”Holy crap, mother nature turned down the thermostat,” Laurine said as she
hugged herself. She and her sister were standing at the bus stop.
“It’s not quite
freezing,” Tracy said. She was wearing a thick woolen scarf that covered her
mouth and nose and almost made it difficult to understand her.
“I know,” Laurine said.
She made sure to layer up before she left for school. She wore a long sleeved
shirt, a button down sweater as well as her coat. She wore a pair of jeans and
under that she wore one of the pairs of tights she usually wore for gymnastics.
She also wore thick socks that nearly went up to the knees. On her hands she
wore leather gloves and a woolen hat was over her head.
“Even if it was freezing
we wouldn’t get any snow,” Tracy said as she stared up at the sky. There was
not a single cloud in the sky.
“I don’t want to think
about snow,” Laurine said as she did a goofy dance to try to keep warm. “Not
until December.” She also didn’t want to think about Christmas either until
after Thanksgiving. It seems everyone wants to skip that holiday and sure
enough the day after Halloween was when Laurine saw the first Christmas
commercial. She used the remote to mute it and all the holiday commercials.
“Can we think about
cocoa?” Tracy asked.
“Oh yes,” Laurine said.
She pictured herself with a warm mug of cocoa in her hands. It would be topped
with whip cream and she would inhale the rich chocolaty scent before taking a
long sip. The drink would warm her body all the way down to her stomach.
“I can picture myself
with a nice cup of cocoa right now,” Tracy said.
“Me too,” Laurine nodded.
“Although we shouldn’t think about that since we don’t have any cocoa at home.”
“So we don’t have the
instant stuff,” Tracy said. “We have milk, and sugar and a tin of cocoa
powder.”
“Home made cocoa made
from scratch,” Laurine sighed. She closed her eyes again and pictured herself
with the cocoa. She would drink that with a heated up slice of apple pie. She
also pictured herself sitting in front of a crackling fireplace and submerged
in a warm bubble bath.
She opened her eyes when
she heard the motor of the bus as the vehicle pulled up. “Finally.”
Tracy ran inside first
and sat down next to her friend.
Laurine made her way down
the aisle till she found where Gina was sitting and sat down next to her.
“Good thing this bus has
a heater,” Laurine said.
“Yeah,” Gina said. She
did not look up at her and instead was focused on writing on her notebook. She
drew a heart around 'G.V+G.M'
"What is this the
seventh grade?" Laurine teased.
"I Know, "Gina
said. "Its just that I'm so into him, and I haven’t had a boyfriend since
I dumped Malcolm.”
“Well I’m glad to see
that you’re so happy,” Laurine said. She was glad her friend was in love. Garret
was a great guy.
“Thank you,” Gina said. “Isn’t there a guy
you like? What about that guy you were telling me about over the phone?"
"You mean the
handsome guy who is interested in me?"
"Yeah what does he
look like?”
“He is tall,” Laurine
said. “He’s got light brown hair in this kind of spiky style and these intense
and beautiful blue eyes. He has this amazing and sexy voice. He can play the
clarinet and is a great dancer.”
"Are you in to him?” Gina asked.
"I’m not sure,"
Laurine said. “He is good looking and he doesn’t want me to get hurt.” Not to
mention there was the possibility they were once lovers in a previous life. “I
think I am falling for him.”
"But you said there
is something bad about him. He’s kind of dangerous?"
“He’s in with a bad crowd.”
She wasn’t sure how to explain it to Gina. She couldn’t tell her about the Dark
Kingdom.
“You mean he is in a
gang?”
"Sort of, a friend
told him he could leave, that he didn’t have to be with them." Laurine had
heard about Kayla’s night with the gargoyles and their encounter with Azurite.
“And he won’t leave?”
Gina asked.
“No,”
Laurine sighed. “He gave me a special gift, and he helped out some friends, but
he still refuses to leave.” She wondered if she could convince him to leave the
Dark Kingdom.
Borice held the silver
sphere in his hand. It was cool yet seemed to create a mass of static energy in
the air. Every hair on the back of his hand, wrist and lower arms were standing
straight up.
His general, Azurite was
kneeling before him on one knee. His cloak was off of one shoulder and draped
across the others. Azurite had a smug smile filled with confidence, yet his
eyes had a look like something has been lost and was uncertain if he would ever
be able to gain it back.
"Congrats
Azurite," Borice said. He had summoned his general to speak with him after
breakfast. "That little bit of energy you had gathered had completed the
orb." He raised his head to meet
his gaze with the blue eyes of Azurite
"Thank you your
highness," Azurite bowed his head.
“You are dismissed,”
Borice said. “Tell Feldspar I wish to see him. I want to know what his progress
is in harvesting more energy.”
“Yes sir,” Azurite said.
He rose to his feet and turned around to leave.
Borice stared at the ball
again. The pulsating form of the sphere transfixed him. He roll around in his
hand and felt it send tingles down his arm. He had a feeling Metallia was
complete with the last energy sphere he gave her, but now they had to build up
the energy to break free from their arctic prison.
As he carried the ball to
Metallia’s domain he thought about Beryl. He remembered when they first met.
She was once a peasant girl, daughter of a miller who managed to keep his wheat
healthy during a drought. Beryl and her family made several loaves of bread and
what flour they didn’t bake they gave away in bags. Endymion wanted to make
sure the wheat fields was protected and stationed Borice, then Colonel Bornite
to watch over Beryl’s family and wheat field.
“So long ago when things
were simple,” Borice said before he kneeled in front of Metallia’s tank.
"Queen Metallia I present you with this gift of energy"
Bubbles formed in the red
liquid before a dark claw snatched at the sphere and pulled it inside. The tank
filled with bubbles, as if it were boiling before a shadowy figure of the demon
queen formed in the center. She looked healthier and stronger than ever.
