Legend of Grand Mechapolis Ch 22 (Yamato Version)

THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

SPACE BATTLESHIP YAMATO/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter TWENTY-TWO: A Tale of the Kodais’ Mad Tea Party…

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

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I. AT A FUNERAL…

Planet Earth: Philadelphia, PA, USA

Monday, March 7, 2236

It was raining in Philadelphia, PA that day in Northeast Philadelphia at Saint Dominic’s Cemetery.

Monsignor Martin Likanski was reading from a missal over the casket of George Garrett; one of those who had been killed last week in the Allentown Massacre.

Mr. Garrett was in fact the man with the beard to whom Yuki Kodai had been speaking when the enemy planes had attacked at the job fair.

Father Likanski read: "Incline Thine ear, O Lord, unto our prayers, wherein we humbly pray thee to show thy mercy upon the soul of Thy servant George Garrett, whom thou hast commanded to pass out of this world, that Thou wouldst place him in the region of peace and light and bid him be a partaker with Thy saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

“Amen,” recited the mourners quietly. The mourners were Mr. Garrett’s widow Carla, Lord Admiral Susumu Kodai, High Queen and Doctor Yuki Kodai, and their son, Solomon Kodai.

Father Likanski continued with, “Christ said, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life; and the one who believes in Me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’ Now, Lord, we commit the body of Thy Servant George Garrett to the Earth in hope of that glorious resurrection at the End of the Age to life eternal evermore, Amen.”

“Amen,” said the group. Carla was weeping.

The casket was lowered into the burial vault at the push of a button, and each of the mourners threw some dirt of the wooden casket. The sound was dull and final as each clod of dirt hit the casket.

The group began to disperse as Carla turned to Yuki with pain in her eyes.

“I am so, so sincerely sorry, Mrs. Garrett,” Yuki said softly, formal in her mourning dress, pearls, and pillbox hat.

“You were there, God damn you!” sobbed Carla. “The reporters said you were right beside him! Why couldn’t you save him? Don’t you have all of those strange special powers?”

“I do…but I was taken by surprise as much as everyone there was. I just barely survived myself,” Yuki said.

“They almost killed her, too!” Admiral Kodai snapped. “Get out of my wife’s face! And show her some respect! She’s our Head of State!”

“I can’t show any respect for a Head of State who did nothing for my husband!” yelled Carla as she slapped Yuki hard across the face. “He was all I had! Why do you think I have no family here? I was pregnant a year ago but lost the child!”

Yuki’s security ran up from behind the tombstones and said, “Ma’am. Should we arrest this woman?”

“That won’t do anything!” snapped Solomon with a wisdom beyond his years. “Dad! Mom! Please do something for Mrs. Garrett!”

Yuki whispered to Susumu, who nodded. “I am writing you a check on our joint account, Mrs. Garrett. It should be enough to cover your needs for the next year, at least,” he said as he opened his billfold and quickly wrote a check. “Take this, please.”

Mrs. Garrett looked at the damp check, almost ready to throw it back at Yuki, but she accepted it. The amount was staggering.

“What did you do for a living before this happened?” Yuki said.

“I was a nurse at Lehigh Valley Hospital,” she sobbed. “Laid off…due to cutbacks. This damned economy!”

“I am the Chief Hospitalist at Penn-Presbyterian,” Yuki said as she wrote on the back of a business card. “Call this person. She is the Head of Nursing. Let her know your situation, and that I sent you and recommend you, and for her to contact me if you have any questions. I want you to interview for a job at that hospital as soon as possible. We always need people. I hope this is…enough…”

“It won’t bring him back, but thank you,” Carla said as she embraced Yuki. “Thank you, Admiral.”

“No problem,” Susumu said.

II. AT HOME IN PHILADELPHIA…

The Kodai Residence

Friday, March 11, 2236

2125 Hours

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The grimness of the funeral had faded a little by Friday, March the 11^th.

That evening, Susumu and Yuki were holding a reception, aka party for the new Gamilon Ambassador, Eliza Domel, at their home in Philadelphia. Eliza was the widow of the famous Field Marshal Erich Domel; she had never remarried after his death.

The party was being held there because Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna was undergoing a major reYukition, and the Kodais were still in negotiations to purchase Foxworth Manor from Princess Sabera.

Sabera, it turned out, was suffering from cancer and needed a smaller home. She saw Yuki on a monthly basis for treatments, which included both chemotherapy and treatment with her special abilities.

Yuki was also aided in this endeavor by the High Priest of Arishna, Var of Gatlantis, a young man who also happened to be her daughter Teresa’s fiancee’. Var had a wonderful sense of humor and gentle manner, even though he was a Type Zworder clone of his father, Emperor Zworder himself. Var had trained as a combat medic and physician, and he also had powerful mentalist abilities like Yuki and his father.

Lord Var was at the Kodai home, making arrangements for his wedding with Teresa, which would take place on Saturday, April the Second. The attraction between Teresa and Var was powerful and very sweet. Susumu had initially had doubts about letting their daughter marry a Gatlantean, but Var’s kind, gentle, and funny (albeit eccentric) personality had won him over.

The Kodais, along with Solomon, who was now the equivalent of eleven, were having a halfway quiet night at home entertaining Eliza Domel.

Eliza came in formal black, with high boots, and had sniffed slightly when Yuki had told her she had to put on house slippers. She chose black house slippers from the cabinet. It was a bit warmer now, and Yuki wore cutoff denim shorts, a black tank top, and went barefoot.

“Your Majesty…your attire is awfully…informal,” Eliza had said.

“Please pardon me,” Yuki said. “I was planting tomatoes in the garden before, and Susumu and I were playing Risk on the floor with Solomon.”

“Risk?” Eliza said.

“A game of world domination,” Yuki said as she pointed at Susumu, in a t-shirt and sweats, also no shoes, yelling at Solomon, who had on a Septigram T-shirt and basketball shorts…and was also barefoot. Do any members of this family wear shoes in the house? Eliza thought.

The doorbell rang, and Yuki danced over to answer it.

Eliza blanched when she saw a tall, almost seven-foot tall, as a matter of fact, but very handsome Gatlantean with a very pretty, handsome face, a wide smile, wearing a purple tux with tails, a purple top hat, frilly top, bright red bow tie, and the Mask of Arishna as a pendant around his neck. He was taking off his boots at the door and exchanging them for white house slippers as he yelled, “YUKI!” at the top of his lungs. He laughed, smiled, and flitted around the High Queen of the Commonwealth, goosing her bottom and making her both screech and laugh.

“Who…is…this?” said Eliza slowly.

“The Lord Admiral!” laughed the Gatlantean, who mussed up Susumu’s hair. “And in a few weeks from now, I can call you DAD! And, Solomon! Hiya! What are you playing?”

“Risk, Lord Var,” said Solomon. “I’m beating Dad’s pants off. Mom got smeared out of the game a half hour ago. She lost Asia.”

“Too bad,” said Var.

“I’ll get you a salad,” Yuki said as she ran into the kitchen.

Var watched the game with interest as Solomon explained it to him. He mussed up Solomon’s hair and smiled at him.

Susumu heard a phone ringing in the kitchen. He heard Yuki talking and then a few minutes later, she came in with a tray of salads for him, Solomon, and their guests.

“Who was on the phone?” Susumu asked.

“Doctor Fujiko Goyama from Tucson!” Yuki said brightly. “Remember her? And she’s bringing Ati with her!”

“Oh, yeah, our friend the Hippie Doctor,” Susumu said with a chuckle.

“She’s bringing the Empress? You can’t be serious!” said Eliza.

“We are being serious,” Susumu said. “They know each other from ages ago.”

In the meantime, Var was lying on the floor. He began to grin when he discovered a nearby door-stop attached to the lower molding. It was on a spring.

He laughed and began to twang the door-stop like a guitar string, smiling brightly.

His fiancee, Teresa, ran down the stairs in a knit minidress of blue yarn that her mother had made for her. The blonde young woman adjusted her glasses and said, “Let me take a turn at that, Var!”

“Sure!” he said, giving her a kiss and then goosing her as she knelt down on the floor.

Now, Eliza was looking at the group as if they were insane just as Yuki sat down at an upright piano and began to play chords matching the beat of the twanging door-stop.

“Playing with your magic twangers, guys?” Susumu said with a laugh.

“He has other things on his mind,” laughed Teresa.

“All of you make me laugh!” Solomon said.

The doorbell rang three minutes later.

Susumu opened the door…and in came Empress Atirangi followed by Doctor Goyama.

Eliza groaned when she noticed that neither woman had shoes on. Atirangi had on a long black skirt, scarlet corset, black lace jacket. Doctor Goyama wore torn jeans, a Native-American style headband, and a white T-Shirt that read “I (Heart) Tucson.”

Susumu hugged both of the newcomers, followed by Yuki, who squealed and hugged Ati and Fujiko. “Been months since I’ve seen you…Ati.”

“Hey, we keep in touch,” Ati said, winking at Yuki, and referring to their mental contact.

“It’s been YEARS since I’ve seen you, Doc!” cried Yuki as she hugged Fujiko. “I named my oldest daughter after you, you recall!”

“I remember,” said Goyama. Then, she noticed Eliza. “Hey, who’s the Gamilon chick dressed for a funeral?”

Eliza cleared her throat while Ati said, “Lady Eliza Domel, Ambassador to the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth.”

Eliza stood and bowed to her Empress formally, while she thought, Strange attire she wears for official visits; almost as strange as Her Majesty the High Queen is wearing. Am I out of my depth here?

Before Eliza could spend much time reflecting…the doorbell rang again.

This time, Solomon got up and opened the door as Ati sat down behind the piano and began to play something that sounded like a demented boogie.

Susumu grinned, got his harmonica out of his pocket and began to wail along as Yuki ran upstairs while Solomon was answering the door; she just nodded to her son.

Solomon opened the door and a young Gamilan woman came in. She had reddish-blond hair, a wide smile, and an impish look on her face.

“My mother says you’re Doctor Sheena Elgar?” Solomon said. “Welcome to our home. A party is starting in honor of Lady Eliza Domel.”

“I’m not sure whether I am honored or annoyed,” said Eliza.

“What annoys you?” Yuki said, with a smile on her face but not in her voice.

“The informality of this reception…Your Majesty.”

