Space
Battleship Yamato 5
Part 2:
Turning Allies and Twisted Emotions
A Star
Blazers alternate universe by AMI MEITSU
Episode 6: The Melancholy of Princess Invidia…
Part 1:
Tears of a Princess…
Space
Battleship Argo
Saturday,
March 19th 2220
1030 Hours:
Earth/Space Time
‘Huh…’ Invidia
sat up and rubbed her eyes, trying to remember what happened before she had
gone to sleep, after a second though; it came back to her…
“So you’re
up?”
“Huh?” She
then realized that Arty was sitting next to her.
“You missed
breakfast again…” He told her.
“I was tired!”
Invidia whined. “You know I’m not happy when I don’t get any sleep!”
“That’s
obvious…here…” He handed her tray.
“I’m not
hungry.”
“Just eat, I
want you to eat a little something Honey, then you can go back to sleep or
whatever it is you do all day.”
Invidia just
looked at what Arty had given her and scoffed. ‘Disgusting…What is he
thinking?! I like pancakes but all the syrup? And since when do I eat bacon?
It’s greasy, fatting and disgusting…’ “Gross…” she said.
“You need to
eat.” He told her.
“But Arty!”
She whined “Look at this stuff! Why did you even bother with the syrup? And you
know very well that I don’t eat bacon it’s full of fat and grease.”
“Okay, first
off all I managed to get some of that blueberry syrup you like. That’s what the
syrup is. Second of all you need something more than just pancakes.” Arty
clarified.
“Well that’s
all I’m eating, you can have the rest of it. Find me some fruit and we’ll
talk.” Invidia crossed her arms and looked away.
“Look Princess
I am NOT going to spoil you! This is not like at home where you can get
whatever you want!” He was poking her in the chest as he spoke.
“Arty you’re
hurting me…”
“Sorry, but
I’m trying to make a point. Nobody is going to spoil you! You eat what we
eat-got it?”
Invidia
nodded. “Fine but I’m not eating anything I don’t want too.”
“I don’t care,
just eat.” He left.
Meanwhile,
“What do you
call this?!” Kiara snapped as she held a plate up to
“I call it a
plate. If you don’t like the way I wash things then do it yourself!”
“Don’t you
understand?! This is UNACCEPTABLE! You can’t give them
plates with stuff still on them!”
“What?!”
“I said…SHUT
UP! I am sick and tired of you! You’re a picky little bitch! And you cannot tell
me what to do! I am a commander! Your word means nothing!!” She then
raised her hand and slapped Kiara across the face.
“Will you stop
that?! You’re on Punishment! If Desslok ever found out…” Kiara said.
“Well he’s not
going to find out, Right?”
“Well I…”
Kiara stuttered. She didn’t know what to say.
Kiara nodded,
she didn’t want to take her chances now. She had this feeling that if she
messed up with
“Good. Now go
do your stupid waitress thing and leave me alone!”
“Right…” Kiara
mumbled, then she took another tray and left.
On the ship
they had other plans. Nova sat with Setsuna at the radar as they studied it.
“Everything
seems clear…” Setsuna muttered.
“For now.” Nova said. “We both know that there’s something out
there. It may not be close but it’s there Setsuna, NEVER let your guard down.”
“Okay…”
Setsuna whispered.
“Sorry Setsuna.
I didn’t mean anything, it’s just crucial for us to stay on top of things these
days.”
“I know, I
know. I’ve heard it all before. It’s a war and we have to know everything
that’s going on, one slip and we all die, I GET IT!” Setsuna snapped. I wasn’t
that she was mad; she was just tired and kind of annoyed.
“Setsuna…”
Nova scolded. “I do not appreciate your tone. And you are not to speak to me
like that, I’m your mother and you know how disrespectful that is! If you don’t
learn to calm down and deal with it you could be out of here, Invidia’s already
on that path, do you want to be there?”
“No Mother…”
Setsuna said.
“Right, now
watch what you say.”
Setsuna nodded
and turned back to the radar. ‘Is she..? She’s comparing me to Invidia!
I am nothing like her, in all honesty Invidia’s been acting like a big brat!
All she ever does is cry, complain and argue! She could at least help us!’ She
huffed; her own mother was comparing her to Invidia! It was insulting. It
wasn’t that Setsuna didn’t like Invidia, she just didn’t like the way she was
acting these days.
“Something wrong?”
“Huh?” Setsuna
looked up, Nova was gone and Astra was sitting next to her. “Oh,
Astra. No, I’m fine.”
“You sure? You look tired and kind of annoyed…”
“It’s all
right…really.”
“Did your
mother say something?”
