ALTERNATE TALES OF THE STAR FORCE
STAR BLAZERS—THE ENTROPY WARS
By: Frederick P. Kopetz
CHAPTER SIX: FRATRICIDE! THE WAR BEGINS!
I. ABOARD THE SHIP…
Planet Earth
The Tokyo Megalopolis
Space Battleship Argo
June 12, 2231
1021 Hours
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
The Argo rested in her dry-dock, where she had
been resting for a while, being refitted, provisioned, and prepared for her
next journey into the Sea of Stars.
Manning watch this morning on the dry-docked space battleship was her Skipper, Captain Jonathan Hartnell-Wildstar.
Jonathan was pacing the First Bridge when the doors slid open near his Captain’s Station on the port side of the ship.
He looked, and noticed Anya Wildstar walking onto the Bridge, smiling wickedly as if at some private joke.
“Can you tell me what you’re smirking about? And do you have clearance to be here?” Hartnell-Wildstar said.
“Rear Admiral Ivan Borsikov has already left the Solar System with the Potemkin as of this morning,” sang Anya. “That last-minute request to reassign Doctor Wildstar as Skipper made by Commanding Admiral Wildstar was turned down by the Defense Council last night. What a shame. Didn’t you see Mom on the tube last night? She was fit to be tied!”
“It almost sounds like you’re laughing at her,” Jonathan said in a flat voice.
“I am laughing at her,” said Anya. “I think it’s funny.”
“I don’t,” said Jonathan. “Oh, did you get your new orders?”
“What new orders?” Anya said.
“The new orders posting you off this command that take effect at 1100?” said Jonathan as he handed Anya some orders.
“What?” said Anya.
“It’s true,” said Jonathan.
Anya grabbed the orders. “Why…you…you…you…piece of crap!”
“So, where are you going?” asked Jonathan.
“Why the hell do YOU want to know?” said Anya.
“Ensign!” snapped Jonathan. “It’s not yet 1100 and you are still under my command, NUGGET! I expect to be shown some respect, irregardless of how you might feel about me! Are we clear on that, Ensign?”
“Sir, yessir!” snapped Anya.
“Where are you going?” said Jonathan. “Reading me those orders is not a suggestion, Ensign, but a command!”
“Sir,” said Anya as she blushed angrily and looked around the bridge at the crew sitting there; her sister, Ariel, was at the Cosmo-Radar, dressed in a uniform with a white collar that looked almost like her mother’s old uniform. At the helm sat Commander Jordy Venture, Mark’s younger brother. Junior Lieutenant Tanya Frenliz, a young blond Pellian officer wearing the silver star of the High Queen on the white collar of her own gold and black uniform sat at Analysis, while at Artillery there sat a Rahlken female named Viska Teyena, a youngish Rahlken whose white fur looked just like the proper shade of white for a Combat Uniform. She wore a white collar and scarlet shoulder boards along with her gunbelt as her sole clothing. She used her fluffy tail to grab a cup of coffee and pass it to the Communications Officer in gold and black; he just happened to be Homer Glitchman’s son, Ensign Joshua Glitchman, a classmate of Anya’s who had had his own battles with the pugnacious younger Wildstar.
“Reading my orders,” said Anya. She then read:
“To: ENSIGN ANASTASIA TRELAINA WILDSTAR
From: GENERAL HIRAM SINGLELTON, COMMANDING GENERAL, EARTH DEFENSE FORCES.
Ensign Wildstar:
While I hold in understanding your desire to serve aboard Space Battleship Argo and the First Star Force for your maiden voyage as an officer, regrettably, circumstances have proven otherwise. Due to the unfortunate and sudden death of Senior Lieutenant Marcus Eager in a shipboard accident aboard the Space Battleship Potemkin due to a radiation leak in her Number One Gun Turret, you are hereby promoted to Junior Lieutenant and are posted to the vessel as his replacement. You will meet a Patrol Gunboat joining Potemkin’s squadron at 1500 Hours today and depart Terra to post aboard Potemkin by 2300 Hours tonight as her new Combat Group Leader before she goes into expected action near Arcturus Base, which has been attacked once already. You will comply with these orders immediately, and I wish you Godspeed. Your quick reflexes are gravely needed in battle, and I wish you the best of luck, along with your father and mother.
Destroy these orders after reading them.
Best Regards,
GENERAL HIRAM SINGLETON.”
After reading, Anya stood in shock. “Sir,” she said to Jonathan.
“I had nothing to do with your orders, Lieutenant,” Jonathan said firmly. In a calmer voice he said, “Go get some chow before you leave, Anya. I know this must be a shock.”
Ariel got up, about to give her sister a hug.
Anya saluted Jonathan and said, “I will be posting off the ship, sir. It is a disappointment to me…”
“But this is the Fleet,” he said. “You go where they tell you…”
“I know that,” said Anya. She just glanced at Ariel and refused to meet her gaze.
She saluted and left.
_____________________________________________________________________________
II. THE SUMMONS….
Planet Earth
The Tokyo Megalopolis
The Presidential Residence
June 12, 2231
1300 Hours
______________________________________________________________________________
President Harrison Kueller stood in his office in his Residence in the Tokyo Megalopolis as both Derek and Nova Wildstar, feeling a strange cloud falling over them, walked into the huge office.
Prime Minister Karl Forrester sat near the desk, where he hugged his daughter and shook hands with his son-in-law.
“May I begin?” said Karl.
“Mister Prime Minister,” said President Kueller in his deep Australian brogue. “The Parliamentary leadership is pushing me to push you into nailing down the choices for your planned Government.” President Kueller scratched his moustache, ran his hands through his thinning blond hair, and adjusted his horn-rimmed spectacles. “If we don’t settle this soon, my good man, you run the risk of a Vote of No Confidence, and I may face the same risk. Hence, I must know the choices of some of your planned appointees.”
“Sir, I said I would give Admiral and Doctor Wildstar
some time to make their choices…”
Kueller raised his hand. “I know that, Karl. I know I swore to you I would give you time. But I am scheduled to meet with the Parliament tomorrow morning, and so are you. The Constitutional Party Whip is demanding an answer, along with the Colonialist Whip, Dan McNaughton, who swears he is closer to a majority. McNaughton wants to form his own coalition Government with the Whigs and the Grand Asians, so…”
“May I speak?” asked Derek.
“Granted,” said Kueller.
“How much authority does that bastard McNaughton have over the Defense Forces and policy? I hear his man is Shimabara!” barked Derek.
“Yes, it is,” said Kueller. “And you know, Admiral, that General Singleton wants to retire. He hopes to retire before the end of the year, Admiral.”
Derek shared a glance at Nova, who nodded as they shared an insight through their bond and through the Light of the Matrix. Then, Derek said, “It is not yet my hour to accept that post, Mister President.”
“When will it be your hour?” asked Karl Forrrester quietly.
“Mister Prime Minister, it will be in an hour of darkness I pray we do not see, at our last and greatest need,” said Derek. “For now, Mister President, I decline your offer and beg leave to be allowed to remain in my current post as Combined Fleet Commander. With two conditions. One, being that you grant me the right tl move my flag to whichever ship I desire, when I desire it.”
“It is a right that is absolute, Admiral,” said Kueller.
“Not the way we hear Shimabara saying it in the Press,” Nova snapped.
“What is your second condition?” said Kueller.
“Please consider my recommendations for Chief of Staff and Commanding General,” said Derek with a bow. “Sir, for Commanding General, I recommend Lieutenant General Bradley Alexander, who is currently the GROUNDFOR Command CO in New Washington in the States.”
“Bradley’s a good man, Wildstar,” said Kueller. “I’ve actually given him some thought. And, for Chief of Staff?”
“I recommend that you ask Admiral Burke to resign, and that you permanently promote BUPERS CO Major General Wendy Glitchman to that post, sir,” said Derek.
“She served us well some years ago before that change of command in 2216,” said Prime Minister Forrester.
“Isn’t her marriage to Commodore Glitchman said to be shaky?” asked Kueller.
“They’ve been working at it, sir,” said Nova.
Kueller shut his eyes and said, “Admiral Wildstar, I accept your recommendations, and will allow you to continue serving me and the Prime Minister in your current post.”
“Thank you, sir,” said Derek as he saluted.
“And, as for Doctor Wildstar?” said Karl Forrester.
“Mister President, do you concur with my father’s recommendation to name me as Surgeon General and grant me a seat in Parliament?”
“I do,” said Kueller.
Nova looked at Derek, shut her eyes, squeezed his hand, and as if a long-awaited doom had fallen over her, she quietly said, “Sir, I accept this post to your Government.”
Derek smiled and kissed Nova.
“Good, we have that post settled,” said Kueller. “But now, I have to settle something else.”
He nodded at Karl Forrester and said, while picking up his phone, “Bernice, you can send General Maples in here.”
The door opened, and Gary Maples came in, saluting Derek, but ignoring Nova.
“I told you about your planned appointment as head of Special Intelligence,” said Kueller.
“Yessir?” said Maples as he stared unsettlingly at Nova, who felt a darkness in him that she was very close to piercing with her gaze.
“Admiral Wildstar declined the post of EDF Commander,” said Kueller. “He has recommended General Alexander of GROUNDFOR Command.”
“I’ve worked with him in the past, sir,” said Maples as Nova kept on looking at him. “He’s a good man.” Then, he looked at Nova and snapped, “Captain, stop being insubordinate! You’re staring at me in a way that gives me the creeps! Or is it true the Dark Lord has an influence over you?”
“I am now a Rear Admiral, Brigadier!” Nova shot back. “I’m the new Surgeon General, and I outrank you! Given what I am sensing in you, perhaps the same could be said for you?”
