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
with some help from Gail Kopetz, (aka Fluffy
Kitten) who made some suggestions to Nova's apparel in one scene…
ACT THREE: WE'VE GOT TO
GET OUT OF THIS PLACE….
I. FLIGHT
Planet Rikasha
Jak'LAN Fortress:
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
0935 Hours: Earth
Space-time
"We just made
it," said Aliscea Rosstowski.
"Where's Shiro, the
little boy?" asked Nova.
"We lost him in this
crowd," said Derek.
"Oh, no!" cried
Nova. "I hope they don't…rip him apart!"
She was out of breath. So
was everyone else.
She, Paul, the Wildstars,
and Sandor were now surrounded by about a hundred Rikashan troops. They had
just been running up stairwells and through security checkpoints upon the order
of the new First Marshal of Rikasha, General Hemmertz. Hemmertz was in touch with
Lord Anton Cha'rif by communicator.
Hemmertz had long dark hair
and a thick beard, and seemed to be a decent sort.
"We've made it, but
that was just the first hurdle," said Hemmertz. "The desert cruisers
I asked for should be here in a moment. They will be needed."
"I can hear why,"
said Captain Wildstar.
All around them was a riot
of noise. People were cheering, screaming, and shouting various things in
Rikashan.
"What are they
yelling?" asked Nova Wildstar.
"Some of them are
friendly, glad that Zaden is overthrown. Others are glad that the government of
the R'Khell priests is no more. Others are protesting against this
change."
Sandor smiled as, off in
the distance, he saw a mob pulling down a statue of Ekogaru. That same mob was
attacked by another mob…some of whom had only sticks and rocks…but others were
in red armor, with weapons.
Then, some of the troopers
in red attacked them.
Aliscea was grabbed by her
dress and pulled into a mob of people with sticks. She was struck on the head
and shoulders and jostled around a few times before she strained her mind a
great deal, using her power to set some of the mob on fire. Paul temporarily
fell down as rocks were thrown at him, but he came up shooting. At the same
time, another mob came to her defense, attacking the first mob.
"Get back!"
yelled Sandor. He and Derek jumped up onto a pedestal; Captain Wildstar stopped
to pull Nova up by her hand as Sandor began firing at the unarmed urban
maniacs. Then, some of them unleashed dogs. Or things that sounded like dogs.
Nova screamed as a dog-like creature with two heads ran towards her.
Hanging by Derek's hand,
she fired at it, but one of her sandals slipped on the cobblestoned street and
her right foot slipped out of the backless shoe, followed by her left. The
shoes vanished a moment later as some members of the mob picked them up. Nova
screamed for a moment as some Rikashan beat her about the head with her own
shoe before she elbowed the raving turban-clad man away. Then, the dog-like
creature got the hem of her dress and pulled her down while the other head
growled and slavered. There was a tearing noise; some of her dress was coming
off.
"Nova!" screamed
Derek.
"Derek, give me a
hand!"
Nova dropped her weapon.
Derek grabbed both of her hands and pulled. Nova jumped up onto the pedestal,
literally getting a toehold with her bare feet on the edge of the stone
pedestal. In the meantime, while kicking a R'Khell
priest in the mouth, Sandor jumped down and retrieved Nova's blaster, firing it
at the group of priests and their followers as other men appeared, beating the
priests with sticks and helping the troops protect the beleaguered Terrans. In
the meantime, Nova jumped towards the other side of the pedestal and followed
Derek and Sandor to safety, running as best as she could barefoot on the hot
cobblestones. But, the creature got her scent and was in hot pursuit. Luckily,
Derek helped her by firing at it. Sandor then gave Nova her blaster. She then
pumped a second blaster shot into the thing, which fell whimpering to the
ground.
"Nova…are you all right?" asked Derek as Sandor looked on
with concern.
"Just scratched
up…" she said. "I'm fine..."
Then, a cloud of dust came
up. More R'Khell priests in red robes and red armor appeared, surrounding the
hatchway of the personnel carrier they were climbing into.
A moment later, Captain
Wildstar and Nova were also surrounded.
"Wildstar! Nova!" yelled Sandor in utter
shock as something like a concussion blast went off nearby.
It was very bright. For a
moment, he was blinded.
God, I've lost them, he thought. They're…in
that…crowd….
"Get in!" yelled
Hemmertz.
"I can't abandon my
commanding officer!" yelled Sandor. "Or his
wife!"
"We have to go!"
yelled Hemmertz. "Get in!"
"Sandor," he then
heard Rosstowski saying. "Wildstar's gonna be all right!"
"What about
Nova?"
"Her too," said
Aliscea. "Now, let's move on…"
Giving up, Sandor allowed
himself to be pushed into the carrier's bay. All he could see was dim blue
light.
I've lost them, he thought. I've lost Wildstar and
Nova. Alex, forgive me. Once again, someone's died because of my mistakes!
The cruiser began to move.
Sandor shook his head, trying to shake the tears out of his eyes.
A door opened inside the
huge Rikashan desert cruiser…a landgoing hovertank
the size of a Gamilon destroyer.
The door opened, and
Sandor's eyes opened in surprise.
"Wildstar? Nova?"
Derek came in, in a
somewhat tattered uniform, carrying Nova in his arms as tears ran down his
cheeks. Nova lay there in her tattered rags, looking very stunned, helpless,
and vulnerable. For a moment, Sandor thought she was dead, until he saw a tear
running down her cheek as her nose twitched. She raised her head and slowly
looked at Aliscea and Sandor. "Derek…uh…protected me. He helped me beat
them. As you can see…I kind of l got my things torn up."
Sandor looked aghast,
trying to look away. She was barely decent. However, he noticed that Nova had
certainly not lost her ability to blush. "Wildstar, do you have anything
to wrap her in?"
"Yes…I was just going
to cover her with my shirt," said Derek. He clothed her in the shirt, and
then said, "Nova, I'll try to find you some pants..."
"Okay."
"You had better not
put anything more on her," said Hemmertz.
"Why not?"
demanded Derek.
"I'm sorry," he
said. "But there are reasons. Such as survival.
They were using gas out there, and I had to order this ship sealed.
Unfortunately, the air conditioning in this desert cruiser isn't working well.
We'll try to ventilate with the regular air ducts as we get out of the city,
past the R'Khells' poison gas, but given the desert heat, your wife's state of
undress may help her avoid heat prostration. I can see she's beginning to
suffer a bit now. Give her water, and keep her in as little as possible until
we can adjust the temperature in this cruiser…if we can."
"Nova…" said
Derek. "I…"
"Derek, what he's
saying makes sense," said Nova in a calm voice. "Funny, I'm starting
to feel strangely...relaxed?" Then, she laughed.
"Good you
understand," said Hemmertz. "I will give you water, and would
encourage the rest of you to loosen or remove your clothing."
Aliscea nodded. Derek sat
down, still sheltering Nova very protectively in his arms. "Where are we
going, Marshal?" she asked.
Hemmertz replied, "We
are heading for your ship in the Sherikhan Fortress. Com-scan reports that a R'Khell fleet is heading towards the city. Luckily, Lord
Cha'rif has called up the Thirteenth Home Fleet to counteract the attack."
"Can we call Earth
yet?" asked Captain Wildstar. He sighed, picking up the water skin. It's
broiling in here already, he thought. I hope we don't die in this thing.
But, I guess we'll be okay, he added to himself, as he thought, Now, why
am I so unconcerned?
He undid the cork from the
water skin, took a few sips, and then gave the water to Nova
Paul Rosstowski climbed in
a second later. "Aliscea! You okay?"
"Yes. Open your shirt,
there's no air conditioning in this thing."
"Hey..uh…okay," said Paul
as Aliscea quickly stripped him of his Star Force shirt and undershirt.
Sandor came back in,
closing the hatch hard over the thrum of the desert cruiser. His eyes suddenly
went wide. "Uh…Wildstar…this looks…interesting... Poor Nova! he thought as he saw her sitting there in Wildstar's
semi-open shirt and rags and tatters.
"Open your shirt,
Steve," said Nova. "There's no air conditioning in here…that's one
reason I'm like this."