“Her Majesty does not always stand on courtesy…and neither do I,” said Ati. “So, we shall adapt. Are we clear?”

“Yes, Empress,” said Eliza, who stood, looking very anxious.

“Everyone present is here for a reason,” Yuki said. “A very specific reason. As informal as this appears, this is not a game.”

“This is a game,” said Var, who was playing Risk with Solomon. “And he is beating me!!”

“Very efficient use of strategy, my son,” Yuki said. “And, please bear in mind you need to make your meditations and go to bed shortly.”

“Mother, it’s early,” said Solomon.

“We will be discussing matters you are not cleared to hear,” Susumu said. “Our guests will be staying over so you can play then.”

“Okay, Father. Ooooo…look, Var’s eating some of the fish you got!”

Solomon grinned as he watched Var eating…in typical Gatlantean style, which meant, he ate with his hands like a barbarian and left little bits of breading all over the place on his plate on the floor.

Solomon picked up some sushi with his hands and began to eat the same way while Ati sat there digging crabmeat right out of the shell of some soft-shelled crab she had ordered.

Eliza looked at them and said, “Empress…Lord Var…don’t we obey…the niceties and use utensils?”

“This way cuts out the middleman,” said Var.

“Damn straight,” said Ati as Solomon wolfed down more sushi and belched together with Var. “You’re so cool, Var!”

“So are you, my little friend,” said Var.

“Your Majesty, are you bringing up your son to emulate…Gatlanteans?” Eliza said.

“Solomon, we have guests. Please remember your table manners and use chopsticks,” Yuki said as she broke free a pair of chopsticks for herself and tossed a pair to Susumu. “And, tell me, Eliza, your Eminence, are we all not one happy Alliance? Can we not learn from each other?”

“Majesty…I stand corrected,” Eliza said. “Even though this is a rather informal Court you keep.”

“If we had received you on Pellias, it would have been rather sterile and artificial,” Susumu said. “We have invited you and everyone into our home and hearth. This city is an American port city. It is much less formal than Tokyo.”

“We taken you to Pat’s for cheesesteaks,” Solomon said. “But then, the Empress, Doc Goyama, and Mom and Dad would be having a food fight.”

Eliza watched Doctor Goyama whispering with Doctor Hilgar. Sheena passed her what looked like a bit of gummy candy, which Fujiko ate with relish. Then, Fujiko moved to the couch, put her arm around Yuki and said, “I know Doctor Kodai here from way back...before she went to Iscandar and got married. I was her instructor in nurse-practitioner school, being a new intern myself in the underground cities on Terra.”

“Medical care was rationed,” Yuki said. “Severely rationed. The military got first dibs on all sorts of medical supplies and medicines. Even though I was an Ensign at the time as a student, what we got for civilian care were…the sloppy seconds. I found myself wearing the same personal protective paper mask for almost two weeks since they were in short supply. Eventually, Fujiko, myself, and some of the other doctors and nurses had just had enough…”

“So, we organized a protest in front of the underground Central Hospital in underground Tokyo,” said Fujiko. It was peaceful, albeit a little raucous. I was screaming through a bullhorn; and Yuki was carrying a sign that read “WHY ARE YOU LETTING CIVILIANS DIE FOR LACK OF MEDICINE?””

“You…were carrying a sign?” said Eliza.

“That’s what she said,” Yuki said. “Susumu, I showed you the pictures.”

“You made a very pretty student radical,” Susumu said with a smile.

“The Space Marines and riot police were there,” said Fujiko. “They used tear gas and clubs on us. I got knocked in the head once by a club.”

“That sounds intense!” said Solomon.

“All of you sounded very brave,” said Sheena with admiration.

“We were,” Yuki said. “I was clonked in the head with a tear gas grenade. I woke up in a jail cell several hours later.”

“So, you suffered for your beliefs as I did on Gamilas,” Eliza said, looking at Fujiko and Yuki with sympathy. “I was imprisoned myself for a time until right before Yamato was pulled into Gamilas’ caverns. You know the rest…how we met after the battle…”

“And how we aided you and the civilian refugees,” Susumu said.

Eliza nodded at that, with her eyes filling up with tears.

“What have you been doing since the war, Doctor Goyama?” asked Var.

“After the war, some years after, I resettled in Tucson, Arizona,” said Goyama. “I encountered Atirangi after she became famous…Yuki introduced us at a party, and I received Ati’s and Yuki’s financial help in expanding the free clinic and free university I had established in Tucson. I am now the Director of the Free University of Tucson, and head Hospitalist of the hospital I established as part of the Free Clinic.”

“Just as I was Head Hospitalist at both Penn and Central Hospital in Tokyo before I was appointed as Surgeon General in my father’s short term as Prime Minister in 2231,” Yuki said. “Then, the rest of you surely know what happened…” she said with her eyes downcast.

“There is no shame in what you experienced,” Var said. “Destiny was guiding you…and still is. My goddess is masked but not blind.”

“I’m going upstairs now,” said Solomon as he yawned. “Good night, all.”

“Good night!” cried the guests as Yuki walked Solomon upstairs to his room.

“He is so well-mannered,” Eliza said with a sad smile. “He reminds me of the boy Erich and I had whom we lost.”

“A memorial is being built for him and the other war victims on New Rapa Nui,” Ati said softly.

Yuki came down about twenty minutes later. “Solomon is asleep, Susumu. We can break out…the adult refreshments?

“Yes, by all means,” said Susumu. “Please get the sake’ and your brownies.”

Yuki laughed as Susumu kissed her nose. “Mind if I sample a brownie in the kitchen, dear?”

“It’s our house. But, remember, we have to wake up Solomon in the morning…”

Yuki smiled, winked at Ati as she got a backpack, and flounced off to the kitchen.

Ati opened the backpack and pulled out an ornate hookah. “Loaded and ready to go,” she said.

“An intoxication pipe?” laughed Var. “Those are fun!”

“Smells like some good shit in there,” Fujiko said while sniffing the contents of the bowl before Ati lit the bowl.

“It is good shit, man!” laughed Ati.

“Does His Majesty indulge in this weed?” asked Eliza, curious about the scent as the smoke began to fill the large living room.

“Does a bear shit in the woods, Your Excellency?” laughed Ati. “Course he does. I helped get him off that wine he used to drink all the time.”

Yuki came in with the brownies, laughing a little as it looked as if she was finishing one off. “Kodai-kun…here’s a brownie for you! Stop frowning!”

“Thanks,” Susumu said, smiling a little as he ate his wife’s brownie. The brownies, being adult party brownies, had a certain special ingredient baked into them.

Var grabbed three of them and began to eat like…well…a Gatlantean.

“He’s going to be higher than a kite in a few minutes,” giggled Sheena.

“This mad tea party is getting madder,” Yuki said as she appeared with a hula hoop around her waist. “Ati, Susumu, some music…”

Ati, laughing her butt off, went to the piano and began to play some whacked-out chords while Susumu, smiling quite a bit (with brownie crumbs on his fingers) tooted away at his harmonica while Yuki jumped up on their heavy coffee table and began to dance with her hula hoop twirling around her waist. Var made faces at her and she laughed. Susumu made faces at her and she laughed harder.

Then, Eliza shocked everyone by getting up on the table and dancing for a moment beside Yuki.

The music and insane atmosphere meant no one noticed a time-space rift opening up near the ceiling of the house….until two individuals, both Gamilan, fell out of the rift on top of the surprised women dancing on the coffee table.

Erich Domel, the great Field Marshal, long thought dead, fell into Eliza’s arms. Both of them were totally shocked.

Garamond Geru, on the other hand, fell on top of a very surprised Yuki.

Eliza accepted her husband’s happy kiss and the two of them jumped down and twirled on the floor calling out each other’s names.

Geru gave Yuki a sloppy kiss and started to feel her up. Yuki quickly defended her honor and belted him, using her power a moment later to throw him off the table against the wall.

“Geru,” Yuki said. “My husband is the only man I kiss like that, you drunken piece of crap! Observe, please.”

Yuki jumped down off the table and twirled with Susumu, whom she allowed to hold her in a tango-dance position while they kissed passionately…just as Ati and Var confronted Geru.

“Whaaaat sort of place is this, where you have Gatlanteans and strange women?” snapped Geru.

Atirangi was not amused. “I am Empress Atirangi Rapahango of the Gamilas Empire, Empress and spouse of Emperor Desslar! You will kneel before me and apologize, and then you will kneel before Yuki Kodai, High Queen of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth, and you shall likewise apologize!”

“I…” snarled Geru.

“You would be very wise if you followed directions,” said Var, who now spoke in a cold, stern voice.

“Empress, I apologize for being crude and insulting you,” said Geru.

“Your apology is accepted. One time and one time only, Geru. Do you not think that Desslar has told me all about your disgusting proclivities?”

“I understand, Empress Atirangi. I wonder what Queen Starsha thinks of this lunacy?”

Yuki turned on Geru and slapped his face again. “You will NOT mention that woman’s name again in my presence. She is worse than a Judas Goat as far as I am concerned! Now, you will kneel before my presence!” Yuki said, using her Voice to exude an air of command as she began to gleam slightly. Even Erich Domel stepped back a little from her when he saw the rage and fire in her eyes. He realized that whatever Yuki had become, neither she nor Atirangi were to be trifled with. Indeed, he bowed to Atirangi and then stood and saluted.

Ati returned the salute and said, “In Desslar’s name, I welcome you back into our service, Field Marshal.”

“What if I do not do so, Terron?” said Geru. “I…” Then, he began to gasp as Yuki raised her hand and he began to feel an invisible, strangling hand of iron about his neck.

“Apologize or your life is forfeit,” Yuki said coldly. “I have not passed through agony, death, the afterworld, and the purifying Fire of my resurrection and coronation day to bandy words with a foul-mouthed idiot like you with grabby hands!”

“I…I…am sorry…Your Majesty,” gasped Geru as he fell involuntarily to his knees.

“I accept your apology,” Yuki said as she freed the General from her psychic grasp. “This bickering is pointless! Field Marshal Domel, I welcome you here and offer the hospitality of our home and hearth, for you are on Terra,” Yuki said as she bowed to him. “I offer the same to you, Geru.”

“As long as you behave, you son-of-a-bitch!” Kodai said as he picked up Yuki’s thought.

“Come near me, and I’ll rip your diseased throat out!” barked Fujiko. “Like you, Ati, I have fought as a partisan, as you know. I am more than capable of doing it.”

