The Legend of Grand Mechapolis Chapter 8

THE LEGEND OF GRAND MECHAPOLIS

STAR BLAZERS/GALAXY EXPRESS 999

Founding of the Dual Monarchy and Galaxy Express System

By: Frederick P. Kopetz

Chapter Eight: A Bum, A Battle, An Execution…

Input contributed by Gail Kopetz, Jamie Tucker, and Margaret and Steven Diviney

All other original art is by Frederick P. Kopetz along with altered captures from the old and new Yamato series

I. WHAT KIND OF WELCOME IS THIS?

Over Planet Mugal

June 6, 2233

“Evasive, evasive, EVASIVE!” barked Akira as one of the weird interceptor planes from Mugal threatened to ram the Cosmo Hound.

“Dropping down towards the deck!” snapped Keyman as he took control of the ship and dove into a cloud.

“Why did you take control?”

“Because I outrank you!” snapped Klaus.

In the meantime, in the upper part of the Cosmo Hound, Yvona had the nearest interceptor in her sights.

“Now I’ve got you, you son-of-a-bitch!” she hissed as she fired.

Her shots raked out the enemy plane’s belly, and it spiraled off and exploded.

“Admiral, they’re sending more bogies!” said IQ-9 from his turret.

“I’ve got them on the fire control radar,” Admiral Wildstar barked back. “Correct aberration two degrees, all turrets,” he said as he worked some controls.

“One’s probably going to try and ram us!” Nova said from below. “He’s coming up from the cloud cover…got him locked! Goodbye, buddy!” Nova barked as she fired. “Scratch one more interceptor!” she laughed.

“Another one of those idiots is coming at my side…kuso,” said Admiral Wildstar, who was cursing nicely in Japanese. “Target locked! FIRE!” Derek fired, and he took that plane out.

“Radar says they’re pulling off,” said Akira over the shuttle’s comm system.

“They must have learned not to play games with us,” hissed Keyman. “I’m getting a signal from below! What…the…? This is weird. Putting this guy on the ship system! WHO ARE YOU?” Keyman snapped. “I am Gamilon Representative Rinehart Desslar! I am working in conjunction with the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth! You have just committed an act of aggression against both the Gamilon Empire and the Terran Commonwealth! Who in the name of the Seven Sulphur Hells are you anyway?”

“Arrrr…that was a mistake we made. Blame Hermann for the mistake! He was drunk again!” snarled a slurred, gravelly voice.

“Melvin Ronald Seadragon!” snapped Admiral Wildstar. “Your forces just attacked my space launch for no good Goddamn reason at all! Explain yourself, you drunken pirate!”

Nova popped up from a hatch at the back of the Cosmo Hound’s flight deck. Akira looked at her and said, “Does the Admiral KNOW this guy?”

“Unfortunately, he does, and so do I,” Nova sighed. “We met him twice in our travels before you were even born! But now, he sounds drunk,” Nova said.

“We’re about to land on a planet ruled by a drunk?” said Rinehart.

“I want an explanation, Seadragon!” Admiral Wildstar snapped. “I have a wave motion equipped warship in orbit over your planet that can cause you a lot of damage!”

“And you can most likely kiss your application to join the Commonwealth GOODBYE!” Nova roared, losing her temper for once. “How DARE you attack a ship with a visiting Head of State on board?”

“Oh…yeah…hi Queenie,” said Melvin. “Didja bring your ermine-trimmed cape, yer majesty? Saw pictures of you on the cosmic Net! Ya still got cute legs, I see!”

“My legs bear no relevance to this discussion! I had to shoot down one of your planes myself, you idiot!” Nova snapped.

“Toldja it was a mistake! Von Schweinn had too much beer again!”

“Melvin, you’re not in a time ship that looks like a trailer in McAdoo, Pennsylvania, United States in 1967! You’re ostensibly running a planet in 2233! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?” Nova snapped. “And how did you become a ruler, anyway?”

There was silence for a bit.

“Talk to us, Seadragon!” Derek snapped. “Start talking or we’ll go back to the Yamato and use your planet for wave motion gun firing practice!”

“Don’t get yer long hair in a knot, Lord Admiral!” growled Melvin. “There’s an explanation for everything! I’m sorry, man! I called back the second squadron myself! I want to talk to you guys! Really! C’mon, people, gimme a chance!”

Derek ran up to the flight deck and looked at Nova. “What do you think?”

“I could use your input, Derek! Do we trust him?”

“Only as far as we can throw him,” Derek said.

“What do you think, Rinehart?” Nova said as she looked hard at the Gamilon.

“Give him a chance to explain. Make it clear we’re armed, and if he tries anything funny, start using your special abilities, and…”

Nova chewed the end of her index finger after she opened the visor on her helmet. “I have an idea. Melvin, put Von Schweinn on. NOW!”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” said Melvin. “Ya want him on video, I guess?”

“That would help,” Nova said as she winked at Derek.

A moment later, the small video screen on the Cosmo Hound’s panel flashed on above the display giving information on the wave engine. The four of them saw a fat man with a triple chin wearing a ridiculous helmet that looked like an old Prussian Pickelhabe helmet from World War I. “Guten morgen, was ist loss?” the mustachioed man said in very bad German. “Ich bin von Schweinfurt, der Gross Feldmarschal des Planeten Mugal. Wie bist du, Liebchen?”

“You do not speak to me like that, you fool!” Nova said. “I am not a bargirl you picked up in a beer garden in Hamburg!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, honey…too much beer,” he said in Terranglish. “Thought you guys was space pirates! There’s been this crazy guy with long hair running around lately plunderin’ our corvettes!”

“That does not excuse you. You knew we were coming, right?” Derek said.

“I said I confused you with this guy,” said von Schweinfurt. “I….”

“Don’t trifle with me,” Nova said as she raised her hand and he began to choke.

“Was…was…was ist los?” he gasped as he tried to pull away the invisible iron grasp at his throat. “Mein Gott! Stop it, please!”

“Tell us you’re sorry,” Nova sang.

“Okay…okay…I’m sorry…free food and booze for you guys for…” said Hermann as Nova broke the psionic stranglehold. He coughed and gasped out, “Who…who…are you?”

“Someone who demands respect,” Derek said as Yvona and IQ-9 showed up.

“You’ll be treated well,” said Melvin as he came back on the screen. He suddenly seemed sober.

“We had better be,” Nova said as she crossed her arms over her chest.

“You have landing clearance,” Melvin said.

“We’ll be coming,” Derek said. Then, he looked at Nova and sent to her. At the first hint of trouble, we’re going back to the ship, right?

Right. Nova sent back. Even if I have to teleport all of us myself.

On that note, the Cosmo Hound broke through the cloud cover and began to descend down towards an airbase at the edge of a smoky city that somehow looked dilapidated, even from six thousand meters up.

However, the sky looked grey and leaden as they landed.

After landing, Derek put on his cover, ascot, and peacoat. Nova, however, did not put her own dress coat on.

“Why are you remaining in your regular uniform?” Derek said.

“I trust these people about as far as I can throw them,” Nova huffed. “If we have trouble, I want to be ready to fight. I don’t know about you, Derek…but…as for me…”

“I understand…you’re tense.”

“Darn right I am,” Nova hissed. “And I’d better get a real good explanation of this from Melvin himself, or I will NOT recommend that they be accepted for membership in the Commonwealth.”

Upon landing, Admiral Wildstar left the Cosmo Hound first, flanked by Nova and Keyman, who had their hands on their weapons as a group of men and women in fatigues lined up and saluted. Yvona, Akira, and IQ-9 brought up the rear.

Von Schweinfurt came up driving something that looked like a huge old-fashioned 1930’s Mercedes-Benz convertible with two small flags flapping at the front fenders. He snapped a salute at the party. Derek returned the salute for all of them.

Von Schweinfurt looked at them and said, “Why do you, Her Majesty, and the Gamilon look ready to fight?”

“Well, given the reception we were given before, who can blame us?” Derek snapped.

Nova threw off her helmet and glared at Von Schweinfurt.

“Why…why the angry look from you?” he said.

“As my husband said…you gave us a very poor reception and a made a very poor excuse for said reception! That is why I have the sense we are all being trifled with. I have half a mind to just turn around and leave! Where is Melvin? Shouldn’t he have been here to greet us at the tarmac?” Nova said.

“He…he has his reasons,” said Von Schweinfurt.

