Free Plague of Mybyncia by C.G. Coppola

exposed.”
    “Females are the bigger slight,” Princess
Ariana says from the other end of the hall. Glancing around—a final
confirmation she wasn’t followed—she jets towards us and Tucker
freezes immediately. When she reaches our group, she frowns. “We
are held to a higher importance, so it would be a greater insult
and travesty to harm a foreign female,” a great guilt sweeps her
face. “I heard what happened—I am so terribly, terribly sorry.”
    “How’d you hear?” Werzo narrows his eyes.
    “I could not sleep. I begged my attendants
for a quick stroll and overheard… well, anyway…” she looks around
again, convinced we’re not alone. Satisfied momentarily, she leans
in. “They will kill her. Tonight, in fact… but I know where
they have taken her.”
    “You know where the Musko lair is?” I
ask.
    “Well—um—yes,” her sage cheeks bloom a deep
crimson.
    “How do you know?”
    “Well… Perio and I… use to be together.”
    Tucker flinches. “Who’s Perio?”
    “He is the leader of the Muskos.”
    “And they are?”
    Princess Ariana sighs. “ Extreme loyalists. Similar to the Vermix… but, it is not like there is any
sort of civil war here. They just take it upon themselves to
preserve and protect Mybyncia and her interests.”
    “So it’s not organized by the queen?” Reid
asks.
    “Oh, no…” Princess Ariana shakes her head.
“Mybyncia thrives on the ideology of the Arizal—in fact, we are
made up mostly of Arizals. That is why Blovid and all of you
are welcome here. But, there are some who still believe Mybyncians
are more important, and should be put first. So… if there are any
‘non Arizals’ among us… it would be the Muskos.”
    “So how do we get Pratt back?” I cross my
arms.
    The princess looks behind her again, lowering
her voice as she leans in. “I can get you there, but you will need
defenses.”
    “We had them when we arrived,” Reid says.
    “They will be in your quarters then, but I
doubt they will do much good. I suggest you take our Enidds—they
travel better in water.”
    “What are they?” Jace asks.
    “Similar to your rifles—they hit a target
from a distance—but they function in water and air. There
are always a few stocked in the visitors’ quarters.”
    “Good.”
    “Grab them, suit up, and I will take you to
my Stancimis, Mimi,” Princess Ariana leads us through the tunnel
towards the boys’ quarters. “She will know how to get you
there.”
    “What about you?” I ask as we reach the room.
It’s set up the same as ours, with the wide, circular bed in the
middle and on it, the Rogues clothes and suits.
    “Me?” Princess Ariana asks as the guys grab
their clothes and start redressing into their tee shirt and
jeans.
    “What if they find out you helped us?” I ask,
turning around as they change.
    “I guess they will be mad,” she laughs.
    “We don’t want to cause you any trouble.”
    “ We are the ones who caused trouble,”
a sudden shamefulness emits. “You are guests of ours .
Chancellor Keller knows it is likely your friend will be dead in
the morning. He has this one night but there is too much at
stake.”
    “Then why are you helping us?” Mae asks.
    “I am an Arizal,” the princess says matter of
factly. “No one life is worth more than another.”
    “Where are the Enidd’s?” Jace asks once he’s
fully clothed in the black suit.
    “Under here,” the princess directs him to a
pile of devices next to the AKs under the bed. Selecting one, she
goes through a quick run-through of its basic functions and use.
“Very similar to yours. In fact, I think yours were designed from
ours.”
    “How?” Reid asks as Jace retrieves them,
passing one to each Rogue.
    “There have been several visits between our
Worlds and galaxies. During some, souvenirs were collected and
exchanged.”
    “And mine?” I ask, watching the boys handle
their new toys.
    “In your quarters.”
    “You’re going?” Mae asks,