"Oh dear, I have just had news from Susan. The archaeological dig on Orion Major is
under attack."
"Yap. yap."
"Yes, 1-Rover-1. They did just recently unearth a temple there. One that seems to contain
a gianormous unknown power source. What's worse, Security Chief Anderson has been
overseeing the excavation! Along with Tiny! I hope they are all right!"
"Yap?"
"No 1-Rover-1, I can't go there. And neither can you despite it being your favourite star
system, Orion - the Dog star!" 7-Zark-7 chuckled to himself.
"Yap yippty yap!"
Zark turned his attention to his control panel and slowly flapped over towards his station.
"I'm assembling the remainder of G-Force. Let's hope they can get there in time. I have a
nasty suspicion Zoltar from the planet Spectra is involved! He turned to no one in
particular and announced. Spectra is a planet in the crab nebula you know. Thousands of
light years away from Earth!" Zark switched on the Centre Neptune intercom.
"G-Force Commander, assemble your team and prepare for launch."
The reply came from the G-Force Ready room. Mark's boyish facade materialised on the
screen.
"That's a big ten Zark, team's assembled and Phoenix is ready to launch."
"Launch when ready commander! And good luck!"
"Yappity yap yap?"
"I'm sure they will be fine 1-Rover-1." The droid sighed. "I just wish they had Tiny with
them." With almost nervous energy he turned back to the console and monitored the
launch of the Phoenix. "I'm sure they'll be all right!"
***
Jason's eyes remained steadily fixed on the gravestone. The noise of his car purring
behind him. How long had he been standing here? Minutes? Hours? Days? There was
clearly still petrol in the tank if that was anything to go by.
He let his mind play out the ghosts once more. He no longer paid attention to them. It
was over now. What more was there to think about?
Damn you. How many more people would he have to bury before this was all over?
***
A collective of pride and victorious zeal, Zoltar swaned across the clearing towards his
captured party. It was a collection of twenty men, most of which were scientists. Scared
scientists. Two of his best guards held their leader tightly in their grip. Another three
were holding his big burly companion. A difficult one. He had been a very difficult
capture. The guards holding this one were all robots. Only their collective superhuman
strength were enough to hold back the youth. Zoltar studied him for a second. So
Anderson employed children as bodyguards as well? And the galaxy called him sick!
The sun weighed heavy in the sky creating a purple splatter across the horizon. Beyond
the clearing from every side spanned out miles of jungle. Zoltar ignored the humidity and
embraced the adrenaline that was pumping through his body. This was truly his finest
hour.
"Security Chief Anderson," he taunted. "Tell me, what do you think of my latest creation?"
Anderson turned towards the giant mechanical creature that hovered to the west. It
loomed above the large temple that protruded from the treetops. The temple had a
vaguely Incan architecture to it. The building - like the planet - had only been discovered
very recently.
What lay within this ancient temple was of greater concern to Anderson. Energy beyond imagining. It was that energy that the mechanical wasp was seeking to gain. They had already discovered the temple had some sort of mystic field which was so far preventing the giant wasp from gaining entry.
But for how long?
The wasp continued to attack the temple both physically and with energy, ploughing bolts of liquid beams
onto the stone while scraping away with it's massive mechanical legs. It was a terrifying
sight.
"It's obscene," snarled Anderson. "That temple belongs to a sacred race, you have no
right invading it's secrets in this way!"
Zoltar cackled with glee. Mockingly, he bowed towards his foe. "I am merely doing what
you intended to do. Why else would you be here? I'm just taking what you Earthlings
would call a more direct approach!"
Anderson could the sweat and heat playing a battleground upon his forehead. "I am here
to see if this temple poses a security risk to the Federation. We are here to study it's
secrets, not steal them!"
Zoltar smirked and turned away, clearly not impressed. Tiny lunged foreword only to be
pulled back by the androids.
"G-Force will stop you Zoltar - you just wait!"
Zoltar swung around majestically, pleasure swept across his painted lips.
"Ah, G-Force, yes I have a surprise for them."
Zoltar laughed heartily and the birds fled from the nearby treetops in panic.
***
His stomach ached. He couldn't remember the last time he had ate, but despite his body's
protests, the thought of food repelled him. He wiped his eyes with his chubby wrist.
Every day for a week he had come here. Just for a few minutes.
It was as much as he could bare. He wondered if there really was a time when he enjoyed being in G-Force. If so, in now felt like a lifetime ago.
***
Mark grasped onto his seat as the craft lurched to the left. Keyop swung back and despite
grasping maniacally at thin air, was unable to prevent a fall to the deck.
"Hold her steady Jason!" Mark pleaded.
Jason ignored Mark's glare and continued wrestling with the controls.
"I'm trying! Space jumps are the big guy's talent. I drive race cars, not spaceships."
Mark turned to Princess who was pulling Keyop back onto his seat. "Any
communications from the planet? Has Tiny responded?"
"Nothing Commander," replied his female companion. "I don't think he's wearing his
bracelet."
Mark cursed - how many times would he have to tell Tiny to keep his bracelet on him at
all times?
"Approaching the planet, Mark." Jason yanked another large lever with a satisfied grunt.
He leaned back. "Princess, can you zoom onto the site. We need to see what's
happening!"
