwwwWW! I broke a nail!”
“Annooooyinggg!” Chance huffed in a somewhat normal tone. It was still a little gravelly though.
“I couldn’t agree with you more, Lady Chance.” Big sister laughed, shaking her head.
Chance actually began to snicker. Her snicker became a series of improving giggles then laughter.
I was overjoyed! It was only after I felt the pain in my knees did I realize I had dropped to the ground and began crying…crying for Chance…crying for my friend’s return to me!
Something wet, warm, and sticky touched my chin and gently nudged it higher. Opening my stinging eyes, I saw a bloodied hand under my chin then looked up to see Chance looking down at me with tears streaming from her swollen, bloodshot eyes.
Bloodshot! The orange rage had receded!
“Chance? Is it really you?” I asked cautiously, expecting to go flying back into a wall.
“She is here, Artemis Dell.”
“Forgive me, Lady Nike, I thought you…she had returned.” I said quietly as I looked back down to the floor in sadness.
“You have nothing to be forgiven for, Artemis Dell. I’m the one that must earn forgiveness.”
“What? Why?” I asked, flabbergasted.
“It was I that breached the seal. I, that allowed my power out into this realm! And it is I who killed this mortal and continued to wantonly abuse its corpse.”
“But Evans was the instigator in all this, Lady Nike! ‘It’ was the catalyst which brought forth your wrath. You mustn’t put blame on yourself for being forced into issuing your power.” I tried to reason with her.
“That is where you are wrong, Artemis Dell. I had to break the seal in order to save you and our sisters…to save Kane from the Hobgoblin scourge. I…I had to once again become that which has frightened even Grandfather Zeus.”
Chance smeared more blood on her face as she wiped at her cheeks.
“Do you not understand, sister? I am the monster; the ultimate monster- the Grendel- that everyone should fear and tremble before!”
Chance turned away from me quickly.
“I am the one everyone should run away from! Far away from!” She moaned in between sobs.
I went to get up, but a large, gentle hand softly touched my shoulder as Lord Hephaestus walked past me toward my retreating sister.
“Nike, hold. Come here, child.” He called to her. Reaching her, he wrapped his huge arms around her and pulled her close.
“Nike, Artemis Dell is correct in her analysis. It was not your fault you were taunted and teased into releasing your pent demons- nor was it accidental. The thing you both call Evans was the monster, not you. Sometimes one must fight the fire with a fire of equal or greater intensity. You know I speak the truth. Remember, I was there, Nike. Right next to you.” Hephaestus said as he regarded the blood drenched Goddess.
“At the battle where you first unleashed your full potential? I saw firsthand what you needed to become in order to save Olympus. And trust me, by that point in the conflict; we needed a ‘Titan’ to destroy the Titans! So, yes, you became a monster- but only because that is what was needed at the time. This latest incident, the monster had to be stopped once again. You did exactly what was needed to defeat it! This monster again brought out the champion named ‘Nike’.”
“Hey! Like, I was there too, ya know?” Lady Demeter interrupted. “I saw her go like, berserker on the Grans!”
“You would be wise to stay down and silent, Athena! I am in no mood!” Chance hissed as her normal voice echoed through the hangar. “You would stand to learn the ways of our Coven, ‘Love Goddess’! Only then might you begin to understand the fickle meaning of ‘vain’!”
“Will my Coven sister ever return to us, Lady Nike? There are many that would miss her should she not.” I asked politely- hopefully.
Lady Nike thought a moment.
“Ah yes, the infant female that came to us absent swaddling linens or family. She is wise beyond her years and will supplement the Oracles proudly when matured.” Chance’s face softened. Her eyes scanned the area curiously. “I feel her? I feel an overwhelming need to hold her, nurture her? I do not understand our sister’s fire- her fury at being unable to reunite with this…her ‘Savanna’!”
“Nike. You and the evolved Terran- Chance Summers- you are one. You share the code array. I would suggest you share the vessel mutually, too, and you will understand the emotions you never got the opportunity to experience- the curious feelings you now encounter.”
“Of course, wise and protective Hephus. The time of the monster has once again ebbed and now the time of grace, beauty, and nurturing is at hand. I will relent and return Chance to that which she has accepted, but after one final moment, my brother.” Lady Nike turned her attention to my big sister.
“Artemis. You and only you have never given up hope of finding and returning me to Olympus,” She motioned me over next to my sister.
“Artemis”, she stated as she looked to both of us. “My eternal thanks for your dedication and devotion to your self-imposed quest, but”, she placed a kiss on both of our foreheads. “But I no longer belong here…not because of Chance and her life, rather, because I no longer feel comfortable here…at Olympus. I…we have responsibilities, Chance and I, I and Chance. Though our Olympus family is very important to me, we…” Lady Nike smiled brightly a moment, “I have a smaller, yet no less important, ‘family’ that needs…‘me’. Different, but not different at the same time, responsibilities wait me. I have a daughter…” Lady Nike’s face lit up and seemed to glow with happiness.
“I, Nike, will now rejoin Chance. Do not be strangers, brothers and sisters of Zeus. I and Chan…I will now return the mortal structure to its natural realm.”
Everything around us ‘shimmered’ just before Lady Nike fell to the floor unconscious.
 
 
 
Author's note: As promised; an extra post for Christmas. I hope everyone has the happiest Christmas that 2020 allows.
Everyone stay healthy and safe.
R.G. Beyer

 
 
“Where did she go?” Jamie asked for the fourth time in the five minutes since Dell claimed she knew where our Chance was and vanished.
“Will you please shut it, you nit?!” Lady Chantell shouted in a formal sounding, snarky accent.
“Look! This is still new to me! And if the High Priestess is lost to us, how will I ever get back to normal?” Jamie continued.
Her concern for ‘self’ irritated me no end!
Pointing to her, I extended my pointer nail. It stopped less than an inch from her nose and she suddenly stopped breathing. Her eyes bulged in terror.
“You may never return to ‘normal’ if you do not learn that you alone are not the galaxy! Witch Corps is a team, and we shall remain a team even if our High Priestess never returns! Understand?!” I snarled!
The sudden sound of an infant child crying demanded my…all of our attention!
“Savanna?” Lokust shouted as she rushed to what Chance called a ‘car seat’. It was suddenly ten paces behind us- well out of the way of the fluctuations at the event horizon. “How did you get here?”
Lokust unharnessed and lifted the kitten from the seat to her shoulder. Savanna stopped crying instantly.
“P-p-porno to Coven!” Lady Cora’s frazzled voice broke squelch on our comms.
“Lokust. Go ahead, Porno.” Lokust answered.
“L-Lokust! We… we have a situation on Pegasus!” She sounded on the verge of hysteria.
“Would that situation involve Princess?” Our Exec asked with a slight giggle as she fussed with Savanna.
“How?” Porno responded after several dozen seconds.
“Princess just popped in to say ‘hi’, Porno. She just crashed the party. Pegasus status?”
“All infected craft have been cleaned and remain in a holding pattern until Seeker can interface. Pegasus is one-zero-zero percent.” Lady Cora reported.
“Mum to Lokust! I’m picking up a very strong gravity fluctuation building in your immediate area! I’ve never seen anything like it before today. But, this one doesn’t seem to be building to quite the same intensity as the last one, twenty minutes ago.”
Savanna began to gurgle and laugh while waving her limbs excitedly.
“What’s that, Sweetie? Chance and Artie are coming back and we should retreat fifty meters?”
“Wait!” I said as I regarded our Exec. “You understand her? Like Chance claims to understand her?”
“Exactly, Kitty. Chance instructed me to ‘listen with my heart’ and I would then understand her. It really is amazing, the things she knows. Let’s step back.” She said as she hugged the kitten tenderly, tears rolling down her face.
We waited.
 
 
A sliver of blue light flashed into being in the middle of what had been the Witch Corps hangar. The sliver quickly grew and spread out becoming brighter and brighter in intensity! This was completely opposite of what had happened here earlier!
A powerful wind gust burst from the anomaly.
The intensifying blue light suddenly burst forth, the concussion moving us all a step or two back.
Savanna suddenly ‘burped’ loudly! Lokust looked to her kitten then back to the strange anomaly. Tears were now streaming down her face!
The hangar was suddenly ‘back’ with us! I know I felt my mouth open in wonder. If this were Chance’s doing, I would have a whole new appreciation of her talents and strength!
According to my Current sight, which I had just snapped on, our protective shield was still in force and active around the newly materialized building. That also amazed me.
With a loud ‘snap’ and another gust of wind, the shield disappeared.
Was it designed to do that, or was something wrong. I found it hard to move toward the rear door of the building- my instincts suggesting it might be a trap.
The door suddenly opened and the back of a huge Terran wrapped in gold trimmed, white linens backed out through the door. He was carrying somethi…someone!
“Oh my God, Chance!” Lady Hope cried as it became apparent the large man was carrying my friend- our High Priestess. She rushed to her daughter with urgency only a mother would expend.
“I assure you, Lady Hope, you’re valiant daughter is only unconscious. She has expended an enormous amount of power in a small amount of time.” His deep baritone boomed as he gingerly handed Chance over to Lady Hope’s expectant arms. “Despite the blood, cuts, and bruises, Nike has once again won the day.”
“Hephaestus? What happened to her? She looks like she took a bath in blood!” Lady Hope asked after placing Chance carefully on a gurney she quickly conjured. Lokust- still carrying Savanna- rushed to her and took her blood-drenched hand.
The door shot open and a blonde-headed woman of about twenty standard years walked out confidently.
My…all of our weapons instantly came to bear on her. Even Lokust was instantly on the offensive.
“Could you like, give me a break here? It’s been a very hectic day and I broke a nail?”
Her voice could etch permacrete! I immediately felt myself becoming irritated.
“Witch Corps, hold!” The man boomed. “Although annoying, Athena is one of us. I vouch personally for her, though I sometimes wonder why.”
“Heeeeey! Be nice, Hephie? Hi, like, I’m Athena? Or Demeter? But you all can call me Demi?” The woman announced in her shrill tone as she approached with her arms outstretched.
The door opened again.
“DELL!” I shouted enthusiastically as I uncharacteristically ran to my friend!
“Heeeey! What about hugs?” Demi cried out in surprise as I rushed past her.
The door opened yet again and Dell came out… I stopped and looked on in confusion. Both Dells had golden bows on their shoulders.
“It is good to see you again, Princess Kitty Sinae.” The first Dell said, nodding to me confidently.
“Sorry for the confusion, Sinae. Big sister got to the door before I did.” The second…Dell apologized.
“Artemis gave you her bow? Why?” I asked curiously.
“Actually this is mine. Big sister still has her’s.” Dell nodded to the original Artemis.
“Big sister? I thought she was your Grandmother?” I questioned.
“Well… Since Chance took me through my own threshold, Artemis claims we’re identical sisters now…it’s a long, convoluted story reserved for much heavy drinking, Kitty.” She assured me with a roll of her eyes.
“I will take you up on that when we get back to base.” I assured her.
“Lokust, Pegasus. Porno, we need an emergency evac. As close as you can get to the hangar.”
“On our way, Lokust. Pegasus out.” Samuel Redman’s voice responded to our Exec.
 
 
Though we could see nothing, several dust storms began to twist and gust about us. It felt like Pegasus was landing right on top of us and I instinctively bent over to avoid getting hit.
“He better not have put a scratch on her!” Lady Hope threatened- the inclination of her glare looked about the right angle for the Bridge.
Pegasus ‘decloaked’ and I was right to have bent over, as Pin-Up’s lower control arc was less than a meter above my head!
From this angle and location, Pegasus seemed huge, but very beautiful with her chrome hull gleaming in the retreating sun.
She also looked like Redman had just as precise a handle on her controls as Lady Hope!
Ladies Janet and Cora, Samuel Redman, Ladies Sonya, and Lyra Serangetti, all hurried down the ramp that had extended.
“What happened?” Lady Cora demanded as she hurried over to Chance’s side. “And how did you do that little Plum Button?! You had Auntie Cora freaking out!”
“AAaaaaWWW! Pretty Kitties!” Athena…Demi shouted shrilly as she hurried over to where Sonya and Lyra stood.
Sonya advanced a few steps and assumed a perfect ‘Logan’ defensive stance; her left arm high and right arm straight to the side. A noticeable flick of her wrists extended all ten of her deadly fingernails!
I was impressed!
Demi, on the other hand, slid to a stop with a horrified look.
“Looks like the kittens don’t want to play, Lady Demi.” I giggled evilly.
“I’m just…you know…trying to be like, neighborly? Why doesn’t anybody want to hug here? I don’t like, like this place, so far?”
“Demi? You do know the Witch Corps…aka, the Furies, are an elite fighting force formed to defend against the Hobgoblins of this mortal realm?” The man Lady Hope called Hephaestus, informed this ditsy female.
Lady Hope calling to the huge Terran turned my attention.
“Hephaestus! I can’t use my healing spell on her! It just skips across her instead of into her. I don’t understand.”
“I suggest we get Nike into you craft, Lady Hope. Once inside and secured from the outside environment, I shall convey what has ensued in the past several hours on Olympus as Demeter and I have witnessed.”
“Olympus? Why would she go there and what did she do? Are we all going to get called into Zeus’ office?” Lady Hope asked in concern.
“Such a way you have, sister!” Hephaestus laughed heartily as he shook his head slowly. “No, My Lady. I think he will forego that… this time.”
“What say you, Simone? Shall we show this one ‘our’ way?” Lady Cora said with a breathy, seductive voice as she smiled and winked to Lady Simone.
“Though intriguing, I must decline the offer, Caroline, Ruler of the Norge Trade Federation. We are here in a most official capacity today.” He politely declined.
“Though unofficially, I’d take that action.” He winked to Lady Chantel then laughed heartily.
Did Simone actually sigh in disappointment?
“You have a standing invite, Sweetpea. You know how to reach us.” Lady Cora flirted.
Has that woman no shame?! Monarchs were expected to be professional and polite, but here was a ‘blue-hair’ from…two ‘blue-hairs’ from Antarran Royalty, flirting like Terran Escorts looking for bigger stipends!
Lady Janet was likewise wistfully assessing the well-built Olympian male. That made Samuel Redman frown and roll his eyes. He didn’t seem too taken aback by her actions though.
Antarrans! Seems like they’re constantly in heat!
“Hey! Guys! We need a clean-up in the main hangar area! There’s a pile of what I think used to be a Terran in there. It hasn’t really started to stink yet, but it’s still pretty rank.” Lady Kaitlyn…Keats reported as she popped her head out of the door and began motioning us in.
My hyper-sensitive nose had already picked up traces of death as soon as the door opened.
“Chairman, Laidy-in-Wait, and Wrench, Take care of whatever that is in there. Laidy-in-Wait, I need you to show Chairman our idea of a ‘Cleanup in Aisle Six’. Wrench, make sure its done to your satisfaction.” Lady Lokust ordered, taking charge. “Everyone else, please board Pegasus for a debriefing- but only after we see to Chance’s needs.”
 
 
Ladies Hope, Chantell, Charli, and Lokust made sure Our High Priestess was cleaned, comfortable, and covered in her quarters’ bed. A problem arose when we began to file out of her and Lokust’s room. Savanna began crying, disappeared then reappeared lying next to Chance. Lokust tried to move her several times, but Savanna proved just as strong willed as her mother.
After a short conversation with the infant kitten, Lokust stated that Savanna did not want to leave her mother- that she had let her out of her sight too many times already.
So, after feeding the kitten- Lokust had asked her Current to produce milk- a sleeping Savanna was placed beside Chance on the bed, Both seemed happy with that arrangement as we left for the observation lounge to debrief.
Simone, Kaitlyn, and Jamie arrived late, as expected.
“So, what we know is that Dell and Chance somehow became infected by a Hoblin calling itself ‘Evans’. This identity was confirmed by Hope, Chantell, and Charlene.” Lokust started off the debriefing.
“It was his voice that we heard.” Hope shivered visibly. “I think all three of us will remember that voice forever!”
“Okay, so, after being infected, Dell and Chance began to change. It was a very slow type of conscription. Their transformation seemed to take forever. Can we assume that you and Chance were fighting against it, Dell?”
“We were, but I think Chance was fighting harder, because when she started powering up for my threshold, she still looked more Terran. There was sooo much pain! Everything about me seared with deep, burning, excruciating pain! There was absolutely no respite from it. As I thought the pain couldn’t get any worse, I heard a high-pitched whistle that kept increasing in frequency. Next thing I know, I’m surrounded by an orange colored sky and landscape. After looking around, I finally saw a figure some distance away from me and started walking toward it. As I got closer, I noted it was Chance. She told me that we were in the Current and that she would try to ‘land’ us.”
“We found ourselves next to a highway of some sort watching strange looking vehicles race by. Chance seemed to think the inhabitants of those vehicles would report our location. Sure enough, about a half an hour later, a vehicle slowed and stopped. The man that got out called himself ‘Envoy’, but Chance said it wasn’t the same ‘Envoy’ she had met on her earlier trip to the Current.”
“We were transported…driven, to a building that we were told was our ‘Embassy’- ‘Way-Coven Embassy’. Can you believe that they built an Embassy for us there?”
Dell continued to report on their activities and experiences in the Current realm.
“Then, right after we stopped at our arrival point, this blonde-haired guy appears and starts taunting and threatening us… Chance mostly. He implied lewd actions that he would make Chance and I perform on him after our conscription was finalized. I wanted to kill him on the spot!”
“That was when I saw them! Chance’s eyes, they were burning with a blinding orange light! They were brighter than any other time I’d seen them do that. I think maybe it was because she was getting very angry about his intentions for, not only me, but the entire Coven!”
“We had planned to do what we could to fight and possibly destroy our foe/captor. He actually demanded we call him ‘master’!”
“Chance verbally sparred with him, buying enough time for me to set-up our transport out of that realm and back to here. By the time I had everything figured out, Chance’s eyes were burning brighter than a deep space beacon! I don’t know how, but when we arrived back here, I was back to normal, but Chance…”
Dell took a moment to calm herself, and to wipe her free-flowing tears.
“Our plan required that I get everyone out of the hangar and to conjure a force shield around it using the Hexagram formation we used on Guan. I had no idea what that would do. I also have no idea what she did in there to cause the whole place to blink out in a blinding, blue burst.”
“After the hangar disappeared, I suddenly remembered what you, big sister, and Father Zeus hinted at on your last visit to us in the Current. You more or less said that Nike was the most powerful of the Olympians, but that unless Nike surrendered to the anger, the pain, and the anguish she held within her, she couldn’t win in battle against Father Zeus. You then hinted that should Chance be made to lose her control and let her true power flow, Father wouldn’t last for more than a few minutes against her. I thought about what was taught to me of my heritage; Nike disappeared from a banquet in her honor at Olympus. Maybe Chance…or Nike would go back there from latent memory.”
“That’s like, where I come in?” Demi interrupted as she frowned.
“I had been running through the field, paying attention to the new blossoms and the pretty butterflies when that structure was suddenly just ‘there’? I ran headlong into it and bruised my forehead? I started telling the tale…”
“The building sparked into our reality with a blindingly blue light and a large gust of wind. It was bright, loud, and strong enough to be felt, heard, or seen for miles around Mt. Olympus. I felt the concussion in my forge and hurried to see what the commotion was all about.” Hephaestus interrupted the blonde.
“I recognized the building from Artie’s scrying bowl and knew immediately that something miraculous had happened. So, while Demi complained about her unfortunate accident while running and texting at the same time, I decided to survey the area for anything that might help in explanation. Then when I saw Artemis Dell materialize, I knew something was wrong. You see, Artemis had just finished relating to me this morning that the oracles had predicted that her ‘equal’ had arrived and that she would ‘appear soon’. Knowing how many times those party girls broke into Dionysus’ cellars, I was naturally skeptical. But, as I said, when Artemis Dell appeared not fifty paces away, I just knew.”
“That was when Artemis Dell told me that she thought Chance might still be in the structure, and with one of the monsters you girls have been tasked to fight. The sisters’ Artemis tried to no avail to penetrate the superior force shield you ladies conjured with a munitions barrage, but were unsuccessful. It was then I suggested a more passive approach. Walking casually through the force shield proved effective and we found a door to enter through.”
“Once inside we cleared each room and hallway as per protocol.” Dell continued.
“Heyyyyyy! What about me? If we’re telling an epic tale it has to have Athena in it?” Demi interrupted again.
“That’s when Demeter came in behind us and scared the Tartarus out if us! There, happy now, Demi? You’ve been mentioned in another epic. Now, how about you allow us to finish this debriefing? Without further interruption?” Hephaestus glared at the shrill-voiced Olympian.
“Why so serious, Hephie? Everything will like, work out with Chance, right?”
“Unless you have an in with the Fates, you can’t be sure, can you, Demi?” Hephaestus chided.
Demeter’s eyes sparkled as a big grin flashed to her face.
The huge Olympian’s hand wiped down his face.
“Of course you and the Fates are BFF’s. How silly of me to think otherwise.” He deadpanned.
“Hey, they like, need to party off their stress like everyone else? They’re really fun when we go clubbing together? Every guy in the place buys us drinks? We have a great time?”
Hephaestus silently stared at the blonde Olympian for a few moments.
“Anyhow, once inside, we heard what seemed to be banging- a low thumping sound, rhythmic but not completely repeating. After the sisters’ Artemis cleared the administrative section, we moved onto the hangar itself. What met our eyes seemed unimaginable at first. Then, after Artemis Dell explained what had happened to them, everything became clear.”
“So what exactly happened?” Lady Charli demanded.
“Apparently the part of Chance that holds the latent memories of our sister, Nike, resurfaced. The ‘Goddess of Victory’ once again called upon her unimaginable power to win the day. I remember a similar day as if yesterday even though it happened a great many millennia ago. That was the day Nike, single-handedly, beat back and helped Zeus defeat the old ones…the Titans. She saved Olympus and everyone, everything, on the planet!”
“Chance was acting nowhere near her normal self.” Dell continued. “It was as though all humanity left her and the raw animal had taken control. Although we didn’t see how she defeated ‘Evans’, when we arrived she was still carrying out her brutal assault on the corpse. Punching, kicking, stabbing at it as though in some kind of insane rage.”
“Like, tell them about her assaulting me? She did cause me to break a nail, you know?” Demi interjected.
“Yes. Apparently, there is history between Demeter and Nike. She sent you into the far hangar wall what, twice?” Dell giggled.
“Heyyyyy! It didn’t tickle ya know! Especially before she dressed me in your official uniform?”
“Well, you did make a mockery of our uniform, Lady Demi! You made the uniform into an out-and-out cry for sexual need!”
Ladies Cora, Janet, and Simone perked up.
“Terran Escorts wouldn’t wear what you had on! It was shameful, and I don’t blame Chance for redressing you appropriately!” Dell admonished vehemently.
“We can thank Artemis Dell for reaching Nike’s true character and pulling her back from just beyond her humanity. Once she was able to think clearly, Nike relinquished control to Chance. I believe a mutually beneficial understanding had been arranged just before Chance lost consciousness and collapsed to the floor. It was then that we felt the outpouring of power, the likes of which I hadn’t felt in eons!”
“And that brings us into this dimension. When I picked your High Priestess up and carried her into your arms, Lady Hope.”
“So, what of you, Lady Demeter?” Lokust asked as she observed her carefully. “Have you been activated or has Chance just corrected your fashion faux pas?”
I noted the cynical tone in our exec’s voice as she continued to appraise the ditzy, blonde Olympian.
“Chance…rather, Nike said something about her learning and participating in the Coven- that she should learn the fickle ‘meaning’ of ‘vain’.” Dell clarified.
“Welcome to the Corps, Demi.” Lady Hope giggled evilly. “Hope you survive Basic.”
“Basic? Basic what?”
“Basic training, dear sister.” Artemis smiled. Hephaestus chuckled quietly.
“But I’m a lover, not a fighter?” The blonde Olympian complained.
“Honey.” Lady Cora said as she placed a firm, but gentle hand on Demeter’s shoulder. “By the time we’re done with you, you’ll be both!”
Hephaestus began laughing heartily.
“I’m like, so out of here!” Demi declared, but though her face became flush, she remained with us.
“Why, like, can’t I leave this wacked out place? I want to go home!” She cried in frustration.
“Chance did the same thing to Father Zeus and I, Demi. She is far more powerful than even father realized.” Artemis informed her with a devious smile. “So, for the time being…and until our High Priestess decides you’ve passed muster, you’re stuck here. Now…get that perfect little tush down to the training compartment to begin your training, recruit!”
 
