Legend Of The Grand Mechapolis Ch. 22

THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

STAR BLAZERS/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter TWENTY-TWO: A Strange Journey Continues…

Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Margaret Diviney, Michelle Nutter-Lynd, Steven Diviney and Andrea Lyon for Advice and inspiration.

The Character of Gatlantean High Priest “Var” appears with the permission of “Bells of Nevermore”

I. PURSUIT…

The Vicinity of Planet Venlafa

Monday, March 28, 2236

From the Captain’s Log of Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar: Commander Pro Tem of the Commonwealth Space Battleship North Carolina

Three weeks ago today, we were at a funeral.

Now, here I sit, back in the Sea of Stars, in the Captain’s Chair of the North Carolina; Nova’s old command, now mine. Nova herself is aboard at the helm as XO.

This ship is different. It feels different, it smells different. I do not like her as much as the Yamato, but right now, beggars cannot be choosers.

I am leading a fleet of two hundred Commonwealth vessels and a hundred Gatlantean vessels near Venlafa. The reason why our force is so heavily armed is that Zordar, Var, and Nova have reported to me that a large Mechanoid Fleet is on its way in to capture this world.

I’m not about to allow them to do that.

Neither is Nova. She is currently as angry as a hornet.

Teresa is traveling with us, beside Var, as a passenger. Since their wedding is still due to take place on Saturday, no one objects, not even Emperor Zordar, who is also traveling with us.

Zordar, remarkably, has a fair measure of confidence in me. He has said little and has mocked me little on this dark cruise. He is, at the very least, staying out of my way and letting me work.

And, now, once again, a heavy weight rests on my shoulders. So many people have confidence in me; Var, Desslok and Starsha, who have sent good wishes but who are involved in fighting enemy forces near Iscandar; our daughter Ariel has confidence in me as a new Medical Resident and ship’s doctor; Teresa has confidence in me, and Nova believes in me, along with Zordar.

If it were not for Nova’s confidence in me, I doubt I could do this. More fighting. I am tired; Oh, my God, I am so tired…

How can I fight on? Is this ever going to end?

“Warp completed,” said Nova from her post at the North Carolina’s helm. “The Fleet is on station behind us as planned. Yamashiro is directly on our stern on guard, Skipper.”

“No enemy contacts spotted yet, sir,” said Sasha from the radar.

“No contacts from the Gatlanteans, either, sir,” said Lieutenant Aaron Glitchman, Homer and Wendy’s son, from his post.

“I don’t like the feel of this,” Derek sighed.

“Neither do I,” Nova said from her post.

“Absolutely none of this feels right,” said Commander Ken Narashal, a Pellian with longish hair in a red and white uniform. He vaguely reminded Nova of a younger version of Derek, complete with the same attitude.

The doors whizzed open, and Emperor Zordar came out and leaned against Wildstar’s Captain’s Station.

“We don’t have contact yet,” he said baldly.

“Majesty, we do not,” said Wildstar.

“I know I’m not alone in this sensation, but be wary. I think the enemy has a trap waiting for us. They’re just as treacherous as you were near Terra thirty-five years ago, boy.”

“Actually, I will accept that as a compliment, Your Majesty. Even though they have less reason for their actions than I ever did.”

“For once, I will grant you that,” said Zordar. “Interesting look in your eyes. It is tough. Hard. Nova, this man is maturing.”

“Thank you, Majesty, for the observation,” said Nova. “But bear in mind that if we do not keep our minds on our work…they could trap us any minute.”

“Such courtesy, Madam,” said Zordar. “I will accept that as a courteous request to get in the name of Hell off your bridge. Your daughter Teresa is rather scared. I can feel it from here. I had better assist Var in calming her.”

“Thank you, Zordar,” Derek said with an edge in his voice. “Kindly assist Var in serving her some tea, please.”

“I shall, Wildstar. Worried father, perhaps? I never thought I would have this in common with you…being a worried parent. Best wishes and advise me if you require my assistance. BOY.”

Zordar smiled mockingly at Wildstar and left.

“Damn, I wish that guy wouldn’t walk around my flagship as if he owns the place,” Derek muttered.

“He means well, but he sends shivers up my back, too,” Nova said. “And I never thought I’d be saying that about Zordar!”

“I have a radar contact!” said Sasha from her post. “I count one hundred battleships, sixty cruisers, fifty destroyers; coming straight towards us! They just warped in! Range, twelve megameters, heading, TJ-25!”

“About ninety degrees port; flank that fleet!” Derek said. “Open all guns!”

“Flanking enemy fleet at ninety port, Captain,” Nova said from her post as North Carolina turned and the rest of the fleet followed the lead of the flagship.

Below their ecliptic, the Gatlanteans swung about and got “under” the enemy, attacking with missiles and shock cannons.

The Gatlantean flagship, the Megaluda, under the command of General Goran “Thunder” Dagram, quickly fired its Magna-Flame Cannon into a wing of the enemy fleet. The left wing of the enemy fleet was soon both decimated and scattered as Goran laughed with relish as he warped another blast into the enemy ranks.

“Good man, that Goran,” said Zordar. “Wildstar, are you going to twiddle your thumbs, or take action?”

“We’re preparing a barrage now!” Derek snapped.

“Nice job from our allies, sir,” said Narashal. “I have our guns locked on target…we’ve got their “T” crossed.”

“Open fire at will!” Derek snapped.

“Aye, aye, opening fire,” said Narashal.

The North Carolina’s main guns spoke, followed by the nearby guns of Yamashiro, King George III, High Queen Carina, Pelanda, Crystal Throne, and New Jersey.

“Our fire was right on target!” said Narashal. “Eight enemy warships brought down.”

“The Gatlanteans have destroyed five more enemy vessels,” said Sasha from her post as she brought up an image of a Shaperon-class antimatter missile ship firing its weapons.

