Ark - Box Set #6, Part 1 of Ever After [an Egg and the Hameggattic Sisterhood novel] Read online

  “That’s wonderful. So, how are you?”

  “Confused. When I thanked the doctor, he stuck out his hand. I had no idea what he was doing. Something about shaking.”

  Egg barked a laugh. “That’s my fault. He thinks shaking hands is an official Sisterhood tradition.”

  “Oh. Anyway, I’m going to ask Jax’x to join the Sisterhood. Is that okay with you?”

  Bree smiled. “Of course. She’ll make a great sister.”

  “She already has.”

  “It was very brave of her.”

  “But it was very stupid of me. It’s just a ship. Besides, I can get it back.”

  Bree glanced at Egg whose eyes went wide. “How can you do that?”

  “The ship is controlled by an AI. It’s the same type of artificial intelligence I use in my avatars. If I can get close to the ship, I can take control.”

  “How close?” asked Egg.

  “Line of sight.”

  “Good to know. Very good to know. In the meantime, go with Bree and get some dinner. Afterwards, she’ll sit with Jax’x while you catch a few hours rest.”

  “But . . .”

  “That wasn’t a request. Go. Just tell the nurse outside that Jax’x will be alone for a bit.”

  “Is it time for your dinner with the blue footed booby?” asked Bree with a grin.

  “Almost. Need to shower and change first. Love may be blind but it can still sense a bad smell . . . that would be me.”

  “Well, knock his socks off,” said Bree.

  “Just his socks,” added Serenity sarcastically.

  *****

  Egg went back to her assigned cabin and took a shower. Then she spent an inordinate amount of time combing her hair and looking at herself in the mirror. She turned her face to the left, then to the right . . . trying to decide which was her better side. Deciding that they were both equal and not up to the task of impressing her dinner date, she shook her head in disgust, brushed her hair one more time then dressed.

  The nicest outfit was hardly fit for royal company but there was nothing to be done about it. One last look in the mirror and off she went.

  She was able to convince herself that her pounding heart had nothing to do with Benny or their evening plans.

  Unlike last time, the guard opened the Prince’s door as she arrived. She thanked him and walked in. Prince Ben’Edikk was standing next to a porthole looking both anxious and handsome . . .

  “Good evening, Gracie. May I say you look lovely as always.” It was a bit clichéd but Egg accepted the compliment.

  “Thank you . . . Ben’Edikk.” She didn’t feel the need to explain her limited sartorial choices.

  He, in turn, accepted Egg’s use of his given name as her way of returning the compliment. “May I offer you a drink?”

  Egg didn’t drink as a matter of personal choice. However, instead of turning him down, she would ask for something that he couldn’t offer her. “I only drink champagne. Sorry.” It was actually true but only on New Year’s Eve and Grammy’s birthdays.

  Benny smiled. “Champagne it is,” and he walked to a sidebar, took out a chilled bottle and poured two flutes.

  “How on earth did you get that?”

  “I took the liberty of contacting Sylvia. She assured me that this was a libation to your liking.”

  Egg smiled. “My Feminion is never wrong.”

  “Indeed.”

  Chapter 2 – Egg and Benny Sitting in a Tree

  Egg took the flute and was about to take a sip. “Before you imbibe, may I offer a toast?”

  “Please.”

  “First, to your injured sisters, may their recoveries be speedy and full. And to the Hameggattic Sisterhood, may their exploits embolden and inspire others to take up the cause of those in need.”

  Egg smiled, tipped her head then took a sip. “And to Prince Ben’Edikk, whose quick thinking saved the life of one of my beloved sisters.”

  Benny did as Egg had just done – smiled, bowed and drank.

  “Now that the pomp and circus (she purposely misused the word) is over, can we talk about all that needs to be done?”

  The Prince grinned. “Do you ever just relax?”

  “Whenever I can.”

  “And what form does that take, exactly?”

  “Well back on Earth I like to fly airplanes.”