“Yes, yes…” said Geru. “What are these foul odors in this room? These ill humors?”

“A therapeutic variety of pipe-weed,” Eliza said coldly. “It does wonders for one as tense as you.”

“I prefer spirits,” said Geru.

“Not in my house,” Susumu said. “I can smell that you’re drunk from here. Field Marshal Domel? Where did you two come from and how did he get in this state?”

“We did a free Gestcham jump away from the coordinates my ship was at, trying to escape death at the hands of the Rikashan Fleet near Gamilas. Our ship was around us for a few minutes as it broke up, and Geru was already drunk, having consumed a whole bottle of spirits. To us, we were in the time corridor for maybe ten or fifteen of your minutes. I see much has changed. Have months passed since we were in the corridor?”

“Years, dearest,” said Eliza. “Thirty-four Terron years, to be exact. It was 2202 on their calendar when I last saw you alive. It is now the year 2236 on their calendar.”

“Thirty-four years…and you look as beautiful as ever…” said Erich as he kissed Eliza. “How is it that Captain Kodai and…Her Majesty Yuki look so young? I thought Terrons aged more quickly.”

“We are not entirely Terron,” Yuki said. “Susumu and I share portions of Pellian, Iscandarian, and Gamilas blood as well as Terron blood. The Pellian Commonwealth defeated the Dark Lord after many years of deadly conflict. Gamilas and Iscandar are no more thanks to Starsha’s foul tricks and games. However, Emperor Desslar has found a new home in the Poike Nebula. The Planet once known as Mecanner, now renamed Pellias, is Terra’s twin planet. My capital is there. Lord Var, High Priest of Arishna, is here since we have reconciled with Gatlantis. We are now all a single great alliance, fighting against the remaining cyborgs of the Technomugar Empire, now known as the Mechanoid Empire. Starsha is dead, as far as we know. Our enemy is Queen Promethium, once the Queen of Larmetal.”

“I heard tales about Larmetal and its machinations,” Domel said thoughtfully. “I fought their forces once, years before Desslar placed me in charge of destroying your brave warship Yamato. Does Yamato still exist?”

“She does, but she is under heavy refit,” Susumu said. “I am also no longer a Captain, but I am now the Lord Admiral of the forces of the Commonwealth. Yamato is my usual flagship.”

“Honors to you, M’Lord,” Domel said, saluting.

“Thank you, but we need not be so formal. Emperor Zworder usually calls me “boy”. I do not mind now. I’ve been called far worse,” Kodai said with a chuckle.

“Yes, my dear chowderhead,” Yuki said, coming up behind Susumu with a teasing hug.

Then, Geru saw Sheena Hilgar.

Sheena saw him at the same moment and picked up a piece of modern art from off one of the Kodais’ knick-knack shelves

Geru came up to Sheena and said, “As beautiful as ever, I see, Concubine!”

“I am no one’s Concubine anymore,” Sheena said with deadly emphasis. “Nor have you any right to command me. I am a veteran of the Earth Defense Forces, a physician, and a classmate and shipmate of Yuki’s several times over.”

“Your body looks so attractive,” hissed Geru as he touched Sheena’s chin. “I wish I could bed you again. Tonight. Wouldn’t you like that, you whore?”

“You damned former rapist,” said Sheena. “You have five seconds to back off, or I shall give you a tracheotomy with the sharp edge of Susumu and Yuki’s object d’ art!”

Geru began to back off, but Sheena, as quick as lightning, pulled a gauntlet off his hand and struck him across the face with it. “I call you out for a duel, Geru! Twice have you dishonored me! You shall not do so again! Since this must be on Gamilas soil, Eliza, may we duel at sunrise at your Embassy? Said Duel shall be to the Death!”

Eliza spoke with Ati, and said, “Your request is granted. Who do you choose as your second?”

“Doctor Kodai,” said Sheena. “I know she was familiar with the customs and usages of the Gamilas Code Duello. She served as Second years ago for Deke Wakefield when he dueled a Gamilas officer who had dishonored him and Iscandarian Princess Sasha. Wakefield won the duel.”

“Do not ask me to be your second, Geru!” said Domel. “You made your foul bed, now go and sleep in it!”

Geru looked around the room. The party atmosphere had faded. A grandfather clock in the Kodais’ living room chimed midnight. The next day had already begun. “Will no one serve as my second?” he roared. Susumu spat at his feet and turned his face away in refusal. Ati glared at Geru and hissed “Fuck off!”

Fujiko glared at Geru and turned away.

Eliza shook her head, standing next to Erich.

Var then got up. “I shall consent to serve as your second, General Geru.”

“Why would you speak for me, Gatlantean?” sneered Geru.

“I am a priest. I would not have you die unshriven, if that be your fate. The Lady behind the Mask is stern, but She is also forgiving. Justice and Mercy join hands and act together. And based upon what I see of your actions and pick up from the minds of those here…my friend, if there is one in severe need of Mercy, it is you. You, who have taken your life and wasted it.”

“Sheena is in need for Mercy, for I will kill her…” said Geru.

“Do you accept my offer to fight with gravity sabers?” asked Sheena.

“I do,” hissed Geru. “And I am a great swordsman!”

Erich Domel bit his lip to keep from laughing out loud. When he and Geru had simply sparred in the past the obese Geru had almost had two heart attacks, being grossly unfit.

Yuki brought down a case which she opened. She pulled out a gravity saber and swung it. “The balance on this one is good. Susumu, try out the other, please.”

Kodai smiled and swung the saber around. Then, Yuki said, “Let’s spar, love. En Garde!”

The others watched Susumu and Yuki sparring for about two minutes with the sabers, which flashed and rang as the remarkably fit man and woman danced about and fought. Finally, Susumu got in what would have been a killing stroke, but Yuki elegantly parried it and tapped her husband’s chest with her saber, saying, “Touche’, mon Cherie Amour!”

“Touche’ indeed, amour,” said Susumu with a smile. Then Yuki saluted her opponent, who graciously returned her salute. Then, Yuki tossed her weapon to Sheena. “Just swing it.”

“Very well balanced, Yuki,” she said as she caught it. Susumu tossed the other weapon to Geru, who belched loudly and dropped it. This time, Erich Domel could not hold back his laughter, and Ati made a rude noise that sounded like someone passing gas.

“Pick up your weapon, Geru. You owe it to yourself to try it out,” said Var.

“I can fight better than any woman,” sneered Geru.

“Weren’t you watching Yuki sparring with Kodai?” said Fujiko in disbelief. “She could take off your head in a minute! Sheena is one of her students and is close to her skill.”

“We’ll see how it goes tomorrow,” hissed Geru.

“Yes….we shall see,” said Sheena.

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III. GERU’S DISGRACE…

Planet Earth: The Tokyo Megalopolis

The Vicinity of the Gamilas Embassy

Sunday, March 13, 2236

0631 Hours

The group at the Kodai residence in Philadelphia needed to change clothing, pack, and secure a Gamilas jump-jet shuttle to reach Gamilas soil (legally) on Terra on the grounds of the Gamilas Embassy near the Tokyo Megalopolis, on its own island in Tokyo Bay.

Ati had changed into a solemn black uniform, boots, and cloak looking much like Desslar’s. She had been in contact with her husband in order to let him know what was happening.

Geru had put on a fresh dress uniform, assisted by Var. Now that he was finally sober, he realized the position he had put himself into, and had actually pleaded with Sheena Hilgar, Commonwealth Defense Forces Captain, to simply drop the whole thing and he would accept disgrace.

Sheena, in her best Commonwealth dress uniform of black peacoat, white slacks, and boots, refused Geru’s offer down flat. “Why should I let you live when you have disgraced me a number of times?” she said. Now, both Var and Yuki had tried to get her to reconsider, but she refused.

So, Var stood with Geru, holding his hands while clad in his best black and violet robes, and he said, “Do you wish to at least ask Arishna for The Washing of the Hands? Confess your sins and failings, and I shall wash you with water so you can pass cleansed into the next life.”

“I refuse,” hissed Geru.

“I also offered you a chance to at least pray to the Most High in our fashion,” Yuki said as she stood there beside Susumu; both of them were in dress uniform with black peacoats and Naval covers on their heads outdoors behind part of the Embassy compound in the half-light of dawn. “You can at least die with a clean soul.”

“And why are all of YOU so convinced I will lose this duel?” snarled Geru. “That whore Sheena should be the one begging the Almighty, or Arishna, or Whomever for Pardon, because she is so small compared to me that she shall be the one to LOSE.”

“Well, you certainly have a bigger waist size than Captain Hilgar, you fat fucking pig!” Atirangi snapped.

“A weight loss program would have been good for you, but it’s a little late for that now,” said Doctor Goyama, who had on one of Yuki’s spare peasant-style dresses with another headband, but she was still barefoot.

“What happens at these duels?” whispered Teresa Kodai, who stood beside her brother Solomon. The older girl wore a business suit and boots in black, while Solomon again wore a suit…with the white cassock of an Acolyte over that. He had been accepted to Saint Sulpice’s Seminary in Philadelphia based on his test scores, and he was, as of now, in training as a candidate for the Priesthood. He would begin classes right after Teresa’s wedding to Var.

Domel refused to speak to Geru, and Eliza had only spoken to the duelists about funeral arrangements. Sheena had been cooperative; Geru was not. Both Erich and Eliza were in Gamilas dress uniform.

Now, Var opened the case holding the gravity sabers. Both opponents picked them up.

Yuki stood beside Var, stating, “Under the Code, you will pick up your weapons, salute, turn about-face, walk ten paces, and then we shall withdraw so that you can face each other. As agreed…the winner shall be the one who slays the loser. Begin!”

Sheena saluted along with Geru. She turned and began her ten paces, but Geru only took two and he attacked her from behind; a totally dishonorable move.

Sheena took a deep slash to her shoulder as a result, and she was just able to turn and parry Geru’s vicious slash to her throat. She responded with a stab of her own which hit Geru in the arm.

“YOU WHORE!!!” he yelled. He then riposted with a slash to Sheena’s face that ripped her cheek open.

Sheena jumped back, trying to keep from slipping in the wet grass.

Geru came on like a madman, slashing at Sheena’s abdomen. Sheena stopped his blade, and she swung hard and stabbed at Geru’s chest, leaving a bloody wound that soon stained his green tunic dark purple.