“Ready, sir, for a second barrage,” said Narashal from his post.

“Sir, the Mercedes reports major hits to her wave motion engine,” said Aaron from his post. “They are abandoning ship!”

Below them, a Gatlantean Kukulan-class destroyer, the Varada, was blown apart. North Carolina shook from the impact.

“We’ve taken damage, sir!” said Diane Sandor from her post at Technical. “Two keel thrusters are out!”

“Get repair crews below on the double,” Derek ordered. “First Squadron, hard about, face the enemy,” Derek said. “Then stop all engines.”

“Wave motion gun?” Nova said. “Is that wise, Derek? I can see from here we have a power drop!”

“I want to get that forward squadron before we take more damage. Mister Sandoval,” Derek said to the ship’s engineer. “Give us all the power you have!”

“Sir, stopping all engines,” said Sandoval.

“I’m crossing power settings here like a Christmas Tree,” said Diane from her post. “I think she’ll hold together.”

“Energy level eighty percent,” said Sandoval.

“We should have full power in one minute,” said Narashal. “Open target scope!”

The target scope came up.

Sasha said, “We’re being flanked by King George III, High Queen Carina, New Jersey, and the cruisers Yahagi, Newport, Rio Grande, Danube, Prince Alexander, and Lady Talisha.”

“Holding course,” Nova said. “Helm responding well.”

“Thirty seconds to firing; prepare anti-flash and anti-shock measures,” barked Wildstar.

“Goggles ready, sir,” said Narashal as he pulled on his goggles, followed by Diane, Aaron, Nova, Sasha, and the others.

“Enemy fire coming in!” barked Sasha from her post.

The New Jersey was hit.

“Sir, Captain Leslie reports major damage to New Jersey; he has to leave the firing line!” said Aaron.

“Steady as she goes…begin ten-second countdown!” Derek ordered.

Narashal made the countdown, and then he and the remaining vessels on line fired.

Several blasts of wave motion energy roared into the midst of the Mechanoid Fleet.

A vast explosion began to spread throughout the enemy fleet.

“Sir!” Sasha said. “The enemy fleet is running!”

“Confirmed by the Gatlanteans, sir!” said Aaron.

Giel Parkus, a Rahlken at the battle radar station, stood up and cheered.

The bridge of the North Carolina was filled with applause as Zordar, Var, and a shaking Teresa came up onto the bridge.

“We won!” laughed Var as he danced around in a circle with Teresa.

“Son, kindly mind your manners?” growled Zordar, who came right up to Wildstar and glared at him.

“Yes?” Derek said.

“I must give credit, young man, where credit is due,” Zordar said as he squeezed Derek’s hand so hard that he nearly broke two fingers. “You and your group did well, along with my warriors,” said Zordar. “However, do not mistake me. I would not sit down for tea with you, and I shall continue to eat your raw chicken wings. No matter WHAT Her Majesty says,” he said as he smiled at Nova. “Now, with this done, I shall leave it to you to find your missing compatriots. I…cannot be bothered.”

“I understand, Majesty,” said Derek.

“Don’t mind him, he really likes you!” blurted Var.

“Var, are you having delusions?” growled Zordar as Teresa giggled. Teresa then looked at Zordar and said, “Can I give you a kiss?”

“No,” Zordar said. “Please. I fancy you, but not THAT much!”

Zordar mock-saluted the group and stalked off.

Maetel got off the Three-Nine at Venlafa Station. The first thing she did was checked into a hotel; that was the easy step; she checked into the same hotel that she had been a guest at a few weeks ago.

She picked up a phone and reached Room Service.

“What would you like, madam?” said the voice on the other end.

“Lamb chops, please, with a bowl of clam chowder. And please send up a large bottle of sparkling water.”

“Of course.”

Maetel doffed her hat and opened her dress since the hotel room was close and rather hot. She closed the curtains in the high-rise room, barely glancing at the city below, and she turned up the air conditioning.

This is the life you condemned yourself to; endless travel, she thought to herself as she was near sleep. And, bringing boys to fight for you for their dreams. However, she could not fall asleep since questions and fears of all kinds ran through her head.

Maetel then flicked on the local news on the video screen. “Our major news story this evening,” said the announcer, “Is the battle over this planet in which the Mechanoids were driven back. As you can see from this footage, a large Commonwealth Fleet, led by the Terran Space Battleship North Carolina, was flagship of the Commonwealth Fleet, while the Gatlantean Space Battleship Megaluda, an uprated Megalusa-class space battleship, was flagship of the Gatlantean Fleet. This is a clip of a press conference from after the battle….”

Maetel watched as Nova sat at a table on the North Carolina, with Admiral Wildstar at her right, and Emperor Zordar at her left. All of them were in dress uniform.

Nova said, “Today, we defended Venlafa by attacking and destroying a Mechanoid force of four hundred space warships.”

“The enemy used some tactics that even I consider dishonorable,” Zordar said. “Fortunately, my forces and the forces led by Lord Admiral Wildstar and the High Queen were able to overcome those tactics and achieve a great victory.”

“We have heard from the Venlafan President, who is seeking to join the Commonwealth,” Nova continued on the screen on the pre-recorded broadcast. “We anticipate meeting the President shortly.”

“In the meantime, our forces will remain in orbit along with the Gatlanteans to guard against another attack,” Lord Admiral Wildstar said.

“Ah, the silent one can speak,” Zordar said with a twisted smile.

“He certainly can,” Nova said, glaring back at Zordar, albeit with a smile. The announcer went on to discuss other parts of the impending summit meeting between the local President and the two interstellar leaders.

Maetel heard a knock at the door. “Room Service,” said a grating voice.

This doesn’t feel right, Maetel thought as she stood near the door, having pulled out her whip.

