2210 to 2211: A Shiny New Year.
A Star Blazers Fan Fic Tale
By Freddo & Gail Kopetz
The Forrester Residence
New Year’s Eve
December 31, 2210
0610 Hours
_____________________________
It was a very weird and noisy Christmas, but it was fun for all concerned.
It was a quiet hour, and snow was quietly falling outside as the Sun came up.
Nova Wildstar was alone, playing the Forrester Family grand piano in the living room of her parents’ house. Everyone was asleep, and that included Derek and the kids in the guest room.
Nova began to play the first notes of Bach’s “Little” Fugue in G Minor to warm up. Nova had quietly gotten dressed while Derek and the kids had slept; she had on a cable-knit sweater that Derek had gotten her for Christmas and faded jeans. She was shoeless, honoring the Japanese custom kept in the Forresters’ home and their own.
As Nova was finishing the work up, she almost jumped out of her skin when she felt hands going over her eyes.
“Who’s that?” she cried.
“You have done well,” growled a deep voice behind her. “But you do not yet know the power of the Dark Side.”
“You’re silly, Derek,” Nova said as she finished playing.
“Are you warming up?” he asked.
Nova turned to face her husband. He had on his pajamas (striped) and a monogrammed robe that Teri, Nova’s mother, had gotten him for Christmas.
“I certainly am. I didn’t wake you, did I?”
Derek sat down beside her on the piano bench and shook his head. “I was up ten minutes beforehand. I was having those dreams again. Miarahl appeared in the room, she’s watching the kids now. She told me to come straight to you.”
“Those,” Nova said as she threw her arms around him and kissed him. There was no further need to explain. Derek had been having nightmares about planet bombs and the horrible death of his parents ever since they had died, and ever since he and Nova had gotten married on the day after Christmas in 2201. Now, with nine years of marriage behind him, and two toddlers and two babies; namely their children, asleep in the guest room, the nightmares had lessened but Derek still had them on occasion. Nova had spent years discussing the horrible day with him, but he had finally absorbed what she had been telling him, at least on the conscious level and he no longer blamed himself for what had happened. They both knew the subconscious, the source of dreams, was a different story. Nova had her own demons; she was plagued every now and then with nightmares about her abusive Aunt Yvona, the demonic Lord Ekogaru, and Sparks and his diseased crew molesting her on Diamond Island.
They sat in silence for a bit, with Derek just resting in his wife’s warmth and hearing her steady, gentle heartbeat in her chest. For a moment, he was reminded of another nightmare; Nova pierced through the heart, sometime in the future, in an attack by Ekogaru which was fatal to her. He shook his head hard and tensed. Nova just held him closer, and kissed his forehead.
“I don’t deserve you,” he said. “You’re an angel to me.”
“Thank you,” Nova whispered. “We need practice because we’re going to be recorded later in Denver for that TV appearance. Like to play a duet with me?”
“Okay,” he said. “Nova, if it’s classical, you pick the composer.”
“Chopin,” she said. “Derek, name the piece.”
“Nocturne, opus number Nine, Number Two,” Derek said.
Nova released the embrace. “Okay. I’ll play the basso part, you play the higher notes.”
Derek nodded. Both of them put their hands on the keys and began to play together. As they played, Nova snuggled against Derek, and he snuggled back.
It was a sweet and charming image.
A few minutes later, Karl Forrester came down the stairs, saw the young couple, and smiled and gave them a thumbs-up. He had on blue pajamas, slippers, and a plaid robe.
Derek and Nova smiled back, blushing at that.
Then, someone stomped down the stairs in a pink nightgown like a maniac. She had on only her nightgown and pink house slippers. She put her hands on the piano and snapped, “NOVA DAWN YUKI WILDSTAR! WHAT SORT OF MOTHER ARE YOU, leaving your babies alone? Derek, what sort of father are YOU?”
“And behold, Hurricane Teri strikes again,” Derek whispered in Nova’s ear. She giggled in spite of herself. She ignored her mother and began to play Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody Number Two.
“Why are you two ignoring me?” barked Nova’s overbearing mother. “Nova, answer me or I’ll slam the cover down on your fingers.”
Nova stopped playing. “Mother, if you do that, I will get up and kick you! My children are being cared for quite well right now.”
“And you’d be murdering the boy in my stomach,” Teri snapped back.
“Congratulations, Mother!” Nova said with a tight smile.
“Miarahl appeared before I came down,” said Derek.
“That…THING is caring for your children?” Teri barked. She had just met the ancient Ralkhen at a house party here last night, and she hated the ancient being on first sight. “Answer me, Nova!”
“I’m practicing, Mother,” she snapped. She then began to play and sing I Me Mine by the Beatles. She was answering her mother, but Teri was too angry and keyed up to notice the subtle dig.