“That’s insane!” laughed Maples as he slapped Derek on the back, hard. “Saying that the Dark Lord, whom we all know is probably long-dead since last heard from in 2214, is inside me sounds like a very bad joke, ma’am! Maybe you’ve been studying too hard in your lab with the cadavers?”
“You’re not funny, Gary,” Nova shot back. “In fact, you make me sick!” She looked at the President. “Mister President, you know my feelings on this man! I wish you’d reconsider your decision, sir.”
“He’s a good Whig,” said Kueller. “We need a balance on the Defense Council, don’t we, Karl?”
Karl Forrester nodded. “I guess we do, sir,” said Prime Minister Forrester.
“Sir, if you let this stand…you’ll be close to digging your own grave!” Derek blurted out to the President.
“What’s this?” said Kueller. “Do have two of you in here with the Second Sight?” he joked.
“It’s a feeling I have,” said Derek. “General, we could assign you somewhere else…because…”
“You don’t like me?” said Maples. “That’s a shame. We can meet at your home for drinks tonight,” said Maples.
“I’m not so sure I want to,” Nova said.
“It is not a suggestion,” said Maples. “Mister President; dismiss me and I’ll reveal the whole truth about the Spectra Affair,” he said smoothly.
“Maples, why don’t you just get out of…?” said Karl.
Kueller shook his head. “No dice, Karl,” said the President. “He’s my Special Projects man…and your paid bagman. You may all find him useful.”
“I knew you’d see it my way,” said Maples. “Have a dry martini waiting for me at home tonight, ma’am,” said Maples. “Dry. The way I like it.”
Then, he left.
Nova stood looking at Kueller’s desk as he got up to chat with her father and shake hands with Derek. Nova looked at the empty desk, and a feeling hit her from the Matrix.
Very soon, It said deep in her soul. That will be your chair.
How? Nova gasped, her heart pounding.
Ekogaru’s plans are ripening, and the die is cast, responded the Matrix. Your Hour Draws Near….Your Majesty….
Nova squeezed shut her eyes and shivered as quiet tears came.
________________________________________________________________________
III. A STRANGE LUNCH….
Planet Earth
The Tokyo Megalopolis
Near Asakusa Shrine
June 12, 2231
1440 Hours
__________________________________________________________________________
After the meeting, the Wildstars found themselves eating lunch at a restaurant in a park near one of the Megalopolis’ Shinto Shrines.
Derek and Nova had travelled home to change out of their uniforms and into more casual clothes. Then, they took a Tube train to the area near the Shrine.
Derek
sat working over his lunch in a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Nova was in a cool
but dressy pink top and white skirt with the same pink sandals that she had
worn under her black peacoat, since she had plans to conduct a meeting at
Central Hospital later that afternoon.
“You’re still going to your meeting?” Derek said.
“Yes, after I stop by the Capitol Complex to be sworn in as the Senator for the Western Can-Am District,” Nova sighed. “Then, I’ve already received a text that I have to fly out to the main District Office in Los Angeles tomorrow to meet a panel of constituents who are having problems with the Veterans’ Ministry, which is also under my authority as Surgeon General,” Nova said. “What with all of the other stuff we have going on…maybe I should have turned down the President and my Dad?”
“Kueller is a decent enough person, but I know it would have been harder to refuse your father,” Derek said.
“Let alone the head of the Constitutional Party Committee,” Nova sighed. “I just maintained the Constitutional Party majority in the Senate by giving my father the nod. “
“I can’t stand that Maples, and I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him,” said Derek.
Nova shivered in the bright sunlight as she stirred her coffee. “Ekogaru has something to do with him,” Nova whispered. “He’s bringing something bad down through him…but I can’t put my finger on it, and neither can the Matrix. Would you like to know the worst thing of all?”
“What?” Derek said.
“Katrina will have something to do with it. I want to see her tonight to see if she has anything to do with Maples. I know she’ll deny it, but I have to know. I really have the feeling Ekogaru has his finger on Maples….”
“I have the same feeling,” Derek said.
Nova nodded. “Something about him just makes me very uncomfortable.”
“I think he’s up to something, in cahoots with Ekogaru,” whispered Derek. “But what is it?”
Nova lowered her eyes. “I had a flash from the Matrix in the President’s office, Derek. It seemed to be a real flash of insight, but something very uncomfortable.”
“What was it?” Derek said.
Nova said. “I hate considering the idea…because it makes me look at the idea that my father may be assassinated…and soon.”
“How would that happen?” Derek said.
Nova looked around and said, “I was looking at the President’s desk…and then, a strange thought hit me that said… “this will be mine”. In order for that to happen, the President would have to be killed, followed by the Vice President…my father as Prime Minister…the Minister of Defense, the Minister of State, the Minister of the Interior, and the Minister of Internal Security and Justice. I am next in the line of succession after the Minister of Internal Security and Justice as Surgeon General, now. It is a possibility I do not feel good about…”
A shadow then came around the couple, as if a tree branch was cutting off the sun.
Then, a moment later, Derek and Nova found themselves sitting in darkness; a darkness not of this Earth. Goosebumps came on Nova’s bare arms and legs as she and Derek looked at a phantom with red eyes, which formed and solidified itself into a dark, cloaked figure with salt-and-pepper hair and a sardonic grin below his moustache.
“I can’t tell you all of that, can I?” said the Dark Lord as he bowed and stared at the Wildstars. “I come here to see you under flag of truce…to let you know that you can stop this…if we can come to an accommodation, my friendly enemies!”
“Why should we desire an accommodation with Hell?” Derek snapped.
“Because I am honestly interested in seeing if we can solve the problem of the possession of your world without bloodshed,” Ekogaru said.
“And, so the Fox would speak to the Hounds if he could,” Nova said softly. “This offer…is it yours, or is it an offer made by those who possess you?”
“I am a Free Agent! A GOD!” roared Ekogaru. “No one commands me! Indeed, who possesses you and your Mate? Your Matrix, Which comes from you know not where?”
“We listen voluntarily to the Wisdom of the Matrix,” said Derek. “WE are not slaves as you are!”
“I AM A SLAVE TO NO ONE!” roared Ekogaru. “But you shall be slaves to me! BOW before me, you scum!”
Nova shut her eyes, because a Vision was coming to her through the Matrix.
Listen, she sent to Derek, who opened his heart at her nod.
___________________________________________________________________
A succession of images came, at high speed.
And then, as suddenly as it had come, the startling images faded, and the Wildstars were left sitting alone in the garden as the birds sang about them.
There was no darkness, no cold, no Ekogaru clad in black, and no burning light and no High Queen Porsha, bare in her light as an avenging Angel of Heaven, crowned with Power and the very Grace of God.
“What does all that mean?” murmured Derek as he took Nova’s hand.
“It was a Prophecy,” whispered Nova. “She Passed through the Fire, she said. She died fighting Him. Yet, she returned again, more than alive, for a time, until she had to die again, as we all must. We do not have free access to the Tree of Life and its fruit in this life. You know the story of Genesis, Derek.”
“If that…if that happens to you, would you still be mine?” Derek said as tears ran down his cheeks. “I…I hate the thought of losing you!”
Nova began to cry, as she held Derek’s hands, but then, the Matrix unfolded another vision, startling, yet reassuring.
This can be Thee, if Thy path be true, at the end, whispered the Matrix.
Then, another vision came to both Derek and Nova.
Nova beheld herself sitting on a mat, in peace, on a beach.
The Crown Imperishable burned on Nova’s brow, and Nova sat with her mouth open as she beheld herself with a Star like that of Porsha’s burned on her breast, which was easy to see, for, like Porsha and Pellas, she herself was totally naked in the vision, looking earthy and otherworldly at the same time. She looked earthy for she was lightly suntanned all over as if she had long forsaken her garments, serene, and beautiful as she quietly held a naked baby boy in her lap and tenderly nursed him at her breast as the otherworldly, almost angelic, suggestion of a gleam wanting to spring forth from her very skin floated about her, and a look of serenity, wisdom and great age burned in her deep brown eyes, framed in a face and by a body that looked far younger and stronger than her current self, like a woman either in her late teens or early twenties, a woman, like a Pellian wet nurse, unembarrassed by her nudity as she kissed and played with her little boy.
Derek was not in the Vision, but both Wildstars knew that this son was theirs, one produced by a beautiful act of love…shared by them, somehow, after Nova had herself passed through the Fire and had died fighting Him…
The Matrix then whispered, If you be true, you will depart from this life in nothing, Nova, and be reborn as you were originally born, in nothing, owning nothing but the Gifts of the Most High. Be not afraid, Nova. For as the pain and suffering and nakedness of childbirth brings forth new life, if you do not stray from the edge of the Knife you walk on, your own pain and tears shall bring forth an age of Peace. It will hurt you greatly, Nova and Derek, and it did Porsha and her beloved Lord Marje, in whose arms she died and was then reborn.
Then, the strange yet reassuring vision of Nova in her Glory passed, as Nova sat holding Derek’s hand.
“You’ll come back to me,” Derek whispered. “Yet how long will you endure?”
“If I am true, perhaps I will be granted the Grace…the Gift as it were, to live on for an extended time, but short in the reckoning of the Universe…until His evil is wiped from the Cosmos and my Body then dies at last like all must until the Great Summons to His Throne at the end of days. But it will mean so little without you, Derek,” Nova sobbed.
“Maybe we will share those years…decades…even centuries…together…” Derek said.
“Together,” said Nova as she kissed Derek’s hands and refused to let go.
