ARCHANGEL
Chapter 38 of Starfighter! The Iconoclast
By: Tom Sczepkowski
With editing and clean-up by: Frederick P. Kopetz
Copyrights: STAR TREK is © 2009 by Paramount Pictures, Inc. STAR BLAZERS is © 2010 by Voyager International, and, STAR WARS is © 2010 by Lucasfilm, Ltd. GARGOYLES is © 2010 by Disney Entertainment. All original elements of this tale are © 2010 by Tom Sczepkowski. All rights reserved, not to be copied without the author's permission.
Admiral Allyana Nechayev materialized in the main throne room. But Starsha Corsair was not there. Nechayev looked around for a moment as a Gamilon Servant walked up to her.
Nechayev could tell that she was very young…no more than 17 or 18. Her eyes were a bright green which was almost in contrast with her blue skin. She wore a long flowing yellow dress.
“May I be of Service, Executrix?” the servant asked
“I am looking for the Princess,” Nechayev said with a casual smile, trying not to scare the very young girl who couldn’t be more than in her early teens.
“The princess went to the Lower Chambers,” the servant said “I do not understand for what reason.”
Nechayev thought for a second and smiled, “I think I know the reason.”
“I wish she hadn’t gone down there alone,” the Gamilon servant said
“What is your name?” Nechayev asked.
“Tristezze,” the Gamilon servant said.
“Did you know the girl that tried to kill the queen?” Nechayev said.
“Not very well.” Tristezze said “She kept mostly to herself.”
“Why do you think she would want to harm the Queen?” Nechayev said
“I am puzzled by that myself, Executrix….” Tristezze said “Queen Starsha doesn’t mistreat us….in fact she does the same work that all of us does and regards us as equals.”
“How about the Princess?” Nechayev said
“Oh she doesn’t let us wait on her at all,” Tristezze said. “And there is very little contact.”
“She’s not comfortable with the lifestyle,” Nechayev said
“Is Queen Starsha comfortable?” Tristezze asked “Is there anything I can get for her?”
“I think she’s ok for now.” Nechayev said.
“Will you appoint the Princess as Queen?“ Tristezze Asked “As you know, according to Iscandarian law, Princess Starsha is the Acting Queen since the actual Queen is off-world.”
“I think if I upset the princess anymore than I already have she‘s going to come after me with her Light Sabre,” Nechayev said “The Queen won’t be gone long and you can communicate with her on the Enterprise if you need anything.”
“Yes Executrix,” Tristezze said “Do you require anything?”
“No, but thank you for talking with me,”
Tristezze nodded and bowed slightly and continued on her way as Nechayev found her way down to to the lower chambers as she began to hear the music Playing from the organ. She waited outside the door for a moment listening to the melodic and flowing music as Starsha Corsair’s fingers danced across the Keyboard. To Neachayev’s surprise Starsha Corsair had begun singing.
You’d Say his eyes are…
(Sometime Brown)
But only sometime
(Often Dark)
Well that is plain….
(Mere Words can’t tell the thrill….)
Then tell it how you will…...
She recognized the piece from when Vaught would play on the piano. Although she never knew that there were lyrics to it.
Dawn's promising skies
Petals on a pool drifting
Imagine these in one pair of eyes
And this is my beloved
Strange spice from the south
Honey through the comb sifting
Imagine these on one eager mouth
And this is my beloved
And when he speaks and when he talks to me
Music! Mystery!
And when he moves And when he walks with me
Paradise comes suddenly near
All that can stir All that can stun
All that's for the heart's lifting
Imagine these in one perfect one
And this is my beloved
And this is my beloved
It was surprising to Nechayeav on how powerful and trained her soprano voice was. To hear her one would not believe that she was the Course Brash Young solider. Like her father she was a musician. When she finished the last note the whole room vibrated. Nechayev could tell that Starsha Corsair was moved by the music as she repeated the refrain again. Then finished. Nechayev could tell that she knew she was there because the mood changed from the melodic tune to a sinister sounding piece.
Starsha Corsair seemed to welcome the sinister tones and scales . Serving as a reminder that this is what her demeanor was and that the flowing music that she had just finished prior was just a glimpse to a side that Starsha Corsair refused anyone to see.
“Daddy’s little Girl.” Nechayev thought “So similar; It will be interesting to meet Nova.”
Starsha Corsair stopped playing suddenly As she turned showing no surprise to see who was standing there.
“Admiral Nechayev.” Starsha Corsair said coldly, but she just resumed playing her piece.
“Not very happy to see me.” Nechayev said
She stopped playing again turned and faced her Nechayev could tell that she was about to say something but decided against it. She then continued to play.
“You play beautifully.” Nechayev said “Is that Bach?”
“This is an Orion piece.” Starsha Corsair said as her fingers continued to dance on the keyboard.
“The style is very close to the Toccota and Fugues written by Bach….and the piece before that?” Nechayev said. “I enjoy listening to you as much as I do enjoy hearing your father playing it.”
“I’m not that familar with it,” Starsha Corsair said.
“You seem to know the lyrics very well…..Kismet Wasn’t it?”
“Last time you almost Bitch-slapped me across the Compound for playing. Now we’re having Live from Lincoln center?”” Starsha Corsair snapped sarcastically.
“I have to keep up pretences,” Nechayev said “Something like what you did with your meeting with Ambassador Spock and Commander Riker.”
Starsha Corsair gave her a look and then went back to playing the keyboard.
“Why didn’t you tell them that Alsarida took you to the Defiant crash site?”
Starsha Corsair stopped playing “Because Alsarida was wrong…..the Gamilons knew right where that ship was! Royster’s transmission confirms that and their technology was Lysis’s SMITE Device that uses the same transporter signature as a Star Ship from that era….until I know what’s going on….I’m keeping my mouth shut!” Starsha Corsair gave her a look. “And don’t talk to me about pretences! Being relieved of Duty?” Starsha Corsair said “What was that about?”
“Creighton and Demona think Lysis will become careless if he thinks your father and I are out of the picture,” Nechayev said .
“And General Order 24?” Starsha Corsair said still playing the sinister piece.
“That was to flush Lysis out,” Nechayev said. “Your grandmother knew as I did that the fiction of my being relieved would set him at ease.”
