"Dropping below light speed," announced Timmy, "Can I get a status report?"
"Main drive reducing to 34 percent capacity; batteries on standby. Systems all green," reported Mirta.
"Debris screens up; defensive screens on standby; weapons systems standby. No sign of... wait a second, a ship just came within range, and it's closing rapidly," said Lucy."The computer has identified the ship. It's those witches, like we figured."
"Oh, brother," said Timmy, "They sure are persistent. Let's see if we can get to Magix before they catch up." He did some navigation calculations, and frowned. "Magix is on the other side of the sun from us. "We're going to have to do some fancy footwork to get home without a fight," he said.
"Defense screens up; weapons coming on line," reported Lucy, and glanced at Timmy. "Just in case."
"We should be to Magix in about forty-two minutes," said Timmy.
"At their speed, they'll catch us in eighteen. Looks like we're gonna have to fight," said Lucy, and grinned. THIS time, the weapons and targeting computer were working.
"Timmy, can you call Red Fountain for backup?" asked Mirta.
"There's no direct connection with the sun between us. Having to relay will slow it down, and I doubt any ship could reach us in time anyway," he replied. He looked at Mirta. "This will be our fight."
"Oh, no," whined Zing, and gripped Mirta tighter.
"Don't worry, Zing; we showed 'em before, and we'll show 'em again," said Timmy, with confidence.
The pixie wasn't really reassured, but smiled wanly.
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Eighteen minutes later, Inez appeared on the main comm screen. "Are you going to give us the bomb, or do we have to pry it from your cold, dead fingers on your cold, dead ship?"
"Here's your answer!" shouted Lucy, and fired the main gun. The energy splashed off the other ship's screens, doing nothing more than making it rock a bit.
"If that's the way you want it!" said Inez, smirking. "Zee, now!"
A tight beam of red emerged from three places on the witches ship, converging to one spot on the Red Fountain ship,
just over the engine. The normally invisible screen began glowing a soft yellow.
"What IS that?" yelled Lucy, tapping controls.
"Don't know," answered Timmy, "Never seen a weapon do that before!"
"It's overloading that section of the screens," interjected Mirta; "It will fail in fifteen seconds, unless we can get away from the beam somehow!"
"On it!" said Timmy, hitting the thrusters. The distance between the two ships increased, but slowly.
Lucy fired several more times at the other ship, trying to hit the emitters for the red beams, but their screens were too strong.
Laughing, Inez reappeared on the comm screen. "Change your minds, yet?"
"Don't think so," replied Timmy, "Whatever happens, you won't be getting your grimy paws on it."
Inez held up her hand so her perfect manicure could be seen. "Grimy paws? Better look again! It doesn't matter anyway; your screens will be down in a few seconds. You can't escape!" The screen darkened.
"She's right," sighed Timmy, "Their ship is faster." He looked at the navigation monitor. The positions of their ship,
the witches ship, the sun, Magix, and the other planets in the system were indicated. He thought for a few seconds.
Just then the power flickered. "Screens down," shouted Mirta.
"We have just one choice left," said Timmy, "Stand by for a major drain on main power!"
To the horror of Lucy and Mirta, and Zing's confusion, Timmy hit the controls for the star drive. Using it inside a system this close to a star was very dangerous; the ship could be twisted into a six-dimensional shape, and themselves as well.
The ship's lights went out, replaced by the red emergency lights, and a shudder and groan came from the ship. The other ship vanished, and suddenly the sun was VERY close.
"What did you do?" yelled Lucy.
"I put the ship on course for the sun. They will NOT get the bomb! Grab your stuff and get to the lifepod, we have about three minutes!" Timmy hit a button, and a hatch opened in the deck. It was to the emergency escape craft.
Witch, fairy, and Specialist grabbed their backpacks as Zing flew around in circles, utterly panicked, her mind blank.
The three climbed in, stowing their gear to the side. Timmy hit the 'Hatch Close' button, and the panel started sliding shut.
