Victors of Victorine
Chapter 4 'Who?' or 'Separated Newlyweds?'
DISCLAIMER: Hello! No, I do not choose to reveal my name just yet, dear friends. Suffice it to say that I am 'Caracticus Davros's 'agent' in the new city on 'Victorine' which will soon become our HQ- after we have eliminated the 3WA rabble rousers. Well, under 'Galactic Law', I must read you this drivel before you are permitted to view the 3WA's vidlogs and vidfiles. Ready?
First off, thankee to Mr Takachiho and the other fine creators whose works we have used, may use, will use or are currently using. Without their kind permissions, we could not share these wondrous adventures. Of course, anyone who wants to use our own creations is more than welcome so long as credit be given us where credit be due. Now, at the end of the last chapter, my boss was telling my secret ID to 'Beast Master' which he has done.
The 'Beast's mission- why is he called that? When you meet him, you will know that answer, my friends- is to kill the traitourous dogs, 'Master of Shadows' and his toadie 'Galliard'. To save their own skins, they have betrayed our 'Master' whose own father created the 'Dalek' race! 'Caracticus Davros' has united his 'Daleks' with the awesome and feared 'Gundammites'. Unknown to those of this world, soon we will add the deadly 'Cybremen' to our forces.
The fools who have betrayed us think that we will be giving our enemies three solar years before we strike. In reality, we will attack as soon as our 'gold haters'- 'Cybremen' can only be slain by this 'accursed yellow metal'- arrive on- No, I will not tell you where our 'staging area' is located, not just yet.
OK. Time to turn you over to the lovely young lady from 'Jupiter'. Take it away, Yer Ladyship, mum.
Hi there! Yeah, it is I, Silathia Preklang, but just call me Lathey. Yup, I'm still on Mars at 'Mistress Sylvia's Academy for Young Ladies'. Yuck! I hate these uniforms and having to dress up for breakfast, lunch and din din is the absolute pits, man! This evening, after lights out at eight, me and 'Missy Gwendolyn' are gonna make a break for it.
My own 'Prince Charming', better known as 'Space Fox', slipped away and took his skysled back to the 'Harvester'. 'Mistress Muriel' told me that he made it back to 'Victorine' safely amd then blasted off for Jupiter. However, the monthly supply vessel from 'Shimougou' will leave this evening at 2130 hours- 9:30 PM- for home with a side trip to 'Vic' to drop off supplies. 'Gwen's uncle is the captain of the 'Roadrunner Coyote' and she managed to swipe his vidcodes this afternoon.
She's been aboard the ship before and she assures me that there's a 'smugglers hole' under the 'docking bay' floor. 'Uncle Philip' used to run with 'Gene Starwind' and his 'Outlaw Star' when he was still doing his smuggling runs. Oh, now they're both legit, man. Anywho, there's just about enough room for us and our backpacks under there so that's where we'll hide out until 'lift off' at half past nine.
Because there's no place for us 'Missys' to go anyway, 'bed check' is simply a 'Mistress' flashing an illuminator on our bunks. Relax. We stuffed enough junk under the blankets to make it look like we're in bed asleep. 'Missy Patience' is somewhat of an artist and she made two very lifelike 'masks' which we will stick on our pillows before we split.
We'll jump ship when the 'RC' lands on 'Vic'. I've got plenty of UniCreds in my vidwallet account and so does Gwenny. We'll bribe another supply vessel to take us to another planet where we'll hide out until the heat's off. Then we'll get jobs somewhere and seek our fortunes, man.
"Hold it, Gwen. Count the bongs. I make it nine. Time to go. Grab your junk, kid. Been nice knowin' you guys. We'll drop ya a vidpost maybe. Bye." I whispered and Gwen and I slipped out the window and, keeping to the shadows, we finally made it to the vessel.
"Uh- Lathey? That looks kinda big for 'Uncle Phil's ship, man. You sure that's it?" asked Gwen in a squeaky voice.
"You gettin' cold feet, 'Gwendolyn Dalrymple'? O' course that's the damned ship! Nobody else is here, are they? Gimme the vidcodes. What a stroke o' luck! It's unlatched, man. Yo! Not so much noise, Gwen. This plate in the deck's loose. This must be the 'smugglers hole'. Down we go. You first and I'll hand down the backpacks. OK, now me and- turn on your pocket illuminator already. Watch yer head. There. Now be real quiet. Hmmn. If yer uncle's on time, we have less than ten minutes to go.
"OK. It was nice chatting with you, 'Syl', 'Muriel'. Now I'd best be on my way. The 'High Council' wants to know what's up on 'Workoh' in the 'Omega Quad' and I'm the only available 'time jockey'. A 'time lady's work is never done, man. 'Night." said 'Lady Galatea' who had been visiting with her niece's headmistress and proctor at her remote Martian school for young ladies.
"We thank you for the news from the outside world, Gally. And Muriel loves those jelly babies. So do the 'Missys'. Safe journey, my dear. 'Kerry' was there a few monthlets back and 'Lord Vicious' and those nasty 'Cybre' creatures were there along with that horrid Mr Oakenshield. Be careful, dear." said 'Mistress Sylvia'.
"Yes, indeed. Be very careful of those ruffians, Gally. Looks like our latest 'Missy' arrived in the 'eye' of those solar storms and there's a blizzard headed this way as well. Thank you very much for my jelly babies, dear. Take care. Bye." said 'Mistress Muriel'.
The tall titanesque beauty smiled and pulled on her gloves. Then she touched her belt buckle, shimmered and vanished.
"Well, it looks clear enough out here. Oh, there goes 'Phil Dalrymple's ship on his way home. Wish I was or at least going to that new world near here. Mine be not to reason why though. Damn! I'd better change my TARDIS back into a 'vidfilm kiosk' again. It sticks out like a sore thumb as a supply vessel." mused the 'time lady', powering up her 'pulsator drives' and 'lifting off' into the clear Martian night sky.
"Think it's safe for a food run yet?" whined Gwen. Neither 'Missy' knew that they were aboard a TARDIS and bound for the most dangerous world in the faroff 'Omega Quadrant' known as 'Workoh', 'Auntie Kerry's home world.
