Here it is - the much-awaited final chapter of "Just an illusion"! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far, and to my mum for proofreading. Drum roll please...
Chapter four
With that, the Nekross disappeared into thin air. Granny, Dad and Benny were freed from their custody.
"No, no!" cried Tom, but it was too late to negotiate, "Spectacular!"
They were going to have to come up with yet another inventive plan - this time to prevent the Nekross spaceship from dropping by!
"How did they find out where we are?" Benny brought up out of the blue.
Only one explanation jumped to Tom's mind. "The communicator!" he remembered, "When we tested it out to see if it could contact the Nekross, they must have tracked it!"
The room plunged into silence.
"…you did what?!" said Ursula.
Tom opened up the panel on his gauntlet. Words were not going to tell his family how powerful Granny's disastrous spell had been – the only thing that could demonstrate the nature of the situation was if they witnessed his technology in action. On the screen appeared a series of Nekross symbols.
"What?" whispered Michael, staring at the letters until he could bear no more, "We've got to get rid of this thing!" He tried to wrench off the arm-piece as he had seen Lexi do.
"I don't think that will help!" reasoned Benny, "Even if we did manage to destroy the communicator, the Nekross still have those co-ordinates! They could come round any minute!"
"…then how else do we stop them?! I don't suppose you can hack into their computer and delete the information!"
Gran's face exploded into a massive grin.
"That's brilliant, Michael!"
"What did I say?!" exclaimed a bemused Mr Clarke.
"Thomas," explained Mrs Crowe, "Could you use your device to…axe into the computer…or whatever Michael just said?"
"I don't know, Gran," replied the young master, "Its Benny you should be asking. He's the one who knows all about Nekross technology."
"I…could…try…" said Benny anxiously, an agenda of probable complications coming to mind.
Tom disconnected the gadget from his sleeve, surreptitiously checking the inside just to be on the safe side, and he passed it to his best friend, who took one look at it and said, "I can't read the writing!" Defeated groans sounded all over the kitchen. He passed the item back to Tom.
"We need another plan!" encouraged Granny, as the intrepid alien-fighting team turned into an impromptu think tank, "…maybe I could create a miniature shrouding spell that will stop the Nekross from finding us!"
"That wouldn't work!" Benny hated to break the news, "Like I said - the Nekross already know where we are. We can't hide from them!"
"Unless…" Ursula broke off.
This sentence hung in the air for a few seconds whilst everyone figured out what she had meant to say.
"No!" pleaded Benny, "You can't go on the run!"
"I'm afraid we might have to! Anything is better than being abducted by those snake-headed aliens and robbed of our magic!"
"The air is 78% nitrogen, 20% oxygen and 2% water vapour," Tom stated out of the blue. Moving his arm toward Gran, he added, "…and you are wearing 20% denim, 25% wool, 5% taffeta…"
"I beg your pardon."
The only thing the wizard boy was viewing was his gauntlet, now snugly repositioned.
"I'm completely lost!" exclaimed Dad, holding up his arms in defeat, "Can somebody tell me what's going on?!"
"You can read Nekross!" squealed Ursula to her grandson, her eyes aflame with excitement, "Well done, Thomas! Perhaps my spell really is going to save the day after all!"
She smothered him in a gigantic bear hug, which was rather challenging, since the Nekross had not taken into consideration the prospect of one of their crewmen being cuddled whilst on duty when they manufactured their armour and there were plenty of annoying spiky bits that dug into her, but she didn't care!
…
"Power up the sonic cannons!" ordered Lexi.
The Zarantulus was in full battle mode, with soldiers at every console. The princess gave many more commands. The flight deck was lit in a selection of dark, dramatic colours, not that it could make the scene any more dark or dramatic!
"Dear sister," jibed Varg mischievously, "Why is it that you are no longer wearing your helmet?"
"That is not important, brother!" Lexi changed the subject, "Technician Jathro 15, report to flight deck!"
The red-skinned technician blundered onto the bridge.
"What is it, my most Exquisite Excellency?" he enquired.
"I need you to prepare the tracker bots. They will come in useful when we begin the assault."
"As the princess commands, it shall be done!" Even now, Jathro found it a chore to hold back his giggles. He was never going to get over the sight of a monarch of Nekron knocking over half an army!
