Puzzle Box Heroes

By Kathleen Bell

When aliens try to conquer the Earth and take it for themselves, they didn't expect to encounter a special group of humans, who, with the help of some unusual trinkets found in Japanese puzzle boxes, use the aliens own power to control the elements against them. Will the aliens succeed in conquering the planet, or will the humans manage to defeat them?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780244582210

Book preview

Puzzle Box Heroes

Puzzle Box Heroes

By

Kathleen Bell

ISBN  978-0-244-58221-0

Copyright© 2020 Kathleen Bell

Published by Kathleen Bell

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilisation of this work, in whole or in part, in any form is forbidden without written permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

First Edition

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Cover art by Kathleen Bell

Acknowledgements

Thank you to God for making this possible. A very big thank you to everyone who purchased and read this book, it means so much to me and I really hope you enjoyed reading it. And thank you to my husband and children for all their support.

Other Books By This Author

For Children and Young Adult Readers

Another Dimension – Journey into the Unknown/Friend or Foe

For New Adult and Adult Readers

The Accidental Actress

The Actor Next Door

Chapter One

The recent environmental disaster on Zondol has been devastating. said Dorovan, a serious expression on his face as he looked straight at Zukishi. Zukishi was fairly human-like in form, had large, pointy, sticky-out ears, wide, narrow, slit eyes, elongated fingers, and greyish skin. His hair was black, shaved on the sides, and styled into a Mohawk about six inches long, and he wore a long, brown leather tunic, with metal decorations, over black trousers, with black boots.

Zukishi put his hand on Dorovan's shoulder. Try not to worry, I am aware of our situation Dorovan. he replied, dust blowing around him as he stood at the entrance to the space ship, which was large, white, and almost boomerang in shape. I know only too well that finding another planet for us to inhabit is a priority right now and I have no intention of letting anyone down.

I look forward to being able to grow plentiful crops for food, and find somewhere that has plenty of fresh water to drink. It's been awful lately, not having enough to go round, people desperate and starving, barely able to walk down the street because they are so weak from hunger. I feel that the elders have failed our people. Dorovan stared down at the ground and let out a long sigh. He looked and dressed similarly to Zukishi, but his Mohawk ran from ear to ear, rather than from front to back, and his tunic was black leather, worn over dark grey trousers and black boots.

Zukishi stepped into the space ship, which lit up the night sky with its many lights. Good-bye Dorovan, I hope we will return with good news very soon.

A small crowd of people had gathered nearby, and a very frail woman cried out, Good luck, and may the great one be with you. Zukishi gave her a nod and half a smile.

Good-bye Zukishi and good luck on your mission. Dorovan pressed the button to close the door.

Zukishi took a deep breath and ran a hand over his forehead, then made his way quickly to the control room and sat in his chair ready for take off. The space ship rose up slowly with ease, turned slowly to face the desired direction, then took off at lightning speed, leaving the onlookers staring after it.

* * *

Molly spotted her friend Matt by his locker in the school corridor, walked over to meet him, and ruffled his short blonde hair with her fingers. He turned to face her.

Oh, it's you Molly. he said, giving her a smile and smoothing his hair back down with his hand.

Hey Matt, you wanna go to that new gift shop that opened up a few weeks ago after school?

Sure Molly.

She smiled, and brushed her long, straight, brown hair behind her shoulder. Great, I want to see if they've got anymore Japanese puzzle boxes in yet, you know how much I like to collect them.

How could I forget? he said grinning, pulling a book from his locker. You must have about five of them by now. Who knows, maybe I'll even get one for myself. He closed his locker.

You should totally do that, it's so much fun trying to figure out how to open them. Molly said smiling, as they walked down the school corridor to their next class, shoes squeaking on the freshly polished floor. See you soon. She waved him good-bye as she entered her classroom.

See you later. Matt replied, as he walked on past Molly's classroom to get to his own.

Molly sat down at her desk and pulled her books from her bag. Matt is such a great guy, I'm so lucky to have him as a friend.

* * *

Zukishi and his crew had spent several months travelling through the darkness with nothing but stars to brighten the way. There must be a suitable planet out there somewhere. The ones we've found so far have been very disappointing. he complained.

Just then, a new planet appeared in the distance. What about that one? asked Zarina, It looks like it might be suitable. Just like Zukishi, she had the large, pointy, sticky-out ears and elongated, slit eyes, plus pale grey flesh, and elongated fingers. She had long hair, in many plaits, and wore a long, blue, leather dress, with metal decorations, and large slits up either side, as well as black, knee-high boots.

Zukishi stared out of the window to examine the find. Hmm interesting. It looks a good size, it clearly has water and plant life on it, it's definitely worth investigating, take us closer. He then turned to Trobino, who shared the same grey, elongated features of the other aliens and wore a green, leather waistcoat, with metal decorations, over a baggy white shirt and brown trousers with brown boots. His black hair was cut short all over, roughly a centimetre long. Trobino. ready the shuttle pod.