Nova looked at Derek, who nodded. Derek then snapped, “We are not going anywhere until Seadragon himself shows up to greet us and guarantee our safety personally!”

“Why are my guarantees not enough?” said Von Schweinfurt.

“We didn’t begin shooting at you!” barked Akira as she glared at the alien officer. “You began shooting at us! And I know damn well all of us agree with the Admiral and the High Queen! In fact, if you bastards take a step towards me,” she said as she put her hand on her sidearm. “Some of you jokers will end up dead!”

“Field Marshal, tell them to go back, then!” barked one of Von Schweinfurt’s officers in a black uniform. “We don’t need people with that kind of snotty attitude on this planet!”

“I will overlook that insult if you order him to apologize, and NOW!” Nova snapped.

IQ-9 then whirred up and got between the Mugalese officer and Nova. “Be assured that I will do ANYTHING to protect Nova!” snapped IQ-9.

“Thanks, IQ,” Nova said. She began to tap her boot against the tarmac. “Where…is…that apology?” she said as she nodded at Derek, who drew his sidearm as Nova drew hers.

“I do not apologize to anyone at gunpoint!” snapped Von Schweinfurt. He nodded to the black-clad officer and he, the officer, and six others drew their sidearms.

Keyman, Akira, and Yvona drew their own sidearms.

“You people are most unfriendly!” snapped Von Schweinfurt.

“Well, the same could be said for YOU!” Derek snapped. “You people are IDIOTS!”

Derek looked around, noticing that not only was Nova not stopping him, she slowly nodded her approval.

He also noticed that tears were running from Nova’s eyes.

He whispered to her, “What’s wrong?”

She whispered back, “The air here. The stench. The pollution. I’m angry and sickened! How can they allow people to live like that?”

“I heard that, Schweinhund!” yelled Von Schweinfurt.

“How dare you call me a filthy dog when your very air here is filthy?” Nova snapped. “We are not going anywhere else until we see Melvin, as my husband said!” Nova said as she pointed her sidearm at Von Schweinfurt. “Hurry up! I’m also an Admiral! Make this snappy!”

“General, she’s going to shoot you!” yelled one of his officers.

Then, he fired a warning shot into the air…

…only to be tackled by IQ-9 and thrown across the tarmac by the strong robot.

Three troops fired at IQ-9. The laser bolts went through him and he exploded in sparks and screamed.

Derek and Nova returned fire at the Mugalese troopers, felling two of them with a shot each. Yvona got the third one.

“You people are under arrest!” yelled Von Schweinfurt as another car sped up. It was another open car that looked like an old 1930’s Mercedes.

A bearded figure in a filthy peacoat that looked like Derek’s came out, followed by a woman in a long white peacoat and Naval cap who looked just like Nova carrying a Luger at her side in a holster. The peacoat looked just like Nova’s own, in the Cosmo-Hound, except that the anchor emblem was replaced with a number “9” in gold.

The woman had on no ascot, revealing a seductive bare neckline, and she was bare-legged, in high-heeled dress sandals…looking almost the same way Nova did in very formal military dress, except for the lack of the anchor emblem and ascot.

The bearded figure looked around and said, “Von Schwein, they are not under arrest…YET!” in a cracked, wheezy voice.

“I assume you’re Melvin?” Derek snapped as Nova pointed her sidearm at the woman who was, for all intents and purposes, her duplicate.

“I am,” said Melvin.

“Who are YOU?” Nova said, glaring hard at her look-alike.

“I’m you,” the look-alike replied in a voice that was a total copy of hers. “Or, to more precise, I am an improved version of you! I have been created and programmed by Lord Seadragon to be his mate and immediate aide-de-camp. My full name, for your information, is Sexaroid Nova Yuki Number Nine! Von Schweinfurt, what the HELL is going on?” she said as she walked up to Von Schweinfurt and slapped him across the face. “That is NOT the way you treat guests…even if they are inferior!”

“So, you’re an android?” the real Nova challenged.

“Yes, based on your engrams, save that I’m married to the Lord Seadragon! If you think I’d be married to him,” snorted the Sexaroid as she thumbed at Derek, “You, Majesty, are quite mistaken. On behalf of Lord Seadragon, I offer my apologies!”

“Good!” Nova snapped. “Because we have casualties!”

“Casualties?” said Von Schweinfurt. “A robot is not a casualty!”

The real Nova turned on him and snapped, “THIS one is! He’s my friend! I need facilities and equipment to repair him!”

Nova Number Nine looked at Nova and said, “I think Lord Seadragon and I can assist you…if you’d give us the chance.”

“We mean well and we’d like to make amends,” Melvin said as he bowed to the group.

“Apologize to us!” Derek snapped.

“On behalf of my own Throne, I offer our apologies,” Melvin said. He bowed to the real Nova and kissed her hand. She recoiled at his touch because he stank.

“Apology…accepted,” Nova gasped. “Don’t…don’t you shower before seeing guests? Especially…a diplomatic party?”

“He has…responsibilities,” said Nova Number Nine.

“Okay. Lady Seadragon! I’m calling you Yuki to avoid confusion with my real spouse, you counterfeit, clone, duplicate…whatever you are,” Derek said as he protectively held Nova’s arm. Derek then sent to Nova, Is she a Mechanoid or a Technomugar?

Nova sent back, No. She is an android. I was…reading her programming. She was adapted from a model intended for…well…she is fully functional in every way. And she is Melvin’s…spouse…with everything that entails. And she has a rather…warped mind and sense of morals! The latest in their modern science, Derek!

I’d hate to see what their wedding night was like, Derek thought.

Nova giggled slightly, and then slapped her husband on his shoulder. “Derek, really?”

“She loves me and I love her,” growled Melvin as he hugged Yuki 9. “If you don’t mind if she helps us with your robot? She is…strong…”

“Okay,” Derek said. Nova used her power to help levitate IQ-9 while Derek, Keyman, and Yuki 9 lifted him into the Mercedes.

Then, with a marching band appearing and playing the Terran/Pellian Anthem, the small motorcade started to leave the airfield.

They drove through a city-scape that nauseated all of them.

Melvin’s city had a large, modern center city with skyscrapers surrounded by block after block after block of dilapidated-looking shacks.

In the open car, all of them smelled the stench of bad food, sewage, animal waste and offal, and industrial pollution. The clouds had blown over but the feel of the place was still oppressive and hazy.

Motorcycles and horses with armed troops surrounded the motorcade, keeping back what seemed to be an endless cloud of beggars and bums of all kinds.

Derek couldn’t believe what he was hearing as an endless number of bums cheered Melvin, yelling, “Yaaay, King Melvin! Yaaay! Thank you for the free booze ration! We love ya, ya bum!”

“Free booze?” Nova said. “What kind of political policy is that?”

“Yeah, we distribute free food, bum wine, liquor, whatever they want! Keeps ‘em quiet and suppliant! Mugal has a massive welfare program! Yeah! Massive, massive welfare!” chuckled Melvin as, to almost everyone’s utter disgust, he and Yuki Number 9 were passing a paper bag with a bottle in it back and forth.

“You…you can get drunk, Yuki?” Nova said.

“Yeah! I’m drunk half the time!” she said with a demented laugh. “Keeps me from thinking too much.”

“Thinking about what?” demanded Akira.

“Thinking about other ways to run this place,” Yuki Number 9 said with a sour look on her face. “But, what can I do? He’s the boss here. Absolute dictatorship.”

“You have no people’s assembly whatsoever?” Nova said. “I mean, in our Commonwealth, we have worlds ruled by other Queens and Kings, but most of them have a Parliament of some kind!”

“Where I come from,” said Keyman, “Leader Desslok is the law.”

“Well, great! A fellow dictator!” laughed Melvin.

“You are no Leader Desslok…let us leave it at that,” said Keyman. My Uncle wouldn’t want this world for anything but the resources, Keyman thought in disgust. These people…to get them to produce, it appears they need an iron hand.

II. A JOURNEY…

Desslok’s Flagship Excelsior II

June 6, 2233

Leader Desslok’s newest flagship, the Excelsior II, cruised serenely through space beyond the Milky Way’s edge at the same time that Derek, Nova, Klaus, Akira, and Yvona were on Mugal.

At the moment, Desslok was walking Starsha on a tour throughout the many compartments, passages, and rooms of his flagship. They would reach Iscandar in a few days, but, nonetheless, Desslok’s ship had an escort of several light cruisers and destroyers.

