THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

STAR BLAZERS/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter FIFTEEN:  Memento Mori…

Thanks to Gail Kopetz, Bells of Nevermore, Margaret Diviney, Michelle Nutter-Lynd, Steven Diviney, Andrea Lyon, and DTill359 for Advice and inspiration.

Bells of Nevermore’s Characters are used by permission. However, by mutual agreement, they may be written differently in the Galaxy Visions Saga than in Bells’ own works…

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I. AN OMINOUS DAWN

PLANET RAZARIA

OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF PULERVIA CITY

MARCH 22, 2234

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A faint Dawn was beginning to break through ominous clouds on Planet Razaria.

A sultry, dusty wind blew as, framed by stars and darkness to the West, Emeraldas stood on a sandy bluff, considering the bleak landscape; sand, cactus, distant stone mesas.

The land looked like the deserts of Arizona or New Mexico, as, with the Queen Emeraldas hovering behind her, Emeraldas stared East, looking towards the Yamato, which hung in the sky, silent, ominous, threatening.

“Tochiro, it is Dawn already. The Yamato just hangs there. Is she coming?”

“She could be coming any minute,” said Tochiro.

“We agreed to meet here,” hissed Emeraldas. “Or is she a coward?”

“Or are they just going to aim that wave motion gun at us?” Tochiro said.

“That would be dishonorable in the extreme,” said Emeraldas as she gritted her teeth. “If they try that, it will be a ship-to-ship battle. Then I will use our own wave motion gun and kill them all.”

Tochiro’s comm unit buzzed. “Yes?”

“This is Lord Admiral Wildstar,” Derek’s voice replied from the comm unit. “We are coming to your location.”

“When?” demanded Emeraldas.

“Now,” Nova said.

A moment later, they saw a Cosmo Tiger III approaching in the distance.

The fighter plane roared in, changed course a little, and landed right in front of them on its landing jets.

Then, the cockpit opened.

Derek and Nova climbed out.

Emeraldas noticed Derek had on his fabled red on white Star Force uniform. Nova wore a Star Force uniform as well; a skin-tight one in gold and black rather than white and black. Only Derek knew why Nova had changed her uniform; she was there to fight…not to heal, although she would certainly give healing after the battle if needed.

Derek carried an Astro-Automatic on his belt and he was carrying something that looked like a satchel.

Nova had a belt on around her hips, but there was no sign of a weapon.

“She’s not even armed,” said Tochiro in awe.

Tochiro bowed to Derek, who saluted in return.

“Does she need a weapon?” said Tochiro. “We agreed we would use swords.”

“I have a spare with me, but it is not very good,” said Emeraldas. “Do you mean to set yourself at a disadvantage, Nova? Do you mean to commit suicide?”

“No,” Nova snapped, putting a deliberate twist in her voice. “My weapon is with me. It is the crystal sword named Gimalak; the meaning in Pellian is “Queen’s Fire,” Nova said calmly. “You shall see it when we are ready. In fact, you get a free shot on me.”

Derek nodded, knowing full well what was going on; You’re using your Voice, he sent. Nova, you promised her…no psionics.

There will be none; not in the fight itself. I intend only to use my blade and its abilities; for I can tell she means to do the same with me, Nova sent back. The rest of what you shall see…mere stage-management. Maybe I can end this without a fight.

Emeraldas’ eyebrows went up. “You are that confident, then?”

Nova nodded. “Do we fight to the death, Emeraldas? I hope not; not because I am afraid to die, but because I really do not desire to kill you.”

“I intended to,” said Emeraldas. “I have decided to modify the rules. We fight only until blood is drawn by one of us. First blood wins. Is that fair? I am showing you mercy because you either seem to be incredibly confident…or incredibly space-happy. I have heard much rumor of your battles and travels beside Wildstar. Maybe your years in the Sea of Stars have driven you mad, dear?”

“Perhaps,” Nova said as Derek stood by to touch her and back her up. Nova smiled at him and gently pushed him away.

Remembering a duel from long ago, Nova stood behind a small stand of sagebrush. “Shoot, Emeraldas,” she said…using the same intonation Desslok had used years ago when challenging Derek on his flagship.

“I certainly will,” Emeraldas said with a wicked smile. “Thank you for agreeing to make this quick.”

Nova nodded, and motioned at Emeraldas to fire after standing with her eyes closed for a moment.

Emeraldas aimed at Nova’s booted feet, thinking If I take off one of her feet, Wildstar can help her back to the ship. I will have taught her a lesson. It will have been a disappointment, though. I expected sio much more from her.

Emeraldas fired.

Derek gasped as the laser bolt flew towards an apparently defenseless Nova.

Nova reached behind her back as fast as lightning and drew Gimalak from the dimensional space around her. The crystal sword burned blue-white as soon as Nova touched it.

Moving almost faster than the eye could see, Nova got her blade in front of her and deflected the laser bolt into the sagebrush.

The sagebrush began to burn as Nova stood holding her blade, smiling.

“I gave you a free shot, Emeraldas. Are you slacking off? You couldn’t even graze me with that,” Nova said in a calm, even voice as she raised her left hand to the sky. “The air feels stagnant. Let’s make it a bit more…breezy.”

She sang a high, screaming single note.

Dark clouds suddenly gathered in the East, blotting out the sunrise.

A brisk wind began to blow.

Tochiro gasped. He held on to Emeraldas, who gently pushed him away.

Nova gestured again with her left hand and a terrible bolt of lightning came from nowhere.

She began to burn with an aura of light as her Imperishable Crown appeared at her brow.

“Emeraldas!” cried Tochiro. “Stop this! She’s not a normal human! She can use the very winds against us!”

“Do you back down, Emeraldas?” Nova said. “You see…I really have no desire whatsoever to harm you. This fight is rather pointless!”

“I don’t know what sort of trickery this is, Dwimmerlaik,” snapped Emeraldas. “But I have never backed down from a challenge. Wildstar, get her to back down. I think I’m going to have to seriously hurt her. She looks very girlish…very frail.”

Derek shook his head as Nova blew him a kiss.

Then, she screamed and threw herself towards Emeraldas.

Their blades clashed.

There was a terrifying display of sparks and fire.

Emeraldas looked slender, but her blows had a great deal of strength.

To her shock, they did not seem to impress Nova that much. Trading blows with this woman is like attacking a stone wall, Emeraldas thought, showing a flash of fear in her eyes for a moment.

Emeraldas jabbed at Nova, who parried the blow as soon as she saw it.

