Space Battleship Yamato 5

Part 2: Turning Allies and Twisted Emotions

A Star Blazers alternate universe

By: Ami Meitsu


Episode 8: A New Power on the Comet! The Cometine Heiress Returns and Conquers!

Part 1: Mixed Feelings

Space Battleship Argo

Thursday, April 7th 2220

1225 Hours: Earth/Space Time


"Invidia-Mama!" Akira hugged her from behind, but Invidia threw her off.

"Knock it off! You're being annoying! I told you, I love you and the rest of the family but I'm going…and I'm your mother, you should respect my wish!" She then turned again and headed off into the darkened hallway.


'But…Invidia-Mama…' Akira thought with tears in her eyes as she watched Invidia go off. "Invidia-Mama!" She called again. When she got no response she just hung her head and cried.

'I'm sorry…Arty…Akira…everyone! But I have to go…this has always been my secret dream and…I can't give it up!' Invidia thought as she ran toward the hangar and away from everyone else…


Later,

1330 Hours


"What?" Derek turned to Arty with a glare. They stood in Derek's quarters as Arty gave him the news about Invidia and her sudden departure.

"It's true. She left to find the comet, and she left so fast that no one could stop her. Akira told me she might even want to become a part of it, since she's the true heiress," Arty explained.

"But why? How could she do this?" Nova asked. "After all these years? After all we did for her?"

"I don't know, but it seems understandable." Arty said as he thought about the situation.

"Huh?" Derek and Nova looked at him.

"Listen, I know it's upsetting but think about it from her point of view. If you were in her place wouldn't you at least think of doing the same?"

Derek and Nova exchange a look, then Nova thought, 'I guess he has a point…if I knew my one secret dream was possible I'd at least try to get a hold of it…but still…'

'…Why did she leave so suddenly?' Derek thought. 'And why now? The answers were finally starting to appear, but now all we have are more questions…'


Meanwhile, Akira sat in Invidia's room staring out the porthole at the starless space.

"Akira?" Misako asked as she came up to Akira from behind.

"Hm?" Akira turned to find Misako, Setsuna, and Astra standing behind her.

"Akira, are you okay?" Setsuna asked. "You seem upset."

"Yeah, I mean we can understand why, it's just that you seem more upset then the rest of us."

"I guess I am, but you have to understand…"

The girls looked at her.

"…Invidia-Mama and I…well, we're close, and I love her more than anyone else in the world. Her and Dad both. I know why she's doing this, but that doesn't make it any les upsetting. I just wish that she had thought this through…"

"Well maybe she just doesn't care…" Astra suggested.

Setsuna gave her a look.

"What? It could be true! She did take off without a word."

"No, it's not that, she loves me and I know it's hard to accept, but it is her dream," Akira said. 'Even if it is a bad one…'

"Sorry, it just seems that way because…well, I've never see Invidia show too much concern or affection for you."

"It's there, she's just not one for doing so in public, or around a lot of people even if they are her friends. Even so, it did take awhile for her to get used to the idea of being affectionate with Ryou and I at all…"

The other girls exchanged a 'what is she talking about?' look, as she continued.

"She never really showed true affection or even protection to me until I was six."

"Akira, what are you talking about?" Misako asked.

"Oh, I guess I do need to explain," Akira said. "You see, when Invidia-Mama and Dad first adopted us Invidia-Mama had trouble accepting the fact that she was a mother. It's perfectly understandable now, but when I was younger I didn't get it. I tried so hard to at least get some praise from her but it didn't seem to work. Now I know that she was always secretly proud of me and Ryou deep in her heart, but she had trouble showing it…and now I know it's because, well…it was just hard to adjust to motherhood and being around children, her own children." Akira paused and sighed.

'That's right…' Astra thought.

'Before Invidia and Arty adopted…she never had any real experience with children,' Misako thought.

'It is understandable that she had trouble adjusting…with where she grew up and who she was around. Mom said she even had trouble with me as a baby…and that even being around me was sometimes uneasy.' Setsuna looked at Akira, and the said, "what were you saying earlier? About her showing affection?"

