Captain Derek Wildstar sat in a chair in his peacoat and cap with this back to the large, sweeping techtite window in his cabin. The bunk was up, the table stowed away, and right now, it was all business in the cabin he shared with Nova.

Lieutenant Diane Henson stood front and center at ease with her hands behind her back. Behind her, to her right, stood Commander Mark Venture, who was answering questions as an official witness at her Mast, or Article 16 Commander's Hearing. A Captain's Mast, or official meeting before a ship's captain, could, according to the EDF Uniform Code of Military Justice, be one of two things. It could be a commendatory Mast in which the Captain could award honors, commendations, or a promotion, or it could be a condemnatory Mast, in which the Captain was authorized to hear evidence and present punishments in what amounted to an informal, low-level court-martial administered as part of ship's discipline.

Henson was obviously not up before Wildstar to be commended this morning. And, the words of the witness confirmed that.

"And that's exactly what she said, sir," said Venture. "She clearly refused to obey the orders of two of her superiors, and she showed an utter lack of regard or respect for both of them."

Wildstar nodded. "Thank you, Deputy Captain. Miss Henson. What do you have to say in your defense on that point?"

"I have issues with both of the officers in question, sir," she snapped.

"Which does not relieve you of your responsibility to obey their lawful orders or to show them the respect that is due to them because of their rank and their positions," said Wildstar.

"Positions," said Henson with a sarcastic edge. "I'll bet your friends have a lot of positions, sir. Is it because they know you?"

"Mrs. Wildstar; I'd like to hear from you," said Derek, turning towards Nova who stood at Henson's left. "Please describe your shipboard positions and responsibilities and date of appointment to those positions."

"Aye, aye, sir," said Nova briskly. "Sir, I'm the Group Leader of the Living Group. My Group is responsible for survey and analysis of terrestrial, intra-solar-system space regions, and interstellar areas and planetary surfaces, as well as for identification and analysis of lifeforms and alien cultures. As our travels frequently involve unexplored space, I am in charge of radar and scanners with assistance from the Navigation Group. My Group is also in charge of shipboard living arrangements, education, morale, and personal counseling as well as food preparation and maintenance of habitable spaces. As Head Nurse, I am also in charge of the Medical Group's Nursing Section and frequently assist Doctor Sane in surgical operations and general treatment and examination of ship's company and alien lifeforms brought aboard this ship."

"And when were you appointed to these positions?"

"Before the launch of the Argo, when she was named Yamato, from the East China Sea, sir. I was directly appointed to these positions by Admiral Abraham Avatar on 5 October 2199, sir."

"How well were you acquainted with me at that time?"

"As one of quite a few friends serving at the underground recon base near my hospital post on Okinawa, sir. In conjunction with your friends, we sometimes hung around off-duty as a group." Even though I thought you were cute and needed a special friend back then, Derek, thought Nova to herself, being wise enough to keep this to herself. She remembered she had told Derek about how her feelings for him had arisen, but Nova thought that Henson didn't need to know this, especially now. Another thought or two occurred to Nova, but she kept those to herself, although she was a little surprised how direct she was becoming. I'm not the shy little girl I used to be, she mused. "We...well...there was no nepotism involved of any sort, sir. Avatar chose all of us. In fact, when they came aboard the Yamato, these two were rather surprised to see me there in a shipboard uniform."

"Thank you, but kindly remember you're addressing the Court, as it were, Mrs. Wildstar." said Derek.

"Uh...yes...just thinking out loud, sorry. Is there anything else?"

"No thank you," said Wildstar. "Miss Henson, do you wish to dispute anything the witnesses have said?"

"No, sir," said Henson slowly, with fire in her eyes. Then, she said to herself, Captain, you're punishing me because you're trying to get back at me for the breakup, aren't you? You cold Asian rat. I never should have slept with you...even to get to Randy. Hope I've done enough to ruin your happiness with her, she added. You couldn't get a regular girl. You had to get someone with the body of a damn ballerina and the brain of a computer. I'm jealous...even though I did break it off with you. The way I feel...although this makes no sense...well...it ticks me off to see you so happy with her. I want to see you miserable and alone, you long-haired creep.

"Very well. Is there anything else you desire to say in your defense?" asked Derek.

"No, sir."

"Then, it's up to me to...just pass sentence. Miss Henson, I am ordering you to apologize to myself, to Deputy Captain Venture, and to Mrs. Wildstar for conduct unbecoming a Naval Officer. After you do so, you will leave with Deputy Captain Venture and report to Mister Hemsford of the Marine Group. You will then begin five days of solitary confinement in the ship's brig." At that, Henson's eyes went wide. "I don't take crap from my officers," said Wildstar in a very stern voice. "Especially when they damn well know better. Is that understood?"

"Yessir," said Henson in a near-whisper with tears in her eyes.

"I can't hear you, Lieutenant!" snapped Wildstar.

"Yessir!" screamed Henson. "And, sir, with all respect, I don't need to be treated like a midshipman!"

"If you act like one, that's what I will treat you like," said Wildstar in an even voice. He got up. "You should have grown out of this malarkey in the space school. Isn't that right?" he added, consciously adding in a comment of Avatar's that the old Captain had shot back at him when he had once been insubordinate himself.

"Yessir, you're right. Captain, my apologies, sir."

Wildstar took her hand and shook it. "Accepted. Now for Venture..."

Henson turned to Venture. "Sir, I apologize for my conduct. It won't happen again." She offered her hand, and Venture shook it.

"Be more careful, would you?" he said.

"Aye, aye, sir," said Henson. Then, she just stood there in silence for a moment. She then slowly turned to Nova. "Ma'am, I'm sorry." She offered her hand, and Nova quietly shook it. They made quite a contrast. Henson had a good build, but was (in the old English measuring system) about 148 pounds and 5' 10" in heels with a heavy frame, dressed in her orange-on-white Engineering Group uniform with the sleeves rolled up. Nova was smaller, just 119 pounds and 5' 8" in heels with a much lighter frame, and was dressed in her black-on-gold Living Group uniform with a much neater appearance. Venture thought their handshake sort of looked like a lumbering white panther shaking hands with a lithe golden cheetah.

"Henson, just be careful from here on out," said Nova. "You're a smart woman. I hear from Orion you're very good at your job. Someone as smart as you doesn't need a bad service record."

"Thanks, ma'am," said Henson, but with no warmth in her eyes. She was flabbergasted at this unexpected kindness from an enemy. She let go of Nova's hand, and the two women then turned towards the Captain. Wildstar noticed that both of them had brown eyes, somewhat narrowed, but the expressions in their eyes were as different as night and day. One set of eyes oozed contempt and dislike, while the other radiated respect and amity, even in a very professional situation where the young officer had to act as just another member of the ship's company with a stone face before the Captain. Of course, when they were alone, it was quite different.