The screen lit up. The hideous sight of Zoltar's mechanical wasp filled the screen,
battling to get into the temple below it.
"What is it?" bleeped Keyop. "Oversized bug."
A flashing light next to Princess caught her attention and she checked her readouts.
"Commander we have a welcoming committee coming up onto our vector!"
"Friend or foe, Princess?" her leader questioned.
The crimson shape of Colonel Cronus' fighters appeared on the scanner screen. Mark felt
a twinge of regret, but suppressed it. He checked their distance. Long range, but closing.
"Team, the cavalry has arrived. Looks like we won't be doing this on our own! Prepare
for descent Jason!"
***
It wasn't that the wall was interesting. It wasn't as if it had any magical properties. It was
a wall. Plain and simple. It simply just got in the way of his vision. If it wanted to sit
there and be looked at, Keyop was fine with that.
He preferred an inactive wall. It didn't bother him. It didn't try and get him out of his
bed.
It didn't tell him that he should go and visit the grave.
It didn't harass him with doctors.
It didn't shout at him for being heartless.
It didn't spend the nights crying in the adjoining room.
The wall was good like that.
***
The green garbed Spectran ran up to Zoltar and saluted. "G-Force have arrived sir." He
reported.
Zoltar looked up to the heavens, studying the purple glory. "And the welcoming
committee?"
"In place, sir."
Zoltar turned away and motioned the guard with a limp flick of his hand. "Good. They may fire at will!"
***
"Mark? MARK!"
"Huh?" Mark shook his head slightly and walked over to Princess. The girl was watching
him intently. She rose from her seat and touched his arm, her eyes never wavering
contact with his. "You're worried," she said with a slight smile. "Please tell me what's
on your mind."
Worried? Mark had to think about this. Am I? Perhaps it was Cronus. Dealing with the
new Cronus always made him feel uncomfortable. Understandable, but thinking about it,
she was right Something was bothering him.
"I can tell." She smiled warmly. Keyop made gagging noises behind her. Jason grinned
from the front seat.
Mark looked at the scanner. They were close now, both the fighters and the Phoenix were
just above the atmosphere of the planet. "It's unlike Cronus to play a hand so early in the
game." That was what was bothering him. "Cronus always trained his men to remain in
the shadows until the last moment." He studied the formation heading towards them.
Closer. "Spectra must be able to see him and his ships. So why..."
He froze. He looked at Jason. Who stared back in unhealthy mixture of horror and
understanding.
That was when the first missile tore through the Phoenix's wing.
***
The ship screamed in agony. Metal buckling against metal. Mark slammed against the
bulkhead holding Princess tightly. "Evasive!" He cried. Letting go of Princess, he made
his way through the smoke to the main controls. "Move us Jason!"
"I'm trying!" Snarled his companion, his teeth gritted together as he battled with the
console in front of him. "These controls were built for someone a little larger than me!"
Jason tugged at one of the gears with all his might and the ship lifted of it's spiralling
course.
"Second missile.. missed!" Declared Keyop. "Just!"
Mark switched on the under retros. "We need to get into the atmosphere as fast as
possible! We need to make a controlled descent!" Without Tiny, G-Force was not going
to be able to survive a space battle. Getting into the atmosphere may even the odds up.
Another hit shattered the console next to Princess and sent her flying over onto the floor.
Mark helped her to her feet as large cracks danced across the ceiling. Jason wrestled once
more with the controls.
"It's no use! We're going down!"
***
Princess dug her hand deep into the gravel. The closer she could get the better she felt.
Those few centimetres made all the difference. Safer. The closer she got, the less painful
it seemed. He hadn't gone away from her. He was still here. Time could be turned back.
Changed.
No, not changed, defeated. As if time never existed. Shouldn't it be that way?
None changing, none altering. Just friendship, and love. No fear what the next day would
bring. Of what could end.
She knew what the next would bring.
The next day would be empty. A hollow shell of twenty four empty hours. Just like today.
She began to wonder if time had actually stopped and there was just the same day over
and over again. The same empty day.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. Her heart jumped.
"Princess..." said the voice. She felt bile lurch into her mouth, a sudden burst of pain and then before blacked out, she heard a distinctly alien whisper in her ear.
"Die," it said.
***
The ship rocked. She was beginning to spin again. The planet loomed up on the screen
menacingly. She was going to drift into the atmosphere and burn up. At least the fighters
had broken off their attack. Mark shoved Jason out of the command seat.
"Princess, Keyop, prepare to launch the Widget, we'll follow you down to the bay."
"The Widget? From space?" She declared.
"It's our only hope!" Jason growled, siding with his Commander. "Now go!"
Mark checked the main instruments while Jason checked the damage reports. Fires began
to ignite from various control positions. Mark activated the central autopilot. Hopefully it
could hold her up until they got out.
Jason read out the damage report. "Sensors out. Half thrusters only. Life support is
finished. Missile hold's been blown open. She's blind and running on empty!"
Mark looked at the console.
Damn.
"Guidance systems are gradually failing," Jason continued. "Heatshields are virtually
gone. Reactor is getting near to critical."
I'm sorry Princess.
"We need to go Commander!"