"Oh, right. Well, I told you the beginning and well, the first time I saw her protective side was when I was six…"


Tsukimara Academy

April 9th 2209

1450 Hours, Earth Time


"Dad was supposed to pick me up, but he was running late, so I sat there with three other kids and my teacher…"


"So, Akira, where are your parents? They're not normally late," the teacher, Miss. Shirayuki or Shirayuki-Sensei said.

"Actually it's just my father, he said that he was getting off early, but that he might still get tied up and that if he was going to be more than thirty minutes late he'd call Invidia-Mama and she's at home."

Miss. Shirayuki nodded and then she looked at her watch. "Oh, can you guys stay for a minute? I have to get my purse."

The kids nodded and she left just as the two boys on the step went off to their ride, leaving Akira with a fifth grade girl she did not know.

She sighed and looked around. While she observed her surrounding, three older boys walking down the street took interest in her.

"Check her out," The first one said.

"No one's around…" Another observed. "It's perfect, and look at that bag, she obviously lives well…" He said as he looked at her black school bag, which was clean and neat, with a couple key chains hanging off of it, and her name inscribed on the front. It looked expensive, but, in reality the cost had only come to about forty-five dollars, including the inscription.

"Let's get her…" The last one said.

They all nodded and ran up to Akira, who just looked at them.

"Hey kid, you don't need that bag do ya?" The first one asked.

"You should give it to us…" The second told her.

"No!" Akira said firmly.

"Oh, so that's how it is? Well give me that!" The third boy reached for her bag and she quickly pulled back.

"Leave me alone!" Akira snapped.

"Tough girl, huh?" The first boy said as he reached out to grab her arm.

"Do not touch me!" Akira snapped as she backed up toward the door.

"No! You come here!" The second one said as they all moved forward to grab her again. She looked at them quickly and took off running.

"Hey, get her!" One of them said as they chased Akira down the street.

Akira ignored them and kept running. 'Hurry…hurry…' She thought. She didn't even care where she was going; she just ran and kept on running until her sides hurt. And after what felt like forever she stopped to breathe and glanced behind her, surprised to find out that they were still chasing her and were coming up fast.

'Why?'She thought. 'Why and how?' She then took off again until she came to a familiar street. Akira stopped for only a second and ran up it.

"Where'd she go?" The boys stopped where she had turned and looked around.

"I saw her turn! This way!" Once of them said as he led them down a crowd-less street that opened out to a, grassy park-like area.

Akira stood behind one of the deck chairs in what was actually the plaza's courtyard. She sighed and then started breathing hard from the running, still not believing she ran all the way back to her apartment. But, just when she was feeling safe…

"There you are!" A boy's voice said.

Akira quickly whirled around to see the boys behind her again.

"Aww…you're tired…now give me that!" The third one reached for her bag.

"No!" Akira pulled her bag back.

"Don't you resist me!" And with that the boy slapped her across the face, scratching her while doing so.

Tears formed in Akira's eyes, but she didn't give up, though she realized that she could not do this alone, and as they closed in on her she tried to scream, but, remembering where she was she let out a call, a call of luck…

"Invidia-Mama!" She screamed.

Lucky for her, Invidia sat on the balcony reading, and when Akira called her again she heard it, faintly.

'Is that…?' She went over to the railing and looked over as another call came to her ears. 'It is!' She thought. "Akira!" She called.

"Invidia-Mama!" Akira called again.

"Akira!" She leaned over the railing and in the courtyard she could slightly make out the heads of Akira and three unknown figures.

"Oh no…" She whispered, then, she quickly turned and ran through the apartment and down to the lobby, ignoring the fact that she was wearing her slippers. And when she got to the lobby, she quickly stopped to breathe and then ran down a side hallway and out the door to the courtyard, there, she saw the boys and Akira.

"Leave her alone!"Invidia snapped.

"Huh?" They all turned to face her.

