\u201cAnd here is the control center,\u201d explained Pat as she and her parents led Bethany into the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo your technology uses crystals,\u201d observed Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the easiest way to channel the innate mana we use to power our magic,\u201d replied Tim. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see if\u2026hang on, something\u2019s up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it?\u201d asked Fran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur detection spells have picked something up offshore,\u201d answered Tim. \u201c\u2026It bares the same shape as Tanza!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat?!\u201d yelped Pat. \u201cIt\u2019s come back?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Hang on, the mass of the object doesn\u2019t correlate to Tanza\u2019s,\u201d reported Tim. \u201cSomething\u2019s not right.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019d better get Pam here,\u201d said Fran. She then created a magic circle and put it into a communications crystal. \u201cPam, get here now! Readings have picked up something!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope your defenses are still running,\u201d remarked Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShields are stable,\u201d replied Pat. \u201cBut the power level\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPat?\u201d asked Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all part of the Mana Pools problem. We can\u2019t-.\u201d The door opened behind her and the woman that spoke to the minister arrived. \u201cPam, thank goodness!\u201d sighed Pat. \u201cWere you chatting up one of the minis-?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re picking something up?\u201d asked the woman, Pam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe think it\u2019s Tanza,\u201d replied Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe readings are wrong,\u201d said Pam simply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, I know the mass doesn\u2019t-!\u201d protested Tim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe instrumentation bank is faulty. I must repair it.\u201d Pam then created a magic circle, cloned it, and put all her circles into all the crystals. The crystals stopped glowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHang on!\u201d protested Pat. \u201cYou\u2019ve shut everything down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must complete the repairs,\u201d replied Pam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Pam, are you all right?\u201d asked Fran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, High Monitor,\u201d assured Pam. Bethany and Pat looked at each other. Something just didn\u2019t sit right with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo there we were,\u201d said Opal as she and Yazmyn were patrolling the place, \u201csurrounded by Entroopers, ready for the end, when the Entrooper Commander-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe started monologuing?!\u201d laughed Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe started monologuing!\u201d confirmed Opal. \u201cHe went on about how the universe rightfully belongs to Emperor Entropy, how we\u2019d fail like our predecessors, all that! So Gabi, using her new chakram, took the opportunity to slice his head off, then Pat made us all lighter with her gravity powers while making the Entroopers heavier, then I spun round, whip outstretched, and turned them all to dust! That was how we became Ladies!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAwesome! Gotta say, you girls were lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, I\u2019m not sure we would have\u2026hang on\u2026\u201d Opal pointed out a minister, the same minister that hypnotized Pam. \u201c\u2026What\u2019s Minister Terry up to?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTerry? Isn\u2019t he supposed to give a speech soon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat WAS the idea,\u201d confirmed Opal. \u201cI think we have a suspect.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, let\u2019s tail him,\u201d suggested Yazmyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ruby and her group observed the conference welcome ceremony. \u201cAnd last, but certainly not least,\u201d said the Master of Ceremonies, \u201cthe Lord Vice-President with the Delegation from the country of Veritas, led by Delegate Evelyn!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe commit ourselves,\u201d said Delegate Evelyn, \u201cto the ideals of the current Magical Limitation Treaty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell said, Friend Evelyn,\u201d replied the Lord Vice-President. \u201cPlease, accept my humblest apologies for any distress the recent tremors may have afforded you. There is categorically no cause for alarm. They are an entirely natural phenomenon of no consequence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we believe,\u201d Malachite whispered to Ruby and the Angelan Roses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope you\u2019re right,\u201d remarked Wilma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back in the control center, Pam was still fiddling with the control bank. \u201cPam, are you sure that\u2019s necessary?\u201d asked Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt IS necessary,\u201d replied Pam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerhaps I can give you a hand?\u201d asked Bethany. \u201cI\u2019m good with machines, I\u2019m sure I can learn how your technology operates.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must\u2026complete the repairs!\u201d insisted Pam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, on Earth, we have a saying, two heads are-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLeave me ALONE!\u201d Pam then punched Bethany in the face!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPAM! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!\u201d protested Fran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough, Pam!\u201d snarled Tim as he got ready to fight. Pam knocked him aside and was about to plunge something into Bethany\u2019s head! Bethany held her back, then Pat threw Pam off Bethany. Pat then raised her hand and the tool in Pam\u2019s grip fell to the floor, pinning her hand underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve increased the gravity of that probe,\u201d explained Pat. \u201cConsider her restrained!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWoof!\u201d groaned Bethany. \u201cPat, you pack a wallop!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiss Williams, I cannot apologize enough for-!\u201d said Tim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen don\u2019t,\u201d interrupted Bethany. \u201cI think it\u2019s more important that we see what she was up to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must\u2026carry out\u2026my instructions!\u201d strained Pam. \u201cI must\u2026please\u2026D-Dame\u2026Petrify! I must\u2026join her\u2026garden of\u2026stone!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDame Petrify?\u201d asked Bethany. \u201c\u2026Is that who\u2019s behind Tanza\u2019s disappearance, hm?\u201d Fran and Tim checked out the instrumentation bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPam\u2019s wrecked the scanners and altered the shield settings in some way,\u201d said Tim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow?\u201d asked Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re jammed on,\u201d explained Tim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPam, were you trying to keep something out\u2026or all of us in?