They stopped in an observation deck in the massive bridge tower of Desslok’s flagship. They were alone, and the room was only illuminated by starlight.

“I believe I recognize this place,” Starsha said.

“In Gamilon, translated into Terranglish, we call it the Two Sisters Nebula,” Desslok said as he indicated the multicolored nebula that hung in deep space off the starboard side of his fleet. “It’s a sight that chills you to the bone with the sheer beauty, after all,” he said. “The Sea of Stars, created by the Highest…”

“I can remember when this nebula was created,” Starsha said as Desslok’s eyebrows went up.

“Yes?”

“I was very small…in my first incarnation, actually. A star we called The Galactic Eye went supernova right there…where the gasses are green. Do you see that?”

“How long ago was it?” Desslok asked, surprised at Starsha’s knowledge and memories.

“Over twelve hundred Terran years ago,” Starsha said. “I was here a year ago, with my parents, aboard the Yamato. We were heading to Iscandar for a brief conference with my cousin Queen Sasha. I told my mother about it. She told me she could also access the same memory through the Pellian Matrix. She told me that star exploded in the era of High Queen Lara the Second. Lara had a long life. She and I met when I was young, as well.”

Desslok nodded, somewhat chastened as he tenderly took Starsha’s hand. “Starsha, it is evident you have seen far more than I have. I thought I had seen much in the time I was alive, but…”

Starsha smiled at him. “There is no need for shame, dearest one. Due to my unique fate, decreed by Heaven. I have walked in eternity. But I am nowhere as ancient as the Rahlken sensei Miarahl, nor anywhere near as ancient as a mutual friend of ours, a man who has also said he walks in eternity. Yet, more ancient by far is the Ancient of Days; He who wrestled with Jacob the Patriarch on Terra. He who…”

“…bought our Redemption,” said Desslok softly as he held hands with Starsha. “Have you seen…?”

“Twice have I glimpsed Heaven, His Face, and the wonders therein. I was told that when I pass on the third time, I shall remain there…but it will not be for many centuries.” She looked gravely at Desslok. “I will probably outlive you. Are you aware of that?”

“I am,” he said. “I had a dream, though, that…centuries from now, I shall give a eulogy at the funerals of your parents…and you shall be there with me. Do you sense this could be true…beloved?”

Starsha nodded, smiling at the endearment from Desslok. “I have had the same dream. Mother tells me that prophecy often comes in dreams. She keeps a journal of what she dreams. I have not seen it, though. Only my father has seen it.”

“So…we are sharing dreams,” said Desslok. “Bonding between us?”

Starsha nodded. “Shal’in’skar, as it is called in Pellian. The Iscandarian word is similar. Between us, the bond burns like a slow flame. Emotional…spiritual…and, finally…”

“The physical,” Desslok said. He looked hard into her eyes and said, “Starsha, even though we were together in that way twice or thrice in your past life…I intend to be more of a gentleman and wait until the wedding night for you.”

“I was thinking the same,” Starsha said almost bashfully. “Our growing bond means we are betrothed, Desslok.”

Desslok nodded and smiled. “I have already in my heart forsaken all others, to be with you.”

“I have done…likewise,” said Starsha. “I will be learning for several months, perhaps a year, at the Academy of Sciences on Iscandar. Sasha has told me she intends to abdicate a few weeks after I complete my studies.” Starsha then shut her eyes and said, “Desslok, if you would not think me to be impertinent, beloved…I would like to be wed to you on the same day I receive the Crown.”

“That would be most fitting,” Desslok said with a smile. “For you, I shall endure a thousand years of waiting.”

“It will not be that long,” Starsha said, breaking her grave manner with something like a giggle. “I’m sorry, dear…that giggle…”

“That’s your mother’s laughter,” Desslok said with love in his eyes. “Yet your father’s fire burns in your eyes. When your time comes, you shall be a most formidable Queen.”

“I know,” said Starsha. “Then, tell me something, love?”

“Yes?”

“Why am I scared?” Starsha said.

Desslok responded to Starsha’s fears by kissing her, softly, gently, in a courtly yet passionate manner.

Starsha gazed into Desslok’s dark blue eyes for a long time after they broke their kiss.

Talan came into the room, but when he saw them together, he turned away and left.

It is most obvious, he thought. They are deeply in love. I cannot disturb them now…

III. MELVIN’S PALACE

Planet Mugal

Summit City

June 6, 2233

Based upon the conversation they had on the way to Melvin’s Spanish-looking palace, Derek learned that the city they were in was known as “Summit City” since it was actually built over a mountain.

In the courtyard of the palace, they were greeted by the marching band that had led their motorcade again playing a somewhat out of tune version of the Commonwealth Anthem of Avenida de las Camelias.

“Nice version of our anthem, Nova,” Derek said. “But…”

“They sound sort of like they’re drunk,” she said in wonder as she hugged Derek with one arm and tried to console IQ-9’s head with the other hand with occasional pats (in case the robot’s consciousness routines were somehow running in sleep mode). “What sort of planet is this place?”

When the cars stopped, Von Schweinfurt and his men, who had been shooting at them maybe an hour ago, were now saluting with stiff salutes.

“We should have got this sort of reception in the first place,” Keyman muttered as he walked beside Lord Admiral Wildstar.

“They seem totally irrational,” added Akira, who was holding hands with Klaus as they walked down a threadbare red carpet.

Yuki Number Nine had some of her men carrying the various pieces of IQ-9 into the palace.

“We have no time for your robot to go to my throne room,” Melvin said. “You’ll pardon my rudeness, I hope, but we’re going straight to my lab. Nova Number Nine, make the preparations in case we have to transplant the robot’s consciousness.”

“I was already thinking of that,” the android said.

“Transplant…his consciousness?” Nova said.

“In case his body is too damaged to maintain his consciousness, he can be transferred into an android body,” said Yuki Number Nine. “In fact, that might be preferable…for a number of reasons.”

“Shouldn’t we give him a chance to consent first?” Derek said.

“I mean, informed consent is required before a major medical procedure like this,” Nova said.

“You’re talkin’ like he’s intelligent again,” Melvin growled.

“Well…he is!” Nova insisted.

IQ-9’s head woke up as Yuki Nine was carrying it. It looked at Nova and croaked, “Nova…please…help me…I’m dying…”

“Sure, IQ…I’ll help you,” Nova said with tears running down her cheeks.

“She really loves that thing,” Melvin said in awe.

“He’s not a thing,” Derek snapped. “He’s our friend and shipmate!”

“Am I a thing to you, Melvin?” Nova Number Nine said quietly.

“Hell yes!” he laughed. “I made you, and I can break you!”

“Yes, master,” Nova Nine said dully. To Nova’s shock, tears were running down the android’s cheeks.

“Can’t you see she’s a living being, too?” Nova said to Seadragon.

“All these people worship the ground I walk on,” snarled Melvin.

“Yes, but we don’t have to like it…husband,” said Yuki Number Nine.

“Okay, ya human toaster,” said Melvin as he drank some booze from a flask he pulled out of his pocket.

“Now you see why I’m depressed,” Yuki Number Nine said to Nova.

“SHUT UP!” Melvin yelled. “Do that again and I’ll smack ya! You’re as disposable as the rest a’ my subjects!”

The android shut up, only looking at Melvin with sad, reproachful eyes.

The real Nova gritted her teeth…her heart was going out to the female android…and she was becoming sickened at Melvin’s attitude.

She sent to Derek, Do you see what’s going on?

Yeah, Nova. I guess…

I’m not interested in letting this bunch into our Commonwealth, Nova thought. Not with the current…ruler in charge, anyway…

A bearded military officer of the planet in green fatigues walking behind Nova said, “Majesty, I’m picking up what you’re thinking.”

“And?” Nova countered.

“My name is General Allis Kleinman,” he whispered. “I’m a Pellian expat…found this place years ago. And I agree with you. We need…changes…here. Some of us are human like you. Melvin made maybe half of the population…they’re all androids like Number Nine. There was a much more fiery android like her I’m in love with…Number Seven.”

“Where is she?” Nova said.

“In prison,” said Kleinman. “She tried to overthrow him. Almost succeeded. She’s a smart one, that Sexaroid Yuki Number Seven.”

“I think she and I need to have a talk,” Nova said.

“Not a bad idea,” Kleinman whispered.

“We have allies?” Derek whispered.

“Possibly, dear,” Nova whispered back, pointedly kissing Derek as she picked up the sheer lust in Melvin’s mind as he looked at her and licked his lips.

