Strange Girl... Part 5: Mostly Harmless

Sigley spent the car ride updating Mara on the latest Einon politics and events. Most of it went over Diana's head but she was able to glean some things. Einon was ruled by Emperor Elo Gammon and the Grand Counsel were his personal advisors who served the people as judges and senators. Of the fourteen members who served in the Grand Counsel of Einon before her family left, only nine remained, including the often-mentioned "General". Mara seemed familiar with the names Sigley mentioned, nodding along and asking questions about them.

Diana also noticed that she mentally cringed everytime she had the name "Gallenos" but she couldn't explain why. It wasn't like she felt more isolated or even felt resentful towards the name "Gallenos". She always thought that her real surname was changed to blend in more with common Earth names and that idea was merely confirmed. Still, each time she heard it, she felt like someone put a cold hand on the back of her neck. Not necessarily unwelcomed but always jarring to the nerves.

Soon the car pulled up to their destination and the door opened. Diana expected to see a large, prestigious looking school with nice landscapes and high fences. As she stepped out of the car, she realized she couldn't be further from the truth.

Before her stood was a cross between a courthouse and a coliseum. The academy was easily ninety feet high and took up high a city block. Diana looked around and saw that the school was in the heart of the city rather on the outskirts as she imaged. A steady slope of stairs awaited her but between her and the doors stood eight forty-foot statures of people. The Stature depicted each person as warriors poised for battle. All were armed weapons, bow and arrows, staffs and so on, except for the stature in the middle. He was an older man, looking tired but with a steadfast look in his eyes and had a cane and a scroll in his hands.

Mara emerged from the car and soaked in the scenery as Sigley started ahead of them. "Einon Academy. Training the next generation of soldiers, senators and upright citizens."

Diana spoke. "Did you go here?"

"Me, your father, countless of our friends. Fewer schools on the planet excel the standards set here." Mara nudged Diana. "Don't worry. It's mostly harmless," Mara said as she started up the steps.

"Define 'Mostly'."

Sigley held open the door for them to enter. "Mostly means mostly. Now stop stalling and let's get this over with and get you enroll."

"Yippee."

Sigley led them into the school and down a hallway filled with glow of holograms. Diana was mesmerized by the different recordings playing until they finally reached the heart of the school, the Grand Hall. With its exotic flowers, beautiful art and buzzing in the air, Diana was stunned. She saw several hallways, leading different in directions and two large doors with intricate carvings on both sides. Sigley opened one of the doors and waved in Mara. "After you, Colonel."

Mara and Diana stepped forward and Sigley held up his hand. "I'm sorry but the Counsel wishes to speak to you without the child. I thought that was implied."

Mara tensed. "This is nonsense. Why can't she come with me?"

"The Counsel has very delicate things to discuss that are unsuitable for... Inexperienced ears."

"In other words, they want me to lecture without worrying about new people hearing it."

"It's okay, Mom."

Mara glanced over. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Don't worry. It's 'Mostly harmless', remember?" Mara squeezed Diana's hand and smiled.” I’ll be right back. Wait here and don't be afraid to knock that door down if you need me."

"You mean, knock on the door."

"No, I didn't" She said as she walked through the door. With Mara gone, Diana was able to look at the designs of the hall. She look up and saw that the academy was eight stories tall and within the borders of the level were wall paintings. She squinted and saw that each level had a different person from the statures outside. She started to move closer to see the stories in more detail when she heard a sound from one of the hallways. She ignored it until she heard it again, this time with the sound of someone running. Soon, a blonde girl burst into the Grand Hall.

The girl was an inch shorter than Diana and was much thinner. She was breathing heavy and leaned against the wall to catch her breathe. Diana had no idea what to do so she decided to talk. "Hello."

The girl gasped and stared at Diana with a suspicious expression.” Hello?"

Diana laughed and crossed the room to her to try again. "I'm sorry if I scared you but I was curious about these paintings. Could you explain them to me?"

"WHERE IS SHE?!" bellowed a voice from one of the hallways. It was male and sounded furious. Diana and the girl snapped their eyes the direction of voice and the girl hung her head and muttered, "Going through this all over again." Diana looked at her and asked. "What's going on?"

"What's happening is the stupid-" Before she could finished, a young man came charging in the room "There goes the brat," he said, coming straight toward the girl. Diana stepped in between them and tried to resolve everything. "Whoa! Let's calm down, everyone and um, try to talk this through before this escalates." Diana tried to keep her voice calm and cheery but as the young man came closer, the more intimidated she felt. He towered Diana and she got a good look at him. He was roughly 16, a good foot taller than her and had short black hair.

"Get out of my way."

"See, I can't do that because I was told to stay here and I have the feeling that bad things will happen if I move." He stepped aside but Diana stepped with him. "What did she do to you?"

"That insolent child insulted me and if you were smart, you'd move aside and say nothing else to me." Once again, he stepped aside and she stepped with him. His green eyes bore into Diana's head but she didn't care at this point. "Oh! You meant to move when you weren't moving. That makes more sense now."

