…OF
TORBUCK AND THE STAR FORCE
Chapter 33 of
Starfighter! The Iconoclast
By: Tom Sczepkowski
With editing and clean-up by: Frederick P. Kopetz
And with inspiration and aid by:
Copyrights: STAR TREK is © 2004 by Paramount Pictures, Inc.
STAR BLAZERS is © 2004 by Voyager International, and, STAR WARS is © 2004 by
Lucasfilm, Ltd. GARGOYLES is © 2004 by Disney Entertainment. The Technomugar
Empire is © 2004 by Frederick P. Kopetz and is mentioned here by the author's
permission. All original elements of this tale are © 2004 by Tom Sczepkowski.
All rights reserved, not to be copied without the author's
permission.
Homer walked into the hangar bay and walked over to Inferno. He had realized that he had
never seen the fighter up close before and was impressed with what he saw. Even
for that day and age Inferno seemed
like something straight out of a science fiction movie.
Homer, who was now distracted by the sleek craft, made his
way up the steps of a gantry platform which was rolled next to the cockpit for
easy access. There he saw some components lying on the platform steps. Homer
was careful not to step on them as he looked inside Inferno’s elaborate cockpit.
“Bugger me.” Homer said aloud as a loud alarm suddenly went
off.
”Intruder……Alert…Intruder……Alert… Intruder……Alert”
“Shaddap!” came a
voice from underneath the hanger bay as the sound of Royster’s footsteps
sounded through the hanger deck. The computer stopped instantly.
“Just like a barking dog,” Royster said as Homer walked down
the platform steps.
“I guess I shouldn’t have been up there,” Homer said.
Royster didn’t respond as Homer looked at him. For a moment,
Royster was out of breath and was red-faced.
“You alright?” Homer
asked starting to go to the ship’s intercom to call for Dr Sane.
Royster looked at him not knowing what he was talking about,
“I just shot up the stairs quick when I heard the alarm.”
“Allright,” Homer said. “Where do you want to begin?”
Royster gestured to Homer to follow him as they walked back
down the set of stairs that Royster ran up. The stairs led to a small passage
containing two medium-sized compartments.
Homer saw that Royster wasted no time in utilizing the
rooms. The first room was used as a workshop of sorts that had numerous
components on the workbenches. The next room even looked more like something
out of a sci-fi movie.
“You’ve been busy ….Sandor would have a field day down
here,” Homer said.
“He’d kick my ass most likely, followed by the Skipper,”
Royster said. “No one knows I’m down here.”
“I’m not going to say anything,” Homer said. “Where did you
get all this?”
Royster sat in a large high back chair and started typing on
one of the laptops. “I replicated them with Inferno
with the stuff dat I needed an walla.”
Homer pulled up a small stool and gestured to one of the
keyboards asking for permission to use it
“My cassa you cassa,” Royster said with a nod.
Nova walked along the corridors of the Argo when a pack of running and screaming Space Marines almost
crashed into her while scurrying into their barracks cabins.
“Now what?” Nova asked Knox who came from around the corner.
“What in heck is going on?”
“We never did a space warp before,” Knox said with a nod.
“You should be in your quarters,” Nova said sharply
“So what?” Knox said moving closer to Nova. “It’s no big
deal, I hear. Maybe you and I should go through it together,” Knox said with a
laugh.
Nova gritted her teeth and growled, almost sounding like a
cheetah, her eyes glowed slightly as Knox instinctively took a step back…..He
began to choke grabbing his throat.
Nova realized that she was losing her control and
immediately gained her composure. Knox breathed again.
“On second thought…perhaps you should go through the Space
Warp with your guys.” Nova said gently while waving two fingers in front of
him.
“On second thought I
think I should go through the space warp with my guys,” Knox said weakly.
“Perhaps you should return to your quarters now,” said Nova.
“Perhaps I should return to my quarters now,” said Knox with
a glazed voice and glassy eyes.
Nova nodded at that. Knox continued down the corridor and
Nova stood there clenching her fists while she closed her eyes and took in a
deep breath. Then, she turned her head.
Vaught was standing right there.
“Oh! How long were you standing there, Vaught?” Nova said
turning around to him.
“Long enough to see you prevent a mistake,” Vaught said as the
two walked down the hall. “You were about to kill him…..again. Luckily for you,
he proved to be somewhat weak-minded. But he would have done you no harm.”