Maetel opened the door, and a dark form entered the room. The being looked like a shadow with gleaming yellow eyes. He wore a fedora and a black trench coat. He swung a blackjack at Maetel as soon as he saw her, but Maetel leaped back and hit him with her metal whip. The being groaned and pulled out a hand blaster.

Maetel caught his wrist with her whip and kicked him, dislodging his weapon. She caught it, and pointed it at him. “Who and what are you?” she demanded.

“I serve Our Queen Promethium. I am called a Malenka. I am a perfect creation of the Queen’s. You will surrender.”

“Like hell I will,” said Maetel. “Where are the individuals known as Teresa Forrester-Hemsford and Kanae Hoshino?”

“I know the answer to your question, you inhuman thing,” hissed the Malenka. “However, I see no reason to share said intelligence with you. Are you not our Queen’s daughter? And are you not a traitor? I have my orders. Traitors like you must die!” Artwork: “Fatigues” by DevilmanAkira666.

“I find this a rather interesting challenge,” Maetel said with a dark smile as she pointed the blaster she had confiscated from the creature and began to back out of the room into the corridor to make her escape.

The Malenka raised his hand, and another being like him appeared next to Maetel and grabbed her arm.

She cried out with her arm pinned by this monster.

A third being like him appeared from nowhere on the bed. Howling like a demon, he produced a baseball bat with maybe fifty nails driven into it, and he ran towards Maetel, meaning to smash her head in.

Maetel fired, hitting the being, who only became angrier.

However, there was a flash of light from behind, and a fifth figure joined the battle, firing a blaster at the demonic creature’s head. It exploded, and a grotesque mixture of flesh, brains, circuits, wires, and gears flew across the room and landed on the bed.

An angry, self-assured female voice then snapped, “As you can see, Miss Maetel has reinforcements! This hotel is surrounded! Do you want to play any more games with the two of us, and my friends?”

Maetel looked through the smoke, and standing there holding a rifle was a figure wearing a battered green fatigue jacket over a gold and black female Star Force uniform.

Maetel had never been so glad to see Nova Wildstar in her life.

“You are the enemy,” hissed one of the Malenka. “You shall be executed along with your traitor friend for your arrogance, woman!”

“Oh, shall we?” Nova said. She sounded lighthearted, even though Derek and Zordar, who were out in the corridor, felt her fear in her mind.

Nova silently prayed and said, “If there’s anyone you want, it’s me. Leave Princess Maetel alone. Come and get me, you freaks!”

“She called us freaks,” said one of the Malenka.

“Yes, she called us freaks,” said the other. “Let’s break the little blond whore’s neck.”

“Good that you stress little,” said the other being. “This so-called High Queen is a little shrimp.”

They laughed as Nova began to set down her rifle, pretending to surrender with her hands up.

Until, that is, she opened a breast pocket on her green jacket and whipped out a pair of shuriken. As fast as lightning, she jumped up onto the bed and whipped the throwing stars at the nearest Malenka.

The being’s face was shredded and he was distracted, which gave Maetel an opening to blow his head apart with her blaster.

The third Malenka began to run, but he ran into a young man in a blue and gold uniform carrying a tray on a cart. “Uhhhh…Room Service!”

“I will give you Room Service!” yelled the Malenka as he took the hemispherical cover off the tray and smashed the hapless hotel employee in the face with it.

Immediately, another man behind him and the Malenka grabbed the tray, howled, and smashed the Malenka in the head.

Stunned, the Malenka tried to attack the young-looking man…with a lamb chop!

However, Nova jumped up on a chair, picked up her rifle, and exploded the being’s head with one shot.

He fell dead in the corridor, and the young-looking man yelled, “Nova, be careful with that thing! You nearly took my nose off!”

“Derek, be thankful you’re alive. Bring in that food and lock the door before Zordar smells it. He’ll eat everything. Mind if we share your dinner, Maetel?” Nova said.

“Not at all,” she replied with a smile as Derek Wildstar, also wearing a green fatigue jacket over his white and red Star Force uniform, pushed the cart in just as the hapless hotel employee woke up.

“Hey…do I get a tip?” he stammered.

Derek snorted and shoved a Commonwealth gold coin into his hand. “Here’s twenty. Get your cleaning people up here. After we all finish eating, we’re going to check out.”

“How…how?”

Maetel closed her dress and kicked the window open with a booted foot. “We’re up four floors. The bedsheets should allow us to make a rope.”

“Good,” Nova said as she both ate a lamb chop and began to tie a bedsheet to a leg on the built-in desk. “I take it we can climb and run out the alley after we eat?”

“This is slightly irregular,” said Maetel as she ate some of the clam chowder and then handed the bowl to Derek.

“I am not about to trust the local police…I have a bad feeling about them!” Derek snapped. “There could be five more of those cyborg things in the lobby, and I don’t want anyone knowing where we’re going…even Zordar.”

“Good call,” Nova said. “Maetel, Derek…dig in!”

“Well, this means we have to eat awfully fast,” Maetel said as she attacked a lamb chop while Nova ate some of the mashed potatoes and broccoli.

“When you’re in the military, you learn to eat and run pretty fast,” Derek snorted. “Nova, are you done with those bedsheets?”

“Almost,” she said as she ate with one hand and tied bedsheets with the other. “We can check out in a minute.”

“Who’s going to pay for the food?” Derek said.

Maetel threw a few gold coins on the end table. “The Galaxy Express Corporation.”

Then, a voice outside yelled, “THIS IS THE POLICE! OPEN UP!”

“Our cue to leave,” said Derek as he helped Nova tie more bedsheets.

They climbed out the window and down their improvised rope right as the door to the room blew open and Mechanoid police ran into the room.

They found it empty.