"Mrs. Wildstar, you're free to leave," said Derek. "I would like to say some things to the Lieutenant before she begins her confinement."

"I don't have anywhere to go, sir," said Nova. "With your permission, I'd like to wait outside and speak with you when you're finished."

"Good idea. You can get some water from the fountain in the head."

Nova saluted and left, dogging the heavy hatch behind her. When outside, she went into their small shared head and shut the hatch. It wasn't only because she needed water.

"Venture, I'd like you to leave us alone for a moment. Wait outside for your prisoner."

"Of course," said Venture. He left a moment later, shutting the hatch behind him. "I'm alone," he muttered. "Now where'd she go?"

Then, he looked at the hatch for the head. The little window under the doorknob read OCCUPIED. Mark then heard soft singing from inside. "I've got you...stuck in my hair...ohhh...you stupid knot!"

I think me nibs is busy with her hair brush, thought Venture with amusement. I wonder if Holly takes as long in there as you do, m'dear. Might be good to know if Holly decides I'm her guy...

Inside his cabin, Wildstar threw his hat on his chair and stood alone with his former girlfriend for the first time since they had broken up in 2198.

"Why'd you throw that hat on your chair, sir?" asked Henson.

"Because for the next few minutes, we're not Captain and subordinate," said Derek. "The smoking lamp is on, as it were. I've got to ask you something, Diane."

"Yes?"

"Why do you loathe my freedom so much if you let me go in the first place? You're really not making any sense, Diane."

"Derek, you never understood women. And you're a sucker. When we were together, I was around. You didn't even know how to get to first base, buddy."

"I was less experienced than you. As a matter of fact, I had never been with a woman before until I met you. Didn't you take that into account?"

"The guy's supposed to be experienced. Every woman wants someone who's been around. I dallied with you, then I saw Parmon. That guy had been around. You hadn't. Most women would want someone who knows how to fit part A into part B."

"Not all women think like that, Diane. Some women like innocence."

"Innocence," sneered Diane. "Did I ever tell you what my first time was like?'

"No...you never did," said Derek.

"It was in the back seat of an aircar. The guy was drunk. He stank. I didn't want it. That's what all of you men are like. Randy tomcat fighter jocks."

Derek just shook his head. "Diane, I feel something for you."

"You do? What?" said Henson, with her voice somewhere between longing and loathing.

"Compassion. I'm sorry that you...had so many bad experiences. I really am. I want to let you know that I forgive you for all that happened between us." said Derek. "And I have to let you know something else, too; we can't turn back the clock to what existed years ago. I'm married, and I'm also not the same man you once knew. I was to Iscandar and back in eleven months, and then I led a mutiny to fight the Comet Empire."

"And what did you learn?"

Diane was surprised by what Wildstar said. He sighed and said, "Sometimes, victory tastes like ashes in your mouth when you bite down on it. A good teacher...a good man, a father...can make a man out of a punk, even if the man still has a little rebel in him," said Derek as he pushed some hair out of his eyes. "You can fight with a man, but when you work with him in a common cause, rivals can be the best of friends, sometimes. Unlike what you said once, your best friend can also be your lover. And, you can learn great insights from your enemies. Sometimes, mortal enemies can become close friends at the drop of a hat."

"And...?" said Diane.

Derek just put his head back and murmured, "Love...or the ability to love... can be the first casualty of a war. It wasn't that way for me, thank God. Don't let it be that way for you, Diane. You will find someone. In the meantime...do your job...and please let bygones be bygones."

"Why?" said Diane in a flat voice.

"If you won't do it for me," said Wildstar as he turned his back to her. "Then, for God's sake, do it for the woman I'm married to. She's a very good person, and she doesn't need the grief you've been putting her through. In the meantime, I do feel sorry for you."

"Why?" snapped Diane again.

"Because...I've become a different man, while life has just passed you by." Wildstar looked over his shoulder at her and Diane felt both surprise and loathing when she saw a tear glimmering in Derek's eye. "Good luck, Diane," he murmured. "And I do mean that."

Henson said nothing for a long moment. Finally, she said, "Captain, am I free to go?"

"You are."

"Thank you, sir," she said in an expressionless voice. At that, she saluted and left.

Outside, Venture was waiting for her. "C'mon," he said, taking her by the arm. As they turned to head down the stairwell, Nova came out of the head and almost walked right into Diane.

"Excuse me," she murmured. Then, Nova turned to the hatch that led to their cabin and began to punch in the key code on a small keypad in the bulkhead.

Four digits, thought Diane. Then, enter. This gives me an idea...but can I do it?

"Henson, come on," said Venture. "What were you looking at?"

"Not much," said Henson. "Funny...her outfit's tighter than mine."

"She's just built differently than you," said Venture as they headed down the staircase. "We're going to your cabin first so you can get what you can put in one bag for the brig."

Then, they both left. The lock had clicked for their hatch, but Nova just shook her head quietly for a moment as she watched Mark and Diane receding down the stairwell. Something's not right about this, she thought. But what is it? I wish I had special insight like Aliscea or Queen Starsha. What's going on here?

Without any preamble, Nova just came in. "You want coffee?" she said.

"No, tea," Derek replied. His voice was doleful.

"What's wrong?" asked Nova.

"Her," said Derek. "Nova, the past is the past. I tried to tell her that. You know she broke it off with me, years ago, for Pete's sake. Why can't that damn green-eyed monster of a woman just drop it and let the past be the past?"

"Well, she has brown eyes," said Nova. "But, in some people, there lives a little green-eyed monster, called envy." Nova put the water on to heat in their microwave. "She can't stand what we have, and she wants a cookie so bad that she'll break other people's cookies to get her own way. A bit like a nasty three-year old. I feel very sorry for her, Derek. I wish there was more we could do for her."

"Why are we stuck with this particular woman...on this ship?"

Nova came up behind Derek, put her arms around his neck, stood up on tiptoe in her boots, and sighed. "I'm not sure...and..."

"Yes?"

"There's something about her that's funny. I don't know what it is, Derek, but there's something I don't trust about her. I'd almost recommend a psychological evaluation after she gets out of the brig if I had the chance. You know what you once said about there's "something in the air" around the time Zordar started his reign of terror against us?"

"Yes..."

"There's something in the air here, too, Derek. And it's nothing you can smell...just a sense I get that she's up to no good. I don't like the way she looks at me." Nova hugged him close and said, "There's just...something weird in her eyes."

Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama was dressed now in a white tunic, blue tights, and high brown boots, all Iscandarian-style.

He was on the floor of a small audience room in Queen Starsha's palace, too in awe of the throne and its occupant to push himself up off his stomach, and too scared to look up at the legendary Starsha's face. Being this scared, he prostrated himself in the same fashion he had seen in a film in school when someone prostrated themselves before the Emperor or the Shogun of ancient Japan.

"Your highness," he said in a trembling voice. "I hope you don't interrogate me too long...I'm a bit scared of you."

"Why?" said Starsha in a soft, gentle voice.

"You have great and terrible powers. That's kinda scary! You...you helped the Star Force from over 70,000 lightyears away, and you knew what they were up to...you..."

"I offered some guidance," she said softly. "Now, would you get up, please?"

Considering this a royal command, the boy slowly stood up. He noticed that Starsha seemed to be wearing something like ballet slippers under her long blue gown, which touched the floor. The gown was her usual type, something between sky and royal blue with her usual plunging neckline.

Starsha sat on a pinkish throne near a window. Beside her, to her right, stood Royal Consort Alex Wildstar, who wore black slacks and a black peacoat with red collar patterned after the obsolete blue United Nations Space Defense Force Captain's peacoat that he had worn as the commander of Missile Ship Number 17, the Paladin. Jonathan remembered hearing in school that the wreck of the old Paladin had been salvaged from Titan and was now somewhere on Earth.

Beside Jonathan stood Astra, in a purple gown and thin white sandals, and Conor, in a green coat with high collar a bit like Alex's, with white leggings and black boots.

When Jonathan was up, he was surprised as Starsha reached over and mussed up his hair. She gave him a hug and then directed him to sit on a small crystalline stool that came up from the floor near the throne.

"I would love to hear from you something about how you came to come here from faraway Earth," said Starsha. "This man is my Consort, Alex Wildstar. He's the father of Astra and of my other children. I was very surprised to hear from Astra that you arrived here."

"I was surprised, too," said Jonathan. "Especially because...well...because my parents are dead. They died when I was captured; I miss them so much!"

Jonathan lost his reserve and began to cry. Unexpectedly, Alex came over, helped him up off his seat, and embraced him.

"I know how you feel," he said. "My brother Derek and I lost our parents years ago to a Gamilon planet bomb. If it wasn't for Starsha and our family, I wouldn't have anyone. I'd be like my brother Derek. He's all alone in the world, except for his friends and his girlfriend."

"No, he has a wife now, Alex," said Starsha calmly. Alex's eyes went up.

"Derek and Nova got married?"

"Yes, less than a month ago," said Starsha. "I sensed it from afar while I was in my meditations one night. Your brother's love for Nova is very deep. She looks almost like you, Astra. In fact, when I first saw her, I thought she was your namesake, namely, my late sister Astra, your aunt."

"Thanks, Mother," said Astra softly. "Ironic, isn't it, that Nova's my aunt now? Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Why not get us food and drink, my Princess?" said Starsha. "There's still not many of us here; and I don't feel like calling in the robotic delivery units. I'll be talking to the boy for quite a while."

"Of course," said Astra. She bowed slightly in her mother's direction and left.

"Now, Jonathan," asked Starsha. "Could you start from the beginning, please? How was it that your cruise ship was attacked?"

Later on that day, much later, after Starsha had dismissed Astra, Conor and Jonathan after Jonathan had told his tale, the Queen of Iscandar and her consort walked slowly through a complex of caves deep beneath Mother Town. Alex carried an electric light as Starsha walked on behind, deep in thought.

"So what does this business with the Rikashans remind you of?" asked Alex.

"Something from the histories. Something about the Dark Times and an order of raiders founded by the terrible Lord Dardaana of Iscandar. I told you about the legend of Lord Dardaana...didn't I?"

"Dardaana...wasn't he an ancient ruler of Iscandar who went bad long before your House took power?"

"That's what the legends say, Alex. It's been so long since I've looked at the old scrolls on the topic. I don't know how many are even left here. Most of the scrolls concerning the Dark Times that are now 3200 years in our past were in the old library in Shipwrights' City on Diamond Island."

"Shipwrights' City? What happened to it?"

"It was drowned with the rest of Diamond Island when the tsunami hit, Alex. But, we need those scrolls. And, I need to reach out to the Star Force. I think they may be on their way."

"They're on their way here?"

"Yes. The boy said they were out in space fighting some conflict once again. And I have this sense that our paths will cross again soon...and perhaps..."

Starsha stopped, holding her forehead. She looked like she was in pain.

"Starsha...what's wrong?" asked Alex in concern as she sunk to her knees on the floor. "Starsha!"

"A...A terrible presence just reached out to me...and then passed over us like a cloud. You can't see it, Alex...you..."

Then, at that, Alex was shocked as Starsha simply shut her eyes and reached out with her mind.

On the Argo, at the same moment, Aliscea was meditating alone in the cabin she shared with Paul. Rosstowski was on the ship's bride, at his post, so he wasn't in the cabin.

Aliscea sat barefoot with her legs crossed on a small rug, with her mind reaching out deep into the astral plane.

You have found me. she thought. You are not our enemy, the Dark Lord. Who are you?

"Homer, it's almost time for our last message to Earth Defense Headquarters before we warp out of communications range," said Captain Derek Wildstar on the bridge of the Argo.

"Yessir," said Homer. "When do you want the link established?"

"At sixteen hundred..." began Derek, who stopped when Venture shouted..."Wildstar! Look at the main screen!"

"What?" said Derek, who looked up just as the lights dimmed a bit on the bridge.

The screen didn't come on, but a ball of light appeared in the air over it.

"What?" said Holly Parsons. "Nova...it looks like a woman's face!"

Nova looked up and cried, "Derek...it's Queen Starsha!"

At that, the whole bridge crew got up and congregated around the Astro-Compass, looking up in awe at the image of the mysterious Queen who had helped to save Earth.

Wildstar looked up at the astral image of Starsha's face. She looks a little older, he thought. "Queen Starsha! Why are you contacting us?" he said.

Again, I am Queen Starsha, of Iscandar. Captain Derek Wildstar, we are well-met, but I must make this short, said Starsha's soft, high voice from nowhere as the image drifted over the screen. I have touched minds with something terrible, but then touched minds with your guest, Aliscea of Pellias. She has made me aware, mind to mind, that you are coming to Iscandar to seek counsel on how to deal with your enemy. I have been watching over your progress, and I am aware that you are fighting an enemy known as the Rikashans. A boy from Earth named Jonathan Hartnell-Iiyama is here on Iscandar. He arrived here as a castaway, and he has made me...and your brother... aware of the evil of the Rikashan Empire. Hurry to Iscandar. We must speak soon. This is Starsha, of Iscandar.