"Uh…err….what's the other reason?"
"Fido
back there decided to rip my dress to pieces, Sandor. Nova looked down at
herself. "Uh…unless there's a boutique around, Sandor, I'm just gonna have
to go in rags for a while."
"I see. Uhh…"
"Go ahead, you can
look…" said Nova with a giggle. That's not like me, she thought. What
will be doing next? Telling him about that one art class I was in back in
college?
"Nova, who's
looking?" smiled Sandor, who was trying very hard to keep good eye contact
with Nova.
Shiro, the Earth boy,
climbed in next, pushed up by two Rikashan soldiers. He ended up body-slamming
into Derek's lap.
"Uh…Nova…"
"Oh, we've got a
chaperone," said Nova. "Hi, Shiro," she said, mussing his hair
up.
"Would you adopt
me?"
"You need a
bath," said Nova as she sidestepped the question, while thinking, I wish we could….. She smiled at the
wiggling little boy in her lap as his cloak fell off. "Your knees are filthy!"
Hemmertz listened to his
headset for a minute. "Cha'rif tells me he has just tried to send a
counter-message to refute the one that Zaden sent a few hours ago.
Unfortunately, the planet and the Net are being jammed by the R'Khells. Let's
bring up our speed!"
The carrier advanced with a
roar…moving at a quick speed on anti-gravs.
"We should be back at
the
A minute later, the hatch
closed, and Derek Wildstar realized he was stuck in a hot, closed vehicle….with
his wife and an eight year-old boy competing for space against him. The carrier
ground on. Eventually, over the grinding of the ship, the young couple went to
sleep in each other's arms, with Shiro holding onto Derek's arm.
How
cute, thought
Sandor as he smiled at the Captain, Nova, and their little "friend." Now, he thought, why am I so
unconcerned? This is weird...
The drive went on. Aliscea
kissed Paul and covered him with a light scrap of cloth…he lay asleep in the
steamy tank.
"So tell me about yourself," said Aliscea as she smiled at Sandor.
"You know, with your shirt off I can see the difference in skin tone between
your partially tanned chest and your arms, so I can see you're a cyborg. I
think. Am I right?"
"I am," said
Sandor, who was now clad in only his boxer shorts. "But I'm nothing like
those Technomugar. He tapped at his right arm. "It's mechanical, and it
ends around here," he said, tapping at his shoulder.
"How'd you get like
that?"
"See these old scars? It was an
accident in my childhood," he said. "I was on a jet coaster at an
amusement park. I drove too fast, and I crashed. The crash disfigured me, and
it killed my big sister, who was beside me in the car."
"It sounds horrible.
Both arms…are like that?"
"Yes," said
Steve. "Both legs, too. The joining is right around my crotch."
"Uh…can you
have…children?"
Steve smiled ruefully and
shook his head. "No. But they were able to put enough back together so I
can function as a man with a woman. I haven't been with many women, unlike my
old Academy friend and roommate, Alex."
"His brother?"
asked Aliscea, pointing towards Derek.
"Yes," said
Steve. "I was always the studious, serious type; Alex was the jock and
playboy. But we both loved a beer and a good conversation together. Alex was a
great friend. He even tried to set me up with a few girls."
"Did it work
out?"
"Once it did,"
sighed Steve. "Then, she got the radiation sickness. You can probably
guess the rest. I still lay a flower on her grave when I can."
"Do you miss
her?"
"I do, but I have a
wife already."
"You do?"
"My work,"
laughed Sandor. "My machines, plans, and computers are like a spouse to
me. Although there are times I could wish for companionship," he said. He
looked at Derek, Nova, and little Shiro sleeping cuddled up together and he
smiled a rueful smile. "Funny, isn't it? My commanding officer's sleeping
there, yet I think of him as a kid brother."
"Due
to Alex?"
"Well, yes," said Steve. "When I saw
Alex on Iscandar again in 2200, he made me swear to keep an eye on his little
brother. I've been trying to do that ever since with both him…and Nova. But,
they both have a habit of getting into trouble, the pair of them. They'd better
stay together, those two. They need each other so much."
"Are you worried about
them?"
"Not that they'll
break up. What I'm afraid of is that one of them will get him or herself killed in action. Derek's so headstrong. And, as for
Nova…she's the most devoted, stubborn, headstrong damn girl I've ever
met."
"Oh. I thought I
was," said Aliscea.
"She's been in danger
a lot, too," said Sandor. He had found a tablet of paper and a stub of
pencil and seemed to be sketching something. Probably some technical plan in
his head, thought Aliscea. "She nearly died turning on the Cosmo-DNA
machine when we reached Earth from Iscandar in 2200. I tried to stop her from
sacrificing herself, but I couldn't. The other time was when she threw herself
between Wildstar and Desslok on his flagship to protect Derek after he had
passed out from a lack of blood. Then, after aiming the gun at Desslok, she
cared for him. That made Desslok change his mind about
finishing his vendetta against us for devastating Gamilon by killing Derek. I
was so glad to see Nova and Wildstar get married. They belong together."
"They sure do. Look at
them hugging that boy in their sleep. That's so cute."
"Yes, I think they'll
make great parents when the time comes; and Derek will make a great Flag
Officer, and Nova will be a good doctor. They'll be taking on a lot, doing that
with a family…"
"Is she
pregnant?"
Sandor laughed. "You
should know, Aliscea. Not as far as I know."
Aliscea reached out with her
power for a minute. Her form glowed softly in the dim light as she did
so…Sandor thought the effect looked quite beautiful.
Aliscea tiptoed over,
touching Nova's stomach as she slept. "No, she's not pregnant. But I can
feel a pregnancy in her future in a few years. Same as for me," she said
softly while touching her own abdomen.
"How much of the
future have you seen, Aliscea?"
"Much. But it shifts
all the time. Predicting the future is one messy business. Unless you're God,
that is. And I'm not."
"Aliscea, do we defeat
Ekogaru?" asked Paul as he sat up.
She just sat in silence for
a minute. Then, she murmured, "Paul! Are you okay?"
"Sleepy. What about
the war? What about our beating Ekogaru?"
"I can't tell,"
said Aliscea. "I feel Ekogaru changing. Mutating.
I see him growing different. I see a lot of fighting, and I feel Yvona
connected with this. But I don't see how. She's dead."
"Can you foresee the
end of the war?" asked Paul.
Aliscea shook her head.
"No, I can't."
Sandor worked with his
pencil and paper, smiling as he made his drawing.
It was a drawing of Derek,
Nova, and their little friend, cuddled up together, half-asleep.
Time passed. Nova and Derek
fell asleep again in the broiling desert cruiser as Sandor sketched them.
When Nova woke up some time
later, she found she was lying in a different position, and that the inside of
the ship was much cooler. She also found her tattered dress was gone. Who
changed my clothes in my sleep? Nova thought. She looked down at her
apparel. She still wore Derek's Star Force shirt which was now fully closed,
with brown suede sandals that felt somewhat like the ones she had lost in the
city. She lifted the hem of the shirt she wore, and found that someone… Derek,
I hope, she thought with a blush… had tied some sort of loincloth over her
crotch and bottom to give her some more covering.
She looked at Derek. He
again wore his uniform, save, of course, for his shirt. Even little Shiro had
on a rough tunic on some kind.
"What's going on,
Derek?" Nova asked while yawning.
"It's been a few
hours. They fixed the climate system, and Hemmertz advised us to get dressed
again."
"Where'd you find my
shoes and underwear?"
"They were thanks to
Hemmertz. He found some of his wife's things here on the tank."
"Good thing,"
murmured Nova.
Derek looked at Aliscea.
She was pulling on Paul's shirt over her tattered dress..
"Sorry," she
said. "Getting cold."
The cruiser suddenly
stopped. Then, there were explosions. Nova yelped, cuddling against her husband.
"What's going
on?" cried Captain Wildstar when Hemmertz ran in.
"We're under attack
thanks to some R'Khell fighter-bombers," said Hemmertz. "And our gun
decks are undermanned. Which one of you can operate a 40-mm anti-aircraft
gun?"
Derek raised his hand,
followed by Rosstowski. A moment later, Nova raised her hand.