“Kind of, I
think she was comparing me to Invidia…”
“Oh, well
that’s not necessarily a bad thing…not usually…but don’t worry about it you’ve
got work to do.”
“You’re one to
talk!”
“Hey! I do
work now; Uncle Derek said that if I want to stay I have to help so I’m here to
watch you work…”
Setsuna
sighed, but she was kind of relieved. ‘Well that’s one out of the way…If
only we could get Invidia to work…But that’s a long way off, all she wants to
do is pick fights anyway…’
And pick
fights she did…but only with those who ‘deserved it.’ Like Trelania, Arty, and
even Akira! Though the ones with her family were mostly about her behavior and
food she was given or as Invidia called it “That stuff you’re trying to feed
me.”
“Make it stop…”
Akira put her head down on her arms. Currently, she was in the “cafeteria” with
her father. She was tired of listening to Invidia complain and it had only been
three days, now she was arguing with Arty in front of everyone.
“What do you
call this?!” Invidia hissed.
“I told you,
it’s a rice ball.” Arty sighed.
“I know what
a Rice ball is! What the hell is the stuff in it?!”
“They’re
leeks”
“No, they’re
disgusting!” Invidia looked at it briefly, and then she actually threw it at
him. “Find me something I can eat!”
“I give up!”
Arty threw his hands up and walked away.
“Don’t you
walk away! I have…” She was stopped when Derek grabbed
her arm.
“I need to
talk to you. Now!” Derek hissed as he pulled
her outside.
“What?”
Invidia asked.
“Okay for the
last time, you need to STOP IT! You are not and NEVER were in charge here! And
we Are NOT going to spoil you, if you don’t like something than fix it, pick it
out or give up!”
“But I’m a Princess!
I’m supposed to get what I want without question!”
Derek grabbed
her wrist and pulled her closer to him. “Listen to me,” He hissed. “You have
never acted this way before and I don’t know what your problem is now. Whether
it be that you’re out of your element and annoyed, missing your father or
you’re just tired I don’t care. You have no excuse for acting this way, and if
you don’t knock it off you’re going to be sent off this ship, I think Nova told
you that already.”
Invidia nodded
with tears in her eyes, his grip hurt. But more than that, she didn’t know what
was wrong. She knew that part of it was her Father and that she was just
naturally picky, she also knew that some of it may have been the whole Comet
thing, she was just so confused.
Derek let go.
“Good. And Invidia?”
“Hm?”
“Just, learn
to calm down. You’re not going to get anywhere by yelling or ordering people
around all the time. I think you learned that a long time ago, you just need to
use it.”
Invidia
nodded. ‘He’s right…I…I guess I’ve got some apologies to make…’ Invidia
headed back down the hall to her room, thinking as she did so. ‘I don’t even
know why though, I don’t know what’s wrong! It could be that I miss my father
and that I’m covering it up with anger, or maybe that I just want to be the one
who solves this whole comet-thing… Oh I don’t know! I...I’m so confused…’
“Invidia?”
“Huh?” She
looked up. Arty stood in front of her, he had been going the opposite way and
was still mad at her, but, now she looked upset.
“Oh…Arty…”
“Invidia…what’s
wrong?”
“I…I…” she
shook her head and ran to him.
“Princess…I…”
“I’m sorry
Arty! I know I haven’t been cooperating! And know I’ve been picky and I’m
sorry!! I’m just so confused!” Invidia cried.
“Oh, Invidia
don’t cry, it’s all right and I accept your apology, okay?”
“No not okay!
I…I still don’t know what’s wrong, I’m…I’m just so miserable!”
“Well, what’s
wrong?” Arty asked.
“I don’t
know!” Invidia whined. “I just don’t know! This comet confuses me and I miss my
father…It just…I don’t know!”
“I think I
know what’s wrong.” Arty picked her up.
“You…you do?”
“I think you’re
upset because everything seems to be falling apart for you.”
“Huh?” Invidia
looked at him.
“I’ve been
watching you, and I talked to Trelania and Nova as well. Nova says that you’re
upset because everything seems to be going wrong for you. Trelania said the
same thing, because it’s happened to her before, sometimes her visions confused
her so much that they upset her.”
“I…I think
she’s right.”
“She also said
that you’re being picky because you want at least one thing to satisfy you, so
you try and make everything on the ship perfect…”
“You…You are
right!” Invidia wailed. It was true, all of it! She just wanted something to go
right for once; everything else was just falling apart. She had no idea what
was going on half the time, and that, mixed with her missing her Father made
her miserable. She wanted to be satisfied! She wanted her trip to be perfect by
getting everything she wanted when she wanted it.
“Oh…you poor thing.” Arty held her close.
“Arty…I want
my Father!” Invidia whined.