A few minutes later, IQ-9 was reassembled and lying on a bed connected to a number of large supercomputers that hummed away. Yuki Number Nine and Melvin were working on him as Nova said, “I think I can repair him as he is. We don’t need this!”

“His motivator is busted,” said Yuki Number Nine. “He told you himself that he was dying.”

“If she said not to do this, why are you doing this?” Yvona snapped.

“Because you can’t grasp the complexities of this matter!” yelled Melvin. “We are trying to do good to a member of your party, and all you’re doing is giving us a hard time, lady?”

“I care about IQ-9 there, and I care about Lord Admiral Wildstar, my nephew, and Nova, my niece!” yelled Yvona. “Can’t you see this is upsetting them, you…you…drunken son-of-a-bitch?”

“What’s your opinion, Gammie?” growled Melvin as he stared at Keyman.

Keyman looked at him with rage in his eyes. “First of all, you do not, you do NOT call me that!” he snapped. “Also, I happen to know you are NOT welcome in my uncle’s court!”

“Aww…didn’t he forgive me yet for throwing up on his carpet in front’ a’ his throne?” Melvin said as he put on heavy goggles.

“No, he hasn’t,” said Keyman.

“What do you think o’ this, ya Martian?” Melvin said to Akira.

Yamamoto said nothing, but she made a quick, obscene gesture at Melvin. It involved her middle finger.

“Ya didn’t like that, either, Didja?” said Melvin.

“You…disgust me, quite frankly,” Akira said. “Lord Admiral Wildstar! Why are we playing games here in this place? We can just get back to the Cosmo Hound and leave!”

“We do not leave one of our own behind,” Derek countered. “Nova?”

“I think I might almost have this,” Nova said as she partially crawled onto the table and worked inside IQ-9’s middle section with a wrench, wire cutters, and a soldering gun that Yuki Number Nine had provided. “Give me five more minutes to fix him myself and we can leave…”

“But, the only way to fix him is to swap out his consciousness!” roared Melvin.

“Melvin, dear…I think Nova has this,” Yuki Number Nine said. “Let her do this her way and then just let them leave. It’s obvious that they don’t want to be here.”

“Smart lady,” said Yvona.

Melvin’s response was to just grab Nova by the back of her uniform collar, slap her across the face, pull her off the table, and throw her at Derek’s feet like a doll as she fought to free herself.

Nova hit her head on the stone floor and saw stars for a moment.

Melvin then kicked Yuki Number Nine out of the way as he connected the final wires, shoved IQ-9 back together, and as the robot cried “NOOOO!” he flicked a huge knife switch just as Akira, Yvona, and Keyman had their sidearms levelled at him.

There was a tremendous roaring noise, dials lit up, and sparks flew between two electrodes as Melvin used his own power to turn the weapons of the Martian, Gamilon, and clone into…carrots.

In the meantime, Derek was on his knees tending to a rather stunned Nova, shaking her and calling her name.

“I’m…fine,” she finally said in a slurred voice. “Head feels like I’ve just been kicked by a horse, but I’ll live.”

“Drink this, dear,” Derek said as he pulled a small silver flask out of his peacoat’s inner pocket. “This is that healing cordial you brewed on Pellias.”

“Was meant for you and the…others, but I’ll gladly take some,” Nova said as she took a sip of the medicinal substance that she had concocted herself. It was a liquor, but it had a sweet smell like violets.

After Nova drank, her head cleared, and she gleamed slightly to blast away the concussion and the hurts she had suffered at Melvin’s hands. “Thanks,” she said to Derek as she kissed her husband on the nose. “You take a sip, too. It’ll give you some strength.”

Derek nodded, and he took a swig of Nova’s brew as she stood up with sheer fire in her eyes, ready to draw her sword and pierce Melvin with it.

Instead, as the others watched in shock, she was confronted by what looked like a handsome, naked red-haired man with a swimmer’s build and slight beard. “Nova?” he said in a rather nasal voice for a moment before his eyes fully focused. “Did…did you do this to me?”

“No, not really…who are you? What happened to IQ-9? I’m not reading any power in him at all. He’s dead!”

“No…he’s not,” said the young red-head. “Because…I’m IQ-9. This feels weird…and I’m cold! And ashamed for the first time in my life!” he said as he covered his crotch quickly with his hands.

“I’ll get you some clothes, dear,” Yuki Number Nine said as she came up and kissed him.

“Why are you helping me…Nova?” said IQ-9. Then he looked at the real Nova and said, “I’m sorry. I’m getting sort of…confused!”

“She’s Nova. I’m a duplicate…Yuki Number Nine, but I’m becoming my own person more and more,” said the android woman as she rubbed IQ’s…cheek. “I know you care for her, but care for me, too? I can return your love…I helped to make your new body…and I loved you as soon as I crafted you,” she said as she stroked IQ-9’s cheek some more.

“You’re not supposed to be doin’ that!” yelled Melvin. “You’re mine!”

“LIKE HELL I AM!” roared Yuki Number Nine. “I quit my position on this dump you made, and I DIVORCE you, Melvin!”

“SHADDAP!” yelled Melvin as he slapped her across her face.

Then, a moment later, as quick as lightning, the new IQ-9 grabbed Melvin’s arms from behind and shoved him at the real Nova, who had drawn her crystal sword and had it pointed at Melvin’s throat.

“Wait a minnite!” yelled Melvin. “I’m a man, damnit!”

“Real men do not slap women around!” yelled Nova as she pricked the surface of Melvin’s throat with her sword. “You’re going to apologize to Yuki and then to me! We’re both ladies!”

“She’s a toaster thing I made!” yelled Melvin. “And you’re a half-breed mess with a vile temper! OWWW!” he snarled as Nova shoved her sword further into his throat, breaking the skin.

“Thank you, IQ,” said Yuki with a bow.

“Don’t mention it,” he said with his tremendous android strength holding Melvin in check. “I’d do anything to protect you, Yuki, and you, Nova. I love both of you, but I’m really in love with Miss Yuki Nine here!”

“You’re coming back with us…with the body you’re in and your old one,” said Derek. “Miss Yuki, if I may call you that, would you like to come with him?”

“Yes,” she said as she held a blaster on Melvin, helping Nova keep him at bay.

“I trust her,” Nova said. “However, we have to deal with him first!” Nova said as she stared hard into Melvin’s eyes.

Then, at that, there was a puff of vile-smelling gas that swirled like a cyclone and vanished. Melvin vanished along with it.

“He tends to do that,” Yuki said to Nova.

“Do what?”

“Turn into sewer gas and run when he’s threatened. He could be anywhere on this planet…or…”

Nova reached out for his mind, feeling like she was mentally gagging while doing so. “He’s not on this planet any longer! Nowhere!” Then, Nova reached out with her power and caused her peacoat to appear from off the Cosmo-Hound. “This is for you, IQ-9. It may be tight on you, but…”

“No, Nova…I’ll give him this,” Derek said as he took off his own peacoat and put it on IQ-9. “Did he give you a name? I mean…your android body?”

“He was calling him Roberto or Robert,” said Yuki.

“IQ, while you’re in that body, do you mind if we call you Roberto?” said Derek.

“You can call me Roberto Neuve, actually,” he replied in a voice that sounded more confident. “Neuve, you know, is Spanish for ‘Nine’. I should know this. After all, I am a genius…” Then, he cut off, realizing he was not a robot any longer.

“I’ll call myself Yuki Neuve,” said the other android. “It also means ‘Nine’ and I hope to marry you soon…please…”

“I accept,” said Roberto with a gulp.

“I can perform a ceremony soon after we get back to the Yamato,” Derek said.

“Permit me to do it, please?” Nova said. “In my royal role, of course?”

“No problem,” Derek said.

“This is very nice and all, but we have to get out of here,” Klaus said.

Then, a moment later, they heard gunfire.

They all twisted around to see Von Schweinfurt and his men in black uniforms shooting against another group of soldiers in regular green fatigues. Some of the marching band members had also somehow gotten their hands on weapons and were assisting the soldiers in green in their black, red and white band uniforms.

Derek looked and then Nova said, “Yes! They’re rising up?”

“Who?”

“General Kleinman!” Nova said brightly as he appeared leading the troops…

…with another woman who looked like Nova at his side!

This woman was in a multi-colored minidress, with knee-high black boots, and looked very beautiful and seductive with her honey-blond locks running down her back. She was holding a sidearm, and was blasting fiercely at Von Schweinfurt’s troops.

