The Rift

Chapter 10: Hail to the King

The Louds were led back into there room on the ship.

"Goodbye Earth." Lana said sadly. Her little face was pressed up against the window as the ship flew higher and higher.

"Wow" Lori said looking out the window. They were now high enough they could see the curve of the Earth. "It really is quite beautiful up here."

"What's going to happen to us?" Luan said.

"Well Gabriel seems really nice." Leni said. "Maybe the Red King will be nice too."

The others gave Leni a look.

"What?" Leni said.

...

Back on earth...

"Where is Benny?" Mrs. Bernardo, the drama teacher asked. "We cannot have a play on Moby Dick without our Captain Ahab."

"He hasn't shown up in school today." One of the kids mentioned.

"I can do his role." A voice chimed in.

It was a young emo girl named Maggie.

"I think you'll find I am much better than that looser Benny." Maggie said.

"But Captain Ahab is a male role." Mrs. Bernardo explained.

"And so is Peter Pan." Maggie said. "But he's always played by a girl. So, what makes Ahab any different?"

"Ahab is an adult!" another student called out.

"And Benny is a child." Maggie pointed out. "A dumb and annoying child."

"Well he is dumb." Another student said.

"And he believes in aliens!" another student chimed in.

"Very well Maggie." Mrs. Bernardo said. "You can give it a shot."

Maggie climbed onto the prop ship on stage. She took out a wooden sword and raised it into the air with pride and said... "Why is the rum gone?"

"Uh Maggie." Mrs. Bernardo said. "You're playing Captain Ahab, that line was from Captain Sparrow."

"Oh... Maggie said. "The strong man who has known power all his life, may lose respect for that power, but a weak man knows the value of strength, and knows... compassion."

"Uh that was Captain America." Mrs. Bernardo said.

"Oh..." Maggie said. "Then let's boldly go where no man has gone before."

"That's Captain Kirk."

"Oh..." Maggie was starting to blush. "Um... Chrunchitize me captain?"

"That's Captain Crunch." Mrs. Bernardo said. "Well actually it's what kids say to Captain Crunch in the commercials."

"Oh." Maggie said.

"Maggie, the line is "I'll get you Moby Dick"" Mrs. Bernardo informed Maggie. "If you don't even know the lines, how am I to believe you could be a good replacement for Benny."

"Come on Mrs. B!" Maggie pleaded. "I am leagues better than Benny in every conceivable way."

"Then prove it." Mrs. Bernardo said.

Maggie took a deep breath. "I'LL GET YOU MOBY..."

KA-BOOM!

A giant fireball crashed through the ceiling, knocking Maggie off of the cardboard ship and destroying the prop.

The smoke cleared to reveal a large metal cylinder.

"MY SHIP!!!!!!" Maggie wined. "YOU RUINED MY SHIP!!!!!!!!!"