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by V Legend First off, I'd like to say that I'm totally dissatisfied with this story and Bell, but I needed to bide some time between major events and fill in some plot holes. Thanks for bareing with me. -Val
Several nights later Radu and Bova were working on some mysterious chemistry project in the command post. Radu was in the middle of saying something when his words broke off. "Did you hear that?"
"Hear what? What did you hear?" asked Bova.
"It sounded like-" Radu realized that what he had heard was Legend's laughter in the distance. "Never mind. It was just my imagination."
Bova noticed the foolish grin that Radu couldn't suppress, so he asked again, "What did you hear?"
"Nothing, it's just that I thought-" Radu was cut off by an incoming transmission.
"Help!" cried some girl. "Please, if anyone's out there, help me! My ship's life support system is broken and I'm running out of air."
Bova ran over to one of the main posts and Radu rushed over to the communications station. "Don't worry," he said into the microphone, "We're sending out a tractor beam on your ship. You'll be safe soon."
"Please," gasped the girl. "Please, somebody, be out there. I can't hear you if you are answering. Hurry, I can't hold on much longer."
Bova finished setting the dials. "OK," he said. "In one minute she'll be inside the Christa's docking bay."
"Please help me," whispered the girl as Radu and Bova rushed out of the command post and to the docking bay.
*******
Radu carried the girl out of the docking bay and set her on a bed in the medical station. Her eyelids fluttered as they opened to reveal two green eyes. A ring flashed as she pushed her brown hair out of her face. "Hey, thanks for saving my bacon before it got fried," she said with a grin.
"Anytime," replied Radu.
"If you don't mind me asking, who are you?" asked the girl.
"I'm Harlan, and this is Rosie, Radu, Suzee, and Bova," introduced Harlan.
"You can call me Valerie," the girl said.
Rosie was confused. "Is that your name?" she asked.
"One of them. A person in my line of work has to have a few different names."
"You're line of work?" asked Suzee.
"My family worked as slaves on one of the head Spung Kill cruisers. I stole some top-secret weapon systems that the Spung were planning on using to enslave all other races. We all tried to escape, but I was the only one that got to the escape ship. I've got to leave as soon as I can. The Spung are chasing me at this moment, and I don't want to get you people in trouble as well."
"I get the feeling that you're going to be staying with us longer than you think," said Harlan.
"Why? What happened to my ship?"
Nobody answered Valerie's question, but Bova imitated a ship blowing up, sound effects and all.
"Was my ship hurt that badly?" asked Valerie despairingly.
"Let me put it this way," said Bova. "You couldn't make a can opener out of what's left of that thing."
"So I'm stuck here," she said, defeated.
"Don't think of it that way," said Rosie. "Think of it this way: We'll get to know you better."
"Yeah. Right before the Spung blow us up," said Valerie sarcastically.
"Don't worry," said Radu, finally speaking, "we've escaped from the Spung four times before. I'd- We'd really like you to stay with us."
After a long time Valerie was finally convinced that she should stay with the members of the Christa. It was probably her safest bet and the kids had already started to make her one of the group.
*******
The next morning during free time Valerie walked up to Radu and spoke to him in private. "Radu, do you still want to accept my offer?"
He grinned at her. "Sure, Legend. When do we start?"
"Right now," she said. "Follow me." She walked over to the jump tubes and programmed it with a code Radu had never seen before. Then, without further ado, jumped in. Radu shrugged his shoulders and followed after her.
They landed in a large brightly lit room. Surrounding them was all sorts of medallions, talismans, and the like. Radu stared in awe. "What is this place?"
"I think this is where the Lumanians worshipped their god, but I'm not sure. Whatever it is it'll fill our need for a quiet, uninterrupted spot that no one knows about." Legend took a deep breath and looked around the room before speaking again. "OK, let's go. Power harnessing. The first thing you need to do for your training is to create something to concentrate all your energy into. I have my ring, now you need something. So just clear your mind and repeat after me." Legend chanted a rhyming phrase which Radu repeated.
Suddenly a flash of light appeared before Radu. It slowly began to take shape into a pendant. It had a milky white stone in the center, set into a gold frame. It was rectangular of shape and the gold crossed over the stone once in a straight line from corner to corner.
Legend looked at it and smiled. "Very good," she said. "I can see now that you are vulnerable to only gold. If we can stay away from gold and silver we shall forever be free." Then her mood switched from mysticism to cheerfulness. "Now, let's get started."
