Chapter 3: Scouting for Honor
The stars passed by like rays of light in the night sky. Even after standing there, watching them for some time, it was hard to single one star out from the group as they flew past the atmosphere of the planet in movement. It was strange to see the stars move like that again after seeing them as stationary objects for so long. Then again, it wasn't the stars that were moving. The fact that the planets were once again on the move put the Queen of Rock in a hidden state of uneasiness. So much had taken place the last time the planets were on the move. Now, she had the fate of her entire people resting on her solid rock shoulders. Shoulders, that at a second glance, seemed to not set as high as they once did. Over the years, having the weight of her world rest upon them, her once proud and commanding visage had begun to look tired and worn away. Only with the new possibility of battle once again did she, for but a single instance, take on a look of the old Jade refreshed.
"My Queen, if I may have a word with you." Graveheart kneeled behind Jade as he finally broke the silence of the night. He had been standing there, watching her watch the moving night sky in silence, for quite some time.
"Only if you stop bow'n like dat." Jade turned around with one hand on her hip, happy in a way to have him save her from her own thoughts.
"Sorry." Graveheart rose quickly and gave her a smile. Even after six years, he still found it hard to forgo the formalities that had been imprinted on him as a minor.
"You should be." Jade winked at him with her hand still firmly planted on her hip.
"I just wanted to let you know that the scouting party has been confirmed." Graveheart stepped toward her as she turned her eyes back out onto the terrain of planet Rock. "They will be ready to leave as soon as the order is approved by all the planetary leaders."
"Good." Jade nodded slightly. Another episode of silence passed as they both looked at the stars as they flew by. "How long have we been on de move?"
"Only three days." The question, though unexpected from Jade, was not far from what Graveheart had been feeling. "It feels like we never stopped moving."
"Yes." Jade nodded again. "As if the pas' six years were…" Jade paused for a moment as she tried to find the right words.
"A break in reality. A pause." Graveheart finished for her.
"Yes." Jade sighed. It had been a break in the fighting, the movement, and in something else. She viewed Graveheart out of the corner of her eye as he stood quietly beside her, his large and solid chest rising and falling with his even breaths. After she had become Queen of Rock, they had both been unsure of how to pursue the feelings that they shared for one another. In some ways, it had been like a secret palace affair that the servants would talk about on their off hours. In other ways, it was as if they were nothing more than friends. It had been hard, confusing, and at times lonely. Jade looked back up to the stars again as the flashing rays of light made odd patterns in the night sky. With a soft movement of her granite hand, she found herself holding tightly onto the hand of her steadfast companion. He seemed to always be at her side, no matter the six long years of an uneasy stalemate. "Maybe dis time we do it right."
"Maybe, my Queen." Graveheart held onto that enjoyable moment along with her. Her words may have been referring to the battle with the Beast Planet, but he knew what her heart had meant. His was beating in the same rhythm.
******************
"So explain this to me one more time, kid." Femur sped up his swaggering hips to catch up with the long legged stride of the Lord of Fire.
"We believe we have come up with a way to defeat the Beast planet, once and for all." Pyrus looked down to the short stature of Ambassador Femur for a moment as he spoke. "But Tekla needs once last bit of data about the Beast in order to complete the device."
"And in order to get this information, someone has to actually go to the Beast planet?" Femur raised one of his brows.
"Precisely, brother." Sternum entered the conversation as he met up with the group on their way to the loading bay of planet Bone.
"Well look who finally decided to crawl off the throne." Femur smirked up at his much taller and larger brother.
"I'm sorry, did you say something?" Sternum ignored Femur's comment because he knew how much it would get on his nerves.
"Emperor Sternum." Pyrus nodded a small greeting.
"Greetings." Sternum said plainly as he surveyed the young king.
"I just have one more question." Femur raised his hand in the air, unhappy at being ignored.
"And what would that be?" Sternum said in a slightly annoyed voice.