"Yeah, it's as quiet as the grave up there. You wait here and be quiet, Gwen. I'll find the galley." whispered Lathey, slipping a small Mark III miniblaster into her skirt pocket and igniting her 'laser torch'. After a good half hour of foraging, she found the galley and raided the antique icebox. "Huh? Phil's still got an old 'Amana' fridge? Probably stole it. What the Hell? Sounds like a school bell, man! Oh no! It couldn't be, could it? Yup! That wall covering is unmistakeable. We're on a TARDIS, man!" she said aloud.
"Who the Hell's we, girl and what the Hell are ya doin' on my TARDIS?" yelled Galatea who had been sure that she'd heard a mouse in her kitchen. "Put that stuff back in my icebox, dammit! Just what I need now- a couple o' stowaways! Oh Kee-Ricet! You must be one o' them 'Missys'. Where's yer partner? Oh, right. My TARDIS looked like a supply ship when ya came aboard so you musta been hidin' down in the dockin' bays. Let's go, 'Missy'. March. Back to yer friend. No, we'll use the lift this time. It'll be quicker. By the way, names Galatea, call me Gally. Yours?" snapped the 'time lady'.
Lathey fingered her ion cannon and decided not to let on that she was armed just yet. "Silathia, mum. Call me Lathey. We thought that this was Gwen's uncle's supply ship and- well, we were hidin' in the old 'smugglers hole' under the deck." explained Lathey.
"Gwen? Oh no! Not 'Gwendolyn Dalrymple'? Phil's niece? Got any more surprises I should know about, kid?" growled Gally.
"Are you gonna take us back to the school, mum?" demanded Lathey. Gally considered and then sighed and shook her head.
"Can't. I'm on a mission and I gotta maintain vidradio silence." she replied, yanking up the deck planking of the docking bay.
"OK, the jig's up, Gwenny. Come up outta there afore ya freeze to death. Now, 'Missy'!" yelled Gally and the short blonde poked her head up out of the hole in the deck. Betwixt the two of them, Gally and Lathey yanked her from her hiding place. Then Lathey retrieved their backpacks. "You two look hungry. Back to the kitchen, my two little mouse-lings." chuckled Gally.
"That was very good, 'Mistress Galatea', mum." said Gwen politely.
"Yeah, good grub, man." added Lathey, gobbling up her sixth cheeseburger.
"It's just Gally, kiddies. OK. Prepare for a shock. I ain't goin' nowheres near either Jupiter or Victorine. In fact, my next port o' call's gonna be 'Workoh'. And you'd better hand over that 'Mark III', Lathey and that 'laser sword', Gwen- before you hurt yourseleves, kids. 'Mind send', remember that, ladies? I read minds, man. OK. Get the dishes done and then I'll get you into some warmer kit. Oh and don't go wandering around my TARDIS. It exists in more than one dimension. You'll get lost and I ain't got the time to go lookin' fer ya. Yer Daddies and Mommies will have a royal fit when 'Syl' reports that ye're both gone tomorrow. And, by keepin' ya aboard, I'm guilty o' aidin' and abettin', man. Nope. Comm relay silence means no 'mind send' either. Not to mention takin' schoolkids into a restricted zone in a dangerous area.
"Hmmn. I don't dare leave you two aboard either. 'Omega's too close to the 'Neutral Zone' for comfort so I'd better take ya with me when I investigate 'Workoh'. OK, we're done here. I'll kit ya out tomorrow. Time for bed now. Follow me. Don't mind sharin' a room, do ya? I wanna keep you two clowns together. In here. Jammies and undies in that bureau and clothes in the armoire. Bath room's in there. Good night." said Gally and she shooshed the portal shut behind her. Then they heard the ominous click when she locked them in for the night.
"I say, Holmes! Don't you think that we should have asked permission before we, er, 'borrowed' this 'space runner' thingy?" asked a worried Dr John H Watson, MD.
"I thought that they had said 'make yourselves to home', didn't they, old boy?" countered 'Professor George Edward Challenger' who was puffing on an oversized cheroot, a glass of port beside his easy chair.
"Um, they did, old tot. However, making ourselves to home isn't quite the same as purloining a star vessel, is it?" replied Sherlock Holmes, puffing acrid smoke from his old Calabash pipe.
"I didn't realize that you knew how to pilot this craft, Professor. Otherwise, I'd be quite worried." said Watson.
"Eh? I can't fly, Doctor. Dashed good thing that Sherlock does, what." chuckled the heavyset gentleman.
"Um- I cannot fly either, George. Sorry." said Holmes.
"Then who's flying this contraption?" demanded a suddenly sick Dr Watson.
"I am, gents. Relax. It's on 'George'." laughed the buxom Ace Johnston, pouring herself a mug of hot java and taking a seat on the divan in the 'star room'.
"What! I just said that I cannot fly, Miss-" said Challenger.
"Johnston. Call me Ace, guys. I meant the 'automatic pilot', sir. Now- what the Hell are you stowaways doing here?" she demanded.
"I wanted to see the caverns and that big subterranean city that the Boss Lady told us about being on 'Workoh'. I, um, took the liberty of reprogramming the navigational system, my dear child." said Challenger, causing Watson to drop his glass and Ace to drop her cheroot. Holmes said 'My word, you don't say?' and then Ace used words that would have made even the Boss blush.
Then they all ran to the bridge. "Dammit! They're locked. I couldn't change course now if our lives depended on it. Like it or not, we are going to 'Workoh'. Damned comm relay's busted too so I can't call for help. I was supposed to be taking the mail to 'Minerva'. Well, get comfy, gents. We won't make planetfall for a solar week, man." said Ace.
"But how will we land this crate, Madam?" cried Watson.
"Oh, I can land us when the time comes. However, ya better hope to Hell that I can reprogram the damned nav drive or we'll be stuck here until the next raider ship arrives." growled Ace.
"Then what happens, Miss Johnston?" asked the doctor.