"Invidia-Mama!" Akira looked up with fearful but hopeful eyes.

Invidia walked over. "How dare you pick on a little kid, nonetheless my daughter?" She then slapped each of them across the face. Hard.

"Now leave!" She ordered.

They all nodded and quickly ran off as Invidia approached Akira and knelt in front of her.

"Are you okay, Akira?" She asked.

Akira nodded solemnly. "I guess…but they scratched me and…"

Invidia cut her off by grabbing part of her cloak and rubbing the slight blood stain off of her cheek.

"It's okay…" She said softly. "You look fine, let's just go upstairs," Invidia then picked her up.

"Wait!" Akira said. "My bag!"

Invidia sighed and carefully leaned over to pick up Akira's school bag. She then carried her back up to the apartment and called Arty to let him know what happened, before taking care of Akira…


"So, she always did care…" Astra said.

Akira nodded. "Of course she did, se just had trouble showing it. I didn't understand it until then, but when I did…it…well, it made me feel better, since I often felt unloved by her."

"But what about now? She just pushed you off like you were nothing," Setsuna said.

"I still love her and I know she still cares but… Power is just…corruptive," Akira said as she looked back out the porthole.


Part 2: Invidia's Cometine Debut

Somewhere in the Andromeda Galaxy

Thursday April 7th 2220

1542 Hours: Earth/Space Time


In a straight path for the second comet flew one of the Black Tiger fighters, when it finally approached the massive structure it slowed and the guards in the hangar analyzed it.

"It's just a Star Force ship," One of them said.

"And it does not look like it's going to attack," the other said, then, he put in the call to Desslok to confirm the ship's entrance. After hearing the details, Desslok told them to allow the ship in, but when it landed, the crew got an unexpected surprise…The person who emerged was not a real Star Force member, but someone else…

"It's…It's you!" One of the officers said.

"She's back…" The other whispered.

"We thought you were dead." Several others said as 'she' walked off down the hall with many others saying the same as those in the hangar. Ignoring all of them, she just continued on, straight to Desslok's throne room.

As she walked, Desslok sat discussing plans with his generals in the room and right in the middle of his sentence the door burst open and everyone looked up.

"It's you…" One of the generals muttered.

"You're alive…"

"And now, you're back…"

"Princess Invidia," Desslok said, a little too calmly.

Invidia walked up the length of the carpet to his throne and stepped directly in front of him.

"Desslok," she said. "Nice to see you again, on my throne!" She snapped in a sarcastic tone, putting extra emphasis on the 'my throne' factor.

"Oh, Invidia," Desslok said in a mocking tone. "Who said this was your throne? I certainly don't remember doing so."

"You don't have to say anything. My Father left me that throne years ago! I have the papers! I am the rightful heiress to the Cometine House of Gatlantis, so, in other words, this comet is mine!"

"So, you just go straight to the political matters?" Desslok said, half teasing. "You never even said how you were doing."

"I'm alive, well and happily married! Unlike you who will be dead if I don't get my throne back!"

"Invidia, my dear, I have built this from basic scratch and you think that I'm going to just give it to you? My Invidia…"

"Do not call me that! Even in taunting!" Invidia snapped. "Only Arty is allowed to call me that! Understand?"

"Alright then, Invidia, you have to be mad to think I'm just going to give way my hard work."

"But it belongs to me, see?" She then pulled a rolled up paper out of the flight bag hanging around her shoulder. Desslok studied it and then realized it was a copy of her certificate of royalty, which was, apparently, still valid. What immediately stuck out to Desslok though, was this:

This is to certify that Princess Invidia Sabera-Monica Savela, born January 15, 2184…Is the sole heiress to the Cometine Empire House of Gatlantis, and will remain so under any circumstances as declared by Prince Zordar and Lady Sabera Marie on this date of…

He read on and noticed that not only did it have the symbol of the Cometine high command, but also the signatures of Zordar, his parents and Sabera, and that there seemed to be no loopholes or voids, but, Desslok wasn't going to just surrender to her.