All the while, the crew's attention was drawn to the fight and not to the computers, which were slowly being infiltrated by their enemies…
…
Back on earth, Tom had his arm stretched in front of Benny, so both of them were able to use the gauntlet.
"I've managed to access the Zatantulus' data core," informed Benny. A negative bloop came from the device, akin to a sound effect on a computer alerting someone they could go no further. "No, no, no, no, no! I'm locked out! I don't know the password!"
Tom took one glance at the panel, and started pressing lots of symbols at lightning speed. "We're in!" he told the others, as the contraption went on to make pleasant beeps, as if in confirmation that he'd beaten yet another obstacle.
Dad peered at the tiny screen, not that he could make any sense of it, and asked both lads, "Are you sure you know what you are doing? I mean, this is an alien computer you're trying to get into. Do you know anything about their technology?" He had only been joking earlier when he prompted such an operation!
"Don't worry, Mr Clarke!" replied Benny, "When I tried to stop that virus destroying the Nekross, Varg let me operate the computer." He went on to elucidate some of the things he did on it, employing a heap of jargon, which totally lost everyone in the room except Tom, who decided it was quite advantageous being a Nekross when you needed a built-in translator to comprehend what your geeky best friend was saying.
Benny went back to the panel. He got Tom to press some more digits, and then mentioned to the others, "We've now accessed the main data core. All I need to do is find those co-ordinates and remove them from every memory on the ship."
…
Benny had better hurry because the Nekross were drawing close to earth fast!
"The target is located," said Lexi, "We should be within proximity shortly."
"The Nekross shall feast at last on the wizard halfling's magic!" the king conceived, "I will retire to my throne room to process the magic we have already received, so we will be ready for this indulgence!"
The elaborate doors with the Nekross logo on them closed, obscuring the king from view.
Jathro, who should have been occupied with the programming of the tracker bots, for some reason entered the flight deck, apparently flustered about something.
"Excuse me, my most Exquisite Excellencies…we have an emergency…"
"This is not the time for frivolities, Technician 15!" bellowed Varg crossly, focused on his console.
The engineer trembled slightly, but defended himself by saying, "It is of utmost importance in regards to the battle we are engaged in…"
"Speak, Technician!"
"Well…you see…earlier…when the princess had that problem with her visor…"
"…and what of it, Technician Jathro 15!?" Lexi was furious to be reminded of the incident.
"…it was not just you, my most Exquisite Excellency, who had the fault. It appears…the entire army…all have the same obstruction…"
"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT!?" erupted Varg.
"…we are trying to solve this mishap as soon as possible…do not be angry, my Excellency!"
"The whole army!?" repeated Lexi in disbelief.
"This must be wizard trickery!" blamed the prince.
"I…I think you'll find there is an error in those new helmets we ordered from Nekron last week," explained Jathro, who understood that the royals did not get involved in such trivial business, "It is probably something to do with the interior magnetics…the technician staff are assuredly working hard to fix it."
"When will they be finished?" enquired a bothered Varg.
Jathro roughly calculated his answer on the spot. "…by tomorrow, perhaps?" He winced, waiting for some explosive remark from his superiors.
Lexi, however, took an unexpected approach. "In that case, the three of us will beam down directly into the wizard stronghold, and capture them with our bare hands. Come along, brother! We must prepare ourselves for this mission." She strode toward the corridor, her gun held high.
Jathro's face had morphed into a most unusual expression. "Are you certain this is such a good idea?" he half-protested.
Lexi ignored his comments and peeked at her arm panel, beginning to plot a fiendish plan to trap their foes. "We shall take them by stratagem. Their attempts to escape will be useless-" Suddenly, her tentacles arched. "Why are the co-ordinates no longer in my gauntlet!?"
Jathro realised this was his call. He took hold of the female Nekross' arm for a better look. She'd probably changed the screen or something - nothing he couldn't fix. At least, that was what he thought…
After fiddling for a while, he resorted to telling her, "I…do not know, my Exquisite Excellency!"
Technician 15 had an extensive knowledge on Nekross arm-pieces and how to operate them and what went wrong with them…but there seemed to be no explanation for this disappearing act. The machine was in the same condition it was when he left it. Lexi didn't recall doing anything with it since.