Karl finally spoke up. “Teri, Nova and Derek are perfectly good parents. It’s great that they have a friend who can pick up their wishes and just show up. Miarahl is very ancient and powerful; a reverend being, as a matter of fact. And you were beautiful singing that song just now.”
“Thank you, Dad,” Nova said with a sweet smile. “Derek, let’s see if we can add that to the program tonight, shall we?”
“Great idea,” Derek replied.
A moment later, pattering feet came down the stairs. Miarahl was helping Alex and Ariel down the stairs. They looked adorable in their white footed sleepers. Miarahl was also carrying Stephen and Anya in her arms.
“Daddy, we wanted to play with David and Aurora but they were asleep, with no one watching them or checking on them, so we asked kitty-cat here to bring us down,” said Alex. “She said she’ll go back upstairs and watch,” she said as Anya and Stephen were handed to their father and mother.
“And when are you going up, Mistress?” Nova said with a slight bow.
“Now would be the best time. Teresa, do not judge a book by its cover. Your daughter is far younger than you and she has learned that lesson on her own. Also, we would all love to know why you aren’t running up to your own children, ma’am,” Miarahl said as she bowed and vanished.
“That’s what was on my mind, Teresa,” snapped Karl.
“That humanoid cat-thing has a lot of nerve; imagine being lectured by an animal,” hissed Teri.
“Mother, stifle it,” Nova said. “Miarahl might hear you. My sensei has very good ears.”
Teri rolled her eyes and stamped her way upstairs. She was angry with her daughter Nova and did not speak to her for the rest of the day.
Part Two: DRESS REHEARSAL
Denver
Studios of the Local Terran Broadcasting System Affiliate
New Year’s Eve
December 31, 2210
1500 Hours
The current members of the band “Infinity” were tuning up and warming up on stage. The Wildstar couple comprised two members of the group, with Derek Wildstar on bass guitar and vocals and Nova Wildstar on keyboards and vocals. Paul and Novalia Rosstowski had come in from the Tokyo Megalopolis. Paul would be playing lead guitar and Novalia was on harmony and/or lead vocals. The Wakefields had come in from Iscandar the previous day; Sasha Wakefield would again play her sax, while Deke Wakefield was puttering about with his drum kit.
The stage was large, and the band members had changed into their stage suits, which were somewhat like late 20th Century British Invasion suits. Derek, Deke and Paul wore white shirts with black ties, dark blue slacks, boots, and sky-blue double-breasted sportscoats. Nova, Sasha and Novalia wore the same white shirts, ties, and sportscoats, but they wore dark blue pleated miniskirts and dark blue sandals.
“Okay,” said the producer’s voice over the intercom. “Give me a final description of the songs you’ll be playing, and the approximate length of your segment.”
Derek spoke up. “We’ll be doing Blazing Starlight, about four minutes, written by myself and Nova, A New Year’s Wish written by Novalia Rosstowski, about five minutes, and we’ll close with a late 20th century cover, I Me Mine, written by George Harrison of the Beatles, about four minutes. Total running time should be about fourteen to fifteen minutes with introductions.”
“Let’s count on sixteen minutes to allow time for introductions and solos,” said the producer. “Okay, let’s start.”
Derek pulled a cigarette out and lit it, much to Nova’s annoyance.
“Do you have to do that?” Nova sighed.
“Part of my band image,” Derek said. “I promise you; I won’t smoke during our bit when it’s just us at the piano.”
Nova smiled a weak smile. “I guess I can put up with that tobacco smoke for about fifteen minutes.”
“We’ll be ready in a moment,” Derek yelled.
“Okay, LIGHTS!” said the producer as the stage lights, which were on them as well as in the background, came up. “Introductions! The clock is running!”
“Hello, everyone,” said Derek. “Around me are the other members of Infinity. We’re working on our second album, Infinity Cubed, when we have time to get together. We’re starting with a slow song that my dear wife Nova and I wrote about love and starlight. On the beat…one, two, three, and FOUR!”
The band went straight into the intro, a soulful cross between rock and country, with Sasha’s sax very prominent. Paul played some notes on his guitar, and Nova played her chords on her electronic keyboard, which sounded like an electric piano, and began with her lead vocal. The words fit her gentle yet deep alto voice well as she sang, (sounds like F Mac Edge of Seventeen)
One day on my ship, I wished on a star,
Even though battle blighted the star,
I prayed the wish would go to a good star,
It did, and here we are…
Derek joined her on lead vocals as they sang,
Blazing starlight, deep in the sky…
Blazing starlight, brought us together…
Blazing starlight, burning so bright…
Blazing starlight, shining over us tonight…
Derek then took the lead vocal as he sang,
Then, right as we were ending our mission,
The enemy attacked, with a gas that was deadly,
You saved us, but it almost cost you your life,
I prayed so hard that I’d look into your eyes, again…
The refrain came up, with both of them singing together again.