Mark sat firmly in the control seat. His mind desperately searching for alternatives.
"Commander!" Jason grabbed Mark's shoulder.
"Finish the damage report." Mark said mutely. Jason complied.
"Under carriage out. Auto pilot..." He stopped and stared at his superior.
"Get out of here Jason!" Mark began running manual checks.
Jason stared "No way Mark! I won't leave you behind!"
"If someone doesn't stay at the controls of the Phoenix she will spin and burn up. Then
everyone gets left behind! This is the only way. Now go!"
Jason paused. His face set rigid, he began to make his way through the fires towards the
inner hatch.
Mark kept his gaze firmly on the screen. The picture was breaking up. Soon there would
be no visuals to rely on. Just the pull of gravity. Time to prove what a pilot he really was.
A thought struck him and he smiled wistfully.
"Jason, keep your wrist communicator open!"
Jason paused at the inner hatch, then smiled grimly. "Gotcha. See you on the ground
Commander."
"Good luck my friend." whispered Mark.
***
President Kane placed the report on the desk. Anderson rubbed his temples.
"Not now."
"Now."
Anderson looked up. "Jason's missing. Princess is en route to the nearest medical facility
as we speak and as for Keyop... it's as if he's just..."
"Switched off?"
Anderson eyes filled with anger. "He's a human being he doesn't-" He looked at the file sitting on his desk and pushed it away. and leaned back in his seat.
"I've been relieved I assume?"
"Temporarily."
"Is that the best solution to our problems?"
"It's either that or I have to watch you have a breakdown." Kane moved closer to
Anderson. "It's not your fault."
"Isn't it?"
"We've had the conversation before. Centre Neptune's destruction was not your fault.
Cronus' death was not your fault. This... It's not your fault."
Anderson smiled grimly and stood up. Centre Neptune suddenly seemed so cold. Isolated. What could you expect deep in the ocean? Someone once said that the warmest blood of all came from the sea. An ocean furthest from, maybe.
"This is seen as just another error in my judgement. The third in one year. That's how the
Council will see it. I know this - so do you."
President Kane gave his old friend a worried look. "It's not how they see it that's
important."
Anderson looked up. "I'll fight the decision. I am needed here."
The President placed his hand on Anderson's shoulder. So tense, he thought. This man is
about to snap. "How do you see yourself Anderson? In the end, you're the only one that matters. It's yourself you'll ultimately answer to."
***
The Widget was never made for more than a couple of people. Princess knew this would
be a cramped trip. Keyop sat adjusting the shield settings silently. Minutes felt like they
were turning into hours.
Suddenly Jason slipt into the craft. To her horror, he closed that hatch.
"Where's Mark?" She stammered.
Jason's face was expressionless. Dead. "He's not coming."
Princess thought she was going to be sick. "Not coming?" She lunged to get past Jason.
"We've got to get him!" Jason grabbed her and held her firmly in his grip. His large eyes
bore deeply into hers.
"It's his choice Princess," he whispered. "Look." The doors to the bay sealed shut and the
main tube which connected the nacelle pod to the main hull retracted noisily.
"No!"
"Mark knows what he's doing," Jason replied firmly. "Now release the Widget Keyop."
Keyop's face blanched. "Mark...." he stammered.
"Open the bay doors!" Jason growled, his facade weakening. "Do it!"
***
Jason sat by Princess' bed. The nurses said she was stable. It must have been a mistake.
He knew she was depressed, but not like this. They said her system was in shock. They
suspected an overdose. No, not her. Surely not. It must have been something else - but
what?
He should have been here. Shouldn't have detached himself from the group. Mark, why must you always play the hero? Did you ever see what you did to your friends?
***
The Widget rattled as it powered towards the planet. They sat in silence. Finally Jason
spoke up. "We're slowing down. Powered descent Keyop."
"But.. can't leave Mark!" Whimpered Keyop.
"We don't want to take a casual drive through the atmosphere, the shields won't hold."
Jason explained. He took a deep breath. "We need distance from the Phoenix."
Princess' eyes flared with anger. "How can you.." She stopped when she saw the pain in
her comrade's eyes. She lowered her gaze submissively. "I'm sorry Jason."
Jason's mouth twitched slightly but kept his attention on the readouts. "Princess target
the Mechanical Wasp. Plot a direct course - and get ready we will need to bail fast."
"A collision between the Widget won't even dent it!" Proclaimed his female companion.
"Maybe not." He turned and gave her sad smile. "Just trust me on this one."
***
"As you can see Anderson, soon my Wasp will have broken into the temple's energy supply, powering my magnificent mechanical creatures with the power of a thousand suns!" Zoltar twirled his hand theatrically. "Victory to Spectra, I think."
"G-Force will stop you!" Spat Anderson. "As always."
With a whisk of his cloak, Zoltar revealed a portable monitor. On the screen, it replayed
the attack and final dive of the Phoenix into the atmosphere.
"I think not Security Chief Anderson. I believe you children have met an unfortunate
death at the hands of my ships!"
Anderson snapped and lurched forward with all his might. His protest was met by the
butt of a rifle. He fell to the floor, his lip bleeding. "Damn you Zoltar!" He muttered.
Tiny leant next to him, his guards monitoring him closely.