Nova spun on her toes and responded with a slash that almost caught Emeraldas and almost knocked her off balance.

“You’re not bad,” Nova said. “Stronger than I thought. Whoever taught you…taught you well.”

“You’re fairly effective yourself,” said the Pirate Queen as she crossed blades with Nova again.

Emeraldas went to jab and she fired her gravity saber again.

Nova dodged the laser bolt like a teenager jumping over a rope.

Emeraldas fired again. Nova caused lightning to come from her blade to deflect the laser charge this time.

Emeraldas twirled and tried to catch Nova with another jab in the stomach.

Nova jumped back, parried, and then jumped.

Nova flew over Emeraldas in a vicious somersault and caught her off-guard.

The two women clashed swords, again, again, and again, with hair flying in the wind. More lightning filled the sky.

Finally, Nova screamed and swung hard at Emeraldas’ saber. Nova knocked the saber out of Emeraldas’ hand, and she caught it in mid-air with her left hand, and tapped Emeraldas’ extended fingers with her own burning sword.

Emeraldas screamed, with an odor of burning and blood coming from two of her fingers.

“Stop, both of you!” Derek barked. “Nova has scored first blood! She wins!”

Emeraldas knelt before Nova and said, “Slay me, woman. SLAY me! Never has anyone dishonored me like that and disarmed me!”

“I’ve done worse to Derek when we spar,” Nova said as she drove Emeraldas’ saber into the ground in front of her. “Stop being silly, get up. You gave me a good fight. You are quite the swordswoman, even though this was really quite unnecessary. We could have just talked,” Nova said as she hid her weapon and helped Emeraldas up. “Just a flesh wound,” Nova said gently as she took Emeraldas’ wounded hand and gently kissed it.

The wound vanished. Emeraldas looked at Nova in utter shock and awe.

“Now, are we going to have some drinks and talk or are you going to stand there looking at me with your mouth open all day?” Nova said as Derek hugged her from behind. She kissed him and said, “Break out the wine, Derek. And the goblets.”

He nodded, opening the satchel.

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HALF AN HOUR LATER…

Her red pirate flag had been brought down by one of her robots and unfurled as Emeraldas knelt on the ground, boots off, holding Tochiro, who was half-asleep in her lap with his hat off.

Emeraldas was enjoying Nova’s wine.

Nova sat next to Derek nearby, also with boots off, drinking her own wine.

“What amazes me,” Derek said, “Is that half an hour ago, you two were trying to kill each other and now you’re the best of friends.”

“Isn’t that the way of honorable fighting men…or women?” said Emeraldas. “My quarrel with Nova is over. Now I see how you and I turned out to be friends, kind one,” Emeraldas said to Nova with a smile as she caressed Tochiro. “You were right. My heart tells me we met in your past…”

“But your future,” Nova said. “You and Harlock both will meet with us on Heavy Melder.”

“Which amazes me, because the last I saw of Harlock, he was dying.”

“My cousin is old now,” Derek said. “Our son has taken his place, name and title. He is the new Harlock.”

“He is a good man,” Tochiro said as he lay on the ground, and he coughed.

“He doesn’t look well,” Nova said softly. “His color’s not right and his aura is off.”

“I’m not even seventy,” said Tochiro. “And I already have a systemic disease or two.”

“Emeraldas, you’ve seen what I can do to heal people,” Nova said gently. “Can we take him to the Yamato so that I can work on him in our Sickbay?”

“Not worth it,” said Tochiro. “I’m sterile, for one thing.”

“I think we can fix that,” Nova said. “I foresee a daughter in your future, you two…before he finally dies,” Nova said.

“Thank you, Nova,” said Emeraldas. “You are too kind.”

“There’s the matter of your mother,” said Nova softly.

“That is the other reason I tested you,” Emeraldas said.

“I met her before,” Nova snapped.

“She was once a friend, but she stabbed us in the back,” Derek said with anger in his voice.

“Unfortunately, she tends to do that to people,” Emeraldas said. “She hates all humans from Terra with a dark passion. I introduced her to Tochiro…once.”

“What happened?” Derek asked.

Tochiro raised his head. “She tried to take my head off. Then, she disowned Emeraldas.”

“What a charming woman,” Nova said sarcastically.

Then, they heard jingling spurs.

They looked up.

Harlock had shown up.

“Greetings, Emeraldas,” said Harlock. “Is Tochiro all right?”

“Just a little tired,” Tochiro said.

“He has some diseases, Alexander,” Nova said softly.

“I asked you to call me Harlock,” the pirate replied.

“Bull,” Derek snapped. “We’ll call you whatever we wish, son.”

“What do you intend to do for him?” Harlock said.

“Take him back to the Yamato to work on him if he consents,” Nova said.

“I have a doctor in my ship’s company; a Doctor Zero,” said Harlock.

“Good. He and I can do a consult aboard the Arcadia, I guess,” Nova mused. “Give me some time. I can teleport us there. I need to regenerate my energy stores,” Nova said as she ate some mochi rice balls she and Derek had brought in the satchel. “Breakfast; please pardon me,” Nova said. “I will need sleep later. I learned long ago a few techniques to keep going despite a lack of sleep.”

“Learned back when we called the Yamato the Argo,” Derek said. “I always wondered how you did that.”

“It’s not easy,” Nova said flatly. “You were short of sleep too, in those days when we were on our way to Iscandar for the first time.”

“So was Captain Avatar,” Derek said.

“He was in pain much of the time,” Nova mused as she looked at the sky. “He was a good man. Doctor Sane and I often bore the rough side of his tongue when he was out of sorts.”

“So did I, Nova,” Derek said.

“How long have the two of you known each other?” Emeraldas asked.

“Thirty-five years,” Derek replied.

“This man is my best friend, and my eternal friend,” Nova said as she patted Derek on the shoulder. “He is most remarkable. He is very good at pulling solutions out of hopeless situations. We have been through many battles and trials together. Too many for one life, one might say.”

“I barely know Tochiro, and he and I already feel like we have been together a thousand years,” Harlock said.

“We shall have need of such friendship to defeat Promethium,” said Emeraldas. “Nova, please pour the remainder of that wine. We need to make an eternal pact.”

“To what?” Derek said as Nova poured.

“To friendship,” said Emeraldas. Tochiro sat up, crossed his legs, and accepted a small glass of wine. All of them soon had wine.

“There is an old toast in the Larmetallan tongue we used for times like this. It means ‘blessings and honor’,” said Emeraldas. “GORAM!” she yelled.

“GORAM!” yelled back all of the others; Tochiro, Harlock, Derek, and Nova.