The image faded just as Aliscea appeared on the Argo's bridge. She wore her black dress, but looked disheveled, tired, and was still barefoot. "Starsha spoke to us?" she said.

"Yes, she did," said Rosstowski.

"I just met her, Captain Wildstar. Her power is less than mine, but her wisdom is greater. I have much knowledge, but am unsure of how to apply all of it to this situation. It seems our enemy, the Dark Lord, also had prior dealings with Iscandar long, long ago. Queen Starsha hinted that he may be known of in their legends, too. We must hurry on. Starsha hinted that Iscandar itself may be in danger."

"We will try," said Captain Wildstar. "However, we have many perils to face. Not far away from here, there is a cluster of stars that we will soon encounter. Can you possibly guide us in a path to avoid this danger that we can get to Iscandar more quickly?"

"Possibly," said Aliscea. "Difficult to tell. Our enemy...his depredations have wiped out civilizations before he even comes. Names are coming to me...Planets Calvarda...Lenomisk...Daruvar...Dezarium...Phernarda, all laid waste. Many of these worlds are now no more. Civilizations both good and evil...all destroyed as a result of what Ekogaru's Fortress has done to both time and space. Trillions of intelligent beings of many races are now dead. Killed in the same manner that a large man might walk over an anthill...walking on, without even thinking of the lives he has destroyed. I sense that in his path, Ekogaru has forever saved Iscandar, Gamilon, and Earth from one evil power, but at what cost? Is it worth it to, in your terms, as it were...to see Mesitopheles defeated, only to have to deal with Lucifer himself in his stead? I must meditate on this. So much is uncertain..."

At that, Aliscea walked off the bridge.

"What should we tell the Commander, Wildstar?" asked Venture.

"Hmmm," said Sandor. "We need to tell him that we had contact with Iscandar."

"And we need to tell him what Starsha told us...and what Aliscea said," said Nova.

Derek nodded. "All of you guys are right. Thanks. Everyone, back to your posts. Homer, put us through to the Commander. What I'm about to tell him will really shake him up..."

"Yessir," said Homer.

On the near-wreck that was the Potemkin, Yvona Josiah now wore her stolen Captain's peacoat over a dirty sackcloth dress once again. The effects of Ekogaru's transformation had now worn off so she was now both fat and ugly and she could no longer fit into the clothes she had stolen from Nova.

She was an evil presence on the bridge of her battered ship that even her own cult members were beginning to fear and loathe.

"You tell me where we are...now, Noah!" she demanded.

"I'm not sure," said Noah.

"Ma'am, we just barely survived that battle on the 18^th; and we almost blew up the ship when we warped," said Jared.

"And I insisted we warp again once I found out we were at the edge of the solar system in that asteroid field that used to be Planet Minerva."

"And you've practically finished the wave engine, Prophetess. One more warp, and she'll burn out. Then, we can't go anywhere. This is dangerous, Prophetess," said Noah. "We have only twenty people left alive on this ship. Six of those are surviving crewmembers that we forced into the brig when we took this ship. Those are resourceful men and women down there, ma'am. They'll eventually escape and retake this ship, especially since we have no guards. We're trying to run a ship that needs over a hundred crew members with just twelve, since four of us are children, ma'am. May I ask what you're trying to accomplish, ma'am? No disrespect is meant, but this sounds like..."

"Suicide? It might be," smiled Yvona. "For you. I have just heard from our Lordship."

"Yes? What does the Lord say?" asked Jezebel.

"He says, it is time for me to leave and ascend into Glory!" said Yvona with a smile. "Noah, get over to the helm and turn the ship about. I then leave command to you, Jared. A R'Khell shuttle is coming from one of their subs. I am getting my bag. You will see me off. All of you! It is time for my Apotheosis to begin!"

A few minutes later, eleven men and women stood in the Potemkin's Lower Boat Bay as a dark red shuttlecraft, obviously of alien design, pulled into the ship. Only Yvona saluted. No one else dared to.

Yvona stood there in her filthy clothing with a bag. She smiled insanely as the hatch opened and five R'Khell warriors stepped out. Three were officers; two were red-armored troopers.

"Are you Yvona Josiah?" asked the bearded, tall man in a turban who seemed to be their leader. He wore a bright red tunic, black pants and boots, and a black cape.

"I am."

"Prophetess Josiah, R'jkharraz by the will of our War god Ekogaru, I am Leftenant Krenus of the R'Khell Priesthood of the Rikashan Star Empire. This other man in the turban is Leftenant D'Velda. He and his honor guard will conduct you to glory. I and Darsten, here, the bald man, am now assuming command of this vessel as a ship of the line of the Rikashan Star Empire. I thank you for your efforts, Lady. Your submarine awaits to take you to the rendezvous point with Gralnasz and the Sukalnach," he said as the crew looked at Yvona with shocked faces. "He will convey you into the Holy Presence of the Dark Lord Himself."

"Thank you," said Yvona as she bowed.

"Prophetess!" yelled Noah as he realized what was going on. "You can't leave us like this!"

"Please don't go!" cried Jezebel.

"Don't leave!" cried Jared.

Darsten uncurled a whip and hit Jezebel with it. The blow knocked the young woman to the floor with a bleeding abdomen and torn dress. She screamed. "No! Prophetess!"

"I leave you and the cult to His Servants," said Yvona. "I shall return...in glory, in a resurrection form, eternally beautiful. Noah, I left you the pictures of myself as a young woman. See to it that the cult learns of them."

"Yes, Prophetess," he said as he knelt and tears flowed.

"I leave all of you now!" said Yvona as she raised a hand in benediction. "When I return...you shall aid me as the new Masters of Earth!"

Then, without a further glance, Yvona did an about-face, and, cackling her head off, she left with D'Velda and the honor guard. Soon, the hatch of the shuttle hissed shut, and the red ship lurched off the Potemkin and roared off into the depths of space with Yvona.

"She abandoned us," moaned Jezebel. "In our hour of need, she abandoned us. And I'm bleeding! It hurts!" cried Jezebel, grasping her stomach. It was only a flesh wound, but the tear in her dress left more of the young woman exposed than she cared to have anyone see.

"You be quiet," snapped one of the armored troopers, who ran over to Jezebel and brutally kicked her once at the base of her spine. The young woman curled up weeping into a ball on the deck. "Any more of that from you, and I'll take you like a beast, woman! I'll disrobe you right in front of these men to do it!"

"You people...stop it! She ran...that's what she did! The great Yvona ran!" barked Jared. "Coward!"