“Murderous woman!” yelled Geru. He coughed, and blood spewed from his mouth.

Erich Domel smiled at Susumu and he asked, “Admiral Kodai, are you a betting man?”

“I’ll accept a fair wager, my friend,” said Kodai.

“I will wager you twenty credits that Geru loses.”

Susumu chuckled. “That’s not a bet…it’s me giving you twenty credits, Field Marshal. But, we’re on. I’ve seen strange things happen in duels before. A while back, Yuki beat the Dread Pirate Queen Emeraldas in a duel that could have gone either way. Yuki let Emeraldas go with her life.”

“Your spouse and Queen is a most honorable woman. Geru has no such honor, but cheating and violating the Code Duello so openly? It will not go well for his soul in the afterlife, and he shall be forbidden burial.”

And, indeed, Geru was a treacherous opponent! He gathered up some dirt and threw it in Sheena’s eyes to blind her, then he slashed at her face, cutting open her cheek and kicking her down to the ground.

Var was about to stop the duel at a nod from Yuki, but Sheena got up, grasped her saber, and, in pain but with fire burning in her eyes, she slashed viciously at Geru, and then ran him through at last.

Geru fell to his knees, with more blood spewing from his mouth, and he made a vicious, guttural noise that sounded as if he was cursing Sheena. Then, his eyes opened wide, full of terror, and then went as dead as marbles as he fell dead to the ground, his face smashing into the grass.

“Hold,” Yuki said as she knelt down to check Geru’s pulse at his neck. There was none. “This man is dead. Captain Sheena Hilgar, MD, commander of the Medevac Heavy Cruiser Florence Nightingale, has won this duel per the Code!” Yuki grabbed her hand and held it up in token of victory as Sheena stood with a booted foot on Geru’s corpse.

“I am familiar with the Code,” said Var. “Geru’s corpse shall be dragged off, cremated, and then the ashes scattered to the four winds of the Sea of Stars so that naught might remain upon any world of such a vile and perjured a wretch as one who has broken the Sacred Code of Honor!”

Eliza clapped her hands and four Gamilas enlisted men in brown battle armor appeared to drag Geru away while Yuki helped Sheena into a room in the Embassy to treat her wounds. At Sheena’s request, the cut on her cheek would be sutured by hand, leaving a vicious but honored Gamilas-style dueling scar on her cheek.

And, Susumu shook hands with Erich and paid him twenty credits.

So went the duel and the death of General Garamond Geru.

Some days passed.

One of the ancient emblems of the Pellian Commonwealth was an elongated salamander; long body and tail, short legs, twisting and curving.

The very shape of the territory its seventy worlds encompassed looked like some child’s notion of a demented salamander; seven worlds in the Blackeye Galaxy, leading to an eighth planet where there was a massive, ancient warp gate, one of three in the Commonwealth. Northgate issued into space near the far North marches of the Andromeda Galaxy. Seventeen planets, all heavily fortified, extended like a necklace around a spiral arm of Andromeda, issuing near another warp gate at a planet known as Terminus.

When the resurgent Pellian Commonwealth landed explorers on that world, they found severe conditions, three Gatlantean slave camps that mined various minerals and spice, and an inoperative warp gate that the Gatlanteans were close to reactivating but could not.

The Pellian forces reactivated the warp gate for the joint use of Pellians and Gatlanteans on the condition that both polities would share Terminus. With that done, the Pellians prospected and found their own mines a distance away from the Gatlantean work pits. To mine their pits, the Pellians brought criminals of all sorts condemned to hard labor in lieu of execution, kept under heavy guard along with a few unfortunates overburdened with debt who sold themselves into indentured servitude.

The Gatlantean Governor-General, a very handsome but hard man known as Delanig, had a good working relationship with his Pellian counterpart, a woman in the black and silver of the Northern Ground Forces of the Commonwealth known as Duchess Shimla. The Duchess looked a little like the rock star and Empress of Gamilas Atirangi Rapahango, with her dark skin and dark hair, but she was tone-deaf. Tone-deafness was no handicap to maintaining production, of course, and she was mildly psionic; she could see the future to an extent, but not well.

Shimla was having a friendly meeting with the handsome General Delanig in a lounge in the Admin Center. The lounge was not far from one of Gatlantis’ work pits, so both of them could observe the slaves of the Empire, who looked as small as ants up here in the Admin Tower as they toiled in the heat, driven by lower-ranking Gatlantean troops with blasters and whips. Some of the troops were bored with this duty; others hated it but saw it as a necessary evil, and some were sadists who honestly enjoyed applying electric lashes to their slaves.

“So, how are your quotas this week?” said Shimla.

“Not bad. I had to give a few rewards, believe it or not. Light duty for eight slaves, and two worked so hard that I manumitted them and made them foremen! Of course, they have to make their quotas under supervision. They could screw up and lose it. Three of them did two weeks ago. One got rebellious. I had to hold a slave Assembly and execute him via firing squad. We blew the fool to pieces.”

“We have the same problem on our side,” sighed Shimla. “Three criminals tried to escape. I had to make an example out of them; crucifixion.”

“And they call us the bloody ones,” laughed Delanig.

“The bodies are still there if you want to take a speeder ride with me later on to look,” said Shimla as she patted Delanig’s huge hand. “It’ll have to be soon. The giant salamanders are at them pretty good. It’s messy.”

“As long as one of them still has a head, I’ll take you up on it, dear,” said Delanig. “I’ve heard stories. Is the Capital on your butt for production?”

Shimla nodded dully. “The guy who sent the bad news was the long-haired dude you call “The Boy.” Yup, the great hero Lord Admiral Kodai himself got on the line and bitched me out.”

“What did you do?”

“I took it, what do you think?” sighed Shimla. “I’m just a Duchess with a Brigadier’s Rank. That Kodai is a five-star Admiral and a Lord and Prince. All positions he got by being HER favorite bedtime toy. Do you know how many children they’ve had?”

“Too many to count. I’m losing track,” said Delanig. “Have you ever met Her?”

“Once, at a great distance, at a ball. She nodded at me once and went on her merry way. What scares me about her is she is said to be just like a character from a Terran book I read; it was called The Stand. They had a cool sorcerer in there who was the head villain; Randall Flagg, The Man with No Face, also known as the Walkin’ Dude. In that novel, he was a demon, and he could go anywhere he wanted in his realm, at the blink of an eye. No warning. That creeped me out.”

“What does this have to do with Her?” said Delanig as he again patted Shimla’s hand. He was getting to like this Pellian. It was weird.

“They actually say that She can just show up like that…anytime…anywhere…no warning…there she is. Poof. Weird magick.”

“That would creep me out,” said Delanig. “Not even Emperor Zworder can do that. Yet.”

“Why do you say ‘yet’?”

“They’re supposedly teaching each other their tricks and skills,” said Delanig. “We have a weird alliance. They’re supposed to be as thick as thieves, those two.”

“Better than having a war between us on this front,” said Shimla. “I like you.”

“The same goes for you, Miss,” said Delanig as he grabbed her hands and kissed her. She kissed back.

Shimla and Delanig were not only co-workers, but lovers.

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Planet Venlafa, between the edge of the Milky Way and the interstellar space that led to the Great Magellenic Cloud, was a cosmopolitan world and a borderland of sorts.

Here, the border of the Gamilon Empire lay, and here began an outlier of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth. Indeed, there were both Gamilon and Commonwealth bases on this world, and it was a stop on the Galaxy Railways line between the Great Magellenic Cloud and the Milky Way.

Kanae Hoshino, a young woman, very scared that Tadeo Kodai would again find her, had gone to ground here, having just barely escaped from cryofreeze with the help of some partisans aboard Promethium’s fortress-ship known as Defuel.

Here, she worked as a cocktail waitress, living in something close to poverty, but saving her tips because she knew she had to purchase a Galaxy Railway ticket to get off here before Faust, once known as Tadeo, caught up to her.

What was more, she knew that she was two months pregnant; with Tadeo’s child.

She had considering seeking an abortion, but she knew the procedure was dangerous, could likely kill her, and she wasn’t really that interested in killing the life within her body anyway.

So, one day, she resigned her job, took her funds, and went to the Galaxy Railway Station to purchase a ticket to…anywhere.

The robotic agent told her, “There is a train leaving at midnight that you can catch to the inner rim of the Milky Way.”

“How far would three thousand credits get me?” said the young blond woman, who stood there in battered boots and a frayed green dress. She carried a small suitcase with her oddments. Her cocktail waitress’ uniform, basically a swimsuit with fishnet hose, heels, and bunny ears, she found demeaning, so she had left it behind.

“Three thousand credits would get you just as far as the Capital Region,” said the robot. “That is, Terra or Pellias. Where do you want to go?”

“Pellias…I should be able to live there in…relative anonymity,” she said.

“Pellias it is,” said the robot ticket master. A pass was printed. “Do not lose that pass; otherwise, they’ll throw you off the train.”

“Which train will it be?” asked Kanae.

“The Three-Nine; what do you think?” said the robot. “Now, good day, Miss. There is a line behind you.”

MIDNIGHT…

The Three-Nine pulled into the station, loud, chugging, and steaming, with its bell ringing quite loudly as it pulled into the ornate steel and glass trainshed in Venlafa Central Station.

Kanae boarded the train as soon as it stopped.

This ticket is for coach, only, she thought as she looked at her pass. Nearly three weeks on this train until I get to Pellias. And there? I don’t know where I’m going.

When on board, a very eccentric-looking conductor, a short man in uniform glanced at her pass and helped her put her suitcase up in the rack over the window. He had an odd appearance and seemed to have no face…was he an alien of some kind?

Kanae didn’t know, and she didn’t care as she sat there, lost in her thoughts, ignoring the hustle and bustle of the passengers until she felt the seat where she had put her feet up jostling a little.

She looked up, and saw that another young…or middle-aged woman was taking the seat facing hers.

She looked the woman over. She was dressed in a dark burgundy suede miniskirt, fairly new knee-length boots, an earth-toned cardigan, and a jacket with a black lining and high collar that matched the miniskirt. The woman had dark brown her in a tight bun; a face that bordered on the pretty, and she wore horn-rimmed glasses.

“Who are you, Miss?” Kanae asked shyly.