They drank.

And, even though they did not quite know it, the core of what would be a long resistance against Promethium was born that day. There were five of them. One, Maetel, was absent.

The final and seventh member of what would be their company, Tetsuro Hoshino, was not even born yet.

But, far away, his future father fell deeper and deeper into darkness…even as Nova then took Tochiro to the Arcadia for treatment.

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II. THEODORE’S FALL

EARTH

LOS ANGELES

APRIL 4, 2234

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At the moment, an insolent-looking young man with a black beard was sitting in his penthouse apartment in Los Angeles, looking over a huge tome he had stolen a few days ago.

Actually, he was family to the Lord Admiral and Her Majesty. Simple to get into his mother’s library. No one bothered him as he worked half the night on procedures and dark counter-spells to break his mother’s carefully laid psychic defenses to get at three books in his own mother’s study. Nova’s Guards were there that night, but no one at all guarded the library. Theodore had gotten in and out of the Palace like a ghost, with an electronic passkey card the family had issued him. Very simple. Was he not still a child of Derek and Nova’s?

One of the books, Berenice’s Grimoire, sat open on a table next to a bowl of potato chips and another bowl of cocaine while Theodore Wildstar grinned, playing slap and tickle with his girlfriend, Danielle Harrison.

It was ironic, but Septigram's Spheres and Energies was playing very loudly in the penthouse as Theodore Wildstar laughed. He was still almost Byronically handsome, with long black hair, the nose of his mother, and the dark eyes of his father above his moustache and beard. He sat lolling on a dark leather couch with Danielle dressed in black, like he, on his lap. Danielle Harrison was both his paramour, and sometimes accompanist on his two albums. The first album, The Dark Circle, sold because of its shocking and even disgusting subject matter. His second, Faust's Bargain, did not sell quite as well.

Some people, it seemed, liked dark, diseased, and very discordant music that spoke of Rape, Murder, and Hell.

Now, he was awaiting Dexter Cross, the guitar wizard of Septigram, as he drank Tequila and laughed after snorting some more coke.

"Where the hell is that guy?" he sneered to Danielle. "You told me he was prompt."

"He looked at me like I was bacteria, babe," she said. "He may not come. Stop drinking so much. Aren't you supposed to be meeting with your parents again in a month? I’d like to meet them again. Derek Wildstar is incredibly famous and so bloody handsome, and I hear your mother touches upon all sorts of magic and mystery."

"They're both bloody touched in the head," sneered Theodore.

There was the sound of heavy boots with iron heels approaching the door. Dexter tended to knock like a cop, and this was no exception. That night, he was wearing his trademark Doc Martens, with a long, heavy leather trench coat, black fatigue pants tucked into the boots, and a T-shirt from one of the bands Atirangi produced, a punk band called Violent Scientists. Hs raven hair was loose, down to his hips, and he was wearing dark, mirrored sunglasses. Everything about the man shouted 'danger'.

Theodore got up and answered the door, clad in his trendy black leather pants, high boots, and black leather vest over a bare chest. As he walked, his shoulder-length hair was flying all over the place, and hanging in his left eye. The oddest thing of all is that he had two cheek curls, wearing his raven locks in emulation of the mother he could not stand. He looked at Dexter and said, "I'm glad you came, man. Dani and I were wondering if you'd show or not. I need your help."

"Yes, Mister Wildstar. Let's discuss that, then, yeah?" He stepped into the apartment and crossed the room to stand with folded arms. Wearing those shades, it was hard to read what he was thinking. But this was still the Star Force veteran who had once gutted someone with a switchblade when a show went wrong. The man would be doing his business into a colostomy bag for the rest of his life.

"Okay, it's about your experience," Theodore said, kicking the door shut. Danielle squealed at his poseur "I'm so cool" attitude, and he said, "Y'want a drink? I'm hitting the Tequila now, and I have some harder stuff around in that bowl. The booze…guess who I stole it from?" he chortled. "Along with these books," he said as he pointed at some ancient tomes bound in red and black leather.

"Wait." Dexter held up a hand. On the middle finger of that hand was a certain emblem that had a…history. Dexter thought, Poseur boy had damned better recognize it...since somewhere along the way Cross had become a Freemason, in Yamato Lodge #2199, to be exact. Derek had conferred his First and Second Degrees, and Nova had “raised” him to the sublime Third Degree of a Master Mason…an experience he would never forget. Theodore had been offered membership in another Lodge of Terra’s oldest Fraternity, which served others and reinforced lessons of Faith, Morality, Good Conduct, and Brotherhood, but he had refused initiation. He had recently asked his parents to join Yamato Lodge but had been turned down flat, being told by his father, “In order to join this Lodge, you need to have served on our ship, and we stress…served with honor aboard our ship, since Yamato Lodge is a Naval Lodge!”

“You’ve never worn the arrow and stripes, dear and made the same sacrifices we made,” Nova had said quietly at the time. “Theodore, your request…it is rather presumptuous.”

Presumptuous, hissed Theodore in his mind, as he thought vile curses against his very parents.

Dexter looked at Theodore with disgust when he again offered the bottle of Tequila. "You're tellin' me ye want me t' drink alcohol and do coke? Ye should know better than that, lad. I don't drink. I don’t use that hard stuff. And I bloody well don't drink stolen goods. Them books also don't belong here and ye know it.”

Dexter opened one of the books and stared at the flyleaf. “By ‘eaven’s clouds…ye stole these from yer own Mother’s palace?”

“I did,” said Theodore brazenly.

“Y’ got past security in Vienna and the psychic traps yer Mom must’ve put upon ‘em?”

“Got past security because I’m family and I managed to break through Mum’s traps….” What he didn’t say is that breaking past two of the traps had nearly been the end of him.

“Return the damned books. NOW,” Dexter said in a tone that brooked no opposition.

"Okay...Maybe I'll return the books...because they're not tellin' me all that I need to know," said Theodore. "I need to know two things from you, Mister Cross. The first is how to contact the Devil because I want to sign a contract with him. The second is the secret of eternal life. I want to live forever. I want power, riches beyond these...and I thought that, given the Brotherhood you're in, maybe you'd know about that stuff. My Dad's in the same Order along with Mom, but they won't petition or sponsor me, nor tell me anything about what they do behind the Lodge doors, even though my older Brother Alexander is in like flint with them. And I contacted my sister Queen Starsha and she told me to go to Hell."

"Luv, you're dangerous," said Danielle. "If I were you, I'd quit the garbage and say goodbye to this nice...man..."