Starsha Corsair slammed the keyboard cover closed on the organ. She glared at Nechayev. “WAIT! So you knew from the start that the Queen was innocent!?”
We wanted to see how deep the rabbit hole went.” Nechayev said
“You scared the living hell out of her!” Starsha Corsair said. “You manipulative….”
Nechayev sighed “Creighton immediately notified us regarding the message from Queen Starsha regarding your mother’s death. When I heard about it, I started sniffing around then I found out about the Gamilon operation…..you have to believe me…..I love Iscandar….I would never let anything befall it….If your father was here he would tell you…”
“Is that why they refer to you as the Executrix?” Starsha Corsair said.
“That was a long time ago,” Nechayev responded.
“What Lysis has is a hundred years old,” Starsha Corsair said “Two Oberth science vessles could take out what’ left of their fleet. That isn’t what this is about…… What is it that Lysis has on you that has Starfleet in Damage control?”
“Come on with me there is someone I want you to meet,” Nechayev said.
She looked at Nechayev cautiously.
“Who?”
“Someone who will complete the puzzle.”
They walked together through the corridors of the palace. Starsha Corsair was surprised to see that Nechayev knew the palace.
“Have you spoken to Dad?” Starsha Corsair asked.
“No.” Nechayev said.
“W hat is the deal with you two?”
“Well to start off with…..I am Not Iscandarian,” Nechayev said “My first assignment was cultural observation, Starfleet was always interested in alternate dimentions since the Lazarus Incident.”
“Duck blind?” Starsha Corsair said.
“At first,” Nechayev said “But then my partner and I lived among them and worked among them. I was Chief of Staff to Queen Starsha. When your father was found, Terri was my “Assistant.” At first I thought he might have been sent there to retrieve us. When I found out about Defiant I knew it was time to return to Starfleet. However Terri didn’t want to leave, as she wanted to explore the parallel Earth. There was a lot of discussion about it among the Gamilons, and Terri wanted to get all of the information possible before it was destroyed.
“I returned to Earth with your father. Next time I saw him was when I was in command of the Starship Lindenwold during the battle of Wolf 359. Myself and my crew were taken captive by the Borg, and transferred to another Cube. I was about to be assimilated, when out of nowhere this guy wearing this strange suit wielding a laser sword cuts through most of the Borg and frees me. I was to say the least mesmerized by your father’s ability. We took the Cube, freeing others along the way.”
“I didn’t know you were with him,” Starsha Corsair said.
“Your father and I both thought that we could be more effective as a team if that piece of information was kept silent.”
“So what happened? Starsha Corsair asked.
“Each Borg Cube has a Queen like a beehive, I guess,” Nechayev said. “When your father inflicted enough losses to get her attention, the Queen asked for a parley.”
“That doesn’t sound like the Borg we have come to Know and Love,” Starsha Corsair said with a sarcastic edge to her voice.
“Well the Enterprise defeated the Borg at Earth, and even though our fleet was cut to shreds, I think the main focus among the Borg was to get the Hell out of Dodge and regroup…..So while I was in negotiations with the Queen, Vaught was able to gain access to their main computer core and disable it. We crashed the Cube on a jungle-type moon and we were picked up by a Starfleet Transport a month later.”
“What happened to the Borg Queen?” Starsha Corsair asked.
“Your father….. deactivated her.” Nechayev said. “Thereafter, your father and I have tackled quite a few things together.”
“It just amazes me that he follows you so blindly….It’s not like him at all,” Starsha Corsair said.
Nechayev laughed “You’re just following the scuttelbutt. Sometimes he does and sometimes he doesn’t! If it’s something that looks like it can’t be done, chances are he’ll take a crack at it. Otherwise thumbs down….”
“So he only works when he wants to,” Starsha Corsair said.
“That’s about it, Lieutenant.” Nechayev said “Most of the time he is as you know him, a musician and teacher.“
They came to a door. When Nechayev opened, it proved to be a vast library. As Starsha walked in, she turned to Nechayev.
“You’re leaving out one very important part,” Starsha Corsair said. “You were very much in love with him…right?”
Nechayev sighed heavily “I still am……But your Father loves Astra…….and even though they were apart he couldn’t and wouldn’t pursue another relationship…….. The type of relationship your father and I have would never have the luxury of a romance, Star.”
“I don’t know what he saw in her.”
“He still loves her…and he’s hurting at the loss….The only thing is that your father now grieves through violence and anger, It was like that when he had to kill J.P. and all his other friends assimilated by the Borg. Then there was that that thing with Neal Hawk getting assimilated….I can only imagine what your father is feeling with Astra having been killed.”
“What about this stuff about my father coming across my twin sister?” Starsha Corsair asked. However when she turned, she noticed that Neachayev was no longer walking next to her, as she was standing behind the Library doors.
“Admiral?” Starsha Corsair asked noticing that she wasn’t entering the library.
“I only set up this meeting as a favor,” Nechayev said “What you take from it….is up to you.”
“A favor to whom?” Starsha Corsair asked
“You,” Nechayev said as she touched her communicator pin and was enveloped in a transporter beam and was gone.
Starsha looked back into the great library. She felt a presence in the Force. It wasn’t like the time when she was in the Enterprise briefing room with Lysis, but rather a calmer almost comical presence as she uncoupled her light saber.
A Bright light came on and shone in her face then Sse heard a small whirring mechanical sound when out of the shadows……….
“Great….I’m having a meeting with a rolling Garbage can.”
The little robot responded in a form of clicks, whistles, and beeps when he turned his head slightly and from an optic lens, there shone a beam of light on Starsha Corsair’s communicator pin after a few moments the beam shut off and the pin glowed for a moment.
“It is considered bad manners to lurk in doorways, Young one,” came a robotic voice over the communicator pin.
Starsha Corsair looked around for a moment than back to the little robot
“The voice you heard from your translator is from me….The rolling garbage can……I’d like to point out that I was out preserving the Galaxy with you pain in the ass humans long before your world even invented garbage cans, let alone have the capacity have the combined intelligence to knock one over.”
“I’m sorry I shouldn’t have called you a rolling garbage can,” Starsha Corsair said.
“If I had an ass, I’d tell you to kiss it,” The robot responded.“The Queen is safely aboard the Enterprise?”
“Yeah.” Starsha Corsair said
“At least you did that right.”