"Good work
Borice," The essence said. “Beryl
had made the wise choice of who would follow in her foot steps.”
"You are welcome my
queen. Are you complete?"
"Yes and we need
more energy to take over this planet,” Metallia said. She had bulged out and
became more cloud like. “That energy you have given me is the first of what I
need to help us break free.”
"I will gather much
more energy my queen," Borice said
"I have heard many
good things about this city," Metallia said as she reshaped herself into a
figure of a woman. “This city could be the hub our new world order.”
"This city is
nice," Borice said. “It’s full of history and has it’s own beauty and charm,
but I prefer Tokyo. This city shall not go unloved. I know that Azurite has a
soft spot for it. This city will be his.”
"I do not trust
Azurite," Metallia said. She had taken on a form resembling Beryl. Her
dress was as black as pitch. Her hair while as wavy as the beloved queen was
also back. Her eyes were dark and empty and her skin had a bluish tint to it.
"Out of my four
generals I have to say he is the best," Borice said. He had no reason to
suspect Azurite of anything. His general committing treachery was the farthest
thought from his mind. “It was he who found away to be able to gather the
energy, albeit a slow process, but it was a success.”
“I know you may not have
a reason to suspect him but I do,” Metallia said. “I fear that his alliance may
waver.”
“I will keep an eye on
him in some form,” Borice said. He turned away from the tank. Feldspar could be
waiting for him.
“Wait,” Metallia called
out.
“Yes?” Borice glanced
over his shoulder.
“I fear the Fifth Lady
will soon be awakened. We must hurry and gather enough energy to break free
before she awakens.”
“We
will not let her awaken,” Borice said. “And even if she does wake up she and
the other four will still fail.” He will succeed. He will lead the Dark Kingdom
to victory. It was not just for himself, but also for his queen, for his Beryl.
He will succeed for her.
“But the bottom line is
that in the future down the road students are going to need to learn and how to
use computers to prepare themselves for the future,” Riley muttered the line as
she tapped the pencil against the table. She wasn’t sure if it had enough
words, or if it was too long and wordy. “Learn how to use computers?” She
reread that part. By the time they get into high school most teenagers know how
to use a computer. “Lets see students are going to need to grow accustomed to
computers. Now that is better.”
“You talking to yourself?” Dave Kramer asked.
He sat in the chair in front of Riley and wasn’t one of the brightest kids in
the class. She hated to use the term dumb jock since she herself was an athlete
but he fit the stereotype. Dave was the wide receiver for the Rams, was built
like a brick and considered a C plus as a crowning achievement.
“Just going over a
speech,” Riley said as she continued to read over the papers. She was part of a
group of students who were going to give speeches during the final period of
the day. She was doing it for three reasons. She liked to give speeches; she
was one of the few who didn’t mind getting up in front of a crowd to give a
speech. She felt it would prepare her if she ever did want to get into
politics. The third reason was that she was doing it to bring up her grade in
English class. She wrote a smaller one a few days prior and delivered it with
great passion that it had impressed her teacher. Doing this would raise her
grade from a C plus to a B minus.
She had to pick a topic that wasn’t one of the three taboo topics that was on the
board and must make the speech mostly neutral until the end when she could pick
a side and make a strong argument for the subject. Her topic was on whether to
spend money to restore the basketball court or to buy some new computers. She
kept it neutral weighing the pros and cons of each case until the final
paragraph to where her decision was for the computers.
“What speech?” Dave
asked. Good lord was he ever dense. She did not have all of the same classes
she had and she was thankful for that, but if several of her teachers had
reminded the students of the assembly then she was certain he had heard it.
“The speeches that a
select number of us are going to give in the auditorium,” Riley said.
“I don’t have time to
listen to a bunch of speeches,” Dave said. “I got practice.”
“Sorry Davy but we all
have to go,” Chloe McCracken said. She sat across from him. She was a petite
girl with wavy blond hair, a slender figure, and bright blue eyes. She was
pretty and knew it, dressed in clothing that pushed the limit of the dress code
and was a cheerleader. She was also Dave’s girlfriend.
“We do?” Dave blinked.
“Yeah,” Chloe nodded.
“All of us seniors have to go to the auditorium during seventh period to listen
to a bunch of nerds read their boring speeches.”
Nerds? Riley felt her let
eye twitch. Did she actually hear that correctly and did that little snot say
the speeches are boring?
“Did you just say nerds?”
Becky Gibbons asked from behind Riley. “Seriously?” Becky was also on the
cheerleading squad. She had head full of gorgeous reddish brown ringlets and
was the most agile member of the squad. She was the only one who was able to do
a back flip. She was also the best friend of the squad captain.
“Yeah,” Chloe said. “They
are a bunch of nerds”.
“What are you some
character from a TV show or a cartoon?” Becky asked.
“What’s your problem?”
Dave asked.
“My problem is that you
just insulted one of the best runners in women’s track,” Becky said.
“Not to mention the
Rams’s tight end,” Riley said. She had a feeling that a certain smug member of
the football team would also be giving a speech.
“Well they shouldn’t be
doing nerdy things,” Chloe said. “There is a certain social hierarchy. Popular
kids stay in their place and the nerds and the geeks stay in there.”
“Are you for real?” Riley
just stared at her dumbfounded.
“Jesus Christ,” Becky
looked like she was going to throw up. “Are you saying you are purposely acting
like a stereotypical cheerleader?”
“You know how Becky and the others are trying
to lose that stigmata?” Riley asked.
“Well they don’t have to
cheer you know,” Chloe said.
“Not worth it,” Riley
whispered and turned to Becky. “She’s not worth it. She will get hers in the
end.”
Becky took in a deep
breath and exhaled. “Your right. The real world tends to bite them in the butt
after they graduate.”