"Oh, they'll either hold us for ransom or they'll sell us as slaves. Forget it, guys. This place is not under 'Galactic Law' and the 3WA has no authority this far out. Tomorrow, we'd better see what weapons we got. We may have to fight our way off this damned planet, gentlemen. OK. Which one of ya knows how to cook? No 'reppers' aboard, y'know? Man, I'm tired. Who wants first watch?" yawned the teenaged girl.
"Watch for what, my dear?" asked the professor.
"The usual. Pirates, scowrers, raiders, killers, Roms, Klingons, Daleks, Cybremen, Gundammites and like that, man. OK. 'Tubby's first, then the doc, then 'Skinny' with the pipe and I'll take the graveyard shift. 'Night." said Ace, collapsing on the divan.
"Tubby? I say! I have never been so dashed insulted in my life! What say, Holmes? Doctor? Oh to Hell with it. I'll wake you in four hours, Doctor." said Challenger, settling into his chair for a snooze.
"Uh, you watch from the bridge using the scanners, man. Get out there." growled Ace. The professor harumphed a few times and then rode the lift upstairs to the bridge where he settled down to watch the blips and dots on the vidTV screens.
"Dammit to Hades, Moll! You just got back from a mission, man! It ain't fair. We was gonna have some cuddle-up time together, 'member? Now they want ya to goes off again to Heavens knows where for Lordy knows how long and- well, I'm stuck here with the fellers! How come 'Joanna deSoto' can't go instead, man?" whined 'Firefighter Chet Kelly'.
"I know, dearest and I don't like it any more than you do, but I am a flag officer in the 3WA. That means that I'm on call 24-7 same as you guys. After all, last time I had shore leave, you were forever running fires back on 'Shim' and I didn't complain, did I, Snookums?" replied a cooing 'Molly Eastwood-Kelly'.
"No, but gee whillikers, man. I was on the same planet with ya, wasn't I? What if I talked to the 'shrimp' for ya, Moll? Maybe she could send-" wheedled her hubby of almost a year.
"Oh, OK. Go ahead and ask the Prez Lady, but don't get your hopes up. She's over at Hogan's place in that old stalag camp. I'm bushed. I'm gonna take a nice hot bath and go to bed. See ya later and good luck, Sweetheart." yawned Molly, kissing him on the forehead.
As soon as the bath room portal had shut behind her, Chet made a beeline to the new 'Victoria City Fire & Rescue Services' firehouse to get some help.
"Hullo there, Chet. Deal ya in, man or wouldn't Mommy like your playin' poker with us?" chuckled Mike Stokes.
"Aw, cut it out, Mike. This is serious, man. Molly's leavin' again." whined Chet Kelly.
"So? What d'ya want us to do about it, Chet? I'll take three." said Paramedic Roy deSoto.
"Yeah, my 'Angela's (Walker) goin' with her. Raise ya a hundred and call." said Johnny Gage, accepting two cards from Captain Stanley while 'Henry' relieved himself on the floor and then padded silently over to the sofa. None of the guys paid any attention to the doggie's 'accident' and two 'cleaner 'droids' whisked out and cleaned up the mess.
"Well, I figgered I'd go and ask 'Her Nibs' if she could send somebody in Moll's place." eexplained Chet.
"So? Alley Cat's over at the stalag visiting Helga and Wolfgang (Schmidt-Hochstetter and Hochstetter). Go ask her already." said Hank Stanley.
"He wants moral support." replied Roy.
"And he's too chicken to ask her by himself, man. Royal Flush. Read 'em and weep, guys." said Johnny, collecting the pot which signaled an end to the game. Marco and Mike began to get dinner 'repped up'.
"I am not! But- how's about it, Roy, Johnny? Moll's gotta leave tomorrow morning at six." whined Chet.
"Sure. Why not? Let's go and help him out, Johnny. Maybe she can find a substitute for Angie too." said Roy.
"OK if we borrow the squad air bus, Cap?" asked Johnny.
"Unh unh. Last time ya done that, we had three emergencies in a row and we had to use a sky sled. Here. Take my speeder. And don't hit anything this time." growled Hank, tossing them his vidcodes.
"Thanks a lot, Cap. See ya later, guys. We'll take good care of old 'Briana', sir." promised Chet.
'Briana' quickly ate up the kilometres and they had soon touched down at the stalag camp. Allison Poe-Prydonia listened attentively and then shook her red head. "No, can't spare either one, gentlemen. However, I have an alternative. I need to send someone along who knows a bit about medicine. Tell ya what, Ensign Kelly. If you can get Colonel Stanley to allow 2nd Lts Gage and deSoto here to accompany Suba Eastwood-Kelly on her mission, I will assign you, Ensign Kelly, as the ship's fire marshall. Of course, just for this mission, you will be an acting Second Lt.
"This way, you and your wife will be together while Lt Gage will be aboard with his fiancee, Sub-Ensign Walker. Lt deSoto? I am afraid that your wife (Joanna) and children (Roy, Jr and Michael) have not yet returned from 'Kagura'. They will be delayed another fortnight, I fear. However, and this is top secret- Suba E-K is only on a fact-finding mission. If all goes according to Mr Hoyle, you will all be back in half that time. Good! Colonel Stanley has agreed on condition that I lend him a few 'tro-cons' to fill in for you. Oh dear. I do hope that all of you will get along with the 'Gratitude's new medical officer.
"He is a- Captain Michael Morton. His assistant is 1st Lt Jeannine Huntley. Ah, I see that you already know one another. Very well. Report to the 'Coriander' at the new 'Zamarkand Spaceport' tomorrow morning at 0500 hours, 5 AM. You will be lifting off promptly at 0600, 6 AM. Best get back home and pack up your kits. And the Colonel asked me to warn you not to scratch his 'baby'. He said that you would all divine his meaning. That's all. You are all dismissed, gentlemen." said Allie. The interview was clearly at an end. They saluted and left.
"What a break, man! I'm glad that you'll be coming along with us, Roy." said Chet.
Roy sighed. "Well, someone has to keep you guys outta trouble, doesn't he?" chortled Roy.
"Well, back already, Lovey? I did warn you not to get your hopes up, dearest." said Molly when her hubby had nudged her awake.