  “How fascinating . . . Flying Girl likes to fly. I am stunned by the revelation.”

  Egg lowered her eyes in embarrassment. “Okay, you got me. If I’m not flying in a plane, I’m flying with my suit or in a spaceship.”

  “Surely there is some other activity that you enjoy?”

  “Well, when I was young, I absolutely loved dodge ball.”

  “I am unfamiliar with the reference.”

  “It’s a game. There are two sides and you take inflated balls and try to whack each other. Last man standing wins.”

  “Now you are just teasing me.”

  “No. I’m serious. You should try it.”

  “Well then, when we return home I shall organize teams and we will introduce the sport to Aerianna.”

  “Really?”

  “Admittedly it sounds a bit barbaric, but I enjoy a good challenge.”

  “In that case,” and she held out her glass and clinked it against her date’s, “the Sisterhood challenges you and your noble entourage to a game.”

  “Accepted. What are the stakes?”

  “Stakes?”

  “To the victor go the spoils and that sort of thing.”

  “Fair enough. Let me give that some thought. In the meantime, I haven’t eaten all day. Were you planning on starving me into submission?” She gave him a raised eyebrow.

  Much to her delight, Benny didn’t take any of this banter literally. “Am I so transparent? Very well, please,” and he pulled out a chair at the table and Egg sat down. “I think you will find the menu choices to be quite delightful. My chef has prepared a briquette of dragon in a lovely wine sauce. Or if you prefer, we have a casserole of baby sea serpent. Be warned, the taste is a bit rich.”

  Egg’s mouth dropped open. She was about to scream in disgust when she realized his game. “Shame on you.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “To think I was so gullible as to fall for that. Dragon steak and serpent stew . . . you’re a very naughty boy.”

  Benny laughed. “It was worth a try. What gave me away?”

  “Your eyes.”

  “My eyes?”

  “They were laughing.”

  The blue man stared at his dinner companion. “Were they?”

  “What?” She wasn’t sure why he sounded as he did.

  “My father once told me the same thing about my mother. She had said something outrageous to me and I thought it to be true. My father scolded me. ‘Look at her eyes’ he said. ‘Can you not tell that they are laughing?’”.

  “And?”

  “I had no idea what he was talking about. My mother explained that when two people were so much in love, they could read each other’s most subtle facial expressions.”

  Egg blushed crimson.

  Seeing her discomfit, the Prince endeavored to change the subject. “How are your sisters?”

  Egg was grateful for his efforts. “I could tell you but you already know.”

  “Do I?”

  “You’re the sovereign in this little realm,” and she waved vaguely at the space ship. “You probably get updates every five minutes.”

  “Absolutely not. Every ten minutes,” and he smiled.

  And Egg laughed. However, her eyes apparently had a mind of their own because they fixated on the young man’s lips. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop staring.

  Again, the gallant young man came to her rescue. “I spoke with Doctor Agave.”

  “Is he that tall one?”

  “Yes. There was an incident between you two.”

  Egg smiled at the memory. “He had no idea what a handshake was. He thought I wanted
him to examine my fingers. The whole thing was very amusing.”

  “No, not that.”

  Now Egg was confused. “What are you talking about?”

  “You told him that I was in love with you, did you not?”

  “Yes, but I was just teasing him.”

  “Egg . . . on Aerianna when a young lady announces that a royal loves her, it is taken that she has committed to marrying him.”

  “What? That’s dumb.”

  “It is custom.”

  “Well, just tell him I didn’t know.”

  “It’s not that simple. He, and every other individual who knows, must be called before the Queen. She must beg forgiveness for having misled them. “

  “Are you kidding me?”

  “Yes.”

  “What?”

  “Yes. I am teasing you.”

  Egg’s mouth dropped open. Then a smile, completely unbidden, split her face. “Why you royal rascal,” and she grabbed a dinner roll from its basket and threw it at him.