"Silence!" barked Krenus. "Conduct me to your bridge. I shall see what we can do to execute our next warp."

"Sir, it will be dangerous," said Noah. "The Argo damaged us very badly in our last battle."

"We have ways of working around such things," purred Krenus. "I, too, am R'Jkharraz. I have the power to deal with these trifling problems. Let us go."

"Yessir," said Noah slowly.

Under the tutelage of their new masters from the Rikashan Empire, the surviving cultists' crew of Potemkin slowly strode back towards their bridge.

"I've got an object on radar, Captain," said Miyagawa from his post on the Valkyrie's First Bridge. The gunboat's first bridge was quite cramped; it had room for only four crewmembers. "Distance, twenty megameters, speed, eighteen space knots. She's off our port bow. You want it on video, ma'am?"

From her post at the port side of the Valkyrie's First Bridge, Captain Denise Carroway looked back at Miyagawa and nodded. "Let's have a look at it. Mister Eager, keep us on course."

"Roger!" said Eager from his post beside Carroway. "It's comin' up on our little screen now."

"What the??" said Carroway as she looked at the small screen on the console that she and Eager shared...it sat between their seats and the controls that were in front of each of them. "It's a Jamaica-class battleship. Looks like she's taken heavy damage. Funny...we're between Earth and Mars in RX-345. The nearest battleship is supposed to be at least several hundred megameters away from us. Miyagawa! Are you getting an IFF signal from that thing?"

Miyagawa ran some scans at his radar. "No' ma'am. It's as dead as a doornail."

"Hassain, hail it," said Carroway.

"Aye, aye, ma'am," said Sergeant Hassain from Communications. "Unknown spacecraft; this is the Earth Federation space gunboat Valkyrie. You are not answering our transponder hails and we cannot identify you. Please confirm your identity and reply, over!" 

Only silence came from the battered battleship.

"Unknown spacecraft," said Hassain again. "We require you to identify yourself. You are in Earth Federation space and we are unsure of your intentions. Over!"

"Distance, eighteen megameters," said Miyagawa. "OH! An object just separated from the ship! It's coming in fast...damnit...missiles approaching! Evade!"

"You don't need ta tell me twice," said Eager, who flipped the Valkyrie over on her axis as soon as the missiles roared in. They zipped past the gunboat harmlessly.

"Well, I think I know whom we've just met," said Miyagawa. "The Potemkin. She's on the same course, closing at sixteen megameters, ma'am!"

"Battle stations," said Carroway as she flicked on the klaxons. "All hands to battle stations," she said into her intercom. "We've spotted a hostile ship off our port bow and have exchanged fire. All hands to battle stations!"

"Eager, I think we need to test our torpedoes out in a real-life scenario; wouldn't you agree?"

Eager nodded. "How much speed ya need?"

"Bring us up to twenty-five space knots; I'm going in like a fighter," said Carroway as she flicked switches. "I'll take the helm in eighty seconds. I'm getting in there on her six, firing a spread of torpedoes at eleven megameters' distance so their guns can't hit us, then we're hauling out of here! Torpedoman, prepare a spread of three torpedoes," she said, calling down to the Second Bridge, which was just below this deck.

A moment later, Sergeant Nicole Harrison spoke up on the intercom. "Your torpedoes are ready and armed, ma'am."

"Great," said Carroway. "Hassain, report this to Earth Defense."

"Got it," said Hassain. "Sending a coded blip now."

"Aren't we tryin' to communicate with 'em again?" asked Eager.

"They told us all they needed to know when they fired on us," said Carroway as the Valkyrie's speed increased. "And, look at that screen...looks like she's trying to turn her aft guns on us. Well, buddy, I'm not gonna give you a chance to fire on us...we can hit you, but you can't hit us since you're still out of range. Taking control of the helm now," added Carroway as she took her flight yoke and began to line up the target scope on the Potemkin. "Nice run," she called out over the singing of her new ship's engine. Locked on, in our dive...armed..." said Carroway as she worked controls. "Here we go," she said with her hand on a firing pickle. "Fire torpedoes one, two, and three," she said as she punched the button three times while moving the joystick towards the right.

Three torpedoes roared out of the Valkyrie's bow tubes straight towards the Potemkin. At the same time, the new gunboat pulled up, evading a counter-attack missile fired by the Potemkin.

Two of the Valkyrie's missiles slammed into the Potemkin a moment later. The space battleship's main engine was finally blown into scrap as an explosion roared out of the shattered nozzle at the ship's stern. The other missile blew apart the battleship's aft gun turret.

A short circuit inside the ruined Potemkin made its forward braking thrusters go off at random, stopping its coast. The once-mighty battleship was now smoking again, and it was also dead in her tracks.

"Tell me," said Jared aboard the Potemkin. "What do you think of our resistance now, Krenus? Our ship will now never fly again."

"This is what I think of your defeatist attitude aboard the Rikashan ship this now is!" said Krenus. Then, the R'Khell officer used his R'jkharraz psionic powers to run Jared through with a burst of lightning. The cultist died sitting in his chair.

Noah tried to attack the R'jkharraz with a broken piece of conduit from the torn bridge of the Potemkin, but he was also knocked dead in his tracks by Krenus and he died on the deck in a smoking heap.

Krenus looked at the surviving cultists and made an animalistic noise, deciding to kill all of the Terrans. As he prepared his power, through, he was knocked to the ground from a blow to the back of his head caused by a woman wielding an abandoned food tray. It was Jezebel.

The young woman then howled and sunk a dagger into the Rikashan officer's back. Darsten, the other R'Khell officer, came to his fallen comrade's aid with a whip, which he used to cruelly knock the dagger out of Jezebel's hand. With a wicked grin, he drew his sidearm and shot Jezebel dead, along with the remaining three adult cultists left on the Potemkin's bridge.

A screaming child clad only in a wet, sagging diaper ran under a console, trying to hide herself from the chaos of the battle. Darsten then yelled, "Trooper! Drag that brat out and smash its head into the deck!"

"Of course," said the armored trooper. "Little girl," he said in heavily accented Terran as he pulled out his sidearm. "Come out! I've got candy for you."

The port side hatch whizzed open a moment later, and laser fire hissed in, knocking the trooper dead.

"What?" yelled Darsten. A puff of smoke cleared, and he found himself confronted by five men and one woman. They wore ragtag EDF uniforms or parts of them, and two of the men went barefoot, but they looked very disciplined and were armed.

"I'm Ensign Patrick Culhaven, Earth Defense Forces." said the shortest of them, a gallant little man in a torn Standard Blue EDF uniform who looked a bit like a younger version of Doctor Sane minus the glasses and with dark brown hair. "My XO here is Warrant Officer Tricia Steele, our former Medical Boat pilot."