“Uh, do you guys want any sparkling water?” said the shaking room service clerk.

“If we want anything, we want your soul, boy!” barked one of the police.

“Ignore him! Get those killers and maniacs!” said another policeman. “They killed some of the Queen’s best!”

“Faust will not be happy when he hears of this,” said the third metallic policeman.

Far away, on Planet Defuel, Queen Promethium said, “Faust, you are telling me we suffered a great loss at Venlafa?”

“Yes, Your Majesty,” said Faust. “Admiral Pangratz, one of my greatest strategists, just barely managed to run from a Commonwealth and Gatlantean Fleet in orbit over the planet. He is alive with ten ships, but…”

“He won’t be alive much longer when I see him,” said Promethium. “Did you succeed in trapping and eliminating Maetel and the High Queen?”

“Our Malenka almost…almost had Maetel cornered,” said Faust. “However, both accursed Wildstars showed up and worked together, as is their wont, to defeat our Malenka and evade the Special Police we sent after bribing the President. Maetel and the Wildstars evaded them and got out of the city, and Emperor Zordar aided them by literally smashing some of our Police agents. I believe the four of them, that is, your daughter, the half-breed Terran-Pellians, and the Gatlantean maniac have taken to open country. It looks as if they are still searching after the bait I left for them; namely, the High Queen’s mother and my pregnant wife, Kanae Hoshino.”

“Good! Let them search, and entrap the four of them. I want you to capture your wife and put her in cryo-freeze, only because I want the child, your son, and the grandchild of the Wildstars, to live…for my purposes when the time is right. Of course, Kanae is expendable after she is revived when the time is right and gives birth to her little brat. Would you like to name him?”

Faust smiled and said, “I will name my son Tetsuro when he emerges. The child of iron. A son…after my own heart.”

“Tetsuro,” said Promethium with a smile. “An appropriate name, and I foresee that he will be a great, great ally. Of course, he must be raised properly…”

“Yes…”

Editor’s Note: This is Taken from Nova Wildstar’s First-Person account of a search for cyborg terrorists and their victims in the Pashrana Mountains, West of the Capital City of Ettinger, on Venlafa. Nova writes in the first person, referring to herself as “I” and to Derek (and sometimes the rest of her Ranger Party) as “we”, for clarification.

I was unable to personally attend the funerals of some of the victims of the Allentown Massacre, as I had by all rights intended, since Derek and our Ralkhen sensei Miarahl guessed that preparations were being made for another raid, either upon Terra or Pellias.

It turns out it was here on Venlafa. Twenty-four hours ago, we defeated their fleet in orbit.

Now, I am here in a Jeep that we…appropriated…with Derek, Maetel, and Emperor Zordar.

Derek is driving now. I like driving Jeeps, and I don’t even have a problem with a manual transmission, but Maetel has a problem working the clutch, and Zordar has the opposite problem; he manhandles the shift lever into position. We may have to abandon this vehicle in a while if His Majesty wrecks the gearbox!

This is not a pleasant drive, so far.

Zordar is smacking Derek in the head and yelling at him, “Drive faster, boy! Don’t you know how to drive?”

“You want me to break a damn axle, Zordar? There’s only so fast you can go on this terrain, sir.”

“I’m getting carsick,” Maetel said behind me.

“We have the top down,” I said. “Stop whining and if you need to hurl, please hurl.”

“I might just do that, Nova,” snapped Maetel.

“Don’t hurl on me, please, please, please!” I said.

“Nova, you sound mad,” said Derek.

I replied, “Derek, I’m having cramps.”

“What kind of cramps?”

“You’ve been married to me for thirty-six years, you figure it the hell out,” I snapped.

“You people stop bickering,” Zordar snapped.

“I’d stop bickering if you’d stop hitting me,” Derek said.

“Derek, stop this,” I said. “We’ll put a stop to this now. You give me the wheel.”

I saw Derek shrugging and stopping. We switched places.

“Why are you not letting me drive?” Derek whined.

“You stink at it,” I said. “Zordar. If you hit my shoulder again, I will put my left foot down your throat. And I will put it in so far I will need a medkit to extract it surgically.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Zordar said.

“Try me,” I said in the sweetest voice I could muster. I have a fault. Pull my chain enough, and I lose my damn temper too.

“Don’t try her,” Derek said. “I have been putting up with her…cramps…for thirty-six years.”

“I have over a thousand years’ worth of experience in dealing with females,” Zordar said. “For once, Wildstar, I shall accept your damned advice.”

Then, Maetel threw up.

“Gaaaaah!” yelled Derek. “What the hell did you eat?”

“The same Room Service crap you ate a day ago in that hotel,” Maetel said.

“My God, it was easier driving around with the kids when they were small,” I said.

“They were more polite,” Derek said.

I nodded, put my head against the dashboard, and groaned.

One needed to subtract approximately five hours’ worth of bickering, Jeep bumping around, my cramps, and Maetel hurling two more times to get us where we ended up in camp in a hollow near a small river where we built a fire and set a watch.

The river went over a waterfall ninety meters away from us to the local north, and there was a flat spot downstream where Zordar, Derek and I dug a small slit trench fed by a bit of the river that efficiently washed wastes downstream and also cleaned one’s nether regions like a fine, albeit cold, bidet. We also dug three foxholes; a large one for Zordar, a smaller one for Maetel, and a slightly larger one for Derek and I to share, for safety and bodily warmth, mind you. Romance was not on our minds at the moment, especially in mixed company.

Maetel was sent out to gather nuts and fruits in her hat and keep watch nearby while Zordar, Derek and I stalked the major portion of our dinner for that night, a nice, large boar we had spotted. The three of us knew something about hunting, slaughtering, and butchering wild boar, a subject about which Maetel was utterly hopeless, since she had no woodcraft what-so-ever.

