Eltar had gathered up Penny and her crew for an announcement.
"Ugh. What is it now, Eltar?" Penny sat at the large conference table with Sakura, Oola, and Groovi.
"Ladies," Eltar started. "You have been working hard."
"Guilty," Penny said.
"That's why I am giving you a new assignment," Eltar went on.
The four women groaned. "More work?" Sakura was clearly not impressed. She had only been at the palace for a week, and was already feeling the strain.
Eltar picked up a controller, then clicked it on to activate the 3D holography display in the centre of the table. An image of a grand structure appeared, looking like something out of Greek ancient architecture. "May I present...Grandfort. This is the secondary palace from our own--basically the forbidden palace. The queen is expected to go here for certain diplomatic meetings, training...and relaxation."
Penny's head lifted from the table. "Relaxation? As in..."
"You are your retinue here are under orders to attend for fifteen days," Eltar went on. He let a smile go over his face. "Your greatness, you have been completing your Feats at a pace that is unheard of. I must insist that you take time to recuperate."
"What is at this Grandfort?" asked Oola.
Eltar clicked the controller again. Several images appeared showing training facilities, pools, fields, and gardens. "Just a few of the activities and pastimes available to you. For example, the Majestic Guard is there, who have a wide knowledge of fighting techniques."
"Fighting techniques?" Oola was intrigued.
"There are also many relaxation facilities, including spas, pools, and massage parlours," added Eltar.
"Massage parlours?" Sakura leaned in.
"There is also a full myxlo training and grooming facility," Eltar continued.
Groovi squealed.
Penny smirked. "I think you're leaving me without any options here, Eltar. Okay, we're going!"
The four of them got their gear together and brought it down to the vehicles. Groovi went over to the stables and told Pashi what was expected of him.
"Be sure to feed them every morning, and do not give them a dandang berry more than once a day, and...
Pashi
!"
Pashi did a small hop. He was clearly distracted by the other women loading up the hover-bike and landcar. His head whipped back to see Groovi standing there with her arms folded and her face in a scowl.
"Pashi, you stupid little man!" She jabbed a finger in his bony chest. Groovi was only a few inches shorter than Pashi, standing only five feet tall. She could still be intimidating when she set her mind to it, despite her otherwise sweet demeanour. "You will listen to me carefully. These myxlos are my treasure. I love each of them, and I will gladly trade your life for any one of them. Do you understand?"
Pashi nodded out of pure fear. Groovi stomped off, leaving Pashi in charge of the stable.
Groovi walked up to the other three ladies, looking angry. Sakura gave her a look-over. "You were a bit rough on the little guy, weren't you?"
Groovi stood there and growled. "My little brother needs to be disciplined. He is careless and lazy."
Penny's eyes went wide. "Pashi is your
brother
? Jeez, girl."
Groovi and Oola took the landcar, while Sakura jumped on back of Penny's hover-bike. The four of them made way to the south, toward the Fertile Plains. The Geoven River provided a huge floodplain to the inhabitants there, making for some of the most fertile cropland on the planet.
Penny roared along, with Sakura keeping a grip around Penny's waist. "Keep it on the road, okay?" Sakura had a good laugh.
"I'll try," Penny retorted. "It helps when a tornado isn't blowing past me."
They drove for nearly three hours. Once they approached the Geoven valley region, they could see how everything was turning green. The river stretched out beyond the horizon, and the villages and farms were seen all along the banks.
They came up to Grandfort, and they were amazed at the stone architecture and the colossal size of it all. There were four statues of darker stone carved out with curvaceous women holding up the roof, likely a show of the support that the females of this planet provided.
Oola and Groovi got out of the landcar, and Sakura and Penny took off their helmets. "There are guards," Groovi noticed.
The two guards standing by the large doors had on bronze breastplates, as well as shiny metal shinguards. Their golden helmets were adorned with a red brush, similar to the Roman centurions. The women themselves appeared athletic. Each of them held a spear with an axe blade.
As the four of them approached, the axe blades glowed red at the blade edge. "Whoa, what are those--laser axes or something?" asked Penny.
"Halt!" One of the guards stepped forward. "Identify yourselves."
"I am Penelope Leighton, queen-designate of Bok," Penny uttered. Sakura was surprised how much Penny could change into that alter ego of being the queen-designate when she wanted to.
The glowing blades of the axes faded back to normal again. The guard who stepped forward made a fist, then placed it against her chest. "My apologies, your greatness. We had to be sure. Welcome to Grandfort. We bid greetings to you and your companions." She held out a gentle hand to the door. "Please enter."
Penny and Sakura exchanged an excited look, and they all headed in. The entryway was giant and impressive, with lighter stone statues just about everywhere of females. One of the guards stayed behind to watch the front.
"This palace is full of female statues," observed Oola.
"As it should be," the guard replied. "The entire complex was designed by women, built by women, and is fully exclusive to women. No man has ever set foot in its halls, ever."
"No men?" Sakura's eyebrows went up. "Don't you girls ever get bored?"
"We find men a fascinating part of the species," the guard went on. "Many of the women here will eventually find love and move on from us, and we wish them no spite. However, we will guard the sanctity of this institution with our very lives."
"Why no men allowed?" asked Groovi.
"It is to ensure the continuation of the matriarchal queendom," the guard explained. "This palace is a sanctuary, and must always remain so." She stopped, prompting the other four women to halt as well. "Are you all hungry?"