Hi ho, readers!
Here's Part 3 of the Nazz'Tara saga, after a rather long hiatus, I know. If this is your first visit to the Nazz'Tara universe, I suggest you look at the first story and then the second one (which seems to have been somewhat controversial). If I still have readers out there, expect to see the EE&E gang in a more familiar context, and the inner workings of Kaijexian culture. On with the show!
There are two sayings in human culture to explain extremes in one's luck. On the positive side is being "on top of the world." The negative is summed up as "when it rains, it pours." As of late, Queen Nazz'Tara of Kaijex could say she was on top of a rainy world.
On the positive side of things, she now had a king at her side. Namely King Edward of Kaijex (though he still preferred to be known as "Double-D;" just as well, she still favored "Nazz"), her new husband of six months. And that wasn't all. The happy couple was awaiting the arrival of two new members to the royal family. Nazz had expressly refused to know the genders of her twin children, telling Edd she wanted to be surprised. In fact, it seemed as though the Kaijexian people were just as excited about the imminent heirs as their parents were. After the years of Zygran occupation, some were starting to wonder if such news would ever brighten their days again.
Unfortunately, there had also been a great deal of raining lately. Namely, at her old home. Eight months ago, the Zygran Cooperate launched a catastrophic invasion of Earth, fearing that in time humans would destroy their empire. Utterly helpless against such an enemy, Zygran forces ravaged the continents and cities of Man until a coalition of more sympathetic aliens drove the invaders away. Nazz, her friends, and a motley crew of heroes from Earth had helped saved the human race from extinction, but not before a terrible price had befallen humanity. With nearly one out every six humans killed or maimed, the Zygran invasion had far and away surpassed their former bloodiest period, the battles and genocides of World War II seventy years prior.
Now, a different type of occupation was on the battered world. The species that had saved the day, fearing humanity's violent and savage past, were keeping a measured leash on the recovering Earth. While humans were grateful for their salvation, and the alien presence has been nothing but benevolent, many have come to see the aid relief as just an excuse to dominate their world. Kaijex itself was offering medical and food assistance, but the now ever present sight of aliens on rebuilding city streets has become an unnerving and frustrating phenomenon.
But, Nazz and other high ranking Kaijexians reasoned, to dwell on the past was a waste of time. Instead, the scientific community turned to new ways to defend themselves and allies like Earth and her hesitantly accepted protectors. The newest form of technology, a new form of shielding, was about to be tested to mark the fifth anniversary of the liberation of Kaijex, where we now join our story…
Kaijex orbit, Kaijexian System
"…Discovery, this is Kaltaran City Control, testing communications, over."
"Communications are fine, KCC, and we're about ready to disengage from the station," Katarn M'lotsa said as she flicked a switch, smiling to herself. "Relax, May, she's holding together just fine."
"I just want to be sure," the lisping voice mumbled shyly. "I mean, it's not everyday a new type of ship gets launched…"
"If I remember correctly, we're just testing shields," Katarn replied. "If you made some modifications to the engines or something, I'd like to know now before I get my crew and I smeared across the system…"
"Don't joke like that," a gruff voice suddenly cut in. "May's stressing out, and you're not helpin', ya know."
"KCC, inform May I'm a-OK and Lee that I'll be shutting up. Discovery out," Katarn added with a small smile as she turned muted her end of communications."
"She's certainly a nervous wreck, isn't she?" her co-pilot asked.
"She can be like that, yes," Katarn smiled sweetly to Kam Hator, a fellow Zygran expatriate. "Glad to see you come with, by the way."
"I'm the Royal Engineer, I would think it's expected to be on a test trial," Kam said with an arched eyebrow.
"Noted," Katarn nodded to her old friend. "Family settling in okay?"
"My sister's still complaining about the fur, and Mom's fussing about feathers, but they're glad to be living on a free planet if that's what you mean," Kam replied. "I hope I've thanked Nazz enough for keeping her promise…"
"You only thank her every two minutes… keep it up, she may send them back," Katarn smirked evilly.
"You certainly seem less 'business as usual,' Katarn. I remember all the times I had to get you to lighten up on patrol…" Kam observed.
"I guess life just keeps hardening and softening people, dependent on what happens. I've had enough hardening. I guess I'm in a… softening period right now."
"Good, because I'd be getting off this ship right now if you weren't," Kam snarked. "But, seriously… thanks again, Katarn, for getting my family off that rock."
"Your welcome," Katarn sighed with a slight eye roll. "Like I said the first million times, Kam. You're one to talk about relaxing…"
"Well, as you said, I don't want to be smeared across the system," the young alien said sarcastically.