"Exactly what crazy canolie did you find to make this suicide run?" Femur smirked, wondering what poor shmuck they had talked into flying the scout run to get the data.
"Only the craziest damn pilot in the alliance." The sultry and strong female voice behind the words caused Femur to stop dead in his tracks.
"Not to mention the best pilot in the alliance." Sternum finished with a sly smile across his lips as he turned to the source of the voice.
"Flattery from the Emperor. Please excuse me if I don't swoon." The female of planet Bone laughed haughtily as Sternum laughed for a moment. She winked at him and continued down the loading ramp of her ship. She stood no taller than 5'4, but had the attitude of someone who was ten times that size. Her well figured frame glistened with the deep green of her skin and the light green of the fins that ran from head to tail. The red of her outfit only deepened the red of her lips and eyes. The large smirk played on her full ruby lips for a moment as she surveyed the territory of the boys in front of her. "Long time no see, hun."
"Indeed." Sternum nodded in a small harrumphed laugh. He stepped aside to give her full view of Femur who had quietly made his way to a hidden spot.
"Well well well. He actually survived all those years on the throne." She bent down to Femur with one clawed finger pointed toward his fat stomach. "You got fatter."
"Heya toot…I mean Tibia." Femur turtled slightly. This was a less than welcome surprise that he was sure his wonderful brother had a hand in planning. "Your look'n good."
"Cant say the same for you." Tibia eyed Femur for a moment with an unreadable intent before turning back to Sternum. "Everything's ready to go."
"Good. Here is a list of the final data needed." Sternum began going over the manifest with Tibia. He had to keep himself from laughing at how wonderful this little meeting had gone.
"That's Tibia?" Pyrus had stood in silent disbelief for a moment. Femur had 'shared' several stories about the female of Bone. The Tibia he had pictured was something quite different, being that she had been romantically interested in Femur. "You broke up with that?"
"Well, actually kid….see I" Femur wished Pyrus had kept his voice down.
"Is that what the toad told you?" Tibia's sultry voice let out a boisterous laugh. "I left him."
"Oh, I see." Pyrus blinked slightly.
"Nice to know you haven't changed much." Tibia eyed Femur again for a moment before turning to go. "If you'll excuse me, I've got some packing to finish."
"Your not actually going to go on this cockamamie mission are ya, dollface?" Femur called after her.
"Yep." She answered simply.
"But you could get yourself killed!" Femur questioned again.
"Yep." She answered as if it was the morning weather report.
"Well in that case, let me ask you one question before you go out there and become the Beast planet's appetizer." Femur twiddled his fingers for a moment. "Did ya miss me?"
"Yep." Tibia answered as she kept walking toward the hanger supply bay.
"I didn't think so, cuz…ya know…I" Femur sighed slightly.
"Femur…" Pyrus tapped Femur's shoulder slightly.
"Ya kid?"
"She said yes." Pyrus rolled his eyes.
"She did?" Femur blinked widely in disbelief. "Oh, ya. Of course she did. Who wouldn't miss this!" Femur laughed proudly.
"Dare I even comment?" Sternum looked up from a group of soldiers he was sending on the mission with Tibia.
"Brothers don't get a vote." Femur huffed out at Sternum, then cowered slightly at the smirking glare he got in return. He turned and ran his short legs to catch up with Tibia. "Heya, Dollface! Wait up, I'll help ya pack!"
***********
The soft sound of footsteps filled the chamber as she paced in silent thought. Having come here often to speak to him, she was surprised as a feeling of nervous anticipation filled her body. The thoughts of the past few days ran through her troubled mind, and the doubt at her ability was also present. With another long breath she drew her eyes up to the still and silent statue of her honored and long passed father, King Cryos.
"What am I doing?" She questioned both the statue and herself. "I am not fit to lead these people into war again with the Beast. I know nothing of battle." She began to pace back and fourth in front of the statue again. "Some one else would be much better suited. I am not ready."