As they fought, Derek and Nova and the others found themselves having to defend themselves from the bullets and laser bolts of the black-clad troopers led by Von Schweinfurt, but, to their pleasure and surprise, they were joined by a large group of men and women in the green fatigues of the others, who, they noticed, were being led by Allis Kleinman.

As Nova fought beside Derek, both blasting at some troopers and swinging her sword at others, Nova found herself back-to-back with a woman with long dark hair whose face she could not see clearly in the smoke and commotion of the battle. Nova helped and defended the dark-haired woman, who also covered Nova at least once.

Then, for a moment, their eyes met as the smoke cleared.

“Nova!” said the dark-haired woman in a very familiar voice.

“What the heck?” Nova said. “You look and sound like a younger version of my mother!”

“That’s because I am,” she said. “My God, Nova, I’m proud of you! You can really fight!”

“You’re not bad yourself…” Nova said as she touched minds with the woman, and tears ran down her cheeks as she confirmed what her eyes and ears were telling her, “….Momma…”

“It’s been a long time, Nova…all explanations later…”

In the meantime, the woman in the multicolored minidress was facing down Von Schweinfurt in a duel. Both the new woman and Allis shot at Von Schweinfurt, who fell screaming.

The battle continued.

The whole mess took about five minutes.

When they were done, Von Schweinfurt was dead, and the new woman spat on his corpse.

“Who are you?” Derek said.

“I am Sexaroid Yuki Number Seven, her sister, so to speak,” she said as she gestured at Yuki Neuve. “I used to be with Melvin, and I was his wife and vice-chancellor until I tried to lead a rebellion against him and he cast me into prison. General Kleinman met me in prison, and while he could not release me, he saw that I was treated decently and we fell in love, and he promised me he would free me and help me in my rebellion. That day has finally come, and Melvin has left. I can tell. I had a link with him, and I know where he is. He’s gone. Far away. The damned coward,” Yuki Seven said. Then, she looked at Nova. “I know who you are, Majesty. I know where your mother is.”

“Where?” Derek said.

“Here,” said Teri Forrester to Admiral Wildstar’s utter shock as she ran up, stumbling a little, clad in the green fatigues of the Mugal freedom fighters.

Nova’s eyes lit up and she ran to her mother. “Mother! Thank you for helping me in the battle!” she said as their eyes met and mother and daughter embraced. “How…how did you end up here? And how did you get so young?”

“Two months ago, I think,” Teri gasped. “I was in freeze on another planet…weird name…I think it was Defuel? A strange man who looked like a woman with white hair woke me up, along with a very tall black man. They did something weird to…rejuvenate me...it made me younger again! Then, they chained me up, threw me in a space ship, and I was brought here to be sold into slavery. This weird man…Melvin…he bought me! I was owned by him for a time, but this lady here,” she said as she gestured at Yuki Seven, “Whom I honestly mistook for you at first, rescued me and trained me to fight with General Kleinman’s resistance before she was captured. I was fighting to free you…or so I thought…”

“And I was on the way to Defuel to free you!” Nova said.

General Kleinman then looked at the whole mess, and said, “Well…it looks like I’m Chancellor here now. High Queen Nova Wildstar, we have heard of you, your deeds, and your miracles,” said Kleinman as he genuflected to Nova. “May we join your Commonwealth? We do…need help….and I need to reform many things, and elect a Parliament, and then really help the poor here by giving them real jobs and decent employment.”

“It has to be enacted by the Parliaments of Terra and Pellias,” Nova said. “However, I will speak in your favor…now that Melvin has left. Do you swear fealty to me?”

“I do, ma’am,” said Kleinman.

Nova gently tapped his shoulders with her sword. “I accept your fealty, and I name you as Lord Chancellor of this world, with Yuki the Seventh as your Vice-Chancellor.”

The revolutionaries applauded, followed by cheers from across the city as the news spread that Melvin had been deposed as King.

The marching band then began to play the Commonwealth anthem again as Allis and Yuki Seven received the applause of the group and Roberto and Derek raised a laughing Nova up on their shoulders.

“You have a certain…style,” said Yvona to Yuki Neuve as she smiled while Akira grinned as Keyman embraced her.

Then, he looked at her and said, “If they’re getting married on the ship…?”

“Yes?” said Akira with her eyes sparkling.

“Let’s make it a double wedding?” said Klaus.

“I accept your offer,” said Akira as she kissed Klaus. “But what about your uncle? Won’t he want a huge wedding on Gamilon?”

“He can have a reception for us later,” Klaus said as he kissed Akira. “I want to be your husband now, so long as love is in the air…”

“Agreed,” said Yamamoto as she and Klaus kissed again.

“Great!” said Nova as she jumped off the shoulders of Derek and Roberto. “I was wondering when you two would get around to planning your wedding!”

“Looks like we have a lot to do,” Derek said.

“We sure do, but I’ll be glad to help,” said Yvona.

Teri then swung around and kissed Derek on the cheek. “Thank you, son-in-law, for…for…coming for me…”

“We just found you here, Teri,” Derek said.

“But you were coming for me…and Nova saved my life in that battle,” she said. “I heard rumors about your Commonwealth, Nova. I’m very pleased to see what you’ve apparently accomplished. For the first time in a long time, I’m really proud that you’re in the Star Force, my baby…who has really grown up! And I love your husband. Yes, Derek, I love you, my son in law, and would you please forgive all of my cross words?”

“Thank you, Mom,” Nova said as she hugged her mother again. Then, Derek faced her and said, “Okay, you’re really family! I forgive you…Mum,” he said as her hugged her and Nova and the others applauded.

“I know I did a lot of things that hurt you and Nova,” Teri said tearfully.

“But, that’s just water under the bridge now,” Derek said with a soft smile. “Would you like to come with us? That is, if milady here agrees?”

“I most certainly agree,” Nova said. “On one condition.”

“Yes?” Derek and Teri said together.

“Join us,” Nova said. “Join the Star Force. We need a new Master at Arms, and you’ve sure shown us you can fight,” Nova said as she patted her mother’s arm.

“I’d be proud to join you,” Teri said. “When we get back to the ship, swear me in and issue me a uniform, please. I remember how to get around your ship.”

“That can be arranged,” Derek said. “You mind joining us as an Ensign?”

“Well, given I was just with a band of guerillas,” Teri said with a grin. “I don’t mind one bit. I could use a regular paycheck.”

“We’ll swear you in later, then,” Nova said. She then looked at Roberto and Yuki. “Same goes for you, Yuki, if you want to join us. Roberto, we just have to swear you in and give you rank since I guess you won’t be a robot for the foreseeable future.”

“Thank you,” said Roberto and Yuki together.

A FEW HOURS LATER…

The small group assembled on the Yamato’s aft observation deck as she sat in orbit over Mugal.

Yuki and Roberto Neuve were now in Star Force uniforms; the gold and black of Living Group for Yuki, and the green and white of Navigation for Roberto. Teri was in a new Star Force uniform of her own, in the grey and black of Ship’s Security. Only Teri wore a black collar; the other two wore white collars since they would be responsible to their Group Leaders; Roberto would report to Captain Chris Eager, while Yuki would report to Admiral Nova Wildstar, who would train Yuki on how to run her board so she could devote most of her own time to working in Sickbay.

Derek, under Nova’s warrant, administered the Commissioning Oath to the three of them. Since they were being sworn into the Earth Defense Forces, the oath went like this:

“I, Teresa Forrester, Yuki Neuve, and Roberto Neuve, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth and the Constitution of the Federation of Earth, against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I will obey the orders of the High Queen of the Commonwealth and the Prime Minister of the Earth Federation, that I make this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the Office of Ensign in the Combined Fleet of the Commonwealth of Terra-Pellias which I am about to enter, so help me God, and keep me steadfast in this Oath and Obligation.”

Akira Yamamoto and Klaus Keyman stood as witnesses along with Captain Eager, with much applause when the three new officers were sworn in.

“Okay, when do we have a party?” said Yuki with a wink.

“After we land on Pellias in three days,” Nova said. “We should be on Pellias for about a month before we go out again, and we should be able to arrange some weddings…while we’re there,” she said.

Commander Hyman Rahlich then appeared on the observation deck. “Captain, Doctor Wildstar, I picked up a message from Gamilon. I think you need to see it in your quarters.”

“Who is it from?” Derek said.

“Your daughter Starsha, sir.”