__________________________________________________________________
IV. A NIGHT OF A STRANGE DARKNESS….
Planet Earth
The Tokyo Megalopolis
The Houses of Parliament
June 12, 2231
1945 Hours
___________________________________________________________________
“Do we have an Affirmative of Plan Bravo Two?” asked General Gary Maples as he spoke into a walkie-talkie in the dark, quiet House of Parliament.
“Affirmative; the first of the charges are being set in the walls now, sir,” said a voice at the other end.
“I have a good group of men at work, in cooperation with the Dark Nebulans,” said Maples with a bow to Katrina and Kazuo “Foxy” Foxworth-Savela as they came into the room, both clad in black.
“What’s the point of all this again?” said a very confused Foxy as he looked around at EDF troops under Maples’ command…working in the night with Dark Nebulan troopers in their armor.
“You know the plan,” said Katrina in a soothing purr. “A non-violent blast in a few days will panic Parliament in joint session. As the Earthlings panic, General Maples comes forward with Admiral Harmva of the Dark Nebulan forces and they offer to aid in restoring order with a military government while the civilian Government runs around in an utter panic! Then, I finally appear in public as Princess Invidia, out Nova in public as the High Queen, and offer a coalition peace with Earth and the damned Pellians…by becoming a part of the Greater Comet Empire. Then, we can all join forces at last to fight Ekogaru and do vat we need to do to defeat him while a grateful Nova accepts my help, I am sure, as her Regent over Earth. Then, my father’s long-ago plan is accomplished at last, with no more than a few flash-bang grenades and a nice little show of force!”
And that’s what we all want you to think, Ekogaru whispered inside Maples’ mind. Until, that is, HE appears with the new Grand Fortress at the head of a mass column of ships in the chaos and demands the whole lot of you to surrender. And if Nova is doing her duty that night by being in Parliament when the so called “flash-bangers” go off and blow the Parliament to a bloody pile of smithereens, unless the Matrix can see this little trick, she and the Matrix will get to fly off to the Almighty like little angels in a hurry as we blow her into bloody shreds with Derek, her father, and everyone else! Because we know those are not flash-bangs that are being planted for the Joint Session in a week, don’t we?
“We do,” whispered Maples into nowhere as he began to feel ill all of a sudden. He remembered an appointment he had tonight, and shivered.
“Colonel Baltzmann!” he yelled.
“Sir,” said a very young Lieutenant Colonel of the SS to Maples.
“Make sure the plan keeps on going. Make sure SHE and Foxy do not learn of the true nature of those charges…particularly as we hope they’ll be blown apart with all the others in a weeks’ time,” he whispered.
“As we were, sir,” said Baltzmann. “If I am somehow caught…I was only following orders, and not aware of how strong these charges are,” he whispered.
“Good boy,” whispered Maples as he patted Baltzmann on the back. “You, Foxy, and the Princess are in charge here. Get your jobs done. For the Greater Glory…”
“…for the Glory of His Name, sir,” whispered Baltzmann. “May Lord Ekogaru bless us,” he whispered.
“He will,” said Maples.
He will, all right, when you get to be the first to die a week from tonight, you useful idiot, thought Maples with a grin as he thought about what would happen after he fired the detonator, shot Baltzmann dead, and then left the detonator neatly in his hand.
Maples walked out into the foggy night, and walked to his aircar.
He started it, and jumped as Ekogaru appeared to him in the passenger seat, a ghost burning with fire and stinking with sulfur.
“My Lord, you will be there tonight to aid me with the Wildstars?”
“No. We suffered a temporary reverse, thanks to the Matrix,” hissed Ekogaru. “I could not wait. I offered a last shot at Glory and Cooperation to that damned Admiral and her Majesty in the name of peace. Thanks to the Matrix, they did not get to swallow it, and now, she has no fear of Death any longer…at least that is what I pick up. How lovely, with Abraxas himself breathing down her neck to take her away when her body is blown into bloody shreds of meat next week. It will be awfully difficult for even the Almighty to raise her from the dead when she ends up in about five hundred bloody little pieces, and wonders what the holy fuck happened to her precious little body that she wants to make naked like an angel!” said Ekogaru with great vulgarity and a great laugh. “As for you, Maples, you will ascend to Glory next week and become immortal for me…the first of many to gain immortality,” hissed Ekogaru as Maples went cold all over and felt the hand of Death on him.
“So, you won’t be with me when I meet them?”
“Why should I be? It would be a charade, and what if Derek and Nova and the Matrix start to snoop, snoop, snoop, and snoop all over again?” Ekogaru said. “No, I will not be with you. You know what to do. Play stupid. Play the fool. That should be easy for you, since you are a great fool, anyway. Then, be prepared to join the courier ship Hermes at 0600 tomorrow morning. You will have business for me on the Bridge of the EDF Space Battleship Potemkin in two days afterwards. You know? The usual business? It will include making sure Anastasia Trelaina Wildstar begins her usefulness to me at last.”
“In what plan, Lordship?” whispered Maples as he drove toward the Wildstars’ home.
“I will not entrust you with that. You know too damn much already, fool!” said Ekogaru. “But you’ll like the result, I’m sure.”
Ekogaru snarled to himself at his use of Maples. I have to utterly dominate him, and soon, he thought. He thought of his attempts to use Aliscea for his vile plans in the past; he had received results, but not the full results he had craved, since Aliscea had too much self-will for him to control...she was the sort of weapon, he observed, who was useful but whom cut the hand of one wielding It like a poorly-made sword, even though he knew he would have to use her again soon, he would have to be careful…very careful…with both her and with Maples….
With that, Ekogaru faded away, leaving Maples all alone.
And scared out of his wits.
What in Hell’s Name is he planning now? Maples mused. I wonder…can I be a true man and stop it?
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Half an hour passed.
Maples arrived at Derek and Nova’s home, where he buzzed the intercom at the gate.
“This…this is General Maples. I need to see you and Senator Wildstar as soon as possible,” gulped Maples. “I’m frightened about…something…”
“Come on in,” said Derek’s voice over the intercom as the remote-control gate to the grounds was activated from the inside. “Nova and I are waiting for you.”
Maples said, “Of course.” Clearing his throat, he drove in.
He stopped behind a car he recognized as one of Admiral Wildstar’s Mustangs, and he got out, and walked up the driveway towards the house, ringing the doorbell.
“Come in,” Nova’s voice said over the intercom a moment later. “It’s just us; no one else is here tonight. Please leave your boots in the foyer, put on your slippers, and come in.”
Maples did so, and was surprised, as he came in, to find Nova waiting for him, clad in jeans, a turtleneck top, and barefoot. The sound of a news channel was playing in the house as Nova helped him with his boots and helped him out of his green EDF jacket. “You’re shaking like a leaf, General! I know we had some harsh words earlier today, but that’s politics. Derek and I don’t wish to do you any harm at all!”
“I do not,” said Maples as his tongue licked over his dry lips. “However, ma’am, there are others…who do…”
Nova walked him gently into the living room and sat him on a couch across from herself and Derek on a coffee table. “I know you like sake’, General, so we have some warm sake’ ready for you,” Nova said.
“Listen to this!” barked Derek as he turned up the TRI-D screen.
“In other news,” said the announcer, “The First Committee of the Earth Defense Council issued a statement, which reads, ‘There is no need for alarm or fear with this impending change of Government. Our vessels, on normal patrol, have spotted nothing at all approaching an impending invasion, as stated by some of a more alarmist political bent in the halls of power over the past few days. We see no need to take unusual measures or to call up any of the Star Force Units at this time, especially since all of our Special Missions vessels are about to be refitted or are entering refit at this time….’ …and, in other news, with the ghosts and rumors called back to their graves, knowing this is NOT Halloween..”
“The damn troika won’t even give me a hearing, Nova! Listen to that!” barked Derek.
“I have to agree with you, sir…it’s sickening…especially since we do, indeed have good reason to be apprehensive, sir,” said Maples. “In fact, I’ve…I’ve learned things that will place me in your camp, politics be damned!”
“You’ve sure changed your tune from this morning, General,” snapped Derek, who sat there in his EDF blues and house slippers. “Sorry I’m still halfway in uniform; I was out flying before. I spotted a lot of strange chatter on the lower end of the XK Band.”
“We don’t even monitor that band any longer, sir,” said Maples. “It’s the old Cometine Command Band from 2201. What sort of ships do we have that can monitor that?”
“Derek’s old Super Star,” said Nova. “Thanks to Sandor, he still has a sideband in there he can use to pull up that old band in his plane. He was out flying for a few hours tonight in Earth Orbit while I was meditating…trying to see what I could suss out…” She smiled softly at Derek and sent to him, …And it’s a good thing I remembered Maples’ impending visit in enough time to put some clothes on, Derek. You know what I usually meditate in now….
“Uh-huh,” Derek said out loud softly, winking at his bondmate.
“I have a confession to make to…to…to both of you,” said Maples. “I….I have not been as loyal to our interests as I should have been over the years,” he said. He took out his wallet and put down his ID Card on the table. “Admiral and Senator Wildstar,” he said. “I have been guilty of High Treason to the Earth Defense Command and the Government, for many years, and I….I….hereby confess to this treason, resign my commission voluntarily, and am prepared to allow…you to place me under arrest pending my execution as a traitor, which would actually be a mercy at this point, since I am already dying and my soul is surely damned….”
“General?” Nova said in a soft voice as Maples began to tremble, as if he was having a seizure. She leaped over the table to his side and held him as Derek looked on in shock and took her hand.