“I can’t help
you with that Princess. You can call him though, will that help?”
“Maybe…but not
right now, just hold me…Please.”
“Invidia, I
can’t…I have work to do.”
Invidia looked
up at him with her ‘sad eyes’ “Arty! Please! I need you!”
“Look, I know,
but…”
“Arty!”
“Huh?” He
turned around. Hardy was coming toward him.
“Your plane
needs to be fixed and we’re not going to do it for you. The cadets tried and
the engine almost burst into flames…”
“Dammit!
Invidia, I gotta go.” He dropped her and she hit the floor hard.
“But Arty!”
Invidia cried. This always happened; he was summoned away at the worst moments!
“I’ll see you
later!” He ran off without even glancing back.
“But…” she
stopped. ‘Oh, what’s the point? He doesn’t want anything to do with me
anyway! Who wants to be around someone as pathetic as me anyway?’ Invidia,
who was on her knees at this point, leaned over with her hands on the ground
and cried. She just broke down, everything was just so
wrong and she hated it! No one wanted or needed her around! She felt so
pathetic! After a couple minutes she moved so that she sat normally and hugged
her knees to her chest. She laid her head on her knees so that her hair covered
her face and cried harder. ‘Why am I here?’ She asked herself. ‘They
didn’t really need me…why did they bring me on this ship? I normally enjoy it
but now…I’m just miserable…’
“Invidia-Mama?”
“Huh?” Invidia
looked up and found Akira sitting in front of her looking concerned.
“Are you
okay?” Akira asked. She didn’t look okay, her eyes were so sad, and her voice
sounded cracked, not like she was sick, but like she was upset.
“I’ll be fine,
don’t worry about it…”
“You sure? You don’t look so good; you look like you’re upset. Is
something bothering you?”
“No…not
really…” Invidia lied. She didn’t want her daughter to worry about her. Akira
had enough to do without worrying about her mother.
“Invidia-Mama,
don’t hide things. Not from me, I want to help you. I don’t like seeing you
upset.”
Invidia looked
up at her, she sounded so concerned and serious, but with a gentle tone. ‘Just
like Arty…and Derek…and even…Father…’ Invidia looked at her for another
minute before starting to get up, but she didn’t get up. She hugged Akira.
“Invidia…Mama?”
“Don’t say
anything! Just hold me!” Invidia wailed. “Your father left to work on his
stupid plane with his stupid friends!! He doesn’t want anything to do with me!
And neither does Derek or Nova or anyone! And I’m just so confused…”
“It’s okay…”
Akira reassured. She rubbed Invidia’s head and ran her fingers through her hair
just like Arty did. “I’m here and you know I came here for you. I want you here
with me. You haven’t noticed that I never go without you?”
Invidia didn’t
say anything, she just cried. She practically clung to Akira’s black dress as
her daughter held her.
“It’ll be all
right, or at least I hope so. What’s wrong anyway?” Akira looked at her.
“It’s hard to
explain! I don’t know where to start, I’m just so miserable!”
“Aw…” Akira
had been mad at Invidia for picking fights earlier but now she felt a little
sorry for her. ‘Poor thing, I wish I could help… but, you won’t tell me
what’s wrong. And I think I’m starting to understand why you were so picky…was
it because you didn’t want people to see you upset? You wanted to keep up your
reputation?’ Akira considered asking her, but decided that it was better
not to. Invidia didn’t need questioning, she needed comfort.
Part 2:
Plans and Dreams
New Comet,
Somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy
Saturday,
March 19th 2220
1600 Hours:
Earth/Space Time
Meanwhile,
Desslok’s
voice broke her thoughts. “
“Hm?” She turned to him.
“What are you
doing here?”
“What? Now I
need a permit to be on my own balcony?”
“You’re lucky
you don’t.” Desslok said coolly.
“HUH?!”
“Razela came
back, with orders that I DIDN’T sign!”
“That
bastard’s alive?!”
“Yes, and
you’re in trouble, you have ANOTHER week of kitchen duty, but during which time
you also serve as my personal servant!”
“You’re
kidding me! A SERVANT?!”
“Yes, you will
get me what I want when I want when you’re not in the kitchen, you may keep
your quarters but you will now only get what the servants eat…”
“NO!”
”Don’t say
‘no’ after what you’ve done.” Desslok said. “You’ve gone behind my back more
than once, I don’t like it, but I will admit that you’re clever.”
“Huh?”
“Only few have
gone behind my back and gotten away with it, you are very clever.” He started
to walk off, but he turned his head. “If only you’d use it for your job…”
Meanwhile…
Space
Battleship Argo
At the same
time, Invidia was having her own dreams. Bad ones.