\u201d asked Pat. Pam was still going on about how she must please Dame Petrify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCould we put her somewhere soundproofed?\u201d sighed Bethany, annoyed. \u201cWe need to think. If we can get the external detectors working\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m not exactly a repair girl,\u201d sighed Pat. \u201c\u2026But I DO know what parts are what. Bethany, this might be your chance to get a good look at our technology! Have you mastered teammate telepathy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure have,\u201d replied Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerfect! I can name the parts and send images of them through your mind, then you send images of what your eyes see so we can guide you along the repairs!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right then!\u201d declared Bethany. Fran and Tim opened the instrumentation bank up and let Bethany into the inner workings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAll right, we\u2019ll need to reset the relay circuit first,\u201d said Pat as she projected the image of what one is supposed to look like through the telepathic field all Roses share.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI can see it!\u201d Bethany projected an image of a red relay circuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s stuck in the reset position,\u201d said Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDid she show you a tiny switch?\u201d Fran asked Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe did and I can see it,\u201d replied Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFlick it back and forth rapidly three times,\u201d directed Fran. Bethany did so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s green now,\u201d she reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood, then you can safely rotate the mana-transfer crystal ninety degrees counterclockwise,\u201d said Tim as Pat projected an image through the telepathic field of what such a crystal looks like. Bethany did so, then the instrumentation bank powered on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou did it!\u201d cheered Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGlad I could help!\u201d replied Bethany as she crawled out from the access panel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh heavens!\u201d gasped Fran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat is it, Mom?\u201d asked Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight outside the citadel!\u201d replied Fran. \u201cWe\u2019re registering 50 life-forms!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRight at the least-watched area!\u201d realized Tim. \u201cThey\u2019re right inside our shield perimeter, just waiting at the wall!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomething\u2019s horribly wrong,\u201d said Bethany. \u201cI think we\u2019ve all been duped by this Dame Petrify.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSh..she entered\u2026the barrier\u2026\u201d whispered Pam with reverence. \u201cI\u2026I obeyed her! Yes!\u201d Then\u2026it happened! Pam\u2019s skin and clothes slowly turned to stone!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cP-Pam?! PAM!\u201d yelped Pat. It was too late, Pam fully turned to stone with a blissful look on her face. \u201c\u2026Sh-She-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDame Petrify must have had no further use for her,\u201d muttered Bethany. \u201cThat must mean she possesses Tanza.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis is so screwed up!\u201d groaned Fran. \u201cShe must have taken advantage of the Mana Pools\u2019 problem!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAre the Mana Pools your source of magic?\u201d asked Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are,\u201d said Pat. \u201cAnd they\u2019ve been playing up. We\u2019ve had frequent power surges, but they always been within safety tolerances, so no one\u2019s been bothered to fix them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut that\u2019s like ignoring damage to a water heater,\u201d remarked Bethany. \u201cAny more ignoring of the problem and-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need to work on them somehow, but we need a member of the Lord President\u2019s family to accompany us,\u201d said Pat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026The Lord President is called Rosa Morales, yes?\u201d asked Bethany.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, and I see where you\u2019re going, but Gabi\u2019s preoccupied with-!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe\u2019ll be preoccupied with incoming death and destruction unless she helps us!\u201d insisted Bethany. Pat stared at Bethany for a second, then pulled out her Comms Compact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGabi, this is Pat,\u201d she said. \u201cBethany\u2019s planning on fixing the Mana Pools and, since that\u2019s the Morales Family\u2019s area of expertise-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cS-Sorry for interrupting,\u201d said Gabi, \u201cb-but we s-still haven\u2019t found-.\u201d Bethany opened her Comms Compact and joined the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGabi, this is Bethany,\u201d she interjected. \u201cWe just had an encounter with our enemy\u2019s agent. Her name is Dame Petrify and we think she\u2019s the one that\u2019s got Tanza. She turned her agent into stone and the agent let it happen. They\u2019re right between the shield perimeter and the wall. We HAVE to restore the Mana Pools to their natural state of operation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cB-But you\u2019re asking me to\u2026to open the pools\u2026to an outsider!\u201d replied Gabi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019re ALL outsiders to the Entroopers, Gabi!\u201d insisted Bethany. \u201cAnd we\u2019re all going to die unless you give me access!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019m coming with you,\u201d sighed Gabi. \u201cPat, c-could you get B-Bethany a suit and m-meet me at the P-Pools\u2019 airlock?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll be right there,\u201d replied Pat. \u201cOut.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSuit?\u201d asked Bethany when the call ended.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat much concentrated mana in liquid form generates a lot of heat and energies we barely understand,\u201d explained Pat. \u201cYou\u2019ll need a safety suit. And trust me, our Cosmic Rose outfits won\u2019t cut it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGotcha,\u201d agreed Bethany.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cAnd here is the control center,\u201d explained Pat as she and her parents led Bethany into the room. \u201cSo your technology uses crystals,\u201d observed Bethany. \u201cIt\u2019s the easiest way to channel the innate mana we use to power our magic,\u201d replied Tim. \u201cNow, let\u2019s see if\u2026hang on, something\u2019s up!\u201d \u201cWhat is it?\u201d asked Fran. \u201cOur […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7392,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1061,1063],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cosmic-roses","category-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7833"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7833\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7834,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7833\/revisions\/7834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7392"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}