"True enough," Katarn nodded. She paused. "Any, uh, further news from home? You said your father was able to get news every now and then while in exile…"
"Zygra does not fare well, Katarn," Kam said sadly. "Ever since the invasion of Earth, there's been a great deal of unrest and hesitancy for further campaigns. Command throws the people little trinkets to keep them happy. Better food, higher wages… first female to the Senate…"
"There's a female in the Senate?" Katarn asked, stunned. "You must be kidding."
"Nope," Kam replied with a head shake. "Name's M'ala Nath, I believe."
"Nath? I remember her… she's been agitating for change for some time," Katarn said to herself as she checked the controls again. "Kept finding herself in Imperial Guard detention centers. Saw her once or twice getting assignments. About our age, maybe a little older. She still campaigning against Command?"
"She's still extolling a more democratic and open society, yes," Kam nodded with a sigh. "But let's be serious, Katarn, she'll never be able to get anything done. It's a token position at best, and you know that."
"Perhaps… but, I have faith that we'll live to see a better future for Zygra. The Oracle certainly seemed to feel that way," Katarn urged. "And, I will try my best to help if I can."
"As will I. It's ironic," Kam said to herself as she did her own pre-flight checklist. "Zygran society is so oriented to the male population, yet our Oracle is female…"
"Tradition from older times, before Command seized power," Katarn replied. "That's what rulers like that do, keep just enough of the old times to placate the masses for the new times. You really should read of Earth history, Kam. The regions of 'Germany' and… 'Russia' I believe… had horrible experiences with such leaders. The ones known as 'Japan' and 'England' still have monarchies as their heads of st-"
"If Nazz asks for someone to replace our ambassador to Earth, I'll make sure to suggest you," Kam cut her off with a smirk.
"Fascinating planet and species," Katarn shrugged. "Everyone tells me to lighten up, and now I get harassed for that. I really should just stick to bounty hunting."
"Yeah, great job. Landed you right in the belly of the beast."
"Out of bounds," Katarn said to her, a notice of annoyance in her voice. "Well, everything's good on my end, how about yours?"
"Engineering is running at optimum," Kam reported with a final glance at her panel. "The Discovery is ready to go." She frowned. "Where did we get that name, anyway?"
"It was Double-D's idea, named for one of Earth's old exploration vehicles. Helped build their first major space station and research satellites. He felt it apt," Katarn said simply. "Now, we just have to wait for the rest of our crew, and we'll be set to go."
"Sounds good to me," Kam nodded. "But, Katarn… just promise to keep Jat out of my hair, all right? It's just that she can get…"
"Excited, I know," Katarn nodded.
"Discovery, this KCC. Your crew is now arriving at air lock," a female voice crackled. Katarn smiled, recognizing the speaker.
"Thank you very much for seeing us out, your highness. But, shouldn't you be in bed? Being with child is quite draining for Kaijexians…"
"I'm the queen, dude, I can do what I want," the voice scoffed.
"Acknowledged, Nazz. We'll be heading out as soon as the crew's on board," Katarn replied. "That should be them now," she said to Kam as the door opened.
"Hi, Kat!" Jatala M'lotsa grinned, embracing her older sister.
"Hi yourself, Jat," Katarn smiled back as she ruffled her hair. "You seem more than ready for 'sister to work day' to me…"
"Well, yeah. Oh, I hope you don't mind our guest, I felt she should get out of her room for once in her life."
"I said you could bring anyone, Jat. Let her come…" Katarn trailed off, recognizing the shy young Kaijexian who was coming on board. She looked nervously at Kam.
"What?" Kam asked looking over her shoulder. She scowled. "Oh. It's her."
"Er, hello Kam…" L'yat Meznor mumbled shyly, blushing under her fur. "I, uh, didn't know you'd be on board…"
"I'm the Royal Engineer, of course I'd be on board," Kam replied with an icy tone to her voice. "I'd suggest you sit down and buckle up." L'yat meekly nodded, folding her hands in her lap silently. She was still kicking herself for that horrible mistake she made eight months ago.
It happened aboard the Kcramsib, the mightiest Zygran warship. She was stationed on it as a security guard. During the Zygran assault on Earth, she was on duty when a team of invaders, led by no less than the queen of Kaijex itself, stumbled upon her. Kam was with them. She couldn't remember the last time she saw Kam, since they had grown up together in happier times and grown close. Very close. But, on that night, duty overcame friendship, and she nearly killed her best friend, her hatchling sister no less. She'd heard from Jatala, who was trying to guide her in this alien world, Kam demanded she be resurrected as a Kaijexian. L'yat became even bitterer with her, having been turned into Zygra's sworn enemy, but by the time she had realized her folly, Kam's loving olive branch was gone, replaced with an iciness that still hurt.
