THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

STAR BLAZERS/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter EIGHTEEN:  …Of Thirty Pieces of Silver…

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

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PRELUDE: AND THE HEAVENS WERE LIKE BRASS…

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2235

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On Planet Iscandar, Starsha sighed alone in lonely prayer as she fought several inclinations in her heart.

Whose was the Voice that whispered in my head, Lord God? Starsha thought in despair. I know my elder self-she told me that it was of evil, but whose evil was it? I have to warn Abelt, Mother and Father that we are being compromised by the Darkness.

Then, she said out loud, “I acted in anger in the past. Thanks be to Adonai that things are right between Abelt and I again. I still feel guilt, though, as I acted out of wrong, misplaced convictions about Abelt. Now, it is six months; our child shall be born in the Spring. I helped Abelt, and I was at his side in battle. But even though we love each other as much as ever, and I have fought at his side, I still feel…I have not done enough for us.”

Starsha then remembered the oath she had made on their wedding day, an oath which now mocked her.

Starsha then paused and took an object passed to her by the altar girl. “I am about to be wed to my first love, Emperor Desslok of Gamilas. We have been through much together, our worlds, and the two of us. We have both come to the edge of death. Emperor Desslok was once in the Valley of the Shadow of Death himself. But, like my dear mother and I, like our dear sister Pellian Commonwealth, which was dead and now again lives, Desslok and his people live, and his Empire is devoted to defending the peace of this Galaxy.” Starsha then paused. “As I also am!” she shouted as she raised her sword.

“In this life, I am still devoted to the ways of peace, but we have reluctantly allowed Gamilas, Terran, and Pellian vessels to be based here. After much thought and prayer, I will continue that policy. I would have loved to be a pure pacifist, but as my mother is not a pure pacifist, and as my beloved is not a pacifist, I cannot be, either, to my sorrow…but in sad but realistic acknowledgment of the danger which looms over us…the danger of the Machine People and the loss of our shared humanity!...”

Starsha picked up a comm set. “I need to call Abelt. Now. I need to…resolve this…Lord, help me to resolve it…”

She called Abelt, who was cruising in space, and she said, “Abelt, do you remember that day when we were in battle and how I felt beforehand?”

“You were filled with fears and doubts. Yes, I remember. What happened again?”

“An accursed Voice whispered in my head. A version of myself from another universe appeared to help me and to bolster my courage. That is when I came to you. That voice of evil whispers lies to me again. I am praying, but there appears to be no answer. What do I do?”

“Keep the faith. Come to me if you must. What else concerns you, my love?”

“There is a child inside me. I am afraid She may come for the baby soon. Mother once told me a dark story about how Aliscea, Ekogaru’s servant, killed one of her children in her womb twenty-six years ago.” Starsha touched her bare stomach in her low-cute white and gold gown. The swelling in her was growing bigger.

“Find the evil, Starsha. I can help you. I will be home soon. Your mother will be with us in a matter of weeks. She can help you too. Pray. Keep the faith. I love you. And remember the Word….”

“I will,” Starsha said as she began to quote, I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the LORD, Which made heaven and earth…

At that, she was comforted.

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On another world, far away, a woman in a gold and black Yamato uniform knelt in a confessional at Saint Dominic’s Church in Philadelphia, PA.

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned,” said the soft Colorado-accented voice. “It has been three months since my last formal confession.”

Father Martin Likanski, now growing old and grey at last, recognized that voice. “Nova. Why do you come to me anonymously?”

“Because I have a hard time facing what I have done,” Nova said. “I tried to encourage Queen Starsha to be herself again. I was too judgmental. I judged Starsha when I should have remembered “before you judge the mote in another’s eye, pull out the wooden beam in your own eye,” paraphrased from the Gospels, the Words of Our Lord. I have reconciled with Queen Starsha, my daughter, and Leader Desslok. I still feel pain, though. I erred. I sinned. My pride and my human wisdom overcame me. Like it does. All too often.”

“Nova, you tried the best…according to your wisdom and human understanding, which is considerable,” said Father Likanski. “However, we cannot always depend upon our own wisdom. Trust in the Lord, and lean not to thy own understanding.”

