Emma's Six- The Final Year

Blathereen Problem

I dash up to the attic early in the morning to find sunlight streaming through an open window above Mummy's desk. As I watch, the Rakweed opens, revealing a flower that creates a strange noise. The flower bursts open and send spores out into the open world. I dash out of the attic and thunder downstairs. Luke passes me on the staircase and heads up. 'Mummy!' I yell as I run into the kitchen. 'The plant mutated!'
'Plants can't mutate in one night,' Mummy argues.
'There's a flower sticking out of it now! Please, you've got to come and see!'
'Emma, you'll be running late at this rate. Now, sit down and have some breakfast.' Mummy shouts up the stairs that the toast's getting cold as the queens hurry through. Mum emerges after a few moments.
'It's Luke,' she says, 'he's ill.'
'I knew it! I knew it! Henry warned me about the Blathereen! I should have gotten rid of that plant at the first possible moment!'
'We don't know if it is related to the Rakweed.'
'It certainly is; that's the only thing that changed between last night and today!' Mum still sends me off to school and promises to scan the plant at the first possible opportunity.

'Let's not go to school,' Jane says, 'I don't think I could focus on the test. Not with Luke ill.'
'Henry said it was to do with the Blathereen, and I won't let them get away with making my brother ill.'

We head to the park, but I stop my friends. Rakweed is growing out of the grass. 'Fuck,' Catalina says. 'We better get back to your place and destroy the plant. We'll probably be fine.'
'Sarah Jane and Ruby will be mad,' Kitty says, 'but if it's to save the world, I'd rather them be mad than having a dead planet.' We agree and retrace our steps. We run into the attic to find Mum, Mummy and the officers surrounding Luke on one of the sofas.
'There it is!' Anne yells.
'What are you lot doing out of school?' Mummy demands as I grab the plant.
'Open the safe!' I yell at the queens. Anna runs over and unlocks it. I throw the plant in there and lock it again. Well, that's the house secure. But how do we get rid of the plant if it's already left the confines of the house? We look over at Luke, who is very pale and has dark red spots all over him.
'What has it done to him?' Mummy asks, and she moves to stand in front of Mr Smith.
'The Rakweed spores not only re-seed the plant but are also its weapon against anyone or anything that stands in its path.'
'But Luke's stronger than most humans, that must help.'
'If he were immortal, he could die and come back to life.'
'Immortality,' I whisper and look over at my brother. I don't know how I gave myself immortality, but I think I can work it out. Then, Luke will be safe.
'However, Luke inhaled the spores directly into his lungs. If you try and give him immortality now, it may not work.'
'Oh, Luke,' I whisper and go to sit beside him.

Mr Smith then relays the worst news ever. Luke has only half an hour at the most. Then, Mr Smith start receiving news reports about cases similar to Luke's and plays a news broadcast. 'How quickly can it spread?' Charles asks.
'At its current rate of propagation, the Rakweed will have seeded the whole of London within a few hours, and in approximately three days, the plant could easily have consumed the entire planet.'

'Luke, we're leaving you with the officers and the queens. They will take care of you,' Mum says.
'Mum, Mummy, where are you going?' I ask.
'If Mr Smith can't give us an antidote, then there's no choice. The Blathereen started this, and they're going to stop it.'
'But they'll be halfway across the galaxy by now,' Mr Smith says.
'Not necessarily,' Mummy says, 'I think they'd want to stick around and see their plan unfold. Mr Smith, scan for their ship.' Mummy made a note of their teleport coordinates last night in case something happened, so Mr Smith can break through the shield and locate them. 'Antarctica.'
Mum heads to the back of the attic. 'I regret to inform you I only have enough power for a one-way trip.'
'We'll take our chances,' Mummy says.
'Maybe one of us should stay here,' Mum says, 'it's better that one of us stays behind to defend Earth in case something happens to the other.'
'You're right,' Mummy agrees as Mum pulls out a giant water pistol full of vinegar- I know that because I can smell it from over here. Mummy leaves while the rest of us stay with Luke.