"Everything's OK now, Love Muffin. I'm going with you! So are Roy and Johnny." said an excited Chet.
"Uh, do they know that Morton and Huntley are aboard? (He nodded). OK, then get your kit packed and get to bed, man. I gotta be up by four. And that means you too. 'Night." said a yawning Molly, dropping back off to sleep.
"Yeah, they know, Honey. 'Night." replied Chet who was shoveling stuff into his suitcases.
"Are you certain sure that it is a 3WA vessel approaching, 'Lanyard'?" demanded the crafty space pirate renegade, Ashka Khan.
"Affirmative, sir. Wait. Yes. It is the 'Gratitude', sir. An unusual name for a star vessel, sir. Oh, it's a 'J-Class' ship, sir." replied his 'Number One' exec officer. Khan mused for a few moments.
"According to 'Oakenshield' and 'Vicious', 'She' has already been here and has explored the underground city. 'She' has also taken away the 'Dalek' prototype traveling machines as well as the 'Gundammite' mobile suits. Why return now? Curiouser and curiouser, Charles." said the Commander of the 'Botany Bay 2'.
"Fool! 'She' flits about on a huge 'K-Class' patrol starship, not a tiny 'space runner' vessel. This is an exploratory ship, Khan." said his chief weapons officer, the rogue 'time lady' known only as 'Veronica'. It was rumoured that she was from the aristocratic 'Gallifreyan' clan of Prydonia. 'Lady Veronica' neither confirmed nor denied this possibility. Khan trusted her as far as he could toss a space spanner. However, he had need of her TARDIS so he endured her insolence and insults- for now anyway.
"Orders, sire? Shall we bring her down? Tractor her in perhaps?" asked 'Black Widow', fingering her photon torpedo controls hungrily.
"No, I think not, 'Widow'. Not just yet. No, we will allow them to make planetfall and see what their plans might be. Then I will decide what to do with them. Are we 'cloaked'? (The lizard-like 'Krong' nodded). Then just keep them in sight. Perhaps they are here on a sight-seeing tour or a fact-finding mission. 'Zandar Zan', maintain comm relay silence. 'Greystokes', kill everything except life support, shields and weapons. Where are they landing, 'Basilisk'?" said Khan.
"Near the 'old city's entrance, sire." replied the fanged serpent from 'Ffollavia', the snake world. He was monitoring the scanners.
"They have landed, Captain. There are four. Three elderly human males and a much younger human female." reported 'Pew' from his 'star room' lookout post. He was supposedly the direct descendant of blind 'Pew' of 'Treasure Island' fame, but nobody really believed that one. Unlike his ancestour though, his eyesight was as sharp as an 'eagleflier'.
"Are they armed?" seethed 'Lady Veronica' eagerly, fingering her twin pistols.
"Aye. Sidearms and the chubby one's got a 'stasis' rifle. Girl's got a backpack and- Holy Flint! That's Ace Johnston! The 'bomber chick' that the 'Bannermen' had so much trouble with on 'Shaleton Five'! And she's got a couple o' backpacks too! This could get to be an explosive situation, Cap'n." replied 'Pew'.
"Scan that ship, 'Pew'. Bombard it with 'Tachyion Particle Beams' as soon as those four are outta sight. Is there anyone left aboard her?" ordered Khan.
"Aye aye, sir. (A few moments later). Negative, Cap'n. Nothin' aboard save their usual programming unit 'guardian', sir." replied 'Pew'.
"They seem to be using 'comm badges' to speak to each other, sire. Guess they're on 'Noxygen'. That aether is pretty harsh for mere humans, sire. Here. I've tapped into their relay signal. Listen." said 'Zandar Zan', piping his exterior vidmike's sounds through their own squawkboxes.
"Devil of a world, Professor. Any problems? I mean- for a person of your, uh, corpulence." said the older plump gentleman.
"Not a bit of it, old boy. And watch those slurs about me weight, sir. What's that toy pop-gun you've got, Doctor?" rumbled the slightly younger fat gentleman.
"I deduce from these tracks that I see here that cavern dead ahead was their destination." said the youngest of the three and the skinniest. He was carrying an old-fashioned 'hand lens' and wearing a weird looking cap.
"Brilliant, Sher, baby! Could it be that there's only one cavern in the mountainside and the only entranceway around here, man? Might as well see how far down it goes, boyos. Follow me. I am the ranking 3WA officer y'know." growled the girl who appeared to be no more than sixteen Earther summers in age.
"Well, if all they are doing is playing archaeologist, we will pay them no attention at all. Hopefully, they will leave before we do. I would rather not have to sneak off this world the way that 'Vicious' and those 'Cybre' freaks had to do last month when they were here with 'Oakbrain'. I wonder- 'Ronnie'?" said Khan.
"Yeah, what is it, Ashka?" asked the bored 'time lady'.
"Do you know anything about this new leader of ours, 'Caracticus Davros'? Is he the son of that 'Dalek' creator that the 'Leprechaun' iced a few decades back?" asked the Commander, referring the #7 time jockey 'Doctor'.
"Spot on, Ashy. His Mum's favourite vidfilm was that ancient terran flick, 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' and 'Caracticus Potts' was the name of the hero. So she named their kid after him. The kid had an accident of some kind when he was ten which left him a 'paraplegic'. However, he inherited his father's mental faculties and then some, man! He's uniting the enemies of the Federation and the 3WA and their cronies. He is determined to launch an attack from his new HQ world- 'Victorine', formerly 'Zamarkand'.
"Problem is that's the same world that is currently under colonization. They used a version of that same 'toy' that recreated you and Charlie (Lanyard) after ya launched that 'Project EDEN' 'life seed'. Hey, man. If you weren't already committed to this crackpot kid's plans, I'd just as soon drop the whole thing, man! He's got about as much chance of taking over the Federation as we do of finding 'Warrior's Gate', Ashka. 'Panther Girl'! Where's my latte java, girl?" said 'Lady Veronica' and the timid 'nekomata girl' came hurrying over with a tray of beverages and sweets.
