ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS---A LAST BREATH BEFORE THE PLUNGE
Being the tenth part of THE RIKASHA INCIDENT--- BY: Frederick P. Kopetz
ACT TWO: RIKASHA'S
PLUNGE
I. BEING THE BEARER OF
BAD NEWS…
Planet Earth
The
Karl Forrester's
Apartment
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0200 Hours: Earth
Space-time
Karl and Teri Forrester were
at home in the Megalopolis.
They were dozing together
after making love earlier that night. In fact, by an odd coincidence, even
though neither of them knew it, Nova Wildstar and Teri Forrester both cleaved
to their husbands at roughly the same time, separated by over 80,000
lightyears' worth of space.
And, now, as Karl and Teri
lay cuddling in bed, they, too, were about to have their pleasant moment
interrupted by bad news.
The doorbell rang.
"Teri?" muttered
Karl.
"Go get that,
darling."
"Why
you?"
The doorbell rang again.
"I've got this craving
for a salami and peanut-butter sandwich, Karl. You get it!"
"Okay, Mom,"
teased Karl.
"Mom the second time
around," said Teri with a smile. "Remember, I'm pregnant."
So, the chubby lawyer threw
on his robe and he answered the apartment door.
Samuel Josiah, Nova's
cousin, stood there in full EDF uniform with a very pale face. Two enlisted men
were with him.
"Karl, I need to speak
with you and Teri."
"What's wrong, Sam?
Sorry we haven't seen much of your since your dad's
funeral, but..."
"It's a message they
sent from Defense Headquarters just a while ago. I was our squadron's duty
officer and, so, I was sent to give this to you on my way home. I'm afraid the
news...well...it's..."
"It's about the Argo?"
asked Karl. "Did Nova finally get a chance to call us?"
"Yes, but…well…it's
not good…."
"Teri!" yelled
Karl. "Teri, it's Samuel."
"Coming," said a
tired Teri. She made her goofy sandwich, and stumbled in a few minutes later,
just in a pink robe and bare feet. Her hair was down, and, as dark as her hair
was, Samuel was reminded both of the way his mother had
looked when she was very young...or of the way his cousin Nova looked.
For once, to him, his Aunt Teri looked like an older, dark-haired version of
his cousin. "Sam! In full uniform? Oh, my God.
There would be only one reason you're here this early...isn't it...?"
Samuel said, "Aunt
Teri...I have a message I was ordered to bring you, top priority, from the
Commander, Earth Defense Forces. I have to visit a few of the officers'
families tonight to share this. They wanted you to know before it hit the media
tomorrow morning."
"What is it?"
said Teri.
"May I read it?"
asked Samuel.
Karl lit a cigarette and nodded,
ignoring Teri's dirty look. Samuel, with a shaking hand, held out the letter.
Then, he read:
"From: Commanding
General Charles Singleton, Earth Defense Forces High Command.
To: Mr. and Mrs. Karl
and Teresa Forrester
April 21, 2202 0112
hours: Spacetime (Megalopolis,
Mr. and Mrs. Forrester:
Please pardon the
unusual tone for this official letter. I have just suffered a grave shock.
However, it is not an
unexpected shock.
We intercepted a
communication from the Rikashan Star Empire yesterday at 2300 hours.
After due analysis, we
have concluded that this communication is an authentic one, from the Rikashan
High Command. A Duke Lecha Voton was the Rikashan official narrating the
message, speaking Terran English.
Duke Voton presented
some wreckage in the tape, and several sets of burned
Terran human remains.
According to Duke Voton,
the Argo crashed
into Rikashan territorial space some days ago after a forced warp, and it
engaged his Tenth Fleet…
Voton showed footage of
a battle, a battle which ended with a burst of his fleet's DIA'TS cannon, a
weapon similar to our wave motion gun.
"No….no…no,"
sobbed Teri. "Don't let it be that, let them be
captured, but not…"
"I'm sorry, Aunt
Teri," said Samuel in a low voice. Tears were running down his cheeks.
"May I go on?"
"Go ahead," said
Karl in a hoarse voice.
In that footage….the Argo fought bravely, but she was
destroyed. We must, therefore, conclude that the Argo went down in
battle, with the loss of all hands...
"Oh, my GOD!!!"
screamed Teri. "My baby! Nova's dead!"
She fell against Karl and began to weep.
"Should I go on?"
said Samuel. Tears were running down his face.
"Go on," said
Karl in a weak voice.
"Sure," said Sam.
He sniffed and continued.
We tried to withhold the
tape from the media, but it was leaked to a correspondent. It will run on the
news tomorrow.
In that tape, we see
this explosion…
Karl and Teri looked on in nausea as
Samuel showed them a picture of the Argo, blown in half by a sudden
impact.
It was definite. The mighty
ship was destroyed, blown in half.
The Star Force was…gone.
Teri began to scream
incoherently.
"Shall I go on?"
said Samuel. He sobbed, "Oh, my poor cousin! Nova was such a sweet
girl!"
Karl nodded. He couldn't
say anything more.
Needless to say, I am
afraid that your daughter and son-in-law are dead along with the rest of the
Star Force. I
cannot express my grave sorrow in this hour. Your daughter was a dear friend
and great soldier.
We cannot recover any remains,
unfortunately. There will be a committal service at Heroes' Hill on 24 April,
2202 after whatever sort of religious funeral you can arrange for your daughter
and son-in-law. .I will be there to try to help comfort you.
Earth faces very dark
times. The Defense Fleet stands ready to meet our enemies in combat sometime in
the next two weeks. We feel it will not be a skirmish, like the last few
engagements, but an all-out battle for the freedom of our planet.
If I may comfort you,
please be comforted in knowing that Nova and Derek died bravely in defense of
that freedom and will always be remembered among our greatest heroes and
heroines.
With Deep Regret and
Lasting Sorrow,
Commanding General
Singleton
High Command, Earth
Defense Forces
.Samuel Josiah dropped the letter,
fell to his knees, and wept. Karl Forrester hugged both his nephew and his wife
in his grief.
"Damn that
Commander," sobbed Teri. "damn him,. Damn
him, damn him..."
"Teri, don't say
that," said Karl.
"But he took my baby
to her death! It's his damn fault my child is dead! His fault! His fault! I
never should have let her stay in the Defense Forces! Maybe I should have never
let them get married!"
And, Teri just kept on
crying. And crying. And crying.
She was inconsolable.
As far as she knew, her
only child, her blond-haired angel, had died a pointless death. And she was mad
at the Earth Defense Forces, mad at Derek Wildstar, and angry at God for taking
her daughter from her.