“Oh please,” Nova
said as a number of thoughts ran through her mind in rapid succession. “He’s like…”
“You can say what you want about Knox and I could say
plenty,” Vaught began. “But he does
have a sense of honor where
Nova stopped immediately. “How did you know I was thinking
about him?”
Vaught chuckled “You can’t hide
“
“You spoke about this in confession with your Father Likanski?”
Vaught asked
“Captain Avatar stopped me.” Nova said
“Why?”
Nova looked down towards the floor, “He said it was
justified.”
Vaught shook his head slightly pointing at Nova, “That was
not justice…you are still alive.”
“I thought falling to the radioactive sleeping gas was God’s
punishment for killing those men.”
Vaught nodded “Then perhaps in the future you’ll think twice
before you before losing your temper.”
Nova looked up at him.
“Is that the answer that you were looking for?” Vaught asked
“Yes?” Nova asked. “What do you want me to do?”
“Move on,” Vaught said
“Look I’ve already come to terms with what happened on
“And what does Knox have to go back to?” Vaught asked “Have
you ever thought of that?”
“He will be thinking of that sooner or later!” Nova said
“The next time that happens…the next time he tries to put his damned paws on
me, he might just be floating home, because maybe I’ll put him out a damn
airlock!”
“No,” Vaught said “You’re dead wrong…..Knox is a warrior
with a sense of honor, so he will not harm
you.”
“And if you’re wrong?” Nova said. “You could be wrong.”
“Then I will kill
him before you would even know what was going on,” Vaught growled with his
fangs growing visible momentarily.
“That is not justice…I would still be alive,” Nova said
mimicking his accent.
“My definition of
justice is not as forgiving as yours,” Vaught said.
“Life with Father must have been a blast for Starsha,” Nova
said.
“Perhaps,” Vaught said as they continued walking up to the
storage unit which acted as Vaught’s quarters. Then Vaught paused and said,
“But then again Starsha wouldn’t have been so stupid to go fall for
“Did I do something to offend you?” Nova asked.
“I’m not going to hold your hand, Nova,” Vaught said “My
goal is to prepare you, for the next time someone thinks like
“I don’t want people to be fearful of me!” Nova said.
“Perhaps you would be wise to start,” Vaught said in an even
tone.
Nova sighed wanting to change the subject.
“You’re not going to the bridge?”
Vaught shook his head “I want to play for a bit… clear my
head…..That last time took us for a ride into never, never land.”
“May I join you?” Nova said “My violin is still in there.”
“By all means.” Vaught said as he gestured for her to enter.
Royster and Homer were finishing up programming the wireless
link between the radio console and Inferno’s
sensor array when there was a beeping sound coming from the laptop that Royster
was using .
“Go ahead, Skipper,” Royster said while still typing.
Wildstar grumbled under his breath as Royster and Homer suppressed
the urge to laugh
“We’re ready for the Space Warp, Gilligan.” Wildstar snapped. At that, Royster and Homer burst into
laughter.
“I’m hooked into the radio from here, Captain… I’ll bring
the EDF up to speed,” Homer said.
He began typing again when there was a beeping sound coming
from the laptop to their right.
“Rock’s in the sock,” Royster said.
Homer nodded as he called the
“I got it,” Venture said over the intercom as Homer shook
his head.
“Of course you do,” Homer said.
“What was that about?”
Royster asked.
“Venture has a thing for this Trelaina lady,” Homer said.
“Thing?” Royster
asked “You’ve gotta to be shittin’ me…we just found out that da broad speaks
English.”
“That’s Venture, you either love him or hate him……I hate
him,” Homer said.
“Sounds like a real Cheese Whiz,” Royster said.
There was a heavy crackling on the transmission.
“There
is great danger,” sounded Trelaina’s voice.
“No shit, Sherlock,” Royster said.
“She’s frightened, almost panicking,” Venture said almost
defending her.
“Yeah, thanks for the hot tip there, Captain Obvious,” Royster said drawing a laugh from Homer.
“Star Force…hurry on,” Trelaina said in a quivering voice.
“Oh, Margaret,” Royster said as Homer hit a key which
enabled him to transmit from his location.