She stopped her footsteps in front of Cryos who kept his silent vigil with his eyes raised toward the sky as if looking for something. Zera looked up to where her father's eyes were set and sighed. The stars of the night sky flew by as the planet continued on its flight toward the Beast planet. Her eyes made there way back to the statue of her father, then closed as she knelt down in reverence. "Forgive me father, for I am not ready." The sound of approaching footsteps caused her to quickly stand and wipe away the tears that had already begun to freeze against her cheeks.
"Zera?" Lord Pyrus stepped slowly into the room, regretting at once that he had bothered her.
"I was not expecting you back so soon." Zera kept her back to him in order to hide the less than happy expression that consumed her face.
"I just arrived from Planet Bone. The scouting team is ready to go." He paused for a moment in the uneasy air of the chamber. "I just thought you would want to know. Sorry to have bothered you." He bowed slightly and began to make his way out of the door.
"Stay." The soft spoken word that came out of Zera's mouth surprised her as much as it did Pyrus.
"Pardon, Empress?" Pyrus wanted to make sure he had heard her right.
"Stay, please." She drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I thought that I wanted nothing more than to be alone with my thoughts. Now that I am, I find that I can not bare the silence."
"As you wish." Pyrus nodded at Zera who still had her back to him. He walked into the room and shut the door softly behind him. Unsure of what to say or do at Zera's obviously upset mannerisms, he looked up to the statue of Cryos. After a deep sigh from Zera, Pyrus felt it was best to try and make some sort of conversation. "Its nice being back on Planet Ice. Kind of like old times, I guess."
"Really?" Zera raised an eyebrow, happy to have anything that could save her from her depressing thoughts. "I seem to remember you hating your visits to Ice."
"Not true." Pyrus shook his head in a small laugh. "Except for the freezing temperatures, this place isn't so bad."
"Of course." Zera half smiled in a small nod. During another moment of silence that filled the chamber, she found herself looking at Pyrus from the corner of her eye. He had grown from a wise and hotheaded young prince to a wise and some what cooler headed King. The fact that he had also gained formidable height, muscle definition, and a handsome face had not passed Zera's notice either. Zera found herself smirking at that thought.
"What?" Pyrus turned to her as he heard a small snicker pass her lips.
"Just wondering how it is you put up with me all of those years." Zera avoided the question with something else she had been wondering.
"How so?" Pyrus raised an eyebrow.
"How did you ever manage to keep your cool when dealing with such an arrogant and foolish child such as I was?" Zera shook her head in a small sigh, turning her eyes away from his.
"There where times when I didn't." Pyrus laughed at first, thinking she must be joking. When no laugh was returned by Zera, he found himself in an odd line of conversation that he never would have expected from the 'old' Zera. He frowned slightly and took a few steps closer to her. "Zera, you weren't that bad."
"Wasn't I?" Zera shook her head.
"No. At times, yes you could be a little…pushy and stubborn, but never horribly foolish or arrogant." Pyrus wasn't sure he liked where the conversation might end up.
"Oh?" Zera sighed. "I all can remember is a weak little girl who constantly complained and berated those around her."
"It wasn't like that at all, and you know it." Pyrus placed his hand on her shoulder, turning her around to face him. The deep melancholic look in her eyes nearly took his breath away. He longed to see her smile again, but knew the conversation was taking a turn far away from levity. "Where you remember arrogance, I remember a strong princess with resolve for standing up for her people and the alliance. It was a strength I did, and still do, admire in you."
"Some strength." Zera shook her head and looked away from his burning eyes, unable to take the truth that tried to sere its way into the walls of doubt she had built up over the past six years. She looked down into her empty hands. "I wasn't strong enough when it counted." Her eyes rose up to the silent statue of king Cryos. "I wasn't strong enough to hold on to what really mattered."
"You cant possibly blame yourself for that?" Pyrus glanced up at Cryos.
"Cant I?" Zera shook her head and turned her eyes back to his.