"Wait a minute," said Radu. "Valerie?"
She smiled at him and said, "That's my middle name. Taliesin Valerie Eirias. I figured I needed a new start, a new beginning, a new name. And also, the more my real name is said, the more the one that trapped me before will be alerted that something is wrong. It'll be like a little nagging doubt in the back of his mind that not everything is how he left it. So anyway, let's begin. Fireballs 101..."
*******
The next day Valerie and Suzee were playing a game of Truth or Doom together in the lounge. Radu was also there, but he was pretending to do something else and thereby didn't participate in their discussion.
"Suzee, how come all the kids on the ship but me are able to man the main station, and the adults are not?"
"When we first entered the ship we touched the walls and it bonded with us. However, when the adults touched the walls they were scared so the Christa didn't bond with them."
"So all I have to do is touch the walls?" Valerie seemed sort of confused.
"No, it's more complicated than that. You have to make the Christa like you." Suzee paused for a moment to let Valerie ponder over this bit of information. Then she went on.
"OK, Valerie," said Suzee. "What kind of race are you?"
"I'm..." said Valerie as she gave Radu a secret look. "I'm an... Eirias. Our race has tried to remain an *enigma* to the rest of the universe, but since I'm aboard this ship I might as well tell you." Radu gave a strangled cough that sounded like he was trying to cover up a laugh. The girls gave him a strange look and continued on with their game.
"OK, now it's my turn to ask the question. Who's your favorite guy on the Christa?"
Suzee looked towards Radu and leaned over to whisper something in Valerie's ear, so low that Radu couldn't hear it. Valerie sat up straight. "Really?" she squeaked. "I don't believe it!"
Suzee nodded and said, "You promise you won't tell anyone?"
Valerie promised and the two of them collapsed into a fit of giggles. After a few minutes they caught their breath and continued on. "Valerie, you said we should call you Valerie, but that it was only one of your names. What's your real name?"
Valerie immediately sobered up. "Where I come from we played a game called Truth or Dare. If a person didn't want to answer a question, that person could choose to take a dare instead."
After thinking a while Suzee said, "I understand. Some things are just too private to tell. So instead, how does this sound: You have to play a total of five good pranks this week. Personally, I am the referee so you're not allowed to play any pranks on me."
A light went on behind Valerie's eyes. "Sounds like a plan to me," she said as she left the room to begin her plotting. But before that she had one other more important mission.
*******
Valerie stepped out into the hallway. She looked at the walls around her and began to speak. "Christa," she said, "I know we haven't had a very good past together. And I know that you probably don't like me because my ring tried to suck your hyperdrive's energy twice. But I'm sorry for all of that; and if you promise to treat me like the other kids, I promise to never let any harm come to you if it is in my powers." She stepped towards the wall and put her hand out. "So, what do you say. Friends?"
Her hand touched the wall and its colors rainbowed out from under her fingers. The colors spiraled out in all directions until she finally lifted her hand. "Thank you!" she whispered to the ship.
She then turned away from the wall and walked to the jump tube. Radu was due for another lesson.
*******
At the end of the lesson Radu had mastered the art of teleporting from one place to another and was one step closer to becoming immortal.
Radu asked Legend to play the game in the Lounge. She agreed, but on one condition...
*******
Miss Davenport was walking out of the helm when Valerie and Radu came down the jump tube. "Good afternoon Miss Davenport," said Valerie congenially.
"Good afternoon Valerie, Radu," Miss Davenport answered while leaving the room.
*******
Miss Davenport walked out of the helm into the hallway. She started down the path when Valerie and Radu crossed in front of her going into one of the bunks. "Hello, Miss Davenport," said Radu.
"Hello Valerie, Radu. Didn't I just see-" Miss Davenport started to say but by that time the kids had gone into the bunk room. Miss Davenport shook her head to clear it and walked into the lounge.
*******
Inside the lounge Valerie and Radu were playing the game. Miss Davenport walked into the room and started back in surprise.
"Hi Miss Davenport!" said Valerie cheerfully. Radu moved his piece defensively as Miss Davenport left the room. Once she was gone the two kids burst into a fit of laughter.
"Did you see her face?" crowed Radu.
"I thought I was going to die!" giggled Valerie. "Now do you see the practical side of teleportation?"
Radu could only nod in response.
"That's one!" she said gleefully.
Radu was about to say something in return, but instead he winced and touched his forehead for a moment. "Are you OK?" asked Valerie worriedly. Radu nodded and said that he was all right. When Valerie persisted in her concerns he became snappish and insisted that he was fine. Valerie let it pass but was confused at Radu's sudden outburst.