"Hah! I could care less about conquering 'God Galadriel' and his peoples, Ronnie." replied Ashka Khan.
"Then what are we after, sir?" asked 'Nekarina Solstice' better known to all aboard as 'Panther Girl'.
"Flint's treasure, me hearties! That was what I was after when Harlock and his brat niece (Emma 'Queen' Emeraldas) hijacked my first 'Botany Bay' with the connivance of 'Starfleet' and that busybody Kirk! He, of course, did not believe that a pirate from 18th Century Terra had the abilities to convert his 'Black Pearl' schooner into a space going vessel! Fool! And that niece o' his was just as adamant! Let them keep the 'Bay', dammit all!" snarled the angry space bucanneer, crashing his fist down on the console.
"Uh, Ashy? Didn't that kid Hawkins (Jim) and 'Long John Silver' and 'Squire Trelawney' and the rest o' 'em find that loot on that deserted island? Or, rather, 'Ben Gunn' found it and shared it with 'em, man?" suggested 'Ronnie'.
"Aye, but that were only a small part o' the treasure, lassie. Me ancestour whose name I bears was not killed in the fightin' like that fool 'Stevenson' (Robert Louis wrote 'Treasure Island') writ doon! Nor did old Flint die! He found an 'Elixir o' Life' what keeps him both alive and young, lass. When he found that 'Elixir', he also discovered an ancient manascript thing writ doon by the 'True Knights' what ye call 'Templars'! It were 'schemin'matics' fer convertin' a sea-goin' vessel to a space-goin' craft like this'n we be aboard noo, Missy Veronica, mum. Ain't I speakin' a-right, Cap'n, sir?" growled old 'Pew'.
"Aye, 'tis true enough, 'Pew'. The major portion o' his treasure trove old Flint took with him and his crew to the stars. It be out here somewheres and I aim to get it too! 'Davros Sr' hinted to em more than once that he had an ancient star vidchart showin' the location o' the treasure. Anything that precious to the old geezer he would have entrusted to his offspring. However, seems the lad ain't greedy fer gold and such material loot. Nae! He seeks power! So be it! He kin ha'e his 'power' and be damned to the fool! I seek material wealth, not power, laddies and lassies. Flint's rich haul will make us all richer than 'Croteus' or whatever that Greek feller's name was in mythology who had all the gold!
"I say- 'Zandar Zan', me lad?" said Khan and the comm relay kid brightened up immediately. Khan did not often seek his advice.
"Aye, sire?" he replied quickly.
"Kin we launch a 'cloaked' probe? I means, kin we send out a probe and be sartain sure that those four 'Earthers' out there won't detect it?" asked the Commander and 'ZZ' nodded eagerly.
"Piece o' pie, sire." answered the lad.
"Cake, Stupid. Piece of cake, not pie." corrected a bored 'time lady'.
"Then do so at once, laddie. I want to keep tabs on those three gentlemen and that fool girl with 'em. However, should they enter the 'hidden city' below ground, recall the probe at once. 'Davros's 'booby traps' should make short work o' the idiots. Got all that, sonny?" asked Khan and the lad nodded and launched a 'cloaked' probe which immediately began broadcasting audio/ video from the surface. Then it followed the quartet into the cavern. Soon they ehard the wheezings of 'Professor George Edward Challenger' who could have stood to lose quite a few kilograms.
"Oh, I say! Can't we rest a bit, Miss Johnston? I feel quite fatigued." said the perspiring scientist.
"I ain't surprised. Luggin' around all o' that blubber, man. OK. Five minute break. Smoke 'em if ya got 'em, gents. I wish that 'Whitey' hadn't o' chewed up that vidmap that 'Savvy' (She referred to the Vulcan Subaltern who was 'Admiral Spock's' niece) drew up when she was here with the Boss, man. That 'city's sure to be 'booby-trapped', guys." said Ace Johnston.
"I presume that those 'booby traps' are none of your doing and that 'Blonde Bomber' girl, Miss Johnston?" inquired Dr John H Watson, MD who was bathing Challenger's forehead with water from his flask.
"Watson! Go easy on the water. This is a 'Dalek' city below us and those creatures have no need of the 'river of life', but we do, old tot. However, it does seem to be getting quite warm. Like Afghanistan, eh, Watson?" chuckled Holmes.
"Nope. Neither one o' us kin take credit fer these boom booms waiting downstairs, man. OK. Break's over. Let's motor." replied Ace.
"Why did we not think to bring a 'motorcar' along with us, Holmes or at least a horse or two?" complained 'Fatso'.
"Quiet. I hear water running. Just ahead so we can refill our flasks, boyos. Hark! There's the 'city', man! OK. Let me scout ahead first. You guys wait here and fill our flasks. Here's mine, Sher. No explorin' either. I ain't got no time to go lookin' fer ya if ya gets lost, man. I'll be back in an hour. Brrr! Gettin' chilly. Heat up some rocks fer us. Here's my 'laser sword hilt'. Don't lose it. I'll be as quick as I can, guys." said Ace.
"Take my 'stasis' rifle, my dear." suggested Dr Watson.
"No thankee, Doc. I prefer a real rifle myself." she replied, digging a 'plasma' rifle out of her backpack and assembling it in seconds- despite being in almost pitch black darkness. Then she was gone.
"Looks like they are gonna explore the 'Dalek' city, Cap'n." said 'Pew'.
"Aye. OK, son. Recall yer probe. Take us behind that mountain when the probe gets back here, 'Krong'. I don't fancy havin' that old fat slob accidentally bumping into my 'Botany Bay 2' when he comes outta that cavern." ordered Khan.
"Probe's back aboard, sire." reported 'Zandar Zan' a few minutes later.
"No needs to strap yerselves in fer this short hop, friends." said 'Krong', lifting off smoothly and then almost immediately settling back down a few hundred metres away on the opposite side of the mountain.
"Now what?" demanded 'Lady Veronica'.
"Now- we wait, kiddies. We wait quietly. No noise. None at all." whispered Khan, his baleful eyes sweeping his bridge crew, causing the younger ones to quake in their deck boots. When Ashka Khan gave an order, it had better be carried out- or else!