“Now you can kiss my ass…and I have one!” Starsha Corsair snapped back
“You seem distressed,” The Robot said.
“Distressed?!” Starsha Corsair said “Listen Bubo! ……you wanna know about being distressed?!.......The Queen almost gets poisoned, we have every Gamilon here looking down our throats, and we’re looking for a Starship that didn’t learn how to do anything but crash!....Yeah, that’s distressed!”
There was a moment of silence when the Comunicator pin crackled to life again.
“To begin with I am an R2-series astromech droid manufactured by Industrial Automaton….my designation is R-2 D-2 Or, to my friends A-r-t-o-o.”
“Artoo….” Starsha said. “I’ve heard that name before…..somewhere.”
“My former master, along with Jedi master Nokkar had been on several missions together during the Clone Wars.”
“Skywalker!” Starsha said “There was another A.I. that traveled with you. He and his wife exchanged the two of you as wedding presents.”
“We prefer to be known as Droids,” Artoo said. “You know your history quite well.”
“How did you wind up on Iscandar?”
“By accident, really,” Artoo said “The other A.I. as you called him and I were visiting your galaxy a little over a hundred years ago. When the ship I was on was destroyed by the Romulan outlaw Nero when we were passing Vulcan. I was caught in the Red Matter Black hole when I was sucked in. I never did find out what happened to Threepio. I ended up here on Iscandar Where with Nokkar’s help Through Interdimenional Subspace transmissions, this library was created…..It holds the entire cumulative body of information on the Jedi, the Sith and the Starfighters.”
“So we can look up everything I need to know on Lysis,” Starsha said.
“Why?” Artoo said “You already have the information, all the names and dates are inside your head what you want what you really need is a story.”
“A Story can be True or False,” Starsha Corsair said.
Artoo turned his head… “I leave such Judgments to you. Our Story begins as these stories often do with an young up and coming Gamilon Politician.” Artoo said “He is completely single minded and has no regard for political process.”
“Desslok.” Starsha Corsair said
Artoo continued as he said, “His planet was already thrown into chaos by a major ecological disaster. The more power he obtained, the more obvious was his zealotry and the more aggressive his supporters became. When it was determined that Gamilon would no longer be able to support life, his party entered into a special project in the interest of population survival……For the rest of us it is to be believed that it is a search for a habitable planet to colonize, and it is perused regardless of it’s cost…..However the true goal of this project is power…..complete and total hegemonic domination. The project however has disastrous implications. The efforts for those involved however were not in vain for the new ability to wage war was discovered in the process…..Imagine a weapon the most terrifying weapon of mass destruction you can and then imagine that you and you alone had the technology to reverse it’s deadly fallout., But if the ultimate goal is power how best to use such a weapon?”
“They had a Cosmo DNA device.”
Artoo again continued “It ‘s at this point of our story that along comes a spider.” Artoo said “He is a man seemingly without a conscence and for him, the ends always justify the means. Reading the notes from an Iscandarian scientist named Lazarus who transpored the Interdimesnional corridor and came across a people with great technology. It is Lysis that suggests that it is not data that should be taken from this civilization but actual hardware itself. Hearing a story from the Bee People of a starship that was lost, he and his agents entered the Federation Empire’s universe, and stole the Defiant. They attempted to land the Ship on Iscandar because no one would think of looking there. The Iscandarian Government was Furious.” Artoo said “So I contacted Nokkar on your Earth and he was able to have Starfleet send a young Marine on his first mission retrieve the ship’s database, and destroy the remains of the ship….You see Lysis only had a partial database. He didn’t have enough space on his computers to download the whole thing….plus it would take years to comprehend the data…and even longer to complete the complex formulas….but there was another problem…..Your Grandfather was vhief engineer on the Defiant, Who was on leave when she met her fate, he had begun a revoluntuary plan on concentrating particles and charging them to the point where they give off tremendous energy….”
“Wave Motion,” Starsha Corsair said.
“After your father retrieved the database he was ambushed not by Gamilon agents but by Iscandarian agents led by Lysis.”
“Alsarida was wrong they do know where the Defiant is.” Starsha Corsair said.
“That is correct, Artoo said “Without the database the ship is useless to him with the exception of some weapons and the transporter which Lysis was able to adapt.”
“So with the partial database useless to him Lysis escapes to our universe and infiltrates Starfleet Command posing as an Admiral,” Starsha Corsair said.
“He Fabricated a story of the Gamilons’ plight and pretends to set up talks with Desslok.” Artoo said “Before the Gamilon Treaty with the Federation No one could predict that outcome of the Gamilon election that year ….No one….Then Lo and behold a Miracle…with the newly formed alliance with Starfleet A habitable planet was found and could be occupied within twenty years. But the end result the true Genius of the entire plan was the fear. Fear became the ultimate tool of this government and through it our young Gamilon politician rose to the office of “Leader.”
“Until 20 years later, Astra found out what was going on and addressed the Federation Council…”
“Not Astra…...”
Starsha Corsair stood silent for a moment, “Nechayev?”
“To balance the odds, It was Nechayev who provided the plans for the Wave Motion Engine and using back channels had your father, create a Cosmo DNA Device using his research based on Dr. David Marcus’s Genesis Wave. For fear of the Queen’s Safety, Princess Astra Addressed the Federation Council to kill the Starfleet support. Astra thought the Message capsule she was delivering was from Nechayev. ”
“And the people in the circle….they fight back their way,” Starsha Corsair said, remembering what Alsarida had told her.
“Yes,” Artoo said “After Astra’s address, iIt wasn’t hard for Lysis and his supporters in Starfleet to find out about the plan for Neachyeav to intercede. However, they couldn’t eliminate Nechayev because of the repercussions from your father. Desslok forbade any action against the Queen. So while Nechayev is off world Lysis was able to use his credentials to have the protection detail stand down. The Battle of Pluto is determined the best place to set up the strike team to appear that the Runabout was caught in the crossfire. Three Starships are chosen to fire on the Raritan as she entered the Milky Way galactic system. When the Raritan made it through Lysis tracked her where she crashed on Mars and he was waiting for her. The rest they say is history.”
“If you contacted my Father or me,” Starsha Corsair said. “This might have ended differently.”