“She probably thinks
she’s going to make it as a professional cheerleader,” Riley said.
Becky chuckled. “How is
your speech coming along?”
“Pretty good,” Riley
said. She went over the speech a few times while chewing on the back of her pen
until the tardy bell rang. She still had time for a few last minute
corrections. Class wasn’t going to really start until after the morning
announcements were made.
Mr. Bellum walked into
the room after the last stragglers took their seats. He was a middle-aged man
who wore sweater vests and had a mostly baldhead with salt and pepper colored
fringe. He smelled like cigars and his front two teeth had yellow staining.
“Everyone needs to quiet
down,” he said as he opened his text book. “If you are not quiet by the time we
do the pledge of the allegiance I will put your name on the board.” It was his
standard threat, one he made every day. If your name were written three times
in a week then you would be put into detention on Friday after school.
No one said a word. Riley
kept her eyes on her speech and continued to read it over.
“After the announcements
we will discuss the theories of perpetual motion,” Mr. Bellum said as he
removed his coat and draped it over the back of his chair and sat down.
The speakers crackled and
Principal Reeves asked for everyone to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance.
After the pledge was said
and the students sat down Reeves launched himself into the announcements.
“We are still looking for
the culprit who vandalized the drama department last week. If you know of
anything that may lead us to catch this person or persons please let us know.
No one will know it was you. You can even leave an anonymous note.” There was a
shuffling of paper heard. “I have to remind all students that juniors and
seniors are the only ones who can drive their cars to school and you must have
a parking ticket in order to park here. The last on the agenda is that all
seniors will report to the auditorium during seventh period for a minor
assembly.”
“An assembly?” Dave spoke
up. “I thought we were going to hear a bunch of speeches.”
“Mr. Kramer,” Mr. Bellum
walked by his chair. “Do I need to remind you that we need to be quiet during
the morning announcements?”
“Sorry,” Dave said. “I
was told we were going to just sit and listen to a bunch of dull speeches, not
go to the assembly.”
“And it did not occur to
you that the assembly is for the people making the speeches?” Mr. Bellum asked.
“Oh,” Dave blinked. “Oh
yeah that could be it.”
Riley
fought every urge to bang her head against her desk. She had to focus on her
speech. She was not going to freak out, not where she was going to shine. She
was going to look forward to this assembly all through the day, even if it
meant that she was going to have to miss choir class.
“Quit struggling,” Scylla
hissed as she bound the wrists of the young woman known as Jessica Mayfield.
“It is no use.”
“Hmmm, mmmrrrr,” Jessica
tried to speak but there was another piece of tape over her mouth.
“Save your energy,”
Scylla said as she ran her finger’s through Jessica’s long brown hair. “We
might want to take it later.” She checked on her victim’s legs before she
grabbed her by the shoulders and dragged her to the custodian’s closet.
The plan sounded perfect.
She and Feldspar had been seeking different schools and reading about them,
trying to find one that would have an event where several students would be
gathered into one place, such as cultural fair or a talent show. They thought
they were going to have to wait until the next sporting event until they came
across Dr. Turner high and found out the seniors were having a small gathering
were several students would be giving speeches.
Once Scylla had finished
dragging Jessica into the closet she stepped around her and made sure the human
got a good look at her.
Jessica’s eyes widened.
“Hmmmm!”
“Of course,” Scylla smirked.
She ran her fingers through her own brown hair. “It’s like looking into a
mirror. I just need one thing.” She snatched the glasses off of Jessica’s face
and placed it on her own. “I’ll be back in a few hours.”
After she closed and
locked the door she felt a presence behind her. She turned around and came face
to face with a man dressed in a black leather trench with long red hair tied
back and steel gray eyes.
"Hello Feldspar,
your idea is working so far," Scylla said
"I know,"
Feldspar said. “You know what you have
to do now?”
“Play the role of an
administrator until it is time for the assembly,” Scylla said. “I shall
volunteer to be the announcer and while the students are listening to the
speeches I will drain them of their energy.”
“Excellent,” Feldspar
nodded.
“Will the enemy show up?”
Scylla asked. She felt a small tinge of fear. All the other youmas who have
come across the Ladies have been killed, however she was willing to give her
life for the Kingdom. It would be a badge of honor.
“They are teenage girls,”
Feldspar said. “They will be in their classes as we speak. The other times we
have attacked it was during the evening, or weekend or on a holiday, or during
the afternoon when school is over.”
“But what if they attend
this school?”
“They don’t,” Feldspar
said. His tone of voice was full of confidence, not a single sign of doubt was
to be found. “I only feel the presence of one.”
"Are you sure they
all don't attend the same school?"
"Like I said, I only
felt one power here. When you attack the others will be at their own
schools."
"And you said there
is only one," Scylla said coldly before she smiled. "She won’t stand
a chance."
“Exactly,” Feldspar’s
grin widened. “Not only will you succeed in the mission but we will be able to
kill one of the Ladies.”
“I
will get to work now,” Scylla said and headed of towards the teacher’s lounge.
"We might have to
search the other boroughs?" Apollo asked. He and Celeste were riding
underneath one of the seats of the subway. They both made the journey to Wyvern
to report their status of the search for the Fifth Lady
"That is what
Artemis said," Celeste confirmed.
“You already knew there was the possibility that the fifth member of our
team could be in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens or Staten Island.”
“I was hoping that she
would be in Manhattan,” Apollo said.
Celeste nodded. “I did
too, but it appears that she doesn’t live here. We have to comb the other
boroughs. Sadie has already tried one high school in Brooklyn.”
“But that is only one
high school,” Apollo said. “And we both know that not every student attends
these games.”
“It is a start,” Celeste
said. “What about you? Mr. Burnett wanted to speak with you.”