"Yes, sir. I will take care of that problem at once, sir. Yes, sir. No, sir. I do not know what could have happened either, sir. Yes, sir. Thank you for bringing this to my attention, sir. Good day, sir." said a frazzled newly promoted Captain Roanna Laren into her vidphone. She sighed and hung up.
"Where could this fool kid have gone? 'General T'Gazzan' sounded really pissed, man. All she had to do was take her 'Gratitude' a few 'lightys' (light years) from 'Vic' to 'Minerva' to deliver the mail. She couldn't possibly have gotten lost. I set those co-ordinates myself, man. Well, I have to report this to Phillips. (Regina Phillips was now a Major and Ro's immediate superior) Nah. I forgot that she went on that away mission with Molly this morning.
"Oh no! That means that I have to tell 'Alley Cat'! She scares me, man. Everyone else around here would just yell their heads off at me, but 'she' will just remain calm and quiet and give me that look which says it's all my fault. OK, in a way, I guess that's true 'cause Gina said that Ace wasn't ready to solo yet and I had to open my big yap and assure everyone that Ace could handle a simple 'milk run' delivery of the mail! Time to beard the lioness in her den." mused Ro. Then she picked up her garrison cap, settled it atop her 'Titian' red curls, repaired her face, straightened her tie and got up from her desk.
"Do come in, my child. The portals are not latched." called the voice of Allison Poe-Prydonia drom her office. That girl, correction, lady, always gave Ro the willies. Sure, almost everyone here used 'mind speak', but Ro would never get used to this 'time lady's uncanny control of her own 'mind speak' abilities.
"Sit down, dearie and never mind the salute. Yes, I did not think that Miss Johnston was quite ready to handle a vessel on her own just yet either. Oh, it is not your fault, Captain Laren. Still and all, 'General T'Gazzan' had no call to berate you over the coals for this minor faux pas. Oh dear! I am doing it again, am I not? I do apologize. Oh, Thelma? Please- oh my! I forgot that Miss Williamson went along with Mrs Eastwood-Kelly on her fact-finding mission. Would you mind 'repping up' our cocoa and biscuits today? Thank you so much, dearie." said Allie who was always apologizing when she should have been sore.
"So, uh, ya already know that 'Minerva' ain't gotten their mail from home ('Shimougou' and 'Kagura' and 'Victorine') yet, mum? Sugar in yer cocoa, mum? (Allie nodded and held up her forefinger) Here we are, mum, I mean, Allie. Uh, I'm a bit worried about Ace- I mean, Ensign Johnston and-" said a nervous Ro.
"She and her three 'stowaways' are just fine. Although- they are on 'Workoh'. Uh, do you know anything about this remote world, dear?" asked 'Madame President'. Ro's face turned pale and her tummy started doing flip flops.
"Unfortunately, I do, Allie. That's where the ancient 'Dalek' underground city was discovered by 'Captain Saavik' by accident some time ago. It is also the Supreme Marshall's home world. When 'Savvy' and the 'Boss' were there recently, they found three prototype 'Dalek' 'Mark 5 traveling machines' and a good number of 'Gundammite' 'mobile suits' as well. We surmise that 'Workoh' and not 'Skaled' was the first 'Dalek' home world. The city that they found almost confirms this fact, Allie.
"You said 'her three stowaways'?" pressed Ro and Allie counted off on her gloved fingertips.
"Mr Holmes, Dr Watson and that nice archaeologist gentleman friend of theirs, a 'Professor George Edward Challenger', my dear child. More cocoa, please? Thank you, dearie." replied Allie.
"I might have known! That pest! Someone must have told him about that city and he'd be just itchin' to explore it. Allie, can you recall them and the 'Gratitude'? The sooner, the better! Damnation! You can't. Too far outta range. Allie, that city is bound to be 'booby-trapped'! Unfortunately, the notes and vidmap that 'Savvy' made were chewed up by 'Whitey' so there's no way that Ace could have 'em with her. (The small white doggie darted under his mistress's desk and whimpered) Mum? You have got to let me take a 'space runner' and go after them before it is too bloody late!" shouted Ro Laren.
"Agreed. Choose a suitable crew and if anyone gives you any problems, just show them this." replied Allie, tapping out a few keystrokes on Ro's PDO unit and sliding it across her desk to the redhead. "This authorizes you to act as my agent in this matter. Tell your crew only what you deem to be absolutely necessary, Roanna. Is that clearly understood, my child?" added the 'time lady' and Ro nodded.
It was embarrassing to Ro to be called 'my child' by a girl who looked several years younger than herself, but was in fact, more than an 'Earther' century in age. "Remember to make sure that a 'cloaking' device is installed in whatever 'runner' you choose to utilize, my dear. Best of luck and thank you for the cocoa and biscuits. Good day." said Allie. Ro scooped up her PDO gadget, saluted and left the room.
Ro chose the 'Wind Sprinter' 'space runner' vessel because she knew that Kome (Sawaguchi) had already installed a 'cloaker' aboard it the last time that she'd signed it out for a personal mission. She had soon collected a skeleton crew and had given orders to prep the ship for immediate flight. Ro's crew was a pilot (herself), a co-pilot/exec (Kome), two gunners (Todd Stiles and Buzz Murdoch. They of course brought their 'space modified' Corvette car), a comm relay officer (Xylo Phone), four fighters (InuYasha, Kouga, Vegeta and Goku) under the command of a security chief (Bulma Brief, Vegeta's wife) and a 'navvy' (Oranemia 'Nami' Richards).
There was a little grumbling about having to go to 'Workoh', a mysterious and dangerous world, until they found out that it was a rescue mission and that it was an underground 'Dalek' city that Challenger, Holmes, Watson and Johnston had blundered into. Everyone aboard knew that those cities were always booby-trapped! A 'space runner' needs no engineer, but 'Dynamo' immediately volunteered his services when he heard that Ace Johnston was in trouble. The big guy had a crush on the teenaged firebrand.