“Nechayev felt the same way; But your mother didn’t want either of you involved… for fear that as both of you always do would throw caution to the wind and get yourselves killed,” Artoo said.
“Can you and Nechayev prove all this?”
“Why do you think we’re still functioning?”
“I’d like to place you in protective custody.”
She could tell Artoo scoffed. “Oh I’m sure you would; This library Holds all the collected information from the Jedi Temple predating the Empire……It also holds all the Information on the Starfighters and your family for one. I must protect it with my life.”
“Oh come on,” Starsha Corsair said “If Lysis wanted anything from here he could just come in and take it. No offense, but you should be baking cookies somewhere…..Besides I don’t think he’s after the information in the library. I think he’s looking at a bigger prize…..Oh…how is information from my family stored in this library?” Starsha Corsair said
“Nokkar, Neaycheayv and I have kept in contact…”.
“Do you have biographic information on every member of my family?”
“You are wondering about your sister Nova?”
“What’s her story anyway?”said Starsha Corsair, curious as hell.
“When you both were born I was instructed to check the levels of the Midi-Chlorian Count on you and Nova,” Artoo said. “Yours was high but Nova’s was non-existent. They were concerned that the Gamilon Hierarchy might be threatened and they would strike out against you. I was a witmes to a similar situation long ago….There were many similarities… Since your parents were already separated at this point, I calculated that it was best that you go to the Federation Earth with your father and that Nova was sent to live with Neacheav’s Colleague who was observing the Earth in this Universe.”
“Lt. Terri Genardo, who became Terri Forrester?” Starsha Corsair said. “Now, that was a death sentence. She knew that Gamilon was bombarding Earth with Planet Bombs.”
“She was supposed to return to Federation space with Nova… however there was one complication. She met and fell in love with a young Lawyer by the name of Karl Forrester. She couldn’t bear to leave him. So she had Nova’s Gargoyle features removed so that she would just fit in as a little human girl. And as a human Nova grew and lived. It wasn’t until the incident on Diamond Island when her Gargoyle side and the Force began to awaken in her.”
“What happened?”
“While the Argo was here, several members of her crew decided that they did not want to return to Earth, so they tried to Colonize Diamond island; all a little too quickly. They took Nova captive. She was to be pawn in their scheme.”
“They tried to rape her?” Starsha Corsair said with pity and horror for her sister.
“Yes,” Artoo said. “When a seismic disturbance started to destroy the island, Nova fought back……and she killed all of the men who decided to colonize Diamond Island...and take advantage of her.”
“I take it back…I like this girl,” Starsha Corsair said.
“You would,”
“Hey you can’t bring that stuff on someone and not expect to get a giant can of whoop ass opened on you?”
“Spoken like your revered Captain Kirk,” Artoo said. “The second incident occurred when Desslok, the Leader of the Gamilon people made one last attempt to avenge the death of his people. He attacked the Argo with Radioactive sleeping gas: and in effort to save the man she loved, she activated your Grandfathers Cosmo DNA device. However, she fell victim to the gas……We think that because she was so close to death that the dormant Midi-Chlorians somehow became active and revived her.”
“It’s still a story without an ending,” Starsha Corsair said.
“I can only record and play the information…..Despite what I can do I’m still only a machine I cannot operate outside of my parameters.”
Starsha Corsair stood quiet for a moment to ponder what Artoo had just told her.
“You can’t stay here,” Starsha Corsair said.
“I must guard the archives…….”Artoo said.
“This guy Lysis wants a new Gamilon order, and when he’s done here he’s going after Desslok….Your talking about a civil war that’s going to destroy this world, and Starfleet doesn’t have the resources to get involved in a police action. So it comes down to me. If he can’t get through me then everything stays in balance. If I lose… you’d better think about moving…..but even if I beat him you should come anyway.”
“I am outmoded. My era was over for two thousand of your Earth years.”
“That’s not what it is.” Starsha said “It’s my father, isn’t it?
She heard a such sad tone come from him than the communicator pin crackled.
“Yes…they are too alike. In many ways, he is more ruthless than the dark creature named Lord Vader, who was once Anakin Skywalker, that he chooses to emulate from so long ago…..I don’t have the endurance to go through that again.”
“There is one difference,” Starsha Corsair said. “Anakin Skywalker wasn’t a Marine….my father and I are…..Palpatine was a cheap Pimp… he never could have outsmarted my Dad.”
“Nokkar said your father doesen’t seek the thrill of Adventure as A Starfighter.” Artoo said.
“That’s true. He enjoys his music….teaching….conducting…. that’s where he finds his passion….we do this because we have to Artoo…because we have a gift and my father and I believe that we are here for a reason…..We don’t know the reason or by what design…but we know it wasn’t to score Touchdowns.”
“Interesting quotation.” Artoo said.
“Trust us,” Starsha said “I’ll have you transported up to the Enterprise. Once Lysis is dealt with I think there will be no more immediate threats.”
“But if Lysis knows the Queen is in protective custody, he will remain in hiding until she returns,” Artoo said.
“You’re right,” Starsha Corsair said as she touched her communicator pin. She said, “Corsair to Enterprise.”
“But if she returns Lysis will certainly kill her.” Artoo said.
“The princess hated Ice Cream and the maiden hated Pudding,” Starsha Corsair said. “Two to beam up …these coordinates,” She said as she looked at Artoo. “Why didn’t you come forward before?” Starsha Corsair said “What were you waiting for?”
“For you Star….I needed you.”
Every Starship Since the Constitution Class had been launched one hundred years prior, which meant most Starships of the line….happened to have been constructed with a Secondary Bridge sometimes known as the Auxiliary Control Center. On the Enterprise it was known as the Battle Bridge. This is where Starsha Corsair found herself. She sat in the command chair looking at the monitor reviewing Flight Recorder Logs.
The doors to the Battle Bridge opened, revealing Spock. Starsha began to stand as Spock gestured to keep her seat.
“You may not want to be watching this, Admiral,” Starsha Corsair said.
Spock looked at the screen and raised an eyebrow.
“The destruction of Vulcan,” Spock said with interest while she replayed the same piece of video again and again.
“The flight recorder of Enterprise” Spock said.
“Yessir,” Starsha Corsair said. “I’m trying to find something that her view screen might have picked up, That might tend towards the credibility of some information I received.”
