Chapter 7: "Familial duties."
Optimatus followed Captain Marsallas purposefully into the main communications center, located deep within the palace on Freleng. Ace and Tech were close behind, followed by Lady Kassondra in her floating wheelchair. As they entered, Tech took a good look at his surroundings. Any other time, he would have been impressed with the incredible Frelengian technology around him, which was in stark contrast to the ancient architecture of the palace in general. But this was not a time for awe. By now, word of Zadavia's demise had spread throughout the palace, and he sensed the tension within the room was so thick that it could be cut with a Guardian Strike Sword.
"What's the plan, Optimatus?" Ace asked.
"Keep Deuce talking long enough to pinpoint his location, and then take him out with our long-range satellite weaponry," the king of Freleng replied. "If that fails, our Dragon cruisers will be at the ready to destroy him at my command."
"Sounds like a plan to me," the bunny agreed. Optimatus nodded to the female communications officer who, with the push of a red button, opened the closed proximity channel, allowing two-way visual conversation between the king and his former General.
Immediately, the visage of the red headed renegade appeared on a large viewing screen. "Optimatus," Deuce said with a self-satisfied smirk, "I see you survived my little surprise. Which, I'm happy to note, is more than I can say for your dear, departed sister."
"Get to the point, Deuce," the Frelengian king said impatiently.
"In due time, Optimatus," Deuce sneered. "I see the Loonatics survived as well. Long time, no see, rabbit..."
"That's 'Bunny,' if you don't mind," Ace replied. "Or even if you do."
"What do you want, Deuce, as if we didn't already know?" Tech asked.
"What, no mourning for Zadavia?" he taunted, causing Tech to growl angrily.
"We did that before we came here," the coyote seethed.
"I see. What happened to Oberon, by the way? Did he appreciate my little 'reward'?"
"Nobody appreciates anything you do, Deuce," Kassondra addressed him coldly. "And for good reason."
Deuce appeared slightly taken aback by the young healer's presence. "Kassondra Veritas, this is a surprise. What are you doing in that chair?"
She glared at him with hate in her eyes. "I was caught in the explosion, as if you cared."
"I don't, actually," the ex-General said casually, dismissing the young woman's obvious discomfort. "Now, to get down to business, Optimatus. You know that I can easily destroy you like I did Zadavia."
"You and what robot army?" Ace challenged.
Deuce just shrugged in response. "True, rabbit, I am without them at the moment. But I can create another. That's not the point."
"Then what is?" Optimatus was getting angrier by the second.
Deuce laughed derisively. "Patience never was one of your virtues, was it, your majesty?" Then his tone turned threatening. "I'm calling on you to surrender Freleng to me at once!"
"And if I don't?"
"Then you will be destroyed, and Freleng will be no more. It's as simple as that. It's way past time for the rule of the Maxima dynasty to end, anyway. Of course," the renegade Frelengian laughed, "one remaining Maxima doesn't make for much of a dynasty, does it?"
Optimatus stared hard at his former General. "My sister was right about you. I should have listened."
"But you didn't, and now she has paid the price; since you weren't able to destroy her, I had to. Oh, Optimatus, it was such a joy watching Zadavia die. You should have seen it."
"I did. It's what's going to lead to your death." The Frelengian monarch made the pretense of brushing a few strands of purple and white hair from over his right eye, which gave him the chance to surreptitiously see if his technicians had succeeded in locating Deuce's whereabouts. A discreet signal from the chief communications officer told him the satellite defenses that Zadavia had set up months before had pinpointed Deuce's location. At the same time, a fleet of Dragon cruisers received the same information, and were already traveling in cloaking mode at faster than light speed to take him out in case the satellites failed. All they were waiting for now was their king's command.
"That, I'm afraid, is a long time away," Deuce gloated.
"That, I'm afraid, is where you're dead wrong," Optimatus replied with a wicked smile. "NOW!" he shouted, as powerful beams from the satellites and the cruisers began blasting at Deuce's train; but surprisingly, they had no effect other than to shake the train up a little.
"Something tells me this ain't working, Doc," Ace muttered.
Deuce yawned and replied mockingly, "Really? What was your first indication, rabbit?"