"We're ready to go now, Ro. However, we'll have to wait for 'suns set' before we leave. Sorry, but that's the next available 'window', kiddo and it can't be helped. I'm as worried about Acey as you are, Honey. Buzz, Todd? Be sure that our crew members are all aboard right after dinner tonight. We must 'lift off' at 1803, 6:03 PM, exactly. Cap? Our supplies are being loaded now. See ya at dinner. I got more work to do before tonight. Our fuel mixture's not quite rich enough for such a long trip. Well? You two have yer orders. Scoot!" rumbled the huge 'Triceratops' alien dinosaur, chomping down on his stogie.
"Yes, sir! Uh, could ya make sure that Todd's Corvette is loaded aboard carefully, big guy? We just had it repainted." said Buzz and 'Dynamo' nodded and pointed to the portal. "OK. We're going, man. Think we'll need our winter gear, Buzz?" asked Todd.
"That's a big 10-4, good buddies. It's winter on 'Workoh'. Oh and don't forget your 'Mithril' snuggies in case we run into any 'unfriendly types', me boyos." said Ro Laren and off the 'Route 66' duo went to collect her crew. 'Mithril' doubled as 'body armour' and was as sheer as chiffon.
All went well and at precisely 1803 hours, the 'Wind Sprinter' lifted off smoothly and penetrated the 'gravity well' of 'Victorine'. Soon they were cruising through space at a pretty good clip- 30 Warp. Shall we leave them to their week long voyage and instead check in with the four troublemakers who are the reason for this emergency rescue mission?
"Ah! Those hot stones feel great! It's freezing in this cavern, man. The 'city' is just a few hundred metres from here. However, it looks too innocent for me. Every other 'Dalek' city has been 'booby-trapped' up the wazoo. I found some of 'Savvy's notes in my PDO, but no vidmaps. I'm game to explore this dump if we are all in agreement, gentlemen. Yes, put your hand down, prof. I know that you vote aye. Sherlock? (Mr Holmes nodded tersely and began tapping tobacco dottles all over the cavern's floor.) Doc? It's up to you. If you say nae, we are leaving this world and heading for 'Minerva'. Well?" said Ace Johnston when she returned from her 'recon'.
"Oh, hang it all! These opportunities do not present themselves to us every bloomin' day. Why not. Come, Holmes, George- the game is afoot!" replied Dr Watson, using one of Sherlock's own quotes.
"OK. Now listen very carefully. You follow me exactly, guys. You step where I step and nowhere else. You touch nothing unless I say you can. Your very lives may depend upon your following my orders- to the letter. Is that clear?" warned Ace and the trio of elderly Victorian gentlemen hastily promised. "OK. No, don't extinguish those rocks. Leave 'em as a marker- just in case. Pick up your kits and weapons and follow me. Which one o' ya's got my 'laser sword illuminator'?" growled Ace.
"I do. Here it is, my dear lady." replied Sherlock Holmes, handing the small but powerful weapon/tool back to the girl. She thanked him and switched it on to illuminate their way through the dark intricate passageways.
"My feet hurt! I can't keep up with you, Doctor! Aren't we there yet, Miss J? I'm thirsty." complained Challenger.
"Good gravy! You're worse than 'Fflaysie' (Allster), George! Five minutes rest. Don't take this the wrong way, Georgie, but have ya ever thought about joining 'Weight Watchers' or going on the 'NutriSystem' diet, man? All that weight can't be good fer yer health." said Ace.
"Damned straight, baby! Now George, I've warned you about overeating and overexerting yourself. I mean- for a man of your advanced age and-" remonstrated Dr Watson while Mr Holmes guffawed with laughter.
"What d'ya mean by that crack, Johnny? Ye're almost the same age as me, y'know? And what about that paunch that ye're carryin' yerself, sir?" snarled the pleasingly plump professor.
"Well, I never! Holmes! Must you laugh at me as well?" grumbled Watson.
"Too much of Martha's (Mrs Hudson was both landlady to them both and fiancee to Sherlock) good old Scottish cooking, old boy!" chuckled Holmes.
"Hullo! What's this thing, George? Looks like an old crystle stone or somethin'." asked Ace. She was pointing at the opposite wall to where they were all sitting on natural rock outcroppings.
"I say! That appears to be a 'palantir', old girl! Let me just see-" rumbled Challenger.
"Look, but don't touch, George. I don't trust anythin' in this place, man." warned Ace who was filling their flasks with the cold pure clear water bubbling from the underground spring.
Ignoring her warnings, Challenger pressed his hand against the green crystle-like surface of the 'palantir'. Suddenly-
"Who be ye that defiles our imperial city?" roared a voice of thunder which shook the walls. Watson readied his 'stasis' rifle while George had discovered that the surface of the 'crystle' was composed of solid 'adamite' commonly known as diamond!
Ace had a 'Mark XII disruptor blaster' in either fist and she was glancing around warily. Only their tall gaunt companion seemed to understand the voice. He also seemed to remember having heard it before on several occasions many years ago.
"A friend. A friend who seeks enlightenment, old comrade. Doth ye remember me?" Sherlock Holmes spoke in a clear sharp voice.
"The pyramid, Watson! Don't you remember the voice of the 'Guardian Knight'? This is he!" shouted Holmes excitedly.
"Our old friend doth speak the truth as always. Be our pyramid now safe?" roared the voice of the 'Guardian'.
"Perfectly safe, sir. It is in our oldest and most magnificent museum. We wish to explore your imperial city, sir. Will that be permitted?" asked the pipe-smoking private consulting detective.
"Yes! But- only if ye pass the three tests my ancestours have left behind for protection." roared the voice.
"Just hold up a bit, sir. 'Your' imperial city? Then this city was not built by Lord Davros and his 'Daleks', sir?" asked Watson, always the practical member of their small group.
"Yes! This is 'Our' imperial city! We built it. We protect it. These 'Daleks' and this 'Lord Davros' once inhabited our city. He then used it as a model for more underground cities which he built for his infernal machine creatures! but- it is OURS!" he roared and the ceiling began to crack while huge fissures appeared in the rock walls and the cavern's floor.