"Good," said
Hemmertz.
"Nova, you don't know
how to fire an anti-aircraft pulse laser!" yelled Derek.
"Yes I do, Derek! I received
some training in operating an anti-aircraft mount in my ROTC training, Officer
Basic, and in flight school in December. I took a flight in a Tiger in the aft
ball turret and took some target practice. Everyone had to. Remember?"
"But it's dangerous!"
"It'll be worse if we
don't live through this!" she shot back.
"Okay," said
Derek as the hovertank shook. "Join the party."
"I should come
too," said Aliscea.
"Okay. But Shiro needs
looking after," said Nova as she hastily tied on an orange leather belt to
keep her shirt cinched at her stomach. She had found two pairs of combat gloves
and she threw Derek a pair. "And what if we fall under psychic attack?
Who'll defend us against that? Me?"
"Good point,"
said Aliscea. "See you later."
The hovertank's
starboard gun deck was a semi-open air deck that looked a little like one of
the Argo's pulse laser gun decks. The 40-mm mounts were reached via
small ladders, and they were enclosed twin ball turrets like some of the Argo's
small gunhouses.
Nova ran to a gun mount as fast as
she could, followed by Derek, who had found something like sweatbands to put at
his wrists over the gloves Nova had found.
"You think we'll make
it through this?" asked Nova as she strapped herself into the seat. I
wish the seat wasn't quite so hot, she thought to herself. Without much
on, I'm really feeling this residual heat against my thighs.
"You didn't have to
volunteer," huffed Derek.
"If we don’t make it,
I want us to be together if we die," said Nova as she figured out how to
turn everything on, curling her toes against the edges of the rotation pedals
with suppressed excitement.
"Get ready," said
Derek a moment later. He gazed through his sight. "Here they come!
Remember to lead the enemy planes with your sight!"
"Right!"
A moment later, he and Nova
were both firing like maniacs as the enemy planes in red came in over the
burning orange desert sands outside. They had to stare hard; it was getting
close to dusk on Rikasha, and the planes were a little hard to see against the
dark sky, although the electronic target scope windows in their gunsights helped.
Good rate of fire, thought Derek as he smiled at the
past buzz of the Rikashan AA gun.
"Got one!" cried
Nova with a smile.
"Good. Don't get
cocky!" smiled Derek.
Paul Rosstowski took his place in the turret after
shaking his long sideburns into place. He considered the turret with his
piercing dark brown eyes for a moment. Just like one on the Argo, he
thought as he looked around the gunhouse while
putting his booted feet on the electric rotation control pedals. Some Rikashan
sat down beside him and gave him a thumbs-up.
Haven't done this in
months…hope I haven't lost the touch after being up in Officers' Country, he thought.
Are you all right? Aliscea sent into his mind.
Fine, he sent back. Never
been better. Here they come! Gotta go!
Paul began to fire a moment
later, wincing at a near-miss on the side of the Rikashan Desert Cruiser they
were in. He closed his eyes a moment later as a nearby dark grey cruiser in
what seemed to be a squadron of these hovertanks blew
up.
"I hope we don't
die!" he yelled out.
His turretmate,
a very tall Rikashan with no shirt, yelled back, "We will go to a
warriors' heaven if we lose! And I will be happy. Those R'Khell scum killed my
family in one of their Inquisitions. Bastards! V'ranni'chand!
I hope they all die!"
"We've suffered
too," yelled Paul.
"For our part, we are
sorry," said the Rikashan. "You make better allies than the priests.
You are honest and do not hesitate to do the dirty work!"
"Mustangs like me tend
to act that way."
"You mean you are a
horse?"
"Never mind, I'll
explain later," said Paul. "I came up through the enlisted ranks of
my military."
"FIRE!" yelled
the Rikashan.
Both men fought on, glad
that they were allies supporting each other in battle in this turret.
For Derek and Nova, the
battle continued.
However, after bringing
down another plane, Derek's eyes went wide as a dark blue fighter plane
suddenly phased in behind one of the enemy ships in a flash of light.
"What?" said Derek.
"Derek, someone's using the
Gamilon instant transport mechanism!"
"Gamilons!"
said Derek as he stared at two fighter-bombers as they phased in. "But
what are they doing here on Rikasha? Desslok's fleet is supposed to be halfway
to the Great Magellenic Cloud!"
The answer came a moment
later as the blue Gamilon "Stuka" fired
upon the red R'Khell fighter-bomber and then waggled its wings at the hovertanks before flying off.
"Looks like they're
helping out!" cried Nova.
"You're restating the
obvious."
"Silly!"
"Well, Nova, help is
help. Careful you don't hit them."
"Right!"
At that, she smiled and
kept on firing, adjusting quickly to her unaccustomed job.
Before long, the battle was
over. Out of ten Desert Cruisers, seven had survived. A while
later, the squadron arrived back at the
"Well, Wildstar?"
said Venture as they met a while later in Cha'rif's palace.
"What I'd love to know
is what the Gamilons are doing here," said Derek as he wiped his brow. He
was still clad in his uniform pants, boots, and undershirt. "Did you find
out where their fleet came from?"
"No, we didn't. Are
Sandor and the others all right?"
"They are."
"Where's Nova?"
"She went off into one
of Baroness Mikala's rooms to freshen up. She took the little boy with
her."
Derek knew that Nova was
going to help care for Shiro for a bit; however, they had asked Anton and
Mikala about the boy, and they had agreed to take him in and raise him as a
member of their Royal House along with their own son. So, now, ironically, the one
who was fourth in line now for the throne of the exotic Rikashan Empire was a
boy from Earth!
A moment later, Sandor came
in, clad in a fresh uniform.
"Where'd you get
that?" asked Derek.
"Aliscea must've done
some talking or something. I found fresh stuff for all of us upstairs in
Mikala's apartments."
"I'd still love to
know where those Gamilons came from. Venture, did you or Eager spot their
fleet?"
"No, we didn't."
A Rikashan servant girl in
a short white dress and sandals like the sort Nova had worn to Rikala came in.
"Excuse me, Captain Wildstar. Your wife desires your presence upstairs.
"
"Now?" said
Derek. "But I'm planning strategy…"
"She has asked for
you. Please follow me," said the girl as she grabbed Wildstar by the arm.
In the meantime, in space,
Lieutenant Denise Carroway sat on the bridge of her new gunboat, the Dragon.
She had turned in the battered Valkyrie for repairs at Brumus on April
18th, and was now skipper of this newer gunboat, which she had assumed command
of on the 18th at Brumus…then warping back out to meet with the Bolivia again.
"So where are we
going?" asked Carroway.
On the screen, Captain
Peronada smiled. "We have been travelling for some time. Desslok would
like us to aid some of our friends."
"Where?"
"You shall find
out," said Peronada. "I will soon send the coordinates."
"Yessir!"
II. MORE UNEXPECTED
MEETINGS
Planet Rikasha
The Sherikhan Fortress
24 Ets'ien: Warbringer's Year 3219
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
1327 Hours: Earth
Space-time
Derek found Nova undressed
again. However, there wasn't anything particularly passionate about it (except
in a rather cute sense). She was sitting in an in-floor bathtub full of bubbles
washing Shiro and Ar'ten Cha'rif as if she was their mother; only her shoulders
showed above the water and bubbles.
"Well, you have a lot
of talents," Derek grinned. "From operating a pulse
laser to scrubbing a little boy's back?"
"You learn this stuff
when you have a ton of younger cousins," said Nova. "You look like a
mess. Join us."
"We have to get back
to the ship soon."
"I know that. I had
IQ-9 bring my uniform. It's over there along with one for you."
"IQ-9 saw you in the
tub?"
"Well, you can't see
much with me covered with bubbles," she laughed.
Mikala Cha'rif came in a
moment later, followed by IQ-9.
"Nice job, Nova.
Captain, I just got here. Lord Cha'rif is on his way. I understand you were in
battle?"
"We were," said
Derek. "Do you know where the Gamilons came from?"
"No. Anton might know.
As for Shiro Matsuya in there, you know Anton and I have agreed he'll be raised
with Ar'ten. She smiled at the two boys splashing each other and Nova in the
tub. "They seem to get along well. Nova told me you were an orphan."