Zordar spitted him with a large sharpened branch that drove him to the ground. Derek shot him in the head to stun him, and I used a combat knife to render the coup de’ grace by slitting the beast’s throat.

“Well, at least you killed him Kosher-style,” Derek said with a grin.

“Look at this. The boy actually knows how to hunt…somewhat,” Zordar said.

“He does” he said as I levitated the beastie a bit to help drain the blood until Derek and Zordar got him hanging up by one leg from a tree at the end of a rope. The nasty work of skinning and butchering Mister Boar followed in due course; both Derek and I worked at it until the skin and guts were cast aside and we began to cut him into sides of pig.

Maetel came back. She watched what we were doing, and she…vomited again.

“What you folks are doing is…is…gruesome!” she cried.

“It’s necessary if we want to eat uncontaminated meat,” Derek said. “More for the guts pile…I…Zordar! Are you eating that?”

“I damned well am,” Zordar said.

“I was going to bury that!” I cried.

“Why in the name of all things holy would you morons waste meat?” Zordar said. “This crap is perfectly edible. I spent my childhood as a Zemurian slave long ago eating this meat. They threw us…whatever to eat.”

“Maetel, turn your head if you don’t want to look. I’m going to smoke some bacon in a while,” I said.

“I’ll go on watch,” Maetel said.

“How do we cook the bacon?” Derek said.

“Fry it in the morning after we smoke it,” I said.

“Pork belly…yum,” Derek said. “I love the way you make it.”

“Thanks,” I said with a blush.

“When do I get my raw side?” Zordar said.

“Soon,” I replied.

Some time passed. With some of the veggies and wild potatoes we found, we made a nice pork stew in a folding pan I had in my pack. The three of us who enjoyed cooked food liked it, even Maetel.

Zordar, of course, didn’t care whether it was cooked or not. But he was smiling.

We went to sleep for a while as Zordar went on watch.

Morning came. I was awake on watch, keeping myself awake by eating instant coffee from an MRE pack, a nice method for staying awake when one has to stay awake. I used to do it all the time aboard Yamato.

While I stood there looking out at the sunrise, I felt a terrible feeling of cold.

“This is not natural,” I said.

Then, I heard a voice. “High Queen…High Queen…” it whispered in my mind.

“Who is this?” I demanded out loud.

A cloud appeared, and it began to coalesce near me.

A moment later, standing not two meters away from me stood Queen Promethium, who had burning pink eyes but otherwise looked young.

I felt an aura of death and cold from her. I immediately thought of the Psalm: “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day…” Then, I spoke, “I note you appear before me in a pleasing form, La Andromeda Promethium,” I said. “Or, should that be Yayoi Yukino?”

“I am both and neither,” she said. “Just as you are variously known as Nova Wildstar and Nova Wildstar.”

“True. Before I raise the alarm and call my friends and loved ones,” I snapped. “Tell me why you are here.”

“Your daughter Starsha and I just had a very interesting talk. She and Leader Desslok are at odds again. Maybe they can solve their problems, maybe not. The future is hard to see, my young Queen. You of all should know that, you little tomboy in your gold tights and dirty green jacket. Tell me. Do you still like to climb trees and play with worms?”

I replied, “Your comments on my attire and preferences are quite immaterial and irrelevant. In most of the future timelines I behold, you have a rather dark end. As you are here…why don’t we settle our differences now? Mano e’ mano?”

Promethium laughed. “Oh, you have learned so much from your idiot husband. So much. Surely you can tell the difference, Nova, between my true form and a wraith-projection. Swing at me all you like. I am but an image. Your stupid weapons would go through me, and I am too far away to touch minds with you or to be affected by your songs. I must admit that my own songs cannot harm you or yours at this distance. What are you doing here?”

“If you think I am about to tell you that, you are quite mistaken,” I said. “I can sense something about you, though. You feel…lost. Longing for your past. Tell me. Do you still like ramen soup? And do you still like to ride a bicycle, my dear ramen delivery person?”

“That was a long time ago for me on your misbegotten world,” Promethium snapped. “A long-lost time ago, in a forgotten age where you did not even yet exist, woman.”

“What a shame you remember your past with such bitterness,” I said. “I used to ride a bicycle in pink with a banana seat, Majesty. I wish at times I still had it.”

“You live in nostalgia, pizza, and fairy tales,” hissed Promethium. “Enjoy them. For I will tell you this. You shall have an endless number of traps of mine to endure. You shall either give up in despair or live to be stabbed in the back by one you love.”

“And who is that?” I snapped.

“If you think I am about to tell you that, you are quite mistaken,” Promethium said. Then, she turned to vapors and vanished.

I stood gritting my teeth for a long time.

Then, I went to awaken and warn the others.

(First-person journal entries end here….)

Nova woke the others up.

Derek and Maetel awoke readily.

Zordar took some convincing, but he finally awoke.

“I hear cries in the distance,” he said.

“Where?” said Maetel.

“To the northeast?” Nova said.

Zordar nodded once.

“We can’t use the Jeep; it would be overheard,” Zordar said.

“I feel a number of presences two kilometers away,” Nova commented after shutting her eyes. “I believe I should teleport us there…”

“Good idea,” agreed Derek.

“We would need to join hands,” Zordar said. He grabbed Maetel’s hand and she nodded. Nova joined hands with Zordar, and Derek joined hands with her.

Nova shut her eyes and nodded once.

They found themselves on a hilltop.

Nova’s mouth fell open when she saw her mother tied to a tree, with her blouse and skirt in tatters.

Faust was there, with three Malenkas and five ordinary cyborgs.

Faust nodded, and Derek snarled, gritting his teeth, when he saw a second woman with blond hair tied to another tree. Her clothing was bloody, and it soon became worse as a Malenka lashed the bound captive with a whip.

