The Greenwich Interplanetary Society

By Stuart Boyd

A space voyage to the phantom quadrant, battling with space pirates, saving the galaxy from the fearsome Greddylick - all in a days work for The Greenwich Interplanetary Society.

Stella Mayweather always knew she was different...

But even she never realised how different things can get!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stuart Boyd
• Release date: Dec 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301153275

Book preview

The Greenwich Interplanetary Society

Published by Stuart Boyd

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2012 Stuart Boyd

Contents

Chapter 1: The Birthday Party

Chapter 2: The Seven-pointed Star

Chapter 3: Followed

Chapter 4: The Mindsqueezer

Chapter 5: The Greenwich Interplanetary Society

Chapter 6: Doctor Nostromus

Chapter 7: b-mail

Chapter 8: The Attic

Chapter 9: Gravo-waxing

Chapter 10: The Kicking Nelly

Chapter 11: The Phantom Quadrant

Chapter 12: Betrayal

Chapter 13: Sharptooth Whitefur

Chapter 14: The Telallamorph King

Chapter 15: Storm Barrier

Chapter 16: The Greddylick Returns

Chapter 17: MorphPlaster

Chapter 1: The Birthday Party

The first chance that Stella Mayweather could get away from her birthday party unnoticed, she dashed upstairs to her bedroom and closed the door firmly behind her. The sound of her entrance woke up her pet dog, Helix: a husky with soft, white fur and a friendly face. Seeing that it was only Stella, Helix gave a wide yawn and asked her whether she was enjoying her party.

Stella gave a frustrated groan and rolled her eyes. It’s as bad as I thought it would be. Worse than that even! They’re all still here, she complained, and look at this…

Stella pointed to a large cherry-coloured stain that stretched down the front of the delicate, frilly dress she was wearing.

Somebody spilt a drink all down this stupid thing, but you know that Mum’ll blame me.

To make matters worse, Stella spotted a tear in the hem of the skirt, where somebody had trodden on it. She gave another groan. The dress was new, and like the birthday party, it was her mum’s idea. Stella normally got on with her mum, but there were times that she caused Stella terrible embarrassment, like when she tried to make her wear clothes with frills and puffy sleeves, which made her look like she was about six years old.

Helix gave a vague sniff of sympathy, but didn’t really understand all the fuss about clothes. He, unlike Stella, had been sorry to miss out on the party, he was fond of cakes and jelly and enjoyed any chance to chase around the house, but he had been shut in the bedroom because Stella’s mum had caught him chasing the neighbour’s cat, Willowmena, around the garden. Stella couldn’t blame him for this, as Willowmena was one of those fluffy, spoilt kind of cats who would often sit high up on next door’s fence and shout very rude things to Helix, safe in the knowledge that he could never jump high enough to catch her.

There was a knock on the bedroom door.

Stella? a voice called from behind it.

The door opened to reveal the tall figure of Stella’s dad, Mr Mayweather, looking awkward in his unfamiliar suit. He worked as a gardener, and Stella was used to him wearing scruffy clothes that smelt of grass and earth, but he’d also been told to smarten up for the party.

What are you doing stuck up here? he asked. Come on! We can’t cut the birthday cake without the birthday girl.

I’ll be right down, Stella sighed.

She gave Helix a mournful pat on the head, and he asked her to save him some cake. She then reluctantly shuffled her way onto the landing. She had her head down, so didn’t notice that somebody seemed to be hiding in the corner until she had walked into them. Stella immediately recognised that she had bumped into a boy from her class at school. His name was Tom Warner, and he was the only other person she knew who was more of an outsider than she was. His mother had been taken into hospital, and he’d spent a lot of time out of school. Quiet, small and obviously alone, he was an easy victim of the biggest bully in school: Shane Biggs, who’d often pick on him at lunchtime or chase him home.

Stella normally felt sorry for Tom, but everyone already thought that she was weird enough, and she wasn’t going to draw any more attention to herself by hanging around another obvious target. Tom tried to speak to her, but was too surprised or embarrassed to get any words out clearly. Stella just mumbled a quick ‘sorry’ and hurried away from him.

Downstairs was a chaotic mixture of spilled fizzy drinks, running children and ear-splitting shrieks. Stella’s mum was looking harassed and was trying to herd excited groups of party guests towards the dining table. A huge cake with candles sat in the centre of a stained tablecloth, amidst shards of broken crisps and globs of jelly. Mr Mayweather lit the candles whilst Mrs Mayweather shouted for everybody to settle down.

