The Dimensional Quest Part II: Galactic Peril

Chapter 10

On the bridge, the Glitter Force is slumped against the consoles.

"Candy, do we have any snacks left?" Emily moans.

"Sorry, chief! We're all out!" Candy reports.

Emily plants her face onto her console's screen.

"I didn't prepare for a trip this long..."

Amethyst sits beside her, thinking.

"Maybe there's a kitchen on this ship. I'll go search," she decides.

"Great. Hey, Amy?"

"Yeah?"

"If you can find it, I'd like some waffles, drenched in maple syrup," Emily requests, drooling a little.

Amethyst chuckles.

"I'll see what I can do."

The Admiral looks down at the pieces set up on his chess board.

Across from him are two of the soldiers that were at the firing range earlier, the best shooter, and the one he never looked away from.

"Is this some kind of test?" the sharpshooter inquires.

"This is just a game, nothing more," the Admiral insists.

His soldier takes a seat, a makes the first move.

After about ten moves her king is trapped.

The Admiral yawns.

"You're dismissed," he tells her.

The officer leaves, as the other takes on her leader.

From the start the Admiral finds himself on the defensive, and slowly loses his defensive front.

Then the door to his king opens.

Checkmate.

The Admiral looks up at their opponent, unable to utter a word.
"I won, didn't I?"

"Yes..." the Admiral replies softly, gazing into her face.

Despite losing, he is wearing a grin.

"Something wrong, sir?" the officer asks.

"No, nothing at all. You're dismissed."

"A slingshot?"

"Yup! We ride around the sun and then it'll launch us through space!" Daffy explains.

"Sounds dangerous," Kitty replies.

"Smells like waffles."

"Huh?"

Daffy sniffs the air, then follows the scent like a hound.

The trail ends at a cafeteria, where Amethyst is loading a cart with eggs, waffles, and bacon.

"Hey guys! They left a large buffet in here!"

"Buffet?!" Daffy squawks.

He zips over to look at the food.

"Bacon...toast...oatmeal...where is it??"

The duck searches every inch of the buffet for whatever he is looking for.

"It's not here!! These aliens have horrendous taste!"

"What is it?" Kitty groans.

"They don't have tater tots!"

"Oh. That's actually kind of a bummer. They're pretty good."

"I know!" Daffy sobs, head in a puddle of tears.

"Well, if there's a stove around here, I can make some," Kitty offers.

"Really? Thanks pal! I knew you were capable of kindness!"

Daffy hugs Kitty, who tenses up and twitches uncomfortably.

"I gotta help with the slingshot! Thanks again!" he says while leaving.

"Whatever."

"Delivery!!"

Amethyst pushes the cart, topped with multiple plates of steaming food, onto the command floor.

Emily and company spring onto their feet.

"FOOD!!"

They swarm around the cart, consuming their meals like vacuum cleaners.

"Nom nom nom nom!"

Emily finds her waffles, then squeals.

"Waffles! Thanks Amy! Want one?"

"I'm more of a pancake pony myself, but you're welcome," Amethyst replies.

Daffy struts into room.

"Okay people! Make way for the pilot!"

Everyone else looks at him confused as he gets comfortable in the pilot's chair.

"Let's see...I pick that star!" he says, pointing at a random star on the viewscreen.

After laying in a course, he turns to face the group.

"I am going to get us past the fleet."
"You can! How?" Emily questions.

Chloe sees the star that is getting bigger in the viewscreen and instantly answers.

"A slingshot."

"Yup! Smart girl," Daffy replies.

"Um, I'm sure this could work, but I don't like the idea of going up in flames," April inputs.

"A valid concern, which is why I will be piloting! That way you won't have to worry about anything going wrong!"

"Somehow that doesn't put me at ease," Amethyst remarks.

"Too late! Buckle your safety belts everyone!"

"What safety bel-WAAAHHH!"

Daffy revs the engines to full velocity and the ship speeds towards the star.

Everyone besides him is pressed against the wall.

The ship approaches the star's corona, then glides along it.

It almost does a complete circle, then Daffy jerks the ship straight.

Like a toy car rolling down a driveway, it suddenly becomes even faster.

"Yeehaw!" Daffy cheers.

The command floor shakes a bit as they zip through space.

"Right...here!"

Daffy brings the ship to a grinding halt, sending everyone who was against the wall into the viewscreen.

"We're here!"

"Great..." Kelsey moans, rubbing her head.

"Now I have some tater tots to check on!"

That is when Kitty busts the door open, face fried and oily.

"DAFFY!"

Daffy gulps.

"Mother."

A game of cat and duck follows.

"HELP ME!" Daffy cries as he is chased.