"Its in the past." Pyrus shook his head. "We should leave it there."
"How can I when it is my fault that he is dead." A sob heaved past her lips as she spoke with what seemed an unbreakable resolve.
"Zera, you cant truly believe that!" The voice of the young Lord of Fire rose with the passion in his heart. "It wasn't your fault."
"Yes it was!" Zera fought ferociously to keep the tears back as she raised her hands toward him. "I was too weak to hold on. I only needed a few more moments, but I wasn't strong enough! I let his hand slip, and he died!"
"Zera, no!" Pyrus grabbed onto her hands. "If you hand held on any longer, that ledge would have broken away sooner and you would have both been killed."
"You don't know that!" Zera fought hard against the strong grip that Pyrus had on her hands.
"Yes I do!" Pyrus looked deep into her amber eyes as he fought to keep his own throat from filling with the small tears of emotion that began to arise. "It was bad enough to loose your father. The planet of Ice could not have dealt with both of your losses. I could not have dealt with your loss." His own words caused him to take pause for a moment.
"Pyrus, " Her eyes glimmered from both her tears and at the emotion his words sparked. Her resolve began to crumble as the six long years of her silence finally caused her to break into a fit of tears and anguish. "but I was not ready."
"No one ever is." His face saddened at the sight of the Ice Empress in tears. "It is never easy to take command."
"No," She looked up at him through her tear filled eyes, the sparkling shimmer of the frozen tears on her cheeks adding an eerie beauty to her sadness. "I was not ready to be alone."
"Zera, I…" For a moment he felt himself more lost than ever as he held onto the hands of the weeping empress, her sobs growing into large heaves of tears and cries. He let go of her hands and she fell hard against him, burying her head into his warm chest. Her delicate icicle fingers clutched to his emblem incrested cloak, as if searching for something to keep her from falling into the depth of her sadness. Slowly and gently, as if in fear of breaking the delicate snow flake against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her. The six long years of silence had lead them to this point where emotions spoke louder than words. As she buried her cheek against his, seemingly searching for a way to warm herself from the cold reality of her sorrow, he knew of three words that should have been said a long time ago. "I'm so sorry."
"What?" The soft whisper of her melancholic voice broke away from the sobs as she moved her cheek away from his so that she could look into his eyes. She was taken back by the sight of red embered tears filling the eyes of the strong Lord of Fire that held her so gently. "What ever for?"
"For not being there when you needed me." He softly touched one of the tears on her cheek, causing it to evaporate against her skin. "Like a true friend would have been."
"I pushed you away." Zera shook her head slightly.
"But I should have…" Pyrus's words were cut off as she raised one of her long and delicate fingers to his fiery lips. There eyes locked and the room fell silent for a long moment.
"We both made mistakes, and you are right. There is no use in dwelling on them now." The tears had passed, and the small hint of a smile made its way to her lips. She leaned back against his chest, not out of sorrow but instead out of need to reiterate the feeling of no longer being alone.
"Agreed." He spoke in a hushed whisper, as if the delicate beauty of the strange moment passing between them could shatter with a single disturbance. It was a wondrous feeling to him to have this issue finally resolved after so long, and to finally have some one he cared for more than he had previously realized back into his life. With that small realization came other thoughts and inklings of new emotional ties to the delicate creature of ice in his arms. He searched for their meaning as he felt his arms tighten their hold on her.
"Empress Zera?" Shard's voice called from down the corridor, breaking the momentary connection between them. Zera quickly lifted her head and stepped out of the arms of the Fire Lord.
"One moment, Consul Shard." Zera called out to him, her eyes widening slightly at the strange fluttering nervousness in her voice. She glanced back into Pyrus's eyes, as if searching to see if he had found an answer to what they had both been searching for in that lost silence. After a silent pause that seemed to last years, she turned to go.
"Zera." The softness of his voice surprised her as much as feeling of his warm grip on her arm. His eyes searched hers again as he spoke. "I promise you that I will never leave you alone again."