“It is some good news,”
Apollo said. “The staff of the Fifth Lady has arrived.” He thought about the
long and slender package that Mr. Burnett had showed him. “Not going to do us
any good if we can’t find the fifth pendant.”
"We will find
it," Celeste said in a determined voice. “And we will find the Fifth
Galactic Lady.”
"Who might not be on
this island," Apollo said as the train came to a stop.
"Apollo, don't be so
lazy" Celeste scolded and walked out.
“Hey,” Apollo hopped
after her, but Celeste was faster than him. He tried to catch up with her by
running through the station but no dice. He hopped up the steps to the sidewalk
and took a breath.
"Apollo, don't be so
lazy," He repeated in a high nasally voice. What did Celeste think? Just because she was the first to set up
contact with Central, or the guardians of the Sailor Soldiers as it seems, she
acts like she was his superior.
Apollo shook his head. He
will talk about it with her later and ran off towards the direction of Kayla's
apartment, while avoiding the regular citizens that have filled the streets.
He was almost home when
he came across a crowd of people. His ears perked up. The Dark Kingdom liked to
target large groups of people. He
walked around the edge of the crowd towards the front where a mock stage was
set up with a backdrop and a podium. In front of the backdrop was a small bench
with six men and possibly women dressed in dark blueish black armor and
matching ghost like hoods. There were several boxes of items underneath the
benches. A seventh man in armor was standing in front of the podium.
‘It’s those same jerks
from the other night,’ Apollo thought. It seemed they were having some sort of
rally, possibly trying to convince more people to join their group. He inched
himself closer to the stage while he listened to the speaker.
"Friends do you feel
safe when you walk the streets at night?" The speaker asked the small
audience. "When you tuck your children in at night are they afraid
something might get them? My friends you, I, We can protect ourselves from
these demons, from these gargoyles.”
Apollo jumped onto the
stage and walked right up to the podium. He could hear some of the people gasp
and make “Awww” sounds.
"Yes my friends,”
the speaker continued. “Join now and we can rid the city of these..."
Apollo jumped up and down
before he turned his backside to the crowd and wiggled his bottom. He turned
around to face the crowd and did a back flip.
Both the audience and
several members of the Quarrymen on the bench laughed and clapped at his
performance.
“What is going on?” The
speaker demanded. He stared down at Apollo. “A rabbit?”
Apollo stared into the
hooded eyes of the quarryman. He formed a mischievous look on his face and
begun to make a purr like sound.
"Well aren’t you the
cutest little thing?" The speaker reached down to pet the golden rabbit.
Apollo seized the opportunity
and bit his hand.
"Oww!" The
speaker yelled while the audience laughed again.
Apollo tore away from
there. He ran across the street and reached the sidewalk. Once he knew he was
safe he paused to catch his breath.
A sigh was heard next to
him and he turned to see Celeste. Her bright green eyes were fixed into a
glare.
"What?" Apollo
asked.
Celeste just rolled her
eyes and ran towards the direction of Laurine’s apartment.
“She
is way to serious,” Apollo said before he chuckled to himself and ran home.
Laurine had considered
today being an unsafe day at lunch. Meatloaf was one of the foods that were
hard to get right where it actually tasted good. A lot of kids hated it and
considered to be one many teens yucky foods list along with spinach and liver.
Laurine liked meatloaf it was cooked right. Her mother made a great meatloaf
and she knew Tracy would end up making a good one. She had a feeling that Kayla
also made a great meatloaf. The cafeteria didn’t. The meatloaf looked gross and
it smelled funny and from what she heard it tasted awful and she would never
take a chance with it.
She had made her lunch
the night before. She slathered a few slices of bread with mayo and slapped
together some slices of ham, Swiss cheese, lettuce and tomato. She brought it
along with a bag of Frito’s, a small pear, and lunchbox pack of lime Jell-O.
Her meal was complete with a diet Pepsi from the machine.
“Not going to try today?”
Sadie asked when she saw Laurine pull out her lunch bag.
“Oh hell no,” Laurine
said. “Not on meatloaf day.” She stared at the large salad that Sadie and Donna
both had. “You two are just going to raid the salad bar?”
“Obviously,” Donna said
as she ripped open a stamp sized package of pepper and sprinkled it on her
food.
“I wonder who will be daring
enough to try,” Laurine said before she took a bite from her sandwich.
“My guess would be them,”
Kayla said. She had brought some home made burritos, small containers of
Spanish rice and refried beans and what looked like churros. She was pointing
at the table that contained the varsity football team.
Steve Kowalski the
quarterback had a blindfold on. One of the other team members popped in a tater
tot covered with yellow stuff in his mouth.
“That’s a tot with
mustard,” Steve said. “C’mon give me a challenge.”
“Okay,” another team
member said and broke off a piece of the meatloaf and gave it to him. “What is
this?”
Steve made a face as he
chewed. “Dude that tastes like stale beef, breadcrumbs, the grease from the
grease trap, and vegetables the scooped out of the garbage disposal. I’d say
it’s the meatloaf.”
“You are correct,” the
teammate said.
"Steve, Steve,
Steve," Several other students cheered him on.
Laurine groaned as she
grabbed some of her Fritos. "Is it scary to think that a lot of them will be
graduating in June?"
“Very scary,” Donna said
before she brought a forkful of salad to her mouth.
“Frightening,” Sadie
agreed.
Ricardo and Ethan also
nodded along. Both had their mouths full of food and couldn’t talk.
"Sure what
ever," Gina said and plopped another French fry into Garret's mouth. She
had brought two lunched with her, one for herself and one for Garret. Both
meals consisted of a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup, fries, iced tea, and
peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
Laurine just sighed and
returned her attention to her own lunch. She could not remember the last time
Gina was so into a guy. She was sure she didn’t bring an extra lunch for the
last guy she was with.