Maples tried to steady himself as he shivered in Nova’s arms. He said, “I was very wrong today, and the two of you are right, because, you see, I have served, in the hope of Power, as the primary agent of Lord Ek…”
Maples’ face then went brick-red as he felt something like cold, vicious, invisible hands crushing his throat. He tried to say, “I have been possessed by Ekogaru, of my own accord,” but all that came out of his mouth was a croaking gasp like “I…ve…..ed….Eko…o’….my….acord…GOD!”
“Derek! He’s been using Maples!” Nova cried.
“Kill him, then!” yelled Derek. ”Set him free of HIM!”
“For the love of God, no, Derek! He’s trying to fight him! Hang on, General! I can help you!” Nova said in a voice filled with compassion for her repentant enemy. “Derek, help me!”
Derek kissed Nova’s hand and reached inside himself as the Matrix’s power grew in both of them.
Maples looked in fear at both Wildstars as his world began to go black, and he realized that both of them were trying to aid him. For the first time ever, he heard Derek’s voice in his mind, saying, “Is HE choking you, Maples?”
Maples gasped and nodded.
“All we need to know,” said Nova as she and Derek shut their eyes…
And, with a vicious squeeze of Maples’ neck, Ekogaru closed off Maples’ carotid arteries. As Nova and Derek were trying to fight Ekogaru’s vile influence as he strangled Maples, the Dark Lord quickly gave his treasonous servant a stroke that he hoped would be disabling, to put him on ice until he needed his body again.
Maples fell inert on the sofa with his eyes rolled up as his breathing stopped.
And, not believing they were doing this, Nova began to breathe for Maples as Derek began to compress his chest while Nova floated the phone over.
Between chest compressions, Derek got the phone going and called for help.
_______________________________________________________________________
THIRTY MINUTES LATER….
A young African-American surgeon named Doctor Garratt Bixley greeted Nova and Derek at the ER at Central Hospital, and Nova embraced him warmly.
“Derek, Doctor Bixley is an old shipmate of mine from 2214,” Nova said. “He was the Intern they put on the North Carolina whom I told you about years ago.”
“How’s General Maples?” said Wildstar urgently.
“If he ever regains consciousness, his whole left side will be paralyzed,” sighed Bixley. “It’ll be nothin’ short of a miracle if he ever talks again.”
“Make sure he’s well cared-for, but please place him in a secure ward under guard, and if he ever regains consciousness, please tell him he’s still a General and I’m pushing for clemency for him,” said Derek.
“Clemency?” said Doctor Bixley, who was as confused as hell.
“I tried to save him, but expended too much energy fighting the Dark One,” whispered Nova to Bixley as she turned to Derek and said, “He knows about me, and knew, clear back to 2214. I had to take him and Deke into my confidence on the North Carolina, Derek. He knows what we’re up against.”
“And I’ll testify for both of you before any Council you two can think of,” said Bixley in a low voice. “Thanks to Ekogaru, I’ve seen some downright weird shit. Good thing Nova’s on our side, though, sir.” Bixley sighed and said, “If you two will excuse me, I gotta scrub and see if we have to get his head open to get any clots out. Instruments tell me the cerebo-spinal fluid pressure is way up there. Probably somethin’ nasty as hell sitting right on his brain. It’s not a good prognosis..”
“If you need me in there, I can change and scrub in fifteen minutes,” said Nova.
“Ma’am, I can see the look on your face. You’re too tired to go inside someone’s head with instruments for the next twelve hours. I’m rested and I can do it. YOU need to be home in bed, Doctor Wildstar.”
“Nova?” said Derek.
Nova sighed. “Derek, just like a pilot has to know when he or she is too out of it to fly safely, a surgeon has to know when he or she is too tired to operate safely. I drained so much mental, psychic, and physical energy just keeping that poor devil alive to get here…”
“You did your job already, Doctor,” Derek said as he gave Nova a pat on the shoulder. “You’re coming home from me, and we’re getting our stories straight so we can talk to the Defense Council tomorrow morning…”
Nova nodded and let Derek escort her from the hospital.
_______________________________________________________
V. ACROSS THE UNIVERSE
April xx, 2015
Northeast Philadelphia, PA
Early Morning
_____________________________________
“So, what are you doing, Gail?” I said as I watched my cute, blond, Pixyish wife, Gail Kopetz, sitting in her favorite chair in our living room, reading a History Novel of some sort.
“I’m reading a history book,” she replied.
A meow interrupted the conversation. It was high-pitched, and belonged to a somewhat chubby grey cat of nearly nine who still sounded like a ten-week old kitten when he mewed.
“Go feed Felix,” Gail said.
“I’ll get to it in a moment,” I said while messing around on Facebook. “Which Henry are you reading about this time?”
“Henry the Seventh, Fred,” Gail replied.
“What about King Friday the Thirteenth and Miss Elaine?” I replied, trying to tease Gail somewhat. Felix mewed again, and I said, “I’m getting to you, stupid.”
“Honey Bunny, don’t you dare call Felix stupid!”
“Sometimes, he’s as dumb as a pooost,” I sang back. I ran over to the sink and got a can of Purina cat food. “What’s this?” I said, teasing Felix. “Hey, numbskull, what’s this?”
Felix mewed again and he rubbed his head against the can. I opened the can of Purina Gourmet Grill while singing, “Kitten food is coming, kitten food is coooming! Kitten food, kitten food…for my baaaby Fewix…”
Gail smiled as she heard the reassuring morning sounds of Felix being fed. He began to purr as he ate. Gail sang, “He’s happy!”
“I know he is,” I replied as I tied my sneakers. I began to throw things into a blue VA carrier bag as I said, “Luckily, Gail, no Lodge practice tonight, even though it’s Monday. That’s my hell day on the phones, y’know.”
“Ohh…I hope you have a good day,” Gail said as I kissed her ear. “I hope you got a lot of sleep last night and that I didn’t disturb you.”
“I was fine, Fluffy,” I said back. “Ten of...I gotta run. Love you!” I said as I shut down Facebook and got the keys to The Blue Max, my 2012 VW Jetta Four-Door in dark blue.
“Bye, Honey Bunny, love you!” Gail said. “Have a safe journey to work!”
“Love you, too,” I replied. I kissed Gail again and petted Felix and ran out, little realizing this would be the last normal day of my life for a while.
________________________________________
So, I drove to work, heading southwest, as usual, down Route 1 or Roosevelt Boulevard in Philadelphia, averaging between 40 and 60 MPH as I sped down the Boulevard, a twelve-lane highway, six lanes in each direction going south, six going north, getting up speed in several stretches on the express inner three lanes as the VW sped unimpeded through some quasi-expressway type lanes as the inner lanes of the road dipped under a number of overpasses and down some cuts, with the local lanes on the outer drives heading their way at grade level, with local streets and stop lights to contend with. For several portions, the Boulevard came back to street level, where I had to deal with stop lights, dumb pedestrians crossing the road for no reason at about 8AM, and cars and trucks that were either competent drivers who let you pass or morons who cut you off and tailgated you. I sang along to some 60’s and 70’s Classic Rock songs on WMGK, the FM station I kept on in the black interior of the VW as I kept the console shifter of the automatic transmission in “Drive”. I guffawed at a local DJ’s strange clip “Thin the Herd” as he spoke of real news stories of dumb people doing dumber things, such as burglarizing homes and leaving behind their ID. Fun stuff like that.
After zooming past North Ninth Street and the Boulevard in North Philadelphia, a somewhat slummy area, I got onto the Roosevelt Expressway as three lanes on each side merged into two between 50 and 70 MPH. I negotiated the short expressway drive well, got into the right lane past the North Broad Street overpass as the Expressway went over a commuter train yard at Wayne Junction on a huge overpass, and then, five minutes later, I signaled for the Fox Street exit and swung out onto a service road and then swung onto Fox Street, a Northwest Philadelphia street, after making a sharp right at a traffic light. I made another right at Queen Lane, drove past Drexel Medical School, and made another right onto Wissahickon Avenue at 8:22 AM as my drive was almost over. After a long block, I signaled at a large gate as my office complex, a Federal Building where an office of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs loomed above the local street. I slowed down for the guard shack, nodded at the security guard as he glanced at the parking pass on my front mirror, and made a left in the huge parking lot as I glided at 15 MPH to my usual parking spot, where I turned off the radio, turned the key “off” on the VW, and got my bag, which contained a book for breaks, some Twinkies, a bottle of Pepsi, and various other sundry bits of junk. I made sure I got my badge around my neck on its lanyard, used my key fob to lock Blue Max and activate the burglar alarm, and trotted towards the main entrance of the VA Building messing around with my cell phone in my pocket as I glanced south and looked at the skyline of Center City Philadelphia that loomed about seven miles away as the Comcast Tower, the tallest building downtown, glittered in the sunlight.
I flashed my badge at the guard station in the building, passing the X-Ray Machine and magnetometer that are the bane of most Federal Buildings.
I took the elevator to the Fourth Floor and reported to my boss’ cubicle at 8:25 AM, still five minutes early. We exchanged some pleasantries and I reminded her of my Federal Grand Jury Duty summons, which would mean I would be out of work the next day, and would be out of work every second Tuesday on Jury Duty for a number of weeks if I was picked to serve on a Grand Jury downtown. She was glad I was here today and on time, and I got to my cubicle, said hi to my coworkers in adjacent cubicles, and got my computer running, sneaking a glance at Facebook before pulling up the data processing program I used to pull up Veterans’ Life Insurance information. I called Gail, let her know I was at work safely, and then put my phone on standby right at 8:30 AM, signaling my readiness to accept calls as I adjusted my headset.