  He caught it easily, inspected it . . . then took a bite. He offered her the half-eaten roll. “When we’re married, I’ll take the food from your mouth,” she said, “but not before.”

  “Does that mean . . .”

  “Shut up. That was just an expression.”

  “And a very clever one,” he replied. That earned him another roll . . . and a shared laugh.

  “Enough of your silliness, your Highness. The Heroine of Aerianna is hungry enough to eat a horse . . . or a dragon. Feed me.”

  *****

  Dinner went by in a flash. They ate and she talked about earth and her family and the years before she started the Quest. He listened and asked probing questions . . . getting her to admit to feelings she had never expressed.

  In turn, he described his life. Growing up in the shadow of his mother and sister. Overwhelmed by achievements of the Hameggattic Sisterhood. In awe, from a distance, of the Sisterhood’s fearless leader.

  When there was finally a lull in the conversation – well past the last course – he asked, “Would you care for dessert? I believe Chef prepared chocolate ice cream.”

  “Are you teasing me?”

  “Perish the thought. He has even conjured something called fudge to spread on top of the concoction. Does it sound appealing?”

  “Sylvia again?”

  “Actually your sister.”

  “Ashley! Has she been to visit?”

  “Indeed. I am taking lessons from her.”

  “What lessons?”

  “Colloquial English.”

  “Say what?”

  He cleared his throat, concentrated on his words and said, “I thought it would be really cool to be able to talk like an earthman. Can’t be in love with a hot chick like you and not be able to talk the talk.”

  Egg stared . . . then literally fell off her chair laughing so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. Benny walked over and plopped down next to her. “Hey, dude, you got something tickling your funny bone or what.”

  He never saw it coming . . . and she would never remember why she did it. Egg lunged at the young man, knocked him on his back, and began to kiss him with much too much reckless abandon. Benny was a bit more experienced then he had let on. He reciprocated her affections with a noble intensity worthy of any prince.

  Two minutes later (could have been longer) Egg pushed herself off. She jumped up and walked over to the viewing port and looked out . . . all the while combing her hair with her fingers and straightening her clothes which somehow got a bit scrunched.

  Benny understood what Egg was experiencing. It was strange how emotions could burst forth at the oddest times and for the strangest reasons. He walked up to the girl, standing close behind her but without touching. “Egg, as I said before, take all the time you need to be sure about your feelings for me. This relationship will develop at whatever pace you feel comfortable. I only ask that you do not . . . that is don’t . . . pull away just because you let you guard down for a moment.”

  For her part, Flying Girl was feeling emotions she had never known. And it frightened her. Facing death was apparently easier than facing love. “I should go.”

  “I will have Chef serve you the ice cream in your cabin. No need for it to go to waste.”

  Egg turned to face Benny . . . which sounds easy but it sure as heck wasn’t. “Thanks but I . . .” She was cut off by the intercom.

  “Your Highness, my apologies for interrupting. The Queen wishes to speak to you.”

  To Egg he said, “Do you mind? I would like you to stay and join the conversation.”

  “Sure.”

  “Please patch the communications to my personal comm link.”

  “Yes sir. At your convenience”.

  *****

  The Prince walked to his desk, opened the communications device and was greeted by the visage of Queen M’egg-Alynnia.

  “Sister, checking up on your younger sibling?”

  “Brother you must know that where my Sisters are concerned, I will be more than an interested third party. How are they?”

  “I will let Egg tell you.” He turned to look at his dinner companion who was shaking her head no.

  When he looked confused, she said, “It’s okay.” She circled around and stood in front of the screen. “Hi Meggy.”

  “Egg, congratulations. Preliminary assessment is that you achieved everything that you had set out to accomplish.” She paused then asked, “You seem a bit disheveled. Have you not had a chance to freshen up? Is it our sisters? Are they in danger?”