Once there was something approaching quiet in the room, Stella blew out her candles. After a long pause, everybody sang the ‘Happy Birthday’ song, though some people ended by singing, "Happy birthday, dear Smella."

It was soon after this that her mum said, Say goodbye to your friends, Stella, they’re being picked up.

Stella had never felt so relieved.

Over the front door, Stella’s dad had put up a ‘HAPPY BIRTHDAY’ banner, which had now come loose at one side and was in danger of fluttering down the street. Stella and her mum stood underneath it as a procession of parents arrived to take the party guests home. Their goodbyes sounded lukewarm, even to her mum, who was wearing a fixed smile on her face and saying things like, No – no, they were no trouble at all, to enquiring parents. The party guests shuffled out behind them, each clutching a squashed piece of cake wrapped in a pink napkin.

***

After everyone had left, Stella and her dad started to clear up. Helix had been let out of the bedroom and was helping by sniffing out and eating the bits of crisps and cake that had fallen on the floor. Her mum sat in a large armchair, with a folded tea towel full of ice-cubes pressed against her forehead.

I thought that went quite well, Mr Mayweather said brightly, but he was silenced by the look his wife gave him.

Never again, she groaned. I don’t know how I’m going to get some of those stains out of the carpet, and if I find out who put that big scratch on the table, I’ll… the things I do to make you happy, Stella.

Stella was speechless at the unjustness of this. She hadn’t wanted a party at all. She knew that she hadn’t any friends at school and hadn’t wanted to invite anybody. It was her mum who’d insisted on contacting all of the parents she’d used to speak to on the way to school. So the guest list had been made up of people who called her names or thought she was a bit odd.

You did enjoy yourself, Stella, didn’t you? her mum asked.

The look in her mum’s eyes was so hopeful that Stella couldn’t say what was on the tip of her tongue: ‘Thank you for the birthday party from hell!’ so she just said, It was great, Mum, thanks.

Her mum beamed at her.

Why don’t we leave the tidying up till tomorrow, Mr Mayweather started to say, but was interrupted by a loud rat-tap-tap on the front door.

One of your friends probably forgot something, Mrs Mayweather sighed, and Mr Mayweather went to see who it was.

From the hallway, a deep voice boomed, Hullo, Bill, I’ve come for Stella’s birthday.

The voice was totally unfamiliar to Stella, but the effect it had on her mum was incredible. Tea towel forgotten; she stood up suddenly from the chair, and her face went very white. Even Helix caught the mood. He had been contentedly ripping up a paper hat under the table, but at the visitor’s arrival, he leapt up with a yelp.

Mr Mayweather came into the room, looking just as shocked as everyone else. Jill, it’s… your uncle Dodds.

The man who followed Stella’s dad into the room was one of the most extraordinary-looking people she had ever seen. His face was covered with a large, bushy moustache that made him look a bit like a walrus. He took off his battered hat to reveal a bald dome of a head – browned, like old leather. He peeled off his black overcoat. Underneath, he wore a faded maroon jacket and a worn, yellow waistcoat. He handed his overcoat, hat and umbrella to Mr Mayweather, who absentmindedly propped them on the nearest thing to hand: a large potted plant in the corner of the room, which had already taken a battering during Stella’s party. The visitor’s eyes were so dark, they were almost black, and their fierce gaze scoured the room until they rested on Stella.

Ah! Stella Mayweather, he bellowed, holding out his hand for Stella to shake.

Helix’s fur started to bristle, and he growled softly.

No need for unpleasantness, Dodds addressed Helix directly. I’m here as an old friend.

Helix calmed down, but warily kept his grey eyes on the man.

The stranger grasped Stella’s hand in a warm grip and shook it vigorously. Doctor Wilberforce Dodds, at your service, he said.

Stella looked up to her mum for an explanation.

Stella, her mum said nervously, this is my uncle, which I suppose makes him your great-uncle Dodds.

With a nimbleness surprising for a man of his size, Dodds span round to face Mrs Mayweather. Hullo, Jill. You seem surprised to see me?

Yes…well…we haven’t heard anything from you for over ten years!

Oh, you know how it is. Busy times at work. I’ve had quite a lot of travelling to do.

There was a pause after that, an uncomfortable silence that Stella’s mum seemed unable to fill, and one that Stella’s newly discovered great uncle seemed oblivious to. He started to look around the room, peering with curiosity into the television, even going so far as to give the screen a little tap with his fingertips.