The young man scowled at Diana's joke and he raised his fist. Diana instinctively used her telekinesis to shove him from her and flung him twenty feet across the room. Diana somehow felt both remorseful and satisfied until she saw the young man start to stumble to his feet. She turned to the blonde girl who started this whole thing and yelled. "RUN!"

In a flash, the girl ran down one hall and Diana ran down another. She wasn't sure if she actually heard footsteps behind her but she didn't care. Mara’s assurance of  "mostly harmless” sprang to mind along with with the words “Mostly harmless, my foot".

Strange Girl.... Part 4: Captain Peacock and the Dragon Crest.

The images flickered to a stop and the room returned to its stillness. "Your father lived in this house for most of his life." Mara said, filling the silence. "This was the home of his ancestors and a grand old thing in its own right. You could get lost exploring here. "She stood up and clapped her hands together.” But that's enough time on Memory Lane. Time to get you enrolled into school." Diana started to retort something clever when she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps. She stood up and whispered to Mara. "Is anyone else supposed to be here?" Mara shook her head.


Diana searched the room for a space to hide behind when she noticed that Mara had walked silently to the wall by the door. "What are you doing over there?" Diana whispered. Mara squinted at an invisible spot on the wall. "Seeing who else is here, Kiddo. Now, shush." She leaned closely to the wall and poked at a speck on the wall with her index finger. Much like the hologram, it likewise flickered to life, revealing an interface to the house at the tip of her fingers. "I was afraid it would all be defunct after all these years but everything seems fine. Now, if I can only remember how it goes. Press 'House', then go to records...," she said, typing words and scrolling past objects. "...and we go to recent records to see who else is here." She finished typed with a smile on her face. Diana could see that after only minutes on there, her mother was already concerned about their lives on Einon in ways Diana could only begin to comprehend.


Diana walked over to Mara to watch the video recording with her and saw that there was, in fact, someone else in the house but what surprised her most was his appearance. The man was tall and stout, his clothes gave the air of being a some sort of an official and he had wide eyes, tragically making the man look like a human peacock. Diana struggled to suppress her giggling while Mara dropped her shoulders and groaned. "Great, Sigley's here." Diana paused in her laughter to talk. "What's a Sigley?" she asked only to accidentally look at the interface and start the fit of laughter again. "Don't worry, you'll see soon enough."


Almost aware of Mara's comment, the Peacock, or Sigley, strutted into the room. He cocked his head to Mara and Diana and bowed stiffly before them. "Colonel Gallenos, it is indeed a pleasure and an honor to see you again," he said as if he was reciting some rote greeting. Mara nodded in acknowledgement. "Mr. Sigley. I trust you have been well over these years. How is the General?” "She is well, Colonel, and is eager to speak with you again."


"I'm sure she is." They stood in silence together. Mara and Sigley stared at each other, leaving Diana more and more confused with every passing second.


Sigley cleared his voice in annoyance. "In fact, she is so eager to see you that she sent me to escort you to her office at the Einon Central Academy."


Mara smiled graciously. "Please express my deepest thanks to her but we don't need your assistance. I'm sure she will understand."



His eyes widen in shock but he quickly returned to his arrogant demeanor. "The Counsel insists upon it as well, Captain. It would be a shame for you not renew old acquaintances." Without a second word, he bowed again to them and left the room.


Diana stared at the door in shock. "Please tell me that that was not the official Einon Welcoming Committee because that needed some work." Mara sighed while she reached into her suitcase handle and pulled out a jacket. "Nope, that was a Sigley. Let the games begin." She nodded towards the door and they followed the strange peacock man.


As they walked through the house, Diana tried to remember what Mara had mentioned about Einon but all she could remember was that her father was a scientist, her grandparents had died and they left to make a new life. She didn't recall anything about a counsel or a particular general and certainly nothing about Sigley. She was so wrapped up in her thought that she didn't notice they were outside until the sunlight was in her eyes. She blocked the sun from her face and saw the car they were going to be "escorted" in.


Like Sigley, it looked formal and dolled-up but the similarities stopped there. It was black and regal, demanding respect from passersby rather than mocking and laughter. On the back door, it had crest with a rust colored dragon, crouched with a fierce looking rider saddled upon him and words below them. Diana guess that is was the motto of their people. Her people.


A second man was waiting for them, holding the back door open for them. The man nodded to them. "Good morning, Colonel Gallenos. Please, after you." Diana raised her eyebrow and looked at Mara. "Maybe I'm crazy but something tells me that you're a pretty big deal here and you forgot to tell." Mara scrunched up her face in a way to suggest she was pondering when in reality, she already knew the answer; something that you learnt only after years of being with her. "Maybe, maybe not. It's hard to gauge," she said, making it the third time she had answered a question without answering question in an hour. "This is going to be a long day, isn't it?"



"You have no idea, Di." Mother and daughter both stepped into the formidable car and Diana felt as if she stepped further into a world unlike the one she has known for most of her life. Question and thought whirled around in Diana's head. Who was the General? How did anyone know that they were in the house? Was someone escorting them to the academy a good thing or a bad thing? Sigley entered the car and sat across from them and in the midst of the confusion in her head, one thought stood out: the nickname "Captain Peacock" for Sigley. Nothing like a good running joke to make you feel more at home, she thought to herself as the car drove to them to the unknown.