 

 
 
A soft ‘cooing’ caught my attention as things around me suddenly started to come back into focus. Where was I? Why did I feel completely wiped out?
Something was wiggling in the space between my left arm and side. It was warm cloth. Warm, moving cloth? What was or how would cloth be warm and/or moving?
Gurgling and more cooing with a giggle or two answered my oblivious questions.
“Savanna?” I whispered as I turned my head to see her smiling face. She squeezed her tiny fingers in a wave to me.
She was instantly on top of me and I was kissing her and hugging her excitedly.
“Oh, how I have missed you, sweetie! I thought I would never see you again!”
My nose caught a wiff.
“Oh! And I’ll bet you are happy to see me, too! We’ll just have to take care of that…”
“You will not leave that bed, High Priestess!” A child’s voice threatened.
“Lyra or I will attend Savanna. You have been placed on bed rest by the Coven, Lady Chance.” Sonya said with such a serious tone that, coming from her present form, sounded adorable.
“Princess Savanna will need fed, and who will do that, my ladies?” I winked with an impish smile.
“Lady Lokust has taken care of that aspect of Savanna’s care, Lady Chance.” Sonya informed me.
That surprised me completely until Savanna gurgled a few times, smacked her lips together loudly, and giggled a few times.
“Oh, so you think she tastes better than I do, sweetie?” I asked her, not believing a word of it.
A few more gurgles, a coo, and several more giggles answered my question.
“So you were just kidding, eh? I think Ladies Lyra and Sonya had better change your diaper now. I have to think for a moment about what my daughter has just revealed to me.” I told the infant as I waggled my right eyebrow several times.
Savanna laughed a few times before Lyra gently lifted her off of me.
“I’ll take care of Princess Savanna, my lady.” She said as the two disappeared into my quarters’ lavatory.
“You know you scared the hell out of all of us, Chance Summers!” Sonya quietly opened up on me as soon as the lavatory door closed.
“Don’t worry, Sonya, I’ll return you to your original form. I haven’t forgotten.” I told her calmly.
“That’s not what I’m talking about and you know it!” The kitten pointed accusingly at me. “When Pegasus detected a very powerful singularity at the airfield, we thought the whole planet would blink out of existence! How could you even do something that inconceivable? I thought only the Gods themselves could do such thing…” She continued before her eyes narrowed.
“Wait…the Olympians! They have been referring to you as ‘Nike’ since they carried you out of the hangar!”
“Olympians? Who? How many? What names did they give?” I asked excitedly.
“The identical of our Huntress, a woman calling herself ‘Artemis’; a huge specimen of Terran manhood, Hephaestus, and a ditzy, air-headed, blo…”
“Demeter or Demi as she told me to call her when I visited Olympus.” I interrupted. “Yes, I’ve met all three.”
“They are all gathered in the Observation Lounge for debriefing. I will send word that you are awake and seem undamaged.” Sonya reported.
“I’ll go up on my own, thank you.” I told her.
“You…you will stay in bed as per Lady Lokust’s orders!”
Yeah. Like that would happen! I decided to humor Sonya until Lyra brought Savanna back to me.
“As you wish Serangetti Sonya: Pegasus’ own bad-assed, Lynxin kitten.” I giggled.
Sonya said something under her breath then stopped and frowned at me.
“What have the Olympians to do with anything? Why involve themselves in our affairs?”
“Have you ever studied the Lynxin Gods and Goddesses of ancient FeLane? I believe they are very similar to their Terran counterparts. FeLane’s are only one or two thousand years older.”
“I have ‘glanced’ over the stories and myths.”
“And you call yourself a ‘Rim’ archeologist,” I ‘tisked’.
“No one is an ‘expert’ on the outer rim, Lady Chance.” She declared.
“They are.” I smiled. “They have visited different galaxies and maybe even different universes, Sonya. The Olympians visit various promising cultures and impart their wisdom, art, and science to civilizations they think might develop into the next peaceful space-faring races. Once successful, they move on to the next.”
“So you are saying THEY are the Gods and Goddesses of FeLane legend?”
“Is it so difficult to believe after meeting us, sweetie?”
“But they called you ‘Nike’! Wasn’t that one of the Olympians Terrans referred to as the ‘Goddess of Victory’? The Goddess we Lynxin call ‘Victoria’?”
“Hmmm. Was it? I’m not sure, maybe that one was called Addidas, Asics, or New Balance, or…or even Sketcher. I just don’t remember.” I smiled deviously.
“You might be right.” She admitted neutrally while in deep thought.
“You’re no fun, sweetie.” I declared as I looked toward the lavatory.
“So, did Lady Lyra get you all squared away?” I asked my daughter.
She was suddenly lying face down on my chest, giggling.
“Oh, so you were paying attention when I did that. That’s wonderful, sweetie! Just don’t do it too often or you might make Aunt Cora crazy. Then she might not agree to watch you.”
“I can’t believe she did that, Lady Chance!” Lyra giggled. “I haven’t even been able to do that yet.”
“And you better not try, young lady!” Sonya warned. “Someone might try to coerce you into doing something unlawful.”
“Ease up, big sister!” Lyra chided. Sonya cocked her head to her ‘daughter’.
“Speaking of unlawful…” I said before the Observation Lounge appeared around us. Savanna was still on my chest where I held her. She was laughing playfully.
I looked up to see everyone in the lounge staring at me.
“I was wondering how long it would take, Buddy.” Lokust shook her head, but smiled amusedly.
“Savanna started it.” I tattled in a childish tone as I kissed her cheek.
“Yes.” Aunt Cora answered with an air of disbelief. “She disappeared from Pegasus right before the hangar popped back into existence. I almost took a coronary! Why did you teach her something like that, Chance?”
“I didn’t teach her. I think she learned it from the last time I transported up here from the bridge. I thought she was asleep in her seat at the time.” I told everyone.
“She truly is the most gifted witch of her age.” Mom proclaimed sagely as she bent down and took her off my chest.
“So how are you feeling, Lady…Chance?”
“Hephus! I didn’t think you traveled abroad.” I cried in happiness as I went to get up off the lounge I had appeared in. “Woooow! Things got a little dizzy there.”
“Do you remember what happened to you, My Lady?” He asked as I noticed Lady Demi shying away, trying to stay out of my field of vision.
“You look much better in the ‘official’ uniform, Lady Demeter.” I said raising my right eyebrow as I looked directly at her.
“Don’t like, blast me into a wall again, please? Its way too nice in here to go damaging it?”
“So…old Goddesses CAN be taught new tricks.” I laughed as I carefully made my way over to her and extended my free arm to hug her. “Welcome aboard Pegasus, Lady Demi.”
“As in like, the horse?”
“No you ditz! The last car put out by Ferrari! Of course the horse!” Chantell wisecracked.
“Thank you, Mr. Ed.” Charli giggled as she whinnied and shook her head several times.
Savanna gurgled and cooed a few times.
“Yes, honey, it was a pony car. Very clever!” I praised and kissed my daughter’s cheek.
I noticed Lady Artemis grinning from ear to ear and turned to her.
“My Lady. I hope I didn’t upset the tranquility of Olympus too badly?”
“I got an ugly bruise!” Lady Demi interrupted to complain. “And…I broke a nail!”
“Awww. Poor baby!” Aunt Cora sympathized mockingly.
“I almost like, had to change my hair style!”
“Do tell.” Chantell replied sarcastically. “Trust me; the blonde fits you, honey.”
“To answer your question, Hephus, I feel as if every shred of energy has been ripped out of me. I’m finding it a challenge to stay steady at the moment.” I told him. “Almost like I’m drunk.”
“Or maybe like you have a fever?” Kaitlyn remarked.
“Chance has never been sick a day in her life, Kate.” Mom responded. “At least, not that I was aware.”
“I’ve never been sick, Mom. Not even a cold.” I informed her.
“That would make sense, my lady. Those of us from Olympus suffer none of the mortal maladies. And to set your mind at ease, no Olympians were harmed except for the ‘life-threatening issues’ Demi experienced.” Artemis offered.
“Yes, I’m sure a little bump on the noggin and a broken fingernail constitutes a critical injury.” Janet said sarcastically.
“Narcissism, thy name is ‘Vanity’.” Dell quoted.
“Heyyyyy! Like, leave our sister out of this!” Demi complained in a whiney voice. “She’s okay most of the time, although she can be a real bitch if people keep disturbing her ‘mirror time’. And, she’s never said what her middle name was!”
“No! The Gods of Old aren’t flawed at all, are they?” Samuel Redman stage whispered to Kate.
“Nothing- including the Olympians- are perfect, Sir Samuel.” Hephaestus replied.
“So, you ever going to get around to telling us what actually happened after we evac’d the hangar, Buddy.” Lokust asked as she motioned for mom to pass Savanna to her.
I took a deep breath and began to relate what I knew transpired.
“I’m sure Dell reported on our visit to the Current?” I asked and received unanimous head nodding.
“Once Dell brought us back to the hangar, the intense pain re-established itself and I found myself looking at this world as if under some strange drug influenced psychosis. ‘Psychedelic’, I think you would call it, Mom.”
“A bit before my time, honey. Maybe Shan could elaborate on her experiences. She’s the oldest of us.”
“Bite me, Hopewell!” Chantell hissed. “We’re only twenty-six months apart, you, me, and Charles.” She stuck her tongue out at her two fellow astronauts.
“Riiiight.” I snickered. “Anyhow, everything looked really weird. So, anyway, back in the Current, after Evans made his appearance, I was really getting angry; upset that this arrogant, egotistical…putz, thought himself owner and master of me and Dell! Then, when he threatened to enslave the rest of our Coven, I…”
“If you please, Lady Chance. Nike has revealed herself once today, and we are not the enemy. There is no need to begin your power-up.” Artemis pleaded as I noticed Lokust gesturing to my eyes.
“Sorry, just the thought of that asshole…”
“Maybe holding Savanna will help dispel your anger, Buddy?” Lokust suggested, offering the cute, little cherub to me.
As soon as she was in my arms, calm washed over me and I kissed her cheek before holding her to my shoulder.
“Much better. Please, continue, Buddy.” Lokust smiled happily.
“So, when we arrived back here, I noticed Dell was back to normal. That allowed me to enact our plan- one that Zeus and you, Artie, hinted at on your last visit to our Embassy.”
“I hinted at no such plan, Chance!” Artemis argued adamantly.
“Okay. Whatever you say, my lady.” I smiled. “As I grew angrier and angrier, I began to feel something forcing its way to my consciousness- something more powerful than I could’ve ever imagined!”
“After everyone was out of the building, I allowed it to burst forth. That is where I only have bits and pieces of memories. One being an incredible outflow of that ‘something’ I had felt building. The next was of a blonde-haired man screaming in utter terror as…” I stopped to take a deep breath and prepare myself for the grotesque memory I was about to recall.
“As…as I first ripped his penis from between his legs and shoved it into his mouth- deep down his throat- then absorbed all the Current; all the life; even his very soul from him.”
That one memory proved too horrific and I broke into tears for a few minutes, clutching my precious Savanna as tightly as I dared.
“My next memory was of someone calling my name. I think it was you, Dell. That and I remember you, Demi, looking like a cheap tart/prostitute in something that resembled our uniform!”
I remember you next, dear Hephaestus. Coming bravely to my aid with warm, caring words, courageously wrapping those big, muscular arms around me tenderly… I also have memories of you, Demi, pointing to my clothes. Laughing hysterically while informing me that, for a hero, I should care more about presenting myself properly- of how you changed my clothes without my consent into something completely obscene and unbefitting of my character!”
“Ouch?” Demi winced with her eyes closed- her head turned to one side in anticipation of some action. Had she expected me to propel her into a wall or something? Wait. She had said something to that effect already. Had I actually done that? To a Goddess?
“Relax, Demeter. Chance is in control now. I do suggest that you censor yourself , though.” Hephaestus recommended.
Wiping my tears again, I set my eyes to the God of the Forge.
“Am I really the reincarnation of Lady Nike like everyone on Olympus claims, Hephaestus?” I asked timidly, unsure if I really wanted the answer I knew he would give.
“As Demeter and Artemis will attest, I was standing next to Lady Nike at what was sure to be our last great stand against the Titans. We had been reduced in number to just a handful of valiant, headstrong warriors, trying to defend our precious Olympus from annihilation.” He began.
“What I saw Nike become…the power she called upon… the damage she wrought…” Hephaestus shook his head in disbelief. “It was impossibly and exponentially greater than Zeus himself could bring to bear!” He paused again.
“I have never seen its equal since…until today’s display, Lady Chance. The singularity that you called into existence…Its appearance matched that which I witnessed first-hand those many eons ago. That and her Staff of Victory which you held and used on our arrival in the hangar… Yes, Lady Chance! You are her…she who commands even Zeus’ admiration and favor.”
Hephaestus stopped to wipe his eyes.
“You ARE Nike, Goddess of Victory.”
“But I don’t want to be her! I just want to be Chance Summers- just plain old Chance Summers.” I cried softly.
“Do not let history repeat itself, Chance Summers!” Artemis told me in a gentle voice. “A very similar desire was spoken by Nike at the celebration in her honor just before she vanished…never to be seen again before you reached your third threshold. Please resist the urge to do that again? Emotionally, I wish not to repeat my quest.”
“I don’t think that can happen this time, my brothers and sisters. This time I have several special people to anchor me. Most special, I have Savanna! Vague memories that are still swirling in my head indicate my predecessor had no one- not one specific person to love or to love her back. Sure, there were her fellow Olympians, but she had no one…special- special like my daughter, Savanna. Like my sisters and brothers here. Nike’s was an existence that lacked… not purpose… not meaning… but unconditional love. It seems she was just a weapon…” I tried to put my feelings into words as I looked from Savanna to Lokust.
“No. I will share the friendships and love of everyone with what is Nike.” I touched my head a few quick times. “I…I owe her that…that which she never experienced in her life!”
“Wow. That was like, deep, my lady!” Demi admitted with a wipe of her eyes. “Like, I’m smearing my mascara?” she sniffed.
A small yet poignant memory flashed to the surface that had me gasp in horror!
“I…I killed a man! I drained the life out of him then repeatedly beat, kicked, and stabbed him!”
“There is no denying Nike went a bit too far, my lady.” Hephaestus sighed heavily. “Though perhaps…given how many innocents he…”
“I still murdered that man!” I cried, breaking out in a fresh set of tears. “I killed him and killed him, and killed, and killed, and…”
“Stop that this instant, Chance Summers!” Mom shouted at me, glaring deeply into my eyes. “A Summers will never blatantly kill! A Summers only kills when the need is warranted! Evans was a murderer, a serial killer, plain and simple! With the number of lives on his head, he deserved whatever you choose to give him! You saved the whole freaking planet, Chance! Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”
“Of course. it means that our mission was a success. That still doesn’t excuse me from taking someone’s life!” I argued.
“You’ve done it before, Chance. Remember all those partials you had to euthanize?” Mom countered.
“Somehow seeing only a disfigured head or arms or legs…that didn’t mean as much as taking a normal lif…”
“Normal!? What about that animal was normal!? That was a tyrannical despot well out of his time! Something that your great-great-grandfather helped fight against in World War Two! Evans- as Hitler did then- wanted to control everything, Chance- you, me, everyone here…every-thing! There was nothing normal about him! There was only evil left- plain and simple evil!” Mom lectured angrily.
“Hope is right, Buddy. Evans was evil- a ‘devil’ or ‘demon’ in anyone’s dictionary! The galaxy is far safer without him free-ranging through it.” Lokust said, siding with mom.
“I am in agreement with Chance, my ladies. The taking of a life can never be condoned as warranted, contracted, or necessary. She will live with the memory of her actions for the rest of her life, as do we all.” Hephaestus added. “Though, I would recommend against dwelling on that memory and dwelling instead on that precious bundle on your shoulder, my lady.”
“You’re absolutely right, Hephus. I have no idea how I ever lived without her.” I added as I wiped my eyes dry.
“Why did you disable the lift?!” Sonya demanded as she and Lyra stepped from it onto the Observation Lounge level.
“Now why would I disallow any of my team members from accessing certain levels of Pegasus, sweetie?” I asked innocently. I really had no idea- well, maybe a few- who isolated us from the rest of the ship.
“The topic of discussion took a very mature turn and I felt it necessary that you and especially Lyra not be exposed.” Charli admitted in a very serious tone.
Savanna gurgled and sputtered a few times and finally giggled.
“Oh, no…your young ears didn’t hear any of our conversation at all, did they?.” I translated, sarcastically rolling my eyes. “So, the Summers’ knack for sarcasm develops at a very early age.”
“She seems to take after her mother and Grandmother in that respect, doesn’t she?” Artemis giggled. She jumped though, as Savanna was suddenly on her shoulder.
“Oh yes, you will certainly be a handful when you get a little older.” She added as she gently rubbed my daughter’s back.
Savanna gurgled twice and laughed. Artemis strained her eyes to look at my daughter in surprise.
“You most certainly will not, young lady! Not even in jest! Do I make myself clear?”
My daughter waved her tiny hand at Artemis and laughed once. She was back on my shoulder and I was barely able to catch her from falling.
“Yes. You better run back to your mother, Savanna Summers! ‘You’ll never be as old as me’…hrrrrmpf!” Artemis threatened and gave reason for Savanna’s sudden evacuation from her shoulder, though her smile indicated she was enamored with my daughter.
“There is no doubt she is a Summers, Chance. No one else could dare insult a God or Goddess and get away with it as a jest.” Artemis giggled.
“But we all know what and who the great Gods and Goddesses are now, don’t we, my lady?” I smiled knowingly.
“Aye, we do, High Priestess.” Hephus laughed aloud. “We do indeed, and if any of our protégés could see us now, they’d certainly think twice about our grandeur and grace!”
He laughed harder.
“How can you call yourselves ‘Gods’ or ‘Goddesses’ when you look nothing like the Ancient FeLane Idols?” Sonya questioned in an angered tone. Once again it sounded so precious coming from an eight-year-old kitten- in an eight-year-old voice.
Artemis shimmered and a six-foot, female, Lynxin warrior in full battle armor; dual swords; spiked, metal, knee-high boots, and silver spiked helmet stood before Sonya. Artemis’ three-foot tail undulated sinuously as she glared down at the older Serangetti kitten.
Sonya’s mouth dropped open and she fell to the deck on her knees.
“Libra Major!” She gasped in surprise.
Sinae began appraising the Lynxin Goddess of Old.
“Do you not approve, sister?” Artemis…Libra Major asked- a playful purr in her deeper voice.
Looking between the two, it was apparent they could be sisters!
“I do, my lady, but I would ask that you please return to your true form. There are already more than enough headstrong Lynxin in this lounge. An alpha contest would surely ensue and Pegasus has already seen her fair share of battle scarring at the hands of the Anderson clan.” Sinae answered polite and regally.
“Spoken as the clear and rightful heir to the FeLane throne, Princess Kitty Sinae. By your leave?” Libra Major- FeLane's Premier Goddess- bowed slightly.
Sinae nodded and Artemis was back.
“Thank you, my lady. It has been years since I used that form. For some reason it is one of the hardest to hold for any length of time. I think that maybe the tail is too distracting of a feature. It always had a mind of its own and would constantly swing and touch inappropriate places.”
"Like, I thought it was only me, Artie.” Demi giggled. She had taken her FeLane persona as well.
A tawny- blonde furred, Lynxin female of perfect proportion, she stood at a smaller, five-eight or nine wearing a white toga with golden trim over top of a silky pink tunic. Her golden sandals barely visible below the tunic.
“Golda!” Lyra shouted and began giggling excitedly as she hovered up to meet eyes with the FeLane Goddess of the Pride(Family). “I have seen your statue only in my history lessons. You look much better in person though.”
Unfortunately, ‘Golda’s’ tail had begun to ‘explore’ Artemis’ Olympian battle tunic- an Olympian variant of our uniform.
“Allow it to go any further, sister, and it shall never work right again.” Artemis seethed heatedly. “Do I make myself clear?”
Demi gulped and changed back to her official uniform and form.
“Hey, like, I wanted to change into my Olympian fashion? What gives?” She shrilled in surprise.
“Not until your training has concluded, Lady Demi.” I revealed.
“But…like you shouldn’t be able to do that? No Olympian can willfully change another’s clothing without their approval?”
“But I’m not quite an Olympian, am I, Lady Demi?” I asked intently.
The Goddess pouted and stomped away to the far end of our Observation Lounge.
A sudden lightness on my shoulder and a shriek from Demeter indicated that Savanna had once again teleported- this time to Demi.
“Why did you like, do that?” the surprised Goddess asked.
Savanna began talking quietly, but I couldn’t make out everything.
“Of course I can understand you, child. Like, I’ve been a mother a few times?” Demi answered my daughter.
“More like a few thousand.” Artemis stage whispered to me as Hephaestus remained surprisingly quiet. “Party girls and all…she never seems to learn that you can’t dance to the music without paying the musicians.”
Mom, Chantell, and even Charli began laughing hysterically. Hephaestus, too, began roaring in laughter!
I had managed to hold my own laughter only until I looked at Lyra and Sonya’s confused faces.
Their frowns of confusion looked so cute! I would’ve thought Sonya had a clue…
Those two looked so…angelic!
I knew beyond any shadow of doubt though, that the older kitten was far from innocent!
“Hephus? Before we take leave of our sisters, would you care to scan Chance to determine her fitness for duty?” Artemis suggested.
“Aye. I guess I should, having been closer to Nike than you or Demi. Please hold still, my lady. This won’t take long.”
Automatically, my hands went to my shoulder as I felt Savanna teleport to me again. She was getting too good at this.
“I am sorry, little oracle, but you must stay with your other parent while I process your mother. Lady Lokust? If you could?” Hephaestus apologized as he motioned for a startled Lokust to come over and take Savanna from my shoulder.
Savanna cried a few times adding a gurgle and a wave back to me.
“Sorry, sweetie, but Hephaestus needs to examine ONLY your mother. He won’t be long and I’ll hand you right back to her when he’s finished- promise.”
The tingling I felt throughout my body was interesting to say the least. Hephus’ expressions ran through a series of opposites. First he smiled then he seemed perplexed then angry. Those ran several courses before he smiled and nodded to me.
“You seem perfectly healthy, my lady, though, I have found several ‘odd’ dissimilarities.” He finally said after thinking a moment.
“And those would be?” I prompted.
“Nothing to be worried about, High Priestess. The dissimilarities are in line with Nike’s own peculiarities, though somewhat more refined. In fact, this scan and the previous scan I did when you visited Olympus the first time shows only a small amount of change. I declare Chance Summers fit and capable in her duties as High Priestess of Witch Corps.
Hephaestus’ eyes looked over to Savanna on Lokust’s shoulder. My little princess ‘burped’ quietly and the huge Olympian smiled to himself.
“You may go to your mother, my little oracle.” He nodded and Savanna was suddenly back on my shoulder, giggling.
Hephaestus then leaned down to Artemis’ ear and whispered something to her. She nodded her agreement and smiled at me.
“Little sister, Artemis Dell. I am sorry this visit is to be so short, but we have things to do back on Olympus.” Artemis said as she walked over and placed a kiss on both of Dell’s cheeks. After a warm, sisterly embrace, she stepped back and set her eyes on me.
“High Priestess, it pleasures me that you are again well. You…as well as my little sister, Artemis Dell, are always welcome to return to Olympus, and when Princess Savanna is older, she too will be welcomed to our home world. For now, my sisters, take care and continue you’re- so far, successful- quest to rid the galaxy of Hobgoblins.” Artemis smiled impishly.
“Later, sisters!” She said before disappearing.
“I too wish you all the best in your hunt, my ladies. Continue your good works and please, accept these tokens of my appreciation.” Hephus pointed to one of the bookshelves where a large, stained wooden box appeared.
He vanished.
“Like, HEY! Why didn’t they take me with them?” Demi moaned and pouted. Why can’t I leave this plane too?”
“Lady Kitty, I believe you have a trainee to teach.” I said as I shared a smile with my Lynxin sister.

 
 
“So how goes the training, Sinae?” I asked as my Lynxin sister exited onto the Observation Lounge.
“Surprisingly well, Chance. I can honestly say that Demi has demonstrated a level of ability close to Sandra when she joined. Once I broke a couple of her fingernails, she started to respond. I’m curious to see her in real action. So, how are you feeling, Chance? I mean…really feeling?”
“Still very tired. I’ve felt my energy levels increase some in the last four hours, but I still don’t feel like myself.” I replied.
“You did something beyond imagination today, Chance. I really can’t believe you survived. I mean; to create then live through a singularity…how is that even possible; even for us?”
“I would be lying if I told you I knew, my friend. The truth is…Nike did it. However she managed what she did, I have no recollection of it and I doubt we’ll ever exchange that information. I’m just glad that I’m still alive and still have my friends and family. The whole time Dell and I were in the Current realm, the only things that kept me going were returning and protecting you all. The fame, the interviews, the endorsements…they meant nothing.”
Sinae looked at me curiously.
“So Savanna topped your list?”
“She did. Sorry.” I shied away as I apologized.
“I’m glad she was. If you valued the Corps over your own daughter, I would be worried right now.”
I thought about that for a moment. On some level I immediately thought of our Coven and its varied membership being safe, but then there was Savanna… I remembered what I had told Grunfuller only a week ago- that Savanna came before even the Hoblins. Something within me stirred. Nike maybe? I suddenly knew- intrinsically- that I would destroy the world…the galaxy, if I had to…to protect my precious Savanna. There was nothing that could keep us apart.
“Partial credit for your thoughts, Chance?” Sinae asked, catching my attention.
“Huh? Oh. Just thinking what I wouldn’t do to protect Savanna…OR the Coven for that matter.”
“After experiencing today’s events firsthand, I can’t imagine the destruction you could bring if really angered, Chance. Let’s hope that amount of power will never be unleashed again- though somehow, I feel we haven’t seen the last of your ‘Nike’ abilities.”
“More like ‘nuke’ abilities, honey!” Mom said as she and Chantell joined us. I’ve witnessed nuclear blasts that paled in comparison to what our High Priestess did today.”
“Mom.” I blushed. “I had no idea I was that powerful. I don’t want to be that powerful!”
“I know, honey. It’s a bit sobering, isn’t it?” She asked.
“More than a bit, mom.” I admitted.
“Well, if anybody can handle it responsibly, it’s you, girlfriend.” Chantell added pleasantly.
“Anywho, Janet and Sam invited us to their place for a ‘ding-dong-the-Hoblins’-gone’ picnic. Dress is casual; Synth-beef burgers and Coneys on the grill…and plenty of beer!” Mom smiled and waggled her eyebrows.
 
