“Welcome aboard, Cathy,” smiled Karen, tapping the dash with her fingertips in a steady beat.

  “Hi Karen,” said Cathy. “I cashed the ticket.”

  “Good gal. We want you to have abundance, Cath,” smiled Karen.

  “Hello, Cathy,” smiled Astar, suddenly sitting on the other side of Jezebel.

  “Oh… okay!” laughed Cathy.

  “That’s how I spoke Japanese,” smiled Jezebel. “Astar was doing it for me. She’s communicating through me.” Cathy didn’t understand any of it as the car sped along.

  “Well, we’ve got a little time before we take the Skyway Highway to Kawasaki,” smiled Elvin.

  “Man… the Skyway Highway to Kawasaki,” grinned Karen.

  “Yeah… I’m a little hungry. We could stop for a bite to eat. Grab a soda?” Elvin turned to Jezebel. “What do you think, Jezebel? Sound good?”

  “Sounds good,” smiled Jezebel.

  “Sounds good. Let’s do it,” nodded Elvin.

  “I’ll have to sit this one out,” said Astar, vanishing.

  The car accelerated like a rocket in seconds. They entered a tunnel of light through which Jezebel could see only swirling multicoloured streaks.

  “Watch this,” said Elvin, eyes forward.

  The car rolled slowly over in a complete turn, ending up exactly as it started.

  “I love that. Do you love that, Jez?” asked Karen, turning around.

  “Yeah,” smiled Jezebel. “Wow!”

  “Not so much,” said Cathy, gripping her door handle.

  “Should we do a little racing for them?” laughed Karen, slapping her knee.

  “Should we, Jezebel?” asked Elvin softly. “No chance of an accident, I promise.” He raised his hand in a scout’s honour sign.

  “Let it rip, Elvin,” laughed Jezebel.

  “That’s the spirit,” said Elvin. “Just hang on tight, Miss Carrington.”

  “Oh god…” muttered Cathy.

  They were suddenly surrounded by dozens of fast cars and bikes climbing a huge embankment that was clearly not of Earth. Some were sleek and futuristic; others were classic 57 Chevrolets and 70s Mustangs. Cathy swore she saw car number 15 of Buddy Baker and 21 of Cale Yarborough overtake them on either side before banking right into a mind?blowing descent.

  Ahead loomed a massive ramp. Up they climbed, higher and higher, then launched into the blue.

  To their dismay, a member of the stranded stood before them and threw a hot-white energy ball. Elvin placed the car into a flip before landing smoothly on all four wheels, crossing the finish line just behind bike number seven — by the width of its tyre.

  “Hoo wee!” sang Karen. “That was fun!”

  Both Jezebel and Cathy were relieved the ride was ending. Jezebel looked back and watched the Stranded figure cursing

  “Oh, this place looks great,” said Karen.

  "We cannot stay long," suggested Tibbar. "We need our energy to maintain Jezebel and Cathy's safe arrival.

  Sports cars, hot rods, and motorbikes filled the car park. Palm trees swayed in the evening breeze as Elvin led Karen, Cathy, Jezebel, and Tibbar toward the entry.

  Karen stopped and looked around. She quickly ran over to a car and looked inside. The man was in a black hoody. But on revealing his teenage face, Karen only smiled.

  "Nice car," she said.

  "Ah... want to take a ride in it, Hun?" asked the teenage boy, optimistically. Karen just wiggled her fingers and walked away.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Damn." Complained the teenage boy.

  People smiled and greeted them warmly. Inside, they waited no more than five minutes before being taken to a booth near the stage. The place was packed and noisy. A large TV screen showing Jezebel’s picture drew attention.

  "We can't stay here too long," said Tibbar. "In this realm the Stranded are strong. Our energy could be depleted."

  "I'm hearing ya, old Bunny." Smiled Elvin.

  “There you are. Please take a seat. I’m Carol,” smiled the waitress.

  “Hi Carol,” said Karen. “Can we have five cheeseburgers, five fries, and five colas please? Oh, I’ve wanted to say that for the longest time,” she added earnestly to Elvin.

  “Coming right up! You guys look fabulous,” said Carol, smiling at Elvin. “Hey, aren’t you that famous girl on the TV… Jezebel, right?”

  “Ah… hmm,” said Jezebel shyly.

  “You two look familiar too,” said Carol.

  “Who’s the entertainment tonight?” asked Elvin, glancing at the stage.

  “Not till later, honey. Do you play?” asked Carol, flashing her blue eyes.

  “He does,” said Karen. “And you should hear him sing.”

  “Well sure. There’s a guitar up there. I help hire the entertainment here at the Starlight Hop. Get up and play something and I’ll get your food and set the lights.”

  “Who’s this?” asked a big man in blue denim and a black cowboy hat, staring at Elvin.

  “This is Elvin and Karen, Horse. They’re going to sing a couple of songs,” explained Carol.

  A huge smile spread across Horse’s face.

  “Rock ’n’ roll?” he asked.