Akira had gotten her to go to sleep earlier hoping it would calm her down, but
it didn’t.
Her breathing
was hard and a bit shallow as she slept, and she tossed a lot, it was horrible.
-Invidia’s
Dream-
“Invidia,
I’m going…” Zordar said as he started to fade.
“Father!”
she cried. “You can’t! I need you! Don’t do this!”
“DON’T call
me Father! I disown and disinherit you!” Zordar snapped,
“No…” She
cried as he faded into a red background and Arty’s image appeared. He was
flying in his tiger and he crashed right into some other plane.
“No…”
Invidia gasped. “Don’t let this be! He can’t go! Arty…I thought you loved me!”
His spirit
appeared in front of her. “Who said you were my number one priority? I had a
service to the Earth and I completed it and what did you do? NOTHING! Get out
of my sight!”Arty then disappeared.
“No! Arty,
Father! Why?!” She began to cry. “WHY?!
He was right, everything was falling apart! I’m so pathetic!”
“Invidia-Mama get up!” Akira shook her and Arty, Derek and Nova stood
around her bed.
“She looks
horrible…” Nova said, her face was pale and her breathing was hard and fast as
Akira shook her.
“Please! Wake
up! It’ll be all right! Just wake up!” Akira cried.
Invidia sat
up.
“Are you all
right?” Derek asked.
“Arty was
right…everything is falling apart I…I…” She tried to finish but just couldn’t,
she stuttered as this horrible, sick feeling rose within her.
“Invidia…”
She said
nothing; she just coughed as the feeling got stronger.
“Invidia, are
you…” Nova didn’t get to finish, Invidia quickly got up and ran, coughing as
she came into her bathroom. She then dropped to the floor and heaved everything
she had eaten that day into the toilet. Feeling disgusting as she did so, she
hated ‘getting sick’ it was a horrible, disgusting feeling that she thought she
stopped when she was a little girl.
Afterwards,
she burst into tears.
“Oh,
Princess…” Arty went over and hugged her.
“You’re not
sick are you?” Nova placed a hand on her forehead, but that alone couldn’t tell
her that Invidia was sick, she turned to her. “How do you feel?”
“Sad, miserable…disgusting!” Invidia cried.
“Invidia,”
Derek knelt next to her. “What happened? You looked horrible when you were
asleep too…”
“Well, it was
horrible. My Father… he left me alone and disowned me and Arty, he…he crashed
into another plane! And his spirit told me off! The crash itself was horrible,
but the rest of it was just sad!”
“I still don’t
get why she threw up though…” Akira said.
“Well…I just
felt so horrible and everything in my dream was falling apart, that, combined
with Arty’s crash, made me feel so sick! And then I…well…you saw…”
“And heard…”
Akira muttered.
“Hey!” Invidia
snapped.
“What? You do
tend to gag…”
“Never mind that!” Nova hugged Invidia. “You’re clearly stressed
out, you need help! Sometime in the simulator should do you some good.”
“And seeing
her Father,” Arty said. “I’ll see if you can call him later, okay?”
Invidia
nodded.
“But now it’s
almost time for dinner…”
“No!” Invidia
snapped.
“It’s all
right, you don’t have to eat now, you just need to
relax.” Derek picked her up and carried her back to her bed. “Just stay here
for a bit…”
“You too…”
“Huh?” Derek
looked at her, as did everyone else.
“Well Arty’s
going to eat and…I need someone here…”
Derek looked
at Nova. “That okay with you?”
Nova nodded.
“Of course, she needs someone…”
Derek nodded
and Arty and Akira left with Nova.
Invidia looked
at Derek. “I still don’t feel well…”
“Are you
gonna...?”
Invidia shook
her head. “No. I’m just upset…”
“It’s okay,
how about you go take a hot shower? You look like you need to relax.”
Invidia nodded
and headed back into the bathroom, afterwards she went back and sat on her bed
in her nightgown, as, it made her more comfortable.
Derek threw a
black blanket around her shoulders and she layed down on her stomach.
Derek looked
at her and began rubbing her back in an attempt to make her feel better. He
knew that when she was upset Arty would sometimes rub her back and it made her
feel a lot better. And it seemed to be working because she sighed
a happy, content sigh.
“You feel
better?”
“A little…”
Invidia said as she looked up at him.
“Good.” Derek
kissed her head. “Just relax for now, we’ll get everything straightened out and
you’ll be fine in a day or two.”
Invidia
nodded. ‘I hope so…’ She thought. ‘I truly hope so…’
Arty was
thinking of the same thing as he sat at a table with Hardy, Nova, Setsuna and a
couple others.
“You okay?”
Setsuna asked.
Arty shook his
head. “No, it’s Invidia, I just feel so bad for her.”