"Yeah," said
Derek. "But no one took me in after my parents were killed. My only
brother couldn't since he was in the Earth military then. I grew up in an
orphanage until I entered the Academy."
"You poor boy,"
said Mikala softly.
"Don't feel too
bad," said Nova as IQ-9 came in. "It's my job to take care of
him now. Derek, get in here!"
"Nova…uh…I don't feel
too comfortable about undressing in front of another woman."
"So? Mikala can turn
her head," said Nova cheerfully as she washed her toes in the bubble bath,
singing softly as she did so.
"Captain Wildstar, my
olfactory sensors tell me you stink," said IQ-9.
"You be quiet! How can
a robot tell that?"
"Captain Wildstar, my
sensors can pick up over 25,000 forms of aromatics for analysis. Including
human BO! Ha ha!"
"Nova, I've just been
told I stink by a robot!"
"Only because you do,"
said Nova as she smiled at him and wrinkled her nose. "IQ-9, grab the Captain, undress him, and put him in here with
me."
"IQ," said Derek.
"Don't!"
"Captain, Nova has
given me a direct order. I have to obey it," said IQ as he came towards
Captain Wildstar.
"NO! No!" said
Derek as IQ grabbed him. "Nova, help me! GET ME OUT OF THIS!" he said
as the robot pulled his undershirt off by force. Then, he began to open his
pants. "Nova, help me!"
"Now you know how I
feel when he's up to no good," teased Nova as Ar'ten and Shiro squealed
with laughter.
Nova looked, watching as IQ
undressed him all the way.
"Don't hurt him,
IQ."
"Nova, I am ten
thousand times more careful than a human when it comes to undressing your
husband."
"No you’re not!"
huffed Nova. "I'm better at that than you
are!"
"Demonstrate."
"Not in front of you!"
Nova sniffed.
A moment later, Derek was
tossed into the tub naked as the boys giggled their heads off.
"Derek I thought you
told me you liked baths!" said Nova as she grabbed him and began to
shampoo his unruly hair.
"In
front of family, yes. In front of half the world…no!"
"Oh, boy!" cried
Ar'ten. "Lady Nova, can I tickle him?"
Nova smiled and nodded.
"Be my guest. He could use some lightening up!"
"Nova!"
About half an hour later
(while noticing in an offhanded way that her fingers and toes were getting
wrinkled) Nova sat in the still-warm tub telling the children a story. She had
some help from Derek, who had finally resigned himself to having some good
clean fun with his wife and their temporary brood.
"And, after we left
the Beemirans behind," said Nova. "The Gamilons were back with a new
way of fighting us."
"What?" said Ar'ten.
"Was this the
Balanosaurus?" said Shiro.
"It was," said
Derek.
"What's a
Balanosaurus?" asked Ar'ten.
"It's a horrible monster
made by the Gamilons," said Nova as she made a spooky face. The boys
screamed at that.
"How big was it?"
said Shiro.
"How many heads did it
have?" said Ar'ten.
"It was as big as the Argo,
and it had only one head," said Derek. "But it was hard to
defeat."
"Why?"
"It was because it was
made out of other creatures that came together," added Derek. "We
finally had to kill it with the wave motion gun…"
"Awwww,"
said Shiro.
"I like
monsters," said Ar'ten.
"But it was a threat
to us," said Nova while she washed out one of her ears as she lay
reclining in the tub.
"I wonder which
Gamilon general came up with such a weird, stupid threat," said Derek.
"It was Volgarr,"
said a mellifluous voice from behind the door.
The door opened.
"Desslok?" said
Derek.
Nova looked at the approaching
Gamilon Leader and gasped.
"Desslok!" she
said as she sat up. "What are you doing here?"
Desslok's eyebrows went up
at Nova's exposure. Nova blushed suddenly and disappeared back as far as
possible under the suds while making various inarticulate little noises. Talan,
Astrena, and EDF Captain Jorge Peronada of the
Denise grinned at her.
"Nova, is he that good?"
"Leader Desslok, they are
barbarians, holding staff meetings in the bath," snorted Talan.
"You forget my bath on
Gamilon?" said Desslok. "I conducted business with Starsha over the
phone in the bath."
"But did you bring the
General Staff in with you?" said Talan.
"I apologize for
catching you at a bad time, Wildstar…Nova. We shall meet in an hour aboard the Argo,
if you don't mind."
"Uh…no…we don't,"
said Derek. He looked at Nova. She nodded, but she was blushing like crazy.
"We will meet you
soon," said Desslok. "Gentlemen…?" he said, nodding to the
party.
They left. As they left,
Denise winked over her shoulder at Nova, who crossed her eyes in annoyance.
"Well?" said
Derek. "That solves the mystery of where those Gamilons came from
before."
"Where'd they come
from?" asked Shiro.
"Nowhere," said
Nova. "Now, we need to get out of here. Kids, get out of the water, dry
off and get dressed."
"Do we have to?"
whined Ar'ten.
Nova nodded. "Want me
to tell your Dad?"
"Let's go!" said
Shiro. The boys climbed out of the tub and began to dry off.
Derek looked at Nova as she
wrapped herself in a towel and then picked up a fresh Star Force uniform. Derek
climbed out of the tub, and Nova threw a fresh pair of boxers at him.
"Now, are you getting dried off and dressed, or do I have to do it?"
"Should I really
answer you?"
"Derek, not in front
of the kids," said Nova with an annoyed look while stepping into one of
the boots on the one-piece uniform she had been brought.
At that, both boys laughed.
III. DASH, HOMER, AND
EAGER HAVE A LITTLE MEETING…
Planet Rikasha
Space Battleship Argo
Captain’s Quarters
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
1422 Hours: Earth
Space-time
The Argo was still docked in an underground drydock below the
“Fisher told us
everything,” said Captain Wildstar. “Now, if this was
Yeah, with a dull needle, thought Dash as he rubbed his behind. Nova smiled a
little at that sight. She was the one who had made sure that an older,
autoclavable and reusable needle set was used for this trio when they finally
got their shots.
“But, we’re on an alien
planet in what was enemy territory last night,” said Derek. “And this is
wartime. Really, guys, you could have waited until me made the Megalopolis to
get Homer initiated into the mysteries of manhood.”
“So-called,” said Nova.
“I heard scuttlebutt that
you and Nova were found in a hot tub earlier,” said Eager. “What were you up
to, sir?”
“Cleaning ourselves and two dirty children at the request of the
Baroness,” said Nova. “If Derek and I had wanted to do that in a tub, we could have waited until…”
“What’s it like in a tub?”
said Homer with an evil grin. “Bet it gets rid of your cooties.”
Nova crossed her eyes and
made two tight fists behind her back. “Guys,” she hissed. “This is serious.”
“You know,” said Derek. “I
could put you guys in the brig for this.”
“Okay,” said Dash.
“But I won’t.
Unfortunately, I need you on the bridge. Thus, you lose two weeks’ worth of pay
and allowances so you won’t be quite so rich when we get home,” said Captain
Wildstar, “And, you will do some punitive PT on a morning run when we have
time.”
“That ain’t so bad, sir,”
said Eager.
“You will do this run of
calisthenics and running in your underwear,” said Captain Wildstar.
“Okay, that isn’t
half-bad,” said Dash. “You get sweaty doing PT.”
“When this takes place,
Nova will be your drillmaster,” said Captain Wildstar.
“Will she be in her
underwear, too?” said Eager.
Nova rolled up her eyes at
that one. “God, something must have happened to their brains,” she said. “Just
for that, we’ll do two sessions.”
“When?” said Dash.
“Whenever she feels like it,” said Captain Wildstar. “Dismissed. And don’t let me hear of you or anyone else on
this vessel exploring the Lord Cha’rif’s harem again.”
“Lord Cha’rif?” said Homer
as he gulped.
“Yes. If we had told him,” said Captain Wildstar, “I think the penalty is…being boiled
alive in oil. Or being beheaded slowly. I don’t
remember which one it is. And I’m not gonna cover for you jokers again. Got
that?”