"Interesting that you'd bring that up now, Invidia, considering the age of the document."

"Who cares how old it is? It never expires and still specifies that I am to inherit that throne! Not You!" Invidia snapped over the mumbled conversation of the generals and officers behind her.

"If you really think that highly of…"

"Be quiet! I am speaking! This is my throne and my comet as given to me by my father! I am officially overthrowing you, guards, arrest him!"

Confused, the guards stared at her, unsure of whether they really want to follow her orders.

"Now!" She snapped.

Frightened by the harshness of her tone, the guards snapped back to life and immediately grabbed Desslok.

"What are you doing?" Desslok snapped at the guards.

"They're doing what I'm telling them to, because this comet is mine now."

As soon as she finished talking, the guards tightened their hold and dragged Desslok in the direction opposite her.

"You'll never get away with this! It won't last! You'll destroy it just as you did the last one! You'll see! You…You slut!"

Invidia glared at him, then, she slowly went over and slapped him across the face. "Slap him again when you get the chance!" She ordered the guards. "And once he gets down there, strip search him! Then leave him without his clothes for awhile, I want him to suffer!" She laughed and thought, 'Say what you want Desslok, but this comet is mine now…and you? You're just a mere annoyance. Now, what else did you leave me?' With that, she walked off to explore her new palace.


Meanwhile, on the Argo, Arty was looking over the radar with Derek and Nova.

"Are you sure that there's absolutely nothing there?" He asked.

"I'm sorry Arty, but there isn't. She's probably found it by now," Nova told him.

"Right," he nodded solemnly.

"Hey, don't be like that," Derek said. "If I know Invidia, and I do, she'll find a way to contact us. Besides, she loves you, and knowing her, she'll be missing you soon."

"Right," Arty nodded. 'I just wish she'd do it sooner…' He thought. 'Doesn't she understand how painful this is? Understandable, but painful...I wonder what she's doing now…?'


While he thought, down in the engine room, Akira was busy informing Ryou of the incident. She thought telling someone like him would be easy, but he didn't take it as well as she had hoped…

"She ran and you just let her get away!" He snapped.

"It's not my fault! I tried to stop her but she ran! And can't you be more a little more sympathetic? She is our mother!"

Ryou turned to Akira with a glare and said, "I have no mother." Then, he turned and walked away.

'Ryou…how can you say such things? Even is she's made some mistakes, she's still our mother…she's cared for us for years…so, how can you say that!' Akira thought, watching him walk with tears in her eyes.

'I'm sorry to say that Akira, but it's true. If she's going to just leave us like that then I don't want her to be my mother!' Ryou thought, not bothering to look back as he headed to his post.


Meanwhile, back on the comet, Invidia stood in front of her new staff in her throne room. She looked as them a minute, twirling her pointer, then, she began to walk down the line. She stopped when she got to Victoria, who was still in her kitchen attire. Invidia looked her over and the asked, "why are you here? I called the main staff! Not the help!"

"I am part of the main staff!" Victoria snapped.

"It's true, Princess," Said the officer next to Victoria. "She's out lieutenant commander, but she's on punishment right now, forced to work as a kitchen servant under Desslok's orders."

"First off, never talk out of turn, either of you! I am your ruler now and you are to respect me, so ask formally. Second, since your punishment was instated by Desslok it's now over. Put on your normal uniform and see me in my quarters." She then continued her walk down the aisle, overlooking the rest of her staff, occasionally saying things like, "straighten your collar!", "your cloak is crooked, fix it!", and even, "if you don't stop staring at me, I'll demote you!"

When she got back to her throne she turned and said "Dismissed!"

The line dispersed and Invidia sighed, 'this is going to be a lot of work, but I think I'll enjoy it…'


A little while later she sat in her new suite with Victoria, discussing her role in the staff.

"Let me get this straight," Invidia said. "You're the lieutenant commander but you were put on kitchen duty for going against orders."

"Correct," Victoria nodded.

"Uh huh, and what were the orders you went against?"