8:33 AM. The phone rang for call number one that day, the first of probably fifty or sixty more. A World War II veteran, fairly pleasant, requested a beneficiary change form. I took care of him after verifying his identity and sent the desired form to Duluth, Michigan through our computer system.
I glanced at a car magazine while pouring myself a Pepsi for the next six minutes, laughing as a co-worker joked about his seatmate liking the Dallas Cowboys. In Philly, accusing someone of liking the Cowboys is a good-natured insult.
8:39 AM. An e-mail from a Lodge Brother in my Lodge of Freemasons whom I work with comes in, reminding me of a rehearsal next week. I acknowledge his e-mail and hit “send” as the phone rings again at 8:40 AM.
8:40 AM. Call Number two. It’s a female veteran, distraught because her insurance loan has not hit her bank yet. I acknowledge her call, remind her that her loan was approved on Friday, and that it takes three to five days for funds from Treasury to hit her bank. She accepts my explanation and says she’ll call back later in the week if her five hundred dollars does not hit the bank. She says she needs it for her rent. I sympathize with the caller and feel sorry for her.
8:43 AM. Call Number Three gets recorded and reviewed by my supervisor. I handle it well even though the angry Vietnam veteran at the other end is screaming and cursing about his benefit check being low. “We don’t handle benefit checks here, sir,” I explain. “You need to call the Regional Office for that. I can give you the number.”
The veteran curses me out, curses out Congress, curses out the President, and asks in a challenging tone if I voted for Obama or not.
I tell the veteran, an angry man from the backwoods of Georgia based upon his address and his accent, “Sir, it does not matter who I voted for. What does matter is getting you the help you need. Would you like to get a pen and paper ready so I can give you the proper number and directions how to reach a human being there?”
“If you’re gonna give me the main 1-800 number, son, you can go to fucking hell! That damn number never works!”
“Well, would you like the number for the Vet Center closest to you?” I ask.
“It’s hard for me to get to Decatur, damnit!”
“You can call them, sir, and they can get this fixed. And I know you’re angry, could you please cut down on the profanity? We are being recorded.”
“Okay, what’s the number for Decatur, ya Yankee Democrat?”
“It’s the following, sir,” I give him the number and say, “Sir, when you call there, ask to have your DIC looked into.”
“If they don’t help me, I’m callin’ my Goddamn Congressman, boy!” he yells.
“That’s your prerogative, sir,” I say.
“Go to Hell,” he says charmingly before hanging up. I take my notes for his call, red-flag his use of profanity, and just get done with my notes when the phone rings again.
“I hope this isn’t another looney,” I say to my nearest seatmate.
“Yeah, I got mine when I started,” he says with a grin as I answer. Joking to our co-worker nearby, he says, “He likes the Cowboys, just like you, Rob!”
“I hate the Cowboys!” laughs back Rob. “Earl’s the Cowboys fan.”
“Am not, Dancin’ with the Stars,” says Earl with a laugh as I take my next call at 8:51 AM while glancing at small plastic figures of Nova, Desslok, Derek Wildstar, and Captain Avatar on my desk, all characters from what I assume is the fictional Star Blazers anime series.
My assumption that Star Blazers is fictional will be gone in approximately two minutes.
“Good Morning, Department of Veterans’ Affairs Life Insurance,” I say. “Mister Frederick Kopetz speaking. How may I help you?”
The woman’s voice at the other end sounds exactly like a friend of mine, who can do an uncanny impression of Nova. Except that she sounds a bit younger and more desperate.
“Freddo,” she says into the phone with no preamble. “I need your help, and you need mine,” she says.
I sit with my mouth open for a moment, and ask, almost mechanically, “May I have your Social Security Number, Miss?”
“My Service Number is O-52349549-12-A-SF,” she says. “You won’t find that on your computer, Mister Kopetz. Let me assure you of that.”
I use what I guess is her proper name for a moment and say, “I’m sorry, is this a joke? Do you have a relative who needs help?”
“Earth needs your help right now. You may not understand why,” she says softly in her dulcet voice, “but, believe me, Freddo, this is no prank, this is no game, and I’m quite sane. I’m not calling from the Year 2015, either, and I’m not using a phone. You know my name, but you can’t look up the number.”
“What’s going on?” asks my seatmate, as he hears my voice shaking.
“Personal call from a relative,” I lie quickly. “Yes…I assume you’re?”
“You’ve guessed it. I’m Rear Admiral Nova Forrester Wildstar, and I’m meditating right now on a warm summer night in 2231 by my pool in a kimono,” she says. “While I was out, I saw you. I must warn you, formally, that you are in great danger.”
“From who?” I say.
“From a Dark Man with no Face,” she says as I pull up the Internet and type the Search Term Randall Flagg into my Google search engine. I pull up a Web Article and say, “Do you mean a being from another time?”
“Good boy,” Nova whispers to me in the phone. “He’s on trial right now, you could say. An indictment is about to be unsealed next week for a Roland Fairlaine, assumed to be an agent of sorts for Al-Qaeda,” Nova says. “You will be on that Grand Jury. I have already seen that. The problem is, he knows that too, and he’s looking for you, and that’s how you and I were drawn together, across the universes, you could say. Although the detail you write about my private life makes me blush, you’re actually a rather good observer,” Nova adds.
“Do you somehow have access to Visions in your world?” I say.
“Yes, and I’ve managed to hack all of your ridiculous password schemes,” Nova laughs. “Okay, you’re not bad for a duffer from the twenty-first century. Be careful, give Fluffy my love, and if I were you, I’d take my time driving home from work tonight.”
“Is this being recorded?” I ask.
“I’m making sure it’s not,” Nova tells me. “Freddo, you and I will meet someday. Face to face.”
“Where?” I say as I begin to sweat.
“In HIS realm,” Nova adds. “In the Place Where There is No Darkness,” she says. “May the Great Architect Bless you,” she adds. “Derek sends his regards. Don’t leave early today. This is no joke and you can tell Gail, as she will be involved, too, at some point. But she will be safe. Don’t worry. Best wishes, Freddo. It was nice to meet you.”
“Thank you…Nova,” I say.
As if she read my mind, Nova nods and says, “Jai Guru Deva Om. Best wishes.” Then, the line goes silent.
“What was all that about?” my seatmate asks.
“You…you really don’t need to know. I’m fine. If Marilyn is looking for me, I’ll be getting a fresh Pepsi. Be back soon.”
__________________________________________________________
In the year 2231, Derek Wildstar ran out in the yard, and saw Nova sitting wiping her brow.
“I told you about this earlier, Derek,” Nova said.
“Did you make contact and get the right person?”
Nova nodded. “Derek, Freddo really lives. I’ve had dreams of him ever since 2214. My God, I actually talked to the man. I was as shocked to reach him as he was to hear from me. He has a mellow, Mid-American voice. Trace of New York in the accent. In his universe, I’m an anime character. But I went and did it. I found his dimension and I got him on the phone. He was damn surprised to hear from me. He has a figure of me on his desk, would you believe it?”
“Nova, you get around a bit,” Derek quipped.
“If I were a bit taller and had slightly darker hair, I could be his cousin Colleen, would you believe it?”
“That Pellian DNA must be all over the place,” Derek said.
“And so’s Randall Flagg. Or Richard Freeberg. Or Jean St. Germain. Or Roland Fairlane. Or whatever that Beast Toady of Ekogaru calls himself!” Nova said with anger in her voice. “And innocent people who think of us as fictional are close to dying because of that demented bastard hell spawn!”
__________________________________________________________
VI. OF A DAY IN THE FIELD
49,000 Lightyears Away From Earth
The Rikashan Federation
Planet Ja’vala.
June 13, 2231 (Terran Date)
0945 Hours: Local Time
_________________________________________________________
On Planet Ja’vala, an archaeological dig was underway in and around a hole and a cave in the ruins of a very ancient city outside of the Rikashan city of Ellet.
Rikashan, Iscandarian, Pellian, and Terran archaeologists and scientists were working together on this dig.
At the moment, one of the young women working on the dig, an undergraduate Archaeology major from Yale on Terra, was working on some of the grunt work of the dig. The girl, who would be a sophomore the coming fall, had won a grant to study here in space for the summer by submitting a paper she had written about the links she had picked up between Terran, Iscandarian, and Rikashan cultures. The girl had turned nineteen as of last month, with light blond hair that came down to just her shoulders, in a style worn similar to that of her mother. She was simply dressed in a pith helmet, light blue Yale T-shirt, khaki shorts, and study sandals. Her name was Teresa Wildstar, but her family background was little remarked-upon in this group of scientists and investigators as she shook some dust in a large screen, hoping to carefully reveal some pottery shards and bones she thought she had found.
Teresa had been born very late in the month of May of 2212 not long after her mother had graduated from Medical School. She personally didn’t remember it, but quite a few family pictures had recorded her nursing and cuddling skin-to-skin with her mother on New Pellias, and, later that summer, on Ralkhandar in one of their treehouses with her unclad mother in the heat on the jungle planet that was the homeland of the Ralkhens.
Teresa had been the quietest of the Wildstar children, preferring art, historical reading, and her dolls to the many varied interests of her two brothers and two sisters. At fourteen and then again at eighteen she had turned down chances to enter the Space Fighters’; Training School in favor of several civilian colleges, and she had been deliberating over acceptance offers to Tokyo University, Stanford, and Yale when she had decided to go to Yale. She had traveled, first with her parents, and then with her friends to many different worlds, and she had spent some time on Spectra in 2221 after the Spectran Government fell at the end of the Spectran/Terran War; the very one where she remembered witnessing, with awe and horror, the destruction of Spectra’s second moon Nemesis by the Argo’s Wave Motion Gun. It had been assumed that when the main starship/robot production Outer Base on Nemesis had been totally destroyed along with the moon, that Prime Minister Zoltar had met his long-awaited end in the terrible ball of fire that Nemesis had become.