"They can't show that
on the news," said Karl. "Teri, go get my suit and my laptop!"
"Where are you
going?"
"Federal Court….where
else? I've got to get an injunction filed to stop the media from showing the
loss of my daughter's ship on tri-vee!!!" raved Karl.
"Then?"
"Then I'm gonna go
punch that Singleton in the nose!"
II. DASH’S NIGHT JOURNEY
Planet Rikasha
Deep Inside the Sherikhan Fortress
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0305 Hours: Earth
Space-time
“The whole idea here,” whispered Dash as he walked along in
a torch-lit corridor of Duke Cha’rif’s palace, beneath which the Argo was docked, “is to get Homer laid,
Eager.”
“Hey, let me have a harem chick any day,” said Eager.
“Thought you had a
girlfriend,” said Dash, as he and Eager walked along while Homer looked at the tapestries
and what looked like Persian carpets in the corridors of the palace.
“I do. She ain’t here, but some babe in harem pants probably
is,” said Eager.
“Where is this
place?” said Homer.
They stopped before a huge wooden door guarded by two fat Rikashan
men in robes, boots, and what looked like Terran Bedouin headdresses. One of
them drew a sword. “Halt, Earthers,” he said in a strangely nasal voice.
“Access to this part of the Palace is forbidden to all but the Cha’rifs and
their associates!”
“I’m a friend of the Baron’s,” said Dash as he bowed. “I am
a good friend of the Captain Wildstar from Earth, and of the Lady Aliscea.”
“You know Aliscea?” said one of the guards, who were Royal
Eunuchs of Clan Cha’rif.
“Yes’m,” said Eager. “She and the Baron made a bargain to
reward us for helpin’ ya’all against Ekogaru.”
“And what is this bargain?” said the eunuch. “Do you know
what we guard?”
“You got women in there, don’t you?” said Homer.
“Yes, this is the
Baron’s private harem,” said the guard. “What gives you the right to…?”
“Money,” said Dash with an evil grin as he spilled gold
coins from a leather drawstring bag into the eunuch’s hand. “Gold that Cha’rif
and Aliscea gave us.”
“Lots of it,” said Eager, as he also greased the guard’s
palm with money.
“With interest,” said Homer as he turned over his share.
The eunuchs looked at each other. They muttered some things
in Rikashan and said, “Get in there. Leave by sunrise or we kill you.”
“Thank you, noble Rikashans!” said Homer, Dash, and Eager all
together as they bowed. One of the eunuchs whipped open the door, and Homer,
Eager, and Dash walked in. The other eunuch walked with them.
“I must inform Esquire Genrad of your purpose with the
women,” said the other eunuch. “My name is Hi’Chan. Let me speak first.”
Dash nodded. “Lead the way, my friend.”
There was a long hallway, and another door. Hi’Chan stepped
through into a mysterious, enticing haze of smoke, incense, feminine giggles,
and strange music played on drums and stringed instruments.
Finally, Hi’Chan emerged. “They are in here. Follow me.”
Dash, Homer, and Eager walked into a vast room that was hung
with tapestries of all kinds, with a floor covered with soft rugs and cushions,
with low tables holding water pipes and all sorts of delicacies.
Finally, about ten giggling girls were either lying on the
floor or dancing to the exotic music created by a band of eunuchs playing
instruments that looked like Terran sitars, mandolins, and bongo drums. The
girls wore filmy, diaphanous tops, and either flimsy harem pants or long, silky
loincloths that just barely covered their long, bare legs. Some looked orange, others looked either African or Caucasian. They had
long hair in varying colors, and gorgeous features.
One of them immediately hugged Dash. “Hello there, wonderful
young man with glasses. Who are you?”
“Dash, from Earth, I…”
“Are Earthmen really as comely as the Lady Mikala says?”
squealed one of them.
“Yeah, we’re love machines,” said Eager.
“Good,” said the girl, who was a redhead with pale orange
skin. “I am lonely. Dance and then lie with me,
friend…”
“Well, you ain’t subtle, are ya?” chuckled Eager.
Homer was left alone. He was intrigued, but kind of looking for
a way out. A blonde girl with fine features and ivory-like skin in a red and
blue outfit and sandals came up to him and began to kiss him. “I can read your
mind. You have never been with a woman before, have you?”
“Uhh…no…not…no…I…”
“No problem,” said the girl as she pulled his shirt open. “I
am Feleena. Let me teach you…”
Dash gave Homer a thumbs-up.
At that, Homer gave in to Feleena’s charms…
III. A WEIRD JOURNEY
Planet Rikasha
The Outer Desert Between Sherikhan and Rikala
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0505 Hours: Earth
Space-time
"Derek, I never knew a
desert could be so cold at night," whimpered Nova Wildstar as she
cuddled against her husband in the saddle.
"I'll try to keep you
warm," he said.
Nova and Derek were sitting
in a saddle on a Rikashan creature known as a K'herevitz. It was like a
camel, save that it had a light, fine coat like light horsehair and cloven
hooves rather than camel feet. However, it had a bad temper, spat a lot, and
had tried to bite Nova once. The young woman, skilled as she was with horses,
was having her patience tried as she tried to keep this stubborn creature in
line in the sand in the caravan they were travelling with.
Nova's arms hurt from
having to pull at the reins more than once. Behind her, Derek sat holding her
with his feet in regular stirrups, but, up "front", she had her feet
in tight leather stirrups that had required her to remove her shoes when she
had gotten on the K'herevitz. Probably a good thing I'm barefoot, too,
she thought in a temper as she sipped at a mixture of water and wine from a
skin bag. I've been kicking this…thing so much. But my toes are freezing,
those suede pants they put on me for the ride under my dress itch, and I'm cold
in this thin little minidress. Not very modest, their clothes!
The K'herevitz spat
at Nova again and snorted.
She hit it in the neck.
"You stop that, ugly!"
"Glllllaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhaaaaaahhhh…"
it answered.
"Nova, sure you don't
want me to drive?" asked Derek.
"You couldn't. You
don't know the least thing about riding animals. You were afraid to get on this
thing when we started."
"Was
not!"
"Were too,"
teased Nova.
"You look cute in a
burnoose, Louise of Arabia."
"Thanks," said Nova
as her veil, attached with an Arab-style headband, flapped around her head.
"I wish we'd get there soon. I'm cold."
"Found a blanket on
this saddle. Let me wrap you in it."
"Thanks."
Nova let Derek wrap the
blanket around her midsection and she cuddled up a bit closer to her husband.