Not wanting to cause an upset, Jathro scurried to the nearby console, explaining he would re-programme the co-ordinates. "There is no need to be concerned, my most Exquisite Excellency…"
The computer, however, disagreed. "Aah!" cried the technician as he discovered Lexi's gauntlet wasn't the only place where the vital information had vanished, "It appears…the co-ordinates have somehow become…deleted…"
"Let me see that!" thundered Varg, thrusting him out the way, "What?! This is impossible!"
Realising the situation could easily escalate to something he couldn't handle, Jathro quickly said, "My apologies! I must dash! The technician staff need me to fix those helmets!" and he sped down the passageway, abandoning the two royals to their stupor.
Lexi came up with a plan whilst her brother was busy fuming. She stationed herself at a console and searched through the Zarantulus' communication history, hoping to find a way to contact Tom again…that must have been some spell that turned him into a Nekross AND gave him a working com unit…
Hang on a minute! Where was the record of the message she had made that morning? The logs attested such a call had never occurred!
…
…you could thank Benny the brain for that! Having feared the Nekross would become suspicious and attempt the most obvious trick, he'd removed all traces of Tom ever having spoken with Lexi that day.
"We've finished!" he shrieked.
If Ursula had a remaining spell, undoubtedly it would have been used to conjure up a storm of streamers. Instead, she gave both lads a giant hug. "My brave, brave boys!" she applauded.
Dad gave Tom a pat on the back. "Well done," he congratulated him, "That took a great deal of courage and strength. You'll make a fine man someday." Despite all this praise, his son was a million miles away. Michael tugged his hand. "Tom?"
Benny caught on that something was up. He nudged him firmly.
The wizard blinked several times, and slowly swivelled his head, eying Granny. Benny felt sick. Not again…
Nekross Tom gave a horrid chuckle, which was unnervingly alike Varg's. "A wizard for the extractor!"
"Thomas! Please! Fight it! You mustn't let the spell overpower you!" beseeched Ursula.
The alien opened the panel on his arm-piece. "No, Tom!" begged his best friend, slapping his palm over it, "Listen to Mrs Crowe! You're thinking you're a Nekross again!"
"I will beam you all directly to the Zarantulus," threatened Tom, shoving Benny away, "Prepare to be thrown to the Scorpulus!"
Ursula was edging toward the hallway. "I think you'll find I have not yet passed my sell-by date!" She dashed through the chamber door, which her grandson had forgotten to shut. "MOON! We need you to perform that spell NOW!" Michael and Benny raced after her, pursued by the Nekross.
"I will disintegrate you!" he was heard saying in the background as the three made it to the main cave.
Randal Moon threw the last sprinkle of tangleweed into the pot and raised his arms. Amidst the smoke that escaped from the cauldron, he chanted, "Koothe fan shay quan zan dah! Ashay fan dah!"
Nekross Tom had entered the cavern and charged straight at Benny with a forceful roar. A mass of rainbow flare-up blasted the disguised wizard, causing him to stop dramatically in his tracks. The others shielded their eyes.
When the glare had faded, Ursula slid away her hand and beamed. There was Tom Clarke, dressed in the same clothes he had been wearing that morning, but incredibly exhausted. Benny lunged to stop him collapsing to the ground. By the time Michael and Gran had rushed to his side, Tom was unconscious in his arms.
"He must be tired out!" divulged Granny, stroking his forehead, "I think we ought to put him to bed until he wakes up."
"Can somebody help me?!" heaved Benny, "I don't think I can hold him for much longer!"
Michael steadied the sleeping wizard and the three of them hoisted him in the air.
…
On the Zarantulus, Lexi and Varg were in the dog house. They were stood before the Nekross king, who was giving them a right lecture.
"You have failed me again, Varg!"
"But father! It was Lexi's suggestion! It should be she-"
"Do not make excuses, Varg. I shall throw you to the Scorpulus!"
The trap door in front of the siblings opened a little. The prince could hear the terrible beast contained within growling for its prey.
"Father! Please! This was all a mistake!"
"I will not tolerate mistakes! Prepare to be devoured by the Scorpulus!"