 
“Great get together, Sam.” Keats complimented as he finished off his third beverage since remembering he could revert himself back to his male form any time he wanted. That was about an hour ago and required him to hurry back to our hangar to change when he reverted to male, but his uniform didn’t. It was touch and go for a few minutes until we could loosen his bustier!
The Redman’s back yard was more like a huge, well-manicured, field- at least ten acres. There was more than enough room for Hope and a Pair, On the Four Winds, Clean-Up, Re-tailed, and Olympus Found to land in a semi-circle about seventy feet from our gathering. The sight of the five shiny, Chrome-skinned spacecraft had attracted several of Samuel and Janet’s neighbors, their compliments about them filled me with pride.
Little did the neighbors know, but Pegasus was parked just behind the five Brooms, but remained camouflaged.
“Miss Summers? Chance is it?” I smiled and nodded. “I just love the paint! Where did you get the idea?” One of the Redman’s neighbors asked as she gently touched my forearm to get my attention.
“It’s a very old tradition of Terran origin. You fly?” I asked pleasantly.
“Lieutenant Misha Casavetti, retired. I flew with the Galactic Service’s 561st Assault Group before I decided to start a family.”
I offered my hand to her.
“An honor; and thank you for your service, ma’am.” I smiled as I shook her hand. “I and my friends are assigned to the GSS Mare De Tempest- SDD10983.”
“A Destroyer, eh? So what’s life like aboard one of those little things?” She smiled impishly.
“Not as crowded as a few months ago, I’m afraid.” I sighed.
“Oh! I’m sorry, Chance! We did hear something about there being an incident. I hope it wasn’t too bad?”
“We lost half of our crew to the same invaders that tried to take over Kane, ma’am.”
The woman’s eyes bulged in horror!
“Half? Half the crew? You lost…” She asked, stunned.
“Almost five thousand men and women, ma’am.” I finished as I wiped my eyes dry. They had started to tear up. I began to rock Savanna a little faster on my shoulder.
“You poor dear! I feel so stupid now! No wonder they gave you liberty! I can’t imagine losing so many… I’m such an idiot! I’ll change the subject. How old is she- your daughter?”
“Savanna joined us about five weeks ago.” I answered honestly.
“She’s so precious!” The woman bubbled as she ran the side of her finger down my daughter’s cheek. Savanna giggled a few times.
“And is your sister…Hope, is it? Is she older or younger than you?” Casavetti inquired.
“Oh, she’s way older than me.” I smiled brightly as I turned to see mom had stuck her tongue out at me. I winked back. “Sometimes I think she’s older than dirt.”
“My younger sister thinks that of me, too.” She laughed. “So…about your starfighters…I’ve never seen the design before. Is it new?”
“They’re prototypes and highly classified.”
“So why put them on display? Aren’t you afraid of someone copying the tech?” She asked. It was a valid question.
“Let’s find out.” I said motioning for her to follow me after I handed Savanna off to Lokust.
As we got within twenty feet, Hope and a Pair appeared to wake up.
“Unidentified entity has appeared in safety zone! Please identify!” Hope and a Pair warned as her weapons activated and homed in on the retired LT.
She stopped dead in her tracks! “I get your point, Miss Summers.”
“Call me Chance since we’re on leave.”
“Is it possible I could see your office?” Casavetti asked. She was asking to see the cockpit.
“Sure. Hope and a Pair. Lt. Casavetti’s with me.” I announced. “She wants to look in your cockpit.”
“Understood. Proceed.” Her Canopy opened silently.
After climbing the ladder, the retired pilot’s mouth dropped open.
“Wow! Ummmm…I don’t see any flight suit worms.”
“You won’t either. Experimental grav-gen and full environment.”
Misha Casavetti whistled in appreciation.
“Whadda ya think, Meesh? A real beaut, right?” Samuel Redman asked as he came right up to the fuselage without Hope and a Pair complaining. “Fast and smooth as silk! Handles like a dream, too!”
“She’s amazing, Sam!” Casavetti turned back to me suddenly as soon as she was back on the ground. “Question, Chance? What group are you with? I don’t think I’ve seen the ‘pointy hat and crossed brooms’ ensign before.” She asked pointing to the insignia on the lowest point of Hope and a Pair’s upper control arc.
“Oh. That’s Witch Corps.” Samuel answered quickly and without conscious thought.
Misha Casavetti gasped so loud I thought she might over-pressurize and explode!
With eyes as large as saucers, she stared at me in complete horror.
“A-apparently you’ve heard of them.” Sam deadpanned nervously and began looking for any safe escape route that didn’t involve passing close to me.
“And apparently, you’ve had a bit too much to drink, Samuel.” I growled while rolling my eyes.
Lyra and Sonya running past us in pursuit of Misha Casavetti’s twin, seven-year-old girls caused her to break her ‘deer-in-headlights’ stare.
“Will you relax, L.T.? I won’t eat you or anything remotely like that! Honestly!” I protested quietly.
“Y-y-y-you’re all Witch Corps?” She stuttered. “Soooooo…y-y-y-you ladies…y-y-y-you took out the Hoblins? Here?”
I nodded with a huge, bright smile.
“Exxxxxxxxcuse me! I need som-some-something stronger than this!” She continued to stutter as she quickly bowed to me then hurried back to the refreshment bar Samuel had set up.
“Thank you, Samuel! Way to kill a party.” I rolled my eyes at Simone’s father before I walked back toward the house.
 
 
“Yo, Summers! It true what ‘CasaViper’ says about you gals being them?” a male voice asked loudly from behind my left shoulder.
I cringed and rolled my eyes.
“Depends on what ‘them’ means, ‘Stock Jockey’.” I said as I turned around.
Several of the Redman’s neighbors stood together staring at me with their mouths’ half open.
My eyes sought out Samuel Redman again and I glared at the figure trying to make himself very, very small behind the grill.
“Most of us still hold level fifteen clearance, ma’am.” The same man, Jacques Huong, I think was his name, announced. The moderate height, gray-haired man, produced a set of ‘Creds’ that looked like they had seen way better days.
Holding my right hand out- palm up, I materialized my newly updated ‘Creds’ or Credentials- my service ID.
There was a loud gasp from the gathering of retired, military.
Huong took his glasses out of his pocket, placed them expertly to his face and leaned down to inspect the polymer card.
“Cmdr. Summers, Chance. Clearance level: 30?!” He whistled as he straightened up and stood to attention. “I never knew it went that high. Sorry to have bothered you, ma’am! Our lips are sealed!”
Lokust walked over to our stunned group.
“Chance? What did you just do? Savanna just burped in her sleep.” She whispered next to me.
“Samuel? Are we expecting any more guests?” I asked the still cowering man.
“I think,” he gulped loudly, “I think we’re all here, Chance. Except maybe a mobile medical triage unit… or two… if I’m not fast enough.”
“Pegasus? You can come out now. We’re isolated from the rest of the neighborhood.” I called out to where our fighters were parked.
Though the ‘shimmering effect’ as our huge ship uncloaked was impressive, the gasps, oohs, and aaahs, eclipsed it.
The completed formation of spacecraft made for an interesting display as our five Brooms- noses pointing to an imagined center- in a wide semi-circle, fronted a proud and glistening Pegasus parked directly behind at a thirty-degree angle to our right.
Misha Casavetti passed out on the spot as the rest of the party guests either gasped outright or dropped whatever they were doing, eating, or drinking.
“Shit, girlfriend! I thought we were going to keep on the down low?!” Chantell groused.
“Really, Chance? Did you really have to show off?” Mom scolded.
“It seems our friends are all retired Galactic Service, Hope.” I motioned to Samuel Redman with my eyes.
Narrowing her eyes, she glared at Simone’s father. “I told you not to entice her, Sam! You see what happens when a Summers is given enough rope?”
“High Priestess? Why reveal Pegasus? Do we have to leave on another mission already?” Lyra asked as she skipped over to me trailed by the Casavetti twins, Sara and Sasha, and a very pale looking Sonya! The twins seemed very interested in our ship.
‘High Priestess’ echoed through the awestruck gathering as I rolled my eyes again.
“What happened to Mutter?” one of the twins finally asked as both pushed past us to attend their mother. She was just pushing herself off the ground.
“I think we gave her celebrity overload.” I answered the seven-year-old.
“Lady Chance seems to have that effect on people.” Sonya deadpanned in a quiet, but serious growl that had everyone turn to look at the eight-year-old Lynxin.
“Mutter! It’s completely outrageous! Look at the size of her! Can we go in and see,” an older boy, ten-year-old ‘Dirk’ Casavetti, asked as he valiantly tried to steady his mom?
“Not likely, boy, if they’re all level thirty!” Huong snorted.
“I have a bad feeling about this, Chewy.” Charli groaned.
“Quiet, Han. Laia knows what she’s doing.” I heard mom hush.
“Pegasus? Dignitary tour mode, if you please.” I called out.
“Touring mode ready. Security scanning is enabled.” Pegasus announced as her entry ramp extended.
“You-you mean you’re actually going to let us tour a higher than top secret, blacker than blackest black, spacecraft?” Mason ‘Reject’ Smitchers gasped!
“What’s the catch? We all die after this?” he deadpanned cynically.
“Ladies? Since we seem to be hosting a group of highly decorated veterans, I suggest we look the part.” I said, seemingly ignoring Smitchers’ question as my casual clothes transformed into my uniform. My Coven sisters dutifully followed my lead.
Producing my wand, I gently pointed and skimmed Smitchers’ left cheek with its point.
“Why, Mason? Are you a Hoblin Doppleganger?” I asked in an ominous, but playful tone.
“I hope you’re happy now, Samuel Redman!” Mom groused angrily. “We just became the entertainment for YOUR shindig!”
“OUTRAGEOUS!” Dirk Casavetti shouted. “You too, Lyra? Sonya?”
“Is that going to be a problem, Dirk?” Sonya challenged.
“Umm, Chance?” Aunt Cora called and motioned me over to where she was standing by Savanna’s ‘Car seat’.
I giggled and shook my head as I looked at my precious bundle, asleep in a ‘2 month’ version of our uniform.
“Oh, that is soooo adorable!” Another of Samuel’s neighbors, Capt. (Ret) Siri O’Donnell, gushed.
My Coven sisters all looked between me and my daughter several times.
“I think Artemis was right, Buddy. She’s going to be a real handful as she gets older.” Lokust shook her head in amazement.
 
 
“So…you all are Mages? Current Mages?” Dirk Casavetti Senior asked as he looked out of our Observation Lounge’s transparent ceiling. He cautiously glanced at Aunt Cora, Janet, and Simone Redman.
“We would rather that not get around, Plum Pie.” Aunt Cora answered. “For obvious reasons.”
“Guess it’s asking way too much for a ride, right?” Jacques Huong quipped.
“Pegasus? A few times around the planet, if you please. Stealth mode enable.” I ordered.
“Acknowledged.”
We felt a slight shudder only a moment later as our view of the surrounding countryside began to fall from view.
“Completely outrageous! I can barely feel her move!” Misha Casavetti gushed.
“Like I said, smooth as silk, L.T.” Samuel crowed.
“Geo-Sync achieved, High Priestess.” Pegasus alerted.
“Already?” Huong cried in shock.
“She’s a real thoroughbred, mah-man!” Redman chuckled. “Umm… just don’t ask about her performance specs. I’m not sure our High Priestess will let me live much longer if you do.” He added nervously.
“High Priestess? I’ve accessed the recovered orbiting crafts’ AI’s and have programmed and filed reentry plans. Planetary rescue teams have been alerted and will be standing by to offer assistance to those in need.” Charli reported after remaining silent for a few minutes.
I had been fascinated by the children gazing out at their beautiful planet and I assumed from their responses that this was the first time any of them, except Lyra and Sonya, had been in orbit.
“Thank you, Lady Charli. Well done.” I praised my dad…aunt, momentarily nodding my thanks.
“Pegasus? Please take us back to our origin point on Kane?”
“Acknowledged, High Priestess.”
“Awwwww. Do we hafta go back so soon?” The Casavetti twins cried in unison.
“Mr. Redman left stuff on the grill, girls. We wouldn’t want the fire brigade to try to get through my protective bubble now would we?” I giggled.
“Protective bubble? That’s obsurd! Nobody can do something like that.” Siri O’Donnell protested.
“Crossing temporary exclusion barrier.” Pegasus alerted when we were several hundred feet above the ground. Siri O’Donnell’s face went white and she reached for one of the low bookshelves on the outskirts of our Lounge.
 
 
A gentle shudder indicated that we had landed.
“Any other level fifteen or eighteen questions?” I asked as I smiled proudly.
All twenty-six of our adult guests began clapping and cheering wildly.
Savanna woke and made it quite clear she was hungry.
“Want me to take her this time, Buddy?” Lokust asked with a longing expression.
I reached down to unbuckle my little princess and noticed her clothing had reverted to what I originally dressed her in for the party.
“Better watch yourself, you little imp. Not everyone will accept our abilities so easily.” I told her as I carefully handed her to Lokust. The two went to the far end of the Lounge and sat down.
“Hey! Not so rough!” Lokust complained quietly.
 
 
The party resumed at the Redman house. Things seemed to ‘normalize’ after forty-five minutes and us reverting to our civilian attire.
After another half hour, Simone walked over to me calmly.
“Chance? I just got an alert from Clean-Up. She is sensing instability in her starboard storage nacelle. She’s asking my permission for minimum safe distance just in case.”
I looked over to her ship and noticed her Nav lights already on.
“Chance, Pegasus. I’d like a sensor scan of Clean-Up’s starboard nacelle. Her sensors indicate some kind of instability.”
“Standby.”
I noticed all five of our brooms had now enabled their Nav lights as well as Pegasus herself.
This was not good.
“High Priestess, I am detecting taint in the starboard Current reserve of Pegasus4. Repetitive scans indicate it is slowly cascading. Shall I make ready for departure to minimum safe distance?”
“What’s going on, Sweetie?” Charli asked quietly as she observed our spacecraft.
Don’t know yet. Negative on departure protocol, Pegasus. All Brooms stand down. I’ll try to investigate. Chance, out.” I said as I began walking toward our ships.
“Honey?” Mom asked as she caught up.
“There seems to be an imbalance in one of Clean-Up’s nacelles.” I said as I arrived at Simone’s fighter. “Clean-Up? Open manual refueling hatch, please.”
A small, square hatch opened on the fighter’s side and four red strobes began to pulse, indicating its corners.
Raising my hand to the open port, I began a conversation with the Broom’s latent Current.
“What she doin’? Doesn’t she know that Current can kill ya?” Huong stated in a hushed whisper.
“Our High Priestess can communicate with Current, ‘Eggroll’ I heard Samuel Redman advise.
“She can what?!” I heard just before I gasped.
“Chance?”
“It seems Clean-Up has a bit of indigestion.” I informed those around me.
“Huh?” was the unanimous response.
“I read fifty conscripts. Thirty-five of them stable at ninety-nine percent; ten at eighty-seven percent and five that are fighting complete degradation. Those five are causing the cascading taint. We need to clear the nacelle.” I suggested.
Immediately, my Coven sisters sprang into action! Within the blink of an eye, Kitty had orbited a set of her shurikens; Huntress had pulled and nocked several arrows; Major, Fairy Godmother, Seeker, and Wrench had pulled their firearms; Laidy-in-Wait produced and aimed her BFG; Kitten, Lokust, Chairman, Porno, and Mum had their wands at the ready; Lioness pointed her scepter menacingly; Demi… Demi produced a small stainless nail file, but menacingly pointed the sharp end toward Simone’s Broom.
Being close to center of our group, we all stared in amazement at our Olympian rookie.
“And just what do you expect to do with that, ‘Manicure’ the Hoblins to death, Lady Demi?” Chantell snorted.
“I like, haven’t had the chance to decide on my weapon yet? Not that I approve of using one like, in the future?” She explained.
Huntress un-nocked her bow and comically palmed her face. “Olympus is doomed.” She groaned.
“Heeey! Not nice! I like, have my own ways to handle my foes?” She shrilled.
“Do tell.” Chantell snarked. “Then would you care to share, oh mighty Demeter?”
“Well, because you asked so nicely…”
“A bright white aura suddenly enveloped our ditzy, blonde Olympian.”
“Ummm…its still daylight, Meringue. We don’t need any more light at the moment.” Aunt Cora sniped.
Demi pointed to the far tree line about a thousand feet away. A white bolt of light shot from her fingertip and impacted deadcenter at the base of one of the trees’ trunk. The tall pine started to topple but suddenly vanished in a puff of black smoke.
“Does that like, qualify?”
We all stood silent for a moment.
“High Priestess? Since my broom is affected, I think I should try the purification and recovery.” Simone said as her BFG vanished as quickly as it had appeared and she walked over to the affected nacelle.
“Clean-Up, please open the starboard nacelle purge hatch and begin transfer on my mark.”
As with her fueling port, a smaller hatch appeared and opened on the specified nacelle and two yellow strobes began flashing.
“Ladies and gentlemen? If you could make a hole to accommodate about fifty people?” I suggested loud enough to be heard by everyone.
When a large enough space had been cleared, Simone looked up to me and we exchanged nods.
“Clean-up. Open nacelle purge valve twenty percent.” She requested and pointed her wand at the vacated piece of lawn.
A huge blue plasma sphere enveloped the whole space and started to fade quickly.
“Clean-Up increase rate to fifty percent.”
The plasma ball intensified only slightly.
“Seventy-five percent, please.” Simone groaned as she continued to concentrate.
“Eighty-five percent!”
The huge, blue plasma ball stabilized and seemed to become denser before finally fading away.
“Starboard Reserve Nacelle purge complete. Stability nominal.” Clean-Up announced as the blue plasma ball disappeared only to reveal a large amount of prone humanoid bodies- some stacked on top of each other.
I noted several ‘pieces’ and asked my Current if it could piece them together again.
A smaller blue ball of energy appeared in the center of the recovered and Simone looked over to me with a nod of thanks.
“Shall we see who is crashing our party?” I asked lightly.
Several of the figures began moving immediately. They appeared to be mostly women. Surprisingly, two males seemed to be on the verge of waking. That was somewhat strange as the only males that seemed to recover quickly were Lynxin males.
The pointed, tassled ears and short tails provided the answer. Two middle-aged Lynxin males stumbled to their feet and began looking around in confusion. One shook his head and began desperately searching through the bodies surrounding him for something. Finding and picking up a DataTab, he wiped it off and clutched it as if an ancient aquatic life preserver.
“Felix?” I heard Sonya call out and noticed her and Lyra making their way through the unconscious to them.
“High Priestess! This one is the mayor of Whitecliffe!” Samuel Redman called out as he had gently moved a man into the open. “I believe his whole cabinet is here also.” He said as he checked a few others and pulled them from the pile.
“I want all the vitals checked! Alert me or Lady Hope of any victims in arrest immediately.” I ordered and began checking the unconscious nearest me.
“Chance, Lady Chance!” Siri O’Donnell and Misha Casavetti called out at the same time, but from different directions. I headed one way and mom went in the other.
“This one has no rhythm, High Priestess!”
I motioned her aside and carefully pulled the body from under two unconscious individuals.
There was nothing lower than the top of her hips.
“Stand back.” I advised as I rubbed my hands together to generate some heat.
Placing my hands on the female torso, I began to concentrate- asking my Current to help rebuild what the woman had lost. A blue plasma ball rewarded my effort and I hoped we had caught her in time.
When the plasma vanished a whole Terran woman lay on the ground, naked from the waist down. I quickly conjured suitable clothing for her and checked for a pulse. If it was there it was weak at best so I placed my right palm on her chest and asked to transfer some of my Current into her. I was rewarded with the female suddenly gasping for breath then coughing several times.
“OhmyGod! You actually saved…you rebuilt h… How?” O’Donnell gasped and sputtered in disbelief.
“Let’s keep appraising the situation, Captain.” I advised as I checked another stack of bodies.
“Chance! Over here! I got a partial!” Janet Redman shouted as she waved to me.
I hurried over.
 
 
“Sorry, Janet, but if there were more of him left… Not even I can restore that.” I winced as I looked at only a small torso. No head and no legs or arms told me this one, probably an adolescent male was too far-gone.
“Maybe, like, I can help?” Demi’s voice asked from behind us. “I’ve like, ‘remolded’ a few mortals in my time?”
I motioned for her to try.
Taking out a pair of fingernail scissors, she carefully and expertly cut off a small sample of flesh, held it between her finger and thumb, and began concentrating on it. The same blinding white light we had seen earlier enveloped both her and the lifeless torso.
“That like, should do it, High Priestess. He’s as good as new! Hey, Cutie, wake up! It’s not like, your time?”
The teen began coughing and weezing before finally opening his eyes and staring in confusion at us.
I noticed Siri O’Donnell begin to wipe her eyes and nose in between sobs.
“We need to keep assessing these people, Cap.” I said looking reassuringly to her. “Demi? See if Huntress needs any assistance
Both nodded and we continued our triage.
 
 
“Forty-eight out of fifty, Chance.” Jamie acknowledged as we finished up. Many of those recovered were now fully awake and demanding us to tell them where they were.
“So… Demi…she really pulled through it like a full-fledged member, didn’t she?” Sinae asked stopping next to me as I bottomed out my latest beverage.
“Pretty darned good for not being activated.” I admitted.
“She isn’t…you didn’t?”
“Didn’t have to. She’s already an Olympian, remember?” I giggled.
“Could’ve fooled me! Too bad she isn’t a natural blau-cap. That would explain a lot.” Sinae shook her head with a toothy smile.
“Don’t go there, Sugar Plum.” Aunt Cora warned from a few feet away.
“Lady Kitty? These two gentlemen have requested an audience.” Sonya announced as she bowed to our Coven sister.
“Princess Kitty, It has taken many standard years, but at last we have found FeLane’s heir-apparent.” One greeted.
In an instant our eight-year-old kitten was being held aloft by her scruff in Sinae’s left hand while all five of her right’s claws targeted Sonya’s neck!
“Cousin! How many pieces do you wish to rest in?!” Sinae hissed in contempt!
“Serangetti Lyra was only doing her royal duty, Princess. Please disarm and place the kitten on the ground.”
“Lady Kitty? Who are these men?” Lyra asked as she walked over and appraised the two older Lynxin. She paid no attention to Sonya.
“Widowed, if they do not leave me alone, Lady Lyra. Now, cousin, answer my question! How many pieces?!” Sinae answered angrily, yet politely.
“You are Serangetti Lyra? But I thought you were the sole offspring of Kimbou and Sonya?” The older of the two Lynxin gasped as he looked between Sonya and Lyra.
“That’s my older sister, Sonya, sir.” Lyra corrected politely.
“Serangetti only sired one kitten, Felix.” The other Lynxin revealed. “Sonya is the Alpha female’s name, though I’m not sure what to make of this situation.”
“Sonya is Lyra’s mother, boys.” I said as I smiled deviously. “But not at the moment OR for the nearest future.”
“Lady Hope Summers, we are the politicians here. It is our right to engage in double-talk, not yours.” The younger of the two smiled and snickered politely.
“Hey, Chance?” Mom called as she approached. “What’s Laurel an’ Hardy there, want? I heard my name used in vain from all the way back there.”
“They seek an audience with Lady Kitty- come hell or high water, Lady Hope!” I answered with a sinister smile.
Both men gasped, their eyes opened wide, their ears twitching spastically.
“You are Chance? THE Chance Summers we’ve heard so much about in the last month?”
“Depends on what you heard, I guess.” I replied, holding my sinister smile.
“Felix DeClau and Oliver Litrebuax, High Priestess Chance Summers. Chance, these two are Royal litter combers that have apparently been tracking my movements. Though, for what I can only guess.” Sinae introduced, but her attention went back to Sonya, still held at eye level. “I’m still waiting, Cousin.”
“What have I told you about playing with your food, Sinae?” Dell entered into the conversation as she stopped to assess Sonya’s predicament.
“What did you do now, squirt?” She asked after narrowing her eyes. Dell manifested her golden bow and quiver. Much to our visitors’ amazement.
“Can I use her for target practice, Kitty? Pleaaaaase?” Dell vamped. “Just hang her by her scruff from one of those trees waaaaaaaaay back there and I’ll see if I can shoot an apple off her head from here.” She continued.
“We both know you can do that with your eyes closed and blindfolded, Lady Artemis.” Sonya deadpanned, but kept a wary eye on her cousin’s sharp claws.
“That’s Lady Artemis Dell, squirt! Artemis is my older sister.”
“Yes, spoken like a true Olympian!” Sonya pushed.
“Need I remind you that we of the Coven are all Furies in the eyes of Zeus, cousin?” Sinae’s smile widened to show her canines. All the while, Lyra remained quiet, and attentive.
“Hey! Knock it off over there!” Chantell shouted from back by the Redman house. “We got more fish to fry!”
“You found more taint?” Sinae seemed to cheer up.
“No, Sammy’s looking for some help at the grill while he goes for more grub!”
 
 

 
 
“All we need is a campfire to make this camping trip complete, ladies.” Charli said as she stretched in her lounge chair and sighed contentedly.
“But, we’re like, still in the Observation Lounge, Charli?” Demi commented in confusion.
“Yes, but this is the way to go; stars overhead, good food, conversation, and companionship; oh, and let’s not forget…no bugs! I hated bugs with a passion when I went camping!”
“But Lady Charli, bugs are people too!” I giggled. It was true too! I knew of at least one insectoid subspecies.
“Well, we crude Earthlings didn’t know that then, Sweetie…way back in the stone-age.”
“Hey! That’s right! I can actually claim that my parents ARE older than dirt!” I giggled.
Mom, Charli, Chantell, and even Demi groaned.
“If this is a real camping trip then where’s the beans? Ya gotta have beans on a camp out! They go hand-in-hand with s’mores and ghost stories.” Chantell quipped, changing the subject.
“Believe you me, you do not want to be anywhere near her after she’s eaten beans, girls!” Mom groaned in humor.
“Thanks for the image, mom,” I deadpanned. “I think I’m about ready for bed.”
“Me too,” Lokust said as she stretched her arms out in front of her and stood.
Savanna had disappeared from her car seat several minutes ago and I expected to find her in her crib in our quarters.
 
 
“So, what do you think?” I asked Lokust after we closed the door and re-covered my daughter, who we found sleeping soundly in her crib. I had noticed Lokust was having trouble with her tops fitting.
“What do I think of what, Buddy?”
I motioned to her chest.
“Oh. It wasn’t what I expected, Chance.” She frowned at me and continued. “What I expected was for Savanna’s mom to be here to take care of her through, at least, puberty! I expected not to have to worry about her mother going off on some one-way mission and almost getting herself killed! And I expected that the feeling of nursing her wouldn’t be so intense and so very, very amazing! That’s what I think, Chance Summers.” Lokust concluded as tears slowly fell from her eyes.
She rushed around the crib and clutched me tightly as her emotional dam finally failed.
That caused me to start crying also!
“I never thought I’d see either of you ever again, buddy! The time dilation in the Current made it even more agonizing. We actually spent five month in that realm! Can you believe it?”
“The ten minutes you were gone from me seemed like years, Chance! I had…I had no idea what I was going to do without you! And when it seemed like you were…gone…then Savanna appeared, car seat and all…then the hangar reappeared and they carried you out…” Lokust started crying all over again- this time into my shoulder.
“Hey. I’m back where I belong now. I promise I’ll choose my away missions better, buddy.” I promised while rubbing her back gently.
Lokust gave a snort and a couple chuckles from my shoulder. She suddenly looked up at me, gently grabbed the back of my head and pulled me into a kiss!
I had no idea how long it lasted, but my insides turned to butter and my lips demanded more!
Lokust broke our kiss, pulled back and regarded me with a quirky grin.
“Don’t promise things that you can’t possibly guarantee, Chance. We both know this job won’t let it happen.”
“You’re probably right, but it doesn’t hurt to dream, right?”
“Dreams can come true!” Lokust declared as she re-established contact between our lips.
My heart rate skyrocketed and my body felt warm and electrified!
Again I had no idea how long we remained together in that kiss, but we both eventually had to come up for air.
Getting the feeling of being watched, I turned partially and immediately saw Savanna! She was wide-awake and actually sitting up by herself clapping her hands together silently. A big, adorable, toothless smile filled her chubby face!
“You little Imp! How long were you sitting there watching us?” I asked.
Savanna moved her hands apart a few inches, giggled a few times then gurgled a few more before laughing.
“That long?” Lokust groaned. “That certainly was a fantastic kiss if it lasted that long! Maybe you should time us again.” She added before pulling me- willingly, this time- into another passionate kiss.
 