“Look what I found,” she said as she pulled up a piece of pottery.
A furry Ralkhen archaeologist picked up the shard that Teresa had found. “The runes are very old; they look as if they’re from the First Pellian Era.”
“What should we do, Doctor?” asked an Iscandarian girl who was working with Teresa.
“Carefully clear this hole, and make notes of any more shards you find with First Era runes on them,” said the Ralkhen, who was named Doctor Panzo Heglets.
“Yes, Doctor Heglets,” said Teresa.
___________________________________________________
VI. A FINAL MANDATE…AND A DECISION
Planet Earth
June 14, 2231
0930 Hours: Local Time
____________________________________________________
The morning came on Earth.
At 0930 Hours, Admiral Derek Wildstar entered the sealed Inner Room of the Earth Defense Council, and saluted Commanding General Singleton.
“Sir, I’m sorry to be late. I was getting a last-minute report from the Potemkin down in the Situation Room.”
“That’s fine, Admiral. “We have been reviewing the same report, which the Surgeon General has secured for us.”
Derek looked to his right, finding Nova sitting quietly at her seat at the Defense Council table.
“I have a valid question,” snapped Admiral Shimabara.
“What is your question, Admiral?” asked Singleton.
“Why have we admitted the Surgeon General to our meeting?” snapped the old Admiral as he coughed.
“The Pellian Government sent a note of concern to us yesterday, asking that a representative for the interests of their Federation, for Iscandar, for Gamilon, and for the Rikashans should have a seat on the Council,” said the Commander. “The Surgeon General, being cleared for the receipt of classified information, and having worked to mediate our interests within the Alliance for many years, was the logical choice here, at my request and the request of the Commanding Admiral of the Combined Fleet.”
Nova then stood and said, “I am also here this morning as the logical Representative for Parliament, given that Senator Ki-Park resigned her seat in the Senate as Prime Minister Forrester’s Government was confirmed yesterday. Some postings to the Defense Council have always been ad hoc postings based upon the needs of the moment. Therefore…”
“I have intelligence about you!” snapped Shimabara. “Commander, I submit that this Senator should not be seated because she is not fully human! In fact, because she’s part-alien, she should not even have the right to vote, let alone be a member of the Government! I would like to move in the Parliament that she be impeached because she’s part-alien!”
A hubbub filled the Council Chamber as Nova again rose and said, “All right! I do not deny that! However, with advances in what we can now read from the DNA sequence, I submit that perhaps a third of the entire population of Terra carries residual gene markers from Iscandar, from Pellias, or, as I do, from both worlds. I do not deny my heritage, and I submit that denying a Terran citizen, born on Terra, his or her rightful place in the Government a new and more insidious form of racism, particularly as I estimate that we now may have close to seven hundred thousand younger Terrans out of a new post-Gamilon war population of almost a billion who have mixed Terran and alien genes since they were born here on Terra, but are the offspring of marriages of Terrans and Iscandarians, Gamilons, Pellians, Rikashans, R’Khells, Bolars, Cometines, Rigans, and even Spectrans now that we have open diplomatic relations with Spectra since Zoltar was defeated and what remains of his Government is now merely a terrorist movement known as Galactor. These genomes are several thousand years old, and one of these gene chains just happens to mean that I am a surviving member of the High Queen’s Imperial Line on Pellias.”
“Senator Wildstar, I agree with your right to be present, and to speak and to offer us your counsel. Indeed, Admiral Wildstar tells me you have some special insights in regard to Ekogaru…”
“Ekogaru the Great is long dead, like his false religion,” said General Charles W. LeBarr. “He’s dead, like a bad dream.”
“He may not have a corporeal existence any longer, but, yet, like a malign version of Trelaina of Telezart, this monster lives still, and Derek and I have seen him,” Nova said.
“When? After drinking too much sake?” sneered LeBarr. Shimabara laughed like crazy as Derek ground his teeth. Not far away, General Stephen Sandor drank some water, shook his head, and said, “I have scientific evidence that our old enemy has been present, taken from my laboratory aboard the Argo, gentlemen.”
“I’ve seen his evidence, and it’s good,” said Admiral
Wildstar cogently.
“We’re going to allow this lunatic free reign over his lab on a vessel in dry dock we are about to dismantle for a years’ refit?” Shimabara roared.
“The Argo’s actually in fair shape,” said Sandor. “I’d like to propose, for the good of Earth, that we reactivate the First Star Force and go out and investigate Ekogaru’s presence with the evidence we have, which is substantial, and which I have summarized in a report, which I am having handed out now,” he said as he clapped his hands and IQ-9 burbled into the room with a box, handing out a 300-page binder to each member of the Defense Council.
“I second your motion, Admiral,” Nova said as IQ-9 handed her the report. He then said to her, “Your legs look sooo nice in that skirt, ma’am,” he whispered, making Nova blush as he admired her legs from the hem of her mid-length white skirt at her thighs down to the tips of her sandaled toes.
“My legs are not the point of discussion here, Tinwit!” Nova whispered fiercely.
Shimabara overheard and laughed like a fool! “Lift up her skirt, my good man! YES!” laughed the old Admiral.
The Commander banged with his gavel as IQ turned to him and said, “I will not lift her skirt for you, at your request, you aging decrepit baboon. I feel an energy coming from you, and it is negative!’
“How negative is the energy?” Nova said evenly.
“Let us touch and you will see,” said IQ-9 as he put his hand on the table.
“Careful with that touching, my friend,” Nova said as Derek winked at her. Some of the council laughed as she stuck out her tongue at her husband.
Nova laid her hand over IQ’s hand, and a soft glow covered her hand for a moment. “It’s bad, my friend,” said Nova.
“How bad is it?” said Derek.
“It’s bad Derek. As for you, Shimabara, you…you…swine,” Nova whispered as she stared right at Shimabara after she stroked Derek’s hand. “How dare you come here, you liar? YOU do not have our best interests at heart, you servant of…”
“I was just leaving, now,” said Shimabara as he stood up. “General LeBarr has the right of proxy for my vote, Commander,” said the old man before he left. “As for you, Admiral Sandor, I had a dream about you. We will meet again soon, my friend. In space.”
Shimabara left over the hubbub of the Council.
“A motion has been made and seconded that the Argo should leave Earth to investigate the possibility of a Technomugar resurgence,” said Singleton. “All in favor…”
Singleton’s hand went up, followed by Derek’s, Nova’s, Sandor’s, Admiral Schaeffer’s, Doctor Bellingham’s, Minister Park’s, General Wendy Singleton’s, and that of Senator Habermann. 9 in favor…
“All opposed,” said the EDF Commander, softly.
LeBarr voted “no” and submitted a proxy for Shimabara, followed by “NO” votes from Representative Hagel, General Moreland, Minister Dubruska, Minister Chee-Ban, Senator Fallon, Senator Uberth, Minister Hewlett, and Senator Spector, the son of corrupt evangelist Pastor Spector.
“9 in favor, ten opposed,” the Commander said sadly. “Motion denied; the refit of the Argo shall continue as planned; we shall begin to dismantle her tomorrow…now, on to other business…”
Sir, she will be dismantled over my dead body, Derek thought as he gritted his teeth.
Nova picked up his thought and nodded. So did Sandor.
Sandor slammed down his water, wrote a quick note, and had Nova pass it to Derek. She gave it to him, and he read it.
It simply said, SHE’S NOT GOING TO BE DISMANTLED IN DOCK, SKIPPER.
Derek wrote back, NO, SHE WILL NOT. GET HERE OUT OF THERE. ASAP.
Nova passed the note and Sandor wrote back, IS THE WORD GIVEN?
Nova and Derek opened the note, and Derek nodded. Derek kissed Nova and said, “Tell him the Word is Given. You know what we’ll do, and where the Captain wants us to meet…”
Nova nodded, and she walked over to Sandor and whispered in his ear, “The Word is given, Steve. We meet at Heroes’ Hill. Tonight.”
“As I thought,” he said quietly.
____________________________________________________
That evening, Stephen Sandor sat at Heroes’ Hill,
surrounded by some old friends of his.
Namely, Captain Homer Glitchman, who had mysteriously requested his wife, Wendy Glitchman Singleton, to process a request to be relieved of command of the space patrol cruiser Sumida, effective immediately. He had been having some tension in his marriage with Wendy for the past few months, so he said nothing else about his further plans.
Then, Wendy received a request from Commodore Dashell “Dash” Jordan to be relieved of command of the space battleship Mutsu, followed by a request from Captain Chris Eager to be relieved of command of the space battleship Nevada.
Wendy remembered the tone of the Defense Council meeting that day, and she guessed with the defection of three well-known commanders from their fairly new ships that something was up…especially because all of these men had been members of the First Star Force.
Sandor shook his head as he looked at the faces of Dash, Homer, and Eager, and he said, “Word got around, huh?”
“It sure did,” said Dash. “Is Wildstar gonna resign his command to lead us again after they told him to get stuffed in the Defense Council?”
“No,” said Sandor. “We’ve agreed he’s going
to run interference for us on Earth for the time being.”
“Who’s gonna be in command then?” asked Eager.
“Jonathan,” said Nova’s voice from behind them as the old veterans turned their heads in just enough time to see Derek and Nova running up.
They noticed that Derek had on his old EDF blues and his short blue peacoat, while Nova had on her EDF Headquarters whites with white pumps.