The woman extended her hand. “Doctor Terinda Mordini, Professor of History at the Royal University on Pellias. What is your name?”

“Kanae Hoshino, sensei,” said Kanae sadly. “I just barely completed my bachelors’ degree.”

“I see,” said Doctor Mordini. “We don’t need to be formal, as it appears we will be traveling companions for a time,” Doctor Mordini said in a soft voice that almost had a familiar lilt to it; Kanae had heard it somewhere, but where? “You can call me Teri, if you wish.”

“What do you teach?” asked Kanae.

“Galactic History; I concentrate on that of the past hundred years,” she said. “I’ve been on sabbatical doing research out here. The Gamilons and the Commonwealth have quite a settlement out here, don’t they?” she said as Kanae noticed that the train was beginning to move.

“I worked in a cocktail lounge…” said Kanae. “Some of the Gamilons and the Pellians I met were nice…the military sorts, I mean. A lot seemed to walk around like they owned everything; and a lot of the Terrons in uniform out here seemed to have the same attitude. I got along the best with the Ralkhens. Those big furry cat-people look intimidating, but they’re really nice. And they tip very well too.”

“You might find this unusual, but I rather like the Ralkhens myself,” Teri said. She glanced out the window and seemed to be lost in a forest of memories for a moment. Then, she turned back to Kanae and said, “Do you have a boyfriend, if I can ask? Or a girlfriend?”

“Boyfriend,” said Kanae in a barely audible voice. “Or I did. We had a very bad breakup. He…he got me pregnant,” whispered Kanae.

“What’s his name?”

“I’d…rather not say. He’s from a very important Terron family. We met at a fancy ball on New Telezart. I still don’t know how I got invited to that…Teresa…all those Dukes, Duchesses, Barons…they say that even the Ruling Queen of Pellias and the High Queen of the Commonwealth were there, but I didn’t meet them.”

“Is the man an illusionist?” said Teri. Kanae could not help but notice that Teri was making a very tight fist with one hand for a moment, as if she was hiding a deep anger. Indeed, she was. Kanae was to learn exactly how deep that anger would be when she got to Pellias.

“Yes. A magician, and would-be rock performer. Doesn’t he hang around with Septigram, and wasn’t he once seen at a session for Infinity?”

“The members of Septigram do not like him, or so I have heard,” said Teri as she took down a bag and chewed on an apple. “Would you like one?”

“Sure. Thank you.” Kanae took the apple, and she noticed that the woman wore three rings; a plain one that looked like a wedding band with a Celtic knot, a golden ring with a red jewel, and a silver ring with what looked like a diamond. “You have some pretty rings, Teri. Is that a wedding band?”

“It is,” she replied. “My husband is in the military high command on Pellias. Part of the reason I’m on this train is to meet up with him again after three months. I miss him like you wouldn’t know.”

Kanae looked out the window. “It looks like we’re in space now.”

“We are,” said Teri. “We’ll be our next stop, Planet Hakarva, in three days. So, this…boyfriend of yours. Did he abandon you?”

“Sort of,” said Kanae as tears filled her eyes. “He wanted me to join his act…do weird things on stage with him…half-naked…even while pregnant. I said no and I just ran from him. He honestly gives me the creeps. This…is a picture of him,” Kanae said as she rooted in a pocket of her dress and pulled out a photograph.

“Tadeo,” said Teri in a low voice with almost a hiss. “It figures. You were wise to flee from him. This young man is not a good man. His parents will have to call him to account soon, I’d bet.”

Of course, Teri did not know that Tadeo had been called to account already.

The whistle of Three-Nine blew, and a young woman in a somber black dress, boots, and a Russian-style Astrakhan hat sat down beside Teri. They glanced at each other and Teri handed the picture to the striking blond woman. “He’s up to his old tricks again, Maetel. Were you looking for him?”

“Traveling again, Doctor?” Maetel said.

“Yes. Research and other personal business, shall we say?” said Teri. “I’m sorry we left you out of the conversation, Kanae. My friend, Maetel.”

“Pleased to meet you, ma’am,” said Kanae with a bow as she shook Maetel’s hand.

“Likewise,” Maetel said. “Your last name is Hoshino?”

“How did you know that?” said Kanae, shocked.

“I think I encountered you in that cocktail lounge you were working in. You looked much different there, I must say,” Maetel said. “I’m a traveler; a very frequent traveler on the railways. A line to Andromeda is planned, Doctor Mordini.”

“I know. I interviewed some people about it,” Mordini said vaguely. “It involves some delicate negotiations with the Gamilas and the Gatlanteans.”

Kanae nodded at that.

Admiral Susumu Kodai moaned and gasped in the nightmare that he was caught in.

In this dream, he was much younger.

It was only the year 2200, the month of September.

The Yamato was close to finishing her mission.

The ship had been boarded by the Gamilas, who had released a deadly radioactive gas throughout the ship.

Susumu had just ordered Yuki out of the line of fire, and he was shooting at several Gamilas soldiers.

One of them removed his mask, showing a head of striking white hair around a fine, young, handsome face.

“WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?” Susumu had demanded.

“Lieutenant Zain Valas, Gamilon Imperial Guard,” said the tall young man in grey as he seemed to be escorting a taller man in grey who wore a black helmet with a distinctive fin on its top. “Listen, Terron. I will tell you this once, and only once. This fight is totally useless. You are finished. You would do well to surrender now, boy. “

“I’m not about to surrender!” Kodai snapped as Valas shot at him and grazed his arm. He ignored the pain and then looked up through the gasses at the taller man, who said in an authoritative, mellifluous voice, “My Guardsman is quite correct, young man. It is useless to continue to resist. Where is your Captain? I would receive his surrender.”

“Captain Okita is ill,” Kodai snapped. “I am Deputy Captain Susumu Kodai, acting commander. Who are you?”

“M’Lord, this one is a comedian,” said Valas.

“Leave him to me, Valas,” said the taller Gamilas officer. He laughed a cold, twisted laugh. “So, the great vessel Yamato is being led by a mere boy barely old enough to shave?” The tall man undid his black visor and revealed a young-looking face surrounded by blond hair. “I am so pleased to meet you, boy. I am Desslar, Emperor of the Gamilas!”

“DESSLAR!!!?” Susumu roared.

“You thought I was dead, didn’t you?” Desslar said with a mocking glee in his voice. “That’s what I wanted you to believe. Gamilas has withstood many disasters. As long as I live, Gamilas lives. You have done well for one so young, but I strike the last blow.”

“Lord, let me kill this piece of filth now,” said Valas.

“No, Valas,” said Desslar. “I have my own plans for this one. Stand down, my friend…”

Susumu awoke beside Yuki covered with sweat and moaning.

“Susumu!” Yuki said, her skin peppered with goose pimples below the undergarments she was sleeping in. She knelt over her shivering, nude husband and said, “Come on, dear! Come out of it! It was a nightmare!”

“A nightmare…PTSD,” Susumu said. “I was dreaming of that battle on the ship thirty-six years ago with Desslar and Valas. I can stand the sight of Desslar…he’s our friend now. When that Valas was over the other day…he was laughing at me.”

“He does have a warped sense of humor,” Yuki said. “And a long memory.”

“He was mocking me at our lunch after the rehearsal along with Zworder. Hard to believe. Zworder…in our house!”

“Guess what? When I saw how upset you were getting, love, I asked them to back off a bit.”

“You’re incredible, Yuki, but I don’t need to be babied like that. Zworder…he’s typically sick and diseased, even if I like his clone son Var. That Valas, though. I wanted to step outside with him.”

“He would have killed you, Susumu!” Yuki snapped. “Yes, he is a Reservist and a member of the band known as Septigram, but he still carries weapons. He killed a deranged fan a month ago for looking at him the wrong way. Kodai-kun…the man is bad news. You don’t need a useless fight with him!”

Susumu looked into Yuki’s deep brown eyes. “I guess you’re right. Hey…what are you doing?” he said as Yuki smiled a little and slid her bra off.

“Distracting you,” Yuki said with a wink. “Come on…relax…take a deep breath,” Yuki said as she began to kiss him.

“This…this is pleasantly distracting,” he said.

“I thought so,” Yuki whispered. “The sun’s not up yet. Before we go back to sleep…”

“Yes?”

“…Get my underpants,” Yuki whispered in a sultry manner.

“No objections,” he said as Yuki cuddled closer to him and he began to undress her as she had requested…

Some days passed.

Three-Nine arrived on Pellias on Monday, March 21, 2236.

As the train hissed and groaned in the station, Maetel accompanied Kanae and Teri off the train at the station.

Maetel looked hard at Kanae and said, “We are walking you to a hotel, and we are not letting you out of our sight.”

“I’m…in danger?” Kanae said.

Teri nodded while feeling a knife in her purse. “I would call my daughter, but I believe you are safe enough with the two of us.”

“For now,” Maetel said.

As they entered the terminal, the three women found themselves surrounded by a group of six sinister-looking cyborgs…all of whom appeared to be male. They had on black trench coats and wide-brimmed black hats, and the sinister gleam of their eyes showed in the dimmer light of the terminal.

“Who are you people?” Maetel demanded.

“We have business with the short girl,” said one of the cyborgs in a deep voice.

“What sort of business?” demanded Kanae as Teri put her hands on her knife.

“You signed a contract with us, Miss,” said the tallest of the cyborgs. “You need to come back to Planet Venlafa with us. And I do not want your friends to interfere. This is a private business matter.”

“You forged my signature,” said Kanae. “I signed no such contract with you lot.”

“Leave us alone, and I’ll refrain from contacting the authorities,” Maetel said in an authoritative voice.

One of the men knocked into Teri. “Oh? What do I see here? Look! This woman has a knife!”

“So, I am armed? That is not your…business!” stammered Teri.

“Get her and get Hoshino,” said the tallest of the cyborgs.

Another cyborg pulled out a weapon. It happened to be a Taser.

He fired at Kanae. The sharp probes entered her skin, and the young woman coughed, gasped, and fell over unconscious.

Another one of the cyborgs caught Teri…whose true name was Teri Hemsford, in a stranglehold and began to punch her.

Maetel swung a metal whip at two of the cyborgs, smashing in their faces. She fired a beam from a ring that she wore at a third cyborg. It caught him in the face and he fell dead.

The remaining three men touched hands while holding the collapsed form of Kanae Hoshino and an angry, struggling Teri Hemsford, and they vanished.