“YESSIR!” bellowed Eager,
Dash, and Homer. They saluted very smartly, snapped to attention and waited.
“See you on duty later,”
said Derek. “Dismissed.”
Homer, Eager and Dash got
out of there in a hurry.
“So, when are you going to
run them, Nova?”
Nova smiled. “When we have time,
I’ll start them at…say, 0330. I hope you won’t miss me too much, koibito…”
“I’ll try not to,” said
Derek as he gave Nova a nice, long kiss. “Now, we have things to do.”
“Like that meeting?” said
Nova.
“Yes…”
Later on, aboard the Argo,
a staff meeting was in progress.
"So, that's
what happened?" asked Captain Wildstar as he sat at the table of the
smaller staff briefing room in the Argo's bridge tower, back in his
uniform and black Captain's jacket. He, Venture, Sandor, Dr. Sane, Conroy,
Rosstowski, and Aliscea sat at the table with Desslok, Talan, Astrena, two
Gamilon officers known as Fraken and Frausky, and Captains Peronada and
Carroway. Of course, Aliscea wore her black clothing again, as usual. Nova was
the only major officer absent, but she was on her way up with refreshments
"That is
correct," said Desslok. "It appears that Aliscea spoke mentally to
her mother Astrena, and she let me know what was happening about two of your
days ago. We made our way here as rapidly as possible."
"We met them on their
way towards our Galaxy," said Captain Peronada. "After notifying
Defense Command, I received permission to follow the Gamilons, since we had
information about Rikashan and Cometine Fleet dispositions we needed to share
with you. It appears that the Cometines are also active again. Two more
Cometine squadrons attacked us on our way to meet Desslok after the truce we
made with the Cometines at Procyon. Desslok advised us to keep radio silence as
we drew closer to Rikasha so we weren't spotted by the R'Khells."
"The R'Khells have allied with the Bolar Federation, which Rikasha has
recently dominated," said Desslok. "As far as we can understand,
about a third of the Rikashan Empire is dominated by the R'Khells. As we have
just learned, they have declared independence, claiming that they are the true
leaders of the Rikashan people. A civil war is beginning, and our side and
Cha'rif's Rikashans are the enemies of the R'Khells and Bolars."
"That doesn't sound
good," said Derek. "Now we might be at war on three fronts, against
the Technomugar, R'Khell, and the Cometines."
"We made sure Earth
knows about this. Poor Singleton," said Captain Denise Carroway of the Valkyrie.
"I bet he’ll want to retire and play golf after this crisis is over."
"Did you tell them we
still live?" asked Sandor.
"No," said
Carroway. "Captain Peronada said that we couldn't let anyone know
that you might be on your way back."
"Wise decision,"
said Sandor. Derek nodded at that.
"Did you meet
resistance at the borders of the Rikashan Empire?" asked Venture.
"We did," said
Talan. "It was less than we expected, though. As I have taught Desslok in
the past, when you meet less resistance than expected at a given point in
battle, anticipate a plot…or changes on the enemy side."
"As we met only R'Khells,"
said Desslok. "I thought it was necessary to take prisoners. We took a
prisoner, and after due interrogation…"
"…Torture," added
Astrena, who was now very heavily and visibly pregnant. The gestation rate of a
Pellian was different (and faster) than that of a human.
"…Interrogation,"
repeated Desslok. "After we interrogated him with our most efficient
methods, we discovered that there was a change of government in progress on
Rikasha and that you were in the middle of it. We headed to Rikasha after
finding no trace of the Technomugar Fortress where Aliscea had said it would be."
"Where is it?"
asked Captain Wildstar.
"I do not
know," said Desslok with deadly emphasis. "At any rate, at Astrena's
request, I feel our mission is to help the Rikashans escort you out of their
space. Then, we must part company for a short time."
"Why?"
"Captain
Wildstar," began Desslok. However, they stopped when a tap came at the
hatch from outside. "Permission to enter with the coffee?" asked
Nova.
"Granted!" yelled
Derek.
The door whirred open, and Nova came
in with a cart filled with hot, steaming coffee, snacks, and assorted juices.
"Who wants some?"
Nova said.
"This looks
interesting," said Desslok.
"I'd pass," said
Aliscea.
Nova loudly cleared her
throat. "Who would like to try some?"
Desslok came up. "I believe
I would."
"Uh…" said Nova. "I'm not so sure it's a good…"
Desslok ignored her. He
poured some coffee and said, "I don't care for any embellishments, thank
you. I take it straight."
Nova looked at Derek with
an alarmed expression as Desslok sipped at the coffee.
"Interesting
beverage," he said after a moment, smiling an ironic smile. "Talan,
would you try some?"
Talan took some and drank
it. He made a face, and gave Nova a very strange look, but he just sat down
with his coffee. Fraken and Frausky also drank.
Fraken shrugged.
"I am now in command
of the battle-carrier Farushar," he said. "We found it here in
Rikashan space on a base after Cha'rif brought it into his territory. It is
being refurbished and repainted by the Rikashans to help make up for their evil
in capturing her, and some Gamilons held prisoner aboard the ship have been
freed. The ship's commander, a General Kelzart, was a traitor who surrendered
to the Rikashans. Under interrogation, he revealed details of a plot on Earth
involving your General Weiner and a government official known as Piper
Sandberg."
"Them?" hissed
Derek. "It figures. What did they do?"
"They have been
helping the Josiahite cult subvert your world," said Talan. "When you
arrive home, you must let your government know about this."
"What did you do to
Kelzart?" asked Derek.
"I tried him and I am
about to pronounce the verdict," said Desslok. "If you would come
aboard my ship for a short time after this meeting as witnesses after we leave
Rikasha?"
Derek nodded.
"Now for the reason I
am here," said Frausky as he stood. "I am General Frausky, head of
the Gamilon Scientifikat, or Science Bureau, in your tongue. I have lent
assistance to the Earth ships so that they could tune their engines and follow us
here at the same warp rate and same warp span as our ships. May I do the same
with the Argo?"
"Sandor, did you look
at their calculations?"
"I did, Wildstar.
They're sound."
"Good," said
Derek. "General, how long will this take?"
"About
three of your hours. The modifications include upgrades to your computer software and
firmware."
"Very good," said
Wildstar. "Sandor, you and Nova are to assist General Frausky in his work.
You two know the computer system very well, and now that Royster isn't alive
any longer, you would be the best people for the job."
"Yessir," they
said as both of them stood and saluted.
"Venture, you and
Yamazaki are to get the ship ready for takeoff. Conroy, stand
by to launch the Black Tigers at a moment's notice. I think we'll need fighter
cover until we get away from Rikasha."
"Yessir," said
Conroy.
"Doctor Sane, prepare
for casualties," said Wildstar. "Leader Desslok, you have received a
copy of the technical information that Cha'rif and the dissident Technomugars
gave us about the Technomugar Fortress and Rikashan attack plans?"
"Yes, I have. My
strategists are now analyzing it."
"Then I shall consider
this meting adjourned," said Wildstar. "Desslok, we will meet again
once we leave the Rikashan Empire."
"Of
course."
At that, Derek nodded, and
the Terrans saluted and began to leave.
IV. AN ESCAPE
Planet Rikasha
Space Battleship Argo
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
1645 Hours: Earth
Space-time
Some hours later, after
Captain Wildstar had doffed his peacoat, he found Nova working hard in the main
computer room with Sandor and Frausky.
"We've got a problem,"
said Nova as she bent over a terminal in a corner of the large computer room.
"What is it?"
"Steve would tell you,
but he would take a book to explain it. I'll do it in a paragraph."
"Shoot."
"The subroutine that
links to the engine has been damaged in flight. We’ve had to fix that, first, then begin tweaking it so that the whole computer will work
better. We'll be getting home on a wing and a prayer, Derek. That is…if we
don't fly into the Fourth Dimension and really lose the ship…"
"Oh, crap…"
Sandor came up with Frausky.
"Nova just told you, huh?"
Derek nodded. "Sandor,
can we get this to work?"
"It'll be hard, but I
can guarantee only about an 88% chance this'll work as planned," said
Sandor. "The Argo's engines are held together with jury-rigged
arrangements. She'll need dockyard time when we get home."
