Scarlet Discovers True Strength by Ahmet Zappa Page B

Wish Orb is destroyed immediately. That’s one of the first things we learn when we get to this school.”
    â€œMoon and stars! We didn’t think negative energy even
existed
on Starland,” said Cassie with a gulp.
    Scarlet hadn’t thought Cassie could look any paler—and yet, somehow, she did.
    Gladiolus Rose shook her head. “It doesn’t. Technically,” she said.
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Vega asked.
    The two lab technicians exchanged grim glances.
    The tall one cleared his throat. “There have been leaks in the past…from the Bad Wish Containment Center.”
    â€œ
But
that was
hydrongs
of staryears ago,” his partner assured the Starlings. “There have been mix-ups, too…bad wishes mistaken for good ones at first….But such a thing is exceedingly rare, and by the time the mistake is corrected, almost all the potential negative energy has yet to be released.”
    â€œâ€˜Almost’?” Vega said.
    â€œAlmost.” The woman nodded. “So, yes, it’s not beyond the spectrum of possibility for there to be a microjoule in the air. But nowhere near enough to account for the concentrations we’re seeing here. It’s unprecedented, frankly.” She turned to peer into the case. “Never before, at least in this lab, have we seen negative plant life half as powerful—or
negative
—as this.”
    â€œSo…what you’re saying, then,” said Scarlet, “is that this mystery still isn’t solved. You don’t know where the flowers came from.”
    â€œNot yet. No. But our tests aren’t finished. There are a few more we can do. Hopefully, we can identify the exact source of the negative energy and even pinpoint where the flowers were grown.”
    â€œHow long will it take, do you think?” asked Vega.
    â€œI’d say a starday…maybe two…three at most.” Gladiolus Rose shrugged. “It’s difficult to say until the rest of the staff returns to work.”
    Her partner gazed around the overturned lab. “We were also hoping to straighten things up a little first. That’s one thing about this Wishworld dirt…it doesn’t seem to clean itself up. It just sits there when it’s spilled.”
    â€œWell, we can help you with
that
,” said Vega matter-of-factly. She looked down at the loose Wishworld dirt scattered across the floor. Her eyes narrowed as she focused her energy on gathering the dirt into a pile. As soon as she collected it all, Vega flicked her wrist and lifted it in a steady stream, using her finger to steer it into the nearest flowerpot.
    Scarlet looked over to see Cassie starting to use her energy, as well. One by one, on the counter in front of Cassie, overturned plants were popping upright.
    â€œStar salutations!” said the lab technicians.
    Vega beamed. “It’s the least we can do! Scarlet…? What are you waiting for over there? The faster we clean up this lab, the faster they can run more tests.”
    â€œWhy don’t we just zap up some Bot-Bot maids?” said Scarlet, looking bleakly around the room. She would rather have linked arms with Leona than do that job, even with the help of her energy manipulation.
    â€œAnd where would be the fun in that?” asked Vega brightly, adjusting a trayful of laser-bean seedlings just so.
    Suddenly, she jumped, and so did Cassie. Both Starlings pulled out their Star-Zaps.
    â€œMoon and stars!” gasped Cassie. She looked at Vega, who was just closing her device and slipping it back into her fitted coat.
    â€œWhat is it?” asked Scarlet.
    Cassie hurried over to Scarlet and whispered so the lab technicians wouldn’t hear: “Another Wish Orb’s been identified.” Only a few faculty besides Lady Stella and Lady Cordial knew of the existence of the Star Darlings, and it was imperative it stay that way. “We have to go to Lady Stella’s