"Dragon cruisers, attack!" Optimatus yelled. The ships hit Deuce's train with everything they had, but nothing appeared to be happening as a result.
"He must have activated some sort of force field," Marsallas observed.
"Correct," the ex-General smiled. "You didn't really think for one moment I'd leave myself unprotected, did you?"
"Actually, Doc, we were kinda countin' on it," Ace growled.
Deuce grinned and adopted a nonchalant air. "You know, Optimatus, I really am getting tired of this. If this is the best you can do, I'm afraid I'll have to leave. I have a planet named Acmetropolis to destroy. But don't worry, I'll be back for Freleng's final destruction...and the Guardian Strike Sword. Later, Losertics!" With that, he activated a wormhole and the train sped through it, leaving several frustrated Dragon cruisers in his wake as the hole disappeared.
Lady Kassondra breathed heavily, her face red with anger. "That smug, supercilious murdering bastard!" she spat contemptuously. She then activated her floating wheelchair and fled the room.
A visibly angry Optimatus stared at the video screen, now filled with a blanket of stars. "Marsallas, when the Dragon cruisers return, have their captains waiting for me," he said in a tone that sent a definite chill through the room.
The Captain gulped and nodded, and left the room as well. For moments nobody said a word. Nobody dared to. Everybody in the communications room was stunned by what must have seemed a colossal failure.
Finally Tech broke the silence. "You know, Chief, we do have something in our favor. Deuce thinks the Loonatics are still based on Acmetropolis. He doesn't know we've moved to Planet Blanc and become the Guardians."
Ace nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah. He also thinks we're all here and that Acmetropolis is unprotected. We better get word to the HOP Force a.s.a.p."
"Right," the coyote agreed, turning to the communications officer. "Can you establish communications to Acmetropolis?"
"Of course," she said. "Location?"
"The Acmetropolis Tower, 125th floor, HOP Force headquarters." Tech watched as the young woman's fingers flew across the keyboard, then punched in the encrypted code that would make contact with the Loonatics' one-time adversaries who, thanks to Zadavia, had become the planet's protectors when the Loonatics moved to the center of the universe.
While they waited for contact to be made, Ace said softly, "You know, somebody's still gonna have to break the news to Paula about what happened." It was a shared secret between the Loonatics and HOP Force that Paula Hayes, alias Weather Vane, was in actuality Zadavia and Optimatus' long-lost younger sister, Mellisandra Maxima, the "Lost Princess of Freleng."
"I'll tell her, Chief," Tech replied. "After all, she looks up to me as her mentor, and..."
Optimatus raised a hand to silence him. "No, Tech, this falls under the heading of familial duties. I will tell Mellisandra of her sister's passing..."
The communications officer interrupted him at that point. "Communication link established to Acmetropolis. Go ahead, your majesty."
"Thank you," Optimatus replied. "Emergency communiqué for the HOP Force from Optimatus. Repeat..."
Within seconds, the face of Mallory Casey appeared on the video screen, her original features having been surgically restored by Tech following a near-death bout with encephalitis some time ago. She wore her jet black hair in a long ponytail draped over her right shoulder, and sported a new pair of round-framed glasses. It was hard to believe, looking at her now, that this was once the same "Mastermind" that had been one of Tech's fiercest enemies; a fact not lost on the Frelengian king as he addressed her.
"Mastermind," Optimatus noted. "I still cannot help but feel that you look...different...somehow."
Mallory smiled briefly. "Thank you, Optimatus. I'll take that as a compliment, but I'm guessing this isn't a social call."
"You got that right, Mal," Ace agreed in a serious tone. "There's somethin' big happening and it ain't good."
"Put the planet on red alert at once, Mallory," Tech advised her. "Where's the rest of the Force?"
Mallory quickly activated the red alert control which acted as a safeguard against any outside attacks on the planet, while a simultaneous signal went out to Acmetropolis' military. Flashing red lights now illuminated the Force's headquarters while Mallory continued her long distance conversation. "They're out getting supplies. Why, what's up, Tech?"
"Acmetropolis is about to have an unwelcome visitor. Check the database for a General Deuce."
"Miss Casey, is Mellisandra with them?"