"I know." Zera nodded slightly as she brought up her hand to caress his cheek. Another smile passed between them before she turned and disappeared out the door, leaving the Lord of Fire alone in the chamber with the reality of what had just occurred. It was an odd, new, and indescribable feeling that filled his spirit as he lifted his eyes toward the statue of King Cryos. They had finally resolved six years of uncertainty between them. With the new feelings that welled in his chest arose a new question. He stared up at Cryos for a moment in silent thought.
"Where do we go from here?" His hushed whisper echoed off of the chamber walls before he knelt down in front of Cryos in an unspoken prayer.
*********
Days passed by in slow motion that seemed to take years to finish. The eternal darkness that the space travel of the planets cast over the inhabitants were lightened only by a passing sun ever so often. The scouting party had left in due speed and was now three sectors ahead. As the scouting party entered sector Theta-4, tensions among the people and leaders of the alliance rose to a height that had not been felt since the last Beast attack six years ago. Now came the turning point in which there was no going back. The scouting party would either be successful in the mission and gain the last data needed for the new weapon against the Beast, or it would parish like so many before it to the hungry jaws of the void energy planet. All of the alliance leaders patiently awaited news in the war room of Planet Ice as to which fate the scouting party would be given.
"Any news yet kid?" Femur sighed with a heavy heart and none of his usual levity as he and Pelvus entered the room.
"Not since the last transmission four hours ago." Pyrus watched as Femur sat down into one of the chairs with a sulking frown. The transmission boosters that were on the scouting party had allowed the speed of transmissions to be increased. There was, however, still a ten hour time delay between send and receive.
"You worry to much, brother." Sternum too was worried despite his lack of show in the matter. "I would not have chosen Tibia if I did not think she was capable."
"Excuse me if I don't share in your optimism." Femur continued to frown heavily and stare at the blank transmission screen.
"Oh she'll be fine." Pelvus quipped with a flick of his wrist. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to make his words sound like he really meant them.
"Have we missed anything?" Graveheart and Jade entered the room and took a look at who was seated at the less than conversational table.
"No." Femur sighed and answered simply without any of his usual greetings to them.
"Well, no news is good news…I suppose." Jade moved past Graveheart and took a seat next to Sternum.
"Looks like the set is almost complete." Sternum eyed Jade for a moment then turned to the rest of the room. "Where is everyone else?"
"Tekla is preparing the device for the new data input." Graveheart took a seat in between Jade and Femur.
"If we get new data." Femur mumbled. After noticing the looks he received from the rest of the group, he sighed and cleared his throat. "So kid, where's the Ice Queen?"
"Zera is talking to Zuma to see if her people had any luck reestablishing a location on the ship." Zuma's telepathic powers had allowed the alliance to keep a location and direct link to the scouting party until twelve hours ago.
"And there has been no luck, I'm afraid." Zera stepped solemnly into the room and surveyed all those gathered. Her eyes paused when they met the eyes of Pyrus. They had been subconsciously avoiding each other for the past few days, taking time to sort through their own thoughts. She continued her gaze to the blank transmission screen and sighed.
"Looks like we will just have to wait." Pyrus followed Zera's sigh with a sigh of his own.
"Shard wont be interrupting us again, will he?" Graveheart didn't hide the inflection in his voice of his dislike for the man.
"No, Crystal is seeing to that." A small smile made its way across Zera's lips. If she could find someone to do Shards job as well as he did it, he would have been out of the palace years ago, despite her father's good intentions. The frost bite he gave all of the alliance members had only added to the tensions among the group. Being the only two seats left, she and Pyrus sat down next to each other in between Sternum and Pelvus.
"Good evening, or morning when you actually get this thing I suppose." Tibia's voice filled the room as her face popped up on the transmission screen. Despite the weary look in her eyes, she flashed the group a large smile of her full ruby lips.