"Look at all of those stars and those three moons," said Nova.
"That's the only thing beautiful about this planet."
They rode on for a long
while in silence, watching the stars go out one by one as dawn began to spread
its fingers across the sky of Rikasha. Derek felt very lonely and alone. He
didn't recognize any of the constellations.
We're a long way from
Earth…and I can't wait to get home, he thought. I wish we could do something about this
place. Something to fix it…
"The first sun is
coming up," said Derek after a long pause. "Now we can see the
desert."
"Funny, the land is
changing," said Nova. "Doesn't look like an
ordinary desert…it looks…strange."
The land looked very
strange. It was, indeed, no longer sandy desert, but it was, instead, a
mournful, cold highland where the sunlight of one of Rikasha's two suns in its
sunrise just barely pierced the grey, ominous clouds. An evil, sulphurous
stench pervaded the region of grey, ashen ground, dead trees, and stunted pines
in the distance. Steams and smoke came from the ground, along with an
occasional tongue of flame.
Nova looked down. She
thought she felt the ground shaking, and she gasped a little. They were behind
Baron and Baroness Cha'rif; who were on one mount in the seven-mount caravan,
the Rosstowskis rode behind them. "The ground's turning gray, I see
fire…and it smells. Baron Cha'rif, what is this horrible place?"
called out Nova.
"Al'jedarrats.
The Burning Lands," replied Anton Cha'rif. He was controlling his K'herevitz
in only a loincloth and burnoose…Nova wondered how he could stand the nighttime
cold with almost nothing on. "Be careful. Follow our lead. The ground may
cave in unpredictably. Luckily, up ahead, our pilot, D'evar, is familiar with
these highlands and he knows the safe path. This is a back way towards the
Capital. No one comes this way. It is no longer radioactive, but the fires of
the Great Wars still burn beneath our feet. Take heed. If we pass through
smoke, hold your breath."
"How can that be?"
said Nova.
"Yeah. Weren't your wars over three
thousand years ago?" said Derek.
"The nuclear bombs hit
coal veins, "said Cha'rif. The coal was set alight, along with
landholders' estates. The coal still burns. There are also bones. Watch your
mounts!"
Nova looked down, and she
felt sickened. Her mount had just stumbled over a Rikashan human skeleton. Some
of the bones were crushed. Something howled in the distance, and she shivered.
"What was that?"
"K'ranja.
Luckily, it is far away, Nova," said Baron Cha'rif. "We have to speed
up. It has two heads and is carnivorous. We can't let it smell us…"
Nova held on, and she and
Derek rode faster.
She wondered when they were
going to get out of this evil place and reach the city.
In a suit, Karl Forrester
stood in a Federal courtroom in the Megalopolis with two JAG lawyers at almost
6 AM. Luckily, the Earth Government had been able to get a judge to hear their
motion for an injunction on the release of the video from Rikasha.
Unfortunately, the networks
had their own lawyers there. The judge, who was named Yoko Toshima, sat in
silence as the network lawyer finished his argument.
"Still want to punch
me in the nose, Karl?" whispered Commander Singleton beside Karl
Forrester.
The lawyer smiled a
bittersweet smile. "No. Thanks for having the JAG people help us."
"What they were asking
for went against all human decency, given the effect upon Earth. I hope she
decides for us."
"Isn't that Sandberg
with the network lawyers?"
"Uh-huh."
"Why would he want that
footage released?"
"To
demoralize Earth.
We found he's working with what's left of that cult, Karl. But, we have no
specific evidence. Only anecdotal evidence. If we knew
who, what, when, where, and why, he'd be arrested in a moment…"
"Thank you," said
Judge Toshima. "Now, I am ready to render my verdict."
She took a drink of water
and cleared her throat. "The Truth in Media Act of 2200 states that when
news vital to the security of Earth is to be released, the Government is to
take all deliberate speed in releasing the same in as much detail as possible.
Unfortunately, the dispatch from Rikasha is upsetting to some, perhaps many,
but I rule that the major networks may run what the Federal Government of Earth
has released as of 1230 Hours earlier this morning. The Earth Defense Forces'
motion to restrain is denied as prior restraint upon important facts. The
footage may be released in full. That is all."
Toshima banged on her gavel
and left the bench.
"We'll appeal!"
yelled Singleton.
"It'll take you days
to get Cert before the Supreme Court of Earth, Singleton," said Sandberg
mockingly. "Sorry, but everyone gets to see your pet ship blow up. So much
for the chivalrous Star Force! I'm glad they're dead."
"You…you…jackal!"
yelled Karl Forrester as he tried to get at Sandberg. Singleton just barely
managed to restrain him.
"Karl…doing that won't
help!"
"Commander….please. Let me at him!"
"Come on," said a
bailiff. "Want us to have to run you in?"
Karl shook his head as
tears ran down his cheeks.
IV. CAUGHT!
Planet Rikasha
Deep Inside the Sherikhan Fortress
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0631 Hours: Earth
Space-time
“Hey, Feleena,” said Homer,
who was lying wrapped in a towel on top of several cushions.
“Yes?” giggled Feleena the
harem entertainer. She was naked and was not in the least ashamed.
“That was fun.”
“I am glad you liked it,” she said as she kissed Homer passionately. His
face was now covered with lipstick. “Your friends were with Sheril, E’genda,
Isha, and A’venda. Like to have a quick bit of fun with them before the sunrise
comes in?”
“The sun is up?”
“Yes, but the windows are
not yet open. The sun rises here when the eunuchs open the window screens.”
“Good,” said Dash, who was lying
naked with Sheril on top on him as she fed him sweet fruit like grapes. “Man,
keep the screens closed all day for
all I care!”
The harem girls giggled at
that. Isha was running Eager’s back while he wore a burnoose and smoked from a
water pipe. “Part of me wants to jump ship and make a homestead here.”
“Why don’t you?” said Isha.
“You can buy me out of here, we can buy a farm, and…”
At that, the doors were
thrown open, and sunlight streamed in.
“Oh, crap,” said Homer.
“Double crap,” said Dash.
“It’s Lieutenant Fisher!”
Dash and Homer struggled
into their pants and then stood up before Natalie Fisher and snapped ironic
salutes. “What are you doing here?” said Dash. “We were kinda busy.”
Natalie stood there in her
nurse’s tunic, angrily tapping a white-booted foot against the carpet. “Doc
sent me here. You three were supposed to get shots this morning. Something to
do that was more fun than your appointment?”