Below: "Steele and Culhaven of the Potemkin" computer-drawn and © 2002 by F. P. "Freddo" Kopetz

"These cultists put us in the brig," said Tricia, who was clad only in her EDF Standard Blue uniform bodice and her black boots; with her bare legs, it looked a bit like a gymnast's leotard on her. She nimbly leaped up on top of a burning console and said, "As I think you can see, we've finally got our stuff together and escaped. We fought a little battle and put the four surviving cultists we found in the brig."

"So, what does that mean to me?" said Darsten in an arrogant voice.

"There's you, and your single goon over there," said Culhaven as he covered Tricia and aimed his weapon at Darsten. Smoke blew around him, but he ignored the burning in his eyes "As you can see, we're all armed. Throw down your weapons and surrender! I am now the ranking officer on this ship of the line, and am reassuming command of her as a vessel of the Earth Defense Forces! The illegitimate occupation of this vessel is now ended! Throw up your hands and surrender, you!"

"Why don't you drop dead?" hissed Darsten. He began to brandish his whip again.

Tricia and one of her comrades fired, killing Darsten instantly. The remaining trooper roared and shot one of them, but two others got behind wrecked bridge chairs and fired back at the trooper. He fell wounded to the deck.

Tricia jumped off her console and ran over to the trooper. "This is for Miyazaki, you creep!" She pulled off his helmet and spat in his face. "Brodsky, you and Dovrovski get him tied up. Looks like we got us a prisoner!"

They responded while Culhaven fiddled with the communications console. "Damnit, she's all burnt out! I got to use this console for only a week when we did our test run, Trish."

"Yeah...they really dishonored our ship," said Steele. Her eyes looked very sad; she was holding the little girl in her arms. "Look at her, sir. Barely even dressed. This ship is no place for a baby! This is horrible!"

"We oughta tell the remaining three surviving cultists that," said Culhaven.

"Can you get that working, sir?" asked Steele.

"Trying. Nothing's working but the laser-send capability...hey, Pearson. How's the engine?"

"Dead," said an enlisted man as he stared at the engineering console. "Even life support's kinda dicey. Looks like the radar's dead, too. Whatever happened to this ship, it really got worked over by somebody? How many battles did those lunatics take this ship into? And who attacked her? Nothing's working on this damn ship!"

"Don't know," said Culhaven. He had to hold on as an explosion rang thorough the ship. "What's that?"

While trying to quiet the squalling toddler, Steele looked out a window. "Great...some ship that looks like an old Earth Defense Missile Ship just fired upon us. And I see Cosmo Tigers roaring in off in the distance!"

"Damnit. We must be getting attacked by our own forces. This really reeks!" said Culhaven.

"What can you do?"

"Try to send a laser flash code to the missile ship...and hope they see it."

"We're in touch with the spacecraft carrier Akagi now, ma'am," said Hassain. "She's sitting about a hundred megameters behind the battle area, and her CAP patrol is coming in to help us finish them off."

"You flashed a message to that ship requesting their surrender?" asked Carroway.

Hassain nodded. "They haven't responded."

"Looks like they don't want to surrender. Okay, we'll coordinate a final strike with that Flight Group...you said they were called the Texans, right?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Hassain. "Got their squadron leader on the horn now."

"Hello, space gunboat Potemkin?" said Dac Windfield's voice on the ship's speakers.

"Mister Windfield," said Carroway. "Nice to hear from you today, old buddy. As skipper of this ship, I'd like to coordinate a final attack. Could you guys split that squadron up and bring in your planes from RP-345 and XT-242? That'll put you on the ship's topside and keel. We'll hit their starboard flank with another torpedo spread. Between our torpedoes, and your missiles, we should be able to finish those terrorists off."

"Love to oblige you," said Dac. "My wife Anastasia had family in Chicago. She isn't very happy about what that ship did, and neither am I. I'd love to play destroyer on those guys."

"Well, we'll get our chance. I'll meet you and your wife at Mars Station Alpha if everything works out."

"Thanks. Now let's do our jobs. I'm ready..."

"Thanks, Windfield. Over and out." Carroway smiled. "We're ready, now let's begin our next run. Locked on...here we..."

"Ma'am...hold it," said Hassain. "Potemkin's finally sending us a message!"

"She is?" said Carroway. "Abort run...control's back in your hands, Eager."

"Roger," he said as the loud whine of the engine levelled out.

"Hassain, tell Windfield to hold on that attack run...at least until I hear what they're saying."

"Right," said Hassain.

"What?" said Windfield. "Okay, if that's what she wants," he said. "Texans! Abort attack run! Repeat, you guys abort that run! Hold position and wait for orders!" What could they be saying that's making Carroway hold off? thought Windfield irritably. When I knew her in training, she was never a Nervous Norvus like that!

"Well, they sent by laser blinker," said Hassain. "This is what they said."

"Read it," said Carroway; she sat at her post with her chair turned around to face the aft part of the first bridge.

"Yes, ma'am. To the Commander of Earth Defense Missile Ship and Earth Federation Fighter squadron. This is Ensign Patrick Culhaven, Communications Officer and Acting Commander of the Federation Space Battleship Potemkin. A few members of my crew and I were being held prisoner in our own brig by the cultists, with aid from orange-skinned enemy troops of an unknown race. Since many of the cultists are apparently dead, we broke out of the brig and have just retaken our ship. The material condition of Potemkin is critical. She is in need of immediate dockyard work. We are prepared to surrender the vessel back to higher Command authority for repair and salvage. We also have prisoners and civilian wounded; the civilians are mostly children of the cultists now orphaned. Please send a boarding party; we will need to be taken under tow. Over."

"Ma'am, you think it's a trick?" asked Eager.

"Why would they want to be boarded if they were playing games?" mused Carroway. "Of course, we can't handle this ourselves. Hassain, send a response to them, telling them to expect a boarding party. Then, call the Akagi. They'll need to provide Marines, a repair crew, and medical assistance."

"Roger."

"And, tell Windfield to stand down. And tell him...sorry. I wanted to kick their butts too."

"Yes, ma'am."

"What are they saying?" asked Steele on the Potemkin.

Culhaven stood at his station, watching the quick laser blips from the bow of the Valkyrie on his screen, and watching another screen as the code translated into ordinary language. "Message received. This is space gunboat Valkyrie. We have communicated with the spacecraft carrier Akagi. You are now being escorted by twenty-four Cosmo Tigers. Prepare for boarding and rescue operations, and please lend assistance in extinguishing fires and preparing your ship to be taken under tow for conveyance to Mars for refit, repair, and reprovisioning. Have your prisoners ready for interrogation and debriefing. Welcome back to the Fleet, Potemkin. Please acknowledge...over."