“Why?” hardy
asked. “She can take care of herself.”
“I know that,
but she’s just been so upset these days it worries me…”
“I think it
worries all of us.” Nova said. “She’s so stressed out; she just needs people to
love her.”
“And maybe
some professional help…”
“Astra!” Nova snapped as her niece came to the table.
“What?! I’m just telling the truth…”
“She is.” Arty
admitted. “She needs more then love, she needs advice.
I don’t understand why she’s like this though.”
“It’s you.”
Setsuna said.
“WHAT?!”
Everyone
looked at him and Setsuna but they both ignored the stares.
“Yes. I mean,
she’s been away from her father before and that hasn’t bothered her because she
knows that it can’t be helped. Now she seriously misses him and you’re not
helping, you’re always running off to work on your planes or do something with
the cadets, you’re not spending as much time with her as you should and she
needs you more than ever right now.”
“Setsuna…”
Nova trailed off.
Setsuna turned
to her. “Can’t yell at me for telling the truth,” she said.
“We’re not
going to, you’re right.” Arty said. “I haven’t had the time to be with her, and
she needs comfort, she needs someone to hug her and tell her that she’ll be
fine…”
“Then go see
her.” Nova said. “You know you want to. And you know she only wanted Derek to
stay because you were going to eat. But I’m sure that she really wanted you.”
Arty nodded
and stood up.
“Wait!” Nova
stopped him. “Take her something to eat too; I don’t want her to go without
eating for the night.”
“But what
if…?”
“Bring her
something small, you know, just encase?”
Arty nodded
and headed off, after awhile he went back into Invidia’s room, carrying a tray
as he went.
“Princess?” He asked when he came in.
Invidia looked
at him; she now lay with her head in Derek’s lap as he ran his finger through
her hair.
“Oh, Derek you
can go.”
“Okay…” Derek
moved Invidia and left. Arty sat on her bed.
“Do you feel
any better?” Arty asked.
“A little…”
Invidia said. “What do think you’re going to do with that?” she looked at the
tray.
“It’s for you,
you need to eat Honey.”
“No! I’m not
hungry! And I already got sick once!”
“Don’t worry,
it’s just some soup, I figured that it’d be better to give you something
light.”
“So I have to
eat?” Invidia asked.
“Yes, Princess.”
Invidia looked
at him.
“It’s okay, I
made it. Just eat what you can…”
Invidia sat up
and allowed Arty to put the tray across her lap. She stared at it for a minute
before finally eating.
“Invidia?”
“Huh?”
“Do you think
I’m too busy for you?” Arty asked.
“What?”
“Just answer
the question…”
Invidia
hesitated, she knew he wanted an honest answer, but she wasn’t sure how he’d
react to it. “Yes.” She said.
“Oh.”
“No, I didn’t
really…what I mean is that I know you’re busy but it just seems like you don’t
want to be around me, like earlier…Hardy called you and you just ran off and
dropped me. That hurt, in more ways than one…” Invidia sighed.
“Invidia, I’m
not trying to ignore you, I just get so busy.”
“But I need
you right now; you do realize that you’re one of the few people who can comfort
me, right?”
Arty hugged
her. “I do now…”
“Arty, if
you’re gonna do that get rid of this tray, it’s about to fall over and I’m done
with it.”
Arty put it on
the ground and grabbed Invidia again, this time he sat her in front of him
while he rocked her.
“You didn’t
eat much…” he said.
“I told you,
I’m not hungry, but can we please lay off my eating habits right now?”
“Sure…”
Invidia leaned
back into him; unlike before, he was so warm…it comforted her. “Arty…”
“Hm?”
“I love you…”
“I know
Princess…”
Invidia sighed
and looked up at him. “Arty, I want my Father, Now.”
“I know
Princess, just give me some time and I’ll find away to contact him.
“No! Hurry up!
I need him and my phone doesn’t work in space!”
“Oh stop
whining…” Arty put his head on top of hers so that his chin was resting on the
top of her head. “Just be patient, you can talk to him tomorrow, okay?”
Invidia
nodded. “I guess…” ‘But I need him now…’ She thought.
Part 3:
Discussing
New Comet,
Somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy
Saturday,
March 19th 2220
1830 Hours:
Earth/Space Time
Down on one of
the bottom floors of the palace was something like a bar. It was where most of
the officers were when they weren’t out or on call. It was just a place to sit
around and talk. This evening the talk was, what else?
“She’s a bitch
who needs to give up…” Razela said.
“I’m surprised
you’re alive.” One of the other officers told him.