“What does it look like?” said Homer as he tried to
pull on his boots while Feleena giggled at him.
“How’d you find us?” said
Dash as he pulled his shirt on.
“Scuttlebutt from the
bridge,” said Natalie. “Good thing Nova wasn’t on duty this morning, or she
might have you running back to the ship in your skivvies.”
“Shoot,” said Eager.
“And you’d better pay me a
damn good bribe, or I’ll tell Lisa everything,” said Natalie, referring to
Eager’s girlfriend.
“You wouldn’t,” said Eager.
“I would,” said Natalie.
“And I’m spreading word this part of the Palace is off-limits.”
“Shit,” said Homer. “This
was fun.”
“You guys are on report,”
said Natalie cheerfully. “The Skipper will deal with you when he gets back…”
Feleena looked at Natalie.
“You have nice legs, and good teeth,” she said. “Like to join
us?”
“Sorry, I’m already
employed,” said Natalie dryly. “Let’s go. Boy, am I gonna have fun telling Nova this one later on…”
“Yeah, I bet,” said Dash.
V. THE RIKASHAN COUNCIL
Planet Rikasha
The Meeting Hall of the Council of Nine
Jak'LAN Fortress:
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0720 Hours: Earth
Space-time
On Rikasha, Lord T'Grish
Zaden was smiling while he watched the footage of the Argo's destruction
that the Empire had just released to Earth. The 813th War Meeting of Lord
Zaden's reign was about to begin, and Zaden felt that this day would be a very
good one for the Rikashan/R'Khell Interstellar Union. He, Marshal Voton, Marda,
and the Six Great Dukes would decide today what to do about the final attack
upon Earth and…what to do about the Technomugar.
"Beautiful simulation, First Marshal
Voton," said Zaden. "Nice piece of work."
"Aye, it is, isn't
it?" said Lecha Voton. "Look at this bit.
"Yes," said
Zaden. "And it'll be fun when we kill them for real!"
"They must not
be slain," said Marda as she strode in. "I have orders to bring them alive
to the Dark Lord."
"Who is Lord of
Rikasha, with all respect?" asked Zaden. "Is it Ekogaru, or is it I?"
"It is you," said
Marda. "But you reign with the sufferance of the gods. It has always been
that way. It shall always be that way."
"Look, why don't ya
level with me?" hissed Zaden while he sipped at a tankard of ale.
"Ekogaru's as mortal as you and I. He's a machine, not some damned God.
This is all a scam to keep those superstitious idiots out there in line, isn't
it?"
"You…are close to
blasphemy!" said the R'Khell High Priestess.
"Why didn't the Second
Advent take place yet? Why hasn't Ekogaru appeared in a shaft of light?"
"He has not chosen to
appear yet! He wishes to destroy Earth!"
"Wait a minute, Lady.
Earth was ours. All those riches, all that
water, all that technology, all those slaves…it was ours. We have bled and
fought for that planet, and we're gonna keep it. Oh, yeah, you can burn some
victims to Ekogaru there, but…"
"But
what? How dare
you dictate to Ekogaru's High Priestess?"
The argument stopped as the
rest of the Council of Nine began to file in.
Up above ground, Derek,
Nova, Aliscea, and the others filed past guard post after guard post in the
city. Rikala was a strange city. So much of the city was poor, until one got to
the military compound, that is.
There, sandstone buildings
turned to steel and glass. Men and women in robes turned to hard men in black
and grey battle armor. There were checkpoints. Barbed wire.
Hideous mutated beasts. But, Derek saw they were drawing closer towards a
strange goal.
"This way," said
a guard to Baron Cha'rif. "Take your guests with you. Then, leave."
Anton Cha'rif, clad again
in his black uniform, nodded.
Nova was now back down to her dress, along with the other women. She was
glad. It got hot quickly on Rikasha, and the heat burned the soles of her feet
through her thin sandals.
I can't wait to get into
some air conditioning, she thought.
Below, in the
obsidian-walled bunker that was the Council Chamber, Dukes Daka and Katros came
in, laughing about some warped plot as they walked together.
Duke-Kalif Argen
V'chel was next. The black-clad R'jkharraz mystic had said very little
over the past few meetings; no one knew where his loyalties lay.
His Majestic Eminence, the
Duke Micran Sh'rande, came in next. Zaden laughed at the latest slave boy that
Sh'rande had acquired…he was eight, and he had on only a very thin loincloth.
He fed the Duke various delicacies as he sat down at his chair, even though he
was shivering in the air conditioning. He had plenty in common with Trala,
Zaden's favorite harem girl. Today, Trala had on only a bikini, and she was
very tired.
"You like him?"
said Sh'rande. "He's from Earth! What's your name, boy?"
"Shiro," said the
slave, who had recently seen his parents killed. "Why are you taking over
Earth again?'
"Because they're
weak," said Sh'rande. "Some of your Earth friends are about to confess
to their crimes today. Like that?"
"I bet you made
them do it," sobbed Shiro.
"Shut up, or I'll slap your skinny little behind!"
"Yes, master,"
said Shiro. His voice sounded obedient, but there was no obedience in his eyes.
The young Duke Denstra came
next. He thought, Where is Duke Cha'rif? I
hope he wasn't delayed! I'm supposed to bring the motion that we arranged! By
the One, I hope that we haven't come to our deaths!
He sat in silence as, last
of all, six blue-clad guards from
The guests were led to a
large round table that was attached to the rectangular table of the Council.
Captain Wildstar found that the chairs were very hard, and very straight. The
chairs fit the people, he thought. What an evil-looking bunch! They look
more like pirates than rulers. Scars and eyepatches all over the place, and
ugly faces and missing teeth… yecch!
"Remember,"
whispered Baron Cha'rif in Nova's ear. "Look at Zaden, and then cast your
eyes downward. You're a commoner woman. You're not supposed to look at His
Eminence for long."
"He's so ugly,
who'd want to?" whispered Nova in return. Beside her, Derek gave a
thumbs-up.
"I'm cold,"
whispered Nova as they sat down together.
"The air conditioning
here is ridiculous," said Derek. "We just went from a furnace to a
freezer."
"Yes, especially when
you're one tunic away from being naked, Derek. I'm cold again! And this crowd
doesn't look friendly."
"Some of them look
rational," said Sandor. "I think we can appeal to their
consciences."
"What
consciences?" asked Paul. "That Zaden looks
like Henry the Eighth coming off a hunger strike."