 
“Hey Sleepyheads! We were wondering if you two would ever grace us with your presence.” Mom smiled as Lokust and I entered the Bridge.
“Looks like some of us got lucky last night.” Aunt Cora observed from Communications with a quaint grin.
I felt my cheeks start burning.
“Of course everyone knows.” Lokust sighed in defeat.
“If Savanna hadn’t woken me around four this morning, your rendezvous would’ve remained a secret, but the little Sugar Plum popped into my room and complained she was hungry and needed changed.”
“You’re gonna have to put a bell on the little twerp, High Priestess.” Kaitlyn was back and tending the Engineering console. “By the way, thanks for reminding me I could change back and forth anytime I wanted, Chance.”
I winked at her with a bright smile.
“That method of surveillance was outlawed several hundred years ago on FeLane, Lady Kate. It was thought too aggressive and detrimental to pride development. The practice also spawned a planet-wide noise ordinance.” Sonya informed us all in an insulted tone from Weapons.
“Sounds like someone’s had some experience to me.” Chantell giggled. Sonya turned in her seat and raised her middle finger- it’s claw fully extended too.
I shook my head in disbelief of my Coven sisters. Yet it felt so wonderful to be home- home with my family.
“Hey, Chance? I’m following some chatter from the locals about a ruckus over in Whitecliffe. Something about a few hotel guests creating a disturbance in one of their VIP suites?”
“Okaaaay? How’s that any of our business, Aunt Cora?” I asked, confused.
“Felix and Ollie insisted that Kitty spend the night in better ‘surroundings’ than a mere ‘spacecraft’, High Priestess.
Pegasus actually shuddered!
“Easy, girl. They haven’t toured you and their ignorance is apparent.” I said as I gently patted my Command Console.
After recovering the people from Clean Up’s storage nacelle last night I had ordered Pegasus to re-cloak herself incase emergency services were needed. The two Lynxin investigators never saw her and ‘assumed’ Pegasus was just another ‘Spacecraft’.
A small, black and orange blur shot past the Bridge’s viewports.
“The HELL was that?” Chantell gasped in shock.
“Sensors indicate Lyra Serangetti is no longer aboard Pegasus, Chance. I am also tracking an adolescent Lynxin female on a personal Witch Corps broom flying away from Pegasus at fifty-five knots and plus sixty feet.” Charli reported from her station.
“Where is she going?” Sonya gasped in concern.
“My guess would be she’s going to help her cousin. Those two have really become tight over the last month.” Mom answered as she stood up and headed for the door.
“I’ll stay and hold down the fort, Chance. No sense giving Kitty another prime target.” Lokust giggled nervously.
I nodded.
“Chance to Sonya, Jamie, Demi. Meet me outside Pegasus on the double.” I ordered over our Comms. “We have to fly into town.”
 
 
“You want me to manifest a what?” Jamie exclaimed in shock.
“A broom. Is that so hard to imagine? We’re witches, remember? Witches ride brooms…or so I’m told.” I explained as I glared at mom and Chantell. Both tagged along without my permission.
“You might need us, honey. I think Shan and I understand Lynxin customs a little better than any of you…even you, Sonya.” Mom explained as her broom manifested and she mounted it gracefully then hovered several feet off the ground.
“The honored advisors of the late Queen Libra are always welcome to royal negotiations, my ladies.” Sonya bowed as she conjured her version of a broom. It echoed her scepter’s design and colors and looked… ‘cute’. Adorable might cover it better, I thought as I manifested my own broom.
“A Nimbus 6000?” Mom stared at my conjured broom. “Nice, but we really have to talk about how you know such things, honey.”
“How do you all like, make it look so simple?” Demi asked in wonder.
“You just like, have to have a good imagination?” I giggled.
Demi nodded, smiled and took a few well-calculated steps to the side.
A colorful, richly patterned, woven Arabic rug or tapestry appeared on the ground next to her, and Demi quickly stepped to its center and sat down cross-legged. Crossing her arms in front of her, she gave a sharp nod and the rug started to gain altitude.
“Like, I dated this Djinn a few millenia ago, for like, a couple centuries? Way more comfortable than one of…those?” She said scrunching her nose in disgust while pointing to our conveyances.
“We’re wasting time, Chairman! Time to get on the stick!” I pushed.
Jamie’s face turned crimson and in a ‘poof’ of black smoke, her first broom appeared. A wide smile instantly appeared on her face, but quickly disappeared as she looked up at us and then to her own broom.
“Don’t think about it! Witches are naturals when it comes to riding brooms, Chairman!” Mom advised sagely.
 
 
“How far back is she now?” I asked as Chantell pulled alongside.
“About three clicks.”
“You see ‘Jeannie’ anywhere?” Mom answered then looked around us.
“Saw her a few miles back. She dropped altitude at that lake we passed, and last I saw, she was serenely dipping her hand in the water all ‘Jasmine-like’. Strange girl. Sweet, but strange.” Chantell explained. “What’s up with our ‘Magical Cat Girl’? I never saw a broom that actually emitted multi-colored sparkles before.”
“The sweetness had to be hiding somewhere, I guess.” I shrugged as I sighted the hotel matching our coordinates and pointed. “Well, I guess I don’t need my GPS/HUD anymore.” I added, turning off the broom’s GPS and HUD before I began my decent.
“So let me get this straight.” Mom laughed as she shook her head in amazement. “Your Nimbus 6000 has built-in GPS… On a Heads-Up-Display?”
“Also a Loose Bristle Warning system, Tree Avoidance Sensors, Colission Warning/Braking, and Flight Path Deviation Alerts in case I’m a bit fatigued when flying.” I replied before breaking out in laughter.
“Wise-ass!” Chantell accused under her breathe.
I decided I shouldn’t say anything about the patented, luxury ‘Aire-Ride’ suspension.
 
 
People that had already gathered outside the hotel because of the mandatory safety evacuation stared in wonder when we landed. Now, the same people plus several dozen more began pointing back up into the sky as Demi, Sonya, and Jamie started their decent.
Jamie, for whatever reason seemed to lose her composure, grip, and/or balance and ended up almost falling off her broom- hanging by her hands instead until close to the ground before releasing her broomstick and dropping three feet to the sidewalk. Once safely on the ground our frazzled sister’s broom vanished in another ‘poof’ of black smoke.
Sonya circled the crowd once in a tight ring before stopping and gently hovering the remaining four feet to the ground. With her left hand resting on her hip, she raised her right arm at a precise ninety-degree angle and snapped her small fingers dramatically. Her ornate broom vanished.
Demi landed gracefully on the pavement, stood, stepped off her rug, and watched it slowly roll itself up lengthwise before disappearing.
Applause filled the air around us as we made our way into the hotel’s reception area. Several law enforcement types made an attempt to intercept us.
“Ladies, this hotel has been evacuated for security reas…” He warned before suddenly freezing in place. Mom gasped.
“How did you do that?” She whispered.
“Commander Chance Summers, Witch Corps.” I introduced myself and motioned to my Coven sisters as I presented and quickly flipped open my vintage, leather Creds holder I had just conjured. “We’re here about the ‘disturbance’ in one of your VIP suites?”
The desk clerk stared at us in something between disbelief, admiration, and fear before nodding cautiously.
“Penthouse two. Take the right lift. I’ll give you an access fob…”
“Don’t worry, I’ve already got one.” I interrupted as I conjured the device in my upturned right hand.
The desk clerk was flabbergasted- his mouth dropping open instantly!
“Let’s go girls.” I said motioning to the elevator on the right.
 
 
The Stratford Hotel and Convention Center was a seventy story building that encompassed a full city block and was hailed as the premier temporary residence and party-place for executives and those ‘hobnobbing’ the Way. Their selection of elevator audio-only entertainment was almost as old as most of the things in mom’s old storage chests!
 
 
“Witch Corps. We’ll take it from here, my lords.” I announced to another officer, holding my antique credentials up again as the elevator door opened
“Very kinky, but I can’t let you girls in. We haven’t secured the perimet…”
“Sorry. We’re wasting time here. Let’s go, ladies.” I said as the officer became stationery and I walked past him to the Penthouse’s double door.
The entry into the suite beyond was putting up a bold, but losing battle against Kitty’s shurikens and claws. Reaching through the nearest hole with my left hand, I easily reached and turned the knob then slowly opened the right door. My wand materialized in my other hand just in case.
“How many times does it take before you get it through that thick fur?! I’m not interested!” Sinae shouted to the one introduced to us as ‘Felix’. She had him effectively immobilized- pinned up on one of the suite’s walls with her Shurikens.
“Princess Kitty, with the impeachment documents fully completed and now legally endorsed by Parliament, it is imperative that you return to FeLane for your coronation!”
“It’s not going to happen! I have other responsibilities!”
“I’m afraid by royal law you have no other choice but to be escorted back to FeLane, Princess.”
With a ‘sha-shiiing’ her claws were suddenly in the man’s face- her little finger’s claw teasing the fur on his throat. “Would you care to restate the last thing you said? For posterity?”
“FeLane Parlimentary regulation LS123796, sub-clause 3524e.” Mom announced loudly and confidently.
After a moment, Sinae’s claws retracted and she turned her attention to the six of us.
“High Priestess! Thank goodness you are here! Tell these ‘gentlemen’ that my cousin does not want to be bothered; that she has been disinherited from the royal Lynxin court.” Lyra requested as she still held her wand menacingly to the younger court investigator ‘Oliver’.
“I am unfamiliar with that regulation, Lady Hope Summers.” Sinae snarled.
“Basically, Felix here has the right to recall you home, sweetie- you being the rightful heir to Libra’s throne.” Mom tightly paraphrased.
“That is what I have been telling her majesty this entire time, My Lady!” Felix agreed.
“You would side with this ‘Tabby’, Lady Hope?” Sinae looked appalled.
FeLane Parlimentary regulation LS123896, sub-clause 12.” Mom announced just as loudly and just as confidently.
“Excuse me, My Lady?” Felix’s head snapped back to mom in shock.
FeLane Parlimentary regulation LS123896, sub-clause 12.” Mom repeated with a sinister smile.
“The regulation that was passed when I happened to point out that Libra, by law, couldn’t participate in Corps operations if an amendment to the previous reg wasn’t adapted? It specifies that the reigning monarch of FeLane or her subsequent heirs, if members of Witch Corps, may only be recalled after- and only after- an ongoing mission or like operation has concluded. Sub-clause 12 supersedes any and all royal decrees or regulations. No exceptions, Felix. LS123896 is boilerplate.”
Sometimes, my mother is absolutely amazing!
“Don’t forget FeLane Parlimentary regulation LS123800, sub-clause … oh, I forget.” Chantell added just as confidently.
“Oh…yes. The reg stating that it is the reigning monarch’s, or in this case the rightful heir of the FeLane throne , the option to defer to subordinates, the daily royal operations and necessities if approached by the High Priestess of Witch Corps with any operation requiring her participation in any type sortie.”
“Yeah, that’s the one. I’m so glad Libra made us memorize all those silly regulations. Lady Sonya said it would never amount to much, but now I’m glad we did, Hope.” Chantell praised the late queen and Coven sister’s precautionary measure.
“I was under the impression that FLP-LS123800 was the authorization for parasitic insectiod elimination by airborne, non-toxic chemical dusting.” Felix challenged with a smug expression.
“No, that was LS123799. I remember that one because it was right after Ling Hu Guan developed a rather nasty case of crabs and Libra wanted to make sure the dread infestation was dealt with before it became a pandemic.” Chantell corrected while snickering.
“Contrary to what you believe, Felix, Kitty’s on a mission and it’s up to our High Priestess whether her services are still required. The same goes for Lyra and Sonya Serangetti as they are next in line for FeLane’s throne.” Mom continued.
“I am?” Lyra gasped. Oliver fell limply to the floor and began gulping large amounts of air while gently rubbing his neck.
“Indeed you are, Serangetti Lyra. If something, Queen forbid, happened to both Princesses Kitty and Sonya, you would be crowned FeLane’s queen upon reaching maturity.” Felix informed our youngest sister.
“That’s preposterous!” Sonya challenged as she hovered up into the man’s face and pointed her scepter intently.
“Because of Queen Libra and Princess Sonya’s extreme longevity, as of this date, you are next in line after Sinae Kitty, Serangetti Sonya.”
Sonya slowly lowered herself back to the floor and became very quiet.
“So then, are we clear about the chain of command and rules regarding the implementation of that chain, Gentlemen?” I asked.
Felix and Oliver nodded in defeat.
“So like, why did we have to come along?” Demi asked, nulling our triumph.
“Because you, Jamie, and Sonya needed the practice, Demi. Time to go. Let’s get to the roof.” I answered.
“The roof? Why the roof?” Jamie questioned in fear.
“Do you want to wade through the throngs of spectators assembled down on the street- Media asking for interviews and pictures?” I proposed.
“So, the steps are where, …exactly?” Jamie gulped and turned for the door.
 
 
“Jamie took off like a bat outta hell, didn’t she?” Chantell observed as she pulled alongside. We were possibly half way back to Pegasus.
“Its amazing how fast she mastered her broom, isn’t it?” I giggled.
“When given reason, every time, Chance.”
“High Priestess? Am I in trouble now?” Lyra asked timidly as she joined Mom, Chantell, Sonya, Demi, and I.
“I’d ask Sonya first, sweetie.” I suggested. “I happen to think that, although you used the wrong method, your intentions were true. You protected your family and you protected your Coven sister. Taking it further, you also protected your Sovereign, and don’t tell Sinae I said that!”
“Lady Chance is absolutely right, Lyra. You have not only shown loyalty to Princess Kitty, you’ve also shown equal loyalty to both of our families: The Sinaes’ and the Corps. I cannot fault you for that…but…next time you rush into something, I still want informed! Are we clear, Serangetti Lyra?”
“Clear, big sister.” Lyra answered. “Race you back to Pegasus.”
Lyra took off like a plasma cannon pulse and Sonya did likewise only a split second later.
“Maaaan! Now I’m covered in all that damn multicolored glitter shit her broom exhausts! It’s gonna take a week to get it out of my hair!” Chantell complained.
“Glad I got the Forward Debris Deflector option.” I muttered.
Mom and Chantell glared at me.
“I’ll like, have to get my rug cleaned now? James won’t see me again if I return it with glitter stains?”
Mom turned to our Olympian sister.
“You mean to tell me you dated a Djinn by the name of James?” She asked incredulously.
“Well, he was like, more fun than his brother, Rupert?” Demi admitted.

 
 
“Have you been up here all night?” I asked Sinae as I stepped onto our Observation Lounge in my quest to find my daughter. She had disappeared from our quarters sometime during the night.
“Most of it. I really couldn’t sleep, if you can understand that, Chance.” My Lynxin friend answered sadly.
“I understand completely. Seems we’ve both been thrown a whole lot of responsibility in a super short period of time. I’ll do what I can to help.” I commiserated as I lifted Savanna up to check her diaper. She gave a few gurgles and a ‘coo’ or two.
“Yes, sweetie, I know you’ll help our sister out too. I would expect nothing less from a Summers.” I answered my daughter.
Savanna added another short conversation and I noticed Sinae’s fur blush.
“So, you HAVE been listening.” I giggled at my Coven sister. “So Savanna likes to cuddle up next to you when she feels cold? Apparently, her Lynxin aunt beats my old, musty, stuffed animal from Mom’s stuff.”
Sinae really must have been tired; she didn’t even refute the last statement.
“Chance? What am I going to do? I never wanted to replace Grandma on the throne. I have absolutely no idea how to rule. And, I have absolutely no patience for ‘bureaucratic horseshit’. Chantell’s words, not mine.”
“Well, my parents and aunt seem to think you’ll do fine. They know Queen Libra better than anyone alive today. I think you should trust them.”
“I trust them, Chance. They’re the only real link to Grandma I have. I guess I’m just frightened. This is something even scarier than Hoblins. I’m not sure I can do this.”
“I thought that about Grunfuller and me, too, Sinae. I was terrified to admit I…I liked him, and terrified he didn’t like me in return. Its totally unexplored territory for me, as you can imagine.”
“Well, from what Savanna has been telling me, that territory is pretty much conquered now. Well explored too.” Sinae giggled politely.
“I guess that’s true, but it was still very frightening at first.”
Savanna gurgled several times and ended with a laugh.
“You little Imp! Shame on you for telling Aunt Kitty about what we did in our quarters the other night! And, for your information there were quite a few ‘Homeruns’ hit last night! If you hadn’t popped over to Aunt Cora’s you would’ve known that!” I scolded.
My daughter gurgled some more and blew me a raspberry.
“What do you mean you were trying to sleep and it got too noisy, so you went to Aunt Cora’s?!”
Sinae began laughing as she followed along with our conversation. It was good to see her smiling again.
“Where were you two during my darkest moments?” She asked, rhetorically, as she shook her head in amazement.
I waited a moment before I said anything else.
“We leave for base tomorrow, late morning. I’ll try to draw this mission out as long as I can, girlfriend. Sooner than later though…”
“I know, Chance, and I respect what you’re doing for me. Thanks.”
“Excuse the interruption, High Priestess, but we just received a priority communication on Witch Corps’ secured channel from Capt. Serangetti on Mare de Tempest.”
“What’s he say, Dell?”
“He wishes to alert us that Mare De Tempest has been ordered to change course. He wasn’t sure if we were monitoring Galactic Dispatch.”
“So where have they been ordered to, Dell?” Sinae asked cautiously.
There was a long pause.
“Mare has been ordered to FeLane, Kitty. I’m sorry.” Dell apologized. “They’re headed there now at flank speed. ETA is three weeks.”
“In case anybody cares, Pegasus can be there in eight hours,” Charli added needlessly.
“A second message has been received. He wants us on Mare ASAP. Apparently ‘someone’ has sent word that our clean-up of Kane has concluded.” Dell continued sounding none too happy.
I looked to Sinae apologetically.
“Karma has come back to kick my ass, Chance. Let’s get it over with.” She sighed in defeat.
“Compute an intercept course to Mare. Alert our local chapter of our orders and offer them passage and quarters at Mare Base while transiting to and visiting FeLane.”
“As you wish, High Priestess. Again, sorry, Kitty.” Dell commiserated.
 
 
“Everyone wants to come; Kate too?” I asked in shock as Lokust informed me of their decisions the next morning after entering the Bridge.
“They all feel they should be there to support their sister, Chance. I think it’s a beautiful gesture on the Corps’ part.”
“I do as well. We leave in two hours, Exec.”
“As you wish, High Priestess. Communications. Alert all Coven members that we depart for Mare Base in two hours. Casual dress except flightcrew.” Lokust told Dell. She nodded acknowledgement.
 
 
“High Priestess? All Coven members have gathered and wish to board Pegasus, but they refuse my permission and instead demand your and Lady Kitty’s presence outside.” Lokust informed me as we finished our preflight.
“Lady Kitty, meet me at the entry hatch.”
“On my way, Chance.” Sinae replied.
I think Sinae’s breath caught as the hatch opened to reveal seven people in full Witch Corps uniform standing at attention. Samuel Redman had somehow adapted his old Galactic Service dress grays to look very much like a male version of ours. It was an impressive sight- top hat, tails, and all.
Aunt Cora stepped forward and bowed politely.
“Lady Kitty. High Priestess. We ask permission to board and attend the future monarch of FeLane to her coronation.”
Sinae began to fidget, wiping furiously at her eyes.
“I believe permission has been granted, Ladies and Gentleman of Witch Corps. Prepare to get underway. Off-duty personnel to the Observation Lounge.” I answered instead. I turned to Sinae.
“My Lady, will you be okay to pilot Re-Tailed into orbit for docking with Pegasus?”
She nodded silently.
“Witch Corps. Ladies Kitty, Artemis Dell, Simone, Lokust, and Chance to your brooms. Rendezvous with Pegasus for high orbit docking. Lady Hope, you have the Bridge.” I ordered as we all divided up.
 
 
“Let’s get going, Hope and a Pair.” I said after completing my preflight.
“Shouldn’t you secure Princess into her seat, Chance?”
“Pegasus, Chance. Is Princess with you?” Aunt Cora’s voice asked over my comm.
I quickly unbuckled and turned to see Savanna smiling back at me from her ‘car seat’ on my second seat.
“I have her. We’re good.” I answered after buckling her in. Turning around to re-secure my harness, I noticed that Samuel and Janet’s neighbors had arrived to witness our departure. They knew enough to stand closer to the house and stay out of our way. Most were pilots and wanted to give us a clear departure vector.
“Pegasus1 ready for departure.” I announced as I enabled my maneuvering emitters.
“Pegasus1, Whitecliffe Tower has been advised and you are go for planetary departure, Chance. See you in a few.” Chantell acknowledged.
I took us to plus twenty feet before advancing Hope and a Pairs’ throttle. Within a few seconds we were in orbit to wait docking with Pegasus.
 
 
“Welcome aboard, High Priestess. I hope Princess didn’t catch you off guard.” Aunt Cora greeted as I carried Savanna and her car seat to my station and secured it beside my seat.
“Now you behave yourself and I’ll consider removing the holding spell from you and your car seat.” I scolded my excessively mobile daughter.
 
 
“All brooms have docked and an intercept course to Mare De Tempest has been transferred to the helm, High Priestess.” Mom reported as she took the helm back from Samuel Redman.
“Make it so.” I said as I waited to see what response that might bring.
“Course set. Velocity, High Priestess?”
“ETA at full speed?”
“Four hours and forty-three minutes at full emitter power, High Priestess.” Mom replied professionally.
“Make it an even eight hours.” I said, after which, mom turned back to me and began to appraise me.
“So how do you do it?” Mom narrowed her eyes. “I mean…really, how do you keep doing that?”
“How do I do what, Lady Hope?” I asked, deciding to play dumb.
“Seriously?” Mom glared at me in disbelief a moment. “Okay….How do you seem to know so many of my era’s terms and euphemisms, oh great and mysterious High Priestess?”
Her sarcasm was unbelievably thick.
I thought for a full minute, looking here and there, around the Bridge.
“I really don’t know, mom.” I admitted after another minute’s wait.
“Wow! Did you feel the breeze?” Chantell asked. “I think the Karma train just blew right through this compartment, Hope! And it was haulin’ ass!”
“Knock it off, Shan! You want to know just as badly as I do!” Mom groused.
“Yeah, but I figure she’ll tell us when she feels the time is right and not one blasted second before.”
I placed my left pointer finger to my nose and smiled devilishly. Chantell closed her eyes and shook her head several times, a slight smirk appeared.
“I think I’m going to check on Sinae. Dad? Where is she?”
“Our troubled Lynxin sister is upstairs in the lounge, sweetie. Sensors indicate she has reached REM. Savanna is curled up next to her.”
“She is?” I asked in surprise before looking into her car seat.
“The little Imp strikes again! How’d she break my spells?”
“Looks like that Karma train just backed up a few blocks doesn’t it, hun…?” Mom sniped.
Our Observation Lounge appeared around me.
Demi was the first to notice my arrival and quickly placed a finger to her lips and nodded over to a recliner on our right.
“The two seem to comfort one another, Chance. Let us speak privately over here.”
I was completely taken aback by the woman’s change in voice and pitch.
“Yes, I dropped the act, dear niece. These people you call friends are true and devoted to this group you call a Coven. They also seem to be willing to do anything for you or one another. It is the true meaning of family, dear Nike, and you have at last found your true home. I, also, owe you apology. The works I have seen done and participated in these past few days embody the true intentions Father Zeus has repeatedly tried to reinforce within us, his children and grandchildren.”
“I also applaud your artful, mathematical trickery in your attempt to confine me to this dimension for ‘training’. If you search Nike’s memories, you will find that I was also at the forefront of battles, right alongside you, Hephus, and Artie.”
“Unfortunately, I do let vanity hamper my personality at times and that, in turn, jades my character; consequentially, it forced your already strained psyche to erupt and transport you Zeus-knows-where.”
“So, it is with renewed faith in father’s ‘Furys’ that I will now take my leave so that I will no longer be a reminder of those tumultuous times so many eons ago. Take care, my amazing niece… my sister.”
Demi looked surprised then stunned that she was still standing before me! She nodded to no one then smiled warmly.
“I do deserve this, you know. Father has been telling me for some time that I need to re-visit some of our past students in order to remain cognizant of our role in human development.”
Demi reached out and hugged me tightly.
“Until I am released then; I am at your service, Chance Summers, High Priestess of EFMC Witch Corps. It would be an honor to serve with you. Oh, and I am a ‘hugger’ as Artie noted earlier.” She whispered in my ear.
She released me and looked to the streaks of ‘blue-shifted’ stars passing slowly overhead.
“By the way; nice special-effects.” She giggled.
“It’s not a special effect. That’s what happens to starlight when you’re moving faster than the light itself- several magnitudes faster than the light, actually.” I grinned.
Demi’s mouth dropped open. “I had no idea you were that advanced!”
She quickly drew me into another embrace.
“You are simply… truly amazing, Chance Summers!”
“Pegasus is a group effort. I just put her all together.” I deferred.
“From what I can see, you all did a miraculous job. She’s beautiful.”
“High praise from a Goddess, Lady Demi.” Kate said as she ‘happened’ over. “Chance, Kitty’s been out for only a short while. I’m not sure whether Savanna arrived before, during, or after she entered slumber.
“As Demi suggested, it may be mutual.”
“I believe that, Chance. There’s just something about that little Summers of yours… All I know is, any time I’m around her I get this urge to just pick her up and cuddle her and kiss her…
A vibration suddenly shook us and the star-streaks overhead began to waver, jaggedly then suddenly became stationary stars once more.
“Pegasus? What happened? What’s wrong?” I demanded in serious concern.
“Port emitter economizer grid has failed and the resulting imbalance threatened structural integrity. Main propulsion has been discontinued for safety.” Our AI reported.
“You, Simone, and Artie get back to engineering. I need an evaluation of repair time.” I said to Kate, who was already heading for the elevator.
“On it, ma’am!” She gave me a ‘thumbs-up’ over her shoulder.
“What was that, High Priestess?” Jamie asked, a bit shaken.
“Our port economizer grid failed, Jamie. Nothing to worry about.” I explained.
“Port economizer grid? I’ve never heard of an ‘Economizer’…well, I do know of them, but not used in conjunction with propulsion emitters.”
“As I told you earlier this week, Pegasus is a prototype and therefore utilizes new technologies. The Current Economizer is one such technology. They afford us an overall 99.9997% Current/Thrust efficiency.”
Jamie gasped. “I knew Pegasus was special, but…damn!”
“We visited ten different systems in three weeks, with twenty percent still in our Current reservoir when we returned to Base.”
“Simply astounding! I can see now, why you want Pegasus seen but not investigated. I wonder how long she would take to travel to the nearest galaxy?” Jamie wondered to herself.
“Charli? Can you answer our sister’s question?” I asked.
“If the distance estimates are accurate and not shifted too terribly, we could reach one of the outer systems in the Andromeda Galaxy in five weeks. Provided that all broom reservoirs and both of Clean-up’s nacelles were full.”
“Thanks Charli.”
“I understand now, High Priestess,” Jamie bowed to me, “if the Hoblins had obtained the technology contained within Pegasus, how much more than just the Way would be compromised. I can assure you, information that sensitive in nature would never make it past my desk, and I would do everything I could to make such advancements seem to be pure fantasy.
“A noble sentiment, but inevitably, our tech will be leaked or even surpassed.”
“Understood. Though, my truest hope is that Witch Corps only surpasses itself and does not fall behind, technologically.”
“Amen to that, sister.” I smiled pleasantly.
“Simone, Chance. High Priestess, we estimate Pegasus can resume course and heading in about an hour…maybe less if you show one of us how you manifested her in the first place.”
“I’ll be right down, M’lady. Would you mind, Lady Jamie?” I motioned to Savanna as I bent down to my daughter.
“Now you behave yourself and listen to Aunt Jamie,” I paused to look into her increasingly devious orbs, “That means no transporting to my location…or any other location while I’m gone, Got it, young Lady?”
A blink from my daughter would have to suffice and I turned for the elevator.
 