*******
Suzee, Rosie, and Valerie were waiting in the lounge when Harlan walked through the door. The rigged bucket that was placed over the doorway splashed water all over him. Harlan looked up in absolute surprise and wiped the water off his face. "OK," he said angrily, "Who put that there?"
Suzee answered as Valerie his a guilty grin, "I dunno."
Rosie remarked, "Accidents do happen."
"Valerie, I know about your bet with Suzee. You did this," accused Harlan.
"Why do you always assume it's me?" asked Valerie in a hurt tone.
Harlan was flustered. "Well...... did you?"
"Yes."
As Harlan wrung out his shirt and muttered something incomprehensible Bova walked in the door behind him.
"Hey, what's going on in here? Hey, Harlan, why are you all wet?"
"What do you expect me to be after a bucket of water is dumped on me? Dry?" snarled Harlan.
"That's two!" whispered Valerie to Suzee.
*******
That night the hyperdrive flashed with strange energy. It glowed a fiery red which burned brighter every second. The sound of an egg cracking came from within the hyperdrive. A sudden flash of blinding light came with the loud sound of something breaking. The lights stopped flashing as a tiny little lizard squirmed out of the hyperdrive. It stretched its legs and gave a big, cute yawn. Fuego was born! And he was hungry.
*******
The next day, after Radu's magic lesson, Valerie was sitting on her bed reading an ancient book. It was all about folklore and legends of Earth's cultures. Occasionaly she would let out a quiet laugh. Radu asked her what was so funny.
"Look here," she said, pointing to a page in her book.
"The Banshee," Radu read, "A myth of Ireland, said to be the ghost of a woman tragically killed. She has a Siren's voice which is said to be strong enough to kill a grown man." He stopped reading and looked at Valerie. "So what's so funny?"
"It's me," she said with a diabolical grin.
"Huh?" or something like that was Radu's response.
"Remember my nickname?" she said.
"Yeah, Legend. Why?" Radu thought that Valerie was trying to change the subject.
"Ever wonder why I'm called that?" At Radu's blank response Valerie continued to explain. "It was my mother's idea. I have a talent for creating myths, legends, gods, and the like. My mom called me 'her little legend' because of that, and eventually it evolved into just plain 'Legend.'"
Radu still didn't get it. Valerie opened her book and flipped the pages reading off some of the names. "Gytrash, Isis, Vampire, Werewolf, the Magus, the Coyote, Banshee... These are just a few of the characters I made up and then became." She opened another book and pointed to a page.
"Shakespeare. A Midsummer's Night Dream," Radu read off.
She pointed to the list of characters. "My mother, Titania, queen of the fair-folk! My father, Oberon, king of the fair-folk! And then me."
"But I don't see any Legend in there."
"I, Puck, trickster and servant to the king and queen!"
"I see," said Radu.
"Most of my life I've been someone else. It's sort of a hobby of mine."
"Of course," said Radu.
"You'll understand the fun of it later, I'm sure. But I suppose it's time to go to Miss Davenport's class. Come on, we don't want to receive any demerits," she said in mock appall. "And beware, I still have three more pranks to play!" She giggled and left the room.
*******
In the school room Miss Davenport was waiting for her students to arrive. While she was walking around the room to see if anything was amiss she noticed a little burned patch at the side of the door.
"Thelma," she called out. "Come here and look at this. It looks as if this spot has been burned."
Thelma tottled over and inspected the spot. "Yes, it has indeed been burned." She started to walk away when Miss Davenport called her back.
"Thelma, can you tell me why this is burned?"
Thelma checked her memory banks and reported back to Miss Davenport. "The cause is unknown at this time. There was a power surge in the hyperdrive last night. Perhaps this was a short circuit. The Christa has already repaired whatever damage the surge has caused." Thelma then walked away.
Valerie walked into the room with Radu. She smelled something in the air and then knelt down to inspect the burn marks. She murmured to herself, "If I didn't know better, I'd say that-"
"OK, Valerie, this isn't funny!" yelled Suzee as she stalked into the room.
"What isn't?" asked Valerie, surprised.
"Look at this, just look at this!" screeched Suzee. "My best cloak, ruined!" She held up the scorched hood that she had worn when she first appeared in this dimension.
Valerie ignored the accusation and grabbed the cloak. She sniffed it and inspected the burned section. "Fuego," she whispered.