A keyboard, sax, and lead guitar solo came next, with Nova, Sasha, and Paul playing about three bars each.
Then, Nova sang again as she continued with,
A year later, we were in deadly battle,
Ambushed by Gamilon’s anger,
I looked for you, then I found you,
Bleeding almost to death before I took your gun then embraced you, and then it all changed, ohhh…
As a rival became our friend, oh, yes….
Derek and Nova sang the next line together,
As a rival became our friend, yes…
The Wildstars sang together again on the refrain, and then Derek had the last word as he sang,
Life and starlight
Drew us together,
We married and began a new life,
As we exchanged our vows, and you became my dear spouse…
Deke hit the drums very hard as the Wildstars ended again with their refrain. Then, Derek’s bass and Nova’s keyboard did a sort of dance together and on that note, the song ended.
“On track at four minutes two seconds,” said the producer.
Derek spoke again. “Before we hit our next sang, let me introduce everyone again. I, Derek Wildstar, am on bass…” at that, Derek played a few notes on his bass. “Beside me is Nova Wildstar on keyboard…” Nova followed this up by playing a few chords. “Sasha Wakefield on sax,” said Derek as Sasha played a run. “Novalia Rosstowski on harmony vocals,” he said as Novalia sang a few notes. “Paul Rosstowski on lead guitar,” said Derek as Paul played a few notes, “And last but sure as heck not least, Deke Wakefield on drums.” Deke then played a drum roll.
Novalia took the mike as she said, “The next song was written by Paul and I, and I’ll be singing lead on this one…one…two…THREE!”
The band went into a faster and more raucous song as Novalia sang a number of wordless notes. Then, she began to sing, in a tough soprano, (sounds like Heart/Barracuda)
In the past, girl, you hurt my man….
And he came to me, bleeding as if bitten by a school of…
Barracuda! Ohhh….
Derek’s bass played a threatening bass line along with Paul’s ringing lead and Deke and Nova playing their instruments as if they were possessed.
My man came to me, wounded like hell…
But I put him back together, one year…
Quite a time ago! Yeah, Quite a time ago!
Novalia then went into the refrain,
My wish for the New Year,
Is that it’s better, way better…
…than the old year….
…and years of pain gone by…
…Let’s have a toast to the New Year…
And let’s tell the past goodbye!
A long guitar solo followed. Then, Novalia finished with (as tears ran down her cheeks)
You know, love, I wish I could wish you well,
But it’s hard to do.
You hurt my man,
And almost killed one of my best friends,
I wish you’d just dry up and blow away,
Just like the past….
Novalia sang the refrain again, and she dropped her mike, as the rest of the group played and then stopped dead.
“Time so far!” snapped the producer. “Eleven minutes on the nose, not bad at all!”
“Into the last song,” Nova said, “Derek?”
“You introduce it since you wanted it…” Derek said with a wink.
Nova nodded and flicked a few switches on her keyboard. Then, she said, “This is Nova Wildstar, speaking to you all with my voice. We’re going to wrap this up with an old Beatles number that I dig…with a shovel?” she said. “It’s sort of a heavy waltz. The song is I Me Mine, and I dedicate it to an important lady in my life. Mrs. Forrester, this is for you. One…two…three…”
Paul began to play a guitar solo while Nova played her keyboard, which now sounded like a horror show organ. After the solos, Nova began to slowly sing, with Novalia and Sasha harmonizing behind her;
All through the Day….
I me Mine, I me Mine, I me Mine….
The song went on for about three minutes, ten seconds. The band sounded manic when it sang the refrain, (with the whole group singing in unison) and went back to a slow waltz rhythm on the verses with only the ladies singing.
Finally, the song ended, and the whole band took a deep bow together as the lights went down.
The producer said, “Fifteen minutes, ten seconds. We can live with that. Take a lunch break…we’ll get your gear back up when it’s time to tape at six o’ clock when we have the audience here. After lunch, Derek, Nova, we’ll rehearse your piano duets for your fifteen-minute segment. Nice job.”
Part Three: LUNCH
Denver
Studios of the Local Terran Broadcasting System Affiliate
New Year’s Eve
December 31, 2210
1605 Hours
“It’s been way too long since I’ve seen you guys,” said Paul Rosstowski as he shook hands with Derek and hugged Nova.
“Thanks,” Nova said.
“I think it’s so great now that you’re our High…” began Novalia, who ended up having Nova’s hand on her mouth, albeit gently.
“That’s not to come out yet,” Nova said. “Not until I pass through the Fire, at any rate…or around that general time.”
“I know what you mean,” sighed Sasha, who looked morose as she stirred her tea. Deke kissed her and said, “It can’t be that bad. Nova, what exactly do you mean by that?”