Aliscea was hungry. She
looked up at Zaden devouring a plate of joints as if there was no tomorrow. Here
is a man whose god is his stomach and whose conscience is dead, she
thought. Nothing like Desslok, who is a decent if
sometimes temperamental and harsh man. Yet, we have to depend
upon him to stop Ekogaru. And not even this bunch deserves to get wiped
out by the Dark Lord.
Zaden then looked right at
Aliscea and smiled. "Want some food, baby doll?"
"Not food of that
type!" said Aliscea. "What are you eating?"
"None
of your business.
Didn't know I could speak Terran, did you, people?" said Zaden with food
in his mouth. "Heard everything, too. Got all
your seats bugged."
The Star Force party looked
at each other in shock.
"Don't be
surprised," said Zaden. "I'm a smart man. I'm nice, too. If you give
me a nice show, might let you live. Maybe."
"Cha'rif, you didn't
say this would be a trap," said Derek with his teeth gritted. "Riding
here on those camel-like beasts…"
"I didn't know
either," said Anton. Some of Zaden's guards had blasters in his back.
"I am nobility!" he roared in Rikashan. "You can't treat me like
that!"
"You are a visitor
here," said one of the R'Khell guards, also in Rikashan. "We can
treat you any way we want. Sergeant, give the Earthling scum the translator
headsets."
Headsets were tossed on the
table before the Wildstars, Sandor, and the Rosstowskis. Baron Cha'rif said,
"Put those on and connect them the way they show you. You will be able to
understand them via computer in real-time, since they will speak Rikashan.
Speak into the microphones in a soft voice, and your voices will be reproduced
in Rikashan to them when you speak."
Derek got his headset on
just in time. Zaden stood and rang a gong, and the meeting began a moment
later, with the Rikashans and Technomugar now speaking Rikashan.
Zaden said. "This is a
historic day. Baron Anton Cha'rif has captured the Terran Space Battleship Argo,
and has brought its primary officers here for inspection along with Lady
Aliscea of Pellias. Aliscea has long been desired by Ekogaru, Bless His Name.
However, of some concern to some of you has been the actions
of the Technomugar as of late. Do they not mean well to us, Duke Cha'rif…Baron
Cha'rif? Now that we stand on the cusp of taking Planet Terra, also known as
Earth, what is it you wish for Us to know about the
Technomugar, O Cha'rif Clan? And why do you bring the Terrans clothed
into our midst as free equals to speak to us when they should be stripped and
in chains? I'm not sure whether to be amused or ticked off!"
"Lord," said Duke
Cha'rif. "My Son can explain this better than I can, even though I wish to
tell you that these Earthlings are not defeated and have never been defeated.
They are men and women of honor. Indeed, my son has made a truce with them.
They are here under our protection as equals, because the Ji'had you
begun at Ekogaru's behest shall only lead to our people's doom in the
end."
"You made a truce
with them?" said Zaden mockingly. "Why, Baron? Have you lost your
marbles? Too much desert sun?" laughed Zaden. "You don't recall that
I said I'd have you killed if you came back here without defeating this
lot?"
"I made a truce with
them because I have learned that Ekogaru the Great is no God!" yelled
Anton Cha'rif. "Indeed, Ekogaru's forces considered both of us the enemy
on Carufax! And there, Ekogaru, our protector, was slaying Rikashans! Is that
the actions of one who is benevolent and merciful? He has violated Sura
Twenty-Five and Book Five of our Scriptures! He is not honorable!"
"Name your evidence,
idiot!" roared Zaden.
"I have the
evidence!" said Aliscea, who knew how to speak to these people. She threw
off her veil and headset and addressed them directly in fluent and sarcastic
Rikashan Male Speech. "Ja-kelts en-valaran'de e'ts
vel en'jidal!"
Sandor heard her
pronouncement as "Yea, I have the evidence. If you people are man enough
to hear it, that is!"
"Blasphemer! Enemy!" yelled Marda.
"She is a Woman who speaks like a Man! WHORE!"
"Not all," said
Katros. "If one of us pronounces a woman a man, they can speak to us.
Remember, woman is to be subjected to the veil and to her father and husband.
To name a woman an honorary Man like us is a great honor! Go ahead, Man!"
he roared. "Speak to us, man with a bosom!"
"Marda, you are the
damned blasphemer!" yelled back Aliscea. "And, Katros, thank you for
allowing me to speak and not sit quiet like a woman," added Aliscea. The
memories in her head were telling her exactly how to act in this sexist,
machismo-driven culture. And it seemed, so far, that she was succeeding.
"Scum!" yelled
Voton. "You've shed your veil. Then, take off your clothes when you talk
to me, tramp! The only way I talk to unveiled women is if they're naked!"
"I am royalty!"
said Aliscea. "Go shoot yourself!"
Nova's eyes went wide when
she heard that, and she thought. You go, girl. Give it to them!
"Yes!" roared
Duke Sh'rande, who wanted to have some fun. "She's cuter than you! Let her
speak!"
"Shut your
pie-hole," said Voton.
"You silence
yourself!" roared Sh'rande. Then, he took off a dagger and threw it at
Voton.
Aliscea just dodged the
dagger, smiling as if she was used to this sort of random violence. But, Nova's
eyes went wide as the knife flew past her. "Derek, ask Cha'rif if this is
usual here. Don't they have a sergeant at arms?"
"I'll try…if anyone
can hear me over this screaming!"
"Damn you!"
yelled Zaden. He banged his gong for silence, and roared when he found his
Council was ignoring him as Sh'rande spit on Voton and everyone else yelled.
"Scum-bucket!"
yelled Daka. "How dare you speak to Sh'rande like that, Voton? We made
you! We can break you!"
"Yea, the power's with
us!" yelled Katros.
"We are
Rikasha," said Duke V'Chel in a deep voice. In his black robes, he was an
imposing figure. "You, Voton, are not! Hireling!"
"Murdering scum!"
yelled Voton.
"Treasonous
cretin!" yelled Sh'rande. "I heard about Carufax! They killed a
thousand of my best slaves there! Speak, girl!" he yelled at Aliscea.
"Speak and tell him the tale!"
Aliscea jumped up onto the
table, startling everyone.
"This is the
tale!" she cried with her arms out. "Your Ekogaru, your Great One, is
a genocidal maniac! And you, Zaden, deserve to burn for supporting him! But I
will give you a last chance to change your destiny!" she said as she knelt
on the table. "Behold!"
Aliscea made a ball of
light appear before her, and, inside the ball of light, there was an image of
Pellias…and its destruction. "Behold! Ekogaru caused that! He killed
billions on Pellias! Now, behold Carufax. Look at this!"