"What?" said Miss Davenport.
Valerie turned to Miss Davenport and said, "Tell me, do you have anything on this ship that can exceed temperatures of over 1000 degrees Celsius?"
"Yes, the hyperdrive's core does whenever we make a hyperjump. But really, what does that have to do with a burnt hood and doorway?"
Bova and Harlan entered. She ran up to them. "Did you drop anything into the hyperdrive about one week ago?"
"Wellll.... Bova did drop some soil samples from a planet we stopped on." Harlan answered.
"Was there anything in the dirt? Maybe a rock that was round and red?" Valerie persisted.
"Yeah, there might have been," said Bova.
"I knew it. Fuego," she murmured to herself.
"OK, I get it. You're trying to trick us to win that bet you made with Suzee, right?" said Harlan. Valerie said that she wasn't kidding.
"That's enough, Valerie. You will recieve ten demerits and spend the rest of the day in the bunk room for your destruction of the doorway and Suzee's cloak," ordered Miss Davenport. She ignored Valerie's insistence that she wasn't lying and that she didn't burn anything, and Valerie was locked in the bunk room with the jump tube turned off.
Valerie grumbled to herself in the bunk room. "Those idiots. I wonder if they'll still think that this is a prank when Fuego burns down this entire ship." Then she summoned up one of her books to check on something. When she was finished reading she left the book opened to the correct page on her bed and teleported out of the room in search of Fuego.
*******
"I don't understand Valerie's sudden behavior," said Miss Davenport to Radu as they walked down the hall. "For the two months that she has been with us she has always been cheerful, and today she acted totally out of character. Radu, you seem to be her closest friend. Do you know why she's acting so strangely?"
"I don't know," answered Radu. "The closest thing I can come up with is that she's playing a big joke on all of us. Or that she's telling the truth. Do you mind if I check on her? Maybe I can find out what's wrong."
Miss Davenport agreed to let Radu see her and he went off to the girls' bunk room alone.
*******
Radu opened the door and looked inside. "Valerie?" he called. No one answered. "Legend?" She still didn't answer.
"That's OK, I didn't expect you to stay in here," Radu said to no one. He then saw the opened book on Valerie's bed. As he looked at the book he noticed a note sitting on the pages.
"Dear Radu," began the letter in silvery writing, "you probably won't see me for a while. I mean that literally. I'm out searching for Fuego, and so that he doesn't fricassee me I'll stay invisible. Study about him in the book I left out; when I'm invisible I can't use any of my powers. It's sort of a drawback. Anyway, if you happen to meet up with him you'll know how to keep him at bay. Good luck, and wish me happy hunting! -Legend."
Radu placed the note aside and looked at the pages in the book. On the left page was a glossy picture of a monster. It had a large, scaly, lizard-like body with a long tail stretching out the back. It's head was like a snake's head, only with a very long forked tongue. It was entirely red except for it's black eyes and black bat-like wings. All in all, not something you'd like to meet in a dark alley at night. Underneath the picture was one word. "Fuego."
The right side page was more informative. It contained a long narrative of the creature's creation and Legend's capture of it.
Fuego was created by a man named Oberon. It seemed that during the Middle Ages this man wanted to take over somebody's kingdom, and so created Fuego to destroy his foe's castle. Fuego was made as a half dragon/half phoenix. Unfortunately, Fuego was made too well and a girl named Taliesin had to stop it. Every full moon on Earth Fuego would have to be burned in a bright blaze of fire. He would then rise from the fire fully renewed and stronger than before. Taliesin tricked Fuego by making him enter a false fire. When it realized that a full moon had past without its ritual burning it turned back into the little egg Oberon had created it from. Taliesin then sent it to an uninhabited planet to keep it from being released.
"A very interesting story, but not very useful," remarked Radu.
Underneath the story was the description of Fuego's weaknesses and strengths. It seems that Fuego consumes things by burning them. That is why things have been turning up burned. Fuego is invulnerable to most people's attacks. He can take that energy and throw it back at the person. He also can't be trapped in a place that's totally escape proof. The only time it would be weak would be during a full moon, and out in space there is no full moon. All in all, a formidable opponent.
"Radu, I need your help. I've spotted Fuego," said a voice.
Radu started up and looked around. "Legend? Where are you?"
He heard Valerie sigh and say, "It's not hard to believe you were flunking at Star Academy. Remember my note? Remember what I said about being invisible?" Valerie had taken on a patronizing tone.
