* * * * *
"Let me get this straight," said Michelle: "All I have to do, to get Verta to regrow Canada's North Woods from scratch, is to kiss this counterpart of Valerie? So that only I can gigantize her, while you retain mind-control of her?"
The erstwhile eco-terrorist (who now looked more like the Jolly Green Giant after a sex-change operation) nodded her head in confirmation. Michelle--who had expanded to match Verta's fifteen hundred foot height--looked deep into those verdant eyes to see if she was being lied to. But, she could detect no trace of guilt or fear in them. So, she decided to accept the proposition.
"Just one thing," amended Claire Martin: "I have to have her teleport me and Verta to Bubla, next. When we get back from there, then Verta can start reseeding the North Woods."
Michelle shrugged: "No problem."
Whereupon, she put a giant fingertip to her lips and kissed it. Transferring it to the bridge of Verta's nose where the still-shrunken demigoddess in question was ordered to kiss it in turn.
* * * * *
IMPERIAL PALACE,
THE PLANET ARCHAVIA
(4.5 MONTHS LATER)
RAY VENN'S P.O.V.
A previously invisible panel slid open in the wall immediately behind Simperius Wimpus' back. The Imperial chief of staff preceded us through it. With me and Paula Drake going next. Followed by Dah Liah and the two ImpSec officers.
I looked to my left and right as we slowly trudged down the weirdly-decorated corridor.
"All that's missing is emerald-green wallpaper," I muttered.
Paula was the only one who got THE WIZARD OF OZ reference, and she giggled accordingly. Just as I had planned (as I could tell she was more nervous than I was about this audience)!
Finally, we reached a big set of double doors that had an equal number of guards in front of it. One well-armed one on each side. I couldn't see their faces because of these big helmets with what looked like black-tinted plexiglass plates pulled downward. Screening them from scrutiny! But, I could see, from the neck down, that they were the tallest, burliest Titans I had yet encountered on this world. The Archavian equivalent of ten feet tall, at least.
In less time than it takes to describe all that, the doors slowly swung inward. With the guard on the left waving us all through. Consequently, we found ourselves in some kind of private study. A swivel chair that would normally have been facing some kind of work desk, now facing us...along with its occupant.
"Greetings, Capt. Lavrem; Sergeant Lounjah; Ms. Liah; Ms. Drake, and Mr. Venn. I am..."
[Here, I have to use another pseudonym, because the Titan Emperor's true name is even more classified than that of his chief of staff.]
"Paternus Titanicus* XXIII; ruler of the Archavian Empire! At your service."
Paula and I were the only ones who didn't do the one-knee genuflection thing. She simply curtsied the best she could (considering she was still wearing that black mini-dress from Paris). While I bowed like I had been taught to bow before and after the martial arts my dad had taught me. Because, I have to admit; it wasn't hard to feel over-awed by this guy. He was even taller than his bodyguards at the doors to this study! Maybe fifteen feet tall, by Archavian standards. Which would make him approximately three or four hundred feet tall, back on Earth.
I was snapped out of this reverie by a most pertinent question.
"So, Mr. Venn; what exactly can you tell me about this 'potential danger' to my world?"
tbc
Giantess World
Author's Chapter Notes:
MICHELLE BATES' HOMEWORLD
(4.5 MONTHS EARLIER)
(4.5 MONTHS EARLIER)
Chapter End Notes:
*Rough translation: "Big Daddy."