“Lady, please, williya?!” Royster shouted not knowing the
mike was active. “Work wit us here…..Tired of hearin the danger crap….lemmie
know how my Yankees are doin’ or something else.”
“Royster, she can hear you!” Homer said.
“Good,” Royster replied.
The transmission was again overwhelmed by static.
“God damn it,” Royster said as he still was still typing.
“We’re about to warp, you know,” Homer said.
“I think I can take it from here,” Royster said. “Thanks,
Homer.”
“So you’ve space warped before?” Homer asked.
“No, how bad could it be?”
Homer smiled slightly, “Good luck.” he said as he left the
room and walked back up the stairs.
The remark bothered Royster slightly as he locked the wheels
on his chair. He removed his over shirt making a rough belt, and then he tied
it around him and the chair making sure it was snug.
On the Bridge Orion’s engineering panel was flashing.
“Flight, Engineering Wave Engine 5 by 5,” Orion said.
“Stand by… pre-warp checklist.” Wildstar said as he and
Venture pulled out laminated cards
“Auxiliary engines?” Wildstar asked.
“Set to stand by,” Venture said.
“Nav con?” Wildstar said.
Venture turned a small dial on his instrument panel.
“Set to Command,” Venture said.
“One minute to warp…..Restraints?” Wildstar called out,
“Sound off!”
Each one sounded off informing them that their belts were
fastened.
“Anti-collision?” Wildstar asked.
“Set to armed,” Venture said flipping the toggle switch.
“Flight management?” Wildstar said.
Venture flipped another switch waited a second then took his
hands off the yoke.
“Set to command….George has the stick.”
Wildstar chuckled every time Venture said had made that
statement right before they warped.
Venture smiled.
Nova sat at the piano as Vaught checked the locks on the
wheels.
“Uh, Vaught?” Nova asked as she tied herself to the piano
bench with some rope.
Vaught sat at the piano and began playing an up-beat piece.
Nova listened for a bit than began to accompany him on her violin.
“Wave Motion Hyper Throttle?” Wildstar said.
Venture turned another knob as a lever to his left popped up
slowly as he twisted it and extended it to himself.
“Armed and locked,” Venture said as they looked at the
Navcon computer.
“Checklist Complete,” Wildstar said “10 seconds from my
mark.”
Venture then said, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ZERO…”
“Ready for throttle up.” Venture said after a pause.
“Throttle up!” Wildstar said. “WARP!”
“WARP!” snapped Venture as he pulled back the throttle.
The Argo slammed
out of normal space and floated into the strange world of hyperspace.
Around Vaught and Nova, space distorted and made their
playing turn strange. They could hear colors and see sounds in the strangeness
with space all around them as butterflies danced in their stomachs.
The Space Marines were also having a rough time with the
warp. As the whole room seemed to bend and twist, they all groaned as if they
were going to be sick. Knox just laid there on the deck and closed his eyes
praying for the effect to go away.
For Royster the effects of the space warp didn’t affect him
as adversely. He just stopped typing and took in what his senses were telling
him, as the computers disappeared and all he could see was stars and space. He
enjoyed the sensation as he closed his eyes as the room seemed to spin then it
slowly came to a stop as he could feel all the aspects of the room returning to
normal.
The distorted music took Vaught again deep into the Force
again as the effects of the space warp wore away to leave Vaught alone, he
could sense a presence but not Nova’s.
Vaught turned around to see the face of a man whom he was
never supposed to meet.
“You’re interrupting my playing,” Vaught said as his piano
jangled to a discordant silence.
The old man said nothing to him…He sat down next to Vaught and
just smiled again, and then he nodded.
However Vaught was annoyed.
“Keep moving, Pop,” Vaught said.
The old man said, “The answers are in the dream.”
“No.” Vaught snapped, “Sir, neither I nor the Captain are in
need of your or anyone else’s divine intervention.”
The old man was silent as he smiled. “Good,” said the old
man as he patted him on the shoulder and then got up and started to walk away.
Vaught spun around quickly “Hey!” he shouted after him.
The old man turned slightly, leaning on his walking stick.
“I’m serious,” Vaught said sternly “If I find out that the
Captain has been visited in any way by anyone’s spirit I’m going to do
something about it. He doesn’t need spirits of the dead to show him the path of
the living….That’s what he has the Star Force for.”
