"Well, that's quite a reaction. Was my work truly that impressive?" Gulu exclaimed.
"That's debatable," Sedrick said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Gulu asked, puzzled.
"Moving on," Sedrick cut in. "Is everything where it's supposed to be?"
Edmund looked over himself.
Then paused.
Herself.
After a brief—and increasingly alarmed—inspection, Edmund frowned.
"Yes," she said slowly. "Technically. A few things seem to be missing. A few other things have been added."
She looked up.
"I know you said I was getting a new body, but… why am I a woman?"
"You never asked what would happen," Gulu said with a shrug. "And I don't control that part. It's more of a chance. Fifty-fifty, usually. Well… more like seventy-five, actually."
Edmund blinked.
"How did it go from fifty to seventy-five?"
"That other twenty-five percent was the chance you'd come back genderless," Gulu said.
"Oh my God, so much talking," Sedrick groaned. "Gulu, explain your little coin toss later. You gave her a new body. Wonderful. Hurry up and send her on her way."
"Well, like Sedrick said, time to send you on your way," Gulu said.
"Wait. Before I go, can I at least get a new set of clothes that fit?" Edmund asked.
"Would that be all right, Sedrick? You seem to be in a mood today."
"I don't care," Sedrick said. "Just make it quick."
"Wonderful. That settles it," Gulu said with a clap.
Gulu held out her hands, and once more a light enveloped Edmund. But it was different this time—more amber, with a hidden dark-blue undertone.
Edmund felt the fabric that had once fit like a glove shift around her new body like a snake. It wound around her, reshaping itself until it formed a gown far more elegant than functional.
"All right, all done. How does it feel? Do you like it? Would you like a mirror?" Gulu asked, her eyes full of anticipation.
"It fits a little tight around the neck, and I feel a little cold on my back and feet. Other than that, it's great. And yes, I'd like a mirror."
"Would milady also like a tailor for her dress?" Sedrick asked dryly.
Gulu kicked Sedrick.
"Shut up, Sedrick."
A wall of crystal rose from the ground, forming a reflective surface.
Edmund stepped toward it.
For the first time, she saw the dress in full view.
It was a sleeveless gown with an open back, its surface tight and smooth. At first glance, it looked black, but in the crystal reflection it shimmered more like polished obsidian threaded with deep blue undertones.
The fabric clung elegantly to her taller frame.
Then she felt the draft again.
She turned slightly and realized the wind was brushing against the exposed skin of her back, the open cut of the gown leaving her shoulders and spine bare.
Most of it had been hidden until now by her hair.
She reached up and ran her fingers through it.
Before, her hair had been short and unkempt.
Now it fell far longer, heavy and smooth, cascading down her back in dark waves. It looked black at first, but when the amber light of the Conservatory touched it, warm amber undertones shimmered through the strands like hidden embers.
Her arms were wrapped in detached sleeves of fine black fabric that reached to her upper arms. Each sleeve hooked delicately around her middle finger, the material soft and cool against her skin.
She crouched slightly, as if trying to make herself smaller.
"Are you okay? Do you hate it?" Gulu asked, worried.
Edmund stood again.
"I'm fine. I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the changes."
"You know… becoming a woman, doubling my height, my skin changing color, and getting two more eyes. It's a lot to take in."
"Yes, it must be quite the shock to go from Gulu-sized to giant in a day," Sedrick said.
"I won't be this size forever, so I'll let that one slide," Gulu replied.
"Now that everything is settled, let's get you on your way. But before that, there are some things I should mention. Don't say anything about what happened here or mention us, okay?" Gulu said with a smile.
"All right, finally. Let's get you on your way," Sedrick said.
"What about my name? You guys said I was going to get a new one," Edmund said.
"Good point. That had totally slipped my mind. Let's go with Ed. Now get ready to be bla—"
"Wait, wait! We can't just name her Ed. What kind of name is that? You just removed four letters," Gulu protested.
"Fine. Let me think," Sedrick muttered.
He paused for a moment.
"I've got it. Edra."
He snapped his fingers.
"Now where was I? Oh, right. Get ready to be blasted to a new world."
"Blasted? That sounds a bit strong. We're just sending you to a new world chosen at random," Gulu corrected.
"Okay, I'm ready, but do I get shoes? These don't really count," Edra asked.
"No. Get ready. Three, two, one—"
Sedrick launched her.
As Edra shot out of the Spessartine Conservatory, she looked back.
The structure sat atop a massive bed of black-amber crystal.
Around it stood other buildings in different colors and shapes: one purple, another yellow, one pink, and three more in red, blue, and green.
Far in the distance, she could just barely see seven more, too far away to distinguish clearly.
Several minutes passed.
"In the chaos of the cosmos lies its truest beauty," Edra said to herself.
Not that she could actually speak in space.
"Finally, I think this is my stop. I never quite realized how many planets there are in the cosmos… or how different they all are."
She watched stars streak past.
"But flying through space and stargazing really makes me hungry."
Then a ship appeared near the planet she was heading toward.
"Would you look at that ship? It looks a lot more high-tech than I expected."
She squinted.
"Am I getting closer to it?"
Pause.
"Yep."
"…Okay."
"It seems I'm on a straight course to hit the ship."
She sighed.
"You know, I always wondered what it would be like to be a fly on a windshield."
She closed her eyes and braced for impact.
Inside the ship…
"Ha! Four jumps. See? I told you we didn't need two," Rafael said.
"Rafael, I understand you're excited. I am too. But please don't do that again. The engine cannot tolerate that kind of strain," Lucienne said.
"All right, understood. It may not happen again. Rita, is this the planet Dispatch told us about?"
"Can't say for sure. You jumped us four times in roughly the correct direction. We're lucky we didn't end up halfway inside a planet again."
"I know I jumped in the right direction," Rafael said.
"I'll confirm it. Lucienne, check the engine," Rita said.
"Of course. It would be my pleasure. And Rita, please excuse the captain's behavior," Lucienne said.
"Fine. But I'm still watching you. Beginning sensor sweep."
"Sweep complete. Well. Against all known laws of physics, we appear to be intact."
"What science? I'm simply an exceptional captain and pilot."
"You're amazing at one of those things. But we're not in the clear. Something's approaching us fast," Rita said.
"Dispatch didn't mention debris, rings, or anything else in near orbit. So what exactly is coming at us?"
"Rita, are you seeing this right now?" Rafael said.
"Now is not the time for this. I'm trying to figure out what's approaching—" Rita said.
"Not something. Someone. It looks like there's a person outside, and they're coming straight at us," Rafael interrupted.
"Most interesting indeed," Lucienne said.
"Whoa, Luci, what did I tell you about sneaking up on people?" Rita said, startled.
"My apologies. What exactly is happening?" Lucienne asked.
"There's someone outside the ship who apparently thinks my mighty, soon-to-be flagship can be breached that easily," Rafael said proudly.
"The hull should hold. Whatever that is, it shouldn't be enough to breach us," Rita added.
"I do wonder what they're doing out there. And whether they're alive," Lucienne said.
"They are obviously dead. Probably."
"Rita, you really shouldn't assume that. There are a multitude of species that can survive the vacuum of space," Lucienne said.
"We'll be fine. Let's get ready to land," Rafael said.
"Understood," Lucienne and Rita said.
After they buckled in and prepared to land, a loud metal scraping sound tore across the outside of the ship as Edra shot past…