“I know, she
does tell me not to come back unless I’m victorious or dead…”
“Idiot…”
“And am I the
only one to notice that victorious not only sounds
close to ‘
“No.” An
officer replied. “I do too; I think that if she would just give this up and do
her job things would be better…”
“She is doing
her job; she’s just doing it the wrong way, why does he keep her around?”
Razela asked.
“She’s pretty,
that’s why.” Another officer said. “I bet he has lots of fun with her…”
Several others
nodded in agreement.
“Well then
what’s he going to do when he gets tired of her?” One asked.
That got
everyone started, people starting saying what they’d do to her if they
got a hold of her. It ranged from jail to torture sessions in other
galaxies…showing just how much the hatred of her now ran through everyone…even
those who did not know her…
“Whoever is
doing this is probably a huge bastard…” Astra said. She once again sat with
Setsuna at the radar. She was supposed to learn more advanced properties of
using it…
“I know, but
until we figure out who or what it is we can’t say a thing…” Setsuna said.
“Still, what
would you do if you ever got a hold of who it was?”
“Oh, I don’t
know…it depends on who it is. If it was someone truly evil I might shoot them
out the wave motion gun barrel.”
“Setsuna!” Nova said.
“What?”
“Don’t say
that, the proper thing to do would be to give them a trial or else we’d be as
bad as them.”
The crew that
was listening nodded, or half of them did.
“Come on! You
always say that!” One of the ensigns said.
“You’re just
here to ruin our fun, aren’t you?” Astra teased.
“No, I’m just
being realistic…” Nova said, she really didn’t want to
come up with an answer to Astra’s tease.
“She does have
a point.” Derek said. “It doesn’t matter how evil someone is, they all should
have a chance for trial.”
“Yeah, I mean
look at Invidia.” Mark said. “We all thought she was evil.”
“And now she’s
just a little softie who likes to be cuddled…” Homer said.
“Not exactly.” Arty said as he came onto the bridge. “She
can be very mean, and picky…and whiny…”
“Oh really?” Astra said.
Setsuna
elbowed her. “Quiet!”
“Fine…Hey
Setsuna…?”
“Hm?”
“The
radar…it’s showing something, two somethings!”
“Enemy ships?” Setsuna looked.
“I don’t think
so…It’s not giving off any alert…”
“The Black Tigers.” Derek said. “They’re doing a run on some of
their repaired planes…”
Astra:
(Turns to audience) Way to ruin a dramatic climax…
Setsuna:
Who are you talking to?
“Anyway…How
are the repairs going?” Nova asked.
“Sandor said
they’re coming along, a bit slower than expected though.”
“Well after
the last hit we took I’m not surprised.” Homer said. “How do you think they got
a hold of the magna flame gun?”
“I don’t know, you’d have to ask Invidia, she knows the Cometines better
than any of us.” Arty said.
“I don’t think
she’s in any mood to talk.” Setsuna said. “From what Mom said she was really
upset earlier…”
“She still
is.” Arty said. “I don’t think she’ll cheer up until she can speak to her
Father, she misses him so much…”
“We’re working
on that, we’re not out of range yet so that’s set…we just need to get in
contact with Zordar.” Nova told him. She wanted to help Invidia herself,
Invidia was her friend and she didn’t like seeing her miserable. ‘She really
needs someone to cheer her up,’ Nova thought. ‘And I think that person
is her Father, we’ve all tried with no avail, so I guess that would be our last
resort…
Part 4:
Surprises
Space
Battleship Argo
Sunday,
March 20th 2220
0530 Hours:
Earth/Space Time
Early the next
morning, Invidia sat on her bed with her head on her knees. She had been like
that for the last half hour, just thinking. She surprised herself by getting up
so early, but she had been awakened by the sound of something dropping, which
turned out to be Arty tripping. He had tried to put her back to sleep but it
didn’t work and he left when he had too, leaving Invidia awake and alone.
She sighed, being alone wasn’t helping her thoughts. “Father…”
She murmured. ‘I’m just so alone here…I want to see you…talk to you…I need
you. Arty’s tried...Nova’s tried…everyone’s tried to cheer me up but you…I miss
you so much…’
“Invidia?”
“Huh?” She
looked up; Arty was standing in the doorway.
“Are you all
right? I came back to see if you’d gone to sleep but…”
“No, I’m not
all right.” Invidia admitted. “I’m tired, miserable and I just feel so alone.”
“Oh, but
you’re not alone, I’m here for you.”