 
“So, what’s it look like out there?” I asked as I joined Dell by the observation port beside the service airlock in Engineering.
“Simone and Kate are just getting the old grid released. It seems to have taken a hit from something, Chance. Once we get it inside the storage bay we’ll be better equipped to tell.”
“That should do it, Artie-D. Care to open the storage hatch?” Kate’s voice called over Dell’s comm.
“Spacing it now, ‘K’. One minute more, so pull up your big girl panties.”
“Copy that, Artie-D. Ya know, bein’ activated sure helps navigate out here. Didn’t know we could negotiate deep-space maneuvers like this. Convenient…very convenient.”
“Chance always said witches are good at flying. I guess the medium doesn’t matter.” Dell smiled as she looked to me.
I nodded.
“Sounds too artsie for me, Artie-D.” Kate giggled.
The storage bay environment indicator changed to red.
“Storage bay doors are opening. Watch your heads.” Dell said seriously.
“Even though I know she’s big, Pegasus’ storage compartment is crazy big! Holy…you even brought two spare Main Emitters? Where was Chance when I needed spare parts?!”
“It never hurts to be prepared.” I said evenly with a grin.
“Hey, Artie-D, is that Chance I see through the peephole?”
“Chance, Kate and Simone. Yes I’m here, Special ‘K’.” I said as Dell snickered and shook her head a few times. “What can I do for you?”
“Simone and I had some ideas we’d like to try to strengthen these grids. Could you possibly instruct us in how you convert materials?” Kaitlyn continued.
“Same way I do everything else, Kate. I ask my Current. It also helps if I understand the said material’s composition, too.”
“Sounds so easy. Okay, we’ll try it for our idea.”
“What were you thinking, ‘K’?” Dell asked as she smiled deviously to me.
“We were thinkin’…if we could piece together a new alloy…something using palladium and maybe titanium with a tiny bit of iridium isotope to attract Current better...”
“What kind of ratio? Sounds expensive to make.” Dell questioned further.
“Sixty: thirty-eight: two, would be a reasonable mix, Dell.” Simone answered.
I had remembered hearing her ‘serious’ voice only a few times- one of which was when she first told me about her thesis on our present engines.
“Dammit, Artie-D! I wanted to try it!” Kaitlyn swore as something happened.
Dell looked at me as I smiled.
“What happened, ‘K’?” she asked.
“The damn grid just repaired itself, changed color and got slightly easier to maneuver- not to mention my EV suit just started to pick up more trace radiation! Thanks, Chance.” Kaitlyn complained.
“She did it to our spares too, Kate.” Simone added without much emotion.
“Are we there yet?” I asked into my comm. in a whiny voice.
“I think that’s her way of telling you to get that grid back up, girls.” Dell giggled.
I winked to her.
“Yeah, Hope always had a way with words, too!” Kate complained.
 
 
“Chance? All diagnostics have completed on the new Economizer grids.” Simone reported.
“Yeah, I think we may have increased their efficiency just a smidge- at least that’s what the sims’ are saying.” Kate added with an excited sparkle in her eyes and expression.
“Charli? ETA to Mare Base?” I asked.
“At full power, we could get there in three hours- forty-seven minutes.”
“Helm, set course for Mare Base…and keep it under the speed limit.” I ordered with a smile.
“As you wish, High Priestess; fifty-five percent throttle.” Mom acknowledged professionally as she turned slightly- her eyes narrowed.
Our view of the stars blue-shifted again.
“Keep an eye on your new play toys, girls.” I said to Simone and Kate. “I’ll be upstairs with Sinae.”
“Has anyone seen Lyra and Sonya?” I asked out of curiosity.
“Security indicates that their quarters’ door has been manually locked, Chance.” Dell reported.
“Thank…”
“Chance? Their interior sensors have also been disabled.” Dell interrupted.
“Okay, got it. I’ll consult my Current to see if those two are okay.”
 
 
“So the repairs are complete?” Demi asked needlessly as she motioned to the Observation Lounge ceiling- at the blue streaks overhead.
I nodded.
“And you’ve increased the overall efficiency of your ‘Economizer Grids’? Wonderful.” She continued.
“Lady Jamie? Like, you need to pay-up?” She grinned as she looked to our right.
Jamie rolled her eyes and conjured her financial card as she raised her up-turned hand. Demi did something similar and the two briefly touched their cards together.
“Pleasure, like, doing business with you, sister?” She giggled.
“Moral of this story?” Jamie groaned as she spoke to herself. “Never make a bet with a deity.”
Something hitting my shoulder lightly made me instantly react and bring my arms up.
Savanna laughed a few times as she looked up at me with those innocent blue eyes.
“What’s the matter, Aunt Kitty kick you out, cupid?” I asked.
“No, ‘Aunt Kitty’ didn’t kick her out! ‘Aunt Kitty’ woke up and almost freaked, Chance!” Sinae clarified as she walked over, still wiping at her eyes.
“We tried not to wake you, Sinae. Feeling better?” I asked pleasantly.
“I got some shut-eye, that’s as far as it went. Is she going to make a habit out of popping in here and there?”
“The little imp defeated my holding spells, Aunt Kitty, so…I’ll just have to be even more devious.” I looked down at my smiling daughter. “Yes. Mommy is just going to have to up her game, isn’t she, Princess Savanna?”
“Chance? What do you think I should do?” Sinae asked, instantly full of uncertainty as I said the word ‘princess’.
“Let’s go down to my quarters; while I change our Princess we can talk?” I suggested before snapping my fingers.
“Woah! I wish you wouldn’t do that, Chance. Can we go back and get my stomach?”
I smiled and placed Savanna on the changing table I had conjured a few weeks ago.
“So you want my opinion of whether or not you should accept your coronation?”
Sinae remained quiet.
“I might be the wrong person to ask, as I had no intentions of becoming this Chance Summers or High Priestess of Witch Corps, Sinae.” I said truthfully. “I’m still not confident I can do the job properly. Hell, I’m not even sure I can be a good mother to Savanna!”
“So claims the woman that just changed her child while talking to me, and placed said child to her breast without even thinking about it. You handle things so easily…so gracefully, Chance. How can you not see the confidence you exude? I never thought I’d ever say this, but since your change, you’ve matured; and quite a bit too! Old Chance seemed afraid…afraid to do anything that might make people- our shipmates- question or even see you. Old Chance kept to the shadows to escape being noticed or designated a…how did you put it…ah…a ‘freak’. You didn’t push issues. You were completely- well to an extent- submissive- nothing even resembling an ‘Alpha’ male.”
“Now, however, you’ve changed…not just your anatomical structure, but your psychological structure as well. You’ve developed into the ‘Alpha’, albeit female instead of male, I think you’ve been since birth. Chance was a good worker, crewman, and friend, but Chance…you are not only a good friend, you are a mother; a Coven sister- no, strike that; you are my sister! You are also a fellow soldier that I trust with my life, and the most respected and caring CO I’ve ever had the pleasure to serve under! You make it look so easy! How can I possibly match those high standards and take responsibility for my Lynxin brethren?”
“You do things your way, Sinae. Never mind adhering to what you think are MY standards, simply do things the way YOU would do them. Never let anyone else completely subjugate your decisions, consider any and all viable suggestions or proposals, as they would affect your agenda… your decision.”
“My advice to you is to weigh good against bad. Once you do that then the choice more or less selects itself.”
“So, you’re effectively leaving it up to me to decide. Thanks, Chance.” Sinae frowned.
“I’m sorry, Sinae, but if I gave you specific advice and you took it only to have it not work out for you, who would suffer? The short answer is we both would. You wouldn’t be happy and instead be angry for having listened and implemented whatever advice, and I would be kicking myself for giving the advice in the first place.”
“See, I only want you to be happy. You, Kitty Sinae, are the only one that knows what will truly make you happy.”
“As I said, Chance. You make it look and sound so easy.”
“Bridge, Chance. We’re ten minutes out.” Mom called over our comm.
“Already?” Sinae questioned. “I thought we had been delayed because of a failed Economizer Grid?”
“Simone and Kaitlyn made some improvements.” I smiled.
“It figures.” Sinae grumbled.
 
 
“Welcome back, Witch Corps! I see we have added to the ranks, High Priestess?” Our base’s AI greeted pleasantly.
“Good to be back.” I answered. “Did we miss anything?
“I am currently conducting the eighth major reconstruction of the training arena. All additional residences have been completed and await appropriate fittings. Three new Brooms have been completed and also await appropriate customization. Oh, and Capt. Serangetti wishes me to alert you that Mare has been ordered to FeLane and will arrive there in just under three weeks time. Shall I begin offloading your brooms from Pegasus, High Priestess?”
“Go ahead, but leave Pin-Up on the flight line. I think Lady Cora has some responsibilities she needs to take care of on Antarra.”
“As you wish, High Priestess.”
“Oh, how kind of you, Lady Chance.” Aunt Cora’s sarcasm overflowed.
“Hey, I’ve been dying to get back there. Maybe your niece and I could head out to that huge fresh water lake south of Norge…what was that lake’s name again?” Samuel Redman questioned as he snapped his fingers repeatedly.
“Norge Lake.” Our three blue-haired sisters chorused in annoyance.
“Yeah! That one! What say you, Lady Janet?” He asked while sticking out his lower lip in a sorrowful pout.
“Wow, we haven’t been there since before Simo…Oh, I get it.” Janet smiled.
“Family is always welcome, but Pin-Up is only a two-seater, Sam.” Aunt Cora reminded.
“If I can get permission from Capt. Serangetti, I’d like to visit with you some more, Aunt Cora; if that’s okay?” Simone spoke up with more than a little interest.
“Broom closet Control? Please leave Clean-up on the flight line also.”
“As you wish, High Priestess.”
“I’ve sent a request for a three week leave of absence to Capt. Serangetti in your name, Simone.” Charli informed her.
“Wow. You guys are the best.” Simone turned and kissed Charli then hurried up the metal steps and into our living area.
“Savanna and I will be in our quarters.” I announced as I effortlessly hauled my daughter and her seat up the steps and entered our base living quarters.
 
 
“Hey.” Simone greeted as she walked into our Galley.
“Hey.” I responded as I sat my cup of coffee down after taking a sip.
“I want to thank you again, Chance…for everything you did for me and my parents- especially, mum. I can’t believe they took my decision so well- again, especially, mum!”
“I’m glad that things worked out. Your dad looks way happier, too.” I smiled. Lokust had volunteered to look after Savanna today while I tried to get my reports finished and submitted.
“So, Serangetti signed off on my leave request and we’ll be departing in the morning. By the way, how are the Serangetti’s getting along? I heard the captain turned four shades of ‘Holy Shit’. Chantell’s words, not mine.”
“I haven’t seen or heard anything since Lyra and Sonya left base last night. I kind of passed out when my head hit the pillow. Lokust had to take care of Savanna…volunteered again today.” I answered before taking another sip and continuing. “While I get our mission reports drafted and filed.”
“There’s always paperwork. And, it never seems to stop. At least with us around, the Current spills will be a non-issue.”
“That reminds me, I still haven’t ‘officially’req’d a new set of BDU’s. Guess I should probably do that at some point today. I’ll be resuming my regular duty schedule starting tomorrow.”
Who’s going to be watching Savanna? Hope or Charli?” Simone asked.
“I’ll let them draw straws or fight to the victor. I’d much rather be here for my own child…ya know?”
Simone nodded in agreement and we were silent for a moment.
“So, Sandra was telling me the captain gave a ship-wide stream. In it, he officially addressed the Hoblin invasion and informed the crew that certain individuals couldn’t be returned to normal by the ‘unofficial and unsubstantiated’, ‘alleged’ appearance of Witch Corps. He specifically mentioned you as an example. I don’t know why. You think he came up with some plan to re-introduce you to the ship, Chance?”
“Like anyone would believe that after seeing me in that long gown and then in my uniform?” I groaned. “Now that he knows about Sonya, this is his way of humiliating me.”
“Serangetti, High Priestess. Could you have SFC. Summers come to my conference room?” Capt. Serangetti called on our comms.
I took a deep breath and let it out in an equally deep sigh.
“Of course, captain, I’m sending her to you now. High Priestess, out.”
Standing up I walked my half finished coffee back to the sink by the distribution urn then concentrated on what my BDU’s looked like after my threshold. I had to quickly reach to my waist to catch my pants before they fell completely to the ground.
“Wow! I didn’t realize you lost that much mass, Chance! Why go this far? Serangetti has already seen you…post threshold?” Simone seemed startled by my change of clothing.
“He initiated his comm with ‘High Priestess’ and asked specifically for SFC. Summers. Obviously, there is someone else with him that knows of the Corps, but not of my part in it.” I speculated.
“Best play the part. I get it. So…want me to complete and distribute the reports you’ve already finished, High Priestess?” Simone smiled playfully.
“I’d appreciate it if you filled in the blanks on what happened while Dell and I were…um…’away’? Just try to keep emotion out of it and stick to the facts. I know you Antarrans can get very emotional in times of stress.”
Simone hurriedly wrapped her arms around me and gave me a warm, tight hug.
“You are sooo full of shit, Chance Summers! Break a leg.” She said as she released me and stood back.
Capt. Kimbou Serangetti’s conference room appeared around me, and intent on playing things up, I immediately wobbled and reached frantically for anything to steady me.
“What? Where am I?” I groaned as I feigned nausea, ‘apparently’ transported here unexpectedly. “How did I get here?”
“Specialist Summers, you look appalling! Have you no sense of decency- or of the uniform?” Capt. Serangetti declared in outrage as he appraised me.
I hurriedly bent over and pulled my over-sized pants back up from where they rested on the deck around my ankles. Holding my pants tightly, I then tried to look as pathetic as possible by using my free arm to desperately cover my chest while I slumped noticeably, and shyly looked around.
Capt. Serangetti stood at the other end of his long conference table, glaring at me while obviously fighting to hold a straight face. He quickly rolled his eyes at me while the others stared at me in shock.
Flanking him down both sides of the table were twenty of the higher-ranking section chiefs and the higher-ranking members of the Bridge and CC officers.
To Serangetti’s immediate left was Lt. Cmdr. Rusk Kavendish, our new executive officer. To the captain’s right, Lt. Malcon Singh, Supervising Sections Chief- my…the old Chance’s top supervisor.
Even though I was really only playing a part, I felt the urgent desire to look for a way out- some mundane means of escape. Transporting out would be a dead giveaway as to my real identity at this point.
As if choreographed, they all stood and began clapping- smiles and tears on everyone’s faces! My cheeks began to burn as my eyes tried desperately to quench them.
I felt two small hands take my forearms.
Lyra and Sonya were suddenly by my sides, helping to steady me.
“They have been cleared and know, High Priestess.” Sonya told me over the diminishing applause.
“And to top it all off, you seem competently theatrical, Specialist Summers.” Capt. Serangetti jested as everyone quieted, but remained standing. “Now, would you care to change into something more appropriate for your clearance level?”
So, to the surprise of those gathered around the table, I recalled the cream-colored, single–shouldered, sheath dress I hadn’t worn in over a month.
“Oh, my God! It’sss true! You really are aaaaaa…”
“A witch? Yes, but we prefer to call ourselves ‘Current Mages’ these days. It sounds so much cooler.” I answered Lt. Renee S’pithe, one of Mare’s pilots- her forked tongue wildly flicking from her scaly mouth, desperately sensing the air around her for an explanation.
“Have a seat, My Lady Chance Summers.” The captain motioned to the chair in front of me. “Now,” he paused before continuing, “in compliance with the personal privacy/ top secret disavowment addendums you all read and signed, the information gained here shall not go any farther and may not be relayed, passed on or altered in any way to your subordinates. Understand?”
The gathering nodded or verbally consented before Serangetti motioned everyone to be seated.
“Are you really Chance Summers? My Current troubleshooter, M’lady? I know that Chance is a male Terran. Clearly you are not. What happened?” Lt. Singh questioned but then looked away a moment.
“I’m truly sorry, Lady Chance! That was rude of me and highly unprofessional, but I am curious as to what happened.”
“As are the rest of us,” Lt. Jo(e) Hanlin added as she/he appraised me from my right. The LT was from an asexual subspecies called the ‘OmiTerr’, and clearly defined the term: ‘Bisexual’.
“How much can be revealed, Capt. Serangetti?” I asked before answering.
“Yes, Capt. Kimbou? How much shall our High Priestess relate, and at what cost to her privacy?” Artemis was suddenly standing behind Hanlin.
Everyone except Hanlin and I jumped from their seats-me because I was used to this sort of thing, but Hanlin because Artie had placed her hands firmly on ‘their’ shoulders. Serangetti rubbed his forehead and quietly sat back down.
“Welcome, Lady Artemis. To answer your question, Lady Chance may answer with whatever information she feels comfortable.” He told her.
Sonya had instantly pulled her scepter and nervously hovered between Artie and her mate.
“Oh so protective, young one! Though, we have met and you know I pose no threat to anyone in the room.” Artie said as she raised her arms, palms out.
“I was just startled, My Lady. Please forgive me, sister.” Sonya answered as she hovered out of the way and landed gently on the deck, back beside me.
“That is soooo darling! I take it, it really does work, and you know how to use it?” CPO Ashante Williams praised the kitten excitedly.
“Indeed I do, so please, do not force a demonstration, Chief Williams.” Sonya warned through clinched teeth- her canines showing through her tight, tense smile.
“Please forgive my eldest kitten, ladies and gentlemen. As you can see, she takes after her mother’s side of the relationship. Please sit down and behave, Sonya.” Serangetti apologized.
A quiet snarl escaped our sister’s lips as she reseated herself by her ‘sister’.
“As you have seen, I and my Coven sisters are witches…Current Mages in today’s vernacular. I found from an early age that I could not only sense Current, but I could also ‘absorb’ it to a certain degree.” I started.
“You mean you can actually eat Current?” One of the subordinate chiefs blurted out.
“No. We can absorb it and either return it to a pure source or ask it to do things for us.”
“Ask? Ask Current to do things?” One of the CC officers coughed.
“Current is sentient. It exists as its own domain…its own dimension or realm as they call it.” I answered.
“They? I thought Current just a power source!”
“And you would be wrong, Lt. Keefer. The Current is just as alive, just as sentient as we are.”
Everyone remained quiet after that answer.
“As I said, we can ask Current to do things for us. The Hoblins, on the other hand, prefer to order the Current to do things, enslave Current to do their bidding. Their greed for Current is what drives them. Some of you have even been conscripted- transformed into Hoblin minions. And I’m sure some of you have at least some dim memories of the ordeal- some nightmare-like thoughts that you might have done things and had no control over them. I recognize most of your faces from after me or one of my Coven sisters recovered you. Lt. Singh, I personally pulled you into wet closet 4E2WC23 once I recovered all of you.”
My supervisor’s jaw dropped.
“R-r-r-r-recovered…all of me?” He gasped in horror.
“A Conscript’s original pattern starts to degrade after a certain period of time, sir. When I first recovered you, only…”
“Oh my God! It really happened? I had a nightmare that I had somehow been cut apart at the thighs…”
“You were one of the lucky ones, sir. Some of the crew…” I answered, but my eyes began to cloud.
I quickly wiped them dry and continued.
“I asked my Current to find the rest of you and help me put you back together. In your case it worked. Anyway, back to answering the original question. Yes I was a male Terran, but because of my ‘special’ abilities, I was able to ‘store’ Current. I’m sure some of you heard I recently received two crates from my home planet of Gaia Four? In it were things that my mother had stored…for me, it seems.
“The case contained a DataTab from her that I thought were her final words and wishes before the attack reached my family home. It turns out that Mom and my Aunts were founding members of Witch Corps. Mom had left me some things that I would need and told me to absorb as much Current as I could before some ‘unknown’incident overtook Mare. She hinted toward my reaching my ‘threshold’. At the time I didn’t know what ‘threshold’ would do to me.” I motioned down my smooth, sleek gown.
“Apparently, females can absorb and hold more Current than males, hence we were and are called ‘witches’.”
“I reached my threshold just as I and Grunfuller Lokust were captured, paralyzed, and about to be conscripted. I passed out from the Current surge they sent and from trying to protect Grunfuller. When I awoke I was as you saw me when I teleported in here moments ago. Oh, yeah, every last Hoblin in the immediate area had been destroyed- absorbed by me and purified by the locket I wear around my neck.”
Since that initial ‘threshold’ I have reached and exceeded threshold three more times.” I said to make them think. “That is my story, ladies and gentlemen.”
Serangetti looked appalled by my admission to achieving three more thresholds.
“I was not aware that you went through such a painful experience three more times, My Lady!” He gasped.
“As you all heard, Lady Chance has stated that the Current is a living, breathing, realm all of it’s own. She has actually visited it twice that I know of. It is a place of vast beauty and comparable technology to this realm. Father Zeus and I have visited the Current realm twice also to aid Ladies Chance and Artemis Dell” Artemis said as she poured it strong and thick.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I suggest you listen to what she says. While on assignment with Witch Corps for the last several weeks I was honored to make acquaintance of both Artemis and Zeus. I would suggest that you don’t upset them.” Serangetti warned.
“The same warning applies to Lady Chance- or any of father’s furies, Captain.” Artemis advised back.
Serangetti nodded politely.
“Now, have you any suggestions as to how our High Priestess can be successfully assimilated back into Mare’s…um…culture, Lady Artemis?”
“First, I would rephrase the question slightly. In my travels through the eons,” She stopped as a gasp filtered throughout the room, “As I said, eons, I have visited one or two civilizations that have completely and drastically embraced their technology. Even I and other Olympians,” Again she stopped to glare around the room as another quiet gasp was heard.
“Yes, you all heard right! I am an Olympian- as is my niece, Nike.” Artemis motioned with a dramatically pointed finger to me.
“Aw, shit.” I whispered in embarrassment as I tried to make myself small and unnoticeable.
“We are sisters in Father Zeus’ eyes and heart. This woman, Chance Summers, has been tested and proven to be the reincarnation of Nike, Goddess of Victory. Though, feel free to substitute your own mythos name for your home planet’s Goddess of Victory. Chance Summers has the power of Nike and has recently unleashed it to fight off a rather nasty Hoblin on the planet Kane.”
She snapped her fingers and an archived media stream projected a hologram in front of the far wall. It showed clearly that I had caused a…a singularity that left a crater where our Witch Corps’ hangar had been. Then, moments later, the same singularity reappeared and restored the hangar to normal as if nothing had happened.
I was flabbergasted! I had actually caused that! I felt moisture on both cheeks.
My hands were suddenly covering my face and were also wet.
Things suddenly got very quiet in the room.
“Now like, look what you did, Di! Had to like, rub salt into the wound? Why, Di? Why? Hasn’t she been through enough? Do you want her to vanish for another hundred or so eons?” I heard Demi’s voice as I felt her hands slide down my shoulders then slowly, gently rub up and down my arms.
Whatever she was doing, I felt much better…more relaxed. The rehash of my display of power on Kane suddenly didn’t matter as much.
This wasn’t right!
“I’m fine, Lady Demeter. I’ll handle my grief from here on.” I told my sister as I patted her hands gently with my own.
“You like, go, girlfriend!” She giggled brightly and was gone.
“So you found the real ‘Borg’? I asked Artemis as she looked to me sadly. I had literally no idea what a ‘Borg’ even was, so why did I ask in the first place?
“They were one of our rejected, mentoring projects. No imagination, just pure logic and no individuality of any kind. We ‘protected’ the rest of the galaxies from them…it…their ‘collective’.” Artemis explained further
“Our galaxy? The Way?” I asked in horror.
“What you refer to as the ‘Crab’, I believe. Fear not, for they have fallen into oblivion since that galaxy nebulized.
That made me wonder what she meant by ‘protected’. Had the Olympians protected the other galaxies by causing that one to explode?
Something in me…somehow…knew that might have been the case.
Artemis caught my attention and nodded sadly.
I gulped.
“Look!” I shouted out as I stood and began looking over everyone. “I…I just want things to return to normal!” I declared, pounding a fist lightly on the table so it wouldn’t break under my greatly enhanced strength. “I just want things to settle down…so I can do my job…here on Mare. I don’t think that’s asking too much, do any of you?”
“But, M’lady. What you and Witch Corps have done on Mare and as we’ve learned, Kane… We all owe you and…and the Corps our very lives. To not want any recognition…Why not?” Chief Williams asked in shock.
“Because that is her way, my lady. Nike, as well as, Lady Chance, wish not the fuss nor pomp. To us…Demeter excluded…” Artemis answered but was cut off.
“Hey! Not nice, Di!” Demi cried as she ‘popped’ back into the room.
Artemis rolled her eyes.
“To us both, it is only doing our job. It is nothing special, and neither of us feels any special treatment or party,” Artemis glared at Demi a moment, “should be given.”
“Well at least an awar…” Lt. Cmdr. Kavendish began to say, but an arrow suddenly hit, sinking almost an inch and a half into the metallic table directly in front of him.
The people gathered in the room, gasped in fright. Artemis had moved impossibly fast and even had another arrow nocked and ready!
“We of Olympus discovered eons ago that Nike, as with Chance today, will not tolerate such frivolous accolades! Do not re-activate the quest I only recently completed, mortals!” She warned.
“My Lady! Please!” I asked, hoping to defuse the ramping altercation. I was now standing between her nocked arrow and my shipmates. “The commendation should be given to Witch Corps instead of me specifically. We all did our part in ridding Mare of the Hoblin scourge.”
“You know that cannot happen, My Lady. As I said in my recent reply to your request to announce Witch Corps, such a covert team officially doesn’t exist.” Serangetti reminded.
“Really, Captain? Then why do more people know about Witch Corps now than at any time in the past? With the Hoblins still out there, the species need to know that someone has their backs. Yes, Witch Corps is a covert group of the most elite soldiers in the Way, but…but it’s time we were seen for the defensive, humanitarian, force we are. We’ve always been about helping the people of the Way, Cmdr. Serangetti! Ever since Mom, Charles, and Chantell first approached Queen Libra for sponsorship.”
I began to think about my clothing while the room remained deathly silent; yes, I was somehow in uniform. Looking around at all the faces, it was also clear that my opinion was in the minority.
“Fine, we’ll play it your way for the time being.”
Demi and I now wore precisely tailored, official issue BDU’s and I took her hand to head us for the door.
“I will be reporting to my original post at 0800hrs tomorrow morning. Let’s go, sisters.” I informed everyone as I left.
 
