P'yxx - Syl'kie and Ellie Rose's 1st adventure Read online

  Syl’kie and Ellie Rose

  P’yxx

  Adventure #1

  © Copyright, 2018, by Robert Iannone

  All Rights Reserved.

  Cover Art by Sean Duffy

  Table of Contents

  Preface: Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood

  Prologue

  Chapter 1 – Mother Knows Best

  Chapter 2 – Stupid is as Stupid Does

  Chapter 3 – P’yxx

  Chapter 4 – Hal ‘sea-on

  Chapter 5 – Brain-Wreck

  Chapter 6 – Dysmal

  Chapter 7 – Z’spon

  Chapter 8 – Fun House

  Chapter 9 – Not So Ticky-Tacky Tech

  Chapter 10 – First Contact

  Chapter 11 – House of Horrors

  Chapter 12 – Who’s Your Momma?

  Epilogue

  Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood

  Summary of the First Series

  For those that have not read the prior series “Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood,” a brief summary is required so you can understand the events that led to this point in the lives of Syl’kie and Ellie Rose.

  First, the twins’ parents are Queen Eloise and Prince Ben’Edikk of Aerianna – a planet that circles the star Alcyone in the constellation The Seven Sisters.

  Queen Eloise’s full name is Eloise Grace Graystone. Her nickname is her initials – EGG. She was originally from Earth and how she ended up as Queen of a world more than a trillion miles away is the basis of this prior series.

  It all began a thousand years ago when a villain from a neighboring planet deposed the rightful king of Aerianna by stealing an artifact that gave the user unlimited power. His name was Mobius.

  The King that lost the Throne was M’earth, and his oldest daughter was Rose’Alynnia who one day would become Egg’s mother-in-law.

  Rose fought the good fight against Mobius but, in the end, she knew she could not win. In desperation, she hatched a plan that should never have succeeded. The scientist of Aerianna had created a Flying Suit and three pieces of jewelry with some very advanced technology. Rose had her life force - the very essence of who she was – transferred into the Flying Suit to power it. The suit, the jewelry and her DNA were taken to Earth with the hope that one day, someone could put these items together and prove worthy to come to Aerianna’s aid. It took a millennium but the plan worked.

  And that someone was nine-year-old Egg.

  She and her best friend Sylvia created the Hameggattic Sisterhood. They recruited five more girls representing the three sentient species on Aerianna (two dragons, two sea serpents and a green-skinned human) and set out to defeat Mobius.

  Against all odds, they did just that.

  The Sisterhood became a force of nature in that part of the Galaxy – and Egg became a living legend. Leading her band of sisters, they fought evil and helped those that needed assistance. In the end, the people of Aerianna voted to make her their next queen.

  Along the way, Egg fell in love and married Prince Ben’Edikk. The marriage produced two children – Ellie Rose and her younger sister (by fifteen minutes) Syl’kie.

  Here are the covers to the eight boxed sets - containing all thirty-seven books - of Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood . . .

  And here are all the Hameggattic Sisters that Egg recruited over the years and who are considered by the twins as their aunts . . .

  You can find much more information about Egg, the Hameggattic Sisterhood and their adventures on their website at flyinggirl.us

  That brings us back to Syl’kie and Ellie Rose. The girls are now eleven years old. Syl’kie inherited the Flying Suit from her mother while her ridiculously smart, older sister is content to be her Feminion – that’s Aeriannian for trusted advisor.

  As foretold by the Myst Tree at Sighing Whorl (read the previous series to find out who that is), they will become legendary – but not in the same way as their illustrious mother.

  They will become infamous for their outrageous adventures.

  Prologue

  [from Circle of Life, the last book of

  Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood]

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Liar. Tell me.”

  “You think you’re such a know-it-all.” It was more a statement of fact then an accusation.

  “It doesn’t take a genius – which I am, of course – to figure out something’s bothering you. So, spill it.”

  Syl’kie just huffed loudly, but then gave in. She always gave in to her older sister. “I miss Mom.”

  “Yeah, I know.”

  “Don’t you?”

  “Of course, I do. But, since there’s nothing we can do about it, I’ve come up with a little distraction.”

  “Like what?”

  “Let’s go to my lab.”

  Syl’kie rolled her eyes. “Why do you even have a lab?”

  “I told you, I’m a genius. All geniuses have labs.”

  “You’re not as smart as Aunt K’ssss or Snarky Sparky.”

  *

  They were six years old when they first understood the nature of the famous Grump. By the time they were seven, they had given her this nickname. Serenity pretended not to be amused.

  “Hey, you twin twerps, show some respect.”

  “Actually” responded Ellie Rose “we discussed the philosophy of respect with Aunty Jax’x.”

  Serenity did her famous eye roll. “First of all, you’re seven . . . why are you even discussing philosophy? Go play with dolls or something.”

  Both girls giggled at the concept. Neither could be called a typical seven-year-old child. Not by any stretch of the imagination. “Did you play with dolls” asked Syl’kie mischievously.

  Serenity glared at the girl. “What do you think?” she snarled.

  “If you did, they were probably real children that you made into puppets,” replied Ellie.