"Great!" yelled Culhaven as all of the other Terran crewmembers on the bridge cheered. "They're not gonna blow us up!"

"Stop celebrating, scum," said the R'Khell trooper, who was now tied up and under guard.

"You shut your trap, or we'll gag you," snapped Steele.

"You wouldn't dare, girl!"

"Oh, I would," said Steele. "Did you acknowledge the message, sir?"

"Damn straight I did," said Culhaven with a smile. "And stop calling me "sir.""

"Yessir."

"Call me Pat, damnit. And, when we get done, like me to buy you dinner?"

"Oh...how sweet," said Steele. "Okay, fine...Pat. My friends usually call me Trish, by the way."

"Sounds good, Trish," said Culhaven. "Well, I sent the message."

"Oh, Pat. Got something else to tell you."

"Yes?" said Culhaven.

"You've got a funny face, but you're kind of cute," said Trish.

"Thanks," said Culhaven with a blush.

The Argo was now finally nearing the huge tangle of primitive stars and gasses that was the Octopus Star Group.

"That looks horrible," said Orion as he looked up at the main screen. "How far away are we from that thing?"

"Just about seventy-five Astronomical Units, or AU's," said Venture. "We're about the width of one small solar system away from the far edge of the active gasses, over there. And this area is a gravitational mess. Luckily, we found one safe warp course out of this tangle of stars and gasses."

"Sir, we're not going to get caught in there again, are we?" asked Parsons.

"Not this time, Holly," said Venture. "Captain, if I can have everyone gather around the starboard aft screen?"

Derek nodded, getting up from his Captain's chair as the rest of the bridge crew came over to the large screen in the aft starboard bulkhead of the First Bridge, not far from Parsons' station.

Venture tapped at a keypad in the bulkhead, and an image of the Octopus Group came up on the smaller screen. He pointed at it with a retractable pointer he had pulled out of a pocket of his slacks.

"This is where we are," said Venture. "75 AU's out from the far edge of the gas cloud...about here. If we get in much closer than that, we'd really start feeling the gravitational effects of the Group. As it is, we're already being slowly pulled towards it. And, if I'm not mistaken, it looks more active than usual. Nova, did you finish those astro-meterogical scans on it?"

"Yes, I did," she said. "There's an active storm raging. Heavy magnetic effects, gasses all over the place, strong solar winds raging in there. What we don't want to do is get caught up in that mess again. The storm's worse than it was the last time we were here."

"Luckily, we're just at a point where we can execute a warp around it. We couldn't have done this in 2199 with our lower-powered wave motion engine, but we can do it with the uprated Andromeda-class engine we now have in the ship," said Venture. "Miss Parsons, Mrs. Wildstar and I have laid in a parabolic warp course that'll take us out ten lightyears in this direction," he said, showing the course with a pointer. "All I need to do is make sure that nothing has changed with the time-space curve with the chronograph, then we can execute a warp right out of here. Then, we can warp out in six minutes."

"Good job," said Captain Wildstar. "Okay, everyone...let's get ready for that space warp."

They saluted Derek and took off for their posts.

"Wave engine, energy buildup is commencin'," said Orion.

"Attention, all hands," said Captain Wildstar over the intercom. "Secure all stations for space warp. We will be warping in six minutes."

Over the whine of the energy buildup, Venture began to check his instruments. "Course laid in...good...checking the chronograph..."

Mark flipped on the screen that showed the time-space curve near the area. "Looks normal...not bad...We're getting right up to the warp-out point on here, we can warp out in five..."

Suddenly, the indicator screen switched from its normal color to red and it began to beep.

"Huh?" said Venture. "What's this? The time-space curve is off! Parsons...Sandor...Nova...come here and look at this!"

The three confused officers got up and ran over to Mark's bridge station.

"What?" said Nova. "Holly, look. It's not a sine wave!"

"No, it's not, " replied Holly. "Sandor, what could be doing this? None of our scans showed anything like this!"

"Miss Parsons, Mrs. Wildstar, were you two asleep at the switch when you did these scans?" snapped Venture irritably.

"Well, I did my job right, Mark," said Nova as she looked at Holly through narrowed eyes.

"I didn't do anything wrong on my part," shot back Parsons as she gave Nova a dirty look.

"Okay, ladies, can we redo those scans and recalculate that course?" asked Venture.

"Hmmm..." said Sandor. "I'm not sure that'd work. And it's not anyone's fault. The space around here has become distorted. The time-space curve is unexpectedly asymmetrical. The point of symmetry is now reached in at about 20 AU's towards the Star Group...which, given the mass of the eight stars, and the strength of the storm, is far too close to make a safe warp."

"Twenty?" said Captain Wildstar as he came up.

"Yes. We can't warp from there," said Sandor. "Not with the storm like this, anyway."

"So, what does this mean?" snapped Derek. The doors to the bridge opened, and Aliscea came in. She now had her shoes on and had a less-disheveled appearance. She walked over and stood beside Paul Rosstowski, gently hugging her depressed-looking husband at his post as the conversation went on.

Nova and Holly looked at the deck with downcast eyes. Venture cleared his throat. "Well, Derek...uhhh... the warp we were considering is now impossible. We're stuck in here again until the storm subsides."

"That can't be! Can't we change course and warp from another direction?" said Derek.

Parsons was nudged aside by Sandor as he, Venture, and Nova studied screen after screen at the Navigation post for about three minutes. At one point, Mark asked Nova to go over to the Astro-Compass and call off long strings of numbers as he ran projections on the compass....the little model of the Argo swung around in direction after direction in the little dome as point after point appeared on the Astro-Compass.

"And what's that last projection?" asked Venture.

"RPD 324 point 5642, Mark," said Nova. "That's right at eight stellar minutes, fifty-two seconds of longitude."

Rosstowski got up and watched the complex calculations, followed by his wife. "I think you guys lost me about five minutes ago. Parsons, if you don't mind, what the Dickens are they doing?"

"They're trying to see if there's another point we can warp out at around here. Wish they'd stick me in that little pow-wow of theirs," snorted Holly.

"Yes. That makes two of us," said Aliscea. "I know how to navigate, too."

"Holly...Aliscea," whispered Rosstowski. "They're real big on seniority in this outfit, that's why you've both been excluded."

"Yeah...I could help them out," said Holly miserably. Aliscea said nothing, but she just played with Paul's hair in a dejected fashion as she watched everyone working.

Venture looked at everything and shook his head.