"I can take 'em Chief," he whispered. "Just say the word."
"We wait." Replied the Chief. "We wait our moment."
***
Jason watched the cracks split across the ships interior. His skin felt it was on fire. They
were through the upper atmosphere, but would she hold together?
"This ship wasn't made for spacetravel Princess. It certainly wasn't designed for
dive-bombing the atmosphere of a strange planet. Have you fixed the course?
"Dead ahead" Princess' replied flatly.
Jason touched her arm. She flinched involuntarily. "When we bail, I'm going to need
your help."
She turned and faced him. A look of confusion spread across her face. "Help? Jason,
what are you hiding from me?"
***
"Sir we have spotted a small craft heading this way."
Zoltar waved absently at the guard to leave. "Ah, some of G-Force must have escaped
their destruction. A mere delay." He twisted and pulled out a communicator. "Target that
incoming ship!"
Anderson, Tiny and the rest of the achelogical captives watched in horror as the
mechanical Wasp turned it's antenna like turrets towards a small speck in the sky.
"Sir," one of the guards raised his communicator to his leader. "There is something else
you may need to know."
Zoltar, however, was preoccupied. "What is that whining?"
***
"What are you hiding Jason?" Princess glared at the blue clad warrior.
Keyop tugged her arm. "Need to bail!" He said.
Princess studied Jason. She stopped at his arm and with horror looked at him directly.
"Where's you bracelet?" Jason remained silent. her eyes darted across the cabin.
The console.
It sat in a small alcove set into the relay circuits. It was flashing.
"He's using his bracelet to follow mine." Jason fixed a gaze firmly on his friend. "He's
trying to turn this to our advantage." He looked out of the Widget's cracked window.
"You could say we're playing the guide dog."
She followed his gaze.
"Oh my.."
***
"What do you mean?" Growled Zoltar. The whining was getting louder.
"There!" cried one of the prisoners. Zoltar's jaw dropped. Looming from a slight
distance was a large shadow against the purple clouds. The immediate clouds began to
glow a thick orange.
Anderson's fists clenched, his brow knoted. This could be it. "Please, come back to me
safely team."
"No!" Screamed Zoltar. The Widget fired past at incredible speed.
Behind it the purple, misty clouds tore open and a flaming mass bore out, blind and
screaming. The blue hue of the Phoenix was torn away. The back section was a mass of
flames and blackened hull. The left nacelle had been torn open and the nose had burst as
if it was a balloon. The retro rockets were firing constantly trying to slow it's speed. To
keep it in control. If Mark was alive in there it would only be thanks to the extreme
shielding within the cabin compartment.
The speed meant that all this could only be registered in a second, but it was image which
would last Tiny Harper a lifetime.
***
"Now!" Screamed Jason over the noise. Princess was transfixed on the mutated mass of
metal that was following them. The skill required to guide the ship blind on a homing
beam was incalculable. It was super human.
It was G-Force.
It meant Mark was still alive.
Jason grabbed and pulled her from the window and out the hatch.
"No!" Princess screamed.
***
"NO!" Pleaded Zoltar as the Widget exploded into the Wasp.
"Now Tiny!" Yelled Anderson who immediately disabled one of the guards, grabbed the
weapon and through it to Harper.
***
"Jason!" Yelled Keyop as the continued free falling to the planet. Princess was awoken
from her trance as the second in command glowed and transmuted back to civilian in
mid-air. With his bracelet destroyed in the Widget, he was powerless and falling fast. She
lunged forward and began to pick up speed. She wasn't going to risk anyone else. With
Keyop along side, the two remaining birdstyle members dived down and picked up Jason.
"Thanks for the help." Jason grimaced.
They touched ground as the shockwave hit them.
***
The blast knocked everyone to the ground. The Phoenix smashed into the Wasp's legs
and the exploded, the main body of the craft continued onwards and crashed into the
weakened temple.
The heavens screamed. What was left of the great craft and the Wasp were then engulfed
in an almighty explosion from the temple knocking both the Phoenix and the Wasp
through the air.
The remainder of the Phoenix, mainly the midsection, was thrown over the clearing and
it's occupants and crashed into the trees beyond with a hollow, empty metallic thud.
There was silence.
Any Spectran resistance in the clearing was dealt by Princess and Keyop in a spectacular
fight. With Tiny and Jason in civillians backing them the fight was other in minutes.
Anderson and the scientists then help round up the captures Spectrans.
With the four team members reunited, they faced a tired and angry Chief Anderson.
"Where's Zoltar?" he declared. Looking around the clearing. "Where's Zoltar?"
***
Princess watches. Time and time before she has seen Mark do this. Everytime pushing
the envelope, floating to the ground from nowhere after successfully destroying the
enemy. Surviving when all others should have died. Teasing them, stretching his
crewmates to the limit until at the last minute appearing, a white dove of peace, the
hunter coming back from his expedition.
Always, he comes back.
So she waits.
And waits.
She sees Jason. He won't look at her. If she can make him look at her, it won't be true.
"Princess... we've found the body."
***
Jason watched helplessly as they wheeled Princess away for more tests. Damn you Mark.
You say we should work as a team and yet you had to play the hero. You blame me for
being the loner when it was you all along. We could have beaten this another way! I
know we could have!
under attack."