Maetel picked up her hat from the ground and looked at the group. “Damn you!” she said.

She bought a ticket for the next train heading straight out along the line to Venlafa. Within an hour, she was aboard that train, cruising back out to where she had come from.

She felt there was no need to involved Her Majesty the High Queen…yet, even though the enemy had Yuki’s mother Teri as a captive.

IV. DANCE, DANCE, DANCE…

Planet Earth: The Tokyo Megalopolis

Ariel and Jiro Shima’s Home

Sunday, March 27, 2236

1005 Hours

Susumu Kodai was watching three women performing a jazz dance number for exercise in the former recording studio of what had been their home in the Tokyo Megalopolis; the very home they had given to Ariel and Jordy.

Ariel danced near the back of the room, laughing and flipping her long blond hair around as she danced next to her younger sister Teresa, who looked quite cute in her dance leotard and glasses.

Yuki was leading them to the music, calling out steps like an exercise coach. “Now, kick, jump, arms up, sway your hips, and TWIRL!”

The three ladies twirled like a professional dance team and continued dancing.

“So…what is the reasoning behind this performance?” laughed Susumu.

“We intend to do this dance at the wedding on Saturday at the Lodge Hall,” Yuki said.

Susumu got elbowed aside by a tall man who was eating raw chicken wings; namely, Emperor Zworder himself, clad in a black cloak.

“What are you doing eating…raw meat again?” Susumu snapped.

“What are you doing being a fifth wheel, BOY?” said Zworder with a smirk on his face. “Yuki. Does this man do anything useful?”

“He is the father to the bride and he will be giving her away to your son Var soon, Majesty,” Yuki said.

“I’d prefer you gave her away, Yuki. Look at the boy’s face. Slack. Stupid. I’m surprised how it is that you can maintain a mental bond with this vapid idiot,” laughed Zworder.

“Are you trying to get me to fight with you?” Kodai demanded.

“It’ll never happen because you are afraid of me; face it. Isn’t he afraid of me, Yuki?”

“I’d rather not reveal his fears to you,” Yuki said as she continued dancing. “Now, can you take those raw chicken wings out to the kitchen? You’re dripping juices all over the place and we might slip in the mess in our bare feet. Then you’ll see me really mad at you!”

“Boy, should I listen to her?” said Zworder.

“I would,” Susumu said.

“The problem with you, boy, is that she has you on a leash,” Zworder said. He walked away laughing.

Kodai made an obscene gesture at Zworder behind his back. Zworder just laughed.

Var showed up from another room, followed by Ariel and Jiro’s daughter Samantha. He was also eating raw chicken wings. He smiled at Susumu, Yuki, and Zworder. Susumu and Yuki smiled back, and Teresa cuddled up to him. “Could you get me some chicken wings, dear?”

“These are good,” Var said.

“No! I mean COOKED chicken wings,” said Teresa. “Please?”

“I’ll see about finding some for you and the little Miss here,” he said as he picked up both Teresa and Samantha.

The phone rang.

Yuki ran to it and answered it. “Moshi-Moshi, Venture residence,” she said.

Maetel’s voice came out of the phone. “Yuki, what are you doing back in Tokyo?”

“I’m at my daughter’s place. Teresa is getting ready to marry Lord Var on Saturday.”

“Listen, Yuki. I’m on a station on the Galaxy Railways. We had a fight on Pellias. Kanae Hoshino and your mother have been captured. I’m trying to get to Planet Venlafa to mount a rescue operation. Can you assist?”

“My mother’s involved. I have to assist,” Yuki said. “The Yamato is still in refit, so we will have to deploy the North Carolina and go out to Venlafa.”

Susumu overheard and said, “We can get out tomorrow morning.”

Zworder grabbed the phone from Yuki’s hand and said, “I will provide reinforcements. I will send General Naskjena out to assist the North Carolina.”

“You’re agreeing to help already?” Yuki said.

“I read the pain in your mind, Yuki. Even if the BOY is leading the mission, you will require our assistance. In fact, that is probably a good reason for us to assist,” Zworder said.

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TO BE CONTINUED….

It was the evening of Yuki’s fifty-seventh birthday now.

There was a reduced skeleton crew on Yamato at this time, and Susumu and Yuki’s newest son Solomon, with his big sister Fujiko in Nursing aiding with his care, was riding aboard the ship with his parents for the first time. Solomon had been born in October of the past year. He had been growing rapidly, and was about the equivalent of five now, albeit a very well-behaved five. He had long dark hair that matched his father, but he also had light blue skin like a Gamilan child. Susumu and Yuki thought their boy had picked up some recessive Gamilan genes that the couple carried; those genes had never manifested before.

At this hour, Yuki and Fujiko had gotten Solomon to bed in his own small cabin not far from their own, and the Kodais were just awake late, discussing the ship’s trial runs, and generally cuddling in their sleepwear in the Captain’s Cabin, enjoying the view of the innumerable stars as Yamato drifted slowly through space.

Susumu wore simple black pajama pants with a pair of black sweatpants; Yuki wore black shorts with a simple white tank top.

“So, what did you want to say, hmm?” Yuki teased.

“I wanted to say how beautiful my birthday girl looks tonight,” he said, looking into her eyes. Now, as we had stated, Yuki was now fifty-seven, but thanks to her death and resurrection five years ago and the power of the Pellian Matrix in her and her psi-link to Susumu, she and Susumu looked like a well-preserved couple in their mid-twenties.

“Thank you,” she said softly, blushing as was her wont whenever complimented.

“I wonder how long we’ll go on like this…with this most uncanny youth,” Susumu said.

“I have been assured we will remain young and mostly vital until I end the evil of Promethium, and if we somehow survive that, then we will finally age normally again. It could be centuries, Susumu.”

“So, we’d be like Peter Pan’s Lost Boys?”

“A lost boy and a lost girl,” Yuki said with her cute little grin. She then began to sing a snatch of Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here; “We’re just two lost souls swimmin’ in a fish bowl…year after year…”

“You’re silly, especially since neither of us are “lost” spiritually.”

“I’m filled with wonder and strangeness over our interesting lives; that’s all,” Yuki chuckled as Susumu played with her hair.

“It amazes me,” Susumu said. “Not a strand of grey in your blond hair at all…birthday girl…”

“We can thank God for this strange gift, I’d guess,” Yuki said. “The Press recently called us ‘the world’s strangest couple’. Kind of funny.”

“Was it that Scott Foley dope?”

“Yup,” Yuki teased.

“Well, you broke one side of his nose years ago when you were dating before you met me and he ran your hands up your blouse. Can I break the other if I see him again?”

Yuki laughed. “Sure. And…I think you’re running your hands up my blouse. Should I punch you?”

“No.”

“Good. Because I do not intend to,” Yuki replied. At that, they began to kiss, and then Yuki used her power to lower the privacy cover in their cabin, blocking out the stars. “Don’t want anyone seeing us,” she whispered.

“Wise idea, Mrs. Kodai. Happy Birthday,” Susumu said.

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II. STOPOVER

Planet Pellias

The City of Beltane

Thursday, February 11, 2236

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“Wheeee!” thought Solomon Kodai as he swam underwater in the warm waters off the beach near the High Queen’s Palace on the coast of the Pellian Capital of Beltane.

He exhaled and shot up between his parents as his breath bubbled out in the sea. He looked cute in his grey swim trunks.

Susumu gave him an apprehensive look and sent to Yuki, “Are you sure this won’t drown him?”

Yuki looked at her husband, who looked nice in his black Speedo and swim mask, and she, in her swim mask and pink bikini, sent back, “He has to learn to swim sometime, Susumu. He’s growing up!”

“Yeah, too fast!” gasped Susumu as his head broke the surface along with Yuki and Solomon after gulping some air.

“What’s too fast, Dad!” laughed Solomon.

“You,” laughed Susumu. “You were under water the longest of the three of us!”

“Probably because I have those Gamilan genes you two gave me. Mom has more than you, even though she’s not blue…”

“If this water was cold, I’d be blue!” Yuki laughed.

“But the water is warm, Mom!” protested Solomon.

“I know. It almost feels like a bath, doesn’t it?”

“You make the bath hotter, Mom!” Solomon said.

“That’s the way it’s done in Japan, sport,” said Susumu. “Remember when we last stayed over at your big sister Fujiko’s house?”

“That was fun,” Solomon said as he began to swim back to shore, followed closely by his parents.

A few minutes later, on the beach, Solomon was working on a sand castle while Susumu made some meats on a portable Hibachi while Yuki strummed on a guitar and taught Solomon a song that included lots of animal noises, which Solomon repeated with laughter and the gusto of a seven-year-old boy.

A thin man in red swim trunks sat down beside them. His red hair was going grey in spots, but the freckled man still looked young.

“Hi, Robert,” Susumu said, looking at one of their Security Detail. “Want some beef on a stick?”

“I can hang around for that, sir,” Robert Walker said. “Solomon, do you know my name?”

“Mom, is he cool?” Solomon said.

“Hush, he’s one of our security men,” Yuki said. “Yes, he’s cool.”

“That’s good. What’s your name, Mister?”

“Robert Walker,” he replied. “I’ve known your parents for years. I went to grammar school and a bit of high school with your Mom.”

“Yes, where you tried to keep Diesel Dalton off my case,” Yuki said with a smile. She strummed a few chords.

“What’s a Diesel Dalton?” said Solomon. “Mister Walker, are you married?”

“Diesel Dalton was a bully, but he’s grown up. And, yes, I am married, with three children. The youngest is in the Space Fighters’ Training School on Earth,” Robert said as Susumu turned over the beef on skewers and added more Teriyaki sauce. Yuki smiled, played some odd chords, and began to play a song that sounded like a cross between something Spanish and something Romani as she began to sing in Pellian. “L’ash d’kalirhama! Bizel ego d’taramu! Tera’ne, shalima do, Makala ra Shimada he!”

“What does it mean?” whispered Robert to Susumu.

“My heart is torn hard between two worlds; I see Terra rising in the evening…where, where does my heart go? That is a rough translation, anyway,” Susumu said. “It’s a folk song in a Pellian mode known as Tallath. Yuki wrote it.”

“It almost sounds like a Gypsy song,” Robert said.

Yuki stopped playing and said, “Say Romani, please, Robert. Gypsy is a racial slur.”