Kayla also wasn’t really
paying any attention to the spectacle but she was busy doodling in her
notebook. The images looked like design ideas for various sweater sets.
"Do you guys know
how to improve typing skills?" Kayla asked after a few minutes.
"I'm pretty good but
Laurine is better," Sadie said.
"Huh?" Laurine
asked.
"Sadie says you were
better at typing than she was," Donna said. “You are also better at it
than me, so you would be the best one to help Kayla with her typing class.”
“Sure
I’ll help,” Laurine said. After school she and other Ladies could meet at Wyvern
for a study session.
Riley looked over her
speech one last time during the end of sixth period, Instead of watching the
teacher explain how to solve some of the algebra problems that are on the
board. She was ready, or at least she had to b ready. Whenever she wasn’t busy during a class period she would go over
the speech for any last minute details. She would cross out a few words and
write something else in the margins.
During study hall she typed up the speech and read through it several
times before she printed it out and stapled it together.
“Are you going to be
okay?” Latisha asked her. “You look kind of freaked out.”
“I am a little worried
about my speech,” Riley said. She continued to read over it.
“You worried about giving
a speech?” Latisha gave her a look. “That has got to be the last thing you
worry about. You’d never freak out about something like this. I’m the one who
has to picture everyone in their underwear when I go up there so I don’t freak
out.”
“I’m not worried about
delivering it,” Riley said. “I’m more worried about how it’s written. I need to
bring up my grade in English and this is my ticket to getting better, than and
a whole lot of studying for future tests.”
“It does not have to be
the best speech ever,” Latisha said. “And this isn’t a contest. You just have
to make sure it is researched, and well thought out, and that it doesn’t look
half assed.”
“I can do whole ass,”
Riley said.
“Speaking of Asses, I
heard Jeremy Andrews is giving a speech,” Latisha frowned.
“Oh,” Riley shuddered.
“That is going to be fun to watch.” She turned her attention to the front of
the classroom.
“And that is pretty much
the final step,” the teacher said as she wrote the answer. She glanced at the
clock. “Okay we only have a couple of minutes left. I think we could start to
get ready to go to the auditorium, but before you do let me give you tonight’s
homework.” She paused when several students groaned. “Groan all you want I know
you love it. Your homework assignment is to do all the odd numbered problems on
page sixty two.”
Riley glanced at the page
in question. She and the rest of the students would only have to do fifteen
problems. That wasn’t so bad. She put her math book and folder into her bag and
held her speech in hand when she got up.
“I think we have time to
stop by our lockers,” Latisha said.
“Yeah,” Riley nodded. The
extra two minutes gave them seven minutes to put a few things away before they
had to be in line for the auditorium. Riley put her Italian book, workbook, and
folder back in her locker before she caught up with Latisha, Katie and Becky
and they entered the hall together.
“Riley, Latisha,” Mrs.
Holcombe signaled to them as they entered. “Everyone giving speeches will be on
the first row on the left side.” She pointed to the row of chairs where a few
other students were already seated.
“Thank you,” Latisha said
and sat down.
“Yeah thanks,” Riley said
and sat down next her before she looked to see where her other friends were
going. She saw Katie sit down with other members of the track team and saw
Becky sit down next to Lisa Alverez, the captain of the cheerleading squad.
Becky leaned over to say
something to Lisa. Riley wasn’t sure what she was saying but by the shocked
expression on Lisa’s face and they way she cast appalled glances towards Chloe,
Riley was certain that Becky had told her what Chloe had said during first
period.
“I don’t know if they
will keep her on the squad much longer now,” Riley said.
“What?” Latisha asked.
“Becky’s spilling the
beans on Chloe’s idiocy,” Riley said as she pointed to the group of
cheerleaders.
“Oh,” Latisha said. She
had been informed of what had happened earlier that day. “That would be many
shades of awesome if she does get kicked off the squad for that.”
“I wonder if that would
be considered a form of irony,” Riley said.
“Could be,” Latisha said.
The last of the remaining
students poured in and took their seats. The auditorium still echoed from the
various conversations that went on between the students. Riley overheard
snippets of some of them. She picked up people wondering if they were going to
study for a test, talks about the upcoming games for the different teams,
talking about their parents and jobs, about who was going out with who and
about looking forward to seeing that new movie about the Titanic with Leonardo
Dicaprio.
One of the administrators
walked out onto the stage. Riley had recognized her as one of the guidance
counselors. She wasn’t the one that Riley went to see so she didn’t know her
name exactly.
“Miss Mayfield,” Latisha
said.
“Your counselor?” Riley
asked.
“Yeah, although she seems
to be a little bit excited. She hasn’t stopped smiling.”
“Maybe she is happy to be
here.”
Miss Mayfield waited
until most of the students calmed down before she tapped the mike. “Testing one
two three,” she spoke into the mike. It projected her voice across the room and
there wasn’t a single shrill peep of feedback. "Welcome Seniors, I know
not all of you are certain why we have gathered here today. There are some
students here who believe in some serious subjects and causes. They will speak
out on the subjects. You may agree with them and you may disagree with them,
but hopefully it will make you think about the various issues.”
‘To bad a lot of my
fellow students aren’t good at thinking,’ Riley thought.
“Now for our first
speaker,” Mayfield said. “Jeremy Andrews.”
Everyone applauded as
Jeremy stood up and walked up to the stage. Most of the clapping was not
enthusiastic save for those from the football team and the girls who think
Jeremy is even hotter than Johnny Depp. Nearly everyone else’s clapping was
light and polite.
“Good afternoon ladies
and gentlemen,” Jeremy greeted. “Today I will speak to you on a serious matter.