Victoria hesitated, and then said, "Orders not to attack the Argo.

"That was you!" Invidia exclaimed. "You did this to me?" As she spoke, she lifted her gown slightly to show Victoria the cut on her ankle.

"What do you mean I did that! I haven't touched you!"

"Your attack caused the ship's circuitry to mess up! I was startled by a shock behind me and fell. I don't know what cut me but it cut deep, I couldn't even walk for a few days!"

"Well sorry! But it's not my job to account for other people's injuries! Besides, that's the point of attacking! To bring down the enemy whether it be through injuries or even death!" Victoria snapped.

I know that! And it's not the point! The point is that the Cometine Empire has no further business with Earth or the Star Force. And you had absolutely no reason to attack us. We're under treaty!" Invidia snapped back.

"We'll I'm sorry adequate revenge can't be established through diplomatic communications!"

"Revenge! For what!"

Victoria stopped, turned away and said, "never mind…"

"Why? What is so important that you have to kill off the Star Force?"

"Well…uh…"

"Do not stutter! I asked you to speak!"

"They killed my Father…" She said softly.

"What?"

"They killed my Father, okay! I didn't even get to know him! I was only five!" Victoria told her.

"Uh huh, and killing off the Star Force is going to bring him back?"


"No. But revenge is a great teacher!"

"For what? Killing them won't solve anything! He's dead! Point being….it should have passed by now!"

"You just don't get it, do you?" Victoria asked with a glare.

"Get what?" Invidia snapped. "That you're a revenge driven maniac? I've been through the same thing! But you don't see me killing of the world's doctors because my mother died in the hospital or every EDF official because they sent my Father to jail for ten years!"

"That's different!"

"How so?"

"Well…they didn't kill him!"

"Yes, but it hurt like they did! I'm closer to my Father than anyone else in the world…even Arty…" Invidia said as she held her left hand for a moment and glanced down at her wedding ring.

"Arty?" Victoria said.


"My husband. Anyway, do you get my point?"

"All I get is that you don't get revenge."

"No! My point is that revenge is not the answer in this kind of situation, and that it should have passed long ago."

'Says you,' Victoria thought. 'And I heard your mother died when you were a baby, so why should it bother you now anyway? She wasn't fighting for her race and you didn't witness it like I did, so you don't get it! And, furthermore, I'll do what I want, and you can't say anything about it.'

"Okay what's with that look?" Invidia interrupted.

"What look?"

"That look. You look like you're plotting something!" Invidia paused, and then realized something. "I swear if you attack them again…"

"I won't," Victoria lied.

Invidia didn't quite believe her, but she was tired of listening to her. "Very well then, you're dismissed," Invidia said.

Victoria left and Invidia stood up and looked over what was now her suite.

"Now…What to do with this room?" She said.


Part 3: Mixed Messages

Space Battleship Argo

Saturday, April 9th 2220

1445 Hours Earth/Space Time


'It's been two days! Why hasn't she called?' Arty thought as he stared at the video screen. He was using his lunch break to watch over the bridge, just as he had been doing for the past two days.

"Dad?" Akira asked as she entered.

"What?" Arty turned toward her.

"I brought you something to eat, since you haven't eaten in two days."

"I'm too worried to eat."

"That's no excuse, you needto eat. This isn't healthy."

"I guess you're right. Not eating won't bring her back."

Akira nodded. "Neither will sitting around and moping.

Arty smiled at her. "You're right, I guess it just can't be helped, though, I miss her."

"I miss her too Dad. We all do, and I know she misses us, you just have to give her a chance to realize it."

Arty sighed just as the bridge crew reappeared.

"Anything?" Derek asked.

"Not yet," Arty replied.

"Weird. I'd think she'd be missing you enough to call. Especially with how she is when you go away," Nova said to Arty.

Arty nodded. "I know what you mean, I…"

"Incoming transmission," Homer interrupted.

"Put it on the screen," Derek ordered.