“I’m sorry, ma’am,” Robert said.

“It’s okay. But we have Romani people who moved here. Some are near us on the beach. They might take offense if they hear you being misinformed, Robert,” Yuki said as she strummed down and sang again.

“She always finds things to remind us of,” said Robert.

“Don’t I know it?” laughed Susumu.

“Stop making fun of Mom, you two,” said Solomon.

“Making an observation,” Robert said.

“Food’s done,” Susumu said.

“I’ll be over when I’m done with the song, Susumu,” Yuki said. “Solomon, you eat first. You’re a growing boy!”

“Cool!”

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III. HOME AGAIN

Planet Earth

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Saturday, February 13, 2236

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The Yamato was home from her trial run, safely back in an under-river dock in the Philadelphia Space Navy Yard.

Susumu, in his Star Force uniform minus peacoat, looked up at the great ship one last time before Yuki and Solomon met him in the dock for the drive back home to Northeast Philadelphia.

“We got around a lot in the past few days, didn’t we?” Susumu said.

“We sure did. Port of call on Beemira to check out the new base there and confer with the new Beemiran Hive and the new Queen Mercida, stopover on Hopkins V to check that listening post, port of call on Pellias, doing business in the Palace, and then back home,” Yuki said.

Susumu bent down to speak to their son, who was in boots, an orange jumpsuit, and a black leatherette vest. “How did you like our trip, Solomon?”

“Those Bee People were creepy,” he said. “They speak Terranglish funny.”

Yuki knelt down beside their son, pretty in her medical whites and lab coat with white boots. “They’re aliens, sweetheart. Not everyone is going to speak the same way we do. You heard all the different accents on Pellias, and you met the Ralkhens and the Leptil, along with Pellians from all over the Commonwealth. You’re part-Pellian, you know, thanks to your father and I.”

“How come I’m the only one of the family who’s blue like a Gamilan?” he said.

“Recessive genes,” Susumu said. “Your mom and I actually have some Gamilan ancestry; just a little, really. It showed up in you.”

“And Queen Starsha is really my sister?” he said.

“She sure is,” Yuki said as she kissed Solomon on the cheek as he blushed and hugged his mother, whose boots scraped on the cement as she stood up. “You’ll meet her in person one of these days. She’s really nice.”

“That sounds neat!” Solomon laughed.

“We need to get to your car, Yuki,” Susumu said. “It’s gonna be crazy heading up Interstate 95 this hour.”

“I’ll drive. I know how to drive Pinky better than you,” Yuki laughed.

“Oh, yeah…you brought the pink Cadillac!”

“More room there for you, sport,” Susumu said.

They got to a parking area.

Yuki’s restored 1959 Coupe DeVille was waiting there with the top down.

The family piled into the car, and Yuki started her up and the updated turbine motor kicked in and began to roar.

The car cruised past the gate of the Base, with their security detail following unostentatiously behind as the procession sped onto I-95 and began to head up the Delaware River waterfront.

Once the car was back in their home neighborhood, people saw the car and cheered, waving at the pretty High Queen, dashing Lord Admiral riding shotgun, and smiling at Solomon in the roomy back seat. A new Septigram album was playing on the datatube unit, very loudly.

When the family got home, they parked near their house, and opened the trunk and ran in with their bags.

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

In the meantime, on Earth, Savela had just arrived four days ago at the Gatlantian Consulate in the Tokyo Megalopolis; the rebuilt Foxworth Manor.

Other than staff, she lived there alone.

The memories of Foxy were just too powerful, and in fact depressed her as she lay in what had been their bed in the Master Bedroom, all alone.

Five days after the return of the Kodais to Terra, Savela found herself sitting behind her huge desk in her Consulate office.

She was weeping softly and drinking some brandy that was just as bitter as her mood.

“Why is it that I am so depressed?” she said out loud to herself. She walked outside after finishing off her snifter of brandy, walking out into the courtyard to look at her former marital home; at least it had been such before she had again become Zworder’s mistress. “Foxy. It is because you are dead, and have been dead now for almost five years. Five long years. And I am aware I am not in the best of health myself.”

Savela coughed into a handkerchief, and saw spots of blood there. “How much longer do I have; tell me? Father placed me here as Ambassador. We are in need of a new consulate. I will buy it myself, and…and…sell Foxworth Manor. It is time someone else lived here, to fill this tomb of a house with light, joy, and laughter, even if they spend so much time playing around in private that I know not how they get anyzing else done! Susumu mentioned he sold his old house here in Tokyo to his daughter. Maybe he and Yuki would like another house?”

Savela found a servant with the rank of Colonel walking nearby in Gatlantean uniform; since Gatlantis and the Commonwealth were now allies, there was no longer any need for subterfuge among the ranks of those soldiers of the Empire who guarded embassies and bases in Commonwealth territory.

“Colonel Narvis!” Savela snapped.

“Yes, Princess?” he said, bowing to her in his black, red and gold uniform.

“Into the Computer Annex. We need to talk,” Savela snapped.

A minute or two later, in one of the computer rooms, Narvis said, “What is your wish, Princess?”

“I want the consulate moved to a new compound, as soon as possible. I cannot stand living here any longer. Too many memories of dead husband. I plan to sell this whole compound to a willing buyer in a non-profit transaction. I want this done as quickly as possible!”

“Princess,” said Narvis as he raised his fist. “We just installed the secure computer network so you can communicate with other Gatlantean forces and ministries from here. Do I understand that you want this done again?”

“Do you question me, Narvis?” Savela snapped as she motioned with her hand and was flanked by two other officers.

“No, Princess…I do not question you,” said Narvis after a long pause.

“I am glad you do not question my will,” Savela snapped. “Question me again and I can easily have you replaced; even executed for your lack of loyalty. Are we clear on this?”

“Yes, Princess,” said Narvis.

“I also want every bug and listening device removed from this compound before the sale. The devices which you and the General Staff have used to spy on me…in secret?”

“Princess…how…?”

“I have friends who can detect such devices. And one of my friends was here two days ago…for tea. You glanced at her, thinking she was a mere Terran teenage girl I invited in. You were so wrong.”

“Who is she?” snapped Narvis.

“I need not tell you of all of my social engagements, Narvis!” snapped Savela. “They are my own business. See to it my orders are carried out.”

“Yes, Princess,” said Narvis with a bow.

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

Two days later, Yuki, Susumu, and Solomon were in the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna, transacting some business.

However, later at night, Yuki felt that Susumu needed a crystalline blade somewhat like her own.

So, while Solomon slept, Yuki hammered away at her forge, in her gold and black uniform covered by a brown leathern apron with heavy gloves on her hands, as she hammered out a sword for Susumu. Only Susumu watched her at her lonely task as she used her power to control the flames, and used the strength of the Matrix and their prayers to help forge the crystal on her anvil.

It took several hours, and both Susumu and Yuki were exhausted when the task was over, but Yuki finally handed Susumu his blade and said, “Susumu, you will be using this blade for many battles. It is filled with my love for you and determination for us to fight on. I call my blade Gimalak; “The Queen’s Fire” in Pellian. What would you like to call this?”

“Shanalak; The Prince’s Flame,” Susumu said, smiling as Yuki placed her hand over his on the still-smoking blade.

“Now, think,” Yuki said. “As I have created a space around myself to hide Gimalak, I would like you to create a space around yourself to hide Shanalak in the same manner.”

Susumu held the blade, and thought of hiding it around himself.

It vanished, but then Susumu thought of pulling it out, and he grabbed it in the space and whipped it out.

“How is that?” he said.

“I’m proud of you,” Yuki said as she turned down the heat of the forge and kissed him.

Then, they sparred a little with their swords and laughed when they were finished.

Susumu stowed his blade, and Yuki did the same with hers.

Then, they embraced and walked up to their apartments in the Palace arm in arm, ready to rest after a trying evening.

Somehow, both of them felt they would soon need to make use of their blades.

They would turn out to be more correct than they knew.

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

IV. OTHER BUSINESS…

Planet Earth

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Monday, February 29, 2236

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“Are you sure about this whole thing?” Susumu Kodai said early that morning in his Star Force whites as he watched Yuki putting on rather dilapidated clothing; her oldest pair of jeans, with a hole in one knee, a ratty striped top that was beginning to unravel at the hem; along with a pair of boots that had seen better days and a puffy down-filled blue topcoat with a rip in it.

“I had a very bad feeling that something strange is going to happen at a job fair today, Susumu. I have had that feeling for a few days. Why do you think I bought that old 2210 aircar under a false set of ID?”

“Knowing you, I believe this…but do you have to take Solomon up to Allentown with you?”

Yuki sighed. “Solomon, are you ready?”

“Almost, Mom. But why do I have to wear those old grungy clothes?”

“It’s like dress-up,” Yuki said. “Everyone at that job fair will look poor, and to fit in, we have to look the same.”

Solomon came down the stairs, wearing a patched pair of khaki slacks, battered sneakers, a sweater that Yuki had encouraged him to wear while rolling around in a flower bed in the backyard, and a torn leather jacket picked up at a thrift store that was too big for him. “Okay, Mom. Do I look grungy enough?”

“Tear your scarf a little and you’ll look perfect,” Yuki said.

“Mom, this is crazy,” laughed Solomon.

“And you two are doing this all on a hunch of Mom’s…” Susumu said, shaking his head.

“Susumu, if nothing happens, I’ll come home with a handful of fake job applications and resumes and maybe another hole in my boots,” Yuki said as she put on a light brown knitted scarf as dirty as Solomon’s. “If what I feel happens will happen, I will save a lot of lives.”

“What…what is so serious?”

“Susumu…Count Alatar is back. I told you all about him and what he put me through on Beemira. You remember that?”

“I do, unfortunately,” Susumu said. “Do you know what race Alatar is?”

“A corrupt Iscandarian, who long ago turned to evil; I believe he is a servant of Promethium’s, now,” Yuki said. “He somehow survived what Venla did to him on Beemira, and he’s back. He intends to attack Earth,” Yuki said as she packed an Astro-Automatic into her battered purse and tossed Solomon a nine-millimeter Glock pistol. “Solomon, put that in your waistband, and be careful with that. Your father and I taught you how to use it. It’s not a toy. Do you understand?”

Solomon nodded grimly as he stowed his weapon.

“Okay, let me put on crappy clothes and come with you, Yuki. I want to be your backup,” Susumu insisted.