It is an issue that is on the minds of many young people including myself. When
we eat a wellcooked meal we accompany it with something to drink such as a
glass of juice or soda. While watching a football game we chug down even more
soda. After a victory whether we scored a perfect hundred on our math tests or
an older sibling is getting married we reach into the fridge and pull out a
nice cold can of soda. We do not have much choices besides, water, tea, juice
or milk, at least until we reach the age of twenty one.”
“Is he talking about the
drinking age?” Riley asked. She made sure her voice was no louder than the
whisper of a hummingbird’s wings.
“Either that or its on
drunk driving,” Latisha whispered back.
“I that was one of the
big subjects we were told not to do speeches on,” Riley whispered.
“I think the three
subjects that were taboo were abortion, gays in the military, and euthanasia.”
Riley nodded and returned
to listening to Jeremy’s speech. She had vowed to treat everyone with the same
courtesy and listen to their speeches, even if it was someone like Jeremy.
Jeremy was a conceited
pretty boy who played football and liked motorcycles. Unlike Dave, Jeremy was
quite intelligent, although he was bit arrogant about his grades and smarts. He
was also known as administrative ass kisser. He was the rules is rules kind of
guy who always volunteered to be a hall monitor. He was class council president
for their freshman and sophomore years.
He had great ideas and spoke elegantly but many people were put off by
his cocky smirk and swagger and the arrogant attitude he took to his fellow
students. That was the main reason why he wasn’t elected for junior class
council president.
The same attitude was
carrying over into his speech, although Riley had to admire the way he was
delivering it. Not only did he speak eloquently but also he truly believed in
his cause. There was a flicker of fiery passion behind his eyes and the
gestures he had made with his hands to focus on some of his pointes had
captivated Riley.
“The drinking age should
be lowered to the age of eighteen,” Jeremy continued. “If we are able to die
for our county at that age, if we are able to vote for those who will lead our
country at that age then we should be able to drink at that age.”
As soon as he was done he
stepped back from the microphone. Everyone in the audience had clapped and this
time it was louder than before. A few students even stood up and cheered for
him.
“Very good,” Miss
Mayfield said. “Would you care to go back stage and get some water?”
“Thanks,” Jeremy said.
“But I’m good.” He stepped off the chair and took his seat.
Miss Mayfield took the
mike again. “Next we have Ryan Denton.”
Riley and Latisha clapped
again as Ryan stood up, this time it was even more heartfelt than the welcoming
applause they gave to Jeremy.
Ryan was a tall, lanky fellow with bright
reddish orange hair. On his way through the row he tripped. Riley couldn’t
accuse him of it, but she suspected it was because of Jeremy.
“Good afternoon,” Ryan
greeted the crowd. “Everyone here is a killer, or they know someone who is a
killer.”
“Nice opening,” Riley
whispered.
“That will certainly get
everyone’s attention,” Latisha agreed.
“What you are killing is
not our fellow human beings, and unlike some psychotic vegetarians who follow
PETA’s every word I am not talking about other animals. I myself love meat and
I like leather. What I am talking about is our home. We are killing our only
home. The planet Earth.”
“An environmental
speech,” Riley said and continued to listen.
Ryan went on to talk
about how the students and school was not doing enough. Sure they were able to
put the garbage they found in the dumpster and the school recently switched to
plastic trays that could be cleaned in the dishwasher from paper trays that had
to be thrown out, but they still could do more. He suggested that the school
makes arrangements to have a special bin set up near the trashcans where they
would only throw in their empty soda cans. They could also have bins for
students to dump paper that has been used, especially to have them at the end
of the different semesters when everyone cleaned out their lockers. He also
suggested that instead of paper bags that students bring bags made from vinyl
or nylon or another cloth material, to bring in thermos’s, use washable plastic
containers and aluminum foil which also can be recycled.
During his speech Riley
yawned and her lids started to droop. Ryan's speech wasn’t boring, its just
that she felt tired. How could she feel tired? A few minutes ago she was
adrenalized from the anticipation. She glanced over to Latisha who also seemed
to struggle with trying to stay away. Riley gave her a gentle poke.
“What?” Latisha blinked.
“You were falling
asleep,” Riley whispered. “We both were.”
“Oh,” Latisha blinked and
sat up straight.
“Good job,” Miss Mayfield
said. “Would you like to freshen up back stage?”
“Sure,” Ryan said and
took the different exit off the stairs.
"Next up Riley
Dipoesia," Miss Mayfield announced.
Riley took a deep breath
and went up on stage. When she reached the podium She smiled and looked over at
everyone “Good afternoon fellow members
of the class of 1998.” She greeted. “It’s going to be kind of sad when we leave
her. We had a lot of great times. We had good classes and made good friends and
enjoyed a lot of good games. I’ve watched a lot of football, baseball, and
volleyball and basketball games. I went to some swim meets and I know several
of you have come to see me run. We have seen the conditions of the fields and
the equipment and knew how those down the line that some of them are showing
their age. This will not be much of a concern to us when we do graduate, but
there are still the junior class, the sophomores and the freshmen and the new
students who will be here next year, not only do we have to worry about the
conditions of the some of the fields, such as the basketball courts when they
attend but also will they be able to keep up academically in this high tech
world.”
She glanced over at the
audience. They were holding onto every word that she said, or at least trying
to hold onto every word. Many people had their eyelids drooping and several
were yawning.
She shifted over to the
next main part of her speech. The part about why the basketball courts needed
the money. She brought up the points about how long the equipment had been in
use and even with good maintenance that after a while they were going to need
new equipment. She also mentioned how they should keep up with the other
schools that had new models and that it would do good for school pride.
