STAR BLAZERS
End of Days
Written By: Jeff Lincoln
Day 2560 The Long Wait
7 Years After the Destruction of Earth
1230
Mauritanian Time
Mauritanian
Space
As the years
slowly ticked by Nova began to accept the fact that she would be stuck here, on
this...dump. There was no hope where she was, no peace, and no sign of rescue.
To the survivors of Earth, Yamato was nothing but a distant and forgotten
memory, the Gamilon Invasion of 2199, nothing, the destruction of the Comet
Empire, a myth, and the occupation of the Dark Nebula Empire, simple. To many,
death seemed like a gift rather than a curse.
As Setsuna ran
about the 'yard' playing happily Nova sighed, "Derek I really wish you
could be here." Nova smiled as Setusna turned around and ran towards her.
She smiled liked Wildstar and it made her happy to see his features in Setsuna.
As Setsuna got
closer Nova saw that she held a peice of paper in her small hands. "Mommy look! I made this for you!" She held up the small
object and presented it to her mother. In her hands was a picture of the
Yamato. Nova took it and blinked a couple of times. She smiled as the happy
memories of her time with the StarForce returned as well as the happiness of
the children of Earth in 2199.
"Where'd
you learn about the Yamato sweetheart?" Nova asked looking at Setusna with
a smile.
"Billy's
mom told me. She said that you were part of the crew and showed me a picture of
the ship." Setsuna giggled.
Nova laughed,
"The Venture's really do know how to inform kids, guess that's what makes
them great teachers." Nova brushed Setusna's nose and hugged her, "I
love the picture Setsuna, thank you for drawing it."
"Did you
look at the back?" Setusna asked.
"Back?" Nova flipped the picture over as she hugged
Setsuna. On the back was a picture of brown haired man in a red StarForce
uniform. "Who's this?"
Setsuna gently
pushed away from Nova and sat in her lap, "Daddy...I know I don't know
what he looks like but that's what Billy's mommy said he looked like."
Nova looked at
it again and realized that Setsuna was right. She let a tear drop and she
hugged Setusna tighter from behind and kissed Setsuna on the back of her head.
"Thank you so much Setsuna, I love it." Setsuna giggled as she turned
around and returned her hug. They let go of each other and looked out from the
'porch' and saw the suns beginning to set. On the horizon they saw the shacks
like theirs as well as the giant spiraling gaurd towers and landing pads.
Setsuna looked
out as well and saw Billy and his dad walking towards the house. Billy waved
and let go of his fathers hand and ran towards Nova and Setsuna. His father
shook his head and laughed and waved to Nova, who returned the wave and stood.
"Go on
and play with Billy, but don't go too far Setsuna." Nova said as Setsuna
opened the gate. Setsuna nodded with a smile and ran out of the gate with Billy
right on her tail.
Nova smiled
and watched them run off. Venture opened the gate of the 'yard' and walked up
to Nova.
"They
grow up fast don't they?" Venture asked.
"Yes they
do Venture." Nova said, "I only wish they had the oppertunity to grow
up on Earth like we did."
Venture raised
an eyebrow, "You mean in underground cities with radiation slowly seeping
downward?"
Nova laughed
and gently pushed his shoulder, "No, although that wouldn't be too bad
compared to this place...guess their could be worse
fates..."
Venture nodded
and sat down on the porch, "Can't beleive it's been seven years...I find
myself 'visiting' Yamato more and more often." Venture looked up at the
sunset, "Nova, I keep thinking that Yamato is still out there and on her
way, with the Cowboy of Outer Space commanding her."
"One can
only wish Venture." She sat down and laid her head against his shoulder,
"I miss him Mark, I miss him so much." They both sighed and let
reality sink back in. Nova looked up at him and began to speak again but was
cut off by the screams of Setsuna.
Instantly they
both stood up and ran out of the 'yard.' They found Billy on the ground his
knees cut up and Setsuna being held up by her arm, her feet dangling 3 feet off
the ground. A Mauritanian soldier was holding her up and chuckling.
"Human
females are so weak, why even bother to have them. Just a bunch
of useless animals." He said with a laugh.
"You there! Put that girl down NOW!" Venture
exclaimed as he rounded the corned seeing the scene. Nova stopped with a gasp,
she began to run but Venture held up his arm blocking her.
"Who are
you to tell me to do that, heretic?" The soldier asked with a growl,
"Last time I checked you answered to us!"
"Put her
down right now or else-"
"Or else what? You'll kill me?" The soldier laughed,
"Do that and my CO would kill the entire population."
Setsuna closed
her eyes and cried. The soldier looked at her and laughed as she began to
shudder. Venture bit his lip and Nova raised her hands to her face. The soldier
laughed even harder when Billy got back up and started punching his legs. With
one quick motion Billy was propelled backwards into the ground again.
