Penny stood before the Synod of Wisdom, listening to them recap the various Feats to her.
"We were most impressed with your undertakings, both of the Feat of Cunning and the Feat of Survival," said the lone female member of the synod. "You are making rapid progress toward your ascension to the throne."
Penny bowed her head and did her best to communicate the way Eltar had instructed her. "I am honoured by your assistance. I hope to attain my qualification for queendom as soon as humanly possible." Penny blushed at her faux pas. "In the best manner of speaking."
The synod had a small chuckle at Penny's statement. "We take no ill will towards your species, as we are sure the feeling is mutual," said one of the male members. "I trust you have trained yourself sufficiently for the third Feat, that of Strength."
Penny nodded. "I have been training hard with my bodyguard, at least when I can tear her away from her new..." Penny screwed up her lips. "...
companion
."
"The Feat of Strength is simple," the other male member of the synod explained. "You are to travel to Mount Bisopho. Near its summit, you will find the rare weed knows as the bloodstem. It contains a medicine that will help us in the preservation of an important life here in the palace."
"You are permitted to bring one companion on the journey," the female member began. "If you--"
Penny raised a hand. "I wish to be alone for this Feat."
The three members of the synod looked at each other. "We strongly recommend--"
"I have made my decision." Penny stood firm on the matter. Besides which, she was still carrying a small grudge against her bodyguard and myxlo groomer. "I have completed a survival of the Scorchlands for seven days with no aid. I don't think a mountain climbing expedition will be any different."
"It is settled," agreed one of the male members. "Her greatness, Penelope Leighton of the planet Earth, shall execute her Feat alone. If you so desire, there are guides available for hire. We bid you good journey."
Penny left, then went straight to her room to get packed up. This time she was able to take along more survival gear, as well as take her hover bike out to the mountain foot. Eltar had already picked out gear to facilitate the climb, as well as enough provisions to keep her healthy.
She decided she would leave the next morning, but first had to go and make peace. She went over to the palace training grounds, here she knew Oola would be trying to impress Groovi, as well as whoever else might be watching, with her athletic prowess.
There they were, as expected. Oola was using Groovi like she was a barbell, lifting her to do bicep curls. Groovi had her tender hands held onto one of Oola's thick arms for support. She was giggling the whole time.
Penny stepped forward, and the two women noticed their future queen. Oola put Groovi down, who ran up and did a deep bow.
"Your greatness," Groovi began. "Thank you for meeting us."
Penny smiled. "Look, guys. You've been treating me like strangers here, and I just wanted to let you know I'm not upset anymore, okay? Can we just make it like old times?"
Oola's face scrunched up as she wiped at her eyes. "I fear we have been deceitful to you!" Groovi went over to console the giant woman.
"Hey! No, no! Like I said, I wasn't being upfront with both of you." Penny went over to comfort the sobbing barbarian. "You know what? You two make such a great match, and you're really going to make each other happy. In a weird way, it's kind of comforting."
Oola was so relieved that she grabbed Penny in a bear hug, lifting her right off the ground. Oola set her down, then got a cuddly hug from Groovi. "You will be most pleased, your greatness," Groovi gushed. "Oola has been most helpful to me. She has helped me with training, and feeding..."
"That's great, Groovi," Penny said.
"And she has made the sex with me on many occasions!"
Penny blew out of her nose. "That's...really nice, Groove."
"It has been
the best
I have ever felt!"
Penny stuck her tongue in her cheek. "Yep. Got it. Loud and clear."
"I think Oola is the most beautiful woman in the kingdom! Plus, her body is much more--"
"I'm fuckin' going to bed." Penny plodded off, deflated.
The next morning, Penny packed up the last of her equipment onto the hover bike side containers, then fired up. She started the engine, the vents kicking up dust around her. She sped off, only to hear Eltar yelling something in behind her from the window.
"Whatever, Eltie," Penny muttered into her helmet. She slammed down the visor and sped off, following the 3D map that showed the direction to Mount Bisopho.
The drive was smooth going. Penny made a stop now and then just to get a drink, or to admire the view. There was so much of the planet she had yet to see. She noticed the wind was picking up the farther along she got. Penny was relieved, as the desert heat was made a little more bearable, even if it meant the dust and sand blew up at her. Penny had her light desert wear on to try to keep the dust off of her.
As she was riding along, she noticed the hover bike was fishtailing slightly. The wind was getting worse. She looked off to the side, only to realize there was something wrong with the sky. Several large funnels were forming, and one of them had lightning coming out of its middle.
"Oh shit, it's a storm." Penny realized what Eltar was trying to tell her now. So much for not trusting her advisors.
Penny wanted to try to get up over some of the dunes and outrace the storm, but it proved to be a mistake. Her bike started to sputter and stall, then she lost control. The bike went into a flat spin, then bounced off of a large boulder. Penny was ejected from the bike, landing flat on her stomach on a dust-covered rock sheet.
The dust was now covering her, as well as seeping into her visor. She was seeing stars as her breathing became more laboured.
"Help," she whispered. Then there was blackness.
The next thing Penny knew, she heard a dull humming. She was lying on a metal floor in a small room. She gave a few coughs before she sat up.
She looked around, then realized she was in what looked like a space crew's quarters. The walls were also metallic. There was a modest bed next to her. Across the room there appeared to be a kitchen area as well as a shower and sink.
The side door opened with a series of gears grinding and moaning. The heat as well as desert sand blew in through the door, as well as bringing in a stranger dressed in what looked like light armour camo desert gear. The stranger had on a full helmet and visor blocking the face.
The stranger came in quickly and shut the door. Penny scrambled to her feet, trying her best to stand defensively. Someone had removed her own detachable visor but left her helmet on.
"I don't want any trouble!" Penny looked around for something she could use to defend herself but came up empty.
The voice from the stranger came in distorted, as if being transmitted through a vocoder. "I don't want to hurt you," the stern tinny voice responded. "You looked like you were hurt out there."
Penny got up against the wall. "What do you want from me?"
The stranger moved in a bit closer, almost as if curious about something on Penny's face. "Tell me something," the stranger began. "Where exactly are you from?"