Frausky shook his head in
awe. "How did you hold this ship together? It's a wonder she's…running."
"It's our
spirit," said Wildstar. "I can't define it better than that."
"It's almost
supernatural, somehow," mused Frausky.
"Anyway, we shall do our best."
"Thanks. Good luck,
guys…and gal," laughed Derek.
Nova just smiled at Derek.
"I'm working hard because I want to get home to our beach, Derek. I miss
home."
"I know. So do I. Good
luck, everyone."
The
1720 Hours
As the Star Force worked
hard to get home, the people of Earth still believed that the Argo was
lost.
Jordy Venture hadn't gone to
school that day because of the bad news that had hit the airwaves early that
morning. His parents tried to spare him the footage of the Argo's
"destruction", but he hadn't been able to escape the fact that his
big brother was dead. When Samuel Josiah had showed up at the house around 0600
that morning, it was soon clear what had happened.
Now, a depressed Jordy was
in a park near his parents' apartment building, kicking a soccer ball around in
a desultory fashion.
Mark and I used to love
doing this, he thought.
Now, it’s just me. But I don't care what my parents say…I want to join the
Earth Defense Forces…so I can avenge my big brother! I'm going to, even if I
have to run away from home to do it!
Tears ran down his face as
he kicked an imaginary goal between two trees. "There we go," he said
out loud. "That's goal!"
Then, three kids he didn't
like showed up. Namely…Dorset, Moriyama, and Rowe.
These three boys had been bugging and bullying him for years.
"Hey, Venture!"
yelled
"I don't wanna talk to
you," said Jordy.
"We know why you
didn't go to school today. We saw it on the news," said Moriyama.
"Yeah," said
Rowe. "And we're really sorry!"
"Really?" said
Jordy.
"Yeah! We're sorry that you weren't on
that old hunk of junk with your big brother," said
"What was your big
brother doing when he died?" Moriyama yelled. "Getting kinky with
Wildstar?"
As Jordy's face contorted
with rage, the three boys began to chant, "Your big brother is a crispy
critter! Your big brother is a crispy critter! He's all burned up! And the Argo's
never coming home again!"
Then, they started throwing
rocks at Jordy, after kicking away his soccer ball and laughing amongst
themselves.
Jordy ran home under a hail
of stones, some of which hit him in the back.
You rotten guys! thought
Jordy through his tears. Just wait until I get you in a fair fight! Just
wait!
In the Argo's
computer room, Sandor had summoned the Captain and Yamazaki down to have a look
at the readings.
"We're finally done," he said as the
Captain, Nova, Yamazaki, and Eager stared at a display.
"Those figures look
right," said Yamazaki.
"I think this'll
work," said Wildstar. "Yamazaki, where's Dash?"
"Still checking over
the main turrets like you ordered," said Yamazaki.
"If we're done, I
believe I can leave now?" asked Frausky.
"Thank you for your
help, General," said Captain Wildstar.
"Good luck," said
Frausky as he left.
Derek went over to a panel
and tapped a button. The intership mike came up. "Attention all
hands…attention all hands. Our repairs are completed! All hands to battle
stations! At 1800 hours, we are leaving Rikasha. Our destination…Earth! That
will be all!"
Finally, it was 1800 hours.
When Captain Wildstar
arrived on the bridge, Rosstowski turned and said, "Captain, there's a
problem with the Number One Turret. Dash has requested permission to work on it
during takeoff. He says we might need it."
"Permission
granted," said Wildstar. Derek then sat down in the Combat Group Leader's
station next to Venture.
"Looks like this is
it," said Mark.
"Yeah,
sure looks like it…barring any accidents, that is. Or battles."
"Captain," said
Homer. "I've just received a report from the Gamilons. The Farushar
will be at our port side escorting us, and the
"Great," said
Wildstar.
A voice came on the
intership speakers. "Wildstar, this is Conroy. We're ready to launch as
soon as we make the atmosphere to provide fighter cover for the ship."
"Acknowledged,"
said Derek.
"Captain, there's a message
from Lord Cha'rif," said Homer a minute later as Yamazaki turned on the
auxiliary engines. The Rikashan drydock was now beginning to flood for their
departure.
"Read it," said
Wildstar.
Our best wishes to you
and Earth. I will continue to do what I can to stop the R'Khell insurrection.
It is my hope that when we meet again, we will be at peace. Yours,
Lord Anton Cha'rif, Sublime Lord of Rikasha.
"Send our thanks,
Homer."
"Port and starboard
boosters are balancing well. Auxiliary engines at full power," said
Yamazaki.
"Wildstar, the dock is
full," said Sandor.
Derek nodded.
"Venture, take us out…slow speed ahead."
"Auxiliary engines,
slow speed," repeated Venture.
The Argo began to
move majestically out of the Rikashan dock, making headway towards a huge,
stagnant lake somewhat like the
I like Cha'rif, thought Derek. But, still, I'll
be damn glad to leave this particular planet. We have work to do.
Finally, the ship moved out
into the middle of the Sherikhan Dead Sea, followed by the
A few minutes passed.
"Main engines at 120%!" said Yamazaki.
"Argo,
ascend," said Wildstar.
"Taking off!"
said Venture.
The Argo blasted up out of the salt water a
moment later, her wings spreading as she blasted off into the magnificent
Rikashan sunset and the strong sunlight gleamed off her hull. For a moment, the
city of
"Launch Black
Tigers!" ordered Wildstar.
"On our way!"
responded Conroy from his cockpit. "All squadrons,
take off!"
Soon, the Argo was
surrounded by a heavy fighter screen, just as the shiny red Farushar,
next to them, was surrounded by Gamilon fighters in blue and green that roared up
off her flight deck under Fraken's command. A total of one hundred and twenty
Earth and Gamilon fighters surrounded the small task force, flying weaving,
complex patterns around it as the small task force left Rikasha's atmosphere,
heading into space.
The flight into Rikasha's
orbital space took half an hour. It was very tense. The crew was expecting an
attack any minute as the reddish-orange surface of Rikasha spread itself out
like a great arc in the Argo's bridge windows as the ship left the
planet's atmosphere.
"Any contacts?"
asked Wildstar.
"None…so far,"
said Conroy.
"Good. I guess no news
is good news here," said Wildstar, who still felt very uneasy.
"The Gamilon Fleet is
coming up on radar," said Nova. "Range, two thousand megameters. We'll
be under their escort cover in two minutes."
"Is that warp course
laid in?" asked Wildstar.
"It is," said
Venture. "When we get far away enough from Rikasha, we're set to warp
thirty thousand lightyears to an edge of Rikashan territorial space as close to
the galactic center as we can get. Then, after a second warp of twenty thousand
lightyears, we'll be emerging from warp not far from where Planet Garuman was
before the Rikashans and Bolars destroyed it. That area is neutral
space…Cha'rif said that his fleets have just driven the R'Khells out of the
area."
"Then?" asked
Eager.
"Then we’ll part
company with Desslok's fleet, and we and Fraken's task group will warp to the
last known location of the Technomugar Fortress so that Aliscea can try to find
out where Ekogaru is. Then, if all goes well, we make one last warp…for
home," said Wildstar.
"We're at our benchmark now," reported
Nova.
"Black Tigers, return
to the ship," said Derek.
The Tigers began to roar
back towards the Argo, coming back in quickly in a very organized
formation as plane after plane landed after a short patrol flight.
We didn't get a single
thing, thought
Hardy as he landed. Where's the enemy?
No action… thought Bryan Hartcliffe as he
stopped his plane. Still, I guess no bloody news is good news on a day like
today.
Another ten minutes passed.
From her post, Nova
reported, "The Gamilon Fleet is now in its screening position, and we are
now twenty thousand megameters away from Rikasha. We 're
nearing our warp point."
"All hands, make preparations for space warp," said Captain
Wildstar.
The rest of the Fleet
assumed formation around the Gamilstadt, Desslok's blue flagship.