"Yap. yap."
"Yes, 1-Rover-1. They did just recently unearth a temple there. One that seems to contain
a gianormous unknown power source. What's worse, Security Chief Anderson has been
overseeing the excavation! Along with Tiny! I hope they are all right!"
"Yap?"
"No 1-Rover-1, I can't go there. And neither can you despite it being your favourite star
system, Orion - the Dog star!" 7-Zark-7 chuckled to himself.
"Yap yippty yap!"
Zark turned his attention to his control panel and slowly flapped over towards his station.
"I'm assembling the remainder of G-Force. Let's hope they can get there in time. I have a
nasty suspicion Zoltar from the planet Spectra is involved! He turned to no one in
particular and announced. Spectra is a planet in the crab nebula you know. Thousands of
light years away from Earth!" Zark switched on the Centre Neptune intercom.
"G-Force Commander, assemble your team and prepare for launch."
The reply came from the G-Force Ready room. Mark's boyish facade materialised on the
screen.
"That's a big ten Zark, team's assembled and Phoenix is ready to launch."
"Launch when ready commander! And good luck!"
"Yappity yap yap?"
"I'm sure they will be fine 1-Rover-1." The droid sighed. "I just wish they had Tiny with
them." With almost nervous energy he turned back to the console and monitored the
launch of the Phoenix. "I'm sure they'll be all right!"
***
Jason's eyes remained steadily fixed on the gravestone. The noise of his car purring
behind him. How long had he been standing here? Minutes? Hours? Days? There was
clearly still petrol in the tank if that was anything to go by.
He let his mind play out the ghosts once more. He no longer paid attention to them. It
was over now. What more was there to think about?
Damn you. How many more people would he have to bury before this was all over?
***
A collective of pride and victorious zeal, Zoltar swaned across the clearing towards his
captured party. It was a collection of twenty men, most of which were scientists. Scared
scientists. Two of his best guards held their leader tightly in their grip. Another three
were holding his big burly companion. A difficult one. He had been a very difficult
capture. The guards holding this one were all robots. Only their collective superhuman
strength were enough to hold back the youth. Zoltar studied him for a second. So
Anderson employed children as bodyguards as well? And the galaxy called him sick!
The sun weighed heavy in the sky creating a purple splatter across the horizon. Beyond
the clearing from every side spanned out miles of jungle. Zoltar ignored the humidity and
embraced the adrenaline that was pumping through his body. This was truly his finest
hour.
"Security Chief Anderson," he taunted. "Tell me, what do you think of my latest creation?"
Anderson turned towards the giant mechanical creature that hovered to the west. It
loomed above the large temple that protruded from the treetops. The temple had a
vaguely Incan architecture to it. The building - like the planet - had only been discovered
very recently.
What lay within this ancient temple was of greater concern to Anderson. Energy beyond imagining. It was that energy that the mechanical wasp was seeking to gain. They had already discovered the temple had some sort of mystic field which was so far preventing the giant wasp from gaining entry.
But for how long?
The wasp continued to attack the temple both physically and with energy, ploughing bolts of liquid beams
onto the stone while scraping away with it's massive mechanical legs. It was a terrifying
sight.
"It's obscene," snarled Anderson. "That temple belongs to a sacred race, you have no
right invading it's secrets in this way!"
Zoltar cackled with glee. Mockingly, he bowed towards his foe. "I am merely doing what
you intended to do. Why else would you be here? I'm just taking what you Earthlings
would call a more direct approach!"
Anderson could the sweat and heat playing a battleground upon his forehead. "I am here
to see if this temple poses a security risk to the Federation. We are here to study it's
secrets, not steal them!"
Zoltar smirked and turned away, clearly not impressed. Tiny lunged foreword only to be
pulled back by the androids.
"G-Force will stop you Zoltar - you just wait!"
Zoltar swung around majestically, pleasure swept across his painted lips.
"Ah, G-Force, yes I have a surprise for them."
Zoltar laughed heartily and the birds fled from the nearby treetops in panic.
***
His stomach ached. He couldn't remember the last time he had ate, but despite his body's
protests, the thought of food repelled him. He wiped his eyes with his chubby wrist.
Every day for a week he had come here. Just for a few minutes.
It was as much as he could bare. He wondered if there really was a time when he enjoyed being in G-Force. If so, in now felt like a lifetime ago.
***
Mark grasped onto his seat as the craft lurched to the left. Keyop swung back and despite
grasping maniacally at thin air, was unable to prevent a fall to the deck.
"Hold her steady Jason!" Mark pleaded.
Jason ignored Mark's glare and continued wrestling with the controls.
"I'm trying! Space jumps are the big guy's talent. I drive race cars, not spaceships."
Mark turned to Princess who was pulling Keyop back onto his seat. "Any
communications from the planet? Has Tiny responded?"
"Nothing Commander," replied his female companion. "I don't think he's wearing his
bracelet."
Mark cursed - how many times would he have to tell Tiny to keep his bracelet on him at
all times?
"Approaching the planet, Mark." Jason yanked another large lever with a satisfied grunt.
He leaned back. "Princess, can you zoom onto the site. We need to see what's
happening!"