Zordar quietly unholstered a large hand-blaster, and he lined up a bead on the Malenka tormenting the blond woman. It turned out the woman was Kanae Hoshino.

Zordar fired, blowing the Malenka’s head apart.

The others turned, to be met with a fusillade of laser energy from the sidearms of Maetel, Derek, and Nova, who killed another Malenka and three more of the cyborgs.

Nova raised her hand, and Teri Forrester-Hemsford disappeared from the tree into her arms.

“It hurts…” she gasped.

“I know, Mother. I’ll take care of you soon. Derek, please watch over her. We have to get the other woman rescued.”

“Will do. Mrs. Hemsford, don’t cry,” Derek said gently. “You’re safe with Nova and I.”

“I just feel…so guilty…” Teri sobbed. “The first time I saw you on the comm screen from the Yamato, I insulted you. I gave you and Nova such a hard time over the years and even took terrible advantage of your hospitality when Karl and I separated for a time due to my own flaws…”

“Shhh…it’s all right,” Derek whispered.

Zordar advanced on a quaking Kanae Hoshino under fire and began to break her bonds. He had her in his arms for a moment, but then, Faust stabbed him in the back with his sword.

Zordar yelled and cursed loudly and he went to grab Faust by the neck, hoping to tear his head off with his sheer strength. Instead, Faust pulled Kanae out of Zordar’s arms and he vanished with her, leaving the last Malenka and the last two cyborgs to be dealt with by Maetel and Nova.

Finally, Nova saw the situation and she used her power to cut off the part of the sword protruding from Zordar’s back.

“Why aren’t you pulling it out?” Maetel said.

“Because he’ll bleed to death if I do. Derek! Pick up my mother and come beside me. Grab my hand and Maetel’s! We’re going back to the North Carolina. We did all we could…I have no idea where Faust took her!” Nova cried, her face covered with tears of frustration, anger, and deep sadness.

“We can’t win every time,” Derek said. Nova nodded at that.

“Nova, if I was not wounded,” Zordar muttered. “I would help you locate him and help you free that woman and rip that man to shreds!” Zordar hissed. “Derek, are you all right, boy?”

Wildstar was shocked at Zordar’s solicitude. “I am fine. In pain from some wounds, but I can wait my turn after Nova works on you in Sickbay with our daughter Ariel.”

“Good. For once, boy, you…said something I agree with,” Zordar gasped as Nova teleported them back to their ship, abandoning the Jeep and their supplies with some regret.

A DAY LATER…

North Carolina’s Sickbay was crammed with wounded; members of the ship’s company from the battle, badly wounded men and women of eight different races medevacked here from other ships for surgery and treatment, and Marines and others from several battles down on the planet.

Zordar and Teri Forrester-Hemsford ended up in adjoining beds in an open ward in the ship’s Sickbay. Doctor Ariel Venture and Doctor Nova Wildstar were the only two doctors available to check on them, although there were nurse-practitioners, nurses, and Fleet Corpsmen and Corpswomen backstopping the two physicians, who, truth be told, had gotten about ninety minutes’ worth of sleep in twenty-six hours.

Ariel stumbled over with a nurse to check on Teri. “How’s the pain?”

“The skin grafts are taking well, I think…where they whipped me, I mean,” Teri said. Her eyes were somewhat glassy from pain medication. “His Majesty the Emperor has been plying me with tales of all sorts. He is a more interesting man than I took him for.”

“Nice to hear that, even though I have suffered a rare defeat,” Zordar growled. “And I’m still…dizzy…”

Nova came over and smiled at her daughter and mother. “Interesting family reunion, even though I’d have wished for better circumstances. Majesty, you need to relax. Your blood count is still low; I need to give you another transfusion shortly! Thank God Var was able to donate to you with another Gatlantean.”

“Tell Var if he does that again, I will shave his head,” Zordar snarled. “I don’t want him putting his health at risk for me, the idiot! How is the boy?”

“Derek is walking wounded, and he’s up on the bridge right now overseeing repairs to the Fleet. We’ll warp home tomorrow,” Nova said while yawning.

“YOU need to get some sleep, Majesty!” Zordar snarled. “You can’t leave your daughter in sole command down here if you pass out.”

“My God, you’re rude,” Nova said with a slight smile.

“Well, he’s right,” Teri added. “You’d better get some sleep, Nova! This is your mother talking!”

“Let me finish his transfusion,” Nova snapped.

“After that, get to bed,” Teri snorted.

“And not with Daddy, either,” said Ariel.

“And what’s that supposed to mean, dearest?” Nova snapped.

Ariel laughed. “I don’t want another sister on the way. Not yet, anyway.”

Nova got some reddish Gatlantean blood and hooked it to Zordar’s IV. “Lie back…you know the drill by now. If your count is back up tomorrow, you’ll be able to get dressed and go back to doing whatever it is you want to do.”

Var came in, smiling. “How is everyone?”

“Nova is dead on her feet,” Zordar commanded. “Var, pick her up and carry her to bed. All right?”

“I can walk,” Nova said. “Really…”

“Be quiet, please, or I’ll tickle you the whole way up,” Var said as he scooped Nova up like a child.

She shrugged, said, “Ariel, take over this darn Sickbay,” and grumbled while Zordar, Teri, and Ariel laughed.

And Var carried her to bed, to the point of tucking her in after removing her white boots!

Nova was asleep in ten minutes. And that was the way Derek found her later.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Starsha of Iscandar woke up yawning in her Palace on Iscandar a few hours later on the Terran date of March the 30^th.

She looked for Desslok.

He was not there, but a message received light was blinking on a crystalline computer screen near her bed.

Starsha pressed a button, and Desslok’s face appeared on the screen. Message sent twelve hours ago, said a caption on the screen.