“She ‘as a modicum o’ sense,” said Dexter. “Even tho’ I understand yer guitar playin’ stinks.”

“I beg your pardon,” said Danielle. She put on a video of a tribute to her many times removed grandfather George Harrison concert. The band was playing While My Guitar Gently Weeps. On the video, Danielle played a workmanlike solo, neither really bad nor good. But, Nova’s solo on guitar at the end of the song outclassed hers by far.

Dexter then said to Theodore, “Yer Mum plays far better than yer girlfriend, but even she’s not in my league or Atirangi’s on the guitar.”

Danielle looked at Dexter, totally starstruck! “You know Atirangi Rapahango? She’s the greatest rock star of the age!”

Dexter replied, “I’m in her band, girl. Your last name may be Harrison, but ye play nothin’ like yer great several times removed granddad the Beatle. In fact, y’ need lessons.”

“Back to those books,” said Theodore. “I’m not giving them back, after all! I need them.”

“Why?”

“I told you. I want to contact the Devil.”

Dexter stared at him. Hard. "Are ye bleedin' mad? Are ye bein' serious? If ye're not, lot’s a bloody bad joke, and if ye are... by rights, I oughta do ye like I done that one bastard I sliced in Limoges. So... ye're gonna give me them books and tell me where they come from, so as I can put 'em back in th’ proper hands? And ye're also goin' ta swear off havin' dealings with Lucrael or any other o' the Fallen. Listen. And listen good, ye idiot! There was a demon we encountered on th’ cruise t’ Iscandar. His name was Melderz. We beat ‘im back with prayers and due use of the Name abo’ all Names, but the demon still wanted a sacrifice. It wanted to take one o’ three people; Captain Abraham Avatar, or yer father, or yer mother. Even then, I could see they were falliin’ hard for each other, and then, they were about as young as ye, but possessed o’ far more sense and maturity! I offered to stand in their stead li’ Father Karras from that novel and movie The Exorcist and it took me. Right off th’ bridge o’ Yamato. It was not a smart decision on my part, aye, but I was arrogant then. There was a battle for m’ soul. I saw Hell. Starsha, Gods Bless the woman, even tho’ I had issues with her, interceded for me and it let me live and it spit me out on Iscandar. Yes, that happened. Tha’ was MY result of havin’ Truck wi’ the Fallen o’ the least sort by tryin’ to bargain with it rather than trustin’ the Divine. Your parents must’ve told ye the tale.”

“They did, but I thought it was a spacer’s tale. They have all sorts of weird stories about things that I don’t think ever could have happened!” Theodore snapped.

“The thick head on ye, boy," said Dexter as he shook his head.

“Mom must have wanted to contact them, too,” said Theodore.

“What? That can’t be true. I KNOW yer mom far better than ye do! She’d no more ‘ave truck wi’ the Fallen than walk around Hollywood and Vine a’ high noon naked! She’d never do that! She ‘as far more dignity and common sense than you!”

Theodore said, “Look at the book! Mom has all these notes in the margins, about the Fallen. She's nuts. She should be contacting them!"

Dexter looked at the notes and he cuffed Theodore. “No! These are notes and prayers an’ invocations abou’ FIGHTING the Fallen! You idiot!”

“Yeah, this is all the stuff she wouldn't tell me," Theodore grinned.

Without a word, Dexter gathered up the books. He then snatched the bottle of tequila and smashed it on the floor, stomping the broken glass with a loud cr-r-r-runch. He threw the bowl of cocaine against the wall for good measure. "I'll get these back to the Lady and she knows her craft. Ye don’t! I always knew ye was a ‘langer, or…idiot…but this is out'n the end o' the yard. And I'm tellin ye’ somethin’: ye've not the arse or the sack or the brains t' be contacting someone's sweet dead Aunt Moira, let alone messin' about with the Fallen and his dark angels. What ye're like ta get is sommat like Samael or Melderz! Someone vengeful an' that ye made well angry and he’s apt to destroy you! I'm doin' ye a favor, lad!” Dexter barked in his heavy brogue. “I’m also protectin’ yer immortal soul, idiot!”

"Stop tweakin' the man," cried Danielle.

"Sit ye down and shut it, ye bloody hoor. I've no patience for you either,” snapped Dexter.

"I'm no langer!" yelled Theodore. “Or idiot, if that’s what you mean!”

“I’ll be more blunt. You’re an idiot, m’friend. An idiot who fell offa the turnip truck yesterday in Dublin! And ye can see yer lady is a hoor and gold-digger!”

"You're callin' me a hoor?" sneered Danielle. "YOU KNOW WHO I AM?"

"I don't give a wet shite who ye are." Even with the shades on, it was easy to see the malice. They thought they were dangerous. Dexter Cross was the real thing. Gods only knew how much blood the 'Dire Wolf' had on his hands as a warrior and independent agent. He could have told them what he had done to a misguided man known as Sam Sparks before he let an Iscandarian ground quake have him, but Dexter guessed he didn’t want to hear about how his mother, who he obviously didn’t like, had been freed from a bad situation by himself, his father Derek, and by her own valor and sheer guts.

Theodore said, "Okay, take the damned books, give them back to my mom, and she's not answering my e-mails any rot," sneered Theodore. "Oh, see my nose? Little twisted in the top. Souvenir of my last encounter with Daddy, and he done well kicked my butt. He told me if I ever asked him questions like that again, he'd come back and end me. He told me that he and Mom had lots of truck with the Fallen out in space, and you think they're about to share the wealth?" Theodore, when recalling this, spoke of his last encounter with his parents. It had not gone well. In fact, his father had been so infuriated that he had punched his rebellious son in the nose.

"You idiot!" barked Danielle. "I was there. Your father said they FOUGHT spirits and energies like that in their years in space, and that Dexter here helped them keep back the evil, not call upon it! Apologize to this man? Am I right, Mister Cross?"

"I'll tell ye naught. But I'll bloody show ye sommat." He lifted his left hand and snarled something in Gaelic. A black whorl of energy appeared there—the mere sight of it would chill the soul. Magick—the real stuff—had a certain chilling effect. What was happening had no explanation. A glimpse into the portal would reveal the spires and towers of the Capital City of Gamilstadt on Gamilon. "Got dinner with Their Majesties. If ye keep on like this, I'll do for ye. I'll kill ye and not blink. I am of the Grand Brotherhood. We play fer keeps."

"Okay, okay, I apologize...and I tell you that I won't be trying to contact the Fallen. Interesting that this works," said Theodore.