"I'm sorry, L'yat," Jatala frowned sympathetically. "Maybe some day she'll…"
"Don't encourage false hope, Jat," L'yat said softly. "I lost it when I chose Zygran honor over the love of a friend."
"Hey. Discovery. You gonna do this or not?" Nazz suddenly crackled on the radio.
"All crew are present and accounted for… systems are looking good… I do believe we are," Katarn said. "We're disengaging from the station now. Wish us luck."
"Safe journey," another voice added as the radio went silent. Katarn flipped a few switches. The ship shuddered softly as it pulled away from the station, and gradually flew for space outside Kaijex's orbit.
"That Ed and his manners," Katarn smiled. "You know, Kam, he was a raving moron when I first met him."
"You're kidding."
"No, he called me some creature from Star… Wars, I think? Shaak… Skywalker or something," the alien mumbled. "Now then, tell me about the shielding again?"
"May's outdone herself on this one, I'll tell you that much," Kam smiled. "The shields are charged with a rare kind of particle, called tachyons."
"Tachyons?" Jatala asked.
"They're a kind of supercharged particle, Jat. In theory, they can move at incredible speeds. May thinks that if we use them properly, not only can we make our shields impenetrable to most Zygran weaponry, but perhaps even cloak or phase weapons right through the ship. We're going to lob some low yield charges at the ship when it's activated. Nothing dangerous in case of failure, of course, but we'll have a good idea how'll they'll behave in combat."
"Wow," Jatala breathed.
"Yeah, I'm impressed," L'yat nodded.
"Good for you, L'yat," Kam snorted. She scanned her control panel. "Katarn, we are now out of orbit… go ahead and fire it up."
"Engaging shield," Katarn nodded as she flipped a few switches. The Discovery shuddered violently for a few seconds as everything turned a bizarre, neon green. When the ship was stable, it was as if they had all put on night vision goggles that turned everything but the view through the ports the same color, the void of space still an infinite black, the stars twinkling, and Kaijex a brilliant swirl of different tints of sand, water, and flora.
"Shield is on," Kam acknowledged. Okay, "KCC, fire up the charges." She frowned as static greeted her ears. "KCC, this is Discovery, please deploy the charges." Still nothing but static. "KCC, do you read me down there or n--"
It was as if a star had gone nova. A searing, brilliant white flash erupted in the distance, followed by a shockwave racing through the Kaijexian system at almost impossible speeds.
"Hold on!" Katarn managed to yell before the wave overtook them. The four aliens were thrown about as the odd energies flowed over them, Kaijex, her moons and orbital facilities. As suddenly and mysteriously as it came, the wave raced on and faded into the distance.
"What WAS that…" L'yat breathed as she sat back down.
"I have no clue," Kam replied, forgetting her animosity for a minute. "KCC, did you get a reading on that… thing that just hit us? KCC? KCC, will you please respond?!"
"Uh, Kam…" Jatala suddenly gulped.
"What is it, Jat, I'm kinda busy right now…" Kam mumbled. "KCC, this is Discovery, are you all right? Do you have any idea what that thing was?"
"Kam…" Jatala urged.
"Not now, please…" Kam said, exasperated. "Katarn, I can't raise Control." She frowned, seeing that her friend's face was frozen in shocked horror. "Katarn, what's wrong?"
"I think I know why you can't raise Control, Kam…" she managed as she pointed out the viewscreen. Kam looked to see a world that looked utterly alien. Its skies were thick with pollution, its barely visible ground rendered barren, little if any flora or water existent.
"Where the heck are we?" Kam asked.
"According to the onboard computer… that's Kaijex," Katarn muttered.
"What do you mean, that's Kaijex?" Kam blurted. "Why's there so much pollution? Where's the orbital facilities? There's nothing out there, not even wreckage!"
"Oh, there's something out there," Katarn said.
"What," Kam scoffed, confused.
"Oh, nothing, just some Rolag cruisers on an intercept course," Katarn shrugged. She paused. "I'm… guessing this is a bad time to practice sarcasm, right?"
"Does this mean the test failed?" Jatala asked, confused.
"Spectacularly," Kam mumbled as she sank in her seat, watching as the three ships moved in towards the prone spacecraft.