“This being the small robot you returned from Iscandar with?” Spock asked.
“He calls himself Artoo,” Starsha said, while having the computer stop the segment and rewind again.
“You don’t trust his information,” Spock said.
Starsha paused the visual and rubbed her eyes. She said, “He claims to be from the Corellian Galaxy during the Palpatine Dynasty.”
Spock raised an eyebrow.
“Indeed?” Spock said “Captain Kirk was quite an expert on the subject.”
“My father thought so,” Starsha Corsair said. “In fact, my father had almost memorized verbatim the texts he prepared.”
“Darth Hawk the assassin,” Spock said.
Something caught Starsha’s attention as she flew out of the chair and suddenly paused the visual.
“What do you see?” Spock asked.
“To the Left Right above Captain Sulu,” Starsha said “Computer cross reference section 33 by 272.”
As the image changed Spock raised an eyebrow.
“Fascinating!” they said in Unison.
********************************************************************************************************************
Like the last time when her niece thought she was in danger, Queen Starsha paced the main briefing room of the Enterprise.
“This is something her mother would have done.” Queen Starsha said angrily
“Then I’m glad she took her trait of good sense.” Alex said
“And making the servant drink the poisoned water?” Queen Starsha said angrily “That’s her father!”
“If she didn’t then I would have shoved it down her throat myself.” Alex said
“Actually I think she got it from an old Earth movie I had seen on Balan,” Vulgar said “You see this lady was a queen in some desert on Earth……..”
They both turned as the same time to tell him to be quiet when the briefing room doors opened as Nechayev, Spock, Riker, Alsarida, Selar and Troi all came in and took seats.
“Where is my neice?” Queen Starsha asked.
“She is introducing Artoo to Commander Data,” Troi said
“So who’s minding the store?” Alex Wildstar asked.
“My place is on Iscandar!” Queen Starsha exclaimed. “Therefore, I should be there.”
“An attempt was made to kill you by Lysis,” Spock said.
“Yes…by a Gamilon servant who had some infatuation with him,” Queen Starsha said.
“Doesn’t matter Ma’am.” Alsarida said “Until we get to the bottom of this we’re not going to let you go back and if you recall I warned you this might happen the last time you were brought up here.”
“You’re looking for a conspiracy where none exists!” Queen Starsha yelled banging her hands on the table. It was then that the briefing room doors opened. First, rolled in Artoo, followed by Spock then, Starsha Corsair…who was dressed in one of her Aunt’s dresses….looking almost identical to the Queen.
“What do you think you’re doing!?” Queen Starsha demanded.
“She is going to be you,” Vulgar said. “To draw out Lysis.”
“It’s not going to work,” Neacheav said “They’re identical in facial appearance only. Lysis could see through this as soon as you open your mouth or walk across the room! You two have different mannerisms and stances. And no offence….your Gargoyle features stand out, Miss Corsair.”
“The dress seems to hide that,” Alsarida said.
Starsha Corsair walked across the room in the silent graceful way that her aunt did.
“Thank you very much for your concern, Admiral,” Starsha Corsair said in Queen Starsha’s voice.
Rikers eyes went wide as he looked at Troi.
“I wont allow this!” Queen Starsha said. “The risk that you are taking is unacceptable! I’ve lost my only sister! I won’t lose my only niece!”
“She is my niece also,” Selar said. “Her basis is logically sound.”
“I agree.” Spock said “The Lieuteant’s logic is sound.”
“Besides, you guys have another niece,” Starsha Corsair said.
Selar raised an eyebrow while Queen Starsha stood up.
“ I will not tolerate you taking this….,” Starsha began.
“People are trying to kill you…this is what they do!” Starsha Corsair shouted now in her own voice. “I took liberties without asking, for that I’m sorry….but for me not to protect you….Are you out of your mind?”
Starsha Corsair sat down as Alex looked at Riker.
“What about the servant that tried to kill my wife?” Alex said.
“Dr Selar?” Riker said.
“The Gamilon servant was poisoned with pure Thereagin, which as you know, is a Klingon nerve agent. I tested the glass and the rim had the same elements,” Selar said.
“So…the water wasn’t poisoned…the glass was,” Alsarida said.
“Correct,” Selar replied.
“Could Theregin exist on Iscandar or Gamilon?” Troi asked.
“Before Balan was made into a major base, it was the headquarters for our chemical warfare division. I was in command of that base,” Vulgar said. “Once the decision was made to attack Earth using radiological methods the agents were destroyed. At any rate, the good Doctor showed me the chemical composition and our scientists couldn’t develop such an agent like that....”
“Dr Selar, I don’t have your report regarding Queen Starsha’s examination,” Riker said.
“I did not have a chance to consult with her,” Selar said.
“Is there a problem?” Riker said.
“With her having come into contact with the Theragin, the answer is no,” Selar said.
“You’re sounding like there is something else,” Queen Starsha said. “With everything else that is going on, I would rather you just tell me know than wait for a private consultation.”
“Your Majesty,” Selar began. “Perhaps it would be best if we consulted---“
“You’re Pregnant!” Starsha Corsair said looking at Selar with annoyance.
The room was silent with some clearing of throats as Alex’s eyes widened.
“Indeed.” Spock said again raising an eyebrow.
“I thought you said….. Starsha…you couldn’t…...”Alex muttered.
“Well obviously I was wrong!” Starsha muttered back.
“It is difficult for Iscandarians to conceive but at the frequency these two go at it, I wouldn’t be surprised if she produces a litter,” Vulgar said.
“Vulgar!” Alex shouted.
“Shut your door to the balcony then,” Vulgar said.
“Why are we having this conversation!?” Starsha Corsair blurted out gesturing to Troi “Now I’m going to have to go to therapy.”
Alsarida cleared her throat “So the question is where do we go from here?” she asked.
“You can have all of the briefings you want….Lysis is going to kill the Queen That’s it. That’s the Key for him…..We’ve gotta get Lysis!” Starsha Corsair snapped.
“I agree.” Alsarida said “This is the only solution that would have any success.”
“He made an attempt once trying to use an operative. It failed. Lysis knows that he can’t go that route again…….Meaning the next attempt will be on his own. But if we can make him believe that I am Queen Starsha……Then I’ll take him out.”