“Why Jonathan?” said Homer.
“He’s in command of the Argo now,” said Derek. “For now, unless we are able to join the mission later, as we both hope to, he has the confidence of the newer-generation crew members.”
“Such as us,” said Ariel Wildstar as she and her twin brother Alex ran up, followed by Joshua Glitchman and by Star Wakefield and her younger brother Chris Wakefield, who looked a bit like Jefferson Hardy with his hair hanging in his eye.
“Hey, Chris,” said Alex as he pumped fists with his slightly younger friend while Doctor Garratt Bixley ran up and hugged Ariel.
Ariel then turned to her parents and said, “Mom, Dad, this makes two hundred now, along with twenty-eight confirmed pilots ready to steal their Cosmo Tiger IV’s in the morning to greet the ship. Sandor, Jonathan wants to take off at 0600 Hours promptly, before the EDF can notice.”
“This seems to be a very efficient conspiracy you’ve all put together,” Derek mused with a grin on his face.
“When are you two coming?” Alex said as he looked at his parents.
“Where’s Stephen, your brother?” said Nova.
“On the ship already, assisting Diane with starting up the wave motion engine before anyone can notice,” Star replied. “Surgeon General, I have a message for you from Astrena. You are wanted at the Pellian Embassy tomorrow morning at 0900,” she said. “It appears that she is ready to hear your request.”
“Good, at least someone is listening,” Nova said as she scratched her pump on the ground before nodding to Derek.
He withdrew a glass bottle and said, “Sandor, we’re decided?”
Stephen Sandor nodded. “Yes. We’re stealing the Argo once again tomorrow morning and lifting off. We can’t remain here for long, sir..”
“Nor can I if I leave in time to cover your tracks,” Derek replied. “But, I have this,” he said as a group of Pellians and Gamilons ran up and nodded to him, and he nodded back, as the furry and blue men and women joined the ranks of the Terrans.
He withdrew an aged glass bottle from inside his coat. “The last bottle, only halfway full, of Captain Avatar’s old spring water. Nova and I have kept this for years, and have added some of Doctor Sane’s sake. Since he is dead, and Doc Sane can’t be here for now, well, Doctor Bixley, until Nova gets aboard the ship in the future, you’re the Argo’s ship’s doctor for now. You take this and do the honours.”
Bixley nodded. He took the bottle and snapped, “Star Force, FALL IN!”
The thirty-two souls who had gathered came to attention as Bixley said, “Captain, we hope to do honor to your name this day! We know that you will watch over us, as we again take off to defend the true interests of Earth and the Alliance, Terrans, Pellians, Ralkhen, Gamilons, and those who have the blood of Iscandar in them, gathered together for one cause…to defend our homes...against the Shadow!”
“AGAINST THE SHADOW!” yelled all of them as they then
saluted.
Then, every one of them, from Derek and Nova, to the least Gamilon, drank of
the spring water and sake mixture, becoming united in one brotherhood, one true
band, all at last.
“Those of us who are going have to go now,” said Stephen Sandor.
They then said their farewells to Derek and to Nova, many of them with hugs and tears.
Soon, the Wildstars were left alone as the others left.
“Now,” said Derek. “It begins.”
“It began a while ago,” said Nova in a quiet voice.
Derek nodded, and they left.
______________________________________________________________
When the Wildstars came home, they were greeted by a strange sight at midnight as the fourteenth of June became the fifteenth of June.
There were two dead bodies in their living room.
“The Intelligence Agents who were supposed to be guarding us!” Derek said. “Nova, are they..?”
Nova kicked off her shoes and knelt on the rug, checking their pulses at their necks. “They’re both dead, Derek.”
“Where are Hegen and Fela?”
“Off to the Pellian Embassy on a pointless…errand…” said a strange voice from the kitchen as Gary Maples staggered in, holding a Cosmo-Gun on them.
Derek snarled and drew his own Astro-Automatic at the strange figure, clad in a hospital gown and black cloak.
“Utterly pointless, Derek. Nova, don’t think of pulling that crystal sword of yours from your butt in dimension X,” said Maples. “This gun is not for you.”
“Who is it for?” demanded Derek.
“It’s for me, silly…” said Maples. “You see, Ekogaru and I have made a deal….”
Then, to their shock, Maples put the gun to his own head…
…and he fired.
Half his head exploded in a mess of blood and gore as Nova screamed.
Maples fell down, dead, but with his benighted soul falling blackly into the Pit as Ekogaru laughed all around him.
“WE HAD A DEAL!” yelled Maples.
“I have need of your body, Maples…not your soul!” hissed Ekogaru.
“But you said I’d be a Lord of the New Order!” yelled Maples as he fell into flames.
“I did, and maybe you will be…in HELL!” laughed Ekogaru. “To the Devil with you!” he laughed as his dark spirit manifested in the Wildstars’ living room…
..and swept upon Maples’ corpse and finally possessed it totally and completely.
Maples’ corpse got up as the head reformed.
The clothing changed, and Derek and Nova looked on as Ekogaru the Great himself, embodied fully again for the first time in twenty-nine years, strode to their organ and played the opening movement of the Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor by J S Bach on the organ as he made a metal skull appear for nowhere.
Derek shot at him, but Ekogaru put up his hand and deflected the laser bolt.
Nova then screamed and revealed her crystal sword from nowhere, and she sprang at him, swinging hard to take off his hand, which, as she saw, held his infernal Crystal Sphere, the place that was the home of his benighted, twisted spirit.
The Dark Lord just barely reacted in time, throwing his robes over his face like a classic Vampire, causing a wind to come up and blow Nova back slightly so that what would have been a killing blow at last to him went wide and slashed at the organ bench, instead.
“YOU SCUM WILL SEE ME AGAIN, SOON!” he raged. “Laugh now, you fools! LAUGH!”
At that, Ekogaru vanished, taking the corpses of the security men with him, along with the mess of blood and brains that had belonged to Gary Maples, who was now dead.
He had places to go and worlds to run to before sunrise as he manifested again aboard his completed New Technomugar Fortress and yelled to a waiting crowd of thousands of his followers, “I LIVE AGAIN! THE WORK IS DONE! Today, we begin the conquest of the Local Group of Galaxies at Last! Our first target lies before us! WE GO NOW! Full speed!”
And, as his Fortress advanced, he roared, “NOW IT BEGINS!”
_________________________________________________________________
VII. THE CIRCLE OPENS
Planet Earth
The Tokyo Megalopolis
June 15, 2231
0530 Hours: Local Time
____________________________________________________________________
“We have power coming up for the auxiliary engines now,” said Timothy Orion from the Argo’s Engine Room as Diane Sandor smiled and nodded from Engineering. “Five minutes to cycling…”
“Did you say goodbye to your daughter?” Ariel calmly asked her elder adopted brother Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama as he pulled on his gloves at the Captain’s station.
“I did,” he said. “She’s OK at the Academy…and should be safe there, I hope. I wish Felicia was around to see this moment…”
Ariel bowed her head at that. “It’s too bad she was killed two years after you got back from that business with Zoltar…”
“Zoltar…whom we think reappeared to kill her,” he said as painful memories came to his mind. “I wish we know what happened to that bastard…”
“They say G-Force almost caught up with them…twice…” said Ariel. “Mark told me…after we accepted him into the family after he married Princess…”
“Those days were so bittersweet for me,” said Jonathan.
“Sir, the Cosmo-Radar is ready, No signals spotted. No one suspects anything,” said Star from his post there.
Tanya Frenliz, the Pellian member of the bridge crew, sat at Analysis and said, “No emissions detected, Captain.”
“Good to hear,” said Stephen Sandor from his old post.
“Are they serious about those old guys joining us?” said Viska Teyena from Combat as she swung her tail.
The bridge doors whizzed open, and Commodore Dashell “Dash” Jordan ran up in his Star Force whites, followed by Eager in his white and greens, and by Homer Glitchman in his gold, black, and whites.
“DAD!” yelled Joshua Glitchman as he dropped his headset.
“That’s not “Dad”, that’s “Captain”!” said the elder Homer as he took his old post.
Eager sat down and said, “You look awful funny up there, Jordy!”
“Oh, you be quiet, you old man,” laughed Jordy Venture. “Captain, helm’s ready,” said Jordy.
“Water over the top mast, sir,” said Sandor from his post.
“Well, this is it,” said Jonathan.
He tapped a button on his bridge post and said, “I, Jonathan Hartnell-Wildstar, assume command of this vessel and the First Star Force. We take off in five minutes. Anyone who’s changed their mind…it’s too late now unless you can swim REALLY good,” said the younger man while Ariel giggled and left the bridge. “Sandor, open the dock.”
“Gate open,” he said, as he flicked switches on his panel. “Umbilical free, we are now on internal power; opening lock.”
The ship banged loudly as it drifted free in the water.
“Power to auxiliaries,” said Diane as he brought up the engines.
An ominous thrum of power came through the Argo’s hull. Then, they began to move.
Soon, the Argo was passing out of her dock as alarms went off in Earth Defense Headquarters.
At 0545, the phone began to ring in Derek and Nova’s bedroom.
It was ignored as Derek was in the shower.
Nova had already dressed in warm clothing and was out on their balcony, keeping watch over the sea.
I have confronted you, Ekogaru,
Nova thought. I blame myself for not stopping you…but it is not the time
yet. Now, our children are about to leave, the first of many to begin fighting
you and your sick plans, she thought.