“I wonder what she’s doing on Gamilon?” Derek said. “She was supposed to be going to Iscandar, right?”

“Right…but Iscandar is right next to Gamilon,” Nova said with a little smile. “We’ll talk upstairs in an hour. I have some business to tend to first in Sickbay.”

“Chris, take command,” Derek said to Eager. “Give them a tour of the ship and show them where their cabins are.”

“Yessir,” he said.

AN HOUR LATER…

Derek was holding the message from Gamilon on their table as he drank some coffee that Nova had made that morning. He had shrugged off his peacoat and was in sock feet as he looked out at space.

She made it way too strong this time, he thought as he drummed his fingers on the table.

Derek came out of his reverie a moment later when the hatch opened and Nova came in, pushing her hair out of her eyes. She had on a medical scrub smock, lab coat, and rubber clog sandals. She poured herself some coffee, kicked her shoes off under the table, and sat down.

“Okay, Derek, what does this message from Gamilon say?” Nova said as she put her elbows on the table and steepled her hands up and leaned her chin down. “No bad news, I hope. I’m tired and my feet hurt.”

“What did you have to do?”

“Give my own mother a physical, would you believe?” she chuckled. “She took it worse than even you do. She complained about my cold hands, cold stethoscope, and began whining about how she didn’t spend all that money for me to go to Medical School to be a lousy doctor. I reminded her I went to a Service Medical School at no cost to her. Then she shut up.”

“The message is from Starsha…I caught that much.”

“Well, read it, Derek.”

“Irritable, aren’t we?”

“Well, after what we went through today, wouldn’t you be irritable, too?” Nova said. “Don’t keep me in suspense…read, please?”

Derek loudly cleared his throat. “Dear Mom and Dad,” he read out loud. “This is from your loving daughter, Crown Princess Starsha of Iscandar. I have some great news I wanted to share with both of you privately before you get the holonet reports from Gamilon tomorrow. I’m about to start at the Academy of Sciences at Iscandar tomorrow…don’t worry. I also wanted to let you know I’m engaged, and to put it formally, betrothed to a very nice man.”

“Oh, how sweet!” Nova said.

“Nova, she’s too young!”

“She’s aged to the equivalent of twenty-three. How old were we when we got engaged and married? Just the same age? Or did you forget?” Nova said as she tapped her husband’s nose.

“Okay…now the issue of who she’s engaged to,” Derek said. He sipped at some more coffee, cleared his throat, and read out loud. “The man I’m engaged to is wonderful and I was once in love with him long ago, so it’s like we’ve met all over again.” Derek shook his head. “Nova, who did she know long ago? She was just…re-born in 2231!”

“Re-born,” Nova said as she sipped at her coffee. “RE-Born! That’s the operative word! You know Starsha’s had two previous lives. I think I have a feeling what’s going on,” Nova almost sang.

“You sound happy,” Derek snorted. “Almost too happy.”

“Read on, Space Cowboy,” Nova teased.

“Aye-aye, Peppermint,” Derek said. Even he was smiling a little as he read out loud. “The nicest part is that he is a good friend of both of you, Mom and Dad. Granted, I know you had a rough start in your relationship with this man, but he is very wealthy, and he’ll make a great husband and this will join our peoples even further together…a…royal marriage. I wanted to let you know that I am happily betrothed…to Leader Desslok.” Derek paused and stammered. “Leader Desslok. LEADER DESSLOK? Our daughter is friggin’ engaged to DESSLOK?”

“You dropped the letter, Derek,” Nova said.

“Nova, we have to stop this!”

“Why? She’s over the age of majority in terms of her development, and Starsha is a very bright young woman, Derek!” Nova said with a little heat in her voice.

“But, my daughter, marrying HIM??” Derek snapped. “What do you think?”

“I think it’s wonderful for both of them, and it will bring our alliance closer together than ever,” Nova said.

“Nova, did you get smacked on the head by something down there in Sickbay?” Derek snapped as he slammed his fist on the table.

“No, I did not get smacked on the head!” Nova said with honest anger in her voice.

“What’s wrong with you, Nova? Did you set this up?”

“No, but I figured out maybe she was interested. I have no business stopping her. Neither do YOU.”

“But our daughter…married to a damn GAMILON?” Derek snapped. He banged his fist on the table again.

Nova sat up very straight and pointed her finger at him. “Derek, someone you know is…as you SO crudely put it…part GAMILON! Take that back!”

“Okay, who’s getting all insulted? You know what the Gamilons did to us! They bombed Earth! They killed my parents!”

“And, guess who’s one-sixteenth Gamilon!” Nova snapped, “ME, you stupid man! Derek, I never thought I’d hear that bigotry from out of your mouth!”

“Oh…Nova, I forgot…” he stammered.

“Even if I didn’t have some Gamilon blood in me, probably part of my Iscandarian blood, I’d be disgusted at what you said! Take that back or I swear, I’ll go in my office in Sickbay to sleep tonight!”

“You wouldn’t!”

“I would!” Nova said.

“This is as bitter to take as your lousy coffee!” he said.

“What lousy coffee?” Nova said. “I thought you LIKED IT!”

“Not when it sits in the damn pot for over ten hours!”

“Who forgot to clean it out and make a new batch?”

“You!”

“No, it was your turn!” Nova said. She gritted her teeth and then Derek saw tears in her eyes and he felt her rage through their bond.

“Nova…”

“What? I’m about to walk out of here!”

“Nova…I’m sorry I said anything bad about Gamilons…or about you…or your coffee. Can you forgive me?”

“Let me think about it,” Nova said.

“Nova, I’m so sorry. And…I swear…I won’t stand in Starsha’s way with her…marrying Desslok…if you won’t…”

“No, I won’t,” Nova said with a ghost of a smile coming to her lips.

“Yeah…guess what…now I know how Alex felt when Sasha ended up with Deke Wakefield,” Derek said.

“Congratulations, Derek…you’re chilling out…a bit…”

“I need a drink,” he said.

“I have something stored away to improve this coffee,” Nova said.

She got up, and opened a cabinet and got out a bottle of Scotch. “This is the good stuff. I’ll pour us both some.”

“Why?” Derek said.

“Silly, you just said you needed a drink,” Nova said. “Also, sometimes, as an old video show said, ‘a man will tell his bartender things he won’t tell his doctor’” Nova said as she poured a shot into her coffee cup and then poured one into Derek’s coffee cup. Then, she pulled her chair around and sat down beside her husband. “Oh, I’d better do this,” she said as she raised her hand, pointed at the lock, locked it, then used her power to close the privacy curtains, turned down the lights, and put on some quiet cool jazz. It sounded like John Coltrane.

“You’re creating a better mood, Peppermint,” Derek said.

“We need some time alone,” Nova replied. “When was the last time? Two weeks? Three weeks?”

“We’ve been so busy we forgot,” Derek said. He sipped at his coffee. “It definitely improves the taste.”

“Thanks. Sorry I made it too strong, dear.”

“You always do. If you didn’t, I’d assume you were sick,” Derek teased, reaching over to play with Nova’s hair like he did when he was getting romantic.

“Sick. I hope I don’t get sick from that Melvin kissing my hand before. I scrubbed really good before I examined my mother…even took a shower.”

“Oh, that’s why you smell so fresh,” he said. “Which hand did Melvin kiss again?”

“This one,” she said. She raised it and he kissed it. “Mon Cherie…” he said.

“We need to improve your French,” Nova replied.

“Why is that?”

“One of these days, I’d like to…make out with you in nothing but French…Admiral Clueless With Women,” Nova teased. “Ohh…you had this cued up to My Favorite Things…I like that one.”

“Me too,” Derek said. “Bottoms up,” he said, finishing his drink as Nova said, “Kampai,” and finished hers. “What time is it?”

“Twenty Hundred,” Nova said. “We’re not on duty for the rest of the night,” she said as she kissed his nose.

Derek’s body began to stir. “Are you thinking…what I’m thinking?”

“You know I am,” she said. Nova got up, kissed Derek on the lips, hard…and they made the kiss last.

Then, with a wink, she shrugged off her lab coat, put it away, and pulled down their bunk. “Sit with me?”

“No problem, love,” Derek said.

Then, they began to kiss passionately and fell onto the wide bunk together.

“The best part about an argument…” Derek whispered.

“Is the making-up part,” Nova whispered back.

At that, Nova fell into Derek’s arms, and she let her husband have his way with her….