  “If only I could” came the wistful response. “Listen up, you two. A word to the wise – if you need a serious answer to a complex question, don’t be talking to Cracker Jax’x. She only thinks that she has all the answers.” (When Meggy and her friends had visited earth, one of the treats they brought back was caramelized popcorn – better known as Cracker Jacks. It became an instant hit back on Aerianna and a wonderful nickname for one of the sisters).

  “I thought you two have a contest and she’s come up with more right answers than you.”

  “Did she tell you that?”

  “Yup.”

  “Well, she’s wrong.”

  “You had more right ones?”

  “No. She’s wrong for telling you. Now, go away or I will invent that gizmo to turn you into marionettes so you have to dance to whatever tune I want.”

  The twins giggled again. “You know the rules,” said Ellie Rose.

  “No hug, no go” finished her sister.

  “Oh, all right. Just make it fast.” But Serenity would have been devastated if they had left without the mandatory Hameggattic Hug.

  *

  “I don’t want to be smarter. I want to be just as smart.”

  “Well, I forbid it.”

  “What?”

  “You’re supposed to be my Feminion. Aunt Syl is smart but she isn’t Sparky smart and she was still the greatest Feminion ever. So, I forbid you from getting smarter.”

  “You know what I don’t get . . . how we can be identical twins. You are one loopy little lady.”

  “We’re not exactly identical. Are you color blind?”

  “Skin color is so over-rated. Anyway, let’s go to the lab.”<
br />
  “Oh, all right. But this better be good.”

  “Everything I do is good.”

  “Not too conceited, are you?”

  “Um, no. Just the right amount.”

  *****

  Syl’kie held out her hand for her sister. As soon as Ellie took it, they leapt skyward.

  It came as no surprise that when offered the flying suit a year ago, Ellie Rose politely refused to even try it on. “No, thank you. I’m good.”

  “Don’t want to be the next Flying Girl?”

  “I know what the Myst Tree said; I’m going to be Syl’kie’s Feminion. And no offense to my younger sister, but she can really use a brain.”

  “Hey, I’m standing right here” whined the younger girl.

  “Yes, you are. And, don’t you look cute as a button.”

  “You’re just saying that because we’re identical twins.”

  Ellie smiled wryly. “Maybe just half a brain.”

  “Okay. That’s better.”

  The girl’s lab was in the Institute of Applied Science. Their father had insisted it be somewhere close to K’ssss, Jax’x and Serenity so the three aunts could keep an eye on his not-so-angelic daughters.

  The Myst Tree had been right about the girls finding their own path. These two were already becoming quite the local legend for imaginative, free-spirited mischief. And right on schedule, when they turned eleven a few weeks back, they upped their game.

  “You need to fly to the Royal Yacht, sneak on board and hide this . . . well, anywhere.”

  “What is it?”

  “It’s a holographic projector. When you get back, I’ll turn it on.”

  “And?”

  “Aunt Meggy is coming home for a visit on a Solaxis ship. She’ll be here in an hour. Our ship is going out to greet them. When they get close, I’ll turn on the projector.”

  “And?”

  “Stop saying and.” Ellie paused then said, “AND, our ship will turn into a giant Kladavarious.”

  “Don’t make me slap you. Tell me what a klada-whatever is.”

  “You’ll see. Now, go.”

  An hour later, the two ships rendezvoused and Ellie threw the switch. To the horror of everyone on-board the Solaxis ship, the view screen showed . . .

  About six hours later, the two girls, accompanied by their father, were apologizing to everyone concerned. It took every bit of self-control for Benny not to smile with pride at his daughters and pretend to be horrified by their behavior.

  **

  They landed at the Institute and made their way to Ellie’s lab – taking care to avoid their aunts. To enter the room required an individual to pass a security test – one designed by the young genius. She had decided the usual protocols were too stupid and easily broken. Passwords, fingerprints, voice prints, retina scans – that was way too easy to fool. Even brain wave analysis was too simplistic. There was no way she was going to let any unauthorized person enter her domain and mess around with her stuff.

  Being way too clever for her own good, she came up with an ingenious security device. The door pad would flash an incredibly complex equation that had to be solved within thirty seconds. If it wasn’t, a second equation would take its place. A third unsuccessful attempt would disable the pad and set off a silent alarm that would be transmitted to her.

  Ellie tap the pad to activate it. An equation appeared and, as she gave it some thought, she involuntarily licked her bottom lip. She punched in the answer and the door slid open.

  What no one knew, however, was that her tongue was being scanned for its unique pattern. The equation test was just misdirection and designed to humiliate her aunts.

  Inside the lab was an array of incredibly sophisticated equipment. It should be noted that not all of it was obtained with permission.

  “So, what do you want to show me?’

  “My space tunnel generator.”

  “Bo-ring.” There were now tunnels connecting all the worlds of the Commonwealth with one another as well as transfer tunnels relaying black hole energy to every world in the Federation as well as the Commonwealth. They were now part of everyday life.

  “Have a little faith in your older sister. Mine’s different.”

  “How?”