In the meantime, Danielle had screamed and run into another room.

"I've got my own agenda ahead, Mister Cross. Thank you for the visit, and good day," said Theodore. "Have fun on Gamilon, or where-ever the hell that is."

"Tis a place ye definitely don't want to be, lad!" And with a flare of his trench, Dexter Cross was through the portal and gone. The stink of hot blood and ozone would never leave that room.

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On Gamilon, Dexter sat with the Wildstars, Desslok, and Starsha, and he put the books down on the table.

“Dexter, how did you get those?” Nova said, her face turning slightly pale above her cornflower-colored blouse with black trim and black choker. She wore a sky-blue knee-length skirt with a brown belt and matching brown open-toe pumps.

“What are those?” said Desslok in a quizzical voice in his usual uniform. Beside him, Starsha wore a white gown.

“Your act of appearing like that was…well…rather sudden,” Derek said as he sat there in his Star Force uniform, minus his peacoat. He had been at the Commonwealth Embassy earlier that day with Nova, reviewing military intelligence reports.

“No ‘act, m’friends,” said Dexter. “Yer son Theodore somehow got past yer traps in Vienna, Nova. He stole these out of your library. I showed up at his place in Los Angeles…”

“That nest of scum and villainy?” Derek snapped.

Dexter nodded.

“What was he up to? And what were you up to?” Starsha said.

“I may ‘ave helped defend ‘is immortal damned soul,” snapped Dexter. “Nova, dearest, he wanted to use these books to contact Satan.”

“He was talking about that when he was a child, Nova. We should have hospitalized him then,” Derek said.

“I almost did, but he begged and pleaded his way out of it,” Nova said. She shut her eyes. “I probably should have been the mean parent and just took him to the hospital myself. Instead, I just took him to a psychiatrist friend of mine for therapy. I made him promise to continue treatment when he left our home. Obviously…he has not,” Nova said as she just picked at her spiced Darmlek fish filets in Baleran Flame Sauce. The fish had a strong taste, and Gamilon spices also tended to burn the mouth, but Derek and Nova had long become accustomed to the cuisine on Gamilon.

“Nova, children can be difficult and I sympathize,” Desslok said softly. “There’s my son, Dellar.”

“How is he?” Derek said.

“He’s serving on the far Eastern Front guarding against Gatlantean incursions,” Desslok said.

“Is Invidia up to her tricks again?” Derek snapped.

“It’s just reconnaissance,” Desslok said. “But not the sort I like. What worries me is his temper. Dellar has specific orders not to engage them unless they fire first. I understand…he has come close to disobeying orders. But, you see, I don’t want him around the Capital until he matures a bit.”

“Then why not recall him?” Starsha asked as Dexter sat down, and a servant brought him wine and food. He had been expected, but everyone thought he would arrive by ship with the rest of Septigram, who would be playing a concert on Iscandar in the following week.

“He’s being tested,” Desslok said.

“A most unusual test, I’d say,” Nova replied.

“A terrible test,” Desslok said as he finished. He smiled at them. “Are you done?”

Derek nodded, followed by Nova.

“Excellent food, as always,” Derek said.

Nova stood.

“We’d better be going back to the ship,” Derek said as he looked at Nova. She nodded and he picked up one of the three books.

“I know they’re heavy,” said Dexter. “May I walk with ye, sir, and Her Majesty?”

“It would be appreciated,” Nova said as she stood up and took one of the heavy books. Dexter took the third.

Desslok said, “Before you leave. The intelligence Dellar has gathered is…unsettling. A large Gatlantean Fleet is indeed on its way. I have no idea what they are up to.”

“We will keep on the alert, Desslok,” Derek said. “Thank you.”

“For my part,” Nova added, “I will have to contact Invidia mentally. She will have much explaining to do. If she doesn’t answer my questions adequately…we will be mobilizing.”

“You think we can get it through Parliament?” Derek said.

“No. I am ultimately responsible for our defense. We don’t need war on another front! I will use my own authority to mobilize if I have to,” Nova said.

“As will I,” Desslok said. “Please keep us informed.”

“We shall,” Derek said. “Good evening. We’ll be going back to the Yamato for now.”

“Of course,” Desslok said.

The three of them; Derek, Nova, and Dexter, left. A Gamilon limousine was waiting for them in a dock in the Palace. The three of them got in with two local Gamilon guards and what appeared to be a servant woman in young middle age.

The woman held open the door to the limousine with a smile.

“Who are you?” Derek said, getting into the front seat and gently motioning the Gamilon driver out. Nova sat down beside him.

“A diplomatic liaison assigned to work with all of you,” said the woman, who sounded young.

“Would you mind giving us your name?” Nova said.

“Your…Majesty!” said the woman with shock as she recognized Nova…and then, Derek. Why, the Commonwealth’s High Queen is almost my own age! The woman thought. “Councillor Hilde Ganz at your service, Majesty…Lord Admiral!”

“Is Ganz a common name on Gamilon?” Derek asked.

“Sir?” asked Hilde as Nova motioned her into the car…right beside them!

“I ask because many years ago…we fought a Colonel Welke Ganz on our first mission to Iscandar,” said Derek.

“My Lord…Your Majesty,” said Hilde as the car began to speed off…with Derek at the controls. “Colonel Ganz…he was my father,” she said as her eyes began to fill with tears. “You two…were on that first mission to Iscandar?”

“We were,” Nova said as she reached across and embraced Hilde. “We’re honestly sorry for your loss, Councillor Ganz. Your father fought us hard and he died very bravely, with great honor.”

“So I see,” Hilde said. “I’ve been…assigned to stay with you for a while aboard the Yamato. May I tour that famous ship with you?”

“You most certainly can,” said Derek as he drove off through the tube system back to the Yamato as if a million devils were after them.

“Your Majesty…does the Lord Admiral always drive like that?” Hilde said as she fell against Nova.

Nova chuckled a little. “Yes, but we’ve been together so long, I’ve had time to get used to it. In fact, I drive rather fast myself. And for Heaven’s sakes…just call me Nova! Okay?”

Hilde nodded. She was certainly aware who the Wildstars were. They were on video often on Gamilon, since while Gamilon had many allies, the ones most in Desslok’s esteem were Iscandar and the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth.

In the meantime, back in their apartments in the Palace on Gamilon, Desslok and Starsha were taking a bath together in the Emperor’s sumptuous pool.

“So, what do you think, Starsha?” Desslok said.

“It looks and feels very bad. I can tell when Mother’s upset. She most definitely is upset. Please escort me back to Iscandar in the morning. I’m scared. Did you want to attend that concert next week?”

