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, Victoria was having her own trouble, no, she hadn’t gotten caught yet, she decided to stay low. The trouble was actually in the kitchen.

“What do you call this?!” Kiara snapped as she held a plate up to Victoria.

“I call it a plate. If you don’t like the way I wash things then do it yourself!” Victoria snapped back, she hated this girl so much. Kiara still hadn’t grasped that Victoria was of a HIGER rank, despite being punished.

“Don’t you understand?! This is UNACCEPTABLE! You can’t give them plates with stuff still on them!”

Victoria didn’t say anything for a minute, she was steamed, no; she was past steamed! She was flaming. ‘Why doesn’t she just SHUT UP?! Doesn’t she get it? I don’t need, nor want to hear her mouth! This lowly servant girl is worth nothing! How dare she tell me what to do?!’ “Shut…Up…” Victoria hissed.

“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.

Victoria glared at her “Right?!” she hissed.

Kiara nodded, she didn’t want to take her chances now. She had this feeling that if she messed up with Victoria now she’d get it when her punishment was over.

“Good. Now go do your stupid waitress thing and leave me alone!”

“Right…” Kiara mumbled, then she took another tray and left.

Victoria turned back to the sink. ‘This is degrading…but at least it’s almost over and Desslok hasn’t found out about my orders to Razela yet, I wonder where the bastard is now…If he comes back defeated then I swear…he’s getting it…really getting it…and then the Argo…’


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, Victoria stood outside on her balcony, looking up. ‘I wonder if he’ll ever find out…I hope not, just as I hope that Razela NEVER comes back here! He’s a dirty, losing bastard who’s making a mockery of MY fleet!! D’Avenas NEVER loose, even my mother said so, and my father… when he was alive…’

Desslok’s voice broke her thoughts. Miss. D’Avena?”

“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?!” Victoria snapped.

“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…”

Victoria just looked down. ‘I do! My job is to command the fleet! It’s what I do! Even if he doesn’t approve of it…’


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 Victoria

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? Victoria. To them she was becoming more of a nuisance then a commander, which, was probably why she was getting into trouble now.

“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 ‘Victoria’ but is not within her grasp?” Another man asked. He was one of the High-ranking captains and closet to Victoria in terms of rank, being only 4 or 5 levels below her. He was Captain Vikela. High on Desslok’s rank and low on Victoria’s. She didn’t approve of him, he often questioned and argued with her so she threw him aside and didn’t bother with him more than necessary.

“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: Victoria’s New Plan

New Comet, Somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy

Sunday, March 20th 2220

1400 Hours: Earth/Space Time


Victoria walked down the hallway back to her quarters; she had just helped serve a dining room full of un-appreciative generals. After which Desslok has given her a quick break, only twenty minutes of so, but that was all she needed.

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!” Victoria muttered to herself.

“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!” Victoria laughed; not knowing how much she sounded like Invidia did years before. Not knowing how wrong she was.

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!” Victoria laughed.

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...