Chapter 24 #2
Qip smiled with a look of amusement. “Empyrea is not what you think it is. It is—” He broke off. “No! I’m not going to tell
you. I’m going to let you see for yourselves.”
“What do we take?” Aradella asked.
“Which weapons?” Mekos asked.
“Nothing,” Qip said. “You won’t need anything. Not clothes, not toiletries, nothing at all. Davro will have everything for
you. Just take personal items that you think you can’t be without.” He was teasing them. “I’ll tell Davro to program the Spacer
to give you a tour of the island before you see him. Now you must go so I can arrange all this. You’ll leave early tomorrow
morning.”
All Mekos and Aradella could do was nod and say thanks, then they ran up the stairs.
Qip looked at Darr, who’d been standing in the shadows, so silently they hadn’t seen him among the other robot parts. Sitting
on his shoulder was Ian. “Do you have questions for me?”
Ian looked serious. “Urah and her daughter were helped by someone on Empyrea?”
“Yes.” Qip was pleased that he’d seen the important part. “A traitor. Not even Vian can see who is backing those evil women.”
Darr’s eyes blinked red.
“Yes,” Qip said. “We believe that whoever or whatever it was sent us away. We were asking too many questions. So will you
go or not?”
Ian said, “When I was under the rule of those women, I did things I’m not proud of. Maybe if I go to Empyrea, I can redeem
myself by helping in some way. I can make myself unobtrusive.”
Qip smiled. “I’m sure you can. Davro will be intrigued by you—as will all the Empyreans. Be careful someone doesn’t throw a net over you. You could be sold on the underground for great wealth.”
“I will be careful and I will look out for them.” With that, Ian flew out of the room.
Qip looked skyward. “Haver, your family honors you.”
The next morning, before it was full daylight, Mekos went to the dining room, while Aradella stayed in their bedroom. She’d
mumbled some excuse for staying, but the truth was that she was curious. She wasn’t supposed to have seen it, but she knew
Zeon had given something to Mekos before they left. It was a small wooden box and she’d seen Mekos slip it into the magic
bag. If he was taking whatever it was to Empyrea with them, it must be important.
When she pulled the box out, she had an idea what was in it. She opened it and, yes, inside was the knife that she’d used
to stab Valona. To her disgust, there was dried blood on the crystal blade. Her instinct was to clean it. She could understand
why they should keep a magic object but at least keep it clean.
But she didn’t remove the knife. Instead, she reached into the bag and withdrew the little leather pouch that contained the
leaves of the poisonous plant she’d taken from Valona’s garden. She untied the bag, then, being careful not to touch them,
she dumped the leaves over the knife. The leaves melded themselves onto the blade until they almost disappeared. “Creepy!”
Aradella muttered then quickly closed the lid and latched it. She shoved it back into the bag, then ran down the hall to the
dining room. Breakfast was waiting.
“You’ve got the bag?” Mekos asked, his plate full.
“Yes,” Aradella answered. “And I put more plants in it. And I have the mask and the key in case we find a lock to be opened.”
“Locks are Ian’s job.”
“Did I hear my name?” Ian flew into the room and immediately Darr put tiny plates of food on his miniature dining setup.
“You always hear your name,” Aradella said. “We’re going to Empyrea today.”
“I’m going with you,” Ian said.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Mekos said. “You could be hurt.”
“Because I’m little?” Ian asked belligerently.
“Yes!” Mekos answered in kind. “There will be danger and—”
“Give it up,” Aradella said. “He’ll sneak into a crevice and go anyway. What do you think Empyrea is like?”
“I’m sure it has a magnificent military,” Mekos said. “The soldiers are well trained and fit. And they have spaceships and
helicopters and bombs. They are very powerful!”
“I think it’s a paradise,” Ian said dreamily. “All comfort and luxury.” He grinned. “And pleasure. Abundant pleasure!”
They looked at Aradella, waiting for her vision. “I hope it’s a place of peace and families. There’ll be calm and quiet where
people laugh and are friends.”
The men blinked a few times, then Mekos turned back to Ian. “What kind of pleasure?”
Aradella groaned. Obviously, they thought her version was boring.
Minutes later, the three of them went outside, then halted, staring at what was before them. It was a little vehicle on two
sleek silver runners. The center was a clear bubble, the roof and sides transparent. Inside were two plush seats of a deep
blue. In the back was a third seat that was tiny. They looked at Ian on Darr’s shoulder.
“I think you were expected,” Aradella said.
Darr opened a door that was well concealed.
Qip was standing to the side. When they hesitated, he stepped forward. “It will be safe. Davro is waiting for you. Just remember
that Empyrea is not what you think it is. I remind you that they’ve been involved with Earth for centuries. There will be
the offer of uh . . . activities that you won’t understand.”
Aradella gave a weak smile of not understanding. “I have the mask. Who should I look like?”
“Valona’s maid,” Ian said loudly.
The thought of her changing to someone so old and wrinkled made them laugh and the tension was broken, but then they looked at Qip.
“Make yourselves look like the first person you see,” Qip said.
“Both of us?” Mekos asked. “Shouldn’t we choose people to emulate?”
“No,” Qip said. “First person, both of you.”
They shrugged, not understanding, but agreed to do it.
Aradella kissed Qip’s cheek, then she stood on tiptoe and kissed Davro’s cheek. His eyes flashed a pinkish-orange. Quite pretty.
“I didn’t program him for that color.” Qip looked shocked. “Go before you ruin all of us!” He was teasing.
Ian flew into the little vehicle and proudly enthroned himself on his chair.
Aradella and Mekos followed. There were no controls of any kind inside, not even on the doors. They were fully at the mercy
of the programming of the machine.
Silently, the Spacer rose into the air. The passengers waved to Qip and Darr until they could no longer be seen.