“No, you’re
here for the Black Tigers, you’re always with them. I know you have a job to
do, but last night you did say that…you know that you’re one of the few people
who can comfort me…”
Arty went over
and hugged her. “I know that, and I’m sorry for my rush earlier, but it’s not
just me, I know you want to see your Father, and I
think that would help you a lot…”
“I don’t know
why I miss him so much though…”
“I think it’s
partly because of all this comet stuff. It reminds me of how we used to be back
then…when we were conquering the galaxy…And the way everyone is acting toward
me…they’re so gentle and kind. When I was younger and even now, that’s how my
Father treats me when I’m upset, I guess I miss that…”
“It’ll be all
right…Just get some rest for now; and I promise that you’ll be feeling a lot
better later.”
“Are you
sure?”
“Positive.”
Later
1245 Hours
“Arty, where are we going?” Invidia asked as he pulled her down the
hall.
“You’ll see…”
Arty said.
Invidia said
nothing more and allowed Arty to lead her into another room, the communications
room.
“What are we
here for?” Invidia asked.
“Watch…” Arty
went over and fiddled with some of the buttons, after a minute or so an image began
to come up on the screen, Zordar’s image.
“Father!” Invidia said, and for the first time in two days, she
smiled.
“Hey Princess,
Arty tells me you don’t feel well.”
“Oh, well it’s
not that I’m sick, I’m just upset…” Invidia admitted as she walked up to where
Arty was. “I miss you…”
“I’ll just
leave now…” Arty said as he left the room.
“Well, what
exactly is wrong? From what Arty said, it’s more than you just missing me.”
Zordar said.
Invidia looked
up. “I’m so confused! We’ve been facing Cometine ships and it confuses me, it
also makes me think of my days in the Comet Empire and it upsets me, to
remember how we used to be. That, combined with me missing you just makes it
worse, and on top of that Arty’s too busy for me and no one seems to need me,
I’m only need for information…”
“I don’t think
that’s true Invidia. I think it’s just that may be a little busy for you. In
all honesty you don’t help them that often…”
“You‘re not helping now!”
“Sorry,
Princess…I’m just telling the truth.” Zordar admitted. He didn’t want to upset
her, but he was right.
“Then lie!
You’re supposed to make me feel better! Not worse!” Invidia whined.
“I’m not going
to lie, you don’t really help. But just because they don’t pay a lot of
attention to you doesn’t mean that you have to be so depressed.”
“It’s not
that, everything’s just confusing me and I don’t like it, I used to know what
was going on, but now I don’t…It almost feels like things are falling apart…”
Invidia sighed. “That, everything’s getting out of control, right in front of
me. It feels like…I’m worth nothing! I’d be worth something if I could figure
this out!” Invidia hung her head as tears formed in her eyes.
“Invidia,
don’t cry.” Zordar was trying to be reassuring, but it washard to comfort her
without holding her or even being near her. “You’re stronger than this, I know
it. You just need to not let your emotions control you.”
“Huh?” Invidia
looked back up at the screen.
“Look at
yourself, you’re a mess. You look tired, you’ve been crying and your hair is a
bit messy. You can’t be like this Princess; you’re a very strong woman, and the
Invidia I know wouldn’t let this happen so easily. I know your feelings are all
mixed up and you can’t hide from that…”
“But…”
“But, you need
to think, is all of this really worth what’s happening to you? Arty said you
were so sad it was making you sick.”
“Actually, I
got sick because of a dream I had, but go on…”
“I know you
feel rejected and not needed and unloved but you’re not, they love you, but
they have other things to attend to, do you understand?”
Invidia
nodded, “I guess it’s like back then…back during the first Comet, where you
cared for me and loved me, but you could only spend a certain amount of time
with me because you had other responsibilities…”
“Right, it’s
just like that there, isn’t it?”
Invidia
nodded. “I…I think I understand now…”
“Good, just
think about that, okay? And don’t let your emotions get the best of you. You’re
stronger than you let on sometimes…” Zordar reassured, it seemed to be working
well.
Invidia
nodded. “I’ll try and be better…I guess I could just try and figure it out
instead of whining and crying…”
“Now, that’s
the Invidia I know, not letting anything bring her down, only crying when
people don’t pay attention to her.” Zordar said the last part as a tease.
“Father! I do not whine because of that!”
“Yes you do,
if you want it bad enough!”
“Oh shut up!”
“Fine, but
promise me that you’ll be okay now, you’ll think about things before they get
to, just like you used too? Back on the Comet and even after you lived on Earth
you thought that way, well…except about love, but either way you were happy.
You had control, and I think you need it more than anything right now…”
“Right…”
“Now, about
this dream you mentioned…” Zordar said, changing the subject out of his own
curiosity.
“Oh, that.
Well it was horrible! You disowned and disinherited me! Then you just
left! You told me not to call you ‘Father’ anymore and then Arty crashed his
plane, he…he ‘left’ and his spirit told me off! It was so sick and upsetting
that it made me sick to my stomach.” Invidia explained.