“Right now, I have little interest,” Desslok said quite honestly.

“I feel much the same,” sighed Starsha. “But I did request that Atirangi see me for a private audience after the concert.”

“Why?”

“She shares my bloodline and my mother’s bloodline, Desslok. We need to talk.”

Desslok smiled. “I’d rather speak with you, dear Starsha.”

Starsha smiled. “Thank you.” She smiled at him and they kissed.

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

MAY 12, 2234

Theodore Wildstar was back in the Vampyr.

He and Danielle had experienced a bitter argument after Dexter Cross had left. There had been rough sex. There had been a fistfight between the two of them.

Danielle fled the penthouse that night with the clothes on her back and she flew back to Great Britain.

When Theodore read the note she had left as he slept, he laughed at her and flushed the note down the toilet.

Then, he had destroyed every single thing she had left in the penthouse.

With that done, Theodore boarded his ship.

He got in touch with his contacts and found out that someone was waiting for him at Dracas Minor, which surprised him.

Theodore cruised on, making a rendezvous with a ship near Dracas Minor.

Boarding tubes were extended and locked on.

The ship that Theodore was making a rendezvous with?

The old Iscandarian Royal Navy Vessel Unification.

The man that strode from it was Count Alatar of Iscandar, in his effeminate clothing.

He surprised Theodore by embracing him.

“My Count,” said Theodore.

“We have communicated for long at a distance. I would speak to you within your vessel, Prince Theodore of the Commonwealth. I knew your mother long ago. On Beemera.”

“Seldom has anyone referred to me by the title I was given at birth which I still hold, even though I am not favored among my parents,” Theodore said.

“But, are you not to be honored as a Prince?” said Alatar, bowing. Theodore was elated. This Count showed him far more respect than his siblings and even parents had ever shown him. “After all, do we not share blood, O Theodore?”

“So, what did you come to see me for?” Theodore said.

“To make certain that you continue to supply us with intelligence and data, Theodore,” Alatar said. “You see, we are in the service of the rightful Queen of the galaxies, not that upstart known as your mother, who now has a very inflated notion of her power and importance.”

“And that name of your Queen?” said Theodore, suspecting he knew the truth.

“La Andromeda Promethium the Second, Vanguard of the New Age of the Machine,” said Alatar with reverence. “I can trust you, yes?” said Alatar.

“I am in your service, and there is something I seek from you.”

“Pray tell, what is it?” Alatar said.

“I wish to make a contract with the Light bearer, the Lord of All,” whispered Theodore. “For power as long as I live. He can take my soul when I die. Except that someday I hope to become imbued with mechanical blood, so that I can never die.”

“Are you certain of that?” Alatar said, staring hard at him.

“I am,” replied Theodore.

“So be it,” said Alatar, as he shut his eyes.

The Iscandarian Count began to murmur strange words.

Then, the atmosphere of the compartment went dark.

A miasma of black gas and stinking Sulphur and smoke began to fill the compartment.

Horns tore out of Alatar’s head, leaving blood in their wake.

His eyes began to burn and then glow red and then white.

When Alatar’s mouth opened, there were fangs.

“Who are you?” Theodore said as he knelt in fear on the deck.

“He who will be God Almighty when he wins the war, the bringer of light and wisdom; the true serpent, the great dragon,” Satan hissed. “I drank and thirsted for the blood of the sacrifice you gave me many weeks ago, and it pleases me to advise you the soul of that whore you sacrificed to me is now in torment in the Pit of Hell. Your eventual home, Theodore. I understand you wish to deal with me? What do you offer?”

“My soul, Master,” said Theodore. “For power, riches, revenge against my sister; revenge against my parents, especially my mother.”

“Your parents and sister are under the protection of the Great Despot himself,” Satan hissed. “I have already been advised I cannot slay them! It is not…Permitted. Yet. But it has been given to me to test them, although why the Almighty would allow me to torment them is beyond me! And, yea, torment them, I shall, and you shall be a great instrument for me in that torment. You must do two things for me; nay, three. Spy upon them and join Promethium’s forces. I shall enable that. Secondly; give me a share of the blood of Starsha and Nova on your sword as they scream in torment and you maim them when I permit it and wreck the joy of Emperor Desslok and Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar in their presence and make those women subjects of pity and contempt, and…Third…your soul, of course. Do these things, and you shall have what you seek.”

“I swear, I will do these things to your satisfaction, my Master,” said Theodore.

“Then, I give you a new name: Theodore Faust,” my son,” hissed Satan. “The contract. Here it is,” said Satan as a piece of battered parchment appeared in flames in his hand. “You will sign this. In blood. And blow your nose with it…lower right-hand corner, please…”

Theodore followed out the disgusting instructions. He cut his finger with a hot dagger proffered by the Fallen One himself.

His blood stained the contract.

The Contract, strangely pre-dated 3 January 2234, was signed by Satan as “Lucifed, Lord of All” in Theodore’s blood. It appeared the Dark One had been plotting this for ages.

Theodore signed the name “Theodore Faust” below Satan’s name.

Then, he blew his nose in the contract.

The Evil One threw ribbons in the green pile of snot and then stamped it with a smoking hot seal.

“I give unto you Seven Hundred and Forty-Six additional years of Life; and you shall come into my Hands on October 31, 2980; Halloween Night, or Samhain. It has been given unto me to see that your parents’ skein of Life shall also end on Halloween and All Saints’ Day six years later; on October 31^st and November 1^st, 2986. On those Days, All Hallows’ Eve and All Hallows’ Day, within twenty-four hours of each other, they shall both die. Along with Yamato. The Great Tyrant has given them a total of Eight Hundred and Eight Mortal Years in which to fail and suffer. And suffer they shall!”

Satan paused and continued, “Yea! The Great Tyrant has given them Seven Hundred and Fifty-Two more years of life as of today. However, their deaths are beyond my grasp, and their souls are bought with Adonai’s own Blood; so, I have already been advised I cannot have them even though, lo, I demanded their souls for wiping out most of Gamilon decades ago, and I have also been advised I am not permitted to break their bond of love, matrimony, and energy towards each other, but that I can test them sorely as once I did Job in Days of Old,” Satan hissed. “At the End, your mother will be telling your father to curse God, and die.”

“That does not sound like my mother at all,” said Theodore, smiling a little. “Her faith and hope are too rock-ribbed.”

“Why do you say that, boy?”