 
“So they didn’t go for the idea of unveiling the Corps?” Grunfuller asked as he entered my quarters.
“Artemis showed up to make sure my well-being was preserved. She meant well.” I said pointing to our Olympian guest across the room.
“But she came on way too strong?” Grub surmised as he cautiously regarded Artemis.
I nodded as I switched Savanna to my right side.
“So we go to work tomorrow like nothing happened?”
“I’m afraid so, Grunfuller. Now the ‘real’ freak will be parading through the ship trying to resume her normal duties.” I moaned. “I’ll tell Singh you’re sick when I get to our work compartment. That way you won’t see my embarras…”
“Hey, Chance. I’m with you, Buddy. I’ll be by your side for whatever.” Grunfuller said with a smile as he placed a hand on my shoulder. “I’ll even go as Lokust so we can share the ogling if you want.”
Savanna released my nipple, looked to Grunfuller, and gurgled then frowned a few times before giggling once or twice.
Artemis’ mouth dropped open as well as Grub’s and mine!
“You will do no such thing, young lady! I will not have my daughter transforming anybody!” I gasped in shock.
“I didn’t think she could do that already?’ Grub stared at Savanna in deep concern.
“Honey. You just can’t go around changing people just because they insult Mommy. You need to know the difference between humorous and serious talk before you can start passing judgment on others.” Grunfuller added.
Savanna laughed a few times as she tried to grab the finger he was pointing at her.
“I think I’ll go check on Demi.” Artemis said as she stood and walked toward my door. “She seemed especially traumatized by those BDU’s you dressed her in at that meeting.”
“I’m sure she’ll find some way of ‘glamorizing’ it,” I said cynically. “I guess Serangetti will have me putting a holding spell on the brig next.”
“We all have hang-ups, Chance. I assure you, Demi’s heart is in the right place, though.” Artemis giggled.
 
 
0800hrs came too fast the next morning. Someone knocking on my door woke me from a perfectly awful nightmare. I had been fighting Evans again…and again…and again…
“Enter.” I moaned as I sat up and rubbed my face with my left hand.
“Good morning, sleepyhead! Look who came to see grandma a few hours ago…? Are you alright, honey?” Mom greeted, but stopped when she saw my condition.
“Nightmare?” She asked as she looked around the room.
I followed her eyes and took in the horrific condition of my quarters. Things were everywhere; tossed about like a tornado hit the place!
“No wonder Savanna decided to pop in early this morning. You want to talk about it, sweetie?”
Savanna began gurgling and waving her left arm in jerks and fists.
“Not you, munchkin. I was talking to your mommy.” Mom smirked to her granddaughter.
“Evans.” I stated succinctly.
“Re-living the fight. PTSD, I take it?” Mom said flatly as she continued to look around.
“What gave you that idea, mom?” I asked before snapping my fingers.
My quarters were spotless and perfectly intact again- as if nothing had happened overnight.
Savanna burped lightly and began laughing. Mom just rolled her eyes and remained quiet.
“Come on, munchkin, let’s let mommy get ready for her first day back to work.” Mom said as she bent down to the changing table and grabbed some new diapers from the second drawer. “If you need anything, honey, just use your comm.”
I nodded as I closed my eyes for a moment. “Thanks, mom…and you, young lady,” I pointed to Savanna-who had an impish grin on her face. “You stay with your granny, understand me?”
She winked at me! My month-old daughter just winked at me!
I smiled and shook my head.
“We’ll see you after your shift, honey.” Mom said as she and Savanna disappeared into the hallway and closed my door.
 
 
“See? Made it to the old work station and not one off-color comment!” Grunfuller announced as we arrived for duty. We both started to check the previous shift’s log on our DataTabs.
“That’s because we didn’t see a soul on our way here, Grunfuller.”
“Hey, I thought Demi was supposed to be shadowing us for a couple days?” He asked as if just remembering.
“Heeeeeey. Like, sorry, I’m late?” Demi greeted enthusiastically, just popping in.
“Lady Demeter, may I remind you that, around here, we walk or run? Normal people just can’t pop to and fro at will to get places.”
“This ‘Will’, like, is he cuuuute?” She grinned.
“It has to be an act, Buddy. No one can be that clueless and bubbly.” Grunfuller stated the obvious.
“Of course it is an act, Grunfuller Lokust. How best to observe and gather intelligence than by deception?” She stated seriously. “So, like, where do we begin, sir?”
“Basically, we wait for someone to call us then we go troubleshoot the problem and fix it.” I said matter-of-factly.
Both our DataTabs chimed.
“Duty calls.” I said as I read the work request and sighed.
“Yeah, this ought to be interesting, Buddy.” Grunfuller scoffed. “Current leak in Hangar two-nine.”
“Yay.” I cheered dryly as we both gathered our equipment. I reached for and helped Demi into her tool belt. As I suspected last night, she had somehow managed to make our working uniform look sultry.
“What are these for, Chance?” She asked innocently.
“So we can find the Current leaks.” I said as I pointed to the Current probe on her belt. “And so we can fix the leak.” I added, pointing out the aerosol, patching compound.
“Okay, but we can see Current, right?”
“But normal people can’t, and the object here is to blend in with normal people, remember?”
Demi nodded with a sigh.
“So what are these other thingies?” She asked as she pointed to a small assortment of Current diverters.
“If we need one, I’ll tell you then. Let’s get going; the longer it takes us to respond, the higher chance someone will need medical attention.” I said as Grunfuller and I hurried out of the compartment with Demi bringing up the rear.
“Hey guys.” Lt. Singh greeted as we arrived at hangar twenty-nine. I hadn’t expected him to greet us personally. CPO Reginold was standing beside him- a stunned look on his face. I immediately blushed and set my eyes to the deck.
Grunfuller noticed and immediately took action.
“Hey.” He greeted back. I’m sure you both heard about my partner, Specialist Summers? Cut the staring guys! He…she’s had it rough the last month. This is his…sorry…her first day back and I don’t want h…er to hole back up in hi…er quarters again.”
“Sorry, Chance. It’s just that you look so…”
“So much more like a freak than I did before? Thanks, Chief.” I whispered.
“No! That’s not what I was going to say! You look fantastic! Magical, even!” Reginold complimented as he winked a few times.
As I feared, he recognized me from our arrival in Pegasus.
“So who’s the newbie?” he asked to quickly change the subject.
Our LT just stood there, dumbfounded.
“Spc. Demi Freyja. She’s part of our replacement program- just shipped in yesterday. Chance and I have her shadowing us to get the lay of the land before starting her real shift.” Grunfuller hurriedly offered introduction.
“I like what you’ve done with the uniform, Spc. Freyja.” Reginold complimented as his eyes continued to undress her.
Our LT rolled his eyes.
“Well, welcome back, Chance. Let me know if you encounter any…problems?”
“Hhhh-she will, sir.” Grub answered quickly.
Lt. Singh turned around and walked out of the hangar to let us get back to work.
“We noticed the usual symptoms right over here…” CPO Reginold said professionally as he guided us to the leak.
 
 
“”So how was your first day back, honey?” Mom asked as she and Savanna knocked then entered my quarters.
“It was surreal, mom. Everywhere we went the crew stared at me…they stared longer at Demi- a lot longer than me, though. I’m kind of grateful she was there with us.” I said as I continued to rub my right instep. “The low heels made my feet ache though. I never thought that I’d hear myself say that. Ever!”
“She was just fed.” Mom smiled at me and handed Savanna to me. I kissed her, placed her to my shoulder and began rubbing and patting her back.
“Any word from Simone and Aunt Cora?” I asked, moving to the next topic.
“They arrived in Norge about two hours ago; after Simone went postal on the target arrays again. I could hardly hear her communication with Janet laughing so hard from her back seat.”
“How many she take out this time?” I giggled.
Mom smirked.
“All of them. And, at warp four! I don’t think she likes those things very much.”
“But there had to be a hundred thousand of them.” I gasped at our sister’s achievement.
“Two hundred-eighty-three thousand- and four.” Mom stated precisely. “Don’t worry, they’ll make more. I think our young Antarran sister might have some…issues?”
“Probably not anymore.” I laughed.
“Probably. I know for certain the Major-General AND his staff had major laundry service issues this time.”
“To answer your next question, Kitty is pacing back and forth in her quarters like a caged lioness! She’s really taking those idiots at face value, and I’m afraid she’s going to snap if she remains self-sequestered for much longer.
Savanna was suddenly gone from my shoulder.
“Aw, man. Not again.” Mom groaned.
A muffled knock sounded at my door, and Sinae opened it and walked right in.
“Chance? About ‘Little Savanna’. This is the third time in eight standard hours that she’s ‘popped’ into my quarters and scared the Apis regert out of me! Think you can teach her some manners like, when to leave people alone?”
“Come here, you little imp.” I said as I held out my hands. Savanna appeared on my shoulder with a definite ‘thump’.
“Thank you.” Sinae said as she turned for the door.
“How are you doing, Sinae?” I asked quickly.
“You mean aside from thinking that wherever I go some royal litter cleaner will find me and make me go back to FeLane so my ass can grow fat and useless on its throne? Peachy. You? How was the first day back?”
“Weird. Everyone stared at me, which wasn’t that unusual since they’ve seen me in our Corps uniform or diplomatic gown.” I complained.
“Funny. I thought they’d be swooning over Demi’s rendition of our BDU’s. That girl really has no shame!” Sinae laughed once. “So how long is she going to stay with us…mortals?”
“Until I can figure out what Nike did to keep her in our realm, Sinae.”
“But aren’t YOU Nike, Chance?” She looked perplexed.
“Nike is a part of me, but…but I believe she means to teach her aunt a lesson. I’m sure she’ll either tell me how to remove the spell, or release Demi herself when that lesson is learned.”
“Freud would have a field day with you, Chance.” Mom giggled.
“Ja, ja. Und how vould you feel about zhat, being her mutter?” I blurted out uncontrollably.
“Seriously, Chance, we have to have a nice long chat about that.” Mom deadpanned.
“You three are definitely related.” Sinae began giggling. This was the first time in three or four days that we had seen her smile.
Savanna began reaching out to our sister while cooing, gurgling, and flexing her chubby little fingers- all with an adorable smile on her face.
“She says she’s worried about you, Sinae. She was only trying to cheer you up. Now, when she saw you smiling, she just wants to grab your whis…I mean, hug you forever.” I laughed.
“I’m not her stuffed lioness, Chance. She needs to know that, AND that she had better not try to turn me into one…should she ever learn that trick!”
“I think she’ll just stick to teleporting here and there until she gets older. It seems to make her hungry after she does that a few times.”
“You got that right! Your precious little bundle drinks heavier than Shan does when off duty and planet-side!” Mom laughed.
“Has anyone seen Dell? I have to apologize for my bitching at her yesterday.” Sinae changed the subject.
“Dell’s right here, Kitty, or should I call you ‘Catty’?” Dell’s voice dared from my doorway.
“Look, Dell, I’m sorry for those rude comments. I had no right to assault you with my own depression and self-loathing. I’m still not certain if I want to continue running or simply accept my fate.” Sinae looked away from our friend and Coven sister before sighing and looking down to the deck. “I had no right to take it out on you.”
“And?” Dell encouraged.
“And I’d like us to be friends again? Actually, I wondered if we could revisit the relationship we had before it all exploded in our faces?” Sinae continued while pouring on the wide-eyed, pathetic, kitten look.
“Lady Lyra, Lady Chance!” Lyra’s excited voice flashed across my comm.
“Chance here, what’s wrong, my lady?” I asked.
“It’s momma! We’re in Poppy’s rooms. Something happened!”
“On my way, sweetie. Chance out.”
“You stay here with Grandma, little one. I’ll be right back.” I said as I hurried out of our base.
It took several minutes to reach Capt. Serangetti’s quarters, and upon arrival, I knocked on the door.
A grown-up Sonya Serangetti answered the door. She immediately pulled me into the room so the door would close and embraced me tightly.
“Thank you, Chance! I had hoped you would change me back. Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!” She rattled off.
Lyra stood behind her with a sad frown and her arms crossed.
“I had nothing to do with you changing back, Serangetti Sonya.” I told her.
Lyra looked very confused- almost as much as her mother.
“You didn’t?” Both asked.
“Nope. You did that all on your own, Lady Sonya.”
“I/She did?” both chorused again.
Apparently, you share a similar trait with Lokust, Kaitlyn and Charli. You can change back and forth on your own. Try to manifest your scepter.” I requested.
Sonya did as I asked and her toy-like, child’s scepter appeared in her grasp.
“Okay, now try to shift into your eight-year-old self- in your uniform.” I coached.
After a little concentration, eight-year-old Sonya was back- dressed in her Witch Corps uniform.
“WOOOOW!” Lyra cried excitedly. “Welcome back big sister!”
Sonya stood in front of me with the biggest, cutest eyes I had ever seen. Her scepter changed hands several times and she even rolled it around several more before looking up at me.
“And I can do this anytime I want?” She asked cautiously.
“Try to grow-up, sweetie. That should answer your question.” I smiled. “But don’t forget about your clothing.”
Adult Sonya was back and she let out a loud sigh of relief.
Lyra, on the other hand, sighed in sadness. Sonya immediately turned to her kitten.
“Why the sigh, Lyra?” Sonya knelt down to her. “I thought you wanted to have me back?”
“I do, but…but I liked my big sister too. She was fun to play with and…and I…I feel like…like she doesn’t want me…anymore.” Lyra all but cried.
“Lyra, of course I still want you! Do you think I want to go places without you- for such long periods of time?”
“But you’re big again. That means you’ll be going back to the rim.”
“I won’t be going back to the rim for a while, Lyra. And, if I do, I think I’ll be taking you and Poppy with me…for protection.” Sonya smiled brightly.
“Why? You’re in the Corps too, momma. You can protect yourself just as well as any of us.” Lyra stated maturely.
“Where are my two wonderful kittens?” Capt. Serangetti called out as the door started to slide open. He stopped abruptly and stood silent when he saw me, and that his mate was back, but kneeling down before Lyra.
“Welcome home, my mate. What is wrong with Lyra?” He asked.
“She is afraid that her older sister will not be back.” Sonya answered looking over her shoulder.
“Is she right? Lady Chance?” He asked, looking to me.
“Lady Sonya can change whenever she wants, Captain. I will never stop her from her choice.” I replied. “She will always be a valued member of Witch Corps, and she can also be ‘big sister’ when she chooses.”
“But why do it to her in the first place, Lady Chance?” Capt. Serangetti asked me.
I paused for a moment before answering.
“Of course. Why would she tell you?” I sighed.
The captain looked to his mate in confusion.
“Sonya was under orders to commandeer my ship AND my command. Under false pretenses as it turns out; she had no choice but to follow orders.”
“But Witch Corps is not under the direction of any government or military entity- not even the Galactic Defense Committee.”
“I was not made aware of that fact when given the assignment, my mate.” Sonya stated calmly.
“You could have been shot or worse, Sonya! Didn’t you research your assignment first? Witch Corps’ charter clearly outlines strict sanctions for insubordination and mutiny. It appears our High Priestess severely diluted those sanctions.”
“Lady Lyra petitioned for leniency, sir. Lady Sonya’s punishment was her idea.” I admitted.
Serangetti looked between Lyra and me a few times with a neutral expression.
Capt. Serangetti then bent over to his daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“That was very mature of you, Lady Lyra. Charity and integrity are truly positive character traits, and I applaud you.”
“Okay. Can big sister come and play with me now?” Lyra said innocently as she brought her ‘pleading’ face forward.
Capt. Serangetti stood and rubbed his forehead while shaking it- a smile appearing.
“For a few hours, my lady. I’d like to take you and momma to dinner after that. Then momma and I have to talk about some things after. Is that alright?”
“Um…okay! Come on, Sonya!” Lyra smiled and bounded out of the room.
Capt. Serangetti motioned for Sonya to follow. Frowning, she transformed into her eight-year-old form and walked after her ‘little sister’.
The captain waited until the door to the next room closed then looked at me with a seriousness I had never seen.
“How is Kitty, Chance? I can’t begin to understand what is going through her mind these last few days.”
“I’ve heard she’s been pacing her quarters like it was a cage, sir. I can’t say I blame her.”
“She has to know what a great honor it is to be the next queen of FeLane. And, I know you were thrown into command of the Corps, but you’ve done a wonderful job so far.”
Commanding an elite team is nothing like ruling over four systems and seventeen planets, sir. If she decides, she needs to be prepared for that enormous responsibility.”
“But I’ve been watching her for many years…watching both of you. She can do this, Chance! I know she can.”
“The question is not whether she can do the job, sir; it is does she have the confidence to do it.” I responded. “Confidence is the key factor.”
“Well, I hope she decides before we hit the system boundary, Chance. Once on FeLane’s sensors we’re pretty much committed.”
“So what is our ETA, sir?” I asked.
“Mare should reach the outer system markers in ten days, Chance.”
“I’ll see if I can help her reach a decision before then, sir.” I promised, “But I’m not going to push her one way or the other, sir. I just thought I’d let you know that up front.”
“That is completely acceptable, Chance.” Serangetti nodded. “By the way, thanks for returning Sonya to me, High Priestess.” He smiled. “Though, I quickly warmed to having two kittens around me.”
“Like I said, sir, it’s up to her which form she takes at any given time. Good eve to you.” I said as I bowed, turned and exited his quarters.
 
 
“Hey Buddy?” Grunfuller called as we worked on a problematic Current leak. We just couldn’t get it to stop and I think he was losing his patience and stock of aerosol patch. “You want to toss one of your cans of spray over? I’m damn near out. Why is this one being such a pain?”
One of my patch sprays hovered over to him. He quickly grabbed it and looked at me in horror!
“Chance? What’s the matter with you? You could get caught!” He hissed just above a whisper while looking around us in all directions.
We were on an emergency call in a part of the ship that Dell and Sinae had cleared of Hoblins. The section was well away from hangar twenty-nine, so it was fairly safe to say that no one knew that I was ‘High Priestess’ of Witch Corps here.
“Well, we both know my throwing arm isn’t the greatest now, don’t we? Remember what happened last time?” I countered, also getting upset at not finding this leak’s source. “I’m going to ask the system if anyone knows where the leak is. Cover me, Grunfuller.”
My partner rolled his eyes, but nodded his agreement. We had been at it for over an hour now.
Blinking on my Current sight, I began to scan the area. Finding nothing extraordinary, I walked over to a flow valve.
“Can you tell me where the leak is, please? We’ve been trying to patch the system, but we haven’t had any luck so far. No? Okay then could you please check with you friends along the conduit? You will? Why, thank you. So, how have you been feeling? So because you’re so overrated, you’re feeling under utilized? Why did we install… Oh, what was that? Wonderful. Thank you very much!” I asked the mechanical device.
It confided that it didn’t know but would check with its ‘friends’. While the word went out, I had a pleasant conversation with the control until it heard back.
“Check valve CFCV875293 is reporting a reduced pressure on its input side.” I told Grunfuller, thanking the valve before turning around.
I was stunned to see six of our fellow crewmembers staring at me with wide-open eyes and mouths.
“Specialist Summers? Were you just talking to that control valve?” One of two female Orions asked with a slight smirk on her disproportionately small mouth. Her huge, disproportionate eyes blinked horizontally several times.
“Yes she was.” Grunfuller answered immediately. “Haven’t you all been told what happened to her in the Hoblin attack?”
“We were informed that Specialist Summers had suffered ‘genetic gender transfiguration’ at the hands of the Hoblins, yes. Nothing, though, was mentioned about her psychological functionality.”
“It’s part of that.” Grub answered quickly. “She found out she can talk to the plumbing. Any more questions…and what are all of you doing out here? It’s not safe!”
“We come ta see what’s takin’ s’lon...!” A male Magellan grumbled, but he suddenly began to scream out in pain with his hands waving at something off to his left.
My Current sight still enabled, I saw the strong stream of Current drenching him.
This wasn’t good!
Wand suddenly in hand, I formed a protective shield around the group and hurried over to the massive leak.
Placing my hand on the ruptured conduit, I asked my Current to seal the tear then turned to my six shipmates.
The Magellan was still frantically trying to wipe the Current from his body, but the others were stone still and staring at me in shock.
After removing the protection shield, I took the Magellan’s hands and began absorbing the excess Current from him. I then used some of my latent Current to heal his wounds.
Not a sound was heard in the large compartment!
“My Lady? Will the Magellan live?” Grub asked as he bowed to me.
Taking his hint and looking down, I noticed I was in uniform- my Witch Corps uniform.
Dammit.
“You will tell no one of this! Do you all understand?” I ordered sternly.
“You are a Current Mage!” One of the two male Orions- the Section’s Lieutenant- declared with a gasp.
I nodded. “The Magellan will survive with no issues to his health.”
“You’re one’a them Coven members o’ Witch Corps tha’ lib-rated Mare lost month!” The Magellan gasped as he took stock of his hands and bearded face.
“I am, but this incident never happened and you never saw me or my uniform change, is that crystal!” I confirmed, my ire and volume rising. “And how do you all know so much about something that doesn’t exist?”
“Centuries ago, Witch Corps helped clean the Hoblin plague from our homeworld. Thank you, Lady Summers…for then and now!” The lieutenant explained.
“E’re ya also part o’ tha’ group tha’ we recen’ly heard lib-rated mah home, mum?” the male, five-foot Magellan asked cautiously.
“I am.” I answered.
He hurried over and embraced me tightly.
“Thank ya, Mah Lady! Mah bett’r ’alf tell’d me o’ this myster’ous team sent ta des-troy them Hoblins an’ return mah fellow citizens from conscription. We cannae repay ya fer tha’ service, Uh’m ‘fraid.”
“We’re square, sir. No need for recompense of any sort.” I smiled as he pulled away and looked up.
“R’gardless, thank ya, Lady Summers.” He said as he stepped away.
“The Current has been reclaimed and your workplace is again safe. Have a good shift, ladies and lords.” I announced after a minute. I motioned for Grunfuller to follow me. I also dispatched my Corps uniform and wand.
“Remember! You never saw anything out of the ordinary!” I emphasized turning back to them as I approached the compartment’s bulkhead door to exit.
 
 

 
 
“That could have been a real catastrophe back there, Chance.” Grunfuller stated as we arrived back at our shop compartment. “Still, what made you go all ‘Corps’ like that?”
“I didn’t even know I had changed clothes until you brought it to my attention; thanks, by the way.”
“Anytime.” He said and paused a moment. “Speaking of time, I have just enough of it to write and file the report before our shift ends. Have anything planned for this evening, Chance?”
“Well, I was hoping that a certain someone would invite me and Savanna to dinner…” I hinted while batting my lashes coquettishly.
“Then would you and Princess Savanna do me the honor, M’lady?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to see if I have anything to wear. Can I get back to you on that, Grunfuller?”
“As Father Zeus would say: ‘You wound me, M’Lady’.” He quoted with his hand covering his right pec.
“You do know their hearts are on the same side as ours? It’s not like they’re ‘Time Lords’ or anything.” I giggled.
“What are ‘Time Lords’, Chance?” Grunfuller asked in confusion.
“I have absolutely no idea. It just came to me.” I admitted.
Savanna appearing at my shoulder frightened me so badly I almost didn’t catch her in time!
“Wow! We’re two sections away from Base. Our little imp seems to be getting stronger.” Grunfuller observed.
“And heavier. She’s gained four pounds just in the last two weeks.” I added as I looked into her innocent blue eyes. “Are we going to get a call from Aunt Kitty about you disturbing her again?”
She giggled and laughed.
 
 
“There you are, you little twerp!” Mom cried in relief as she hurried over to take my daughter from me.
“She’s been ‘popping’ in and out of everyone’s quarters all day, Chance- especially Kitty’s. I think she’s about ready to kill her!”
“Hey, everyone!” Dell greeted as she walked into the Base reception area.
“Hello, cutie!” She said as she walked over and jiggled Savanna’s chubby little cheek.
“So how many times did she visit you today, Dell?” I asked my Coven sister.
“She didn’t…why?”
“Because she ‘popped’ in on us just before our shift was over.” Grunfuller explained.
“But your shop is two sections away?” Dell gasped, stunned.
“Hey!” Chantell shouted as she passed by out in the hallway. “Can you put a leash on that kid? Scared the piss outta me twice this morning! Literally!”
“Oh, come on, Shan!” Mom tutted.
“Seriously! I was sitting on the head. Next thing I know, Little Savanna’s in my lap, giggling and waving her fingers at me then she’s gone. Four hours later, same thing!” Chantell elaborated. “Look, I love the little squid to death, but she needs to know some boundaries. The head is one of them”
“I’ll have a talk with her.” I promised.
Chantell nodded to me and disappeared down the hall.
“I guess I should check in on Sinae. Can you watch our ‘princess’ while I go smooth things over, mom?”
“I’ll try to keep her attention on me, Chance.” Mom said as she conjured a bright, colorful toy and began to play with Savanna.
 