This is like that other Earth Movie I saw,” Vulgar said “I’m Clemenza, Alsarida is Sonny and the Princess is Michael….Only ….not really.”
“Are you done?” Queen Starsha said “This could get you killed Starsha, I won’t have it!”
“What’s the alternative?” Starsha said “He’s a Starfighter! He’ll eat the entire Security force of the Enterprise for lunch!”
“Have you ever even faced another Starfighter?” Troi asked.
“On the Holodeck I have,” Starsha Corsair said.
“On the Holodeck.” Troi responded “Your father wouldn’t even entertain this kind of thinking!”
“You want to call him!?” Starsha Corsair said.
“I have half a mind to,” Troi said “You don’t know even if the Information the Robot is giving you is accurate or how he came by it.”
“What are you talking about?” Alex said.
“You all know of Desslok’s pre-occupation with the Star Force and that they recently met in battle,” Artoo interjected.
“It is true,” Vulgar said. “Word has spread among my people of Colonel Corsair’s assault on a Gamilon Star carrier as told by its sole survivor. We are war weary, Captain Riker. We do not have the drive for another foolhardy campaign. Your Corsair has made certain to exploit that.”
“So what you’re saying is … by his sole attack on this carrier he’s leveled the playing field,”Alex said.
“And how many Gamilons died for this “Tactical advantage?’ Queen Starsha asked.
“1064,” Artoo said.
There were gasps in the room of disbelief as an angered Vulgar slammed his hand on the table.
“What do you think would have happened if there was a Gamilon uprising…..Why do you think Lysis came back here? By Vaught Corsair’s action against the Gamilons…they are fearful that if one man can inflict such damage what could an entire Starship compliment do?” Vulgar said.
“You agree with this, Admiral Spock?” Queen Starsha asked.
“The Gamilons attacked the Star Force first did they not?” Spock asked.
“By the Gamilons striking first, it left them open to whatever counterattack the Star Force wanted to use,” Alsarida said “You think Desslok would have learned the first time.”
“It all comes down to the Princess,” Vulgar said.
“Starsha,” Nechayev said. “You are about the same age when your father faced Lysis. If your father couldn’t beat him what makes you believe you’ll be successful?”
“I will guarantee you that my father walked into an ambush,” Starsha Corsair said “That’s how he operates! If he challenges you to what you think is a straight fight no doubt he has something up his sleeve.”
“You seem to be an expert on the matter of Lysis,” Troi said.
“I have my sources of information just as everyone else does,” Starsha Corsair said.
“This was the transmission you received from Corsair’s Technician?” Spock asked.
“Yes, sir!”
“I’m going with you,” Queen Starsha said.
“No,” Starsha Corsair said.
“Bullshit,” Queen Starsha said now mimicking Starsha Corsair’s Voice “If you can be me, then I can damn well be you!”
They all looked at Queen Starsha who blinked. “Did I just say all that?” she said in her usual voice.
Starsha Corsair stopped by her quarters for a few things. Mostly weapons. She packed them in a small case and proceded to leave her quarters….when the doors opened revealing Troi with a very angered look on her face.
“We need to talk!” Troi snapped.
“Your rendition of Demona fails to impress me,” Starsha Corsair said.
“And your rendition of your father is scaring us all,” Troi said.
“No…not this time, Counselor! No more Briefings, no more sessions, No more Lysis tricks!...You give them one message…I want Lysis….other than that it’s all out war!”
In an act not fitting to Troi’s personality she grabbed Starsha Corsair’s arm.
“The Gamilons won’t stand for all that Violence!” she shouted as Starsha Corsair spun around.
“Then, they’ll Hand Me Lysis!” Starsha Corsair roared at the top of her lungs.
Starsha Corsair got as close to Troi as if the much taller Starsha Corsair was going to hit her. She almost seemed out of character since she was looking so much like her aunt. However, Troi did not move.
“Your Father wouldn’t want to hear this, It’s a very sensitive politicial situation…it’s not personal business!” Troi shouted.
“He killed my mother and he’s trying to poison my aunt…that’s business your ass!” Starsha Corsair snapped and continued to walk as Troi again grabbed her arm
“You don’t walk away from a superior officer until you’re dismissed!” Troi scolded.
Starsha Corsair glared at her.
“Even the murder of your mother and the attempted murder of the Queen are political…and not personal, Starsha!” Troi asserted.
“Well then, the politics will have to suffer…” Starsha Corsair said finally in a softer voice. “Oh...and you can drop that tough girl act with me! You think you if slap a couple of Romulan officers around on their turf you think that puts you on the same combative level as me?! I read that report by the way. You told Starfleet you emulated my Great-Grandmother in creating the ruthlessness of Major Rakal and how it was so believed…..That comment broke her heart by the way! Where was the politics in that? Was it poliitcs that on your last leave with Captain Riker, when you were trapped in the hotel kitchen with operatives of the Tal Shiar trying to kill you over that Proconsul Meret Business? What was the political angle when you called my Father panic-stricken from that hotel kitchen where you were trapped with disruptor fire and he came down and rescued your ass? What do you think he was doing there?!” Starsha ranted.
Corsair then looked at Troi and said, “You know the man better than anyone! You were childhood friends! He hates Risa besides whom would he have gone there with? So do me a favor! No more advice on how to patch things up….Just help me win, please, all right?”
Troi released her grip on Starsha Corsair’s Arm. She stood there and watched her storm off.
“Let her go.” A monotone voice said through her communicator pin however she heard electronic blips and whistles behind her.
Troi turned to see the droid Artoo standing behind her.
“We’ve both seen that look before.” Artoo said. “And we both know what happens next.”
Deanna sighed heavenly as she turned back to see Starsha storming down the corridor
“Be somewhere else.”
********************************************************************************************************************
They arrived back on Iscandar. Queen Starsha and Starsha Corsair were playing their opposite roles, as one of the Gamilon handmaidens walked up to her.
Queen Starsha got between the two almost as Starsha Corsair would.
“What?” she said, imitating the gruffness of her niece’s voice.
Starsha Corsair gave her a look of confusion.
“I was just seeing if the Queen required anything,” the Handmaiden said.
“We’re good,” Queen Starsha said again doing her best to imitate her niece.
The handmaiden bowed and walked away.
“Are you kidding me?” Starsha Corsair whispered.