Varg could already imagine the razor-sharp jaws of the creature ripping into his skin. No! This couldn't be happening…
"Father," interrupted the princess, "Both of us are to blame for this loss of information. We should have been more cautious. You will have to throw us both to the Scorpulus."
There was a sudden silence.
What was the king to do? Would he watch both possible heirs to his throne be consumed by the nightmarish monster in front of him?
"You have one more chance, Varg!" resolved the king, shutting the flap, "If you fail me again, then the Scorpulus will feast upon your flesh."
"That is clear, father," replied an incredibly relieved Varg, barely able to get over the shock of watching his younger sister risking her life that he might be saved, even though his death would mean she would become the king's successor.
Once the doors had blocked the king from view, Varg took to interrogating the princess over the matter.
"Why is it that you persuaded the king to spare my life, dear sister?"
"The wizard half-form has yet again escaped from our clutches. However, with you by my side, brother Varg, perhaps this will not always be so…"
The two royals burst into evil laughter.
The scene probably would have been cut right then if a helmeted Nekross had not wandered onto the bridge, stating (in voice that sounded eerily similar to Technician Jathro 15), "Do not fret, my Excellencies! The visors have all been fixed!"
He accidentally ambled into an unsuspecting guard, landing in a terrible jumble on the floor. It was Lexi's turn to choke back laughter. Jathro hauled off the helmet, and quipped, "…or maybe not! What is wrong with these things?!"
Varg broke into a coughing fit, whilst Lexi refused to restrain her giggles.
…
Tom had a horrible taste in his mouth, and his head felt heavy as though he had a fever. He tried to get comfy, before remembering that would be rather challenging in the armour he was wearing...what armour? Had Moon completed the spell?!
Not only that - his tentacles were gone! He reached for his face to find his skin was soft once again. He picked himself up and strode to the bedroom mirror
Sure enough, he was back to normal. Tom gave a small smile. It was good to be himself again!
Benny stopped by as he had done occasionally to check on him whilst he was out cold, and was now delighted to see he'd got his strength back! Tom turned round to see his best buddy and gave him a big hug – which was not so tough now he was back in a t-shirt and jeans. Ursula and Michael wandered into the room to catch both boys laughing and rejoicing. Granny rushed over to cuddle her grandson, making it a group hug, which Dad soon joined in with.
"I am so glad that's over," commented Tom as the embrace loosened, "What happened before I blanked out, anyway? The last thing I remember is Benny and I hacking into the Zarantulus…did we delete those co-ordinates?!"
"Oh, yes!" said Mrs Crowe, "There's no need to worry now! They'll never find us again!"
I'm not so sure about that, thought Tom darkly. However, he was in too jovial a mood to ponder this more fully.
Abruptly, Gran looked a bit more serious and told him, "I've afraid I've got some news. That spell I attempted earlier would never have worked in the first place. The Nekross would sense your magic before you could say 'Hobbledehoys and Hobgoblins', and even if an unenchanted like Benny were to carry out the plan instead, there's still a risk their scanners might pick up his DNA. It's a good thing we didn't try to use it against the Nekross! I can't bear the thought of what they might have done to you!"
"We could use the spell you just cast on me!"
"No, Thomas! It's much too dangerous! Before you passed out, it had completely taken over your brain. If Moon hadn't finished the antidote in time, you could have had us all abducted!"
"And whose genius was it that came up with that brilliant idea of using a magical search engine?" Tom turned to Benny. "We couldn't have done it without you, Benny the brain!"
"Or you, Tom the Nekross!"
"I will throw you to the Scorpulus!" Tom pretended to wield a gun.
"I've had quite enough of that!" butted in Granny teasingly, tapping him with her cane.
"Now I'm same old Tom Clarke again, maybe we could take up Quinn's offer of a game of footie." Tom picked up his ball which he'd left by the side of his bed (underneath which that robot he'd had a run-in with earlier was still moving!) and spun it on his finger tip.
Benny agreed and the two lads jogged downstairs to meet up with their friends at the park.
THE END
Or is it?
A month later, Ursula was vacuuming the lounge and humming a little tune to herself. She pushed the settee forward so she could get to the carpet behind, only to uncover something most unexpected.
There were three vertical slash marks in the material, as though a blunt-clawed tiger had ripped it.
Where on Earth they had come from was a mystery...