"Paula? No, Optimatus, she's taken the day off. We've had some pretty bad experiences lately and it's kinda shaken her up a bit. Vel thought it'd be good for her to take a break."
"Where is she now?" Ace asked.
"Spending the day in Acmetropolis City Park with her number one fan...why?"
"'Cause we got some bad news about Zadavia."
"Zadavia? How bad, Ace?"
"As bad as it can get, Mallory," sighed the Guardian leader.
"Oh, come on, Ace, for it to be that bad, she'd have to...be..." Mallory's eyes grew wide behind her glasses as she saw the trio on Freleng bow their heads somberly. Immediately the full seriousness of their reaction hit her. "No...not Zadavia..." she gasped in disbelief.
"I'm afraid so, Miss Casey," Optimatus replied. "My sister...has been murdered."
Mallory's look of disbelief turned to shock at that word. "Murdered? How? Why? By who?"
Tech looked at her grimly. "General Deuce, that's who. As for the how and why, we're sending you the video capture from her ship. You should be receiving it shortly."
"I gotta warn ya, Mal, it ain't pleasant," Ace added.
Mallory looked at a secondary viewer which was now displaying the attack on Zadavia. "Yes, I'm getting it now..." She then fell silent as Deuce's savage attack on the queen played out in front of her, from unsuspecting beginning to horrific end. The diminutive former villainess turned pale as she tried to take this in while attempting to maintain her composure. "Oh my god...oh my god...this is gonna kill Paula..."
"Let's hope not, Miss Casey," the Frelengian king said seriously. "She'll be needed."
"Get the word to the Force, Mallory," Tech added.
"Yeah, will do. I'd better notify Paula..."
"Thank you, Miss Casey," Optimatus replied, "but I will take care of that myself."
"Yeah, you just let the Force know there may be trouble. Guardians out." No sooner did Ace sign off than the remaining members of the HOP Force - Gordon "Massive" Paine, Velvet Williams (the former Black Velvet) and the Syphers - Drake and his older brother "Duke" - entered the headquarters, arms full of supplies which they promptly set down.
Velvet was the first to notice the flashing lights that indicated something was wrong. "Mallory? What's going on?"
"We're on red alert, Vel. Massive, check the data file for someone called General Deuce. And get ready for a possible attack on Acmetropolis."
Duke noticed Mallory's unease and pale complexion. "There's something else, isn't there, Mal?"
"Yeah, there is...guys," she said softly, "you'd better all sit down. I have some bad news from Freleng about Zadavia."
"How bad, Mallory?" Duke asked.
"To use Ace's words, Don, as bad as it can get."
Drake laughed her remark off. "Oh, come on, brain babe, you know Ace has a flair for the dramatic. For something to be that bad, Zadavia'd have to be..." It was then that he saw her close her eyes, her lips trembling and tears rolling down her face. "No..." he finally gasped, "not the 'boss chick'..."
Mallory nodded her head sadly and replayed the video from Freleng for a stunned HOP Force. They watched with disbelief the attack on the former villains' unexpected benefactor. For minutes after the video ended, none of them said a word.
"Oh, dear God, no..." Velvet finally sobbed, as Duke embraced the HOP Force's leader to comfort her.
"We'd better tell Paula," Massive noted quietly.
"Optimatus is taking care of that, Gordon," said Mallory, brushing her tears away. She took a deep breath and turned serious, as was befitting her unofficial position as second-in-command of the Force. "But Drake, you'd better find her just in case."
"Acmetropolis City Park, right, Mal?"
"Right, copyboy. Get on it. Use the Zoomatrix."
Immediately Drake Sypher took the elevator to the parking garage inside the giant orb atop the Acmetropolis Tower. Once there he pushed a button on the wall that opened the triangular exit door on top of the orb, and took off on his gold-and-red Zoomatrix in search of his teammate. He felt uneasy as he flew through the sky, knowing how Paula would react to news of her sister's demise. But he also remembered Zadavia's training of the team, which she had conducted in separate sessions from the Loonatics. Personal feelings would have to be put aside for the moment, and emotions would have to be put in check. Duty was calling.
Back on Freleng, Ace and Tech were busy conferring with Freleng's monarch. "Eh, Optimatus," Ace noted, "you're still kinda persona non grata on Acmetropolis, you know."