“You must be a force for strength and wise counsel now, Nova. As you were when Derek was young and I counseled you to be his spiritual eyes. I know that the Lord and I have given you many challenges in life. This is another one. Shepherd Starsha, just as you did with the man you married who was once a bitter young man, now a leader of men with a heart for God and a conscience like your own. Love both your husband and your daughter, Nova. Offer support. Encouragement, kindness. And the same goes for your son-in-law. Can you do that?”

“With God’s help, Father…I shall try,” Nova said. She prayed with her confessor, priest, and friend.

For her, she thought she saw a clink of light from the Brass Heavens.

Hope.

That was enough.

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I. INTERVIEW TIME

Terra Planet Network Studios

New York City

The set of FACE THE PLANET

February 2, 2235

(transcript of broadcast)

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[Theme Music]

[MODERATOR] Good morning, people. Today on Face the Planet, we have two very interesting guests who will discussing Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar’s new book “Starsha”. I’m Dennis Parkes, your Moderator. Our interviewers represent both sides of what you could call the political spectrum; Daisuke Yamagata from the TPN show The Ground View…

[YAMAGATA, in a three-piece Savile Row suit, waves and adjusts his glasses]

[MODERATOR] And, from the distaff side, Scott Foley from the Niccols News Network Program Nothing But the Truth…

[FOLEY, in a battered shirt, black necktie, black suit pants and shoes, suspenders, thinning hair, prominent nose, and scroungy beard, smiles at the camera and gives a thumbs-up]

[MODERATOR] And, now, our guests, Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar and Empress Nova Wildstar to discuss recent events.

[DEREK enters in a dark suit with white shirt and blue necktie, holding hands with NOVA, who has on a simple pink skirted suit with white scoop-necked blouse and pink open-toe boots in an unusual pattern. DEREK seems to be shaking slightly as he walks. NOVA is supporting him. They sit down.]

 [MODERATOR] Lord Admiral, you’re looking well, considering your injuries from the Battle of Telezart…

[DEREK] Well, I’m improving daily. I may be able to get my flight certification back later this Spring. I’m going to be back on active duty soon.

[NOVA] I appointed him as Special Military Envoy to the Gamilas Empire. In the light of the fighting last year, we need to further cement security arrangements with Leader Desslok Abelt Desslar and plan in the event of another attack.

[FOLEY picks his nose. NOVA makes a face]

[FOLEY] Your Majesty, is this another make-work job for your cripple husband who should be cashiered?

[DEREK grits his teeth]

[FOLEY] And, Your Majesty, what about this new alliance with Gatlantis which is causing us problems with Iscandar? Did you not in fact alienate your own daughter Starsha by this agreement?

[NOVA] The alliance with Gatlantis was necessary for two reasons; Promethium is attacking the Gatlanteans, so it was necessary for military and humanitarian reasons, even though I will say I had misgivings. Also, it secured the Andromeda front, for us, the Gamilas, and Iscandar.  In the bloody attack upon our forces at Telezart, the alliance held. As for Starsha, I did nothing to alienate her at that time; as a matter of fact, I tried to contact her during the battle. I heard that she and Desslok were having differences. I appealed to her for answers, both psychically and in person but those differences were resolved. She was at Desslok’s side in battle, and she aided me in healing Derek. But I listened to some wise counsel. I prayed for Starsha and still pray for her. I still care about her. I love her, and I am confused by this…

[FOLEY] Maybe it’s your fault because you don’t know how to rule?

[NOVA] I beg your pardon, Mister Foley?

[MODERATOR] Mister Foley, we were making pleasantries when you burst in with your ad hominem personal attacks. Let’s try to keep on point. Admiral Wildstar, how are you doing?

[DEREK] Recovering. Starsha worries me. She told us she senses dark presences. Nova is trying to help her, but it is a mystery to us what is happening. It is even a mystery to Starsha…

[NOVA]…raise our eyebrows somewhat.

[MODERATOR] And isn’t she your daughter?

[DEREK] In this incarnation, yes.

[MODERATOR] Since our reporters are…champing at the bit, we can start questions.

[YAMAGATA] Lord Admiral, do you or Her Majesty have any authority over Queen Starsha’s political decisions as her parents…in her current incarnation?