"No good, Captain Wildstar," said Venture. "If we were to warp out of here, we'd have to travel around the black cloud in normal space and then go out to this point, here, out beyond the gravitational pull." he said, making a graphic appear on the main screen. "But that'd take us fifty-five days. Fifty-five very long days."

"What if we tough it out and wait here?" asked Derek. "And what if we go out through that channel we used the last time?"

"We could do that, but I'm not sure about the environmental factors. That's Nova's department. Nova?"

"Well, we could do that," said Nova after she stood biting her lower lip for a moment. "I estimate that with the higher radiation factors, we can stop about 20 AU's away from the huge red Octopus Group Stars; no closer. We'll also have to build new techtite shielding like in 2199 to help shield the crew from the radiation. Then, we just wait the storm out and go through the channel. It should clear up in twenty-three days, based on our calculations."

Derek said, "We're either stuck here again...or we have to make a longer journey around the black cloud, right??"

Sandor nodded. "Yes...we'd be here for at least twenty-three days; based on what we now know about the storm cycle. Basing this on what we learned about the storm in 2199, Nova and I think it should clear around then."

"And there's that channel," mused Derek. "What I called the Wildstar Channel when I discovered it."

Nova then asked the obvious question. "Derek...when the storm clears...is the channel we used still clear? Can we still get out that way? Or should we consider another path, around that black cloud or nebula?"

Sandor looked at his screens again, and then said, "As you said, Nova, the storm is stronger this time. Even with our uprated sensors, we can't take scans, and the wind is too high to send even a Tiger, with its greater wingspan, out for sensor sweeps. We'll have to wait until the storm clears to see if the channel is still open. If not...we could be marooned here...for a very long time."

Derek then said, "There's that one course you described, Venture. That's fifty-five days, but we can get out that way. What about turning back and going under the ecliptic of the Milky Way in a different direction? We could try that..."

"Yes, if we want to add at least seventy-five days to the cruise to Iscandar," said Venture. "It's not our best course."

"Mark, why are you always trying to mess things up?" demanded Derek. "Couldn't we take scans of that black cloud?"

"Well, it's not my fault we're here again, Wildstar," he snapped.

"Sure you know your job, Venture?" said Homer.

"Hey...Homer...why don't ye get off the man's back?" said Orion.

"For once, Orion, Wildstar and I agree about something," snorted Homer. "We agree that we have a navigator who doesn't know his job!"

"Shut up, Homer!" said Venture. "You don't know your butt from a hole in the ground!"

"Yeah? What about you?" he snapped back. "Least I know where mine is! Unlike you, you greaser!"

"Glitchman, so help me..." said Venture with clenched fists.

"Help you what?" he said. "Help you find your damned Italian butt?"

"Homer, I'm sick of your crap!" snarled Venture. Then, he hauled off and slugged him. Dash cheered, yelling "Go get him, Venture!"

Homer fell to the deck, but then he got up and grabbed Venture by the shirt. "I can outfight you any day!" he roared.

"Yeah, you and what army?" snapped Venture. Captain Wildstar jumped out of his chair and ran over just as Mark threw another punch, and waded in to throw another, but Nova grabbed Venture by the waist and pulled him out of it while restraining one fist with an angry hand. Mark was a bit shocked at the delicate-looking woman's angry strength. Orion got up and grabbed Homer with a strength one would expect from a man half his age.

"Hey, lad, this is the first bridge, cool it!" said Orion.

"Mark, you just stop it!" barked Nova. "Unless you want to try to hit a woman, that is."

"Hey, Nova," said Dash as he came up. "Didn't know you worked as a bouncer."

"Dash, grow up!" yelled Nova. "Mark...are you all right?" she said.

"Yeah...but he won't be, next time he rides me like that," snarled Venture.

"Guys...stop it!" snapped Captain Wildstar. "This is getting nowhere! And, if this keeps up, some of you jerks are gonna be on report! Are they subdued, guys?"

Nova and Orion nodded.

"Good, let them go. Thank God someone's got some common sense on this bridge," snapped Derek in disgust. "I'm ashamed of both of you guys," yelled Derek as he stared down Venture and Homer. "Mark, what got into you?" said Derek in a low voice. "I'm usually the one known for slugging people on this ship," said Captain Wildstar with a half-ironic smile.

"His crap," said Venture. "I've had about all I can take of that guy, Derek."

"Later, Venture," said Homer as he snapped his fist into his left hand.

"Homer, you are a very immature officer," barked Wildstar. "Apologize to the ship's Executive Officer now!"

"Sorry," muttered Homer with about as much sincerity as a man caught before a judge.

"See what I mean, Wildstar? Homer, grow up," snapped Venture before he turned away. "There'll be time for me to deal with you later."

"That's time we don't have," said Aliscea.

"Especially since we're in a race to get to Iscandar before Ekogaru does," added Sandor.

"So...we'll have to hope it clears in the timeframe you've established, Steve," said Derek. "Homer, you'd better damn well cut the comments. And Mark, you're the XO of the ship. You outrank Homer, but you'd better quit using physical violence for no good reason, huh? Am I right, Sandor?"

Sandor nodded. Nova sighed dolefully, but her eyes brightened a little as she smiled.

"This is a crappy situation, guys. Nova...why are you smiling?" asked Derek.

"Look on the bright side; we can throw another party when we get through the channel...or get out. I'll start planning it. It'll be just like last time."

"Just like last time," said Derek. "Wonder if the rest of the crew'll be fighting again when we're almost done?"

"I've got a fight I'd like to resume now," snapped Homer. "Wanna come down to the gym, Venture?"

"Homer, button your running mouth, or you're on report," snapped Derek. "Nova. Keep an eye on this officer."

"Yessir. But I'd better keep an eye on you and Venture, Derek." said Nova with a wink. "After all, who knows when you guys will start again?"

"We won't," said Derek and Mark together.

Nova gave them a "yeah, sure," look and then turned to Holly. "Well?"

"Yeah, I'll keep an eye on them too," said Holly. "Nova, what do you think about hurting them if they try to fight again?'

"Something to consider," mused Nova. "You two, watch it...you're both being watched by your significant others."

"You too, Paul," said Aliscea.

"Guys, I think we're really stuck this time," said Captain Wildstar.

"Least we're stuck with each other," said Nova as she put an arm around her husband's waist.

"Yeah, that's the only bright side of this," said Derek as he affectionately mussed his wife's hair. "Hey, Nova, want an Indian rub?" said Derek in a silly voice as he began to rub the top of his wife's head with his fist. At that, the crew laughed at the break in the tension. Nova knew that was exactly why Derek had done that.

"Oh, grow up," said Nova in a tone of mock annoyance...with a cute smile on her face.