“Pretty good rendition if you ask me,” Alex said.
“Shut up,” Starsha Corsair said as they reached the Queen’s Chambers. As she immediately locked her arm In Alex’s, now imitating her Aunt’s voice, “Now you two have had too many boy’s nights out this week, so Alex will be staying in tonight,” Starsha Corsair said. “And don’t worry, Vulgar we’ll make sure the balcony door is closed.”
Queen Starsha’s eyes widened and she glared at her niece. Starsha Corsair pulled Alex into the chambers with her and closed the door…as Queen Starsha huffed.
“Vulgar, you’d better not be smiling,” Queen Starsha said through gritted teeth.
Alex sat down in a large chair
“I think we broke a commandment somewhere,” Alex said as Starsha sat behind a computer terminal
“Not tonight, dear…I have a headache,” Starsha Corsair said while scanning around the room. When she was satified that the room was secure she put the tricorder down.
“What’s your routine?”
“I’m not comfortable with this,” Alex said.
Starsha Corsair sighed “This isn’t my idea of having a good time either; believe me Lysis knows your routine…you need to stick with it if he is going to strike at the right moment.”
“I am not getting into that bed with you,” Alex said.
“Oh for Christ sakes…that’s NOT what I mean…but thank you for putting that thought into my head,” Starsha Corsair said. “Is there any time when you get out of the bed leaving her alone for a certain amount of time?”
“That’s all,” Alex said standing up. “We’re going to talk about other things.”
There was an uncomfortable silence as Starsha Corsair looked out the window for a moment, and then picked up a small picture in a wooden frame. It was one of Alex and Queen Starsha, and of his brother Derek and Nova.
“She took so much after her,” Starsha Corsair said.
“Who ?” Alex said
“My Sister Nova.”
“When I first saw you playing that organ, I thought you were her, Just as Starsha thought that she was Astra….I didn’t think you knew,” Alex said.
“Is that why you haven’t spoken to your father?” Alex said.
“Well I don’t blame him,” Starsha Corsair said. “And if I found out I had another child that was kept from me I’d do what he is doing. Namely, getting to know her and assessing the situation. From what I understand it was Nova who found out about it. Apparently, my father was wounded and she was looking for a suitable blood donor when the Inferno’s computer matched her as a DNA positive.”
“Was she your source of the Lysis information?” Alex asked.
Starsha Corsair just looked at him.
“Spock mentioned a technician that works for him.”
“Yes…my father’s tech on the Inferno. A guy named Royster…..He has to be some kind of whiz at computers because the information he got was right from a Gamilon command carrier.”
“Neville Royster?” Alex said “I know him! He updated the computers on board the Paladin. His best friend was Captain Avatar’s son. But, he’s a civilian… how did he wind up with the Star Force?”
“You seem to know more about him than I do.” Starsha Corsair said “All I got was a transmission with the packet data.”
********************************************************************************************************************
Lysis crept quietly through the corridors of the castle, with his light saber at his hip. He looked until he came upon the doors of Queen Starsha’s Chambers.
They were unlocked; as he pushed the doors open his feet did not make a sound as he moved silently up to Queen Starsha’s bed. There, she was fast asleep.
Lysis smiled slyly as he unclipped his light saber from his belt. He said nothing as he thrusted downward and activated the light saber in a single motion.
He could have sworn that he severed her head. However, the lights came on and to Lysis’s dismay there was no one in the bed. He quickly looked up and saw her standing there…..But there was something different about her she looked like the Queen, however. For one thing, her posture was all wrong. She did not stand like a woman of royalty…However she had the stance of a soldier. Lysis again smiled and leaned casually against the wall.
“Where is Queen Starsha?” Lysis asked.
“I am Queen Starsha.”
Lysis shook his head and tisked. “Very wrong, my dear Lieutenant Corsair.”
“Not as wrong as your coming back here!”
“Your father fell to me quickly when he was your age,” Lysis said. “Your mother…even faster”
“That combat division you sucker-punched them both with won’t be around this time,” Starsha Corsair said. As Starsha went to activate her light saber, Lysis moved quickly…flinging his light saber at her. The blade found its mark and obliterated her Light saber instantly. As she turned her face, the shrapnel from her light saber cut into her eye. . She doubled back and winced in pain but held the pain inward and focused. She knew her eye was gone and nothing could be done about that now. It was part of the risk that she took.
She heard her Aunt screaming her name as they both turned to see her trying to enter the room. However, Alsarida rushing into the room with a phaser drawn restrained her. Vulgar drew a laser pistol and began firing as Lysis deflected the bolts back to her hitting him in the leg. Alsarida grabbed Lysis and dragged him across the floor.
Starsha Corsair came from behind him and with all her strength tackled him to the ground. She moved quickly striking him as hard as she could, and knocking his light saber out of his hand.
Lysis being much stronger than her was able to push her off of him quickly. She fell into a glass table which shattered…the shards of glass cut into her face.
Lysis outreached his hand however Starsha Corsair again charged. Using her Marine hand to hand combat training, she was able to throw Lysis through a glass door and out onto the veranda.
Lysis, now enraged, countered…striking Starsha Corsair several times in the mid section. She felt the air leave her lungs as she stumbled backwards, and she felt her nose break as Lysis countered again with a punch to her face. He struck her three more times as her body went limp, he threw her to the ground.
Queen Starsha watched in horror as her niece got back up again. Lysis turned around in amazement.
“Sister,” a voice boomed in her head.
She looked up and saw a silhouette of Astra beckoning towards her. She looked at Alex who was tending to Vulgar’s leg.
She followed the apparition.
“You cannot defeat me,” Lysis said as he began another onslaught.
“The Stronger Swordsman is always the Victor,” she remembered Nokkar telling her.
Her Father’s voice now boomed in her head, “Speed of hand….Speed of Mind.”
Then she remembered an exercise that her father taught her as a child. He would turn on an outside shower head just to a trickle and would make Starsha move her hands through the droplets of water without the water touching her hands.
Lysis proved her teacher and her father right. He was overpowering her; and her mistake was try to match his strength…But could he match her speed? She started dodging him again left to right almost as if it was a dance step, she evaded every blow that Lysis was giving. However, Lysis discovered quickly what her tactics were and using the Force, he threw a heavy ceramic vase from the bedroom hitting her in the back of her head. As she stumbled, Lysis swiped his leg, knocking out hers as she fell to the ground unable to move.