The Rikashans looked on as
they saw ordinary Rikashans beaten, stripped, crucified, and reduced to slavery
by the Technomugar. Aliscea showed the dungeon where she and her friends hung
in torment. Then, she showed Rikashan tradespeople and military men beaten and
tormented in the same dungeon."
"And you call them allies,"
said Aliscea as she stood and danced light-footed on the table. "I was
being held by them because I committed the great crime of wanting to protect
what remained of my people from Ekogaru! Look at this lot. They turn brother
against brother, and relative against relative."
"Look at Ekogaru's
prime piece of work," said Aliscea.
She made an image of Yvona
appear in her ball of energy.
"An Earthling?"
roared Sh'rande.
"Aye," said
Aliscea with a smile in Ancient Rikashan. "She was named Yvona Josiah. She
made common cause with us and with Ekogaru. She used that association to…act…in
a most dishonorable manner! Behold!"
Scenes of Yvona torturing
Rikashans passed across the Council's started eyes as Nova looked nauseated.
"Empowered by Ekogaru,
she was made a cyborg, and a shape-changer," said Aliscea. "Behold
her hatred for her kin!"
Nova felt sick as scenes of
a younger Yvona tormenting her son Samuel rolled across their eyes. "She
tortured her son, a grave dishonor in your code of conduct. Is it not written
in your law, "Treat the slave as you like, but the desert for the
Mother who tortures her son and lesser kin of tender years?"
And then, the scene
switched to one of young Nova being spanked and beaten…and worse at eleven by
Yvona.
Nova couldn't look. She hid
her eyes in shame.
"And this is what she
does to her kin! Her young niece! Behold this sickness!" screamed Aliscea.
"And, lo, Ekogaru induced my father to turn traitor and do worse to me!
LOOK!"
"She lies!"
yelled Marda. "These are illusions! Ekogaru is no molester!"
"No, she shows us the
truth!" said Duke V'Chel. "I am R'jkharraz. Her visions are
true, O Council!"
"Thank you,
Brother," said Baron Cha'rif with tears in his eyes.
"You are welcome,
Brother," said V'Chel to his fellow R'jkharraz and warrior psionic. "Behold, the Order stands with you now. We are praying for
you as she speaks."
"Thanks."
"Derek, why does she
have to show this?" whispered Nova.
"I don't know."
"To make her
case," said Baron Anton Cha'rif. "She is establishing the character
of Ekogaru's followers. All of what the Council has seen are
grave crimes in our ancient Scriptures. Crimes which Ekogaru
supposedly prohibited."
The Council hissed as
Ekogaru was shown embracing Yvona.
"He should kill her
for that," said Katros. "Embracing a God!
She profanes his Person!"
"Fool," said
Sh'rande. "Is he a God? Gods have not our desires!"
Duke Cha'rif was glad at
Sh'rande's reaction. He had been the most heartless of the Six Great Dukes. If he
was being swayed to their side, the other Dukes who actually had consciences
would surely follow.
The scenes were followed by
Yvona's murder of her husband. This was the first time Nova had seen this, and
her lip trembled as she saw Hiram Josiah stabbed to death by this woman in her
clothing.
"Shape-changer! Unnatural shape-changer!"
yelled Katros. "What happened to the scum?"
Nova got the courage to
stand. "She challenged me to battle, and I killed her!"
"Hear, HEAR!"
yelled Katros. "Take off your veil! I pronounce you a man along with Aliscea!"
"Uh, is that a good
thing?" asked Nova with a blush as she looked at the Cha'rifs.
Mikala stood and kissed her
on the cheek. "It's a good thing." Then, she took Nova's veil off.
"Stand up there on the table and address them the same way Aliscea did.
Some of the more boisterous of our customs come in the days when Council met in
a drinking house millenia ago. Go. Speak!"
Aliscea jumped off the
table, and Nova jumped up.
"I am Lieutenant Nova
Wildstar of Earth. I am both the mate of Captain Derek Wildstar, and I served
as a warrior under him well before we married, and am still a warrior. We
brought down Gamilon, and we brought down the White Comet. Now, we know how to
bring down Ekogaru's Technomugar Empire! And you must join us in the
cause!"
"Deicide!" yelled
Marda. "Strip her and beat her!"
"I brought down Yvona,
my aunt…not because I wanted to," said Nova as tears ran down her
cheeks. She had decided she wouldn't talk like Aliscea…that was not her style. Instead,
I'll try to talk to them like them, but from where I come from, she
thought. "But because her crimes were so great. I am a woman of peace. I
don't like the sword or the gun. I like to heal people. Times being what they
are, though…I had to take up arms and fight with our men! Our Earth, a world of
peace and honor, was twice endangered by Gamilon and by the Comet Empire. Now,
you threaten our way of life. You are about to shed your blood against strong,
decent people who love their children and can defend themselves….and for what?
Because some machine-man like your Priestess pretends to be a god and tells you
to go kill yourselves and kill other people's children? That's not honor in my
book, that's craziness!"
"Die!" yelled
Voton. "Die! Die! Die!"
"Hold it," said
Zaden. "The girl-man may have a point, buddy."
"Girl-man?" said
Derek. "I should punch his…"
"Wildstar, it's an
honor among them," whispered Sandor. "They just made Nova an honorary
man so she can take off her veil and address the Council. Women can't do that
here. It's like one of the ancient Arab countries, I think."
"Oh. I see," said
Derek.
"When I met your
people," continued Nova. "I thought you were the worst damned bunch
of murderers that populated the universe. Until I met your
Baron Cha'rif. I began to respect him. He was stuck in his lot. Maybe he
wasn't like the rest of you. You may be evil, but I don’t want to see Ekogaru
misuse you and play you like a bunch of fools! Admit it! He lied to you! Now,
you can change that and get ready to defend yourselves against your god turned
devil…before it's too late. Because, after us, he's coming for you next!
That's all I can say now…prove to us you aren't like him…if you can!"
Nova jumped down. The
Council applauded.
"Give it to them,
Derek," said Nova as she climbed down from off the table (showing off a
good bit of herself before she got her skirt back
down.).
"I will," he
said. He kissed Nova, and then he stood up.
"I am Captain Derek
Wildstar, commander of the space battleship Argo…the ship you were
fighting. I don't have a lot to say to you, unlike the women you heard,"
said Captain Wildstar. "Sometimes, they drive me out of my mind, both of
them, but they’re two of the bravest women I have ever met. Only Trelaina of
Telezart and Queen Starsha of Iscandar are in their league. Anyway.
