Page 2 of Courting Mayhem

“Possibly,” Papi Sten agreed. “But if you see one, hit your emergency recall button.”

“Yes, Papi.” I scarfed down my cereal and hurried to my quarters to change. Poppa Jacob had left a pink tee-shirt with Cinderella’s castle on the front and a pair of jeans. My fathers still treated me like a very dangerous child that must be monitored constantly. I was fully grown, and it was time I made my own decisions. If I did run into a Coletti warrior, I’d just kick his ass. Problem solved. I pulled off my battle armor and slid into the jeans. They fit and were surprisingly comfortable. I tugged the tee-shirt over my head and presto! I could almost pass for human.

“Move it. General Zan is sending a shuttle for me in ten minutes, and do not forget to wear your inhibitor. They will have bio-scanners everywhere,” Papi Sten’s stern voice said in my head.

“I’m wearing it.”Like I would forget? If they scanned me, I would appear to be an ordinary Farin. I grinned. But if a Coletti attacked me, boy would he be in for a surprise. There was no way I was letting Zarek turn me into a broodmare. I jogged to the transporter room. Poppa Jacob stood on the icy cold transporter platform. I took my place next to him. “This is going to be so much fun.”

His armor polished to a bright sheen, and his purple hair in a tidy warrior’s braid, Papi Sten typed on the control console. “Or the biggest mistake we have ever made.” He activated the transporter.

The glittering blue transporter light engulfed us. It felt like my molecules were being taken apart. My molecules abruptly stopped whizzing about. The light faded and we were standing on an authorized Central Command transporter platform. My berserker senses went on high alert. My gaze locked on the heavily armed soldier scanning us for weapons. A definite threat. He was as big as Papi Sten. His battle suit fit him like a glove, emphasizing every bulging muscle. Two daggers protruded from his knee-high armored boots and on his left arm he wore a bronze warrior’s bracelet. I wondered if there was any way to get him to retract his helmet. I really wanted to know if his face matched his smoking hot body. What the hell, I’d give it a try. I clapped my hands and in Galactic Basic giggled, “Look Father. It’s the villain Count Zuckass!”

Poppa Jacob shot me a narrow sidelong glance. “No child, he’s a security guard.”

“A guard?” I peered at him for a moment and let my shoulders droop. “He is small for a warrior.”

In a deep, slightly raspy voice, the soldier said, “You are cleared to enter the theme park.”

“Mayhem?” Poppa Jacob nudged me.

“Could we look at the pretty flowers, Father?” I asked, playing up my harmless and not too bright act.

“As long as you don’t get overexcited. I don’t want you fainting again.”

I nodded dutifully.

Poppa Jacob kept a watchful eye on the soldier until we exited the building. “Have you lost your mind?”

“That soldier is an extremely powerful psychic. I think they know who we are.”

Poppa Jacob scowled. “Most bounty hunters don’t visit the Magic Kingdom for fun. Central Command naturally presumes we are hunting a violent felon and sent a warrior that can handle the situation.”

“I don’t think he bought my timid act either.”

“Calling him Count Zuckass didn’t help. Zan has kept us out of the databases and I’m not sure how Central Command tagged us.”

I blew out an aggravated breath.“Maybe we should leave.”

“No. You earned this trip. As long as we don’t break their laws, we’ll be fine.”

I stopped and stared in utter delight. Thankfully, the Magic Kingdom had survived all the attempts by the Tai-Kok and Rodan to destroy it. It was a place where kids could be kids. A place where peace and harmony reigned. Where you could be a fairy-tale princess, a handsome prince, a pirate, or a storm trooper. “It’s everything I thought it would be.”

“My parents brought me here when I was eight years old,” Poppa Jacob admitted.

“Good memories or bad?”

“A little of both.”

“Then let’s make some new memories.” I raised my warrior’s gauntlet and took his picture in front of the entrance. I loved Cinderella’s Castle. The turrets, the moat, and the stained-glass windows were straight out of my favorite fairy tale. The grounds around it were filled with kinetic sculptures, flowers in the shape of animals and several people wearing dwarf costumes. “Have you spotted the mouse yet?”

Poppa Jacob surveyed the area. “No, but I’ll keep an eye out for him.”

“Good I want a vid with him.”

Even though Poppa Jacob wore his Earth clothes, his demeanor was that of a battle-ready warrior. His prematurely gray hair and the jagged scar on the left side of his face drew a lot of attention. The don’t mess with me expression in his cold, blue eyes kept most people away. Except for one little boy. “Does your owie still hurt?”

“No.” Poppa Jacob gave him a gentle smile.

“Why is your hair in a braid?”

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