Zita and Piper try to work their way through space by doing public appearances with Zita, the hero who saved Scriptorius. But a robot imitates Zita, and leaves her behind as the robot and the unwitting Piper blast off to save the Lumponians.
Zita the Spacegirl; Mouse; aliens; Doom Squad (police); Madrigal
Synopsis
Zita steals a space ship and races after Piper, pursued by police. She gets to the same space port as Piper, but can't reach the ship because of the Doom Squad. She's captured, but Madrigal frees her.
Zita discovers that Madrigal has history with Piper and with Mouse. As the Doom Squad attacks, Madrigal ejects Zita in a living ship, which she must tune to her own mind.
Zita makes it to Lumponia, where the residents have captured Piper and his passengers. Now having two Zitas, they decide to send them both to the inert giant orbiting mechanism. Although captive, Zita agrees to go of her own free will.
Zita activates the giant and uses it to fight the Star Hearts that threaten the planet. But down on the surface, Piper learns that the giant will consume whoever operates it. One goes to the rescue, but realizes that without an operator, no one can stop the Star Hearts from destroying the planet. Robot Zita insists on taking Zita's place, becoming a hero by sacrificing herself to safe both Zita and Lumponia.
With the planet safe, Zita decides it's time for her to strike out on her own, in search of Mouse. But as the book ends, she is about to be captured by the Doom Squad.