I am here to fight you, if you wish to remain my enemies. If not, we can, as
much as the prospect bothers me…we can…join forces to help bring down Ekogaru.
Like my wife said, "He's coming for you, next!" I have seen that some
of your can be decent. If you are truly decent, let's shake hands, forget this
Holy War, and take on Ekogaru together, before he makes sure we all hang
separately. He is an invader on your turf now. And, Aliscea here has told me he
plans to go after you, next. Are we together against him?"
"We are," said
Katros, who stood and shook his fist. "House Katros stands with
Earth!"
"Traitor!" yelled
Zaden. "I haven't declared the ji'had over yet!"
"Hang your ji'had,
Zaden!" yelled Sh'rande to more applause. "Want my slave boy,
Wildstar? Dress the little creep if you want and let him go!"
Shiro, flabbergasted, was
shoved towards Derek and Nova.
"Oh, God, you're from
Earth!" whispered Nova.
"I was" he
sobbed. "Take me home!"
"We will," said
Nova. Mikala stood and threw a cloak over the boy's shoulders, clothing him and
freeing him from slavery at once.
Zaden sat there.
"Okay, who else wants to end up as traitors?"
"We will," said
Duke Cha'rif. "I stand with these men! End the war!"
"Who else?" said Zaden.
V'Chel and Daka stood up.
"We stand with our brothers. Your ji'had has no support with the
Dukes any longer!"
"You have no respect
for Ekogaru!" yelled Marda.
"I wouldn't pay him to
wash me in a bath-house," said Denstra.
"I defy you!"
said Zaden. "I am still Lord here!"
"Then step down!"
roared Duke Cha'rif. "You no longer have a…"
A shot rang out. Duke
Cha'rif staggered, and fell on the polished table.
Marda stood over the table,
smiling, with a gun in her hand. "He died in the Name of Ekogaru. And
unless you surrender, he won't be the first!"
"Father!"
cried Baron Cha'rif.
Aliscea came over. She held
his hands and muttered prayers in his ears. "The damage is too
great," she said. "I can't save him."
"They are
killers!" roared Lord Zaden. "The Terrans and Pellians speak the
truth."
"Farewell,"
muttered Duke Sta'gin Cha'rif as he muttered a prayer in Rikashan…to the One.
The old man then died in
his son's arms.
Baron Cha'rif wailed and
tore his clothes.
A moment later, so did Duke
Katros. The other Dukes followed suit.
"Duke Cha'rif,"
said Denstra to Anton. "Will you stand?"
Anton nodded.
Katros jumped up on the
table, pointing a weapon at Zaden. He switched abruptly to Terran English. "As the late Duke was trying to say, YOU NO LONGER HAVE A
GOVERNMENT! WE RESIGN! YOU MUST ABIDICATE!"
The new Duke Cha'rif
clapped his hands, and twenty black-robed R'jkharraz ran into the chamber
waving scimitars, along with twenty armored Rikashan Imperial regulars with
weapons.
"What?" said Derek. He drew his weapon. Nova found a stone paperweight
and picked it up to back up her husband.
"Do not panic. I
arranged this. They are loyal to me," said Cha'rif.
"What is the meaning
of this?" roared Zaden.
"Sign this," said
one of the armored men as he slammed a scroll on the table. "It is your
Warrant."
Marda blew a whistle, and
ten red-armored R'Khell troopers ran into the room. However, Aliscea, the
Terrans, and the men who stood behind Cha'rif at the other side of the table
with the Dukes didn't look too concerned, since the Rikashan regulars turned
their weapons on the R'Khells. They were outnumbered.
"Sign!" said the
new Duke Cha'rif. "You know our laws, Zaden!"
"Why do you speak
their tongue now?" demanded Zaden.
"They are witnesses.
Do you stand down?"
Zaden nodded. "Yes. If you promise me sanctuary."
Cha'rif nodded.
Lord Zaden grabbed a quill
pen and a bottle of ink, and he scrawled his runes across the warrant that he
didn't even bother to glance at, save for two lines. Then, he smiled right at
Marda and took out his seal to seal what would be his final decree as Lord of
Rikasha. When the wax hit the paper and was stamped down, there was silence.
"Well, I had a nice
reign," said Zaden. "Too bad I have to say goodbye, but, well,
Marda…I have to tell ya this."
Zaden then picked up his
seal and cleaned it off. Then, he took the paper and walked over to the other
side of the room while the R'Khells hissed.
"I stand with my
brother Rikashans," said Lord Zaden. "Terrans," he said in clear
Terran English with a heavy accent. "I end the ji'had against you
now. Welcome to Mother Rikasha, as guests, now. Rikasha no longer has a quarrel
with Earth."
"And we no longer have
a quarrel with you, Lord Zaden," said Captain Wildstar as he shook his
enemy's hand for the first time.
"I am not Lord of
Rikasha now, or will not be in a minute, that is," said Zaden. He smiled
and handed the seal to Duke Anton Cha'rif. "Here it is, boy. Take good
care of it. And be more careful in your alliances than I was, eh, kinsman?"
Cha'rif nodded. "Yes,
Cousin," he said.
Then, Zaden threw his arms
around Cha'rif. "Hail the new Lord of Rikasha, Lord Anton Cha'rif!"
"Hail
Cha'rif!" cried the rest of the Dukes.
Cha'rif looked out at the
assembly as Zaden took off his cloak and threw it over his shoulders. Then, he
spoke, "Thank you, Duke Zaden. You will take over Voton's fief. Former
General, kin, you and your house are now a Great House."
"Thank you. I shall
lead your new Council, if you'll have me," he said.
"You'll be on the Council,
but not as Leader," said Cha'rif. "You shall have my father's old
Chair."
"What about me?"
roared Voton.
"Marshal Voton, you
will step down. General Hemmertz is First Marshal now in your stead. You and
Marda ordered the slaying of the innocents at the
"Never!" roared
Voton.
"Marda, you will
resign as High Priestess," continued Lord Cha'rif. "Prostrate
yourself before Aliscea and kiss her feet and demand forgiveness. Then, strip
and surrender yourself to Aliscea of the Pellian Government, Wildstar of the
Terran Government, and myself as an enemy alien. I recognize Pellias and Terra
as
"The first war
meeting?" said Marda. "You just ended the holy war with Earth against
Ekogaru's wishes, you long-haired stinking psychic boy idiot!"
"Oh, it is our
first war meeting," said Cha'rif as Zaden laughed and hugged him.
