So it was that Flame, emulating her brother, linked with Marionette and Vila, melding as a temporary family group. They joined the collection of families boarding the ferry to the rendezvous with the machines transport ship orbiting Earth. Others might have thought it odd that such an enemy ship was allowed in that vicinity, but the future paths confirmed that this was a cooperative mission, not an attack. The machines were not yet ready for an attack, and in any event the Glamors would know of it well before it occurred. Meanwhile it behooved them to get along, maintaining lines of communication.
The other nine families were all Earthers, ignorant of the larger situation. All they knew was that they had been promised rare and challenging dangerous adventure, with prizes for the winners. The machines had even arranged for appropriate sums of money to be paid over.
If Flame had not already been well aware of the threat of the machines, this would have suggested it. They knew much more about the human culture than the humans knew about the machine culture. What Havoc had relayed about the humanoid robot's warning was being rapidly confirmed: the machines had overwhelming resources, and they used them carefully. This was a truly dangerous enemy.
Idyll here. This is an implanted message for you alone, Flame. There will be an aware machine aboard: state-of-their-art technology. Its purpose is to provoke you into using your Glamor powers so it can record the magic force for analysis. Do not allow it. This machine is dangerous—not to you personally, but to all Glamors. You must not use your powers on this mission. The information could destroy us all.
The message faded and was gone. Leaving Flame with much more of a mission than she had anticipated. Well, she would carry on. She was after all an Amazon.
Soon the shuttle docked at the alien ship, and the ten families boarded. Flame, Marionette, and Vila did their best to resemble an ordinary family, though probably the machines knew all about them already. Idyll's buried message indicated as much.
They were greeted by an obvious robot: a wheeled contraption with a lighted screen in lieu of a face. Flame suppressed a smile; the machines could do far better than that when they had reason. They, too, were faking it, so that ordinary Earthers would not suspect how sophisticated robots could be. "Welcome to Challenge Mission," the robot said, its screen flickering in time to its words. "We hope you find it worth your while. This way to your chambers." It rotated and wheeled down the hall that led into the ship.
Flame noted another thing: gravity was Earth-normal here, but the ship was in free-fall orbit and not spinning.
Artificial gravity. This was technology Earth lacked. And they weren't even trying to impress the Earthers, who hadn't noticed.
The chambers were elegant suites, one for each family. Each had bathing, sleeping, meal-making, and entertainment facilities. Vila was soon watching a humorous holo show featuring Earth clowns, laughing joyously.
"Curiosity," Flame said. She invoked a second holo, this one featuring nude dancing women of statuesque proportions. It was the kind of show her brother would have watched, and she was emulating Warp. Only her two family members knew she was neither Warp nor male.
"I could do such a dance for you, dear," Marionette murmured mischievously. "I am familiar with the routine."
"Just feed me, woman," Flame responded, patting her plush rear. Marionette was of course a superlative example of her gender. The Mistresses of Earth bore about the same relation to Monochrome, the Mistress of Mistresses, as ikons did to their Glamors. In fact they could be considered ikons, though on Earth there was only one Glamor and a thousand of them. Magic differed from planet to planet.
Marionette went to the food machine and soon had three nice plates with fresh vegetable salad, cool fruit juice, hot animal broth soup, and steak, all generated from the nutritive goo stored in the machine.
Vila wrinkled her nose at the healthy food. "No dessert?"
"When your plate is clean," Marionette said sternly.
"Aww." But was an act; Vila was a well behaved child who actually liked healthy food. Havoc and Gale, girt with the experience of raising four Glamor children, were doing it right with their normal one, encouraging her without spoiling her.
The trip took some time. "This is a cruise," Marionette said. "We should mingle."
"Affirmation," Flame agreed gruffly. Now she had more reason than ever to emulate normalcy.
"Bear in mind that Warp, though committed, has a thing for the women. He sneaks kisses, peeks, and feels."
Marionette was in a position to know. Flame had to make the emulation persuasive, and that meant more than appearance.
They left their suite to mingle with the other families, comparing universally favorable notes. There was a dance hall where the families could more sociably mix. Marionette was in much demand, as several Earthers recognized her as a Mistress. Her romance with the Glamor Warp was continuing social news on Earth. Warp, too, was approached by several of the women, who seemed thrilled to be held and covertly fondled by a genuine Glamor. And of course that much was true; she just was not the particular Glamor they thought. Vila was not known on Earth, but other children were glad to mingle with the daughter of a Glamor and a Mistress. So much for attempted ordinariness; had they wanted that, they should have been fully anonymous.
They mingled a sufficient time, returning to their suite to sleep. Vila had her own room, while Flame and Marionette shared a large bed.
They held hands so they could talk with limited telepathy. Something is on your mind, she thought.
Idyll left me a message: this mission is a ruse to get a Glamor close enough to study. I must not use my powers.
She was quick to understand. I'll help as well as I can.
Appreciation.
They lay there for a while. Too bad the machines are enemies, Marionette thought. They make excellent hosts.
They are trying to impress us, Flame replied. They are succeeding. If Voila enlists with them, all this can be ours.
If they are true to their word.
Idyll is working on that.
And if we fight them, all this will be used against us.
Affirmation.
Marionette hesitated, then broached a different subject. Your emulation is physically perfect. But can you emulate things they may be watching for, like nocturnal erections?
Flame knew it was a valid issue. But as a Glamor, she was able to make a perfect disguise, female or male.
She willed an erection. Touch it.
Marionette did, clasping the hard penis firmly with her hand. That's Warp, she agreed. And can you complete the act, if necessary?
Affirmation. But it is not necessary.
Marionette laughed, silently. She knew that however lean and tough Flame might be, and whatever she emulated, she was thoroughly heterosexual. There seemed to be no more to say. They slept.
Challenge planet was lush, with Earth-normal gravity, air, and climate. The families were conducted to an arena opening on ten individual regions, each of which was represented as being virtually identical to the others. "This is a naked survival challenge," the host robot explained. "You will navigate five separate natural challenges on your way to the victory camp. If you win through with all members of your family intact, you will receive twice the promised monetary reward. If you do not, you will be taken out and given half the promised reward. All well be returned safely to Earth, regardless; the challenges are realistic but are robotic. No one will actually die. We simply want to ascertain whether family units deprived of the benefits of magic of any Chroma, including Science technology, are able to survive primitive conditions. Follow the marked course. Natural food will be available along the way, and materials to fashion temporary clothing. However, there will be specific threats. Thank you for your participation."