MUCH LATER THAT NIGHT…

Wrapped up in Derek’s arms, with very mussed-up hair, and very happy with the joy of their intimacy, Nova Wildstar slept skin-to-skin with her husband with a sweet smile on her face and her hand on his chest.

Nova, as was her way, was having a very vivid dream.

Her dreams were very detailed, and always in color. Sometimes, she touched minds with Derek during sleep and invited him into her dreams…which often had…interesting…results when they woke up.

At this point, almost like a novelist, Nova was dreaming about something that had happened between her and Starsha when Starsha had been the rough equivalent of fourteen, maybe a year ago…

NOVA’S DREAMSCAPE…

Earth

Lower Northeast Philadelphia

July 8, 2232

0600 Hours

As Starsha secured the Velcro tabs on her running shoes, she smelled some of the air coming in through the living room of the Wildstars’ home in Philadelphia. “So, the wind is already warm this time of the morning,” she said out loud as her mother ran down the stairs carrying her running shoes.

Starsha was going to go out jogging with her mother, and possibly her father. She had on blue running shoes, white shorts trimmed in blue, and a white tank top.

She smiled at her mother, who had on a simple black sports bra and black shorts with a pink belt and fanny pack in which she had a bottle of cold spring water and money and her ID. Nova was fastening on her gold and black running shoes as she smiled at her daughter.

“Where’s Dad?” said Starsha.

“Theodore invited him to play a video game, so your father and Theodore are lost aircar racing,” Nova said with a smile. “He promised me he’d come running with us tomorrow if it doesn’t rain, so I let him be. For an Admiral, there are times when your father still acts like a big kid.”

“In terms of relative ages, both of you are still big kids,” Starsha said with a wink. “Why are we going out so early?”

“Number one, it’s not so hot this time of day. Number two, there will be no paparazzi around to take our pictures,” Nova said as she got her last strap done on her sneaker. “Go out on the porch, dear…I’ll lock up.”

Starsha did so, twirling some long strands of hair between her fingers as her mother punched the access code on the inner keypad of the lock on their stone house, and then jogged out onto the porch after closing the new door they had recently had installed; actual walnut with stained-glass windows.

A moment later, after checking for traffic on Comly Street (there wasn’t any this time of morning,) the young middle-aged mother and teenage-looking daughter, who looked more like sisters than mother and daughter, jogged across the street and began to run in the grass in Wissinoming Park after stopping to stretch out the tendons in their legs with the exercises that Nova taught Starsha. Starsha had never been particularly athletic in either of her past lives, and she had to exert effort at times to keep up with her finely-toned mother, who, with her flat tummy and almost-faded stretch marks, made the young Princess feel almost envious.

“So how long have you been running?” Starsha asked.

“Most of my life,” Nova replied. “The military tends to do that to you. I have to pass a physical training test every six months, even with my rank; same with your father. He’d better lay off the video games if he wants to keep up with us,” Nova said with a teasing lilt in her voice, as she sang out loud, “Derek! Stop slacking!”

“What did he say?” Starsha asked.

“He sent back to me, ‘I’m not slacking, I’m parenting a fourteen-year-old boy who is far too smart for his own good’.”

“Aha! He’s giving him ‘the talk’,” Starsha teased.

“What talk?” Nova answered.

“We’ve both had children…you know what I mean, dear Mom. The same talk I gave Sasha. About the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees…”

“Oh, that talk,” Nova said. “I gave you that talk two weeks ago.”

“I remembered it, Mom.”

“You probably would,” Nova said as they began to jog.

“I’ve been married twice in my lives and had several paramours beforehand,” Starsha said. “Including you-know-who…”

“Desslok?” Nova said.

“Yes,” Starsha said as they ran.

“Did you and he…?”

“Mom, none of your business!” Starsha sang. “Besides, it was a lifetime ago, and I did stray from the path of perfection a few times.”

“That surprises me,” Nova said. “You didn’t know you were in love with Alex Wildstar until I practically waved the fact in your face like a neon sign…thirty-two years ago on Iscandar.”

“You had too much insight, Nova. Maybe I should’ve spilled the beans about your ancestry then.”

“YOU KNEW?” Nova said.

“Yes. There was the resemblance you had to Astra, and you were giving off psi-signals then like an old-style cigarette lighter trying to light up.”

“How do you know about those nasty cigarettes?”

“I was around Lysis once when I was with a ball with Desslok. He and Volgarr smoked pretty regularly….”

“I see,” Nova said.

At that, the strangely vivid dream went on and on, and then it merged into another dream that Nova barely remembered, but which was pleasant. For one thing, Derek was in the dream, and they were on a cabin cruiser in the middle of nowhere on some ocean, and…

Then, Nova remembered that her dream turned very unpleasant. The sky was filled with a burning and a stench, just like it was during the planet bombings, and…

…a planet bomb was tumbling down from the sky towards her and Derek.

There was a bright light and horrid pain.

Derek then woke up screaming “NOOOOOOO!” and Nova woke up at the same time.

“You’re dead…you’re dead, oh, my God, you’re DEAD!” Derek said in a slurred, half-awake voice.

“Derek, I’m…I’m not dead,” Nova said as she looked over at him lying sweaty and disoriented on his side of their bunk.

“You’re not dead…” Derek said. Then, he looked to his right and saw Nova lying there in only her bare skin, slightly sweaty, with mussed-up hair.

“No, I’m not dead,” Nova said. She reached for her husband’s chest and stroked it. “I picked up the end of your dream. You’re still having that nightmare about the planet bombs,” she said as a bald declarative, not having to even ask him.

“It ended the same way it often does. I saw my parents dying, of course…and you’re usually in that dream, and you get vaporized, too. This time was one of the worst. After the bomb went off, you didn’t just blow away. You fell down on the ground…only you were a charred skeleton, lying there on the scraps of your sundress and your shoes and sunhat. The matching straw ones you like.”

“I don’t know what I can do to help you, Derek,” Nova said. “I can’t blunt that memory. We tried that.”

“But the dreams got worse afterwards.”

“Oh, I remember that, my darling,” Nova said as she kissed Derek’s bicep. Then, an idea came to Nova. “Derek, did you ever talk with Desslok about these dreams?”

“DESSLOK?” said Derek. “He caused it. What good would that do?”

“Maybe when we meet up with him again, you should tell him about what the war did to you, and maybe you’ll finally have some closure to this,” Nova suggested. “The strangest thing about all of this is that you two are pretty good friends. Maybe he can help you!”

“That might…work,” Derek said. “What time is it?”

“0400,” Nova said. “I have to get up in a few minutes. I’m supposed to be Officer of the Deck from 0500 to 0900. Then I’ll stay on the bridge to start training Yuki at my radar. It’ll feel strange giving it up. IQ…Roberto…already knows his post.”

“Nova, before you get up, would you agree to do something with me?”

“We do not have a lot of time, and I need to take a shower, unless you want the whole ship to know what we were up to…last night,” Nova said with a smile.

“I think we need to send Starsha and Desslok an e-mail,” Derek said. “Let them know…we approve of their engagement.”

“And congratulate them?” Nova said with a bright smile on her face.

“Yes,” said Derek. He winked at her.

“I could spend the rest of the day hugging you for that!” Nova said as she jumped on top of Derek and kissed him.

The kiss lasted a while. Then, Nova looked at the clock and said, “You know my e-signature. You have access to it. You write the e-mail, send it to them, and cc: me,” Nova said. “I’d do it myself, but…I have to take that shower,” she said as she got up and grabbed underwear and one of her uniforms and a peacoat. Derek did smile at the view of his wife’s slender form before she said, “See you later. Love you!”

“Love you too, Nova,” Derek said. “God, thank You for such a great wife and friend,” he said as Nova tiptoed out of their cabin to their shower.

On Iscandar, Starsha had just finished her enrollment at the Academy of Sciences.

She drove a small hover-boat back to Mother Town and stepped neatly out of the boat onto the dock. She smiled in her simple blue dress as she saw that Mother Town had people walking around again. There were Iscandarians who had fled Ekogaru’s war who had come home, along with Pellians who had moved there years ago and Pellians who had recently moved there. Many people from Earth, expatriates, and military men and women assigned to one of the joint defense bases on the planet were there, along with Gamilons assigned to the joint base.

Starsha walked into the Palace occupied by Queen Sasha, her one-time daughter, and now her cousin in her new life. But she didn’t go see Sasha that afternoon. Instead, she went to her apartment.

