The Ultimate Rescue

Chapter XXVIII

MACKENZIE

Music: Final Bowser Battle from Super Mario Galaxy 2

I've never been more nervous for anything in my entire life. From all the missions I've been on already to my auditions for choirs or for cheer teams, or even for minuscule things such as asking people out or tests I didn't prepare very well for, I don't think anything will ever amount to what's about to go down.

Before walking into the room where Mrs. Smith is busy granting herself the rest of the energy, I take a deep breath. The release of air from my lungs provides me with the stability I need.

I slam the door wide open. Mrs. Smith is sitting in a lounge chair, with multiple wires hooked up to her all over her body. In a glass container right in front of her sits the rest of the glowing yellow substance that is the energy. Mrs. Smith's body is so bright that I actually have to cover my eyes and squint.

"I'm ready to negotiate," is all I say to her. In my hand is the rock I'm going to give to her.

"Well, it's about damn time," Mrs. Smith sneers, removing the wires from her body and standing up. She contracts the energy back into her body and takes slow steps towards me. My nerves sharpen with the sound of each footstep I hear from her. I didn't give myself a lot of time to fully think this through, so I have no way of knowing if this will end the way I hope it will.

"You've got the Rock for me?" Mrs. Smith asks, making a "give it" motion with her hand.

"I've got it right here," I reply, showing her the small mineral in my hand.

"Excellent. I'll take that off your hands, if you don't mind." She reaches for the rock, and I pull my hand back.

"Hold it. I want something out of this too," I say. Mrs. Smith crosses her arms and glares at me. I continue, "If I give you this rock, I ask for two things in return. One, you revive my friends. Two, you leave Mia and my friends alone."

"You're a stubborn one, aren't you?" Mrs. Smith growls.

"Take my deal or leave it. It's your choice."

Mrs. Smith rolls her eyes and shakes her head. Then, she takes a deep breath and mutters, "Fine. It's a deal."

"You promise?" I ask, reminding her of how she broke the last deal she made with me.

She raises her right hand and says, "I promise."

"Then let's shake on it and make it official."

Mrs. Smith extends her hand outwards, and I nervously glance between her and the rock I'm holding. Slowly, I advance my hand towards hers, and before long, I've grabbed ahold of it. The deal has now been sealed.

"Yes! YES!" Mrs. Smith squeals, snatching the rock out of my hands and shoving me onto the ground. The yellow aura has reformed around her. She lifts up the glass container, puts the rock inside, and shuts it. After double-checking to make sure the container is sealed tightly, she runs back to her chair and hooks up all the wires onto her body, then turns the energy-draining machine on, screaming, "YES! FINALLY, I HAVE THE ROCK! World domination, here we come!"

The rock inside the container is lifted into the air, and electricity begins bouncing all around the room. Mrs. Smith cackles evilly, and continually expresses her excitement about finally being able to receive power from the Rock of Doom.

But her excitement comes to a halt when a message flashes on the control panel saying, "OBJECT DOES NOT CONTAIN ENERGY".

"WHAT?!" Mrs. Smith yells. "Mackenzie, what is the meaning of this?!"