The screen lit up. The hideous sight of Zoltar's mechanical wasp filled the screen,
battling to get into the temple below it.
"What is it?" bleeped Keyop. "Oversized bug."
A flashing light next to Princess caught her attention and she checked her readouts.
"Commander we have a welcoming committee coming up onto our vector!"
"Friend or foe, Princess?" her leader questioned.
The crimson shape of Colonel Cronus' fighters appeared on the scanner screen. Mark felt
a twinge of regret, but suppressed it. He checked their distance. Long range, but closing.
"Team, the cavalry has arrived. Looks like we won't be doing this on our own! Prepare
for descent Jason!"
***
It wasn't that the wall was interesting. It wasn't as if it had any magical properties. It was
a wall. Plain and simple. It simply just got in the way of his vision. If it wanted to sit
there and be looked at, Keyop was fine with that.
He preferred an inactive wall. It didn't bother him. It didn't try and get him out of his
bed.
It didn't tell him that he should go and visit the grave.
It didn't harass him with doctors.
It didn't shout at him for being heartless.
It didn't spend the nights crying in the adjoining room.
The wall was good like that.
***
The green garbed Spectran ran up to Zoltar and saluted. "G-Force have arrived sir." He
reported.
Zoltar looked up to the heavens, studying the purple glory. "And the welcoming
committee?"
"In place, sir."
Zoltar turned away and motioned the guard with a limp flick of his hand. "Good. They may fire at will!"
***
"Mark? MARK!"
"Huh?" Mark shook his head slightly and walked over to Princess. The girl was watching
him intently. She rose from her seat and touched his arm, her eyes never wavering
contact with his. "You're worried," she said with a slight smile. "Please tell me what's
on your mind."
Worried? Mark had to think about this. Am I? Perhaps it was Cronus. Dealing with the
new Cronus always made him feel uncomfortable. Understandable, but thinking about it,
she was right Something was bothering him.
"I can tell." She smiled warmly. Keyop made gagging noises behind her. Jason grinned
from the front seat.
Mark looked at the scanner. They were close now, both the fighters and the Phoenix were
just above the atmosphere of the planet. "It's unlike Cronus to play a hand so early in the
game." That was what was bothering him. "Cronus always trained his men to remain in
the shadows until the last moment." He studied the formation heading towards them.
Closer. "Spectra must be able to see him and his ships. So why..."
He froze. He looked at Jason. Who stared back in unhealthy mixture of horror and
understanding.
That was when the first missile tore through the Phoenix's wing.
***
The ship screamed in agony. Metal buckling against metal. Mark slammed against the
bulkhead holding Princess tightly. "Evasive!" He cried. Letting go of Princess, he made
his way through the smoke to the main controls. "Move us Jason!"
"I'm trying!" Snarled his companion, his teeth gritted together as he battled with the
console in front of him. "These controls were built for someone a little larger than me!"
Jason tugged at one of the gears with all his might and the ship lifted of it's spiralling
course.
"Second missile.. missed!" Declared Keyop. "Just!"
Mark switched on the under retros. "We need to get into the atmosphere as fast as
possible! We need to make a controlled descent!" Without Tiny, G-Force was not going
to be able to survive a space battle. Getting into the atmosphere may even the odds up.
Another hit shattered the console next to Princess and sent her flying over onto the floor.
Mark helped her to her feet as large cracks danced across the ceiling. Jason wrestled once
more with the controls.
"It's no use! We're going down!"
***
Princess dug her hand deep into the gravel. The closer she could get the better she felt.
Those few centimetres made all the difference. Safer. The closer she got, the less painful
it seemed. He hadn't gone away from her. He was still here. Time could be turned back.
Changed.
No, not changed, defeated. As if time never existed. Shouldn't it be that way?
None changing, none altering. Just friendship, and love. No fear what the next day would
bring. Of what could end.
She knew what the next would bring.
The next day would be empty. A hollow shell of twenty four empty hours. Just like today.
She began to wonder if time had actually stopped and there was just the same day over
and over again. The same empty day.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. Her heart jumped.
"Princess..." said the voice. She felt bile lurch into her mouth, a sudden burst of pain and then before blacked out, she heard a distinctly alien whisper in her ear.
"Die," it said.
***
The ship rocked. She was beginning to spin again. The planet loomed up on the screen
menacingly. She was going to drift into the atmosphere and burn up. At least the fighters
had broken off their attack. Mark shoved Jason out of the command seat.
"Princess, Keyop, prepare to launch the Widget, we'll follow you down to the bay."
"The Widget? From space?" She declared.
"It's our only hope!" Jason growled, siding with his Commander. "Now go!"
Mark checked the main instruments while Jason checked the damage reports. Fires began
to ignite from various control positions. Mark activated the central autopilot. Hopefully it
could hold her up until they got out.
Jason read out the damage report. "Sensors out. Half thrusters only. Life support is
finished. Missile hold's been blown open. She's blind and running on empty!"
Mark looked at the console.
Damn.
"Guidance systems are gradually failing," Jason continued. "Heatshields are virtually
gone. Reactor is getting near to critical."
I'm sorry Princess.
"We need to go Commander!"
Mark sat firmly in the control seat. His mind desperately searching for alternatives.
