Hello, and I'm back with another chapter of The New Universal.
I don't own the Companion Quartet.
Enjoy!
Ms. Ryoko Hynica was a kind person. That's what everyone said. Her companion, Julia, a unicorn, said so. Her superiors said so. The people she assessed said so. Which was probably why she had been chosen for this particular assessment.
Ms. Hynica stood in front of the Jones house, Lilac standing next to her.
"What a nice little house," Ms. Hynica said, smiling.
"Yeah," Lilac said, then knocked on the door. A few seconds later, Abby opened the door, then blinked in surprise before smiling.
"Hello, Lilac and...what's your name?" Abby asked, looking at Ms. Hynica.
"I'm Ms. Hynica, but you can call me Ryoko," Ms. Hynica said, shaking Abby's hand. "May I ask where your parents are?"
Abby looked into the house. "Mom! Dad! Lilac is back!"
Jenny and Steve walked into the room, then they both smiled at Lilac and Ryoko.
"Hello," Jenny said.
"Hello," Lilac said, then gestured at Ryoko. "This is Ms. Hynica. She's the assessor."
"Just Ryoko, if you don't mind," Ryoko said, shaking Jenny and Steve's hands. "Now, who would like to be assessed first?"
"Ooh, ooh, me, me!" Abby said eagerly, raising her hand.
All the adults laughed as Connie, Ariel, Austin, and Jay entered the room.
"Since you're potentially a universal-we can't say for sure until you've been assessed-it might be best for you to go last," Ryoko explained.
"Oh," Abby said.
"So...how about...you go first," Ryoko said, turning and smiling at Jenny. "Potentially a unicorn companion, correct?"
Jenny nodded.
"Well, I myself am a unicorn companion, so we'll have to see," Ryoko said. "Is there somewhere I can conduct the assessment where we won't be bothered?"
They all exchanged looks, then looked back at Ryoko.
"I guess here in the kitchen, and the rest of us can wait until you're ready for the next one," Steve said.
"Alright!" Ryoko said, setting the box she was carrying down on the table. "Jenny, you first, then you...Steve, correct?"
"Yeah," Steve said.
"From there, we can go by whoever is closest, but Abby goes last," Ryoko said. "Plan?"
"Plan," they all said.
About a half hour later…
"Alright, everything seems correct so far-same companies and everything," Ryoko said-the whole family was gathered at the kitchen table, assessments done. "Which means that we should bring you to our headquarters in Minneapolis, or to Pierre. Well, Abby, since you're a universal-and Luna, as a shapeshifter-it might be best to bring you to at least to Minneapolis as soon as possible. Would going with us now be fine?"
"Now?" Abby asked, her eyes wide. "But I have school tomorrow."
"If it takes too long, we could always say that you're either sick, or touring a school, since we might have to have you stay in Minneapolis, as you're a universal," Ryoko said. "The last one went missing, and the Trustees would probably agree that we keep a constant eye on you...although it might be best if we don't exactly let them know that there's another universal."
"Why not?" Abby asked, confused.
"Because the last one went missing-also, they might insist on you going to live in England," Ryoko said. "To keep an eye on you. Also...since you have a shapeshifter with you-I'm assuming that you two would rather stick together?"
"Yeah," Connie said.
Abby nodded.
"They don't need to know about the possibility of another shapeshifter, and in all honesty, officially, the two of you are companions," Ryoko said.
"Really?" Abby and Connie asked at the same time, looking at each other.
"Because shapeshifters can only be companions with universals, and to be safe, we need to keep an eye on you-no offense, Luna," Ryoko said.
"None taken," Connie said.
"So, the people here will know about you as a universal, but we won't say a word to the Trustees," Ryoko said. "Although we still need to keep an eye on you. So," she said, standing up, "let's get going." She looked at the others. "Officially, you don't need to come, but would you all like to?"
They all nodded.
"Then let's get going," Ryoko said. "We brought a big enough vehicle to fit all of us, just in case."
And that's it for this chapter! What did you think?
Sorry that it's a shorter chapter, but I should be updating before too long. Until then!
Lunetheart out.