"All hands," said
Wildstar a moment later. "You must assume position for a very long,
stressful space warp. We are about to attempt a single jump of thirty thousand
lightyears to clear Rikashan territorial space; the longest single warp that
the Argo has ever made. There is a possibility, although slight, that
there may be a malfunction, and we may never come out of warp. So, I advise you
to make whatever personal preparations that you feel are needed as you lock in
for warp."
Five more minutes passed.
The crew was all strapped in for the warp. Everyone was ready.
"Two minutes to
warp!" said Venture.
"No!" said Nova.
"Radar contacts, off the starboard bow at five thousand megameters! It's a R'Khell fleet!"
"Damn," said
Wildstar. "What a time to try to get us."
"We can't abort the
warp countdown," said Venture. He brought up a view of the screen and
watched several Gamilon destroyers turning their guns towards the enemy fleet.
"We're just gonna have to depend upon our escorts and our speed."
"That's what I was
afraid of," said Wildstar. He sat with his fingers clenching into a fist
in anger and tension.
"One minute to warp,"
said Venture.
"Missiles
approachin'!" yelled Eager. "Range, a thousand
megameters and closing!"
"Thirty seconds to
warp!" snapped Venture.
C'mon, thought Derek. Venture, I
hope we can outrun those missiles!
"There's a second
fleet approaching the R'Khells behind their fleet," cried Nova. "I
can't get a clear visual on them, but…"
"Nova, we can't bother
with enemy fleets right now," said Wildstar as Eager yelled "The
missiles are at one hundred megameters now!"
Wildstar said, "We're
about to warp!"
Not far away, the Gamilon
destroyers let loose a barrage of pink laser fire which quickly stopped. Some
of the missiles were destroyed, others were still coming.
"Ten seconds to
warp!" said Venture. "Nine…eight.."
"Missiles at fifty
thousand kilometers," said Eager. "A spread o' ten,
headin' right for us."
"seven…six.."
"Derek, the second
fleet is attacking the R'Khells. It's the Rikashans!" cried Nova.
"Good."
"five…four.."
said Venture as he tensed his hand on the warp lever.
"Missiles at five
thousand now!" yelled Eager.
"three…two…one,"
said Venture. "Zero!"
":WARP!"
ordered Wildstar.
"Warp!" repeated
Venture as the missiles sped in.
They didn't hit anything at
all. The Argo, the other Earth ships, and the Gamilon fleet all
disappeared in a wavering explosion of light and color as they oozed into
hyperspace.
"DAMN!" yelled
Lecha Voton aboard the lead R'Khell space battleship, a red vessel known as the
P'Cherda. "We didn't get them! Fools!"
"You told me you had
them," screamed Marda.
"I thought I did…even
Gamilons are helpless when they're about to warp!"
"You said you would
have wiped out that whole fleet with one blow!" yelled Marda.
"I would have! If only
they would have delayed for a second…two seconds…"
"Ekogaru will not be
happy!"
"Rikashan Grand Fleet
approaching!" said their radar officer. "A message is coming in on
visual from Lord Cha'rif."
"Put it up!"
Anton Cha'rif's face
appeared on the P'Cherda's screen a moment later. "We are at peace
with Earth, Voton. You people are rebels and renegades, traitors to my
Lordship, and heretics, since I have declared the worship of Ekogaru illegal
and have declared an end to the Warbringer's era on our calendar. Ekogaru's day
of oppression has finally ended for us! Turn about and surrender at once, or I will be forced to wipe you out. I have already
taken out some of your escorts!"
"Never," said
Voton.
"Very well, I hope you
are prepared to die," said Cha'rif. "All ships, transfer energy to
DI'ATS cannons! You'll be dead in a few seconds unless you heave to now!"
"We'll tell Ekogaru
you attacked me," said Marda. "That'll mean the worst sort of death
possible for you, Cha'rif, after Earth is destroyed!"
"Prepare to
fire!" yelled Cha'rif as his handgrips came up.
"Eat this!"
laughed Voton. He made a hand signal, and just as Cha'rif's fleet fired, the
R'Khells sped into warp themselves.
"We didn't get them,
sire!" cried a crewman on Cha'rif's bridge.
"Don't you think I know
that?" hissed Lord Cha'rif "Order a search for them throughout
the Empire! I want those rebels dead!"
For Nova, the space warp
was long, bizarre, and very nauseating. Her stomach roiled. Finally there was a
very wild burst of colors, and a sense of utter dislocation as the familiar
confines of the
"Right on
target," said Venture as he looked at his instruments as soon as they
solidified before his eyes. "We are now thirty thousand lightyears away
from Rikasha."
"Thank God,"
muttered Derek, who felt as if he wanted to vomit.
"Lay back…rest,"
muttered Sandor, whose chest was heaving with effort. "That was the worst
one we've ever been through! But, we made it. No damage to the ship or
systems."
"And…the Gamilon Fleet
is…right around us…right where they should be," said Nova. She stood up,
but her legs were as wobbly as a newborn fawn's. She fell right to the deck.
"Nova!" cried
Derek. He got up, and stumbled to her side, because he felt very wobbly, as
well. If I move the wrong way, I might puke, he thought. This warp
was worse than the worst aerobatic run I can think of…or the worst amusement
park ride I've ever been on.
"I'll be fine,"
she said, sighing with effort as Derek helped her to her feet. "I
think…"
Then, her stomach cramped.
Luckily, she was able to crawl back to her post and get a barf bag. A moment
later, she had need of it.
Derek turned his head as
his wife coughed and heaved. Sandor and Eager came up a minute later, just as
Nova was closing the bag and wiping her mouth.
"Are you okay?"
said Sandor.
Nova nodded.
"Good. Ah think ah
need that," said Eager.
"Get your own!"
said Nova with an annoyed look as she discarded her bag in a waste chute
nearby.
Homer rolled up his eyes as
Eager found a bag, and was very noisy about what he had to do.
"We need a better way
of doing this, Wildstar," said Sandor, just as Derek stumbled to his knees
again.
"Yeah…you're telling
me," he said as Nova helped him up.
"Don't feel bad,
Nova," said Doctor Sane about twenty minutes later as he made Nova drink
some "spring water" in his office. She had come down to assist with
first aid for the warp sickness rampant on the ship, but after Sane had seen
her white face, he had ordered her to just sit in his office. "The human
body can only take so much, and that warp was really pushing it."
"But we set a new
record," said Nova as she drank. The drink went to her head, but it did
seem to be helping her stomach, oddly enough. "Now I can walk without the
bulkheads waving around. Thanks. How many warp casualties?"
"Twenty-five," said Sane. "And don't
feel so bad," chuckled Sane as he took back his bottle and poured himself
a very stiff drink. "
"I can't help
it!"
"Why?"
"Well, warping…uh…it
has a certain effect upon your clothes as well as upon your physical body and
psyche. You know what I mean," said Nova with a blush.
"I know! I came out of
one warp with just my underwear on," said Sane brightly.
"Once, when we had to
do a warp on the first mission to Iscandar, and I was asleep…"
"Yes?" said Sane.
Nova really blushed at that
memory. "You remember that pink negligee I had?"
Sane nodded.
"I think it's still
off in hyperspace somewhere around Balan. Along with a pair
of panties. It was on our way home from Iscandar, and I was dozing
off…and when we came out of that one, I found I was sleeping nude…and…"
"And
what?"
"I won't tell
you," said Nova. "But I told Derek all about it once. The
aftereffects of that warp had him laughing his head off!"
"Attention, all
hands," said Venture over the PA. "The Captain thanks you for your
professionalism during the last warp. However, we must make preparations for a
second one at 1930. At 1930, we are warping out of Rikashan space. Be ready for
another warp. Repair and readjust any necessary systems. That will be
all."
"Well," said
Sane. "Looks like I'll need more of this stuff soon."
"Yeah," sighed Nova.
V. WINDING DOWN…
The Galactic Center
Space Battleship Argo
Wednesday, April 21,
2202
2000 Hours: Earth
Space-time
Some time later, the Argo
and the Gamilon Fleet were cruising near the asteroid belt that had once been
Planet Garuman, the ancestral homeland of the Gamilon people.
The Farushar sat
right near the Argo.
Aboard the red Gamilon
battle-carrier, a meeting was about to commence on her main bridge.