I wish I could be with you, Argo…both Derek and I….Nova thought wistfully as the dawn came up. But, if things fall as I think they will…things on Earth will soon be very, very different. I tried to warn them, Derek and I tried to warn them. We all tried to warn them…but will they listen? No. They are deaf, and they will stay deaf, until fire sweeps over this city…and until the Fire builds…
..and until I pass through it….
Dawn grew and filled in the East as Nova turned her face towards the sea, the wind biting through her sweater, skirt, socks, and house slippers.
The sun came up.
At 0550, the Sun came up.
At 0555, the Argo began to come up through the upper reaches of the Sea.
At 0557, the Duty Officer at EDF Headquarters ordered interceptors to stop the Argo.
At 0559, the Black Tigers obeyed the order to “intercept” the vessel as Alex Wildstar III led them into battle with a grin on his face.
Then, as Nova watched as Derek came up beside her, at 0600, there was a disturbance in the distance in the Sea…
At 0600, the Argo blasted off, bursting from the
waters as she roared up towards the sky.
At 0601, Derek said to Nova. “I answered the phone, finally.”
“Yes?” said Nova.
“I ordered them to have Admiral Deke Wakefield take care of it. He’s at TDY in Headquarters right now. I also sent him a message, and he knows what’s up. He’ll be…uhh…taking his time until I get there…”
“Nice job,” said Nova as she kissed her husband. “We have to go, don’t we?”
“We do,” he said as, on the Argo, Jonathan smiled as the Black Tigers “intercepted:” her…
…and promptly landed aboard the ship, all of course, in violation of their orders.
In Headquarters, an officer said to Admiral Wakefield, “I’ve just gotten an intercept! The Black Tigers LANDED aboard the ship! They didn’t attack her!”
“Should we prepare the battle satellites, sir?” said a Commodore who ran up.
“Do those things still work?” drawled Wakefield.
“Sir, we tested them two weeks ago!” protested the Commodore.
“Sir, received a response from the nearest available capital ship,” said a Comm Officer.
“Read it,” said Deke.
“It reads, “Picked up chatter on the main band, diverting from investigation mission under special orders, I have assumed command of the Potemkin…I have just boarded by special courier…preparing to intercept Argo…expect meeting to do battle in five hours, signed…Shimabara…Admiral, EDF…”
“I GAVE HIM NO ORDERS TO PURSUE, AND NEITHER DID WILDSTAH!” yelled Deke. “Pull him back!”
“Sir,” said the Comm Officer.
“Pull the Potemkin back!” said Admiral Wakefield.
“Aye, sending order,” said the comm officer.
“Well?” said Deke.
“Order ignored…” said the Comm Officer.
“DAMNIT!” hissed Wakefield as he picked up his phone to call Derek.
________________________________________________________________
It would be a while before he got through, though.
At 0900, Derek and Nova reached the Pellian Embassy, Derek in his uniform and peacoat, and Nova in her clothing, boots, and peacoat.
Inside the Pellian Embassy, on its island sanctuary in Tokyo Bay near the Great Megalopolis, there was a huge domed room filled with holographic equipment and encoding equipment. This room, known as the Dome of the Stars, was always heavily guarded by both strong, fierce Pellian Marines and by two strong Ralkhen swordsmen; men who were tall and made it clear they meant business and would kill to protect the sanctity of this secret chamber; for it was the chamber used by Astrena, and sometimes by Desslok and Starsha, to offer aid and counsel to Novalia, the Pellian Ambassador to Terra, or to Sasha when she acted as an Iscandarian envoy and needed to hear from both the thrones of Iscandar and Pellias, or to the three Matrix bearers; Katrina (also known as Invidia), Admiral Derek Wildstar, and Nova Wildstar, hidden High Queen of Pellias.
Nova and Derek knelt before an empty platform, above which appeared, a moment later, a twice life-size holographic image of Astrena, the Ruling Queen of Pellias. Astrena was clad in filmy green robes with white slippers. She held the gleaming silver Sceptre of Pellias in her right hand, and two lights like stars burned above her left palm.
Astrena spoke first, “Arise, my dear Admiral Wildstar, best of friends and Counsellors. Arise, Nova, adopted Daughter of my Heart, and our secret hope. Nova, it is not yet your Hour to bear this,” she said as she held the Sceptre, but I already know why you are here to make your prayer to me. It is because your Hour draws near at last, and your Passage through the Fire Awaits you. I have already foreseen its beginning….Nova…”
“Majesty,” Nova said as her face went white and she grasped Derek’s hand as tears ran down her cheeks. “ Derek noticed she looked ill, as if she had just heard a doom she had long expected.
“You know that your Road is a road I long prayed she who was my Daughter would take, but she fell into Darkness even on its first steps. You have gone farther, but you have long to go as of yet. I do see your reasoning, though, for placing the Argo under the Royal Flag of Pellias. I grant your request, but ask that you rename her.”
“Derek and I…have already considered a name for her, Majesty,” Nova said. “Her original name…”
“That name is?”
“Yamato,” said Derek softly.
“Appropriate, for it is a name fitted with legends of bravery and sacrifice. Indeed, as your ancient ship appears again, her legend shall live again, as will live the legend of the Crystal Throne, if you be true, Nova. Can you give up all you have, Majesty?” Astrena said softly. “Can you weep tears of water and sweat blood? Can you bear the shame and laughter of profane voices as even your very body becomes exposed to those you fear most? Can you bear the Breath of the Dark Lord, the nails in your wrists that the Martyrs bore in emulation of He Who lives Forever and Ever, Amen, His Name be Blessed? Can you bear the spear of fire in your heart? And the cold of Death?”
“I can, if He would have me do so,” sobbed Nova.
“Then, Daughter, you are worthy, and it is worthy that Yamato shall be your sanctuary and ship in time of trouble. Your prayer to me is granted.”
Nova knelt weeping as Derek tried to comfort her, even though he was crying himself.
“Majesty?” he said softly. “She’ll die on this road, won’t she?”
“Yes,” said Astrena plainly as she wiped away tears. “Yet I foresee that if she passes the tests, she will breathe again, at your side, in this life, more glorious than ever. I also leave her with these Words, Words He spoke long ago:
“ For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake…”
“… shall find it.” Nova whispered softly. “LORD, if this is Your Doom upon me, grant me the strength to bear it. For I do not know the Way. Amen.”
Astrena nodded. “He has accepted your humble acceptance of His Doom….something SHE could never have done…Blessed Be His Name. And Blessed Be Thine, Nova Pellias Wildstar Regina, the Third. For if YOU pass the test, you will be called Great.”
____________________________________________________________________
At 0900, the Potemkin, having
abandoned her escorts and previous mission, warped to the Jupiter Area.
“Sir,” said Lieutenant Anya Wildstar in a trembling voice as she worked her ship’s main guns from the Combat Console, “How do you know the Argo has even left Earth?”
“I know she’s coming,” said Shimabara. “Do you want to argue with me and end up like Admiral Borsikov?” he roared.
Anya shook her head, remembering the scuttlebutt that Borsikov and he had had an argument in his cabin.
She didn’t hear all of it, but, like the Bridge Crew, she had been forced to observe his dead body afterwards.
“I’ve spotted a vessel warping in!” snapped the young man at the Potemkin’s radar. “She’s identified as the Argo!”
“HARD ABOUT HELM, NINETY PORT!” said Shimabara. “I have word from Earth that the Argo’s been stolen!”
“What are our orders, sir?” said the helmsman, a young man named Haim Schaeffer.
“Lieutenant Schaeffer, Miss Wildstar, my orders are to destroy her! Open main guns! Our target: the Argo!”
Swallowing hard as a strange sense of cold came over her from Shimabara’s command station, Anya said, “Opening main guns, sir. Target….the Argo! Sir, when we fire…shouldn’t we send a message first?”
“NO message. They know what they’ve done!”
“Very well, sir….opening main guns…target…the Argo…”
“FIRE!” whispered Shimabara.
“Aye, sir,” said Anya. “FIRE!”
With a trembling hand, not really wanting to…
…Anya opened fire on three members of her own family as the Potemkin’s guns spoke.
“Enemy fire spotted!” yelled Star Wakefield
on the Argo’s bridge.
“Where’s it coming from?” yelled Sandor.
“Vessel identified as the Potemkin!” said Eager.
“Anya’s firing at us!” said Star.
“I thought Dad said we’d be allowed to leave!” yelled Jonathan.
“Shimabara took over the Potemkin, and he’s not listening to HQ, I sense,” said Star as she shut her eyes.
Jonathan snarled.
“Very well. Dash, and Viska,” said Jonathan as the furry Pellian swung her tail. “You guys know what to do…”
“DAMN straight!” roared Viska.
“Open main guns,” said Dash. “Prepare a broadside! Target, the Potemkin! FIRE!”
And, at that, the Argo’s guns spoke.
And, on that dark note, Ekogaru’s Entropy, his
destruction of Earth’s culture from within began as the Argo fired again
at the Potemkin, and the smoking Potemkin returned fire.
Anya let all of the anger she could manage fly through her hands as she returned fire, thinking, HOW DARE THEY ATTACK ME? THOSE BASTARDS! WELL, I’LL SHOW THEM!
She let out her rage and fired again on the Argo.
Down below, in Sickbay, Ariel Wildstar felt a sinking feeling as the electrical panel in an operating room blew apart.
She screamed as sparks hit her arm and set her nurses’ tunic on fire.
And, while she tried to put out the fire, she swore that she heard her sister Anya hissing, “Ariel, you little bitch! How do you like that one? HUH?” in her mind…
…and she was laughing at her as a terrible war, a war filled with Fratricide, began at last…
______________________________________________________________________
TO BE CONTINUED……