  Egg felt her cheeks get hot. Before she could stammer a reply, Benny stepped next to her. “Actually Your Highness, we have just returned from the recreation room. Egg was demonstrating the finer techniques of dodge ball. I must say, the sport suits her personality . . . a weave of both the tactical and the strategic.” Translation – no idea how the sport is played. Egg, however, just wanted to kiss him again for being so considerate.

  The use of her title (Your Highness) was her brother’s code for ‘just follow my lead’. Basically, he was telling Meggy to accept whatever he said at face value and not to challenge the logic of it.

  “I warn you brother; Egg will show you no mercy. In this, she is the better man.”

  “Your warning comes too late. Egg, on behalf of the Sisterhood, has challenged me and my friends to a match in the near future. Presumably you can find something less queenly to wear and join in the festivities?”

  “I would not miss it.” To Egg she asked, “Can you give me an update on the injured?”

  “Bl’azzz lost a talon which I’m told will grow back in a few weeks. Other than that, nothing of note. Tee’ka sustained a concussion. She’ll need a month or so to fully recover. In the meantime, she’s even loopier than normal. Bree was emotionally shaken up by the violence but she has since calmed down. Serenity is full of guilt for trying to be a hero and getting Jax’x hurt. Jax’x is on her way to a full recovery. Unfortunately, at some point I’ll have to tell her she’s lost her boyfriend . . . a little parting gift from Xara. And Xara is now loose in the galaxy. I have to find her before she can cause harm.”

  “We can discuss that later. By the way, I have heard from Spirit. Jynx has found a mate. Sometime in the next year or so, the Sisterhood will become grandparents.”

  Egg laughed. “Be sure to tell Spirit congratulations. Let her know I’ll contact her as soon as I can.”

  “I will. However, please finish your summary.”

  “Sorry?”

  “I have not heard how Egg of Earth is. Before you answer, Brother, would you give us a few minutes of privacy?”

  “As you wish”. He turned, looked Egg in the eyes, then left.

  “So, dear sister, how are you?”

  “I’m good M’egg.”

  “Of course you are. However, we are alone and I am your Queen as well as your sister. Perhaps you will allow me to ask a few questions?”

  “Sure. Ask away.”


  “When you thought you lost Bl’azzz, did you reconsider your role as leader of the Sisterhood?”

  “Reconsider is not the right word. I would have resigned.”

  “Egg, what the Sisterhood does is extraordinary. So many people have, and will, rely on you. The dangers you will face may extract a price that will not be easy to pay.”

  “I know. It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. But now’s not the moment to discuss it.”

  “Whenever you feel the time is appropriate. Speaking of Sisters, I am sending Aeri’elle to Spell ‘Bound. She should be there in a few days.”

  “Is she going to set up a university?”

  “Big Bird will do more than that. From reports that I have received, there is no organized educational system at any level. We need to remedy that.”

  “Sounds like our Professor will be here for a while.”

  “She is more than willing.”

  “I look forward to seeing her.”

  “What are your immediate plans?”

  “We need to stay here until Jax’x is recovered enough so I can tell her about Jay’gar. I want to give her the chance to confront him and Po. By the way, we’re going to ask Jax’x to become a sister. Any problem with that?”

  “Though I have never met her, I am very grateful she risked her life to save Serenity. I trust you and the others on this matter. I will discuss it with the rest of the sisters but I am certain they will accept your decision.”

  “Thanks.”

  Meggy turned the conversation in an unexpected direction. “Egg, has something happened between you and my brother?”

  Egg blushed yet again. “Um, well . . . why do you ask?”

  “I am not trying to pry into your personal affairs. However if my over-anxious sibling is attempting to accelerate his relationship with you – and you are not comfortable with that – then I will recall him to Aerianna.”

  “Oh, Meggy. I am so confused.”

  “How so, Sister?”

  “Until he came here, I felt nothing romantic for him. I would have taken bets that he and I would never be ‘he and I’. Then Benny invited me for dinner and we laughed and we talked and he listened and we laughed again. Before I knew it, I had jumped on top of him and couldn’t stop kissing those perfect blue lips.”