[NOVA] Only by weight of being allies and by moral authority. [NOVA looks down at the floor]

[YAMAGATA] Lord Admiral, is it true that Queen Starsha prevaricated in giving Terra the Cosmo-DNA after the trip to Iscandar in 2199 to 2200?

[DEREK] Yes. First, she apologized for not telling us that Gamilas and Iscandar were twin planets. Then, she met with Captain Abraham Avatar, myself, and Nova, who was then Lieutenant Forrester.

[FOLEY] Your MAJESTY, what was your role in these sensitive discussions?

[NOVA] I transcribed them, on audio data capsules, and a written transcript at the same time. I used a Court Reporter’s shorthand device.

[FOLEY] How did you learn Court Reporting? You are a woman of many talents, my liberal dear.

[NOVA] I interned at my father’s law firm one summer in high school. I took some Reporters’ Notes during depositions. As for Starsha’s decisions then, Derek and I recognize it was a hard decision. She ultimately made the right one.

[YAMAGATA] That sounds valid.

[FOLEY] Where did you get that strange footwear?

[NOVA] Macy’s on 34^th Street, silly.

[LAUGHTER]

[FOLEY] Are you a metalhead? Do you like My Little Pony? Do you still watch anime at the age of fifty-four? By the way, Happy Birthday, Madam.

[DEREK] I think this is going down a…strange rabbit hole. [DEREK Coughs]

[NOVA] Are you okay, love?

{DEREK nods]

[MODERATOR] Mister Foley, we don’t need these ad hominem attacks on our guests. What exactly do you have against them?

[FOLEY] Nova dated me in college. Before she became unpleasant. She has violent tendencies and a bad temper.

[NOVA] Sir. I punched you in the nose because you ran your hands up my blouse in a public mall court in the underground city of New Denver.

[FOLEY] A very violent woman.

[DEREK] Who was rightly defending her honor, sir.

[YAMAGATA} Back on point. It was in these discussions that Queen Starsha said she had second thoughts about letting Terra be healed?

[DEREK] Yes.

[YAMAGATA] Why?

[DEREK] Captain Avatar explained the trap Leader Desslok placed us in on Gamilas. We had to attack the volcanic system to escape and used more power than intended. She accused us of genocide and asked if we were worthy of aid. Avatar and I again explained the situation. So did Nova. Starsha said she needed time to think. After two days in seclusion, she began to give us the Cosmo-DNA and apologized.

[FOLEY] I get the impression Starsha is a rather temperamental woman.

[NOVA] No. She has high-minded principles but she is very kind. Desslok and she had issues, but they resolved them!

[YAMAGATA] Are they now together again?

[DEREK] Yes. We encouraged it.

[YAMAGATA] A wise decision, honestly. Mr. Foley, would you agree that Her Majesty and her Prince consider their decisions well?

[FOLEY] They do…for a pair of liberal weirdoes.

{DEREK snarls and recovers] I think we are more centrist.

[FOLEY] Good for a strange mystic and a cripple.

[NOVA clears her throat] Mister Foley. Derek and I have some news to share. As of late December…Derek became well enough to make me pregnant. The baby will be coming in late August.

[DEREK] Not bad for a ‘cripple’, Mister Foley?

[MODERATOR] Congratulations to you both.

[DEREK] Thank you. We have a good marriage. [Smiles at NOVA who smiles back]

[FOLEY] Rumor has it you two have vicious arguments about policy and throw things at each other.

[NOVA] We do have differences, like any couple. Throwing things? Is that fan fiction?

[EVERYONE LAUGHS EXCEPT FOLEY WHO STALKS OFF SET YELLING] The cornfield, Your Majesty. Wait until the rain comes and I make the corn grow on you two.

[MODERATOR] What is he going on about?

[DEREK] Bizarre Holonet podcasts he does.

[YAMAGATA] His journalistic ethics are questionable.

[DEREK] If our comments are cut up and falsified, that may precipitate legal action.

[NOVA nods]

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II. DISCUSSIONS IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

PLANET EARTH

PHILADELPHIA: THE WILDSTAR HOME ON COMLY STREET

February 5, 2235

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At the moment, a remarkably common occurrence was going on.

The Wildstars’ small Philadelphia home had a finished basement.

There were some couches, and an electric Fender Rhodes piano on its metal legs, and a set of bongo drums.