 
“Sinae? It’s Chance. Can I come in, please?” I asked as I knocked on her door.
The knob twisted and the door opened an inch. I took that as an invite.
Sinae was busy pacing the room, so I hurried inside and closed the door before her next pass. I walked into the center of the room and watched a few minutes.
“Sinae? Is there anything I can do?”
“Unless you can hide me where those officials will never find me, no nothing, Chance.” She answered, not stopping her pacing.
“Sinae! Can you please stop the pacing? It’s only wearing out the carpet!” I said confronting her, placing myself in her path.
When she tried to go around me I gently grabbed her forearm.
“Will you please stop!” I repeated, glaring into her eyes.
“If I stop, they’ll find me. I need to keep moving. Could you please fuel up Re-Tailed? I’m going to pack a few things then you’ll have plausible deniability.”
“What if I don’t want ‘plausible deniability? What if I want to help my friend?”
“What if your friend is beyond help? What then?” Sinae countered.
“Then I find a way to help anyway! You shouldn’t be alone in all this.” I redirected stalwartly.
“Why would you want to do that, Chance? What makes you think I’ll even listen?”
“You’re not an idiot, Sinae. That’s why.” I told her staunchly.
“I’m also not ‘queen’ material.” She stated flatly.
“And I’m not High Priestess material either.”
“You’re more High Priestess material than I am Queen stuff, Chance. You’ve done a wonderful job of resurrecting Witch Corps and guiding it. You’ve proven yourself in battle, as well. That is more than I can claim.”
“I’m still not sure I’m the right choice, Sinae. I’ve screwed up quite a few times. Things just happened to work out… with the help of my sisters. As far as proving one’s self in battle, I can’t think of anyone more courageous and victorious than Kitty Sinae of FeLane! You have set the bar for the Corps, Sinae, not me.”
That’s not true and you know it, Chance! With the things you’ve done, the things you’re capable of...how can you say I’m the basis of Witch Corps standards when we all know it’s you? You are Witch Corps, Chance. Not Dell; not Simone; not Lokust; you, Chance Summers! You are the most amazing person I’ve ever met. Period!”
“And you’re the most amazing person I’ve ever met, Sinae! I’ve never met anyone that taught me as much as you! You are my role model, girlfriend!”
A knock sounded on Sinae’s door.
“Hey, Sinae? I come bearing beverages. I thought you could use some drink and company.” Lokust sang out from the other side.
“Better let her in, Sinae, you know she won’t give up.” I recommended.
My Lynxin friend pointed at the door and it opened on its own.
Lokust and Dell walked in carefully. Each carrying enough beverages to keep us drinking for hours.
“We thought you could use some familiar faces, Sinae. It’s much better than drinking alone.” Lokust explained as she placed her case of forty on Sinae’s low table. Dell too, placed her case on the same table and proceeded to open the container, remove one, open it, and hand it to our friend.
“So, where did Chance leave off with her counseling?” Dell asked as she took the first sip of her own beverage. “Chance?” She asked holding up a drink to me.
“Thanks, but Savanna is a handful now. I can’t imagine how she would be if that stuff made it to her.” I declined politely.
Sinae laughed as she guzzled her second container.
“Your daughter is just as tenacious as you, Chance. She just won’t leave me alone! It seems every time I turn around sh…”
Savanna appeared on Sinae’s shoulder and our Lynxin quickly reacted to catch the infant from falling with her free hand.
Savanna was laughing, smiling, and trying to grab Sinae’s whiskers.
“See what I mean? What if I drop her, Chance?”
“Then she learns a valuable lesson and learns what pain is.” I answered as I folded my arms in front of me.
Savanna became very boisterous as she looked to me about ready to cry.
“You heard me, young lady! If you persist in bothering your aunt, you’ll get what you deserve- and if you get hurt it’ll be that much more meaningful.
Savanna responded by crying with some gurgles and other sounds mixed in. It hurt me to see her crying, but I also knew she was playing it up.
“No! Stop that. Despite what you think or feel, you will always be loved, and by everyone here! Sometimes a lesson needs to be painful in order for you to really pay attention, sweetie. Sometimes we all need to do things we don’t want to do, or don’t feel we can. That’s just how life is. Contrary to what you see, none of us here have complete control of our lives.” I told my daughter.
I noticed Sinae staring at me, looking down at Savanna at her shoulder from time to time as she seemed to be considering my little talk, too.
Another knock sounded at Sinae’s door. This time Mom, Charli, Chantell, Kaitlyn, Jamie, and Sandra filed in. Each brought the customary case of beverages.
“You would think there was one helluva party going on here with all the booze.” Mom commented with an impish smile.
“Yeah, some things never change, do they, Hopewell?” Chantell laughed as she opened a container and chugged it down in one gulp.
“Pot and a cauldron, Shan?” Charli giggled while she gingerly took a swig of her own drink.
“Hey, I’m just catching up with my sisters, Charlene. It’s just good manners.”
“Well, that much hasn’t changed over the centuries.” Mom revealed. “You remember how Libra threw them back after we completed a mission?”
“Now there was a girl that hated to go back to the ‘norm’.” Chantell surrendered as she tossed back her third container with nothing more than a quiet belch.
“I remember, Shan! God, did she hate going back to FeLane to resume her royal duties.” Mom confirmed.
“But she did, didn’t she, Hope. She did what she had to…what she knew she needed to do for the good of the Confederation.” Charli added as she opened her second drink.
“She certainly handled both sides of the coin with equal tenacity, didn’t she?” Mom commented as she finished her third.
I was beginning to feel like the odd one out. It must have showed.
“Relax, honey, a few won’t hurt your milk. Trust your mother.” Mom giggled as she handed me a drink. “It didn’t seem to hurt you.”
“Could you tell me more about my ancestor, My Lady?” Sinae asked mom very politely.
“When you can show me you’re really not such a stick at parties, sweetie.” Mom challenged.
Sinae glared at our Coven sister a moment then shook a new container, held it up over her open mouth and quickly plunged the pointer claw of her other hand into its bottom. The container’s top popped open on its own.
“Damn! Now that’s a righteous ‘shotgun’, girlfriend!” Chantell clapped as her newly opened, sixth drink hovered in front of her face. When done with her applause, she grasped the floating container, polished it off, dematerialized it, and reached for another.
“Well, I did ask for proof.” Mom laughed. “Okay. Libra was always looking for ways to get out of the royal residence. I’m one hundred percent certain she used our initial ‘crossing their border’ as an excuse to head up that intercept mission.”
“I got that feeling, too. Especially after I overheard one of her generals saying how abnormal it was for her to take command that day. Of course, I’d heard it almost a year after arriving. Apparently, the old alley cat thought we still couldn’t comprehend their language well and felt completely safe talking around us.” Charli agreed.
“Oh! That guy. Yeah, what was his name again? General…Gen. Gastric…Something or other?”
“How about Gen. Gastone Serangetti?” He was my ancestor and first Serangetti to serve her higness, Queen Libra.” Capt. Kimbou Serangetti filled in the blanks in mom’s memory as he appeared in Sinae’s open doorframe with Lyra and an adult Sonya.
“Nice old gent, but thought too much about his own importance and far too little about new relations with alien worlds. A very discriminatory shit- especially after Hopewell’s accident.” Chantell related in a sour tone. “You act nothing like him, Kimba.”
“Lady Chantell, it very much annoys me when you take privileges with my given name!” Serangetti seethed through clinched teeth. “You have had plenty of time over the years to get it right, yet you continued to disrespect it.”
“Wait, you knew these women? For years?” Sonya gasped in surprise. “You’ve known about the Corps since before we mated?”
“Why so appalled, sister?” Mom confronted her. “You know of our longevity and relationship with the Lynxin monarchy. Didn’t you believe the history you read before the Regent had everything confiscated and destroyed?”
“I read the files and thought it fantasy BECAUSE of the longevity of Queen Libra and her sister, Sonya…from whom I was named, as it turns out. In their time, Lynxin life spans were at most, three hundred years. To live for that long still seems completely and utterly in the realm of fiction!”
“Yet you are talking to three examples of that ‘longevity’ you cannot believe.” Mom smiled deviously.
“Of course, I believe it now, My Lady! I only need to ‘think’ about my own talents to see it is fact.” Adult Sonya started, but young Sonya finished her reply.
“Oh, hi, big sister! So, do you want to play?” Lyra greeted excitedly with a huge, canine-bearing, smile.
“I hadn’t really intended on transforming…”
“Awwww. Okaaaay. I just thought me and my sister could have some fun.” Lyra said sadly as she enabled her ‘pathetic kitten’ look.
“Fine. You ‘grown-ups’ have a good time. Me and my little sister’s going to be up in the training hall.” Sonya smiled as she and Lyra left our gathering.
Everyone had been waiting to open another beverage until the two youngsters were gone. An unopened container appeared, hovering in front of Kimbou Serangetti. Taking it out of the air, he popped it open and downed it in one gulp.
“I take it two kittens are not what you were expecting when we returned, sir?” I asked.
“Two kittens, I can handle. An adult Sonya is the handful I worry most about. She is the definition of ‘Alpha Female’, as you have seen.”
“Funny. I heard Chance knocked her down a few pegs. So High Priestess overrides Alpha Female- in the Corps at least.” Sinae said as an amused grin spread across her face. It warmed my heart to see it!
“I know you and Sonya haven’t seen eye to eye at times, My Lady.”
“I’ve never seen eye to eye with her since we first met, Captain! She is rude, overly forceful, and in no way would make a good leader or diplomat. She is far and away from any ‘Alpha Female’!” Sinae argued forcefully.
Mom, Charli, and Chantell suddenly became very quiet- all three staring at our Lynxin sister in amazement.
Sinae quickly noticed.
“Okay. What did I do now?” she sneered before looking at her drink and downing the rest of the container.
I wondered the same thing.
“Alright, I’ll rephrase. What did I say now?” Sinae continued, as the three remained tightlipped.
With her new question posed and still no response, I just had to say something.
“Charli I can imagine being quiet. You two,” I pointed to mom and my aunt, “This is definitely a first!”
“This may be a first for you, Chance, but the three of us have heard those exact same words before- spoken in the same exact order, in exactly the same tone and temperament.” Mom finally responded.
“Here, listen for yourselves.” She said as she produced a strange little device in one hand and a very small, thin square of polymer in the other. “I have no idea why I even thought about saving this, but I think you all will find it fascinating.”
Placing the small poly square into the device she ordered: “Play file: 12, August, 2151: 1406.”
“As for my sister, I’ve never seen eye to eye with her since we first met, Admiral! She is rude, overly forceful, and in no way would make a good leader or diplomat. She is far and away from any ‘Alpha Female’! Your request is hereby rejected. Now, tell my sister to come in here so that I can tell her she has been passed over for the position.”
“Your majesty.” A male voice replied.
Sinae’s mouth was agape as we all listened to her voice on the device mom held.
“How can that be me?” She gasped in shock.
We were all looking between her and mom thinking the same thing.
“It’s not, sweetie.” Mom sighed. “In those days, I still followed protocol and secretly recorded all conversations I was privy to. That, ladies, is Queen Libra telling one of her Admirals that, under no circumstances would she allow her sister, Sonya, to enter into the Diplomatic Corps.” Mom explained.
“Was she actually experienced for the position, or was Queen Libra just biased, Lady Hope?” Sinae gulped as she asked.
“High Princess Sonya was in no way qualified for the job, sweetie. She had talked the Admiral into nominating her so they could both rocket off to Earth and get married. That didn’t work out to her satisfaction.”
“Excuse the interuption, My Lady, but do you recall the sire-name of the Admiral?” Capt. Serangetti politely inquired.
“His name was Persuan Gats, Kimbou. Libra found out a year later after Sonya and Gats ran off to who-knows-where to mate. Libra was furious! When they suddenly reappeared in Capital, she ordered him from active patrol duty to the Royal Guard where she could keep an eye on him and Sonya.”
“Sonya disappeared about five years later and we heard Gats registered the FeLane equivalent to divorce papers shortly after that.”
“Witch Corps ran into her as we were chasing the big three Hobgoblins around the ‘Belt’ ten years after that. In much the same way as you did for Janet, I did for Sonya, since we needed the help. By that time she had two kits and a kitten. Her mate had been conscripted and couldn’t be recovered. Libra was on that mission with us and almost collapsed in tears when we found her. The two really hated each other, but they still loved one another- sisterly love.
All the while mom had been monologing, her device had continued its replay.
“Well, that went well, Libra,” Mom’s voice on the playback caught our attention. “You were a bit rough on her, weren’t you? She’s only a kid and really doesn’t know who she is yet.”
“She isn’t ready for such a critically sensitive venture yet, my friend. She is just using this opportunity to attract a mate. That is not the idealology for diplomacy. You can’t know what sorrow it brings to my heart to have to deny my only sister. I love her dearly, but she also angers me to the extreme!”
“So just tell her that you suspect the real motivation but explain it in a way that a sixteen year-old kitten can understand. You should never try to intentionally distance family, Libra.” Mom’s voice suggested.
“I know that, Hope! I’m not sure I can do this, though. As I’ve told you repeatedly, I’ve never thought I was cut out for this…this royal crap! FeLane would be in much better hands if someone else…”
“Stop it! Stop it right now, Libra! You KNOW you’re the best person for this role- that nobody else has the desire or tenacity to see the monarchy through both hard and good times. You’ve made the best, well-informed, decisions possible given the circumstances.”
“Do you really think so, Hope? I’m relying on you to council me through all this. You, of all people, can understand that change can be very frightening and confidence nulling.”
“You had to bring that up again, didn’t you? I thought we had a deal, Libra; you wouldn’t bring that up and I wouldn’t…?”
“Well that’s enough of that.” Mom hurried to stop the device and dematerialized it quickly. “The point is, Kitty Sinae, just like you, Libra continuously wondered if she had the right stuff when it came to ruling the Confederation. She would guess, second guess, even third guess herself when making even the smallest of decisions. You, sweetie, are no different. I, personally, believe that makes for a good leader.”
“I think Kitty needs to catch up! She’s behind by a few beverages.” Lokust declared as she handed our Lynxin sister another container.

 
 
“So how’s her head this morning?” Grunfuller asked after I’d checked in on our Lynxin sister.
“Still moaning while sleeping, thanks to you and Chantell.” I answered brusquely, assigning blame where it was due.
“Hey, I never told her to drink all those containers. She could’ve stopped any time she wanted.”
“She probably would have if you two hadn’t kept conjuring more drinks in front of her! What were you going for, Grunfuller? I mean, the girl was already stressed out over having to assume the throne then you two decide to get her stinkin’ drunk so that now, she is stressed out AND hungover!”
“Well, she did start to loosen up after her second case.”
I glared at my partner while we stood in the Base’s first level hallway for a few moments before turning silently and proceeding to the Reception area and the Base exit. We were going to be late for our duty shift.
“Look, I thought the whole idea was to get her to release some of her stress. Didn’t we accomplish that last night…if only for a few hours, Chance?” Grunfuller said as we hurried to our work compartment.
“We probably made things worse, Grunfuller! What if it rebounds and she hates us for getting her drunk? What if she decides to transfer out as a means of escaping? What do we do then?” I growled as we passed several of our shipmates.
I heard something about the two of us having a ‘lover’s spat’ as we passed several more of the crew.
That only added to my sour attitude.
“What if we completely turned her against it? You and I both know she can do it if she puts her mind to it, Grunfuller.”
“What if who does what?” CPO Crestfield asked as we entered our compartment.
“Oh, Sinae assuming the throne of FeLan…SHIT!”
“You idiot!” I glared at my partner- my fists tightly clinched and held in a boxer’s stance at chest level. “No one was supposed to know until she made her mind up!” I hissed.
“Settle down, Specialist Summers! I hold a level fifteen, security clearance. You can trust that I’ll keep it quiet.
I don’t know why, but I found myself suddenly in my Witch Corps uniform with my wand at the ready!
“But we aren’t simply talking about level fifteen stuff, Chief. This is far higher…say…level thirty stuff?” I said calmly as I watched my immediate superior almost soil himself at the point of my wand.
“Chance? What the HELL, High Priestess!?” Grunfuller burst out in surprise.
“Hi-Hi-High P-P-P-Priestess? Y-y-y-y-y-you’re their leader?” Our Chief stuttered out, looking on the verge of unconsciousness.
“Chance? What the hell are you thinking? We were told to keep things on the down low!”
“I don’t know, but this whole situation with Sinae is really grating on me. That and my cycle is starting.” I growled. The last part wasn’t true, of course. It had just finished last week.
Another tense minute passed- for CPO Crestfield, that is- before I relaxed and dematerialized my wand.
“I’m very sorry, chief. I’ll accept and agree to any and all charges brought against me pertaining to this incident.” I surrendered calmly as my BDU’s reappeared.
“Are you freakin’ kidding me!” Crestfield burst out in childish excitement. “That was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen!”
Now it was my turn to look stunned.
“Um…excuse me?”
“Chance? I always knew there was something…something about you. You were always so quiet, so shy, so controlled. I just always…wow! High Priestess of Witch Corps! Unbelievable! So, what’s it like?”
“Huh?” Grunfuller and I asked at the same time.
“Weeeell, you were a guy before those Hoblin things invaded. Now…now you’re not. What’s it like?”
“Chief? I’d retract that question quickly if I were you.” Grunfuller recommended sagely.
“Look, I’m just asking. I don’t mean to be derogatory or disrespectful. It’s just that you have a very specific perspective on the male-female thing.”
“Chief?” Grunfuller tried to get the man’s attention. “I’m going to show you something…something level thirty-like, and I want you to think seriously about what you see. I’m only going to do this once!”
Grunfuller became Lokust- fully uniformed. CPO Crestfield was floored!
“Over a month ago, I asked Chance what it was like…to be female? She made it so I can go back and forth, every-so-often. I don’t think you’ll get that lucky, the way her mood is today.”
Grunfuller was back and waiting for any response from Crestfield.
He gulped loudly.
“Y-y-y-y-y-you’re a member of the Witch Corps too?”
“Yep. Turned into a girl; got the uniform; took out the Hoblins; saved the Mare; sent out postcards.” Grunfuller joked.
“Grunfuller’s ‘alternate form’ is also my first officer, Chief.” I smiled evilly. “Now, isn’t your shift over, sir?” I giggled as I motioned with my fingers for him to exit the compartment.
“Oh…yeah…right. Sorry to have embarrassed you, um…Specialist Summers. Um…carry on.”
After CPO Crestfield left the compartment, Grunfuller looked over to me and began laughing.
“Oh, man! Things are going to be sooo different around here from now on!”
“Yeah, I guess I’m going to find myself bucking a lot of court marshals until my enlistment is over.” I deadpanned.
“Seriously, Chance, what possessed you to go all ‘witch’ on him?” He asked, staring at me a moment. “I thought for sure you were gonna hex him…into what I wouldn’t want to guess.”
“He did say he wondered what it was like.” I batted my eyes innocently at my partner.
Grunfuller’s DataTab chimed indicating we had a service call.
“Dell found another leak.” He told me just before he politely ushered me out the compartment door.
 
 
“So how’s Kitty?” Dell asked as we arrived in the freight hangar. I blinked on my Current sight and began scanning the hangar, yet could not see signs of any straying Current.
“Chance checked on her before we went on duty. She’s going to be really sore at us when she wakes up.” Grunfuller told her as I continued my scan.
“Chance, relax. There is no leak. I need you to come into my office.” Dell said mysteriously.
“How on Gaia?” I exclaimed as we entered and I saw Savanna- in her car seat- wide-eyed, smiling, and waving at us! She was giggling away happily.
“She popped in about fifteen minutes ago. We’ve been talking ever since, well, until you arrived.”
“Why are you doing this? Savanna, you can’t be porting around the ship. You could end up somewhere that doesn’t have an atmosphere and die. What is going on?” I asked my child.
“Oh, we covered all that already, Chance.” Dell spoke for my daughter. “She noticed the rest of us practicing our magic and she wanted to get better at what she knew. I can’t believe how intelligent she is for just five and a half weeks.”
“I can’t believe she transported here WITH her seat!” Grunfuller commented in amazement.
“Well she did, and now we have to do something about it before she gets the crew all excited.” Dell confirmed.
“Maybe this will help.” I said as I conjured a delicate, little silver locket and necklace in my hand. “I made this especially for you, Savanna. It is the same locket that we wear, right down to the Communicator so we can talk. It even has my picture in it.” I showed her. “I want you to keep this on. Don’t go anywhere without it.”
Carefully, I placed the delicate, almost invisible necklace around her chubby little neck, did up the clasp and, like ours, the clasp disappeared. The chain was also short enough that she couldn’t accidentally put it or the locket in her mouth when she began teething.
“Now, I want you to go back to Base, Savanna Summers. Do you understand me?”
My daughter disappeared- seat and all; all without a peep.
“I guess she understood perfectly, Chance. Question is: where’d she go?” Dell laughed.
“She better have gone back to Base.” Grunfuller threatened.
“Not a problem.” I said as I waved my hand in front of me. A holographic map of Mare appeared. A quick search through the ship’s many levels and sections showed a pulsing red dot in the undefined section where our Base now resided.
A wave of my pointer finger filled in the blank section on the map and the current configuration of our base appeared. It showed Savanna was in Mom and Dad’s quarters.
“Now if it only had ‘Nanny Stream.” Grunfuller joked.
I snapped my fingers.
“…I have no idea where she came from, Charli! She just appeared! This one is hell-bent on making me go prematurely gray!” Mom’s voice declared.
“Well at least she’s back and safe…hey, this is new.”
“What, Char?”
“She has a locket. It looks exactly like ours and looks really cute on her.”
“Chance must have manifested it to keep an eye on her. That girl thinks of everything.”
“Aww, she’s going to sleep. Let’s leave her in her car seat. I’ll check her diaper when she wakes up.”
“Do we have enough bottles, Hope?”
“Of course! Chance and Lokust are both contributing now.”
“They remind me of us, Hope. They seem to get along better than we did after we got back to Earth.”
“They do make a lovely couple, don’t they, Char?”
“They do. And both are blushing furiously in Dell’s office at this very minute. Sorry to eavesdrop, Chance. You and Grub have a good shift. Savanna’s in good hands.”
I dismissed the hologram quickly and watched Dell smile brightly at us.
“They’re right you know. You two are cute as a couple. You even ‘discuss’ things like you were already joined!”
“I should have figured Dad would be into the ship’s surveillance stream.” I mumbled.
“I finished out the work order as a small leak that might have developed just after our previous repair, Buddy. We should be getting back to our shop now, Dell. See you after our shift. Bye.” Grunfuller informed our friend as he gently lead me out of her office.
 
 

 
 
“I hate you all.” Sinae decried wearily as we entered the Reception area after our duty shift had completed.
Our Lynxin friend looked frazzled and VERY hung-over! She sat- hands holding her head- on one of the cozy chairs I had conjured in case we had visitors.
“We thought you could use a break, Kitty.” Gunfuller volunteered.
“So you decided to get me soo stinkin’ drunk I’d sleep right through my shift and wake up feeling like something the Terran dragged in? Some friends!”
“Wait til you see the stream.” Grub hinted as I unceremoniously elbowed him in the ribs.
“There is no stream, Sinae.” I assured her.
“Wouldn’t bother me if there was! I’ve been in my share of them.” She declared, shrugging her shoulders.
That took me by surprise.
“Care for a few pots of coffee?” I asked as the Base galley appeared around Sinae and I.
As I figured she would, my ailing Lynxin sister leaned over and wretched repeatedly.
“Feeling any better?” I asked gently as I snapped my fingers to clean it up.
She nodded silently then looked up and across the table to me.
“Don’t. Ever. Do that. Again. Chance Summers!”
“I could have just used my magic to dispel the hangover, but I didn’t think you wanted to feel better that soon.” I said as I continued to appraise her.
“I appreciate that, Chance.”
“Grub and I had a call in your section earlier today. Everyone seemed concerned and was asking when you were going to be back on duty. A lot of them seem to remember we’re friends, but don’t remember our arrival in hangar twenty-nine five weeks ago and that you were one of those ‘arriving’.” I informed her trying to strike up a conversation.
I got up and poured two cups of coffee, one black and one with extra cream.
“Here. We’ll talk after you get some of this into your system.”
“I really don’t feel like talking, Chance. We have another week until we arrive at FeLane. I intend to fully abuse my liver until then. And don’t try to stop me either!”
“I have no intention of stopping you, Sinae. Sometimes I feel the same way; actually, I’ve felt that way for the last ten years. The only thing is? I had these hardheaded friends that kept interfering! There were days when I just wanted to ‘space’ myself, thinking that would reunite me with my parents. Unfortunately, there was this crazy Lynxin chick that kept offering to teach me defensive techniques along with close combat fighting. Trust me, the urge to end it all disappeared under the hurt you put on me. After all, when it’s hard to move out of your chair, it’s even harder to get to an unsecured airlock.” I said matter-of-factly.
“Don’t worry, I won’t try to reciprocate, even though I could whip your ass easily now.” I then winked and smiled evilly.
“I see you’re still delusional from our last mission, Chance.” Sinae said with just a hint of a smile.
“Oh wow. I’m making some headway with the Coven’s top bad-ass.”
“The bad-ass has her moments…not many… not lately, anyway.”
Sinae remained quiet for some time after.
 
 
“We expect the Redman’s and Cora back by the end of the week, Sinae. If you haven’t already, I’d see if Cora had any useful advice. I’m sure she has some stories to tell. Maybe even some horror stories to give an idea on the other extent.” I suggested.
With that I stood, took my empty cup over to the kitchen counter, and turned to leave the galley, walking silently past my despondent sister.
 