“She frequently quoted another selection from Job: ‘Though He slay me…yet I will trust in Him…’”

“Begone with your Job, Chapter Thirteen, verse fifteen!” roared Satan. “SHE WILL CURSE HIM!”

“What about Promethium?” said Theodore, now renamed Faust. “Will she rule for ever and ever?”

“Her fate,” Satan said, “Has been hidden from me by the Great Tyrant. Ask no more!”

And, at that, Satan vanished in flames, taking the contract with him.

Theodore thought, I hope I have not sold my birthright for a mess of pottage as Esau did…

Far away, in a dimension above and beyond this one, a Man with a reddish-brown beard and piercing Eyes of Flame nodded and wept. You think your Destiny is set, Theodore. I think not. There is always hope, even though you cannot see it. That self-same Great, Quiet, Eternal Mind, then thought, Yea, as I said, centuries ago…And Whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die…There shall indeed come a time…when…you shall see the truth of those Words.

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

III. A STRANGE AND UNDESIRED MEETING…

THE TELEZART STAR SYSTEM

(THE SITE OF TELEZART)

JUNE 16, 2234

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

The Yamato made another space warp, towards an asteroid field in the very star system where Telezart had been.

Once upon a time; in a star system they had not visited in fully thirty-three years.

The space battleship appeared there in a flurry of blue streaks of light.

“Warp completed,” said Jordy Venture.

He looked around the system. “Isn’t this…where my brother Mark met…?”

“Yes,” Derek said in a cold voice. “It is.”

Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar was frustrated.

They had been searching for Defuel.

Right before they’d warped, they found it was no longer here.

Nova had requested they come here anyway. He thought that was an interesting thing about her; in spite of her authority, she never ordered him or the crew of the Yamato to do anything.

But, now and then, she made requests. Those were enough.

She was in Sickbay right now, about to come off her watch.

Nova, what are you thinking? Derek sent to his wife, who could occasionally be a little opaque and mysterious.

Even to him.

Nova didn’t answer.

Sasha looked around the bridge and she broke the tension a little by saying, “Deke and I…we had a talk today. An honestly civil conversation.”

“About what?”

“About my heritage. He said he will try not to blame me for what my mother did, and…great…ten ships have just warped in!”

“Identify them, Sasha!” Derek snapped.

“A Gatlantean space battleship, four cruisers, a carrier, four destroyers. Distance, nine megameters. There is a large mass behind them that I am picking up but…this makes no sense. I cannot get a radar image on it, nor a visual.”

“What’s going on?” Derek said.

Then, he felt Nova’s mental response to him. I apologize for the delay, Derek. I was changing clothes. I also had my reasons for coming here in spite of the fact Defuel is gone. We will soon all find them out. Sorry I kept a secret for once.

Then, she appeared in a flash of light next to Sasha’s post, wearing her circlet and a beautiful Iscandarian-style gown in white and lavender. “Derek. I request permission to relieve Sasha at her post, please,” Nova said in a polite, low voice.

“Granted, Doctor,” Derek said as Nova quietly sat down. “Good. Not much has changed here at the radar due to the refit. Don’t be surprised. The flagship shall be hailing us in a moment.”

“What the hell do they want?” said Jordy.

“We shall soon find out,” Derek said.

At her post, Teri Forrester said, “Hail coming in from the battleship Ladras, Captain.”

“Put it on the main screen,” Derek said.

Immediately, an image of Princess Invidia came up. “I greet you, Lord Admiral Wildstar,” she said formally. “I remember you, Sasha of Iscandar, and Nova, you look as radiant as ever.”

“Thank you, Invidia. I see you’re back to your old red Gatlantean gown again,” Nova said calmly, meeting Invidia’s eyes with a hard gaze that chilled the Princess down to her toes. “You told us months ago you wanted to negotiate an alliance with us against Queen Promethium. How bad is the situation?”

“It is not well,” Invidia said as Nova quietly made some scans, counter-scans, and combined a few beams at once along with her mind.

Nova then sent to Derek, please come here. Now.

Derek did so. He held hands with Nova but sent to her, what’s going on?

She’s playing dirty poker, Derek, Nova sent back. Behind her fleet is a Portent-class dreadnaught, length, eight kilometers. The mass Sasha was picking up. She’s cloaked somehow.

“I’m bringing us to general quarters,” Derek whispered.

“Hold off. For a moment,” Nova whispered back. She squeezed his hand. “Invidia. I have a pretty darn good question for you,” Nova said.

“Yes, Your Majesty?” Invidia said with a slightly mischievous grin.

“I remember years ago we were trying to negotiate a truce in a war you started in the Melezart system, not far away from here,” Nova said. “Derek, you remember how it went?”

“Invidia almost killed you,” Derek said flatly. “Even though she was trying for Desslok.”

“Are you still good at throwing knives, Nova, dear?” Invidia said.

“Are you?” Nova said sweetly. “I’m going to say something blunt, Invidia. Cut the…malarkey…why are you hiding a Dreadnaught behind your fleet?”

“How…how did you find out?” gasped Invidia.

“This old girl collie dog has learned a few new tricks, Invidia,” Nova said. “Who’s there?”

“Is this a ridiculous knock-knock joke you Terrons use?” Invidia sneered.

“She’s not joking,” Derek said. “Invidia. Cut the crap! Who is behind your fleet?”

Then, Nova looked and took a deep breath.

The black Dreadnaught decloaked.

“You’re about to find…” Invidia said as a stronger signal cut in.

“Excuse me,” Derek said to Nova, almost…boyishly.

“Gotcha,” she said as she kissed her husband and most trusted Prince and Admiral on the nose.

Derek ran up to the bridge windows, accompanied by Sasha.

The whole bridge crew was on their feet now, staring as the signal resolved itself.

The first thing they heard was cold, deranged-sounding laughter.

Derek gritted his teeth.

Sasha hugged her uncle in fear.

“Please,” Derek said as he gently pushed her away while Jordy stood to her right. Behind him stood Samarra Bart, the Ralkhen girl who stood in front of…well…the cosmo-radar.

Behind Derek stood Presha in her whites, looking so much like her granddaughter Nova that they could be twins. Teri Forrester stood behind her with her hair down, ready to faint.

Nova was on her feet, and other than Derek, she was the only one on that bridge who stood steadfast as she stared hard…

…into the hard, mirthful eyes of Emperor Zordar.