“Starsha, dearest,” said Desslok. “I must apologize for again breaking my promise to you, but we spotted another enemy fleet two systems away after defeating the One Hundred and Twelfth Mobile Fleet. This new Fleet is a mix of Bolar and Mechanoid vessels. I cannot let them get near Gamilon and Iscandar. I know you would understand, and so would our daughter Princess Shasta, your Regent and Second in Command. I have been in touch with Shasta. She sent me six spare destroyers, and your mother and father have sent eight cruisers from Venlafa. With battle going on, you understand, I am sure, Starsha, why I cannot be with you, save in spirit. May Adonai bless and protect you, and make it only a short wait until I return home victorious. Then, I assure you, I will run to your side. I love you, Starsha. Be well.”

The message ended and another message came up which said, Message sent eight hours ago. Starsha thumbed a button, and the recorded blue face of her daughter Shasta came up. She was clad in an Iscandarian Defense Forces peacoat of black and dark red, and she said, “Mother, I am with Desslok. He does not hold it against you about your being too ill to join him in the battle line at Pentralsa, especially after…your miscarriage. I am in personal command on the destroyer Princess Alferia, and while the battle is not going as Father and I would wish, note that I protected his flagship twice, once so he could fire his Desslok Cannon at our enemies. Grandfather and Grandmother send their love and best regards from the North Carolina, and they expect to be home on Terra within the week since the major fighting is over with, although Grandfather said he would depart at once to aid Father if he needs his assistance. We keep you in our prayers, Mother, and we send our love. Stay well.”

The screen went dark, before a third message came up. This one was captioned Message sent two hours ago.

“Starsha, I just woke up and got dressed,” said the soft, familiar voice of her mother (in this incarnation) Nova. “I felt your pain over your recent loss right before I fell asleep earlier and sent prayers and good wishes to you, but I sensed you were asleep,” said Nova who wore her red and black peacoat but was smiling slightly. “I have some idea what you are feeling right now. I lost two children myself in that way years ago before you ever came along; one was slain by Aliscea of Pellias in my womb when she turned traitor, and the other was lost aboard the Yamato twelve years ago when I was her Captain for a while and your father was Commandant of the Space Fighters’ Academy, and at that I was not even aware I was pregnant when I was injured in battle. I send my sympathy and love as only a mother can. I wish Father and I could change course to Iscandar and come there and comfort you, but we have to head back home soon for some vital meetings with the Defense Council and the Commonwealth Parliament. We had a partial win out here at Venlafa; we defeated the enemy fleet, and your father was a great commander as always...but we only accomplished some of what we needed to do on the planet, sweetest. We have much to do, but if the darkness gets too much to bear, let me know and I will use my energies and teleport to you and at least give you a hug and a kiss. Desslok tells me they are having a challenge at the Pentralsa Line, and we will be there for him if he requests it.”

Nova paused and said, “Remember, always, Starsha, that we love you and keep you in our prayers and hopes and dreams. Until we meet again, rest well.”

Nova smiled again at her daughter and cut off.

Starsha looked at the screen.

There were no more messages.

Such as one where Desslok said “I will be home within the hour.”

Starsha just shut her eyes and wept, feeling as if she was alone in her pain and feeling as if the whole Universe and everyone whom she loved was just passing her by.

II. ANOTHER WEDDING…

Planet Earth

Benjamin Franklin Hall: The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Saturday, April 2, 2236

Noon

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania was housed in a vast, modern building on a diagonal from the rebuilt Philadelphia City Hall in Center City Philadelphia.

The Lodge Building was surrounded by many well-wishers, a few protestors, and members of the news media from Terra, Pellias, and two other Pellian worlds, as well as reporters from the Gatantean Grand Capital who had arrived on the first non-stop Galaxy Express run from the world of the Gatlantean Grand Mechapolis and the nearby world of Great Andromeda, along with reporters from Gamilon and Iscandar.

Desslok was not present, still being in battle near Gamilon, but he had sent both Erich and Eliza Lysis to represent him. Princess Invidia was also there, although she was giving Var angry sidelong looks because Zordar had just formally adopted his clone son as his eldest son and Heir at a private Arishnite Service at Dawn that morning before the wedding, which took place in the Catholic Church of Saint Dominic’s on Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia that morning in a special Mass at ten in the morning, where both newly appointed Archbishop Likanski and Nova had co-officiated as Priests along with a very aged Lord Radnar in a multi-faith service by special dispensation from Rome. As it turned out, this would be Radnar’s last major public act and his only visit to Terra, since he would die by the end of the decade.

A picture containing indoor, decorated, furniture, altar

Description automatically generated The Press was clamoring for the bridal party to enter, especially since the party consisted of two Heads of State (Zordar and Nova) two great heroes (Derek and Var; Var’s assistance during the Battle of Venlafa had just become known, including a rumor that he had raised someone from the dead), and the bride (Teresa Wildstar, well-known archaeologist, author, and part-time musician). Also, rumor had it that Septigram would play inside Franklin Hall for the ceremony, and any time Septigram showed up, there might well be chaos.

At the moment, Var and Teresa, just married, were sitting cuddling on a couch as a photographer took pictures. Both of them were in white; Var in a white tux with tails and a red ascot, and Teresa in a lovely white silken gown and matching pumps.

Zordar was in his full-dress uniform, snarling almost good-naturedly at Derek, who was at his left in a dark fawn-colored business suit and red tie. Nova was at his side, wearing an elegant but cute gold minidress with matching gold pumps and long gloves. Derek’s arm was around Nova as she smiled at the newlyweds.

Foods of all kinds were around the group as pictures were taken. Var whispered at Teresa, “Do you know how much I love you?”

“How much, dearest?”

“I love you so much that I could just eat you for dinner and dessert,” he whispered. Teresa blushed.

