As Benji walked into his room, he could hear the shower across the hall. After closing his bedroom door, he looked around to see what was essential and was was useless. After setting his backpack on his bed, he opened it and walked over to his closet. He stripped his hangars bare and began packing the clothes into his backpack. They went in easily. Over the next few minutes he packed all of his clean clothes into his bag.

You’re doing this the hard way you know.

"What do you mean? You never told me of another way.” Benji was irritated at the sudden interruption.

You didn’t ask. Just place your hand on the object you wish to place into the backpack and simply say ‘Oh great and powerful A.I.! Please allow me to store this item.’

“You can’t be serious.”

You’re so boring. All you need to do is think about what you want to store. The backpack will do the work for you.

Benji looked at his dresser and willed it into his backpack causing it to disappear. A single thought later and the dresser reappeared exactly where it originally sat. Benji sighed in frustration and looked around his room. As his head turned objects disappeared leaving only empty space. He looked around at the newly empty room and opened his door. At the same time Zoe stepped out of the bathroom across the hall wrapped only in a towel. She blushed a deep red before disappearing into his mother’s room with her clothes and bag in hand. Benji stood there for a moment staring blankly before checking on Duncan and Alex in the storage room.

"You guys done in here?" Benji said while leaning up against the doorway.

"Think so, bro. Think you could hold our stuff too?" Alex had changed into a red tracksuit while Duncan wore tan cargo pants and a gaudy shirt covered in flowers.

Benji looked around the room at the assorted cardboard boxes and plastic containers that had built up over the years. Most of it was likely useless and only held sentimental value but maybe there would be something useful. A thought caused the clutter to disappear. Lastly, Benji looked at the small pile of bags sitting between his friends and stored it as well. He left the room and walked back downstairs, his friends following behind him.

His mother sat at the kitchen table talking to someone on her cellphone while marking down notes on a piece of paper. He moved over to the living room and began placing the furniture into the backpack. He turned around and walked into the laundry room and stored the laundry baskets and cleansers. He walked over to the washer and bent down beside it and turned off the water valves before storing it and the dryer safely away. As he walked back towards the kitchen, his mother was staring at him.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Benji, where did the couch and television go?”

He simply pointed his thumb back over his shoulder, “Magic backpack, mom. The only rooms left are the kitchen, your room and the storage closet. Zoe is changing in your room so I thought I’d start down here first.”

“Well, take it all. We need all the options we can get once we get there.”

Benji nodded and moved into the kitchen. With the help of Duncan and Alex, they carefully moved the refrigerator and stove so he could turn off the utility lines. Afterwards he stored away the entire kitchen, leaving only the cabinets and counters behind. As he stood in the middle of the room he heard Zoe walking down the stairs. He turned to his left and watched her walk down the steps. She looked as beautiful as she did when she first arrived. She smiled at Benji and went over to sit at the kitchen table.

He walked upstairs and moved quickly into his mother's room and the bathroom, storing what he could see. He double checked every closet to make sure he didn't miss anything before finally walking downstairs. His mother and Zoe stopped talking as soon as he entered the room. His mother spoke first once he sat down.

“So I spoke to the director of the Crisis Shelter. He was hoping that we would be willing to relocate the residents to my parent's property once we've got everything set up.”

"It might take a little work before we can support that many people, mom."

"I'm aware, dear. I'm sure you have your plans set but they need somewhere where they can live in peace."

“Well that won't change just sitting here. Maybe go double check my work while I sort out our transportation?”

They all stood up from the table and Benji quickly stored it away along with the chairs. He motioned to his friends to follow him outside since they had nothing better to do. As the door opened, Lu Bu turned to face his master, flanked on either side by Duncan's paper knights. Benji patted the man on the shoulder as he walked by. Benji waited at the sidewalk taking in the sounds of the city. Sirens could be heard in the distance but it was otherwise no different from any other night. He heard footsteps behind him and turned to see everyone gathered waiting for him to act.

“Okay, here we go. I talked with my A.I. earlier in the day and it assured me that we will be able to fly this by ourselves.”

“Nerd Lord’s Majesty→ Ultimate Daydream 4→ Voyager.”

Benji glowed faintly before a pulse of white light shot from his hand and landed in the middle of the street. The ball of light pulsed and expanded, growing until it reached the size of an antique sailing ship floating just above the cement. A popping sound burst through the area as the airship came into existence. The hull of the ship was made up of a dark black wood. At four points along the ship, giant propellers reached high up above the deck. There were no sails but black wings soared out from the each side of the ship, more for decoration than function. Thick rope ladders toppled down from each side before landing on the ground.

"Before anyone says anything, yes this is our best option. We'll be able to fly high above the ground in relative safety and avoid the attention a spaceship would bring." Benji walked over to the closest rope ladder, placing one foot on it to hold it steady. Alex and Duncan were the first up the ladder followed closely by the pair of paper knights. Zoe and Isabel went up next followed by Lu Bu. Finally Benji climbed up once the others were safely onboard.

At 30 meters long and 10 meters wide, the Voyager was larger than Benji thought it would be. The game it came from made it seem much smaller. The 10 meter high ship was comprised of three lower decks that were mostly empty. The upper decks were clear except for a pair of stairs leading to the lower decks near the massive engine at the rear of the ship. The controls of the ship itself were located in the center of the deck, comprised of a raised pedestal holding a panel of electronic controls. Steering controls, a large bank of indicators, and a map of the surrounding area were spread out across the panel.

Benji walked over to the control panel and brought up a map of the area. It only took a few moments to map out a route in the navigation software. The first stop took them just down the block. Benji brought the airship to hover four meters above the road and set the massive ship to motion. They quickly traveled three blocks and arrived at the corner grocery store. Benji and his mother exited the vehicle and went inside. As they approached the person at the counter Isabel took out her bank card from her bag.

“I’d like to purchase everything in the store.” she said, staring at the clerk.

The clerk asked them to wait a moment and walked into the rear of the store. A moment later an older man who must be owner came out and Isabel negotiated a price that satisfied them both. The gray haired man rang up the price, a staggering 200,000 credits. He processed the card, handed it back and thanked her for the purchase. As Benji began going down each isle depositing the store’s contents, the owner walked over to switch the open sign to closed. Benji deposited the entire shelving units into his backpack and was soon finished with only the refrigerated displays and the check out counter remaining. They both thanked the owner and left the store. Once back onboard Benji asked Zoe for her address. Once the destination was set Benji brought the airship high above the surrounding buildings and increased speed towards the girl's house.