"As I said, weak. Here, I don't have time for pathetic creatures
like you." He said throwing Setusna into Venture who caught her and landed
on the ground holding her. The soldier started to walk off and stopped,
"Oh and next time one of these brats cross my path they go straight to the
'red house.' "
Nova frowned
and knelt down next to Venture who held Setsuna tight. He looked up at Nova who
reached for Setsuna and Venture passed her over. Setsuna held her arms tight
around Nova and pressed her head into Nova's chest. Nova stroked her hair and
rocked her back and forth trying to calm her down.
Venture ran
over to Billy and looked him over, Billy nodded to
Ventures question of 'Are you ok?' Venture smiled and placed a hand on Billy's
shoulder.
"You were
very brave Billy, you make me very proud to be your
father." Venture said smiling.
"Venture,
I really do hope that your right about Yamato...it's the only thing we can
count on at this point." Nova said holding Setusna, tears flowing from her
face.
Venture nodded
and took Billy's hand, "We can only pray that it will happen."
1550 Space
Time
Space
Battleship Yamato - Exiting Warp Space Above the
Galman Homeworld
As reality
slipped back to normal Wildstar opened his eyes and looked out the window. In
front of him was a bright green planet, littered with cities.
"Galman...I
wonder how long it will still be safe?" Masterson said placing a hand on
the back of Wildstar's chair. "I've got to thank you Commander, without
your help none of the fleet would have made it back."
Wildstar
sighed, "Still you shouldn't have had to pay such a price to confirm my
identity. Desslok should know better than not to trust me. I've known him for
2...strike that 9 years now."
Masterson nodded,
"With the war going so badly and Earth being destroyed you can't blame the
Emperor for not being as trusting."
Wildstar
nodded and looked back at Galman, it looked beautiful
against the black of space. Then something caught his eye, another planet sharing
Galmans orbit. Wildstar chuckled, "That's just like him..."
"Commander?" Masterson asked raising an eyebrow.
"I find
it a little humorous that Desslok picked a planet like Gamilon, sharing the
same orbit as another planet."
"You mean
planet Starsha? Yes the Emperor does have some sentimental attachments to
Gamilon still." Masterson said with a nod, "If you'll allow me
Commander, I'll contact Desslok now." Wildstar nodded and Masterson went
over to the communications console and hailed Galman.
Desslok appeared
on the screen, arms crossed and smiling, "Welcome home Masterson. I take
it you've come to a decision to whether or not we should believe the
Commander's story?"
Masterson
nodded placing a hand on the back of Wildstar's chair, "Emperor I can
assure you that the Commander is who he says he is. In fact, without his and
Yamato's help we wouldn't have made it back at all."
"I hope
you haven't forgotten about me?" Mizuki said coldly, appearing next to
Masterson.
Desslok raised
an eyebrow, "It seems Yamato isn't as quiet anymore is it Commander?"
Wildstar
laughed, "No she isn't but she's got a personality I couldn't part with.
Desslok allow me to introduce Yamato's new artificial intelligence, Mizuki.
She's helped a great deal, without her, Yamato wouldn't
function as it does today."
"It's a
pleasure to meet you Emperor Desslok." Mizuki said bowing.
Desslok
nodded, "Commander it seems that the Bolar Federation is making a
desperate push against us. We could use Yamato's help, but in her current state
of disrepair, please allow my people on Galman to repair her. We can also
update some of your systems as well, improving the Wave Motion Engine, certain
things that will be needed to fight against the Bolar Federation."
"Desslok,
I have no intention of fighting the Bolars. My only concern right now is saving
the survivors of Earth and finding a new home."
"A home
that will be consumed by the Bolar Federation within days of it's
population being moved. Wildstar you must trust me when I say that we will both
benefit from the Bolars being destroyed."
Wildstar put
up his hands, he really didn't have time to argue,
"Desslok, I'll be happy to discuss things with you once repairs are
underway. Please join me on Yamato when we do, I don't plan on leaving her
until I'm positive repairs are proceeding smoothly."
"As you
wish Commander, welcome to Galman. By the way, I have 3 people here interested
in talking to you, they'll meet you at the landing
platform." Desslok nodded and the screen went blank.
"Mizuki
bring us into a descending orbit, Masterson park us where you feel we need to
go." Wildstar said, he looked back at the hanging plaque of Avatar and
quietly said, "Captain we're heading for a whole new adventure, am I doing
the right thing?"
As Yamato
approaches Galman Wildstar can't help but think that he has no chance to save
humanity on his own. Nova and the rest of humanity must wait for his return.
But first Yamato needs a new crew. Who will that be? The
people of Galman?
Yamato
strikes in 244 days.
This
chapter is dedicated to fans currently reading this on going story.