"Its about time, toots." Femur let out a small sigh of relief.
"Quiet, Toad." Jade hushed Femur, not wanting to miss any of Tibia's transmission.
"Well folks, looks like you better have one hell of a welcome home committee ready for me." Tibia winked and held up a small data card that flickered with a green luminescence. "You should be receiving the requested data along with this transmission right about…….now." Tibia laughed slightly and sure enough, the screen beside the transmission screen flickered to life as the data on the Beast Planet ran across it.
"She did it!" Pyrus smiled wide with relief.
"Of course. I told you she was the best." Sternum said with a voice of pride in his own officer of Bone completing the important task.
"Well, if you don't mind, id like to high tail it out of this joint." Tibia continue. "Now about that welcoming committee." She smiled widely. "I'm thinking a banquette of some kind with maybe an honor guard or some snazzy type of…" Her voice cut off as a Bone soldier interrupted her.
"Sir! We have incoming!" The Bone soldier called out from his com position.
"What? How in the blazes of Fire did they find us?" Tibia called over her shoulder as she looked at the view screen. Her eyes went noticeably wider as she realized just how many Beast ships had found them. "Man those plasma cannons now! Get ready for evasive maneuvers, and get me those warp engines back online, now!" Tibia barked out orders as she moved away from the screen, leaving the transmission running.
"Oh my goodness!" Pelvus nearly fainted at all the commotion coming from the other side of the screen. The transmission began to static in and out as Tibia's ship began taking fire from the Beast ships. Luckily, the new improved shields provided some protection against the void energy fire.
"C'mon you motherless pieces of void shit! Is that all you've got?" Tibia yelled at the Beast drones in defiance as the ship rattled and shook. "Clavis, put that fire out! Ulnae, where are those blasted engines? Fire!" Her angrily voiced commands flickered in and out as the transmission became even more interrupted. The fighting seemed to stop for a moment and the transmission came back strong. The bridge of the ship showed heavy damage and a small fire behind the com position. Tibia seemed to stand in wide eyed silence as she looked at the ship's view screen. She shook her head slightly. "Great strength of Bone protect us." Tibia's words rang through the war room of Ice as her face slowly turned toward the transmission screen. The transmission broke off into a chaos of static before falling silent.
"C'mon Tibia, come back." Femur spoke in a small hope of the transmission returning.
"We,…" Pyrus swallowed hard for a moment, then held up a black data pad. "We got the necessary data. "
"Then at least her death was not in vein." Jade shook her head.
"She sacrificed her life for the good of her people and the alliance. She shall be remembered with honor." Sternum stated unemotionally, as a true Emperor of Bone was expected to respond.
"You can take that honor crap and shove it up your tail-pipe." Femur growled out as he made his way out of the room.
"Femur, wait!" Pyrus called out to him as he stood from his seat.
"Let him go." Sternum showed now sign of anger from the words of his brother.
"What now?" Graveheart asked the remaining planetary leaders.
"Now we make use of the information that that courageous woman gave her life for." Zera stood with solemn grace and took the data card from Pyrus and walked out of the door toward the electronics lab. Having resolved the issue with Pyrus, she felt it only right to do the same with Tekla. The room was left in silence for a moment as Pyrus watched her leave without another word.
"I think I will check on Femur." Pyrus said after a look between he and Sternum.
"And I must relay the news of our loss to my planet." Sternum stood with heavy shoulders and walked out, followed by Pelvus.
"So it begins again." Graveheart looked toward Jade as she remained silent.
"She will not be the last to fall." Jade shook her head again, knowing fully well the high cost of war. She looked up at Graveheart as he placed his hand over hers.
"Her sacrifice could prove to be our only hope at finally ending the destruction caused by the Beast." He squeezed her hand slightly, knowing the heavy burden she now carried as the Queen of Rock.
"Let us hope so." Jade nodded slightly as her eyes left him and settled on the blank transmission screen. "For all our sakes."