Homer did so and Invidia, in a long, black, spaghetti strap dress, appeared.

"Invidia?" Derek said.

"I thought it was about time I called, where's Arty?" She said.

"I'm here, Princess," Arty said as he stepped forward. "Invidia, what are you wearing?"

"What? You don't like it?"

"No, I like it, but you look like you're on your way to some fancy dinner."

"Oh, no. I'm having some of my gowns remade since I didn't bring much with me. And while that's being done I figured I'd just wear this. Anyway, how are things there?"

"Invidia, come back!" Arty said, not bothering to answer her question.

"Why?" She asked.

"Because you belong here! With your family and friends, you know that!"

"Maybe so, but just because you think I belong, doesn't mean I'm going to give all of this up! Do you know how long I've waited to rule again?"

"I know, Princess. But, I miss you, we all miss you."

"Then why don't you come see me? I'll send you the coordinates and maybe when you see, you'll understand."

"Princess…I do understand. Sort of. I mean, I know that this is your secret wish, but…"

"You thought that my family would overrule my dreams."

"No, yes, no. What I mean is…"

"I know what you mean and you're right. In fact, that thought has crossed my mind several times. Unfortunately, though, the chance to be Royal again…is too good to pass up."

"Invidia!" Derek stepped in front of Arty.

"I'm sorry, all of you, but I have my dreams and you have yours. I'll send you the coordinates, whether or not you choose to find me is your choice. Arty, I love you…" And, with that, she cut off the transmission.


As she hit the button, tears formed in her eyes. 'That was the hardest thing I have ever had to do…Arty, Derek, Father…Mama, I'm sorry!' Invidia thought. 'But this is too much to lose.' She told herself as she did every day, but, no matter how hard she tried or how much she talked to herself there was this pain in her heart that she had ignored until now. Talking to them, seeing them, has just made it worse and for the first time since she got there, Invidia just broke down. She fell to her knees, held her arms and cried until she couldn't cry anymore.


Later,

Space Battleship Argo

1905 Hours


"So what do we do about this?" Akira asked as she looked down at the paper that held the coordinates of Invidia's empire. It was shortly after dinner, and the mess hall was empty, except for her, Derek, Nova, Arty, Mark and Trelania.

"I don't know," Nova said. "Part of me thinks we should go, but the other part feels as if it might be a trap…"

"I don't think she'd do that," Arty said. "Not to us."

Derek nodded. "He's right. Besides, I think she really wants us to come. If she wanted to trick us then she probably wouldn't have given us the coordinates in the first place."

"I guess you have a point…" Nova pondered.

"Now that that's cleared, what do you plan to do about it, Derek?" Mark asked.

"I don't know, but I'm tempted to follow the coordinates."

"Me too." Arty nodded. "I miss her, and let's face it; we're all lost on just what the hell is going on her head. If we go to see her, I'm sure we could find out."

"Then I vote to go, besides, I'm curious about just how great this empire of hers is…" Nova said.

"It's really great, according to her," Arty said. "She has a bunch of albums from back then if you ever want to see them."

"And what are the pictures going to tell us? How beautiful her room was? How extravagantly she lived? That's nice, but it doesn't help at all."

"Well…uh…"

"She's right. I don't think any of us will be able to understand until we can actually sit down and talk with her," Derek said. "So I move to go visit her after the repairs are one-hundred percent complete."

"Why then?" Trelania asked.

"Because, I don't want to be off the ship without being assured that it's safe."

"Wait a minute, who said that you were going?" Arty asked.

"Well, I am the captain, it's only natural that I would be the one to investigate."

"Yes, but I'm her husband, and I'm pretty sure she wants to see me more than you!"

"He has a point Derek," Nova said. "The first person Invidia looks for comfort in is Arty. Remember how she immediately asked for him when she contacted us? She misses him; I could see it in her eyes."

"So, let me go. I promise I'll give a full report."

"No. I told you, it's my job to…"

"Why don't you both go?" Trelania interrupted. "That way, Arty can see her and Derek can do his research."