She used a smooth
transition to reach the other point, or where else the money could go. Once
again she brought up the importance of keeping up with the latest this time in
the form of technology and while they did not need to replace all the old
computers they were going to have to upgrade the software. The school would
also need more computers, enough for everyone to use. She stressed out that in
today’s world that everything was done on computers, how people in the business
world used them for presentations, mechanics used them to see what is wrong
with a car and that receptionists at doctors offices and dentists office use it
to maintain the files on the patients.
“It was hard for me to
pick one. The basketball teams could use the new nets, balls and uniforms and
the court could use a fresh make over with some new paint and the school also
needs new computers to fit in with the ever-growing demand and school populace.
I consider myself to be an athlete but I am going to have to say that I feel
the money should go to getting new computers. The sports equipment while old
still works and that it does nothing to effect how the teams play. In fact we
are still defeating the other schools and haven’t lost a game yet.” She did not
want to mention that they have only played three other schools. “But our school
needs the new computers. The last few
years of high school prepares students for life out in the real world and for
college. When we turn in reports in college we will type them up on the
computer. When we do research for a subject we will use the Internet. We will
need the computers to help sharpen our skills and prepare us for the future. So
please principal, when you make the decision of what to do with the money
please think about the students future.” She exhaled. “Thank you for
listening.”
Everyone clapped but they were still looking
sleepy. Even the teachers and some of the other members of faculty were nodding
off. Mrs. Holcomb was trying to grade her performance but she too was yawning.
Her speech couldn’t have been that boring.
“Thank you for speaking,”
Miss Mayfield said. She was the only one who was acting chipper. “Would you
like to go backstage and get something to drink?”
“Yes I would,” Riley
said. “Thank you.” She went back stage where there was a table with a tall
pitcher of water and several glasses. “Something isn’t right.” Her fellow
students never fell asleep during an assembly before. She flipped open the lid
of her communicator "I know there is at least thirty more minutes of class
but this is an emergency."
"Is it a
youma?" Laurine asked.
"I think so,"
Riley said. “We are all in the auditorium. Some of us were giving speeches and
everyone seems to be getting sleepy.”
"Those must be some
dull speeches," Kayla joked.
“Not funny,” Riley
hissed. “Not to mention I was one of those who gave a speech.”
“It does sound like a
youma is draining energy,” Sadie said.
“Anything to get out of
math class,” Laurine said. “I’ll pretend to be nauseous.”
“We’ll try to be there,”
Kayla said.
“Thanks,” Riley said.
“I’ll hold whatever youma it is off until you arrive.” She shut off
communication and poured herself a glass of water and pulled a granola bar out
from her pocket and unwrapped it. Celeste and Apollo might argue with her that
she was taking to long to fight the enemy, but some of her energy had also been
drained and she wanted to be on peak performance before she went into any
battle. It could be a good while before the others showed up and if she had to
she might have to defeat the youma all by herself.
“Still have to be sure,”
Riley said when she had finished her snack. She slipped closer to the front of
the stage and watched as Latisha was delivering her speech. She was yawning
while speaking and her words were slow. The rest of the audience was asleep, or
about to fall asleep.
The only one who hadn’t
shown any sign of fatigue was Miss Mayfield. The councilor was circling around
Latisha like a vulture while she continued to smile. That wasn’t the real Miss
Mayfield. The poor woman was locked up somewhere while this youma pretended to
be her.
"No more dawdling,
"Riley said and pulled out her transformation pen. "Comet Galaxy
Power Make-up!" The pink fusion sparkles started at her hands and feet
moving closer to her abdomen before a bright pink explosion.
Lady Comet ran out on
stage. She grabbed onto Latisha who looked like she was about to collapse from
exhaustion.
“Lady Comet?” Latisha
asked.
“Yes,” Comet said.
“Everything is going to be all right. Can you make it back stage?”
“I will try,” Latisha
said. She stood on her own two feet without any trouble and slowly walked back
behind the curtain, passing Miss Mayfield on the way.
“Well what do we have
here?” Miss Mayfield’s smile turned crueler. “It seems like we have a Galactic
Lady to play with.”
"It is true,"
Lady Comet said. “Why don’t you show your real face? The ugly one.”
If you insist,” Mayfield
said. Her clothes melted and reformed into a black dress with tattered edges.
Her skin covered itself in greenish yellow scales while her hair turned grayish
brown and limp, resembling seaweed. Her eyes turned silver and the pupils
became slits. Various snakeheads grow out of her shoulders, her arms, knees and
legs.
“What the hell do I call
you?” Comet asked. There were various names that ran through her head.
“I am called Scylla.”
"Okay Scylla it is,"
Comet said. "I have some beef with you, Scylla. The first amendment gives
us the right to speak our mind. These students worked hard to exercise their
right to speak by writing and reciting passionate speeches. How dare you disrupt the student's rights by
using the auditorium for your wicked plans. I am the soldier of Cosmic Justice,
The pretty soldier Lady Comet. In the name of the cosmos I will punish you!'
"You know how to
exercise the first amendment, since you don't know when to shut up.” Two daggers
appeared in her hands. “En garde!" She rushed towards Comet with her
daggers.
Comet stepped aside and
ran to the opposite end of the stage. “Sorry you missed.”
“I won’t miss this time,”
Scylla hissed.
Comet ran behind the
curtain and looked up at the catwalk. Lets see if she could do this trick. She
cracked her whip up, getting the end entangled with the rafters. She pulled
herself up and out of the way just as Scylla ran under her.
“Wheee,” Comet said as
she swung forward her whip. She kicked one of the dagger’s from Scylla’s hands
and sent it flying. Her whip released itself and she landed next to the blade.
Scylla hissed and ran for
her again.
Comet used her blade to
block the youma’s attack. She sliced at her enemy only to be blocked. She swung
and blocked a few times, but it was apparent that she would go nowhere fast
with this method of fighting.