"Commander!" Jason grabbed Mark's shoulder.
"Finish the damage report." Mark said mutely. Jason complied.
"Under carriage out. Auto pilot..." He stopped and stared at his superior.
"Get out of here Jason!" Mark began running manual checks.
Jason stared "No way Mark! I won't leave you behind!"
"If someone doesn't stay at the controls of the Phoenix she will spin and burn up. Then
everyone gets left behind! This is the only way. Now go!"
Jason paused. His face set rigid, he began to make his way through the fires towards the
inner hatch.
Mark kept his gaze firmly on the screen. The picture was breaking up. Soon there would
be no visuals to rely on. Just the pull of gravity. Time to prove what a pilot he really was.
A thought struck him and he smiled wistfully.
"Jason, keep your wrist communicator open!"
Jason paused at the inner hatch, then smiled grimly. "Gotcha. See you on the ground
Commander."
"Good luck my friend." whispered Mark.
***
President Kane placed the report on the desk. Anderson rubbed his temples.
"Not now."
"Now."
Anderson looked up. "Jason's missing. Princess is en route to the nearest medical facility
as we speak and as for Keyop... it's as if he's just..."
"Switched off?"
Anderson eyes filled with anger. "He's a human being he doesn't-" He looked at the file sitting on his desk and pushed it away. and leaned back in his seat.
"I've been relieved I assume?"
"Temporarily."
"Is that the best solution to our problems?"
"It's either that or I have to watch you have a breakdown." Kane moved closer to
Anderson. "It's not your fault."
"Isn't it?"
"We've had the conversation before. Centre Neptune's destruction was not your fault.
Cronus' death was not your fault. This... It's not your fault."
Anderson smiled grimly and stood up. Centre Neptune suddenly seemed so cold. Isolated. What could you expect deep in the ocean? Someone once said that the warmest blood of all came from the sea. An ocean furthest from, maybe.
"This is seen as just another error in my judgement. The third in one year. That's how the
Council will see it. I know this - so do you."
President Kane gave his old friend a worried look. "It's not how they see it that's
important."
Anderson looked up. "I'll fight the decision. I am needed here."
The President placed his hand on Anderson's shoulder. So tense, he thought. This man is
about to snap. "How do you see yourself Anderson? In the end, you're the only one that matters. It's yourself you'll ultimately answer to."
***
The Widget was never made for more than a couple of people. Princess knew this would
be a cramped trip. Keyop sat adjusting the shield settings silently. Minutes felt like they
were turning into hours.
Suddenly Jason slipt into the craft. To her horror, he closed that hatch.
"Where's Mark?" She stammered.
Jason's face was expressionless. Dead. "He's not coming."
Princess thought she was going to be sick. "Not coming?" She lunged to get past Jason.
"We've got to get him!" Jason grabbed her and held her firmly in his grip. His large eyes
bore deeply into hers.
"It's his choice Princess," he whispered. "Look." The doors to the bay sealed shut and the
main tube which connected the nacelle pod to the main hull retracted noisily.
"No!"
"Mark knows what he's doing," Jason replied firmly. "Now release the Widget Keyop."
Keyop's face blanched. "Mark...." he stammered.
"Open the bay doors!" Jason growled, his facade weakening. "Do it!"
***
Jason sat by Princess' bed. The nurses said she was stable. It must have been a mistake.
He knew she was depressed, but not like this. They said her system was in shock. They
suspected an overdose. No, not her. Surely not. It must have been something else - but
what?
He should have been here. Shouldn't have detached himself from the group. Mark, why must you always play the hero? Did you ever see what you did to your friends?
***
The Widget rattled as it powered towards the planet. They sat in silence. Finally Jason
spoke up. "We're slowing down. Powered descent Keyop."
"But.. can't leave Mark!" Whimpered Keyop.
"We don't want to take a casual drive through the atmosphere, the shields won't hold."
Jason explained. He took a deep breath. "We need distance from the Phoenix."
Princess' eyes flared with anger. "How can you.." She stopped when she saw the pain in
her comrade's eyes. She lowered her gaze submissively. "I'm sorry Jason."
Jason's mouth twitched slightly but kept his attention on the readouts. "Princess target
the Mechanical Wasp. Plot a direct course - and get ready we will need to bail fast."
"A collision between the Widget won't even dent it!" Proclaimed his female companion.
"Maybe not." He turned and gave her sad smile. "Just trust me on this one."
***
"As you can see Anderson, soon my Wasp will have broken into the temple's energy supply, powering my magnificent mechanical creatures with the power of a thousand suns!" Zoltar twirled his hand theatrically. "Victory to Spectra, I think."
"G-Force will stop you!" Spat Anderson. "As always."
With a whisk of his cloak, Zoltar revealed a portable monitor. On the screen, it replayed
the attack and final dive of the Phoenix into the atmosphere.
"I think not Security Chief Anderson. I believe you children have met an unfortunate
death at the hands of my ships!"
Anderson snapped and lurched forward with all his might. His protest was met by the
butt of a rifle. He fell to the floor, his lip bleeding. "Damn you Zoltar!" He muttered.
Tiny leant next to him, his guards monitoring him closely.
"I can take 'em Chief," he whispered. "Just say the word."