Sharing some Passionfruit Juice this hour of the morning was Nova Wildstar, in black shorts and a matching black tank top, Derek Wildstar, in jeans and a polo shirt, and their daughter Teresa, in jeans with blown out knees and an old Harvard t-shirt. She had shown up barefoot in her modern VW Beetle aircar. Nova was also barefoot, and Derek had on his socks.

“Do you think I was backpedaling too much in that Press Conference on my birthday?” Nova said. “I mean…I know we got upset at Starsha, both of us. I went to Confession, hoping I didn’t push her to the breaking point?”

“Really,” said Teresa. “Mom, you should be good.”

“Yes,” Nova said. “We don’t want to upset Starsha too much. What good would that do? None. When she was little, she read her own histories and cried. She asked me if she had delayed too much with the Cosmo DNA. I told her she did what she could in the face of the threat from dying Gamilon at the time. That’s when I took her to those hospitals on my rounds. I asked her if she would ever delay humanitarian aid again due to indecision. She told me no. Starsha is actually a very good girl. She really cares about Abelt. Things began to change when she went to that Academy of Sciences on Iscandar. I contacted her the other day after Mass. We used to play basketball…one on one. I asked her if we could play on Iscandar if she can handle it with her pregnancy and we can talk things out.”

“It was cute,” Derek said.

“So, what did she say?” said Teresa.

“She said she would if she’s not too fat from the baby,” laughed Nova. They all laughed.

“To heck with it all,” said Teresa as she opened up her guitar case. “Let’s jam.”

Nova took her place behind the keyboard, and while Teresa strapped on her acoustic and tuned up, Derek took his place behind the drums.

“What do you want to play?” said Derek.

“What’d I Say, Ray Charles,” Teresa said. “I’ll sing lead. Let’s go. One, two…three”

And the trio began to go at it, letting off a lot of steam, playing very fast, as Nova banged out the electric piano riff and Teresa attacked the guitar. Derek played the bongos like a madman as Teresa began singing with her strong voice.

They did a few more songs…and then Teresa’s phone rang. She answered it. “It’s Jan from Rikasha,” she said, smiling. “He’s house-hunting here in town, trying to find a nice place for us when we get married later this year. Gotta go. I gotta read the contracts.”

“I’ll come with you,” Nova said.

Teresa pulled her aside. “No. Stay here with Dad, Mom. He still looks depressed. Make him feel better.”

Nova winked and giggled. “Sure can…thanks.”

Both Derek and Nova hugged their slightly beatnik daughter Teresa before she left. She knew the way out.

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A few days passed…

In a light grey stone-fronted house near Wissinoming Park, a set of powerful, hidden eyes closed and opened as their owner said, "You miserable wretch, Theodore!" in a disgusted whisper. Then, the owner of the voice said, "Derek...notify our Security. He's coming. You know who!"

Indeed, Theodore walked down Frankford Avenue in Philadelphia, chuckling to himself, desiring revenge.

It didn't take him long to pass the cemeteries in the area and walk up the hill to Comly Avenue. He smiled at the nearby park, but he walked up to a house in the 4300 block, ignoring the black cars parked nearby.

Just as brazen as ever, he knocked at the door of his parents' home: 4312, basically, his childhood home. "Dad! Mom! Are you two guys home?"

The door opened a moment later. Derek Wildstar, in a black sweater, blue jeans, and socks, walked out onto the porch showing very little unsteadiness now and said, "We're home, Theodore. What do YOU want? You’ve done so much to us! The criminal empire we’ve learned about, your stealing your mother’s books…"

"I want to meet with you and Mom. Now!"

"What gives you that right to barge in on us? You know I have a busy schedule! I was planning for a military exercise, and your mother is very much involved!"

"Well, I God-damn well want to see you now!"

"You don't use that sort of language to your father!" Derek barked as he picked Theodore up by his black leather tunic and threw him against the stone breezeway, and gave him a backhand. "You talk to us in a civil manner, and maybe I'll let you in!”

"Dad, they say home is the place they have to let you in when you show up!"

"Well, this is no longer your home, or have you forgotten what a creep you've been to us? To everyone?"

Derek was about to throw him on the sidewalk and leave him for security, until another voice sounded behind him. "Derek, please let him come in."

"Nova?"