"Oh yeah. Of course. I remember," said Radu sheepishly.
"Now pay attention to me. I'm going to show myself to Fuego and make him chase me here. He's really big now because he consumed many things with fire, so watch out. Your job will be to trap him. Picture in your mind a large book with a brown leather binding and gold trimming. On its cover in large gold letters is the word 'Creatures'. Now hold out your hands and think really hard about it."
Radu held out his hands and concentrated. He closed his eyes as they began to glow with a white light. Suddenly the book appeared in his hands. "Now pay attention," said Valerie, "this is the tricky part. When you hear me running down the hallway towards this room open the page to page 64. Do not open the book to any other page! This is very serious."
Radu agreed and he assumed that Valerie left. He wasn't quite sure, since she was invisible and all, but he heard her footsteps leave the room.
*******
Valerie walked into the engine room. By this time Fuego had grown to the size of a horse. If he continued this path he would be too big to manage, even with Valerie and Radu's powers.
Valerie took off the spell of invisibility and whistled shrilly. "Hey Fuego! Remember me?" she shouted. "You want your revenge, don't you? Catch me if you can!" she yelled and sped out of the room. Fuego hissed and breathed fire at her back and then started to pursue her.
*******
In the bunk room Radu listened keenly for sounds of Valerie coming his way. He opened up the book to page 60/61. "Oops." He glanced at the glossy butterfly picture on the right side page and its description on the left. He was about to turn the page to the right section when he noticed the butterfly on the page beginning to move. He stared in awe as it flapped its wings and flew out of the page into the air. He turned to pages 62 and 63.
*******
Valerie nearly crashed into Harlan as she raced down the hall. "Whoa whoa whoa, where's the fire?" said Harlan.
"Right behind me. It's Fuego!" she screeched and ran on. Harlan turned to see Fuego bearing down on him. He was startled at first, but then laughed.
"Oh, I get it. It's all part of your 'Fuego' prank. Well it won't work on me. It takes more than a hologram to fool Harlan Band," he called after Valerie. Meanwhile, Fuego stared at him intently.
*******
On this page was a picture of a little sprite-like figure. It had little fairy wings, little pointed fairy ears, and a cute little fairy hat made out of a flower. It was surrounded with a white light which glowed even brighter as it came to life. It quickly sprang out of the page and gave a cute little giggle as it buzzed out of the room.
*******
Fuego decided that he's test Harlan to see if he would make a good meal. So as Harlan laughed at the 'hologram' it blew a little stream of fire at him. Harlan's face fell from smiles to shock. Then the closest thing that I could understand him to say was, "The hologram- fake-real-fire-Fuego-AAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!" Then he took off down the hall. Valerie bravely pushed Harlan out of the way of Fuego's path and yelled, "I'm the one you want, remember? Catch me if you can!" and then she ran off towards the bunk room.
*******
Radu finally remembered his mission when he heard Valerie's pounding footsteps and breathless voice still shouting insults at Fuego. He turned to page 64 and... it was blank. There must be some mistake. He looked at the page number again. Yup, it was indeed page number 64. His confusion was interrupted when Valerie rushed into the room.
"Hold up the book and hope for the best!" she gasped, out of breath. He did as she said. Fuego charged into the room and gave a mighty roar as he leaped at Valerie....
...and landed in the book. "Quickly, shut it!" Valerie yelled. Radu did, and a little puff of smoke was all that was left of Fuego in the real world.
"Where'd he go?" asked Radu.
"Into the book. It's a trap that's not escape-proof, but he can't escape from it anyway. He can escape if anyone opens the page or if he burns the book. But if he burns the book he will also burn himself. It's a paradox, and a very fortunate one."
"So," said Radu nervously, "do you want to explain this to the others or should I?"
*******
"...And so, that's what really happened," finished Valerie as she explained the 'revised' version to Suzee and Rosie.
"Wait, I know what a dragon is, but what else is Fuego?" asked Rosie.
"He's also half-phoenix. A phoenix is a mystical bird that supposedly has to be burned once a century to continue to live on. It rises from its own ashes in a greater glory than it was burned! At least that's what the legends say," said Valerie.
Suzee realized something. "If you weren't kidding about that Fuego, then that means that you didn't play all five pranks! You only played two, and that means that I win!"
Valerie smiled wickedly. "Not quite. Wait for 5, 4, 3, 2, 1." She put her hand up to her ear and listened to the shouts of surprise made by three guys. "I rigged their beds to pie them when they go in to sleep. I win!"