"We wait." Replied the Chief. "We wait our moment."
***
Jason watched the cracks split across the ships interior. His skin felt it was on fire. They
were through the upper atmosphere, but would she hold together?
"This ship wasn't made for spacetravel Princess. It certainly wasn't designed for
dive-bombing the atmosphere of a strange planet. Have you fixed the course?
"Dead ahead" Princess' replied flatly.
Jason touched her arm. She flinched involuntarily. "When we bail, I'm going to need
your help."
She turned and faced him. A look of confusion spread across her face. "Help? Jason,
what are you hiding from me?"
***
"Sir we have spotted a small craft heading this way."
Zoltar waved absently at the guard to leave. "Ah, some of G-Force must have escaped
their destruction. A mere delay." He twisted and pulled out a communicator. "Target that
incoming ship!"
Anderson, Tiny and the rest of the achelogical captives watched in horror as the
mechanical Wasp turned it's antenna like turrets towards a small speck in the sky.
"Sir," one of the guards raised his communicator to his leader. "There is something else
you may need to know."
Zoltar, however, was preoccupied. "What is that whining?"
***
"What are you hiding Jason?" Princess glared at the blue clad warrior.
Keyop tugged her arm. "Need to bail!" He said.
Princess studied Jason. She stopped at his arm and with horror looked at him directly.
"Where's you bracelet?" Jason remained silent. her eyes darted across the cabin.
The console.
It sat in a small alcove set into the relay circuits. It was flashing.
"He's using his bracelet to follow mine." Jason fixed a gaze firmly on his friend. "He's
trying to turn this to our advantage." He looked out of the Widget's cracked window.
"You could say we're playing the guide dog."
She followed his gaze.
"Oh my.."
***
"What do you mean?" Growled Zoltar. The whining was getting louder.
"There!" cried one of the prisoners. Zoltar's jaw dropped. Looming from a slight
distance was a large shadow against the purple clouds. The immediate clouds began to
glow a thick orange.
Anderson's fists clenched, his brow knoted. This could be it. "Please, come back to me
safely team."
"No!" Screamed Zoltar. The Widget fired past at incredible speed.
Behind it the purple, misty clouds tore open and a flaming mass bore out, blind and
screaming. The blue hue of the Phoenix was torn away. The back section was a mass of
flames and blackened hull. The left nacelle had been torn open and the nose had burst as
if it was a balloon. The retro rockets were firing constantly trying to slow it's speed. To
keep it in control. If Mark was alive in there it would only be thanks to the extreme
shielding within the cabin compartment.
The speed meant that all this could only be registered in a second, but it was image which
would last Tiny Harper a lifetime.
***
"Now!" Screamed Jason over the noise. Princess was transfixed on the mutated mass of
metal that was following them. The skill required to guide the ship blind on a homing
beam was incalculable. It was super human.
It was G-Force.
It meant Mark was still alive.
Jason grabbed and pulled her from the window and out the hatch.
"No!" Princess screamed.
***
"NO!" Pleaded Zoltar as the Widget exploded into the Wasp.
"Now Tiny!" Yelled Anderson who immediately disabled one of the guards, grabbed the
weapon and through it to Harper.
***
"Jason!" Yelled Keyop as the continued free falling to the planet. Princess was awoken
from her trance as the second in command glowed and transmuted back to civilian in
mid-air. With his bracelet destroyed in the Widget, he was powerless and falling fast. She
lunged forward and began to pick up speed. She wasn't going to risk anyone else. With
Keyop along side, the two remaining birdstyle members dived down and picked up Jason.
"Thanks for the help." Jason grimaced.
They touched ground as the shockwave hit them.
***
The blast knocked everyone to the ground. The Phoenix smashed into the Wasp's legs
and the exploded, the main body of the craft continued onwards and crashed into the
weakened temple.
The heavens screamed. What was left of the great craft and the Wasp were then engulfed
in an almighty explosion from the temple knocking both the Phoenix and the Wasp
through the air.
The remainder of the Phoenix, mainly the midsection, was thrown over the clearing and
it's occupants and crashed into the trees beyond with a hollow, empty metallic thud.
There was silence.
Any Spectran resistance in the clearing was dealt by Princess and Keyop in a spectacular
fight. With Tiny and Jason in civillians backing them the fight was other in minutes.
Anderson and the scientists then help round up the captures Spectrans.
With the four team members reunited, they faced a tired and angry Chief Anderson.
"Where's Zoltar?" he declared. Looking around the clearing. "Where's Zoltar?"
***
Princess watches. Time and time before she has seen Mark do this. Everytime pushing
the envelope, floating to the ground from nowhere after successfully destroying the
enemy. Surviving when all others should have died. Teasing them, stretching his
crewmates to the limit until at the last minute appearing, a white dove of peace, the
hunter coming back from his expedition.
Always, he comes back.
So she waits.
And waits.
She sees Jason. He won't look at her. If she can make him look at her, it won't be true.
"Princess... we've found the body."
***
Jason watched helplessly as they wheeled Princess away for more tests. Damn you Mark.
You say we should work as a team and yet you had to play the hero. You blame me for
being the loner when it was you all along. We could have beaten this another way! I
know we could have!