Scylla ran past Comet
once again and Comet sidestepped her. She missed being struck by the blade but
one of Scylla’s snakeheads bit her on the arm.
"Ha now you have
been poisoned," Scylla cackled. “You may not feel it now but in seconds
that wound will burn, in a few minutes your whole arm will be on fire, before
the hours has passed your whole body will be consumed in a burning pain where
you will beg for death to overtake you, but that death won’t be for a while.”
While Scylla continued to
gloat Comet decided to use the opportunity. She cracked her whip forward. The
end wrapped around Scylla’s blade. She pulled back taking the knife with it.
“Ha now you have been
disarmed,” Comet said. She held out her hands. "Comet Interstellar
Explosion!"
Scylla screamed as she
was thrown backwards. She sat there slowly breathing and covered with small
blisters. The youma slowly stood up.
“Uh oh,” Comet muttered.
“That was a big mistake,”
the youma hissed.
“Comet Interstellar
Explosion!” She sent her attack again and tried not to wince at the end. Her
bite wound was starting to burn.
The youma tumbled
backwards from the blast and remained on the ground for a few minutes before
she stood back up.
"There is only one
of you here," Scylla said smugly. "What are you going to do fight me
by yourself to the bitter end?”
“I will keep fighting
you,” Comet said and cringed, the burning sensation was traveling through her
arm.
“Face it, you can’t
defeat me all by yourself.”
"Wrong she's not
alone." The voice belong to Lady Andromeda
Lady sun threw her
chakaram at Scylla
“Hah,” the youma said
after she dodged the attack. She did not notice the several arrows that flew
through the air and struck her body. “Who dares to interfere?”
“We do,” Lady Centauri
said. She lowered her cross bow.
“For as long as you keep
attacking the innocent,” Sun added.
“We will keep on fighting
you,” Andromeda finished. "Andromeda Sound Wave Shatter!"
"Sun Light disk
Spin!"
"Centauri Stalagmite
Slash!"
The youma shook from the
vibrations from Andromeda’s attack while the stalagmites and disks sliced
through her body. Only a pile if dust was left behind.
“Thanks,” Comet said. She
cradled her injured arm. The burning had spread across from her shoulder down
to her elbow.
“What happened to you?”
Centauri asked.
“One of those little
heads on her body bit me,” Comet said before she turned to Sun. “I’m going to
need some juice.”
“No problem,” Lady Sun
said and held up her hand “Sun-“
She was interrupted by
tsking.
Feldspar was standing at the edge of the
stage, next to the podium.
“Feldspar,” Comet
groaned.
Feldspar ignored her
"Some of you are playing hooky." He wagged a finger at them.
“What are you a truant
officer?” Andromeda asked.
“What makes you think we
are all in high school?” Centauri asked. “Some of us could be in college and we
didn’t have classes today.”
“There could be that
possibility my dear,” Feldspar said. “I doubt all of you are and it seems you would
risk getting in trouble with your teachers to save these people?"
"What can we say?
Its our destiny, "Andromeda said.
“Some of those people are
good,” Comet said. “They believe in their causes. They want to make sure the
laws are just and the planet to be a little greener.” She thought of Jeremy’s
and Brian’s speeches. “There are a lot of good people who want to make the
world a better place.”
“That was what I told
Azurite,” Sun said. “You don’t have to work for this king to make the planet
better.”
“Those who try to make
this planet better will be spared,” Feldspar said. He pulled out a knife and
slashed at the air, sending energy waves at the Ladies.
Andromeda leaped and Sun
pushed Comet out of the way but Centauri was hit.
“No,” Comet rolled over.
She saw Centauri on the floor and Feldspar standing not too far away. “Comet
Interstellar-“
“Not this time,” Feldspar
said. He used one of his knives to cut through space, forming a new gate and
leapt inside it.
Comet dropped her arms.
Her hand instantly flew to where she was bit. The burning had reached her
collarbone and her wrist. The color had
drained from her and she felt sweat on her face.
"Centauri are you
hurt?" Sun asked
Centauri sat up and
gasped. “No, not at all. I just had the wind knocked out of me.”
“I’ll just tend to Comet
then,” Sun said. “Let me see your arm.”
Lady Comet held out her
arm. The bite mark was oozing a clear liquid while the area around the wound
had a greenish color to it.
"Sun healing,"
Lady Sun used her defense ability. The beam of healing light centered on the
wound. The swelling went down and color turned back into more of a beige color.
Lady Comet blinked. The
burning was gone. “You did it.” She stood up.
“What are we going to do
now?” Sun asked. “Our school thinks we all have stomach problems.”
“Head to Wyvern,”
Andromeda said. “We should have a study session.”
“Good
idea,” Comet nodded. “I’ll meet with you in a bit. I still have a few minutes
of class left.”
Riley closed her eyes.
“P-E-N-S-I-V-E, Pensive.”
“Good job,” Mr. Burnett
said. He was holding onto Riley’s vocabulary book. “What does it mean?”
“To be thoughtful. To be
lost in thought,” Riley said. Only three people did not get a chance to read
their speeches. They were going to meet back again for the last half hour of
class to listen to them. Mrs. Holcomb did like hers and said that it boosted
Riley’s overall grade from a C plus to a B minus.
At the coffee table Sadie
and Apollo were seated with Sadie’s physics book opened and she was writing in
the folder.
Kayla was at the small
typewriter. She was typing at an even speed while Laurine watched over her
shoulder.
“Try not to look at the
keys,” Laurine instructed. “Don’t slow down or speed up, just keep the pace.”
“Okay,” Kayla said and
sat back. She read over her work. “I got five typos.”
“Better than last time,”
Laurine said. “You are doing better.”
“Don’t forget you have to
study yourself,” Celeste said. “When you need a break from tutoring you can
open your math book.”
“I know, I know,” Laurine
sighed.