Lysis walked over and picked up his light saber then walked over to Starsha Corsair….picking her up by her hair. As he did, she remembered the teachings of her Great-Grandmother.
“And if all else fails…..If you’re fighting a man go for the million dollar shot……Just DON’T miss!”
With all of her might, Corsair kicked Lysis in the groin….as he stumbled and fell backwards dropping her.
“Star!” Queen Starha shouted. As she looked up, her Aunt slid something to her on the marble floor.
A light saber.
She picked up the weapon, and noticed that it was a dual blade like her father’s….In fact it was her father’s, as his name was enscribed on it
Sergeant Vaught Corsair Starfleet Marines expeditionary force.
She heard Lysis activating his Light Saber. He was walking over to her…she could hear him speaking but she was not listening to his words. As though this was the final blow, Starsha Corsair activated both blades on the light saber, blocking his move and in a sweeping motion, she cut the side of his face.
She smirked as he gritted his teeth and growled in anger.
She knew how her father’s light saber worked, as she twisted the weapon thus making it into two light sabers. It was now her turn to go on the attack. She growled and Lysis saw her fangs clearly visible. Using the Force, the same vase that struck her now flew into Lysis’s groin again as she charged and struck. Lysis blocked her move again. There was a hiss, and a snap, and the blades of the light sabers glowed almost as one as each moved with tremendous speed blocking the other’s moves. Starsha Corsair could sense Lysis’s growing anger. Where she in fact caught her own anger. As the two exchanged parries and advances, Starsha Corsair remembered Nokkar’s teachings and her father’s…Of being patient, waiting, and taking the pain.
Starsha Remembering her Aunt Selar’s Vulcan Teachings clearing her mind, It was just her and Lysis…there was nothing else that mattered.
One of the things she began to concentrate on using the Force was something that her father had mastered quite well and passed on to her….and that was the art of throwing themselves out of time sync. It required total focus, and even then, it could only be obtained for only a few seconds. As she concentrated, to her Lysis appeared to move slower. It was there that she took advantage.
She flipped over Lysis and in mid air, she stuck the two Lightsabers into Lysis’s shoulder blades. His arms remained intact…however no force in the universe would ever move them again.
Lysis grunted in pain as he clamored to stand and regain the use of his arms. Starsha Corsair shut the light sabers off and reattached them to make one unit. She slowly walked over to Lysis, and placed him in a choke hold with one hand and as he fought and struggled and gasped for air , shetook the hilt of her light saber and keeping it off rammed it into his side.
“You were waiting there for her…..then you dragged her outside into the thin Martian atmosphere and let her suffocate there in the carbon dioxide.”
Lysis tried to speak … however Starsha held her grip on so tight the words just came out as gasps for life.
“Is that what she did?” Starsha Corsair roared, with her fangs in full view, “Trying to speak…trying to plead for her life as her lungs exploded?!”
In a final attempt to break free Lysis, kicked as hard as he could, with his boots slipping and sliding across the floor as Starsha Corsair now used two hands to tighten the belt. Until the grotesque sound of his throat snapping followed by a final gurgle came, along with the all too well known death rattle.
Thunder crashed all around her as the rain started to fall. Starsha Corsair panted heavily as she still held a tight grip on the belt around Lysis’s neck. There came Federation Security walking with their weapons drawn. She heard nothing…just the rain hitting the marble tile on the veranda. Not even Riker’s commands to release her grip on Lysis. Troi walked towards her. Slowly approaching. Starsha could feel her bravery but also sensed her fear. She could sense all their fear.
“He didn’t want me to be like him…..I am just like him,” Starsha Corsair said looking at Troi.
“What would he say if he were here Commander?” She roared to Troi “What would he do if he were standing where you were….Come on Rakal! You’re the big expert…”
Alsarida drew her weapon on Starsha Corsair.
“Starsha, stand down,” Alsarida said.
Troi, knowing full well that it might mean a light saber in her chest came towards Starsha Cordsair. She mustered all her will and with the sternest of looks, Troi waved at Alsarida to put her phaser down and walked over to Starsha Corsair.
“What would your father say?” Troi snarled. “Stand down, then calm down first of all!...secondly stop calling me…that I’m not your enemy…I never was!”
“You let my father down…..,” Starsha Corsair said. “When he needed you the most you weren’t there…..But he was there for you …..All of you…..and don’t tell me you’re innocent,” Corsair said, (while activating her light saber), “Because today I settle all business!”
“Oh my God,” Alsarida said.
Alsarida was yelling at Starsha Corsair to stand down and Riker was yelling at Troi to get away from her , while the Starfleet Security Forces drew their weapons.
“Don’t fire,” Queen Starsha said as she walked towards her niece.
“Enough!” Came a voice from the shadows….It was Spock.
As he walked into view, he gestured at the Starfleet security forces to back away. Nechayev stood next to Spock.
“You can stop this,” Riker said to Nechayev.
“Can I?” Nechayev said Looking at Queen Starsha.
Queen Starsha approached slowly…“Starsha…You’ve come so far so quickly….You’re angry…..and with good reason…..”
“Everyone sat by and did nothing!” Starsha Corsair said with a broken voice. “It didn’t take them long to piece together who killed her!”
“I caused her death too,” Queen Starsha said “I let her go.”
The Last person to enter the Chaotic scene was Selar, Who acted like nothing was out of the ordinary as she excused herself past Queen Starsha. Then, she began to scan the area of Starsha Corsair’s eye than glanced down at Lysis than back to Starsha Corsair.
“The damage to your optic nerve isn’t permanent,” Selar said. “Lysis is dead, by the way.”
“You state the obvious,” Starsha Corsair said.
Selar continued to scan her eye, “Therefore it is just as obvious to state that it is illogical to maintain a death grip on an already deceased person, while holding an active light saber in your hand with no one to fight.”
Starsha glared at Selar. Then, she released Lysis and deactivated her Lightsaber. There were sighs of relief as she dropped to her knees exhausted as Selar continued to scan her eye. “You are your father’s daughter,” Selar said
“I need Artoo,” Starsha Corsair said.
TO BE CONTINUED….