"O great and noble knight! Canst thou not assist us to pass these 'tests', sir?" rumbled Professor Challenger.
"Remember our knightly teachings inside of our temples and use thy own minds. Otherwise thou wilt never leave our imperial city, that is, if thou canst ever enter it. Farewell, friends." The voice ended on an ominous note of warning. Sherlock was thoughtful. John was worried. George was tapping his PDO unit's keys furiously and Ace Johnston was just plain scared!
"What have ya got to tell me, 'Intrepid'?" asked Ashka Khan that same evening. Since the 'detectives quad' had bedded down for the night and were definitely going to explore the strange subterranean city beneath 'Workoh', Khan had recalled his probe and his crew had settled down for the night. Khan trusted nobody when it came to finding treasure. For that reason, only he knew the true identity of 'Intrepid', his spy who had infiltrated the 3WA on 'Victorine'.
(AN: This 'Intrepid' agent of Khan's is NOT the same 'agent' of 'Caracticus Potts' who introduced this chapter).
"Much. A rescue party is headed your way to retrieve some errant 'Victorian' gentlemen and to find out why the 'Gratitude' 'space runner' has not delivered the mail to 'Minerva'. The rescue 'space runner' is 'Wind Sprinter' under the command of Captain Roanna Laren, formerly 'Starfleet' and now 3WA. Relax. She's only got a skeleton crew aboard. Nobody has the slightest idea that you and the 'Bay' are on 'Workoh'. Another 3WA officer, Molly Eastwood-Kelly, has been sent out on a 'fact finding' mission. All I can tell you about that is that she's not heading for the 'Omega Quadrant' and she is using the 'Starfleet' starship 'Coriander' under the command of Colonel Kiva Nerese. The latter's in charge of the ship, but Subaltern E-K's the mission commander. Damn! Someone's coming, sire. I'll have to get back to you later. 'Intrepid' out."
Khan fumed, but he hd no choice save to end the transmission before the signal could be traced back to him. There was a tap on his portal. "Yes?" he called. "Sorry to disturb you, sire. It's me, 'Zandar Zan'. May I enter, sire?" called a voice from the hallway. "Yes. Enter, 'Zandar'." sighed Khan and the bright young master thief/comm relay officer entered the Commander's sitting room.
"Take a seat and try some of this 'Navtrakian Cointreau'. It's not too bad. Now, what can I do for you, son?" asked Khan whom 'ZZ' had always thought of as his mentor and father figure. Likewise, Khan was grooming 'Zandar' to be his 'son' and heir. The lad fidgeted this way and that before he finally blurted out the reason for his visit.
"Sire, I have not been fully truthful with you. The other day when our mutual friend left us on 'Neptune' aboard the 'Kaloran Star', I overheard your instructions to him. Sire, I know that 'Intrepid' is your eyes and ears on 'Victorine' and inside of the 3WA. There! I've said it and I am ready to accept my punishment, Commander Khan, sir." said 'Zandar Zan'. The unlit cheroot dropped out of Khan's mouth and rolled across the carpet. The other picked it up and handed it to Khan. Then he ignited it for his superior.
"Who else knows of these facts, boyo?" demanded Ashka Khan, worriedly.
"Nobody, sire. I am not a tattle tale, sir. I wasn't really eavesdropping on you and-" replied the young brigand.
"O' course ya weren't, laddie. 'Zanny'? This must go no further. Confide in nobody else aboard this vessel. I mean it, son. Should 'Intrepid's true identity become known, all of us would be in the soup. You, uh, know our friend's ranking within the 3WA as well, I suppose? (The boy nodded) Then you know the reasons for all of this secrecy. Should it ever become known to this crew that I entrusted an 'Earther' with such a delicate mission-" explained Khan.
"All Hades would break loose. I quite understand, sire. It shall go no further. My 'Thieves' Guild' word of honour, sire." replied 'Zandar Zan'. "I know it won't, laddie. Thank you for telling me this. Getting late. You had best return to your comm relay station. It wouldn't do to raise any suspicions and that is exactly what will happen if you aren't at your post when your relief shows up at midnight. Who spells you, by the by?" asked Khan.
"It's 'Lady Veronica', sire. She volunteered for the 'graveyard shift', sire." replied 'Zanny'.
"She did, eh? I wonder why?" mused Khan aloud.
"She said that she was having trouble sleeping, sire. And nobody else likes the night shift and-" said the lad.
"Yes, yes. No doubt. However, before you go off duty, be sure and lock down the transmitters and be sure that the 'jamming towers' are activated. (The lad looked at Khan dubiously) Well, she is a 'rogue' time lady, isn't she, son? Never mind. Just follow my orders and when your relief arrives, have a good rest. G'Night." replied Khan and the young burglar left.
Galatea climbed out of her 'Doric Column' TARDIS back on 'Victorine' and walked into Allison's office. Her pair of 'stowaways' she had left aboard her TARDIS with orders not to leave the vessel- or else.
"Welcome back, Lady Galatea. Have a pleasant voyage, mum?" asked Mugen, the self-taught Samurai warrior who was seated behind Allie's desk and smoking a cheroot. A bottle of saki and a half-filled glass were in front of him.
"Where the Hell is everybody, milord?" she asked, dropping into an armchair beside the desk.
"Dunno, lady. Wanna drink, man? Allie went somewheres and asked me and Jin and Fuu to keep an eye on the place. Jin and Fuu went rock climbing with the doggie (Mr Peabody) this morning. The truckers are all over at the new city. The 'stalag' gang went somewhere offworld too. Ro went to rescue Acey and the detectives and- Oh Hell, just read the notes Allie left on that gadget over there beside ya. Guess you're ranking officer now so I'm gonna get some shuteye. You're in charge, Honey." yawned Mugen and he picked up his bottle and left the astonished time lady to her own devices.
Gally sighed and began to read Allie's vidlogs.
END of Chapter 4. Chapter 5 'Who is 'Intrepid'? or 'George Finds A Clew' coming soon. R/R/S away and don't miss the Ryder Cup matches at the end of the month. As always, thanks for your loyal support. Have a great day.- Story Teller Guy and Your Friendship Team.