"I am aware of that, Ace. But I don't have to be there physically to talk to Mellisandra."
"Guardian Tech," the communications officer interrupted, handing him a small portable video device, "this was discovered by our guards. It was wired up to our optimal console. Captain Marsallas said it was to be turned over to you."
"Thank you," the coyote replied. "I'm going to take this to the Loonacruiser and run some tests, Chief. I'll be back soon." And with that, he left.
Ace turned to Optimatus. "I think it'd be better if you talk to Paula alone."
The king nodded in agreement. "Yes, that would be wise. Wait in the conference room for me. One of our guards will escort you." The bunny left Optimatus alone in the communications room. He turned to the young lady behind the console. "Establish a link to Acmetropolis City Park...at once..."
ooooo
Michael finished off a cup of coffee and bowl of cold cereal, then grabbed a couple of bottles of protein drinks from the fridge and returned to the bedroom, his mind set on the task ahead. Twelve hours had passed since the spaceship had crashed in his backyard, and it was time for a second treatment. He stared once more at the unconscious nude alien blonde on the left side of his bed, and wondered how she could have survived like she did. No doubt an indomitable will to live, he told himself as he uncapped the blue gel container and applied it again to the wounds on her body. The last thing he wanted was for them to become infected, as he was certain she had no natural defenses against the bacteria of this planet. And for all his expertise, Michael had no knowledge of how to treat her if that happened. If the wounds became infected, then all his efforts would be for nothing. Alien physiology was outside of his realm of experience; but then, the crash of an alien ship in his backyard was something he wasn't prepared for, either.
He briefly ran his fingers over her skin. It felt silky smooth to the touch. He shook his head, then reapplied the gel to her remaining wounds with the detached professionalism of a doctor. As he applied the gel to her face, he stopped and briefly stroked her hair. It was even smoother than her skin. Michael paused and once more considered his options, which still weren't many. Contacting the authorities was out of the question, as was taking her to the local medical facility. Externally she looked like a human female, but internally, who knew? Knowing the planet's recent stance against extraterrestrials, he wasn't going to risk her safety - her life - by bringing her to anybody's attention. No, he told himself finally, if she was going to recover, it would have to be here.
And if she was going to survive, she'd need nourishment. He uncapped one of the bottles and gently elevating her head, pried her mouth open, carefully pouring the thick protein drink inside; but a reflex gagging action made this difficult. He wiped the drink from her face with a handkerchief and tried again, raising her head a little higher. Finally, after several attempts he eventually found a position that worked, and succeeded in getting the liquid down her throat.
He sighed, looking with concern at the blonde female. He knelt close to her, gently running his fingers over her face again. And he thought once more about Ilsa. "I couldn't save her, ultimately," he whispered, knowing she couldn't hear him, "but maybe...just maybe...I can save you. But you have to help me, Miss. Please, whoever you are...wherever you came from...I said it before, and I'll keep saying it until you hear me. I'm begging you...please...don't die."
And with that, Michael finally gave in to the urge to kiss her on her right cheek.
"Sorry, Miss," he said, shaking his head. "I don't know why I did that." He stood up, berating himself for taking that kind of liberty with her, even though it was nothing more than an innocent kiss. He always thought he had more self-control than that. The last thing he needed, Michael told himself, was to start to get emotionally involved with her.
Even though that was precisely what was happening.
ooooo
Tech was on his way to the conference room, the portable video device and remote control in his paws, when he passed Captain Marsallas in the hallway. The Captain bore a definite worried look, which didn't go unnoticed by the anthromorph hero. "What's the problem, Captain?"
"Optimatus was not pleased at all with our fleet's inability to destroy Deuce," Marsallas replied, shaking his head. "And he let them know it in no uncertain terms. Failure is something he doesn't accept."
"I don't think they should be blamed," the genius coyote remarked. "The satellites weren't much more effective."
"I know," said the black-haired Captain. "Our combined forces should have destroyed him easily."
"Yes, one would think so. It does make me wonder, though, Captain," Tech mused, "...where did he get that train?"
The question made Marsallas Marius stop and think. "Now that you mention it..." He suddenly turned to go. "I have an idea. I may have an answer for you soon." The Captain then hurried off for who knows where, as Tech stared after him. It was at that same moment that Optimatus stormed through the hallway.