Zordar smiled and said, “Crew of…I need to correct myself…the Yamato…which you fools once called the Argo, I note that three of you recognize me; namely, one-time Pellian Ambassador and Mouth of a Deranged and Dead High Queen named Berenice, o Presha D’Shal…for those who do not, I am Grand Emperor Zordar of the Nation, Peoples, and Houses of the Gatlantean Race, Master of the Andromeda Galaxy and all I survey, and Terra’s true Sovereign since I still consider the surrender you never signed in your Perfidy years ago effective. And, Presha, I again stress; your mother was a weak scion of a dying people, and I understand Pellias has gotten more pathetic since we last spoke, although one…poor Genetic Freak…on that bridge probably thinks otherwise.”

“I don’t appreciate my mother being talked about that way, Prince Zordar,” she said.

“And I don’t appreciate your cheek, Presha,” snapped Zordar.

You knew him? Nova sent to her.

I did, Presha sent back. I never met him face to face, thank our Creator. But he was bad enough on the comms.

Nova nodded quietly, shutting her eyes, running a Psalm through her mind, sending that Psalm quietly to the minds of all who were there. My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. May Your unfailing love be my comfort, according to Your promise to Your servants, Amen and So Mote it Be. Psalm One Hundred and Nineteen, verses Fifty and Seventy-Six.

Derek nodded, but he still gritted his teeth at Zordar when the Emperor said. “I remember you, young man, Derek Wildstar, and it appears you are cosplaying a Terron Admiral now. What keeps you looking so youthful? I thought your hair would be grey by now, Wildstar. I remember you looking at me with rage in your eyes thirty-three years ago as I gave your planet the chastisement it deserved! But, since I am here to parley, maybe you and I can be civil to each other, son?”

Derek took a deep breath and said, “It surprises me that you say you wish to parley with us, those you hold in such contempt. I remember the last time we spoke you said you have the power to make planets crumble and stars shatter. You called our resistance to your madness a cosmic joke! Did you learn anything from Trelaina? She told us all about how she…chastised…you.”

“You amuse me tremendously, Derek Wildstar, and it looks as if Her Majesty the current Pellian High Queen decided to go slumming when she married you. Yes, dear. I mean YOU, Nova Dawn Yukiko Forrester Wildstar the Third. I have heard incredible rumors about you. Have you joined the Space Goddess of the Month Club?” Zordar said with mirth in his eyes. “How much of what they say about you is true? Did you really get Ekogaru the Great and La Andromeda Promethium the Second to back down? I also see you have a little more fashion sense than Trelaina. She never changed that blue dress.”

“I am not a Goddess, but a Servant of the Living Word,” Nova snapped.

“Don’t you eat?” Zordar said. “Oh, I remember how thin and waiflike you looked thirty-three years ago, woman,” Zordar said with a smile. “You still look like a waif wearing a pretty dress and a crown. I would like to negotiate with you, as I must admit you and I meet a mutual threat from Promecium, as much as I hate to admit it.”

“Are you going downhill?” Nova said mildly. “I thought, as my dear husband said, you made planets crumble and stars shatter.”

“I STILL DO, WOMAN!” Zordar snarled. “What do you do?”

“Didn’t Invidia tell you about an amazing act of Grace Trelaina and I gave Princess Invidia to aid her in fighting Promethium? We raised your Gatlantis City-Ship from the ashes and recalled the dead from the sleep Trelaina had confined them to. Unlike you, Zordar, Trelaina and I create, not destroy.”

“Prove it!” Zordar snapped.

Derek, help me off the bridge after I’m done, Nova sent to Derek. I’m in deep prayer. The Matrix and I are going to give Zordar a neat little…doozie.

I don’t like the sound of that, Nova, Derek sent back.

Oh, don’t worry, Nova sent back. I am not going to hurt a single soul.

Nova raised her hand, and Zordar and Invidia saw some of the asteroids that had formed Telezart beginning to move.

A spark of Light appeared.

“I am giving you a Physics Lesson, Zordar,” Nova said in a deadly soft voice. “The Law of Conservation of Mass means that matter normally cannot be created or destroyed, but it can be made to change form by the proper manipulation. Trelaina, you probably remember, turned Telezart into pure energy. Remember that, Emperor Zordar?”

Zordar did NOT like the sound of this. “Your Majesty. Do you issue a threat against us?”

“Not at all. You wanted to see what I can do. Here is an object lesson,” Nova said as the others watched in awe as gasses and asteroids and molecules were called back to where they had been by Nova’s command of the Pellian Matrix. “The Pellian Matrix. A piece of the very Spark of Creation, placed in our hands by Grace, by the very One referred to here;” as Nova quoted John 1:1-3. “Behold. In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made which was indeed made. What I am about to demonstrate is a Gift. I am not a divinity by any way, shape or form. I am but a redeemed sinner. I still do things that can be inconsiderate, vain, wrathful, impatient. But, by His Grace, I can exercise this small Gift of Grace. You claim to be immortal, Emperor Zordar. But, please remember, that just like Derek, just like me, you have to put on your pants one leg at a time and someday remember that you will have to die.”

Then, Derek’s mouth just fell open with shock. He remembered how Trelaina had destroyed Telezart.

So did Zordar. So did Invidia.

In a moment, Telezart began to quickly reform out of the space junk and gas Nova had been enabled to gather in the system.

And, in a moment, Telezart was right back where it was.

“Emperor Zordar,” Nova said, in a slightly shaky voice. “Is…is this the proof you need?”

“It is,” said Zordar in an almost subdued voice. Almost.

Invidia sent a message to him. “Father. I told you not to provoke her!”

“Tomorrow, Emperor Zordar, we shall negotiate,” Nova said, almost lightly, hiding from everyone but Derek that her head was reeling and her physical frame was shaking from the effort of what she had just done and she was almost ready to throw up. “We shall discuss a venue then.”

Zordar said, with a wolfish smile, “Arishna’s blessing be upon you, Your Majesty.”

“May God bless you, Zordar. And show you Grace, Peace, and Mercy,” Nova replied.

“Why do you say that?” Zordar replied.

“I will not say…except that you shall find out,” Nova said.

Zordar cut the transmission.

Derek went to Nova. “Can you walk?”

“I think so. Sure can’t...teleport like this,” Nova said with a rueful smile. “Our quarters. Please.”

“Jordy, you have the conn,” Derek snapped as he helped Nova up and walked arm in arm with her towards the hatch.

Everyone there saluted them and held the salute until they left.

“Her Majesty is like an angel,” said Lieutenant Samarra Bart with awe in her voice.

“Yes, but in a frail frame of flesh,” said Presha as she bowed her head. “Adonai be thanked for His Servant among us.”

TO BE CONTINUED…