“And you,” The old man said. “He has you…..just don’t let
him grow that stupid beard in the future.”
“What?”
“You’ll see that it doesn’t do him justice.”
Avatar turned around and looked into Vaught’s eyes. Vaught thought
for a moment.
“They don’t need me for this mission.” Vaught said
“No, but the destination must be changed…” The old man said as he turned and began to
walk away.
Vaught didn’t understand.
“Search your feelings, Lord Hawk,” The old man said. “You
will know what to do.”
“Emergency
alert!” Inferno’s
computer warned through the remote connection to Royster’s laptop. “Negative control at Argo helm.”
Royster was about to call the bridge when the ship lurched
uncontrollably.
“What the hell?” Venture said as he grabbed the controls as
asteroids and space debris shot past the Argo.
“We materialized into this space storm! Get us out of here!”
Wildstar said.
“We have to stay on this course,” Venture said, “If we
divert, we’ll lose too much time.”
Wildstar turned as he saw Vaught and Nova entering the
bridge off balance.
“I left you alone for five minutes,” Vaught said taking his
seat, “And look what happens…”
“Orion,” Venture said. “I need more power!”
“Power’s already up to full!” Orion said.
The Argo rocked
and lurched as it fought to navigate the heavy gravitational forces of the
Space Cyclone. Venture fought the controls as the control yoke vibrated
heavily.
“She’s singing again,” Royster said over the speaker. “The
Trelaina dame, that is!”
“Where the hell are they!?” Wildstar demanded.
“I don’t think it’s very far,” Homer said.
“Calibrations are almost complete,” Royster said.
“Hey guys I need precise information!” Venture said. “I’d do
it myself, but I’m a little busy
right now.”
“You touch my computers, and I’ll beat the crap out of ya,”
Royster said. “I think I’ll beat the crap out of you anyway.”
Wildstar looked at Vaught who just chuckled as Royster could
be heard shouting at Trelaina. This was much to Venture’s disapproval
“You tell her, Royster,” Sandor said.
“Hey!” Venture said.
“If he didn’t, I would have.” Sandor said “Am I the only one
that doesn’t like whats going on here? Hmmm?”
Royster’s voice could be heard on the bridge speakers a
moment later.
“TA-DA! GOT IT!” he yelled. “Homer, 331 mark 22 seven grand
double M’s ahead!”
Homer spun around to Wildstar. “Captain, Royster reports
that Telezart is seven thousand megameters directly ahead.”
“All yours,” Wildstar said to Venture.
“Telezart, here we come,” Venture said as the Argo accelerated through the graviton
storm.
Then as quickly as the violent rocking began….it stopped.
“Radar contact,” Nova said. “The object is directly ahead of
us!”
“On screen,” Vaught said.
“What the hell is that…thing?”
Eager exclaimed.
“Whatever it is, it had to be here for quite some time,”
Sandor said.
Royster was busy typing on the keyboard at his station when Inferno’s klaxons came on from one of
the monitors set to monitor her. There was a buzzing sound as Inferno’s shields automatically
raised…including those that were surrounding Royster’s compartment.
“What the hell?” Royster asked as he tapped the comm-badge
that Vaught gave him. “Hey boss, Inferno’s
shields just went up, and they took me with them.”
Venture looked at Wildstar as the Argo began spinning slowly and then began moving faster and faster.
“I have a very bad feeling about this,” Royster said.
“Turn the ship around,” Vaught said barely above a whisper.
“I think you’re right,” Wildstar said. “Ventch…full
reverse.”
Venture was not pleased with Wildstar’s order, but not
arguing, he pulled two small throttles towards him. Then, the Argo’s bow thrusters whined, but to no
avail.
“The controls are jammed…I’ve got nothing,” Venture said
while straining at the controls.
“Vaught,” Wildstar said motioning, to the Navigation yoke as
both of them got up, grabbed the yoke, and tried to help Venture keep the yoke
straight.
“We’re not going to get out this way,” Venture said.
“Ya think?” Wildstar shouted sarcastically.
“Go to 105 on the generators,” Orion said, calling down to
Engineering.
“Full ahead,” Wildstar said.
“We’re at full
ahead,” Venture said.
“Homer,” Wildstar snapped. “Contact Telezart! Tell Trelaina
of our situation and ask for assistance!”