In her apartment, Starsha took off her boots, flopped onto her bed, and opened her laptop.

She pulled up her e-mail and read it. First, she read a heart-warming note from Desslok. She smiled. He writes such lovely love letters, Starsha thought.

Then, she saw an e-mail that came from her father.

Oh, no, he must have found out! Starsha thought, feeling her stomach dropping like an elevator. He must be incredibly angry, she thought as she opened the e-mail.

Instead, her eyes went wide as she read the subject line: Congratulations to you and Desslok from your mom and dad!

Starsha saw her father had sent the e-mail and sent a cc: to her mother.

The e-mail read:

Starsha, dear:

Well, we just received your e-mail. Your mother and I had a long discussion about you and Desslok (Boy, did we have a discussion!) and we finally came to the conclusion that the only appropriate response is to send you and Desslok our congratulations and wish you the best. Your Mom asks what your wedding date is and she even wants to know if she can make you a dress? Oh, we know she’s good at all this girly stuff. I know she’ll probably knock my cap down over my eyes when she reads this, but…hey, it’s worth it!

My job is to arrange a bachelor party and honor guard for Desslok, both of which I’ll be happy to do. I know. It sounds silly, but your mom and I talked about that, too.

Desslok, if you read this (and I know she’ll send it to you) I wish you mazel tov and Nova and I welcome you to our family! You’re getting a set of in-laws you’ll probably like.

Anyway, I’m happy for both of you, and so’s your mom.

Lots of love…

Dad (Lord Admiral Derek Wildstar, Prince of the Commonwealth)

Mom (HRH Admiral Nova Wildstar, MD, etc.)

“Dad, Mom, THANK YOU!” laughed Starsha. “You two are wonderful! I love both of you! Now, to send this to Desslok….”

Four days passed, and the Yamato arrived back on Pellias.

On Pellias, Derek and Nova entered a dank cell where the last survivor of the rebels from the Diet, ex-Senator Joyce Wade, was being held.

Wade was bruised and beaten, with a fat lip. She was clad in a filthy, bloody black and white striped jumpsuit and was barefoot.

The cell was dark, dimly lit with light panels in two different colors, green and dim red.

Derek had on his dress whites with cover. Nova wore an all-black jumpsuit with high black boots. Grimslade Halleck was in black leather, and Captain Paul Rosstowski, recently in from space with the space battleship Pennsylvania, was clad in his blues with a black dress jacket.

“Oh, what a happy gathering here!” laughed Wade.

“They tell us you’re ready to confess,” Derek said without further preamble. He grabbed her, pulled her up, and slammed her against the cell wall after Nova quietly nodded to him. “Start talking!”

“I was serving Pennywise the Clown!” Wade said with a deranged laugh.

“We came off station to hear that crap from you?” Derek snapped as he slammed Wade against the wall again.

“Tell us what you had to do with the assassination of Astrena!” Nova snapped.

“Majesty,” said Grimslade. “She does admit that she offered aid and comfort to the killers.”

“So, now you are ready to admit it!” Nova said.

“Talk now and spare us the trouble of torturing you anymore!” yelled Rosstowski.

“I was serving a higher power than you, little Nova,” hissed Wade. “You were always a shrimp with a funny-looking nose!”

“What is this in reference to?” said Rosstowski.

“She used to torment me in grammar school,” Nova said.

“Nova, you knew this piece of crap?” Derek said. “Love, I pity you!”

Wade began to laugh. She began to sing, as if it was a schoolyard taunt, “Forty birds in your little nest! Promecium’s mercenaries shot at you! One is dead and she’s ground up like ashes! The rest of your crud will follow her! Baby, baby, stick your head in gravy! Wrap it up in bubble gum and send it to the Cosmo Navy! BABY! BABY!” Wade then began to laugh and spit. Then, she looked at Nova, who was staring hard at her and screamed, “Get the hell out of my head, you freaky blonde bitch!”

“Your insanity game won’t work, because from what I’m picking up, you are, unfortunately, sane! I also see Count Mecha’s image in your head!” Nova snapped.

“I bribed him with money from my own campaign fund! I think we should merge with the Mechanized Empire!”

“Why are you confessing now?” barked Derek.

“Because I want a trial! Before the High Queen! NOW!”

“Right now?” Nova said. “I’m not really dressed for Court, dear. Neither are you. Do you want counsel?”

“No! I’m smart enough to speak for myself, ya half-Jap bitch mongrel thing!” yelled Wade.

“Put her down, Derek,” Nova said. “Please.”

“Down you go!” yelled Derek as he threw Wade against her cell wall.

Nova then waded in and kicked her. “What did you just call me?” Nova snapped.

“What you are! A half-breed!” Wade yelled.

“I’ve dueled people for less,” Nova said as she looked grimly at Halleck and smiled. He shivered, remembering the memory of his humiliation at her hand years ago in a duel. “So, you confess to treason?”

“HELL YES!!!” roared Wade.

“Ma’am, she’s told us Mecha is involved,” said Rosstowski. “That’s enough to finish her off now.”

“It sure is,” Nova said. “Based on your own confession, I find you guilty of high treason and offering aid and comfort to the enemies of the Terran-Pellian Commonwealth. I also find you guilty of conspiracy in the assassination of Ruling Queen Astrena. The penalty for these offenses is death. I intend to carry out sentence shortly. No time for a last meal for you, I am afraid. Do you want a Pastor to talk to? A blindfold? A last cigarette?”

“I do want something!” laughed Wade.

“And what is it?” Nova said as she bent down towards Wade as Derek and the others tried to warn Nova with their eyes.

“TO WRING YOUR SKINNY NECK, YOU PART PELLIAN, PART GAMMIE, PART ORIENTAL BITCH!” screeched Wade as she jumped at Nova’s throat like a rabid dog. “YOU PROBABLY HAVE ANCESTRY FROM ISRAEL, TOO, HUH?”

For a terrible moment, Nova herself was against the wall of the cell, gasping as Wade who was almost six feet tall and physically stronger than her, tried as hard as she could to crush Nova’s windpipe.

Derek and Grimslade pulled Wade off Nova, throwing her to Rosstowski, who gave her a roundhouse punch that knocked her down to the concrete floor as Derek held his wife.

“Are you all right?” he said.

“Give me a moment and I will be,” Nova gasped as she coughed bloody phlegm onto the brown cement floor. She touched her own throat with her hand, healing the damage as her hand and the red jewel on her ring glowed with power for a moment. “Give me a clear path, guys…please,” Nova said as she glanced at Derek.

Rosstowski kicked hard at Wade, breaking her hip as Nova drew her Cosmo-gun and aimed at her. “Anything else to say before I execute my sentence?” Nova said.

“LONG LIVE THE MECHANIZED EMPIRE!” yelled Wade as she ripped some plastiskin off her own hand to reveal something she had kept hidden from the Mossad; a red, glowing dial in the back of her hand! Then, she began to laugh as if she was insane as her eyes gleamed with an inhuman green shade of light.

“I’ve heard enough!” Nova snapped as she fired her weapon at Wade as her Imperishable Crown kindled angrily at her brow, filling the cell with light as Nova’s justified rage filled the place with purple energy that flashed all around her.

Nova’s first shot took out Wade’s miserable excuse for a heart.

The second shot hit her in the head, which exploded in flames and electrical energy as bone, brain tissue, and electronic parts flew all over the place.

“She was a Machine person,” Derek said in awe and rage.

“Why didn’t the Mossad spot this, Grimslade?” Nova said as she holstered her weapon and turned on Halleck. “Can’t they tell if someone is a Mechanoid or not?”

“There must be some…explanation,” Halleck stammered.

“YOU go find out what it is! Derek, please get me a cup of coffee upstairs! Rosstowski, get the guards in here and guard those remains! Scan for explosives, then get…what is left of her, up to the medical wing within the hour. I want an autopsy done!”

“Who’s performing it?” Rosstowski said.

“Me,” Nova said. “Derek, please wait with me in the mortuary. Call some guards. I want the place guarded, and most thoroughly.”

“Sure,” Derek said.

“Make the phone calls as we walk along, please,” Nova said in a suddenly frightened voice. “Please don’t leave my side?” she said in an almost pleading tone.

“I think I know what you’re thinking, dear,” Derek said as they held hands.

Nova nodded. “Derek, call me paranoid if you like…but I’m afraid!”

“Yeah,” said Derek. “So am I…”

TO BE CONTINUED…