Derek and Arty glanced at each other.

"All right," Derek said. "We'll both leave after the repairs completed."

"And if you're going then I'm going," Nova said to Derek.

"Nova…"

"I'm serious, I can help, and I am one of her best friends."

"Okay, you can come too, but that's it…"

Akira started to speak, and Arty put a hand on her shoulder.

"Akira, no. I want you to stay here and look after things, particularly, your brother. Besides, it's dangerous for you out in space, your lack of experience would be troublesome."

Akira gave him a look even though she knew he was right. 'He's right, inexperienced travelers aren't useful, besides if I stay, maybe I can work on Ryou a bit. His attitude towards Invidia-Mama, or as he now calls her Princess Invidia, is really bugging me! He's so stuck up that he wouldn't even come to this meeting, I wonder what he's doing now…'

As she thought, Ryou walked. He wasn't going anywhere in particular, he was just…walking, when he got to Invidia's room, he stopped.

'I can't believe Dad still stays in here sometimes…I wouldn't, and I wouldn't trust her either, even though she finally made an attempt to talk to us. A five minute call…yay…' He thought sarcastically, then he glanced over at the nightstand, where, he saw their most recent family picture. He glared, and then, walked over and knocked it off the stand. 'She doesn't need this anymore, I should just throw it away, but I'd rather not have Dad mad at me, not now.' Ryou left with the intention of going back to the engine room, but Misako stopped him.

"Ryou…" She said from behind.

"Hm?" He glanced back at her.

"I'm glad I caught you, Akira says that she wants to talk to you later, and she told me to give you this," Misako handed him a neatly folded piece of blue paper.

"Thanks…" He muttered.

She nodded at him and headed in the opposite direction.

Ryou watched for a moment, and, when she was gone, he unfolded the paper. It turned out to be a piece of Invidia's good stationary with a note saying:

You're WRONG about Invidia-Mama! And you KNOW it!

'Maybe so,' He thought. 'But it's not going to change anything!'


Part 4: Captain Setsuna-Chan?

Space Battleship Argo

Tuesday, April 12, 2220

1900 Hours, Earth/Space Time


A meeting was being held in the Captain's quarters with only Derek, Nova, Mark, Sandor and Setsuna in attendance.

"As you know, we set out tomorrow in search of Invidia's second Comet Empire," Derek said.

Everyone nodded.

"And since Nova's joining me, I've had to think about the positions of those on the ship…"

Setsuna and Mark exchanged a look.

"…So, Setsuna, put this on." Derek threw her some sort of blue garment.

Setsuna turned it around in her arms with a wide-eyed look, in her hands was Derek's blue peacoat.

"You'll be in charge while we're gone."

"Really?"

Derek nodded.

"But, I'm hardly qualified! Shouldn't Mark or Sandor be taking over?"

"Actually you're perfect, and besides, as part of your training each cadet gets to be captain for a day at least once, and your time is now."

"But won't you be accused of favoritism? I am your daughter."

"Even if they were to say things, we can easily dis-prove them," Sandor said.

"What?" Setsuna looked at Sandor.

"There was a list of cadets put together by the high command. The order is based on your test scores and academy performance. These lists are what we use to determine who takes over the role at certain times, and you, Setsuna dear, are the first on that list."

"What!"

"Your test scores are off the scale, and your multiple skills and obvious willingness to help put you high on the General's list," Mark said.

"So, congratulations," Nova said as she rubbed Setsuna's head.

"Mom, don't, you're going to ruin my hair."

"You're lucky I don't cut your hair. Derek why'd you let it get so long?" Nova teased.

"Don't look at me; I'm not her hair dresser."

Setsuna laughed and shrugged on the coat. "It's kind of big…" She said as she looked down. The coat was so long on her that only a few inches of her skirt showed under it.

"I was the only extra one I had," Derek said. "Oh, and while you're wearing that I want you in your EDF blues, it'll look better and make you look more authoritative"

"Yes, Dad," Setsuna said.