"ZING!!" shouted Mirta, but the pixie paid no attention. She was completely out of her depth.
The hatch continued to close.
"We can't leave her behind!" shouted Mirta, tears beginning to form.
"We won't," said Lucy, grimly. She held out her hand, and a dark green beam of energy lept out and struck the pixie,
enveloping her. Lucy pulled her hand back, and the beam retracted, pulling Zing with it. She was brought into the
small craft with a second to spare.
The hatch closed, and Timmy hit some controls. "Stand by, we're leaving! Might be rocky!"
Several bangs were heard as the explosive bolts holding the escape pod were blown. A brief roar from the launch thrusters took them away from the ship, and took a course for Magix that would evade the sun.
As their flight smoothed out, they looked at the ship. No damage could be seen from the outside, but the ports were dark. On the navigation screen the witches ship came into view, chasing the Red Fountain ship.
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"Let them go; catch the ship! The bomb is still aboard!" shouted Inez.
"We're getting too close to the sun for comfort," reported Zee.
"Never mind that! We HAVE to get the bomb! Now do it!" ordered Inez, forcefully.
Zee shrugged and tapped controls. The ship surged forward after the abandoned craft.
"Can you get a tractor beam on it?" asked Inez after a few seconds.
Zee hit controls. "Yeah, but it's not effective at this range."
"Then get closer!" said Inez.
"NO! We have to veer off! The heat's affecting the ship! Systems are starting to break down!" reported Megan.
"That fairy is NOT going to beat me again! I WANT THAT BOMB!!" shouted Inez. She reached past Zee and accelerated the ship. The Red Fountain craft, now glowing a dull red on the side toward the sun, grew larger.
"We aren't going to make it!" screamed Megan, looking at the navigation display. "The sun's gravity is overpowering our drive!" She looked at Inez. "We're dead, and it's your fault! She closed the distance between them and hit Inez in the same spot Lucy had.
Ignoring the fighting witches, Zee studied the situation. There might be one chance for them to live... she tapped controls and prayed to the Darkness.
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On the escape craft, three sets of eyes looked on in horror as the Red Fountain ship vanished into the sun's heat,
followed a few seconds later by the other ship.
"That's that," muttered Timmy.
"Here," said Lucy to Mirta. She opened her hand, and Zing lay there, calm but still shivering. Mirta took her bonded pixie carefully from Lucy, and tried to comfort her.
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The escape pod landed in the quad of Alfea. Faragonda, Griffin, and Saladin were waiting for them, as well as a number of fairies, witches, pixies and specialists. The hatch opened, and they climbed out, little the worse for wear.
They were immediately mobbed by everyone, and it took some time to restore order. It was quickly spread what they had really gone after, and Musa forgave Lucy her comment about breaking strings.
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The next day news had been spread, and congratulations given all around. Mirta's Enchantix form was a hit, as was her bonding with Zing. The pixie had recovered, and was now much better.
Lucy was already top student at Cloud Tower, and her amplified power made the other witches even more afraid of her,
which is just the way she wanted it. If they knew she was really just a big softie, having fairies and pixies as
friends, she would never make it out of her school in one piece.
Everyone met at the foot of the steps to the Alfea Administration Building, with the three school heads standing several steps above.
"You didn't retrieve the bomb, but it's probably better that you didn't. It would be the target of everyone who seeks
power all over the realms," said Saladin. "It is my honor to tell you three that your mission was deemed a success,
and more such teams will be made in the future."
"And...?" interrupted Lucy, crossing her arms.
Saladin grinned, while Griffin raised an eyebrow and Faragonda hid a smile behind her hand.
"You all pass. You're exempt from Final Exams!" he announced.
The four of them got cheers from the fairies and pixies and specialists, while the witches gave some sullen and sarcastic applause.
Timmy, Lucy, and Mirta (with Zing on her shoulder) turned to each other and high-fived, grinning.
It had been a long, hard road for all of them, but now it was over, and the future ahead looked bright.
The End