“It won’t work to start, because I will be pretending to be a single mother,” Yuki said. “But you know how to teleport now. If I call you…come. Got it?”

Susumu nodded.

Then, he hugged her, held her close, and Yuki’s ratty scarf went across his shoulders as they kissed, with tears flowing from their eyes.

“You be careful, Peppermint,” Susumu said in a hoarse voice. “I’d put up an argument against you taking Solomon…but something feels…right about this.”

“I’m glad you’re picking up on this, Susumu,” Yuki said after she kissed him again. “Get ready for a major fight if I call you. Count Alatar is a vicious person with many tricks. He tried to hypnotize me thirty-six years ago on Beemira.”

“How did you fight him off? You had no…active powers then.”

“Prayer, the Grace of God, and maybe my powers were working behind the scenes, Susumu. In secret.”

“Like our first wedding on Iscandar,” Susumu said. “In Captain Avatar’s cabin with just Father Likanski, my brother Alex, and Orion present with Captain Avatar. Now, we and Father Likanski are the only ones left from that day.”

“I’m so glad I have you to count on, Susumu.” Yuki said as she stared into Susumu’s eyes. “Do you know how scared I am?”

“How scared are you?” Susumu whispered.

“I wish I could stay home today and play Battleship on the floor with Solomon,” Yuki said. “I don’t want to go to Allentown. But, if I don’t, hundreds will die. But Gimalak, God’s Grace, and Solomon will be with me; and we know our boy is gentle…but far from helpless.”

“I understand. Watch your six, Yuki. I love you. And keep our son safe.”

Then, Susumu hugged Solomon and told him he loved him. He stood watching the door for a long time as Yuki and Solomon left.

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

Yuki drove up the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, stopping in Quakertown to stop in a Dollar Store to get some energy drinks for herself and Solomon.

It was 0700 when she arrived in Allentown. The old aircar’s turbo-engine was making strange noises, so she pulled into a parking lot off Parkway Boulevard, where, if her vision about the future was correct, she would not need it again.

“We’ll have to walk a few blocks, Solomon, to reach Cedar Park where the job fair is.”

“Good. Let’s walk faster, Mom. It’s cold.”

“You got that right, kiddo,” Yuki said as she mussed Solomon’s hair, and wondered why the heck she hadn’t gotten them grungy-looking hats at home.

Then, Yuki heard Susumu in her mind. Are you two all right? You’ve been out of touch.

Didn’t want to bring an expensive comm device, Susumu, Yuki sent back. We’re fine. The sun is up and we’re walking towards Cedar Park. We were here last summer, remember?

Yeah, where the Press mobbed us when you were still pregnant, Susumu joked. At the swimming pool, some reporter said you looked like a sea lion in your swimsuit.

And I kicked him, Yuki sent back. I almost wish we had gone to Phillipsburg that day to ride the steam train.

You pull through this okay, I’ll treat you when the line opens for the summer. Be careful, damnit!

Love you, Yuki sent back.

Love you too, Susumu sent.

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

At the job fair, Yuki clutched her portfolio holding some fake resumes (under the name of Dawn Forrester, RN) as she waited for the job fair to open.

“So what are you here to find?” asked a man who had a black beard.

“A nursing job,” Yuki said.

“The hospitals are always hiring, but I hear that the hours are horrible,” said the bearded man. “Is he your son?”

“Yes. His name is Solomon. I…had a Gamilan fiancee’. He died before we could get married,” Yuki said, using a cover story she and Susumu had arranged.

Then, she watched Solomon stand up like a startled animal.

“What is it?” Yuki asked.

“I’m hearing a buzzing noise, Mom…don’t you hear it, too?” he said.

Yuki listened. Then, she looked up at the sky, and sent to Susumu, Now… it starts. I may need your backup after all.

Then, she saw two dark blue specks in the sky. “Everyone…” she yelled after jumping up on a picnic table. “GET DOWN! HIT THE DIRT!”

People began to scream and hit the ground, just as laser bolts came from nowhere.

Yuki glanced up, and saw two dark blue and white Gatlantean Scorpions wheeling about in the sky.

She probed the minds of the pilots; They’re cyborgs! Yuki discovered. And one Iscandarian! Alatar!

Taaaa-daaa, you scum-master! Alatar sent into her mind. You think you’re going to be cute and fight me, eh, High Queen?

YES! Yuki sent back. “Solomon, grab my hand!” she yelled as the crowd began to stampede as the attacking planes made another pass.

Some people screamed as a laser bolt hit the picnic table and Yuki and Solomon vanished at the same time…

…only to reappear inside one of the Scorpions.

“Huh?” said the cyborg piloting the gunboat while Yuki and Solomon stepped over the broken bodies of the Gatlanteans who had been flying the planes…and who had been killed by the two cyborgs.

One cyborg shot at Yuki and Solomon. Solomon ducked and got his weapon and shot the enemy trooper in the head as his parents had taught him.

“Nice work!” Yuki said.

“Thanks,” said Solomon with a blush.

Yuki tore a strip of cloth off the cape of one of the dead Gatlanteans, and she got behind the cyborg pilot and began to garrote him with it, strangling him as she used her power to put on the Scorpion’s auto-pilot and put her into a steep climb.

Soon, the cyborg was dead. Yuki grunted and pulled his body out of the seat, shooting him once in the head with her own weapon to make sure he was dead. “Solomon! Sit over there!” Yuki barked. “Strap in! I’m taking control of this bird!”

“When did you learn to fly one of these, Mom?” Solomon asked.

“There was a familiarization flight over Pellias when you were small. Zworder himself taught me to fly one of these!”

And, Yuki smiled as her mind went back in time, thinking of her flight with Zworder…

“This is the throttle,” Zworder said. “The yoke and steering wheel are much like they are in some of your ships,” growled the huge Gatlantean from the co-pilot’s seat as Yuki prepared to take off. The third seat held Susumu, who was sort of snarling at Zworder; Zworder hadn’t offered to teach him how to fly one of these planes, and Zworder also seemed to be touching Yuki’s hands a little more than necessary. Yuki herself didn’t think much of it, thinking of Zworder more as a surrogate father or big brother rather than the potential suitor that the jealous Susumu thought he was acting like.

The flight went well…Yuki’s takeoff had been a little shaky, but she had proven to be a serviceable pilot under Zworder’s tutelage….

In the present, Yuki took control and killed the auto-pilot, noticing for the first time that the Scorpion was one of the upgraded models with Pellian warp drive. I can do all sorts of things with this, she thought as she dived down through a cloud and lined up Alatar’s bird in her sights as it looked as if he was ready to fire missiles at the job fair.

But, Alatar smiled, growled, and he fired at Yuki’s plane first.

Solomon screamed and Yuki hissed an oath or two as she corkscrewed the plane to avoid Alatar’s fire; quickly lining him up in her sights after levelling out.

She fired.

Two laser bolts hit the side of Alatar’s plane. There was damage; it was smoking.

Then, Alatar sent to Yuki, are you ready to die yet?

What do you mean? Yuki sent back.

Then, Yuki found out as she felt an iron grip around her neck as Alatar began to strangle her with his powers.

My God! Yuki sent to no one in particular. How do I break this hold? I…I…

Then, she saw Solomon standing up, and raising his hand.

The stranglehold broke, right as she detected another fighter entering the battle on her radar.

Coughing and retching, Yuki pulled up the IFF/Ident screen. Flicking the switch to “Terranglish” she read; “Identified as friendly plane. Type 53C Cosmo-Zero, Commonwealth Royal Defense Forces.”

Then, a voice came over the radio. “Hey, Yuki! You need a hand?”

“SUSUMU!” Yuki said, laughing even as she coughed up a little blood. “You’re a sight for sore eyes!”

“Are you all right?”

“Alatar and I had a psychic battle. I got strangled. Bring him down? My head’s fuzzy…”

“Got him lined up,” Susumu said. “FIRE!”

Susumu shot, and his cannons took out the Scorpion in a nice blast of flame.

“Is Alatar dead, Mom?” said Solomon.

“Maybe. But thank you for helping out. If you were in the Defense Forces, you’d have won two medals. Susumu, can you call the authorities? People down there are hurt.”

“Already done. Yuki, I’m escorting your plane to Willow Grove NAS. We’ll land there.”

“Roger that,” Yuki gasped as she levelled out and followed her husband, as the swung over the scene again to make sure there were no more marauders.

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

A FEW HOURS LATER…

Back home in Philadelphia, the news was on, talking about what the Press was calling the Allentown Massacre: ten people killed; twelve injured.

While holding an ice pack against her throat, and still wearing her grungy top and jeans (but no boots or socks), Yuki abstractedly watched the news. She and Susumu were on the screen, answering questions at Willow Grove NAS in the Public Affairs Room.

Susumu came in, now clad in jeans and a white shirt; he also wore no shoes. “How’s your throat?”

“Better,” Yuki said. “I shouldn’t have let him get the drop on me like that.”

“I hope he’s dead,” Susumu said.

“I’m not so sure,” Yuki said as she jumped into Susumu’s arms and clung to him. “Alatar may have been able to teleport away from that mess. I think he did. His body was never found. At least the Gatlanteans took back the bodies of their pilots. They will be buried with military honors in four days. Savela will be there. I have to be, too.”

“What about the three cyborg bodies we found?” Susumu said.

“They’re in morgue drawers in Cedar Crest Hospital now,” Yuki said. “I’ll go up there to autopsy them when I feel better.”

“Thank God the death toll wasn’t worse,” Susumu said.

“I will have to attend the funerals of all of those who were killed, too…” Yuki sighed.

“I’ll be there with you. Do you think Solomon can handle it?”

“He can,” Yuki said. “He’s very mature for his age. He saw the bodies of the dead pilots; killed one of the cyborgs himself, and he saved my life with his abilities. I have to train him more and talk to others to be sure he’s trained. The others would be those such as Grimslade Halleck and Lord Var. By the way, Var and Teresa have reset their wedding date to April Second of this year. The reason? We needed additional security, since Zworder is coming to the wedding and to Earth for the first time.”

“Good for Teresa. Solomon still wants to become a priest?” Susumu said as he helped Yuki down.

“Definitely,” Yuki replied.

“May God protect our son,” Susumu said.

Yuki paused to pray. “He will, Susumu. He will.”

TO BE CONTINUED….