  “The tunnels that everyone else uses can only be created if you know the location of the planet at the other end. The way they were ever able to find Earth was trial and error . . . better known as dumb luck. I found a way around that little problem.”

  “So what?”

  “So, using the tunnel technology I can send sub-space, highly energized . . .”

  “STOP. You’re talking gibberish just like Cracker Jax’x and the others.”

  “Sorry. All I’m saying is that I can locate literally a billion worlds for us to explore. The whole galaxy becomes our playground. Who knows what mysterious creatures are out there. We’ll have a giggle exploring it all.”

  Syl’kie gave that some thought. “And you’ll need Flying Girl once you get to these places, right?”

  “Couldn’t do it without you.”

  Having her older sister validate her reason for being was very important to Syl’kie. “Okay. I’m in. Where to first?”

  “I found this little planetoid with an energy signature that seems like it’s artificial. We gotta go check it out.”

  “When?”

  “Right now.” But just as the words were spoken, the communicator in the lab came alive. “Don’t answer it.”

  Syl’kie looked at the screen, then yelled “It’s Mom. She’s home.”

  “It’s about time. I hate when she goes on these long diplomatic missions. Let’s go see her. We can visit that planetoid tomorrow.”

  “Ellie, do you think I’m being too much of a kid for missing her?”

  “She’s your mother, you’ll never be too old or too young to miss her.”

  Chapter 1 – Mother Knows Best

  The Queen was sitting on the throne patiently listening to the dragon Rap’tor, her Minister of Culture. She had asked him to do a kind of triage – allowing only those individuals with the most pressing problems to attend today’s session. Since she had been gone for almost two months, there were hundreds of decisions that needed to be made. So busy was her schedule that she didn’t even have a chance to replace her Coronation Crown used on diplomatic missions with the one she wore every day.

  But it was hard to concentrate. What she really wanted to do was see her twins. She had to put her hand over her mouth to cover a grin that formed involuntarily every time she thought of them.

  Her darling daughters – true to the prophecies of the Myst Tree – were forging their own path. As predicted, when they turned eleven that path veered deep into the Forest of Foolishness. And that reminded her of the guilt she was feeling for having missed their birthdays.

  So consumed with her daydreaming that she completely missed Rap’tor’s question. “Your Majesty, do you agree?”

  “I apologize. My mind drifted for a moment.”

  Rap’tor was not only one of Egg’s Minister; he was a close, personal friend. “Perhaps we can postpone this meeting until tomorrow.”

  “No. No, that’s not necessary. But thank you.”

  “If I told you that your daughters are about two minutes away, would you reconsider that decision?”

  Egg smiled. “You big, blue feather duster – why didn’t you start with that little fact?”

  “Might have slipped my mind,” he teased.

  “Yeah, right.” She stood and turned to the throng. “Sorry ladies and gents, but my daughters are about to make a grand entrance and I haven’t seen them in months. So, everybody go away.”

  That phrasing wasn’t very queen-like but the people of Aerianna and the Commonwealth were well aware of the informal way their beloved Queen spoke and no one took offense. In fact, they groaned at the postponement but grinned at the phrasing of their dismissal.

  As they got up to leave, Egg had a change
of heart. “Wait a second,” and everyone stopped and turned around. “Rap’tor, listen to their issues and you make decisions on as many of them as you can.”

  “Based on?”

  “Based on your intimate knowledge of your Queen’s thinking. And, if anyone of you who gets a ruling you think is wrong, then come back and see me tomorrow. Okay?”

  Everyone smiled or nodded their approval. It was for just such decisions that they loved their queen.

  “Great. Now go away,” and she grinned as she shooed them with her hands.

  Just then, two bodies flew over everyone’s head and landed in front of the throne. It was, of course, the twins.

  Somewhat belatedly, the Sentinels at the door banged their lances and announced the girls’ arrival. “The Royal Princesses; Syl’lie and the Brain.” Ever since the girls had tried to mischievously embarrass the poor guys, they had asked their commander to obtain the parents’ permission to get even. Benny loved the idea and agreed – but only if there was no serious diplomatic activity in progress. Syl’lie and the Brain was just one of about a hundred names the Sentinels had come up with.

  “Hello, Mother,” said the Brain

  “Hi, Mom,” added Syl’lie

  “Hi, yourselves. Get over here and hug your old mamma.” Egg held out her arms.

  Ellie looked at Egg and raised her eyebrows – then turned to her sister. “Do you think she deserves such an expression of love?”

  “Well . . .” said her younger sister. Then “Hey, Ellie what’s that?” and she pointed at the girl’s feet.

  As soon as The Brain looked where her sister pointed, Syl’kie literally flew into her mother’s arms and buried her face in Egg’s chest. “I missed you so much.”

  “Sorry, sweetheart. I missed you too.”

  “That wasn’t funny,” came the petulant voice of the other girl. “We agreed to make her beg for our forgiveness. She did miss our birthdays.”

  “That was your stupid idea and I never said yes. And, if you’re so smart, why did you fall for such a stupid trick like that?”

  “Syl, easy with the word stupid,” Egg corrected her daughter. “Find a more descriptive adjective.”