He nodded. "And if we don't come back within the week, authority will transfer to Mark, understand?"

Setsuna nodded, then she said, "And Dad?"

"Hm?"

"Thank you!" She threw her arms around him, and then Nova while Sandor and Mark exchanged a look.


"Astra, while they're gone you'll take over Mom's station," Setsuna told her in their cabin later.

"What?" Astra groaned.

"You heard me. And Akira, you'll work with the living group."

"Why!"

"Because you have yet to do anything, and no, helping find your adoptive mother doesn't count."

"What about Misako! She hasn't done much either!"

"She's working with Trelania to help us track down Invidia and see enemies."

'If I had powers like that I wouldn't want to do anything either…' Astra thought mockingly.

"And while you're working you'll wear this," Setsuna threw Astra a yellow-on-black skirted uniform.

"Isn't this supposed to be black-on-yellow? This is a Black Tiger uniform."

"I know that, but you don't look good in yellow, it blends in with your hair too much. Besides, everyone will know the difference."

"Why do you have this anyway?" Astra asked.

"I do work on flying too, so I wear different uniforms for different situations. Besides, I like change and it helps for when the others are in the laundry."

"What about me?" Akira asked.

"You'll be fine, besides, I don't have a uniform in your size."

"That's fine with me."

"But if you want to blend in, you could always wear one of Invidia's dresses," Astra joked.

Akira glared at her.

'Touchy much?' Astra thought, while Akira thought,

'I wonder what Invidia-Mama's up to…'


Meanwhile, Invidia sat in a huge, luxurious bath under the watch of her new bath servant, Rina.

"So…You're married now?" Rina said, trying to start a conversation.

"Now? I've been married for fifteen years," Invidia told her, then she paused. "Man, I'm old."

"You're hardly old ma'am, it only seems like that because you got married early. Right?"

Invidia nodded. "I was married in 2205, later than I wanted to be, but my husband was sent off for a year."

"Is it hard?"

"Is what hard?"

"Having him go off for months, sometimes years at a time?"

"Sometimes, but I have my children, and my Father."

"You have kids?"

"Adoptive kids. Twins, actually."

"Really?"

Invidia nodded. "A boy and a girl, Ryou and Akira…" She trailed off, thinking about how she had treated her daughter after she left, she hadn't been thinking at the time, but now that she was, it hurt. 'That look in her eyes, after I left…I really hurt her, didn't I?'

"And your Father, he's still alive?" Rina asked, interrupting her thoughts.

"Yes. He wasn't killed he was jailed and let go after ten years after a re-trial. They figured he was sane enough to be free, but not enough to be excluded from probation... for four years, while I got away with only one year of it. He lives in an apartment building near mine with General Dyre, his oldest friend, and one of my former caretakers."

Rina gave her a look.

"When I was a baby, Father had trouble looking after me sometimes, like during meetings and when he was planning, so I was left with one of my mother's friends or generals my father trusted; ask Gorse, he'll tell you."

Rina nodded and they sat in silence for a few minutes.

"Hey…Ma'am?"

"Don't call me "Ma'am" you sound too whiny. Call me Princess."

"Okay, Princess, um…I know you have…well you're married so…"

Invidia gave her a look. "Come on!" She demanded.

"Well, I'm getting married in a month and I've…Well I'm a virgin so…"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because I can't tell my mother. And…"

"It hurts."

"Hm?"

"It hurts the first time, you can't avoid it. But that's all I'm telling you. Why don't you tell me something?"

"Like what?"

"Well, I've told you a little about my husband, so why don't you tell me about your fiancé?"

"Well, his name is Kyou and…"

As Rina went on, Invidia slipped farther down in the water, not out of pleasure, but sadness. Rina's comments just made her miss Arty even more.

'If I could just see him again…I'd hug him like he's been gone forever, then we'd kiss passionately, and then…' Invidia blushed. 'Okay, now I'm thinking too much, but I do miss him…I wonder…'

'Will he really come visit me?'


To Be Continued with Episode 9…