"I have some things I have to say to him that are long overdue." At that, Nova sent a few quick thoughts into her husband's mind, and he nodded.

"Get in here, Theodore," he said, grabbing his wayward son by the arm.

He threw him into the living room.

Where he landed at his mother's bare feet.

Nova was simply dressed; sky-blue turtleneck sweater, black leather miniskirt, but her face was a dark storm cloud as she confronted her son.

"You have sickened me," she said. "But I just got a phone call about you. Guess where it came from?"

"Up your damn skirt, Mom?" Theodore said.

Nova snarled, bent down, and slapped her son in the face. "No. From Gamilon. From Desslok himself. You tell me what you were trying by assassinating one of his top officers on Alpha Centauri IV? Spill it, you traitor!" she snapped.

Indeed, Desslok was livid. He placed no blame on either Nova or Derek—only Theodore was the focus for his anger. Theodore had threatened one of his best friends, namely General Fraken. So yes, he had contacted Nova about her miscreant of a son.

"Some of your crazy friends, like that Rikashan freak Jan that Teresa is engaged to! I talked with him and I threw a dagger at him and he got one of those crazy-ass knives or swords and said he was gonna cut me up, so I phased here to Philly."

"To end up here," Derek hissed. "Why?"

"I want the names of your lawyers," he said. “I want to sue him!”

"I won't give them," Nova said. "And, you know I'm a lawyer myself, too. My associates in your grandfather's firm Jan, and so do I, so there would be a HELL of a conflict of interest. Which reminds me. I'm glad you're here. Do you know why?"

"Why?" he said.

"You have been a blight on the family and on the Alliance, and on the entire Terran-Pellian Commonwealth," Nova said, formally and coldly. She grabbed an envelope off the table and slowly tore it up. "I discontinued your trust fund payments as of a few minutes ago. Your ceremonial noble rank in the Commonwealth is also herewith revoked, as is the right to call us your parents. You have become evil. You sicken me and your father! We hate to do this, and we pray that you will repent, but we must.”

"What the…? You’ll do what?" said Theodore.

"You are disinherited, and you'd better change your last name, you little monster, because you are no son of ours any longer!" Derek roared.

"From now on, if you talk to me ever again, you will call me "YOUR MAJESTY!" Nova said in a cold voice. "And you will refer to Derek as "LORD ADMIRAL" which will be quite unlikely, since I also pronounce your face persona non grata in the Commonwealth, you criminal and terrorist! You have twenty-four hours to leave our realm, or you will face death. And don't think you will find sanctuary in the Gamilon Empire, either, since Desslok told me if you ever show your face in the Empire again, your life will be forfeit since you tried to kill Fraken.”

Theodore screamed his head off at that.

His father punched him.

Theodore fell back, stood, and then he telekinesed a dueling saber from off the wall, and he yelled, "Your Majesty, I call you out right now for a duel! This farce has gone on for long enough, and I will now tell you that I have sworn to Promethium and that I will GUT you in her name!"

"You bastard," Derek said as he drew his blaster. "You will have your brains blown out across this..."

"Derek, please. He called me out? Very good. Your challenge is accepted, WRETCH!" Nova barked as she telekinesed the other saber to her own hand. "Let's throw down right now!" she yelled.

Theodore snarled and swung at her.

And thus, their duel began…right in their living room.

Nova parried Theodore's swing, and she jabbed hard at one of his hands.

The sword cut his hand, and he screamed as his mother drew first blood.

He swung back, scratching his mother's arm in her sweater. She began to bleed.

Nova snarled and she knocked away his sword, jumped forward, and then she met his saber once, twice, three times at high speed, and she slashed and ripped open his black leather tunic. Theodore's blood spilled down him.

Theodore roared and jabbed at his mother's stomach. She parried the blow with a speed he had never seen before, and she slashed at his hand.

His ring was worn on his pinky. The finger and ring came off as his mother's blow caused him to scream.

Nova telekinesed the ring and the finger off the floor into a pocket of her skirt.

Then, she slashed at his face. His so-called "pretty" face was pretty no more as there was a vicious scar under his cheek.

Then, Nova gritted her teeth, swung, knocked the weapon from Theodore's hand, and struck, cutting his side through his tunic as she drove him against the wall. "YIELD!" she demanded.