  “You bet,” smiled Elvin.

  “I’ll organise some of the boys to back ya,” said Horse, hurrying off.

  Cathy, Jezebel, and Tibbar watched as Elvin led Karen to the stage. Elvin tuned an old red Hawaiian Kikakila guitar while Karen adjusted two microphones.

  “How about The Wonder of You? We’ll sing it together. Okay?” smiled Elvin.

  “And a one, two, three—

  When no one else can understand me…” sang Elvin.

  Women around the room applauded.

  “When everything I do is wrong…” sang Karen, smiling at Elvin and the stunned audience.

  Musicians hurried to the stage, joining in. Horse grabbed the bass.

  Together they reached the chorus:

  “And you’re always there to lend a hand

  In everything I do…

  That’s the wonder… the wonder of you.”

  The hall erupted with applause.

  “Thank you very much,” said Elvin.

  “Thank you, thank you,” bowed Karen. “For something a little different, I think I’ll play those drums.”

  Part Two

  “Are they who I think they are, Tibbar?” whispered Aunt Cathy, mesmerised. Tibbar didn’t reply.

  A drummer stood to let Karen take his place. She pulled the snare closer.

  “We’d like to invite Cathy Carrington up onto the stage to help us sing the next one,” announced Elvin.

  “Me?” Cathy gasped, pleasantly surprised.

  Jezebel took her hand, led her up, then hurried back to Tibbar.

  “Twist and Shout in G?sharp,” said Karen, snapping out a short drum roll.

  The band pounced.

  “Ah—” sang Elvin.

  “Ah—” sang Karen.

  “Ah—” sang Cathy.

  “Ah…” they layered together.

  “Well, shake it up baby now!” sang Cathy.

  “Shake it up baby!” echoed Karen and Elvin.

  “Twist and shout!”

  “Twist and shout!”

  They sounded fantastic. Elvin punched out the lead break. Karen kept a tight, joyful beat.

  The song ended with a long, impressive drum flourish from Karen just as their cheeseburgers, fries, and colas arrived. They bowed and signed autographs on the way back.

  “Thank you very much,” said Elvin, accepting a kiss on the cheek from an enthusiastic admirer. Karen received several pecks and signed autographs from two male fans.

  “I haven’t done that for the longest time,” she said, glowing as she sat.

  “You three were fabulous,” said Jezebel, lifting her cheeseburger. “Where are we, by the way?”

  “Yeah, that question crossed my mind too,” said Cathy, still flushed.

  “Hawaii,” said Elvin. “Good fishing here.”

  “This is so much fun,” Cathy admitted.

  “You’re not eating,” said Jezebel.

  “We don’t need to consume solids anymore,” said Karen. “We’ve got all the energy we need.”

  “But how come you look so real? Even Astar can’t look as clear and real as you,” asked Cathy.

  “Well, right now,” said Karen, “back in Fariddion there are over a million Fariddions sharing some of their energy so we can be here. It’s something almost never done.”

  “Lucky, we got chosen,” said Elvin. “It’s a thrill to hold a guitar again and touch a mic from the living Earth. Still, I’m happy in Fariddion. The music is out of this world there… and soon, this will be over.”

  “It’s also because we haven’t been in Fariddion that long,” said Karen. “We’re not superhuman, but here we are — riding a million horsepower, baby. Be?Bop?A?Lula, man!”

  Cathy and Jezebel finished their food. They all stood to leave.

  “Before you go,” called Carol from the stage, “could you please bless us with one more song?”

  “Go on, please?” begged Cathy.

  “Man… do you want to, Elvin?” asked Karen.

  “We’d be happy to,” smiled Elvin.

  Karen led him back to the stage and tapped the microphone.

  “Is this thing on? Oh — it’s on.”

  “How about We’ve Only Just Begun?” said Elvin.

  The audience clapped as the band started.

  “We’ve only just begun… to live…” sang Karen.

  “White lace and promises. A kiss for luck and we’re on our way…”

  Elvin took the chorus.

  “Sharing horizons that are new to us… watching the signs along the way…”

  Then together, smiling:

  “Talking it over just the two of us. Working together day to day.

  Together… together…”

  Suddenly Elvin fell to the floor. Karen picked him up. Several waitresses tried to help as an exhausted Elvin slumped back into the bench seat next to an alarmed Cathy.

  "As I said earlier," informed Tibbar. "You have exerted too much energy. You are shaken up."

  And now Karen was slumping against Jezebel, who was doing her best to keep her upright.

  "I'm alright now," explained Elvin, shaking his head about several times, his hair a mess.

  "But Karen is not," said Astar. Astar entered Karen's body and walked her out towards the car. Everyone followed. It was time to return to their mission.

  "Look!" said Astar, inside Karen, pointing to the distant mountains. "I see several stranded riding towards us."

  "Quick! Run!" said Tibbar, racing off towards the car. Elvin saw everyone inside, then speed off with the Stranded in hot pursuit.