 
“High Priestess? Are you busy?” Capt. Serangetti asked as he appeared in my office doorway.
“Nothing’s changed in the last week, sir.” I replied as if reading his mind.
“I didn’t think so, but that isn’t why I’m here, Chance. We just received another call from Felix and Oliver.”
“Let me guess. They want you to kick Mare in the butt and get her to FeLane faster?” I asked as I looked up from my never-ending paperwork. I was still catching up on reports from our three-week excursion.
He let out a short laugh.
“As if that were possible, yet no; they wanted to know how her royal highness would be arriving to her Coronation.” He sighed and added, “of all things.”
“They’re really assuming a lot. I guess her arriving in a corpse bag is not an option?” I responded truthfully.
Serangetti shook his head in sad understanding.
“They will keep pushing until they receive a suitable answer, Chance. I understand Sinae’s reluctance, but it seems inevitable.”
“I’ve tried numerous times to talk with her, sir. She just refuses to accept that she is heir to the throne. At least I got her to report for duty these last three days.”
“I heard voiced concerns from her crew. They are all worried she isn’t taking the Hoblin incursion favorably and wonder why she won’t accept counseling.”
“Dell was telling me the same things, sir. I wish I knew what to do. She just won’t listen. Even Savanna seems to have given up. It’s been four or five days since Sinae last came out of her quarters holding Savanna and her car seat.”
Serangetti gave a little snort.
“The first time your kitten appeared in my quarters, I thought I might have embarrassed myself in front of Lyra. Though Lyra seemed unaffected, Sonya just appeared annoyed.”
“Sonya always seems annoyed at something, sir.” I giggled.
“True, but I think her ‘adolescent’ time with Lyra has ‘softened’ her a bit. She seems to be coming around.” He admitted.
“That’s a good thing. Sonya needed to ease-up.”
Our Captain was quiet for a minute or two.
“Speaking of ‘easing up’. Could you try a little harder to keep Witch Corps off the grid? I’ve heard rumors floating haphazardly around the ship about Specialist Summers being…let’s see… A Goddess… a Current Mage…um… possessed. There are even several more claims about you being some sort of ‘Power Vampire’.”
I smiled at that last one. I thought back to how some newbie stepped out into a puddle of Current we hadn’t cleaned up yet. After pushing him out of the way, I leaned over and made a show out of absorbing the pond of Current while Grunfuller held his probe for the guy to watch the reading drop. I had managed to stay in my BDU’s and not manifest my uniform on that call.
“High Priestess, you need to keep your true identity covert. I can’t tell you how many inquiries our library staff has received for information on ‘Witches, Super-humans, and Deities’.” Serangetti shook his head despondently.
“I promise I’ll do better, sir.”
“That brings us to another topic, Chance. You outrank me by at least a level, yet you still show superfluous respect to me and the other officers that are privy to your true identity.” Serangetti frowned.
“Isn’t that part of laying low, sir? Plus, that’s the way I was brought up.”
“It is, and that speaks volumes about your education, Chance, but when off duty or visiting this base or even in the privacy of my conference room or quarters, I’d like you to use my name instead of ‘sir’. Think you can adapt to that? I feel honored to know and serve with all of you and I would also be honored if you’d call me ‘Kimbou’.”
I’ll try, sir.”
Serangetti glared at me.
“I’ll try…Kimbou, sir.”
He shook his head as if defeated.
“Now, about her royal highness?” He said sadly after a minute.
“What about her, Kimbou?” I smiled.
“Those two courtesan blood ticks won’t leave her alone now that they’ve caught her scent. Maybe we should make plans for her majesty’s grand entrance.”
“I’ve put in some time on that, and I think the grander, the better. Provided Sinae approves, I’d like her royal highness to be transported to her coronation in the most spectacular vehicle anyone’s ever seen- with over the top pageantry and the most secure honor guard that exists in the ‘Way’.” I told him excitedly.
“You’re talking about Pegasus and the Corps?” He gasped in shock.
“I’m talking Pegasus, the Corps, and the Royal Guard, Kimbou.” I smiled coquettishly.
“So much for keeping Witch Corps under wraps.” Kimbou groaned as he shook his head.
“Hey, you asked. I just thought a unit instituted and chartered by the Queen of FeLane should be in attendance for the new queen’s coronation. Plus, Gunfuller and I have noticed that most of the crew fail to connect our ‘Galactic Service’ personas to our Witch Corps identities at all.”
Kimbou nodded to my observation of the crew. “Rusk pointed out the very same observations just the other day. Your idea, Chance… it does have the additional benefit of never being done before. But, Witch Corps will lose its quintessential advantage. Do you really want to go publ…never mind, stupid question; I already know your answer. After all, you and Artemis made your preferences known in our meeting.”
 
 
“Chance? Is that offer to talk still on the table? I need to run something past you.” Sinae asked timidly as she knocked on my office doorframe.
“Always.” I said as I looked up from my desk and smiled to her happily.
“Do you want to talk here or should we go somewhere more ‘private’?” I asked after she remained silent for a few moments.
“Please, but could we go there the usual way? Your way always turns my stomach.” She pleaded.
“Let’s go for a walk.” I suggested as I stood and motioned us both to the doorway.
 
 
“Pegasus? Kitty and I would like to enter and use the Observation Lounge, please.”
“Welcome aboard, Ladies.” Pegasus greeted as the ramp extended.
 
 
“So…you wanted to talk?” I asked as we took our seats and Sinae just sat there uncomfortably.
“Yes…” She whispered nervously.
“Well?” I smiled pleasantly as I waited. Two could play this unintentionally awkward game.
“Chance? Um…I’ve been thinking- thinking a lot.” Sinae began apprehensively.
“That fact hasn’t gone unnoticed. Care to elaborate?”
“You know exactly what I’m trying to say, Chance Summers! I’m sorry I took up your time, High Priestess!” She huffed as she stood angrily.
Before she had taken two steps I was in front of her, blocking her route to the elevator.
“I’m sorry, Sinae. I was being obnoxious, but you know you can talk to me about anything- yes, I know what you want to talk to me about. Please sit back down.” I apologized as I again motioned to our recently vacated chairs.
“So, you wanted to talk. Please, say what’s on your mind, sister.” I offered once we were comfortable.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said to Savanna last week. I don’t believe for a standard second you were just ‘talking’ only to her, were you? You were trying to give me advice while actually not giving me advice, right?”
“I’ve said a lot of things since then, Sinae. Care to refresh my memory? What advice did I ‘clandestinely’ give you?”
“You aren’t going to make this easy, are you?”
“Not if it isn’t going to make a difference. Will it?” I smiled mischievously.
“As I said, I’ve been repeating and repeating what you told Savanna: ‘despite what you think or feel, you will always be loved, and by everyone here!’ Then you said something that has really been bothering me: ‘Sometimes we all need to do things we don’t want to do, or don’t feel we can. That’s just how life is. Contrary to what you see, none of us here have complete control of our lives.” Sinae quoted without error.
“Wow, I said all that?” I asked, but before she could say anything, I continued. “Of course, I did. I wanted Savanna to learn that she couldn’t just do things because she could. I also said that sometimes learning that lesson is painful. I know that for a fact and I’m sure you do too, sister.”
“And you are absolutely right, Chance. Like you, I’ve overcome some of the worst events anyone could endure and I survived.”
“Sorry to interrupt, High Priestess, but we have a flight coming in and the Broom Closet requires depressurization. I will be retracting the boarding ramp and sealing the ship until the flight has landed.” Pegasus alerted.
“How many sisters are returning, Pegasus?”
“Clean-Up and Pin-Up, High Priestess. Broom Closet Control reads four occupants.”
“Acknowledged, Pegasus. Do what you have to. Kitty and I will be awhile yet.”
We felt air start to circulate as Pegasus started her environmental system.
“You were saying, Sinae?” I prompted her to continue.
“I think I’m going to do it, Chance! It scares the Hell out of me, but everyone thinks I can do this.”
“But do YOU ‘know’ you can do it, Kitty Sinae? After all, a leader that doesn’t have confidence in herself, isn’t a very effective leader. Don’t get me wrong, I was terrified after you all voted me High Priestess! At first, I second-guessed almost everything, but I was determined not to let any of you down. I owed you all the best I could be. It does get a little easier…hopefully not so easy that I start taking things for granted…taking my sisters for granted.” I told her in heartfelt seriousness.
“Just so everyone knows; I’m not my grandmother- I’m not Libra. I am Kitty Sinae and I plan on doing things my way.”
“No one expects you to be another Libra, Kitty! We do expect you to do your best no matter what situation you find yourself in. I also expect you to remain true to Witch Corps and help out when you can.” I said as my smile widened considerably.
“With yours, and our sisters’ help, I know I can do this, Chance!” Sinae declared as she stood and closed the gap between us. I stood also and met her half way.
“How can I ever thank you, Chance?” Sinae cried as she embraced me in her trademark bear hug.
“Promise to keep me out of the politics. Mom, Charli, and Chantell seem better versed in that minefield. Now, we need to plan her royal highness’ arrival to her coronation. Kimbou and I were parsing through some ideas last week and we only have another couple days to prepare.” I giggled.
Sinae leaned back to stare into my eyes in shocked amazement.
“You had this all planned, didn’t you, Chance Summers?” She alleged.
Holding up my finger, I cued my comm.
“Chance, Princess. Could you ‘pop’ over to Pegasus’ Observation Lounge, honey?” I called to Savanna then cut the link since I didn’t expect to get an answer. Instead, I readied myself for my daughter’s arrival.
I didn’t wait more than a second. Savanna ‘popped’ in on the chair beside me harnessed into her car seat.
“Tell Aunt Kitty what you told me about a week ago, Sweetie.”
Savanna began her gurgling, cooing, giggling, and smiled with her big innocent eyes to Sinae.
My Lynxin sister’s eyes widened at what she had just been told.
 
 

 
 
Public Streaming Media: Capital, FeLane, FeLane Confederation
 

 
Off camera Announcer: Welcome citizens of the Confederation and especially you allied of the Way! We apologetically interrupt your normal daily media streaming, and cordially invite you to an especially rare and grandiose Confederation and planetary event- The Coronation of Princess Kitty Sinae. Now, streaming to you live from Capital on FeLane are commentators Nigel Smithe and Rupert W. Holmes. We now join Nigel and Rupert onsite. Gentlemen?”
 

 
Nigel: Good afternoon, Lords and Ladies; Kits and Kittens! Welcome to Capital. Joining me today is my esteemed colleague, Rupert W. Holmes. Rupert, as you can see from our vantage point high atop the Parliamentary portico roof adjacent to the Royal Residence, the Processional Mall is filled to capacity with citizens of all subspecies enthusiastically awaiting her royal highness’ appearance. This coronation promises the return to the Librian Dynasty and hopefully fully negates almost fifty years of the most subversive, distainful, anarchical… Pardon me, Lords and Ladies, for my divergence. Today’s festivities most assuredly will signal a return to the homogenous values we so ignorantly forfeited fifty years ago under the Regent Haturo Regime.
 
Rupert: What my colleague so bluntly refers to is the forfeiture of our honored way of life; our freedom to openly criticize our government, but particularly our ability to be governed by a fair and compassionate monarch.
 
Nigel: That’s exactly what we are here to witness today, Rupert. Today her royal highness, Princess Kitty Sinae- recently located serving with the Galactic Service will take her oaths to the Confederation and to the people of this great system.
 
Rupert: In the bio that we’ve received- a document which, by the way, contains intensely disturbing and eye-opening content- we have learned that our Princess, in her formative years, had experienced more than her share of abuse from the Haturo Regency.
 

 
Nigel: Also, the recently released court documents from the Parliamentary impeachment proceedings tell a gruesome tale, if you’ll pardon the expression. One of both psychological and physical trauma our Princess endured in those formative years.
 
Rupert: Yes, Nigel. Sadly- and quite painfully I might add- it summated with a Coccyx amputation followed by banishment from the Regent’s… the Regent’s royal court and… FeLane herself. Nigel? Are you okay, dear man?
 
Nigel: Forgive me, old chap- my lords and ladies. Such treatment of one’s own pride! Just the thought of losing one’s home and title…not to mention losing the one appendage that makes you unique- a punishment second only to spay or neutering, I might add! It simply escapes word and definition! What kind of monster could possibly do that to such a brilliant, promising, and active kitten?
 
Rupert: And, Nigel, it has been learned from those same publically released documents, that shortly after her teen initiation party, our now dethroned Regent went so far as to have her royal highness’ mother, High Princess Caroline, horribly tortured then euthanized!
 
Nigel: Absolutely despicable! How could an individual as vile as has been revealed, possibly come to power in this day and age, Rupert?
 
Rupert: Horribly appalling, I must say, Nigel. That sort of reprehensible…well, it should never have happened in this reporter’s opinion, Nige…
 
Archived media stream video freezes and abruptly switches back to the live presentation’s co-hosts.
 
Nigel: Excuse the interruption, Rupert, but we’ve just been informed that the ceremony is just about to initiate, but we are also hearing reports that the Princess has yet to arrive. Could there have been some sort of mix-up as to date and time from the Royal Residence, Rupert?
 
Rupert: I don’t believe so, Nigel. Royal Court investigators have confirmed that her royal highness, the princess, has been off world; joining the Galactic Service some fourteen standard years ago and is endeavoring to arrive on time.
 
Nigel: Good show, Princess Kitty! Doing your part to protect the species despite what you’ve personally endured! Lords and Ladies that alone shows the indomitable character of our next Queen, does it not?
 
Rupert: Quite so. We do know however, that her ship, GSS Mare De Tempest, arrived in orbit at twelve hundred, twenty-three, Capital Standard Time yesterday. In fact, Tau Sohn is standing by down on the mall with a representative detachment from the GSS Mare De Tempest. Tau? Are you there?
 

 
Tau: Thank you, Nigel and Rupert. With me now are Lt. Commander Rusk Kavendish, First Officer of GSS Mare De Tempest, and Lt. Malcom Singh, Supervising Sections Chief and immediate supervisor to her royal highness, Princess Kitty Sinae. Thank you both for agreeing to communicate with me, gentlemen. Both officers nod politely. Lt. Singh, can you please give your observations of today’s ceremony so far?
 
Lt. Singh: Well, It’s a truly amazing spectacle, Miss Tau! I’ve never seen so many people gathered in one place away from Mare’s Dining Hall!
 

 
Tau: Smiling back politely for a moment. I understand you and the crew of Mare De Tempest have only recently learned of her royal highness’ actual identity?
 
Lt. Singh: I simply can’t imagine that we had such an important dignitary in our midst! Sinae…sorry…Princess Kitty never gave us any clue as to her lineage. She just interfaced with the rest of us normally and never once showed any hints of ‘royalty’.
 
Tau: Lieutenant, talking with some of your shipmates, they’ve related how her royal highness enlisted under a nom de plume?
 
Lt. Singh: A what now?
 
Tau: An assumed name?
 
Lt Singh: Oh…yeah... I-I knew that. Yeah…well, we always knew her as CPO Sinae Ackktt. But I’ve since learned she had a sinus ailment the day of her enlistment and oath.
 
“She had a hairball!” An unseen male voice shouts out in the background.
 

 
Tau: And how about you, Lt. Commander? Your thoughts on her royal highness?
 
Lt. Cmdr. Kavendish: Well, she was always so humble and quiet until an incident arose- then she went in dutifully to rectify the dispute. Most times just her ‘no nonsense’ demeanor…
 
“You mean ‘kick-ass!” Another male voice shouts
 
Lt. Cmdr. Kavendish continues: …Her demeanor was usually enough to restore harmony! It never dawned on us that we had actual royalty onboard. She has always been approachable, moral and spirited. The Terran Officer noticeably stiffens.
Ma’am, while I have this opportunity, I want to personally thank CPO Kitty Sinae. In the recent failed Hoblin invasion of Mare De Tempest, I want everyone to know, here and now, that she personally saved not only my life, but our captain’s as well. Also, she singlehandedly rescued our on-duty Bridge and CC staff- as well as numerous others compromised on Mare! CPO Sinae…your princess, Kitty Sinae, is a first class hero of the highest caliber, Miss Tau!
 
Tau: After a noticeable, emotional pause Um… Well there you have it, Nigel and Rupert. Undeniable proof! According to her shipmates, her royal highness, Princess Kitty Sinae definitely embodies the traits and convictions necessary to preside over our beloved Confederation! I might also add, that before going live, so many others here in attendance from the Mare De Tempest related similar or identical experiences involving her royal highness, Princess Kitty Sinae. I’ve also heard numerous eyewitness accounts from many members of this detachment insisting her royal highness holds membership in some super-secret, elite, extremely covert, Special Operation’s Unit that recently re-activated to quell the incident onboard GSS Mare De Tempest. Back to you, Nigel and Rupert.
 

 
Rupert: looking slightly uncomfortable and nervous Yes… Most fascinating, but please excuse Tau for possibly spreading null rumor, Lords and Ladies. At this time our researchers cannot substantiate her highness’s membership in any Spec-Ops unit. However, our Parliamentary source positively confirms over seventy-five acts of selfless bravery perpetrated by her royal highness during the GSS Mare De Tempest incident. Officially, any reports of a high-level, Spec-Ops involvement are unsubstantiated and remain unaddressed in our repeated queries to the Galactic Service Admiralty or Galactic Defense Committee Chairman, Jameson Englert- who, I might add has been unavailable for comment.
 

 
Nigel: Looks to the sky a moment in confusion. I highly suspect we will ever find out about such a clandestine unit, Rupert! Special Operations teams function more efficiently in the background, or in the ‘dark’ as some in the know would sa...
 
Rupert: Pardon me, old man. We’re receiving word now that the Royal Guard has been dispatched to clear the west end of the Processional Mall for some undisclosed reason. We are also being informed that the clearing constitutes a very sizable area just inside the Arch of the People. We’re hearing rumors from our field spotters placed amongst the local audience that something colossal must be on its way, while we’re also hearing speculation that some grand entrance display will take place prior to her royal highness’ arrival.
 
Nigel: Well, whatever is to happen, this surely has to be a first in the history of Coronations, Rupert. I’ve just been informed that Tau Sohn has made her way out to the site and is ready to give us a report. Tau? What have you learned?
 

 
Tau Sohn: slightly out of breath. Although officials here, on sight, are very tight-lipped, I’m seeing renewed excitement here, Nigel. Expectations have heightened and the general feeling overall, is that her royal highness plans on making her grand entrance at any moment. Wait…what? Where’s this bloody gale coming from?
 

 
Tau: resuming her professional composure despite her mane blowing wildly and having to talk over the mysterious, howling wind Well, gentlemen, we seem to be experiencing a rather random, harsh wind event here at the public end of the Processional Mall. Gentlemen, I’ll hand it back to you for now. Nigel?
 

 
Nigel: Thank you for that report, Tau. Our producer has just checked with the Planetary Environmental Forecasting Center and is informing us no wind events have been predicted or scheduled in the immediate area today. There is speculation here in our booth that what we are experiencing might have some connection to the sudden clearing of the are...
Rupert: ‘Ello? What we got ‘ere?
 
Nigel: stunned and caught completely off guard By the Queen’s eternal soul! Lords and Ladies. Something miraculous… unbelievably jaw-dropping, has just occurred here… in our vantage point… high above the Coronation assemblage… our whole production staff seems at a loss for any viable explanation!
 
Rupert: What Nigel is having difficulty describing is the sudden appearance of an infant Terran kitten in some sort of personal carrier! How she got here is beyond anything I can logically explain, though! And, the little precious is smiling and waving her adorable, chubby fingers at us!
 

 
Nigel: sounding quite stunned Rupert! The Arch! Look! My Lords and Ladies! You cannot possibly believe what we are witnessing at this very moment!
 

 
Nigel: still visually and audibly stunned As you can see from your stream, Lords and Ladies, this is a ship of magnificent elegance and superb design! My word! Is that a pointed hat and crossed brooms on her upper control surface, Rupert… and-and what of that strange design on her bow? Christen, can we get any identification from the hull designation…um… NCC-53847B for that ship, and why has it been granted special permission to interrupt such an honored and sanctified ceremony! More importantly, how could it have just ‘appeared’? And out of thin air no less?!
 
Rupert: At a complete loss there, mate. Though the ancient term, ‘magic’, does spring to mind! Wait? What? Why, that’s completely insane! Nigel, our researchers have just informed me that ship is registered to a Terran military organization identified only as EFMC! And-and, even more inexplicably, our spotters are informing us she displays a FeLane Interstellar Military Standards certification just under her hull designation!
Rupert pauses to listen to his earpiece again. His mouth drops open in astonishment.
Brilliant! Now our archivist is informing me that EFMC stands for ‘Earth Force Marine Corps’! Christen? I thought our neighbors- the Terran delegation- already arrived and seated? What? Not those Terrans? I do not understand! What? How so?
 
Nigel: Our government liaison, a Parliamentary member holding substantial clearance, has just informed us that a special operations unit dutifully initiated, organized, and chartered by Queen Libra, herself, has just arrived and landed on the Processional Mall’s West Entrance. Not much is known about this top secret unit, but we have been informed that it is indeed the Earth Force Marine Corps’ fabled ‘Witch Corps’. Hold on… She is? By all means, yes! Lords and Ladies we’re going to switch to Tau Sohn closer to the landing site. What’s going on out there, Tau Sohn?”
 

 
Tau: Nigel, I’m about as close as the Royal Guard will allow, and as you can hear, the crowd down here is ecstatic! According to several members of the Mare De Tempest detachment that I talked to earlier, they’ve seen this impressive ship before! Their individual descriptions of this very ship confirm, positively, this IS the much fabled ‘Witch Corps’! Nigel! We’re starting to see some activit…
 

 
Nigel: In a very excited voice. Lords and Ladies! Can you believe this?! Why, I’ve never seen such impressive pageantry in all my years of broadcast! As I speak, our researchers are trying to make identifications of these noble-bred women you are seeing on your devices.
 
Rupert: I say! A simply stunning display- most noteworthy of a Coronation, indeed, Nigel!
 

 
Nigel: Our recognition app has tentatively identified one of our new arrivals…Hold on?! This is completely preposterous! I covered that story years ago! This must be some sort of hoax! Christen? Can I get certified verification on this individual? If I’m right, she has been deceased for almost ten standard years!”
 
Rupert: Nigel, I am being assured by our high-ranking Parliamentary Liaison that your memory is spot on. That is indeed Miss Hope Summers. Our archivist is confirming she was reported deceased in the unprovoked attack on Gaia Four ten standard years past. Now, the scuttlebutt circulating throughout our production staff is that EFMC Witch Corps is actually comprised solely of Current Mages!
 
Nigel: Absolutely preposterous, Rupert! The Current Mages have been long extinct for centuries. There simply cannot be any that still exist!”
 
Rupert: Um, Nigel? Not to disagree with you in the least, old man, but the Terran kitten has just vanished. Tell me again how these ‘Current Mages’ must be extinct? Christen, replay the footage, please.
 

 
Nigel: Lords and Ladies! Had I not seen the record… indeed, I stand corrected, my friend. Christen, have we verified any of the other Ladies yet? Nigel’s mouth suddenly drops open, his ears twitch wildly. What’s this? Blau-hairs?! My Lords and Ladies, can it be?! Yes! Oh, my word, another Coronation first!
 
Rupert: Are they what I think, Old man?
 
Nigel: Indeed they are, my esteemed colleague! Lords and Ladies! A contingent from our far away allied system, Antarra, has apparently arrived with… What, Christen? Brilliant! Lords and Ladies! I have just been informed that her majesty, The Renowned, Queen Caroline Norge of Antarra has arrived and I assume with two of her sisters! Wait, what, Christen? I stand corrected, Lords and Ladies! Queen Caroline Norge, and her Ladies-in-Wait: sister, Julienne Gutteman, and niece, Janet Gutteman-Redman. Lords and Ladies, as you all might well know, because of its great distance and travel time from FeLane, the Antarran government has been reluctant to attend any Royal Galas or other Government sponsored celebrations. Obviously, this coronation is extremely high on her majesty, Queen Norge’s, priorities!
 
Rupert: Lords and Ladies. As we’ve been conversing and reviewing miraculous footage, the EFMC Witch Corps’ Pegasus has been offloading a rather impressive gathering of celebrities, including rarely seen dignitaries AND, I’m being told, Galactic Defense Committee Chairman, Jamison Englert’s daughter, Jamie Quincy is also part of this superbly elegant entourage. All this pageantry seems to be building toward one, obvious pinnacle. I count eleven regally-dressed females- including the royal delegation of Queen Norge of Antarra- and one, dress-uniformed male all positioned in parade formation- six to either side- of this spectacular ship’s boarding ramp… and I still see movement from just inside that hatch!
 
Nigel: sardonically Tell me, dear Rupert. How have you divined the name of our elusive visitors’ ship so quickly?
 
Rupert: My dear colleague, I simply searched the Way’s art archives and found the image depicted on the fuselage. The ‘Nose Art’- as the ancient Terrans’ called it, by the way, is of a creature called Pegasus, a winged equine of Terran myth and legend. Excuse me. Please say again, Christen?
 
Nigel: Rupert! Are my eyes deceiving me? Isn’t that noir-haired female Terran just exiting the craft carrying the very same infant kitten that just disappeared from our vantage point mere moments ago?
 
Rupert: I believe she is, old man! Brilliant! Simply brilliant! What? My pardon? Our producer has just learned from our Parliamentary source the female is the kitten’s mother, and High Priestess of EFMC, Witch Corps, Lady Chance Summers. According to our official, Lady Chance is their highest-ranking officer and also commander of the Pegasus. Shadowy reports of her existence have been circulating throughout the Way media streams as the face and the main driving force for the reemergence of this mysterious Covert-Ops team.
 
Nigel: Ecstatically Blimey! This is simply incredulous! Lords and Ladies, I simply cannot contain my astonishment! Now exiting the craft are two adolescent Lynxin Kittens! My word! Can it be? By Libra! We have just been told by our spotters on the ground that they both are of royal lineage!
 

 
Rupert: According to our recognition app, one of the kittens is Lyra Serangetti, the six-year old kitten to Kimbou and Sonya Serangetti. An earlier perusing of Mare de Tempest’s crew manifest revealed that Commander Kimbou Serangetti is the Mare’s commanding officer, Nigel.
 
Nigel: Brilliant!
 

 
Rupert: Hold on! Why…this simply cannot be! Our app has found a match to the older, adolescent kitten! It’s identifying her as Sonya Serangetti, age forty-five standard years. Mate of Cmdr. Serangetti!
 
Nigel: I am inclined to believe our app, Rupert. It is enabled with time-progression algorithms that have proven useful to our civil authorities over many decades.
 
Rupert: Well, if they truly are Current Mages, this sort of thing is well within the realm of…
 
Nigel: And if I recall, Cmdr. Kimbou Serangetti lists prominently on the recently, publicly released, membership rolls of the Royal Guard Reserve, Rupert.
 
Rupert: Nigel, you don’t think…?
 
Nigel: That this could be the moment, Lords and Ladies?! Could this be her royal highness, Princess Kitty Sinae’s ceremonial security entourage? If truly so, the next person we’d expect to exit the Pegasus would be the princess herself…Wait we’ve been told there is movement!
 
Nigel: It seems something is definitely happening out there. Let’s listen in.
 

 
Unknown female voice: WITCH CORPS! Attennnnn-SHUN!
 

 
Rupert: Well, there you have it, Nigel. I must say, this is highly unorthodox and astonishingly unprecedented! To think that a top-secret, special operations unit actually outs itself for the Royal Coronation! It’s simply unheard of.
 
Unknown female voice: PREE-sent, WANDS!
 
Rupert: Highly excited My word! Are those actual magical wands they just manifested! And with perfect synchronization, too! UNBELIEVABLE, Lords and Ladies!