Chapter 28 — New Plans

"Are you completely out of your mind, Fluffy?"

Marvin and his family were back home after having spent the night at Gropius' chalet and having assisted to his strange, but finally fruitful, ceremony in the woods.

At first, they felt a bit relieved of having stepped away from this weird cult. But now, Fluffy was exposing her plans and Marvin couldn't help but feel revolted about her ideas:

"So, basically, you want me to take you to London, so the two of us can simply walk into the British Museum and steal an ancient precious statuette from the Egyptology department? Is that what you're telling me?"

"Correct. But one could make a case that this thing is in reality my property. So, technically, it wouldn't be stealing."

"No, no way! I'm sorry, I'm out. You will not keep on making me do crazy things for you."

"Calm down. We won't even have to take it away. I can use it on the spot."

"What do you mean?"

"I just have to activate it. The statue contains a stone big enough to send a large ray of light to the sky."

"You mean it's a blue stone just like the one we got rid of?"

"Yes, but much bigger and powerful."

"So that's the plan?" asked Angie. "You will use the statuette as a signal source for your team?"

"Yes. Even if their receiver system is down, they won't be able to miss it. This thing is powerful enough to shoot a ray visible from space."

"So, they will know you are in London waiting for them. And they can come to pick you up right away."

"Yes. This is why they gave this information through the vision sent to Gropius. Although it was sent to the wrong person. But it means they are expecting me to go there. And when I activate the stone, they'll know exactly where I am."

"I see. Clever. So that's the plan…"

"Hey, hey, wait a minute!" objected Marvin. "I don't agree. How do you activate this thing?"

"I just need to touch it long enough."

"We can't touch things in a museum! It's forbidden. We gonna get in trouble."

"You won't really get in trouble. You have a personal goddess."

"Yeah, it's easy for you. You're a cat. Nobody will hold you responsible. I'm the one who is going to deal with the consequences."

"There are unavoidable consequences when one tries to save the world."

"Oh, gosh!"

"It's the only way, Marvin."

"Maybe we should consider…" started Angie, but Marvin was clear-cut:

"No, no! This time, I'm not going anywhere. And I don't care that much about saving the world, by the way. Why can't we just have normal lives like everyone else? You're the goddess after all! You should deal alone with all that. You don't need me."

Fluffy jumped in front of Marvin. Her golden irises were now burning like two embers. And concentrical waves of energy were emanating from them.

Marvin started to feel weird. He quickly closed his eyes and turned his head away from her.

"No! Stop! You won't play your hypnotic tricks on me. Stop! Okay, okay! Enough… I'll do what you want. I'll bring you to London… Stop it!"

"Right." said Fluffy calmly. "It is settled. Now we have to book the flight."

 Baby Milky, who found Fluffy's trick very entertaining, giggled and came closer on all fours, trying to grab her tail. In fact, he seemed always happier when Fluffy was around. And he was always trying to get to touch her.

But the cat quickly moved away, avoiding the baby's eager hand.

"Not yet, young man." she said to him. "You're not ready for that yet."

And she walked out of the room with self-assurance. "Come on Marv, let's book that plane."

Milky, who remained in the living room with his mother, was looking now a little bit frustrated and upset.

He pushed on his little arms and legs, and struggling with the gravity, he managed, with big effort, to stand on his feet. Then, very focused on his task, he made a few steps.

"Oh, what the…You can walk!"

Angie was really blown away.

"My baby! Marvin! Come and see that!"

"What?"

Marvin and Fluffy came back in the living room.

"Look, he can walk!

"Already? But he is way too young for that."

"I know!"

After a few steps, the baby fell down on the floor again, but they were all cheering him.

"Way to go, Eugene!"

"Good boy." said Fluffy. "You're making quick progress."

She came close to him and this time, she let him caress her back. Eugene was very enthusiastic about it.

"Be gentle, Eugene. Don't pull on her fur…"

"Now, tell me, Fluffy…" asked Angie. "Is it because of you that he can walk so precociously?"

"Of course. After all, I have programmed him even before his birth.

"Yeah, I know. I know…" said Angie with a hint of sadness. "To make him the best possible leader for your army, right?"

"Correct. But it's a pity he never received the pedagogic mental visions that he was supposed to receive. He would have been much more advanced by now. Instead, it's this useless bald clown who received them… Anyway."

Now Marvin was trying to shoot a video of the walking baby with his telephone.

"Come on, Milky, walk again for me. You can do it."

"He's tired now." said Fluffy. "Give him a break. But now, let's not waste more time. We've got a trip to plan."