Will do Captain.

Any idea what the planet is called Zarina?

According to my records, it was named Earth by its inhabitants.

Earth? What a ghastly name, we'll definitely have to change it. Still, beggars can't be choosers, it will have to do. Let's hope the atmosphere is suitable for us to breathe. We should go and suit up.

Yes Captain.

The space pod was carefully set down in a clearing in a forest. Zarina, what are the readings on the atmosphere and temperature? asked Zukishi, as they stood near the exit door.

She checked a small handheld device. As far as I can tell, the temperature is acceptable, I won't know about the atmosphere until we are outside the pod.

Well, let's find out shall we. He pressed the button and the door slid open. Zukishi stood there looking out at the vast expanse of trees and other foliage. Forora?

Yes Captain? replied Forora, who also shared the greyish, elongated features of the other aliens. Like Zarina, she too had plaits in her hair, which she wore in a high ponytail, but instead of a dress, she wore tight black leather trousers, with a red, leather tunic over the top with metal decorations.

Do you detect any lifeforms nearby?

She checked her device. All I am detecting nearby are small insects and tiny mammals.

Thank you Forora. Let us venture outside.

The three of them stepped cautiously out onto the grass.

Captain Zukishi, according to my device, the atmosphere seems breathable. Zarina told him.

You mean it's comparable to our own atmosphere?

Yes Captain.

Zukishi slowly removed his helmet and took a deep breath. Oh, it's so - so clean - so fresh. I feel like I can breathe more freely here than on our home planet. Of course, that's probably down to the fact that this planet has not been devastated by all the pollution from mass industry.

Actually, said Zarina, there are some signs of industrial pollution here, but nowhere near the levels of Zondol. If we are to bring everyone here and start a new way of life, we must rid this planet of the inhabitants before they destroy it, or we may have nowhere left to go.

Zukishi glanced at her, nodded, then looked at the beautiful forest that lay before him. He reached out and inspected the leaves on a nearby tree. At least this planet can still be saved, unlike our own. We will do whatever it takes to claim it for ourselves.

Slowly Zarina and Forora removed their helmets too and breathed in the air for themselves. It's true, the air does seem fresher. agreed Forora.

We will set up camp here. Zukishi informed them, turning to face them. Forora, fetch the box of infusion power-ups from the pod and hide them somewhere around here. We wouldn't want the earth creatures getting hold of them, who knows what would happen if they did.

Yes captain. Forora retrieved the box from the space pod and set out to find a good hiding place for it in the forest, while Zukishi, Trobino and Zarina started to set up camp. Forora managed to find a large hole in a tree and tucked the box inside it before heading back to camp. No-one will find it there. she told herself confidently.

Once everything was set up, Zukishi radioed to the space ship to tell them to contact home and let them know that they had found a suitable planet, but had yet to rid it of it's inhabitants. Then he sent the space pod back up to the mother ship.

* * *

A young girl was playing on a nearby farm. As she jumped with her skipping rope, her jet black pigtails bouncing up and down, she spotted a squirrel running along the ground. She threw down the rope and ran after it. The squirrel scurried into the forest with the little girl chasing it.

Come here little squirrel, you cute little thing.

The squirrel glanced at her warily, then scurried further into the forest. Just as she was almost upon it, it ran up a tree and disappeared into a large hole in the trunk.

Don't run away, I won't hurt you. She reached into the hole to try and grab the squirrel, but it darted out of another hole and scampered up into the branches. Aha, gotcha! Huh? Instead of grabbing the squirrel, her hand fell on something else. What's this? She pulled out a small box from the hole, then ran back through the trees to her home. Bye Mr Squirrel, I'll catch you next time. she called out behind her. Thank you for the present, see you again soon.

When she reached the barn she went inside and sat herself down on a bale of hay. She opened up the box to see what she had found. Her look of excitement soon turned to one of disappointment though. It's just a bunch of pretty balls, they're not even bouncy ones, though this one looks more like an egg. I suppose I could put them with those other trinkets that Grandpa puts in his puzzle boxes. I just hope the people who find them aren't as disappointed with them as I was.

She took them over to his workshop and tipped them out into the trinket box. Her Grandpa was too busy hand-crafting puzzle boxes to notice. She went over to him and gave him a hug. Hi Grandpa.

Hello Mimi, do you think you could fetch me some trinkets to put in my puzzle boxes so I can deliver them to the shop in town. He put down the box he was working on and gathered up some of the finished ones.

Okay. She skipped across the workshop to the trinket box and pulled out the decorative balls. How many do you need?

Eight will be enough for now Mimi.

She counted out the four balls and one egg she had found and selected three other trinkets from the box. Just enough. She took them over to her Grandpa. Here you go Grandpa.

Thank you Mimi. He looked at them for a moment and stroked the white stubble on his chin. Hmm, I don't remember buying these ones. he said referring to the balls, "Still, they're very pretty, I'm