“Passing through the Fire?” she said.
Deke nodded.
“It’s been an ordeal the past twenty High Queens of Pellias had to pass,” Nova said. “Make of this what you will, but please keep it between us. Please.”
Everyone nodded except Derek, who already knew the implications of what Nova was about to say. He said, “A prospective Pellian High Queen, bearing the Matrix, has to face the Grim Reaper and win. It’s a final test of love, character and sacrifice. I’d say she’s already passed it.”
“When?” Nova asked.
“The Cosmo-DNA, in 2200, at the end of our first mission. You practically gave your life then. Why do you have to do it again?”
“The will of the Pellian Matrix,” sighed Nova. “It’s not a decision I make. In order for this sacrifice to be valid, I have to die…no idea how long. If my sacrifice is accepted, I come back to life. Is that clear enough?” Nova said, looking visibly upset. “Aliscea could not have done this. I think, by God’s Grace, I can…”
Deke nodded.
Novalia said, “Maybe it’s a metaphor.”
“Maybe,” Nova said. “Maybe. Back to where we were. Who likes these burgers?”
“I do,” said Deke.
“You would,” said Derek. “Stuff we’ve had on the Argo is better than this.”
“Who’s to judge how a man likes his burgers?” said Deke. Everyone else shrugged.
Part Four: GOODBYE TO THE OLD YEAR
Denver
Studios of the Local Terran Broadcasting System Affiliate
New Year’s Eve
December 31, 2210
1815 Hours
The last notes of “I, Me, Mine,” faded away as the crowd cheered.
“I think that went well,” Derek said. “You guys…do you agree?”
“I’m proud of you,” Nova said as she kissed him.
“Why?”
“You did this gig without that stupid cigarette,” Nova said with a smile.
“See you all in a few months,” Derek said. “Nova, after the next act, our piano act gets taped. Then, we’re done.”
“Great,” Nova said. “I called my Mom and she’s keeping her head on straight, for once. She’s finally convinced Miarahl is a good babysitter…”
“Wonderful,” said Derek.
A FEW HOURS LATER…
The Wildstars were back at the Forrester residence.
It was almost 11:45, local time on New Year’s Eve.
They had kissed all of their children good night a few hours ago. Now, the Wildstars were alone with Karl and Teri, watching A World’s New Year’s Eve… as they watched Infinity playing the second song of their set, which they had recorded earlier.
“When does your piano segment come up?” asked Teri.
“Around 12:15 after the New Year’s bit and after the McCauleys’ segment from London,” said Derek. “They switched things around. The group that recorded after us will be on later tonight.”
“There may be a song you don’t like, Mom,” said Nova. “You can walk into the kitchen if you like.”
“Derek called me before from the studios to warn me,” said Teri. “I know what the song is, and I’m sorry I was such an idiot earlier today. I would like to see you sing, though.”
Derek and Nova looked at each other in shock.
Karl said, “She’s mellowed a little. Pour us some wine, Teri…”
Teri smiled and nodded as on the video screen, Nova sang “I, Me, Mine,” backed up by the band.
After she poured the wine, she said, “Nova, dear…that’s wonderful singing. The refrain’s a little raucous, though. Who’s fault is that?”
“Blame George Harrison if you must blame anyone,” Nova said with a laugh.
“It’s ten-of,” said Derek. “They’re just going to chatter a bit…the hosts that is, until midnight.”
“Please save the wine for midnight,” pleaded Teri.
The Wildstars and Karl nodded.
A few minutes passed.
Then, 2210 only had a minute to go as the timer in Times Square (where it had been 2211 for two hours now) ticked towards 12 midnight.
Everyone got up holding their glasses as the timer clicked, 10…9…8…7…6…
“two…ONE!” said the announcer. “HAPPY NEW YEAR!”
The Wildstars and Forresters clinked glasses and then sipped at the wine. Karl and Teri and Derek and Nova then kissed each other, and Teri surprised them by producing goofy party hats, which she stuck on the heads of her embarrassed daughter and son-in-law, and then Karl as she put on her hat and began to blow into a horn.
“HAPPY NEW YEAR!” yelled Derek and Nova as they kissed again.
“Do it over there!” said Teri. “Under that doorway! KISS!”
Derek and Nova kissed. Then, they looked up after Teri’s camera had flashed, and saw where they were.
Right under the mistletoe.
“I got what I wanted for once!” laughed Teri.
“Mom, you sure did,” giggled Nova. “You sure did!”
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
This fanfic is respectfully dedicated to the memory of my friend, fellow SB/Yamato fan and Brother in Christ, the REAL Derek Wakefield, who passed away after an operation in Denton, Texas, about five years ago. Derek, rest in peace and joy, until we all meet again, Dude. – Freddo