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…"
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!"
"It's
true, Princess," Said the officer next to
"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
"Let me
get this straight," Invidia said. "You're the lieutenant commander
but you were put on kitchen duty for going against orders."
"Correct,"
"Uh huh,
and what were the orders you went against?"
"That
was you!" Invidia exclaimed. "You did this to me?"
As she spoke, she lifted her gown slightly to show
"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!"
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!"
"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!"
"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?"
"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?"
"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,'
"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,"
Invidia
didn't quite believe her, but she was tired of listening to her. "Very
well then, you're dismissed," Invidia said.
"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…