“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.
25
They weren’t in the air long before they began to see lights. At first, they were just a glow. The Spacer slowed down, as though to give them time to see what they were flying toward.
“Colors!” Aradella said in awe. “Look at them.”