"I will yield, Majesty," he said, snarling like a beast as his form began to change. He grew much taller, and it was evident that he was a Mechanoid, ugly and threatening in black armor, but still wounded.

Derek recognized him at once. "So, YOU are Faust? The monster that Desslok wants us to find for those acts of sabotage? For actually fighting his escort squadrons and shooting down passenger liners with innocents in them?”

"I am," Theodore/Faust said in a deep voice. "You now see my true form, Empress Nova Wildstar, you BITCH! I am the Right Hand of Promethium. Bow to me and kiss my boots, you who had carnal knowledge with her own father! Promethium showed me that, you beast!”

"You lie! Derek knows who I lost my virginity to, and it was to HIM long ago on Earth! How long has it been since you sold yourself to her?" Nova hissed as she threw aside her saber, and used her power to open a closet door and telekinese a blaster rifle to her hands.

"A long while now, since you, the Lord Admiral, and Starsha hatred me and never appreciated me!" Faust roared as he drew his own weapon.

Derek fired at him first. The armored giant parried the blast with a gauntleted hand.

Nova then fired herself. Her fire hit him in the midsection, and he roared.

Then, he bellowed, “This is not yet over! Your Majesty, I would love to get you and Starsha together somewhere and kill you both while I attack Iscandar in the Name of Promethium! I challenge both of you! Meet me on Iscandar on May Day, the first, after Starsha gives birth to her spawn, and I will slaughter you both!”

He raised his hand and faded out in a blast of colors, phasing somewhere else beyond their ken.

Derek and Nova's security ran into the house. "Lord Admiral! Majesty! There was blaster fire! What happened?"

"A family quarrel," Derek said. "Our former son sold himself to Hell. He has become Faust."

"Send word to the military and to the Gamilons and the Gatlanteans!" Nova said. "He threatened to attack Iscandar in May! Make sure that he is found and executed!"

At, at that moment, Derek made some phone calls.

Yamato would be launched within two days.

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III. STARSHA’S ROYAL COUNCIL

PLANET ISCANDAR

MOTHER TOWN

February 26, 2235

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Princess Novalia of Iscandar was the Foreign Minister and Leader of Queen Starsha’s Royal Council on Iscandar.

Novalia, the spouse of Admiral Paul Rosstowski, now the CDF Military Liaison to Iscandar, was present at this tense meeting along with Starsha’s youngest sister Crown Princess Yurisha, who had been off in space on humanitarian missions and had only arrived on Iscandar years ago in 2200 when the Star Force had first come to Iscandar and was about to leave. Yurisha had only lately returned to Iscandar as a Minister Without Portfolio; at this point, she was married to Admiral Erich Hartmann of Terra. Duke Janris, the Minister of Science, was at the meeting with Starsha. Present as observers were Admiral Erich Hartmann of Terra and Admiral Fomt Berger of Gamilas.

Starsha, now eight months’ pregnant, sat looking at her Council with concern in her eyes as she said, “So? Faust sent me a challenge? Why?”

Novalia nodded at Yurisha. Yurisha stood and said, “He said he wants to seize Iscandar and kill you and your mother. He is mad!”

“That madman,” said Starsha. She got a sudden headache. “We need to enter into a war footing…if…if…it’s the right thing to do!”

Novalia stood. “Your Majesty! We can’t sit back and watch this while others fight for us.”

Erich said, “My carrier, the new Enterprise, is ready to stand with the Fleet. Your MAJESTY! We need to act!”

“What about our baby?” sobbed Starsha.

“If Iscandar is under threat, she can be guarded on Gamilon,” Novalia said.

“But…but…but,” Starsha muttered as she began to cry.

Far away, on Larmetal, Promethium smiled. I am persuading you, I see, she thought. I sent Freda to poison your mind. You cast him out. I can finish this. The work is almost complete…

But, also, far away, on the Yamato, which cruised through space near the Gamilstadt IV and other vessels of his fleet while Derek slept and Adam Avatar stood watch below on the First Bridge, Nova reached through the Matrix, prayed hard, and pleaded in her sweat-soaked nightdress as she strove in bitter thought with Promethium, Starsha. I know what this influence is. Our enemies. Remember the power in you and the Light that Lightens us all. Break free! We can help you! Adonai can and will help you! Remember what the elder Starsha told you! Remember what I tell you! Sometimes, YOU HAVE TO FIGHT TO DEFEND THOSE YOU LOVE!