"You see, Marda, the Rikashan Empire now no longer recognizes Ekogaru as a
God You see, we recognize him as a fraud. Don't we, my friends?"
Zaden and the other Dukes
yelled "YEA!" as one and applauded.
Then, Duke Zaden walked
over to a pedestal and knocked a statue of Ekogaru to the floor, shattering it.
"That is what we think of your "GOD", Marda! He's a murderer and
a psychopath! I'm just a murderer who needs to make amends. Not
as bad, huh?"
Lord Cha'rif then said,
"Thank you, Duke. I order Ekogaru stripped from the roll of gods and I
order his temples to be closed! You will order the R'Khell Priesthood of Ekogaru
and E'ko'ge, who is but another "form" of
Ekogaru, to bow to me, and surrender its weapons and armaments to the Empire at
once. From this day forth, we declare ourselves free of Ekogaru, free of our
past, and free to create our own destiny!"
"And we'll help you
with a new destiny," said Wildstar. "I told you about the Cosmo-DNA,
didn't I?"
"You did on the
journey here. Tell the others."
Derek walked in front of
the group. "Planet Iscandar enabled Earth to heal itself from the
radioactivity of Gamilon's planet bombs and rebuild Earth's desert-like
environment by giving us the Cosmo-DNA, a machine that can rebuild worlds and
restore environments."
"I've been looking at
your planet," said Sandor. "My name is Commander Stephen Sandor. I am
Wildstar's scientific officer. Even though your radiation has largely decayed,
I think that we could possibly use the Cosmo-DNA machine to reverse the mass
desertification and ruin of your world caused by Ekogaru's ancient war. We can
help you build a new world, like we discussed with the new Lord Cha'rif on our
way here."
"I'll go for it,"
said Duke Zaden. "Lord Cha'rif... is this meeting over with, yet?"
"You can't call
Cha'rif your Lord!" said Marda. "You have no right!"
"Why
not? I just
quit, didn't I?" said Zaden. "Guys, you'll still have a quorum
without me. I want to get out of these clothes that I am no longer entitled
to."
"I give you leave to
go, Duke," said Cha'rif. "You will then have a Rikashan Standard day
to vacate this palace."
"Gladly," he
said. "First bloodless change in power we’ve had in five hundred years,
huh? Not bad, eh? Farewell."
Zaden turned and began to
walk out.
"I did not give you
leave to go!" yelled Voton.
"He did," said
Zaden. "Now, you're under arrest, I think, so you can't bloody tell me
what to do. You are not Lord of Rikasha. Cha'rif is. Maybe he'll give you bread
and water before you go up on a cross, boy."
Zaden turned. In rage,
Voton drew his weapon and fired three shots into his former Lord's back.
Baroness Mikala Cha'rif
screamed. But, Zaden staggered and fired back at Voton.
Voton dodged the beam and
fired again. Zaden fell, but he tossed his weapon towards Nova, the ally
nearest to him.
"Huh?" she said.
"Use that!" he
yelled. "I…I can't fight…bleeding badly…"
"Thanks," said
Nova. She dropped the stone paperweight and watched Cha'rif to learn how to
unlock the safety on the Rikashan hand-blaster. Then, she ran to Derek's side.
"Nova," he said.
"Get under…"
"Where will I go?
Beside you is the safest place."
Derek reluctantly nodded.
"I am Lord of
Rikasha!" yelled Voton. "I'll kill you all! The Priesthood exerts
its right to…"
"FIRE!" yelled
Cha'rif.
Derek, Nova and Aliscea
ducked under the table as Cha'rif's men began to fire, popping up to return
fire via blaster and via Aliscea's flame. The R'Khell guards fired back.
Under overwhelming fire
from the others, Voton held onto Marda. She winked, and the two of them
disappeared, along with the R'Khell guards.
"Where did they
go?" yelled a flabbergasted Wildstar.
"To their ship above
us," said Aliscea. "A Goraizu Fortress. And
she's already warping out of here."
Lord Cha'rif ran to Zaden's
side, followed by Aliscea, Nova, and the others.
"He's bleeding
badly," said Nova a few minutes later. All of them were kneeling around
Zaden, the ex-Lord of Rikasha. "All I can do with this Rikashan equipment
is ease his pain a bit. It's just…a matter of time, now…"
"I cant
do much here, either. I am still recovering from saving you and Derek again,
and from exerting my power in our battle," said Aliscea. She whispered in
Zaden's ear in his native tongue. Zaden nodded back and she and he whispered
the same thing.
"I am dying…"
said the former Lord of Rikasha slowly. "Aliscea
provided spiritual comfort, though. I have prayed. I know that the One has
forgiven me. Amazing, how I forgot about the One we once worshipped above
Ekogaru long ago, the true Lord of Gods. The Creator of our gods, or what we
thought were gods. Lord Cha'rif…Captain Wildstar, you
face a great battle. The R'Khells will be formidable enemies. They control
about a third of the Empire. There will be civil war, my Lordship."
"I know that. That's
why I wanted you on my Council, even after all that has happened," said
Lord Cha'rif.
"So
sorry your father…had to die. Nice man. Least I will join him, now."
"Good," said
Nova.
"You are a beautiful
woman, Nova, caring for your former foe," said Zaden as Nova wiped his
sweaty forehead. "I feel so sorry we ever had to fight your kind, decent
race. I was deluded by Ekogaru. I wish it could have been otherwise…kid. Help
them see to it that our people are safe and on their way to a new age. A real new age."
"Rikasha is in better
hands now," said Nova.
"Yes. Better than
mine," said Zaden. He gasped. "Aliscea. I am
sorry we ordered your capture. I am very sorry about what we did to
Pellias."
"It is hard for me to
forgive you, but I shall accept it, so that you can rest better," said
Aliscea.
"Good. I go…to my
fathers. Fare…farewell…"
Zaden's hand went limp.
There was more wailing and
screaming as Aliscea kissed Zaden's corpse and shut his eyes. Nova drew a spare
cape over his face.
Derek snapped a salute.
"Farewell, Zaden of Rikasha."
"Now, we have much to
do," said Cha'rif. "Let's go."
"What do we have to
do?" asked Captain Wildstar.
"R'Khells will be coming.
War is beginning on Rikasha itself," said Cha'rif. "For your safety,
you must leave this planet. Today."
"I understand,"
said Captain Wildstar. At that, he left.
To be Continued
with Act Three: "We've Got to get Out of this Place…"
THERE ARE NOW 11 DAYS TO THE ARRIVAL OF EKOGARU IN EARTH'S SOLAR SYSTEM
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