Nova had survived the
second space warp in fairly good shape. Now, she stood beside Derek, Sandor,
and Aliscea on the Farushar's bridge as a Gamilon woman in an officer's
uniform stood pointing her finger at a mustachioed Gamilon officer in handcuffs
at the center of the bridge. Not far away stood Desslok, Talan, Fraken, and
Frausky.
"This is what I,
Commander Inge Gernan, declare about this man, the former General Hairm
Kelzart," said the dark-haired, stunning Gamilon woman. "This man is
a traitor to our cause, and a traitor to Leader Desslok. Like a traitor, he has
fought actively against our allies, lent aid and comfort to our enemies, and
has ordered his compatriots, the crew of this ship, to endure interrogation and
torture! You note my eyepatch?" she asked, pointing at an eyepatch that
had not been on her face the last time Desslok had seen her. "This
resulted because Kelzart personally put my right eye out himself! And he did
worse to me, did things I do not care to repeat with delicate alien women
present!"
I can take it, and so
can Nova, thought
Aliscea angrily. But, I don't wish to make a scene here, not in front of my
stepfather. Desslok as my stepfather. That is still a
rather interesting thought…
"For this man, I plead
for the maximum penalty," said Gernan. She gritted her teeth and then bowed
to Desslok. "That will be all, my Leader."
Desslok nodded once as
Gernan went to sit down. He slowly began to walk up towards Kelzart.
"General
Kelzart," he said in a low, purring voice. "I have heard much about
you. Unfortunately, little of it has been any good as of late. Do you have
anything you wish to say in your defense?"
"Leader,
grant clemency.
A man with demonic powers, whom, I understand, you are now aiding forced me
into it. Are not Cha'rif's crimes worse than mine?"
"Do not mention his
name in that context," said Desslok. "He was doing what he saw to be
his duty at the time. But a man can change when his eyes are opened to what he
has truly done. My eyes were once opened myself to our course of action as a
people. Cha'rif has changed, just as I have done. On the other hand, you had
sworn an oath of loyalty to me. An oath you chose to disregard by allowing
yourself to be captured, and then deciding to aid the enemy and torture your
shipmates. For that sort of treason and failure, I dismiss you from my command,
and proffer the ultimate penalty."
Desslok flipped back his
cape and drew his blaster.
"No, no, NO,"
screamed Kelzart. "Have mercy!"
"Kelzart, you could at
least die as a man. Don't botch your own death" said Desslok.
"NO!" said Kelzart
as he knelt on the deck. "I'll leave the Fleet, I'll accept exile,
I'll…"
Desslok's eyes narrowed,
and then his gun went off.
"Leader!" gasped
Kelzart as he knelt there with a smoking hole in his stomach. Then, he fell
down, kicking, and convulsing as he died.
The Gamilon Leader had to administer
a second shot in the back for the coup de grace. Finally, Kelzart lay
still, and Desslok stood there staring impassively at him as smoke rose up from
his weapon.
Not far away, Nova stood
with her head buried in Derek's peacoat-clad chest in shock.
"It's all right,"
whispered Derek. "He had to do it."
"But why did I have to
see it?" sobbed Nova.
"Being in my position
is not easy,": said Desslok as he came up.
"How often do you do
this?" cried Nova. "This is close to making me sick!"
"Not
often, luckily.
My ranks are not usually filled with traitors. I get no joy out of this vile
but necessary duty. For what you had to see today, I apologize." Desslok
bowed and then said, "Fraken, please see to it your bridge is cleaned.
Don’t give that rabid animal any military honors."
"I won't," said
Fraken as he saluted. He clapped his hands, and two Gamilon enlisted men in
brown armor picked up Kelzart's corpse and carried it off the bridge.
"Now," said
Desslok. "We will meet again, after I deal with the Cometines. Together,
we will deal with them at Sirius to secure that base before the great wave hits
your Earth."
"Yes," said
Derek. "We’ll meet you again in…five days."
"Good luck, and best
wishes," said Desslok as he turned with a snap of his cape and left.
Later, he, Talan, and
Astrena sat dining on his flagship.
"Just as I taught you
in the Academy," said Talan. "Traitors are like a disease. The sooner
they are dealt with using strong medicine, the better it is for the body of a
military force. There's one thing I don't understand."
"Yes?" asked
Desslok.
"I would love to know
why the Earth woman reacted that way to your shot. They execute people for
treason in her military, and she was once ready to kill you. Does she lack
bravery?"
"She does not,"
said Desslok. "You should be aware of that."
"She was
nauseated," said Astrena. "Aliscea told me. And for
good reason. Why did you have to do that publicly, Desslok?"
"Why do you criticize
me?" he said in a low and dangerous voice. "A military force depends
upon fidelity in its officers. That man committed treason, murder, rape, and
torture for his own ends. That is what should sicken
you…not the fact that I had to kill this bacillus."
"You would compare a
human being to bacteria?" said Astrena.
"Was not your previous
husband the same? Or even worse?" said Desslok.
"I had no control over
that."
"What would you have
wanted if Gralnacz had been caught after raping your daughter?"
Astrena sat in silence. "Death through torture."
"And you call me a barbarian," said Desslok
softly. "I merely killed Kelzart. In fact, when he lay there in pain, I
made sure he died quickly. He asked for mercy? I granted him that…with a
quick death."
"So I see," said
Astrena.
Space Battleship Argo
0015 Hours
Thursday, April 22, 2202
"One more warp,"
said Venture. "Then we're home."
"I've notified the
Defense Command," said Homer. Not far away drifted the
The Star Force was now at
Alpha Centauri. They had parted company with Desslok's fleet and then with
Fraken after warping to 15,000 lightyears away from Earth.
They had glimpsed the
Technomugar Fortress there, but the massive construction had warped away with
Voton's fleet after firing a few diversionary shots.
"What did they say at
Headquarters?" said Dash, who was back at his regular post.
"They're flabbergasted
that we're still alive," said Homer. "But, they picked up signals
from the
"How fast do you think
Ekogaru is warping?" asked Sandor. Aliscea sat at
Analysis beside Dash with her eyes closed.
"He can only warp two
thousand lightyears at a time, now…I have read his warped mind." said
Aliscea as she kicked out her long, bare legs for a minute. "We just beat
him back home. But, we have only a week. We have to be ready to stop him
then."
"Do you think we can
do it, Derek?" asked Nova.
At his post, back at Command, Derek nodded. Then, he
stood. "All hands, attention! We are about to make our last space warp!
Make all preparations."
Then, he sat down, Some time passed. Then, he looked at Venture and said,
"Mark, take us home."
"Aye,
aye, sir. Ten
seconds to warp….nine…eight, seven…six…"
I hope it works this
time, thought Nova.
Please God, don't let Ekogaru highjack us again! She sat and thought about
the huge Technomugar Fortress, loaded with weapons, bristling with towers,
surrounded with a fleet…
I hope we can stop that.
Please, God let it work, she thought.
"…two…one…zero,"
said Venture.
Derek just nodded.
Venture snapped
"WARP!" and pulled back the lever.
The Argo faded into
hyperspace.
Reality swirled and swam
before the eyes of the crew, and then, reasserted itself slowly as the stars
formed, cleared, and coalesced.
Before the Argo was a beautiful blue planet.
Earth.
"We're home," said
Derek. "Home."
"At long last,"
said Nova as tears brimmed in her eyes.
As the crew cheered and
applauded, down in Defense Headquarters, Commanding General Singleton called
for a visual image.
The Argo, as viewed
from orbit over
"It is them!"
said Stone. "They're…they're back! They survived!"
Children of Avatar, I
knew you'd do it,
thought Singleton.
He stood and saluted. Then,
he said, "General Stone, get our information officer up here now."
"Sir?"
"I think we need to
reverse that other press release," said Singleton with a smile.
"Yes, sir, I think we
do," sighed Stone.
To be Continued
with Act Four: "Home Again, At Long Last…"
THERE ARE NOW 7 DAYS TO THE ARRIVAL OF EKOGARU IN EARTH'S SOLAR SYSTEM
To return to
the Introduction to the Rikasha Incident please click here