She lies! Promethium sent back into the battlefield that was now Starsha’s mind. Starsha. The teachings of Iscandar…

Love, peace, faith in the Almighty, benevolence, Nova sent back. Desslok loves you! He is a good man! Begone, Dark One! In the Name above all Names, trouble Queen Starsha no more!

There was a scream, and the Voice of Promethium went silent.

It is Promethium, Nova sent to Starsha. I dispelled her through the Name. You have to stand strong! We love you! So does Abelt. So does Adonai!

Thank you, Mother, Starsha sent back.

Remember. There is always hope, Nova added mentally before she broke the link…exhausted.

This time she had won the battle…by the skin of her teeth. She had just barely defeated Queen Promethium in their deadly contest for Queen Starsha’s mind, sanity, and soul.

Nova wept in the night…hard. She prayed that maybe Starsha would heed her words; her prayers.

Would she heed those? Had she done enough?

Finally, exhausted from her urgent prayers and mental effort, Nova cuddled beside Derek and fell into a fitful sleep.

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THE NEXT DAY….

Nova stood clad in a white Iscandarian-style gown beside Desslok.

“So that’s what it is?” he said. Nova had brought Derek with her.

Derek nodded. “I felt Promethium’s dark presence even when I woke up, Abelt. Nova tells me she fought hard to save Starsha from falling. Far away, Promethium watched in a crystal ball and gritted her teeth when it was clear that Nova was on the Gamilstadt IV, standing right beside Desslok who had his eyes closed. She also gritted her teeth at her mortal enemy’s dark eyes, evident bodily strength in her trim but toned form, and her attitude of calm and restrained power.

At that moment, Promethium hated the very sight of Nova. She hissed the vilest of curses, accusations and imprecations to the Dark at the High Queen, praying to the demons inside her now that Faust would destroy her in a few weeks and bring Nova’s skull to her as a trophy, along with the skull of Queen Starsha.

Starsha smiled, remembering all the times her mother had aided her, as she had once done on Aramingo Avenue in Philadelphia when Starsha had been small. Nova herself saved Starsha from a demented speeding aircar driver who had either not seen her or tried to run her down in a hit-and-run, endemic to the big city.

Nova had pulled Starsha back from certain death and lain in the street shielding her, ignoring the blared horn and raised middle finger of the aircar driver who had yelled at her, “You crazy, lady!” as he whipped past the mother and child, mere centimeters away from death.

“We know their fleets are gathering,” Desslok said. “We are so glad you are here. But I must send apologies.”

“To Starsha?” Derek said.

Desslok nodded. The holo-emitter ran and this time, Desslok stared at Starsha with love in his eyes as tears ran down her face. “Starsha. Dear Starsha. I am very sorry that pressing military affairs kept me away from you for so long again. Nova sent me a lovely image of you, stomach beautifully enlarged with our first child. I smiled when I saw your face again. You above all know the danger we face. I love you. I will be home in time for our daughter Shasta’s birth, my love.”

“Shasta, who will be the Second Princess of Gamilon,” Starsha smiled. “Her skin will be blue, like yours. What a pity and a loss that assassins killed my stepson Dellar’s sisters you had Astrena in the past year while they were on missions of mercy. I love you. Please be home for Shasta and I. Mother, please attend the birth, would you?”

“I will,” Nova said. “I promise you I will, dearest daughter.”

“Thank you,” Starsha said as she cut off.

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IV. A BIRTH

Planet Iscandar

Mother Town

April 20, 2235

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“You can push now, Starsha,” Nova said softly as she, three Iscandarian doctors and nurses, and Leader Desslok, in scrubs, stood near the bed where Starsha was in labor. “Sit up. It will be easier that way. I know from experience. I birthed you in this same building! And cheer up! I’ll be in your shoes in a few months, too.”

“I’m not wearing shoes,” Starsha sobbed as she wriggled her toes. “Or anything else, for that matter! I’m so hot!”

“You know what I mean, silly,” Nova giggled.

