Mamma Mia, Chapter 3

Mamma Mia: Chapter 3

“I can’t believe we get to go into the Strings to find Alonzo Uccello!” Carlo drops into the co-pilot chair and puts his hands behind his head. He glances to his bored friend and pats Arthur’s propped legs. “Come on, Arthur. No need to have that frown. We’ll be there in no time.”

  Arthur glances blankly to Carlo, then to the computer screen, then up to the lights sliding by as they travel. The long trips like this always get to him, especially when it has anything to do with his mom. It never fails. He could be off to save a deity in the Void; as long as mom was involved, all of the joy was forcefully removed.

  “Hey, Arthur?” Arthur glances to Carlo, who is staring at Arthur’s resting communicator. “I think your being buzzed.” Arthur picks up his sphere and watches it light up. So many flickers of light, but one stands out: a red question mark near the center – a coded private message from an unknown number. Arthur sits up and tosses his communicator toward a ring on the ceiling. The ring lights up and the communicator sticks in the ring’s magnetic field. “Unknown coded message. Message cannot be traced. Continue communication?” The computer of The Feather reads aloud in a monotone canter.

  “Affirmative. Continue communication.” Arthur dictates in a tone that startles him and Carlo.

  “Confirmed. Messages are relayed in text-to-speech and speech-to-text.” The Feather intones before a darker voice takes over.

  “So, Timur Uccello sends the MWS to find me. How quaint. Who am I speaking to? The son of Mother Altamura, I hope.” The message reads.

  Arthur clears his throat and pushes the microphone button on his temple. “Correct. This is Arthur Altamura.”

  “Well, isn’t that cute? Sending a pipsqueak after me.”

  Arthur stifles a growl. “Mr. Uccello, I do not appreciate your assumption of me.”

  “You expect me to have any other assumption? You are a child compared to me. Probably out on one of your first missions.” There is a pause and a huff of disgust. “And a BMXer. At least you have a decent audience and Starlight on your JumpSpace videos.”

  Arthur’s skin pricks up. “Mr. Uccello-”

  “Do you know why I left the AMS? Why I’ve gone silent?”

  Arthur pauses and looks to Carlo. Carlo stares at his communicator, watching analytics. Probably Arthur’s analytics. Carlo is always more interested in Arthur’s growth over his own. He turns his attention back to Alonzo. “Sir, I don’t honestly care. I just want to do this mission and go back to getting more Starlight.”

  There is an uncomfortable pause before the next message startles both Carlo and Arthur: “You really are the byproduct of your mother, Arthur Morgan Altamura. As to be expected from a second son.”

  “How do you know my name, you foul mouth!” Arthur exclaims.

  “Second son? I thought the syndicate Family was only allowed to have one child.” Carlo comments.

  “I have a better idea.” The computer on the ship adds numbers to the coordinates Mother Altamura assigned to the ship. “Come visit me at the Star Traveler’s Amnesty.” The ship orientates itself and pushes toward the more specific destination. “We’ll see how much you’ll care about your Starlight when I tell you what I’ve discovered.”

  Arthur scrambles to take control of the ship again. Carlo sighs and shuts his communicator and Arthur’s. “Arthur, sit down. We don’t have control over this ship anymore.”