“Princess, I
could never to that to you.”
“You almost
did once! Remember Desslok? How you loved him and rejected me?!”
“That’s all in
the past Honey, what matters is that I love you now and that I love you very
much. And I miss you.” Zordar admitted. The truth was he did miss Invidia when
she was gone; he missed the love and warmth she often gave him, which made it a
bit hard to try and comfort her by just talking…
“I miss you
too, but I don’t think you understand…It hurts so much because I love you.”
Invidia sighed.
“I do
understand, more than you know, but I’d rather not think about, and if I do,
then thinking about other things usually helps.”
“Thanks…I love
you…”
“Yes, I love
you too, and Invidia?”
“Hm?”
“Who’s my
little Princess?” He asked jokingly. It was something he used to do when she
was little, Arty did it too now, it was cute and it made her smile.
“Oh don’t make
me say it.” Invidia whined.
“Who’s my
little Princess?” He asked again.
“Don’t make me
say it!”
“Who’s my
little Princess?”
“Me?” Invidia
finally said.
“Yes…”
Invidia
giggled, doing that could always make her laugh.
“I love you.”
She said.
“I love you
too, Princess.” Zordar said back.
“Bye…” Invidia
pressed one of the buttons and his image disappeared. As soon as it did Arty
came in.
“So…” He
hugged her. “Feeling any better?”
Invidia nodded
“A lot, thanks…but how did you…?”
“Shush…” Arty
put his finger to her lips. “Somethings are hard to explain.”
Invidia
nodded. “Right…can I…uh…can I stay with you?”
“Hm?”
“I want to
stay around you, I don’t want to be alone, so can I?”
“Sure, just
stay out of my way in the hanger, okay?”
Invidia
nodded, then she grabbed onto his arm and they left. When they came into the
hanger Hardy was working with the cadets on some of the plane parts, so Arty
went over to the desk that was off to the side.
“What’s that?”
Invidia asked, as she stared at the item on his desk/workbench.
“It’s a
diagram; we’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with my plane’s engine.”
“Promise me that you’ll never crash.” Invidia said.
“What?”
“Promise me
you won’t crash!” Invidia insisted.
“I don’t thing
I can…”
“Promise me! Please!”
“Okay, I
promise, there’s nothing for you to worry about…” Arty turned her to face him.
“And I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it never happens. I will never
leave you, ever.”
Invidia
nodded. “I love you…” She said.
“I know…” Arty
whispered as he started into her eyes, there were, as always, like two pools
taken right out of the night sky, almost pure black…Invidia looked at him too,
him and his deep, chocolate eyes…
After a minute
or so of that their lips met, and they shared a soft, deep kiss…in front of
everyone! They didn’t even notice…
“You two want
me to turn a fan on?” Hardy teased.
“HUH?!” They both turned to see all the cadets staring at them…
Invidia
blushed slightly and used her hair to hide her face as she looked down.
“Just get back
to work!” Arty said. “NOW!” His yell snapped the
cadets back to normal and they went back to work as he sat down to study the
diagram. Invidia sat next to his chair and laid her head on his leg.
“Hm?” He looked down at her, and placed a hand on her head.
“I love you…”
She said.
“I love you
too Princess…” Arty rubbed her head and began to work, letting her stay right
where she was.
“Why is she
here?” Rivers asked as he came up to Arty.
“Leave her
alone, she’s not doing anything wrong.” Arty said. “She can be here if she
wants too, right Princess?”
Invidia
nodded. “Right…” ‘He can’t tell me what to do anyway, I’m happy where I am
and don’t need to be moved…’ She sighed as she watched Arty work, he looked
pretty content at his place too…He stopped after a couple minutes and rubbed
her head, Invidia relaxed a little more and eventually began to fall asleep.
Part 5:
New Comet,
Somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy
Sunday,
March 20th 2220
1400 Hours:
Earth/Space Time
She stalked
back into her room and immediately sat down at the computer; there, she began
pulling up files and battle strategies.
‘I have to
find a way to defeat them!’ She thought. ‘The Star
Force and their antiqued wreck!’ She growled as she typed
fiercely, modifying her plans as she searched.
“The Argo will
fall and I will be there to laugh and watch as they all cry helplessly!
HA!”
“And no one
will be there to stop me! He’ll be glad that I’ve finally achieved it! We’ll
take over Earth and rule this galaxy!”
‘We need
another take over! We’ll do what they couldn’t do all those years before!’
‘We will
return….’ “We will return! And I’ll rule over a new world!”
Little did she
know that things would take a new turn, a new order would be brought to the
comet, and all of her plans served no purpose. Another
force was coming…
To be continued
with Episode 7...