Tech took a chance at risking the king's anger. "Were you able to talk to Paula?"
Optimatus looked harshly at him. "No," he grumbled. "There was a sudden cosmic storm causing interference with communications. Our meteorologists say it will be another twenty-five minutes before we can try again." The Frelengian monarch then continued making his way angrily down the hall on his way to the conference room without another word.
"He is definitely not a happy camper," Tech thought out loud, shaking his head.
"That, Guardian Tech, I can agree with," a soft voice said behind him, momentarily startling him.
"Lady Kassondra," the coyote said, turning around quickly. "I didn't hear you approaching."
"I know," the young healer replied, concern showing on her face. "I fear Optimatus when he is like this. I understand he took his anger out on our Dragon fleet..."
"So Marsallas told me," Tech replied. "So, you're able to walk again?"
"With slight discomfort," Kassondra remarked. "Fortunately, our healers are very good at what they do." She then noticed the objects in Tech's paws. "What is that?"
"A little gimmick from Rupes Oberon. I've been running some tests on it, and it's absolutely..."
"Are you coming or not?" the voice of Optimatus yelled down the hall.
"Yes, your majesty," Tech replied nervously. "Care to come along, m'lady?" he asked, gallantly offering his left arm to Kassondra.
She smiled and took the coyote by the arm. "I might as well...medical attention may be called for before this is through."
"Yeah," the genius Guardian replied. "That's what I'm afraid of..."
As the pair made their way to the conference room, Kassondra looked questioningly at Tech. "Guardian Tech, what is a 'happy camper'?"
The coyote smiled slightly. "You saw Optimatus just now, right?"
"Yes," the healer replied.
"The opposite of that," Tech said, as they entered the room.
ooooo
The sleek silver train hurtled through one wormhole after another through the darkness of space. At the controls, Deuce smiled as he contemplated Acmetropolis' impending destruction, and the stolen train he was going to do it with. "How nice of Freleng to leave this new model completely unguarded," he chuckled.
As much as he despised his home planet, he still admired their technology. This train had everything he could want: shielding devices, force fields, laser weapons, faster than light speed, and the ability to change course from one wormhole to another within a matter of milliseconds, thus being able to evade capture, and attack victims by surprise without detection. Victims like Zadavia.
As he emerged from one more wormhole, a small blue-green tilted city-planet appeared in the distance. Deuce's grin became a malevolent smile, and an evil glint shone in his green eyes. "Next stop, the doomed world of Acmetropolis," he laughed as he sped towards his destination.
ooooo
In the conference room in the Frelengian palace, Tech, Kassondra and Ace sat at a granite table while Optimatus paced angrily, still fuming at his Dragon fleet's failure to eliminate Deuce. "How could this have happened?" the Frelengian king finally yelled, slamming his fists on the table.
"Apparently, quite easily," Ace muttered, while Tech continued looking over the portable video unit that contained the fake "reports" from the computer-generated Loonatics. "What'd you find out about that thing?"
"Incredible, Chief. I've never seen anything like this. Apparently the animation is launched by the remote control that Rupes had on him. The responses are voice activated, keyed to recognize a particular phrase or keyword and respond accordingly."
"And while it was connected to our optimal communications center, no messages could get into or out of Freleng while it was activated," Lady Kassondra noted thoughtfully.
"That explains why transmission to Freleng was jammed," said Ace.
"Exactly!" Tech exclaimed. "I'd almost say it was a work of genius, except for the purpose it was used for."
"Then don't," Optimatus responded coldly. "I can't believe Deuce came up with this."
"I don't think he did, Optimatus," the black uniformed coyote replied. "He can build robot armies, sure, but he lacks the technical know-how that someone who can create a mannequin rock band has, and make them so convincing that you'd actually believe they were living beings. Not to mention coming up with all that stuff he used back on Acmetropolis to imprison Zadavia and take her powers."
Ace nodded. "In other words, Rupes Oberon."
"Exactly, Chief. Separately, those two are trouble. Put them together, well..." The black-and-green clad coyote shrugged to emphasize his point.