Desslok squeezed Starsha’s hand as Starsha sat up. “I can’t push! It burns! I’m so tired…”

“You’re dilated quite far enough, Majesty,” said one of the Iscandarian doctors.

“Please push,” Nova said. “NOW!”

“And be brave,” Desslok said. “Remember, my love. Be brave!”

Starsha gritted her teeth. The pain that ran through her sweaty, nude body was agonizing for a moment.

Then, Nova’s and Desslok’s gloved hands caught the wet baby girl as she emerged from her mother.

Soon, there was a lusty cry.

“Your new daughter,” Nova said, smiling with joy under her surgical mask. “Look at her kicking!”

“Look at her beautiful blue skin,” sobbed Starsha as Nova and Desslok worked together to cut the cord. A nurse bathed little Shasta and weighed her.

“Four kilos,” the nurse said. “She’s a tough little one!”

Starsha’s pain, as with all other mothers going back to Eve, passed as she smiled at her baby girl as she gave her a willing breast, skin-to-skin, as Nova finished the necessaries and then she and Desslok covered mother and child with a warm blanket.

Talan came in, saluting Desslok and keeping a respectful and careful distance from the Royal Family and Nova, who yelled at him, “You can’t come closer than that, Talan! You’re not scrubbed! This is a sterile zone!”

“Leader Desslok…we have urgent news,” said Talan. “A huge enemy fleet has just broken through our defenses at Rainbow Star Cluster. Our surviving forces, including Yamato and Enterprise, had to pull back as they wave-gunned the enemy. Lord Admiral Wildstar reported that due to conditions in the dark nebula in the system, the aiming of their wave guns was off. They couldn’t compensate.”

“Are Derek and Admiral Erich Hartmann all right, General Talan?” Nova said, clenching her fists. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be there…”

Then, Derek sent to her. I’m okay, Nova! We took heavy damage, though. We’re making repairs and pursuing those maniacs.

Thank you, and thank God, Nova sent back. Our granddaughter Shasta has just been born. She is fine…

On the bridge of the Yamato, Derek smiled. That’s good, he sent back. Love you.

Love you too, Derek, Nova sent back.

Then, they were all startled by a terrible sense of cold.

There was a sickening noise like a thunderclap.

Slowly, and with an eerie blaze of light, Faust phased into the operating room.

Desslok could not reach his blaster, being in scrubs, but Talan drew his weapon on the demonic cyborg as Nova caused a sharp knife to float to Desslok’s hand while she stood angry guard over Starsha and Shasta with a scalpel in her hand.

Faust walked over, his spurs and brooch clinking.

Shasta saw the monster and shrank from him.

Starsha tried to protect her newborn as best she could, and, even in her exhaustion, Starsha said, in an imperious, queenly voice, “What are you doing here, Monster?”

“I’m sure your mother told you I have called you and she out soon to duel with me in ten days,” Faust hissed. “Desslok, Talan, you will not interfere. This is a fight between myself and the two Queens here. Nova. What a pathetic defense you have. A surgical knife. Really?”

“I defeated you before in our living room, Faust,” Nova snapped. “By the blessing of the Highest, I have powers that are beyond your comprehension,” Nova said in an imperious voice. “What do you have? The counterfeits and glamours of Darkness. Leave.”

“Who will make me?” he hissed.

Then, another astral form appeared.

Nova was shocked, but she smiled when she saw the ghost of Lord Ekogaru himself.

“Do not fall into the same darkness that I fell into, Theodore Wildstar,” Ekogaru said as he pointed a ghostly finger at Faust. “I have found redemption and peace. Repent. Before this darkness destroys your soul. I speak from bitter experience! What you think is grandeur and power is ultimately…NOTHING.”

Ekogaru stared into Faust’s eyes, followed by Desslok, Talan, Nova, Starsha, and Shasta, a blond child with her father’s hair and skin but her mother’s looks.

“So be it,” said Faust. “I leave. I will return in ten days, Nova, Starsha. Do not be there, Desslok. Unless you want your child to be…an orphan,” he hissed as he faded away.

Desslok then stared at Ekogaru. “So, you found peace…just as I have. I commend you, Ekogaru. Starsha, do not lose hope. If this former demon can change, your brother Theodore can and will…change.”

“I pray he does,” Nova said. “I pray he does.”

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TO BE CONTINUED.