Would you like anything to drink, Wilberforce? Mr Mayweather asked hesitantly. Tea perhaps? Or maybe something stronger?

Do you have any Mercurial Spirits? Dodds asked.

Just scotch, I’m afraid, Stella’s dad replied, already pouring a very large glass of it for himself.

A pity, Dodds said with a sigh. Well, this is only a short visit, I suppose.

Stella’s great uncle started rummaging through his jacket, mumbling to himself about keeping too much in his pockets. Finally, with a cry of, Gotcha! he fished a crystal pendant out of his waistcoat.

I am really here to give Stella her birthday present, he said, offering the medallion to Stella.

It swayed in front of her face, swinging from a delicate silver chain.

Light seemed to slip off the surface, glinting in a rainbow of colours. The design was peculiar: a seven-pointed star held together by an ‘S’ shaped carving across the middle.

What is it? Stella asked.

For some reason she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the pendant. It seemed familiar to her. She tried to remember where she’d seen it before.

Don’t know, Dodds said slowly. I’ve only got guesses.

Stella felt a bit odd: a little dizzy. There seemed to be a rushing sound in her ears, and whenever she blinked, stars seemed to whirl into her vision.

Stella, are you okay? Mrs Mayweather asked, but her voice seemed to come from far away.

The familiar surroundings of her front room looked somehow altered next to the sight of the glistening medallion. Everything seemed a little smaller, and even the concerned faces of her mum and dad appeared to blur a little. It was as if everything were a little less solid and certain. Although everyone was waiting for her to take her present, she felt a queasy sensation fluttering in her stomach.

I’m not sure… Stella said.

She felt as if she were floating from the floor and tried to anchor herself by staring straight into Doctor Dodds’s unfathomable eyes.

The pendant is yours, Stella. But if you like, I can keep it for a while longer? Dodds said.

His voice had lost some of its gruffness and sounded almost gentle. He started to put the star back into his pocket.

Stella felt as if someone was shutting the curtains on a sunny day. The sudden sense of loss drove away the strange nervousness she’d been feeling, and she quickly thrust out her hand. The seven-pointed star was hers, and she felt she should take it.

Please, Uncle Dodds. I’d really like it. Thanks.

Dodds paused thoughtfully for a moment and placed the pendant in her hand. Stella studied the medallion in her palm. It felt heavier than it looked.

You should take care of it, Stella. It’s probably quite valuable, Dodds said.

Are you sure she’s old enough for jewellery? Mrs Mayweather asked. She seemed quite cross.

I’ll take care of it, Mum, Stella said, offended. She wasn’t a baby.

I’m sure that if Stella was too young to look after it, she wouldn’t have taken it, Jill, Dodds said. His voice was curiously gentle again.

He pulled yet another device out of his pocket: a small old-fashioned carriage clock that didn’t seem to have any hands on it.

Ah! I must be getting along. The moon will have set soon. He turned back to Stella. If things move along as they should, Dodds picked out his notebook again and rifled through the pages, I should see you in about…seven years’ time.

His gaze passed thoughtfully from his notebook to Stella.

If things move along as they should, that is, he murmured. Well, it was nice to see you all, Dodds said, shaking Mr Mayweather’s hand and giving Mrs Mayweather a bristly peck on the cheek.

He then plucked his hat, coat and umbrella from the plant pot and strode out of the house, seemingly unaware of the astonishment he was leaving behind.

***

Chapter 2: The Seven-pointed Star

The strange appearance of a long-lost uncle had left Stella with a long list of questions. Questions that her parents seemed reluctant to answer. Her mother was frustratingly vague about him.

Uncle Dodds has always been a bit mysterious, she told Stella the morning after the party. He was a lot older than my mother, and I don’t think she used to have a great deal to do with him.

But you must know something about him, Stella said. He knew it was my birthday, after all.

Well, of course he knew it was your birthday. In fact, the last time we saw him was the day we signed the adoption papers for you.

For as long as she could remember, Stella had known that she’d been adopted; however, it was only when she got older that she had properly understood what that meant. Her mum and dad were her real mum and dad: they’d always been there for her, and she’d never known anything else. She’d once been worried that a set of ‘other’ parents might suddenly appear and want to take her away. When Stella had asked her mum about it, she’d looked sad and said that her biological parents had been in an accident and that was why Stella had been put up for adoption.

Stella didn’t like asking questions about where she’d come from because she felt they upset her mum and dad, but this didn’t stop her from being curious. What had these