Ace heaved a sigh of frustration. "We know, Tech. The thing that galls me the most is those phony baloney 'reports' that thing contained were right."
"Yes," Optimatus agreed in a serious tone, "they were meant to throw us off and let our guard down while Deuce was waiting for the right time to strike and destroy my sister. An ingenious deception that turned out to be correct. What better way to disguise a lie than to wrap it in the truth?"
"And you'd know somethin' about that, right, your majesty?" Ace remarked offhandedly.
The Frelengian king turned and glared at the Loonatics' leader. "If that was intended as sarcasm, Ace, it was neither welcome nor appreciated."
"Like that meteor you flung at Acmetropolis back in '72 when you were tryin' to kill Zadavia yourself?"
"Chief," Tech cautioned, exchanging worried looks with Kassondra, "that's not a good idea right now..."
"I have already made my apologies to your planet for my foolishness! I don't need to be reminded of it, especially by you!" Optimatus growled.
"Tell that to the folks that lost their lives back then because of your 'foolishness,' your majesty," Ace growled back.
"Chief, ix-nay on the omments-cay..." Tech replied nervously.
The Frelengian ruler's anger was beginning to increase. "I would listen to your fellow Guardian, Ace. Hold your tongue unless you wish to find yourself no longer living..."
Ace got up quickly from his seat, knocking his chair over in the process and stared face-to-face at Zadavia's brother. "You know, Optimatus, I been holdin' my tongue for some time. I've been courteous to you only for Zadavia's sake. But since she ain't here anymore, I don't have to hold back on what I think of you!"
With that, an enraged Optimatus drew his sword. "That is enough! Guardian or not, Ace, prepare to defend yourself!"
"My pleasure," the rabbit growled as he unsheathed his Guardian Strike Sword and prepared to face off against Optimatus. The two glared at each other, swords at the ready.
"ALL RIGHT, STOP IT!" The screamed command took the would-be combatants by surprise, considering that it came from the normally gentle Lady Kassondra. Her body was trembling as tears of rage drenched her face. "Stop this at once! Don't you understand Zadavia is dead? What will this foolishness of yours accomplish? Will it bring her back? No!" She then sank to her knees and cried out loud. There was little that Ace and Optimatus could do except exchange stunned looks, which continued as the pretty auburn-haired healer got up and ran from the room, in spite of her injuries.
Tech started to run after her, but stopped only long enough to stare disapprovingly at Ace and Optimatus. "I'll come back as soon as you two decide to grow up," he said pointedly, then left the room.
Without saying another word, the two sheathed their swords and hung their heads in shame. Finally, after several uncomfortable minutes Optimatus spoke. "I believe, Ace, that your fellow Guardian has a point."
"He usually does," Ace agreed, as they left the room in search of Tech and Kassondra.
ooooo
Night fell, and once more Michael prepared for a fitful evening's sleep. It didn't used to be that way. Up until recently he'd been able to fall asleep at the drop of a hat; but in the last few months, sleep came harder and harder for him. And when he'd finally awaken the next day, it always felt like he'd slept on a bed of rocks. But back before then, he still had Ilsa.
He sighed and picked up his journal from the nightstand by his side of the bed, and made another entry, saying it aloud as he wrote.
"New day 146, 10 p.m. No change in my visitor's condition. Still unconscious, barely breathing. She may be in a coma, I don't know. Infection of wounds is a possibility, although I see no indication of it. Searched her ship again...no signs of identification. Still no idea as to who she is or where she came from. I was finally able to get some protein drinks inside of her. Don't know if they'll do any good, or even if her body will reject them, but at this point, I'm willing to try anything to keep her going."
He stopped writing, and slipped beneath the covers, positioning himself a good foot and a half away from the woman on the left side of the bed. Before he turned out the light, he took one more look at the still figure. "Miss," he whispered sadly, "why don't you wake up?" And once more, Michael pushed the button on his nightstand, the lights went out, and he waited for sleep to come, along with some answers which only the alien could provide.
Providing she lived through this at all.
(AUTHOR'S NOTE: For details on Mallory's makeover, see furrball's story, "Truce," as well as the rest of his "Acmetropolis" series regarding the HOP Force, and Paula's connection to the Maximas.)