Nova whispered, “Var, you’re not in the bridal suite with her yet, sweetie. Please behave.”

“Did you behave on your wedding day, Mum?” he whispered back.

“While we were in public, yes…at all three of them,” Nova said.

“Three?” whispered Zordar. “You two lovers must enjoy weddings. How comes this, boy?”

Derek rolled up his eyes and said, “We had a quasi-secret small ceremony on Iscandar, a public ceremony many months later right after we defeated you…”

“Don’t rub in in, boy,” Zordar said. “What about number three?”

“The third was five years ago after I came back from the dead,” Nova said. “We weren’t very decorous then…”

“Then what right do you have to demand we be decorous, Mummy?” said Teresa.

“Mummy. Didn’t you dig up a whole lot of mummies in Egypt?” chuckled Var.

“Yes, but you feel nicer,” said Teresa. “You’re alive, for one thing.”

“My poor Derek carried me around when I was dead,” sighed Nova. “I saw him crying over me from the Other Side. He’s so romantic!”

“Do you call being a necrophiliac romantic, boy?” Zordar said. “I guess being a necrophiliac is another strange psychological issue you have, lad.”

“I heard you laughed like mad when you were attacking Earth,” Derek said. “In fact, Nova and I saw it. On Yamato’s main screen. You just laughed and laughed at us!”

“The thrill of victory, boy,” Zordar said. “And you two are so funny!”

“Zordar, if you’re funny, then a sucking chest wound is utterly hilarious,” Nova said sweetly.

“Shut him down!” laughed Var. “YEAH!”

“You’re not supposed to be on their side,” snarled Zordar.

“Someday, when you abdicate, my Terran wife will rule beside me as my Empress, Dad,” said Var. “How do you like those apples?”

“I don’t like apples,” snarled Zordar.

“But you eat pig liver,” Nova teased. “As well as parts of a pig I shall not mention in polite company.”

A while after the wedding cake was cut and Var and Teresa fed each other some of the cake (which everyone thought was cute), a big band was present playing a sentimental song for Var and Teresa’s first dance, followed by a dance between Teresa and her father Derek, and a dance between Nova and Var.

Then, the big band left the stage, and Septigram took the stage a while after that.

Atirangi was not there with the group tonight as Var took his bass and got ready to play, but Zain Valas was.

Zain began with a classic rocker, and he sounded utterly filthy and lascivious as he sang, complete with some nasty crotch-grabbing that made a lot of the crowd cheer and some of the females scream (Teresa and Nova included) while Zordar and Derek both gave Zain utter looks of disapproval.

The band then ground fully into that number, and there was an insanity of dancing, head-banging, and jumping about that totally confused Wendy Glitchman, the CDF Chief of Staff who was present with her husband Admiral Homer Glitchman. Their kids got it, though, being avid Septigram fans.

So, it went for the next three hours.

When the band took a break, Zordar met up with the ebony-skinned African keyboard player for Septigram, a lady known as Msiba Mkele, who looked at him with a very pissed-off look when he stared her down and said, “You look too damn dignified to be hanging out with a bunch of stoners and social rejects like…your band.”

“Pardon me?” she said. “I am classically trained on my instrument and our band has won many awards and is galaxy-famous, and I am a famed instrumentalist, singer, and arranger in my own right. I know you are supposed to be a great man, but you are acting and sounding like a damned buffoon. Out of my way, please!”

“Why should I get out of your way? Who gave you the right to be my ruler, piano player?” Zordar snapped.

“Get out of my way, or I swear, I shall grab your crotch and make you scream with joy, dear!” Msiba said.

“Do you really think that you can do that?” Zordar said, laughing disdainfully.

Princess Invidia, the daughter of Zordar who had both familial and (again) carnal interest in her own father (as she had years ago before she had married the late Foxy) walked over and gave a “T” gesture with her hands, meaning “TIME-OUT”.

Both of them ignored her as Zordar said, “Grab my crotch? You wouldn’t dare!”

“Dare me,” said Msiba.

“I dare you to grab my crotch,” Zordar said, in public.

“When?”

“Now, after I do this,” Zordar said as he slammed Msiba against a wall and began to kiss her.

Msiba fought a little at first and then she found she liked it.

She kissed back.

Then, while holding Nova’s hand, Derek came by, and laughed while Nova giggled, and he said in a sing-song voice, “I know what you two are doing!”

“Be quiet boy, unless you want me to cripple you,” Zordar snarled at Wildstar.

“Please take that somewhere else unless you want Var to dump the punch on your heads?” teased Nova.

“I will take it somewhere else, Your Majesty,” said Zordar.

“Where?” said Msiba.

“My hotel suite in the Loews’ across the street,” said Zordar as he picked Msiba up caveman-style and carried her off over his shoulder as the crowd muttered and mumbled. “What the?” “This is nuts!”

In the meantime, Zordar said, “You merry pranksters will need someone else on keyboards for a while; sorry.”

“You’re drafted,” Zain said as he grabbed Nova by the wrist and pushed her behind Msiba’s keyboards. “Don’t worry, Wildstar. We’ll pay your wife Union Scale for half a show. Two minutes. Get ready to play.”

“Why aren’t you asking Teresa?” sneered Derek.

“She’s the bride,” hissed Zain. “Besides, you’re more fun to antagonize, boy,” said Zain as the rest of the band (save for Nova) laughed.

“I need full compensation,” Nova said as she pulled off her gloves to play.

“You’ll get it, aye” said Dexter Donlan Cross, their old friend. “We’re doing “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”...Cody rocks that drum solo.... start on three…one…two…”

Nova rolled up her eyes and began to play as the band went off and Zain tried to sound as filthy as ever.

And so it went.

For half the night.

TO BE COINTINUED….